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emmamacdonald's review against another edition
3.0
“I found myself among people with whom I could not establish the slightest connection, let alone like them; I moved among them as though colliding against hard sharp objects which wounded my body.”
akilaaaaa's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Genocide
meganhowes's review
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kayleighoneillonwheels's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and War
tmfrancis's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
migrex's review against another edition
5.0
A story about a man who determines to come out of WWII "unscathed," without succumbing to the weakness of heroics. He survives but it remains to be seen if his actions were worth the price and if he has really succeeded in his quest. I think some context is necessary, in particular regarding the concept of Volksdeutsch, upon which a large part of this story hinges.
noacohen's review
4.0
I would love to see this as an arthouse movie from the 70s.
This story is great at creating a somewhat reprehensible but also deeply relatable character. Much as we would like to believe otherwise, how many of us would really risk our lives to die as heroes under Nazi occupation? There are are incidences where the narrator is clearly acting horribly (see the incident with the caretaker and Gestapo) but I think that much of the novella looks at moral ambiguity. An uncomfortable but excellent read.
This story is great at creating a somewhat reprehensible but also deeply relatable character. Much as we would like to believe otherwise, how many of us would really risk our lives to die as heroes under Nazi occupation? There are are incidences where the narrator is clearly acting horribly (see the incident with the caretaker and Gestapo) but I think that much of the novella looks at moral ambiguity. An uncomfortable but excellent read.
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