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aryaduldee's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tickettbror's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pino_sabatelli's review against another edition
2.0
Due stelle e mezzo.
A meno di trovarsi di fronte ad autori che abbiano l’esigenza di dar voce a una dimensione autobiografica o testimoniale (e in questo senso il paragone che qualcuno ha fatto fra Rothmann e Grass mi pare davvero ardito, quantomeno per motivi anagrafici), o che riescano a trovare una chiave linguistica o strutturale originale (come Sebald con Austerlitz o, su un piano completamente diverso Mendelsohn con Gli scomparsi e, fra i due, la Petrowskaja con Forse Esther - vedi http://www.ifioridelpeggio.com/di-dio-nessuna-notizia-forse-esther-di-katja-petrowskaja/), il rischio dello scrivere oggi un libro (l’ennesimo) sull’incubo nazista, è quello di produrre una scialba e manierata variazione sul tema, che è esattamente quanto mi sembra sia accaduto in questo caso, non essendo riuscito a cogliere in quest’opera, probabilmente per limiti personali, alcuna particolare qualità né nella scrittura di Rothmann, né nella storia. L’impressione che ne ho tratto è che l’ambizione di scrivere un piccolo classico abbia in realtà prodotto un libro nato già (e solo) vecchio.
A meno di trovarsi di fronte ad autori che abbiano l’esigenza di dar voce a una dimensione autobiografica o testimoniale (e in questo senso il paragone che qualcuno ha fatto fra Rothmann e Grass mi pare davvero ardito, quantomeno per motivi anagrafici), o che riescano a trovare una chiave linguistica o strutturale originale (come Sebald con Austerlitz o, su un piano completamente diverso Mendelsohn con Gli scomparsi e, fra i due, la Petrowskaja con Forse Esther - vedi http://www.ifioridelpeggio.com/di-dio-nessuna-notizia-forse-esther-di-katja-petrowskaja/), il rischio dello scrivere oggi un libro (l’ennesimo) sull’incubo nazista, è quello di produrre una scialba e manierata variazione sul tema, che è esattamente quanto mi sembra sia accaduto in questo caso, non essendo riuscito a cogliere in quest’opera, probabilmente per limiti personali, alcuna particolare qualità né nella scrittura di Rothmann, né nella storia. L’impressione che ne ho tratto è che l’ambizione di scrivere un piccolo classico abbia in realtà prodotto un libro nato già (e solo) vecchio.
clairabella_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if maybe something was lost in translation, but I was disappointed with this book. I was excited to read it and, I think I was expecting more of a Birdsong/A Farewell to Arms story, but this was completely different. I know it has been compared to All Quiet on the Western Front, but for me I feel it was a poor imitation.
I felt the story didn't follow on well. One minute I was reading from the son's perspective, the next it's gone back in time to the father; Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. If that was the case though, then that for me would mean it was because the writing wasn't drawing me in like I would have expected it to.
I felt the story didn't follow on well. One minute I was reading from the son's perspective, the next it's gone back in time to the father; Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. If that was the case though, then that for me would mean it was because the writing wasn't drawing me in like I would have expected it to.
nina_0159's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-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? No
4.0
margaret21's review against another edition
5.0
Two seventeen year old boys - German - are recruited towards the end of WWII. This is the story of a brutal period of their lives, as well as a look at how each of their lives ended - in one case, quite recently. Their experiences, the damage to their bodies, minds and relationships demonstrate eloquently the futility of war. An extremely powerful book.
srbolton's review against another edition
5.0
Powerfully written and beautifully translated. This is a story of young young men thrust unready into the horrors of war. Two German boys are pressed into service in the closing months of WWII, a death of innocence on many fronts.
raidenmary's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
zeljana's review against another edition
3.0
This was more like a 2.5 for me.
I couldn't connect to this novel, no matter how much I wanted to. I have a soft spot for WW2 fiction, so I thought I'd like this more. The story itself is haunting in a way only real life can be. What do you do when you're a teenager recruited into Waffen SS during the very last months of the war? Some scenes were strong and unforgettable, as you would expect.
However, overall I couldn't connect to the characters and there was no structure whatsoever, so I read it almost like a non-fiction book. Yes, it has a very strong anti-war message, but I wish I could engage with it more emotionally.
The biggest thing I got out of it was how striking the difference is between generations who went through the terror of WW2 and the privileged generations today.
I couldn't connect to this novel, no matter how much I wanted to. I have a soft spot for WW2 fiction, so I thought I'd like this more. The story itself is haunting in a way only real life can be. What do you do when you're a teenager recruited into Waffen SS during the very last months of the war? Some scenes were strong and unforgettable, as you would expect.
However, overall I couldn't connect to the characters and there was no structure whatsoever, so I read it almost like a non-fiction book. Yes, it has a very strong anti-war message, but I wish I could engage with it more emotionally.
The biggest thing I got out of it was how striking the difference is between generations who went through the terror of WW2 and the privileged generations today.