Review of Achim's Story
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Clarine Nicholas
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- Latest Review: Achim's Story by Bettina Spicer Owens
Review of Achim's Story
[Following is a volunteer review of "Achim's Story" by Bettina Spicer Owens.]
Achim’s Story – Review
Introduction:
‘Achim’s Story’ is a story of a survivor of World War II Joachim Wedekind zur Horst by Bettina Spicer Owens his stepdaughter. It is a narrative based on facts sketching out disasters from a civilian point of view which gradually turns out to become a kind of a carefully noted diary of a sailor forced to join the marine forces of Nazi under obligation of serving their nation if not necessarily the dictator. The story is intertwined with personal struggles, depressing experiences, loyalty of friendship, the loss of love first of a mother at infancy and then his first true love as a teenager. It ends on an interesting note as to how the protagonist finally meets his love in a different continent. There is also surplus reference to information as regards historical and political facts provided in footnotes.
Theme:
‘Achim’s Story’ weaves around love, conflict, jealousy, friendship, gratefulness, influence of the nobility, war strategies, the escape, and bounden duties both personal and professional.
There is the support and unrelenting love and concern of a father Ernst towards his son who knows the love of a mother only as much as Mamsell can offer. There are struggles in various stages of Joachim’s life – as a little boy the conflict between the adventuresome mischievous brat and his mother – a struggle to win parental attention, especially a mother’s love; though he could never really win it, there are moments when he thinks of Kaete his stepmother and thanks her silently in his thoughts for making him a strong boy with the kind of treatment meted out to him during the first few years of his life. There is suspense and pity built up towards the little boy who gets into being locked up in the cellar quite often.
Pg 71 – Text italic [Achim was listening and thinking that he was not really excited about his mother coming home and being sent back to the cellar. Maybe if he picked flowers for her, she would be nicer. He started collecting small Marienblümchen on the lawn in a matchbox.]
Joachim however, recalls the love, care and support of his sister Eva with adoration, who, in reality is Kaete’s daughter from an earlier marriage. There is a strong bond between the two. Joachim often had the support of his uncle Werner Kaete’s brother. Emelie, Heinrich, neighbour Clara Milch were understanding and loving towards the little boy.
His adventures lead him towards his dream of becoming a sailor at sea, much against the will of his father who would like him to train in business and take over his business; ultimately Ernst relents to his son's passion on the advice of a friend. The excited Joachim joins the sailing school ‘the Schulschiff Deutschland’ and proves to become an outstanding sailor.
During his early years as a training sailor, he meets the first love of his life with whom he spends a few happy moments and their promising future comes to a standstill due to the devastating ongoing war. Joachim does meet many good looking girls but none of them could match upto his Margrit. He is proposed to marriage by ‘Fips’ which was more a marriage of convenience than of love. After landing in a new country Joachim meets Inge in a different continent and settles down in life.
Pg 510 : “….Joachim met and married the lovely, blonde Ingebord Glaser.”
The marriage is short lived as Inge dies after suffering ill-health. The climax of his search for love reaches its peak when one reads “How could he resist a beautiful, petite, energetic blonde with a tan, and crystalline eyes the color of the sea’s shallow water on a brilliant summer day? They were married shortly after” – pg 511.
Heart wrenching horrors of war through dialogues of civilians, narrow living conditions of refugees,hopelessness, rising death toll of young children, dangers of mines under water, near death experience, loss of life and properties, the constant fear of being caught by the Russians followed by the subsequent inevitable escape are some of the numerous stories within.
Pg 507 : “The long nightmare of the last eight years finally was over, and he was leaving Europe for a new land with the freedom to do what he wanted. Maybe one day he would be able to captain a ship again. Above, the night sky was bursting with stars, and this seemed a good omen. He found peace in the stillness. He was grateful to be alive.”
Conclusion:
The narrative ‘Achim’s Story’ is a well penned novel by BETTINA SPICER OWENS . The protagonist is a charming outgoing personality right from the start. The book makes for an engaging and enlightening reading. It contains humour as well. The book reflects on the life of a reliable caring witty personality with a commendable presence of mind.
******
Achim's Story
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Achim’s Story – Review
Introduction:
‘Achim’s Story’ is a story of a survivor of World War II Joachim Wedekind zur Horst by Bettina Spicer Owens his stepdaughter. It is a narrative based on facts sketching out disasters from a civilian point of view which gradually turns out to become a kind of a carefully noted diary of a sailor forced to join the marine forces of Nazi under obligation of serving their nation if not necessarily the dictator. The story is intertwined with personal struggles, depressing experiences, loyalty of friendship, the loss of love first of a mother at infancy and then his first true love as a teenager. It ends on an interesting note as to how the protagonist finally meets his love in a different continent. There is also surplus reference to information as regards historical and political facts provided in footnotes.
Theme:
‘Achim’s Story’ weaves around love, conflict, jealousy, friendship, gratefulness, influence of the nobility, war strategies, the escape, and bounden duties both personal and professional.
There is the support and unrelenting love and concern of a father Ernst towards his son who knows the love of a mother only as much as Mamsell can offer. There are struggles in various stages of Joachim’s life – as a little boy the conflict between the adventuresome mischievous brat and his mother – a struggle to win parental attention, especially a mother’s love; though he could never really win it, there are moments when he thinks of Kaete his stepmother and thanks her silently in his thoughts for making him a strong boy with the kind of treatment meted out to him during the first few years of his life. There is suspense and pity built up towards the little boy who gets into being locked up in the cellar quite often.
Pg 71 – Text italic [Achim was listening and thinking that he was not really excited about his mother coming home and being sent back to the cellar. Maybe if he picked flowers for her, she would be nicer. He started collecting small Marienblümchen on the lawn in a matchbox.]
Joachim however, recalls the love, care and support of his sister Eva with adoration, who, in reality is Kaete’s daughter from an earlier marriage. There is a strong bond between the two. Joachim often had the support of his uncle Werner Kaete’s brother. Emelie, Heinrich, neighbour Clara Milch were understanding and loving towards the little boy.
His adventures lead him towards his dream of becoming a sailor at sea, much against the will of his father who would like him to train in business and take over his business; ultimately Ernst relents to his son's passion on the advice of a friend. The excited Joachim joins the sailing school ‘the Schulschiff Deutschland’ and proves to become an outstanding sailor.
During his early years as a training sailor, he meets the first love of his life with whom he spends a few happy moments and their promising future comes to a standstill due to the devastating ongoing war. Joachim does meet many good looking girls but none of them could match upto his Margrit. He is proposed to marriage by ‘Fips’ which was more a marriage of convenience than of love. After landing in a new country Joachim meets Inge in a different continent and settles down in life.
Pg 510 : “….Joachim met and married the lovely, blonde Ingebord Glaser.”
The marriage is short lived as Inge dies after suffering ill-health. The climax of his search for love reaches its peak when one reads “How could he resist a beautiful, petite, energetic blonde with a tan, and crystalline eyes the color of the sea’s shallow water on a brilliant summer day? They were married shortly after” – pg 511.
Heart wrenching horrors of war through dialogues of civilians, narrow living conditions of refugees,hopelessness, rising death toll of young children, dangers of mines under water, near death experience, loss of life and properties, the constant fear of being caught by the Russians followed by the subsequent inevitable escape are some of the numerous stories within.
Pg 507 : “The long nightmare of the last eight years finally was over, and he was leaving Europe for a new land with the freedom to do what he wanted. Maybe one day he would be able to captain a ship again. Above, the night sky was bursting with stars, and this seemed a good omen. He found peace in the stillness. He was grateful to be alive.”
Conclusion:
The narrative ‘Achim’s Story’ is a well penned novel by BETTINA SPICER OWENS . The protagonist is a charming outgoing personality right from the start. The book makes for an engaging and enlightening reading. It contains humour as well. The book reflects on the life of a reliable caring witty personality with a commendable presence of mind.
******
Achim's Story
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Achim's Story by Bettina Spicer Owens
