Review of Die fotografie

[Alys Sterk]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Die fotografie" by Phillip Martin Johnson.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Three young boys are victims of Nazi experimentation at the Auschwitz concentration camp. In an effort to purify the Aryan race and ensure that other populations do not reproduce, Dr. Schumann and others have removed the sexual organs of “less desirable” minorities imprisoned in the camp. Although many war criminals were brought to justice at the Nuremberg War Trials, Dr. Schumann has evaded capture. Young Albert bears deep physical and psychological scars and is committed to an asylum. He carries with him one picture of himself and the two other young boys at Auschwitz. Die Fotografie, by Phillip M. Johnson with William T. Loesch III, delves into the psyche of this survivor and his psychiatrist, Dr. Freda Dudek. What effect does this kind of abuse have on him and others like him? As a potential witness, will he be able to help locate and identify this war criminal? Can his psychiatrist free him from despair?

The book tells a story from a unique perspective; while many books describe the plight of the souls in concentration camps from different countries, I have not read many accounts of those who have endured the notorious experimentation at the hands of the formidable and cruel Nazis.

The best part of this book is the characterization. There were a lot of characters, but they all had a role to play in this story. Additionally, some historical context was given to provide the readers some background. The effects of trauma are described so poignantly that one cannot help but shiver at the atrocious realities the characters faced. One very moving passage from this text is, “Now why would people put in such extraordinary effort to save your life when you did not care to keep it?” Although the story is a fictional account, there are many references to true events and real people. This makes the book much more riveting. The author conducted extensive research, and this is all cited carefully at the end. In fact, the layout and organization of the book are structured well and clean. Most people have a good understanding of this dark corner of history, but the ending of this book is truly unexpected.

There is nothing to dislike about the book. Its underlying themes are relevant today. The only negative thing about it is that there were some mechanical errors in grammar. For this reason only, I deduct one star from the rating and give Die Fotografie 3 out of 4 stars. The storytelling and characterization in this historical fiction piece are phenomenal. Other than the editing, the book is exceptional.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially stories centered around World War II. I also recommend this to those interested in psychology and the effects of trauma. In this book, there are very emotional descriptions of mental illness and abuse, so readers sensitive to those subjects should avoid it. There is also some sexuality (and deviant sexual behavior) and some moderate profanity, so it might not be suitable for younger readers or those adamantly opposed to those ideas. In conclusion, I found this to be a fantastic and engaging book that I would highly recommend.

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Die fotografie
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[Afrochild7]

Mental illness and abuse are what draw me in to the book. I haven't read enough about those subjects. Great review

[Mfopat Olympik]

During World War II the Nazis committed many atrocities. And many of these criminals who caused a lot of suffering got away with it. I can't even imagine the atrocities Albert suffered in the concentration camps. It's really inhuman what they did. Thank you for the review.

[Aisha Yakub]

So sad that the victims of war have to live forever with the consequences. Thank you for the review