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dark
reflective
sad
tense
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
I have really mixed feelings about this book. The prose is gorgeous, and I found the book very compelling - I couldn't stop reading. On the other hand, though, the subject matter left me feeling pretty gross, so it wasn't exactly an enjoyable read.
I think each reader's understanding of what the book is trying to do will significantly affect their rating. If it's a story of a woman reflecting nostalgically-but-with-complex-feelings on a former love affair, it's a miss because of how problematic that affair is. If it's a book about a toxic and abusive relationship and its ultimate breakdown, set against the backdrop of the simultaneous breakdown of East Germany, it's a success. I'm inclined to think it's the latter; however, because Erpenbeck presents no straightforward or easy answers, it has shades of the former. I appreciate the ambiguity - this is part of what makes it a brilliantly written book! But it also makes it difficult to rate it higher.
I think each reader's understanding of what the book is trying to do will significantly affect their rating. If it's a story of a woman reflecting nostalgically-but-with-complex-feelings on a former love affair, it's a miss because of how problematic that affair is. If it's a book about a toxic and abusive relationship and its ultimate breakdown, set against the backdrop of the simultaneous breakdown of East Germany, it's a success. I'm inclined to think it's the latter; however, because Erpenbeck presents no straightforward or easy answers, it has shades of the former. I appreciate the ambiguity - this is part of what makes it a brilliantly written book! But it also makes it difficult to rate it higher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abortion, Pregnancy
Age gap relationship with power imbalance
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
challenging
dark
reflective
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
We're supposed to be moving through a pivotal point in German history while walking with two people who absolutely should not be together. From the start I had no hope for Katharina and Hans, and it was especially drilled and stretched out to read about their essentially abusive dynamic. I was bitterly bored.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, War
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy
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
A relationship between a young woman and an older man that adapts sexual torture as punishment for transgressions against the male ego is hardly original. You've read this before, only this has a thin veil of East/West Germany tensions in the background. Katharina is simply insufferable and boring until she finally starts thinking of things other than Hans. And Hans is what you'd expect from a male character who centres himself in everything and has no ability to criticise himself – if Erpenbeck was looking to write a male lover who has no appeal, and leaves the reader baffled as to why he is pursued at all, then she did a fantastic job.
I had hoped the tensions of their location and the shifting politics would play more of a role, but they're really just a background to an abusive relationship. This is neither a 'doomed romance' or a 'story of love and betrayal', as the accolades on the cover state, and I wish abuse and obsession would stop being labelled as love. A lot of this could also be skim read because it's stuffed with self-indulgence that adds nothing to the experience. Erpenbeck clearly has talent, but this story is just repetitive and so contrite that it becomes farcical.
I had hoped the tensions of their location and the shifting politics would play more of a role, but they're really just a background to an abusive relationship. This is neither a 'doomed romance' or a 'story of love and betrayal', as the accolades on the cover state, and I wish abuse and obsession would stop being labelled as love. A lot of this could also be skim read because it's stuffed with self-indulgence that adds nothing to the experience. Erpenbeck clearly has talent, but this story is just repetitive and so contrite that it becomes farcical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
Minor: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Visceral, sweeping, tragedy of the GDR
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts
Arduous, hypnotic. The smartest book I’ve encountered. If you make it to the end, it will be hard won.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
sad
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
I don’t think it was necessary to the plot or characters to have the main male be so abusive. The sexual violence, physical assault, and emotional abuse was difficult and disgusting. I would not recommend this book, even if it tangentially shows how Berlin’s reunification progressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship