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dadoodoflow's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It took me forever to read this book for some reason, despite the stellar prose.
kvik's review
Have tried to get into this book before but I just can’t. I can’t abide the writing unfortunately; it’s too metaphorical for me.
colorfulleo92's review
4.0
I have never read anything by Herta Muller before and I'm glad I gave her books a try. She writes both beautiful and emotional which was both engaging and captivating. I have to admit I know nothing about the events describes in the book but I thought it was a very good book nevertheless
pearloz's review
3.0
Didn't really come together for me like previous books of hers I've read, although the voice and structure are consistent: snapshots of a crumbled and authoritarian yet industrious Romania, it's cold, hard people scrambling for existence, trying to strike a balance between duty and personal freedom, a barely-there plot. It's challenging in that there is no romance and little kindness, it just feels like a narrative of disillusioned people surviving. I don't know that she hadn't written this book already.
forfoxsake's review
Lyrical to the point of losing the plot.
Possibly due to being lost in translation or just the writing style I found it confusing and difficult to get through.
Personally, just not for me.
Possibly due to being lost in translation or just the writing style I found it confusing and difficult to get through.
Personally, just not for me.
martha_g's review
The narrative tone was bleak and detached. The author won a Nobel Prize so I’ll try another book by her down the road.
salzballz's review
1.0
I think I’m just not smart enough for this book. Went right over my head and I was bored the whole time.
simona_miroiu's review against another edition
5.0
It may be difficult to get immersed in her writing, her style is like watching a movie filmed on high speed with a handheld camera. But if you experienced the era she is so lyrically snapshotting, once you get used to her style and keep focused, every sentence breaks your heart.