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匕丕卅賯丞 胤毓丕賲 賴鬲賱乇
"丕賲鬲氐賾 噩爻丿賷 胤毓丕賲 丕賱賮賵賴乇乇貙 賵氐丕乇 亘匕賱賰 賷噩乇賷 賮賷 丿賲賷.
賱賯丿 賳噩丕 賴鬲賱乇貙 兀賲丕 兀賳丕 賮卮毓乇鬲 亘丕賱噩賵毓 賲賳 噩丿賷丿".
* * *
廿賳賴丕 賯氐丞 賲賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 賳馗賳 兀賳賴丕 賳鬲丕噩 禺賷丕賱 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 廿丨丿賶 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 禺賱賾賮賴丕 賱賳丕 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺. 鬲匕賰購乇 亘賵爻鬲賵乇賷賳賵貙 賵賴賷 鬲賴賷卅 賱乇賵丕賷鬲賴丕貙 兀賳賴丕 毓賱賲鬲 亘兀賳賾 廿丨丿賶 匕丕卅賯丕鬲 胤毓丕賲 賴鬲賱乇 賱丕 鬲夭丕賱 毓賱賶 賯賷丿 丕賱丨賷丕丞貙 賵兀賳賴丕 賰卮賮鬲 毓賳 爻乇賾賴丕 賵賴賷 賮賷 丕賱鬲爻毓賷賳 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇. 賵亘匕賱賰 兀乇丕丿鬲 賱賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 鬲賰乇賷賲丕賸 賱賴丕.
賮賷 禺乇賷賮 毓丕賲 1943貙 賰丕賳 賴鬲賱乇 賲賳毓夭賱丕賸 賮賷 "賵賰乇 丕賱匕卅亘"貙 賲賱噩卅賴 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賮賷 亘乇賵爻賷丕 丕賱卮乇賯賷丞貙 賲購丨丕胤丕賸 亘丿丕卅乇丞 賲賳 丕賱兀鬲亘丕毓 丕賱兀賵賮賷丕亍貙 賵賲丨乇賵爻丕賸 亘丨丕賲賷丞 睾賮賷乇丞 賲賳 丕賱賯賵丕鬲 丕賱禺丕氐丞. 賵禺賵賮丕賸 賲賳 兀賳 賷購丿爻賾 賱賴 丕賱爻賲 賮賷 丕賱胤毓丕賲貙 賵馗賾賮 賯爻乇丕賸 毓卮乇 賳爻丕亍 賱賷鬲匕賵賾賯賳 胤毓丕賲賴 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷購賯丿賾賲 賱賴.
賲賳 亘賷賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱匕丕卅賯丕鬲 賳噩丿 丕賱乇丕賵賷丞貙 卮丕亘丞 亘乇賱賷賳賷丞 鬲購丿毓賶 乇賵夭丕貙 丕毓鬲購亘乇 夭賵噩賴丕 賮賷 毓丿丕丿 丕賱賲賮賯賵丿賷賳 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘. 賵賮囟賱丕賸 毓賳 賲賴賲賾鬲賴丕 丕賱氐毓亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 賮購乇囟鬲 毓賱賷賴丕 賵毓賱賶 乇賮賷賯丕鬲賴丕貙 賵賴賷 賲丨賳丞 鬲丨賰賷賴丕 賲賳 丕賱丿丕禺賱貙 賰丕賳鬲 丨丕賱鬲賴丕 丨乇噩丞: 賱賯丿 賵賯毓 丕賱賲賱丕夭賲 夭賷睾賱乇 賮賷 睾乇丕賲賴丕. 兀賲賾丕 賴賷貙 賮賵噩丿鬲 賳賮爻賴丕 鬲卮毓乇 鬲噩丕賴賴 亘賲卮丕毓乇 賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲毓匕賾乇 兀賳 鬲毓鬲乇賮 亘賴丕 丨鬲賶 賱賳賮爻賴丕.
鬲氐賵賾乇 賱賳丕 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱丌爻乇丞貙 丕賱賮丕卅夭丞 亘孬賲丕賳賷 噩賵丕卅夭 賲賳 亘賷賳賴丕 噩丕卅夭丞 賰丕賲亘賷賷賱賵 丕賱廿賷胤丕賱賷丞 丕賱賲乇賲賵賯丞貙 睾乇賷夭丞 丕賱亘賯丕亍貙 賵鬲爻亘乇 禺賮丕賷丕 丕賱毓賱丕賯丕鬲貙 賵鬲購爻丕卅賱 賲毓賳賶 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱氐賲賵丿. 乇賵丕賷丞 乇丕卅毓丞 鬲噩賲毓 亘賷賳 丕賱賯賵丞 賵丕賱乇賴丕賮丞. 乇賵丕賷丞 賱丕 鬲購賳爻賶.
***
"賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱噩賵毓 賵丕賱賳丿賲 賵丕賱氐乇丕毓 賲賳 兀噩賱 丕賱亘賯丕亍 賷馗賱 賲丨賮賵乇丕賸 賮賷 丕賱賯賱亘".
-賲噩賱丞 賲丕乇賷 賰賱賷乇 丕賱廿賷胤丕賱賷丞-
賱賯丿 賳噩丕 賴鬲賱乇貙 兀賲丕 兀賳丕 賮卮毓乇鬲 亘丕賱噩賵毓 賲賳 噩丿賷丿".
* * *
廿賳賴丕 賯氐丞 賲賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 賳馗賳 兀賳賴丕 賳鬲丕噩 禺賷丕賱 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 廿丨丿賶 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 禺賱賾賮賴丕 賱賳丕 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺. 鬲匕賰購乇 亘賵爻鬲賵乇賷賳賵貙 賵賴賷 鬲賴賷卅 賱乇賵丕賷鬲賴丕貙 兀賳賴丕 毓賱賲鬲 亘兀賳賾 廿丨丿賶 匕丕卅賯丕鬲 胤毓丕賲 賴鬲賱乇 賱丕 鬲夭丕賱 毓賱賶 賯賷丿 丕賱丨賷丕丞貙 賵兀賳賴丕 賰卮賮鬲 毓賳 爻乇賾賴丕 賵賴賷 賮賷 丕賱鬲爻毓賷賳 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇. 賵亘匕賱賰 兀乇丕丿鬲 賱賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 鬲賰乇賷賲丕賸 賱賴丕.
賮賷 禺乇賷賮 毓丕賲 1943貙 賰丕賳 賴鬲賱乇 賲賳毓夭賱丕賸 賮賷 "賵賰乇 丕賱匕卅亘"貙 賲賱噩卅賴 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賮賷 亘乇賵爻賷丕 丕賱卮乇賯賷丞貙 賲購丨丕胤丕賸 亘丿丕卅乇丞 賲賳 丕賱兀鬲亘丕毓 丕賱兀賵賮賷丕亍貙 賵賲丨乇賵爻丕賸 亘丨丕賲賷丞 睾賮賷乇丞 賲賳 丕賱賯賵丕鬲 丕賱禺丕氐丞. 賵禺賵賮丕賸 賲賳 兀賳 賷購丿爻賾 賱賴 丕賱爻賲 賮賷 丕賱胤毓丕賲貙 賵馗賾賮 賯爻乇丕賸 毓卮乇 賳爻丕亍 賱賷鬲匕賵賾賯賳 胤毓丕賲賴 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷購賯丿賾賲 賱賴.
賲賳 亘賷賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱匕丕卅賯丕鬲 賳噩丿 丕賱乇丕賵賷丞貙 卮丕亘丞 亘乇賱賷賳賷丞 鬲購丿毓賶 乇賵夭丕貙 丕毓鬲購亘乇 夭賵噩賴丕 賮賷 毓丿丕丿 丕賱賲賮賯賵丿賷賳 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘. 賵賮囟賱丕賸 毓賳 賲賴賲賾鬲賴丕 丕賱氐毓亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 賮購乇囟鬲 毓賱賷賴丕 賵毓賱賶 乇賮賷賯丕鬲賴丕貙 賵賴賷 賲丨賳丞 鬲丨賰賷賴丕 賲賳 丕賱丿丕禺賱貙 賰丕賳鬲 丨丕賱鬲賴丕 丨乇噩丞: 賱賯丿 賵賯毓 丕賱賲賱丕夭賲 夭賷睾賱乇 賮賷 睾乇丕賲賴丕. 兀賲賾丕 賴賷貙 賮賵噩丿鬲 賳賮爻賴丕 鬲卮毓乇 鬲噩丕賴賴 亘賲卮丕毓乇 賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲毓匕賾乇 兀賳 鬲毓鬲乇賮 亘賴丕 丨鬲賶 賱賳賮爻賴丕.
鬲氐賵賾乇 賱賳丕 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱丌爻乇丞貙 丕賱賮丕卅夭丞 亘孬賲丕賳賷 噩賵丕卅夭 賲賳 亘賷賳賴丕 噩丕卅夭丞 賰丕賲亘賷賷賱賵 丕賱廿賷胤丕賱賷丞 丕賱賲乇賲賵賯丞貙 睾乇賷夭丞 丕賱亘賯丕亍貙 賵鬲爻亘乇 禺賮丕賷丕 丕賱毓賱丕賯丕鬲貙 賵鬲購爻丕卅賱 賲毓賳賶 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱氐賲賵丿. 乇賵丕賷丞 乇丕卅毓丞 鬲噩賲毓 亘賷賳 丕賱賯賵丞 賵丕賱乇賴丕賮丞. 乇賵丕賷丞 賱丕 鬲購賳爻賶.
***
"賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱噩賵毓 賵丕賱賳丿賲 賵丕賱氐乇丕毓 賲賳 兀噩賱 丕賱亘賯丕亍 賷馗賱 賲丨賮賵乇丕賸 賮賷 丕賱賯賱亘".
-賲噩賱丞 賲丕乇賷 賰賱賷乇 丕賱廿賷胤丕賱賷丞-
383 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2018
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About the author
Rosella Postorino
19听books315听followersRosella Postorino (Reggio Calabria, 1978) 猫 una scrittrice italiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,254 reviews
November 6, 2020
L鈥檋o letto in parte da solo, e l鈥檋o ascoltato in parte utilizzando l鈥檃udiolibro, letto da Valentina Mari. Questo libro ha vinto il premio campiello nel 2018, e ne vedo i motivi. Fa luogo in Germania durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Il narratore Rosa Sauer scappa da Berlino per restare con i suoi suoceri a un villagio molto vincino alla Tana del Lupo, il nascondiglio di Hitler. Rosa 猫 obbligato diventare un assagiatrice per Hilter, controllando il suo cibo per veleno. Nel 1944, mentre l鈥檈sercito Russo viene piu e piu vicino, Rosa dovrebbe fare delle scelte dure per soppravivere. Il libro era affascianante, difficile da leggere e deprimente a volte, eppure esplora un鈥檌mportante storia non mai raccontata.
September 18, 2019
During WWII there were many people who wanted to put an end to Hitler鈥檚 reign of terror, and as the tide began to turn against him in 1943, those tasked with keeping him safe had to come up with every conceivable plan to ensure his continued leadership. With this in mind, every method by which his assassination could be carried out had to be covered. This included ten women who were employed as Hitler鈥檚 food tasters, and this novel is loosely based on Margot W枚lk who died at the age of 96, shortly after revealing her part in serving Hitler as one of his food tasters.
Three times a day these women were forced to consume meals prepared for the Fuhrer to ensure that the food hadn鈥檛 been poisoned - too bad for these women if it had been - each bite could have been their last! One can only imagine the fear that these women endured. On the one hand they were being fed delicious food, when others in their community were starving, but that sustenance could also have been their killer.
The storyline concentrated on food taster 26 year old Rosa, she鈥檚 very much a loner, both her parents are dead and her husband Gregor is fighting on the front line, and she鈥檚 now living with Gregor鈥檚 parents.
Rosa is a deep thinking, emotionally flawed character with whom I sadly failed to connect. I couldn鈥檛 resolve myself with some of the decisions she made, and although I realise that these were extremely difficult times and choices were limited, she came across as very cold and distant, and on finishing the book, I felt I knew little more about her than I had at the beginning.
Even though I didn鈥檛 engage with the protagonist, I do think the novel was interesting and beautifully written, almost quiet and subdued in its style - the author said what she had to without great fanfare.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Three times a day these women were forced to consume meals prepared for the Fuhrer to ensure that the food hadn鈥檛 been poisoned - too bad for these women if it had been - each bite could have been their last! One can only imagine the fear that these women endured. On the one hand they were being fed delicious food, when others in their community were starving, but that sustenance could also have been their killer.
The storyline concentrated on food taster 26 year old Rosa, she鈥檚 very much a loner, both her parents are dead and her husband Gregor is fighting on the front line, and she鈥檚 now living with Gregor鈥檚 parents.
Rosa is a deep thinking, emotionally flawed character with whom I sadly failed to connect. I couldn鈥檛 resolve myself with some of the decisions she made, and although I realise that these were extremely difficult times and choices were limited, she came across as very cold and distant, and on finishing the book, I felt I knew little more about her than I had at the beginning.
Even though I didn鈥檛 engage with the protagonist, I do think the novel was interesting and beautifully written, almost quiet and subdued in its style - the author said what she had to without great fanfare.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
February 9, 2023
Fear comes to me three times a day, always without knocking. It sits beside me and if I stand up it follows me, by now it鈥檚 practically a constant companion.World War II. Death could arrive at any moment, particularly when your city is being targeted by enemy bombers. In a way, a sudden violent end becomes the expectation. One to be avoided if at all possible, of course. Rosa Sauer flees the Allied bombing of Berlin in Autumn 1943. Though married, her husband had joined the army. She goes to stay with her in-laws in the town of East Partsch, in East Prussia. But, in a classic case of out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire, she finds herself in a situation every bit as perilous as the threat she had fled. Soon after her arrival, members of the SS arrive at her in-laws鈥� house and inform Rosa that she has been selected to serve her country in a most unusual manner. It seems the Fuehrer鈥檚 base of operations (Wolfsschanze, aka , now Parcz, Poland) is only a few miles away, and, among his other psychiatric challenges, he is terrified that his food might be poisoned. (Well, maybe not so crazy about fearing assassination) She will be one of fifteen young women drafted to become Hitler鈥檚 food tasters. The upside, of course, is that she will be eating much better than most Germans. The downside is well鈥ou know.
Rosella Postorino - image from Globalist
In the beginning, the story alternates between her experience as a taster and the time immediately leading up to that. We get a look at Rosa鈥檚 personal history, and some of the events in Germany. There is a dark tale of 1933 book burnings led by Goebbels that seemed even a bit much for his own followers. It is particularly chilling.
