Night Shift by Maritta Wolff is a hauntingly beautiful novel set during World War II about two people who were damaged by the war and the love that grew between them.
The novel follows the story of Albert and Mala. Albert is from Poland and Mala is from Lithuania. Both of their families were affected by the war and both of them were sent to labor camps. Albert is sent to work in a coal mine and Mala is sent to work as a servant in a castle in Bavaria. Though they are in different camps, they meet and form a bond through their letters during the war. After the war, Albert and Mala find each other again and escape together to the United States.
In Night Shift, author Maritta Wolff vividly conveys the horrors of war through the eyes of Albert and Mala. The reader can get a glimpse of the terror that was experienced during the war, as Albert and Mala describe their memories of escaping their camps, making their way to safety, and watching their families struggle to survive. Albert's memories of his family being taken away from his home and being sent to a work camp are particularly poignant and make the reader feel his sense of loss.
The relationship between Albert and Mala is a powerful example of how love can survive despite the unspeakable horrors of war. Despite the fact that they have both experienced grave injustice and tragedy during their time in the camps, they are still able to find solace and comfort in each other. With each letter they write, they get to know each other better and can sense the growing connection between them.
In Night Shift, Maritta Wolff paints a vivid picture of how the war affected those who were directly affected by it and of those who survived it. She shows how the experience of the war changes people and how survival can shape a person for life. By the novel's end, the reader is left both moved and uplifted by how Albert and Mala were able to persevere and eventually find love in each other.
Night Shift is an emotionally powerful story that demonstrates how love can blossom in the face of war and tragedy. While still providing an insight into the atrocities of the war, Maritta Wolff conveys a sense of hope and redemption through Albert and Mala's relationship. Night Shift is an essential read for anyone interested in learning more about the history of World War II and the affect it had on the people who experienced it.
