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lamisosoup's review against another edition
2.5
the first third of this was so painful to me that it not only put me off reading but all forms of media for a solid two months.
the rest was better, but I do feel like I probably missed a lot in my quest to just finally be done with this thing. however, I don't think I can ever bring myself to push through that first part again so I will just have to live my life knowing that I did not get the full effect of this one.
I found the introduction from rachel kushner mildly irritating which probably put me in the wrong headspace, and I've seen others talk about an afterword but my version had none (maybe that would've helped?). I expected to love this and I'm left mildly interested but not at all moved, which is probably a me problem.
the rest was better, but I do feel like I probably missed a lot in my quest to just finally be done with this thing. however, I don't think I can ever bring myself to push through that first part again so I will just have to live my life knowing that I did not get the full effect of this one.
I found the introduction from rachel kushner mildly irritating which probably put me in the wrong headspace, and I've seen others talk about an afterword but my version had none (maybe that would've helped?). I expected to love this and I'm left mildly interested but not at all moved, which is probably a me problem.
zwanessa's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ericfheiman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Another book I greatly admire, but didn’t enjoy one bit. My slow descent into philistinism continues…
causticcovercritic's review against another edition
4.0
Astonishing and strange; this must be a masterpiece, because nothing else could have made me read 50 pages of recounted dreams with actual intense interest.
chiaramasciari's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maetskenreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sind Malina und “Ich” dieselbe Person? Wenn ja, warum ist Malina ein Mann? Wird Ich durch Malina abgelöst? Wenn ja, warum? Ist Ivan daran schuld, weil er Ich verlässt? Warum kann Ich mit Ivan keine ganzen Sätze sprechen? Welche Rolle spielt Ich’s Vater in der Konzeption ihrer Figur? Welche Bedeutung hat es, dass Ich immer nur Ich ist?
duck_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
charliekusiel's review against another edition
Malina is holding me, he's sitting on the edge of the bed, and for a while neither of us speaks. My pulse isn't any faster or any slower, I show no signs of paroxysm, I am not cold, I'm not breaking out in sweat, Malina is holding me and holding me, we do not separate, for his calm has passed over to me. Then I disentangle myself from him, straighten out the pillows by myself, clasp my hands around his - it's just that I cannot look at him, I stare down at our hands as they clasp one another tighter and tighter, I cannot look at him.
casparb's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very difficult one to organise and I wonder if it misses the point to attempt. Bachmann's project is something I feel quite cautious about trying to define. The introduction describes the novel as 'a portrait in language, of female consciousness, truer than anything written since Sappho's Fragment 31.' I'm not in a position to attest to the validity of that but!! what a claim!
There's fantastic work here on untangling the knot of postwar Austria, the generational trauma and the specifically masculine character of Nazism, an unacknowledged presence until the second section. It's too easy to call that chapter a dream though there is a Freudian invitation - whatever we like, it's an absolute peak of the novel it is extraordinary writing thank you very much Ingeborg. Live, Write, Mystery.
Probably my question is whether this is the piece that completes the idea of The Yellow Wallpaper. IB provides a psychoanalytic depth that Gilman didn't have the language for so it's good to see. THEATRE
'My father has gone to the theatre. God is a show.'
There's fantastic work here on untangling the knot of postwar Austria, the generational trauma and the specifically masculine character of Nazism, an unacknowledged presence until the second section. It's too easy to call that chapter a dream though there is a Freudian invitation - whatever we like, it's an absolute peak of the novel it is extraordinary writing thank you very much Ingeborg. Live, Write, Mystery.
Probably my question is whether this is the piece that completes the idea of The Yellow Wallpaper. IB provides a psychoanalytic depth that Gilman didn't have the language for so it's good to see. THEATRE
'My father has gone to the theatre. God is a show.'
alissa_lopez's review
This book was absolutely insufferable. The prose was disjointed and dull. I tried to read this book over the better half of a month and simply could not take it any more. I struggle with putting aside books, so it really says something that I put this book down.