Review of The Architect of Auschwitz

[Unique Ego]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Architect of Auschwitz" by S.J.Tagliareni.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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During World War II, Gerhardt’s father, Noah, was enlisted into the military. Trained as an architect, Noah shared his knowledge with his son from an early age, and this intrigued Gerhardt to have dreams of being an architect. Unfortunately, Noah died at war, and months later, Gerhardt’s mother remarried Otto, a father of two daughters. Otto didn't like Gerhardt being a part of his mom’s life and did everything in his power to see that he wasn't. Eventually, Gerhardt had to go and live with a Jewish aunt and quickly became inseparable from her son, Micah.

Everything changed when Gerhardt went away to study. He met Frieda, an anti-Semite who believed the Jews were to blame for the loss of Germans at war. Gerhardt became roommates with Frieda’s brother and was later introduced to the Nazi political party. Given his Jewish family ties, Gerhardt was initially reluctant to join but eventually did and went on to become a top-ranking Nazi officer—one that was involved with a lot of massacres. Gerhardt's decisions in his position affected many, including his cousin, Micah. After the war, Gerhardt escapes the consequences of his war crimes by changing his identity and running off to Spain. What steps did he take to escape Germany? What happened in Spain? Is Gerhardt ever caught and forced to pay for his crimes?

Written by S.J. Tagliareni, The Architect of Auschwitz is set in the early 19th century, during the Nazi era. It tells the story of a young architect’s involvement in a socialist movement that ruled through totalitarianism. The movement, which became a success after World War I, brought about discord and havoc in the lives of the Jewish community. This tale brought to light some of the atrocities—lies, deceit, betrayal, and havoc—committed against the Jews. This story seems plausible to someone like me who doesn't know all the historical facts.

I liked how the author gave titles to each chapter. It was like being given an appetizer before the main dish. Also, most of the chapter titles included dates, guiding me through the story with a clear understanding of the chronology of events as they unfolded. What I liked most was the background story given for each major character, especially Gerhardt and Esther. In Gerhardt's case, there was a clear transition in his story, from how he became interested in architecture to how it led to his initiation into the Nazi party and ideology. Esther's story arc showed the hardships and tragedies she experienced at the hands of the Nazis and how circumstances eventually led her to New York City. I appreciated the discussion section Tagliareni included at the end of the book. This section asked some pertinent questions about the story to gauge its impact on the readers and to help them initiate meaningful discussions about the story and the history that inspired it. I found this section to be a thoughtful addition to the book.

Reading this story was an entirely positive experience; I didn't find anything to dislike. The book's editing was also professional and flawless, as I didn't find any objective instances of grammatical or typographical errors. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to individuals interested in history with a particular interest in the Nazi movement and World War II.

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The Architect of Auschwitz
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[Aisha Yakub]

I like the setting of this book. I think I find the storyline interesting. Thanks for the review

[Apple 7]

The book seems action packed, and action in itself cannot easily be denied...very cool review..

[Pandora10]

Reading the background of Gerhardt losing his Dad, feeling rejected by his stepfather, bonding with a cousin, Micah, who was Jewish, it is hard to imagine how he could be persuaded to get involved with the Nazi party. The reader may wonder what the effect of losing his father in WWI had on him. It sounds like an engaging story, and the questions at the end of the book could be helpful in creating some useful and interesting discussions on the events that happened in this time period. Thanks for a great review on this book.

[José Cortez]

Gerhardt shod be caught and made to pay for his crimes.

[Steinkar]

Discussion sections are the end of books--especially historical fiction--makes them good choices for book clubs. Nice review!

[Asiaa Szn]

The storyline is intriguing. I'd add this to my shelf. Nice review.

[Chinenye Achilike]

I'm not happy with Gerhardt. After the death of his father in the war, he should be more kindhearted.

[Cheeseburger11]

The story is intriguing, i'll add this to my bookshelf