What do you think?
Rate this book
My Own Dear Brother
An unforgettable, nightmarish coming-of-age story set in rural Austria towards the end of World War II.
It is 1944, and war has taken the men in Nazi-controlled Austria to the front line. For thirteen-year-old Ursula Hildesheim, life in the village of Felddorf remains almost as it was: bullied by her schoolmates, enlisted in endless chores by her mother and sister, thieving, and running wild with her adored older brother, Anton.
But then Russian prisoners escape from the local concentration camp, her mother starts an affair with a married man, her only friend goes missing, and her brother’s allegiance to the Hitler Youth emerges in shocking ways—and Ursula finds herself alone, disturbed by dark memories, and surrounded by threat.
In this new world of conflict, Ursula discovers a bravery she has never known before and is forced to recognize that danger comes not only from the enemy at the door but from the enemy within.
My Own Dear Brother is a remarkable coming-of-age story and an unflinching study of both cruelty and courage. Rich in folklore, it introduces a daring young heroine and a powerful new literary voice.
It is 1944, and war has taken the men in Nazi-controlled Austria to the front line. For thirteen-year-old Ursula Hildesheim, life in the village of Felddorf remains almost as it was: bullied by her schoolmates, enlisted in endless chores by her mother and sister, thieving, and running wild with her adored older brother, Anton.
But then Russian prisoners escape from the local concentration camp, her mother starts an affair with a married man, her only friend goes missing, and her brother’s allegiance to the Hitler Youth emerges in shocking ways—and Ursula finds herself alone, disturbed by dark memories, and surrounded by threat.
In this new world of conflict, Ursula discovers a bravery she has never known before and is forced to recognize that danger comes not only from the enemy at the door but from the enemy within.
My Own Dear Brother is a remarkable coming-of-age story and an unflinching study of both cruelty and courage. Rich in folklore, it introduces a daring young heroine and a powerful new literary voice.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2016
9 people are currently reading
992 people want to read
About the author
Holly Müller
2 books38 followersHolly Müller is a novelist, short story writer and musician born in Brecon, Wales to a Welsh mother and Austrian father.
She was educated at the University of South Wales where she is now finishing a PhD and where she also taught Creative Writing for several years.
She moved to Austria to research her first novel My Own Dear Brother, and to explore her family background. She interviewed elderly Austrians about their memories of the Second World War and the post war occupation.
She lives in Cardiff and is the singer, violinist and lyricist in the band Hail! The Planes. My Own Dear Brother was published in February 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing.
You can follow Holly on Twitter @mullerism
She was educated at the University of South Wales where she is now finishing a PhD and where she also taught Creative Writing for several years.
She moved to Austria to research her first novel My Own Dear Brother, and to explore her family background. She interviewed elderly Austrians about their memories of the Second World War and the post war occupation.
She lives in Cardiff and is the singer, violinist and lyricist in the band Hail! The Planes. My Own Dear Brother was published in February 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing.
You can follow Holly on Twitter @mullerism
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 6, 2020
This is a tautly plotted literary debut about the poverty stricken, ostracised Hildesheim family who live in a small rustic village, Felddorf, in Austria. It presents a picture of an Austria that is grimly supporting Nazism, and the rigid sexual and cultural norms of the time. You get a realistic idea of the way petty and judgemental people think and behave. It is a troubled coming of age drama set in the second world war that follows Ursula, otherwise known as Uschi (little bear). It centres on her close but ambivalent relationship with her brother, Anton.
Their father is killed in the war, and Ursula, Dorli (her sister), Anton and her mother have to learn to survive in harsh social and economic conditions. Anton is a disturbed, violent and sadistic boy who is an ardent follower of the Nazis. He has a intense relationship with Ursula but cannot stand her having feelings for Sepp or her close relationship with Schosi, who has mental health issues. He goes to unforgivable lengths to get rid of them. He gets Ursula involved in removing Siegfried, who is in a relationship with their mother. He ruthlessly kills a cat in a frozen stream. He threatens to reveal dirty secrets about Ursula to Sepp, who Ursula hankers after, unless she stops having anything to do with him. He contributes to Schosi being picked up by the Nazis as a mental defective and transferred to the nightmarish mental hospital in Vienna where the only certainty is that the patients will die. Ursula feels horrendous guilt at her part in Siegfried and Schosi's fates.
With Herr Esterbaur, Ursula shows incredible courage, where against all odds, they manage to rescue a Schosi who is close to death. Anton has left the family home ostensibly to join the Nazi war effort. Ursula is aware of the dark side of her brother but still longs for his return. The Nazis fall from power and the village is liberated by a Russian occupation intent on retribution. The family is impoverished further and the women including Ursula are repeatedly raped. In the face of worse violence, the women come to an uncomfortable accommodation of their situation. There are Russians who are helpful to the family, Schosi and others. Anton returns but only to condemn the women and Ursula. With further acts of cruelty from Anton, Ursula finally stands up to her brother and, in front of others, tells him he was wrong to abuse her since she was a child.
Holly Muller shows a commanding understanding of what life under the Nazis was like in a tiny village, and the folklore, customs and rituals of the place. She is skilful in creating a menacing atmosphere and the undercurrents that would have existed at the time. She shows genius in creating and developing rich characters like Ursula, Anton, Herr Esterbaur, Frau Hillier, Schosi etc.. She captures the dark underbelly of abuse in family relationships, and in the society dominated by the Nazis and later the Russians. Ursula has a complicated relationship with her brother, but grows up with the courage to face him with what he did. As she does so, the prospect of a real relationship with Sepp opens up. She is damaged by all that she has gone through and seen, but there is hope. A compelling and memorable debut. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
Their father is killed in the war, and Ursula, Dorli (her sister), Anton and her mother have to learn to survive in harsh social and economic conditions. Anton is a disturbed, violent and sadistic boy who is an ardent follower of the Nazis. He has a intense relationship with Ursula but cannot stand her having feelings for Sepp or her close relationship with Schosi, who has mental health issues. He goes to unforgivable lengths to get rid of them. He gets Ursula involved in removing Siegfried, who is in a relationship with their mother. He ruthlessly kills a cat in a frozen stream. He threatens to reveal dirty secrets about Ursula to Sepp, who Ursula hankers after, unless she stops having anything to do with him. He contributes to Schosi being picked up by the Nazis as a mental defective and transferred to the nightmarish mental hospital in Vienna where the only certainty is that the patients will die. Ursula feels horrendous guilt at her part in Siegfried and Schosi's fates.
With Herr Esterbaur, Ursula shows incredible courage, where against all odds, they manage to rescue a Schosi who is close to death. Anton has left the family home ostensibly to join the Nazi war effort. Ursula is aware of the dark side of her brother but still longs for his return. The Nazis fall from power and the village is liberated by a Russian occupation intent on retribution. The family is impoverished further and the women including Ursula are repeatedly raped. In the face of worse violence, the women come to an uncomfortable accommodation of their situation. There are Russians who are helpful to the family, Schosi and others. Anton returns but only to condemn the women and Ursula. With further acts of cruelty from Anton, Ursula finally stands up to her brother and, in front of others, tells him he was wrong to abuse her since she was a child.
