Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Die Leiden Des Jungen Werther

While I like the concept, there's always one major gripe I have with works form this era: the portrayal of women or, more specifically, female love interests, makes it really hard to connect with the male protagonists.

Werther's infatuation with Lotte borders on obsession but although the majority of the book consists of Werther's letters to Wilhelm, it doesn't become clear what he loves about her. Granted, she's more than just a pretty face but she's simultaneously too detailed for the reader to insert a crush of their own and too shallow to relate to Werther. And then there's moments that make you doubt if he loved her at all, like the fact that Werther's suicide letter to Lotte effectively blames her for his suicide, and fantasizing about how she'd be reading this letter specifically on Christmas feels downright sadistic.

Content Warnings

phrogen's review against another edition

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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

2.0

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kryolitee's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad 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

3.25

Content Warnings

kryolitee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective 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

3.25

Content Warnings

amaliascorner_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

nonsensebookvoid's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

mutamam's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Bu kitap çelişkiler dolu Werther’in hayatını yansıtıyor. Aşırı güzel betimleme aşk ve sevginin yanında korkunç bir bağlılılık, takıntı, taciz, depresyon ve ölümcül düşünceler zıtlıklarıyla şahane bir sahne çizdi. Kesinlikle okunması gereken bir kitap!

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nejenek's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Dies war das erste Buch, das ich auf Deutsch durchgelesen habe und ich bin wirklich beeindruckt, wie dramatisch die Deutschen damals waren. Jetzt sind sie alle auf jeden Fall zurückhaltender.
Der Werther hätte ein bisschen chilliger sein können

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