This post first appeared at Discovery - you can find that post and learn more about this title by clicking here.
Books based in the WWII era are like catnip for me, because I can’t believe there isn’t more time separating us from the treacherous events that occurred. Complex stories of unexpected relationships and the painful decisions people were forced to make seems like they couldn’t possibly have happened only 75 years ago.
They should have happened centuries ago, before our world had become civilized.
This beautifully written story of three main characters and how their lives are connected is a portrait of just how uncivilized - in a global sense - we were. But it also shines a light on stories of hope and compassion and sheer survival present during that time, too.
Beginning in the mid-1930’s in Vienna, you’re introduced to Emma, young and in love, and naive to the dangers the political and social unrest swirling around posed to her and to those she loved. She’s forced to grow up quickly, having suffered great loss, and then has to hide away her grief and put on a brave face for her friends and family.
Years later, Sophie, the daughter of Emma’s childhood friend, returns to Vienna for answers to questions that haunted her entire life, the biggest one being: what happened to her father, who disappeared all those years before?
You can see the faults in a third main character, Friedrich, early on, but you wonder if his actions are malicious or simply self-preservation.
Friedrich is my favorite character, but not because he’s likeable.
I enjoyed reading about him because - as sneaky as he is - the way he takes such delight in manipulating and flustering his self-absorbed wife makes you like him and dislike him at the same time.
After years of playing his cards just so, Friedrich has reached a point that he’s no longer compelled to hold secrets that he’s been burdened with for so long.
Secrets that will connect the three lives and threaten to dismantle everything they’d come to believe.
Wittig’s characters are believable and rich with back story, and she skillfully drops in enough information that you think you know all that’s going on, and that it’s only the characters who don’t.
But she also holds back a few tiny nuggets until near the end, which was an unexpected surprise. Not where you think, “Oh, I never saw THAT coming,” but just a gentle, well-planned and well-executed tying up of loose ends.
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All That Lingers is a lovely book and one I’m happy to recommend. You can get it here on Amazon.
