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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have some trouble reviewing this book, I started a sentence four times and deleted it again.
I did not like this book at all, the writing felt pretentious but choppy, the relationship was so toxic I wanted to throw my headphones in a corner several times while reading about it and I did not like either of the main characters.
At the same time, I do see how the relationship and the situation in the DDR are intertwined and how beautiful this is done. I found the backdrop of Berlin during this time period very interesting but this was so much interwoven with the relationship I felt there was not enough of this.
For me, this book was too toxic to be a romance and not historical enough to be historical, which left me wanting on both fronts sadly.
I did not like this book at all, the writing felt pretentious but choppy, the relationship was so toxic I wanted to throw my headphones in a corner several times while reading about it and I did not like either of the main characters.
At the same time, I do see how the relationship and the situation in the DDR are intertwined and how beautiful this is done. I found the backdrop of Berlin during this time period very interesting but this was so much interwoven with the relationship I felt there was not enough of this.
For me, this book was too toxic to be a romance and not historical enough to be historical, which left me wanting on both fronts sadly.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm sure there's an audience for this book, but I don't think it was me.
Some beautiful writing (if very stylized), and the mirroring of Hans and Katharina's relationship with the fall of the GDR/DDR has moments of interest and incisiveness, but overall I was left feeling quite empty and detached from the characters and the setting. The second section (Box II) was honestly a struggle to get through, though the ending recovered somewhat. Unfortunately difficult to recommend.
Some beautiful writing (if very stylized), and the mirroring of Hans and Katharina's relationship with the fall of the GDR/DDR has moments of interest and incisiveness, but overall I was left feeling quite empty and detached from the characters and the setting. The second section (Box II) was honestly a struggle to get through, though the ending recovered somewhat. Unfortunately difficult to recommend.
emotional
sad
slow-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
dark
informative
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
I cannot say that I liked or that I disliked this book. It was disturbing but intriguing, however , towards the end I was tired of his character and his creepiness and it was never clear to me what the base of their love was.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book confused me. While reading, I had the impression what was in front of me, was a work of art. But I also felt unequipped to understand it. Perhaps I should find this story again at a later point in my life and be able to appreciate it more thoroughly. For now, I felt like the beautiful prose did not suffice to make me eager to return to the pages. I will say Erpenbeck did a fascinating job of telling the grand narrative of East Berlin/USSR's collapse and illustrating the possibility of life feeling still against the backdrop of a revolution. However, save for some moments that called upon my reflection (e.g. Katharina's pull towards Hans' toxicity in the context of political instability), it did not feel like the personal and the political blended as seamlessly as intended to.
Also, I wanted to punch Hans in the face way too many times -- I don't remember the last time I felt so angry at a character.
Also, I wanted to punch Hans in the face way too many times -- I don't remember the last time I felt so angry at a character.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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