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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
A quick read even for me. A fairly good story without a great deal of beautiful writing. Split into three parts, each surrounding a different period of a relationship/obsession between two Germans after WWII. The sparse writing style, while making for an easy read, perhaps also helped define the detached emotional character of the narrator as he struggled to either embrace or forget his past and the past of what was probably his only true love.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
Really makes one question morals and ethics. This book is insightful and hugely important and I’m glad I read it.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
"Maybe I did write our story to be free of it, even if I never can be." I found this to be a strangely realistic and numbing story in which the passion Hanna brought to Michael's life ebbs as the story goes on to the sad last pages of love and loss. I am hesitant to say "Love" and loss because I believe Hanna's use of Michael was destructive and left Michael dysfunctional for the rest of his life in physical and mental ways-and when Michael finally describes her as a criminal, I realized it was the only true description of her in the book. I'm not sure if Bernhard wanted to give Hanna some redemption with her charity but in the end this was a short read, so I guess you have nothing to lose if you decide to read it.
2020 reread: It's different now that I'm 25 years old, I related now that I've loved and lost.
2020 reread: It's different now that I'm 25 years old, I related now that I've loved and lost.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes