Review of When Atlantis Calls
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Alys Sterk
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Review of When Atlantis Calls
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "When Atlantis Calls" by Tina Hagmann.]
Nicolas Durant has survived the gruesome Battle of Sedan in France. A lieutenant in the French Infantry, he feels profound responsibility for the lives lost under his command. A year later, his task is to track down valuable artifacts and save them from the invading Nazis. He becomes part of an elusive team whose mission leads them to various locations around France as they hope to uncover the location of a secret treasure. While the French Resistance organizes to combat German occupation, Nicolas and his team search for clues that will lead them to the treasure and prevent the Germans from using it to fund their war efforts. He meets Isabell, a member of the Resistance, and the attraction between the two is both energetic and complicated. With expertise in art history, Nicolas must decipher subtle and sophisticated clues in old paintings and work with his team; with the Germans in pursuit, the team of art historians and former soldiers soon realize that things are not always what they appear to be.
When Atlantis Calls: In the Heart of War, Love and Legends Rise by Tina Hagmann stands out from other books about World War II because it focuses on a different component of the war. Most people know about the concentration camps, the merciless torment of the Nazis on “undesirables,” and how the countries of Western Europe fell like dominos to the Germans. Not many people know about the coordinated effort to save components of European culture. Local legends, religious statues, ink analysis, and stenography are all integrated into the book’s plot.
The best part of this book is the character development. I was not expecting to be so drawn into a character’s burdens and the feelings of guilt he carried. The spirits of Nicolas’ fallen men at Stonne seem to be everywhere; they visit in his dreams and emerge from the sea. The memories even infiltrate his decisions and complicate his relationships. In some parts of the book, what is left unsaid is often as powerful as what is said. A man sits next to another in comfort as past demons visit. Both men have endured calamitous grief and there just are no words that will bring relief. The men simply sit together. Short scenes like this one are written in such simple yet profound words that resonated deeply with me, and this made me ponder the millions of souls who have experienced such despair during this war. Through the use of reflective introspection, the author effectively brought her main character to life. The focus on the emotional scars of war is what I really appreciated about the book. The novel is also a love story. The presence of Isabell seems to pull Nicolas in all directions. Does he deserve such a beautiful and talented woman?
The descriptions of the setting also help the story come alive and capture well the essence of the era. In the wake of the occupation, a French museum’s entrance is boarded up. Imagining cultural icons, such as the Eiffel Tower “shrouded in an angry red flag” with the formidable Nazi symbol adds to the urgency and solemnity of the story’s tone. Young children begin speaking German at a daycare, and the chatter of nervous civilians reflect the uncertainty of the times. Additionally, the artwork on the book’s cover and on chapter headings is exquisite and captivating.
The book is quite lengthy, which was not a problem for me but may be for others. It is not a book that is to be read casually; numerous plot points and a host of characters require careful attention. I did, in fact, benefit from reading certain parts more than once. The only negative I found with the book is that there are some errors in grammar. These were all quite minor, but there are many of them. For the errors in editing only, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Other than this, I heartily enjoyed the story of Nicolas and his quest to restore the cultural identity of France. I recommend it to those who are interested in historical fiction stories and art history. Those who revel in a good mystery and those who appreciate character-driven novels will also enjoy the book.
******
When Atlantis Calls
View: on Bookshelves
Nicolas Durant has survived the gruesome Battle of Sedan in France. A lieutenant in the French Infantry, he feels profound responsibility for the lives lost under his command. A year later, his task is to track down valuable artifacts and save them from the invading Nazis. He becomes part of an elusive team whose mission leads them to various locations around France as they hope to uncover the location of a secret treasure. While the French Resistance organizes to combat German occupation, Nicolas and his team search for clues that will lead them to the treasure and prevent the Germans from using it to fund their war efforts. He meets Isabell, a member of the Resistance, and the attraction between the two is both energetic and complicated. With expertise in art history, Nicolas must decipher subtle and sophisticated clues in old paintings and work with his team; with the Germans in pursuit, the team of art historians and former soldiers soon realize that things are not always what they appear to be.
When Atlantis Calls: In the Heart of War, Love and Legends Rise by Tina Hagmann stands out from other books about World War II because it focuses on a different component of the war. Most people know about the concentration camps, the merciless torment of the Nazis on “undesirables,” and how the countries of Western Europe fell like dominos to the Germans. Not many people know about the coordinated effort to save components of European culture. Local legends, religious statues, ink analysis, and stenography are all integrated into the book’s plot.
The best part of this book is the character development. I was not expecting to be so drawn into a character’s burdens and the feelings of guilt he carried. The spirits of Nicolas’ fallen men at Stonne seem to be everywhere; they visit in his dreams and emerge from the sea. The memories even infiltrate his decisions and complicate his relationships. In some parts of the book, what is left unsaid is often as powerful as what is said. A man sits next to another in comfort as past demons visit. Both men have endured calamitous grief and there just are no words that will bring relief. The men simply sit together. Short scenes like this one are written in such simple yet profound words that resonated deeply with me, and this made me ponder the millions of souls who have experienced such despair during this war. Through the use of reflective introspection, the author effectively brought her main character to life. The focus on the emotional scars of war is what I really appreciated about the book. The novel is also a love story. The presence of Isabell seems to pull Nicolas in all directions. Does he deserve such a beautiful and talented woman?
The descriptions of the setting also help the story come alive and capture well the essence of the era. In the wake of the occupation, a French museum’s entrance is boarded up. Imagining cultural icons, such as the Eiffel Tower “shrouded in an angry red flag” with the formidable Nazi symbol adds to the urgency and solemnity of the story’s tone. Young children begin speaking German at a daycare, and the chatter of nervous civilians reflect the uncertainty of the times. Additionally, the artwork on the book’s cover and on chapter headings is exquisite and captivating.
The book is quite lengthy, which was not a problem for me but may be for others. It is not a book that is to be read casually; numerous plot points and a host of characters require careful attention. I did, in fact, benefit from reading certain parts more than once. The only negative I found with the book is that there are some errors in grammar. These were all quite minor, but there are many of them. For the errors in editing only, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Other than this, I heartily enjoyed the story of Nicolas and his quest to restore the cultural identity of France. I recommend it to those who are interested in historical fiction stories and art history. Those who revel in a good mystery and those who appreciate character-driven novels will also enjoy the book.
******
When Atlantis Calls
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: A Piece of My Heart by Katherine P Stillerman
