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coopfranks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mayanabrumatte's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rld1727's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
I liked a number of the stories, but found that reading them in this collected format was not great. It’s interesting to see Mann continue to explore a concept, but it gets a little repetitive to read them in this context. I don’t recommend reading start to finish, but rather, reading one and then giving it a couple of days (a good one to read while also reading another book!).
generalalarm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bartendm's review against another edition
1.0
I found these stories so morbid and depressing that I could not finish the book, something so rare for me. I guess he is not my style.
nileusendul's review against another edition
4.0
When I first read this book, I was sixteen years old, and although I loved the writing, I didn't know what to make of the plot. I couldn't quite wrap my head around the relationship between the old man and the young boy. Even though I read it again years later, I still found the plot disconcerting, but I can still appreciate the beautiful story telling behind it.
katrinalenhernandez's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Mann writes very well. And his assertion that spans all the short stories, namely that artists must give up life to create, resonates with me and is very well developed across the stories, building in each new one. The totality, however, is extremely melancholy and ultimately depressing. If you're not a classics reader, you might not make it through this one.