The Extra
Leni Riefenstahl is sort of an enigma when it comes to World War 2 history. There is a lot of misinformation out there and very few facts. She was a Nazi sympathizer, there is no doubt about that. But what this author has done, I actually found offensive. She played fast and loose with a person's life, retelling her story and the treatment of the gypsies working for her when nobody actually knows the truth. The fact is, Leni was aware that she was using forced labor to film her movie when she used the gypsies as extras. She probably did not treat them well, but this author made her out to be an abusive monster (which she could very well be, but this was just sensationalist GARBAGE). But there are facts and there are facts. Do not make shit up just to write a good story. I feel this book did. Sure, this is the author's interpretation of what she believes happened. But I feel it is disrespectful to EVERYONE involved to not get the story right. If there are no facts and no one knows for sure what happened, don't write it.
This, and the fact that I was bored and found the writing style detached and flat, are the reasons I am DNFing. Sure, I could finish and rant and piss a lot of people off with my unpopular opinion, but I just don't see the point in that.
History needs to be treated with respect. Facts are important. This was a HUGE fail.
Also, I am sorry if this offends anyone. I do not CONDONE anything that Leni did. I think the atrocities that occurred during WW2 are probably the most awful things that have ever been done by man to mankind. Which is why it is so important to me that crap isn't just made up to tell a good story. Please forgive me if this offended anyone, as it was not my intention.