Most of the story is about the interactions among the women forced into this job. (Guess all the men were too scared?) They run a gamut, with a few Hitlerian true believers among the more usual range of humanity represented there, telling dark, racist tales that the eagerly gullible relish as wantonly as fans of InfoWars do today, with about as much basis in reality. There are perils this forced sisterhood face together, including mistreatment by the guards, and being forced to remain in the facility all the time instead of being bussed back and forth between home and work, after a failed assassination attempt on you-know-who. We learn some of the tasters鈥� secrets, and see their relationships evolve with the impact of shared misery. Rosa becomes friends with one taster who is shielding a particularly large piece of information. When she is generous with a younger taster the others give her a hard time about it, as if generosity were somehow a sign of weakness. Their relationships with the guards get complicated. Are they on the same team? Or are they prisoners? There is considerable sexual tension, as well. During the time when the tasters are still able to live outside the compound, Rosa is befriended by a local Baroness, eager for conversation with an educated, if untitled, woman from Berlin. Attending gatherings at the Baroness鈥檚 place comes with complications of its own. And there is the ever-present need to make the most of a bad situation.
Margot W枚lk at 95 鈥� image from Der Spiegel
Rosa is a thoughtful Virgil leading us through this particular ring of hell, offering consideration of underlying moral questions.
Why, for some time now, had I found myself in places I didn鈥檛 want to be in and acquiesced and didn鈥檛 rebel and continued to survive whenever someone was taken from me? The ability to adapt is human beings鈥� greatest resource, but the more I adapted, the less human I felt.She must cope with the probable loss of her husband, reported MIA. Is he gone? Should she hold out hope or accede to the likelihood of his demise? When push comes to shoot will you find yourself on the flat or pointed end of the bullet? Will you be able to decide for yourself or will you leave it to others to decide for you?
I could have known about the mass graves, about the Jews who lay prone, huddled together, waiting for the shot to the back of the head, could have known about the earth shoveled onto their backs, and the wood ash and calcium hypochlorite so they wouldn鈥檛 stink, about the new layer of Jews who would lie down on the corpses and offer the backs of their heads in turn. I could have known about the children picked up by the hair and shot, about the kilometer-long lines of Jews or Russians鈥�They鈥檙e Asian, they鈥檙e not like us--ready to fall into the graves or climb onto trucks to be gassed with carbon monoxide. I could have learned about it before the end of the war. I could have asked. I but I was afraid and couldn鈥檛 speak and didn鈥檛 want to know.Pastorino offers up some darkly comical tidbits about the not-so-fearless leader, including reference to his considerable problem with flatulence, (I can only imagine what Mel Brooks would have done with that) being afraid to go to sleep, after visiting a slaughterhouse, keeping his aides up all night regaling them with stories, the late nights rich with Hitler humiliating his staff at length, which sounds uncomfortably familiar. They appeared to enjoy being the focus of his dark attention, like sycophants today. We learn that Eva Braun hated Blondi, the singing German Shepherd that Adolph doted on. And for all you white nationalists out there, you will also learn the proper way to deliver a Nazi salute.
Margot W枚lk is the actual person on whom Rosa Sauer was based. W枚lk was interviewed on the occasion of her 95th birthday, in 2012. (links in EXTRA STUFF). Postorino happened cross the article in 2014 and thought it ideal subject matter for a novel, throwing together issues of daily mortal terror, sacrifice, adaptation, destiny, love, survival and guilt. Trying to relate to this person, whose life was so different from her own, Postorino gave her characteristics of herself, a particular appreciation for clothes, vanity, chattiness, her hair color and her name.
Margot W枚lk in 1931 鈥� image from BZ-Berlin
Another novel about Frau W枚lk, by V.S Alexander, The Taster, was published in the USA in 2018, a few weeks after Postorino鈥檚 book was published in Italy. Alexander鈥檚 book was released later in the UK under the title Her Hidden Life. A weird coincidence, but it seems likely that both were inspired by the same late-life revelations by Frau W枚lk.
At the Wolf鈥檚 Table, originally published in 2018 in Italy, was a big hit there, winning the Premio Campiello Literary Prize. The translation by Leah Janeczko is smooth. It reads as if written by an English speaker.
My only gripe about the novel is that I found the romantic element less than persuasive. The strength of this novel is in giving us a character we can feel for, trying to survive in a time and place in which one鈥檚 continued existence could not be presumed from day to day. She is an intelligent, feeling person, who considers more than just the usual externalities, but offers an awareness of larger, deeper considerations. It also gives us a look at a little-seen aspect of Nazi Germany, a rare item indeed. And finally, it presents perspective (while written by an Italian) from a regular-person German, neither Nazi nor resistor. Postorino has served up a filling and delicious meal of a novel. Bon Appetit.
Review first posted 鈥� February 1, 2019
Publication date
-----USA 鈥� January 29, 2019
-----Italy 鈥� January 11, 2018
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to the author鈥檚 GR, , and pages
Items of Interest
-----Polpettas Magazine - - by Margherita Visentini - a very worthwhile interview with the author, despite a less than perfect translation from Italian
-----
-----Revolvy - - with some detail on her pre-taster life
-----Spiegel Online - - by Fabienne Hurst
-----NY Times - - by Ligaya Mishan
-----Wiki on
----- - Although I had seen clips of this, I had never seen the entire film. Have now. The tasters, among others, are made to sit through it while at the compound. Remarkable film-making. What a waste of talent in promoting such a dark cause.
September 23, 2019
Rosella Postorino writes an impressively researched blend of historical fact and fiction in this translated novel, already an Italian bestseller. It is inspired by the late in life interview and revelations of Margot Wolk of her unusual wartime role as a food taster for Hitler. In 1943, it was becoming increasingly clear that Germany were unlikely to win the war, Hitler was feeling increasingly hemmed in and paranoid with his growing number of enemies, living in his hidden, secure and well guarded headquarters at Wolfschanze (Wolf's Lair). With her parents dead, 26 year old Rosa Sauer escapes the Allied bombardment of Berlin, to her husband, Gregor's parents more rural abode, where she stands out like a sore thumb as a urban dweller. However, safety is the last thing she gets when she is recruited by the SS to be part of a group of women who are to taste all Hitler's meals to ensure he does not get poisoned, whilst under the gaze of the well armed soldiers.
There is an inherent contradiction in Rosa's role, on the one hand she eats well in comparison to other Germans facing starvation, but on the other hand, there is the fear of living under constant threat, of playing a version of Russian roulette, where each meal may be her last one. She is not a member of the Nazi party, but she is playing the role of collaborator in ensuring that Hitler continues to live. She faces a number of moral dilemmas, but has chosen to do whatever it takes to survive, selecting to remain blind and ignorant to what has been happening under Nazi rule and the horrors perpetrated by them. Insights are provided into the group of women tasters, the simmering conflicts, strains and tensions between the regime loyalists and those who are more critical, the abuse the women face and the relationships that are formed between them.
This is a story of guilt, shame, love, fear and secrets, of what life was like for many ordinary Germans, the difficulties of speaking out, the moral ambiguities of being at war, and the repercussions of WW2 on those who survived. Rosa can be a hard woman to empathise with, her emotional coldness and distance, and her decisions and behaviour hard to understand. This is a dark, disturbing and unsettling read, an uncomfortable rendering of how human beings can behave when living under the pressures of war, where the unacceptable becomes all too normal, under a murderous, heavily controlling, Nazi regime. This is a beautifully written novel, but an uneven read which paints a intensely chilling picture of WW2 and its fallout. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
There is an inherent contradiction in Rosa's role, on the one hand she eats well in comparison to other Germans facing starvation, but on the other hand, there is the fear of living under constant threat, of playing a version of Russian roulette, where each meal may be her last one. She is not a member of the Nazi party, but she is playing the role of collaborator in ensuring that Hitler continues to live. She faces a number of moral dilemmas, but has chosen to do whatever it takes to survive, selecting to remain blind and ignorant to what has been happening under Nazi rule and the horrors perpetrated by them. Insights are provided into the group of women tasters, the simmering conflicts, strains and tensions between the regime loyalists and those who are more critical, the abuse the women face and the relationships that are formed between them.
This is a story of guilt, shame, love, fear and secrets, of what life was like for many ordinary Germans, the difficulties of speaking out, the moral ambiguities of being at war, and the repercussions of WW2 on those who survived. Rosa can be a hard woman to empathise with, her emotional coldness and distance, and her decisions and behaviour hard to understand. This is a dark, disturbing and unsettling read, an uncomfortable rendering of how human beings can behave when living under the pressures of war, where the unacceptable becomes all too normal, under a murderous, heavily controlling, Nazi regime. This is a beautifully written novel, but an uneven read which paints a intensely chilling picture of WW2 and its fallout. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
October 6, 2018
Thank you to Flatiron Books for mailing me the advance copy of 鈥淎t The Wolf鈥檚 Table鈥� by the international best selling author: *Rosella Postorino*. This book was selling like hot cakes in Italy when it was first released- and soon Postorino was one of five nominees for the literature Campiello Prize.
THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED IN STORES IN THE U.S. in January 2019.
Rosella is also an editor. She speaks Italian, French, German, and English. This is her first novel translated into English.
This is a story - that in 鈥榩art鈥�, I was familiar with from having read 鈥淭he Taster鈥�, by V.S. Alexander last year.
Both books - historical fiction - are haunting - chilling - hard to image yet 鈥榳as鈥� imaginable from both author鈥檚 vivid storytelling.
I learned 鈥榤ore鈥� fascinating information from THIS BOOK than 鈥楾he Taster鈥�.... yet both books are absorbing and well-researched. I鈥檒l soon explain the 鈥榤ore鈥� ......
But first I to comment on Rosella Postorino鈥檚 writing....which is so intimate, I can almost image that she鈥檚 a painter.
Her descriptions are simplistic ( I mean that in the most complementary way), so clearly visual, I can see and feel everything she writes easily.
Rosella doesn鈥檛 waste any time diving into the heart of the story. Perhaps being an 鈥榚ditor鈥� gives her an advantage skill?...I鈥檝e no idea...but her writing was almost invisible. Is that possible? Writers... help me out!!!!! I鈥檓 not sure what I鈥檓 talking about here 鈥� ( a reader...not a writer )....
I just know - her STORY FLOWED EFFORTLESSLY!!!
From the first page to the last....I was 鈥榠n-the-zone鈥�.....the readers ZONE!!! The pure joy of reading an interesting story. Kudos to author Postorino. 馃摃鉁忥笍.
The 鈥楳ORE鈥�: .......that I learned from reading this book:
The inspiration for this story came from the real person named Margot W枚lk. Margot died at age 96. She was one of Hitler鈥檚 tasters......last SURVIVING taster. In 2014, she told a Berlin TV channel about her experiences - THE FIRST TIME EVER - sharing those devastating years. Later that same year - at age 96 - she died.
Rosella Postorino鈥檚 story begins in Germany 1943.
Rosa Saucer was 26 years old. Her parents were gone and her husband, Gregor, was fighting on the front lines of WWII. Rosa was living in the country with her in-laws. She was a German - but had never been a Nazis.
Rosa was one of ten women employed to taste Fuhrer鈥檚 food to ensure it had not been poisoned, against her will. 鈥淓AT UP 鈥�-eat it all. Wait an hour - live or die鈥�.
There were constant rumors that the British were out to poison Hitler. The women had plenty of food - ( veggies with either rice or noodles- as Hitler was a vegetarian), but each bite from the women was mixed with fear.
They were victims and privileged. They ate to stay alive. They were supporting keeping alive the man everyone wanted dead.
Fear - guilt - shame -catatonic - unbearable grief - horror - rape - loss - hunger - secrets - remorse - survival - forgiveness - love .......are some of many reasons why Rosa couldn鈥檛 tell even her husband Gregor - when the war ended - that she worked for Hitler ...
she couldn鈥檛 confessed to her husband that she had trusted and loved a Nazi Lieutenant.
鈥� The past doesn鈥檛 go away, but there鈥檚 no need to dredge it up, you can try to let it rest, hold your peace. The one thing I鈥檝e learned from life is survival鈥�.
...Written with tenderness and compassion.
...The characters were so real.
...Fascinating and repugnant.
...Margot Woelk鈥檚 tells her story: Photos of her - before she died at age 96 - can be found by googling her name.
THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED IN STORES IN THE U.S. in January 2019.
Rosella is also an editor. She speaks Italian, French, German, and English. This is her first novel translated into English.
This is a story - that in 鈥榩art鈥�, I was familiar with from having read 鈥淭he Taster鈥�, by V.S. Alexander last year.
Both books - historical fiction - are haunting - chilling - hard to image yet 鈥榳as鈥� imaginable from both author鈥檚 vivid storytelling.
I learned 鈥榤ore鈥� fascinating information from THIS BOOK than 鈥楾he Taster鈥�.... yet both books are absorbing and well-researched. I鈥檒l soon explain the 鈥榤ore鈥� ......
But first I to comment on Rosella Postorino鈥檚 writing....which is so intimate, I can almost image that she鈥檚 a painter.
Her descriptions are simplistic ( I mean that in the most complementary way), so clearly visual, I can see and feel everything she writes easily.
Rosella doesn鈥檛 waste any time diving into the heart of the story. Perhaps being an 鈥榚ditor鈥� gives her an advantage skill?...I鈥檝e no idea...but her writing was almost invisible. Is that possible? Writers... help me out!!!!! I鈥檓 not sure what I鈥檓 talking about here 鈥� ( a reader...not a writer )....
I just know - her STORY FLOWED EFFORTLESSLY!!!
From the first page to the last....I was 鈥榠n-the-zone鈥�.....the readers ZONE!!! The pure joy of reading an interesting story. Kudos to author Postorino. 馃摃鉁忥笍.
The 鈥楳ORE鈥�: .......that I learned from reading this book:
The inspiration for this story came from the real person named Margot W枚lk. Margot died at age 96. She was one of Hitler鈥檚 tasters......last SURVIVING taster. In 2014, she told a Berlin TV channel about her experiences - THE FIRST TIME EVER - sharing those devastating years. Later that same year - at age 96 - she died.
Rosella Postorino鈥檚 story begins in Germany 1943.
Rosa Saucer was 26 years old. Her parents were gone and her husband, Gregor, was fighting on the front lines of WWII. Rosa was living in the country with her in-laws. She was a German - but had never been a Nazis.
Rosa was one of ten women employed to taste Fuhrer鈥檚 food to ensure it had not been poisoned, against her will. 鈥淓AT UP 鈥�-eat it all. Wait an hour - live or die鈥�.
There were constant rumors that the British were out to poison Hitler. The women had plenty of food - ( veggies with either rice or noodles- as Hitler was a vegetarian), but each bite from the women was mixed with fear.
They were victims and privileged. They ate to stay alive. They were supporting keeping alive the man everyone wanted dead.
Fear - guilt - shame -catatonic - unbearable grief - horror - rape - loss - hunger - secrets - remorse - survival - forgiveness - love .......are some of many reasons why Rosa couldn鈥檛 tell even her husband Gregor - when the war ended - that she worked for Hitler ...
she couldn鈥檛 confessed to her husband that she had trusted and loved a Nazi Lieutenant.
