1.91k reviews for:

Kairos

Jenny Erpenbeck

3.47 AVERAGE

comet_or_dove's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

bouldensamantha's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective 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

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While I get that it was done on purpose, I felt very angry about how Hans (a habitual cheater) treated her after one dalliance. 

bigjuicybumhole's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

emma3244's review against another edition

4.75

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

jared_cgw's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mirarosen's review against another edition

3.75

dark reflective sad tense medium-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

mikewjaniew's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

caro_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

joeridomen's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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An intense novel about a difficult love affair, to say the least. It also serves as a history lesson about the GDR, specifically the decade surrounding the fall of the Wall.
The author truly draws you into the initially loving, all-encompassing relationship. This also makes the breakup painful to read.

But that ending takes a very long time...
The epilogue reveal explains a lot and sheds a different light on the whole story.
Intense and heavy, but a highly enjoyable read.

thesighinggardens's review against another edition

3.0

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The prose was beautiful and I found the description of the GDR history captivating, but Katharina’s and Hans’ relationship fell short for me. I am glad I picked it up though!