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2.94 AVERAGE
2.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I understand what this book was trying to do, it disappointed me on two counts.
The writing was exceptionally beautiful, and Leunens has a good grasp of language, characters, and has the ability to create an exceptionally distrustful narrator.
I read it following seeing the movie Jo Jo Rabbit, which naturally invites comparison between the two. This is not a case of the movie or book being "better" but rather that significant details and plot points are changed that both are barely the same story at all. The story that Jo-jo Rabbit tells is about propaganda on a young mind, and being a child in Austria during Hitler's regime. It has moments of levity, and satire. The book does not have those.
However, without even having those elements, the book was dry, and long. What should have been dramatic, or climactic felt flat and limp. I understand what Leunens was trying to do and trying to say, I just think she said it 200 pages before the end, but unfortunately kept going.
If you are a fan of the movie, I don't recommend the book. If you want a slow, complex read about youth and the misunderstanding of what love is, set with the backdrop of the second world war, then you should.
The writing was exceptionally beautiful, and Leunens has a good grasp of language, characters, and has the ability to create an exceptionally distrustful narrator.
I read it following seeing the movie Jo Jo Rabbit, which naturally invites comparison between the two. This is not a case of the movie or book being "better" but rather that significant details and plot points are changed that both are barely the same story at all. The story that Jo-jo Rabbit tells is about propaganda on a young mind, and being a child in Austria during Hitler's regime. It has moments of levity, and satire. The book does not have those.
However, without even having those elements, the book was dry, and long. What should have been dramatic, or climactic felt flat and limp. I understand what Leunens was trying to do and trying to say, I just think she said it 200 pages before the end, but unfortunately kept going.
If you are a fan of the movie, I don't recommend the book. If you want a slow, complex read about youth and the misunderstanding of what love is, set with the backdrop of the second world war, then you should.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m going to split this book and review into two halves.
The first half was adapted into the movie ‘Jojo Rabbit’, and was overall really good. While I do still think the movie was better because of it’s change to a satirical viewpoint, the book did a great job of looking at life in Nazi Germany and how two opposing ideologies in a family can break it apart, despite best efforts to keep it together.
The second half of the book, which takes place after World War II ends, is less than good. It still has things to say, but describes a boy’s daily lifestyle while he holds onto a dying ideology at the expense of a larger viewpoint and story. Most stakes that existed in the previous half are lost and the ending hastily and clumsily discards any remaining ones.
In short, watch and appreciate the movie, even if it means not reading the book.
The first half was adapted into the movie ‘Jojo Rabbit’, and was overall really good. While I do still think the movie was better because of it’s change to a satirical viewpoint, the book did a great job of looking at life in Nazi Germany and how two opposing ideologies in a family can break it apart, despite best efforts to keep it together.
The second half of the book, which takes place after World War II ends, is less than good. It still has things to say, but describes a boy’s daily lifestyle while he holds onto a dying ideology at the expense of a larger viewpoint and story. Most stakes that existed in the previous half are lost and the ending hastily and clumsily discards any remaining ones.
In short, watch and appreciate the movie, even if it means not reading the book.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great concept but the writing lacks Jojos sense of childish naivety that the movie captures so well
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
sad
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i mean it wasn’t badly written but why would you write this. if johannes has 0 haters i’m dead
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Hitler Youth kid finds out his parents are in the Resistance and are hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Kid is young and impressionable, but decides not to turn them in, instead develops a twisted relationship with Elsa.
First 2/3, during the war are very good. I was pretty riveted. Then comes the last 1/3 after the war, and it all devolves into this strange, dysfunctional, weird story that kind of wrecks the whole thing. I didn't necessarily want them to ride off into the sunset, but holy moly, it's insane. And I get that post-war was crazy, but Johannes and Elsa are in the French zone, so not the worst. I almost abandoned it, but I hope that the author would somehow bring it together, and she really didn't.
Not recommended.
First 2/3, during the war are very good. I was pretty riveted. Then comes the last 1/3 after the war, and it all devolves into this strange, dysfunctional, weird story that kind of wrecks the whole thing. I didn't necessarily want them to ride off into the sunset, but holy moly, it's insane. And I get that post-war was crazy, but Johannes and Elsa are in the French zone, so not the worst. I almost abandoned it, but I hope that the author would somehow bring it together, and she really didn't.
Not recommended.