Julia Franck (1) (1970–)

This novel starts near the end, then goes back to explain how the opening section came to be, and then ends 10 years after the opening. I love storylines like this, but it makes it VERY hard to write a review without spoilers.

Helene and her sister grew up in a small town near Dresden. After their father is sent to fight in World War I and finally returns home with a devastating and ultimately deadly injury, their mother has a mental breakdown. The sister both study to be nurses, and end up moving in with a cousin in Berlin. From there, we follow Helene's life as a nurse, wife, and mother--right through World War II. As a cis blonde who takes after their father's side, Helene has a much easier time of the 1930s and 40s than her dark-haired and dark-eyed lesbian sister who looks like their mother. But both have to hide their mother's origins and her mental illness.… (más)