BOOK REVIEW: Reasons to Kill God by I.V Olokita.

Synopsis

“If you are able to write 180 pages of your memoir without putting the pen down, I might let you live…”

Klaus Holland loves no one other than himself. He victimizes people for being Jews or for just being alive.

He is an old Nazi criminal who escaped to Brazil and was caught and prosecuted. He is now forced to write his memoirs as part of his punishment – the same punishment he used to give Jews at the concentration camp. This punishment makes him remember and re-live his cruelty as the concentration camp commander
and as a man.

Deus Esperanca learns from his mother that what he believed to be his family’s history, was just a bunch of lies. He discovers that his real father is Klaus Holland – the sadistic Nazi fugitive.

Having this information and his father being aware of what he knows, their lives intertwine and create chaos.

My Thoughts

Klaus Holland, as head of an extermination camp, perpetrated heinous acts of violence against the Jews. He devised a cruel method of punishment whereby the prisoners were given 180 sheets of paper, a quill and ink, and instructed to fill these pages with their life story. Those that faltered or failed to complete the task in any way were shot. The “winners”, those who completed the task, were allowed to read what they had written to the assembled camp but their fate is just as horrific as that of the others.

This novel has many plot twists, one of which occurs early in the novel when Holland is being tried as a Nazi War Criminal. He is subjected to his own method of punishment. To determine whether he lives or is executed, he must write his life story.

Moving backwards and forwards in time Holland’s tale is told by a clever combination of first and third person points of view. At times, the scene changes are confusing and certain passages needed re-reading for clarity. Whether this was due to the translation or a plotting ploy I’m not sure but never once did I want to abandon the book because of it.

Throughout, Holland shows no remorse, nor makes excuses for his actions. He is secure in his own superiority. To him, people are expedient. His treatment of them, particularly that of his mistresses, is cruel and demeaning, yet he manages to form a family of sorts with one of them and his son by a prostitute.

It is Deus's search for the truth about his father that sets in motion events that lead to a malicious revelation. Just one more questionable act on the part of Holland designed to destroy lives.

Reasons to Kill God is a short novel with a powerful punch. It is a compelling read despite the main character being so despicable, or perhaps because of it, that leaves one feeling unsettled by the last page. The ending is somewhat ambiguous. I wasn’t sure if Holland received his just punishment or not. Regardless, this is a thought provoking novel and while it may not appeal to everyone, I found it an interesting read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout.