Wunderland, Jennifer Cody Epstein, author; Lisa Flanagan, narrator
The author of this novel has woven a tale, that begins in 1933 and travels to 1989. It is difficult, but necessary for all to read. She has deftly placed the reader in the middle of the maelstrom known as the Holocaust. As she details the lives of Ilse von Fischer, Ava Fischer and Renate von Bauer, that infamous period of history is captured completely. As the knowledge of Hitler’s plan grows broader, the rising tension and fear of that time period forces the reader to face it viscerally, to face it in much the same way it surely forced the victims of that time. In Germany, and in the world, when the facts were discovered, and the extent of the horrors described, there was incredible disbelief and shock. For as Hitler rose to power, how could anyone really even imagine the rules he would enforce or the brutality he would carry out? The idea that such cruelty, such hysterical hatred, such heinous behavior could actually exist in the normal world, defied all reason. The reader will experience the same feelings of incredulity, never quite able to fully accept the horror of the situation as it plays out, for it truly confounds the imagination. Yet, although it seems unspeakable, this novel is based on a very harsh reality.
When the story begins, it is 1989. Ava Fischer, Ilse’s daughter, is living in New York City with her daughter Sophie. She is distraught after receiving a letter from a lawyer advising her of her estranged mother’s death, in Germany. With this letter, she also received a packet of letters that her mother, Ilse, had written, but had never mailed to someone Ava had never heard of, someone named Renate Bauer. The letters revealed myriad secrets from her mother’s past.
When the book continues, it goes back to 1933 and details the friendship between Ilse and Renate when they were children in Berlin. As the author describes the closeness of these two young girls who had been the best of friends, she slowly illustrates and brings to life, Adolf Hitler and his heinous regime’s rise to power. As he began to gain notoriety, most believed his infamy would not last. As he became more and more powerful, those he turned on still believed he would fade away, that people would never follow his despicable example or support his hate and brutality. The depths of depravity had not yet been reached, however, and the scar on history would soon become an unpardonable reality.
When Ilse became enamored with the girl’s youth movement that unconditionally supported Hitler and his dream of bringing Germany back to the world stage, thus eliminating the shame of their loss in World War I, she begged Renate to join the group with her. However, Renate’s parents would not allow her to join the Hitler Youth. Soon, however, as the young are wont to do, she disobeyed them and secretly attempted to join. She was rejected, with catastrophic results, as she had to be investigated before she could be approved and that investigation revealed family secrets that had been hidden from her. What seemed like an innocent mischievous act could soon put her family in great danger.
All of the characters seemed authentic, so much so, that there were times I could barely continue to read, so angry did their behavior make me. I wanted to shut the book and scream out loud, deny the history that I knew was true. I have read largely on the Holocaust, and still I find that every new book seems to highlight new atrocities, new sadistic behavior, new lows that humans beings can sink to, and incredibly, justify that behavior for themselves.
This author has so carefully laid out the strategy used by Hitler and his minions, as she develops her characters, that the Nazi’s insidious progress truly hits the reader with real force and highlights how Hitler used his methods to gradually and subtly assume more power. He increased his use of accusations to falsely blame his victims and rouse his supporters. He used his thugs and followers to enforce his violence using methods that ultimately raised the atmosphere of fear for all. He made barbaric behavior the accepted norm. People turned on each other; no friend or family member was immune to the brutality, and soon, the terrifying atmosphere he designed made many that would not have joined his effort, eventually enter the ranks of the heinous Nazis. Some did it to save themselves, but many joined to serve their own greed and to foster the hate and jealousy they had always held within them, the anger they had always harbored toward those more successful than they. To those who recognized the hate being spewed by Hitler, the reasons for joining the party, coupled with the reprehensible behavior it encouraged, seemed to simply defy logic, yet still, more and more followed him.
Hitler captured the devotion and loyalty of the young, those whose minds were not fully formed, the vulnerable who needed to feel wanted and secure, the old who were beleaguered by life, and those who truly enjoyed preying on others, those willing to turn against their families and former friends. For these followers, supporting Germany and Hitler superseded all else. Hitler became a god. Restoring Germany’s reputation depended not on their hard work and success, but on their ability to destroy their perceived enemies by any means necessary, on their ability to blame the victims for what they were actually doing. As thugs and haters became more and more powerful, as they set their sights on certain elements of society, a great number among them, of course, as history has told us, were the Jews. As they became the targets, they were in greater and greater danger with little or no chance of escaping the wrath of the Nazis. However, soon, even some of those who supported the Nazis, lived in fear. Their safety was not guaranteed either, as those in power, the pack of animals passing for humans, could turn on a dime against them for any perceived infraction. Fear was what governed the people and kept them in line.
The book unleashed a well of emotion in me since anti-Semitism seems to be on the rise again. Jews then, and now, are being blamed for the anger that was, and is, directed toward them; they are told that it is their own behavior that has brought down this wrath upon them, that by virtue of their own behavior, they have become the enemy.
The narrator of this book was marvelous. She portrayed each character appropriately, with accent and tone of voice. Her expression captured every moment of history realistically, arousing the appropriate emotional response from the reader. She never interfered with the story, but rather enhanced it.