鈥� The past doesn鈥檛 go away, but there鈥檚 no need to dredge it up, you can try to let it rest, hold your peace. The one thing I鈥檝e learned from life is survival鈥�.
...Written with tenderness and compassion.
...The characters were so real.
...Fascinating and repugnant.
...Margot Woelk鈥檚 tells her story: Photos of her - before she died at age 96 - can be found by googling her name.
March 31, 2018
Lo sfondo 猫 quello della seconda guerra mondiale. L'ambientazione quella della Germania Nazista. La produzione letteraria basata su queste coordinate 猫 sconfinata ma la Postorino 猫 riuscita - furbescamente - a darne una nuova chiave di lettura grazie all'adozione di un punto di vista inedito: quello delle assaggiatrici di Hitler, un gruppo di donne assoldate con il compito di mangiare per prime i pasti destinati al Fuhrer e quindi evitargli, in caso di avvelenamento, morte certa. Un sacrificio meno onorevole rispetto alla morte in battaglia ma pur sempre patriottico. Pur partendo da una posizione apparentemente privilegiata (le assaggiatrici hanno accesso a cibi prelibati, ricevono uno stipendio, sicurezza e un trattamento di riguardo), la riflessione rimane comunque la stessa quando si indaga quel periodo storico: quali conseguenze ci sono per chi 猫 stato un connivente? Quando si raggiunge un livello di complicit脿 con un regime accettabile? Quando la colpa 猫 collettiva in qualche modo si stempera ma la vergogna individuale non stinge. Un regime totalitario fa questo: in nome della collettivit脿, isola i cittadini, li rende atomi, estranei gli uni agli altri.
L'intreccio 猫 piuttosto classico, non ha svolte narrative impreviste ma d'altronde non 猫 questo l'elemento di forza del romanzo, bens矛 la solida costruzione dell'impianto psicologico. Rosella Postorino 猫 davvero dotata di un grande talento nel descrivere i sentimenti ambivalenti dell'animo umano, le sue contraddizioni e i suoi desideri. Sono tanti i momenti dove la scrittura stupisce per vividezza e precisione. "Uno spillo sotto l'unghia", basta questa semplice citazione per descrivere la prosa della Postorino. Una retorica misurata che fa intravedere alcuni "trucchi" autoriali, come l'immancabile (continua qui )
L'intreccio 猫 piuttosto classico, non ha svolte narrative impreviste ma d'altronde non 猫 questo l'elemento di forza del romanzo, bens矛 la solida costruzione dell'impianto psicologico. Rosella Postorino 猫 davvero dotata di un grande talento nel descrivere i sentimenti ambivalenti dell'animo umano, le sue contraddizioni e i suoi desideri. Sono tanti i momenti dove la scrittura stupisce per vividezza e precisione. "Uno spillo sotto l'unghia", basta questa semplice citazione per descrivere la prosa della Postorino. Una retorica misurata che fa intravedere alcuni "trucchi" autoriali, come l'immancabile (continua qui )
May 19, 2023
Abbandonato a pag.60 (perch茅 il plagio del discorso di Kundera sulla merda e Dio - vedi L鈥檌nsostenibile... -mi ha definitivamente irritato).
Che dire?Sciatto, inqualificabile.
Eppur premiato. Bah.
Completo il giudizio, dopo avere letto altre parti del libro :
Questo 猫 un romanzo furbetto e artefatto: sia per la banalizzazione del contenuto, ridotto a feuilleton, sia per la banalit脿 dello stile (del resto contenuto e stile sono l'indivisibile connubio che identifica chi scrive come capace o incapace); procede con prosa piatta e convenzionale e ogni tanto cerca di accalappiare il lettore con qualche pretenzioso amo retorico.
Frasi come "Le rughe le disegnavano sul lato esterno degli occhi una minuscola pinna caudale che li faceva somigliare a due pesciolini" o "I gemelli dormivano su un fianco, la guancia schiacciata contro il braccio, la bocca aperta come una O compressa, deformata", e "sulla sua faccia cremosa, il sorriso si allarg貌 come l鈥檌mpronta di un dito"...fino ad arrivare al ridicolo "La notte in cui mi avvis貌 della licenza invece fu come ricevere una porta in faccia" sono solo alcuni degli esempi.
La Postorino, poi, ha letteralmente copiato l'argomento dell'incompatibilit脿 della merda e Dio dall'intramontabile capolavoro di Kundera (L'insostenibile leggerezza dell'essere, capitolo sul Kitsch) mettendolo in bocca al marito ingegnere, a cui l'andar soldato sviluppa il bernoccolo del ragionamento filosofico.
Ci sarebbero molti altri esempi di banalit脿, qualunquismo, cattivo gusto, artificio...ma per non imperversare concludo con questa perla:
[Hitler] "aveva trascorso la notte a rosicchiarsi le unghie, giusto per mettere qualcosa sotto i denti"...
Che dire?Sciatto, inqualificabile.
Eppur premiato. Bah.
Completo il giudizio, dopo avere letto altre parti del libro :
Questo 猫 un romanzo furbetto e artefatto: sia per la banalizzazione del contenuto, ridotto a feuilleton, sia per la banalit脿 dello stile (del resto contenuto e stile sono l'indivisibile connubio che identifica chi scrive come capace o incapace); procede con prosa piatta e convenzionale e ogni tanto cerca di accalappiare il lettore con qualche pretenzioso amo retorico.
Frasi come "Le rughe le disegnavano sul lato esterno degli occhi una minuscola pinna caudale che li faceva somigliare a due pesciolini" o "I gemelli dormivano su un fianco, la guancia schiacciata contro il braccio, la bocca aperta come una O compressa, deformata", e "sulla sua faccia cremosa, il sorriso si allarg貌 come l鈥檌mpronta di un dito"...fino ad arrivare al ridicolo "La notte in cui mi avvis貌 della licenza invece fu come ricevere una porta in faccia" sono solo alcuni degli esempi.
La Postorino, poi, ha letteralmente copiato l'argomento dell'incompatibilit脿 della merda e Dio dall'intramontabile capolavoro di Kundera (L'insostenibile leggerezza dell'essere, capitolo sul Kitsch) mettendolo in bocca al marito ingegnere, a cui l'andar soldato sviluppa il bernoccolo del ragionamento filosofico.
Ci sarebbero molti altri esempi di banalit脿, qualunquismo, cattivo gusto, artificio...ma per non imperversare concludo con questa perla:
[Hitler] "aveva trascorso la notte a rosicchiarsi le unghie, giusto per mettere qualcosa sotto i denti"...
September 10, 2019
The Women at Hitler鈥檚 Table is U.K. title
This excellent book is based on the true story of Margot Wolk who died in 2014 aged 96, the last of Hitlers poison testers. The central character is Rosa Sauer, the place is Wolfsschanze, the Wolf鈥檚 Lair in East Prussia where 10 disparate women become test animals or digestive tracts as Hitlers paranoia extends to concern that his food may be poisoned. Rosa, from Berlin is married to Gregor who is at the front and so she goes to live with his parents in E Prussia, her own being dead. There she is rounded up to become a taster. Rosa tells her story from her early life in Berlin where Germans were licking their defeated war wounds and suffering from the revengeful Treaty of Versailles through to hyperinflation and the rise of Hitler and then to the war years and defeat. Rosa makes it clear she is not a Nazi but yet the war makes her collaborative through force but she even becomes the lover of an SS Officer and that is choice. The story is so well told with the writing flowing extremely well. The style is simplistic but it works very well as it matches what Rosa is reporting. Part of the story is told through food and we learn a lot of things I probably rather wouldn鈥檛 about Hitlers digestive tract. Some of the women are ardent Hitler supporters, they see him as the messiah and would marry him if they could - the group called them The Fanatics. Ardent and fanatical Nazism is well described and the novel weaves real events and real people into the narrative. For example, Rosa meets Claus von Stauffenberg and his plot to kill Hitler is included.
A few of the girls like Rosa are there because they are forced to be and they go through the motions in order to survive. Some of these women support each other through the hardships. Rosa鈥檚 personality is changed by her experiences and when her husband goes missing from the Eastern Front and is presumed dead, she becomes very detached, feels nothing and cares little if she lives or dies. I think that there are many occasions when Rosa buries her head in the sand, preferring not to know the truth of what is going on, she shuts down and never asks questions, preferring ignorance. I found this hard although I know it鈥檚 true and I felt a real jolt when she talks of dictatorship and how they had no alternative, which becomes her alibi. She, like many others, sleep walk through these years for a variety of reasons.
There are many things I admired about this book. I found it very easy to read and horribly fascinating. However, I am uncertain about the final part and the jump in time to 1990. Although this section did tie up some loose ends I think the writing in this section is not as effortless as the rest. I do understand Rosa鈥檚 motives for survival lie in letting things rest and I鈥檓 certain that is how many went on to cope post 1945. Overall, I think this is an excellent book and I鈥檓 glad I got the chance to read it.
Many thanks to Harper Collins for the chance to read this book.
This excellent book is based on the true story of Margot Wolk who died in 2014 aged 96, the last of Hitlers poison testers. The central character is Rosa Sauer, the place is Wolfsschanze, the Wolf鈥檚 Lair in East Prussia where 10 disparate women become test animals or digestive tracts as Hitlers paranoia extends to concern that his food may be poisoned. Rosa, from Berlin is married to Gregor who is at the front and so she goes to live with his parents in E Prussia, her own being dead. There she is rounded up to become a taster. Rosa tells her story from her early life in Berlin where Germans were licking their defeated war wounds and suffering from the revengeful Treaty of Versailles through to hyperinflation and the rise of Hitler and then to the war years and defeat. Rosa makes it clear she is not a Nazi but yet the war makes her collaborative through force but she even becomes the lover of an SS Officer and that is choice. The story is so well told with the writing flowing extremely well. The style is simplistic but it works very well as it matches what Rosa is reporting. Part of the story is told through food and we learn a lot of things I probably rather wouldn鈥檛 about Hitlers digestive tract. Some of the women are ardent Hitler supporters, they see him as the messiah and would marry him if they could - the group called them The Fanatics. Ardent and fanatical Nazism is well described and the novel weaves real events and real people into the narrative. For example, Rosa meets Claus von Stauffenberg and his plot to kill Hitler is included.
A few of the girls like Rosa are there because they are forced to be and they go through the motions in order to survive. Some of these women support each other through the hardships. Rosa鈥檚 personality is changed by her experiences and when her husband goes missing from the Eastern Front and is presumed dead, she becomes very detached, feels nothing and cares little if she lives or dies. I think that there are many occasions when Rosa buries her head in the sand, preferring not to know the truth of what is going on, she shuts down and never asks questions, preferring ignorance. I found this hard although I know it鈥檚 true and I felt a real jolt when she talks of dictatorship and how they had no alternative, which becomes her alibi. She, like many others, sleep walk through these years for a variety of reasons.
There are many things I admired about this book. I found it very easy to read and horribly fascinating. However, I am uncertain about the final part and the jump in time to 1990. Although this section did tie up some loose ends I think the writing in this section is not as effortless as the rest. I do understand Rosa鈥檚 motives for survival lie in letting things rest and I鈥檓 certain that is how many went on to cope post 1945. Overall, I think this is an excellent book and I鈥檓 glad I got the chance to read it.
Many thanks to Harper Collins for the chance to read this book.
December 31, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded down. Didn't follow through with what was promised.
Let鈥檚 talk about the pace of this book first. It was a slow start. It took me 140 pages (all of Part 1 and the beginning of Part 2) to emotionally connect with Rosa. Given that the book is only 275 pages, that鈥檚 a significant amount of time spent on building Rosa鈥檚 moral struggle without being exposed to it.
I鈥檓 not sure how to describe the content of this book. It narrates the victimhood of members within the Third Reich, but never truly exposes the darkness of it. Maybe that鈥檚 what鈥檚 bothersome - the fear and isolation of being caught in this profound moral dilemma are held at arm鈥檚 length. Postorino never fully delves into it. And though her writing is so lyrical and vivid that you can quite literally picture the scene she鈥檚 depicting, you can鈥檛 attune your emotions to match.
Rosa struggles with her disassociation from humanity. She鈥檚 too fearful to stand up for what is right, and then condemns those who do the same. It鈥檚 a horrible paradox - that choosing the right thing is basically choosing death. And yet, to continue living is, in fact, a death of its own. Because one must live with the deep consequence of not making the right decision.
Which leads me to the end of the book. I found it a cop-out. It followed the very behavior of Rosa鈥檚 cowardice, which was to run away.
Part 3 seemed written as an afterthought or by an entirely different author. It didn鈥檛 even have the same rhythm as parts 1 and 2. And it lacked any form of wisdom. In fact, it was petty in nature.
This is hard. This subject is so pivotal within human history that anything stemming from it can鈥檛 be taken casually. I think the perspective was fresh (and I remain respectful to Margot Wolk, whom this was loosely based off of), but the thoroughness lacked.
Thank you to Flatiron for the advanced copy.
Let鈥檚 talk about the pace of this book first. It was a slow start. It took me 140 pages (all of Part 1 and the beginning of Part 2) to emotionally connect with Rosa. Given that the book is only 275 pages, that鈥檚 a significant amount of time spent on building Rosa鈥檚 moral struggle without being exposed to it.
I鈥檓 not sure how to describe the content of this book. It narrates the victimhood of members within the Third Reich, but never truly exposes the darkness of it. Maybe that鈥檚 what鈥檚 bothersome - the fear and isolation of being caught in this profound moral dilemma are held at arm鈥檚 length. Postorino never fully delves into it. And though her writing is so lyrical and vivid that you can quite literally picture the scene she鈥檚 depicting, you can鈥檛 attune your emotions to match.
Rosa struggles with her disassociation from humanity. She鈥檚 too fearful to stand up for what is right, and then condemns those who do the same. It鈥檚 a horrible paradox - that choosing the right thing is basically choosing death. And yet, to continue living is, in fact, a death of its own. Because one must live with the deep consequence of not making the right decision.
Which leads me to the end of the book. I found it a cop-out. It followed the very behavior of Rosa鈥檚 cowardice, which was to run away.
Part 3 seemed written as an afterthought or by an entirely different author. It didn鈥檛 even have the same rhythm as parts 1 and 2. And it lacked any form of wisdom. In fact, it was petty in nature.
This is hard. This subject is so pivotal within human history that anything stemming from it can鈥檛 be taken casually. I think the perspective was fresh (and I remain respectful to Margot Wolk, whom this was loosely based off of), but the thoroughness lacked.
Thank you to Flatiron for the advanced copy.
June 25, 2018
Ci stavo girando attorno da un po', a questo libro. Da un lato mi attirava l'argomento (titolo e sinossi acchiapponi, a posteriori: avrebbe potuto essere ambientato in Corea del Nord, e loro essere le Assaggiatri di Kim, il contesto nazista, Hitler, etc. non fanno realmente parte della storia), dall'altro essendo l'autrice italiana 鈥� e avendo io un fortissimo pregiudizio* sugli autori italiani 鈥� non ero convintissima. La lettura dell'ottimo La scomparsa di Josef Mengele mi ci ha portato per contiguit脿.
La trama 猫 ininfluente, perch茅 猫 un mero pretesto per descrivere le dinamiche relazionali di un ambiente chiuso con dei forti vincoli esterni non gestibili, e le reazioni emotive-sentimentali della protagonista agli stimoli esterni.
Parte bene (la descrizione di un ambiente chiuso, gli echi dittatoriali, le reazioni emotive), sbanda un po' a met脿 strada (la descrizione della psicologia intra-femminile un po' stereotipata, nessun tentativo di approfondimento, robe buttate l矛 e lasciate a caso), recupera (fascinazione sentimental/umana per il cattivo, o quantomeno per quello che esercita il potere), si riperde (la Storia entra nella narrazione come elemento decisivo) .... ma nel finale tracolla e precipita.
L'ultimo capitolo sembra appiccicato l矛 e scritto da un'altra persona, inutile e raffazzonato. Come scrittura e come senso, e toglie forza a tutto quel che viene prima, che gi脿 soffriva di una certa discontinuit脿 ma aveva un suo equilibrio interno.
*pregiudizio che ne 猫 uscito rafforzato
La trama 猫 ininfluente, perch茅 猫 un mero pretesto per descrivere le dinamiche relazionali di un ambiente chiuso con dei forti vincoli esterni non gestibili, e le reazioni emotive-sentimentali della protagonista agli stimoli esterni.
Parte bene (la descrizione di un ambiente chiuso, gli echi dittatoriali, le reazioni emotive), sbanda un po' a met脿 strada (la descrizione della psicologia intra-femminile un po' stereotipata, nessun tentativo di approfondimento, robe buttate l矛 e lasciate a caso), recupera (fascinazione sentimental/umana per il cattivo, o quantomeno per quello che esercita il potere), si riperde (la Storia entra nella narrazione come elemento decisivo) .... ma nel finale tracolla e precipita.
L'ultimo capitolo sembra appiccicato l矛 e scritto da un'altra persona, inutile e raffazzonato. Come scrittura e come senso, e toglie forza a tutto quel che viene prima, che gi脿 soffriva di una certa discontinuit脿 ma aveva un suo equilibrio interno.
*pregiudizio che ne 猫 uscito rafforzato
July 5, 2020
2.5/5
Beveik tikros, pusiau tikros, ka啪kiek tikros, devintas vanduo nuo kisieliaus tikros karo, pokario, tarpkario ir pana拧i懦 siaubo etap懦 istorijos jau tapo bene atskiru 啪anru. Jose telpa viskas - tatuiruotojai, 啪monos ir vyrai, Au拧vicas ir Hitleris. Nes karo ir romantikos derinys yra lengv懦 pinig懦 garantas. Ir nors 寞 Ragautojas 啪velgiau kaip 寞 potencialiai 拧vie啪i膮 oro g奴s寞 jau per gerkl臋 lendan膷iame, supopsintame, i拧 siaubo pinig懦 ma拧ina paverstame 啪anre, visgi likau papras膷iausiai... Nuobod啪iaujanti. Nes knyga n臈ra para拧yta blogai. Bet ji ne寞traukia. Ji blanki ir beskon臈, pr臈ska ir beveid臈, tokia drungna ir pastov臈jusi, para拧yta tarsi be meil臈s ir pol臈kio, taip daugiau apie niek膮 ir apie visk膮, n臈 trupu膷io nei拧naudojant temos baisumo ir 寞sp奴dingumo.
Autor臈 sklend啪ia ka啪kur pavir拧iumi, net nebandydama kapstyti giliau, nebandydama nei stebinti, nei g膮sdinti - knygoje veiksmas eina sava vaga, 拧okin臈ja laike ir miestuose, ta膷iau vis pagaudavau save pametan膷i膮 mint寞 鈥� ne d臈l to, kad j膮 sekti b奴t懦 sud臈tinga, o d臈l to, kad papras膷iausiai nedomina pakankamai, kad nor臈膷iau si奴lo galo 寞sikibti. Ir jau膷iausi lyg s臈d臈dama su sve膷iais, kurie jau truput寞 u啪sibuvo: labai j奴s faini, o ir pati jus pasikvie膷iau, bet man dar indus reikia susiplaut ir rytoj 寞 darb膮. Li奴dniausia 鈥濺agautojose鈥� tai, kad 膷ia tiek potencialo 鈥� absoliu膷iai j臈gin臈 id臈ja, visai 寞domaus santykio (tarp mylim懦j懦, buvusi懦 mylim懦j懦, kartu sumest懦 ken膷ian膷i懦j懦) u啪uomazga, akivaizdus autor臈s sugeb臈jimas valdyti 啪od寞, mil啪ini拧kas 寞domi懦 veik臈j懦 k奴rimo potencialas. Vis d臈lto, u啪uominos ir keli pa啪adai netampa stipriu pamatu 鈥� j懦 tiesiog n臈ra gana. Tema rodosi tokia nei拧naudota, jog jau膷iuosi bene apgauta: buvau sugundyta ragautoj懦, Hitlerio, Reicho byr臈jimo nuojaut懦, o pasijau膷iau kaip 啪mogus, 寞臈j臋s 寞 virtuv臋, kurioje neseniai buvo gaminta: nos寞 kutena malon奴s kvapai, bet tau porcijos niekas nepaliko.
Ar bus knygos gerb臈j懦? Neabejoju. Bet kita vertus, j懦 buvo ir kalbai pasisukus apie Au拧vico tatuiruotoj膮. Ir nors ne kart膮 vie拧ai deklaravau savo nemeil臋 tokiam siaubingam tragedijos supopsinimui, dabar pasijau膷iau bene problemos dalimi 鈥� pati buvau suviliota pa啪adu, kuris ne tik kad neliko i拧t臋s臈tas, bet dar ir suerzino. Tod臈l tokiems kaip a拧 teb奴nie tai b奴na 寞sp臈jimas 鈥� ragautojos 膷ia veikiau fonas. Hitleris veikiau baubas po lova. Autor臈 daugiau d臈mesio skyr臈 laikme膷io mados analizei, nei kad istoriniams faktams. Bet jei ie拧kote kaip tik to, o tame visai nieko blogo, galb奴t Ragautojose rasite ka啪k膮 sau. O a拧 pasilieku d啪iaugtis Kotrynos 艩eibokait臈s vir拧eliu ir tik臈tis, kad daugiau ant pana拧aus kabliuko nebeu啪kibsiu.
Beveik tikros, pusiau tikros, ka啪kiek tikros, devintas vanduo nuo kisieliaus tikros karo, pokario, tarpkario ir pana拧i懦 siaubo etap懦 istorijos jau tapo bene atskiru 啪anru. Jose telpa viskas - tatuiruotojai, 啪monos ir vyrai, Au拧vicas ir Hitleris. Nes karo ir romantikos derinys yra lengv懦 pinig懦 garantas. Ir nors 寞 Ragautojas 啪velgiau kaip 寞 potencialiai 拧vie啪i膮 oro g奴s寞 jau per gerkl臋 lendan膷iame, supopsintame, i拧 siaubo pinig懦 ma拧ina paverstame 啪anre, visgi likau papras膷iausiai... Nuobod啪iaujanti. Nes knyga n臈ra para拧yta blogai. Bet ji ne寞traukia. Ji blanki ir beskon臈, pr臈ska ir beveid臈, tokia drungna ir pastov臈jusi, para拧yta tarsi be meil臈s ir pol臈kio, taip daugiau apie niek膮 ir apie visk膮, n臈 trupu膷io nei拧naudojant temos baisumo ir 寞sp奴dingumo.
Autor臈 sklend啪ia ka啪kur pavir拧iumi, net nebandydama kapstyti giliau, nebandydama nei stebinti, nei g膮sdinti - knygoje veiksmas eina sava vaga, 拧okin臈ja laike ir miestuose, ta膷iau vis pagaudavau save pametan膷i膮 mint寞 鈥� ne d臈l to, kad j膮 sekti b奴t懦 sud臈tinga, o d臈l to, kad papras膷iausiai nedomina pakankamai, kad nor臈膷iau si奴lo galo 寞sikibti. Ir jau膷iausi lyg s臈d臈dama su sve膷iais, kurie jau truput寞 u啪sibuvo: labai j奴s faini, o ir pati jus pasikvie膷iau, bet man dar indus reikia susiplaut ir rytoj 寞 darb膮. Li奴dniausia 鈥濺agautojose鈥� tai, kad 膷ia tiek potencialo 鈥� absoliu膷iai j臈gin臈 id臈ja, visai 寞domaus santykio (tarp mylim懦j懦, buvusi懦 mylim懦j懦, kartu sumest懦 ken膷ian膷i懦j懦) u啪uomazga, akivaizdus autor臈s sugeb臈jimas valdyti 啪od寞, mil啪ini拧kas 寞domi懦 veik臈j懦 k奴rimo potencialas. Vis d臈lto, u啪uominos ir keli pa啪adai netampa stipriu pamatu 鈥� j懦 tiesiog n臈ra gana. Tema rodosi tokia nei拧naudota, jog jau膷iuosi bene apgauta: buvau sugundyta ragautoj懦, Hitlerio, Reicho byr臈jimo nuojaut懦, o pasijau膷iau kaip 啪mogus, 寞臈j臋s 寞 virtuv臋, kurioje neseniai buvo gaminta: nos寞 kutena malon奴s kvapai, bet tau porcijos niekas nepaliko.
Ar bus knygos gerb臈j懦? Neabejoju. Bet kita vertus, j懦 buvo ir kalbai pasisukus apie Au拧vico tatuiruotoj膮. Ir nors ne kart膮 vie拧ai deklaravau savo nemeil臋 tokiam siaubingam tragedijos supopsinimui, dabar pasijau膷iau bene problemos dalimi 鈥� pati buvau suviliota pa啪adu, kuris ne tik kad neliko i拧t臋s臈tas, bet dar ir suerzino. Tod臈l tokiems kaip a拧 teb奴nie tai b奴na 寞sp臈jimas 鈥� ragautojos 膷ia veikiau fonas. Hitleris veikiau baubas po lova. Autor臈 daugiau d臈mesio skyr臈 laikme膷io mados analizei, nei kad istoriniams faktams. Bet jei ie拧kote kaip tik to, o tame visai nieko blogo, galb奴t Ragautojose rasite ka啪k膮 sau. O a拧 pasilieku d啪iaugtis Kotrynos 艩eibokait臈s vir拧eliu ir tik臈tis, kad daugiau ant pana拧aus kabliuko nebeu啪kibsiu.
September 10, 2019
A fascinating novel following a young woman named Rosa Sauer, who is selected to be one of Hitler's food tasters. She and nine other women must eat his meals before he does, then wait to see if the food is poisoned.
Throughout the book we get to know the women, some who are absolutely devoted to Hitler and others, like our main character Rosa, who resolutely insist they are not Nazis -- even as they risk their own lives for his, multiple times a day. Not that they have much say in the matter of course.
This was a different perspective to familiar events and one I really valued reading. I loved the ending, the way things were (and weren't) tied up. The final page will stay with me for quite a while I think.
The novel was inspired by the true story of Margot Wolk. The author read an article about her and was inspired to write this novel. I'm glad she did, and thankful it was translated into English from the Italian by Leah Janeczko, which allowed me to be able to read it!
Throughout the book we get to know the women, some who are absolutely devoted to Hitler and others, like our main character Rosa, who resolutely insist they are not Nazis -- even as they risk their own lives for his, multiple times a day. Not that they have much say in the matter of course.
This was a different perspective to familiar events and one I really valued reading. I loved the ending, the way things were (and weren't) tied up. The final page will stay with me for quite a while I think.
The novel was inspired by the true story of Margot Wolk. The author read an article about her and was inspired to write this novel. I'm glad she did, and thankful it was translated into English from the Italian by Leah Janeczko, which allowed me to be able to read it!
September 21, 2019
Germany WWll. There were plenty of people who wanted Hitler dead. One of the ways they tried to protect their leader was to have women assigned to be food tasters. Hitler was convinced that the British were trying to poison him so he hired 10 women to eat every meal one hour before he did.
This book is much more than just food tasting. This is a well researched historical fiction based on war time experiences. The book is based loosely on the real life story of Margot Wolk who was one of Hitlers food tasters for several years. As well as tasting the food, they were observed for one hour after they had eaten. This book was originally released in 2017, written in Italian and called At The Wolf's Table. The book has been translated from Italian into English.
I would like to thank Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Rosella Postorino for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is much more than just food tasting. This is a well researched historical fiction based on war time experiences. The book is based loosely on the real life story of Margot Wolk who was one of Hitlers food tasters for several years. As well as tasting the food, they were observed for one hour after they had eaten. This book was originally released in 2017, written in Italian and called At The Wolf's Table. The book has been translated from Italian into English.
I would like to thank Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Rosella Postorino for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2019
For all reviews and recommendations (and links to article and video) please follow me on Book Nation by Jen.
According to Google, 鈥渃oming together and sharing a meal is the most communal and binding thing in almost every place in the world鈥�. Eating together, and eating at all is usually considered a good thing, but after reading Rosella Postorino鈥檚 latest novel you may just change your mind!
Based on truth, At the Wolf鈥檚 Table is about a group of German women in 1943 who are recruited by the Nazis to taste Hitler鈥檚 food before each meal to ensure it to be poison-free. As food becomes scarce and people are going hungry, these women are shuttled to the 鈥淲olf鈥檚 Lair鈥� in the morning to have full breakfasts and early lunches under the scrutiny of armed Nazi soldiers, then returned home and brought back at the end of the day for full dinners. After forcing themselves to fully consume each course they wait for illness to kick in, eating to stay alive and at the same time fearing death.
Newly married and all alone, Rosa has lost both her parents, her husband Gregor has gone off to war and she has moved to the country to live with her in laws outside of Berlin. She has been recruited as a food taster for Hitler where she 鈥渨ould participate in the liturgy of the lunchroom together with other young German women- an army of worshippers prepared to receive on (our) tongues a Communion that wouldn鈥檛 redeem us.鈥� Rosa tries to make friends with the other tasters but relationships between the women are strained; some of them are Nazi supporters, some are not, and some are hiding something; Jewish roots, affairs, pregnancy, rape, abortion鈥obody is sure who to trust. Rosa鈥檚 husband is declared missing, and as her loneliness intensifies, she develops a risky relationship with one of the soldiers. Will her husband ever be found? Will she escape the perils of war?
