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allenjd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
While I can see why some think Mailer is a genius, this was not, in my opinion, his best work. Mailer tends to become obsessed with things meant to dusgust us, and in this one,true to form, I was digusted over and over. I would find myself having to stop and backtrack a bit, thinking I must have missed something. He can't possibly be speaking of anuses right now. Unfortunately, he was.
The story itself was interesting only because we know this boy grows up to be a monster, but honestly, he wasn't that interesting as a child. He could be a brat, wasn't particularly charming, and didn't have many redeeming qualities, but that's not so unusual. I learned more about apiculture than I will ever, ever need to know, and I am just not fascinated with incest.
I am glad I took the time to struggle through this. I think it was Mailer's last, but I wont be re-reading it.
The story itself was interesting only because we know this boy grows up to be a monster, but honestly, he wasn't that interesting as a child. He could be a brat, wasn't particularly charming, and didn't have many redeeming qualities, but that's not so unusual. I learned more about apiculture than I will ever, ever need to know, and I am just not fascinated with incest.
I am glad I took the time to struggle through this. I think it was Mailer's last, but I wont be re-reading it.
elpanek's review against another edition
3.0
A family saga with great use of language and a provocative premise, but b/c it stopped right before Hitler became "interesting," I found it inadequate. There's an odd conceit that keeps things lively - the mid-level demon who relates the story spends a lot of time explaining the intricate set of rules that govern the interventions of devils and angels in our lives. Sure, its a digression from the primary story, but it kept it from being boring. The implied cause of Hitler's psychopathology is too Freudian for me, but Mailer spends more time on his parents, who are terrifically flawed but barely sympathetic. The book isn't especially depressing, and it might be just the thing to satisfy a morbid curiosity.
quinndm's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved the concept and the writing style of this book. I wanted to enjoy it more than I did. But, I found most of the dialogue way too clinical and ominously philosophical (which is great), but a lot of the characters in the book are young and/or illiterate; which, apart from the very brief description explaining their lack of education and intelligence, is quickly lost in their strangely (and uncharacteristically) eloquent speaking styles.
The book had a great - and very gripping - pace... until the bees! Too many damn pages and chapters about bees and bee-keeping. And, once you manage to pass all that, the book picks up again and finishes a very interesting take on Hitler's youth.
The book had a great - and very gripping - pace... until the bees! Too many damn pages and chapters about bees and bee-keeping. And, once you manage to pass all that, the book picks up again and finishes a very interesting take on Hitler's youth.
wendyclinch's review against another edition
2.0
A terrific concept -- Hitler's childhood, told from the vantage point of the Devil. Long, long, long, with a lot of odd side trips (what is Tsar Nicholas' coronation doing here???), and kind of overwrought. Wanted it to be a lot better than it was.
annotatedbibliophile's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
2.0
This one was interesting. The story was interesting enough, but it was so focused on the perverse and scandalous that it kind of left a sour taste in my mouth.