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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 rounded down.
The end was good and exactly what I was looking for from this book; the first-half bait-and-switch art heist dragged on for way too long and it felt kind of icky for the romance to be such a prominent part of this story. Trying to be a thriller/mystery/romance and a cutting commentary about WWII-era Germany at the same time, which is an odd combination that didn’t land quite right for me. Reminds me of something my high school history teacher would say: “There’s no difference between saying ‘the Holocaust was horrible’, and ‘the Holocaust was very horrible.’” Some atrocities speak for themselves, and their magnitude doesn’t really benefit from dramatization.
The end was good and exactly what I was looking for from this book; the first-half bait-and-switch art heist dragged on for way too long and it felt kind of icky for the romance to be such a prominent part of this story. Trying to be a thriller/mystery/romance and a cutting commentary about WWII-era Germany at the same time, which is an odd combination that didn’t land quite right for me. Reminds me of something my high school history teacher would say: “There’s no difference between saying ‘the Holocaust was horrible’, and ‘the Holocaust was very horrible.’” Some atrocities speak for themselves, and their magnitude doesn’t really benefit from dramatization.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have wanted to read “Fatherland” (1992) by Robert Harris for some time because of the contrafactual historical angle of the book. It takes place in 1964, but in a world where Nazi Germany has won World War II and Nazism permeates every part of German life. This makes the novel dystopian in nature and thus may bring to mind dystopian classics such as George Orwell’s “1984”.
The story is a classical thriller about Xavier March, a detective from Kripo – or Kriminalpolizei – who is starting to question the Nazi system and feeling alienated from the world around him. When a dead body is discovered and subsequently revealed to be that of a former prominent Party member, events are set in motion that threaten March’ entire world: Corruption, potential political scandal, hidden agendas, the Gestapo, the works.
We even get a love interest in the form of a young American journalist to add a little tension and outside interest. I actually found this aspect of the story the least interesting and most unconvincing. The journalist is much less fleshed out than main character March and has a touch of the male fantasy about her (attracted to older men, eager to get into bed, etc.) Given the context, their relation makes very little sense to me.
The thriller aspects of the novel are generally fine but nothing out of the ordinary, I would say. A solid 3 star read. The selling point – what truly sets this book apart from other political thrillers and earns it my 4th star – is without a doubt the contrafactual historical setting. Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of World War II will be able to appreciate Harris’ masterful world building. Even if thrillers are not your normal cup of tea, I would recommend the book for the world building alone.
The story is a classical thriller about Xavier March, a detective from Kripo – or Kriminalpolizei – who is starting to question the Nazi system and feeling alienated from the world around him. When a dead body is discovered and subsequently revealed to be that of a former prominent Party member, events are set in motion that threaten March’ entire world: Corruption, potential political scandal, hidden agendas, the Gestapo, the works.
We even get a love interest in the form of a young American journalist to add a little tension and outside interest. I actually found this aspect of the story the least interesting and most unconvincing. The journalist is much less fleshed out than main character March and has a touch of the male fantasy about her (attracted to older men, eager to get into bed, etc.) Given the context, their relation makes very little sense to me.
The thriller aspects of the novel are generally fine but nothing out of the ordinary, I would say. A solid 3 star read. The selling point – what truly sets this book apart from other political thrillers and earns it my 4th star – is without a doubt the contrafactual historical setting. Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of World War II will be able to appreciate Harris’ masterful world building. Even if thrillers are not your normal cup of tea, I would recommend the book for the world building alone.
Positive: The idea is spectacular and scary at the same time. The description of the society and world order could fit into a horror story.
Negative: The first chapters were very ordinary and I didn't liked to traditional (and predictable) love story.
Full review in Danish: http://denlillebogblog.blogspot.dk/2010/10/fatherland.html
Negative: The first chapters were very ordinary and I didn't liked to traditional (and predictable) love story.
Full review in Danish: http://denlillebogblog.blogspot.dk/2010/10/fatherland.html
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No