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steadm98's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
iznaya's review
5.0
Absolutely gripping tale of possession, with an interesting maternal theme. Written without cliche, simply yet lyrically - how did she do that?
msjared's review
4.0
To be perfectly honest, I decided to read this book after watching the movie because I found the movie really disturbing and unsettling. (And I only watched it because I have a celebrity crush on Max Riemelt.) Either way, the movie stuck with me and I wanted to understand the characters and their motivations better. I was not disappointed.
The book and movie differ greatly, but the overall premise is the same: A young Australian woman, Clare, is traveling alone in Berlin and meets a handsome stranger and native Berliner, Andi. There is an instant connection and sexual chemistry so a whirlwind romance ensues. Almost immediately, however, Andi becomes obsessed with Clare and accidentally (at first), and then purposely locks her in his apartment where he keeps her prisoner.
The book is told from both Clare and Andi’s perspectives so you really do get insight into motivation and inner dialogue which I found very interesting. The writing is quiet, subtle, melancholic, and dream like. You can really picture the scenes and sense the claustrophobic and lonely environment of Andi’s apartment as two strangers navigate the unnatural situation.
The story builds hour upon hour, day upon day, week upon week, as Clare and Andi work their way around and through one another. Andi, with the goal of having Clare understand how “right” it is and come to love him and her imprisonment. And Clare on how she found herself in the situation in the first place (much self-blaming and what-ifing), how to cope with her imprisonment mentally and emotionally, and how to stay safe and live through the ordeal.
Although the drama/main event unfolds fairly rapidly, the tension builds very slowly as the reader is drawn into the story. Since there is minimal physical violence, apart from Clare being held against her will, it is less heart pounding than heart wrenching. There are moments when you fear for her life, but you more often fear for her sanity.
Overall, it was well-written, interesting and absorbing. Very much a slow-building character study with an unexpected, satisfying conclusion. The story asks, “should we be judged by the sum of our intentions or by our last worst act?”
Bechdel test: Fail.
The book and movie differ greatly, but the overall premise is the same: A young Australian woman, Clare, is traveling alone in Berlin and meets a handsome stranger and native Berliner, Andi. There is an instant connection and sexual chemistry so a whirlwind romance ensues. Almost immediately, however, Andi becomes obsessed with Clare and accidentally (at first), and then purposely locks her in his apartment where he keeps her prisoner.
The book is told from both Clare and Andi’s perspectives so you really do get insight into motivation and inner dialogue which I found very interesting. The writing is quiet, subtle, melancholic, and dream like. You can really picture the scenes and sense the claustrophobic and lonely environment of Andi’s apartment as two strangers navigate the unnatural situation.
The story builds hour upon hour, day upon day, week upon week, as Clare and Andi work their way around and through one another. Andi, with the goal of having Clare understand how “right” it is and come to love him and her imprisonment. And Clare on how she found herself in the situation in the first place (much self-blaming and what-ifing), how to cope with her imprisonment mentally and emotionally, and how to stay safe and live through the ordeal.
Although the drama/main event unfolds fairly rapidly, the tension builds very slowly as the reader is drawn into the story. Since there is minimal physical violence, apart from Clare being held against her will, it is less heart pounding than heart wrenching. There are moments when you fear for her life, but you more often fear for her sanity.
Overall, it was well-written, interesting and absorbing. Very much a slow-building character study with an unexpected, satisfying conclusion. The story asks, “should we be judged by the sum of our intentions or by our last worst act?”
Bechdel test: Fail.
sighclopss's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.5
A typical thriller novel about abduction/forced confinement. It left me expecting for something to set it apart from similar books but it just never did?
I enjoyed the writing style, I think the author has a great talent to convey characters intimate thoughts while still writing in third person. I did find the pov skipping/time skipping a little confusing especially when there's no chapters or line breakers to physically signal the changes.
The ending felt very anticlimactic, I really wish for a more dramatic end. Overall a quick read with complex characters, but a mostly cliche plot.
I enjoyed the writing style, I think the author has a great talent to convey characters intimate thoughts while still writing in third person. I did find the pov skipping/time skipping a little confusing especially when there's no chapters or line breakers to physically signal the changes.
The ending felt very anticlimactic, I really wish for a more dramatic end. Overall a quick read with complex characters, but a mostly cliche plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy and Abandonment
mouwuol's review
4.0
very very disturbing. My favourite kind of books are kidnapping books so I should be used to reading this kind of disturbing-ness but this book was so.. it made me want to vomit. I was disgusted and the book made me very emotional.
this book made me so claustraphobic, I had to leave my house and walk for an hour. Sitting down and reading this made me so fidgety. I couldn't sit in a small room while the main character was trapped.
I didn't like the writing at some points, the sudden switch between POVS confused me (but only for a second)
this book made me so claustraphobic, I had to leave my house and walk for an hour. Sitting down and reading this made me so fidgety. I couldn't sit in a small room while the main character was trapped.
I didn't like the writing at some points, the sudden switch between POVS confused me (but only for a second)
racmicash's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Self harm
ouef04's review
3.0
A well crafted book with an interesting beginning, middle but a rather flimsy ending.
I do find it to be a fairly entertaining read though and the writer creates the perfect portrait of a dangerous and possessively abusive relationship.
7/10
I do find it to be a fairly entertaining read though and the writer creates the perfect portrait of a dangerous and possessively abusive relationship.
7/10
jfritsch's review
2.0
clare and andi are hella pretentious (i liked clare more towards the end) and i couldn’t suspend my disbelief