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notizhefte's review against another edition
4.0
Amüsant zu lesende Karikatur eines preußischen Offiziers und Ehemanns. Baron von Ottringel erzählt detailliert von einer Reise, die er mit seiner zweiten Frau aus Anlass seiner insgesamt 25 Ehejahre unternimmt und die anders als geplant verläuft. Der Bericht ist von Offenheit, Ignoranz, Selbstgewißheit und Ahnungslosigkeit gekennzeichnet.
grubstlodger's review against another edition
4.0
Caravanning must have been in the air in the first decade of the twentieth-century, it was while caravanning that Mr Toad saw his first motor car and in this book a German couple decide to go caravanning for themselves.
Unfortunately for Baron Otto and his wife, they picked one of the rainiest summers of the century. Unfortunately for everyone else, they have to travel with Baron Otto. He’s a humourless, opinionated bore who thinks he’s a social butterfly with a brilliant sense of humour. The book is narrated by him and he never notices how much everyone hates him, even when the party, who are supposed to be travelling together for a month, breaks up after a week.
This book took me a while to get into. While I trusted Elizabeth Von Arnim to be in control of her story, the narrating Otto is not. He’s writing after the fact and in the first few chapters we are launched forwards, backwards and sideways, even suggesting amendments of the text as he goes.
Every few lines are quote-able, this book made Virginia Woolf howl with laughter. It’s a very well told joke but it is a little of a one joke book.
Unfortunately for Baron Otto and his wife, they picked one of the rainiest summers of the century. Unfortunately for everyone else, they have to travel with Baron Otto. He’s a humourless, opinionated bore who thinks he’s a social butterfly with a brilliant sense of humour. The book is narrated by him and he never notices how much everyone hates him, even when the party, who are supposed to be travelling together for a month, breaks up after a week.
This book took me a while to get into. While I trusted Elizabeth Von Arnim to be in control of her story, the narrating Otto is not. He’s writing after the fact and in the first few chapters we are launched forwards, backwards and sideways, even suggesting amendments of the text as he goes.
Every few lines are quote-able, this book made Virginia Woolf howl with laughter. It’s a very well told joke but it is a little of a one joke book.
rcsreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
I really enjoyed this one, it's just feminist sarcasm from beginning to end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
sharonb's review against another edition
Couldn't finish it! I love Von Arnim but I just couldn't stand Otto, the narrator. I wanted to slap him!
jovvijo's review against another edition
5.0
When a knobby, well to do German man (I think he's a Baron or a Major or possibly a Major Baron), and his wife decide, against all logic and reason, to go caravanning for a holiday, all sorts of mischief and mayhem ensue as no one else seems to realize just how Very Important (capitals for both!) he is as he's expected to actually work and chip in during the holiday!
It's a high flying good fun read with von Arnim's usual wit and cunning observations of humanity and it's follies!
Absolutely recommended for a good laugh (if of course, you aren't a gruff stuffy pants and know that such a book Will Not Do!)
It's a high flying good fun read with von Arnim's usual wit and cunning observations of humanity and it's follies!
Absolutely recommended for a good laugh (if of course, you aren't a gruff stuffy pants and know that such a book Will Not Do!)
laurenla's review against another edition
2.0
Very dark. Although a satire, the author appears to really dislike the narrator of this book which I expected to be more of a comedy with edge. The anti-semitism, misogyny etc. (espoused by the narrator) was too much for me and I am not finishing the book.
bookeboy's review
5.0
Love this. Read it non-stop. To write entirely from an unsympathetic point of view, highlighting the good in others through negatives alone, without once breaking character and ruining the joke, is a tall order. I wondered whether Elizabeth von Arnim could keep it up all the way through. She does. She never flinches. It would have been so easy to give in and go against character to achieve the desired end, but von Arnim doesn't and we are left the more satisfied for her efforts.
lisamck's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
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