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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Don’t know why, but the writing of this book confused me at times.
Otherwise, a well-developed story. Love that the ending was open and everything wasn’t wrapped up neatly with a bow—feels much more realistic when the ending simply isn’t much of one at all.
Otherwise, a well-developed story. Love that the ending was open and everything wasn’t wrapped up neatly with a bow—feels much more realistic when the ending simply isn’t much of one at all.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have to admit that during the first few pages of Robert Harris' Vaterland, I wasn't particularly impressed. The book seemed to rely on many typical clichés that initially appeared superficial and contrived to me. However, as the book progressed, a coherent picture emerged that gradually drew me in.
The story of the protagonist, Kripo detective March, may seem utopian at first glance, but ultimately, this is the central theme of the book. The plot is cleverly constructed and remains suspenseful until the very end. The increasing hopelessness and helplessness of March are frightening and are reflected emotionally and intelligently.
The book's dark and oppressive atmosphere deeply touched me. The tension remains until the end, and the book provides plenty of food for thought for some time after reading. I must say that this book will stay with me for a long time.
Although I was initially skeptical, I can wholeheartedly recommend Vaterland by Robert Harris. It is an engrossing tale with a dark atmosphere that captivates the reader until the end.
The story of the protagonist, Kripo detective March, may seem utopian at first glance, but ultimately, this is the central theme of the book. The plot is cleverly constructed and remains suspenseful until the very end. The increasing hopelessness and helplessness of March are frightening and are reflected emotionally and intelligently.
The book's dark and oppressive atmosphere deeply touched me. The tension remains until the end, and the book provides plenty of food for thought for some time after reading. I must say that this book will stay with me for a long time.
Although I was initially skeptical, I can wholeheartedly recommend Vaterland by Robert Harris. It is an engrossing tale with a dark atmosphere that captivates the reader until the end.
I'm a sucker for speculative alternate history stories especially those that manage to merge telling a story and exploring the setting itself. Fatherland definitely airs on the latter side, but in this case it may be an instance of Nazi-centric stories only really have couple of obvious routes they tend to go. I'll get more into it later, while dodging spoilers, so let's find out if this Noir is worth reading?
It's the 1960s and Xavier March is a detective for Kriminalpolizei in Berlin where on a rainy night he gets called in as drowned body is discovered. The catch? Fuhrertag is only a week away as Hitler's 75th birthday approaches in this alternate history where Nazi Germany had, in fact, been much more successful in World War 2 and now dominates Europe as it draws a new map. Naturally, story goes places far beyond a simple drowned case and that brings me to what I mentioned in the opening - there are couple of obvious take a Nazi story can go, and Fatherland DOES go there. You can guess for yourself what I'm talking about. What makes the premise interesting is how it's foreshadowed towards organically as sort of public secret people willingly turn a blind eye to. After all, no one really believes all undesirables got "sent East to fight". Xavier himself gets a dose of this when he begins interacting with a visiting American journalist who shares her country's opinion on this regime and rumors of their atrocities.
I won't go much into the setting as it is a strong reason to actually read the novel, arguably more than the murder mystery it opens up with. Makes me wonder what native Germans would think about how author expands existing history for 20-ish fictional years. Interesting spin is how Bolsheviks get our real-life Nazi treatment with studies and museums dedicated to their evils. Some other examples air more on the silly side if you ask me. How the US still drop atomic bombs on Japan only for Germany to respond in such show of arms that Americans are cowed into staying out of Europe. Even the Cold War has its equivalent here, for example. It's for that reason I think Fatherland makes the correct decision to situate itself in the fictional '60s has the freedom to be removed enough from WW2 history to carve its own world in return.
For a society where everyone wears uniforms I was pleased to see there's enough character to go around. March himself is an atypical men, even branded as "asocial" by some, who still does his job despite personal problems. He's the kind of protagonist who makes the mistake of not knowing when to let go when told to because SS have claimed jurisdiction, but also the kind of person smart enough to see a trap only to willingly walk into it because that's the only way forward. In classical fashion of confronting East vs West, or rather changed Europe vs US in this instance, there's Charlotte Maguire as the American journalist with her own determination and tale to spin. If you know your way around Noir you can tell where this is going and it involves lots of danger and thrills. Antagonists seem to come naturally when you have a deck of SS faces to draw from and Fatherland is no exception. Supporting cast is all well and good, but you should remember the kind of country you live in and what sort of people live long enough to tell tales. Or rather, they don't.
Would I recommend Fatherland? If you want a decent mystery story, yes. It didn't amaze me and you can see plenty of curveballs before they come your way, but the speculative angle held greater appeal to me. My predilection for world building and all. There's really only one ending for the kind of story this is and I'm glad SOME hope was left hanging.
It's the 1960s and Xavier March is a detective for Kriminalpolizei in Berlin where on a rainy night he gets called in as drowned body is discovered. The catch? Fuhrertag is only a week away as Hitler's 75th birthday approaches in this alternate history where Nazi Germany had, in fact, been much more successful in World War 2 and now dominates Europe as it draws a new map. Naturally, story goes places far beyond a simple drowned case and that brings me to what I mentioned in the opening - there are couple of obvious take a Nazi story can go, and Fatherland DOES go there. You can guess for yourself what I'm talking about. What makes the premise interesting is how it's foreshadowed towards organically as sort of public secret people willingly turn a blind eye to. After all, no one really believes all undesirables got "sent East to fight". Xavier himself gets a dose of this when he begins interacting with a visiting American journalist who shares her country's opinion on this regime and rumors of their atrocities.
I won't go much into the setting as it is a strong reason to actually read the novel, arguably more than the murder mystery it opens up with. Makes me wonder what native Germans would think about how author expands existing history for 20-ish fictional years. Interesting spin is how Bolsheviks get our real-life Nazi treatment with studies and museums dedicated to their evils. Some other examples air more on the silly side if you ask me. How the US still drop atomic bombs on Japan only for Germany to respond in such show of arms that Americans are cowed into staying out of Europe. Even the Cold War has its equivalent here, for example. It's for that reason I think Fatherland makes the correct decision to situate itself in the fictional '60s has the freedom to be removed enough from WW2 history to carve its own world in return.
For a society where everyone wears uniforms I was pleased to see there's enough character to go around. March himself is an atypical men, even branded as "asocial" by some, who still does his job despite personal problems. He's the kind of protagonist who makes the mistake of not knowing when to let go when told to because SS have claimed jurisdiction, but also the kind of person smart enough to see a trap only to willingly walk into it because that's the only way forward. In classical fashion of confronting East vs West, or rather changed Europe vs US in this instance, there's Charlotte Maguire as the American journalist with her own determination and tale to spin. If you know your way around Noir you can tell where this is going and it involves lots of danger and thrills. Antagonists seem to come naturally when you have a deck of SS faces to draw from and Fatherland is no exception. Supporting cast is all well and good, but you should remember the kind of country you live in and what sort of people live long enough to tell tales. Or rather, they don't.
Would I recommend Fatherland? If you want a decent mystery story, yes. It didn't amaze me and you can see plenty of curveballs before they come your way, but the speculative angle held greater appeal to me. My predilection for world building and all. There's really only one ending for the kind of story this is and I'm glad SOME hope was left hanging.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A