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A review by penguiniq
When We Cease to Understand the World by BenjamÃn Labatut, Adrian Nathan West
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-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
2.5
This right here is why Real Person Fic has a certain stigma in fanfic circles. To call this anything other than bougie early 20th century mathematician RPF wrapped up in philosophical rambling would be a lie.
I will readily admit that my personal bias against the trend in lit fic to portray the Holocaust / Nazism caused a gut negative reaction in the early sections of the book.
Overall my low rating comes down to a lack of comfort: I was simply uncomfortable with the line being walked between fiction and biography, and with a non-Jewish person using the Holocaust to wax poetic.
In fact, the book was fleetingly salvaged at the end when the author treaded into auto-fiction. The scenes in Chile lacked the gut feeling of exploitation that many of the previous scenes were draped in.
I will readily admit that my personal bias against the trend in lit fic to portray the Holocaust / Nazism caused a gut negative reaction in the early sections of the book.
Overall my low rating comes down to a lack of comfort: I was simply uncomfortable with the line being walked between fiction and biography, and with a non-Jewish person using the Holocaust to wax poetic.
In fact, the book was fleetingly salvaged at the end when the author treaded into auto-fiction. The scenes in Chile lacked the gut feeling of exploitation that many of the previous scenes were draped in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Mental illness
Moderate: War and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide