Litsy

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

This post contains spoilers

Open discussion here!!!!!

@Jess7 @MinDea #LitsyBuddyRead #TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC #FinalDiscussion

MinDea Hey guys! How did everyone feel about this book once you finished it? Did anything surprise you? Did your opinion change throughout the book overall or specific to the characters? D 6y

Bklover It seemed to me like most of the actual character development took place in parts 3 and 4. (Other than Benita). Until this last part I didn‘t really have a feel for who Ania was and you see the changes in Marianne. (edited) 6y

Melissa_J I only gave this one a so-so rating. I found the way the story was told left me a little cold. I never managed to develop much more than a passing interest in the characters or their stories. I can understand why the book would appeal to others, but it really didn‘t work for me as well as I‘d hoped. 6y

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Bklover Also, once I knew who Ania was and saw who she became I didn‘t really like her very much. 6y

Pamwurtzler Overall I thought this was a good read. I was surprised that there were only 3 women in the Castle - I initially expected Marianne to find a bunch more. I ended up liking them all - they did what they thought was right to save their families. (Even Marianne with Benita). I did really like that section at the end about the book background & where she got her point of view. 6y

Bklover Overall I really liked this book. I loved the original point of view. 6y

MinDea @Pamwurtzler I also enjoyed reading the acknowledgements section. I liked learning where this book came from. I also liked this nook, but I agree @bklover, @Melissa_J I didn't like any of the characters specifically either, but by the end of the book I did enjoy the story. I just thought it was good. 6y

MinDea Was anyone surprised by Benita's suicide? Or what about Ania being a former Nazi? 6y

Sresendez12 @Pamwurtzler I thought the same thing about there only being three women! However, I feel if there had been more women, then we wouldn‘t have been able to get to know the characters as well as we did. Overall, I really loved this book! 6y

Bklover I wasn‘t surprised by Benita‘s suicide- once she left and went back home you could sort of see her story ending. She gave up. I was, on the other hand, very surprised by Anita‘s story. You would think after the remorse she felt about those babies that she would have tried to be a really good mother and she was even horrible at that! (edited) 6y

MinDea @Bklover I wonder if because of the horrible things she saw, lived with and faced that it affected her in a way where she couldn't be close to anyone, even her kids? 6y

Bklover @MinDea You are probably right. The mother bear in me is still upset with her though! 🐻 6y

MinDea Hahaha @Bklover I totally understand! 6y

MinDea I wasn't surprised by Benita's suicide, either. I am glad she finally got some "closure". Did anyone wish she had gone back to Herr Mueller? Would that have changed her fate? 6y

MinDea @Pamwurtzler @Sresendez12 I was also disappointed, at first, that the women in the castle consisted of 3 women. I thought there would be a lot more, but I agree with you @Sresendez12 that if she had more women not sure we would have been able to dive so deeply into their lives. And this book really needed that or else it would have been a bad book. She needed to put some info so you connected with the characters more. 6y

Pamwurtzler @Bklover @MinDea I was surprised about Ania being a former Nazi & running those camps. Honestly, then I couldn‘t remember how she ended up with Marianne in the first place. 6y

MinDea @Pamwurtzler I agree! How did she end up with Marianne. In the end they kept saying she lied and misrepresented herself. Did she change her name and that name was the last name of one of Marianne's husbands rebellers and so she was mistaken for a wife? 6y

Bklover I just looked it up and Ania was at a displaced persons camp and gave her name as the widow of Pietre Graberek, who was one of Albrecht‘s cohorts in the resistance. Her name was then sent to Marianne, who was disappointed that it wasn‘t someone she knew, but helped her anyway since her “husband” was a member of the resistance. @MinDea @Pamwurtzler (edited) 6y

MinDea Ohhhh... yes, that's right! Thanks @Bklover ! 6y

MinDea I did feel the book was wrapped up a little too neatly. The girl Martin was with at the orphanage was mentioned at the end, Clotilde was mentioned...it was a little too tidied up. 6y

kspenmoll I enjoyed this book. I was not surprised at Benita‘s suicide; felt she was a lost soul when Marianne prevented her marriage. While Marianne seemed to me to be over bearing & interfering, she was also generous & loyal.She did save these women‘s lives & that of their children. I was surprised about Ania‘s past re: camps but she was so closed mouthed about her past I suspected something. Characters while maybe not likable, were real. @Bklover 6y

Pamwurtzler Oh yeah . . Thanks @Bklover ! And I‘d agree @MinDea , a little too well wrapped up at the end. 6y

MinDea @kspenmoll well put. I think that is ultimately why I marked this as a pick because they were real. They would have been through so much and maybe were a little broken and rough around the edges but ultimately they did what they had to do to survive. They reacted how they though was right, whether it was or not. Marianne did save them and she brought them together and made 2 broken families whole. She was loyal, maybe to a fault 6y

BookishMe @MinDea besides loyal, her sense of righteousness seems to have overshadowed kindness in interfering with Benita's plans. 6y

