Scan barcode
miadesjardins's review against another edition
3.0
The first one was genius, but it went downhill after that. Also, it kind of traumatized me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Incest, and Suicidal thoughts
adelinaamouteru's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
i'm gonna yap a little if u dont mind.
What a book. Massive trigger warnings (pedophilia, zoophilia, incest, rape, abuse, and more).
Please leave now if you don't want any spoilers!
I can't even begin to describe how dark it is, how absolutely nauseating and disgusting. At least at first, it gets much more bearable by the beginning of part two.
Reading this was a hell of a ride.
I am so glad the Italian version of this trilogy comes as one book, because I truly believe these are better read back to back to back. I do not think they could exist as efficiently in any other form. We follow the main characters as kids, then teenagers, and finally we get to their adulthood.
Let me take it step by step.
1. The Notebook
The first book is so bleak. I honestly did not think I was going to make it through. When I read about the dog, I really felt like giving up. I'm glad that I didn't, now.
It starts out with these two children who act as one entity. The oddity of it is addressed in the book, and I was believing it completely. I mean, it seemed plausible, to me, that during the War children could get so close in order to survive.
I felt bad for them, the entire time. They were so smart, so sad. They went through a lot as well, I couldn't help but feel for them.
I mean, they had adults and other kids abusing them left and right, literally every other page. I felt nauseaus the entire time. Some of the worst pages I've ever read, really.
The way they felt compelled to slowly let go of their emotions, deeming them unnecessary—it made me feel sick. The way they would only objectively describe the stuff they were seeing or experiencing, without ever acknowledging the way those terrible things were making them FEEL, it almost broke me. That's what made it all worse for me: The absolute lack of humanity and feeling, in what was being described. To stare cruelty, inhumanity, abuse in the face, with nothing but your own discomfort in it. Truly so well done. I will never forget how this book made me feel.
2. The Proof
I found myself asking why the hell no one would even mention or remember Lucas's brother. My theory at this point was that Lucas had always been just one kid, that he had created an "imaginary friend" before the beginning of book 1 in order to withstand the reality of war, and the solitude of being dropped someplace far away from his Mother. That he needed someboy to share the pain of the atrocities that he was enduring. At the end of the day, suffering with somebody rather than by yourself can really pull you through the darkest days. When by the end of book 2 Peter N. was being skeptical of Claus' return, I was feeling very much like him.
What broke me in this part of the story was the hope. It was starting to feel like hope. Like stability. Lucas, and Mathias. A family.
Lucas, for the first time, admitted to loving somebody: and that was his kid. He would've done everything and anything for him.
It wasreally hard to digest.
3. The Third Lie
So imagine my shock when i read this. I couldn't believe anything. I'm still not sure if I trust this third part. How absolutely brilliant, to make me feel for people who do not exist—while they do. Or do they? I'm SO not sure. It is so brilliantly done. Every time I think I got it, I end up questioning myself.
By using War as pretext, this book explores the human soul. Through a clever use of language and syntax, these books take us through a journey of loss, grief, alienation, solitude, hope, the search for the familiar, for something more, like love, for Meaning—the meaning of life, mostly.
In the third part especially. The entire time, Klaus says he's living to look after his Mother, for the love of his life (...), and especially to Wait For Lucas. When he finds him, though, he lets Lucas go.
It feels so ironic, the way Klaus has spent his entirely life looking for happiness—only to let it go when he finds it at the end.
I don't know. This book certainly is not easy to read, but it will make it impossible for you to leave your chair. You will feel for all of these characters, even the most reprehensible and irredeemable ones, and you will feel sick for that, too, but it is impossible not to want to know what happens to all of them. And then the author takes them away from you in all sorts of ways.
Masterfully done.
What a book. Massive trigger warnings (pedophilia, zoophilia, incest, rape, abuse, and more).
Please leave now if you don't want any spoilers!
Reading this was a hell of a ride.
I am so glad the Italian version of this trilogy comes as one book, because I truly believe these are better read back to back to back. I do not think they could exist as efficiently in any other form. We follow the main characters as kids, then teenagers, and finally we get to their adulthood.
Let me take it step by step.
1. The Notebook
The first book is so bleak. I honestly did not think I was going to make it through. When I read about the dog, I really felt like giving up. I'm glad that I didn't, now.
It starts out with these two children who act as one entity. The oddity of it is addressed in the book, and I was believing it completely. I mean, it seemed plausible, to me, that during the War children could get so close in order to survive.
I felt bad for them, the entire time. They were so smart, so sad. They went through a lot as well, I couldn't help but feel for them.
I mean, they had adults and other kids abusing them left and right, literally every other page. I felt nauseaus the entire time. Some of the worst pages I've ever read, really.
