Wildflowers of Terezin, by Robert Elmer

I read Wildflowers of Terezin at the high recommendation of a few of you. Because I know that this story as been well-loved by a few of my fellow bloggers, I am a little hesitant to post my review. Please note that I didn't think it a horrible book, but I didn't really care for it much either. (My favorite part was the end. Not just because it was the end, but because I thought the surprise twist at the conclusion was the most clever part.)

Wildflowers of Terezin is a piece of historical fiction that is set in Holland during World War II. This is also a piece of Christian fiction which is a fact I guess I didn't really pay a whole lot of attention to when I decided to read it. Realization dawned within five pages. I resolved to go for it, all the way through to the end, for the sake of my friends' recommendations.

This book tells us the story of Hanne Abrahamsen, a Jewish nurse who cares more about getting other Jews out of the country and into Switzerland than she does about getting herself out. She enlists the help of a Lutheran pastor, by the name of Steffen Petersen, to help her in her endeavors. Steffen is rather an unwilling participant, having never done anything brave and daring before. However, he soon develops a passion for working with the Danish Underground in helping Jews escape. Or, rather, he develops a passion for Hanne which fuels his courage, his manhood and his ability to do right in the face of certain death at the hands of the Nazis.

I found the idea of the storyline appealing. I like reading books about World War II or stories that are set in this particular time in history. Earlier this week I reviewed Villa Trista (linked) which is a story set in Italy during World War II and I found it fabulous! Wildflowers of Terezin? Not so much.

Truly, the idea for the story is a curious one. However, I didn't feel like Elmer managed to pull it off very well. Much of it I found unbelievable as Steffan, his brother, who was purported to be part of the Danish Underground (constantly showing up on the scene with bandaged body parts and black eyes), and Hanna all spoke so loosely with one another. They were quite familiar with their facts and information to almost anyone that they ran into that I had a hard time believing that they understood the grave danger that Jews were facing at that time. I rather felt that Elmer didn't know how to make his readers understand the amount of secrecy required for smuggling of Jews out of the country unless his characters spelled it out between themselves. Let's just say that I decided while reading this book that if I ever needed to be smuggled out of a country, I wouldn't want Steffan to be the man in charge. He never knew what to say to people who were suspicious of his actions. Grant it, his confusion rather suited his character but the description of his thoughts, words and actions were so weak that I found him dangerous in his own right.

Then, too, I wasn't really buying the relationship between Hanne and Steffan. He, a Lutheran pastor, by all accounts a man familiar with the words of scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. She, a Jewish woman who did not know Jesus or profess him. Hanne does spend some time wondering what type of teaching surrounded this "prophet" (i.e., Jesus) touted which would make a man like Steffan risk his life for people he did not know. Yet she never professes to come to an understanding or belief. At times Elmer tried to weave in the Gospel message, trying to make it seem to Hanne that this Jesus loved so much that He would lay down his life for sinners. (It was weak and reminded me of every reason why I dislike Christian fiction.) Then, at most times, Elmer stated quite boldly that it was love of Hanne that fueled Steffan on, more than love of God. Explain to me how I'm supposed to buy the idea of a Christian pastor  - who is supposed to know his scripture - falling in love with someone who clearly does not know Jesus or profess Him as Lord? This rankles me.

Yes, I do see what would be appealing in this story - especially if you are a fan of Christian fiction in general. It is clean and neat and tidy, despite the fact that it is partially set in a Jewish prison camp. The horror of war is not remotely clearly expressed in this story, as it is in others. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that you are welcome to ignore the war entirely and lose yourself in the love story, such as it is. I suppose I just did not find it very remarkable or well-told. Also, I feel I've paid my dues to Christian fiction for awhile yet.

((I'm sorry!))