"An engrossing novel inspired by the mysterious true story of Irmgard Keun, a female novelist who defied all the rules during Berlin’s volcanic post-WWI years, as a young German writer exiled for her ideas flees her country and her Nazi-supporting husband, fighting for her art, her life, and her child.
1920s Though the world has changed in the wake of the Great War, it is still ruled by men. Even a woman as resourceful and intelligent as Niki Rittenhaus needs alliances in order to survive. Her marriage to Rickard Länger, a movie producer for Berlin’s Passport Pictures, seems convenient for them both. When Rickard succumbs to increasing pressure from the Nazis to make propaganda movies, a horrified Niki turns away from her own film aspirations and instead, begins to write.
Niki’s first novel, The Berlin Woman , is published under a pseudonym to great success. But Niki knows she cannot stay anonymous for long. The Nazis are cementing their power over Germany—and over her husband. Though she succeeds in escaping Rickard, he directs Hitler’s Brownshirts to do the kidnap their daughter. With her books blacklisted, her life in danger, and Europe descending into war, Niki travels to Amsterdam, joins the Dutch Resistance, and then returns to war-torn Berlin determined to claim freedom for herself and her child, and to write her own story at last." --Goodreads blurb
Niki, a woman of many names over her life, finds herself out of her mother's home and trying to make a name for herself. After acting doesn't exactly pan out, she decides to become an author. What she did get from trying to be an actor is a husband and family, and what she got from being a novelist was ire of the Nazis. When her husband makes decision having to do with the Reich that she doesn't agree with, Niki's life turns upside down and she must try to make a life for herself. Does that mean she will never see her daughter again? Will she ever find love again? Will she mend the relationship with her mother and will her friends survive this horrible war? This story had enough plot to pull me through it easily. I enjoyed Niki's voice and a perspective of a woman trying to make her way through life in WWII German and while not being a Nazi Party supporter. The relationships in Niki's life varied from the unwavering best friend to the brusque mother and I enjoyed following her as she navigated those. While I enjoyed the story, I can't necessarily say I enjoyed the writing style. There was little nuance to the story and everything was put very plainly. While this type of writing is sought out by many readers (often their complaint is there's too much "flowery language"), it's not my particular favorite. I would have liked more details of life and environment and just description in general. This was a 3.5 rounded up to a 4-star for me.
