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james1star's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow! This book is certainly something and one that fully encapsulated me. The ‘plot’ of The Appointment is we follow an unnamed protagonist in a monologue-like performance during an appointment with Dr Seligman. Throughout their ramblings a lot is touched on and all done in a striking, honest, witty, humorous, raw, gritty and exquisitely perfected prose. So much is talked about but specifically the protagonist’s sexuality and gender identity, reconciling with living in a ‘woman’s’ body, being a daughter and a German too. It’s very refreshing a German woman talking about the impact the nation’s shameful history has had on its citizens and there is so much to be discussed. The parts about rather austere sexual fantasies involving hitler were maybe a bit repetitive and there’s something unnvering about them being discussed in a Jewish doctor’s practitioners room but as a whole I found it fantastic.
This books made me stop multiple times and just be like ‘yes, I understand’ totally 100% recommend picking this up. I won’t say more about it’s contents because you need to give it a read yourself but it’s certainly one I’ll be returning to with a pencil in hand to hopefully get more out of it. Volckmer please write something else I need more!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Genocide, Mental illness, Antisemitism, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
skyealexandra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.25
absurd and incredible
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Sexual content, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicide
scherezade's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
WOW this was quite a read. I went into the book cold and when it opened with that incredibly graphic Hitler-themed sexual fantasy I very nearly stopped listening, but I kept going. This novel definitely goes to uncomfortable, weird and dark places, but it has a lot of interesting and often moving things to say about gender, sexuality, national identity, the self, and a combination of all of those things. The prose is also by turn really beautiful and really funny; in both instances, I had to pause the audiobook to think about what I'd just read (or laugh out loud). The author narrates the audiobook as well, which made for a uniquely engaging experience given her dry, soft voice, and I thought was well suited to how the book is written stylistically like a monologue.
Not something I'd recommend to everyone, but deeply original and definitely memorable. I'm glad to have read it.
Not something I'd recommend to everyone, but deeply original and definitely memorable. I'm glad to have read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Genocide, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Antisemitism