Question: How do you dig a tunnel into the most heavily guarded country in the world?
I remember watching on TV as the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, but I wasn't even born when it went up in 1961. Still, I've always found accounts of it fascinating. And I have to say, this is the best book I've ever read about the lives of East Berliners and their desperate determination to be free.
In Tunnel 29, Helena Merriman tells the story of Joachim Rudolph, whose family unsuccessfully tried to escape the Red Army in 1945. He grew up in East Berlin, but managed to escape East Germany in 1961, crossing a dark field on a moonless night with his friend. Then he got his mom and sister out. But his story doesn't end there. In May 1962, he and several other university students living in West Berlin began digging a tunnel under Bernauer Strasse that would end up being 135 meters long. They dug night and day for over four months. They dug through thick clay. They evaded Stasi spies and risked their lives. And on Sept. 14, 1962, they broke through the floor of a cellar in East Berlin and helped 29 people escape to freedom.
I absolutely loved this book! It's eye-opening, informative, heartbreaking, compelling, extraordinary and life-affirming. And it will definitely be on my favorites list at the end of the year.
Happy Reading!
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What a brilliant sounding book. If I had one wish for the world it would be to banish forever oppressive govs who don't give a tinker's cuss for their people.
ReplyDeleteHere, here! I can think of several current country leaders that fall into that category that I could happily do away with forever. And the comments in this book about the Soviet army and the terrors they caused back then felt very reminiscent of what's going on in Ukraine now.
DeleteI've never read anything about the time of the Berlin Wall and this sounds like a particularly interesting nonfiction book from that time.
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting and very well-written. I definitely would recommend it!
DeleteWow, sounds pretty fascinating. I didn't know about this story at all.
ReplyDeleteThere was so much in this book that I didn't know either. I'm so glad I read this one. It's an awesome read. :)
DeleteI haven't read it but I'm sure it would be an interesting read for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! And such a good reminder of what that time was like.
DeleteMy father served in the Air Force National Guard for many years after World War II, and was called up to active duty in the Air Force for a year (in Germany and France) as a result of the wall going up in Berlin. So I am very aware of this event in history, although I was pretty young at the time (preteen) so I did not follow events that much at the time.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a fantastic read. I will check it out more.
I understand that time period in Germany when the wall went up was pretty tense militarily speaking; I bet your father could tell some interesting stories about his time there.
Deletewhat an interesting story. I also remember the wall coming down. This sounds like it would make a good movie too.
ReplyDeleteThis would make a very good movie! And one I would definitely go see.
DeleteWow, this sounds absolutely fascinating. I remember the wall coming down but haven't read much about what life was like with it up.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read much about East Berlin and the wall before this book either. Both this book and The Slow March of Light, which is a historical fiction novel, are great reads about this time period.
DeleteHi Lark, So glad you liked this book and it is inspiring how Joachim wanted to be free and got himself out, his family out, and 29 others. I have often thought about how where we are born can so affect our lives. Living in North Korea for example would be a nightmare. I have wanted to read a book about North Korea but it would be so depressing.
ReplyDeleteStories about North Korea are very sad. I read Escape From Camp 14 and also In Order to Live about two North Koreans trying to escape, and they're both really good books, but what they had to go through was heartbreaking.
DeleteThis sounds like such a fascinating read. I can't believe I've never read a book about the Berlin Wall before. I'm adding it to my wishlist right now.
ReplyDeleteHope you get a chance to check this one out, Ashley. It's such a great book. And I learned a lot I didn't know before.
DeleteOoh! I like the sound of this one. The Cold War is an era I love reading about even if it is depressing at times!
ReplyDeleteYou would really like this one! It's so compelling and so well-written! :)
DeleteIt's good to work nonfiction into the reading mix. I am guilty of reading mostly fiction myself and I really should follow your example. This one does sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to read at least one nonfiction book each month this year because I mostly read fiction, too, but I really do love a good nonfiction book. And this one is really good! :)
DeleteThis sounds fascinating!
ReplyDeleteIt is so good!!!
DeleteInteresting historical fiction!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good!
DeleteIt looks as though we're both trying to read one non-fiction book per month, Lark. :-) This one certainly sounds good. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYou'd think I'd be able to read more than one nonfiction book a month, especially when they're as good as this one, but there you go. ;D
DeleteThis sounds like a winner. I've been in the mood for something different. Happy to read how much you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good book! I really loved it.
DeleteI remember watching the wall come down, too. So much turmoil in that part of the world! I feel bad for them. It does sound like an interesting read. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating book, especially all the different ways people found to escape from East Germany. And life there at that time was so crazy! It's hard to believe it all happened.
DeleteSounds really interesting. I grew up during the time of the iron wall and actually know some people who fled from East Germany. They tell horrible stories.
ReplyDeleteI can believe it. Life in East Germany was NOT good in so many ways.
DeleteI hadn't heard of this book but it sounds like such a fantastic read!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! You feel all the emotions when you're reading it: hope, sadness, anger, heartbreak, joy. And disbelief that it all really happened, and not that long ago.
DeleteThis does sound intriguing! I have the Moore book somewhere on my bookshelf. I need to read it as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Moore book is so good; I think you'd really like it. And she bases it on the life of Bob Inama, who was a member of the Church, which was cool. :)
DeleteThis sounds intriguing and interesting! I rarely read non-fiction but this one sounds like one I'd enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! And I learned so much about what was happening in East Berlin and East Germany at that time.
DeleteThat's amazing they went back to save 29 people. I have no words for that kind of Courage. but just Wow!! The Stasi were just fierce & awful.
ReplyDeleteThis book is a pretty amazing read! I highly recommend it.
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