The Official Description: Erwin waits for Daniel in a safe house on the night of November 9th, 1938. Outside, there is violence and hate in the streets. Unknown to Erwin, this is the time that will soon be known as the beginning of the Holocaust. A time that will mean Daniel, the man Erwin loves, is no longer safe.
All because Daniel is Jewish.
Erwin and Daniel decide they must get out of Nazi Germany. Along the way they face many obstacles, but the biggest is figuring out who they can trust to get them to safety. Nothing is as it seems as schemers, people with their own agenda, and pure evil conspires against them.
Can Erwin keep Daniel from harm as their relationship deepens and they make their escape? Or will a world gone mad prove too much as it heads full-on into war
Just the facts: Historical queer fiction during the time of Nazi Germany
An exciting and touching journey to escape Germany. – Kinzie Things
My thoughts bit: This is a pretty intense story about two very young men… one is Jewish and both are in love… with each other. At the very beginning of the novel, they begin their what seems an insurmountable task… to escape. The opening scenes n the novel are very intense and the author really does a great job of capturing the fear, desperation, and terror that comes along with being “hunted”. Because that’s really what is happening… let’s face it. This book doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to illustrating how horrific the time was.
Daniel and Erwin are a little naive at the beginning of the novel.. and quickly learn that they are going to have to figure out how to trust the people they meet along the way. They also find out that they can’t trust everyone. There are people they encounter who are concerned only about themselves but there are a lot of people trying to help them in any way they can. These two young men face some horrendous circumstances on their journey – and I feel as though it’s quite authentic. I think that most of us can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have to flee … literally … for our lives. This story doesn’t make it pretty or sterile… and that is one of the things that I think is really well done.
As their journey continues their fledgling relationship is put to the test. They see each other at the highest and lowest and everything in between. Their commitment to one another really illustrates the fact that home can be the person you’re with.. the person you care the most about. When they are losing all their loved ones, struggling to find anything good in life, their relationship is the foundation of what keeps them putting one foot in front of the other.
The attention to detail in this novel spot on… it’s like being along on the flight with these two men. It’s a book that certainly made me think about the reality of trying to make a journey when every step is fraught with danger and threats. I found myself holding my breath sometimes when the characters did… it’s difficult, after all, to imagine being so fearful for one’s life.
Great book. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about the time period. It’s not “pleasant” at times, and I encourage you to read warnings regarding content.
Things You May Want To Know: Please be aware, I’m by no means an expert on what may or may not have the potential to disturb people. I simply list things that I think a reader might want to be aware of. In this book: (SPOILERS) anti-semitism, attempted sexual assault, incarceration, violence, murder, death.
Links: Goodreads // The Author /
I received an ARC of Sparrows and the Hawk by Clyde Andrews from PUBLISHER in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 