‘The Watchmaker of Dachau’ by Carly Schabowski is a historical fiction book set in Dachau, one of the Nazi death camps during World War Two. I have read Carly Schabowski’s work previously and loved it, so I had nothing stopping me with this book.
The prologue begins in Cornwall 1996, and soon transports us to 1945 to the death camp Dachau. Issac Schüller arrives and is singled out to use his watchmaking skills in the household of senior Officer Becher. Issac realises he will only stay alive while he is useful. Anna Reznick is maid to the Bechers and finds she has a real friend in Issac, even in the horrific circumstances they are in. The discovery of a pile of letters puts both Issac and Anna in danger.
The story is told from multiple points of view which helps us get to know the characters more and creates depth to the setting. A story that is all things at different times while reading it, horrific but yet touching. It is stories like this that are needed in today’s world, if only to refresh peoples memories that it wasn’t just about the camps and the atrocities, it was about the people and their strength while in these terrible places. They weren’t just numbers or a religion, they had families and dreams. This book evoked so much emotion for me, the kindness and the hope of the occupants hurt so much knowing that so many million Jewish people were brutally killed during this time.
Needless to say I was transported to Issac and Anne’s world and the writing was beautiful, and even though the suffering was almost tangible the fact that the people could still have hope and have little moments was heartwarming.
A book that put me through the emotional wringer and back again and is a beautiful and emotional read, a powerful story that begs to be read and one that is so thought-provoking that it lingers after you have put it down.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the book to write this review today.
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 