At The Wolf鈥檚 Lair provides a unique setting that highlights secrets, betrayals and sorrow amidst the constant fear in everyday life during World War ll. I enjoyed this story and recommend it!
Here is an article about one of the real food tasters from WWll鈥�
And a video interview鈥�
According to Google, 鈥渃oming together and sharing a meal is the most communal and binding thing in almost every place in the world鈥�. Eating together, and eating at all is usually considered a good thing, but after reading Rosella Postorino鈥檚 latest novel you may just change your mind!
Based on truth, At the Wolf鈥檚 Table is about a group of German women in 1943 who are recruited by the Nazis to taste Hitler鈥檚 food before each meal to ensure it to be poison-free. As food becomes scarce and people are going hungry, these women are shuttled to the 鈥淲olf鈥檚 Lair鈥� in the morning to have full breakfasts and early lunches under the scrutiny of armed Nazi soldiers, then returned home and brought back at the end of the day for full dinners. After forcing themselves to fully consume each course they wait for illness to kick in, eating to stay alive and at the same time fearing death.
Newly married and all alone, Rosa has lost both her parents, her husband Gregor has gone off to war and she has moved to the country to live with her in laws outside of Berlin. She has been recruited as a food taster for Hitler where she 鈥渨ould participate in the liturgy of the lunchroom together with other young German women- an army of worshippers prepared to receive on (our) tongues a Communion that wouldn鈥檛 redeem us.鈥� Rosa tries to make friends with the other tasters but relationships between the women are strained; some of them are Nazi supporters, some are not, and some are hiding something; Jewish roots, affairs, pregnancy, rape, abortion鈥obody is sure who to trust. Rosa鈥檚 husband is declared missing, and as her loneliness intensifies, she develops a risky relationship with one of the soldiers. Will her husband ever be found? Will she escape the perils of war?
At The Wolf鈥檚 Lair provides a unique setting that highlights secrets, betrayals and sorrow amidst the constant fear in everyday life during World War ll. I enjoyed this story and recommend it!
Here is an article about one of the real food tasters from WWll鈥�
And a video interview鈥�
December 29, 2018
Ho letto questo romanzo della Postorino perch茅 scelto nel gruppo di lettura del mio paese, quindi non 猫 stata una mia spontanea scelta averlo fra le mani. L'autrice ci narra le vicende di una ragazza, Rosa, che 猫 stata scelta come assaggiatrice di Hitler: praticamente erano un gruppo di donne che dovevano assaggiare tutto il cibo destinato al dittatore tedesco per evitare che venisse avvelenato, quindi queste donne rischiavano di morire ogni volta che aprivano bocca in poche parole. Durante la narrazione conosceremo le altre sue compagne di sventura e una storia d'amore che sboccer脿 (pi霉 o meno) tra Rosa e una SS.
Se devo essere sincero mi sarei aspettato molto di pi霉 da questo romanzo, mi 猫 parso che dopo un certo punto la storia avesse perso di mordente e di interesse, tramutandosi in una sorta di harmony. Questo mi ha fatto abbassare il voto, altrimenti avrei anche dato tre stelline senza problemi. Il finale 猫 incommentabile.
Se devo essere sincero mi sarei aspettato molto di pi霉 da questo romanzo, mi 猫 parso che dopo un certo punto la storia avesse perso di mordente e di interesse, tramutandosi in una sorta di harmony. Questo mi ha fatto abbassare il voto, altrimenti avrei anche dato tre stelline senza problemi. Il finale 猫 incommentabile.
February 1, 2018
Un鈥檃utrice che non conoscevo; un titolo che ha stimolato la mia curiosit脿; Una storia che attinge a piene mani dalla realt脿 stessa. Le assaggiatrice, di fatti, sono esistite ed erano precisamente donne che furono reclutate (ovviamente senza possibilit脿 di rifiutare) per consumare i pasti destinati al Fuhrer. Tutto ebbe inizio nell鈥檃utunno del 鈥�43, nella Prussia orientale dove nascosto dalla foresta c鈥檈ra un quartiere generale chiamato Wolfsschanze : la tana del lupo.
La paranoia che gli inglesi potessero contaminare il cibo destinato a Hitler si traduce in colazioni, pranzi e cene propinate a dieci donne che diventano cuscinetti per parare il colpo della morte destinata ad Hitler.
Postorino viene a conoscenza di questa storia attraverso l鈥檜nica sopravvissuta, Margot Wolk, che dopo anni di silenzio, alla veneranda et脿 di 96 anni, decide di parlare ().
L鈥檃utrice non riuscir脿 ad incontrala perch茅 la Wolk morir脿 poco dopo; dunque il romanzo si basa su quell鈥檜nica testimonianza e tutte le informazioni che si sono potute recuperare. Del resto c鈥櫭� un grande lavoro d鈥檌mmedesimazione che la Postorino ha compiuto partendo dal nome stesso della protagonista che da Margot si tramuta in Rosa ricordandoci il suo stesso nome (Rosella).
Da qui Storia e fantasia s鈥檌ntrecciano in un ritratto narrativo verosimile che mette in scena tematiche importanti.
Prima tra tutte c鈥櫭� la sorellanza. Solo alcune si conoscevano in precedenza e, all鈥檌mprovviso, ci si ritrova a condividere non solo il succulento cibo ma la sensazione continua della Morte. Una comunanza che si fa via via pi霉 profonda costruendo una catena di solidariet脿 tra donne che devono difendersi da un contesto maschile prevaricatore. C鈥櫭� molta 鈥渇isicit脿鈥�: ci sono corpi sottomessi, corpi che si ribellano ma anche corpi che desiderano come 猫 naturale che sia. Tutto ci貌 consente di dare uno spessore umano ai protagonisti e, soprattutto, alle protagoniste di questo romanzo.
Quello che mi 猫 parso essere un tema centrale 猫 quello della colpa e della vergogna:
鈥� La colpa collettiva 猫 informe, la vergogna 猫 un sentimento individuale.鈥�
Tutti insieme si vive come sonnambuli che non accettano l鈥檃bominevole realt脿.
Rosa stessa, che nella sua solitudine ritorna spesso al passato, ricorda le parole del padre di fronte a quel suo lavarsi le mani nei confronti di ci貌 che stava accadendo in Germania:
鈥� Sei responsabile del regime che tolleri, avrebbe gridato mio padre. L鈥檈sistenza di chiunque 猫 consentita dall鈥檕rdinamento dello Stato in cui vive, pure quella di un eremita, lo capisci o no? Non sei immune da nessuna colpa politica, Rosa!
Le sue riflessioni diventano, allora, quelle, di un popolo che deve, prima o poi, rendere conto di aver fatto o non fatto determinate scelte:
鈥� Abbiamo vissuto dodici anni sotto una dittatura, e non ce ne siamo quasi accorti. Che cosa permette agli esseri umani di vivere sotto una dittatura?
Non c鈥檈ra alternativa, questo 猫 il nostro alibi. Ero responsabile soltanto del cibo che ingerivo, un gesto innocuo, mangiare: come pu貌 essere una colpa? Si vergognavano, le altre, di vendersi per duecento marchi al mese, ottimo salario e vitto senza paragoni? Di credere, come avevo creduto io, che immorale fosse sacrificare la propria vita, se il sacrificio non serviva a nulla? Io mi vergognavo davanti a mio padre, sebbene mio padre fosse morto, perch茅 la vergogna ha bisogno di un censore per manifestarsi. Non c鈥檈ra alternativa, dicevamo.鈥�
鈥� Ad ascoltarlo con gli occhi chiusi, il suono della mensa sarebbe stato un suono buono. Il tinnire delle forchette sui piatti, il fruscio dell鈥檃cqua versata, il rintocco del vetro sul legno, il ruminare delle bocche, l鈥檃cciottolio di passi sul pavimento, l鈥檃ccavallarsi di voci e versi di uccelli e cani che abbaiano, il rugghio distante di un trattore colto dalle finestre aperte. Sarebbe stato nient鈥檃ltro che il tempo del convivio; fa tenerezza il bisogno umano di cibarsi per non morire.
Ma se riaprivo gli occhi li vedevo, i guardiani in divisa, le armi cariche, i confini della nostra gabbia, e il rumore di stoviglie tornava a riecheggiare scarno, il suono compresso di qualcosa che sta per esplodere.鈥�
Probabilmente la storia 猫 un pochino troppo edulcorata ma rimane un鈥檌nteressante lettura.
---------------------------------------------
Incipit
鈥� Entrammo una alla volta. Dopo ore di attesa, in piedi nel corridoio, avevamo bisogno di sederci. La stanza era grande, le pareti bianche. Al centro, un lungo tavolo di legno su cui avevano gi脿 apparecchiato per noi. Ci fecero cenno di prendere posto.
Mi sedetti e rimasi cos矛, le mani intrecciate sulla pancia. Davanti a me, un piatto di ceramica bianca. Avevo fame. Le altre donne si erano sistemate senza far rumore. Eravamo in dieci. Alcune stavano dritte e compite, i capelli tirati in uno chignon. Altre si guardavano intorno. La ragazza di fronte a me strappava pellicine con i denti e le triturava sotto gli incisivi. Aveva guance morbide chiazzate di couperose. Aveva fame.
Alle undici del mattino eravamo gi脿 affamate. Non dipendeva dall鈥檃ria di campagna, dal viaggio in pulmino. Quel buco nello stomaco era paura. Da anni avevamo fame e paura. E quando il profumo delle portate fu sotto il nostro naso, il battito cardiaco picchi貌 sulle tempie, la bocca si riemp矛 di saliva. Guardai la ragazza con la couperose. Aveva la mia stessa voglia.
I fagiolini erano conditi con il burro fuso. Non mangiavo burro dal giorno del mio matrimonio. L鈥檕dore dei peperoni arrostiti mi pizzicava le narici, il mio piatto traboccava, non facevo che fissarlo. In quello della ragazza di fronte a me, invece, c鈥檈rano riso e piselli.
鈥淢angiate,鈥� dissero dall鈥檃ngolo della sala, ed era poco pi霉 che un invito, meno di un ordine. La vedevano, la voglia nei nostri occhi. Bocche dischiuse, respiro accelerato. Esitammo. Nessuno ci aveva augurato buon appetito, e allora forse potevo ancora alzarmi e dire grazie, le galline stamattina sono state generose, per oggi un uovo mi baster脿.
Contai di nuovo le convitate. Eravamo in dieci, non era l鈥檜ltima cena.鈥�
La paranoia che gli inglesi potessero contaminare il cibo destinato a Hitler si traduce in colazioni, pranzi e cene propinate a dieci donne che diventano cuscinetti per parare il colpo della morte destinata ad Hitler.
Postorino viene a conoscenza di questa storia attraverso l鈥檜nica sopravvissuta, Margot Wolk, che dopo anni di silenzio, alla veneranda et脿 di 96 anni, decide di parlare ().
L鈥檃utrice non riuscir脿 ad incontrala perch茅 la Wolk morir脿 poco dopo; dunque il romanzo si basa su quell鈥檜nica testimonianza e tutte le informazioni che si sono potute recuperare. Del resto c鈥櫭� un grande lavoro d鈥檌mmedesimazione che la Postorino ha compiuto partendo dal nome stesso della protagonista che da Margot si tramuta in Rosa ricordandoci il suo stesso nome (Rosella).
Da qui Storia e fantasia s鈥檌ntrecciano in un ritratto narrativo verosimile che mette in scena tematiche importanti.
Prima tra tutte c鈥櫭� la sorellanza. Solo alcune si conoscevano in precedenza e, all鈥檌mprovviso, ci si ritrova a condividere non solo il succulento cibo ma la sensazione continua della Morte. Una comunanza che si fa via via pi霉 profonda costruendo una catena di solidariet脿 tra donne che devono difendersi da un contesto maschile prevaricatore. C鈥櫭� molta 鈥渇isicit脿鈥�: ci sono corpi sottomessi, corpi che si ribellano ma anche corpi che desiderano come 猫 naturale che sia. Tutto ci貌 consente di dare uno spessore umano ai protagonisti e, soprattutto, alle protagoniste di questo romanzo.
Quello che mi 猫 parso essere un tema centrale 猫 quello della colpa e della vergogna:
鈥� La colpa collettiva 猫 informe, la vergogna 猫 un sentimento individuale.鈥�
Tutti insieme si vive come sonnambuli che non accettano l鈥檃bominevole realt脿.
Rosa stessa, che nella sua solitudine ritorna spesso al passato, ricorda le parole del padre di fronte a quel suo lavarsi le mani nei confronti di ci貌 che stava accadendo in Germania:
鈥� Sei responsabile del regime che tolleri, avrebbe gridato mio padre. L鈥檈sistenza di chiunque 猫 consentita dall鈥檕rdinamento dello Stato in cui vive, pure quella di un eremita, lo capisci o no? Non sei immune da nessuna colpa politica, Rosa!
Le sue riflessioni diventano, allora, quelle, di un popolo che deve, prima o poi, rendere conto di aver fatto o non fatto determinate scelte:
鈥� Abbiamo vissuto dodici anni sotto una dittatura, e non ce ne siamo quasi accorti. Che cosa permette agli esseri umani di vivere sotto una dittatura?
Non c鈥檈ra alternativa, questo 猫 il nostro alibi. Ero responsabile soltanto del cibo che ingerivo, un gesto innocuo, mangiare: come pu貌 essere una colpa? Si vergognavano, le altre, di vendersi per duecento marchi al mese, ottimo salario e vitto senza paragoni? Di credere, come avevo creduto io, che immorale fosse sacrificare la propria vita, se il sacrificio non serviva a nulla? Io mi vergognavo davanti a mio padre, sebbene mio padre fosse morto, perch茅 la vergogna ha bisogno di un censore per manifestarsi. Non c鈥檈ra alternativa, dicevamo.鈥�
鈥� Ad ascoltarlo con gli occhi chiusi, il suono della mensa sarebbe stato un suono buono. Il tinnire delle forchette sui piatti, il fruscio dell鈥檃cqua versata, il rintocco del vetro sul legno, il ruminare delle bocche, l鈥檃cciottolio di passi sul pavimento, l鈥檃ccavallarsi di voci e versi di uccelli e cani che abbaiano, il rugghio distante di un trattore colto dalle finestre aperte. Sarebbe stato nient鈥檃ltro che il tempo del convivio; fa tenerezza il bisogno umano di cibarsi per non morire.
Ma se riaprivo gli occhi li vedevo, i guardiani in divisa, le armi cariche, i confini della nostra gabbia, e il rumore di stoviglie tornava a riecheggiare scarno, il suono compresso di qualcosa che sta per esplodere.鈥�
Probabilmente la storia 猫 un pochino troppo edulcorata ma rimane un鈥檌nteressante lettura.