Holly Muller shows a commanding understanding of what life under the Nazis was like in a tiny village, and the folklore, customs and rituals of the place. She is skilful in creating a menacing atmosphere and the undercurrents that would have existed at the time. She shows genius in creating and developing rich characters like Ursula, Anton, Herr Esterbaur, Frau Hillier, Schosi etc.. She captures the dark underbelly of abuse in family relationships, and in the society dominated by the Nazis and later the Russians. Ursula has a complicated relationship with her brother, but grows up with the courage to face him with what he did. As she does so, the prospect of a real relationship with Sepp opens up. She is damaged by all that she has gone through and seen, but there is hope. A compelling and memorable debut. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
October 30, 2016
I’m not even sure how to express my feelings toward “My Own Dear Brother.” It is easily one of the best and most educational young adult books about World War II and the Holocaust that I have ever read – and I have read A LOT.
Perhaps what makes it so unforgettable is the focus on what is so often overlooked in fictional literature about the time period. It focuses on the lives of those in countries controlled by Nazi Germany, in this case Austria, as well as what was done to those suffering various forms of disabilities. Every day life is explored, including the Nazi Youth, fears of local residents of “The Party,” and the divisions found even amongst close-knit families.
Ursula and her family and friends, as well as many of the townspeople, are so thoroughly developed that it felt as though I knew them. Their struggles, pain, and laughter felt real. The plot is steady, but takes the time to meander and really show how things were. Nothing was black and white or simplified. Beware though, this is not for the faint of heart. As can be reasonably expected, there are racial slurs, brutality, and a total disrespect for human life. There is also an animal death that is extremely crucial to the plot.
I cannot recommend “My Own Dear Brother” enough to those who enjoy reading about history and learning new points of view. It’s best for high schoolers and adults and would be a valuable asset in classrooms.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Perhaps what makes it so unforgettable is the focus on what is so often overlooked in fictional literature about the time period. It focuses on the lives of those in countries controlled by Nazi Germany, in this case Austria, as well as what was done to those suffering various forms of disabilities. Every day life is explored, including the Nazi Youth, fears of local residents of “The Party,” and the divisions found even amongst close-knit families.
Ursula and her family and friends, as well as many of the townspeople, are so thoroughly developed that it felt as though I knew them. Their struggles, pain, and laughter felt real. The plot is steady, but takes the time to meander and really show how things were. Nothing was black and white or simplified. Beware though, this is not for the faint of heart. As can be reasonably expected, there are racial slurs, brutality, and a total disrespect for human life. There is also an animal death that is extremely crucial to the plot.
I cannot recommend “My Own Dear Brother” enough to those who enjoy reading about history and learning new points of view. It’s best for high schoolers and adults and would be a valuable asset in classrooms.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
July 23, 2016
Let me say it straight out: I strongly suspect that the vast majority of readers are going to love My Own Dear Brother. The fact that I didn’t has more to say about me as a reader than it has to say about Holly Muller as a writer. Those who are intrigued should follow their instincts and judge for themselves.
The book – divided into three parts -- introduces us to Ursula Hildescheim, a 14 year old girl who lives in the small Austrian Village of Felddorf in 1944. She lives there with her widowed mother and brother, Anton, whom she adores…even though it is obvious to the reader that he is the stuff from which Hitler Youth are made of. He’s damaged and cruel – almost to the point of caricature – and his influence over Ursula is enormous.
The author makes an audacious choice in the first part of the book, turning Ursula into Anton’s accomplice for a morally abhorrent act. For me, this decision did not pay off. At 14, teens are formed enough to know the ramifications of their moral decisions and I quickly felt distanced from her.
Ursula must then redeem herself. In essence, the book adheres to many of the tenets of young adult fiction (and let me stress, there is nothing wrong with that. To Kill a Mockingbird, for example, was YA fiction at its finest). How do I define YA fiction? There has to be a good story and the book must move at a good pace. There has to be a young teen (or child) who is undergoing scary and confusing emotions. That teen must undergo a catharsis with little or no real help from adults.
Her quest leads her to try to free a mentally impaired friend named Schosi who was captured and forced into a Mengele-like institution. In real life, a feat like hers would have been unlikely – even impossible – and I needed to surrender belief. Only in part three – when the Russians arrive – did I feel that the book became vividly harrowing and fulfill its initial promise of merging in folklore and authentically exploring the evil that lies inside and outside us.
Those who love The Book Thief – the majority of readers – have a treat in store for them. I was seeking greater complexity (Why was Anton so damaged? What was so compelling about him for Ursula?) and veracity (Could anyone really aid a boy like Schosi without severe repercussions?) But again, that’s ME and one person’s opinion is no more than that.
The book – divided into three parts -- introduces us to Ursula Hildescheim, a 14 year old girl who lives in the small Austrian Village of Felddorf in 1944. She lives there with her widowed mother and brother, Anton, whom she adores…even though it is obvious to the reader that he is the stuff from which Hitler Youth are made of. He’s damaged and cruel – almost to the point of caricature – and his influence over Ursula is enormous.
The author makes an audacious choice in the first part of the book, turning Ursula into Anton’s accomplice for a morally abhorrent act. For me, this decision did not pay off. At 14, teens are formed enough to know the ramifications of their moral decisions and I quickly felt distanced from her.
Ursula must then redeem herself. In essence, the book adheres to many of the tenets of young adult fiction (and let me stress, there is nothing wrong with that. To Kill a Mockingbird, for example, was YA fiction at its finest). How do I define YA fiction? There has to be a good story and the book must move at a good pace. There has to be a young teen (or child) who is undergoing scary and confusing emotions. That teen must undergo a catharsis with little or no real help from adults.
Her quest leads her to try to free a mentally impaired friend named Schosi who was captured and forced into a Mengele-like institution. In real life, a feat like hers would have been unlikely – even impossible – and I needed to surrender belief. Only in part three – when the Russians arrive – did I feel that the book became vividly harrowing and fulfill its initial promise of merging in folklore and authentically exploring the evil that lies inside and outside us.
Those who love The Book Thief – the majority of readers – have a treat in store for them. I was seeking greater complexity (Why was Anton so damaged? What was so compelling about him for Ursula?) and veracity (Could anyone really aid a boy like Schosi without severe repercussions?) But again, that’s ME and one person’s opinion is no more than that.
May 8, 2016
I wanted to like this, really I did, but it wasn't the right book for me.
I'm not sure if I've read a book set in Austria during WWII before (nothing is jumping to mind at least), so it was an interesting read from that perspective. I found the mid section about Schosi and his rescue from an institution the strongest, and most moving part of the novel. This book added to my knowledge about how those with disabilities were treated in Austria during the war.
