Reviews

Das Totenschiff by B. Traven

thisiscourt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

zoey222's review against another edition

4.0

It starts off with some dark, humorous satire about bureaucracy, and ends with a brutal and unrelenting crash course in the horrible lives of bureaucratically enslaved sailors. B Traven has a bit of the "Buzz Killington" vibe, which was the style at the time of this writing. As such the story tends to slog at some points, but the subject matter and overall execution is good enough to forgive his occasional meanderings and trite tangents.

Even B Traven, a man filled with progressive and radical pro-human ideas, was still a raging sexist, racist ass hole. My god, how white men paraded about with their pricks in hand. No wonder we are still reckoning with sexism and racism in modern times. This author's casual remarks about beating women and obviously ignorant stance on people of color are only sufferable because he cares so deeply about the working class.

marco_hasler's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

benkedadranassima's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

 Although this book's events take place in the period following world war I, it speaks about an issue that still exists today in such a humorous and simple fashion way. at the start, I couldn't put the book down. Gale our main character is being tossed at all sides and everyone laughing at his situation in disbelief. or to be more precise, no one believes him. without any credentials or papers, he is undocumented and unwanted by all sides. treated as he is currently_ doesn't exist.
the book didn't just paint an image of a country-less man, it painted him in the image of a slave, of an immigrant, of many people in this world who wander it shunned, banished and undocumented.
and when the powers of this world deny him his identity, he himself decides to abandon it, he joins the dead.
with time I didn't even want to finish the book knowing that it will leave my life. hating, then feeling enamoured by the Yorikke _an absolute hell_ where he finally felt a sense of belonging with all the rest of the crew, who had suffered similar situations as him. and Stanislav..the ending brought this book even closer to my heart.
a book I will definitely recommend and be certain that others will enjoy it as I have 

metsu's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

leucocrystal's review against another edition

4.0

This is a really unique and excellent seafaring novel, and possibly the best satirical, scathing examination of the uselessness and cruelty of bureaucracy I've ever read. Did not go in expecting the latter, but that ended up being one of the most enjoyable things about the read. There are remarkably poignant passages as well, particularly revolving around the comradeship between the two primary sailors, their love for the sea, and the concept of where one without country can find or make a home for himself.