Although it does not have exactly a view over the Rhein, Rheinblick is the place where one can have a clear overview of the Bonn´s active political and social life in the 1970s. The homonymous book by German bestselling author Brigitte Glaser is a post-WWII novel with a subplot of crime story.
As I keep mentioning every time when I am reviewing German historical fiction books, I am usually following ambiance details and any useful information that may help me to understand the society and way of thinking after the end of the WWII. Either it features personalities or just everyday people living their life, there are always elements that may help me better understand those episodes from the past.
The book features, among others, my favorite German politician ever, Willy Brandt, but also mentions the East German spy Günther Guillaume, nested just in the inner circle of the chancellor. Through the interactions between the clients of Rheinblick, one can feel the political and social pulse of the non-communist Germany, its fears and challenges.
With or withough being part of the power arrangements, the society is changing, and so its the world around it. Punctuated by the newest English pop songs, the story is flowing slowly, as the Rhine, but it is just an episode of a longer chain of events. I personally felt that the crime story - of a young girl found dead, a war orphan, would have deserved more attention and focus, as it is lost among the various interactions and exchanges between the characters.
In any case, for someone like me, keen to fill the gaps of the social and historical German immersion through literary reads, Rheinblick is a recommended read.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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