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heyitsdaliiii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
miamia1's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Enjoyed this book more than I expected. The characters came alive and I felt I was there with them. I will miss them now I’ve finished this book
bunceyyy's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5 stars. I wasn’t keen on this to begin with but I ended up getting quite into the story; Wood creates an absorbing atmosphere. I don’t know anything about that period/location in history, so that was also interesting.
linguaphile412's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Genocide, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Deportation
stagasaurus's review against another edition
2.0
This pissed me off and I can't quite explain why. They told you what was going to happen, it was self-indulgent about the emotions of protagonist who I didn't really care about. It was a passive slide into doom we all know about, we all are fully aware of, in this passive slide into doom we live in currently. It didn't help though. I came away thinking I'm not sure what the point of writing this book was. I look forward to reading what other people thought of it. The sentences are good, but it left me cold.
farisandbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jennyhk's review against another edition
5.0
I love an historical novel so was really keen to read this book. I don’t think anyone can fail to be ignorant of German 1930s history nor the Bauhaus. It certainly makes for an interesting backdrop to this story of friendship, love and betrayal.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Paul, an artist who trained at the Bauhaus, and the five friends he makes in his first few weeks. It goes back and forth over the next few decades, showing the fallout from the decisions they made.
I loved the way the story unfolded and I really enjoyed the book. However I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if it wasn’t for the setting of the Bauhaus and the historical period. The characters were all so flawed that I’m not sure I really cared about any of them.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Paul, an artist who trained at the Bauhaus, and the five friends he makes in his first few weeks. It goes back and forth over the next few decades, showing the fallout from the decisions they made.
I loved the way the story unfolded and I really enjoyed the book. However I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if it wasn’t for the setting of the Bauhaus and the historical period. The characters were all so flawed that I’m not sure I really cared about any of them.
anneliesb's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan Picador for the ARC
In post-war England Paul Brickman, formerly Beckermann, looks back on his years in the Bauhaus in the 20's and 30's with his group of 6 friends. Prompted by the invitation to the funeral of one of the gang. In the background there are the artist community with familiar names such as Paul Klee and Kandinsky, but also the rise of the Nazi's which makes the lives of the friends increasingly difficult. The rising intolerance towards anyone different, being Jewish, artist, foreign or homosexual threatens the friends not just as individuals, but also as a group. Some riding the waves of the changing tides, others struggling and drowning. However, the danger does not just come from the outside, but also from within. Peer pressure, secrets and lies, jealousy, and love all lead to destruction. We learn about the fate of some of the friends early on, but the changing dynamics within the group still make for a very interesting read.
In post-war England Paul Brickman, formerly Beckermann, looks back on his years in the Bauhaus in the 20's and 30's with his group of 6 friends. Prompted by the invitation to the funeral of one of the gang. In the background there are the artist community with familiar names such as Paul Klee and Kandinsky, but also the rise of the Nazi's which makes the lives of the friends increasingly difficult. The rising intolerance towards anyone different, being Jewish, artist, foreign or homosexual threatens the friends not just as individuals, but also as a group. Some riding the waves of the changing tides, others struggling and drowning. However, the danger does not just come from the outside, but also from within. Peer pressure, secrets and lies, jealousy, and love all lead to destruction. We learn about the fate of some of the friends early on, but the changing dynamics within the group still make for a very interesting read.
lindquist's review against another edition
3.0
En ganska stark trea. Jag tyckte den tog sig först sista tredjedelen. Innan dess tyckte jag historien och upplägget lovade stort men höll lite tunt. Samtidigt är det en miljö och ett imponerande research-arbete som jag kommer bära med mig länge