In 1944, as the war continues and Europe falls apart, so does Wilhelm. Abandoned by his beloved and friends, he leaves for the lonesome, high-mountain estate of Farshorn Hall, intent on hiding beyond the reach of his pain and misery. But his new home is full of secrets, time machines, demons, and people that have changed the world. As the darkness inside Farshorn is revealed, so too must Wilhelm find what is inside himself.
Despite the fact that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the author in real life, this is a 5-star review not lightly given.
I’m always saying that I wish there were more platonic-love stories out there, and I’m so glad I found one that depicted such a heartwarming and genuine connection between two captivating gentlemen. Every few pages I had to stop reading to appreciate the humor, significance, or perceptiveness of a certain line and just smile because I was having such a fun time. This story has a very unique and hard-to-describe premise, but reading it just felt like meeting unique new people and observing them in their charming settings and circumstances. It’s hard to convey in my own words the importance and depth of Wilhelm and Dubrie’s relationship, but I do know that we would all be better off if we loved our friends as unabashedly as they do. I’ve read a handful of nonfiction books that offer great life advice (or at least claim to do so,) but Nothing Collapses has them beat in terms of lasting inspiration and hopeful feelings.
I don’t know if any of that made sense, but hopefully someone will read my review and be convinced to read this book and experience what it has to offer. What I am trying to say is I loved it and I highly recommend it!!
Going into this read after the short blurb I wasn't really sure what I was going to get, however I was far from disappointed. Upon starting we meet Wilhelm who seems unsure of everything including himself. We get to embark on a journey with this characters as he comes to learn about his new living arrangements as well as himself. We see him quickly grow a fixation towards Warren even after his previous love has fallen apart. Colin does an amazing job of transporting us back in time during this book with the language that is used as well as the description of scenes around the characters.
This is definitely a unique read and while at first it was quite confusing to grasp what was going on with all the interesting characters you get to meet you quickly settle into the story and start grow attachments to these quirky people. Packed with secrets and mysteries you wont have a dull moment within the walls of Farshorn Hall, there's also some romance sprinkled in along with lots of pining from the mmc. This book is for my historical fiction lovers who love books that are a bit out of the box but entertaining.
Pain Can Lead to a Different Kind of Love. Must Read!
One of my favorite takeaways is that pain sometimes brings you to a different kind of love. Not always the romantic love you expected, but the love of a true friend, and a life you never imagined. Watching Wilhelm let go of what he thought he wanted and discover his best friend Dubrie, new adventures, and a deeper sense of purpose was incredibly satisfying.
It's heartfelt, funny at times, and ultimately hopeful. If you enjoy stories where loss becomes the beginning of something even better, this book is well worth reading.
I was gripped from the first chapter. A very entertaining and action-packed read. Recommend for anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction based on true events.