BookishMe I have yet to finish the book and I noticed some spoilers. I am fine with them ;)) I started disliking Ania when her childhood was relieved and Marianne is a little trite. Benita seemed the most vulnerable or even likeable with a promise of rags to riches happiness. While I can't completely connect with the book, I learnt end of war doesn't necessarily mean end of troubles. 1/2 6y

Suelizbeth I loved Ania‘s story. We rarely see WWII stories told from the point of view of a woman identified as a Nazi, trying to reconcile her activities during the war. I really liked Ania. She was so tragically human. I liked that she and Marianne had a reconciliation of sorts. 6y

BookishMe 2/2 From having to survive each day, to salvaging their lives, with whatever baggage, is a huge struggle. 6y

MinDea Oh no @BookishMe so sorry! You are right to her husband and Connie she was loyal, to Benita she was righteous. Which is right? 6y

BookishMe @MinDea oh, nothing to be sorry about ;D not sure about right but blind loyalty can lead to adverse effects, as we have seen in this story. 6y

theokiereader @MinDea I wondered if Benita‘s fate would have changed if she went back to Herr Mueller, too. I think her suicide could have been interpreted in two ways: 1) She truly loved Herr Mueller, and seeing that she couldn‘t have him, she committed suicide so that she didn‘t have to live without him. Or... (edited) 6y

theokiereader 2) She was childish, and instead of TRYING to go win him back, she just gave up and decided nothing was worth living for. I still see Benita as the spoiled brat of the group, where as Marianne and Ania were more mature. I think Marianne was my favorite, showing loyalty and love in her own way. I‘m not convinced that Ania was repentant for her actions. I think she regretted them, but I dont think she was haunted by them. 6y

MinDea @marywag08 interesting thoughts! I looked at her suicide as her deciding that she would rather not live and become like her mother. Stuck. Unhappy. Living in shame. I didn't think it had anything to do with Connie, other than maybe thinking she was unloyal to her deceased husband. I got the sense she did love Herr Mueller but realized even had Marianne not done what she had done they would not have been happy. That she was hiding. 6y

MinDea See, this is why I love discussing books with you all! I love the different views! 6y

GatheringBooks so sorry i am in a different time zone so am only seeing this now as i wake up 6y

GatheringBooks loved hearing the different perspectives thus far. like everyone else, i also liked benita the least, but also felt sorry how her beauty seemed to be constantly both a boon and a curse. but i did find her to be incredibly shallow, esp the fact that she did not recognize or even cared about how herr muller felt about his own past, and how torn up he was about being a nazi. the fact that she can dismiss it casually was what ended their relationship- 6y

GatheringBooks - more than marianne‘s meddling, i thought, which while uncalled for was well-intentioned. 6y

GatheringBooks @marywag08 i really like how you found ania - i think she did what she had to do in order to survive. i kind of predicted at the onset that she isn‘t who she said she was given her sons‘ reticence - but perhaps the lack of being haunted may also be brought about by germans‘ sense of pragmatism? ania struck me as being no-nonsense and practical with little time nor care for self-reflection which she may find as self-absorption 6y

Debiw781 @kspenmoll I agree! I didn‘t end up really liking anyone but the characters felt very real by the end. I particularly liked the different perspectives this book gave on the war and I went from meh in the beginning to truly enjoying it. 6y

GatheringBooks it was ania‘s character that was especially unique to me in the whole novel - especially her many conversations with her american daughter in the end as to why she did what she did, her obliviousness in the beginning and the growing horror that led to her running away and adopting someone else‘s identity in the end - more than anything, she and her sons are survivors. (edited) 6y

Debiw781 @GatheringBooks I thought her casual dismissal of his past was more the reason the relationship ended too. I think he only decided on marriage out of guilt over his father seeing her belongings at the home anyway. Marriage would not have made her happy imo. 6y

GatheringBooks @Suelizbeth i felt exactly the same way - the many things ania did to survive (ditto her sons) was painfully real - the fact that ania ended up being indispensable to marianne in the end with her skills (her sense of organization/cooking skills/no-nonsense way) - shows that she carved an identity that was not just self-serving (unlike benita), i thought in the end it was redemptive, too, even tho she didn‘t really plan it out to be that way. 6y

Rachbb3 I liked the book very much. It had a couple surprises and took a turn I didn't expect. I wasn't surprised by Benita's suicide. I expected her to do something like that. I was surprised by Ania. 6y

GatheringBooks @Debiw781 exactly! benita will always be a high-maintenance kind of girl with the full entitlement and the constant self-absorption of the beautiful - which herr mueller seemed to want to give to her initially, i believe he truly loved her - until her inability to REALLY see him - or care and think about what she sees in him - ultimately horrified him about the kind of person she is. 6y

GatheringBooks @Bklover perfect, thanks for looking it up. i think at one point when ania ran away with her sons, she also came across the ‘real‘ ania which was how she got hold of her papers in the first place - like i said in another thread, she is clearly a survivor, and a pragmatist. 6y

GatheringBooks i was wondering how everyone felt about marianne‘s relationship with her own eldest headstrong daughter, and her relationship with martin, connie‘s son (more than benita‘s) - i found that fascinating too. 6y

