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ickl333's review against another edition
4.0
while the middle section drags, and there’s maybe one to many tangents, the novel makes up for it in brilliant, nuanced examination of fame, gender/sexuality, aging, and the human condition.
nomadreader's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sumia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: War and Antisemitism
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Pedophilia, Deportation, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
mariebitt's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
melliesmel's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
fornia's review against another edition
if i have to read one more pseudoliterary novel that's cool and edgy and doesn't use quote marks for dialogue, i'm going to flip a table
seriously
it's not edgy or innovative, it's just really f***ing annoying
seriously
it's not edgy or innovative, it's just really f***ing annoying
mitturavi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
celpel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
samwescott's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful, layered book. Somehow I managed to make it 3/4ths of the way through before I realized that the characters were real people? I don't know how I missed that, but once my brain changed it from fiction to historical fiction, I was even more impressed. The internal lives that Koe gives these women feel real and plausible and very grounded. Their stories intertwine in interesting ways, but even the parts that are completely separate, you find yourself chewing on the same questions about fame, identity, loyalty, and authenticity.
It is a story about WWII and one of the characters is a Nazi (she says she's not, but she worked for/with Hitler, so). There's not a lot of graphic Holocaust descriptions, but the horror of the concentration camps festers in a thick layer underneath the story. We meet some Romani characters who plead with Leni to help them escape the camps and there is a side character whose POV we inhabit for awhile who fought for Germany. The book is definitely not sympathetic to their cause, but it does humanize them and Hitler is a character. So, just be aware, if that's not something you wanna read. I thought it was a really responsible portrayal that assigned humanity without excusing behavior. Leni was a complicated character and I appreciated how she was written. I think Anna May was my favorite.
The side characters are also really richly described, so the mix of the three main actresses and the side characters gave the story a lot of room to sprawl and detour. It was beautiful.
Extremely well-written with a lot of gorgeous character work on a very complicated historical backdrop. This book has LAYERS and they are well-researched, emotionally poignant, and have impeccable finger-waves. Highly recommend.
It is a story about WWII and one of the characters is a Nazi (she says she's not, but she worked for/with Hitler, so). There's not a lot of graphic Holocaust descriptions, but the horror of the concentration camps festers in a thick layer underneath the story. We meet some Romani characters who plead with Leni to help them escape the camps and there is a side character whose POV we inhabit for awhile who fought for Germany. The book is definitely not sympathetic to their cause, but it does humanize them and Hitler is a character. So, just be aware, if that's not something you wanna read. I thought it was a really responsible portrayal that assigned humanity without excusing behavior. Leni was a complicated character and I appreciated how she was written. I think Anna May was my favorite.
The side characters are also really richly described, so the mix of the three main actresses and the side characters gave the story a lot of room to sprawl and detour. It was beautiful.
Extremely well-written with a lot of gorgeous character work on a very complicated historical backdrop. This book has LAYERS and they are well-researched, emotionally poignant, and have impeccable finger-waves. Highly recommend.
emcatbee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Gorgeous and intertwining