Stones from the River

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Summary: "Stones From the River"- a deep and compelling novel
Review: Ursula Hegi's novel is brillant. The way she wrote about all those characters and intertwined each one with another is amazing. I loved to read about the people of Burgdorf, and how their secrets kept coming out and were spread throughout the town with a little help from Trudi Montag. I was deeply moved the whole time I was reading this book, but the part where I was involved the most was when Max Rudnick was killed in the fire bombings. It was so sad when Trudi kept waiting and hoping he would return, and I found myself hoping right along with her. Hegi found a way to get her audience deeply involved with her book. She did an excellent job.

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Summary: A story about a women who weaves stories
Review: I picked up this book right after reading Hegi's "Tearing the Silence" and finished it in three sittings. I'd put it at the level of Robinson's "Housekeeping," it's that good. Hegi's characters are full, complex--real people. And there's so much of their lives woven into the story. It's remarkable. Like other reviewers listed here, I thought Trudi--whose story this is and who learns and tells stories about everyone else--was unique, strong, magnetic, a perfect figure about which to structure a piece about lives in a small German town during the Second World War.

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Summary: Travel back into history
Review: Stones From the River is a compelling novel that takes you back into history to the daily lives of German civilians exposed to the Nazi uprising. Ursula Hegi, a German-born writer, eloquently masters the English language by literally illustrating the events through her main character, Trudi Montag. Hegi is commended for her artistic ability to paint a vivid picture in the reader's mind through the written word.

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Summary: A moving, excellent book!
Review: It took me a while to finish this book the first time but not the second. I have never liked a character more than Trudi. Don't ask me why because I don't entirely know myself. Maybe it was her pure gutsiness? Maybe it was her strength? I don't know but I do know that even when she gossiped I liked her. An interesting spin on an interesting but sad time in our world's recent history. A good book!

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Summary: Lasting Impression
Review: A very overwhelming book to pick up - more than 500 pages. While the first 100 pages very trying to keep me interested, the next 400 pages zipped by with a blur. Being of German heritage, it was eye-opening to get a glimpse of the common everyday citizens living during the war. The book moved me at times to cry and to laugh. One of the best books that I have ever read and I recommend it to everyone I meet.

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Summary: Different and amazing.
Review: Once I settled into this book it was hard to put down. I can just picture Trudi in all her outfits and hats strolling through town collecting gossip for later use. Don't read this book if you are looking for a holocaust book alone because it is much more than that. Her father was the most beautiful male character ever. I was slightly disappointed in the ending I definitely recommend this book.

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Summary: Definitely one to reccomend.
Review: When my Book Club chose Stones From the River as our next book for discussion, I was quite leery. Reading a book about a "dwarf" didn't really appeal to me. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and picked it up. By the end of the first chapter I was totally hooked. Trudi is not just a dwarf. She is me. She is anyone who feels uncomfortable in themselves. I related to Trudi's character as I am sure many, many readers did. The story itself was brillant and I loved getting to know all the characters--I even craved to know more! It was enlightening hearing about this terrible period in Germany's history from a non-Jewish, german's point of view. I really appreciated this book. Thank you Ursula Hegi and I thank my Book Club for making me read it!

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Summary: This book has a little bit of everything.
Review: I am a fast reader, but this book to me my entire weeks vacation to read. What a trooper Trudi was! I really liked the book because it had a lot going on. It was about the holocaust, the war, Germany, being a Catholic, books, Hitler, abuse and growing up physically different from everyone else. I thought it was an amazing story.

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Summary: Rare use of the language
Review: I have seldom experienced a book that contained such a complex story told in english prose that is so textural that you can almost touch it.

Rating:
Summary: A courageous book
Review: Ursula Hegi introduced Trudi her character in a small semi-autobiography called In My Mother's Palm. This book merits a great applause. For a German born writer to be this honest about the holocaust is refreshing. I truly recommend many of Hegi's books, they are honest and straight forward. Wonderful writing.