A review by larabavery
Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

Take Arrested Development and recast it with 18th century German gentry. Mann (and his brilliant English translator John Woods) paint the undeserved wealth of this family with vanity, hubris, and listlessness, and somehow you still root for them as they slowly fall into decay. Took me five months to finish and I enjoyed every minute.