vari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
axstardust's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Een zeldzaamheid dat de film beter is dan het boek.
In het begin las het snel en vond ik het fijn. Hoe verder het verhaal zich ontplooide, hoe langzamer het was om te lezen. Een hoofdpersonage die verschrikkelijk is en niet verbetert, het was heel vermoeiend om in zijn hoofd te blijven zitten. Anticlimactisch einde.
Als ik de film niet has gezien vond ik het misschien beter.
In het begin las het snel en vond ik het fijn. Hoe verder het verhaal zich ontplooide, hoe langzamer het was om te lezen. Een hoofdpersonage die verschrikkelijk is en niet verbetert, het was heel vermoeiend om in zijn hoofd te blijven zitten. Anticlimactisch einde.
Als ik de film niet has gezien vond ik het misschien beter.
junipontunicorn's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Honestly, I think it’s generally an okay book, but I cannot stand the main character and don’t agree with him at all!
amymarsh's review against another edition
dark
informative
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
1.0
tinkerspence's review
4.0
This book was adapted by Taika Waititi into the award winning film JoJo Rabbit.
Now I am going to say something controversial... I liked the movie better than the book. This I feel was due to Taika’s decision to make the main character younger and thus much more innocent and sympathetic than his book counterpart. The movie also only covered the first half of the book, which was a good choice as some of the things Johannes does in the second half made me despise him.
Putting the movie aside... this book was good to read for context during these trying times. Being isolated to your house is a luxury compared to the inner lining of a wall/under the floor boards for years at a time like the Jews had to do to avoid death. By the end of the book Johannes ends up losing everything as he is disabled in the war so he cannot get a job, you go through periods of hating the way he treats Elsa (especially lying to her for years that the Germans won the war so he can keep her to himself) to feeling pity for what he has to suffer through due to his country looking down on his disability.
This is a brilliant book, especially worth the read if you need some perspective right now. My rating
Now I am going to say something controversial... I liked the movie better than the book. This I feel was due to Taika’s decision to make the main character younger and thus much more innocent and sympathetic than his book counterpart. The movie also only covered the first half of the book, which was a good choice as some of the things Johannes does in the second half made me despise him.
Putting the movie aside... this book was good to read for context during these trying times. Being isolated to your house is a luxury compared to the inner lining of a wall/under the floor boards for years at a time like the Jews had to do to avoid death. By the end of the book Johannes ends up losing everything as he is disabled in the war so he cannot get a job, you go through periods of hating the way he treats Elsa (especially lying to her for years that the Germans won the war so he can keep her to himself) to feeling pity for what he has to suffer through due to his country looking down on his disability.
This is a brilliant book, especially worth the read if you need some perspective right now. My rating
jacksinderby's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Easy read with a solid plot and character development
heyitskai's review
1.0
1 ⭐
It's a bit hard for me to collect my thoughts. I was expecting myself to like it and enjoy reading it, but sadly that did not happen. I liked the first part of the story, when the parents where still very much present. After they passed the story quickly went downhill for me. I absolutely cannot stand Johannes... all the lies and keeping Elsa quite literally in prisonment made my blood boil. Reading the second half of the book i skipped paragraphs and whole pages... plus the end didn't really give me anything! Honestly, a tad bit disappointed in this one.
It's a bit hard for me to collect my thoughts. I was expecting myself to like it and enjoy reading it, but sadly that did not happen. I liked the first part of the story, when the parents where still very much present. After they passed the story quickly went downhill for me. I absolutely cannot stand Johannes... all the lies and keeping Elsa quite literally in prisonment made my blood boil. Reading the second half of the book i skipped paragraphs and whole pages... plus the end didn't really give me anything! Honestly, a tad bit disappointed in this one.
leraoluar's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would when I started reading. I couldn't connect with the main characters (specially the part regarding the Hitler Youth) and I didn't like the last third/ending part of the book
mikehuffman's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
kirstyleanned's review
2.0
When people say this is a book of two halves they aren't kidding. The first half is a very interesting exploration into Nazi propaganda through the eyes of a member of the Hitler Youth; the second half is simply a depiction of an incredibly toxic relationship that genuinely made me feel ill at times. I couldn't wait to finish this book, and I'm SO very glad Taika Waititi somehow managed to make this into a very charming film. Would not recommend anyone nearly ruin the fantastic JoJo Rabbit adaptation with this novel, because I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to watch it in the same way again.