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hikool101's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my gosh this was phenomenal!!! From page one I was completely engaged in everything - the characters, the plot, THE WRITING. It was especially good when it was from the perspective of the MC when he was a child. Hard to put down. Easy favorite. Great work of literary fiction. 9/10
paper_is_patient's review against another edition
4.0
"Meine Kindheit lauert in mir, wie geballte Fäuste in meinen Händen lauern"
Jon Bauer gibt in seinem Debütroman die erdrückende und von Selbstzweifeln geprägte Kindheit des Ich-Erzählers wieder und erzählt von den Narben, welche diese in seinem Leben hinterlassen hat.
Den Namen des Protagonisten erfährt man nicht – bei neuen Bekanntschaften stellt er sich als „Michael“ vor. Nach jahrelangem Aufenthalt in Kanada, kehrt der 28-jährige Ich-Erzähler in sein Elternhaus zurück, um seine kranke Mutter zu pflegen. Der wiederaufgenommene Kontakt zu ihr und die erdrückende Atmosphäre des Hauses lassen ihn erneut prägende Momente seiner Kindheit durchleben.
Der Protagonist ist Einzelkind, jedoch nahm seine Mutter immer wieder neue Pflegejungen auf und schürte damit Selbstzweifel und Eifersucht mit denen ihr Sohn anschließend zu kämpfen hatte. Als der Pflegejunge Robert in die Familie kam und der Liebling der Mutter wurde, nahm diese Eifersucht schließlich extreme Züge an.
Präzise, und unzensiert beschreibt Jon Bauer die kindliche Psyche – wie wehrlos sie ist und wie schnell sie Narben fürs Leben annimmt.
Ein sprachgewaltiger Roman über die Hilflosigkeit eines Kindes und der Frage, ob man gut genug ist.
Jon Bauer gibt in seinem Debütroman die erdrückende und von Selbstzweifeln geprägte Kindheit des Ich-Erzählers wieder und erzählt von den Narben, welche diese in seinem Leben hinterlassen hat.
Den Namen des Protagonisten erfährt man nicht – bei neuen Bekanntschaften stellt er sich als „Michael“ vor. Nach jahrelangem Aufenthalt in Kanada, kehrt der 28-jährige Ich-Erzähler in sein Elternhaus zurück, um seine kranke Mutter zu pflegen. Der wiederaufgenommene Kontakt zu ihr und die erdrückende Atmosphäre des Hauses lassen ihn erneut prägende Momente seiner Kindheit durchleben.
Der Protagonist ist Einzelkind, jedoch nahm seine Mutter immer wieder neue Pflegejungen auf und schürte damit Selbstzweifel und Eifersucht mit denen ihr Sohn anschließend zu kämpfen hatte. Als der Pflegejunge Robert in die Familie kam und der Liebling der Mutter wurde, nahm diese Eifersucht schließlich extreme Züge an.
Präzise, und unzensiert beschreibt Jon Bauer die kindliche Psyche – wie wehrlos sie ist und wie schnell sie Narben fürs Leben annimmt.
Ein sprachgewaltiger Roman über die Hilflosigkeit eines Kindes und der Frage, ob man gut genug ist.
bee_interrupted's review against another edition
1.0
I find the description does not really match the book and would like to give a trigger warning: the mother becomes dependent because she has terminal brain cancer. I do not recommend this book to anyone with a relative or friend in a similar situation, I started reading it not knowing and it just ripped the floor out from underneath me.
I also found the characters pretty shallow and unlikeable, this book should be touching and emotional but I couldn’t bond with them whatsoever.
I also found the characters pretty shallow and unlikeable, this book should be touching and emotional but I couldn’t bond with them whatsoever.
margreads's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think it would be possible to read this book and not have some kind of reaction - whether it be tears, anger, disgust or whatever.
Unnamed, unlikeable narrator.
Unnamed, unlikeable narrator.
anopenbookshelf's review
4.0
4.5 star rating.
A dark family drama that explores the fragmented, complex relationship between mother and son. The story is told from the perspective on an unnammed narrator and switches back an forth from him in the present day and him at 8 years old. I found Bauer's depiction of the mother and son relationship to be very realistic and his perspective of an 8-year old very authentic. As much as I enjoyed this book I strongly disliked the narrator, I could not sympathise with him despite having an understanding of his difficult upbringing. On the other side, I was able to sympathise with the mother throughout the story, and understand her need to foster children to bring a sense of purpose to her life, to overcome her grief and perhaps fill a void that mothering her one son was not able to fill. In saying this, I felt for the 8-year old narrator and his apparent need for attention, and emotional and physical intimacy his mother neglected to give him. Overall, this is a beautifully written novel that has the ability to take the reader on an emotional rollercoaster and I'm sure will be one that will stay with me.
A dark family drama that explores the fragmented, complex relationship between mother and son. The story is told from the perspective on an unnammed narrator and switches back an forth from him in the present day and him at 8 years old. I found Bauer's depiction of the mother and son relationship to be very realistic and his perspective of an 8-year old very authentic. As much as I enjoyed this book I strongly disliked the narrator, I could not sympathise with him despite having an understanding of his difficult upbringing. On the other side, I was able to sympathise with the mother throughout the story, and understand her need to foster children to bring a sense of purpose to her life, to overcome her grief and perhaps fill a void that mothering her one son was not able to fill. In saying this, I felt for the 8-year old narrator and his apparent need for attention, and emotional and physical intimacy his mother neglected to give him. Overall, this is a beautifully written novel that has the ability to take the reader on an emotional rollercoaster and I'm sure will be one that will stay with me.
annemcintyre's review
2.0
An easy to read & quite well written book but a bit too dark for me. I found it difficult to identify with the main character who is not at all likeable. I spent a lot of the book wondering what mental illness he was suffering from! Turns out he was just selfish & masochistic.
margreads's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think it would be possible to read this book and not have some kind of reaction - whether it be tears, anger, disgust or whatever.
Unnamed, unlikeable narrator.
Unnamed, unlikeable narrator.
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