1. Why do you think everyone was so in love with Hitler? Even Dodd seemed to have a political crush on him when he first arrived in Germany.
People always seem to become enamored with a strong figure in a time of need. At first, that is what Hitler appeared to be. Germany had been struggling since WWI and Hitler was all about making a better Germany, and rebuilding, and bringing Germany to former glory, ect. So for the people who have been struggling, this was a sign of hope for them. Someone to guide and grow their country. I think the most, for one reason or another, wanted Germany to succeed. For a lot of the Americans, it was clearly because they owed them money...I mean that seemed to be their priority for Dodd's tasks while in Berlin.
Dodd was a historian, and I think he wanted to see the country rebuild as well. War devastates countries, and rebuilding, especially with the "safety" of treaties, is a good thing. Little did he know at the time...
2. When you think Dodd realized that following the Nazi party was like putting on a pair of Bad Idea Jeans?
You know, I think at first, Dodd bought into it all...especially at first when Americans were mistreated and Hitler's men claimed they were "isolated incidents" that would be taken care of. But after a while of watching Hitler, I think he slowly got that Hitler was in it for himself and not for the betterment of Germany. If he had any question before June 30, 1934, he got it after that day.
3. Did you like the Dodd family? What were your first impressions? Did it frustrate you that the “Pretty Good Club” had it out for Dodd?
I felt pretty indifferent about the Dodd family at first, although I liked that he was frugal and wanted to live within his budget...pretty admirable not to spend tax payers dollars for your own luxury (listen up Washington, ha!) But after a while, they grew on me. I found them pretty interesting and they really seemed to try to do what they felt was right...except sometimes Martha...
4. Let’s talk about Martha. Were you surprised by her, ahem, “behavior”? Did you approve? Do you sense a double standard from the author? Why do you think her parents just turned a blind eye?
Oh, Martha! She was quite the little hussy now, wasn't she? I guess she acted different for her time, but let's face it...at this day and age, she'd fit right in.
I don't think that her parents necessarily approved. In the notes, it shows that her and her brother went through and edited her father's journals before she released them. She may have removed anything showing her parents displeasure in there. But, she was in her mid to late twenties at that point also, so what where they to say?
5. Were you surprised at anti-semitism that not only came from Germany – but also the US? Where do you think that Dodds stood?
I was surprised in a way. I remember getting the part that certain Americans were calling it "The Jewish Problem" and telling my husband I didn't realize how many other people felt that way. But, in all reality, there has been certain times through out history where a certain group was looked upon as a "problem", so I shouldn't have been surprised...
I do not think the Dodds thought highly of the Jews in the beginning, but I also think they felt it wrong to treat them poorly.
6. What were your feelings about Hitler?
I don't think I could have any other feelings beside disdain and hatred for the man. He never stood a chance in my book because I knew what he did. But...I could see how people were at first fooled who lived in Germany at the time.
7. What disturbed you most about this book?
The same thing that disturbs me about the entire Nazi history...how every day, good people, watched this go on. I LOVE WWII history, and part of it is because I am always trying to get an insight on how an entire nation sort of went along with this guy. In the book, it clearly shows certain scare tactics or elimination of those who stood against Hitler, but I mean, Americans and other nations were being warned about Hitler's behavior and they just turned a blind eye for far too long.
9. Could you draw any correlations from this period in history to current/recent history?
You know, it is scary to me how easily Hitler took over Germany. Today, people are so into pop culture and their own lives, that they don't look out into the world sometimes. I feel that if a "cool enough" person, were to try and take over somewhere in the world, but especially here, it would be easy because most people are so blind by their own lives. If this person said and did the right things to appease the mass media for a while, and did one change after another with explanation that appeased the masses, no matter how wrong it was, it seems like this could happen again. I feel people are too apathetic for their own good. Scary huh?
10. Did you like this book? What were your overall thoughts on the way the story was told?
I really liked this book. I was really happy it was picked, since I love WWII history. I feel the story was written pretty well. I liked that there were different perspectives and it wasn't all coming from one source.
Bonus question – What the hell was Bill (Dodd’s son) doing the whole time they were there?? Let’s get creative.
It appears all the kid did was drive the damn car.
I'm thinking in all reality he lived up the party life. He didn't get into the circles his sister did and was way too lazy to keep a record of anything in his life, so it was like he didn't exist. I'm guessing he was waking up from his hangover as his parents were finishing up dinner. Maybe they just didn't see him much in his time in Germany?
