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2.94 AVERAGE
2.94 AVERAGE
I was enjoying this book so much…. until literally half way through and then it was a hard read. I also really didn’t like how the book ended, and felt it was hard to follow. The movie covered such a small amount of this book. Reviews say this is a book with two stories and I totally couldn’t agree more.
Overall, I’m glad I saw the movie before reading the book.
Overall, I’m glad I saw the movie before reading the book.
slow-paced
This novel, being the inspiration for Taiki Waititi’s incredible film “Jojo Rabbit”, has something of an interesting idea that honestly goes nowhere most of the time. The story itself has its moments, but doesn’t bring anything much exciting or grabbing, but more drab. B- (67%/Decent)
Incel Nazi abuses Jewish prisoner and learns zero lessons nor faces any repercussions!
Completely different to the film but you soon realise to stop comparing them.
I found it very well written but also incredibly dark. The ending was a bit disappointing in that it left unanswered questions and I felt the book began to drag in the second half.
I found it very well written but also incredibly dark. The ending was a bit disappointing in that it left unanswered questions and I felt the book began to drag in the second half.
I just don't know what to make of this. I haven't seen Taika Waititi's JoJo Rabbit yet but thought this as a Kindle daily deal on the back of it. The novel starts off with a fascinating take on the Hitler youth movement from a child (Johannes) brainwashed by school and the narrative aimed at children by the Third Reich. Then Elsa comes into it and it quickly goes (for the reader) downhill, from genuine terror at whether Johannes will expose her, to some boyhood fantasy to a horrible masochistic, controlling 'relationship'. I couldn't enjoy it and skim read from about 40% onwards. I'll see the film at some point but am a bit confused as to how Taika made it a comedy/drama when there is just no comedy in this novel at all.
Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers.
Here is one of the few books I have ever rushed to finish because I was hoping against hope it would suddenly get better. If you loved JoJo Rabbit and considered reading this book because you found the movie funny and poignant and deep, turn back now. Do not enter these waters of such tragic disappointment.
For the first third of this novel, the premise follows that of the film, though along lines that are less insightful and far less generous to the protagonist. There is a lot to think about, to imagine being a child inculcated by Nazi propaganda against your own parents wills. The film makes this far more poignant than the book does, but there is still a lot of historical content to chew on. The film plot concludes about a third of the way into the novel, and the reasons become strikingly obvious. From here, the premise shifts entirely to that of an overdrawn Hitchcock film. No redeeming or consoling qualities are ever loaned out to young Johannes, but he quickly evolves from a confused and selfish little boy to a demented and obsessive adult.
I have to spoil this book. It’s too annoying.
The first third of this book, taking place during the war, is about family drama in a house divided by the Third Reich. Throw in parents who are hiding a Jewish girl and you have a really incredible premise that is somewhat squashed by the annoying personality of the narrator. Johannes is completely lacking in self awareness and barely takes time to mention the contradictions as he hates and Jews and obsesses over an imaginary romance with one in particular. He expresses a level of derangement as he hurts his family members to gain their sympathies while also considering turning them over to the authorities. Once everyone in his family but him is dead, he matures into a man who is equally ready to kill or die for the woman he continues to lie to and hide for years after the war ends.
Most of this book is like the slow, boring, day to day diary of Norman Bates, if he preferred to chain girls up in the attic and lived in Ally occupied Vienna after WWII.
“Dear Diary, Grandma died today. Anyway, I want to kill Elsa because she barely says thank you when I bring her tea, even though I sold the family heirlooms to buy it for her. I told her about how responsible she was for my mother’s death until she cried and then I felt better and I was so sad for her that I wanted to kiss her.”
There you have the basic premise of this book. As the plotless story inches forward, the historically insightful elements about post-war occupation and economic deterioration are overpowered by emotionally obsessive bipolar poetic nonsense that reminded me of a less intellectual Stephenwolf or *shuddering* Other Worlds. Yikes!
About two thirds of the way through the novel, I began to think that none of it could possibly make sense unless Elsa was a split personality of Johannes, simply a ghost or a memory built upon unrecognized guilt and unremarked upon grief. I still think it’s possible to interpret the book that way. Perhaps I’m too dense to recognize that this was the explicit goal of the author. If so, this brings my assessment up by at least half a star. But what’s the difference between 1 and 1.5 stars, really?
