Reviews

I devoured this novel. It definitely hits as a thrilling read but I think my favorite parts were the friendships and relationships between all the characters. Between the intrigue of the story, it really is a coming of age novel, and you can’t help but get lost in the milieu of 1989 Berlin.

whatabetty's review against another edition

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4.0

1989! gay! west Berlin! spies! geology! this had it all.

randa23's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

someday_linda's review against another edition

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5.0

„And this might have been my lasting memory of summer 1989. Even that moment I might have forgotten, recalling only my A levels and the Wall if people asked what that year had meant to me. But of course, in the end, 1989 meant neither of those things. It just meant Oz, and espionage – how grand that word sounds now – and I suppose my family and the terrible things we did.“

Doesn’t that make you wanting to pick this book immediately up? Separated Germany in 1989, espionage, secrets, betrayals and queer characters…I honestly can’t believe this book wasn’t read by more people!

I’ve always been very interested in History and of course living in Germany, German history is even more special to me. A short time ago I started watching Charité, a historical TV series about the famous German hospital in Berlin. I was absolutely amazed and binged watched the available episodes and so it came that it threw me into a German history bubble whereas I now want to read all the books and watch all the series about German history. And I’m so happy I picked up this book.
An Honest Man is set in West Berlin a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall and centers around 18-years-old Ralf who just took his A-Levels and wants to spend his last summer with his friends in Berlin before everyone leaves for universities in different places. That’s when he accidentally meets Oz, a mysterious 22 years old man with Turkish origin. Through him Ralf is thrown into a different world - full of gripping stories, Stasi spies, betrayals and desire. He is asked by Oz to help him convict a potential spy from East Berlin who happens to be Ralfs neighbor.
Up to this point the only thing Ralf didn’t have in common with his friends was his bilingual upbringing as his mother is British (which is an interesting element in this book) and his conflicting feelings about his sexuality. But now it’s becoming harder to spend time with his friends and his girlfriend while trying to keep his ‚mission‘ a secret. Nevertheless I loved how the reader still gets to learn more about the side characters - I really thought them very funny, familiar and found myself wishing I could take part in their nightly outings. Same with Ralfs parents and little brother. The protagonist obviously has a safe support system and that’s the reason I was so anxious about what would happen in the course of the story, when everything is finally revealed.
I personally loved the ending because for me it just fit the story, it wasn’t far fetched at all and made perfect sense. There was also a nice little surprise that I was very grateful about.
I thought I’d read a little spy story, maybe heavy on politics. But I found so much more…with characters who came alive and whom the author fleshed out in the most wholesome way. The different threads of the book were played out together so perfectly, and the story of Ralf and Oz becomes more and more complicated as he – and us – start to question everyone and everything that happens. Who is telling the truth? Who is the real spy? As the reader comes closer to the truth, Ralf’s life is turned upside down and he has to decide what to do.
This was truly an amazing read about coming of age, history, love, friendship, betrayal and loyalty that could also be read as a little detective story.