Reviews - The Drinker | The StoryGraph

22 reviews for:

The Drinker

Hans Fallada

3.88 AVERAGE

yarnmaus's review against another edition

3.0

dark tense medium-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

Grotesker Schreibstil, gepaart mit einem unsinnig konstruierten Verlauf— Enttäuschend

johnhodges's review against another edition

4.0

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

planetquack's review against another edition

4.0

Surpisingly readable given the gut-wrenching topic, this descent into alcoholic madness is a portrait of the poison of privilege, ingratitude and toxic masculinity. According to the afterward, the story closely mimics the author's betrayal of his wife and subsequent imprisonment.

jonasvogler's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective sad 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

david_rhee's review against another edition

3.0

The Drinker was met by eager hands and eyes as I was expecting a story of a tragic collapse but one with which a reader could easily identify. Drinking is a common enough vice enjoyed with varying levels of moderation. Being a regular participant myself, I was curious how Fallada would craft a novel around an alcoholic. I was disappointed early with the lack of realism. I see alcoholism as an ailment with a slowly tightening grip, strengthening its hold over years. Erwin Sommer is more of a man who simply threw his life away suddenly by not being able to drink. Living most of his life even and sober, he spirals rapidly after getting hooked on schnapps (schnapps? uh, ok). The novel is clearly divided into two halves, the fall and its course followed by the resultant banishment from life in the world. The novel's simplicity moves me to believe this was only Fallada's coping mechanism during his own imprisonment, but I feel I'm being unjust in suggesting this was only an exercise. It probably has mostly to do with my recent completion of his masterpiece, Wolf Among Wolves. Overall, this is an entertaining read, more shocking than interesting.