Other sections of the book related the experiences of the women and children at home during the war, and latterly the experiences of those groups when the red army arrived. I can see that the author was trying to present a picture of what war meant to women and children and the hardships they faced, but the three sections - despite Ursula being our link between the three - didn't quite gel together for me. When I first finished the book my impression was of a book that was quite disjointed and disorganised. It was only in thinking about it later that I worked out what the author had tried to achieve.
That aside, I'll forgive any number of flaws in a book if it tells me a good story and makes me feel. The story here was interesting, but I felt distanced from the book. It felt cold, removed, and stiff. I can see that many people have gained a lot from this book. You might too, but this particular style wasn't my cup of tea.
I'm not sure if I've read a book set in Austria during WWII before (nothing is jumping to mind at least), so it was an interesting read from that perspective. I found the mid section about Schosi and his rescue from an institution the strongest, and most moving part of the novel. This book added to my knowledge about how those with disabilities were treated in Austria during the war.
Other sections of the book related the experiences of the women and children at home during the war, and latterly the experiences of those groups when the red army arrived. I can see that the author was trying to present a picture of what war meant to women and children and the hardships they faced, but the three sections - despite Ursula being our link between the three - didn't quite gel together for me. When I first finished the book my impression was of a book that was quite disjointed and disorganised. It was only in thinking about it later that I worked out what the author had tried to achieve.
That aside, I'll forgive any number of flaws in a book if it tells me a good story and makes me feel. The story here was interesting, but I felt distanced from the book. It felt cold, removed, and stiff. I can see that many people have gained a lot from this book. You might too, but this particular style wasn't my cup of tea.
July 15, 2018
When I noticed that the author herself had submitted a five star review (calling it a tour de force), I had half a mind to dock a star from my rating for immodesty. But the fact remains that this was a superb novel. Shocking and disturbing, it is beautifully written and I look forward to more from this author. It should be read far and wide as a warning about what may happen in our future if Trump and his cronies get their way. Recommended.
July 9, 2016
* warning: I do carry on a bit, but it's the story that has me so moved. So please forgive my digressions. visit my blog (https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com...)
"It wasn't long before the judgement of the village fell like a gavel onto the Hildesheims."
The quote only hints at the meanness of the villagers when they turn. The story begins with Ursula, her brother Anton and a group of Krampuses and in a way ends with them. Yes, you read that right, but it's a tradition, a bit scary too. They live in the village of Felddorf in Nazi occupied Austria. Then we are in the summer, and the villagers are heard to say "Poor herr hildesheim"- "He'd be ashamed to see how his children run wild. that woman." The reader knows how Urusla and her family have fallen in the eyes of the villagers from the start.
Soon it is January, and a letter arrives about her father, missing since Stalingrad urging them to hold on, because the party is unsure if he is dead or alive. She befriends Schosi hillier at the same time, and everything begins. Because of his being different (disabled), Schosi isn't supposed to make his presence known but he loves his friend Ursula and even being punished or beaten can't keep him away. Anton's hatred and disgust of the 'weak' Schosi doesn't stop Ursula from growing close to him. When Russian prisoners escape and Anton in caught up in an incident that leaves one dead, Anton's nature seems to alter, but does it really just surface more? It is brutal to learn about the villagers, how easily they turn on each other and judge one another. Watching and trying to fathom why loss can make you mean and bitter lead you to turning people in for no other reason than to make them suffer happens so easily. Ursula's hero worship of her beloved brother (loyal to the cause of Hitler) causes her to make terrible choices that effect her mother, and such loyalty to someone bent on abandonment costs her more than her young mind could have foreseen. Read as a child though, if you can, how the source of your downfall in the villagers mind could lead you to an 'easy fix'. Think about being the outcasts day in and out, the horrible shunning, the shame, the hunger in your belly that could make a mother easily open her arms to 'sin'. There is so much bullying, and the shame young Urusula feels at her meager belongings as she sees her 'friend' so well dressed, not wanting to bring shame on her by being in her presence hit me hard. Ursula comes of age and loses her innocence, but in a brutal time.
It's a slow dark happening with dear sweet Schosi hillier, a horror the reader sees creeping up on them all and when he is in trouble even his mother's deep abiding, protective love cannot save him. We see into the true horrors of what it meant to be considered 'inferior' and disposable.
This was the hardest part of the novel for me to read but the most beautiful too. From earlier when we witness the horrible thing Anton does to a cat and sweet Schosi's reaction, readers see into his beautiful soul and love him. To think on the childlike innocence of those with disabilities and the sheer confusing terror of what happened when they were taken is enough to horrify anyone. That humanity can think to do such evil, because it is evil, that such depravity exists in the minds of man is enough to make anyone question the meaning of life and whatever God of your choosing. In fact, his fellow patients (prisoners actually) question God themselves. That as long as 'well, orders are from higher up, so I do what I am told' as a way to keep your conscience clean is a mystery to many. It's not easy to think about those who didn't agree and still went against their nature to do terrible things. Strangely, with all the brutal ugliness, you can see the psychology of why some followed terrible orders, how fear is enough to stick with the wrong side and point fingers at others. (If I judge, cast judgement than I am safe, as are my loved ones) but not everyone had a choice. Flip the coin and there are those that embraced darkness because it was already flowing through their veins. Remember too, there were those that risked their lives to help others.
Sadly for Ursula, the latter is the case with her beloved Anton. When the second world war is at it's end and the Russian soldiers enter Felddorf, more horrors visit. I think about the line when Hungarians are seen running saying "hide your women, wear all your clothes" something like that, "those crazy Hungarian refugees", they think. Not so crazy, but aware of what was coming to the women of Felddorf. As an aside, I was much reminded of my Hungarian family history. My own grandmother has stories of Russian soldiers entering her village and raping many of the women, young and old alike. My grandfather and great uncle, along with my grandmother and her brother's wife were in two separate rooms when Russians broke into their home to rape the women. But seeing my great aunts baby boy sleeping between his parents, they left them alone and left my wounded grandfather in peace, his own wife hidden with my father. Of course they went on down the road and raped someone else. The other Russian soldiers they encountered loved children (mind you very young ones) and didn't hurt little kids. In fact, even played with my own father and uncles who were 1 to 3. Many were young teens forced into fighting. Stories of them shooting chickens in my grandmother's yard, hanging them from the walnut trees to cook and feeding my own father is contrary to the nature of the horrible things they did. So in our family, the presence of an infant saved my aunt and grandmother from rape. Others weren't so lucky. It is true that they raped girls as young as 12 (younger too) and old women. It happened often, for far longer than you can imagine. As with any war, there were good soldiers that didn't have that blood-lust, and others who did. If you were lucky, the good ones intervened. In any village, some women welcomed the soldiers as survival, and those who didn't were raped anyway. For me to read about everything that happens to the village women of Felddorf, how accepting your fate makes a whore of you in the villager's eyes... well... what were women to do with no men to protect them? It is something those living in a free country are lucky to be removed from.
