Reviews

The Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin

Only show reviews with written explanations

amariebedd's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The first section was the strongest, plotting high stakes and bracing the reader for a roller-coaster thriller with the same level of mystery and surprise as Levin’s A Kiss Before Dying. After the halfway point of the novel the stakes are lost when the Nazi assassins are called back home, abandoning the mission. The stakes of the story leave with them. All who is left are two compelling characters- protagonist Lieberman and antagonist Mengele, but you can pretty much guess where the plot will go. Was hoping for a persistent level of tension and excitement that was present in the first half of the novel, but unfortunately The Boys From Brazil lost its thrill. (That said, Levin’s writing style is constantly easy to comprehend whilst highly descriptive, and sounds elegant and intelligent to keep the reader interested).

mls8957's review

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4.0

Such an interesting and horrifying concept.

janaroos's review

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3.0

04/10: US

Unfortunately spoiled a little because I already knew the twist as well as the ending (thanks to Krieger-san) so lacking a lot of the tension and thrill it would otherwise have. Still good, though, and who doesn't like some good old Nazi villains?

caoimhemia's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense 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? No

4.25

vera_baetas's review

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4.0

This a very scary book. It isn't a horror book, but the whole idea is pretty scary. But I love it and the discussion that it was brought. I love the end and I can't believe that people like Hitler and Mengele walk in this Earth.

satellitehabits's review

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4.0

Pretty solid read with just the right amount of suspense. I can see why they turned this into a film because it definitely read like one. Creepy how this “science fiction” novel written so long ago is now things they can probably actually do.