Every Man Dies Alone

 We read Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada this month.  The novel is set in WWII Germany in the Berlin area.  The story is a fictionalized account of the true story of Otto and Elise Hempner who committed acts of civil disobedience by anonymously distributing postcards protesting Nazi acts.  The novel was written by Hans Fallada (pseudonym for Rudolf Wilhelm Friedrich  Ditzen) in 24 days in the last year of his life.  Published in 1947, the novel was not translated into English and published until 2009 when it became a bestseller.  The novel is important because it describes the degradation and helplessness experienced by the German people under the dictatorship of Hitler.

Our discussion revolved around the disturbing violence and helplessness experienced by the characters and the hopefulness about the power of the human spirit to strive for good.  Otto and Anna; Trudell and her husband and Eva Kluge all lose their children and each finds a way to take their grief and anger and rebel against an unjust and unfair government.  Despite their attempts at creating decency, they are meant to feel dirty and criminal.  Otto and Anna and Trudell and her husband sacrifice their lives, while Eva is able to take a young Nazi youth and convert him to a better young man with a bright future.  We think it was Hans Fallada's attempt to find some meaning in all the suffering endured by the Germans during this time.  Although sometimes difficult to read,  we thought Every Man Dies Alone was a good novel to have read.

Otto and Elise Hempner

 Our next book for February 22nd is last year's winner of the Mann Booker Prize, The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.  We hope to be meeting at Fred's house!  Chrysanne will not be able to join us as she will be off on adventure.  Let us know, Fred.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/books/julian-barnes-wins-the-man-booker-prize.html