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”
Category Archives: musings
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”
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”
“Under Construction” ~ A Shared Story
I am sharing the post below because the author’s story so closely parallels my own. While many ministers recoil at the term “deconstruction,” many Christians who go through a process of reexamining what they believe do not end up straying from the faith or denying it. Rather, they find they have grown closer to Jesus,Continue reading ““Under Construction” ~ A Shared Story”
Book Reviews and Reflections: The Hangman and His Wife
The full title of this book is The Hangman and His Wife: The Life and Death of Reinhard Heydrich. If you read my post on Jakob Schmidt, you probably remember me referring to this book months ago. Well, because I have multiple books going at once, I just finished it. It was lengthy but wellContinue reading “Book Reviews and Reflections: The Hangman and His Wife”
Never Again
In lieu of a regular update, I am sharing this post that I made back in January on author Jennifer Heeren’s blog, Hope in Circumstances, which encourages authors to share truths readers can draw from fiction. I will be sharing on a related topic later this month on the same blog, so this is aContinue reading “Never Again”
Aubrey Taylor Books 