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dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An incredibly well-constructed book. The intricate narrative style is quite self-referential, which makes for a more interesting reading experience, in my opinion. It of course also prominently references various works of literature, music and drama, most of which I was not familiar with - but it was done in a way that I never felt lost.
Before reading this book, I was mostly curious about the portrayal of the GDR, seeing as that was discussed controversially in German reviews. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss was about. It's a nuanced take, and I thought it was done quite well. One may even read the (toxic and doomed!) love story as a parable for the rise and fall of the GDR (as does Thomas Winkler in his review in taz; many other German critics do not entertain this idea), in which case it is incredibly GDR-critical. Our two main narrators are unreliable and especially Katharina's view is influenced by growing up in the GDR; her casual accounts of repression and censure make total sense. The story being told from a privileged perspective makes it no less realistic or valuable, especially seeing as it is strongly influenced by Erpenbeck's own background.
Going in, I didn't expect the relationship to be as brutally depressing. This obsessive, all-consuming dynamic was captured exceptionally well. It's a striking portrayal of toxic relationships and especially the dangers of relationships with strong power asymmetries. It's also torturous to read - though Erpenbeck's prose is amazing. My disdain for Hans grew with every page. Definitely major trigger warnings here.
All throughout that torturous second half of the book, I was hoping for a cathartic ending, for Katharina to realise her predicament and to revolt against Hans. I can see why that wasn't a sensible conclusion to this story. Still, this means that you leave the book feeling mostly resigned. She leaves Hand, but the writing makes it out to be less of an explosive liberation than the inevitable, quiet death a relationship like any other.
Overall, I am very glad I read this. On the technical level, this is close to perfect. Beyond that, it's a moving book that explores various important themes - patriarchal structures and cycles of violence; loss of community and identity crisis; ideology, grand visions, sacrifice, and hope. It's shocking and difficult to read. It opens a window into a little-described sphere of a different time.
Before reading this book, I was mostly curious about the portrayal of the GDR, seeing as that was discussed controversially in German reviews. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss was about. It's a nuanced take, and I thought it was done quite well. One may even read the (toxic and doomed!) love story as a parable for the rise and fall of the GDR (as does Thomas Winkler in his review in taz; many other German critics do not entertain this idea), in which case it is incredibly GDR-critical. Our two main narrators are unreliable and especially Katharina's view is influenced by growing up in the GDR; her casual accounts of repression and censure make total sense. The story being told from a privileged perspective makes it no less realistic or valuable, especially seeing as it is strongly influenced by Erpenbeck's own background.
Going in, I didn't expect the relationship to be as brutally depressing. This obsessive, all-consuming dynamic was captured exceptionally well. It's a striking portrayal of toxic relationships and especially the dangers of relationships with strong power asymmetries. It's also torturous to read - though Erpenbeck's prose is amazing. My disdain for Hans grew with every page. Definitely major trigger warnings here.
All throughout that torturous second half of the book, I was hoping
Overall, I am very glad I read this. On the technical level, this is close to perfect. Beyond that, it's a moving book that explores various important themes - patriarchal structures and cycles of violence; loss of community and identity crisis; ideology, grand visions, sacrifice, and hope. It's shocking and difficult to read. It opens a window into a little-described sphere of a different time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Racism, Antisemitism, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, War
didnt like it from the beginning as it was quite triggering for me personally.. i kept reading until half way through and couldnt pick it up again. Make sure to read the warning list as this was a horrible experience for me. Terrible relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting backdrop of East Berlin but felt like i had to have a lot of prior knowledge to get all the references, also neither of the characters were likeable and he in particular was a right nasty bastard! But it was compelling and had some exquisite scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m not sure what the author hoped to achieve with this book. It dealt with an abusive relationship (and grooming) but didn’t really seem all too concerned with that. It felt wanky, and was poorly written. Don’t bother reading it - it’s awful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Abortion
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think the relationship between Hams and Katharina is supposed to parallel the breakdown of the GDR and then somehow reunification with FDR, but god knows how. So confusing. In the main, an abusive relationship between a 19 year old and a 50-something year old. Massive power imbalance. A lot of words that didn't seem to mean anything, fairly sure I skimmed for the most part. Still cannot figure out their initial meeting and I re-read that 3 times.
