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olvsg's review against another edition
3.0
werther: i could be a better boyfriend than him!
charlotta: *monkey covering ears emoji*
charlotta: *monkey covering ears emoji*
milkibiskis's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful prose and some interesting concepts, that feel surprisingly current but the book felt like it was dragging along, especially in the last few pages. I was in a rush to say goodbye.
kelseyrhds18's review against another edition
2.0
I can't help but think that Werther and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe together are the most famous stalkers.
guilhermedla's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
katrinepoetry's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book I've been wanting to read ever since I heard about it through a literature class many years ago - and finally, I got around to it (though I skipped the criticism).
Written in four weeks in the spring of 1774, the piece itself reflects the views on editing Goethe expresses in the story, claiming there is a certain vibrancy and urgency which can be lost if a story is over told or edited. I was also pleasantly surprised to encounter an argument for considering mental illness as an illness, considering this is a battle still being fought, in addition to the general horror stories you hear regarding mental illness dating back a few centuries.
Perhaps one of my favourite aspects of the novel was the format similarities it shared with other contemporary novels such as Frankenstein and Wieland - all written in a letter format - potentially proving its influence on the novels to be written in 1798 and 1818, both within Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean.
Granted, I can't really claim it was the most cheerful read, in particular considering its cultural effect at the time, sparking a chain of copycat suicides. Luckily, however, it's a short read. And in addition to being a classic in itself, it also lends insight into the Sturm und Drang period in Germany, know for representing extreme emotions (which this novel certainly did).
Written in four weeks in the spring of 1774, the piece itself reflects the views on editing Goethe expresses in the story, claiming there is a certain vibrancy and urgency which can be lost if a story is over told or edited. I was also pleasantly surprised to encounter an argument for considering mental illness as an illness, considering this is a battle still being fought, in addition to the general horror stories you hear regarding mental illness dating back a few centuries.
Perhaps one of my favourite aspects of the novel was the format similarities it shared with other contemporary novels such as Frankenstein and Wieland - all written in a letter format - potentially proving its influence on the novels to be written in 1798 and 1818, both within Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean.
Granted, I can't really claim it was the most cheerful read, in particular considering its cultural effect at the time, sparking a chain of copycat suicides. Luckily, however, it's a short read. And in addition to being a classic in itself, it also lends insight into the Sturm und Drang period in Germany, know for representing extreme emotions (which this novel certainly did).
ennuihappyyet's review against another edition
5.0
An achievement in sentiment and sentimentality, indeed. Though I felt more pity for the friend, Wilhelm, to whom so many of those lovesick letters are addressed. Give that guy a medal.