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novabird's review against another edition
5.0
As most people who have ridden trams/public transportation know, the on-board atmosphere can be claustrophobic and the act of trying to exit/escape can be a feeling of desperation. HM uses the tram as the vehicle for a stream of consciousness to paint a monotonous, claustrophobic tension that builds and builds on itself and reflects her experience of living in communist Romania.
At one point, the anonymous narrator confronts two people in a red car who she thinks had been spying on her only to discover that they were a couple. This early incidence foreshadows a gradual undoing that follows along a psychological trajectory that leads to the beginning of.
Maintaining one’s dignity against false accusations is a skill and it is and not an act of commission. In, “The Appointment,” the narrator has to create falsehood in order to keep her sanity.
The oppressive tone of the novel is offset by dark beauty, and dark humor.
“The Appointment,” is a riveting and realistic portrayal of the surreal conditions of mental torture, where both the interrogator and the interrogated know that it is nothing but word play composed of petty accusations against innocent people. 5
At one point, the anonymous narrator confronts two people in a red car who she thinks had been spying on her only to discover that they were a couple. This early incidence foreshadows a gradual undoing that follows along a psychological trajectory that leads to the beginning of
Spoiler
paranoia =“She would have unpeeled a little of the secret, but kept the core silent.”
Maintaining one’s dignity against false accusations is a skill and it is and not an act of commission. In, “The Appointment,” the narrator has to create falsehood in order to keep her sanity.
Spoiler
The narrator in part ends up colluding with her interrogator in her bid for freedom from persecution and has to struggle with herself as a resultThe oppressive tone of the novel is offset by dark beauty, and dark humor.
“The Appointment,” is a riveting and realistic portrayal of the surreal conditions of mental torture, where both the interrogator and the interrogated know that it is nothing but word play composed of petty accusations against innocent people. 5
“Every word in your face
Knows something of the vicious circle
But doesn’t say it
bailey_bea's review against another edition
3.0
"I prefer looking out the kitchen window. There the swallows fly through a vast stretch of sky in circles of their own invention."
The Appointment is a cobbled together collection of memories interrupted by observations from the main character's tram journey toward "the appointment".
It's difficult to say if I enjoyed this book or not. The book is subtle, to say the least. Without chapters or quotation marks, it often feels like you're not getting anywhere (perhaps purposefully). And if you're not a fan of stream of consciousness, I certainly wouldn't recommend this novel.
And though it's lauded as an intense and haunting novel about living in Nicolae Ceaușescu's Romania, I found it a bit too subtle to be called either. That said, I'm glad I read it; there are a number of beautifully written lines I'm happy to have met.
The Appointment is a cobbled together collection of memories interrupted by observations from the main character's tram journey toward "the appointment".
It's difficult to say if I enjoyed this book or not. The book is subtle, to say the least. Without chapters or quotation marks, it often feels like you're not getting anywhere (perhaps purposefully). And if you're not a fan of stream of consciousness, I certainly wouldn't recommend this novel.
And though it's lauded as an intense and haunting novel about living in Nicolae Ceaușescu's Romania, I found it a bit too subtle to be called either. That said, I'm glad I read it; there are a number of beautifully written lines I'm happy to have met.
rebeccasmith115's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kategci's review against another edition
3.0
An unnamed narrator describes her bleak existence under Romania's Communist regime. She has come to the notice of the party and is being questioned fairly regularly about her activities or presumed activities. This was a selection for one of my book groups and I am glad that I have read Nobel Prize winner, Herta Muller, but this is a very dark book, written in a stream of consciousness. It made it somewhat difficult to get into, but once I was 50 pages into this slim novel, it read very quickly.
_rusalka's review against another edition
4.0
I'm sick and should be in bed. But I wanted to post quickly about this book. This book was small (only 200pp) but dense. I picked it up as I thought I could knock it over quickly in a few days before we went on holidays in Cairns and I could relax on the beach with a big, thick book. Oh how I was wrong.
Instead, it was like walking through treacle. But surprisingly, not in a bad way. Just sticky. Like walking through mangrove mud, which I fell into the other day and then the pressure of pulling my foot out of the mud pulled my thongs apart (poor thongs, they had served me well). It was almost poetry. It was lyrical and thought out and considered. It was also like a stream of consciousness, but I wish I thought as clearly and musically as [a:Herta Müller|134980|Herta Müller|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1255079732p2/134980.jpg].
Once again, the European style of writing surprised me. We Anglo-Saxons/Celtics seem to love tied up endings. But these "continentals" (oh I would have a mouthful from so many different people if I said that at work lol). They hate tied up endings. Or endings at all. They just cease.
Maybe I should take a page out of their book with my waffling blog posts. I am also wondering if I am feverish. However, I really recommend this book for you all. Just don't get surprised by the stickiness.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
Instead, it was like walking through treacle. But surprisingly, not in a bad way. Just sticky. Like walking through mangrove mud, which I fell into the other day and then the pressure of pulling my foot out of the mud pulled my thongs apart (poor thongs, they had served me well). It was almost poetry. It was lyrical and thought out and considered. It was also like a stream of consciousness, but I wish I thought as clearly and musically as [a:Herta Müller|134980|Herta Müller|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1255079732p2/134980.jpg].
Once again, the European style of writing surprised me. We Anglo-Saxons/Celtics seem to love tied up endings. But these "continentals" (oh I would have a mouthful from so many different people if I said that at work lol). They hate tied up endings. Or endings at all. They just cease.
Maybe I should take a page out of their book with my waffling blog posts. I am also wondering if I am feverish. However, I really recommend this book for you all. Just don't get surprised by the stickiness.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
growing_zoe's review against another edition
4.0
“If we’re in each other’s way, at least it means we have someone. The only place you sleep alone is in your coffin, and that’ll happen soon enough. We should stay together at night.”
Such an interesting and important book given it’s context, not to mention how beautifully written it is. I’m a sucker for narratives that unfold through memories or slice of life occurrences, so I ended up enjoying this much more than I thought I would. Still, the novel seemed to become too convoluted and confusing by the ending, or maybe I’m just bad at reading. The initial ideas presented in the book were easy and engaging to read while the vague signaling at the end only added to my confusion. Although I understand the important implementation of certain literary choices like foregoing the use of question marks or quotations, it did make the novel a bit difficult to read at times. Overall, a very great read that is definitely heightened by its purpose and context!
Such an interesting and important book given it’s context, not to mention how beautifully written it is. I’m a sucker for narratives that unfold through memories or slice of life occurrences, so I ended up enjoying this much more than I thought I would. Still, the novel seemed to become too convoluted and confusing by the ending, or maybe I’m just bad at reading. The initial ideas presented in the book were easy and engaging to read while the vague signaling at the end only added to my confusion. Although I understand the important implementation of certain literary choices like foregoing the use of question marks or quotations, it did make the novel a bit difficult to read at times. Overall, a very great read that is definitely heightened by its purpose and context!
nerecello's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dianagangan's review against another edition
5.0
Herta Müller's books are the books about Ceaușescu's Romania that you actually want to read.
roxanacosmina's review against another edition
3.0
Încă de la primele pagini simți cum intri în atmosfera apăsătoare a cărții.Totul se conturează încetul cu încetul pe baza memoriei involuntare, iar fiecare pagină te duce mai adânc într-o lume din care ai vrea să fugi , o lume pe care te bucuri că nu ai cunoscut-o sau de care te bucuri că ai scăpat. ( continuarea)
https://adolescentacunasulincarti.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/astazi-mai-bine-nu-m-as-fi-intalnit-cu-mine-insami-herta-muller/
https://adolescentacunasulincarti.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/astazi-mai-bine-nu-m-as-fi-intalnit-cu-mine-insami-herta-muller/