ARC Review | The Alphabet House by Jussi Alder Olsen ♥

• The Alphabet House
• Jussi Alder-Olsen
• Publisher: Dutton (February 24, 2015)
• ISBN-13: 978-0525954897
• Genre: Thriller, Historical Fiction
• Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles
• Source: Review Copy was sent free of charge courtesy of Dutton Books.
• Synopsis: British pilots James Teasdale and Bryan Young have been chosen to conduct a special photo-reconnaissance mission near Dresden, Germany. Intelligence believes the Nazis are building new factories that could turn the tide of the war. When their plane is shot down, James and Bryan know they will be executed if captured. With an enemy patrol in pursuit, they manage to jump aboard a train reserved for senior SS soldiers wounded on the eastern front. 
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• In a moment of desperation, they throw two patients off the train and take their places, hoping they can escape later. But their act is too convincing and they end up in the Alphabet House, a mental hospital located far behind enemy lines, where German doctors subject their patients to daily rounds of shock treatments and experimental drugs. 
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• The pilots’ only hope of survival is to fake insanity until the war ends, but their friendship and courage are put to the ultimate test when James and Bryan realize they aren't the only ones in the Alphabet House feigning madness. 
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• James Teasdale and Bryan Young are British pilots around the time of World War II - they were set out on a mission before their plane was shot down, James and Bryan decided to claim insanity when they jump aboard the train when their enemies approach. They actually throw two patients off of the train so they can take their place, however, they do plan to escape later. Soon, the end up in The Alphabet House, a mental hospital where German doctors subject their patients to unsanitary experiments and treatments..  Afterwards, they discover they aren't the only ones feigning madness in the Alphabet House.

• The premise is brilliant - I was easily hooked on the concept of this novel, the plot is creative, catchy, and creepy! I hadn't heard a concept about feigning madness before, and I like the fact that the setting takes you back to a historical time. I wonder if people had actually pretended to be insane during these times. I was uncomfortable reading that James and Bryan had actually thrown down two patients to take over their places in the train .. That is wrong, however, I do feel certain situations can make you quite desperate. You would do anything to survive, things you would never do under normal circumstances such as, eating dead people when there's no food for days?

•  The Alphabet House is a book I enjoyed reading beginning to the end, the first chapter attained my attention right away. I was easily swayed on how well-written the book is, I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. The dialogue, action, and the feeling of the thrill is all there. However, it does start to lag towards the middle. The book was quite long since it's told in two different parts. The second part wasn't as great as the first part, although, I still liked it. This is a powerful, yet disturbing novel, I wouldn't be even able to imagine the pain, and treatment James and Bryan had to endure just to survive. Imagine feigning madness, and lying in a bed in your own filth where you cannot move? I really loved what The Alphabet House portrayed, it's an example of realism. 

• I was intrigued by the friendship of James and Byan, their bond was strong and likeable - I liked James character more than Bryan's. I thought he was more wiser yet Bryan was more cunning. I don't agree with the actions they had committed, but I could understand why they chose this path. This might not be suitable novel for some people since it does have horrifying and creepy situations, although, it's not gruesome. I remember watching a movie on the Holocaust once, and I remember a group of Jewish women pricked their skin with needles, so they can add more redness a.k.a blood to their face so they look "healthy" to the German soldiers and pass the body inspection. Back to the novel, it is a read worth trying, it opens the reader's mind more about understanding characters and the choices they make. It's not a perfect book, but it's a strong debut. I would rate it 4 out of 5 butterflies.

Recommended for fans of The Diary of a Young Girl, Unbroken, Night, and Schindler's List.

• Shukran for reading this! Leave your blog links in the comments & I'll be sure to check them out & drop by :) Stay in tuned pretty creatures..
  
  
  “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron 
  

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