18469743A Meal in Winter by Hubert Mingarelli

Reviewed by: Genna Buhr, Director

Genre: Historical Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Rather than participating in the daily executions carried out at their base, three German soldiers choose to go on a day-long expedition to find at least one of the many Jews still hiding from the Nazi troops. Carrying their orders and anxieties across the frozen Polish countryside during World War II, the men contemplate their decision, confront the harshness of their situation, and consider decisions to which there are no clear or good answers.

My Review: This novella may look like a typical wartime story, touching on Antisemitism and the Holocaust as so many do, but I found it unique in that it is from the point of view of a German soldier and more unique in that it allows the reader to see him as something more than what is portrayed in history. It’s a very quick, straight-forward read, that doesn’t proselytize. While plain spoken, there are layers of complexity to the story and the characters that were intriguing to discover. In some ways, it reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock movie, Lifeboat, which also takes place in mostly a single location and deals with survival, prejudices, and moral decisions.

Rating: 4/5

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About FDL Reads

FDL ReadsWelcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!