yummygingerdrink 's review for:

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck

4.0

dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The beauty of the translated prose makes this an easy read while the plot and characters add some more challenge. I can't say that I loved the main characters, but I really enjoyed reading about them. Though, I detest Hans and spent a majority of the book hoping he would get hit by a tram. I found Katharina's story line to resonate emotionally. I have so much empathy for her. I enjoyed how the author played with the background of the story. At times it felt almost insignificant to the main characters in the story, with the personal implications of the politics falling secondary to the struggle of the abusive relationship between the two main characters. I think that this absolutely worked for the story. I felt that it made the relationship more overwhelming, obsessive, and overbearing. 

A great read, I really enjoyed the pacing as well.