Here is one of the few books I have ever rushed to finish because I was hoping against hope it would suddenly get better. If you loved JoJo Rabbit and considered reading this book because you found the movie funny and poignant and deep, turn back now. Do not enter these waters of such tragic disappointment.
For the first third of this novel, the premise follows that of the film, though along lines that are less insightful and far less generous to the protagonist. There is a lot to think about, to imagine being a child inculcated by Nazi propaganda against your own parents wills. The film makes this far more poignant than the book does, but there is still a lot of historical content to chew on. The film plot concludes about a third of the way into the novel, and the reasons become strikingly obvious. From here, the premise shifts entirely to that of an overdrawn Hitchcock film. No redeeming or consoling qualities are ever loaned out to young Johannes, but he quickly evolves from a confused and selfish little boy to a demented and obsessive adult.
I have to spoil this book. It’s too annoying.
The first third of this book, taking place during the war, is about family drama in a house divided by the Third Reich. Throw in parents who are hiding a Jewish girl and you have a really incredible premise that is somewhat squashed by the annoying personality of the narrator. Johannes is completely lacking in self awareness and barely takes time to mention the contradictions as he hates and Jews and obsesses over an imaginary romance with one in particular. He expresses a level of derangement as he hurts his family members to gain their sympathies while also considering turning them over to the authorities. Once everyone in his family but him is dead, he matures into a man who is equally ready to kill or die for the woman he continues to lie to and hide for years after the war ends.
Most of this book is like the slow, boring, day to day diary of Norman Bates, if he preferred to chain girls up in the attic and lived in Ally occupied Vienna after WWII.
“Dear Diary, Grandma died today. Anyway, I want to kill Elsa because she barely says thank you when I bring her tea, even though I sold the family heirlooms to buy it for her. I told her about how responsible she was for my mother’s death until she cried and then I felt better and I was so sad for her that I wanted to kiss her.”
There you have the basic premise of this book. As the plotless story inches forward, the historically insightful elements about post-war occupation and economic deterioration are overpowered by emotionally obsessive bipolar poetic nonsense that reminded me of a less intellectual Stephenwolf or *shuddering* Other Worlds. Yikes!
About two thirds of the way through the novel, I began to think that none of it could possibly make sense unless Elsa was a split personality of Johannes, simply a ghost or a memory built upon unrecognized guilt and unremarked upon grief. I still think it’s possible to interpret the book that way. Perhaps I’m too dense to recognize that this was the explicit goal of the author. If so, this brings my assessment up by at least half a star. But what’s the difference between 1 and 1.5 stars, really?
I don’t even know how to feel about this book. Whoever wrote the blurb on the back of the book needs to have some serious self-reflection if they described this book as ‘darkly funny.’ It’s not funny at all.
The first half was excellent. I found it to be insightful and written very differently from many World War II books I have read previously. However…
…the second half made me feel disgusting just reading it. Knowing the book was written by a woman makes me hope that she understood what she was doing when creating a character as depraved as Johannes. My wish is that she wanted to showcase a character who was manipulative, smothering, selfish and debased who never learns his lesson. I can only keep my fingers crossed that this was her intention.
I will happily donate this book and hope someone else finds it intriguing. I would be thrilled to never open it again.
The first half was excellent. I found it to be insightful and written very differently from many World War II books I have read previously. However…
…the second half made me feel disgusting just reading it. Knowing the book was written by a woman makes me hope that she understood what she was doing when creating a character as depraved as Johannes. My wish is that she wanted to showcase a character who was manipulative, smothering, selfish and debased who never learns his lesson. I can only keep my fingers crossed that this was her intention.
I will happily donate this book and hope someone else finds it intriguing. I would be thrilled to never open it again.
I picked this up because I adored "JoJo Rabbit" and wanted to read the book that inspired the film. But this is one of those rare times the film is definitely better than the book! If I had read the book first I would not have seen the movie, that's how different they are!! I am blown away by how the screenwriter adapted the novel, because it's so different. I wanted to love this book but found the characters especially Johannes unlikable! Interesting.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Like other reviewers, I enjoyed the first section. The second half while an interesting idea just dragged really; without liking either character much it was hard to be overly involved.