Back in 2017, my husband and I took a Viking River Cruise on the Danube to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. The route took us from Budapest to Nuremberg, and while I enjoyed every moment in every port we visited, I found my place in Germany. Those three days in Passau, Regensburg, and Nuremberg were theContinue reading “Wandering Around Germany: Nuremberg”
Category Archives: History
Book Reviews and Reflections: My Father, Joachim von Ribbentrop
I was legitimately sad when this book ended, because in Rudolf von Ribbentrop, the son of the much-maligned German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, I found a kindred spirit. He is the author of this book, which is part biography, part memoir. It is easily one of my top five reads for 2024. As theContinue reading “Book Reviews and Reflections: My Father, Joachim von Ribbentrop”
Book Review and Reflections: Three Comrades
Why has it taken me so long to review one of Erich Maria Remarque’s books? He is my favorite author, hands down, and though I doubt we’d see eye to eye on certain things, I wish I could sit down with him over coffee and talk. And talk and talk and talk. One of theContinue reading “Book Review and Reflections: Three Comrades”
Film Review and Reflections: Into the White
It seems like WWII films that come out of Europe tend to be more authentic than films that come out of Hollywood, even if they were made by nations that were occupied by or allied against Germany in WWII. While Hollywood tends to focus on a good-versus-evil trope, I prefer these foreign films because theyContinue reading “Film Review and Reflections: Into the White”
Film Review and Reflections: The Savage Peace
People often say, whether somberly or half-jokingly, that history is written by the victors. While some are so bold as to outright reject that statement, the documentary The Savage Peace is a stark testimony to the fact that what is taught about the Second World War has been handpicked. I know, there is simply notContinue reading “Film Review and Reflections: The Savage Peace”
Braving Strange Waters – A Guest Post by Author Sarah Hanks
I am so excited to have Sarah Hanks share on the blog today! As soon as I sat down to read her split time novel, A Battle Worth Fighting, she became one of my favorites! Like me, Sarah feels called to write about difficult topics. Not only is she one of our Brave Authors, itContinue reading “Braving Strange Waters – A Guest Post by Author Sarah Hanks”
Behind the Scenes: Hans Waldemar Remembers Normandy
This post originally appeared on Snark and Sensibility with Linda Wood Rondeau. This year, Thursday June 6th marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings at Normandy. Has it really been eighty years since the turning point of the Second World War? Earlier this spring, I could not shake the feeling that there was somethingContinue reading “Behind the Scenes: Hans Waldemar Remembers Normandy”
Book Reviews and Reflections: Bonhoeffer
I gave this book 5 stars before I even finished it. I honestly don’t know how I can possibly write a review that will give it justice, without the review being so long that you might as well just read the book itself. Here is the succinct review I left on Goodreads: “An incredibly richContinue reading “Book Reviews and Reflections: Bonhoeffer”
Film Reviews and Reflections: The Captain
I know I don’t take enough time to watch movies, not even the movies I need to watch. Case in point: this film was on my list for almost three years! As the poster above states, this film is “darkly evocative.” It is even filmed in black and white, giving it the feel of filmContinue reading “Film Reviews and Reflections: The Captain”
Book Review and Reflections: The Last Hours in Paris
I have a confession: I have a very, very hard time reading a lot of the World War II fiction out there. I know, the experts say you have to read in your genre, and of course I do, but the majority of my WW2-related reading consists of soldier memoirs and non-fiction. When it comesContinue reading “Book Review and Reflections: The Last Hours in Paris”
Aubrey Taylor Books 