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2.14k reviews for:
The Sorrows Of Young Werther: Translated By R.D. Boylan; Edited By Nathen Haskell Dole
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
3.47 AVERAGE
2.14k reviews for:
The Sorrows Of Young Werther: Translated By R.D. Boylan; Edited By Nathen Haskell Dole
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
3.47 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was introduced to me by my art history professor as we began our unit on German Romanticism. Though the story is compelling and memorable, I think the book is most interesting in context. It inspired me to read many articles about the origins of German romanticism, and the string of suicides the novel(la) inspired is also fascinating.
The actual reading experience suffers a bit from the text being written in German 300 years ago. For a book of it's length, it is a slow read. Werther's overly embellished letter writing can be a drag, and his thoughts repeat as he spirals downwards. Dostoyevsky's Notes from Underground and The Double are both fresh in my mind with their similar themes of insanity, but I think Gothe does it better—albeit just slightly. The characters are also very human with an emphasis on their complex emotions.
The story, especially the ending, is very heavy. I did not particularly enjoy reading it, but have decided on four stars as I know it will stick with me for some time.
Winterreise in book form
This is cool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPw9XgQ1mdI&ab_channel=LongBeachOpera
3.9
The actual reading experience suffers a bit from the text being written in German 300 years ago. For a book of it's length, it is a slow read. Werther's overly embellished letter writing can be a drag, and his thoughts repeat as he spirals downwards. Dostoyevsky's Notes from Underground and The Double are both fresh in my mind with their similar themes of insanity, but I think Gothe does it better—albeit just slightly. The characters are also very human with an emphasis on their complex emotions.
The story, especially the ending, is very heavy. I did not particularly enjoy reading it, but have decided on four stars as I know it will stick with me for some time.
Winterreise in book form
This is cool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPw9XgQ1mdI&ab_channel=LongBeachOpera
3.9
Lovely description in literature that the modern writer's workshop would have ripped apart.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I really REALLY hated the message of this story. Werther is a guy who's madly in love with Lotte(Charlotte?), however Lotte is already engaged to another man. Instead of leaving her alone, Werther keeps trying to pursue her. Sometimes he even gets angry because Lotte cannot reciprocate her feelings. He got desperate and I got really angry at some points.
Honestly, I cried so much while reading this. Not for Werther, but for Lotte. I felt so sorry for Lotte. She had to struggle so much because Werther wouldn't leave her alone, no matter how many times she had asked him to. She was constantly filled with guilt, even though none of this situation was her fault. The ending didn't help either. Werther is a horrible person. (I FUCKING HATE HIM!!!)
I know that times were different back then, but I've heard that this book's message is still being followed universally. It caused a lot of people to commit suicide just because the one person they love, couldn't love them back. It really sucks.
However, I can compliment one aspect of this story and it was the writing in general. The author had a beautiful talent in writing. I read this book in Korean, so I'm not sure if I should credit the translator more for being able to translate this book into another language so beautifully. But overall, the writing was really nice.
Honestly, I cried so much while reading this. Not for Werther, but for Lotte. I felt so sorry for Lotte. She had to struggle so much because Werther wouldn't leave her alone, no matter how many times she had asked him to. She was constantly filled with guilt, even though none of this situation was her fault. The ending didn't help either. Werther is a horrible person. (I FUCKING HATE HIM!!!)
I know that times were different back then, but I've heard that this book's message is still being followed universally. It caused a lot of people to commit suicide just because the one person they love, couldn't love them back. It really sucks.
However, I can compliment one aspect of this story and it was the writing in general. The author had a beautiful talent in writing. I read this book in Korean, so I'm not sure if I should credit the translator more for being able to translate this book into another language so beautifully. But overall, the writing was really nice.