Skeletons at the Feast
by Chris Bohjalian
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Book Reviews of Skeletons at the Feast
Book Review: A brilliantly told story
Summary: 5 Stars
I agree with those who thought "Skeletons at the Feast" was a marvelous book. It beautifully captures the brutality of war, as well as its ability to bring out the best in some. Most vividly, though, it depicts how nearly casual killing becomes. I shall never forget some of those scenes.
Chris Bohjalian is not the most graceful writer alive but he is a gifted storyteller. Setting this novel in Poland and eastern Germany at the end of World War II took a lot of nerve. It was an ugly, ugly time in an ugly, ugly place. Still, Bojalian pulled it off, told a consistently arresting story, and, in the end, even gave us an optimistic climax to the love story that was the centerpiece of his tale.
One of the best books I have read this year, highly recommended.
Book Review: Disappointing, Simplistic Account...
Summary: 2 Stars
Ordinarily, I would justify my rating. However, I had the exact reaction to this book as Julee Rudolph [book snob]. I found the general writing to be okay. C.B. is a gifted writer but went astray in his latest book. If only the body of the book followed the Prologue. The Prologue offers so much -- despair, confusion, all that the spoils of war offers. The sexually explicit scenes were unnecessarily graphic, as well as adolescent. Compared to so many books I've read on this dark time in our history, I found this to be, at best, a disappointing read. I, too, loved "Midwives." "Midwives" seemed so real, and one could not help but CARE about the characters. This was not the case here. "Suite Francaise" offered a more consistent portrait of this time, in my humble opinion.Book Review: A Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Chris Bohjalian, master of the novel dealing with ethical dilemmas, contemporary controversial topics and social issues, is exploring new territory. Skeletons at the Feast is not an easy read, but it is a very well written, engrossing story.
Europe at the painful end of World War II was at a desperate time for everyone. Nazi soldiers, still trying to fulfill their mission, were recruiting old men from the stream of refugees struggling to escape the approaching Soviet army. Starved and beaten prisoners of the camps held little hope for any future and German families who believed the war would not touch them were learning hard lessons.
Bohjalian has done his research and brought together this disparate group of people in a dynamic work.
Book Review: Skeletons at the Feast
Summary: 5 Stars
The great title, Skeletons at the Feast, is what caused me to pick up this book at my local bookstore and that is how I discovered Chris Bohjalian. This novel is a hypnotic tale set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany revoling around a wealthy Prussian family and an assortment of other characters, thrown together, while fleeing the invading Russian army. The thing that makes this book so great is that it is based on the real life diary of a Prussian woman. This novel is so rich and so vivid that it will stay with you for a long time after you have finished reading it. This is a book that should not be missed. This was the first novel by Chris Bojalian that I read and now I know I will read everything he writes..an amazing and talented writer..Book Review: Cinematic masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
From the first chapter till the last this book captured my imagination and wove together great characters, amazing drama and enticing landscapes. Not only did I enjoy the twist on the presentation of this time period but I felt like I was visually experiencing the trek west. Chris created a story that took us on an amazing personal journey of compelling characters with strong emotions and layers of motivations.
History is so often written from the vantage of the victor, but Skeletons At the Feast presents the reader with a unique view that allows us to better understand the complicated issues that motivated citizens of the 3rd Reich. I applaud Chris for presenting this unique view point we know so little about.