Welcome to Litsy!

If you‘re concerned about democracy and curious about comparisons to 1930s Germany, this worthwhile read follows America‘s first ambassador to Nazi Germany & his family‘s response—particularly his daughter, whose dalliances included the Gestapo chief and a Soviet spy—to the rise of Hitler. A revealing, disturbing, and relevant depiction of moral complicity & political complexity and a dire warning about unexamined biases and underestimating evil.

An American diplomat and his family bear witness to the staggering, dreadful rise of a cult, led by a guy who says: “Only I…”

This one whilst it was informative...seemed at times to feel top heavy with its pacing. Really feel it could've been about 100 pages shorter. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. #bookspin #doublespin @thearomaofbooks

Sometimes you just have to take a break from podcasts. I know it‘s still audio, but it‘s still a break!

In 1933, William E. Dodd becomes the first American Ambassador to Hitler‘s Germany. He was a mild mannered professor who had studied in Germany. The Germany that he had loved was in the midst of a tremendous change and horror. His daughter,Martha plays a pivotal role,as she becomes popular with the Nazis. A glimpse into the minds of those in power at the time, and what was assumed would just go away. A superb title. #authoramonth2023 #eriklarson

The library loan for the tagged expired when I was halfway through, so I picked up an out-of-genre pick for #aam - only to have my hold get redelivered early! So now I can officially say I like Larsons nonfic more 😂
Beasts was an interesting view of the beginning of Hitlers rise to power through the lens of the anti establishment and kinda unlikable US ambassadors family.
No One was a nice little supernatural story with an odd and curtailed end.

I tried on this for #AuthorAMonth but I had to DNF. I‘ve tried two other books by him before - as much as I enjoy nonfiction, his style I just can‘t get into. 🥺🤷🏻‍♀️ Will redouble my efforts for next month.

I'm disappointed in this one. I was bored and skimming a lot. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

Erik Larson is one of the few non-fiction authors that I tend to return to. But…this one missed the mark for me and was my least favorite so far. I found it tedious and rather dull, and had trouble keeping up with all the names. I guess I was expecting more of a climax that never came.

I‘m going back and reading all the Larson I missed because he is such an exceptional writer of narrative nonfiction. This story of the first US ambassador to Hitler‘s Germany and his daughter showed their change in attitude towards the Nazis as their tactics became even more oppressive and evil. Larson also dives deep into the early days of Hitler and the fights among his top tier of deputies. I generally don‘t like WWII books but enjoyed this.

I admire Erik Larson‘s interesting retellings of true, historical events, in a way that resembles fiction. After reading The Devil in the White City first, this one was decidedly more name & date heavy, but overall a story of a well-known time through an unexpected perspective.

I‘ve been on a WWII kick lately. This one was an interesting perspective on the rise of Hitlers government. 3.5/5 ⭐️

This is my 4th book by Erik Larson and probably my favorite. It read more like a novel than a non fiction book about the rise of Hitler‘s government in Berlin and the American Ambassador who seemed to be one of the few who understood what was really going on at the time.

This is my #doublespin for November @TheAromaofBooks

It was common for American expatriates to visit the US consulate in Berlin, but not in the condition exhibited by the man who arrived there on Thursday, June 29, 1933.

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

Let start by saying I have yet to read a book by Erik Larsen that I haven‘t loved. This is no exception. He presents his well researched history so that it reads like a well crafted mystery novel. Learn how the daughter of the Ambassador to Germany became enthralled with and became a pawn of high ranking members of the Nazi party.

"--and there are many of you--"

⭐⭐⭐⭐(4)

Very good read. Just as much gossip as history. The Hollywood starlets of the era had nothing on Martha.

(US really dodged a bullet recently.)

Day 12 #12booksof2020 I read this prior to reading The Splendid and the Vile and it really put into context how ruthless Hitler was.

