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mrlivia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While browsing "Budget Books" on my return journey from a lecture in the centre of Prague I stumbled upon this book. I had run out of money and it was waiting for me to fish it out of the bargain bin. For 99Kc I couldn't say no. The book came at an apt time. I had begun writing an essay on Adorno's take on the Holocaust for the class I has just left, so to read a novel about a member of the Frankfurt school in the war would hardly be classed as procrastination.
The book takes you through the life of Benjamin and his eventual death, after a struggle to seek refuge, through the wide scope of his intellectual influences. His narration including quotes and musings I found to be insightful beginnings to my own interest in his work. The name dropping of seemingly endless thinkers that he came into contact with was revealing - he was definitely a clever guy. However, he was grating; his intelligence did not make him particularly likable and his attitude to women I thought was comedic.
I found the changes in narrative voice and their personal musings on Walter Benjamin depending on their philosophies to be disjointing. I found myself wanting more from the stories of other characters. I couldn't see past Benjamin's flaws at times. However, this is testament to the building of the complex character by Parini.
To successfully intertwine a deep understanding of Benjamin's and his tragic context creates a powerful novel. However, it was the outcome of his writings that was never to be published that I grieved more so than the man by the end.
The book takes you through the life of Benjamin and his eventual death, after a struggle to seek refuge, through the wide scope of his intellectual influences. His narration including quotes and musings I found to be insightful beginnings to my own interest in his work. The name dropping of seemingly endless thinkers that he came into contact with was revealing - he was definitely a clever guy. However, he was grating; his intelligence did not make him particularly likable and his attitude to women I thought was comedic.
I found the changes in narrative voice and their personal musings on Walter Benjamin depending on their philosophies to be disjointing. I found myself wanting more from the stories of other characters. I couldn't see past Benjamin's flaws at times. However, this is testament to the building of the complex character by Parini.
To successfully intertwine a deep understanding of Benjamin's and his tragic context creates a powerful novel. However, it was the outcome of his writings that was never to be published that I grieved more so than the man by the end.
emilyjulia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
the characters are incredible flat - everything feels very rushed and underdeveloped.
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