Welcome back to another week of Defy discussion! I’m beginning to think no one actually reads the intros anymore… I wonder what I can put here… 🙂
Opinions and the Nazis
As we all probably know, the Nazis were a totalitarian government that despised anyone who spoke up against them.
And “despised” is putting it nicely.
While the opposition was violently silenced, there was no doubt that there were those who opposed the Nazis. There were those willing to put their lives on the line for freedom, like the Resistance. In addition to the organized Resistance, there were also small groups of individuals who acted out on their own. Many were young adults – college-aged kids.
The two-colored pictures are from a movie based on one famous young adult during World War 2 who resisted the Nazis, pictured in black and white. Her name was Sophie Scholl. Her base of operations was in Munich, Germany. Alongside her brother and a friend, they spread pamphlets around the University exposing the true nature of the Nazis, under the name of The White Rose.
Her life was cut short when the Nazis caught the three of them spreading their pamphlets one day. They were soon put on trial and sent to prison. Then, not long afterward, they were executed.
This was the fate the befell those who resisted, especially those who were caught in the act. Your opposing opinion would get you killed.
Later on, I may dedicate a post, especially to her story. It was a huge inspiration for my book and is something y’all should really check out. Also, if you would like, the movie that depicts the last part of her life is called, “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days“. Go check it out!
Annabelle and Dimitri
This chapter is another chance for the readers to get to see Annabelle and Dimitri interact with one another. We see them in a new setting, as well as seeing a side of each of them we haven’t before. Annabelle and Dimitri are in a very informal setting, yet, out in the open. Their conversation may be a bit more guarded, however, they can see if anyone nearby might be listening in.
La Féve Torréfiée was a figment of my imagination, but looks very much like a typical 1940s outdoor café. Here’s a picture to further describe what I had in mind.
Now, obviously, given the content Annabelle and Dimitri were speaking of, the cafe wasn’t as packed when they went there. Still, this is the idea I want people to have in their minds when reading this chapter.
There’s also one line that kind of expands the duties of Dimitri. Up to this point, we hadn’t heard much about what he did for the Resistance and how he worked with Annabelle. However, it is revealed that Annabelle’s knowledge has been just as limited as ours.
“But don’t you ever wish that we could be doing something like that instead of just sitting behind a desk and running messages?”
“Annabelle, I do more than just running messages, you just haven’t noticed,” Dimitri responded, sitting back in his chair, not making eye contact with Annabelle.
“What?”
Defy, pg. 43
Dimitri’s escapades aren’t elaborated upon further due to the arrival of a certain someone…
Emmerich is Back
Well hello there.
Emmerich makes an entrance back into the life of Annabelle Dietmar and it’s not without making a bit of a scene. Emmerich first approaches Annabelle, striking a conversation up with her about our favorite German Kapitän – Albrecht.
There’s a small detail I added in, alluding to the blossoming relationship between Albrecht and Annabelle. It wasn’t discussed in great detail, but Emmerich talks about Albrecht as “Annabelle’s Kapitän Fitzi”. It seems Emmerich knows more than the reader…
Emmerich’s continued presence was unnerving, mostly due to the volatile nature of Emmerich – who knows what he’d do next.?
When did Annabelle Become ENGAGED?!
Ah, yes. The small tiny detail that is rarely spoken of.
“Go back to your fruit, farmer – you are not welcome to sit with the fiancé of a German Kapitän.”
Emmerich to Dimitri; pg. 44
Presumably, off the page, as the two worked together, they formed a connection. They fell in love and eventually, Albrecht popped the question. Now, the question is who did they tell? Obviously, Emmerich knows, but why not us?!
The question is now, when will the reader see more about their relationship?! Well, who knows – maybe I’ll tell you more in the sequel! 🙂
Okay, I’m going to be honest. When I’m doing these chapter reviews, I’m also rereading the chapter as well. It’s been a while since I’ve actually seen some of these chapters and I often get wrapped up in some of my own lines.
In this chapter, I was literally caught off guard by the last paragraph. WHEN IN THE WORLD DID I COME UP WITH THIS?! I’m convinced I was sleep-deprived at that time and words just came out onto the paper – there was no way I could have done that normally.
So, since I loved that paragraph SO MUCH – here it is again!
“Why was this the world she lived in, Annabelle wondered. Why did life have to be plagued with people like the Nazis? At this moment and every moment she witnessed this sort of belittlement, Annabelle hated her German heritage – she hated Albrecht’s as well – and vowed with all her heart, no one else woud be treated like dirt in France any longer. Justice day was coming. “
Defy, pg. 45
Wow.
Let me know your thoughts below about this week’s post!
Comment your favorite line of the book so far!
Till next week!
L.A.
P.S. Head to Kindle Vella and read the next episode of Secrets of the Forest!
