Reviews

Fatherland by Robert Harris

lidotchka's review

4.0

★★★★☆ - Way better than what I was expecting.

Even though it took me two months to read this book, it was way better than I thought. I absolutely love alternate history and [b:Fatherland|56842|Fatherland|Robert Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1261912137l/56842._SY75_.jpg|405136], as well as [b:The Man in the High Castle|216363|The Man in the High Castle|Philip K. Dick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1448756803l/216363._SY75_.jpg|2398287], are very well-known in this domain and usually have positive reviews.
I didn't know what I was expecting when I started reading [b:Fatherland|56842|Fatherland|Robert Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1261912137l/56842._SY75_.jpg|405136], but definitely not that. It was an amazing experience however.
Honestly, when the protagonists start their investigation, everyone who studied at least a bit of history knows what they will find. What's interesting is what their reaction will be.
The only reason I don't give this book a 5-star review is that sometimes it was incredibly long. There are entire chapters where the story just stagnate. You are waiting for something to happen, but this thing never come.
Also the ending? Definitely not what I was expecting, but kinda great? I mean, it's original and no, that does not mean it's bad. I would have liked a few more chapters to know what will happen, everything is only suggested and you have to guess and/or to imagine the ending you want.
I definitely recommend this book though. It's amazing and I will probably read more of [a:Robert Harris|575|Robert Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445968924p2/575.jpg] in the future.

rounding's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.0

jelena666's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

kgb5183's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

dilchh's review against another edition

4.0

My first Robert Harris book was actually The Ghost, which happens to be his sixth book. I was mesmerised by the story and I really didn’t expect that ending and the plot twist! But, hey, I’m not here to talk about The Ghost, I’m here to talk about Fatherland. But, see, the problem is that the moment I read Fatherland and was introduced to Xavier March, I automatically felt a certain familiar feeling. As the story progresses and I start to feel that March is sniffing into things bigger than he could handle, I immediately was reminded of our nameless narrator from The Ghost. That being said, my whole outlook towards Fatherland just shifted from, “oh this seems to be quite an interesting story“, into “oh dear what have I gotten myself into? I’m bloody scared for March now.”

This is such an amazing story telling, one minute you’re scared half to death, and the next you’re feeling an amazing adrenaline rush for March’s investigation and race against the time. But, what’s amazing is that this is not just a story about killing and finding the bad guy, this is also about politics, about being lost, about not feeling like you belong to where you are currently. It’s amazing in the way that I had a hard time finishing the book because I was scared shitless.

katykelly's review

5.0

So frightening - what if?
Great story, good thriller, well written.
Also recently enjoyed his newest, The Fear Index.

parttimer23's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

niamh_connolly's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

nruth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

poischiche31's review

3.5

Don’t know why, but the writing of this book confused me at times. 

Otherwise, a well-developed story. Love that the ending was open and everything wasn’t wrapped up neatly with a bow—feels much more realistic when the ending simply isn’t much of one at all.