---------------------------------------------
Incipit
鈥� Entrammo una alla volta. Dopo ore di attesa, in piedi nel corridoio, avevamo bisogno di sederci. La stanza era grande, le pareti bianche. Al centro, un lungo tavolo di legno su cui avevano gi脿 apparecchiato per noi. Ci fecero cenno di prendere posto.
Mi sedetti e rimasi cos矛, le mani intrecciate sulla pancia. Davanti a me, un piatto di ceramica bianca. Avevo fame. Le altre donne si erano sistemate senza far rumore. Eravamo in dieci. Alcune stavano dritte e compite, i capelli tirati in uno chignon. Altre si guardavano intorno. La ragazza di fronte a me strappava pellicine con i denti e le triturava sotto gli incisivi. Aveva guance morbide chiazzate di couperose. Aveva fame.
Alle undici del mattino eravamo gi脿 affamate. Non dipendeva dall鈥檃ria di campagna, dal viaggio in pulmino. Quel buco nello stomaco era paura. Da anni avevamo fame e paura. E quando il profumo delle portate fu sotto il nostro naso, il battito cardiaco picchi貌 sulle tempie, la bocca si riemp矛 di saliva. Guardai la ragazza con la couperose. Aveva la mia stessa voglia.
I fagiolini erano conditi con il burro fuso. Non mangiavo burro dal giorno del mio matrimonio. L鈥檕dore dei peperoni arrostiti mi pizzicava le narici, il mio piatto traboccava, non facevo che fissarlo. In quello della ragazza di fronte a me, invece, c鈥檈rano riso e piselli.
鈥淢angiate,鈥� dissero dall鈥檃ngolo della sala, ed era poco pi霉 che un invito, meno di un ordine. La vedevano, la voglia nei nostri occhi. Bocche dischiuse, respiro accelerato. Esitammo. Nessuno ci aveva augurato buon appetito, e allora forse potevo ancora alzarmi e dire grazie, le galline stamattina sono state generose, per oggi un uovo mi baster脿.
Contai di nuovo le convitate. Eravamo in dieci, non era l鈥檜ltima cena.鈥�
April 22, 2024
"賱胤丕賱賲丕 兀丿賴卮鬲賳賷 丕賱爻賴賵賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷購賲賰賳 兀賳 賷購禺賮賷 亘賴丕 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 噩丕賳亘丕賸 賲賳 丨賷丕鬲賴. 賵丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 兀賳賳丕 賱賵 賰賳丕 賳爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱丕胤賱丕毓 毓賱賶 賰賱 卮丕匕丞 賵賮丕匕丞 賲賳 丨賷丕丞 丕賱丌禺乇賷賳 賮賷 丨賷賳賴丕 賱兀氐丕亘賳丕 丕賱噩賳賵賳. 賱賰賷 賳毓賷卮 丨賷丕丞 胤亘賷毓賷丞貙 賳丨賳 亘丨丕噩丞 廿賱賶 賴匕丕 丕賱噩賴賱."
乇賵丕賷丞 "匕丕卅賯丞 胤毓丕賲 賴鬲賱乇" 賴賷 兀賯乇亘 賱爻賷乇丞 匕丕鬲賷丞 賱賵丕丨丿丞 賲賳 匕丕卅賯丕鬲 胤毓丕賲 賴鬲賱乇 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賷禺卮賶 賲賳 兀賳 賷賰賵賳 胤毓丕賲賴 賲購爻賲賲丕賸 賮賰丕賳 賴賳丕賰 賲賳 賷匕賵賯 丕賱兀賰賱 賲購爻亘賯丕賸 賱賴貙 賱賰賷 賷胤賲卅賳 亘兀賳賴 賱賳 賷賲賵鬲 賲爻賲賵賲丕賸. 賵鬲賱賰 丕賱匕丕卅賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 賳賯乇兀 丨賰丕賷鬲賴丕貙 賴賷 乇賵夭丕貙 賮鬲丕丞 賲賳 乇賷賮/ 賯乇賶 丕賱賲丕賳賷丕 賵噩丿鬲 賳賮爻賴丕 賮噩兀丞 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賵馗賷賮丞 丕賱丨爻丕爻丞 賵丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲賯丕囟賶 毓賳賴丕 賲亘賱睾丕賸 賱丕 亘兀爻 亘賴.
賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 噩賷丿丞貙 賵賲毓 丕賱丕爻鬲睾乇丕亘 丕賱毓丕賲 賱賰賱 丕賱兀噩賵丕亍 丕賱禺丕氐丞 亘鬲賱賰 丕賱賵馗賷賮丞貙 賵丕賱禺賵賮 賵丕賱馗賱丕賲賷丞 丕賱毓丕賲丞 丕賱禺丕氐丞 亘丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱丿丕卅乇丞貙 賮賰丕賳鬲 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 毓賱賶 賯丿乇 賲賳 丕賱丕賴鬲賲丕賲 賵丕賱鬲卮賵賷賯貙 賵賱賰賳 亘丕賱鬲賯丿賲 賮賷 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬貙 賵噩丿鬲 賳賮爻賷 兀丿賵乇 賮賷 鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賮乇毓賷丞 賱丕 賯賷賲丞 賱賴丕 毓賱賶 丕賱廿胤賱丕賯貙 賲賳 毓賱丕賯丕鬲 睾乇丕賲賷丞貙 賵毓賱丕賯丕鬲 亘賷賳 丕賱匕丕卅賯丕鬲 賵丕賱胤亘禺 賵丕賱賲胤亘禺 賵丕賱胤毓丕賲貙 賱丕 鬲購爻乇賷 賵賱丕 鬲購睾賳賷 賲賳 噩賵毓 丕賱賲毓乇賮丞 毓賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賲賳 丕賱賲購賮鬲乇囟 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 兀賴賲 賲賳 匕賱賰.
"賯丿 賷賰賮 丕賱賲乇亍 毓賳 丕賱賵噩賵丿 賲毓 兀賳賴 賱丕 賷夭丕賱 毓賱賶 賯賷丿 丕賱丨賷丕丞."
賱丕 兀賳賰乇 兀賳 賴賳丕賰 卮賯 噩賷丿 賮賷 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 賵賱賰賳 亘賲乇賵乇 丕賱賵賯鬲 賷馗賱 賷賯賱 賵賷賯賱 賵賷賯賱貙 丨鬲賶 賵噩丿鬲 賳賮爻賷 賮賷 丌禺乇 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 兀賲賳賷 賳賮爻賷 兀賳 鬲賳鬲賴賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞/丕賱爻賷乇丞貙 賵匕賱賰 兀賴賲 丿賱賷賱 毓賳丿賷 兀賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賰丕賳 爻賷卅丕賸 賱賱睾丕賷丞貙 賵賱賰賳賷 兀賯乇兀 賱賰賷 兀丨丕賵賱 兀賳 兀乇賶 丕賱氐賵乇丞 丕賱賰丕賲賱丞 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賵賴賷 亘賰賱 鬲兀賰賷丿 爻賷卅丞 噩丿丕賸.
December 28, 2020
喔權复喔⑧覆喔⑧箒喔涏弗喔堗覆喔佮笭喔侧俯喔侧腑喔脆笗喔侧弗喔� 喙傕笖喔� Rosella Postorino 喔曕箟喔權笁喔氞副喔氞竵喔о覆喔斷福喔侧竾喔о副喔ム浮喔侧竵喔∴覆喔⑧箖喔權腑喔脆笗喔侧弗喔� 喙佮笡喔ム腑喔⑧箞喔侧竾喔ム阜喙堗笝喙勦斧喔ム箓喔斷涪 喔复喔｀傅喔樴福 喔栢覆喔о福喔涏复喔⑧竵喔膏弗 喔栢箞喔侧涪喔椸腑喔斷箑喔｀阜喙堗腑喔囙福喔侧抚喔傕腑喔� 喙傕福喔嬥覆 喙€喔嬥覆喙€喔腑喔｀箤 喔笉喔脆竾喔覆喔о笂喔侧抚喙€喔⑧腑喔｀浮喔编笝 喔浮喔侧笂喔脆竵 鈥溹斧喔權箞喔о涪喔娻复喔∴腑喔侧斧喔侧福鈥� 喔傕腑喔囙府喔脆笗喙€喔ム腑喔｀箤 喔溹腹喙夃笝喔赤笝喔侧笅喔掂釜喔∴副喔⑧釜喔囙竸喔｀覆喔∴箓喔ム竵喔勦福喔编箟喔囙笚喔掂箞喔腑喔�
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喔赋喔權抚喔權箒喔涏弗喔｀覆喔氞福喔粪箞喔� 喙勦笖喙夃腑喔｀福喔栢福喔竵喔ム浮喔佮弗喙堗腑喔∴笖喙夃抚喔⑧福喔侧涪喔ム赴喙€喔傅喔⑧笖喔傕腑喔囙笂喔掂抚喔脆笗喔涏福喔班笀喔赤抚喔编笝喙佮弗喔班竸喔о覆喔∴笅喔编笟喔嬥箟喔笝喔傕腑喔囙笗喔编抚喔ム赴喔勦福 喔椸傅喙堗笂喔笟喙€喔涏箛喔權笧喔脆箑喔ㄠ俯喔勦阜喔竵喔侧福喔氞福喔｀涪喔侧涪喔權复喔副喔⑧箒喔ム赴喔涏腹喔∴斧喔ム副喔囙競喔竾喔浮喔侧笂喔脆竵喔笝喙堗抚喔⑧笂喔脆浮喔覆喔覆喔� 喔覆喔о笝喙夃腑喔⑧釜喔侧抚喙冟斧喔嵿箞喔椸傅喙堗弗喙夃抚喔權笘喔灌竵喔氞副喔囙竸喔编笟喔∴覆喔椸赋喔囙覆喔權箑喔傅喙堗涪喔囙箑喔涏箛喔權箑喔傅喙堗涪喔囙笗喔侧涪 喙佮弗喔班竵喔ム覆喔⑧浮喔侧箑喔涏箛喔權箑喔炧阜喙堗腑喔權笀喔赤箑喔涏箛喔權競喔竾喔佮副喔權箒喔ム赴喔佮副喔� 喙傕福喔嬥覆喔權副喔氞抚喙堗覆喔ム赋喔氞覆喔佮竵喔о箞喔侧箖喔勦福喙€喔炧阜喙堗腑喔� 喙€喔炧福喔侧赴喔勦抚喔侧浮喙€喔涏箛喔� 鈥溹釜喔侧抚喙€喔氞腑喔｀箤喔ム复喔欌€� (喔娻覆喔о箑喔∴阜喔竾喔弗喔о竾喔溹腹喙夃箓喔佮箟喔福喔�) 喔傕腑喔囙箑喔樴腑喔椸赋喙冟斧喙夃笢喔灌箟喔笉喔脆竾喔勦笝喔阜喙堗笝喙勦浮喙堗笂喔笟喔傕傅喙夃斧喔權箟喔侧笗喔编箟喔囙箒喔曕箞喙佮福喔佮笧喔� 喔∴腑喔囙抚喙堗覆喙€喔樴腑喔涪喔脆箞喔囙箒喔ム赴喔椸赋喔曕副喔о箑喔笝喔粪腑喔勦笝喔阜喙堗笝
喙佮竾喙堗浮喔膏浮喔曕箞喔侧竾喙� 喔傕腑喔囙釜喔编竾喔勦浮喙€喔⑧腑喔｀浮喔编笝喔浮喔编涪喔复喔曕箑喔ム腑喔｀箤喙€喔｀阜喔竾喔赋喔權覆喔堗笘喔灌竵喔栢箞喔侧涪喔椸腑喔斷腑喔⑧箞喔侧竾喔氞福喔｀笀喔囙箒喔ム赴喔曕福喔囙笗喔侧浮喔涏福喔班抚喔编笗喔脆辅喔侧釜喔曕福喙� 喔曕副喙夃竾喙佮笗喙堗抚喔脆笜喔掂竵喔｀赴喔炧阜喔弗喔编笚喔樴复喔勦弗喔编箞喔囙笂喔侧笗喔� 喔о复喔樴傅喔椸傅喙堗竸喔權箑喔⑧腑喔｀浮喔编笝喔涏复喔斷斧喔灌笗喔编抚喙€喔竾喔堗覆喔佮箑喔傅喔⑧竾喙€喔炧福喔掂涪喔佮箒喔箞喔囙浮喙傕笝喔樴福喔｀浮 喔覆喔椸复 喔氞腑喔佮笗喔编抚喙€喔竾喔嬥箟喔赤箚 喔о箞喔� 鈥溹笁喔编笝喙€喔炧傅喔⑧竾喙佮笗喙堗笚喔赤笗喔侧浮喔笝喙夃覆喔椸傅喙堚€� 喙傕笖喔⑧笚喔掂箞喙勦浮喙堗竸喔脆笖喔о箞喔侧斧喔權箟喔侧笚喔掂箞喔權副喙夃笝喔權赋喙勦笡喔腹喙堗腑喔班箘喔� 喔о复喔樴傅喙傕竼喔┼笓喔侧笂喔о笝喙€喔娻阜喙堗腑喔傕腑喔囙笧喔｀福喔勦笝喔侧笅喔� 喔弗喔� 喔｀抚喔∴笘喔多竾喙€喔佮福喙囙笖喙€喔ム箛喔佮箑喔佮福喙囙笖喔權箟喔涪喙€喔佮傅喙堗涪喔о竵喔编笟喔溹腹喙夃笝喔赤笝喔侧笅喔掂箑喔竾 喙€喔娻箞喔� 喔勦抚喔侧浮喔椸傅喙堗箑喔傕覆喙勦浮喙堗笂喔笟喔佮复喔權箑喔權阜喙夃腑喙€喔炧福喔侧赴喙€喔涏箛喔權竸喔權福喔编竵喔副喔曕抚喙�
喔勦抚喔侧浮喔椸箟喔侧笚喔侧涪喔曕箞喔侧竾喙� 喔椸傅喙堗箓喔｀笅喔侧笗喙夃腑喔囙箑喔溹笂喔脆笉 喔父喔斷笚喙夃覆喔⑧浮喔编竵喙€喔涏箛喔權箑喔｀阜喙堗腑喔囙競喔竾喔佮覆喔｀箑喔溹笂喔脆笉喔笝喙夃覆喔佮副喔氞竵喔侧福喔勦箞喔涪喙� 喔腹喔嵿箑喔傅喔⑧竸喔о覆喔∴箑喔涏箛喔權浮喔權父喔┼涪喙屶競喔竾喔曕副喔о箑喔樴腑喙€喔竾喙勦笡喔椸傅喔ム赴喔權箟喔涪 喔權复喔⑧覆喔⑧箑喔｀阜喙堗腑喔囙笝喔掂箟喔栢副喔佮笚喔箒喔ム赴喔栢箞喔侧涪喔椸腑喔斷竸喔о覆喔∴競喔编笖喙佮涪喙夃竾喙冟笝喔堗复喔曕箖喔堗競喔竾喙€喔樴腑喔腑喔佮浮喔侧箘喔斷箟喔斷傅喔∴覆喔� 喙傕笖喔⑧箑喔夃笧喔侧赴喙冟笝喔娻箞喔о竾喔椸箟喔侧涪喙� 喔傕腑喔囙釜喔囙竸喔｀覆喔∴笚喔掂箞喙傕福喔嬥覆喙€喔｀复喙堗浮喔｀腹喙夃抚喙堗覆喙€喔樴腑喔佮赋喔ム副喔囙笀喔班腑喔⑧腹喙堗笢喔脆笖喔傕箟喔侧竾喔傕腑喔囙笡喔｀赴喔о副喔曕复喔ㄠ覆喔笗喔｀箤 喔覆喔佮箒喔曕箞喔曕箟喔竾喔覆喔椸覆喔囙箑喔覆喔曕副喔о福喔笖喔曕箞喔箘喔涏箖喔箟喙勦笖喙�
喔傕副喔斷箖喔堗腑喔⑧腹喙堗笝喔脆笖喙€喔斷傅喔⑧抚喔椸傅喙堗笗喔笝喔父喔斷笚喙夃覆喔⑧競喔竾喙€喔｀阜喙堗腑喔囙竸喙堗腑喔權競喙夃覆喔囙福喔о笟喔｀副喔� 喙勦福喙夃笅喔多箞喔囙笟喔椸笟喔｀福喔⑧覆喔⑧弗喔班箑喔傅喔⑧笖喔ム腑喔斧喔｀阜喔竸喔о覆喔∴腑喔脆斧喔ム副喔佮腑喔脆箑喔弗喔粪箞喔笚喔侧竾喔ㄠ傅喔ム笜喔｀福喔∴笚喔掂箞喙傕福喔嬥覆喔曕箟喔竾喙€喔溹笂喔脆笉(喙傕笖喔⑧箘喔∴箞喙€喔勦涪喔涪喔侧竵)喔曕弗喔笖喔椸副喙夃竾喙€喔ム箞喔� 喔勦复喔斷抚喙堗覆喔夃覆喔佮笀喔氞斧喙夃抚喔權箑喔佮复喔權箘喔涏浮喔侧竵 喙€喔浮喔粪腑喔權笢喔灌箟喙€喔傕傅喔⑧笝喔炧涪喔侧涪喔侧浮喔勦弗喔侧涪喔涏浮喔曕箞喔侧竾喙� 喙冟笝喔堗复喔曕箖喔堗笗喔编抚喔ム赴喔勦福喙冟斧喙夃腑喔竵喔∴覆喔｀覆喔氞福喔粪箞喔� (喙€喔浮喔粪腑喔權笁喔侧竵喔堗笟喔ム赴喔勦福喙勦笚喔� 55) 喔勦抚喔侧浮喔｀腹喙夃釜喔多竵喔堗付喔囙腑喔竵喔∴覆喔涏福喔班笖喔编竵喔涏福喔班箑喔斷复喔� 喙勦浮喙堗釜喔∴笀喔｀复喔囙斧喔｀阜喔笝喙堗覆喔曕复喔斷笗喔侧浮喙€喔椸箞喔侧竵喔编笟喔曕腑喔權笗喙夃笝喙佮弗喔班竵喔ム覆喔囙箑喔｀阜喙堗腑喔� 喙佮笗喙堗箓喔斷涪喔｀抚喔∴竵喙囙箑喔涏箛喔權斧喔權副喔囙釜喔粪腑喔椸傅喙堗笂喔笟喔椸傅喙堗釜喔膏笖喙€喔ム箞喔∴斧喔權付喙堗竾喙冟笝喔｀腑喔氞斧喔ム覆喔⑧笡喔� 喔椸赋喙冟斧喙夃腑喔⑧覆喔佮箘喔涏腑喙堗覆喔權斧喔權副喔囙釜喔粪腑喔椸傅喙堗箑喔ム箞喔侧箑喔｀阜喙堗腑喔囙笀喔侧竵喔∴父喔∴浮喔竾喔傕腑喔� 鈥溹笢喔灌箟喔佮福喔班笚喔斥€� (喔曕覆喔∴竸喔赤笧喔脆笧喔侧竵喔┼覆喔傕腑喔囙笡喔｀赴喔о副喔曕复喔ㄠ覆喔笗喔｀箤) 喔傅喔佮斧喔ム覆喔⑧箑喔ム箞喔�
October 10, 2018
Da studentessa e amante della storia la prospettiva che il libro indaga mi ha subito interessato.
E' affascinante e deprimente insieme scoprire che Hitler utilizzava "assaggiatrici" per evitare di essere avvelenato.
La prima domanda che mi 猫 venuta spontanea, anche prima di leggere il libro, 猫 stata: Come mai erano solo donne a fare da assaggiatrici?
La risposta 猫 venuta durante la presentazione del libro a cui ho assistito. E' stata l'autrice stessa a rimarcare quanto il regime nazista fosse maschilista. E poi, nel libro, viene spesso ripetuta una frase che fa drizzare le orecchie. Le donne sono come la massa; la massa 猫 come le donne. Abbandonate, cieche, da guidare forse.
Rosella Postorino, come ha raccontato durante la presentazione, ha tratto ispirazione da un articolo che parlava di una delle ultime assaggiatrici di Hitler. Il suo libro 猫 una libera interpretazione della vita di quella donna che visse sul suo corpo la guerra, in un modo particolare. Ma non meno intenso.
Cosa ho apprezzato del libro: innanzitutto la prosa. Rosella Postorino conosce senz'altro tutti gli artifici del mestiere. Usa le parole in modo accurato, spesso tagliente, e riesce a descrivere il mondo sensoriale della protagonista in modo ottimo. Basta una frase, qualche parola, e riusciamo a figurarci il corpo di lei, il dolore, le tenebre che la avvolgono. Ma anche il piacere, un piacere colpevole.
In secondo luogo, il mondo metaforico che c'猫 nel libro. Il cibo diventa una metafora esattamente come il corpo, e queste metafore sono scandite alla perfezione. Corpo e cibo possono rappresentare uno strumento di piacere e uno strumento di dolore; attraverso il cibo il corpo cambia, vive o muore.
