Two Brothers

Moniquefischle5 stars

18 January 2013 at 1:39pm

While you know to a certain extent how bad things were for Jews living in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, it’s the little details that Elton presents that start to show you what it would have been like. Elton paints a picture that makes me so angry because I know that it’s all based on true events. It makes me wish that what I was reading was completely fictionalized but I know that it’s not. Truth be told, I couldn’t put down this book. I wanted to keep reading and was actually sad when it was over. I ignored the people around me by curling up with this book because I loved it so much. You care what happens to the Stengel family and Silke and even Dagmar even though she actually comes across as a bit of a spoilt brat. That surprised me, that I could read about a character who was Jewish living in Germany at that time and find her irritating and a little bit selfish. I’m not sure if Elton intended that, but if he did, he did very well. Read my full review https://moniquefischle.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/book-review-two-brothers-by-ben-elton/

Sam645 stars

20 December 2012 at 12:11pm

A real page turner

NatashaB0 stars

2 December 2012 at 2:05pm

One could say do we really need another novel on the Holocaust, especially after the well received 'Streetsweeper' and 'All That I Am' last year? Well, if it's as well written as this one by Ben Elton - then yes we do! I hadn't read Elton before, but his take on two brothers born in Berlin 1920, and contrasting this with the later pov of one brother in 1950s England is storywriting and characterisation at its best. I loved the vivid descriptions of this Jewish family, the brothers' relationship with 2 German girls and how they attempt to deal with the growing hatred and persecution in their homeland. It is this focus on the personal rather than the overwhelming magnitude of this devastation that makes us empathise and read on, and also the fact that not all the characters are likeable all the time. What makes this tale different and enjoyable is the building mystery as you don't know which brother survived the war until well over halfway, as well as the outcome for all the other intriguing characters. The time jumps are clear and not confusing, and the language just flows. Only criticism was the slightly abrupt ending - considering how long we took to get to the climax - but perhaps this is a sign that I would have happily read more than the set 500 odd pages!