Reviews

Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll

andreia_silvertongue's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.5

hanolino's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

luise_neubig's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

xhenetaa's review against another edition

5.0

This book was written in the 70s but it is so relevant to this day, the portrayal of media sensationalism and its destructive impact on people involved is so accurate and insightful.

jana463's review against another edition

challenging funny sad fast-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? Yes

5.0

lockerflockigflo's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

pionofre's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

3.75

tomleetang's review against another edition

3.0

A methodical, passionate denunciation of corrupt journalistic practices and the thoughtless (sometimes malicious and dangerous) incitement of the populace by the media. The way the novel's reporters paraphrase quotes is shocking, and the lack of journalistic integrity is so severe as to seem an anachronism - and yet less than two years ago there was the highly publicised revelation that one of Germany's most respected publications, Der Spiegel, had published several stories composed almost entirely of falsehoods.

Boll's language seems purposefully to obfuscate meaning, the dry, stilted words of the 'reports' impeding clarity, as if to show that even 'facts,' when disarranged, can conceal overarching truth.

The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum is a disturbing book to read: the sexual harassment is unrelenting, to the extent that Katharina's desperation to believe in a barely-there romance gets more and more believable as the novel goes on. Yet, it is the woman who is made the scapegoat for the unwelcome advances of the numerous men.

jedd_e's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

pichulabs's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.75

Wunderschöne und zeitlose Kritik an den Einfluss der Medien!