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kinklekota's review against another edition
3.0
It's flawed, but thematically and stylistically interesting. I believe it could be great if it was pared down a bit. It's strange to say about a 200-page book, but it's just too long.
stone_stupas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Death of parent
pearloz's review against another edition
4.0
Great book--a weird road trip novel that sounds more fun than it is (3 childhood friends, more or less, rent a hearse to recover one of their mother's body from another country after it is lost en route from Germany to Chile). The book is serious and each of our characters are burdened by the shadow of history (while that history remains vague to the reader; we get fleeting hints in vague flashbacks), represented in the novel by a steady descent of ash falling from the sky, coating everything, everyone, clogging engines, etc. Loved this book--and I'm interested in this Ash phenomenon.
alisarae's review against another edition
#AlisaReadstheWorld Chile
That was weird. I understand the symbolism for the most part (some of it is quite obvious). But it is a weird dreamesque story. That is what I have thought of every piece of South American literature that i have ever read. It is just very very different than what I am used to reading, and I read a lot of snobby literary stuff. But, that is why I am on a quest to read a book from every country in the world. To read things that I am not used to.
That was weird. I understand the symbolism for the most part (some of it is quite obvious). But it is a weird dreamesque story. That is what I have thought of every piece of South American literature that i have ever read. It is just very very different than what I am used to reading, and I read a lot of snobby literary stuff. But, that is why I am on a quest to read a book from every country in the world. To read things that I am not used to.
sweddy65's review against another edition
4.0
This was hard, both because of the off-kilter quality of the main characters, the ash falling from the sky, the beforetimes which shape the book but are rarely front and center, and the structure.
What do we do about the disappeared, the exiled, the dead?
What do we do about the disappeared, the exiled, the dead?
patroclusbro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.25
Die Differenz ist eine starke Figurenstudie, eine Novelle fast, die meiner Meinung nach zu Recht den Anna-Seghers-Preis 2022 erhalten hat.
Alia Trabucco Zerán schreibt über die drei Einzelkinder früherer kommunistischer, chilenischer Widerstandskämpfer:innen und ihren Versuchen, die Vergangenheit und Gegenwart zu verknüpfen, Verluste und Leerstellen greifen zu lernen. Paloma, die die Leiche ihrer Mutter zurück nach Santiago überführen will, Felipe, der nicht aufhören kann, Schmerz und Tod zu kartografieren, Iquela, der scheinbar immer nur alles geschieht, ohne dass sie weiß, was sie darüber fühlen und denken soll.
Ähnlich wie die Figuren selbst versuchen, sich und ihre Welt zu verstehen, werden die Einzelheiten und Hintergründe der Geschichte nur allmählich aufgedeckt, was sicher auf einige Leser:innen unzugänglich wirken kann. Vieles bleibt dabei vage und offen in einer Sprache, die häufig Düsteres und Ekelhaftes beschreibt, aber trotzdem sanft und feinfühlig bleibt (die deutsche Überstzung hat mir sehr gut gefallen). Wenn man sich darauf einlassen kann, wird eine ganze Welt geöffnet.
Ich denke es gibt Synergien für Fans von: Cantoras (Carolina de Robertis), Was rot war (Enrico Ippolito), Roter Affe (Káska Bryla), Diese Geschichte (Alessandro Baricco).
Alia Trabucco Zerán schreibt über die drei Einzelkinder früherer kommunistischer, chilenischer Widerstandskämpfer:innen und ihren Versuchen, die Vergangenheit und Gegenwart zu verknüpfen, Verluste und Leerstellen greifen zu lernen. Paloma, die die Leiche ihrer Mutter zurück nach Santiago überführen will, Felipe, der nicht aufhören kann, Schmerz und Tod zu kartografieren, Iquela, der scheinbar immer nur alles geschieht, ohne dass sie weiß, was sie darüber fühlen und denken soll.
Ähnlich wie die Figuren selbst versuchen, sich und ihre Welt zu verstehen, werden die Einzelheiten und Hintergründe der Geschichte nur allmählich aufgedeckt, was sicher auf einige Leser:innen unzugänglich wirken kann. Vieles bleibt dabei vage und offen in einer Sprache, die häufig Düsteres und Ekelhaftes beschreibt, aber trotzdem sanft und feinfühlig bleibt (die deutsche Überstzung hat mir sehr gut gefallen). Wenn man sich darauf einlassen kann, wird eine ganze Welt geöffnet.
Ich denke es gibt Synergien für Fans von: Cantoras (Carolina de Robertis), Was rot war (Enrico Ippolito), Roter Affe (Káska Bryla), Diese Geschichte (Alessandro Baricco).
merry_bryson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
fem71's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
chelseamartinez's review against another edition
4.0
This is a slight road trip novel. South America is vast and I have only been once, but in parts you can travel across a few nations pretty quickly, like cutting into New England after crossing New York State lengthwise. I mailed this book back to the library because I didn't have time to make the drive to that library district the week it was due, and it got lost in the mail and I'll have to pay for it. I'd like to know the librarian who purchased it; someone there has been buying lots of good international fiction in paperback. Sorry Cypress Library.
silviaamaturo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25