Reviews

Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane

julells's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Ein wirklich wunderschöner Schreibstil. Das Ende gefällt mir nur leider überhaupt nicht und einige Ansichten in diesem Buch sind aus heutiger Sicht mit Sicherheit mehr als nur problematisch.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Mental illness, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcohol

lenavh's review against another edition

Kon er niet doorgenomen, later nog een keer proberen.

circe_08's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Focusing on the life of Effie Briest, Fontane is telling the story of a young women, one of the most famous adulteress in European literature. Interesting for me is the comparison to Anna Karenina. Both Tolstoy and Fontane let their main character die, one through suicide, the other mainly because of (mental) health issues. Both women raised one child with their former husband and both lose their child to their husband, who tries to persuade his child to think very evil of their mother. Mostly the women were excluded from society for cheating, their lovers barely have to face discrimination because of their behaviour. However Fontane did write about husband and lover duelling and trying to prove themselves. (Karenin was I think scared of duelling the lover of his wife, but because of society’s rules, Karenin would’ve needed to announce a duel to his opponent, not the other way round)

julie_mit_hut's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

miamaybereading's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

enjoyed the first 1/4, would have liked to skip the next 1/2 of the book, enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book

karinlib's review

3.0

Effi Briest takes place in Germany at the end of the nineteenth century. I liked it, and I would like to read other books by Fontane.

vioxvive's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

malloou's review against another edition

Fuck Effi. (pls dont she is a child)

aylincoolcat's review against another edition

3.0

Natürlich kann man das ganze als gelungene Sozialstudie seiner Zeit sehen. Aber insgesamt ist es doch langweilig und aus heutiger, moderner Sicht schwer zu ertragen.

jalb610's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25