Reviews

Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig

brokenbraincell's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Some of these characters love to yappppp sheesh 
Mc was super anxious and avoidant (lowkey #me) 
The novel seemed to drag for the first 3/4, in part because many of the characters are given major background introductions which may be enjoyable for some; however, this wasn’t a concern for the last 1/4 of the book - relatively fast-paced, and got into the meat that the rest of the story was building up to 

berrycedar's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent book. Now I will die, bye bye.

stephrampton's review against another edition

4.0

Overly long and melodramatic towards the end, but otherwise a good read

baghead's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicide

purplepierogi's review against another edition

reading Stefan Zweig in a Viennese coffee house that he frequented one hundred years ago … chef’s kiss

aisabel_'s review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

mihu_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

men get so dramatic when

a girl falls in love with them

cherrie_bluhd's review against another edition

4.0

Zweig has a particular way of developing a tone and characters that I really enjoy. I think I missed, however, greater depth — of character’s thought, or understanding of their own motivations. I wish that there was a greater interrogation of why the Lieutenant felt so moved by his own pity for Edith, his own sense of masculinity drawn in contrast to her own “feminine weakness” and disability, and why he was able to be moved so profoundly by social forces and the wills others. I feel, of course, that Zweig was consciously interrogating much of the questions these ideas pose, but I would have liked just a little bit more from it. I also didn’t care for the ending too much, but all in all a pleasant read.

marwahaha's review against another edition

5.0

I rlly like his writing style (but it is translated so idk) his comments on disability are very intense and acc very concerning but i feel like its due to the time it was written yk 
Also i found it interesting how Edith actually found herself repulsive bc she had a disability. Thats like acc insane to think abt. It wasnt like modern internal hatred, it was genuinely on a another level. 
I didnt rlly like the mc but i think that was the point, to show how selfish people, who believe themselves to be selfless, can be. And how those people are perhaps the most selfish, self centred and arrogant. Bc like the ‘selflessness’ bscly gives them a god complex 🙄 
If you give it a go, read the whole thing and do not finish half way because i rlly think it wraps up in a great way.  

galateeeeeee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0