Reviewed by Emma Crowley
1945, Berlin: Ester Pasternak walked out of the gates of Auschwitz barely alive. She survived against devastating odds, but her heartbreaking journey is only just beginning. In the camp, Ester gave birth to a tiny fair-haired infant, only for her precious baby to be snatched from her and taken to a German family. Now the war is over, Ester longs to find her little girl.
But Europe is in chaos, Jewish families have been torn apart and everyone is desperately searching for their loved ones. In every orphanage and hospital she visits, Ester searches the faces of tear-stained toddlers; each mop of blonde hair and pair of blue eyes she sees sets her heart racing…
But as the months and the years tick by, the possibility of finding her daughter shrinks smaller and smaller. And Ester starts to wonder if little Pippa is even safe, or whether the miracle that saved her has now put her in even more danger?
Will Ester ever be able to find the child whose tattoo matches her own? Or is she already too late…
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Midwife of Berlin to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
The Midwife of Berlin is in my mind the best book to date by Anna Stuart. It’s not necessary to have read The Midwife of Auschwitz beforehand as there is ample background information provided which in turn fuels the main plot of this new book. Although, if you had the chance I would recommend reading it as it really explains a lot of the motivation behind the actions of the characters here but also it was a fantastic read. Characters from the previous book do come into play but you will easily be able to follow it all. This new story is a powerful and informative read packed full of emotion, heartbreak, courage and determination and I found myself completely consumed by everything from beginning to end. Despite the tough and at times harrowing nature of the story I found myself completely fascinated by the subject matter.
I have read countless books set during World War Two but few if any that focused on Germany in the 1960’s and the establishment of the Berlin Wall. Yes, I remember the Berlin Wall falling but as to the reasons for its construction and the state of Berlin at the time, I had scant information. But now having finished this very well written story with brilliantly drawn characters I feel as if I have been sitting in on the most incredible history lesson as it was such an eye opener. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t in any way at all read like a history book but instead expertly blends fact with fiction and I inhaled it in two sittings so engrossed did I become by the story unfolding.
Auschwitz 1943, Ester is an inmate at the camp and secretly assists at births and now has her own baby girl, Pippa. No one would wish to give birth to a baby girl at the camp but circumstances have meant some women have no other option. She tattoos her number in the armpit of her baby as she has done for many others as she knows the Nazi’s will come and take her daughter away and give her to a German family. By doing this, she hopes that if she survives she will one day be reunited with her. ’Is it better, in the end,for your child to die with you, or live without you?’ What an impossible question to face but Ester was so brave and knowledgeable in the decision she made. ’Hope is the greatest pain but also the greatest strength’ and it is this hope that will carry herself and her husband Filip through the many years of searching for their lost daughter.
The story then moves forward to Berlin in 1961. The city has been divided into East and West with the Russians controlling the East where Ester lives in a purpose built town called Stalinstadt and the West is controlled by the Allies. Ester now has two young boys and a daughter Olivia. She continues her work as a midwife but the family and so many others live in constant state of angst and fear of the Stasi who control the state. They are warned constantly of the evils of rebelling against the all caring state and an ideal is presented to the citizens where they follow socialist principles where they are all working together to create a state that will benefit all.
Olivia knows that she was born in Auschwitz and was adopted from an orphanage by Ester and Filip but now she discovers a shocking secret that has been kept from her. She learns of Ester’s biological daughter that was taken away from her. This completely throws Olivia and torments her because so many questions arise from the revelation. She feels as if her place in the family is in doubt that she doesn’t deserve to be a part of it. That she doesn’t fit in in terms of being a blood relation nor the fact her physical appearance is vastly different from that of her family members. Which really isn’t true at all. But at the same time she can see that the loss of their daughter has eaten away at both Ester and Filip. She is determined that she will find Pippa and in doing so she hopes all the hurt and the darkness forced into Ester by Auschwitz would be pushed out of her with the joy of a new future. ‘She could find the daughter they’d lost to prove she was the one worth choosing’.
Finding Pippa will be a challenge as lots of records were destroyed and the unease and suspicion that exists under the Russian control meant the information will not be relinquished easily. This task comes to the forefront of her mind but her talents as an athletic did not go unnoticed by the state especially with the javelin and soon she finds herself selected and enrolled at the Dynamo school for athletes. I found this aspect of the story so compelling. As the author herself explains it could have been explored in a lot more detail. In fact, it could I felt it could have been a book in itself as to what went on at these schools. It was a real eye opener for me. The pressure Olivia is under and what she is made to I just couldn’t believe it. She meets Hans there and I thought he was a fabulous character and I loved the development of their storyline. But as tensions increase and danger and suspicion lurk around every corner will Olivia be able to find her lost sister and remain safe whilst doing so especially as the Russians start to exert their authority and the wall rises overnight.
The chapters alternate between Olivia and another girl called Kirsten who is the complete opposite to Pippa. She lives in west Berlin and attends school whilst also working in a café very near to the Russian controlled zone. She is completely different to Pippa having been brought up in a German household. She ‘lost’ her father during the war although it soon becomes clear what lost means and some home truths are quickly revealed that throw everything Kirsten has believed to be true into utter chaos. Also, the strand regarding her brother Uli was again something I found difficult to comprehend that a certain character had to go through that and it opened my eyes as to what went on in Berlin in the days following the exodus of the Nazi’s.
Kirsten in my mind was stronger than Pippa and a pure warrior. She was ingenuitive and made important decisions when she learnt of the circumstances of her birth and her true heritage. Once she knew the truth she was determined and dogged in her mission and nothing would get in her way not even the wall. Dieter is a university student who regularly visits the café and a friendship is formed between the pair. He will go on to play a vital role within the overall plot but at the same time it was also heartbreaking. When the wall goes up overnight Kirsten’s world is torn apart. The Russians regime can only thrive if its people can’t leave but what does that mean for Kirsten and her personal quest? I was glued to the pages in the later half of the story as I could see connections appearing. Characters were tantalising close to each other but the political divide meant they were further apart from each other and no closer to seeking the answers and definitive resolution to everything that was running through their minds. Both girls were on a personal mission but a satisfying conclusion seemed so out of reach as danger and threats lurk around every corner. But they know they have to struggle on as ‘Evil cannot endue, not while good people resist it’.
I thought it was brilliant that The Midwife of Berlin connected to the previous book but that at the same time it had moved on significantly in terms of years and the plot. It wasn’t bogged down by rehashing the events and details of the previous book instead it became a stand alone book which drove the story on and eventually brought it full circle and to a satisfying conclusion. Although, I do wonder is there room for one more story featuring these characters despite the solid and gratifying conclusion? Maybe, it’s me being selfish and desperately wanting more but these characters have found their way into my heart and mind and are not relinquishing their grip. The complex political and geopolitical situations that existed at the time were deftly explored and there was a danger the reader could have been confused in terms of the historical facts presented but this didn’t happen at all. I appreciated the inclusion of historical notes by the author at the end because any lingering questions I had were answered and it also helped me understand the plot and characters in even more depth. This is a story detailing the inhuman curbing of basic freedoms that occurred in modern European history where the actions of a madman devastated a family and the repercussions were felt for many years. It’s a story of tenacity, strength, family and love and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it.
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