- fantastic writing - really interesting depiction of east berlin through the central relationship - wish i knew more about the history to fully engage- fantastic writing - really interesting depiction of east berlin through the central relationship - wish i knew more about the history to fully engage but did enjoy learning & being able to question / delve into these topics - 3/4 way through just dragged a bit, did think the final section was well done though - as a side note.. the goodreads reviews of this.. some people are very stupid i fear...more
I wanted to love this, I thought it would be a 5 star read for me. But I just don't like his writing style. It's too reliant on cliches, too contrivedI wanted to love this, I thought it would be a 5 star read for me. But I just don't like his writing style. It's too reliant on cliches, too contrived, too saccharine and he writes at you and I despise that in my books. I like sport so some of the sport bits worked for me but overall I just found this very lacking in impact and ultimately a slog.
This is the second Backman book I've not loved so I think he's just a miss for me from now on...more
This is a contemporary fiction, almost an anti-romance. It explores the tension the main character experiAround the world challenge: Vietnam
3.5 stars.
This is a contemporary fiction, almost an anti-romance. It explores the tension the main character experiences between western and traditional Vietnamese living and expectations of women, especially in romance.
I thought the exploration of this tension was really well done, especially in the way this book used the 'love triangle' to tease that out. I also thought it had an interesting ending. Where it fell down for me a bit is that it was a little clunky, and I'm not sure if it was the writer or translator. But some scenes didn't really come together. I also thought it felt like the last third became very basic and rushed, whereas the first half had more descriptive and emotive writing.
I bought this book in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City when I was visiting in 2023. I thought the descriptions of Vietnam, particularly Saigon, were really nice. I felt like I was back there. ...more
amazing premise but wish this had gone a little bit deeper with it's themes and observationsamazing premise but wish this had gone a little bit deeper with it's themes and observations...more
it's really very well written I can say that - in the sense that some of the things felt super visceral and I had a genuine gut reaction. But because it's really very well written I can say that - in the sense that some of the things felt super visceral and I had a genuine gut reaction. But because of that, I'm not sure I enjoyed it.
And I don't think you necessarily have to *enjoy* every book - but at times I found this hard to pick up.
I think his rendering of the Kosovo war was haunting. He was able to make the main character so unpleasant and sympathetic at the same time. Like he's a great Writer!! But it felt almost like I was appreciating the craft and not the story.
I think maybe next time I read from this author I should actually read it instead of listening to the audiobook.
Anyways, I don't exactly know how to rate this because of the time I had reading it.
"Childhood is dark and it's always moaning like a little animal that's locked in a cellar and forgotten. It c
stunning writing and deeply thoughtful
"Childhood is dark and it's always moaning like a little animal that's locked in a cellar and forgotten. It comes out your throat like your breath in the cold, and sometimes it's too little, other times too big. It never fits exactly. It's only when it has been cast off that you can look at it calmly and talk about it like an illness you've survived. Most grownups say that they had a happy childhood and maybe they really believe it themselves, but I don't think so. I think they've just managed to forget it"
in every other respect, he's a great writer. but there aint no way he's had sex in real life because what was all THATin every other respect, he's a great writer. but there aint no way he's had sex in real life because what was all THAT...more
Unsure how to rate this. It's a sprawling, detailed crime novel where the large characters weave in and out of the story, creating a sort of fragmenteUnsure how to rate this. It's a sprawling, detailed crime novel where the large characters weave in and out of the story, creating a sort of fragmented mosaic of the crime. Some parts were more entertaining than others. Glad I finished it, enjoyed it overall, not sure if I will read the second one. ...more
look, I get what this book was doing/what it was trying to achieve, and yes I think it made its point well. But the narrative style is soo boring a2.5
look, I get what this book was doing/what it was trying to achieve, and yes I think it made its point well. But the narrative style is soo boring and lacks any subtlety, I really hate when you feel the author is whacking you over the head with their point. I also felt so distant from the characters. ...more
� jami �
>
Books:
translated-fiction
(33)
Loading...
