The writing style of The Soldier and the Artist just left me bored. I couldn't force myself to continue reading it.

In this sprawling tale, we have Max Amsel and Bastian Fisher who meet as teens in Camp Seigfried then again as adults in the thick of World War II. 

First off, I dunno if I was taught this in school and forgot or just wasn't taught this but I was SHOCKED that the Nazi Camp Siegfried was a real place in NY! I honestly didn't realize such camps existed and kudos to this book for teaching me that.

This book is almost perfect. It focuses more on the war itself and how it's affecting everyone, not just our main characters. A great deal of the plot is plucked straight from history. The writing is compelling, the action is well done, and the romance, while not graphic, did tug at my heart. If you like historical fiction with a bit of angst, I recommend this despite the ending being a bit of a drop-off. But you can tell a lot of love went into this book. 4.7 out of 5.

I was pleasantly surprised by this poignant tale of two boys forced by their fathers to go to a Nazi run summer camp. They meet and become inseparable during camp. Shortly after their lives diverge and WWII begins. The story follows them through the war. Being a history buff, I was happy to see that the author did extensive research about the times. She includes several real events and people in the novel, even though it is a work of fiction. It really brings the story and history to life.

In history class, they focus mostly on what happened in the concentration camps, and tell you very little about what happened to the people who were not taken. This story shows you how the soldiers and civilians lived in war-torn Europe. You see the suffering of families split apart. The fear. The courage. You see how complete strangers band together and help each other in a Nazi occupied city.

I.have read many true and fictional books about the 2nd.World War and the Holocaust but none that I enjoyed more than this one.
The book was outstanding in the sense,that it was about a taboo subject,more so,since taking place in the thirties and forties.
Two teenage boys,both living in New York go to a Summer camp,meet and fall in love.They meet once again before going,their separate ways.They meet again in Rome,where one is doing undercover work for his Country and the other is saving hundreds of Jews while helping a famous film director with his movie.
Needless to say this book is full of near heart stopping moments and staggering twists and turns.
It has many actual facts that did take place on or near the times mentioned in this novel.
If you are a real lover of WWII fictional History, you will truly enjoy the different avenues of this one.
Thank you Netgalley and Angelle Petra for the opportunity to read and review "The Soldier and the Artist."

This was a fantastic read for students studying World War 2. The reference to dates, people and historical events were mostly accurate and were decisively linked to the stories of the protagonist, strengthening students ability to understand the causes and consequences of each event. This allows the book to fit easily into a history or even sociology curriculum. The LGBTQ theme also promotes inclusivity and representation, especially in an area (historical fiction) where such themes are often absent or relegated to the background. The novel is weak in the area of character development and offers more of a "tell me" rather than "show me" model in explaining the motivations of characters and groups. While this precludes the novel from serving as an effective device for character study; it does make it more accessible to students who struggle to imply meaning from text. In other words, it will help engage struggling readers and students with special needs by allowing them to engage in the historical context of the story even if they are students that typically struggle with reading between the lines. I work with students that have Autism, and they struggle specifically with inferring character motivation based on action and dialogue - this helps them access the history without getting caught up in the struggle to recognize social context.

While my review above was mostly focused on the value of the book as a teaching tool, I also want to add that I enjoyed the book as an adult reader as well. The story was wonderful, mostly plot driven (which is OK by me), and brought to light some events that happened in U.S and Italy before and during World War 2 that I previously unaware of. And the gay love story was a welcome addition to a genre that seriously lacks LGBTQ representation.

I wanted to like this book. The summary seemed amazing and fairly unique, and I was looking forward to reading it. My main issue in the beginning chapters was the abrupt POV switches. From one line to the next you are never quite sure who's POV you are reading. It gets better in the latter half when the characters are apart and full chapters are devoted to a single POV, but in the beginning it's rather confusing. The ending was also a bit lackluster for me. I would have liked at least some concrete indication of what was going to happen next. I assume the implication in the end is of Max returning to America with Bastian, but it wasn't quite clear.
There was a lot of good things about this book as well, though. For one, there was obviously a lot of research put into it. The characters were also realistic and fairly relatable. I would have liked to get a bit more into what they felt and why they did what they did, though. It felt like you barely got enough insight to make them human, but not quite enough to really feel real.