"Il cibo 猫 un pericolo" dice la madre di Rosa ( la protagonista ) "Mangiare 猫 pericoloso."
Ma 猫 solo quando Rosa diviene a tutti gli effetti una assaggiatrice che si rende conto di quanto il cibo sia pericoloso. Ogni boccone potrebbe essere l'ultimo.
Mangiare significa vivere, per lei e le sue compagne, ma potrebbe significare morte.
Il corpo 猫 l'altra metafora affascinante. Durante la guerra, come ci insegnano libri ben pi霉 famosi di questo, libri che abbiamo studiato anche a scuola, il corpo di un uomo viene sempre fatto oggetto di mortificazione. I corpi sono dimenticati, maltrattati, violentati in ogni modo.
E se un corpo volesse sopravvivere, invece? Se ai desideri morali si sovrapponesse il richiamo della vita? Questo 猫 un tema davvero molto importante, perch茅 non dobbiamo mai dimenticare di essere fatti di carne.
Il corpo che cambia, che brama. Che cerca di sopravvivere. Che ha bisogno anche solo di un abbraccio. Oggi ci potrebbe sembrare assurdo - la mancanza di un abbraccio - perch茅 ne riceviamo tanti. Ma in tempo di guerra non era affatto scontato dovere aspettare mesi, anni, una vita. Perch茅 si rimaneva soli.
Le cose che ho apprezzato di meno: l'insistenza della storia d'amore di Rosa con un tenente delle SS. Penso che sia stato un elemento importante, della trama, ma mi sarebbe piaciuto leggere di meno dei loro incontri. Io, forse perch茅 amo molti i fatti storici, avrei preferito uno sguardo pi霉 ampio sul lato della guerra. Per貌 mi rendo conto che questo 猫 un romanzo che si basa su una prospettiva pi霉 intima, non voglio dire "femminile" ma certamente posso dire "umana". E' un libro intimo.
Ci sono molti spunti, nel libro, da cui trarre argomenti di riflessione, e per questo motivo va sicuramente promosso. Io direi tre stelle.
E' affascinante e deprimente insieme scoprire che Hitler utilizzava "assaggiatrici" per evitare di essere avvelenato.
La prima domanda che mi 猫 venuta spontanea, anche prima di leggere il libro, 猫 stata: Come mai erano solo donne a fare da assaggiatrici?
La risposta 猫 venuta durante la presentazione del libro a cui ho assistito. E' stata l'autrice stessa a rimarcare quanto il regime nazista fosse maschilista. E poi, nel libro, viene spesso ripetuta una frase che fa drizzare le orecchie. Le donne sono come la massa; la massa 猫 come le donne. Abbandonate, cieche, da guidare forse.
Rosella Postorino, come ha raccontato durante la presentazione, ha tratto ispirazione da un articolo che parlava di una delle ultime assaggiatrici di Hitler. Il suo libro 猫 una libera interpretazione della vita di quella donna che visse sul suo corpo la guerra, in un modo particolare. Ma non meno intenso.
Cosa ho apprezzato del libro: innanzitutto la prosa. Rosella Postorino conosce senz'altro tutti gli artifici del mestiere. Usa le parole in modo accurato, spesso tagliente, e riesce a descrivere il mondo sensoriale della protagonista in modo ottimo. Basta una frase, qualche parola, e riusciamo a figurarci il corpo di lei, il dolore, le tenebre che la avvolgono. Ma anche il piacere, un piacere colpevole.
In secondo luogo, il mondo metaforico che c'猫 nel libro. Il cibo diventa una metafora esattamente come il corpo, e queste metafore sono scandite alla perfezione. Corpo e cibo possono rappresentare uno strumento di piacere e uno strumento di dolore; attraverso il cibo il corpo cambia, vive o muore.
"Il cibo 猫 un pericolo" dice la madre di Rosa ( la protagonista ) "Mangiare 猫 pericoloso."
Ma 猫 solo quando Rosa diviene a tutti gli effetti una assaggiatrice che si rende conto di quanto il cibo sia pericoloso. Ogni boccone potrebbe essere l'ultimo.
Mangiare significa vivere, per lei e le sue compagne, ma potrebbe significare morte.
Il corpo 猫 l'altra metafora affascinante. Durante la guerra, come ci insegnano libri ben pi霉 famosi di questo, libri che abbiamo studiato anche a scuola, il corpo di un uomo viene sempre fatto oggetto di mortificazione. I corpi sono dimenticati, maltrattati, violentati in ogni modo.
E se un corpo volesse sopravvivere, invece? Se ai desideri morali si sovrapponesse il richiamo della vita? Questo 猫 un tema davvero molto importante, perch茅 non dobbiamo mai dimenticare di essere fatti di carne.
Il corpo che cambia, che brama. Che cerca di sopravvivere. Che ha bisogno anche solo di un abbraccio. Oggi ci potrebbe sembrare assurdo - la mancanza di un abbraccio - perch茅 ne riceviamo tanti. Ma in tempo di guerra non era affatto scontato dovere aspettare mesi, anni, una vita. Perch茅 si rimaneva soli.
Le cose che ho apprezzato di meno: l'insistenza della storia d'amore di Rosa con un tenente delle SS. Penso che sia stato un elemento importante, della trama, ma mi sarebbe piaciuto leggere di meno dei loro incontri. Io, forse perch茅 amo molti i fatti storici, avrei preferito uno sguardo pi霉 ampio sul lato della guerra. Per貌 mi rendo conto che questo 猫 un romanzo che si basa su una prospettiva pi霉 intima, non voglio dire "femminile" ma certamente posso dire "umana". E' un libro intimo.
Ci sono molti spunti, nel libro, da cui trarre argomenti di riflessione, e per questo motivo va sicuramente promosso. Io direi tre stelle.
May 31, 2021
Cara Rosella Postorino, perdonami la schiettezza, ma la prossima volta che dovessi imbatterti in una storia vera che merita di essere raccontata e romanzata, lascia che a farlo sia qualcun altro.
Una protagonista con una storia carica di drammaticit脿 猫 stata trasformata in una donnetta insulsa. Posso solo allietarmi del fatto che la donna a cui questa storia si 猫 ispirata non abbia mai avuto modo di leggere questo romanzo.
Se almeno avessi voluto scrivere un romanzetto rosa o uno di quei libri in cui le protagoniste sono delle disadattate con la sindrome di Stoccolma! Se almeno avessi avuto questa dichiarata intenzione, avrei potuto capire l'amore di Rosa (la protagonista) con un nazista psicotico stalker... me ne sarei fatta una ragione! E il furto del latte? Quanto 猫 dannatamente stupido e poco credibile? E l'ebrea infiltrata? Mi sembra quanto meno una scelta banale e prevedibile..
La copertina era bella, per貌.
Una protagonista con una storia carica di drammaticit脿 猫 stata trasformata in una donnetta insulsa. Posso solo allietarmi del fatto che la donna a cui questa storia si 猫 ispirata non abbia mai avuto modo di leggere questo romanzo.
Se almeno avessi voluto scrivere un romanzetto rosa o uno di quei libri in cui le protagoniste sono delle disadattate con la sindrome di Stoccolma! Se almeno avessi avuto questa dichiarata intenzione, avrei potuto capire l'amore di Rosa (la protagonista) con un nazista psicotico stalker... me ne sarei fatta una ragione! E il furto del latte? Quanto 猫 dannatamente stupido e poco credibile? E l'ebrea infiltrata? Mi sembra quanto meno una scelta banale e prevedibile..
La copertina era bella, per貌.
July 20, 2024
鈥淚 never had enough of living.鈥� (3.5 stars)
Translated from Italian, author Rosella Postorino鈥檚 AT THE WOLF鈥橲 TABLE is an interesting book. I liked it, but I think that it tries to be too many things at once.
In short, it is the story of Rosa Sauer, a woman who has left Berlin to live with her in-laws after her parents are killed in the bombs that drop on Berlin. In rural Germany, she is conscripted to be one of Hitler鈥檚 food tasters when he is at his headquarters, known as the 鈥淲olf鈥檚 Lair.鈥� Rosa鈥檚 husband is also missing in action.
Told in the first person, Rosa fills us in on how she came to be where she is, and bit by bit we get backstory and new revelations as they are detailed and revealed by her. The author uses this device well, and there were more than a few times in the novel where I was surprised by something I had just learned. This device is well utilized.
The text is a slow burn, I did not mind that, it is really a character study. As a result, there are few characters, other than Rosa, who are fully rendered. There are a lot of secondary characters in the text, and as mentioned, with only a few exceptions their names and attributes run together. I was never fully aware of who was who. Because they are not distinctly drawn, they tend to jumble together. There are a couple of exceptions to this, and those characters gave me enough to go on to enjoy the book.
