Official Review: Iron Crossed by Renata Rose and Phil Rose

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Sahar Majid
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Latest Review: Iron Crossed by Renata Rose and Phil Rose

Official Review: Iron Crossed by Renata Rose and Phil Rose

Post by Sahar Majid »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Iron Crossed" by Renata Rose and Phil Rose.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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Iron Crossed by Renata and Phil Rose is definitely an outstanding piece in the biographical genre. I was expecting a boring war story (it’s not really a genre I’ve exposed myself to too much), and I may have even been a tad biased towards it, but I picked this book up anyway because I wanted to “try something new”. I was pleasantly surprised.

This book is centered around the life story of a German, Martin Schlaefer, and how his ordinary life got turned upside down by the Second World War. Martin was a bright and strong fellow who lived happily with his family and friends, despite the poverty they were forced to endure at their farm in the countryside. On his way to becoming a successful carpenter, Martin received a sudden letter saying that his services were needed at the Westwall (along with those of many other men; including his friends, Paul and Alfred). His initial excitement at the prospect of going to new places and learning new things quickly turned into exhaustion. Unfortunately, this feeling stayed even as he was stationed from one place to another in order to aid Hitler’s plans for war (he didn’t really have much of a say in the matter). It was only natural that, afterwards, he was drafted into the army, and eventually into a secret service, the élite Brandenburger Commandos that operated for “special purposes” or missions. The book takes us through the rigorous training he had to endure throughout. He received three highly regarded medals, the Iron Crosses, due to his courage. The post-war world also had its own share of struggles, but Martin only wished to live in peace with Leni, his wife, and his children. In order to do this, he had to flee Russian-occupied Germany to Australia with his family.

Iron Crossed is written by Martin’s daughter, Renata, but is told mainly through Martin’s perspective. This is done quite well, as even though it wasn’t Martin who wrote the book, it seemed like he did. I felt as if I was privy to all of his thoughts and emotions (and occasionally that of other characters as well). This makes it very enjoyable for a person like me, who doesn’t necessarily like biographies too much, which is mainly because I can usually tell that it was written by someone else. What sets this book apart is that I don’t feel a distance between the protagonist and myself. In a sense, you could say, there is an authenticity to it. Another thing I loved is that all the characters, no matter how minor, felt real; the book does this only through a brief line or two that provides insight into their lives. This technique is one that I came to admire as I not only got to appreciate minor characters, but the focus was still on the protagonist; I wasn’t subjected to long life stories that went off track from the one we were initially focusing on. It also occasionally calls out the time’s practices for what they were, i.e. misogynistic (especially when it comes to sex songs, and objectifying women). Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed is that it makes the readers think and question things they know to be true. It is important to understand that Martin’s diligence was not due to a love for Nazism; it wasn’t a hatred of Jews or a racist sentiment of Aryan superiority. It was rather a combination of obligation (he didn’t have much of a choice in how his life took shape), and to do what was right for his country. Generally, a World War II book would not be narrated from a young German soldier’s perspective, but I believe a conversation like this is needed. By showing that he, too, had his own great struggles and reservations, despite ultimately serving Hitler, the book presents to us a complexity of human life; it shows us that not everything is as black and white as it seems.

Iron Crossed is definitely a worthwhile read, and I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It does, however, have minor spelling errors, and missing commas here and there. There was also a point in the book where I felt a bit “creeped out”. Specifically, when Martin’s sexual experiences were being narrated. It wasn’t the narration itself that was uncomfortable, rather, it was the realization that Martin’s daughter was behind it. All in all, none of these negative aspects took away from the book, and I was very glad I picked it up. I would recommend it to people who don’t necessarily explore biographies like myself; this could be a good gateway into that genre. I would not recommend it to those who find graphic war details disturbing, however. I also wouldn’t recommend it to those people who don’t have a high tolerance for engineering details as that has a lot to do with Martin’s experiences.

******
Iron Crossed
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Fozia-Bajwa
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Post by Fozia-Bajwa »

well the story is about the life experiences of a German citizen Martin who went through many unwanted events during the journey of his life. You have done a great job. Thanks for your review.
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Manang Muyang
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Post by Manang Muyang »

I'd like to give this book the subtitle The War of the Roses (from an old film). I'm glad Renata was able to portray her father's life realistically. Though the Nazis are usually recognized as villains, I realize that there were those among them who were also helpless victims like Martin.

Thanks for the insightful and enlightening review!
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inaramid
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Post by inaramid »

Well, this definitely does not seem like your average WWII-centered biography. I agree. The perspective would merit some interest. The "creep out" element was indeed...unsettling. Still, I'm glad it did not detract from the reading experience. Thanks for this review.
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gen_g
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Post by gen_g »

This seems like a well-constructed read with a good cast. I'm definitely intrigued by the premise. Thanks for the review!
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Post by kandscreeley »

It's definitely a unique perspective. Most WWII books are from the Jews or the soldier's position, not a Nazi. You've got me curious. I'm glad it was well done, too. Thanks.
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melissy370
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Post by melissy370 »

The storyline of this book does sound interesting since it is of a German soldier. The "creeped out" moment does give me hesitation, and I am not sure whether I would want to read this book because of that. Nevertheless, you have done a great job in your review.
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Sushan Ekanayake
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Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

I already have this book and now I am thinking of reading it sooner. Nice review. Thanks for sharing 👍👍
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War has a war of transforming people in ways they never anticipated. I want to read this emotional read.
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Post by Connie Otwani »

By showing that he, too, had his own great struggles and reservations, despite ultimately serving Hitler, the book presents to us a complexity of human life; it shows us that not everything is as black and white as it seems.
So true about tough actions we sometimes undertake in life. Your review highlights the salient features of this book so well. Like you, I think a daughter detailing the sexual experiences of her father would feel a tad uncomfortable, but the same sounds like an interesting read. Great review!
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