Good read! Ending was a little dreary but followed the historical account. Interesting perspective on a well known event

#12booksof2020 #day5 #5goldenrings #nonfiction #novelistichistory

Enthralled with this book and its POV from Midwestern Prof and his family when he was appointed by Roosevelt as ambassador to Germany in the 30‘s when Hitler was rising.

My son had a test to take in person today so @wideeyedreader and I did some thrift shopping while waiting for him to be finished. We‘re both supposed to be on a book buying ban but obviously that‘s not going well 😂 At least I found a few more for #wintergames2020 @Clwojick #bookhaul

4.5⭐️ I really quite enjoyed the book. I had tried to read it when it 1st came out, but hadn‘t gotten around to it. I knew Churchill had been saying that people should be keeping an eye on the Nazis, but was completely unaware that there were those in the American government who were saying similar things. #nonfiction #bookreview #bookstagram #i #litsyatz2020 #listyatoz #wwii

Once, at the dawn of a very dark time, an American father and daughter found themselves suddenly transported from their snug home in Chicago to the heart of Hitler's Berlin. #firstlinefridays

Kinda of reminds of what happened during the French Revolution, in which the revolutionaries started a new calendar system, which was to be more scientific and rational. https://www.britannica.com/science/French-republican-calendar #historyrepeatsitself

1. Tagged!
2. Nick & Nora Charles, from Hammett's The Thin Man, mixed with Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. I that would make for a very amusing mystery.
3. I prefer single POV, but I've read some good books with multiple POVs too.

I'm late with this, so I'll tag anyone who hasn't played yet.

#wonderouswednesday @Eggs

Not my favorite Larson book, but still interesting. I hated the Dodd family at first, they seemed so naive and utterly blind to the evil of the Nazi party, especially the daughter Martha. Of course, I have 80+ years of hindsight to know the horrors of the Nazis, things the Dodds could not possibly have expected or imagined. Too much time is spent on Martha Dodd's love life IMHO. 3 💥💥💥 1/2

Book 4 for the #JoysofJune readathon.
@Andrew65

#lockdownlowdown
Thanks for the tag @Suet624

1) I am in the state of Connecticut, USA. I am surrounded by Massachusetts to the north, Rhode Island to the East, NY to the West, Long Island Sound to the south. Today is a gorgeous, sun, with cotton ball clouds, a cool breeze. Azaleas & Rhododendrons are in bloom.
2) tagged book
3) between 300-400 pages.
4) @Librarybelle @ValerieAndBooks

Two of two because I forgot to post a tbr book yesterday.

Day 7: I‘m following the idea to post a book from my tbr list from @StaceyKondla and @Cortg

No description or reason for wanting to read it is necessary if you want to join along. #tbrpile

As expected, another book I enjoyed by Erik Larson. While I find books about WWII interesting, I especially appreciate ones from a different perspective or time. This is very well written IMO and brings you the lead-up to the world realizing how dangerous (and out of control) Nazi Germany had become.

Compelling read. Usually it takes me forever to read non-fiction, but I could not put this down. I read it compulsively, even at 12:45 this morning when I could not sleep. It opened a world I had never known: Dodd, Ambassador to Germany during the critical years of “ ... gathering darkness,” 1933-1937 when Hitler rose to power. The portrayal of his daughter, Martha, a wild force in her own right, who initially fancied the Nazi regime,

#bookspin #coffeeandyogurtbreak #officeview
Sorry about the dark photo- no overhead lighting in my “office”. This is my pleasurable view while working etc.My goal this week is to declutter,and go through boxes, & hopefully transform this space.
I can also be a “nosey” neighbor & watch the world go by- bikers, walkers of all ages, workmen, deliveries, birds, squirrels, budding trees, gardens. 😀😉

#saturdaymorning #schoolvacation #staycation #coffeeandbooks #bookspin (tagged book).
Windy but blue skies here in Farmington Valley,CT. Walking soon. Still able to do that daily- my neighborhood adheres to total distancing, masks etc. #keeplitsypositive ☀️🚶‍♀️🌷☕️📚

Fascinating look at 1933 Germany and the early years of the Third Reich as seen through the eyes of newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Germany, William Dodd and his adult daughter, Martha Dodd. Larson uses a very specific and unique perspective filled with primary accounts of this terrifying chapter in history. It's my 2nd book by Larson, and I'm definitely looking forward to more.

Not my favourite of Larson's. I loved The Devil in the White City, but felt this to be very dense & dry. I also was not much of a fan of all the chapters about Martha sleeping around with various people. Two stars. I will be donating my copy. I'm now unsure of my recent purchase, Larson's The Splendid & The Vile 😬

#Booked2020 #Spring #BookAboutGenocide

I‘ve always been in awe of those writers who take a documentary approach on a subject and make it read like some of the greatest fiction ever written. Erik Larson has such a facility in that kind of endeavor, as we know from several other bestsellers he wrote. I think I missed this one because my area in grad school was Holocaust studies, and I suppose I had sort of saturated myself with Jewish philosophy ⬇️

Halfway through and just begging to be done with this. It is terribly dense and dry to me. If I wasn't so far invested into it, I would DNF it, for sure. This is going to go into my donation pile for my little free library when I finally finish. 🙁

Going with a heavier read after Seven Husbands. Book #21 for 2020.
Love The Devil in the White City, and have his new one, The Splendid & The Vile in my stacks as well. This has been in my pile a while, so thought maybe I'd give it a go, finally.

This is the first Larson I haven't loved. It was slow 😴 3 ⭐s . I'm looking forward to The Splendid and the Vile, though. And this is the only book I read in December because I watched all 6 seasons of Vikings - History Channel, which I will give 5 ⭐s. 😄

Incredibly well researched account of an ambassador's family's time in Germany in the early 1930's. It reminds one that a government run on caprice and for which attaining and maintaining power is the primary objective can have a significant influence on world history. It also inspires caution about blind loyalty to one's party rather than to one's ideals. I enjoyed the audiobook but probably would have retained more had I read the book-book.

From a letter by George S. Messersmith: “We must keep in mind, I believe, that when Hitler says anything he for the moment convinces himself that it is true. He is basically sincere, but he is at the same time a fanatic.“

Day 26 - #Germany #InTheGardenofBeasts #ErikLarson #LetsTravelAugust

This is one of my favorite books by Erik Larson. Love his writing!

The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America‘s first ambassador to Hitler‘s Nazi Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history.

Just started this ... seems relevant.

very different from his other books but unbelievable people and stories

Another wonderful historic work from Erik Larson. Pre-war Germany, specifically Berlin, is the setting. Larson can tell a story with a gift rare amongst none fiction novelists. Excellent work.

If you want to understand how Hitler came into power, this book is spot on! Based on the dairies of the American Ambassador in Berlin in the 1930s, this eyewitness account provides so much insight into how Hitler obtained absolute power and how so little was done to prevent it! 😔

Ugh...I have to bail on this one. I so enjoyed The Devil in the White City but this one is way too boring for me with the he wrote this and she wrote that 🙄

My library system selected this as a One Book title a few years ago, and it sparked a lot of participation. Larson masterfully describes events in Berlin in 1933 through the eyes of US Ambassador William Dodd and his spirited daughter Martha. It‘s eye opening, and it‘s exasperating and very, very frustrating. #imhere #MusicalNewYear

Another excellent book by Larson. Engaging and honest with characteristic charm. The story revolves around the US ambassador to Nazi Germany in the early days of the regime. Just as interesting are the players revolving around his adult daughter as she gets involved with Soviet agent, American writers like Carl Sandburg, German writers like Thomas Mann and even has an ongoing affair with the head of the Gestapo! Read the whole book in 3 days.

New audiobook came through the library holds. Since it‘s about Jews and Hitler‘s rise, it seems timely. #nohate #vote #noantisemitism