Like other prize winners it tries too hard to be clever.
In saying this, I wonder what it would've been like reading it in German...
Oh, and I am sure I read that she commited murder of 3 people but can't for the life of me figure it out - may have been a weird hallucination or fantasy sequence
Like other prize winners it tries too hard to be clever.
In saying this, I wonder what it would've been like reading it in German...
Oh, and I am sure I read that she commited murder of 3 people but can't for the life of me figure it out - may have been a weird hallucination or fantasy sequence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting
Minor: Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Abortion
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I hadn't been reading this for my book club, I would have DNF'd around the 20% mark. I can't remember the last time I disliked the experience of reading a book so much.
At first, I had hope. While the introduction of the main characters' relationship was both puerile and sinister, I thought that it was a decent reflection of what the initial infatuation between a teenager and a man in his mid-fifties would look like. Surely, in the hands of a female author, this Booker prize winning novel would subvert the misogyny of its tired premise. The characters would dazzle me with their complexity, the prose would sparkle, and the much promised motif of the fall of the GDR would be handled sensitively and woven through the narrative with great subtlety.
Instead, the relationship got darker, nastier, and recursive. The featureless run-on sentences about obscure East German politics got longer, and the characters remained excruciatingly bland, so caught up in their tawdry psychodrama that it left little room for the reader to absorb anything else about them. Perhaps this was the ultimate conceit of the book, but it was a fucking painful experience to read. The entire time, I oscillated between disgust, disdain, and boredom, begging for the experience to be over for the characters and for me.
The final section of the book contained some genuinely interesting concepts about the experience of former East Germans after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Unfortunately they came far too late to redeem this book for me.
I am struggling to understand who this book was for or why anyone would enjoy it; the positive reviews make me feel like I read a completely different novel to those singing its praises. At least I am looking forward to an interesting discussion with my book club - I hope that one of the other members can enlighten me.
At first, I had hope. While the introduction of the main characters' relationship was both puerile and sinister, I thought that it was a decent reflection of what the initial infatuation between a teenager and a man in his mid-fifties would look like. Surely, in the hands of a female author, this Booker prize winning novel would subvert the misogyny of its tired premise. The characters would dazzle me with their complexity, the prose would sparkle, and the much promised motif of the fall of the GDR would be handled sensitively and woven through the narrative with great subtlety.
Instead, the relationship got darker, nastier, and recursive. The featureless run-on sentences about obscure East German politics got longer, and the characters remained excruciatingly bland, so caught up in their tawdry psychodrama that it left little room for the reader to absorb anything else about them. Perhaps this was the ultimate conceit of the book, but it was a fucking painful experience to read. The entire time, I oscillated between disgust, disdain, and boredom, begging for the experience to be over for the characters and for me.
The final section of the book contained some genuinely interesting concepts about the experience of former East Germans after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Unfortunately they came far too late to redeem this book for me.
I am struggling to understand who this book was for or why anyone would enjoy it; the positive reviews make me feel like I read a completely different novel to those singing its praises. At least I am looking forward to an interesting discussion with my book club - I hope that one of the other members can enlighten me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book is so painful and heartbreaking and beautiful. The age difference in their relationship serves as a vessel for the exploration of one generation handing their best attempts at building a society of ideals to the next. It’s as much about love and loss as it is about the memory of war and the insidious and enforced divisions plastered over once the chips have fallen.
“Americans and Russians are each other’s spitting image. Also in their devotion to kitsch.”
“Americans and Russians are each other’s spitting image. Also in their devotion to kitsch.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has been highly lauded but it was not for me. Whatever the supposed literary or intellectual justification for having pages and pages of a man abusing a woman physically, emotionally and sexually, it was just too much for me. In the end, whatever the set up, the reader’s time is spent consuming long descriptions of sexual humiliation, domination, and every kind of cruelty. I wish I had understood how very dark this book was before I picked it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship