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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Death of parent
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is not a novel. This is not a story. This is pure anger.
I enjoyed that. But this frustration is splashed over too many pages, it would have made a bigger punch in a shorter version.
I enjoyed that. But this frustration is splashed over too many pages, it would have made a bigger punch in a shorter version.
Edit: reread September 2020
In case you were wondering, I took the liberty to translate the Brainfuck passages from EX2279 because it changes the content a little bit:
p. 161: "funny"
p. 244: "saveTheChildren"
p. 374: "shitHappens"
p. 401: "WTF"
p. 402: "veryVeryFunny"
p. 426: "youHaveNoIdea"
p. 479: "letUsSaveTheWorld.quiet.oneIsListeningToUs“
p. 580: "weMakeTheWorldGreatAgain"
p. 617: "weWillDie"
p. 620: "fuckHim"
I'm rereading GRM for a term paper and the more I think about it the more I liked it! I upgraded it to 4/5 stars!
———————————
I liked the idea and I liked many elements of its execution. I like that it’s not your typical dystopian story in a far-away-time or a far-away country that is not existent yet. It’s in the here and now. And I think what Sibylle Berg wanted to achieve is to take the things that are here already and put them under magnifying glasses to highlight them.
I see that the idea was to make the story raw, dark and brutal but at some points it reminded me of 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara: There were barely any good things happening to the characters. The shocking things were just put on a pile and when the pile is several metres high already, some more shockers don’t really make a difference anymore.
The writing was really interesting though. At some points it felt even blunt and neutral, although the events were anything but. After about 450 pages I have to admit that it became a bit tiring and repetitive. I also had difficulties getting into the story... maybe it was because of the multitude of characters? I still feel like I don’t remember every character from the book although I have only finished it. I suppose it could have profited from losing maybe 100-200 pages?
All in all it was a solid book though and I give it 3,5 stars!
In case you were wondering, I took the liberty to translate the Brainfuck passages from EX2279 because it changes the content a little bit:
p. 161: "funny"
p. 244: "saveTheChildren"
p. 374: "shitHappens"
p. 401: "WTF"
p. 402: "veryVeryFunny"
p. 426: "youHaveNoIdea"
p. 479: "letUsSaveTheWorld.quiet.oneIsListeningToUs“
p. 580: "weMakeTheWorldGreatAgain"
p. 617: "weWillDie"
p. 620: "fuckHim"
I'm rereading GRM for a term paper and the more I think about it the more I liked it! I upgraded it to 4/5 stars!
———————————
I liked the idea and I liked many elements of its execution. I like that it’s not your typical dystopian story in a far-away-time or a far-away country that is not existent yet. It’s in the here and now. And I think what Sibylle Berg wanted to achieve is to take the things that are here already and put them under magnifying glasses to highlight them.
I see that the idea was to make the story raw, dark and brutal but at some points it reminded me of 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara: There were barely any good things happening to the characters. The shocking things were just put on a pile and when the pile is several metres high already, some more shockers don’t really make a difference anymore.
The writing was really interesting though. At some points it felt even blunt and neutral, although the events were anything but. After about 450 pages I have to admit that it became a bit tiring and repetitive. I also had difficulties getting into the story... maybe it was because of the multitude of characters? I still feel like I don’t remember every character from the book although I have only finished it. I suppose it could have profited from losing maybe 100-200 pages?
All in all it was a solid book though and I give it 3,5 stars!
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence
The first great post-Brexit dystopia. Fascinating (and challenging) disjointed style. Anti-plot.