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ablotial's review against another edition
2.0
The review rating is specifically for the audio version -- for the love of all things holy people, if you want to enjoy this book read it with your eyes, not your ears.
I got logged out of Goodreads sometime around or shortly before the new year (maybe when we were out of the country for a week or so at Christmastime) and didn't notice. This book was showing on Audible as "unread" for some reason. I *thought* I had read it but when I looked up the book it didn't show as read (... because I was logged out, but I didn't realize that at the time). So I started listening on my commute when I went back to work on the 2nd. The plot seemed super familiar and I immediately "guessed" (knew) ... but both Audible and Goodreads had said I haven't read it before! And they must be right! Maybe it's just super similar to another book. Yeah, that's it.
A few days ago, I was about to give up. I'd been listening for a week and thought I MUST be getting close to the end... and was seriously hoping I was because the narrator was slowly killing me with his overacted tone and mispronunciations. I opened audible and checked the timer... and I wasn't even 30% done.
So, I came to Goodreads to mark it "did not finish" and ... found that it says I read it in 2015. That's when I remembered having to log back in around the first of the year and figured out what happened (at least with goodreads... I guess audible said no because I switched phones? But you'd think they'd keep that info on the server...)
And so, I breathe a sigh of relief that
a) I am not crazy; and
b) I won't be driven crazy by listening to 10 more hours of this guy.
Also looking back at my 2015 reading notes, they are all things like:
"Listening to the audio version... I do not like the narrator :("
and
"augh this guy's butchering of the German pronunciation is driving me bananas!"
... at least I'm consistent :)
I actually _do_ like the plot (and did in 2015 also, apparently, based on my last note) and think if somehow I came across a paper version of this book I'd be willing to read it. If I ever do, I'll rate it separately ;)
I got logged out of Goodreads sometime around or shortly before the new year (maybe when we were out of the country for a week or so at Christmastime) and didn't notice. This book was showing on Audible as "unread" for some reason. I *thought* I had read it but when I looked up the book it didn't show as read (... because I was logged out, but I didn't realize that at the time). So I started listening on my commute when I went back to work on the 2nd. The plot seemed super familiar and I immediately "guessed" (knew)
Spoiler
that he'll eventually be picked up as a traitor and Richter is on the other side and not dead at allA few days ago, I was about to give up. I'd been listening for a week and thought I MUST be getting close to the end... and was seriously hoping I was because the narrator was slowly killing me with his overacted tone and mispronunciations. I opened audible and checked the timer... and I wasn't even 30% done.
So, I came to Goodreads to mark it "did not finish" and ... found that it says I read it in 2015. That's when I remembered having to log back in around the first of the year and figured out what happened (at least with goodreads... I guess audible said no because I switched phones? But you'd think they'd keep that info on the server...)
And so, I breathe a sigh of relief that
a) I am not crazy; and
b) I won't be driven crazy by listening to 10 more hours of this guy.
Also looking back at my 2015 reading notes, they are all things like:
"Listening to the audio version... I do not like the narrator :("
and
"augh this guy's butchering of the German pronunciation is driving me bananas!"
... at least I'm consistent :)
I actually _do_ like the plot (and did in 2015 also, apparently, based on my last note) and think if somehow I came across a paper version of this book I'd be willing to read it. If I ever do, I'll rate it separately ;)
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review
5.0
This is the best book about life in East Germany that I've ever read. In fact, this is the best book set during the Cold War I've ever read (sorry John Le Carré fans). An absolute stunner.
steveinadelaide's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. It's a gentle, subtle read - unsensational but compelling. I kept turning then pages to see how it was all going to turn out. The author uses language beautifully and the story has been informed by his wife's memories of actually living in the GDR before the Berlin Wall came down. Definitely worth reading.
atschakfoert's review against another edition
3.0
Given my family lineage, I was excited about this novel. But dear Jesus it's hard to love a book that moves so slowly. It's a short one but it took me a long, long time to get in to it and even longer to force myself to finish it. There were some interesting historical notes but I would recommend skipping this one unless you enjoy glacially paced books.
kimveach's review against another edition
3.0
I mostly liked this book. It was interesting - particularly when it talked about life in East Germany and the differences from the West. It got a little boring in the parts where the main character, an author, talks about writing. I generally find writers talking about writing a little boring. Some is fine, but it really does go on too long.
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