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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-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
If you’re able to look past the chronophilia and absurd emotional (and physical ?) abuse that this geriatric man is inflicting on the 20year old, it draws some interesting parallels between this drifting romance amid a drifting time.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-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
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
“Sometimes, she says, I think what Hans calls the truth doesn’t even exist anymore.”
Is the relationship depicted in this novel an allegory for the way the West German state treated East Germany in the lead up to the Berlin Wall coming down? Perhaps, but it is also a fascinating historical setting, told from the perspective of characters who live in and embrace the socialist state.
I really enjoyed the story and pace of the first third, the middle third dragged on with the seemingly endless examples of Hans’ manipulation, cruelty and pedantry, and Katharina’s submission, although being the late 80’s the power imbalance would have even greater than it would be today. The ending was very good, satisfying without being too neatly tied up.
The book was also interesting and insightful about living through one of the major political upheavals of the 20th century. As outsiders, we were all fascinated by the Wall coming down, watching on television from afar the celebrations and family reunions, but we did not for a minute consider how this would negatively impact so many regular people whose whole livelihood disintegrated within a year.
“Coca-Cola, she’s noticed, is now on sale in the eastern half of Friedrichstrasse station, also in Pankow in the little store where she always shops. Coca-Cola same as in New York or Munich. Coca-Cola has succeeded, where Marxist philosophy has failed, at uniting the proletarians of all nations under its banner. Is this home?”
Is the relationship depicted in this novel an allegory for the way the West German state treated East Germany in the lead up to the Berlin Wall coming down? Perhaps, but it is also a fascinating historical setting, told from the perspective of characters who live in and embrace the socialist state.
I really enjoyed the story and pace of the first third, the middle third dragged on with the seemingly endless examples of Hans’ manipulation, cruelty and pedantry, and Katharina’s submission, although being the late 80’s the power imbalance would have even greater than it would be today. The ending was very good, satisfying without being too neatly tied up.
The book was also interesting and insightful about living through one of the major political upheavals of the 20th century. As outsiders, we were all fascinated by the Wall coming down, watching on television from afar the celebrations and family reunions, but we did not for a minute consider how this would negatively impact so many regular people whose whole livelihood disintegrated within a year.
“Coca-Cola, she’s noticed, is now on sale in the eastern half of Friedrichstrasse station, also in Pankow in the little store where she always shops. Coca-Cola same as in New York or Munich. Coca-Cola has succeeded, where Marxist philosophy has failed, at uniting the proletarians of all nations under its banner. Is this home?”
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m relieved to be rid of the toxic relationship that dominates this book. I may need therapy.