It is untrue that this story is all ugliness and black hearts. There are those who stand up, and so much more moving when it is someone already shunned like Schosi's mother, because it takes that much more beauty to already be an outcast and stand up for someone else. There is love, there is so much alive in the muck-not just Ursula and Schosi's friendship, but his mother Frau Hillier and farmer herr esterbauer. Their strange relationship and his fatherly love for the lad Schosi, is solid to the end. He goes beyond what most would do to help Schosi. In Ursula's mother any woman can understand why she would hunger for the comfort of a man, almost any man really, in times of war, hardship and deep loss. The stress her venomous son Anton brings to his mother's heart, what can a mother do ? Anton is the flame that incinerates everything good and still Ursula loves him, even when it dawns on her all the darkness that is growing and pulsing through him is real and dangerous.
This story got under my skin, I read it to the very end last night and find myself thinking about every character. From the outside it's easy to say 'never me' and to assume you would be above the villager's behavior, that you would be shielding the weak and hunted, that you would never shun your fellow neighbor to save yourself (but when you enter your children into that equation friends, it's amazing what you would do to protect them.)
A heavy read but there is light too. When reading about Schosi and others like him, I thought about our own treatment in America of those with mental disabilities or physical ones in the not so distant past. 5 stars for this novel because it provoked different feelings and questions, had me thinking outside the story too. It is very engaging. There are those who restore your faith in humanity as much as those who make you question it. My heart went through phases of anger, sorrow, shock and love. I don't know if I read this differently because of my family history and the things they went through. It brought to life many of the stories I have been told throughout my life. The judging on the readers end of the what is right and wrong is easy. But if you think such horrors could never happen anywhere else in the world, like here, you're sorely mistaken. Humanity can be both ugly and beautiful, evil and good a thin line between.
"It wasn't long before the judgement of the village fell like a gavel onto the Hildesheims."
The quote only hints at the meanness of the villagers when they turn. The story begins with Ursula, her brother Anton and a group of Krampuses and in a way ends with them. Yes, you read that right, but it's a tradition, a bit scary too. They live in the village of Felddorf in Nazi occupied Austria. Then we are in the summer, and the villagers are heard to say "Poor herr hildesheim"- "He'd be ashamed to see how his children run wild. that woman." The reader knows how Urusla and her family have fallen in the eyes of the villagers from the start.
Soon it is January, and a letter arrives about her father, missing since Stalingrad urging them to hold on, because the party is unsure if he is dead or alive. She befriends Schosi hillier at the same time, and everything begins. Because of his being different (disabled), Schosi isn't supposed to make his presence known but he loves his friend Ursula and even being punished or beaten can't keep him away. Anton's hatred and disgust of the 'weak' Schosi doesn't stop Ursula from growing close to him. When Russian prisoners escape and Anton in caught up in an incident that leaves one dead, Anton's nature seems to alter, but does it really just surface more? It is brutal to learn about the villagers, how easily they turn on each other and judge one another. Watching and trying to fathom why loss can make you mean and bitter lead you to turning people in for no other reason than to make them suffer happens so easily. Ursula's hero worship of her beloved brother (loyal to the cause of Hitler) causes her to make terrible choices that effect her mother, and such loyalty to someone bent on abandonment costs her more than her young mind could have foreseen. Read as a child though, if you can, how the source of your downfall in the villagers mind could lead you to an 'easy fix'. Think about being the outcasts day in and out, the horrible shunning, the shame, the hunger in your belly that could make a mother easily open her arms to 'sin'. There is so much bullying, and the shame young Urusula feels at her meager belongings as she sees her 'friend' so well dressed, not wanting to bring shame on her by being in her presence hit me hard. Ursula comes of age and loses her innocence, but in a brutal time.
It's a slow dark happening with dear sweet Schosi hillier, a horror the reader sees creeping up on them all and when he is in trouble even his mother's deep abiding, protective love cannot save him. We see into the true horrors of what it meant to be considered 'inferior' and disposable.
This was the hardest part of the novel for me to read but the most beautiful too. From earlier when we witness the horrible thing Anton does to a cat and sweet Schosi's reaction, readers see into his beautiful soul and love him. To think on the childlike innocence of those with disabilities and the sheer confusing terror of what happened when they were taken is enough to horrify anyone. That humanity can think to do such evil, because it is evil, that such depravity exists in the minds of man is enough to make anyone question the meaning of life and whatever God of your choosing. In fact, his fellow patients (prisoners actually) question God themselves. That as long as 'well, orders are from higher up, so I do what I am told' as a way to keep your conscience clean is a mystery to many. It's not easy to think about those who didn't agree and still went against their nature to do terrible things. Strangely, with all the brutal ugliness, you can see the psychology of why some followed terrible orders, how fear is enough to stick with the wrong side and point fingers at others. (If I judge, cast judgement than I am safe, as are my loved ones) but not everyone had a choice. Flip the coin and there are those that embraced darkness because it was already flowing through their veins. Remember too, there were those that risked their lives to help others.
Sadly for Ursula, the latter is the case with her beloved Anton. When the second world war is at it's end and the Russian soldiers enter Felddorf, more horrors visit. I think about the line when Hungarians are seen running saying "hide your women, wear all your clothes" something like that, "those crazy Hungarian refugees", they think. Not so crazy, but aware of what was coming to the women of Felddorf. As an aside, I was much reminded of my Hungarian family history. My own grandmother has stories of Russian soldiers entering her village and raping many of the women, young and old alike. My grandfather and great uncle, along with my grandmother and her brother's wife were in two separate rooms when Russians broke into their home to rape the women. But seeing my great aunts baby boy sleeping between his parents, they left them alone and left my wounded grandfather in peace, his own wife hidden with my father. Of course they went on down the road and raped someone else. The other Russian soldiers they encountered loved children (mind you very young ones) and didn't hurt little kids. In fact, even played with my own father and uncles who were 1 to 3. Many were young teens forced into fighting. Stories of them shooting chickens in my grandmother's yard, hanging them from the walnut trees to cook and feeding my own father is contrary to the nature of the horrible things they did. So in our family, the presence of an infant saved my aunt and grandmother from rape. Others weren't so lucky. It is true that they raped girls as young as 12 (younger too) and old women. It happened often, for far longer than you can imagine. As with any war, there were good soldiers that didn't have that blood-lust, and others who did. If you were lucky, the good ones intervened. In any village, some women welcomed the soldiers as survival, and those who didn't were raped anyway. For me to read about everything that happens to the village women of Felddorf, how accepting your fate makes a whore of you in the villager's eyes... well... what were women to do with no men to protect them? It is something those living in a free country are lucky to be removed from.
