Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Fictionalized account of the German Dietrich Bonhoffer, who was executed by the Nazi's for his opposition to them. Interesting to learn more about him; recall Mom's extremely negative reaction to some of the fictional elements (example love affair). Had originally given book to Dad, then the three of us read." ( )

Very very good. I am captivated. ( )

I hadn’t heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. But I should have. He was a German theologian and Nazi resistor during the 1930s and 1940s who always showed moral courage from the time he was a young man. He took part in various attempts to kill Hitler and was hanged as a result at the end of World War II just as the Allies were coming to occupy Germany.

SAINTS AND VILLAINS by Denise Giardina is a novel based on the truth of Bonhoeffer's life. From the time he was 14 he knew he wanted to study theology. As a Christian, Bonhoeffer couldn’t justify what he saw happening to his country when the Nazis came into power. He (and his family) hated what he saw the Germans doing to the Jews much earlier than others acknowledged it.

Bonhoeffer's moral courage was obvious as early as his seminary days in New York. But it was in Germany that he spoke out against Nazis, often in sermons, even when it seemed the majority of Germans supported Hitler.

This should not have been a new story to me, and I’ll always remember it. Do yourself a favor and read this book. ( )

It's odd to read a novel about a historical person in this century. I kept puzzling while I was reading whether, for example, his girlfriend was fictional or real, since I'd never heard of her. She's fictional but she fills a useful function in a novel. I recommend reading the author's note at the end first, if this sort of incongruence is going to bother you.

I read this book because the book club I belong to in town was reading it and I was dismissive of the idea that I might learn something, but ah! I did. The author draws parallels with our time that are not unwarranted. The insight into courage which is what I almost always hope to draw from biography was there in this novel. ( )

Is it fiction? Is it biography? it's both. A fictionalized history of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor in Germany during WWII, committed to nonviolence and yet hung for his role in a plot to assassinate Hitler. I have read Bonhoeffer's texts and seen movies: nothing was as vivid as this book. It was tremendously stimulating to be asking myself constantly - is this real? is this true? is this fact? what's the difference? ( )