MinDea @Debiw781 I also felt the same way, meh at the beginning to enjoying it at the end! 6y

MinDea @GatheringBooks I liked Marianne's relationship with Martin. It made sense to me. He needed a mother figure and his mother was not strong enough or able to help him but Marianne was and willing. I found her relationship with her own children also interesting and Ania's with her daughter, Mary. 6y

Jess7 There is still time to post your thoughts and discuss this book with everyone @Austen_Nerd ! Feel free to jump right in! 🤗 6y

Austen_Nerd Wow, i love all the comments. This may have been said in the above comments and I missed it. I thought the full circle, the book opens with the Countess in a wheelchair and it ends with Marianne in a wheelchair. These two seem so different at the beginning, yet, they were both strong women. Different, yes, I just thought it was an interesting detail. 6y

Austen_Nerd @jess7 thanks for tagging me😊 reading everything, makes me ponder more on what I read. 6y

Austen_Nerd @MinDea @Pamwurtzler I enjoyed reading about the book and why the author wrote the book, before I read the book. That made me more hungry for the story and see how it would unfold. 6y

BookishMe @GatheringBooks I find it an irony that she had set out to severe Benita's relationship with a Nazi man yet, unwittingly sheltered and connected with Ania (technically a Nazi in order to survive). If only Franz Mueller had be given an opportunity to redeem himself? He tried, every way possible to help them while they all lived in the Castle. 6y

MinDea @BookishMe great insight into Marianne. I think, had Benita not committed suicide, Marianne may have tried to make amends with her as she did with Ania at the end. She also had turned her back on Ania when she found out. I think she realized that everyone was dealing with their own ghosts and demons, just as she was. Though she didn't realize at the time that they were just wearing different masks than hers. But all stemmed from the same devil. 6y

BookishMe @MinDea I agree about the same devil. The late realization is a step in shedding Marianne's sense of righteousness. I think just focusing on the 3 women was adequate, as opposed to other other views of wanting to have had more rescued. There are so many layers to these main characters, and any more would have diluted the succinct development. 6y

MinDea @BookishMe at the beginning of the book I had been disappointed it was only 3 women in "The Women in the Castle" (thinking there were going to be more), but after Part II I realized that if there had been more either the book would have needed to be longer OR there would have been not enough time to tell more of their individual stories (past present & future). 6y

MinDea @Austen_Nerd I didn't even notice that! What a great catch! I would guess that was done on purpose and there is some symbolism! Love it! 6y

GatheringBooks @BookishMe hmmm. that is an interesting observation. it may also be the connie connection? the fact that marianne has always quietly perceived benita to be somewhat ‘beneath‘ connie in terms of education/status/thinking? and the fact that benita could choose a nazi for a partner after what Marianne‘s Connie sacrificed to stand up for his beliefs - the irony is palpable, and i could imagine and also understand marianne‘s distaste and horror 6y

GatheringBooks @BookishMe regarding Franz Mueller‘s not being given an opportunity to redeem himself - i think more than others‘ perceptions of the nazis, it was mueller‘s inability to live with himself that was also eating him up, that perhaps he himself felt that there were things beyond redemption? but i found this thread of the novel immensely fascinating as it provides such a refreshing insight into nazis/those who resisted dynamics in post-war Germany.cont 6y

GatheringBooks @BookishMe -cont kind of like people in post-war germany are now sizing each other up and camps divided versus those who resisted, those who did nothing, and the nazis on the other extreme; that within one country, to be so thoroughly torn asunder/divided, and judged by fellow germans, that must have been such a very difficult time to transcend - the concept of what it means to “move on” from the war also fascinated me. 6y

BookishMe @GatheringBooks Marianne's reaction is natural being an aristocrat herself. Going back to Connie, I wish there was more about their growing years and friendship. They certainly were attracted to each other but somehow ended up with different life partners. We know how Connie fell in love with Benita but not so much about Marianne and Albrecht. 6y

GatheringBooks @Austen_Nerd this is indeed a great observation. this totally escaped me as well, but there is a “coming full circle” to the narrative with that. :) 6y

GatheringBooks @BookishMe as far as i can remember albrecht was marianne‘s professor - clearly they regarded each other more as life partners- unlike the benita/connie connection that was more visceral and passion-based; there was one quote whereby benita showed contempt at marianne for her lack of ‘passion‘ despite her being supposedly learned in so many other things. 6y

BookishMe @MinDea I also think Benita's death, (something) Marianne 'would never outlive', could have prompted her to make amends with Ania, albeit decades later. @GatheringBooks moving from segmented values to forging a bond is another struggle to overcome. Your observations and points brought up in the discussion has certainly made this book a fruituous reading for me. 6y

GatheringBooks @BookishMe awww! likewise! i have drafted a review of this novel at GatheringBooks - i think it‘s scheduled in the coming weeks, will share with you all. :) 6y

BookishMe @GatheringBooks 👍🏽👍🏽 6y

MissAimz_55 Ania definitely became one of my favorite characters. Also Marianne by the end of the book became a lot more relatable to me. Benita's story was so tragic and it made me so sad that she felt she had nothing more to live for... this was a wonderfully written book though and from a very unique perspective . It's hard for me to dislike Benita, I just feel she was probably dealt one of the worst hands . 6y

Jess7 Like here is the final discussion for this book - but it was an open discussion @avalinah 6y

cajunsyd I truly enjoyed this unique perspective of World War II, both the German perspective and the viewpoint from the women‘s eyes. I don‘t know which character I related to most, they were all so complicated as most people are. Few things in life are black and white and this book highlights that point well. Great book pick! 6y

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LitsyBuddyRead

Boy Meets Boy Book Discussion Kit: Kits for Teens | Allen County Public Library

The final discussion for #TheWomenInTheCastle starts now! Look for the post marked spoiler to join!

