Yvonne
This is a meme for all you ‘First Page Browsers
‘DEAR CHILD‘ by ROMY HAUSMANN
BOOK BEGINNINGS / FIRST LINES
STUDENT, 23, MISSING IN MUNICH
“Munich (LR) – The Munich police are searching for clues relating to the whereabouts of Lena Beck, 23, from Munich-Haidhausen. According to eyewitnesses, the student was at a party on Tuesday night in the Maxvorstadt district until around 5am. On the way home she telephoned a friend. Her mobile phone has been switched off ever since. A police search of Munich on Friday produced no leads. Lena Beck is 1.65 metres tall, petite, and has blonde, shoulder-length hair. She was last seen wearing a silver top, black jeans, black boots and a dark blue coat.”
“On the first day I lose my sense of time, my dignity and a molar. But I do have two children now and a cat. I’ve forgotten their names apart from the cat’s – Fraulein Tinky. I’ve got a husband too. He’s tall, with short, dark hair and grey eyes. I look at him from the corner of my eye as I sit huddled next to him on the threadbare sofa. In his embrace, the injuries running right down my back are throbbing, as if each of them had their own heartbeat. A cut on my forehead is stinging. From time to time everything goes blank or I see white flashes. Then I just focus on trying to breathe.
It’s hard to tell whether it is actually evening, or whether he’s decided that’s what it is. Insulation panels are screwed over the windows. He creates day and night. Like God. I try to persuade myself I’m already over the worst, but I can’t stop anticipating that we’ll be going to bed together soon. The children already have their pyjamas on. The boy’s are too small, whereas the girl’s sleeves go way over her wrists. The children kneel on the floor a couple metres from the sofa and hold their hands up to feel the residual warmth of the wood-burning stove. The fire has burned down to a black heap, with only the odd ember still glowing red. The high-pitched voices with their jolly chitter-chatter blend into the sheer abnormality of this situation. I can’t understand exactly what they’re saying. It’s as if I’m hearing them talk through cotton wool, while I contemplate how I’m going to kill their father.”
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So, you have taken a look, would you read the book?
Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
Just to give you an extra helping hand, here is the book’s premise.
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‘DEAR CHILD‘ by ROMY HAUSMANN –
(Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch)
A windowless shack in the woods.
Lena’s life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: Meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed.
He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them.
One day Lena manages to flee – but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called ‘Lena’, who disappeared without a trace 14 years ago.
The police and Lena’s family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle which doesn’t quite seem to fit.
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You might also like to visit Gilion, over at ‘Rose City Reader‘, where you can share links to the book beginnings from her own reading schedule, and that of many of our fellow bloggers.
There are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered.
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I am intrigued! I also love that cover, which tells me a lot. Thanks for sharing, and here’s mine: “FINAL CUT”
Hi Lorraine,
This story is another of those emotional tear jerkers, of which I seem to have had more than my fair share just recently.
The storyline is excellent, with plenty of extra twists thrown in, right up to the very end.
The translation from German to English is amazing and totally seamless.
I just had to give this one 5 stars and a place on my favourites shelf.
I recommend 🙂
I like the excerpt you shared quite a bit. This sounds like an emotional read. The narrative voice pulled me in right away and I want to keep reading. I hope you are enjoying it! Have a great weekend and happy reading!
Hi Wendy,
What a lovely surprise to receive your comment, it has been an age since we last swapped bookish thoughts. I don’t know where the time flies by to, especially with all the silly madness going on around us right now!
I was asked to review this book by the publisher, so I have already finished it, in order to give myself plenty of time to sort my thoughts out into a cohesive review post.
There was a really strong and descriptive narrative and dialogue throughout the book and the storyline never lets up with its twists and turns, right to the very end. The characters are also well defined, so overall a great package and well worth the time invested in reading.
If you think this might be one for you, I have just checked and if you are a member of Netgalley, it is still available to request 🙂
Pretty awful. The situation in this book. It reminds me a little of ROOM. I hope you enjoy it. My Friday quotes are from OTHER NAMES FOR HOME
Hi Anne,
I have never read ‘Room’, but I can see where you are coming from with regards to the similarities in storyline.
In ‘Dear Child’ though, there are several ‘Ma’s’, but I can’t elaborate without giving away spoilers and that would never do!
If you read ‘Room’ and enjoyed it, then I would definitely recommend ‘Dear Child’ 🙂
This certainly gets off to an interesting and emotional start! It reminds me of both Room (mentioned above) and The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld. I think I have one waiting in my kindle that might be similar, too! (that I picked up from your blog!)
Hi Kelly,
‘Dear Child’ is definitely more akin to ‘The Room’ than ‘The Child Finder’, but without leaving this post, I have now found two more great sounding books which are heading for my list!
‘The Child Finder’ was the first book in the Naomi Cottle series and I see that there is now a second book, ‘The Butterfly Girl’, which sounds equally as good, so that’s probably three books heading my way soon!
Maybe a premise which might sound a little familiar, but this one had a couple of twists towards the end which I never saw coming, and that was after the main storyline had me going this way and that, searching for the truth.
I have awarded the full 5 stars to quite a few books just recently and this is another very deserving of the rating.
Enjoy a peaceful weekend 🙂
I don’t know. I like the Munich part — I don’t find too many books with a Munich setting or connection. But it sounds like it might be too creepy for me!
Hi Gilion,
I have to admit that this is a first class psychological thriller, which does mess with your mind a bit. It deals with some real down to earth issues, such as abduction, rape, murder and PTSD, which make it quite emotional to read.
I am definitely not trying to put you off reading it, as I gave it the full 5 stars, however if you don’t like creepy, then maybe it isn’t one for you!
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend 🙂