Takis Wuger's Stella is a short and gripping novel that I read in just a few sittings. The chapters are short and it is a quick read.
It tells the story of Friedrich, a young man who moves to Berlin to see if rumours of Jews being taken away in furniture lorries are true. Whilst there, he meets a young lady named Kristin, and becomes close to several other characters. Kristin and Friedrich fall in love with eachother, until one day Friedrich discovers that Kristin isn't who she says she really is.
In fact, it is revealed that Kristin is in fact Jewish, and her real name is Stella. She has been passing for Aryan, but it is not clear why. Friedrich becomes wrapped up in Stella's activities, and he realises that the Gestapo have a power over Stella. Friedrich doesn't know who to turn to, or what to do, and finds that Stella struggles to confide in him. Friedrich finds himself unprepared for the events he is living through.
Based on a true story, this novel was a really interesting exploration of wartime Berlin. I felt the story lacked a certain depth, although I still really enjoyed reading this short book. Thank you ReadersFirst for the review copy!
It tells the story of Friedrich, a young man who moves to Berlin to see if rumours of Jews being taken away in furniture lorries are true. Whilst there, he meets a young lady named Kristin, and becomes close to several other characters. Kristin and Friedrich fall in love with eachother, until one day Friedrich discovers that Kristin isn't who she says she really is.
In fact, it is revealed that Kristin is in fact Jewish, and her real name is Stella. She has been passing for Aryan, but it is not clear why. Friedrich becomes wrapped up in Stella's activities, and he realises that the Gestapo have a power over Stella. Friedrich doesn't know who to turn to, or what to do, and finds that Stella struggles to confide in him. Friedrich finds himself unprepared for the events he is living through.
Based on a true story, this novel was a really interesting exploration of wartime Berlin. I felt the story lacked a certain depth, although I still really enjoyed reading this short book. Thank you ReadersFirst for the review copy!