@Jess7 @MinDea #LitsyBuddyRead #tWitC #FinalDiscussion

LitsyBuddyRead @Melissa_J @Rachbb3 @Sresendez12 @Ashley_Nicoletto @ramsaywoodside @cajunsyd @Suelizbeth @AmyG @ofbooksandme @marywag08 @Christine11 @Jennifer3 @Lidia @ForeverNerdy @MeganAnn @suvata @Bourriquet76 @Tera0707 @Jakaranda @Lova @pamwurtzler @saturndoo @valeriegeary @rachaich 6y

LitsyBuddyRead @Debiw781 @karenaline @SilversReviews @Austen_nerd @LMJenkins @MissAimz_55 @kspenmoll @JaclynW @CoverToCoverGirl @HotCocoaReads @GatheringBooks @sills @Ubookquitous @BookishMe @catebutler @valeriegeary @Chrysta23 @hes7 @RebelReader @laughterhp @bklover @Kaye @bklover 6y

Jess7 💙💙 6y

Jess7 We post this first to tell people to go to the posts marked spoiler for the final discussion @avalinah 6y

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MinDea

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

~Ania

#Quote #TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC

SilversReviews EXCELLENT...thanks for sharing. 6y

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Bklover

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

pick

Just finished this. This was such a different approach to a WWII novel. Written from the point of view of women who survived the war and takes place during the time after the war when Germans were putting their lives back together. I found this fascinating and I wish there were more books written from this very difficult angle.
#litsybuddyread
#thewomeninthecastle
#twitc

MinDea, Jess7

kspenmoll Love your review. I enjoyed this book as well for reasons you stated. Makes me want to see what else has been written about German women during that time. Years ago read non-fiction book, but I image the scholarship is dated now,

Mothers in the Fatherland: Women, the Family and Nazi Politics

(edited) 6y

Bklover @kspenmoll Thanks! I‘ll have to check that one out. This really was an interesting angle! 6y

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MinDea

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

Reading the last Part of this month's pick for #LitsyBuddyRead. Loved learning more about Ania! Even though I find this book slow at times and I don't really connect with any of the characters I am liking this book.

#TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC

TricksyTails Love the bookmark! 😍 6y

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catebutler

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

Snow the past two days, so it‘s been quite chilly this evening. Whenever the temp drops like this, I crave comfort food that‘s piping hot. Tonight, dinner was a steak and ale pie with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies. I also finished up, The Women In The Castle for the #LitsyBuddyRead. I‘m looking forward to the final discussion!
#TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC #BookNDinner #bookanddinner

MinDea, Jess7

emilyhaldi Where do you live!? I had a similar pie every chance I could while in England last week 🤤 trying to understand why it‘s not a thing in the US?! 6y

catebutler @emilyhaldi I‘m in the States, but I studied in the U.K. for a year at university! I fell in love with their pies! So different from American pies too, I can‘t stand ours. These are from Trader Joe‘s. I was pleasantly surprised at how good these were. Nothing compares to the real deal though!! 6y

MinDea Lovely! I need to finish the book still! Looking forward to our final discussion on Sunday too! 6y

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catebutler @MinDea Thanks so much Mindy! Can‘t wait to hear the final verdict. 6y

wanderlustforwords Nummy Catie! 6y

catebutler @wanderlustforwords Thanks, Stacey!! 💓 6y

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Jess7

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

This sweet face melts my 💙. Snuggling this little guy (and his sister) while catching up on #TWITC today. #LitsyBuddyRead #DogsofLitsy | #Schnauzersoflitsy | #PetsofLitsy | #Parker

MinDea, Jess7, LitsyBuddyRead

Li_21 That face 😍 6y

Jess7 I know, right?!! His big eyes get me every time. I feel like he‘s saying “Pet me mother! You can read later.” 😂 @Li_21 (edited) 6y

Li_21 😂😂 6y

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AmyG What a sweet dog. ❤️ 6y

Jess7 Thank you!! He and his sister are truly the best!! 🤗 6y

tracey38 Awww! 💜💜 6y

booksandsympathy So sweet! 6y

Jess7 Thank you 😍 @tracey38 and @booksandsympathy 6y

blondie So precious!💕💕 6y

MinDea So cute! 6y

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LitsyBuddyRead

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

This post contains spoilers

show me

Lets discuss!!!!!!!!

