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 An awesom thriller Nov 29, 2007
The Cobbler of Normandy by Otto A. Berliner treats the reader to a highly unique genre of literature, where history, adventure, fiction, psychology blended into a fascinating reading experience, is not entirely surprising since it mirrors the life experience of the author, who has been an eyewitness to the WWII. from its first day to the last, eventually becoming involved in some activity of the resistance. He is Professor Emeritus after decades of teaching Psychology. The book is much more than a war story. It is gripping entertainment and should interest all generations of readers.
Steven G. Karpati, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Washington - W. Palm Beach
Wow Oct 07, 2007
When I first started reading The Cobbler of Normandy I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this book. Boy was I wrong. I became so engrossed in the book that I read it in one weekend. I found myself identifing with the various characters and imaginging what their life must have been like and what they were feeling. I would hold my breath at times as if it would help the characters escape detection.
Marceau is the pivotal character in this book The author was able to illustrate that one can appear to be an unassuming character and yet be so very important. Marceau was able to coordinate the transmittion of information between Allied Intellligence, the Resistance and Parker and Shaw. Without Marceau the mission of intelligence gathering would never have succeeded.
When I finished reading the book, I was reminded of when I was in high school in the World History class. The teacher was talking about his experiences as a young man during the Invasion of Normandy. I felt the same feelings that I felt then: anger, sadness, remorse and thankfulness that there are people who are willing to sacrifice all for the battle for freedom and the battle of good against evil.
This book is well worth reading.
Great story not only for war buffs or military enthusiasts Sep 14, 2007
I read an early draft of "Cobbler," and my initial reaction was that it hit the ground running. I literally found myself holding my breath when infiltrating agents Parker and Shaw would be on the verge of being exposed for their efforts against the war. When they were able to cleverly offer excuses as to why they were in places they shouldn't be, I felt my anxiety level lessen. It's that real! And it wasn't merely in high stress situations the novel came to life for me. I was weepy when a hero died and the connection between the characters was so tangible I felt their pain, their glory, their love.
While technically categorized a war story, don't dismiss reading it if that's not your genre of choice. "Cobbler" has so many facets to it, it has much wider appeal than simply to military enthusiasts.
 Story of Cobbler House into disappointment Sep 09, 2007
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (9/07)
Don't judge a book by its cover would be a good way to describe this book. The cover depicts an elderly man working as a cobbler making or repairing shoes. This cobbler is Marceau, and the novel's back cover describes him as "venerable" and a "well trusted member of the Resistance" but also trusted by the Germans. The plot of "The Cobbler of Normandy" is about the French Resistance's efforts to aid and prepare for the Allies invasion of Normandy during World War II. Marceau's role, although he begins as the central character, repairing boots for Germans and aiding spies, becomes overshadowed by the characters of Parker and Shaw, a U.S. and a British spy, disguised as German painters, who are trying to get information to aid the invasion of Normandy. Parker and Shaw go on so many little missions and adventures in the book that at times the book reads like a plot summary rather than the actual novel. The most interesting parts of their missions are their working with female resistance members who use sex-play to get information out of German officers. Also involved is Bridget, the adopted daughter of Marceau, and Michael, a young man she loves and convinces to join the Resistance.
I can't really say much more about the characters because character development is non-existent in this book. Michael and Bridget seem to do nothing much other than make love. Parker and Shaw are busy running around on countless missions, but they are barely more than stick figures. The author only gives us a couple sentences about their personal lives and the women they love. What I found most disappointing in the book was the absence of the characters' emotions--we are not shown anything human about Parker and Shaw especially--no sense of their fear, concern, longing for their sweethearts, no bonding in their friendship, no hopes or dreams for life after the war.
Sometimes novels focus on plot to the detriment of character-development, but there isn't much plot either in "The Cobbler of Normandy." We know the characters are preparing for the invasion of Normandy, but their actions are not presented in a way to make the reader feel there is any progression being made toward a goal, and after five-hundred pages of near plot-summary, when the invasion of Normandy occurs, what should be the novel's climax is described, it is finished with in a few pages--a major lack of climax and development.
Otto Berliner, on the "About the Author" page, is described as a survivor of the German atrocities of World War II, which means he is really an expert on the subject matter of World War II as a first-hand witness. He must have known the fear, anxiety, and danger of that time very well, yet the tone and feeling of a first-hand observer is completely absent from the book. Mr. Berliner is clearly knowledgeable, from the book's scattered details, about the war and the invasion of Normandy. I think if the book could have been better focused, perhaps centered around one specific mission of Parker and Shaw and that mission's direct influence upon the invasion of Normandy, then this could have been a powerful book. However, I cannot recommend the book to novel-readers who like good stories or well-developed characters, and to lovers of history, I would recommend instead reading a non-fiction book about the invasion.
Mr. Berliner has made a tremendous first attempt if only in the sheer volume of the book's near six-hundred pages, but a good editor is needed to give the book focus. I also found myself frequently annoyed by continual tense shifts from past to present and several punctuation errors.
The book had great promise when I picked it up, and I was eager to read it, but I am afraid nothing about "The Cobbler of Normandy" was able to hold my interest. I hope Mr. Berliner revises the book or tries his hand at another with better success.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Intriguing Story Jul 29, 2007
The Cobbler of Normandy was a delightful mixture of romance, history and adventure. I was at first intimidated by the length of the book, but found it quite easy to read and finished it at a rather quick pace. The plot was captivating and kept my attention. I was intrigued by the characters in the book and amazed at the courage of those soldiers and civilians involved in the resistance. Having not been as knowledgeable as I should be about the war, I found myself wanting to read more on the subject. I believe that both those intimately involved in these battles and those with limited knowledge of the subject but wanting to learn more would enjoy reading this book.
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