Quotes:
鈥� 鈥淎 person can cease to exist even when alive.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淚n those who recognize it, weakness awakens guilt.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淥ften, sharing a secret doesn鈥檛 bring people together-it separates them.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 endearing, the human need to eat so as not to die.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淧eople use love to justify all kinds of things.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淓verything considered, life matters so little, and devoting it to someone fills it with meaning.鈥�
鈥� 鈥溾€ow strange, one death that contains another.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 deranged, the human species; it鈥檚 instincts shouldn鈥檛 be heeded.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淲ith time, even the enthusiasm of a miracle dampens.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淢arriage is a fluctuating system-it moves in waves, it can always end and always begin again, it has no linear progression, not does it follow logical paths.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淲hen you lose someone, the pain you feel is for yourself鈥�.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淭he past doesn鈥檛 go away, but there鈥檚 no need to dredge it up; you can try to let it rest鈥︹€�
I will say this, the ending was a fascinating take by the writer. I have no other comment than that. I would love to know why she chose to conclude the novel in the way that she did.
I would urge someone who starts this book to stick with it. Get past the first 75 or so pages. It gets better. AT THE WOLF鈥橲 TABLE boasts an intriguing premise and plot and it gives some interesting insight into the lives of the German civilian population during WW II.
Translated from Italian, author Rosella Postorino鈥檚 AT THE WOLF鈥橲 TABLE is an interesting book. I liked it, but I think that it tries to be too many things at once.
In short, it is the story of Rosa Sauer, a woman who has left Berlin to live with her in-laws after her parents are killed in the bombs that drop on Berlin. In rural Germany, she is conscripted to be one of Hitler鈥檚 food tasters when he is at his headquarters, known as the 鈥淲olf鈥檚 Lair.鈥� Rosa鈥檚 husband is also missing in action.
Told in the first person, Rosa fills us in on how she came to be where she is, and bit by bit we get backstory and new revelations as they are detailed and revealed by her. The author uses this device well, and there were more than a few times in the novel where I was surprised by something I had just learned. This device is well utilized.
The text is a slow burn, I did not mind that, it is really a character study. As a result, there are few characters, other than Rosa, who are fully rendered. There are a lot of secondary characters in the text, and as mentioned, with only a few exceptions their names and attributes run together. I was never fully aware of who was who. Because they are not distinctly drawn, they tend to jumble together. There are a couple of exceptions to this, and those characters gave me enough to go on to enjoy the book.
Quotes:
鈥� 鈥淎 person can cease to exist even when alive.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淚n those who recognize it, weakness awakens guilt.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淥ften, sharing a secret doesn鈥檛 bring people together-it separates them.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 endearing, the human need to eat so as not to die.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淧eople use love to justify all kinds of things.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淓verything considered, life matters so little, and devoting it to someone fills it with meaning.鈥�
鈥� 鈥溾€ow strange, one death that contains another.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 deranged, the human species; it鈥檚 instincts shouldn鈥檛 be heeded.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淲ith time, even the enthusiasm of a miracle dampens.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淢arriage is a fluctuating system-it moves in waves, it can always end and always begin again, it has no linear progression, not does it follow logical paths.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淲hen you lose someone, the pain you feel is for yourself鈥�.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淭he past doesn鈥檛 go away, but there鈥檚 no need to dredge it up; you can try to let it rest鈥︹€�
I will say this, the ending was a fascinating take by the writer. I have no other comment than that. I would love to know why she chose to conclude the novel in the way that she did.
I would urge someone who starts this book to stick with it. Get past the first 75 or so pages. It gets better. AT THE WOLF鈥橲 TABLE boasts an intriguing premise and plot and it gives some interesting insight into the lives of the German civilian population during WW II.
September 7, 2019
This novel is based upon real events, and the life of Margot Wolk, who was the last survivor of Hitler鈥檚 food tasters 鈥� a fact she, apparently, only divulged at the very end of her life. In this novel, she becomes Rosa Sauer, a Berlin secretary, who has married her boss and is looking forward to a life of contented, marital bliss, when Gregor heads off to war. Then, as the bombs fall, and she finds herself without any family, she relocates 鈥� somewhat unwillingly 鈥� to the countryside, to stay with her in-law鈥檚.
Being new to the area, and standing out as a city girl in the countryside, brings trouble to Rosa鈥檚 door. She is ordered, along with several other women, to become a taster at the Wolf鈥檚 Lair. It is 1943 in East Prussia and the tide of war is turning. Although some of the women recruited are keen Party supporters, there is plenty of 鈥� pretty open 鈥� criticism of the regime. Still, every day, the women sit down to breakfast, lunch and dinner, in order to eat food prepared for Hitler and then wait to check whether or not it has been poisoned. Undoubtedly, even though Hitler鈥檚 diet is slightly restricted and vegetarian, the food is much better than the women would normally have and, despite the risks, they mostly seem hungry enough to eat what is put in front of them with gratitude.
Through this novel we learn of the delicate balance of relationships 鈥� both between Rosa and her in-law鈥檚 and the women who are bussed in to try Hitler鈥檚 food. Rosa is the outsider; not part of the community, she stands out with her city shoes and clothes. As such, she both garners the others scorn and their envy. As the book progresses, we get to know the other women better and how their lives, and the war changes them. Overall, a fascinating historical novel, but the style was a little dry. However, as the book was translated, I am not sure whether this was due to the original author鈥檚 style, or the translation. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Being new to the area, and standing out as a city girl in the countryside, brings trouble to Rosa鈥檚 door. She is ordered, along with several other women, to become a taster at the Wolf鈥檚 Lair. It is 1943 in East Prussia and the tide of war is turning. Although some of the women recruited are keen Party supporters, there is plenty of 鈥� pretty open 鈥� criticism of the regime. Still, every day, the women sit down to breakfast, lunch and dinner, in order to eat food prepared for Hitler and then wait to check whether or not it has been poisoned. Undoubtedly, even though Hitler鈥檚 diet is slightly restricted and vegetarian, the food is much better than the women would normally have and, despite the risks, they mostly seem hungry enough to eat what is put in front of them with gratitude.
Through this novel we learn of the delicate balance of relationships 鈥� both between Rosa and her in-law鈥檚 and the women who are bussed in to try Hitler鈥檚 food. Rosa is the outsider; not part of the community, she stands out with her city shoes and clothes. As such, she both garners the others scorn and their envy. As the book progresses, we get to know the other women better and how their lives, and the war changes them. Overall, a fascinating historical novel, but the style was a little dry. However, as the book was translated, I am not sure whether this was due to the original author鈥檚 style, or the translation. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
July 15, 2019
Non mi 猫 facile dare un giudizio sul libro. E鈥� ben scritto? S矛, direi di s矛, la struttura narrativa presenta anche varie raffinatezze tecniche. E鈥� interessante? S矛, tramite la vicenda fino a poco tempo fa quasi misconosciuta delle assaggiatrici di Hitler- donne tedesche costrette ad assaggiare il cibo per verificare l鈥檃ssenza di sostanze velenose ()- l鈥檃utrice ricostruisce uno squarcio della vita dentro 鈥淟a tana del Lupo鈥�, la caserma-bunker tedesca in territorio prussiano (oggi polacco) dove Hitler trascorse molto tempo fino all鈥檌nizio dell鈥檌nvasione sovietica. Oltretutto la cornice storica non sacrifica il personaggio: nel romanzo la protagonista 猫 raccontata nel suo drammatico ruolo di vittima che si sente colpevole. Dunque? Dunque il libro non mi ha entusiasmato e non so dire bene il perch茅. E鈥� un libro senz鈥檃nima, forse, mi verrebbe da dire. Mi pare una buona prova di scrittura, ma mi 猫 parsa molto fredda, studiata a tavolino per piacere ed essere interessante. Non ho sentito nulla di palpitante, n茅 una vicinanza profonda dell鈥檃utrice ai suo personaggi o alle vicende. Tuttavia potrebbe essere un mio limite, una mancanza di feeling fra me e questo romanzo. Non so.
August 17, 2021
La Murgia dalla quarta di copertina ci intima? Implora! "Leggete 'Le assaggiatrici'. Fatelo vi prego!". Lerner rilancia spericolatamente "La sorpresa e' cresciuta leggendolo: l'ho divorato". Io, piu' modestamente, ho letto questo libro praticamente costretto da un'amica e mal me ne incolse. Non mi spiego come un lavoro del genere possa avere tanti riscontri positivi: una prosa scialba, dialoghi a tratti imbarazzanti del tipo: "Cosa c'e'?" "Come stai?" "Tu?" "Vieni al lago di Moy, domani pomeriggio?" "Va bene". Senza considerare la trama ridotta all'osso e ispirata (vogliamo essere cortesi) a "Senso" di Boito. Persino il grado militare del "bello e dannato" ricompare pari pari, riuscendo nell'impresa di rendere i personaggi assolutamente piatti. Insomma, si capisce che non mi e' piaciuto per niente?! Forse si.
January 29, 2019
My View:
Brilliant!
A narrative that authentically involves you in the war time Germany where the impossible to accept, the dangerous, the unthinkable鈥� is normalised. This is a study of group behaviour; of how social isolation, separation from family support, societal and military control, of how war affects those actively involved in the warfare and those who remain at home. It is also a story of love 鈥� in many forms, of violence, of living in perpetual/potential danger and a story of survival.
This is, at times, an intense and emotional read. I was disappointed when I read the last page - I was hungry for more.
Brilliantly written, sensitively translated, this is a great read.
Brilliant!
A narrative that authentically involves you in the war time Germany where the impossible to accept, the dangerous, the unthinkable鈥� is normalised. This is a study of group behaviour; of how social isolation, separation from family support, societal and military control, of how war affects those actively involved in the warfare and those who remain at home. It is also a story of love 鈥� in many forms, of violence, of living in perpetual/potential danger and a story of survival.
This is, at times, an intense and emotional read. I was disappointed when I read the last page - I was hungry for more.
Brilliantly written, sensitively translated, this is a great read.
March 17, 2019
I was greatly disappointed by this one. I ended up abandoning the book at 50%. Just was not engaged with the writing or the characters. I recommend The Taster if you are looking for another book about this topic.
July 21, 2022
Si pu貌 rischiare di morire ogni giorno? Questo 猫 quello che succede a Rosa, una delle dici assaggiatrici di Hitler. Il loro compito 猫 molto importante: devono assaggiare tre volte al giorno e restare un'ora sotto osservazione, affinch茅 le guardie si accertino che il cibo da servire al F眉hrer non sia avvelenato.
Rosa di trova catapultata in una mensa con dei piatti che deve ingerire per forza, circondata da altre donne. Giovani donne che presto diventeranno amiche e confidenti, il terrore della guerra 猫 costante e universale. La maggior parte di loro 猫 sposata e ha dei figli, Rosa li ha sempre voluti ma il suo matrimonio 猫 durato solo un anno, suo marito Gregor combatte sul fronte russo e lei si 猫 ritrovata da sola a casa dei suoi suoceri, accudita come una figlia. Saranno mesi duri per Rosa, nella speranza di rivedere il marito, ormai lontano da tempo. Ma la paura di morire ogni giorno assaggiando i pasti 猫 costante, eppure deve conviverci. E鈥� la sua vita e il suo lavoro, ma spera che finisca in fretta.
Una storia commovente, intrigante e interessante. Personalmente non conoscevo queste figure delle assaggiatrici e leggere questo libro, che nonostante sia romanzato, narra la storia di vera di Margot Wolk, mi ha fatto venire i brividi. Perch茅 猫 un libro che narra degli orrori della guerra, della paura costante della morte, della sofferenza che ogni persona viveva in quegli anni.
Narra la storia di una donna forte che diventa fragile dinanzi agli orrori della guerra. Ma nonostante tutto, bisognava sentirsi vivi, poter vivere per quel poco che rimaneva o sfuggire alla guerra. Il finale 猫 stato del tutto inaspettato e mi ha colpito molto. Uno dei libri pi霉 belli e toccanti letti quest鈥檃nno.
Rosa di trova catapultata in una mensa con dei piatti che deve ingerire per forza, circondata da altre donne. Giovani donne che presto diventeranno amiche e confidenti, il terrore della guerra 猫 costante e universale. La maggior parte di loro 猫 sposata e ha dei figli, Rosa li ha sempre voluti ma il suo matrimonio 猫 durato solo un anno, suo marito Gregor combatte sul fronte russo e lei si 猫 ritrovata da sola a casa dei suoi suoceri, accudita come una figlia. Saranno mesi duri per Rosa, nella speranza di rivedere il marito, ormai lontano da tempo. Ma la paura di morire ogni giorno assaggiando i pasti 猫 costante, eppure deve conviverci. E鈥� la sua vita e il suo lavoro, ma spera che finisca in fretta.
Una storia commovente, intrigante e interessante. Personalmente non conoscevo queste figure delle assaggiatrici e leggere questo libro, che nonostante sia romanzato, narra la storia di vera di Margot Wolk, mi ha fatto venire i brividi. Perch茅 猫 un libro che narra degli orrori della guerra, della paura costante della morte, della sofferenza che ogni persona viveva in quegli anni.
Narra la storia di una donna forte che diventa fragile dinanzi agli orrori della guerra. Ma nonostante tutto, bisognava sentirsi vivi, poter vivere per quel poco che rimaneva o sfuggire alla guerra. Il finale 猫 stato del tutto inaspettato e mi ha colpito molto. Uno dei libri pi霉 belli e toccanti letti quest鈥檃nno.
March 7, 2018
Non pensavo fosse una storia di questo tipo, mi ero immaginata che il contesto storico fosse ben argomentato ed invece 猫 solo un flebile pretesto per parlare di altro.
L'ho letto senza coinvolgimento e ho trovato alcuni passaggi sconnessi con il resto della storia. Anche il finale non mi ha convinta. Non so...
L'ho letto senza coinvolgimento e ho trovato alcuni passaggi sconnessi con il resto della storia. Anche il finale non mi ha convinta. Non so...
November 24, 2022
A woman during the Nazi era falls in love. And she tastes food for Hitler himself, but for some reason this little detail that is supposed to be the WHOLE POINT of the books is soon forgotten and traded for a trivial story that could be set in any time, any where. Disappointing.
STYLING: 猸愨瓙
ORIGINALITY: 猸愨瓙
CHARACTER DEV.: 猸�
PLOT DEV.: 猸�
IMPORTANCE: 猸�
STYLING: 猸愨瓙
ORIGINALITY: 猸愨瓙
CHARACTER DEV.: 猸�
PLOT DEV.: 猸�
IMPORTANCE: 猸�
March 19, 2019
After about 3/4 of the way through, I'm pulling a DNF. Not sure if it's the translation but the writing is not all that great, the story is not grabbing me and I have no interest in these characters who are not dimensional at all. It all feels a bit clunky and unfortunately I have no desire to know how it all ends.
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