Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by Should Be Reading.
Today I’m excerpting from a memoir that I received for review: Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, by J. Elke Ertle.
Intro: I lie motionless under my soft, warm comforter. My head nestles into the thick, square eiderdown pillow and my back and shoulders melt into the mattress like butter on toast. Tapsi, my four-year-old dachshund, lies curled up between my feet. Cradling the covers with my legs, I take a deep, long breath. I feel content from head to toe. Today is a big day. Today is my twenty-first birthday. Today, unfettered life will begin.
The hypnotic tick-tock, tick-tock of the alarm clock on the small laminated table cuts through the silence. I sit up, forcing Tapsi to adjust her position. Inky darkness. Shivering in the sudden cold I strain to read the time: 5:45 a.m. Through the small bedroom window, I gaze outside. No stars. Droplets hit the windowpane. A typical November day in Berlin. I glance at the clock a second time. Only a few more minutes before I’ll have to get ready for work.
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Teaser: After the War
When my mother stepped into my aunt and uncle’s pub, Zum Kuhlen Grund, holding me, a newborn, in her arms, she consoled herself by saying, “I’ve lost almost everything in the war. This little bundle is mine. I won’t let anyone take her away from me.” p. 3
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Amazon Blurb: In this true story, two obstacles threaten the freedom and autonomy of a young girl born and raised in postwar West Berlin: The Berlin Wall and the harsh rules her uncompromising parents impose. J. Elke Ertle recounts the mounting East-West tension that leads to the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. But the brick-and-mortar monstrosity is not the only insurmountable barrier Elke comes to know intimately. As the only child of uncompromising parents, she is brought up to unquestioning obedience. When she rebels against their unrelenting rules, the ensuing parent-daughter conflict parallels in intensity the Cold War between East and West. Elke finds herself incarcerated behind walls as impenetrable as the one that divides her city. On her 21st birthday, a startling and unexpected revelation strengthens her determination to opt for freedom and to immigrate to the United States. Interweaving history with her personal experiences, Elke takes the reader on a remarkable journey into her closely supervised, yet happy childhood, her youthful disillusionment, and her deliberate, albeit difficult decision to choose freedom.
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What do you think? Would you keep reading?
Come on by and let’s chat about our books.
This sounds like a really good read, especially because it’s a true story.
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I am looking forward to it, Beth F. I think I’m fascinated by the Wall and its history because my eldest son lives in Berlin. Thanks for stopping by.
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I don’t read much nonfiction. I’ll wait to hear what you think about the book before considering it for my stack. Come see my teasers for Furious by Jill Wolfson and Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs. Happy reading!
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Thanks for visiting, Kathy…and I tend to read one or two nonfiction books each month. I’m not sure when I started doing it. Have a great week!
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I’m looking forward to your review. This could be a great story, especially for people who remember those days and the history behind the wall.
My teaser is from CONFESSIONS OF AN INSTINCTIVELY MUTINOUS BABY BOOMER.
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I agree, Sandra….and since my son has been living in Berlin for a few years, and photographed the wall in 2009 when artists created murals on it, I’m even more intrigued. Thanks for visiting.
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I would keep reading! I like the setting.
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I do, too, Nise….and I can’t wait to take the journey. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your read.
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Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome, Autumn…glad you could stop by.
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I would like to read about the experiences behind the Berlin wall. I can understand the woman’s feelings about the baby. She’s not going to give her/him up. She’s faced to many losses.
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Definitely! Thanks for stopping by, Tea…enjoy your read.
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considering I just got out of bed myself, that intro makes me want to crawl right back in, LOL 🙂 I like your teaser, I’m definitely intrigued by the teaser and intro, great picks. My teaser is over at Book Savvy Babes
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Yes, it does sound cozy, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Heather, and enjoy your read.
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Sounds like a powerful read–I hope you enjoy the journey! My teaser: Aunt Dimity: Detective
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I think so, too, Heather…glad you could stop by; and enjoy your read.
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I don’t read many memoirs but this one sounds good!
Here’s my TT
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I thought so, too, Maria…thanks for stopping by.
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I loved the first paragraph. I’d keep reading. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
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Thanks, Kelley…I do enjoy an opener that shows us what the character is doing, feeling, and thinking. Glad you could stop by.
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This sounds really good.
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Thanks, Tribute Books Mama…glad you could stop by.
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Sounds like the start of an extraordinary story…and a great read!
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I am looking forward to it, Catherine…thanks for stopping by.
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Interesting choice! Thanks for dropping by our blog.
Diana @ BookVenturers
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I like the look and sound of it so far, Diana. Thanks for visiting.
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I don’t think I’ve read any books focusing on the Cold War era. It’s hard to imagine living in Germany during the time of the Berlin Wall, and it’s amazing how much that country has changed in a relatively short period of time.
Thanks for visiting!
Stephanie (Go Flash Go) @ Read, Rinse, Repeat
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Neither have I, Stephanie, so I’m really looking forward to it. Thanks for stopping by!
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I love the writing. I would keep reading this one. Thanks for sharing with us as it’s new to me.
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Glad you liked it, Diane…thanks for stopping by…and for hosting.
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I like the summary of the book better than the opening paragraphs. Sounds very good.
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Thanks for visiting, Margot….glad you liked the blurb.
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Aww, what a heart touching teaser.
Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, I liked that excerpt, too, Andrea. Thanks for stopping by!
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This sounds really moving, great teaser!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
^_^
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Thanks, Eustacia…glad you could stop by!
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This sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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You’re welcome…and thanks for visiting today, Lisa.
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Sounds like a wonderful book. Can’t wait to read it
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I think it will be, Ingrid…thanks for stopping by.
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