It is untrue that this story is all ugliness and black hearts. There are those who stand up, and so much more moving when it is someone already shunned like Schosi's mother, because it takes that much more beauty to already be an outcast and stand up for someone else. There is love, there is so much alive in the muck-not just Ursula and Schosi's friendship, but his mother Frau Hillier and farmer herr esterbauer. Their strange relationship and his fatherly love for the lad Schosi, is solid to the end. He goes beyond what most would do to help Schosi. In Ursula's mother any woman can understand why she would hunger for the comfort of a man, almost any man really, in times of war, hardship and deep loss. The stress her venomous son Anton brings to his mother's heart, what can a mother do ? Anton is the flame that incinerates everything good and still Ursula loves him, even when it dawns on her all the darkness that is growing and pulsing through him is real and dangerous.
This story got under my skin, I read it to the very end last night and find myself thinking about every character. From the outside it's easy to say 'never me' and to assume you would be above the villager's behavior, that you would be shielding the weak and hunted, that you would never shun your fellow neighbor to save yourself (but when you enter your children into that equation friends, it's amazing what you would do to protect them.)
A heavy read but there is light too. When reading about Schosi and others like him, I thought about our own treatment in America of those with mental disabilities or physical ones in the not so distant past. 5 stars for this novel because it provoked different feelings and questions, had me thinking outside the story too. It is very engaging. There are those who restore your faith in humanity as much as those who make you question it. My heart went through phases of anger, sorrow, shock and love. I don't know if I read this differently because of my family history and the things they went through. It brought to life many of the stories I have been told throughout my life. The judging on the readers end of the what is right and wrong is easy. But if you think such horrors could never happen anywhere else in the world, like here, you're sorely mistaken. Humanity can be both ugly and beautiful, evil and good a thin line between.
July 3, 2018
This Tale, set in an obscure, rustic, Austrian village in 1944 when the Lies of the Nazi Rulers are reaching some sort of frightful Fruition, is a roller coaster ride of various players. All can be labelled because all are various in aspirations and beliefs and loyalties. Some are totally ignorant and helpless and reliant - the condition of Every Baby and Child and so at the Mercy of the main Actors. These latter are either trapped or free to cause trouble. From the young boy who is loved by his mother and the Nazi farmer but an object of scorn to most Nazis because of his mental defects; others like him are seen as worthless their defects being physical. Both sets will be subject to annihilation as are the Jews. For some it will only be a matter of weeks before the family is informed they died of some rare or rapid disease. Others will be put through longer processes to test the power of some drug, or some state such as lack of warmth. But All will eventually die whether serving a purpose or not.
There is even a sub-group made up of High Ranking Russian Officers in this village. They are dying of starvation- another process is being tested. They are escaping in a mad search for food...any food
and the terrified locals have been lied to for so long they are prepared to kill. Even the "Dear Brother" of the Book's Title, but he enjoys killing his Officer, begging for his life. His faithful younger sister cannot help but wonder why.So gradually more and more groupings are revealed; more complex when some have divided loyalties. Others like to betray others who stray.
A complexity, less obvious in a larger populations, is here very obvious and more entertaining to the torturers, who are not scant.
Others have disappeared. It will take a war to end to see how or if they have survived.
There is even a sub-group made up of High Ranking Russian Officers in this village. They are dying of starvation- another process is being tested. They are escaping in a mad search for food...any food
and the terrified locals have been lied to for so long they are prepared to kill. Even the "Dear Brother" of the Book's Title, but he enjoys killing his Officer, begging for his life. His faithful younger sister cannot help but wonder why.So gradually more and more groupings are revealed; more complex when some have divided loyalties. Others like to betray others who stray.
A complexity, less obvious in a larger populations, is here very obvious and more entertaining to the torturers, who are not scant.
Others have disappeared. It will take a war to end to see how or if they have survived.
November 18, 2016
"My Own Dear Brother" is a novel set during the war in Nazi Austria until the Russians take over. The story follows 14 year old Ursula and what she, her family and her friends have to go through because of her brother Anton, who is definitely not a "dear brother", like the title suggests.
I am German and you grow up hearing about WW II at school all the time, but I've actually never read a book about that topic in my free time (apart from The Book Thief, I guess). And trust me, this is not a comfort read, due to all those horrible things that are portrayed in the book and that unfortunately have really taken place. So this book was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I nevertheless loved it. It was an eye-opener and made me think, and I love books that make me think. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you have never really concerned yourself with the topic of WW II or war in general, and you can deal with reading about violence.
I'd also like to thank NetGalley, Holly Müller and Bloomsbury for providing me this free ebook!
I am German and you grow up hearing about WW II at school all the time, but I've actually never read a book about that topic in my free time (apart from The Book Thief, I guess). And trust me, this is not a comfort read, due to all those horrible things that are portrayed in the book and that unfortunately have really taken place. So this book was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I nevertheless loved it. It was an eye-opener and made me think, and I love books that make me think. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you have never really concerned yourself with the topic of WW II or war in general, and you can deal with reading about violence.
I'd also like to thank NetGalley, Holly Müller and Bloomsbury for providing me this free ebook!
September 1, 2019
I was aware of the elements of the Third Reich of which this book treats, but found it a detailed and convincing fictional account of their effects on one particular community.
I have fond memories of walking holidays in Austria, and Austrian friends, but misgivings about the current government (having said that, I have equal misgivings about many other current governments, not least that of the U.K.).
I found this an absorbing read and look forward to hearing the author speak at a forthcoming Writers’ Forum event in Wales, and finding out more about her research methods.
I have fond memories of walking holidays in Austria, and Austrian friends, but misgivings about the current government (having said that, I have equal misgivings about many other current governments, not least that of the U.K.).
I found this an absorbing read and look forward to hearing the author speak at a forthcoming Writers’ Forum event in Wales, and finding out more about her research methods.
April 11, 2020
Despite the rather annoying title, this is quite a good book which takes you through the harrowing times during the end of WWII in Austria. The main character is engaging although I found her relationship with her brother to be a bit contrived.
August 16, 2016
I absolutely LOVED this book and could not put it down. It is the story of a young 14-year old girl in Nazi-occupied Austria and her family's struggle to survive. One major part was all about how the mentally deficient were treated and it broke my heart as it showed how a sweet young boy was treated. Then later in the novel, when the Russians came to occupy, things went from bad to worse for the women and children left behind. This is an amazing first novel and I highly recommend it to all who loved historical fiction. I can't get these characters out of my mind.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
July 11, 2021
Set in Austria before, during, and after World War II, this book follows a young isolated village girl named Ursula as she comes of age during one of the most nightmarish times in history. When her special needs best friend, Schosi, goes missing, and her brother (who shows sociopathic tendencies ) runs off to "defend" Austria, she is left to make difficult choices and finally face memories and emotions she has long hidden.
The events and setting of this story are very compelling, but the characters are not. This is a very plot-driven novel and there is a lot of focus on trauma, village and personal issues, and desperation. The end is hopeful but there is a lot to get through before that time. Personally, I found that the overarching sense of story made up for the lack of emotional connection to the characters, but many would not find that to be the case. There is a lot of dark twists and somewhat confusing plot beats to this narrative, which oftentimes work, but just as often doesn't.
