Scan barcode
peteschult's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
tamara292's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
khlara's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent stories about Berlin at the doorway before World War II. Amazing.
lsiegull's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
graceless's review against another edition
4.0
I particularly liked the short stories of Goodbye to Berlin, but overall liked the way Isherwood wrote. Great characters and interesting perspectives.
sara_toshka's review against another edition
3.0
Mr Norris Changes Trains - 3/5
I read someone else’s review saying that this is like a rendition of Sherlock Holmes is the detective was a secretive, elusive criminal, and I think that is so spot on. I enjoyed greatly the bumbling, clumsy character of Mr Norris seen through Christopher’s eyes, and the idea that although Mr Norris thinks of himself as a suave criminal, everyone around him sees the foolish and heavy handed attempts at being sneaky. I also really enjoyed the backdrop of Berlin prior to the Nazi power, and the way that political and social unrest is used to colour the picture of the lives of the characters. However, I found the writing style hard to follow, and some of the character interactions really genuinely confusing, which really took away from my immersion from the story
The Berlin Stories- 2/5
Idk man I really struggled to understand the connections that formed between all these characters, and I couldn’t really engage fully with what was going on, maybe it went over my head but this one did not hit the same
I read someone else’s review saying that this is like a rendition of Sherlock Holmes is the detective was a secretive, elusive criminal, and I think that is so spot on. I enjoyed greatly the bumbling, clumsy character of Mr Norris seen through Christopher’s eyes, and the idea that although Mr Norris thinks of himself as a suave criminal, everyone around him sees the foolish and heavy handed attempts at being sneaky. I also really enjoyed the backdrop of Berlin prior to the Nazi power, and the way that political and social unrest is used to colour the picture of the lives of the characters. However, I found the writing style hard to follow, and some of the character interactions really genuinely confusing, which really took away from my immersion from the story
The Berlin Stories- 2/5
Idk man I really struggled to understand the connections that formed between all these characters, and I couldn’t really engage fully with what was going on, maybe it went over my head but this one did not hit the same
buggyk's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
misajane79's review against another edition
3.0
Read because I couldn't get a recent performance of Cabaret out of my head and I enjoyed Isherwood's "Kathleen and Frank"
And though both novels were readable, I didn't really like any of it. It all felt familiar but not of a type I enjoy.
And how they got Cabaret out of Goodbye to Berlin, I'll never know.
And though both novels were readable, I didn't really like any of it. It all felt familiar but not of a type I enjoy.
And how they got Cabaret out of Goodbye to Berlin, I'll never know.
categal's review against another edition
5.0
I haven’t finished Goodbye to Berlin because I had to return the copy to the library, but The Last of Mr. Norris was just amazing. Not really like reading at all, more like watching a movie or being in someone’s head outright, just extraordinary. What I found so interesting too was the time and the place: early 1930s Germany, and the rise of Hitler was not so textbook then. Just fascinating to be in the minds of the characters who didn’t know what was going to happen from one day to the next. Hitler winning the election was only a remote possibility in a country in absolute turmoil.
The writing: wow. The subject: endlessly mind boggling. And what’s going on with Mr. Norris? For sure you have met someone like him and will recognize his sketchiness.
The writing: wow. The subject: endlessly mind boggling. And what’s going on with Mr. Norris? For sure you have met someone like him and will recognize his sketchiness.