Ashes (review)

Set in Berlin in the years 1932 and 1933, Lasky's latest historical novel follows Hitler's rise to power through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Gabrielle Schramm. The daughter of an astrophysicist (her father is in the same university department as Albert Einstein, who is a supporting character in the novel) and a pianist, Gaby leads a comfortable privileged life, attending a prestigious school and spending summers in the countryside. As the political climate begins to shift, Gaby, like the majority of those close to her, believes that Hitler is simply a passing fad, and that in a few months he will be forgotten and things will return to "normal," yet it gradually becomes clear that some of the people around her, even those dear to her, have become supporters of Hitler's message. It is a perspective not often presented in literature of the era, and Lasky does it deftly and with great historical precision. Additional appeal comes from occasional elements of mystery, most notably Gaby's sense that something is not quite right about her sister's boyfriend, and a colorful cast of side characters. The novel is bogged down, however, by Gaby's somewhat abstract voice and considerable introspection; this in combination with the extensive historical detailing and lengthy descriptions of events makes for a weighty and emotionally distanced read that's likeliest to reward readers already possessed of a serious interest in this period in history. A lengthy author's note opens the novel, providing much-needed context for the story, and a list of key historical figures is appended.