shinheiba_sm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
ash_is_reading_books's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I'm completely willing to admit that this is most likely down to my personal preference and being forced to study it for years, but I really dislike this book
I find Brecht's idea of verfremdungseffekt (alienating the audience from the action in order to elicit a logical reaction rather than an emotional one) goes against why theatre is so impactful, and it results in a play that drags and just doesn't keep my attention like others do
I find Brecht's idea of verfremdungseffekt (alienating the audience from the action in order to elicit a logical reaction rather than an emotional one) goes against why theatre is so impactful, and it results in a play that drags and just doesn't keep my attention like others do
nafas_a's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve read this for a class today, and honestly I was surprise by the form of narrative and its similarity to the Greek Tragedy! As a narrative play, it clearly takes the (reader) audience through the journey of a woman who has saved a child. The only reason I really had a problem with it was the ending. Until the very last page or two, everything was a common rational from a middle eastern society, yet the ending simply sounded unrealistic to me. Coming from a society as such, a judge, even if he is from a middle to lower class part of the society, would not simply give up the kid to the woman (considering the time of frame of the play). However, for the same points, I could connect with the play way more, especially bc they mentioned historical facts about the Shah of Iran, etc. Overall, I would recommend reading this play on some levels. (Despite the story being yet another story of minority being told by majority)
worms_and_words's review against another edition
1.0
Wanted to DNF it many times, but it was for a class so I couldn’t.
katieejayne's review against another edition
2.0
Once again this was as easy to read as wading through porridge. The concept was interesting but that is all I enjoyed about this play. In all honesty I'm not particularly fond of Brecht's theatre in general. He loathed theatre that did nothing but provided entertainment, 'after dinner theatre' he called it. Instead he wanted his audience to leave thinking, questioning and did everything in his power to reiterate that this was simply a production. The Caucasian Chalk Circle, therefore, in my opinion attempts to be smart without much impact. I didn't want to start a revolution. I didn't feel anything other than dear god why are there still so many pages left.
In fact I can't tell you what happens, because I can't remember what happens. Nor can I clearly remember who is who because they have multiple names and none are used consistently. I know there was a cook that saved a child but then the child's birth mother appeared back on the scene and wanted her baby back. So they did the whole pull the child whoever pulls it out of this chalk circle wins and is the mother etc. Basically, it's a little Jeremy Kyle-esque.
It's unfair to say I hated this...because I didn't. Every book I read for my degree I loathe a little bit. Mainly because I haven't read a book for pleasure in such a long time now and my TBR pile has become a mountain range...
In fact I can't tell you what happens, because I can't remember what happens. Nor can I clearly remember who is who because they have multiple names and none are used consistently. I know there was a cook that saved a child but then the child's birth mother appeared back on the scene and wanted her baby back. So they did the whole pull the child whoever pulls it out of this chalk circle wins and is the mother etc. Basically, it's a little Jeremy Kyle-esque.
It's unfair to say I hated this...because I didn't. Every book I read for my degree I loathe a little bit. Mainly because I haven't read a book for pleasure in such a long time now and my TBR pile has become a mountain range...
not_frank_not_ever's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
A Marxist retelling of the King Solomon story, but one that interrogates property rights and the ruling class’s attachment to them. Did I love it? Eh, not really. But plays aren’t my thing in the first place, so whatever. It’s funny and occasionally quite cute, and Brecht is GOAT’d regardless of how you feel about his style, so it’s of course worth a read.
gabriella_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-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
3.0
The fact that her worst crime was she didn’t shake her ass in the courtroom is what’s wrong with society
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and War
dkrane's review against another edition
4.0
King Solomon gets a modern re-telling in difficult morality play.