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akublik's review against another edition
2.0
I was hoping for more. Schlink didn't manage to delve as deeply into The Weekend's characters various conflicts and emotions as he did in The Reader, and so this book seems like a shallow immitation of the other as a result.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It's a story about a group of old friends that gather for the weekend when their friend Jorg gets released from prison. I had not read anything by Schlink before, but I think he does a good job at group dynamics.
dee9401's review against another edition
2.0
I searched for this book for so long, hoping to score a nice used copy. All I could ever find was his book The Reader. Finally, I found it in Portland, at Powell's Books. Maybe I should have left it there.
Nevertheless, it is an addition to my collection of stories about the radicalized left in Germany in the post-war years. This novel had an interesting premise but the characters were never fleshed out and the plot was more a theme or feeling, rather than something that moved from start to finish.
If you aren't familiar with the left in Germany in the 1960s and 70s, you might feel a little confused at points when the greater world breaks through into the weekend. With a background on that era, the book does take on a little more depth but the exploration is purely where the reader's mind goes, with little to no direction from the author. The book never deeply explores the proposition of what happens and why during a newly-released terrorist's first weekend with his family, friends and potential exploiters.
On a positive note, the translation by Shaun Whiteside flowed cleanly and quickly.
Nevertheless, it is an addition to my collection of stories about the radicalized left in Germany in the post-war years. This novel had an interesting premise but the characters were never fleshed out and the plot was more a theme or feeling, rather than something that moved from start to finish.
If you aren't familiar with the left in Germany in the 1960s and 70s, you might feel a little confused at points when the greater world breaks through into the weekend. With a background on that era, the book does take on a little more depth but the exploration is purely where the reader's mind goes, with little to no direction from the author. The book never deeply explores the proposition of what happens and why during a newly-released terrorist's first weekend with his family, friends and potential exploiters.
On a positive note, the translation by Shaun Whiteside flowed cleanly and quickly.
liana_bakradze's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book when I just moved to Spb 7 years ago. Finally I read it!
When I read the summary, I though: "Hm... What a lovely way to spend the weekends - book about german terrorism". It seems I didn't read the summary when I picked up this book at the store. However, I still remember how much I enjoyed reading other books by Schlink, that's why I decided it's time I read this one too.
This book is fairly small and it's easy to read (maybe because it's very dynamic). It tells us about the first three days after a german terrorist had been released after spending more than 20 years in prison. This book is based on the real story, although we don't know what happened with the terrorist in reality. In the book the end is a bit unexpected.
What did I like about this book? I enjoyed learning more about German history (I'd never heard about "german autumn" before) and it was extremely interesting to try looking into the terrorist's head (and to see there nothing but propaganda), because I'm a person who is strongly against the terror and revolution.
One interesting fact that I learned from this book: in Germany they watch a short english sketch every New Year. This sketch is called "Dinner for One" and it's about the 90th birthday's dinner of an old lady miss Sophie whose butler has to act like her 4 friends (whom she used to invite to her birthday dinner) because they are all dead now. And this butler drinks a lot and starts to act weirdly. This story is not very Xmasy in my opinion :)
When I read the summary, I though: "Hm... What a lovely way to spend the weekends - book about german terrorism". It seems I didn't read the summary when I picked up this book at the store. However, I still remember how much I enjoyed reading other books by Schlink, that's why I decided it's time I read this one too.
This book is fairly small and it's easy to read (maybe because it's very dynamic). It tells us about the first three days after a german terrorist had been released after spending more than 20 years in prison. This book is based on the real story, although we don't know what happened with the terrorist in reality. In the book the end is a bit unexpected.
What did I like about this book? I enjoyed learning more about German history (I'd never heard about "german autumn" before) and it was extremely interesting to try looking into the terrorist's head (and to see there nothing but propaganda), because I'm a person who is strongly against the terror and revolution.
One interesting fact that I learned from this book: in Germany they watch a short english sketch every New Year. This sketch is called "Dinner for One" and it's about the 90th birthday's dinner of an old lady miss Sophie whose butler has to act like her 4 friends (whom she used to invite to her birthday dinner) because they are all dead now. And this butler drinks a lot and starts to act weirdly. This story is not very Xmasy in my opinion :)
winstonsdad_stu's review against another edition
5.0
a wonderful insight into the aftermath of a event on a group
samiradi's review against another edition
2.0
Unterhaltende Kammerspiel - Szenerie, die aber keine großen Überraschungen birgt. Sprachlich eigentlich ganz bunt und bildhaft, aber inhaltlich dann doch recht brav.
hager87's review
4.0
Actually 3.75 ⭐️
It was quite controversial for me
The idea is amazing
I could understand where some of the characters are coming from but needed more insight about the others
Some characters were written beautifully and others I felt needed more development instead of them being flat in order to make their actions and reactions more understandable
For the full review check my tiktok
It was quite controversial for me
The idea is amazing
I could understand where some of the characters are coming from but needed more insight about the others
Some characters were written beautifully and others I felt needed more development instead of them being flat in order to make their actions and reactions more understandable
For the full review check my tiktok
edgar_allans_hoe's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5