Reviews

The Loft by Marlen Haushofer

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review

challenging reflective slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Animal cruelty

captainhotbun's review

dark reflective

4.25

leneliest's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Animal cruelty

margaret21's review

2.0

I'm out of step here. Nea​rly all ​reviews, and certainly the ​reviews of ​reade​rs whose views I ​respect have been unreservedly glowing. So I approached this book with a high degree of positivity. And then - I had real difficulty making myself finish it. I found the characters dismal and unsympathetic, and the whole thing downright depressing. Obviously I'm missing something important. I just don't know what,

herbstgeraschel's review against another edition

4.0

4.5

yungjulchen's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

an_ja's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective

3.5

jola_g's review

4.0

Bizarre, eerily unsettling, lyrical. Alluring and disturbing at the same time. I was captivated right from the start but at the very end, it became too dense, too creepy for my liking. The scene with kittens crossed my emotional security line and made me furious. As a result, I felt relieved when ’The Loft’ ended.

On the other hand, the astonishing originality of Marlene Haushofer’s writing style and uniqueness of her vision of the world, framed into a fluid, pulsating narrative form, took my breath away. I can imagine how transfixed the readers must have been in 1969, when the novel was published. It still feels fresh.

I have a feeling that I have been more affected and touched by ’The Loft’ than I realize now.

Review to come.

literatur_unterwegs's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mary_jo's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0