Reviews - Der Zopf | The StoryGraph

1.22k reviews for:

Der Zopf

Laetitia Colombani

3.73 AVERAGE

ascyltus's review against another edition

3.25

emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

oonalunar's review against another edition

2.5

I read this for a book club and it is not something I would pick for myself. I didn't hate it, but I can't say I would recommend it. The book club questions included in the back of mine are very simplistic, almost funny. The writing is clear, simple, sometimes relying on cliche.
Of the three stories I found Smita and Lalita's most interesting.

Smita's story had a lot of detail and richness to it, but it felt unfinished at the end of the story. I wonder if they finished their journey, what happened to her husband, how did they make it with no money and no food? Part of the story here hinged on the way Indian culture marginalizes women and the way the caste system continues to limit peoples lives and stigmatize people. It was included to contradict with the freedom Sarah and Giulia experience.

Giulia's story felt like it was very surface level. Her relationship with Kamal and the conflict that creates for her are skirted around. There is a neatness to the whole ending that is boring. Also falling in love with a man more or less saved her shop and her life.

I disliked Sarah. She was a trope, the too-busy glass celing busting business woman who has to be brought low and come around to doing what she should, which is spend time with her children. Her lack of imagination is sad. She has no friends. Nobody seems to care that she is ill, but that is because ahe has cut out everyone else from her life. Sure, some people respond to illness this way, but it is just a very sad story and I don't feel that the ending really did much for me.

The whole story was very predictable. The writing was ok, not very interesting. You could read the whole thing in a few hours if you wanted to give your time to it.