This was an interesting and tragic historical take coming-of-age story, however the emotionally disconnected feel the entire thing had somewhat spoiled it for me.
The events and setting of this story are very compelling, but the characters are not. This is a very plot-driven novel and there is a lot of focus on trauma, village and personal issues, and desperation. The end is hopeful but there is a lot to get through before that time. Personally, I found that the overarching sense of story made up for the lack of emotional connection to the characters, but many would not find that to be the case. There is a lot of dark twists and somewhat confusing plot beats to this narrative, which oftentimes work, but just as often doesn't.
This was an interesting and tragic historical take coming-of-age story, however the emotionally disconnected feel the entire thing had somewhat spoiled it for me.
May 29, 2018
I finally read this book while I was recuperating from the flu this past March, and while I liked it, it wasn’t my usual choice of WWII book. I had read it was a coming of age novel and thought it would be aimed at YA readers when I requested it on NetGalley. But I was wrong, it is definitely an adult novel.
And while it is an excellent novel, well written and informative about life in Austria under the Nazis and later under the Soviets, it is a bit too graphic for my target readers. Muller does capture the unleashed cruelty that can results in a regime that glorifies violence and war, but fortunately, there are also moments of kindness that provide some relief.
Even though it doesn't work for my purpose, I would still recommend My Own Dear Brother to anyone interested in history and/or WWII fiction.
And while it is an excellent novel, well written and informative about life in Austria under the Nazis and later under the Soviets, it is a bit too graphic for my target readers. Muller does capture the unleashed cruelty that can results in a regime that glorifies violence and war, but fortunately, there are also moments of kindness that provide some relief.
Even though it doesn't work for my purpose, I would still recommend My Own Dear Brother to anyone interested in history and/or WWII fiction.
December 16, 2015
You can find my full review of My Own Dear Brother on my book blog.
My Own Dear Brother is the story of Ursula Hildesheim, her brother Anton Hildesheim and Schosi Hillier, three youngsters in Nazi-ruled alpine Austria. The Second World War is heading for a conclusion, and in people's minds the oppressiveness of fascism is joined by the fear of the approaching Russian juggernaut. Basically, times are bad, and looking as if they might get worse.
Ursula, however, has more immediate concerns at the start of the novel. Growing up is a struggle, and life in a small, conservative rural community has its challenges. Then there is her brother Toni, whom she worships, but who has an unsettling fierceness about him. All too quick to hate, all too quick to lash out, her love for Toni can be quite isolating, as he viciously persecutes any friends she makes.
My Own Dear Brother is a very authentic story. This makes it a quite harrowing reading experience. Life in a small, very Catholic community is not easy at the best of times - and WW2 is not at all the best of times.
Everyone has their noses in everyone else's business. Pettiness and judgmental, malicious gossip are everywhere. People are oh-so-keen to have someone to ostracise or look down on. Deeply Catholic, rural areas are, on the whole, godawful places to live. Especially for anyone who is a bit of an outsider.
Ursula's family are outsiders. They are poor. The children run around barefoot until temperatures necessitate winter footwear. They wear patched-up hand-me-downs, their home is not spotless and neat but mildewy and worn, and they live in a farm cottage, outside of the main village.
When her mother starts receiving a regular visitor from Vienna, Ursula's family life starts to slowly derail. Anton hates the newcomer and town busybodies start to gossip, sniffing scandal in the air. The Hildesheims are shunned and publicly shamed, which proud and furious Anton cannot stomach at all.
Life under fascism is hard to imagine for people who never experienced anything like it. In this novel, the atmosphere is captured vividly. The way gossip and petty resentments can turn deadly, the way certain people gain a mantle of fear, the way people hush their voices and dare not talk of certain things, the way the unspoken gains power over everyone, the way everyone quietly ignores the unspeakable. And yet, the everyday continues. People go to work. People find ways to put food on the dinner table. People see even the most loathsome of their neighbours on an everyday basis, whether at church or at the grocer's. Anyone wondering what life in any authoritarian, ultra-conservative parts of the world is like right now could probably read My Own Dear Brother and get a good inkling.
The novel puts you right into that world, and it's a terrifying, dangerous and grim place to be. Take a young teenage girl who isn't quite aware of how dangerous her world really is, add a disturbed older brother to the mix, and put them at odds, and you get a book that is so much more than you might expect from the cover and the description.
At times, the novel is as tense and suspenseful as the most relentless of thrillers. At other times, the book is a microcosmic coming of age story, and the story of a teenager who feels like an outsider and struggles with self-loathing. Nazi rule is sometimes a backdrop, sometimes a very imminent danger.
My Own Dear Brother is a rich novel, handling difficult topics and weaving together different threads with masterful aplomb. There are a few scenes, a few half sentences, which in my opinion did not really fit properly, but it's quite possible these will be gone by the time it hits the bookshops. (The netgalley version I read was an uncorrected proof, so subject to copyedits)
Fascism, messed up relations, and puberty... they are all psychologically scarring in their different ways. This is a book that combines all three. It features psychological damage and horrors, with sections of page-turning tension, sections of trauma and sections of heartbreak. This is not a feel-good novel, and there is little or no relief from the darkness of its time and subject matter. As such, it is utterly authentic and utterly gruelling to read. I would say it's a great literary achievement, and a perspective on WW2 that I have not seen before. I would not, however, recommend it to readers looking for a feelgood novel.
My Own Dear Brother is the story of Ursula Hildesheim, her brother Anton Hildesheim and Schosi Hillier, three youngsters in Nazi-ruled alpine Austria. The Second World War is heading for a conclusion, and in people's minds the oppressiveness of fascism is joined by the fear of the approaching Russian juggernaut. Basically, times are bad, and looking as if they might get worse.
Ursula, however, has more immediate concerns at the start of the novel. Growing up is a struggle, and life in a small, conservative rural community has its challenges. Then there is her brother Toni, whom she worships, but who has an unsettling fierceness about him. All too quick to hate, all too quick to lash out, her love for Toni can be quite isolating, as he viciously persecutes any friends she makes.
My Own Dear Brother is a very authentic story. This makes it a quite harrowing reading experience. Life in a small, very Catholic community is not easy at the best of times - and WW2 is not at all the best of times.
Everyone has their noses in everyone else's business. Pettiness and judgmental, malicious gossip are everywhere. People are oh-so-keen to have someone to ostracise or look down on. Deeply Catholic, rural areas are, on the whole, godawful places to live. Especially for anyone who is a bit of an outsider.
Ursula's family are outsiders. They are poor. The children run around barefoot until temperatures necessitate winter footwear. They wear patched-up hand-me-downs, their home is not spotless and neat but mildewy and worn, and they live in a farm cottage, outside of the main village.
