Reviews

Grime: A Novel by Sibylle Berg

carrie_bize's review against another edition

2.0

Leider hat mir das Buch nicht so gut gefallen, wie andere von Sibylle Berg. Ja, es ist bedrückend, unangenehm und irgendwie abstoßend. Das kennen und lieben wir von Berg in dieser Form. Nur diesmal fehlte mir die Story. Man erfährt viel über die dystopische nahe Zukunft und über viele einzelnen Personen, die oftmals nur ein einziges Mal auftauchen. Die Hauptfiguren bleiben einem fremd. Die einzigen zwei positiven Aspekte waren hier natürlich der Schreibstil und die Vorstellung einer nahen (leider aber ziemlich ungemütlichen) Zukunft.

veganheathen's review

3.0

I feel a bit unsure of how to feel about this book, to be honest. From the synopsis, it definitely sounds like my kind of book. The prose had a very different pattern to it, which felt like it echoed the frustration, anger and urgency of the characters in a way. However, it also echoed the ennui quite a bit and not in the greatest way. I kept waiting for the story to begin, and then realized I was quite a ways into the book and I guess the whole thing was going to read like this. There was very little dialogue, mostly descriptions of people, events and conversations. I didn't really feel like I was given enough to create a connection with most of the characters and at points, it felt like a bit of a chore to read. The subject is quite interesting, but the way this book is written is not quite for me. It seems like a lot of people loved it, especially German readers, so maybe I'm missing some cultural nuances or something. I'm not sure.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the free copy of this book that I won in a Goodreads giveaway.

zipsi's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

skzats_we's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

fionamclary's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Mein erster Roman auf Deutsch, jetzt fertiggemacht! Wie Frau Berg sagen würde: Hurra, Romane auf Deutsch.

Er war extrem grausam und deprimierend, aber auch lebendig trotz der langsamen Handlung. Dieses Buch hat keine Kapitel und maändert ziemlich deswegen, aber die Aufsätze sind meistens zum Nachdenken anregend.

Ich bin ehrlich erleichtert, fertig zu sein, aber ich plane, das zweite Buch nächstes Jahr als mein 2025 deutsches Buch zu lesen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Excrement, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Hate crime, Murder, Misogyny, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Police brutality, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Animal death, Cancer, Abortion, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Deportation, Homophobia, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Addiction and Antisemitism

lesenmachtspass's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

adrionmacaron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lestihrnarren's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

taunusleserin's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Ein dystopischer Roman, der in Großbritannien der gar nicht Mal allzuweit entfernten Zukunft spielt. Sybille Berg zeigt hier die Abgründe der Menschheit auf, teilweise nicht leicht auszuhalten. 

In Summe war mir das Buch mit über 600 Seiten aber zu lang und die Story/Stories nicht stringent genug. Hatte etwas Mühe, dran zu bleiben. Daher am Ende mit 3 Sternen ein  durchschnittlich gutes Buch, das ich immer noch weiter empfehlen kann. Es ist aber noch viel Luft nach oben.

broccoffee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Unglaublich scharf beobachtet und präzise beschrieben. Brutal und düster. Interessante Charaktere und immer wieder unerwartete Wendungen. 

So spannend, dass ich oft kaum aufhören konnte zu lesen. 

...und den Schreibstil schätze ich ohnehin sehr.