This book is very good... Although it's a fiction there are alot of true facts and events in the book. I was kinda let down though because in the end you don't really find out what happens with Max Bastian and Ilsa... I'm a sucker for this kind of book and honestly I feel like the author should write another book about what happens with them. All in all I think it's a great read and I would recommend it to anyone! 😁

Very good book. Loved the characters and world building! There were a few moments where I found the story to be moving a long a little slow, but they definitely didn't last very long. Definitely a to-buy!

The Artist and the Soldier was right up my alley. A historical novel set in the WWII era featuring two young men who fell in love. And it started as idyllic. Max and Bastian met and became close in Camp Siegfied, a real life American-Nazi summer camp for young boys of Aryan descent. I think of it as idyllic even though they have to deal with bullies and other unpleasantness. This is the part where the two boys, in their relative innocence, felt drawn to each other though they don’t fully understand it yet.

The summer was interrupted by the pronouncement that Max’s father was death. This is followed by tedious scenes of dealing with grief and Max’s mentally ill mother which was made worse by Bastian’s monumental fuck up just right after the boys admit their feeling to each other. This effectively killed my enthusiasm for the book.

I understand this is a ME problem and maybe I’m so used to romance where HEAs are a given. Age-gap makes me cringe but I could shrug it off, abuse, dub-con or non-con might be pushing it but the ultimate turn off for me is cheating. And I couldn’t fathom what in the fucking hell made Bastian meekly follow that woman to her bedroom right after having sex with Max. Also, Bastian is possibly bisexual (he has been with girls) and if so, here we go with the cheating bi thing. Can we not with this trope, please?

And so with a heavy heart, I tried to read the rest of the story but like I said, the impetus is dead.

Objectively (because I need to take a step back from my own stupid biases), I love the premise. It combines two real historical events, the film La Porta del Cielo and the American-German camps. Stories about how Jews escape the Nazis are always fascinating and it always amazes me how resourceful and resilient people can be in order to survive. I think most readers would love this book. I recommend this for history buffs, especially those into WWII stories, and those who, unlike me, can move past Bastian’s mistake. Because deep in my heart, I know there’s more to the story than their love affair.

P.S.

I received a copy of The Artist and the Soldier from Warren Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:
No stars because it’s a ME issue.

Edit: Netgalley is asking for a star so I will give it 2 Stars - it’s a struggle to finish the damn book

Soundtrack: Submarine
Artist: The Drums
Album: Summertime

This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction, bringing out some fascinating (true) details about events surrounding World War II that I was unaware of previously. For one, I had no idea there had been close to 70 chapters of the Bund camps spread throughout the United States promoting the Nazi party and Germany in the 1930's. The resistance effort Rome was also fascinating reading.

There is another wonderful timeless story told here as well The story of two young boys, unlikely allies- turned possible lovers- becoming men. Max and Bastian find something in each other that lacked in their early lives: trust and purpose. It's what drives them and gives them hope.

With the nostalgia, romance and setting, I found myself taken away to another time and transported in to the heart of this beautiful story.

Author Angelle Petta skillfully brings together all the elements in a way that feel so true and realistic without ever teetering on the question of believability. There are many harsh realities here, delicately handled without grandiose promises of what is to come.

While the budding friendship/romance between Max and Bastian is the heart of the story; it is Ilsa (Bastian's sister) that shines through with determination and strength, grounding the story in the harsh truths of history.

I was enjoying this book so much, I found myself limiting the amount I read (at a time) in order to make it last as long as possible. It felt like dwelling on a precious memory, or reliving the dark but treasured passage of a dream.

The Soldier and the Artist is about heroism, in many different forms. Petta reminds us, in truth, heroes don't always bask in glory or reap bountiful rewards-- they only save the moment and give a chance for another tomorrow. Maybe someday, a better future.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes my favorite genre historical fiction and adds to it by incorporating LGBTQIA. characters. Max Amsel and Bastian Fisher meet at an American-German Nazi camp in 1938. Yes you read that correctly and yes they existed.

