Thursday, February 26, 2015

ARC Review | The Alphabet House by Jussi Alder Olsen ♥

Thursday, February 26, 2015


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  • 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. 

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

  • 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 
    femmmefatalee@gmail.com

34 comments:

  1. Woah, this book definitely sounds really disturbing especially when you mentioned the skin picking with a needle, oh gosh! I totally agree with that premise, I absolutely love the sound of the creepiness. Wonderful review Benish!

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    1. Agreed! Disturbing, yet I find it fascinating. Thank you Jeann <3

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  2. Any book with an insane asylum or a 'mad house', I'm in. I love the creep factor, I can imagine in that era, they probably DID do a lot of behind closed doors testing on patients. Makes it ALL the more creepy. Really want to grab a copy soon, thanks for sharing Benish, fabulous review! <3

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    1. Haha yaay you're just like me<3 I really love the concept of this novel, it's really intriguing and unique. Hope you check it out for yourself soon :)

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  3. My entire life I have read romances after romances.. with the occasional spin with Harry Potter....... haha... but lately I have become more and more interested in thriller and horror so I would love to read this book! 4 out of 5 is a great amount of flowers for a book :)
    So I am excited to order it online and bury myself into the pages xxx

    www.bohemianmuses.blogspot.com

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    1. I like reading romance novels as well, but sometimes you want to step aside and try something different you know? This was a fantastic novel, waiting to hear your thoughts on it soon :)

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  4. I recently read a book which was vaguely based on the idea of insanity but it was pretty rubbish >.> I am looking forward to trying this one though, because it sounds like the idea is brought across much better in this case! I am eager to try it myself, it sounds perfectly creepy!

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    1. This one was creepy, but it has an actual lovely story as well - hope you enjoy it!

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  5. Oh wow, this sounds like something I would enjoy. I will probably pick it up next time I am in mood for historical fiction. Great review, Benish :)

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    1. I agree, it is one AMAZING book. Thank you Lucia ♥

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  6. The premise does sound pretty awesome! Creepy but interesting.

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    1. The novel is even better than the premise ♥

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  7. I haven't heard about this book before but it sounds wonderful. I don't think I've ever encountered with a book quite like this. Awesome review! Now adding it to my Goodreads TBR. :)

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    1. It does have a pretty unique concept, and I found the book fascinating. Thank you Veronika ♥

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  8. Ah I am so glad you enjoyed this too Bennish. I both listened and read this one. It was brilliantly done, creepy and I was in awe of how he fleshed out these characters feelings.

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    1. Yaay, I'm happy to hear our tastes are similar in books! ♥

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  9. Oh wow this sounds so fascinating! I love any book that touches on a psychological aspect like madness or instincts etc. It's pretty effed up what some people would do to survive (at least from the books I've read lol - but I can still totally see it all happening). But wow this sounds like a very compelling and thought provoking read! I hadn't heard much about it before now but I'll be adding it to my wishlist!

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    1. Yep, I'm with you on that lol it does make humans seem like animals sometimes .. but this was a really intense book that I enjoyed ♥ Waiting to hear your thoughts on this one soon :)

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  10. This sounds like such an interesting read. Your description makes me think of the book Unbroken. Our book club recently read that book and the members that loved it, would love this book I think.

    Jessica @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights

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    1. I haven't read Unbroken but thank you for putting that under my radar now, it sounds like a wonderful read ♥ Hope you enjoy this one as well :)

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  11. This sounds SO amazing! I need to read it right now! Awesome review!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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  12. cool cover, this sounds really good! Your review made me even more interested in this book :)

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    1. Thank you hun, hope you enjoy reading it ♥

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  13. If there is one thing I like is historical fiction but I don't always find stories that I like/love. Some of my favorites are Outlander (the entire series) and The Bronze Horseman Trilogy...they just really worked and the stories were incredibly engaging. And you had me at Schlinder's List!!! *wink*

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    1. This one was a really fascinating read, I really do hope you try it out for yourself now :)♥

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  14. Wouldn't think it would be my type of read, but I am trying to get out of my comfort zone and I love creepy, But yesss, that's usually my problem with ones set in a different time, I need to feel like you could've been there, so it has to be vivid and true to the time. I don't mind when a story slows down in the middle, so that wouldn't bother me as much, I hate it when it's slow to start because I usually end up not finishing it, haha. Glad you enjoyed it, Benish! :)

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    1. Getting out of your comfort zone is usually refreshing - I really hope you try this one out, it's not slow at all in the beginning :) Thank you for dropping by ♥

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  15. Sounds fascinating and dark and disturbing. I am curious but not sure if I am ready to plunge in with another dark tale, my last read left me very unsettled.

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    1. Aw, I do hope you can check this one out when you have time :)

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  16. This is definitely not a book I would typically be drawn to, but you have me so curious! It sounds fascinating, and I'm willing to go outside my reading comfort zone and give this a try. Wonderful review, my friend <3

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    1. I hope you do try reading this book for yourself, hope it works out for you :)♥

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  17. Although this book lagged in the middle, the characters and their relationships look really well developed! Nice review!!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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