oelia 's review for:

Das Muschelessen by Birgit Vanderbeke

2.5

dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The core concept and the characters in this book are compelling. It makes me want to put the father in a meat grinder which speaks to the dark reality this book portrays. But oh my god I can't get over the prose. I know it serves a purpose but it's so style-over-substance. It's really annoying and the worst part about it is, it turns what could be a story about a meal with the conversation being the centerpiece (the daughter could have her excretion of words THERE) of the novel into 130 pages of exposition dumping. I just don't understand the creative choice here.