1. Saving Amelie
    Cathy Gohlke
    Tyndale House / 2014 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$11.49 Retail Price$15.99 Save 28% ($4.50)
    4.9 out of 5 stars for Saving Amelie. View reviews of this product. 51 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW383224
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  1. Ruth
    Upstate SC
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: Female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Saving Amelie -
    June 2, 2015
    Ruth
    Upstate SC
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    Touching, exciting, compelling, disturbing, read-in-one-sitting (Don't start in the evening if you want some sleep!) amazing, overwhelming and more. It's all been said, except ...

    The 'slick' SS officer. supposedly such a super model for the perfect man is a real stinker, cruel and vicious to the core. I think Ms. Gohlke cuts him a bit too much slack or paints him too awful later in the book? The cruel Drs. Mengele and Verschuer being as intelligent as they were, would have seen that and looked for a different pairing for the beautiful Rachel.

    Having grown up 'over there' I was glad to see Ms. Gohlke's objective and meticulous research. By 1939 - 41 it was already far too late for any concerted opposition. I am still amazed there was as much as is mentioned in the book. Bethel was mentioned briefly as being on the radar - it was an amazing place and totally devastated later.

    [Also I was reminded of the how the Japanese were treated here. The Jewish folk. The black people. Roman Empire times. And now the worldwide cruelty.]

    Without Christ as Savior humans will always be cruel and evil, covertly or overtly.

    The slow process (ten years) of Rachel, Jason, Rivka, becoming believers seems a little unrealistic to me, But I am glad that ultimately, in the book, all ends well.

    I intended to just mention Mr. Schlick and be done. The book got to me. It will be a keeper, just like a couple of other authors' (Munsons, Helen McInnes {an oldie} ) books.

    Re-reads so I'll not ever forget and to remind me that early discernment gives early means to combat and help.

  2. jsrn18
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Devil's rein
    August 16, 2014
    jsrn18
    Heart wrenching story about Hitler run Germany where the corruption runs deeply. Hitler and his cohorts are working to eradicate anyone who is seen as unperfect in their eyes. This book was hard to read not because on the writing but because of the topic and the anger I felt towards those involved in the genocide. The book is wonderfully written and would definitely read this author again.
  3. Okieladybug
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Saving Amelie
    August 2, 2014
    Okieladybug
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    This review was written for Saving Amelie - eBook.
    Im reviewing Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke. This is the second book I have read by this author.

    Saving Amelie is set in Germany during World War II and follows a young American woman, Rachel Kramer, and an American journalist, Jason Young. Rachels friend asked her to save her young deaf daughters life from certain death and with the help of Jason and several others, Rachel attempts to help save the little girl.

    I thought they author did a good job of portraying the German people and how they turned a blind eye to the hatred and racism of Hitlers regime. Obviously they were scared and thats understandable, but if they had stood up and fought against injustice in the beginning, would things have become so out of control? How do we Americans today compare? There was a comment made by one of the characters about prayer never being taken out of schools. Although this story is fictional, I am sure in the 1940s, the American people never dreamed that prayer would be taken out of schools only a couple of decades later. This is strictly my opinion, but I am very concerned about our governments involvement in our healthcare. Will there be a time when they decide that the elderly and disabled are useless and are a burden on society?

    Although, I liked the story, I had a hard time relating to Rachel. I know she was taught by her parents that she was superior, but she came across as immature and self-centered. For example, her treatment of Rivka and her inability to see the seriousness of Maximillions attentions. I thought some of the situations were unbelievable, because I think the characters would have been killed instead of just beaten, etc While I dont want everyone to die, this is Germany during World War II, make it a little more realistic.

    My thoughts and suggestionsAt the beginning I had difficulty keeping up with all of the characters being introduced. While the epilogue sums everything up, there was a big time gap and I think the author could have easily written a sequel. There were vans mentioned in the book and I pictured a modern van in my mind. I was discussing the book with my husband and he questioned vans being used at that time, so we did some research. There were in fact vans, but they were more like delivery trucks. Im still not sure what the author had in mind when she used them in the book. The authors note at the end is a must read. I like to read historical fiction, but I also like to know the real history behind it.

    I thought the book was good, but it took me longer to read than other books. I could put it down and not read it for a while, but I always went back. It just didnt grip me the way other books do and I think it had a lot to do with not being able to relate with Rachel and the van question. Whether or not there was a historical discrepancy, I think the author is very passionate about what she writes and I will continue to read her books.

    *I RECEIVED A FREE EBOOK COPY FROM NETGALLEY AND TYNDALE PUBLISHERS IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW*

  4. Virginia
    upstate NY
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Very good
    June 29, 2014
    Virginia
    upstate NY
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Rachel visits Germany in 1939, and an old friend of asks her to get her daughter, who is deaf, out of the country before the girl is killed. Rachel meets American journalist Jason, who helps her rescue the girl.

    I thought this book was very good. The storyline moved along well and the suspenseful story made me not want to put the book down until I was finished.
  5. IVLeague
    Cabot, AR
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    It will have you reading past your bedtime!
    June 19, 2014
    IVLeague
    Cabot, AR
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 4
    Saving Amelie contrasts the best and worst of humanity. During WWII, while Hitler's army presses into Poland and later into France there is a darker, more sinister plan unfolding in the Fatherland. The plans that Hilter outlined in his autobiographical manifesto, Mein Kampf, are coming to fruition. Jews are being persecuted and oppressed, herded into concentration camps, or blatantly murdered. Anyone perceived as being a drain on German society - the infirmed and mentally or physically handicapped - are described as having 'life unworthy of life'. They are collected and disposed of, murdered, as part of the nation's blossoming eugenics program. Standing in opposition to this evil was the resistance network. They were people who demonstrated courage by risking their lives to aide those hunted by the SS and the Reich. They fought the ultimate battle of good vs evil.

    Amelie was born to a prominent SS commander and his wife Kristine. By her 4th year of life her father, desperate to maintain his status as one of the Reich's genetically elite, plots to dispose of Amelie and her mother. Amelie is the embodiment of innocence. She is trapped in her silent world desperate to understand the fear and turmoil around her. Little Amelie inspires others to bold faith and costly grace as they attempt to preserve her life.

    Rachel Kramer, daughter to renowned eugenic scientist Dr. Rudolph Kramer, is the person whom Kristine entrusts to save her daughter. Reluctant at first, Rachel enlists Jason Young, an American journalist, to help her plan an escape to the provincial town of Oberammergau. Rachel's character is difficult to love or even like in the beginning, but she shows a lot of growth over the course of the book! From her prideful beginnings Rachel is humbled and transformed.

    SS officer Gerhardt Schlick was the antithetic of Amelie. Evil oozed from him in every scene. His character was smug, conniving, ruthless, completely deplorable and to the author's credit well conceived.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspect of Saving Amelie. It had an authentic feel and a smooth flow. Cathy Gohlke immerses her reader in the culture, art, and scenic beauty of the Bavarian village of Oberammergau. She also provided an introductory course in the teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the pseudo-science of eugenics which I found fascinating.

    In what was probably an effort to convey the passage of time, I felt that portions of the story became bogged down with superfluous details. It was not so much so that it made me want to put the book down, in fact there were a few heart-wrenching revelations that compelled me to read past my bedtime.

    If you like to read past your bedtime too...add Saving Amelie to your summer reading list.

    I award Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke 4 out of 5 stars.

    I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying items 46-50 of 51
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