Reviews

Utz by Bruce Chatwin

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daja57's review against another edition

4.0

Kaspar Utz had a part-Jewish and part-baronial ancestry, growing up on an estate in Czechoslovakia between the First and Second World Wars. By flexibility and cunning, he survived the Nazis and now lives in Prague under the communists in a small flat with his maidservant and a fortune in collectable porcelain.

This elegant novel, written with all the precision of a porcelain objet d'art, explores the contradictions and the futility inherent in communism and in collecting, and the compromises we all make in our lives.

rjtifft's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.75

georgiabritton's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

evelovatt's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

loyloy_bluesky's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

wasn't sure what to expect but this was a interesting little read, also an interesting way to start to understand the context of czechoslovakia after the war. it was also a very in depth character analysis without much plot, which i love. i liked the ending a lot too!