* Prologue to Lew’s novel-in-progress … tentatively titled “Choosing Hitler”
Posted by Lew Weinstein on June 20, 2013
Defendants at War Crimes Trials in Nuremberg
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Ken SHuttlerworth said
The suspense thing is nicely in place at this point, driving the reader’s curiosity to move on. I wonder why Marissa is little more than a stick figure. She seems like a stick figure, a lonely one, but lacking in depth. I am sure u will give her breath as the pages turn but even at this early stage, the reader deserves to see some ankle, if not a little leg. I also wonder about the time frame. Pops is 73. Did he prosecute the Nazi war criminals when he was 16?
Lew Weinstein said
Thanks for the feedback. The prologue is set in 1989 … guess I should have mentioned that. Marissa will play a continuing role, showing up in what I am calling “Interludes” between chapters. At least that’s my thought at the moment. But that doesn’t mean she couldn’t be a more rounded character in the Prologue.
Thelma Wickwere said
If a story doesn’t hook me in the first few pages, I usually give it up. You’ve captured my attention, making the Becker interesting and portray him as I imagine he would be: wary, defensive and yet wanting to tell his side of the story, to justify himself or cleanse himself. I’m not much of a critic so I can’t offer anything that might be helpful except to say that I’m intrigued. Even though the subject matter of the story is one that I might not ordinarily choose to read, my curiosity is piqued and I want to learn more about Becker’s situation. I like the “Interludes” idea. Appreciate the opportunity to read the Prologue, Lewis. Thank you.
Lew Weinstein said
Thank you for your kind comments. This is a difficult book for me to write since I must put myself into the mind of a person who comes to support Hitler. But I think that is necessary to be able to show why the German people acted as they did, which was at best indifferent to the murder of millions of Jews.
Ashwini Sharma said
The central inquiry being pursued by Marissa is a very interesting one; more interesting would be the answers which she would uncover regarding other germans’ acquiescence to the mass murder. it will surely be a tough task for one to unravel the then prevalent psychology which passively allowed such extermination on such a grand scale unopposed. Although I am a little unsure about the intended object of the book if the narration is entirely controlled by Becker, who as gleaned from the prologue, was part of the Nazi Army. Thats why I would like to ask if there will be strands of narration from common german people of those times, so that the then prevalent mindset could be seen from multiple eyes, rather than through those of a single person, who in addition, was already part of the Nazi army, i.e., Becker. Becker’s narration might get predictable, if he tries to explain the horrors, toeing the official-nationalistic line, even after his heart must have, in the past, become alive to the injustice being perpetrated. As a reader, I would expect the narrative to be a complex-web of several psychologies, than just an exploration of an ex-nazi who is perhaps, merely, “embarassed” of the truth.
Lew Weinstein said
Thank you for a very thoughtful analysis. There will surely be other German viewpoints, presented through Becker’s interaction with them, and also that of Anna and other Poles. I like your phrase “a complex-web of several psychologies” as setting a very helpful target.