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kittylake's review
2.0
*2023 Longlist International Booker*
It's easy to draw comparisons with this and Trainspotting and Catcher in the Rye and Clockwork Orange... I guess I don't know why we need another book from a teenage boy misogynistic perspective on porn, sex and women (including littering the first 50 pages with enough descriptions of 13 year old girls tits to satisfy a paedo or immature boy)... there was the odd interesting moment but this book is almost 600 pages and lacks a soul. I found it dull and pointless. It was a long meandering tail about shitting boys growing into shitty men enjoying (mostly) behaving shittily to those around them. It's difficult to empathise or sympathise or just care. Ugh. What was the point of this? Maybe it's interesting if you're into the books I've compared it to or if you were also born around the mid-70s... I just didn't find this compelling or interesting.
It's easy to draw comparisons with this and Trainspotting and Catcher in the Rye and Clockwork Orange... I guess I don't know why we need another book from a teenage boy misogynistic perspective on porn, sex and women (including littering the first 50 pages with enough descriptions of 13 year old girls tits to satisfy a paedo or immature boy)... there was the odd interesting moment but this book is almost 600 pages and lacks a soul. I found it dull and pointless. It was a long meandering tail about shitting boys growing into shitty men enjoying (mostly) behaving shittily to those around them. It's difficult to empathise or sympathise or just care. Ugh. What was the point of this? Maybe it's interesting if you're into the books I've compared it to or if you were also born around the mid-70s... I just didn't find this compelling or interesting.
booksnpunks's review
3.0
God this book is so long. There were sections I enjoyed particularly during the beginning when the characters were younger and they were drinking and getting up to all sorts of antics. The whole book really reminded me of a German version of Trainspotting, especially in terms of how the book explored masculinity, male friendship and drug use. I just thought the book was so long and dragged on a lot. I had to take loads of breaks from it because I found myself getting bored. There’s not really a solid plot but the characters and strange writing propels you through however sometimes it wasn’t enough.
I see why it was nominated for the International Booker this year however can’t say I truly loved it, but it really is a feat to read and I’m glad I gave it a go finally.
I see why it was nominated for the International Booker this year however can’t say I truly loved it, but it really is a feat to read and I’m glad I gave it a go finally.
ardour's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
magnuscumlaude's review
4.0
A gritty and intimate story of teenagers fighting to survive and clinging onto any hope they can find as they come of age in East Germany. It's a non-linear and messy jumble of violence and drugs, but at the core it's a really harrowing story of friendship and despair. I love the International Booker longlist, it always gives me great books I don't think I would have ever found otherwise. I couldn't get a copy of this novel in Canada so I made it a priority to pick one up on my trip through London last month. If you liked Shuggie Bain and Trainspotting, I feel like it's a mix of that but tragically without any gays.
bobthebookerer's review
4.0
I found this book captivating for its slow burn of drama, and the ways that the characters' innocence and naivety were constantly both upended, but also attempted to obscure the terrifying realities of the world around them.
Their slow panic and realisations of the ever-changing landscape around them built to a powerful, if fearful, end.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Their slow panic and realisations of the ever-changing landscape around them built to a powerful, if fearful, end.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
sezzaj's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dchau's review
4.0
A wonderful story of friendship in Leipzig, Germany when the Berlin Wall had fallen. Plenty of drinking (pretty much in every scene!), drugs, and raging adolescent hormones. It was confusing at first, but the book is not in chronological order, skipping back and forth, with tragedy and hope intermixed.
mstormer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5