Friday Book Beginnings & The Friday 56 | #7

Friday Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and the Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.

So Friday Book Beginnings you choose the book you are currently reading or the one that is closest to you and share the first few sentences. For the Friday 56 you simply turn to page 56 or 56% on your e-reader and share a sentence or two that you enjoy. Then just add maybe a synopsis about the book in case others are interested. That’s it!

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from Goodreads

The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow

Published: April 26th, 2011

I am at my parents house for the Easter long weekend and didn’t bring books with me. I did however bring this book with me last time I was down to read and left it here. So this is the book I am spotlighting this week and hopefully starting this weekend!

Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis: Sydney Taylor Award-winning novel Berlin Boxing Club is loosely inspired by the true story of boxer Max Schmeling’s experiences following Kristallnacht.

Karl Stern has never thought of himself as a Jew. But the bullies at his school in Nazi-era Berlin, don’t care that Karl has never been in a synagogue or that his family doesn’t practice religion. Demoralized by attacks on a heritage he doesn’t accept as his own, Karl longs to prove his worth.

So when Max Schmeling, champion boxer and German national hero, makes a deal with Karl’s father to give Karl boxing lessons, A skilled cartoonist, Karl has never had an interest in boxing, but now it seems like the perfect chance to reinvent himself.

But when Nazi violence against Jews escalates, Karl must take on a new role: protector of his family. And as Max’s fame forces him to associate with Hitler and other Nazi elites, Karl begins to wonder where his hero’s sympathies truly lie. Can Karl balance his dream of boxing greatness with his obligation to keep his family out of harm’s way? [x]

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Beginning: I’ll never forget the feeling of that punch, when my fist actually connected on his exposed flesh and it yielded just a little bit. I had often heard people talk about a punch “connecting” and I finally understood what that really meant. The punch had mass and weight, and a wonderful electric thrill ran down my hand and across my body as I sensed his muscles tighten. He even gave a small grunt.

Page 56: My own fantasies far overpowered everything else that night, even the fact of my uncle’s getting shot. I kept replaying the events of the evening over in my head and felt a strange rush of excitement as I remembered every detail of my encounter with Max. After Adolf Hitler, he was probably the most admired man in Germany.

Have you read this book? Are you interested in reading it? Comment down below!

4 Responses to Friday Book Beginnings & The Friday 56 | #7

Katherine P says:

March 25, 2016 at 9:02 PM

I haven't heard of this book before but it sounds like an interesting viewpoint. I like the bluntness of the teasers. Hope you enjoy the read!

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fredamans says:

March 26, 2016 at 3:04 AM

Sounds interesting and not like what's around right now. I like that. I like that I connect to the beginning too, having been a scrapper most of my life. Happy Easter weekend!

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Anne Bennett says:

March 26, 2016 at 6:25 AM

I am a fan of this book even though I am not really into boxing. It is so well written. I hope you enjoy it.

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Tanya Atkinson says:

March 28, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Away for the weekend without books? Sounds like a good reason for a meltdown. LOL Glad you found one left behind! 🙂

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