Max and Bastian are two very different boys from different backgrounds yet find a connection at this camp that will follow them for years even as life tears them apart. They are also fighting the feelings that during WWII were enough to get you sent away. The book spans 6 years and covers soo much. I laughed. I cried. I learned some things.

It also goes into the making of Vittorio De Sica's movie 'La porta del cielo' which was made with the Pope's permission and saved the lives of many Jews and others deemed not up to the German standards.

https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/04/28/402679062/nazi-summer-camps-in-1930s-america

Thank you Netgalley for the read!

Based on a true story of WWII in Italy. Well written and educational. It started slow but picked up after the two boys entered the battle.

Wonderfully written. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in this time period, wether straight or gay. The characters express the curiosity that all humans share in a confusing time of coming of age.

I received an early copy of this novel from Net Galley. WWII novels are always a favorite of mine, especially when I can learn about some aspects of the war that I never knew of. I was not aware of the Nazi camps in the U.S. or of the Italian director De Sica using his movie set as a way to save and protect Jews in Rome. The story of love and friendship that grew over time between Max and Bastian was such a beautiful way to weave these two stories together. It was very interesting to see the war from the perspective of two young German Americans and where their paths led them. This was truly a beautiful coming of age story in a very difficult time.

I received this via netgalley. Although I do read historical novels on occasion this is a not something I have encountered before knowing so little of the theatre of war from an American point of view. It was interesting to learn that such a place as Camp Siegfried could exist amidst the horror of what was happening in Europe.
Ostensibly the novel is an enfolding love story which develops between two young men who are unsure of what has happened to them at a time of immense upheaval and prejudice. Both of German descent they are thrown together for a short time and are abruptly torn apart only to meet again in Rome some years later during the the occupation of the German army and the advance of the Americans. Though they have both tried neither of the two youths have managed to forget each other.
Bastion is a part of the advancing American army and Max has found himself involved in the protection of Italian Jews acting as extras hidden during making of a film under the protection of the Vatican. I found the writing to be original and well researched. A story encompassing the horror or war yet manages to convey complex emotions of hate, lies, prejudice and betrayal but also love and loyalty in equal measure.

Being a history nut, this story is right in my wheelhouse and I am intrigued by the two relatively unknown events Petta brings to light. As youth, Bastian and Max meet at Camp Siegfried where, yes, like-minded German-Americans sent their boys to summer camp to be indoctrinated with Hitler's plans for Germany in a pseudo-military setting. The two boys form an unlikely friendship and begin exploring their feelings for one another only to separate on the cusp of WWII - Bastian enlisting in the army and Max returning to his family's ancestral roots in Rome and studying film.

They meet up again during the war in German-occupied Rome where Bastian is intelligence gathering and Max is involved in filming "La Puerta del Cielo," a movie from Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Sica that employed hundreds of Jews to save them from the Germans.

I would give the plot of this book very high marks because of its originality, and the various actions scenes are well-done and very interesting to read. Where the story worked less successfully for me was in the love story. There's a lot of "tell" versus "show" and while I feel we learn a lot about the characters' backgrounds and actions, there is less in-depth emotional development of the characters and the dialogue is a bit stilted. In addition, a few plot points seemed ... odd. For example, after Bastian and Max first have sex, upon their return to New York, Bastian then has sex with Max's mother the SAME DAY. Also, Bastian's sister Ilsa is a nurse, who just happens to find Bastian in Italy against all odds.

My rating is 3.5 stars and I think any reader who enjoys historical romance will want to take a look at this story. I will definitely look forward to Petta's next book.

"Max supposed Bastian was right. They didn’t know, or need to know, what happened next. The life they chose to lead, or not lead, was not pre-scripted. They could do with it what they wanted. The thought comforted Max as he drifted off to sleep, next to Bastian, their hands intertwined into a bouquet of fingers. And once the war was over; a war that had attempted to take away people’s humanity, their spirit, their faith; once grave stones were carved and the dead remembered, once the ever gnawing hunger dampened and bellies were almost full again, once children were born who had not lived through it, Max and Bastian would have this night, this moment, precious and maybe ill-conceived, it could not be taken away."