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sophiebillekens's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
agnes_i's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Vicky Baum captivatingly describes Balinese culture and way of life with a lot of detail. Towards the end of the book, she also describes how the Balinese viewed the Dutch invaders culturally. The story is based on historical facts, which she describes from the Balinese point of view. The end is rather dramatic.
caramay's review
3.0
It was informative and, to an extent, enjoyable, but the pacing was not quite to my liking/ preferred pace. Also, the chapters were a bit long.
szeglin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and War
paul_cornelius's review against another edition
5.0
Before reading Love and Death in Bali, I did not know Vicki Baum at all. Of course, I had heard of Grand Hotel. But even in that instance, I had only seen the 1932 move and not read the novel. So Bali was an utter surprise to me. I didn't know what to expect. Turns out, that it is one of the most fascinating stories of Southeast Asia I've yet read.
Written in 1937 and set in a period from 1904 to 1906, when the Dutch intervened to enforce direct rule on Bali, the book focuses mostly on the lives and beliefs of a Balinese village. There is a secondary portrait of the Dutch officials. But the vast majority of Baum's novel details and sympathizes with the Balinese. Overall, Bali seems reminiscent in style to Pearl Buck's China novels. Added in, however, is a sense of urgency to the situation of Bali. And it's remarkable how Baum achieves this. For right from the beginning, even if you didn't know the history of events, Baum lets the reader know that a massacre and slaughter looms at book's end. Yet so vivid is the telling of the individual lives and aspirations, you can't help but begin to worry almost immediately who will survive and who will not. In this instance, actually, it sort of reminds me of Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, published a decade before Baum's work.
Baum herself was something of an adventuress. She studied boxing, came to the United States in 1932, and acquired American citizenship in the wake of Nazi rule in Germany. In 1935, she lived in Bali and became friends with the painter Walter Spies, whose knowledge of Bali helped form the outline for Love and Death in Bali.
Written in 1937 and set in a period from 1904 to 1906, when the Dutch intervened to enforce direct rule on Bali, the book focuses mostly on the lives and beliefs of a Balinese village. There is a secondary portrait of the Dutch officials. But the vast majority of Baum's novel details and sympathizes with the Balinese. Overall, Bali seems reminiscent in style to Pearl Buck's China novels. Added in, however, is a sense of urgency to the situation of Bali. And it's remarkable how Baum achieves this. For right from the beginning, even if you didn't know the history of events, Baum lets the reader know that a massacre and slaughter looms at book's end. Yet so vivid is the telling of the individual lives and aspirations, you can't help but begin to worry almost immediately who will survive and who will not. In this instance, actually, it sort of reminds me of Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, published a decade before Baum's work.
Baum herself was something of an adventuress. She studied boxing, came to the United States in 1932, and acquired American citizenship in the wake of Nazi rule in Germany. In 1935, she lived in Bali and became friends with the painter Walter Spies, whose knowledge of Bali helped form the outline for Love and Death in Bali.
jenlouden's review
3.0
Great resource if you are wanting to know more about the history of Bali. I read a history book first which helped. The writing style is a bit dated (mid 1930's) but otherwise a compelling read.
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