The way they felt compelled to slowly let go of their emotions, deeming them unnecessary—it made me feel sick. The way they would only objectively describe the stuff they were seeing or experiencing, without ever acknowledging the way those terrible things were making them FEEL, it almost broke me. That's what made it all worse for me: The absolute lack of humanity and feeling, in what was being described. To stare cruelty, inhumanity, abuse in the face, with nothing but your own discomfort in it. Truly so well done. I will never forget how this book made me feel.
2. The Proof
I found myself asking why the hell no one would even mention or remember Lucas's brother. My theory at this point was that Lucas had always been just one kid, that he had created an "imaginary friend" before the beginning of book 1 in order to withstand the reality of war, and the solitude of being dropped someplace far away from his Mother. That he needed someboy to share the pain of the atrocities that he was enduring. At the end of the day, suffering with somebody rather than by yourself can really pull you through the darkest days. When by the end of book 2 Peter N. was being skeptical of Claus' return, I was feeling very much like him.
What broke me in this part of the story was the hope. It was starting to feel like hope. Like stability. Lucas, and Mathias. A family.
Lucas, for the first time, admitted to loving somebody: and that was his kid. He would've done everything and anything for him.
It wasreally hard to digest.
3. The Third Lie
So imagine my shock when i read this. I couldn't believe anything. I'm still not sure if I trust this third part. How absolutely brilliant, to make me feel for people who do not exist—while they do. Or do they? I'm SO not sure. It is so brilliantly done. Every time I think I got it, I end up questioning myself.
By using War as pretext, this book explores the human soul. Through a clever use of language and syntax, these books take us through a journey of loss, grief, alienation, solitude, hope, the search for the familiar, for something more, like love, for Meaning—the meaning of life, mostly.
In the third part especially. The entire time, Klaus says he's living to look after his Mother, for the love of his life (...), and especially to Wait For Lucas. When he finds him, though, he lets Lucas go.
It feels so ironic, the way Klaus has spent his entirely life looking for happiness—only to let it go when he finds it at the end.
I don't know. This book certainly is not easy to read, but it will make it impossible for you to leave your chair. You will feel for all of these characters, even the most reprehensible and irredeemable ones, and you will feel sick for that, too, but it is impossible not to want to know what happens to all of them. And then the author takes them away from you in all sorts of ways.
Masterfully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Incest
the_clueless_tourist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
chrisiliae's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide
asummerdream's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Deportation
There is also bestiality in this book, I don’t know why that’s not an option for the content warnings, it definitely made me sick.dukeofbacon's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
pazfauxster's review against another edition
Too bleak and disturbing even for a war-themed book. Heed the content warnings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
malebrina's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
hippiequeen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Simile a Tiffany McDaniels. Molti momenti wtf, specialmente alla fine. Primo libro molto scorrevole, incalzante come ritmo e plot; secondo libro meno interessante, ultimo libro ancora meno. Peccato.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Mental illness, and Pedophilia
skimgoth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I just read The Notebook by Agota Kristof and I got that feeling like I did reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Like I just need to go rock in a corner for a while.
The San Francisco chronicle calls it “stark and haunting”
NYT Bestselling Internet Aunt Sara says “omg listen to the San Francisco Chronicle”
God, I have so much I could say, but I think it boils down to:
this book made really horrible stuff really elegant and cut nightmares out of crisp, accessible prose.
The character of Harelip. The maid. Those boys. What happened to each of the parents. That last chapter. Shaking, grateful I read it, changed, inspired as an artist, deeply bothered.
I think I’m going to write a note to my children about how “this book is A LOT to parse as an adult so please don’t get a wild hair and read it yet” and stick it in the cover before putting it up on a shelf. My kids are like me. If a book is around, they might read it, especially if I put it on a high shelf. This one is WAY too readable, like at any age, and they could get thru it. So a “last warning” note for when they find a chair to get to my grownup books. Lmao
(This is a trilogy but I only bought it for the first one, no plans to read the other two for now)
The San Francisco chronicle calls it “stark and haunting”
NYT Bestselling Internet Aunt Sara says “omg listen to the San Francisco Chronicle”
God, I have so much I could say, but I think it boils down to:
this book made really horrible stuff really elegant and cut nightmares out of crisp, accessible prose.
The character of Harelip. The maid. Those boys. What happened to each of the parents. That last chapter. Shaking, grateful I read it, changed, inspired as an artist, deeply bothered.
I think I’m going to write a note to my children about how “this book is A LOT to parse as an adult so please don’t get a wild hair and read it yet” and stick it in the cover before putting it up on a shelf. My kids are like me. If a book is around, they might read it, especially if I put it on a high shelf. This one is WAY too readable, like at any age, and they could get thru it. So a “last warning” note for when they find a chair to get to my grownup books. Lmao
(This is a trilogy but I only bought it for the first one, no plans to read the other two for now)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Excrement, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Colonisation