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caerrie's reviews
162 reviews
Tausend Teufel by Frank Goldammer
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
The historical fiction aspect of this book is great. The book is very atmospheric and chock full of historical details that must have taken a lot of time to research. As a former Dresden resident, all the familiar street names and landmarks are a real treat - but it might be a little boring for readers who don’t know the city.
The characters aren’t outstanding but also not bad - they’re quite realistic in their motivations and their relationships with one another, though our hero Heller can be a little suspiciously modern in his morals at times.
The drawback of this novel is definitely the main plot. The author gets so lost in the weeds of the history and the detailed backstories of his characters that he seems to lose track of Heller‘s case entirely. It’s very confusing and therefore quite difficult for the reader to truly get invested - less would have been more, and the pacing is abrupt and confusing at times. Unfortunately that seems to be the trend with Goldammer. Overall I still enjoyed the book, though not for the crime drama.
The characters aren’t outstanding but also not bad - they’re quite realistic in their motivations and their relationships with one another, though our hero Heller can be a little suspiciously modern in his morals at times.
The drawback of this novel is definitely the main plot. The author gets so lost in the weeds of the history and the detailed backstories of his characters that he seems to lose track of Heller‘s case entirely. It’s very confusing and therefore quite difficult for the reader to truly get invested - less would have been more, and the pacing is abrupt and confusing at times. Unfortunately that seems to be the trend with Goldammer. Overall I still enjoyed the book, though not for the crime drama.
Loveless by Alice Oseman
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This genre isn’t really my scene but the representation is wonderful and refreshing and God I wish this book had been there when I was sixteen
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A solid retelling, a lovely and easily digestible form of the Iliad - but not nearly as emotionally involving as I’d hoped, some jarring and puzzling changes of tense for some reason, and the characters seemed fairly flat most of the time. That’s par for the course for a mythology, I suppose, but I guess I wanted this book to be different in that regard.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Gesang zwischen den Stühlen. Gedichte. by Erich Kästner
dark
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Cynical, witty and deceptively simple. Kästner will break your heart five different ways, in two pages or less. Parting lines that will haunt you forever.