Memoir Review of A Penny Always Has Two Sides by Steffie Steinke

by Matilda Butler on December 15, 2010

catnav-book-raves-active-3Post #70 – Women’s Memoirs, Book & Video Raves – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler

Memoir Review

Some memoirs inspire, some confirm our experiences, some teach life lessons. Steffie Steinke’s memoir reminds and informs. Many of us studied World War II history in high school and college. There have been powerful documentaries produced and even major movies. So we may consider ourselves fairly well informed.

If you think you are, then pick up a copy of Steffie Steinke’s memoir as it brings out another element in the narrative. The author, born in 1936 in Berlin, suffered at the hands of a mentally disturbed mother who often neglected her daughter and threatened her with reform school if she did not behave. Steffie became so fearful of her mother that she shut down emotionally for long periods of time.

Take this personal story and put it on stage with World War II, Hitler, evacuation to Poland, imprisonment by the Russians when they liberated Poland, forced witnessing of her mother’s rape, and near starvation in Berlin after the war. The atrocities against German citizens in retaliation for Hitler’s atrocities against the Russian soldiers is brought to life through the story of one young child who lived through these years.


But A Penny Always Has Two Sides: A Memoir of Growing Up in Wartime Germany is as inspirational as it is historical. Frau Pech, the author’s foster mother is a central figure in the book, providing Steffie with the unconditional love that enabled her to initially survive and eventually to thrive. Frau Pech was stern when she needed to be, but always provided the open arms and embrace that let Steffie know she was loved.

As the title implies, good can be found in all situations. A jew and a Russian officer extended kindnesses that enabled Steffie and her mother to survive. A foster mother traded for goods on the black market, at great personal risk, so that Steffie had food and clothing.

As a memoir writer, if your life story has been strongly influenced by the history of the times you have lived through, then A Penny Always Has To Sides will enable you to see how to weave the two threads together.

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