1.92k reviews for:

Kairos

Jenny Erpenbeck

3.47 AVERAGE

araik's review against another edition

4.0

---

5 sterren overwogen

iainhoey's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Just gorgeous. It was such a treat to spend so much time with Hans and Katherina and be immersed in their slice of Berlin life in such a tumultuous time. A book that should be studied by students of literature, so much beautiful prose. Truly a gift. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship

kirsi's review against another edition

5.0

challenging informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

lmneal87's review against another edition

3.75

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bookmarchitect's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Great novel. Every sentence is so carefully sculpted and weighted. This is literature. 

tiffanywang29's review against another edition

4.0

---

Really really beautiful writing, and Hofmann deserves all the recognition for a very powerful translation. I hate that a 50-year-old man abusing a 20-year-old girl is the centerpiece of this novel, and I’m missing the deep knowledge base of post-WWII Germany to understand fully the allegory and all the references, but nevertheless a beautiful read.

staceyylouise91's review against another edition

1.0

slow-paced

lisosa's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

evmondo's review against another edition

1.25

dark sad slow-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

---

Miserable, apathetic, vapid, aristocratic, pedophilic, neonazi smut

zimtfuchs's review against another edition

1.0

---

Kairos ist ziemlich beeindruckend – als Kunstprojekt oder durchgespieltes Gedankenexperiment. Immerhin soll die toxische Beziehung der beiden Hauptfiguren Katharina und Hans wohl eine Allegorie zur Beziehung zwischen den Bürgern der DDR und dem Staat selbst sein.
So weit, so gut.

Als Roman ist Kairos allerdings langatmig, dröge, unglaubwürdig, nervig und unfassbar frustrierend.
Wer Unterhaltung sucht, sollte ein anderes Buch lesen. Wer sich einen Einblick in das Leben in der DDR wünscht, eine Dokumentation gucken. Die gibt bestimmt mehr her als dieses Buch, das auch überall anders spielen könnte.