#LitsyBuddyRead #TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC
@Jess7 @MinDea @LitsyBuddyRead

MinDea What does everyone think?!?!?! I liked Part II a lot more than the first part. I really liked Marianne but did not agree with what she did. What did you guys think of her actions? Do you think she was right? I get where she is coming from but it ultimately was not her choice. However her doing it may have saved her from a bad marriage?? 6y

Rachbb3 Part 2 took a turn I didn't expect. I thought they would spend more time at the castle and bring more women in, but I really enjoyed this book. I don't agree with what Marianne did, it was not her choice. Her thoughts were all for Connie. 6y

Sresendez12 I‘m really enjoying it. I have a hard time putting it down. I agree with you @MinDea that I see where Marianne was coming from, but I think she should have spoken with Benita instead. If I remember correctly, she never told Benita about the real reason she didn‘t like him. Benita may not have listened to Marianne, but ultimately it is her decision who she should marry. 6y

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theokiereader I wish the author would have explored Herr Mueller‘s guilt more. How DID former Nazis feel after the war ended? Were they guilt ridden? Were they not? Did their actions haunt them, or did they explain it away so they could live their life? Also, was it easy for the children to forget what they were taught in the Nazi homes before Marianne found them? (edited) 6y

theokiereader I‘m also still torn on Benita‘s character, even after finishing the book. Is she frivolous for wanting to ignore Herr Mueller‘s actions during the war, or is that her survival mechanism? She still comes across as self-centered to me— she knows whatever he did was probably bad, but she doesn‘t care because she just wants to be happy. (edited) 6y

Bklover I don‘t agree with what Marianne did. I think she is taking this promise to Connie way too seriously. She has rescued them and protected them through the war but Benita can marry who she wants. Plus at some point Benita is responsible for her own life. 6y

kspenmoll @Bklover I agree. Whether Benita is self centered or not, it is her life. Marianne rescued them immediately after the war but she could not let go of them as the years wore on. I love that each woman is so different, with very different background‘s and war experiences. 6y

kspenmoll I also think Mueller did love Benita & they both, before Marianne‘s interference, may have been able to begin a new life. Hard to know. Marianne assumed his guilt. 6y

Rachbb3 @marywag08 I agree, I would have liked to know more about Mueller and his thoughts and feelings. With Hitler it was do or die. How did former Nazis live with themselves that had no choice? 6y

Suelizbeth Speaking of adaptability, I felt that Marianne was having a hard time letting go of her aristocratic sensibilities. Postwar Germany required all kinds of compromises and I‘m thinking now about Ania and her two husbands. What did everyone think of Marianne‘s reaction to Ania‘s revelation? 6y

RebelReader I think Marianne is a bit of a hypocrite as she was married to one man but was in love with another. Her reaction was to Ania‘s situation was too hasty. She should have given Ania a chance to explain what really happened. She should have kept her nose out of Benita‘s business too. She should not have went to Frank. Marianne‘s judgement is clouded by her love for Connie who is dead. She‘s living in the past trying to keep Connie alive in a way 6y

RebelReader I agree with @Rachbb3 Mueller was hard to read. What was he really thinking? I think he wanted it to work with Benita, but I doubt she would have been happy living the lifestyle he was going to be able to provide. 6y

Bklover @marywag08 I agree- would like to have known more of what Mueller was really thinking. He was awfully easy to scare off! Also I‘ve wondered several times about the children. They talked early on about some of the propaganda they had been subjected to but nothing is said of how they “unlearned “ it. 6y

Pamwurtzler I‘m thinking the same things the rest of you are. Part 2 took a turn that I didn‘t expect and really Marianne should have minded her own business. 6y

Jennifer3 I love reading these books about the World War 2 era and this one is so interesting because it is post war which you don‘t see often. I have loved Between Shades of Gray, All the Light You Cannot See and the Book Thief to name a few, but the one thing I have always wondered is how did those who joined or went along with the Nazis rectify that after war? I don‘t yet have a character I am drawn too yet. You think I would being this far in. 6y

MinDea @Jennifer3 I also am not drawn to any of the characters. I am OK with it though. I like the writing a lot and find this pov very interesting and rarely done in WWII stories. I agree @marywag08 @Bklover @RebelReader @Rachbb3 I wish the author went into more detail about Mueller or the children. How did they feel about everything? Did he agree with his choices, feel shame/upset, was he in love with benita, why?, so many questions! 6y

MinDea @Rachbb3 I was so surprised it jumped forward in time. I thought they were going to be in the castle for the whole book, finding other women and children. Definitely took an unexpected turn! 6y

MinDea What does everyone think about Ania's marriage, her pregnancy and her first husband? I know some of you thought she was hiding something. Were you surprised she got married having a husband already? Why do you think she did all the things she did (got married again, hid her husband in the castle, etc)? 6y

Bklover I think there‘s a lot more to learn about the Ania situation. Clearly hubs no. 1 was not a happy situation. I am thinking that if we understood her first marriage it might explain why she married no.2, who sounds just plain boring. 6y

