Stones from the River (Oprah's Book Club)

Could not get into this book. Way to slow and boring a read for me. Only read about 160 pages.

Although I didn't like the main character very much, this is a great book as it gives you an insightful perspective of what it was like for the German people to live through an atmosphere of fear, apprehension and mistrust during the world war II era. It gave me some understanding into the events leading up to the Holocaust and how it could have been allowed to happen. Most of the...more

Although I didn't like the main character very much, this is a great book as it gives you an insightful perspective of what it was like for the German people to live through an atmosphere of fear, apprehension and mistrust during the world war II era. It gave me some understanding into the events leading up to the Holocaust and how it could have been allowed to happen. Most of the characters are interesting, good people and quite realistic. I wanted to keep reading to find out who survives and what happens next.   hide

Powerful and revealing story about pre-World War 11 life in Germany, seen thru the eyes of a young girl who happens to be a dwarf. These villages and towns are so close to the border of Hollany where I grew up, and was so familiar. Such an accurate description of this culture that demanded total obedience and respect from all elders, authority without question. The different class...more

Powerful and revealing story about pre-World War 11 life in Germany, seen thru the eyes of a young girl who happens to be a dwarf. These villages and towns are so close to the border of Hollany where I grew up, and was so familiar. Such an accurate description of this culture that demanded total obedience and respect from all elders, authority without question. The different class structures with the unacceptance of anything the did not fit the mold, the power of church, which demanded blind faith, the economic conditions and unemployment contrituted to this disastrous environment, and cannot be imagined in todays time. I have read a lot of books about this time in Germany with its horrors, and this book describes the Holocaust best, how it was possible to accelarate to his hatred of Jews and undesirables. It enabled the worst and best traits of humanity to come out. It also confirms the stories that were told by my mother who lived one mile from the border of Germany as a young girl, how their German neighbours who had been their best friends turned fanatically German, and betrayal could be expected everywhere. My father was in a German work camp and described untolerable conditions, his escape from the work camps and his almost capture, when he was staying with a cousin, with his fear of capture and miraculous daring escape on a bicycle, when the Germans where banging on the front door. It brings back memories of the stories of raids by the nazis at my grandparents house and how my other grandmother was shaking and scared beyond her wits, during the air raids, while they all were in the cellar with bombs sometimes meant for Germany. What an uplifting book to identify with and provide insight!   hide

Great book about a girl with dwarfism growing up during world war II. Took me a little longer than normal to read as it is very detailed and goes through the majority of her life. I would highly recommend it though.

Interesting.

#1

Reading it again

Sorry, I couldn't finish this. Never had a sense of connection with the lead character, and found the writing ponderous in its details. It kept teasing me but 2/3rds through the plot still hadn't gotten past the starting gate. Literature is fine, but give it to me in a story please!

Intersting book from an interesting perspective. Interesting.