When her mother starts receiving a regular visitor from Vienna, Ursula's family life starts to slowly derail. Anton hates the newcomer and town busybodies start to gossip, sniffing scandal in the air. The Hildesheims are shunned and publicly shamed, which proud and furious Anton cannot stomach at all.
Life under fascism is hard to imagine for people who never experienced anything like it. In this novel, the atmosphere is captured vividly. The way gossip and petty resentments can turn deadly, the way certain people gain a mantle of fear, the way people hush their voices and dare not talk of certain things, the way the unspoken gains power over everyone, the way everyone quietly ignores the unspeakable. And yet, the everyday continues. People go to work. People find ways to put food on the dinner table. People see even the most loathsome of their neighbours on an everyday basis, whether at church or at the grocer's. Anyone wondering what life in any authoritarian, ultra-conservative parts of the world is like right now could probably read My Own Dear Brother and get a good inkling.
The novel puts you right into that world, and it's a terrifying, dangerous and grim place to be. Take a young teenage girl who isn't quite aware of how dangerous her world really is, add a disturbed older brother to the mix, and put them at odds, and you get a book that is so much more than you might expect from the cover and the description.
At times, the novel is as tense and suspenseful as the most relentless of thrillers. At other times, the book is a microcosmic coming of age story, and the story of a teenager who feels like an outsider and struggles with self-loathing. Nazi rule is sometimes a backdrop, sometimes a very imminent danger.
My Own Dear Brother is a rich novel, handling difficult topics and weaving together different threads with masterful aplomb. There are a few scenes, a few half sentences, which in my opinion did not really fit properly, but it's quite possible these will be gone by the time it hits the bookshops. (The netgalley version I read was an uncorrected proof, so subject to copyedits)
Fascism, messed up relations, and puberty... they are all psychologically scarring in their different ways. This is a book that combines all three. It features psychological damage and horrors, with sections of page-turning tension, sections of trauma and sections of heartbreak. This is not a feel-good novel, and there is little or no relief from the darkness of its time and subject matter. As such, it is utterly authentic and utterly gruelling to read. I would say it's a great literary achievement, and a perspective on WW2 that I have not seen before. I would not, however, recommend it to readers looking for a feelgood novel.
April 9, 2016
I confess to not knowing how to review this book.
In terms of story that moves me to either cheer for the main character or sob tears while reading, this book did neither. The scenes and descriptions were awful and sad but as a reader they didn't particularly move me.
I didn't particularly like Ursula even though I understand she went through some pretty awful stuff before she even turned 15. But I just didn't really like her, I couldn't feel particularly sympathetic towards her at all. This is the main downfall of this book for me. I just couldn't feel completely sympathetic to this girl even though she experienced some horrific things.
I did like the characters of Schosi and wished the book had focused on his story more as I found that the most fascinating part of this story. A disabled boy during Nazi occupation in the 1940's, is not a story heard often, if at all. His life was way more interesting then Ursula and he was a much more likeable character. In fact his story and character are the main reason I gave this book a 3 star rating.
My knowledge of Austria during WWII is pretty limited I must confess, so not sure how accurate events and behaviours were. But small town life can be pretty rough if you are on the outside. I can easily imagine under the fearful rule of Nazi Germany's that petty, small- mindedness, would get much worse.
The author though was able to write extremely detailed and descriptive scenes which teleported the reader to the countryside of Austria. If the author isn't from Austria then she did a good job researching and it shows in the writing.
This is not the best historical fiction set during WWII I have read but it wasn't the worst. It tried to tell a story from a different perspective then the normal WWII historical fictions. I would try another book by this author as I felt there was a lot of potential in this book and this was her first.
In terms of story that moves me to either cheer for the main character or sob tears while reading, this book did neither. The scenes and descriptions were awful and sad but as a reader they didn't particularly move me.
I didn't particularly like Ursula even though I understand she went through some pretty awful stuff before she even turned 15. But I just didn't really like her, I couldn't feel particularly sympathetic towards her at all. This is the main downfall of this book for me. I just couldn't feel completely sympathetic to this girl even though she experienced some horrific things.
I did like the characters of Schosi and wished the book had focused on his story more as I found that the most fascinating part of this story. A disabled boy during Nazi occupation in the 1940's, is not a story heard often, if at all. His life was way more interesting then Ursula and he was a much more likeable character. In fact his story and character are the main reason I gave this book a 3 star rating.
My knowledge of Austria during WWII is pretty limited I must confess, so not sure how accurate events and behaviours were. But small town life can be pretty rough if you are on the outside. I can easily imagine under the fearful rule of Nazi Germany's that petty, small- mindedness, would get much worse.
The author though was able to write extremely detailed and descriptive scenes which teleported the reader to the countryside of Austria. If the author isn't from Austria then she did a good job researching and it shows in the writing.
This is not the best historical fiction set during WWII I have read but it wasn't the worst. It tried to tell a story from a different perspective then the normal WWII historical fictions. I would try another book by this author as I felt there was a lot of potential in this book and this was her first.
January 3, 2016
Gripping and moving, this is the story of Ursula, a child becoming a young woman in wartime Austria. The story is sad, brutal, yet at the same time uplifting. We see Ursula at first a bystander watching the effect of war on other people's relationships. She then becomes a participant as events start affecting her personally. The title of the book reflects Ursula's complex relationship with her older brother, who she both loves and fears, the truth of which isn't fully revealed until the end. Beautifully written and warm-hearted without being sentimental.
A Goodreads giveaway.
A Goodreads giveaway.
February 5, 2017
I really wanted to like this book but had the hardest time getting into it. I read it in the heels of Lilac Girls and This House is Mine, both of which are WWII pieces and thoroughly enthralled me. Maybe I need to try picking this up again in the future because I typically love WWII setting historical fiction.
November 26, 2015
Could not get into it. Tried on 3 occasions but I just didn't take to the main Character.
October 13, 2016
this gripped me. a very real portrayal of Nazi Austria and the atrocities
August 23, 2017
This book is so depressing. Nothing good, hopeful, or light happens here. Well, maybe at the very end, like the last two pages.
I picked this up from a featured book shelf at the library, but after bringing it home, I worried it was a young adult or children's book. The writing quickly told me that it was neither. The language was dense, hard to get through, and I sometimes had to reread passages to make sure I got the gist of what was being said.
The book is written in three parts. The first part introduces the Hildesheim family, specifically Ursula, and their small Austrian town after German occupation. It is clear from the get go that Ursula's beloved brother Anton is not right. When he willfully drowns the kitten, I knew he was evil. The second part involves Schosi, Ursula's mentally challenged neighbor, his horrific time in mental institutions, and his escape. The third details life after the war when the Russians took over. This was the hardest to read-repeated rape and abuse, constant fear.
This book left me with many questions:
The ritual of Krampuses. Is that for real?? Did parents really allow masked people to chase their children outside in the snow and lash at them with whips and chains??
