Tag Archive | Anita Frank

Small Acts Of Resistance by Anita Frank

Nov6

Choices

Small Acts Of Resistance by Anita Frank is a powerful historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in a village in Northern France that is occupied by the Germans in 1915. We witness what life is like for a grandmother and her two granddaughters who are hiding a British airman, at the same time as having two Germans billeted with them.

We witness the bravery of ordinary folk to do the right thing. “That is my duty; to resist, however and wherever I can.” Hiding a British airman takes guts and ingenuity. Hiding in plain sight does produce raised heart rates at times!

With occupation, people have choices to make. “The day will come when we will all be held accountable for our actions.” Any collaborators would have to answer for their actions later.

We see that not all Germans are hard-hearted, cruel masters. There are those who still retain their humanity. When faced with hard choices, he will pass muster, doing what is right rather than what is expected of him.

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The Good Liars by Anita Frank

Aug17

Wow! – So Good!

The Good Liars by Anita Frank is an absolutely marvellous historical, psychological suspense that I just could not put down.

Anita Frank drew me in from the start with my questions as to what had happened and why would a name be missing? As I read on, my responses to characters were guided by the artistic pen of Anita Frank. The further I got into the book, the faster my heart beat as the tension rose ever higher. The conclusion was superb.

The book is set in 1920. The first world war is over but it has far-reaching effects. Lives have been blighted by experiences at the Front. Not all scars are visible, many souls returned tormented. Mind ravaged lives as the battle fields lived on in their heads.

Terrible lashing rain leaves a landscape submerged, reminding the reader of the landscape of war. As the rain falls and the sky darkens, the action within a country house mirrors the weather.

The Good Liars is written within the gothic style as an old house has dark corners, attics, basements and creepy goings on.

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The Return by Anita Frank

Nov10

A Silent Love

The Return by Anita Frank is a marvellous historical novel that enthralled me from the start.

The story alternates between 1939 and 1945, through the voices of the two main characters. The action is mainly set in the Berkshire countryside.

Farming is a hard way of life. We witness the strength of characters who have to adapt and change as war approaches and as it subsequently ends.

Women of strength and character keep the home front going as they pull together to feed the nation.

As with many small communities, there is a lord of the manor. We witness the arrogance of some of the privileged as they leave destruction behind. They are in complete contrast to the characters who do not have worldly goods but have huge hearts.

Anita Frank has cleverly constructed her novel. As it opens, we hear a character running from something. We hear the hints and try to guess the reason before it is later revealed. I failed to correctly guess, again!

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The Lost Ones by Anita Frank

Oct20

Secrets And Lies

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is a chilling, compulsive historical read that had me gripped from the start.

The novel is set in 1917 at the height of World War I. Already there had been terrible losses in the bloodbath at the Front. A generation of young men lost forever. Lives were devastated as loss consumed. “You learn to live with it. We all learn to carry on in the end.”

Females are seen as having weak constitutions when in reality they were suffering from grief or pregnancy. Their ‘weak’ constitutions meant men tried to dominate and exert their wills. It took strong females to resist them.

Families are complicated affairs. Some have strong bonds, other members dictate. A warped sense of loyalty prompts an unthinkable course of action.

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