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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Required reading for my Spanish Literature class: while Amuleto was entertaining and opened up debate surrounding the Tlatelolco massacre, The Third Reich left much to be desired. I did like how the subtlety of the game blurred the lines between reality and fiction and how that affected our main character. However, much is to be desired and it certainly didn't reach its full potential. It would have been a bit better if the first half of the book didn't just let the reader wander around, waiting for something to happen.
It took me quite a while to get into the story, but I was enjoying it by the end.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Solid writing for a barely-there plot. In the end it felt like an exercise but, again, the writing was so good, it made up for that. Plus the intricacies of the gaming (and his life--also a game he's losing!) were very interesting.
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
Much like Burmese Days, there's a lot of this book that really oozes "first novel" in some inelegant ways. It's a plodder, and there's not much actually *happening* in it, to be honest.
But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading. It's fun seeing how Bolano puzzles through the diary style of it, and exciting to see how the protagonist fall into doom. Things get dreadful and gothic rather wonderfully, and the ending too is both unexpected and great.
I picked this up randomly as a vacation novel because it takes place on a vacation. It wasn't quite what I expected (or at all what I expected) but I really enjoyed it. There's plenty to critique: wooden characters, a lack of steady atmosphere, and a need of a stronger editor presence. But what is there is really intriguing and good for long stretches of reading. Check it out sometime, it was enjoyable and interesting to puzzle along with Bolano in.
But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading. It's fun seeing how Bolano puzzles through the diary style of it, and exciting to see how the protagonist fall into doom. Things get dreadful and gothic rather wonderfully, and the ending too is both unexpected and great.
I picked this up randomly as a vacation novel because it takes place on a vacation. It wasn't quite what I expected (or at all what I expected) but I really enjoyed it. There's plenty to critique: wooden characters, a lack of steady atmosphere, and a need of a stronger editor presence. But what is there is really intriguing and good for long stretches of reading. Check it out sometime, it was enjoyable and interesting to puzzle along with Bolano in.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Third Reich is a work that Bolano chose not to publish, then it was found after he died & published post-humously. These kind of found works always make me wonder, why did the author choose not to publish? Were they unhappy with the work? Did they consider it unfinished? If I read one of these books & I love it, I'm thrilled that it was published. If I read one and I don't like it, I think that perhaps the author got it right, and it shouldn't have been published.
The Third Reich is somewhere in between. I liked it, I guess? The creeping dread that comes from seemingly nowhere is great. Does the last third feel unfinished? Maybe? Or is this just how life is - weird things happen and people do a bad job of dealing with it, life goes on, and there aren't really any answers.
The Third Reich is somewhere in between. I liked it, I guess? The creeping dread that comes from seemingly nowhere is great. Does the last third feel unfinished? Maybe? Or is this just how life is - weird things happen and people do a bad job of dealing with it, life goes on, and there aren't really any answers.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes