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yoonka's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sharonnhong's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kickupthefire's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn’t finish this book - the main character is vain and completely myopic, getting deeper and deeper into an infuriating situation, and the treatment of a disabled character and old fashioned attitudes were just too depressing. I got over half way and just didn’t have the energy for the rest. I read a synopsis instead, which confirmed I made the right decision (for me at-least - I can see plenty of other people love this book).
spadeano's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
slrsnz'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
4.5
“Can’t you understand one’s losing oneself in a day-dream for a moment, when one has dreamed only one dream day and night, year in year out?”
Beautifully written, brought up a lot of mixed emotions. All I can say is Hofmiller is a giant coward and Fleetwood Mac’s Silver Springs shall forever be relevant.
Beautifully written, brought up a lot of mixed emotions. All I can say is Hofmiller is a giant coward and Fleetwood Mac’s Silver Springs shall forever be relevant.
lilyhduong's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
slichto3's review against another edition
3.0
I love Stefan Zweig's writing style. At least, I think I do - I'm pretty sure it's all translated so… But I love the flow of everything I've read by him, and Beware of Pity is no different. It manages to move very well while vividly describing the story and only very rarely feeling excessive. His prose is a pleasure to read.
As a story, Beware of Pity is also entertaining and powerful. It concerns a young lieutenant in the Austrian army before World War I. This lieutenant, Hofmiller, commits a very awkward faux pas when he asks a young girl who is crippled to dance. In penance, Hofmiller visits the girl, Edith, once. Then twice. And then on and on until he's developed a bond with her and her family. He finds that Edith's father used to be a very hard working and avaricious man. But when Edith's father discovered his wife, then daughter, his desire for money shifted to a desire to make them both supremely happy. But the wife dies, and Edith is struck lame, so his task is difficult. Hofmiller is able to raise the spirits of the whole family with his regular visits, but his visits, while inspired by pity, inspire, in Edith, love. This puts Hofmiller into a very dramatic situation and… it goes on from there.
While Beware of Pity is a great story, it would probably have been better suited as a short story or novella. There's just a lot of Hofmiller going "alackaday!" While that's important to set the stakes, it just goes on for quite a while. Even while I enjoyed the overall story and prose, I found the book itself to be a bit of a slog. I still want to read plenty more of Zweig, but I don't think this is the best example of his work.
As a story, Beware of Pity is also entertaining and powerful. It concerns a young lieutenant in the Austrian army before World War I. This lieutenant, Hofmiller, commits a very awkward faux pas when he asks a young girl who is crippled to dance. In penance, Hofmiller visits the girl, Edith, once. Then twice. And then on and on until he's developed a bond with her and her family. He finds that Edith's father used to be a very hard working and avaricious man. But when Edith's father discovered his wife, then daughter, his desire for money shifted to a desire to make them both supremely happy. But the wife dies, and Edith is struck lame, so his task is difficult. Hofmiller is able to raise the spirits of the whole family with his regular visits, but his visits, while inspired by pity, inspire, in Edith, love. This puts Hofmiller into a very dramatic situation and… it goes on from there.
While Beware of Pity is a great story, it would probably have been better suited as a short story or novella. There's just a lot of Hofmiller going "alackaday!" While that's important to set the stakes, it just goes on for quite a while. Even while I enjoyed the overall story and prose, I found the book itself to be a bit of a slog. I still want to read plenty more of Zweig, but I don't think this is the best example of his work.
noemie_0612's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty