A complex, compassionate novel about Germans coming to terms with their actions during WWII.
Kirkus Reviews, 2-6-15
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gabriele-kosack/dance-ashes/
The sophisticated prose and dialogues bring post war Berlin to life, particularly well portrayed is the degree of hardship the people endured and the description of insurmountable rubble to clear.
(...)
This is an excellent novel of courage and determination. Well-done, this is another book I enjoyed immensely.
Toni Osborne on Goodreads 3-15-15
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1213053663
This was an amazing book. I was taken to Germany in the aftermath of WWII and the book gripped me throughout. A tale like this is not often told in English--to Americans. We don't often see the tragedy in the ruins.
Irene Rawlings on NETGALLEY
An absorbing story of survival, betrayal and love in immediate post World War 2 Berlin.
(...)
an excellent portrayal of the human spirit over debilitating circumstances.
If you have read any of the David Downing John Russell series, Rebecca Cantrell’s Hannah Vogel series or just like a personal touching story then I’d recommend this you.
Ian Sanders on NetGalley
Without doubt this is a special novel.
(...)
The whole together encapsulates the true horrors, hopes and fears for those living and arriving in war torn Berlin as peace is arriving. I found this book haunting, disturbing and yet full of hope.
Andrew Wilson on NETGALLEY
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/58533
I am grateful for this book, which I consider a very fine historic novel indeed. Kudos to the authors!
Elisabeth Hurley on amazon.com 10-14-14
What makes Gabriele Kosack’s and Günter Overmann’s novel
Trümmertänzer an especially worthwhile read, is its gripping narrative.
While reading, you can literally feel the dust from the rubble
mountains being blown straight into your eyes.
Claudia Cosmo,
on the radio show Büchermarkt,
Deutschlandfunk
. . .
In Trümmertänzer, the two authors describe the experience of living
in those few weeks right after the war in such vivid scenes that you
can instantly see the ruins of Berlin before your inner eye or have
the distinctively intense smell of cigarettes in a basement jazz club
hit your nostrils. An impressive achievement for the writing couple
from Cologne.
Kirsten Gnoth,
in the newspaper Der Westen
. . .
The authors have succeeded in writing a magnificent piece of
historical fiction.
Robert Boucard,
in the literary magazine Im Lesesaal