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shirtypantser's review against another edition
Great book but I need to pivot to less depressing books for a bit. I'd like to read this eventually
wouterk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is a mixed bag for me. I knew nothing going in and had not even read the blurb. It is a terrible book, not terribly bad or terribly written, but it is beyond dark. And I like reading dark books, but still, I had moments I needed to sit back and swallow a lump in my throat. Every trigger warning regarding (sexual) violence, animal cruelty, discrimination, prosecution and war applies. If it was a fantasy fiction I'd say the violence is gratuitous but the purpose is very much to show human's worst side as based on the authors and others' experiences. Apparently some of it is based on the notes of the authors father, as well as reports from war survivors. If you still feel you can handle that, I think it is a valuable experience to read the painted bird.
This book really paints the picture of humanities darkest moments. The pettiness, cruelty and hatred of regular people, full of prejudice and selfishness. And Kosinski makes us feel these things even more by contrasting these phenomena by picking a first person perspective of a child to experience and witness these horrible things. Humanity at its worst experienced and contrasted by a human at its most innocent and inexperienced.
We follow a child that has been left with farmers in the countryside to prevent prosecution from the Germans during WWII. People consistently perceive him to be a Gypsy or Jewish stray and so begins a journey of continuous flight, cruelties (to himself and others). There are moments of hope but as looking at it from the outside as a reader we already see it is futile. I will not say anything about the ending, although I found it very interesting as we see how all these experiences add up into personality, behaviour and world view of the boy.
What stood out to me is how religion and religious practices are very attractive to those who feel utterly powerless and unfortunate. It also shows it does not help at all for the actual faith, but it gives a focus outside of the suffering which in itself eases suffering. This goes for Christianity but really for all sorts and also completely made up understandings of how the world work. At some point the boy really explains the world in influencing your faith by winning favor through doing evil or setting others to evil. How else could those who do evil be so powerful? To me, it shows the clouding and inebriating effect of beliefs on our understanding of the world or acknowledging our current situation. Similary, it shows how beliefs may be the only way to mentally survive utterly desperate circumstances.
Now I can talk a lot about this book, but not without spoilers. So I'll finish by saying I will think a lot about this book, probably for years and at the same time do not feel like reading it again. If you have not though, I do recommend it.
This book really paints the picture of humanities darkest moments. The pettiness, cruelty and hatred of regular people, full of prejudice and selfishness. And Kosinski makes us feel these things even more by contrasting these phenomena by picking a first person perspective of a child to experience and witness these horrible things. Humanity at its worst experienced and contrasted by a human at its most innocent and inexperienced.
We follow a child that has been left with farmers in the countryside to prevent prosecution from the Germans during WWII. People consistently perceive him to be a Gypsy or Jewish stray and so begins a journey of continuous flight, cruelties (to himself and others). There are moments of hope but as looking at it from the outside as a reader we already see it is futile. I will not say anything about the ending, although I found it very interesting as we see how all these experiences add up into personality, behaviour and world view of the boy.
What stood out to me is how religion and religious practices are very attractive to those who feel utterly powerless and unfortunate. It also shows it does not help at all for the actual faith, but it gives a focus outside of the suffering which in itself eases suffering. This goes for Christianity but really for all sorts and also completely made up understandings of how the world work. At some point the boy really explains the world in influencing your faith by winning favor through doing evil or setting others to evil. How else could those who do evil be so powerful? To me, it shows the clouding and inebriating effect of beliefs on our understanding of the world or acknowledging our current situation. Similary, it shows how beliefs may be the only way to mentally survive utterly desperate circumstances.
Now I can talk a lot about this book, but not without spoilers. So I'll finish by saying I will think a lot about this book, probably for years and at the same time do not feel like reading it again. If you have not though, I do recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Hate crime, Child death, Antisemitism, Murder, Blood, Torture, Racism, Bullying, Suicide, Rape, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
klparmley's review against another edition
3.0
This was brutal. It is about a child surviving WWII after being sent to the country to be "safe." But his caretaker died and he was left to fend for himself. There is abuse and exploitation in all its varieties. I don't think any trigger is missed.
juliacatherine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Honestly a traumatic read. It started out interesting, but progressively become more and more bleak. There was no hope, no silver lining, just horror. I feel that it crossed the line from showing the true brutality of war to just being trauma porn. It was exploitative and often sickening. It was well written at least, but I failed to see what the point was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Rape, Blood, Death, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Child abuse, and Racism
rowland_93's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
jacobimerman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, War, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Death, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Gore, and Sexual assault
dustysummers's review against another edition
4.0
“They collided with or charmed one another, hugged or trampled one another, but everyone knew only himself. His emotions, memory, and senses divided him from others as effectively as thick reeds screen the mainstream from the muddy bank. Like the mountain peaks around us, we looked at one another, separated by valleys, too high to stay unnoticed, too low to touch the heavens."