In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
I thought I'd give the newest Erik Larson, In the Garden of Beasts, a chance because I loved the author's Isaac's Storm (though, full disclosure, I did not like Devil in the White City. I thought he tried to cram 2 books worth of story into the space of 1 book).
Garden of Beasts tells the story of the American ambassador to Berlin in the early 1930s. His name was William Dodd and he was a university professor of modest means, which set him apart from much of the diplomatic corps of the time. Garden of Beasts is also the story of Dodd's free-wheeling daughter Martha, who apparently had romantic liaisons with every inappropriate guy who crossed her path--from Nazis to the Gestapo, even a Russian spy--with little thought to the effect on her father's career.
Larson's writing really does give you a good sense of the turmoil and paranoia running rampant in Germany at the time--and the "head in the sand" attitude prevalent in America and the rest of Europe. It's a fascinating look at a unique period of time.
Garden of Beasts tells the story of the American ambassador to Berlin in the early 1930s. His name was William Dodd and he was a university professor of modest means, which set him apart from much of the diplomatic corps of the time. Garden of Beasts is also the story of Dodd's free-wheeling daughter Martha, who apparently had romantic liaisons with every inappropriate guy who crossed her path--from Nazis to the Gestapo, even a Russian spy--with little thought to the effect on her father's career.
Larson's writing really does give you a good sense of the turmoil and paranoia running rampant in Germany at the time--and the "head in the sand" attitude prevalent in America and the rest of Europe. It's a fascinating look at a unique period of time.
A recommeded book if you like crime stories, "Death on the Spirit Road" by C.M. Wendelboe opens a window into Lakota culture and history. Set in South Dakota, the book's protagonist, Manny, is an FBI agent sent to solve a murder on the reservation. Although a former resident, he is despised by some due to his affiliation with the FBI, hated since the days when AIM (The American Indian Movement) fought for power there. The surprise ending is thought-provoking. Chris
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. I'll put it on my list. J.
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