Reviews

Бильярд в половине десятого by Heinrich Böll

zulala's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Great book to look at the German reality after the world wars from a new perspective. Unusual timeline adds depth to the novel. 

shagan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

outtiegw's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

scrapespaghetti's review against another edition

2.0

Nicht versöhnt Order.
Architect. Demolition.
past - present

faintgirl's review against another edition

4.0

Billiards at Half Past Nine is a creeper. Robert Faehmel's family was torn apart by the Nazis during World War II, yet as a trained architect he became part of am infrastructure destruction crew, slashing and burning history and homes in front of the advancing Allies. Since the war he has relied on a strict daily regimen to regain control of his life, until this regimen is broken and he is forced to confront the darkest event of his past.

The characters in this novel are beautifully drawn, real and whole. The relationships within the family are forefront, as is the damage wreaked by differing ideals. It's a harsh critique of a regime with a redemption story at the heart.

squishmallow161's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

infinimata's review against another edition

4.0

Tour de force. (Mistakenly applied five-star rating at first; it's a four, but a four-plus.)

mary_mcknight's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

schatzkatze's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

Drei Generationen über den ersten und zweiten Weltkrieg verteilt und an einen Tag 1959 in Rückblicken erzählt: Heinrich, der Großvater, der die Abtei des Ortes gebaut hat, Robert, der Sohn,  der diese als Sprengmeister im zweiten Weltkrieg gesprengt hat und Joseph, der Enkel, der am Wiederaufbau beteiligt werden soll. Johanna, die Großmutter, die seit der Nazizeit in einer Nervenheilanstalt wohnt und versucht während einer Militärparade Rache an einem Altnazi zu nehmen. Das Buch zeigt sehr gut die beinahe übergangslose Zeit zwischen der ersten Kriegsbegeisterung der Deutschen und der zweiten. Verlorene Generationen, die um Verluste von Geschwistern, Freunden und Kindern trauern zwischen nicht bestraften Tätern,  die in den 50ern die Politik in Deutschland mitgestalten.

debonairsaltydog's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0