The Other Me by Saskia Sarginson Shame over Suspected Nazi Father and Family Skeletons

An emotionally charged novel, we learn of Klaudia’s shame over her German father, Otto, causes her to shirk from him as a child and to change her identity as an adult. This because she suspects he had committed atrocities during the Holocaust.

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And so the story is told from three (or rather two) viewpoints: Klaudia, her new identity, Eliza and Otto’s brother, Ernst.

Shame over Nazi Heritage

Klaudia is brought up in 80’s Wales in a small community where news travels fast and secrets are hard to keep. The result? Bullying at school, involving the Third Reich. This sets the catalyst for Klaudia’s new identity in the form of Eliza later in life. But her decision has consequences when she falls for Cosmo, who she hides the truth from. Poor Cosmo has the patience of a saint with Klaudia, who gives him confused messages, which gets a little irritating after a while. Her shame is tinged with self-centredness.

We also live through the eyes of Ernst, Otto’s brother during 1930s Germany. He is the more humane of the two brothers, yet it is he who ends up killing to survive. Ottos’ fate is not what one might expect.

Novel of Family Secrets

There are some frustrating moments in the novel when things are about to happen but tiresome obstructions get in the way. For instance, when Klaudia is about to learn the truth about her mother’s death, and when Cosmo is about to learn the truth about Klaudia’s true identity.

The ending was overlong, with undue solemnity. I found myself skimming paragraphs in the final chapters. Despite family members sharing years under the same roof, no one asks crucial questions. OK, so fear is an obstacle, but the result doesn’t make joyful reading. I just wished someone would break the spell and move things along.

This is a novel with sensitive portrayal of the protagonists and some good twists, but at times, the story was simply too drawn out and I got irritated with Klaudia. Well written, though and above par.