'33 Place Brugmann' by Alice Austen is a wonderful and well written debut novel, following the residents of the titular apartment building in Brussels just prior to the beginning of WWII.

The book is delivered over multiple view points of different residents, with more emphasis given to some of characters voices. This allows the reader deeper insight into the characters' motivations and emotions, other viewpoints serve to enrich the broader tapestry of the time. Austen masterfully uses this technique to enhance the complexity of the storyline, but also to allow readers to gain a deep understanding of the zeitgeist of Brussels during WWII. We are given insight into the lives of the heroic, the brave, the antisemetic, and the mundane. Together, these viewpoints create a multifaceted narrative that portrays the breadth of human experience during WWII, from heroism and hate to the quiet endurance of those caught in the crossfire.

The absence of a tidy resolution in this novel serves as a poignant symbol of the enduring impact of WWII. The characters are left navigating a world forever altered by conflict, where closure is a luxury few can afford amidst the ongoing turmoil and rebuilding efforts.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it was a well constructed reflection on life in wartime. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction.

Thanks NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC in exchange for this review!

[I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley]

Oh, I really do think this book will be a "love it or hate it" read for many people.

I am in the "love it with caveats" camp, although the major caveat is likely due to this being an uncorrected proof: the formatting for the Kindle ARC I received is quite bad, with oddly formatted wraparound text, occasional single paragraph breaks when two were clearly needed, parts of the novel where the title and author name were randomly interspersed in the text... definitely needs some major fixing there. I hope the publisher is able to fix this soon.

As for the actual story: <B>33 Place Brugmann</B> by Alice Austen follows the residents of a singular apartment building in Brussels on the eve of the Nazi invasion. As the war goes on, characters are forced to deal with the reality of living in an occupied country or, in some cases, the reality of being forced to flee said country.

What does one become, when the world changes so drastically? Can a community maintain itself in the face of constantly ripping seams? How do people manage--or rather, do they manage at all?

Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different resident of 33 Place Brugmann, giving the book an ensemble feel. However, there is a strong emphasis on a handful of residents, whose stories propel the narrative forward while other characters are lurking--and acting, in some cases--in the background.

The book feels, and I don't know how else to describe this so I don't know if this makes sense to anyone but myself, like it came from a European author rather than an American one. (And I say this with the disclaimer that of course, there are numerous American-written WW2 novels that also carry these traits.)

Here, the characters are all flawed and left wanting. The characters are human--incomplete, messy, filled with regrets, hopes, exhaustion, half-realized dreams. The story does not end tidily or particularly happily, reflecting the reality of so many real people's stories in WW2. We do not get a bow wrapping up what we'd love to know. There are betrayals and antisemitic characters and boring mundane realities within a country at war.

There is also a sense of the bizarre: visions (or are they?) that occur in the night, perhaps brought on by something otherworldly--or perhaps the effects of dwindling rations, illness, and stress. Like the rest of the novel, this vague supernatural element feels blunted, presented with the same forthright themes as frustrations of getting rations, suspecting betrayals in spy rings, and nosy neighbors in times of peril.

Overall, I would recommend giving <B>33 Place Brugmann</B> a read if you are looking for a WW2 novel that doesn't feel like a Hollywood epic, but something that reflects the frustrating, gritty, confusing reality of life during such times.

But I would also, perhaps, recommend waiting for the official published version rather than seeking out an advanced copy, as presumably the major formatting issue will be fixed before the book is published next March.

I really enjoyed the story. I think most readers of literary fiction will also enjoy it and I would recommend it. Pick this one up on publication day. You won’t be sorry.