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notyourvegetable's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
wieso hat man es für richtig empfunden dieses buch als pflichtlektüre zu nehmen?
Graphic: Genocide and Rape
moondragon8's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
read this one for class! really good, although i will say up front it's one of those books where you just kind of have to accept at the beginning that you're not going to entirely understand what's happening most of the time, and just sort of do your best to enjoy the ride. or you can try and make a whole timeline/character relationship chart. i actually might do that later, when i'm not sleepy and don't have like 7 readings due tomorrow. anyway. good book! love it when there is a house.
DEAR LORD MIND THE CONTENT WARNINGS
DEAR LORD MIND THE CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Child death, Sexual violence, Genocide, Antisemitism, Deportation, Confinement, Grief, Excrement, Rape, Death of parent, War, and Sexual assault
funktious's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A fantastic read. I've always loved books that evoke a strong sense of place and this has that in spades - the book is about the setting itself, a house on the shores of a lake in East Germany, and the characters come and go through the years the story covers. The Gardener is the only consistent character and gives strong 'green man' vibes. The only named characters are the Jewish owners who are forced to give up their land to escape - one of their chapters had me tears. Other characters include the architect of the house, a Red Army general, a communist author, a refugee. The structure changes with each chapter / viewpoint and it can be challenging, but the author is so talented that you feel such sympathy with every character as you puzzle out the way they're telling their part of the story. Will definitely benefit from a re-read.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Genocide
gracie_schrader19's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Genocide
serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Visitation is a short, deceptively simple book. At one level it is the story of a house on a lake in Brandenburg and the different people who live there over the years. At another level it is the history of Germany, nearly a hundred years of history in roughly 150 pages. It’s a novel in stories, each one centred on a new inhabitant. Interspersed are accounts of the gardener as he goes about his day caring for the land as best as he is able. Erpenbeck’s tone is slightly detached, yet the stories are richly detailed and finely observed. Despite not knowing the names of most characters and their stories lasting only a few pages I found myself deeply invested in the fate of many of them, including and possibly especially the house. The writing was gorgeous, evocative and understated. A hidden gem I’m glad to have discovered.
Graphic: Genocide and Rape
upnorth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Rape and Genocide
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