Reviews - Der Papierpalast

8.46k reviews for:

Der Papierpalast

Miranda Cowley Heller

3.71 AVERAGE

erikka108's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Beautiful and totally devastating. An impossible choice, two different kinds of love, breaking the cycle of various kinds of generational trauma, the insurmountable challenge of healing when the odds are stacked against you. I can’t help but love a doomed love story I fear. Or a depressing family drama for that matter. Even if the content warnings don’t put you off, I would say this material is extremely challenging (bordering on trauma porn, which usually is my pet peeve but in this instance it felt necessary to the story).

charlindb's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

anniecannata's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I warmed up to it. It’s a messy story of overcoming trauma, poor family relations, and bad luck. It was hard to read at points, but it portrays the horrible things that can really go on behind closed doors. It was a real reminder what some people have to live with. The main character shows strength and vulnerability—though not perfect along the way. I overall enjoyed the story. Nothing overwhelming. And much darker than I thought it would be.