Despite its slightly Mills and Boon title, The Blind Side of the Heart is actually a pretty serious piece of literature. By German author Julie Franck it won the German book prize in 2007 and appears in the 1001 books to read before you die list.I thought that it was a brilliantly haunting piece of writing which captures a very interesting time for Germany, from the First World War through to the Second. The book follows two sisters from a small German town to Berlin where they end up living with a rich and glamorous aunt. The book begins with one of the sister's, Helene leaving her little boy at a train station in Germany. The book then follows the events which lead her to leave the little boy at the station and the consequences of the actions. This book is a thought provoking novel with real emotion and turmoil, a brilliant book which tackles intimate emotions and family ties. To say that I've read this is in fact a lie. I got through about 120 pages and stopped. To start with it's not really a 'me' book, but that wasn't going to stop me from trying, but I just couldn't get on board with it. The only character I sort of liked was Ernst, and then he went and died so then you were left with sisters with a distinctly odd relationship (I don't have a sister, but I couldn't really believe that) and a mother I desperately wanted to slap some rational into.And the lack of speech marks drove me bonkers, even though everyone I talked to said I'd get used to it. I don't know if that's the way German authors write, or a choice of the translator, but it offended every grammatical bone in my body. Our book group discussion did make it sound more interesting as the book progressed, but I don't think I'll be trying to battle my way through it. From what I read of it, I don't really think it merited the reviews of being 'a masterpeice' and 'exquisite'. But I know that I'm in a minority.
What do You think about De Middagvrouw (2007)?
Es ist lange Zeit her, seitdem ich so froh war, mit einem Buch fertig zu sein.
—ChelseaJ
Another book with Incest and a character I don't care about........
—spence
Good in most parts, thought the ending was a let down.
—keyobell42
