The German House

September 30, 2019
Hess’s strong debut follows Eva Bruhns, who works as an interpreter at the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials in 1963 Germany, in which German defendants have been charged with crimes they perpetrated at Auschwitz during WWII. Eva becomes emotionally invested as she interprets the testimonies of Polish witnesses from Polish to German, but she doesn’t understand why her parents, Edith and Ludwig, owners of the German House restaurant, don’t seem to care about the trial. As Eva continues her work and makes a trip to Auschwitz along with other members of the trial team, she uncovers secrets her parents have hidden from her about her father’s work during the war. The period detail is impressive, but the highlight is Eva, a complex and thoughtful woman who finds herself in the midst of a significant moment in history. This novel will appeal to both WWII fiction fans and those seeking historical novels anchored by a strong, memorable heroine.

October 1, 2019
What is the cost of learning the truth? And who is responsible for telling that costly truth? A prosecutor's exhortation to learn "every conceivable" Polish word for "how to kill a person" is an early signal to a naïve German interpreter, called in 1963 to translate at the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials, that she will soon confront truths about the past never before revealed. Eva Bruhns, a young woman still living with her parents--the proprietors of the eponymous German House restaurant--looks forward to a betrothal to Jürgen Schoormann, her reserved boyfriend, and routinely works as a Polish-language interpreter in mundane contract matters and business disputes. Her sister, Annegret, works as a pediatric nurse while younger brother Stefan dotes on the family's black dachshund. The Bruhns are a thoroughly average family. Eva's growing awareness of the atrocities perpetrated by the Auschwitz defendants, coupled with a vague sense of déjà vu, jolts her out of complacency and ignorance about the role the average German citizen played during the war. Eva's increasing passion to secure justice for the victims of Auschwitz, whose stories she absorbs daily, contrasts vividly with the attitudes and actions of her neighbors (and family members), whose desire to leave the past behind is clear. Hess, a popular television screenwriter in Germany, delivers scenes and dialogue in a linear sequence, and it is easy to envision almost any of the scenes (courtroom or dining room) on screen via the straightforward translation by Lauffer. Less linear are the continuing deceptions Eva confronts on an average day, in an average life, in an average city. Questions of complicity and culpability are resolved by prosecutors and daughters alike in Hess' slow reveal of large truths which are obscured by larger lies.

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December 1, 2019

DEBUT In 1963 Frankfurt, Germany, 24-year-old Eva Bruhns is hired by David Miller, a Canadian investigator, as a Polish translator for the Auschwitz war crimes trial. Eva's memories of World War II are distant and vague, and her family refuses to comment on the war as she becomes more concerned with bringing justice to the accused. Her parents run a well-known family business, the German House Inn and restaurant. Eva's fiancé, Jürgen, attempts to keep her away from the trials, for the sake of her nerves and her position as his future wife. When Eva uncovers a shocking secret about her family's past, she bravely pushes back against the expectations set for young women at the time, determined never to forget Germany's dark past. The time line unfolds in alternating points of view from many multilayered characters--Eva, her family members, David, and Jürgen--which may confuse readers. VERDICT Fans of Kate Quinn will enjoy this historical fiction tale for the strong female character and rich details. Recommended for additional purchase, as there are better historical fiction choices.--Laura Jones, Indiana State Lib., Argos

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2019
Set in the early- to mid-1960s, when Germany is still struggling with its dark past during WWII, German author Hess' first novel examines the fallout from Hitler's "Final Solution" and asks the ultimate question: Who was responsible? Against her parents' and fiance's wishes, Eva Bruhns offers her translation services to a court case in which former Nazis are being prosecuted. Day after day she witnesses testimony, and silently makes judgments about what occurs. Slowly, early childhood memories begin to assert themselves, and Eva realizes a disturbing discovery about her seemingly respectable family. Meanwhile, readers see that Eva's sister, Annegret, has secrets of her own. Over time, the human capacity for cruelty makes Eva unable to bear the trial any longer. What amount of guilt should a Nazi sympathizer feel when his or her family's life is at stake? Eva breaks away from all that is safe and known and tries to work some recompense on her own. This chapter-less book is organized into four parts and reads somewhat disjointedly, but a translator's note explains why.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)