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emilymsimpson's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
styllebad's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
gadicohen93's review against another edition
4.0
A retired man, a widower, adopts a community of African refugees in Berlin of the 2010s. It is a beautiful book. I particularly loved the moments of reflection, the man thinking on his life, relating on his pain and on the extraordinary pain of his new friends, who exist in the legal and geographical limbo of asylum seekers in the EU.
Perhaps it seemed a bit ordinary, a type of book I've read before — "white savior" complex-y, I guess, a man who through conversations with people different than him becomes kinder, happier. The poor black refugees, hated and despised in Germany, and yet he shelters them, and in turn is elevated by them! In this sense the story felt tired. Though the texture — the setting of Berlin, parallels to re-unification — made it feel real.
The voice is distant, detached from Richard, so much so that some of the other more grabbing scenes were the narratives of the refugees he meets, stories so harrowing — the boats capsizing, the fighting in Libya — that it's impossible not to scour the dialogue for its effect on Richard. The writing is simple but flows, with moments of symbolism and rich philosophical musing.
Perhaps it seemed a bit ordinary, a type of book I've read before — "white savior" complex-y, I guess, a man who through conversations with people different than him becomes kinder, happier. The poor black refugees, hated and despised in Germany, and yet he shelters them, and in turn is elevated by them! In this sense the story felt tired. Though the texture — the setting of Berlin, parallels to re-unification — made it feel real.
The voice is distant, detached from Richard, so much so that some of the other more grabbing scenes were the narratives of the refugees he meets, stories so harrowing — the boats capsizing, the fighting in Libya — that it's impossible not to scour the dialogue for its effect on Richard. The writing is simple but flows, with moments of symbolism and rich philosophical musing.
lil1inblue's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
amanova's review
slow-paced
3.75
I read this for the StoryGraph reads the world challenge for Germany. I wanted something not set during WWI or WWII.
I’m glad I read it even though it was slow and heavy. It’s a beautiful and important story that I believe will become increasingly important as climate aggravates poverty and war and increases the numbers of refugees that must be accommodated by wealthy nations if we are to maintain our humanity.
I’m glad I read it even though it was slow and heavy. It’s a beautiful and important story that I believe will become increasingly important as climate aggravates poverty and war and increases the numbers of refugees that must be accommodated by wealthy nations if we are to maintain our humanity.
nicoleplec's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bsolheim's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
phantasyia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
xtie's review against another edition
3.0
A 3.5 - only bc I never felt that the protagonist had much self awareness - the book never shifted away from his, at-times, narrow minded perspective, and ultimately saviourism
dramaqueenv's review
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0