Book Review: In the Presence of Mine Enemies

a some what breif one...

In the Presence of Mine Enemies © 2003
Harry Turtledove
Published by New American Library
Copyright 2003

This book isn’t very intense. In my opinion it is delivered blandly. Any action is dulled. I mean; living your life always on watch; always afraid of those around you. That is something that should be very intense. With yourself being born something that is hated throughout the world. It adds new meaning to being paranoid. Turtledove does a good job with laying the background; the Reich is led by, once again, another ruthless fascist leader; with an iron grip over the world. The Japanese, one of the few empires still left standing; is checked, and only relies on its technology to sway the German populace. Through out this book; there is a constant ‘beckoning’ of reform; to ‘remember the first edition’. (Of Adolf Hitler’s; Mein Kampf. Link ) Apparently it has been “revised” three times) I feel that Turtledove has portrayed the feelings (other than a lack of intenseness) fairly well; and fairly accurate. The ending was slightly surprising; but not improbable.

The main characters in this novel were certainly lively; There is Heinrich and Lise; a match made in heaven. They live their life in fear; tempted by many things; but they remain strong. Heinrich is tempted by his best friends wife. But he remains loyal to lise. Then there is Erika and Willi Dorsche; a couple whose relationship is falling apart. Willi is having an affair with a secretary at his work; and as a result; through Erika’s suspicions, she (Erika) feels she is inadequate and attempts to seduce Heinrich; her ‘knight in shining armor’.

This book is long; it is 515 pages, written in small font. There is (in my copy) a few errors; misspelling of words, etc…

I would recommend this book to any one who wishes to understand what (some) the feelings of a Jew growing up in Germany was. But if you are wanting an action packed story; this is not the book for you. I would give it (on a one to ten scale); a five.

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