The town ostracized the family after the Russians had continuously raped the women and moved into their house, which wasn't something the family wanted. Wasn't that happening all over town? Were they the only family that was being terrorized by the soldiers? How did these other families escape this?
What happened to Frau Gerg? Why was she not brought to justice after all that she did in the name of the Nazis?
What a hard life Ursula had: raped by her brother, bullied at school, abused by her mother, raped by the Russians. That poor girl. It was not an uplifting book. Do not read on your beach vacay.
I picked this up from a featured book shelf at the library, but after bringing it home, I worried it was a young adult or children's book. The writing quickly told me that it was neither. The language was dense, hard to get through, and I sometimes had to reread passages to make sure I got the gist of what was being said.
The book is written in three parts. The first part introduces the Hildesheim family, specifically Ursula, and their small Austrian town after German occupation. It is clear from the get go that Ursula's beloved brother Anton is not right. When he willfully drowns the kitten, I knew he was evil. The second part involves Schosi, Ursula's mentally challenged neighbor, his horrific time in mental institutions, and his escape. The third details life after the war when the Russians took over. This was the hardest to read-repeated rape and abuse, constant fear.
This book left me with many questions:
The ritual of Krampuses. Is that for real?? Did parents really allow masked people to chase their children outside in the snow and lash at them with whips and chains??
The town ostracized the family after the Russians had continuously raped the women and moved into their house, which wasn't something the family wanted. Wasn't that happening all over town? Were they the only family that was being terrorized by the soldiers? How did these other families escape this?
What happened to Frau Gerg? Why was she not brought to justice after all that she did in the name of the Nazis?
What a hard life Ursula had: raped by her brother, bullied at school, abused by her mother, raped by the Russians. That poor girl. It was not an uplifting book. Do not read on your beach vacay.
April 2, 2018
I enjoy individual stories that are written during major historical events because while everyone knows the main background of historical events like WW II and Hitler, it gives these stories a personal touch. I picked this up because that’s what I expected but I honestly couldn’t get into it. I couldn’t connect with Ursula who’s a 13 yo who’s obsessively connected to her brother Anton who displays characteristics of a sociopath. While I understand that sometimes we can be blind by the bad our family members or those who are close to but Anton was very outright in his behavior but Ursula constantly dismissed it. I gave this book two stars because Schosi, he made the story bearable. Despite his mental state, his sincerity and pureness kept me reading til the end.
Honestly I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, even with some things making sense in the end, I don’t feel the Ursula really grew up in the way this was to be a coming of age book. Yes she does learn to see her brother for who he truly is but the book still gives you this idea that she still hopeful for her brother despite the damage he brings to everyone around him.
Honestly I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, even with some things making sense in the end, I don’t feel the Ursula really grew up in the way this was to be a coming of age book. Yes she does learn to see her brother for who he truly is but the book still gives you this idea that she still hopeful for her brother despite the damage he brings to everyone around him.
May 7, 2021
Not to say the book began promising, but MODB began with a sense of purpose, or at least the idea of purpose. Understandable setting, paranoia and terror corrupting every nook and cranny of Austria, it's easy to tell the kind of tone we are going to be experiencing. Tragically, it all ends up either falling flat or falling and falling without impact with the ground - in this case, it's about a little girl given 300+ pages of her brother being a vile sadistic sociopathic Hitler youth and herself going "Nah, he ain't that bad." until the ending when he is legitimately threatening to kill her and her best friend (for what feels like the billionth time) and she goes from "He is okay" to a whalloping "Maybe he is a little mean but I can hope for him."
My Own Dear Brother is aimless.
The opening dilemma of escaped Russian prisoners? Disappears. The moral battle between grown-into propaganda and logical human empathy? Never explored.
The fact that the cast is made up almost entirely of comically heinous people doesn't help.
WARNING: book stoops to sexual assault to make you care. Instead you wind up vomiting.
My Own Dear Brother is aimless.
The opening dilemma of escaped Russian prisoners? Disappears. The moral battle between grown-into propaganda and logical human empathy? Never explored.
The fact that the cast is made up almost entirely of comically heinous people doesn't help.
WARNING: book stoops to sexual assault to make you care. Instead you wind up vomiting.
July 3, 2017
Consider coming of age in WWII Nazi-occupied Austria. Then add a Hitler-obsessed brother, a mentally-challenged best friend, a mother who does more than everything to hold the family together, and a touch of incest.
It's hard to imagine what horrors these people were forced to endure, let alone being a teenager swept along by it all, and helpless to change it. The horrors were either going to destroy you completely or mold you into the kind of adult that can overcome anything. This is the case with Ursula, as the story follows her through two years of unthinkable experiences, and her triumph in the end.
It's hard to imagine what horrors these people were forced to endure, let alone being a teenager swept along by it all, and helpless to change it. The horrors were either going to destroy you completely or mold you into the kind of adult that can overcome anything. This is the case with Ursula, as the story follows her through two years of unthinkable experiences, and her triumph in the end.
November 21, 2017
I struggled to get into the book at the beginning mainly because I expected this book to be a sad one as it's set during on of the most awful periods of history. Holly's writing is very powerful and her descriptions really take you on a journey. I feel some of the characters were what was lacking but I'm glad that I had the chance to read it. I received this book from a Goodreads First reads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2018
Story is about an young girl, coming of age, during WWII in Nazi occupied Austria and then Russian liberated/occupied Austria. Ursula lives with her mother, older sister, and brother in a small village outside Vienna. Her father dies in the war and they are left to deal with surviving day to day. Her brother, a member of the Hitler Youth group takes off, leaving the women to deal with German and Russian soldiers. Parts of this book were very hard to read.
April 17, 2019
I was really interested in this book because I wanted to know more about Austria during the war and I thought that maybe if I tried reading it again that I'd get into it more. I just couldn't connect with Ursula and her blind devotion to her brother. Parts of the book dragged and just didn't connect. I received this book from goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2020
I saw this was by a local author, so bought it years ago. This was one of those books that's been sitting on my shelves for years before I finally picked it up, and I'm annoyed I waited so long as it's incredible. A very painful read, in the best way. It's the first time in ages I've found myself completely gripped by a story that wasn't fantasy or sci-fi.
February 16, 2021
I often feel like the WWII historical novel has been done to death, with little left to add to the genre. So, colour me surprised with My Own Dear Brother. Muller's exploration of issues surrounding intellectual disability and gender during the death of the Third Reich in a rural Austian hamlet was detailed and compelling.
October 22, 2018
I won this book in a giveaway a couple of years ago but only just got round to reading it.
It was an OK read, although I felt it lost its way a bit in the middle, also the blurb claimed it was rich in folklore which I didn't really get.
It was an OK read, although I felt it lost its way a bit in the middle, also the blurb claimed it was rich in folklore which I didn't really get.
January 1, 2017
The writing style did not engage my interest, the story would start to pick up, then just drift off. The pieces that were written were dark, but not blended into a story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews