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PA Democrat

(13,409 posts)
37. I just finished The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 03:58 PM
Apr 2020

Set in a small town in Germany during World War II, the book's main character is a former friar who is struggling to atone for a past failing which is revealed gradually through the course of the book. He enters into an arranged marriage with desperate widow to help her raise her children. As part of his search for redemption, he joins a resistance movement called the Red Orchestra and acts as a messenger.

At the end of the book the author explains that the main character was based upon her husband's grandfather who was indeed part of a resistance movement within Nazi Germany. She then goes on to state that the book is a cautionary tale about how there are very dangerous parallels between events in the US today and the spread of the poison that enabled the Nazi atrocities. Her remarks had me in tears because it feels as though we are very much poised right now on the ragged edge of night. She wrote:

"We are fools to think that the past remains in the past. History is our guilty conscience; it will not let us rest. Perhaps we will never learn the origin of this sickness, but we understand its cure. We are the White Rose, and the Edelweiss Pirates. We are Widerstand- resistance- you and I. No force can silence us, unless we permit silence. I prefer to roar.

Recommendations

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It is. The series is. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2020 #6
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Grishams new book snowybirdie Apr 2020 #8
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This book hermetic Apr 2020 #16
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Aww, hermetic Apr 2020 #19
Ya. ;) LizBeth Apr 2020 #21
What a thoughtful son! SheltieLover Apr 2020 #28
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens lkinwi Apr 2020 #20
Well, that's a good friend! hermetic Apr 2020 #22
Just started, "Lightening" Bayard Apr 2020 #23
I have always loved his books hermetic Apr 2020 #24
Reading the last of this book: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell japple Apr 2020 #25
LOL And so cute! hermetic Apr 2020 #33
Those bunnies are probably discarded Easter pets. Check around and see if your state has a japple Apr 2020 #34
Oh, yay! hermetic Apr 2020 #35
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I love her stories! hermetic Apr 2020 #32
Me too! SheltieLover Apr 2020 #36
2/3 the way through "Wizard's First Rule" TexasProgresive Apr 2020 #30
What a great title! hermetic Apr 2020 #31
I just finished The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker PA Democrat Apr 2020 #37
Sounds like a great book! hermetic Apr 2020 #38
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Fiction»What Fiction are you read...»Reply #37