Reviews

Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald

gadicohen93's review against another edition

4.0

A hypnotic read, as another review on here said. A slow searing start that, as we meet Austerlitz and hear the story of his dark and enigmatic childhood, becomes more and more mesmerizing and doomed. I wish I slowed down to read but this did fly by at times, while becoming a bit slow and detailed at other times. Some of the prose was achingly beautiful.

aika1801's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

marno_klass's review against another edition

4.0

Brilliant book. Sebald's exploration of themes of memory and disintegration are helpful and compelling. His addition of images is fascinating and alluring. I would recommend this book to the right person.
That said, it is certainly not for everyone - the structure is odd and sometimes offputting (though important for Sebald's project). Anyone who wants a standard plot structure (or even a climax or a narrator with a name) should look elsewhere for their next read.

anthonymzinno's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A man struggling with his identity and childhood trauma over a span of 30 years (or simultaneously, if time works as Austerlitz hypothesizes). The result is a rambling and reflective piece of literature that I loved, and would recommend to some, but not to most. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide

The Holocaust plays a big role

bookscatsandjazz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

jonathanlibrarian's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Perhaps I'm too obtuse but just could not get into this one. The prose is simple enough but the endless descriptions of plot less things just couldn't hold me. Maybe to be revisited in a decade.

fictionalkajsa's review against another edition

0.5

This book is my nemesis. Only finished out of pure spite. 

wunderkindl's review against another edition

5.0

I recommend this book all the time. Reading this book was like breathing in fresh air. The most creative and intriguing work of fiction I have delved into in a very long time.

csoederholm's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

casparb's review against another edition

It's Sebald it's unique (while being very much echoic of Saturn) it's on a different level & the kind of literary event we don't encounter so much in the past couple decades. I sense there's probably debate between this and Saturn which I'm mostly not interested in they've enough personality each that I'm satisfied! Love u max wish you weren't dead