GatheringBooks i really enjoyed how the pace picked up considerably in part 2. I especially liked martin‘s character - especially as he reflected on how the germans responded to music during that one time when they allowed themselves to be moved by it during christmas. it reminded me so much of germans‘ stoicism and pragmatism - with so much emotions underneath. 6y

GatheringBooks @Jennifer3 i also loved all the light you cannot see and the book thief, but i do feel that this one provides a unique perspective in the sense that the reader sees the aftermath of war, what it means to the vanquished, dealing with the guilt and the shame, and ultimately how it would shape and define them as people/ as human beings. 6y

GatheringBooks @Rachbb3 this was this exact same question that i liked reading about in this novel - the spaces in between allowing the reader to form their own suppositions, and the inferences readers can draw from Herr Mueller‘s reticence and evident shame. 6y

Debiw781 @marywag08 I‘m not wild over Bonita at all. It may be her survival mechanism though.... 6y

Debiw781 @kspenmoll I didn‘t get that impression. Yes, Marianne was wrong to interfere but Mueller only declared her his betrothed because his Dad came home and saw her bag. 6y

Debiw781 @Bklover I‘m wondering the same thing. I have too many questions about Ania to even make guesses at this point. Heck I‘d wondered for a while if she‘d stolen someone‘s papers (and I guess that‘s still a possibility) 6y

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LitsyBuddyRead

Questioning for Classroom Discussion: Purposeful Speaking, Engaged Listening, Deep Thinking | Jackie Acree Walsh, Beth Dankert Sattes

Hey guys! Discussion for week 2 for The Women in the Castle will be posted soon! Look for the tag marked spoiler to join the discussion.

Please no spoilers if you have read ahead!!!!!!
#ListyBuddyRead #TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC @Jess7 @MinDea @LitsyBuddyRead

Bklover 👏👏👏 6y

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JaclynW I am SO behind! We have a 4 day weekend so hopefully I can catch up and join in. 🤞 Sorry! (Life happens, reading suffers. 😕) 6y

valeriegeary Welp. So far I am epically failing with my first ever Litsy Buddy Read. 😳 This is what happens when I decide to start a 700 page doorstopper the week before February starts! I'm a monogamous reader so I have to finish the doorstopper before I can start Women in the Castle. But I will catch up on all of this soon!! 6y

GatheringBooks looking forward to it. :) 6y

rachaich I've not managed to read this one - real life hook club demanded my reading 😉. However, would still like to read thoughts to see if I can read another time :) 6y

Ubookquitous So the older I get the more likely I am to put down a book that is not doing it for me - unfortunately I called it quits halfway through. I tried the audio and book formats and jus find myself wandering away, Unengaged. I wanted to like this book but I found the characters flat, the tension nonexistent and the structure a detriment to the story. 6y

Ubookquitous I don‘t mind unreliable narrators or even unlikeable characters but I felt so ambivalent about everything and everyone- not good when reading... or in life! Lol 6y

Jess7 We completely understand @Ubookquitous and hope you will join us in March when we read this one. I think it will be really good! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel

Jess7 No worries! @JaclynW @valeriegeary @rachaich - sometimes life gets in the way and sometimes the book choice just isn‘t a good fit. We would love to have to join later this month if you‘re able to, and if not we hope you will join us again next month when we read this one:

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel

JaclynW @Jess7 Yes! Thanks! 6y

Debiw781 I‘m behind but catching up now. It wasn‘t catching my interest so o put it aside and now I‘m enjoying it 6y

SaturnDoo I really wanted to like this one but can only read a few pages at a time. After reaching Part 2 it still hasn't sucked me in. Historical fiction is my favorite genre but I find this one a bit contrived and boring. I am reading the comments in hopes of finding something to look forward to but it just isn't happening. Setting it aside for now as it just might be my mood. 6y

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LitsyBuddyRead

The Women in the Castle: A Novel | Jessica Shattuck

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Open Discussion Here!!!

#TheWomenInTheCastle #tWitC #LitsyBuddyRead @MinDea @Jess7

MinDea I am really loving this book. Marianne, Benita and Ania are so very different and experienced totally different things during the war but they are all strong and amazing in their own ways. I can't wait to find out who else they find and how they keep building this new family. 6y

Pamwurtzler I like it too! I‘m wondering about the parts - why the book is divided into parts like that. And I‘m looking forward to seeing who else they find. 6y

AmyG I read this a while ago. But...I liked the 2nd and 3rd parts the best. (edited) 6y

See All 55 Comments

Rachbb3 I like this book very much and the characters are amazing. I am curious about who else comes to the castle. Each woman brings something to the story, Marianne's strength and bravery, Bemita's love and caution, and Ania's know-how and resourcefulness. It's going to be hard not to rush through it, but I'm holding myself back. 😁 6y

SilversReviews I read it a while ago. It took me a few chapters to get connected and to warm up to the characters, but once I did, I became fully involved with their lives as well as becoming familiar with yet another piece of WWII's history. 6y

MissAimz_55 I love this book so far ! I really love the character development. It's interesting to really think about how different kids childhoods were different during a war 6y

MinDea @Pamwurtzler @Rachbb3 me too! I am so intrigued to see who else comes to the castle, what their stories are and how they all helpe each other. I am also interested in the different parts too, Pam! 6y

MinDea @MissAimz_55 yes the kids all had such different experiences and memories! 6y

Pamwurtzler @Rachbb3 I also like how those 3 women each bring something different to contribute. 6y

Pamwurtzler Oh and, I felt like there was something missing in the story about Liesel (Martin‘s friend from the orphanage?). She was there & it seemed like she was suddenly gone. They mentioned later that they had found some of her family but it seemed disconnected to me. 6y

BookishMe I am still at beginning chapters- Connie and Benita have just met. Very promising story and I look forward to finding out how friendships form as the story advances 6y

MinDea @Pamwurtzler it did seem to be an afterthought, the Liesel story of her leaving and crying. I wonder if she comes back into the story or if that is all. 6y

GatheringBooks i have reached part 3 now, and i find it to be an easy and pretty riveting read. while i‘ve read several novels on the topic, this book came to mind as well - i find this to be such a fresh take on the topic - dealing with the aftermath of the war from women‘s perspectives; and not just any women, at that, but powerful ones too. i also enjoyed how each of their secrets unravel throughout each part of the narrative

All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel

LitsyBuddyRead Hi @GatheringBooks we love that you‘re a part of this discussion, but please be careful with your posts. We see some of them comment on things you have read beyond part 1 (chapters 1-13) and some of us haven‘t read that far. Would you mind removing any comments you have made that go beyond this week‘s suggested reading? Thanks! 6y

Kaye I‘ve been reading to try catching up and made it in time to chime in on Part 1. Its a bit disjointed to me in the beginning, I think how the book tells small chunks of Before and After the war, plus several different outlooks from people who experienced it from different vantage points. I‘m not really connecting with any one character yet because of this. It‘s good, but so far , I‘d only rate it a 3. Let‘s see how I feel by next week. (edited) 6y

theokiereader I agree with @GatheringBooks— I love that this book focuses on the recovery period after the war, because that isn‘t discussed much. What do you y‘all think of the characters so far? I find myself liking Marianne the most (probably because I am a Type-A person who tends to take care of people and manage them at the same time 😉). Benita gets under my skin. I know there‘s more depth to her than the “silly girl” persona, but I... 6y

theokiereader ...can‘t get over her Kardashian-like qualities. Anita seems secretive and mysterious, but a little cold. What do you think? 6y

MinDea @marywag08 I agree with all your assessments but I like them all. I love that Ania offered to stay in the castle and help Marianne with the soldiers. And I like that Benita tried to help the other guy (forgetting his name). I think they are all showing their strengths and weaknesses but will all be strong for the family unit. 6y

Melissa_J I like the book well enough, although I find the manner in which the narrative is told leaves me a little cold towards the characters - I don‘t dislike any of them, but I haven‘t warmed up fully to any of them yet. I think Ania is hiding something and I‘m very curious as to what it is. 6y

Jennifer3 I love the fact this book focuses on after the war, the “recovery” and that we will be exploring relationships between women. I am a little behind because of a busy work week, but hope to be up to speed at our next checkpoint! 6y

GatheringBooks @LitsyBuddyRead oops! sorry 🤭🤭🤭 6y

MinDea @GatheringBooks no worries!!! Thank you!! 😊 6y

MinDea @Jennifer3 @GatheringBooks @melissa_J @Kaye @BookishMe @Pamwurtzler @Rachbb3 @MissAimz_55 @SilversReviews @AmyG are there any characters you dislike so far? How do you feel towards these women's husbands? I feel bad for Benita because of what happened to her and her hisband, Connir, didn't tell her/prepare her for anything. I feel like I would want to know if something like that was going to happen. Failure seemed like a possibility. 6y

MinDea Why not let Benita and Martin be more prepared for the aftermath? 6y

MissAimz_55 @Pamwurtzler I agree ! I want to know more about her 6y

Kaye So far, Ania seems to be a bit of a puzzle. She seems a bit standoffish or something. Like she‘s got a secret. But maybe it‘s just all she went through that makes her that way. If I had to pick someone I like best it be Marianne. She seems like a no nonsense type of person that handles life. I guess we really didn‘t get to know much about .the courtship between Connie and Benita, other than it seemed very fast. I hope the book details more. 6y

Melissa_J @MinDea I don‘t dislike Benita, but there is something about her behaviour that makes me wonder about her like I wonder about Ania. Then again, considering what Benita went through I can also understand why she is the way she is. I liked Marianne‘s husband, and how he treated her as an equal. Not a fan of Connie. 6y

Rachbb3 There aren't any characters that I dislike. I don't understand why Connie didn't confide in his wife more. Reading on it seems like he wasn't the greatest husband. 6y

MinDea @Rachbb3 @melissa_j I agree. I am interested to learn more about Connie and Benita. I am the most intrigued about them! It does sound like Connie was not a great husband, but I hope they explain more about why the quick marriage, maybe even why her knowing that he was going to do what he did, etc. 6y

Rachbb3 @MinDea Good point. There are many questions surrounding their relationship. I hope more info is revealed. 6y

