Monday, April 20, 2015

Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke




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This novel was the April selection for the Columbia City library book discussion group but I have heard they have bumped it till later in the year in order for it to be easier to obtain copies of the book. I was already reading it by the time I was updated with that news though so I continued and finished it up Saturday night.  When I first saw that they had picked this novel I admit I rolled my eyes.  I do not think Christian Literature is appropriate for a community group.  Better to discuss such books in a church group reading group.  But I have to admit the book was fast paced and well written.  Although it was a bit to preachy for my tastes here and there overall I have to give the novel a good review.  It is a story about Nazi Germany and a lot of thought provoking ideas about standing up for what is right are present to make the book a good reading club selection.  The book is a fiction novel but contains some historical characters and places.  Since my genre of choice is the historical novel it fits for me in that respect.  I have to agree that the Christian church has a responsibility to stand up against the type of atrocities that were going on at the time.  I just think it should be taken a step further and stated that all people have the responsibility to do the same.   The little girl Amelie in the story is deaf.  So she is slotted to be put to death in the Nazi climate of death sentences for the handicapped.  The novel is a fiction story about this fiction little girl and the fictional people that hid her and kept her safe.   There are real historical people in the novel of course and one is Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He is an inspirational individual who gave his life trying to fight against the atrocities in Nazi Germany.  Please click on the author's name and book title above to follow the links to more information.  And enjoy the video that follows.


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