I read "Der Brand" as research for a short story I'm planning to write. I tried to read this years ago, but was getting too emotionally involved (my fI read "Der Brand" as research for a short story I'm planning to write. I tried to read this years ago, but was getting too emotionally involved (my family on my father's side is from around Dresden, other parts of my family are from around Essen - both cities that were put on the pyre of "moral bombing"). When I tried this again, it was still rough and I struggled. Could do about 20-30 pages per day and needed a break. Having empathy and imagination can be a problem. That said, it's a tour de force, compelling, at times literary and philosophical. Next one: Suess: Death From The Skies.
Addendum: Read it in the original German and due to Friedrich's very pointed use of German grammar and tonality, I can't imagine how that was translated. I found his account deeply human, sometimes angry, exasperated, at times sarcastic. I can't imagine what amount of emotional labour it would take to write something like this and immerse yourself in this carnage and suffering for long enough to write a "doorstopper" like this - because just reading it is intense enough. ...more
I'm shocked to learn that Ambroses taught history. The military history/analysis is pretty poor to appalling. He's good when he talks about Easy CompaI'm shocked to learn that Ambroses taught history. The military history/analysis is pretty poor to appalling. He's good when he talks about Easy Company and relates stories. (Though he states that the book is "very much a group effort" with the men from E Company, so how much of that credit goes to them is anybody's guess, and some events were anonymised and possibly left out to protect people.)
Whenever he attempts military analysis of the actual way/battles, his thoughtless "MURRIKA!" propaganda grates like hell. His core thesis appears to be that "democratic soldiers" (what he terms "citizen soldiers") necessarily outfight those under fascist/totalitarian systems - which obviously flies in the face of the fact that it was the Red Army that broke Nazi Germany's back - not exactly a democratic system to be found anywhere. Not a hint of irony or awareness in his thesis. I guess it would wrinkle his propaganda too much.
What I found interesting was the amount of looting and casual violence in Germany, which gels with other sources I've read. What I found even more interesting is how Ambrose condemns Germany's mistreatment of people, but totally excuses similar behaviour from his subjects (looting for fun and profit, shooting of unarmed, surrendered POWs). Not a hint of applying the same critical measurement to all sides.
Ambrose nicely feathers his wooden, lacklustre account with liberal quotes from a number of decent to good military historians who are far more insightful than he is (such as Keegan).
Overall, the show does a great job putting all this on the screen, so you can skip the book. What the show left out it usually left out for good reasons. I read this book for any gems that were left by the wayside, but it's not worth it, in my opinion.
The has another big flaw that rankles me especially. All the German is wrong/misspelled. If you can't be bothered to get it right, just leave it out. Parading around badly-spelled, agrammatical German is doing nobody any favours.
Okay, this book is about as relentless and merciless as the artillery attack ("Feuerwalze") it describes. I've read it in one day, and the closest thiOkay, this book is about as relentless and merciless as the artillery attack ("Feuerwalze") it describes. I've read it in one day, and the closest thing I can think of, it's All Quiet on the Western Front ~35 years alter on the EASTERN Front. Fascinating when and where he uses the character's actual names, too. The Russians have names, the Germans only sometimes, and late in the book. Not what I would have expected.
I have "Payback" here in German and am slightly scared to read it now. Some sentences are gorgeous, amazing, splinters rammed deep into your brain. It's a book I'll re-read, I haven't finished grappling with it, but this round, it won. ...more
The literary equivalent of a brassknuckled punch in the gut. Some books are inarticulate screams. The ones that are articulate, though, are even worseThe literary equivalent of a brassknuckled punch in the gut. Some books are inarticulate screams. The ones that are articulate, though, are even worse. ...more
As a writer, I loved the assured way GGK writes this - he's trying stuff that many genre writers wouldn't dare (specifically the carnival scene, as weAs a writer, I loved the assured way GGK writes this - he's trying stuff that many genre writers wouldn't dare (specifically the carnival scene, as well as the duel), uses an omniscient narrator who also misdirects, and he does it so well it's very effective. I feel like I've attended a master class in historical fantasy. ...more
Can't really rate it, as I know the author, but I enjoyed it a great deal. I think it would be great on stage (that's how I saw it in my mind while reCan't really rate it, as I know the author, but I enjoyed it a great deal. I think it would be great on stage (that's how I saw it in my mind while reading it).
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