SaturnDoo Not reading any comments yet. I have started reading but not being drawn into the story as I had hoped. 😢 I am off from work tomorrow and hope to finish this week's reading and come back to comnent. 6y

MissAimz_55 I feel bad for Benita bc she wasn't prepped and also bc Her husband obviously cheater on her a lot. I really want to know what secret Ania has and obviously one of her sons know (I don't have the book near me so I forget which one and the name ). 6y

MeganAnn I just finished part 1 - it was much longer than I expected or I would have started it earlier in the week! So far I‘m enjoying it and agree with many of you about the different personalities of the women and what they catch bring to the castle. I‘m wondering what we will see from them going forward and who else might come to the castle. 6y

MeganAnn @Kaye I agree with you about Ania. I think she definitely has a secret and we really don‘t know too much about her husband‘s role yet, so we? @MissAimz_55 the way her sons act also leads me to believe they are in on her secret. The way Wolfgang is the younger one but takes charge has me wondering if that is just personality, or if something happened to make him stand up and be a leader. 6y

Kaye @MeganAnn Can‘t say any more other than I read further today and some of your questions might be answered. 6y

MeganAnn @Kaye oooo very mysterious! I‘m looking forward to continuing! 6y

Kaye @MeganAnn 😁 6y

catebutler I‘m enjoying going through everyone‘s comments and hearing thoughts on the book so far. I do feel that I haven‘t quite warmed up to any of the characters quite yet. But the story from the perspective of German resisters is absolutely fascinating. There is a part on pg. 95 that talks about watching the Allied film and the Germans believing it‘s just propaganda. It‘s so crazy to me, that this happened, and yet sometimes with modern events, I feel 6y

catebutler (cont.) that it would be easy for us to do the same, which is such a scary thought! Apathy is such a dangerous outlook, I see it in this book with those that didn‘t want to see the war happen, but didn‘t do anything about it. And like I mentioned in the first part of my comment, it is rampant in today‘s politics and global forum. This part of the book really stood out to me, love to hear if it struck a chord for anyone else? 6y

MinDea @catebutler I totally agree with you! I found myself thinking about today's state and government too. I really enjoy this book because I think it is such an interesting way to tell this story. I have not read anything from this type of pov. I really like it. I hope as the story moves along we all find ourselves more attached to the characters. 6y

Suelizbeth What happened to Gerda and Olgar? Do we know? 6y

Bklover @marywag08 @mindea I feel the same about Benita. It doesn‘t seem like she married Connie for love, but for position, and she‘s kind of a brat. I do like Marianne a lot! She‘s a tough cookie. And I agree with @Kaye and @MeganAnn - Ania had a secret of some sort. Sorry I‘m late. Just finished part 1 about five minutes ago! (edited) 6y

Sresendez12 I finished part one a few days ago, but I‘ve been so busy that I‘m just now reading the discussion. I‘m really enjoying this book so far. It‘s drawn me in and I can‘t wait to keep reading. There are so many questions that I hope get answered in the upcoming parts! 6y

Debiw781 I'm reading this on the heels of finishing The Nightingale so it's taking me a little bit longer to get into it (which would be true of anything following The Nightingale). The beginning sort of throws you into the story and I had to do some googling on the history to really put it in context. 6y

MinDea @Debiw781 I was going to look into this more after finishing the book! 6y

Debiw781 @MinDea it's fascinating and horrifying! I love that fiction books are helping me learn more about history. 6y

Debiw781 @Pamwurtzler yes!! Liesel seemed so important to him to just disappear like that. 6y

Debiw781 @Melissa_J @Kaye I agree that the writing style almost disconnects me from the characters just as I start warming to them. 6y

MissAimz_55 @catebutler there is a lot of things said in this book tha I highlighted as a close to our current political situation. It is kind of scary to think about . Especially about apathy and just choosing to not see how dangerous things really are 6y

Austen_Nerd As I read i wonder, what would I have done, Which woman would I have been. I am looking forward to the next part 6y

Jess7 I apologize to all for being a little absent from the open discussions this month. I‘m on page 100 so far. This is definitely a book Mindy is enjoying, and I‘m having a hard time getting into. I‘m hoping to get caught up soon so Mindy and I can put together some thought provoking questions for the final discussion later this month! You guys are great and please continue to discuss!! 🤗 @MissAimz_55 @Debiw781 @Pamwurtzler @Sresendez12 @Bklover (edited) 6y

Jess7 Ran out of room... @Austen_Nerd @catebutler @kaye @MeganAnn @GatheringBooks @Melissa_J @marywag08 🤗 6y

Kaye @Jess7 I‘ll have to admit , I bailed on this one. I got about halfway done and didn‘t really care what happened to who. Just not my type of book I guess. I hope everyone else is thoroughly enjoying it though. 👍🏼 6y

Jess7 No worries!!! @Kaye Sometimes a book just isn‘t a good fit. I hope you join us next month for this one. I think it will be really good and there are books on the cover - so there‘s that! 😉 😍

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel

Kaye Thanks @Jess7 I‘ll check it out. Maybe it‘ll be more to my liking. 🙂 6y

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