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lacytelles's review against another edition
2.0
Terribly anti-climactic and disappointing. A group of former friends are wrestled into a weekend together after years of distance. The story is short and told from different perspectives and has potential at the onset, but ultimately it is boring.
lisa15's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
verena_hoch's review against another edition
3.0
Ich habe das Buch als Hörbuch gehört, das von Hans Korte gelesen wurde. Mir hat das Buch gut gefallen. Die Handlung beschränkt sich auf ein Wochenende, das erste Wochenende nach der Entlassung aus der Haft von einem ehemalige RAF Terrorist.
Es geht viel, um Erwartung, was man vom Leben erwartet und was daraus schlussendlich wird und wie man damit umgeht.
Es geht viel, um Erwartung, was man vom Leben erwartet und was daraus schlussendlich wird und wie man damit umgeht.
janinavrt's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bobbingal's review against another edition
5.0
Der richtige Autor zur richtigen Zeit - ich kann es nur empfehlen
aksyring's review against another edition
4.0
Once again, another fantastic book. After reading Guilt of the Past, I am amazed how the author is able to weave those issues into fiction. Sometimes when you present real-world moral dilemmas, etc., into fiction, they stick out like a sore thumb, but he creates here a story that really delves into some important issues. Jorg is a radical revolutionary, convicted of killing four people, and essentially a home-grown terrorist, in American terms. He is a member of the first generation born toward the end of WWII, or immediately after, who had parents that dealt with WWII, were even probably involved. Alot of him problems, it comes out, are because he has had to deal with his parents' generation, who did nothing to stop the Nazis. But did he do too much to stop the government he thought was corrupt? He seems to defend his killing of innocent civilians, saying he was at war with the government and casualties are expected in war. But is that just an easy excuse for a terrorist? These are really complicated questions, and I think the author did a brilliant job dealing with them.
The only part I was confused about was the subplot with Jan and Ulla. It was never explained, but I assume these two - or at least Jan - was a fellow revolutionary. Apparently there are questions over his suicide: whether he really killed himself, or faked it (very elaborately) in order to escape and go out to terrorize more. I wish this would have been better explained.
A substory that also involved Jan was the story Ilse was writing. It was also kind of unclear to me how much of the story was true, but as far as I could tell, she was just writing was she thought could have happened, if Jan had indeed faked his death and escaped. At the end, we find Jan at the restaurant at the top of the WTC on 9/11. He has been tasked by a Lebanese man to take a bag up there and leave it. When the plane hits and Jan is still in the restaurant, he says something to the effect of, was there a radio in the bag to guide the plane to the building?
This REALLY confused me. Why would the plane need a radio to fly into a building? There was nothing else even remotely as tall as the WTC towers in Lower Manhattan. The terrorists couldn't have missed them if they'd tried. So what WAS in the bag? It strikes me as too coincidental - Jan had to be involved in the 9/11 attack, even if he didn't know it. As some have since speculated, did he carry a bomb in the bag? So that when they plane crashed the bomb also exploded, making in more likely to bring the tower down? That's what I'm going with. Nothing else made much sense to me.
The only part I was confused about was the subplot with Jan and Ulla. It was never explained, but I assume these two - or at least Jan - was a fellow revolutionary. Apparently there are questions over his suicide: whether he really killed himself, or faked it (very elaborately) in order to escape and go out to terrorize more. I wish this would have been better explained.
A substory that also involved Jan was the story Ilse was writing. It was also kind of unclear to me how much of the story was true, but as far as I could tell, she was just writing was she thought could have happened, if Jan had indeed faked his death and escaped. At the end, we find Jan at the restaurant at the top of the WTC on 9/11. He has been tasked by a Lebanese man to take a bag up there and leave it. When the plane hits and Jan is still in the restaurant, he says something to the effect of, was there a radio in the bag to guide the plane to the building?
This REALLY confused me. Why would the plane need a radio to fly into a building? There was nothing else even remotely as tall as the WTC towers in Lower Manhattan. The terrorists couldn't have missed them if they'd tried. So what WAS in the bag? It strikes me as too coincidental - Jan had to be involved in the 9/11 attack, even if he didn't know it. As some have since speculated, did he carry a bomb in the bag? So that when they plane crashed the bomb also exploded, making in more likely to bring the tower down? That's what I'm going with. Nothing else made much sense to me.
dee9401's review against another edition
2.0
I searched for this book for so long, hoping to score a nice used copy. All I could ever find was his book The Reader. Finally, I found it in Portland, at Powell's Books. Maybe I should have left it there.
Nevertheless, it is an addition to my collection of stories about the radicalized left in Germany in the post-war years. This novel had an interesting premise but the characters were never fleshed out and the plot was more a theme or feeling, rather than something that moved from start to finish.
If you aren't familiar with the left in Germany in the 1960s and 70s, you might feel a little confused at points when the greater world breaks through into the weekend. With a background on that era, the book does take on a little more depth but the exploration is purely where the reader's mind goes, with little to no direction from the author. The book never deeply explores the proposition of what happens and why during a newly-released terrorist's first weekend with his family, friends and potential exploiters.
On a positive note, the translation by Shaun Whiteside flowed cleanly and quickly.
Nevertheless, it is an addition to my collection of stories about the radicalized left in Germany in the post-war years. This novel had an interesting premise but the characters were never fleshed out and the plot was more a theme or feeling, rather than something that moved from start to finish.
If you aren't familiar with the left in Germany in the 1960s and 70s, you might feel a little confused at points when the greater world breaks through into the weekend. With a background on that era, the book does take on a little more depth but the exploration is purely where the reader's mind goes, with little to no direction from the author. The book never deeply explores the proposition of what happens and why during a newly-released terrorist's first weekend with his family, friends and potential exploiters.
On a positive note, the translation by Shaun Whiteside flowed cleanly and quickly.
mariebitt's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
toebean5's review against another edition
3.0
So, I tried to describe this book to someone, and the description sounded really unappealing. Who wants to read about a reunion of middle-aged friends over a weekend? It's really un-like something I would usually read. But I enjoyed The Reader so much, I just wanted to see what his other books were like. And it wasn't bad- the writing is so tight that nothing is left out and everything included is essential. The characters are well-written, and the emotions are realistic and powerful at times. It wasn't exciting or life-changing, but... it was good. And a fast read. I just can't decide who this would appeal to, readers-advisory-wise...