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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I am very aware that most of the things I didn't really like about this novel come from my own subjective taste in what I enjoy while I read (then again, isn't that always the case when reviewing a novel).
This book forced me to slow down and take a deep breath. If you know me you know that is not something I do, ever. I'm always rushing, I read fast, I want to get things done quickly. But The Wall forced me to take its story a sentence at a time, a day at a time. To savour the descriptions, to immerse myself in the forest. And while a story with little plot and practically no dialogue is something that I never gravitate towards (which is why this was so challenging for me) I did enjoy it, despite also getting bored at many moments.
My favorite thing about The Wall is how it undresses humanity and puts it on display for us to see. The protagonist, being the last human on earth, has no choice but to reflect and move on with what surrounds her. Human frivolities like one's appearance, keeping track of time, social norms are all thrown out the window when your only companions are a dog, some cats and a cow.
The writing is stunning. The way Haushofer talks about the narrator's relationship with loss, love and her animals had me in tears a few times and was what kept me coming back to a story that felt very tedious to me because little was "happening". She was able to capture the dynamic between a human and an animal so tenderly that I was just in awe at how vivid the descriptions and the scenes were in my mind.
The reflections it presents about humanity, our pride and mirage of apparent freedom were all very interesting to read, and there is such a sensitive soul to this book that truly captured me. I just don't rate it higher because it is so far from my usual taste that it dragged on at times. But I truly think that is more a me thing than an actual problem with the book. It's good to be challenged sometimes.
This book forced me to slow down and take a deep breath. If you know me you know that is not something I do, ever. I'm always rushing, I read fast, I want to get things done quickly. But The Wall forced me to take its story a sentence at a time, a day at a time. To savour the descriptions, to immerse myself in the forest. And while a story with little plot and practically no dialogue is something that I never gravitate towards (which is why this was so challenging for me) I did enjoy it, despite also getting bored at many moments.
My favorite thing about The Wall is how it undresses humanity and puts it on display for us to see. The protagonist, being the last human on earth, has no choice but to reflect and move on with what surrounds her. Human frivolities like one's appearance, keeping track of time, social norms are all thrown out the window when your only companions are a dog, some cats and a cow.
The writing is stunning. The way Haushofer talks about the narrator's relationship with loss, love and her animals had me in tears a few times and was what kept me coming back to a story that felt very tedious to me because little was "happening". She was able to capture the dynamic between a human and an animal so tenderly that I was just in awe at how vivid the descriptions and the scenes were in my mind.
The reflections it presents about humanity, our pride and mirage of apparent freedom were all very interesting to read, and there is such a sensitive soul to this book that truly captured me. I just don't rate it higher because it is so far from my usual taste that it dragged on at times. But I truly think that is more a me thing than an actual problem with the book. It's good to be challenged sometimes.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
“I could simply forget I was a woman. Sometimes I was a child in search of strawberries, or a young man sawing wood, or, if when sitting on the bench holding Pearl on my scrawny lap watching the setting sun, I was a very old, sexless creature. Today the peculiar charm that emanated from me back then has left me entirely. I am still scrawny but muscular, and my face is crisscrossed with tiny wrinkles. I’m not ugly but neither am I attractive, more like a tree than a person, a tough brown branch that needs its whole strength to survive.”
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
By far my favorite book I’ve read this year. Despite the unusual and somewhat intimidating circumstances the main character finds herself in, the book (her narration of her new life) goes on. It reminded me of the monotony of Jeanne Dielman, along with the surprise violent climax. I personally love reading journals and monotonous recounting of people’s days, especially in this context where she has to learn so much and conceive of how she will survive.
She develops a strong appreciation for nature and her animals, which, like, who wouldn’t in this situation? She comes to love her animals (they are so real, with desires and intentions!) more than her children (who are just argumentative) or being a mother or being a woman in the world. Behind the wall, she gets to shed all of that burden and see the small world around her with new brilliance (reminiscent of childhood). This book is so fucking great. I absolutely do not care about writing a coherent review. I need to read it again. I need to again be transported to this place where this woman gets to just be a living thing that exists outside of everyone’s expectations. So fucking amazing.
She develops a strong appreciation for nature and her animals, which, like, who wouldn’t in this situation? She comes to love her animals (they are so real, with desires and intentions!) more than her children (who are just argumentative) or being a mother or being a woman in the world. Behind the wall, she gets to shed all of that burden and see the small world around her with new brilliance (reminiscent of childhood). This book is so fucking great. I absolutely do not care about writing a coherent review. I need to read it again. I need to again be transported to this place where this woman gets to just be a living thing that exists outside of everyone’s expectations. So fucking amazing.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A thoughtful reflection on the cruelty of man and the freedom of individuality. Poignant and touching, my favorite read of the year.