Scan barcode
scaraquin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
ajkhn's review against another edition
4.0
Much like Burmese Days, there's a lot of this book that really oozes "first novel" in some inelegant ways. It's a plodder, and there's not much actually *happening* in it, to be honest.
But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading. It's fun seeing how Bolano puzzles through the diary style of it, and exciting to see how the protagonist fall into doom. Things get dreadful and gothic rather wonderfully, and the ending too is both unexpected and great.
I picked this up randomly as a vacation novel because it takes place on a vacation. It wasn't quite what I expected (or at all what I expected) but I really enjoyed it. There's plenty to critique: wooden characters, a lack of steady atmosphere, and a need of a stronger editor presence. But what is there is really intriguing and good for long stretches of reading. Check it out sometime, it was enjoyable and interesting to puzzle along with Bolano in.
But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading. It's fun seeing how Bolano puzzles through the diary style of it, and exciting to see how the protagonist fall into doom. Things get dreadful and gothic rather wonderfully, and the ending too is both unexpected and great.
I picked this up randomly as a vacation novel because it takes place on a vacation. It wasn't quite what I expected (or at all what I expected) but I really enjoyed it. There's plenty to critique: wooden characters, a lack of steady atmosphere, and a need of a stronger editor presence. But what is there is really intriguing and good for long stretches of reading. Check it out sometime, it was enjoyable and interesting to puzzle along with Bolano in.
jana_kiss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.75
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
3.0
The Third Reich is a work that Bolano chose not to publish, then it was found after he died & published post-humously. These kind of found works always make me wonder, why did the author choose not to publish? Were they unhappy with the work? Did they consider it unfinished? If I read one of these books & I love it, I'm thrilled that it was published. If I read one and I don't like it, I think that perhaps the author got it right, and it shouldn't have been published.
The Third Reich is somewhere in between. I liked it, I guess? The creeping dread that comes from seemingly nowhere is great. Does the last third feel unfinished? Maybe? Or is this just how life is - weird things happen and people do a bad job of dealing with it, life goes on, and there aren't really any answers.
The Third Reich is somewhere in between. I liked it, I guess? The creeping dread that comes from seemingly nowhere is great. Does the last third feel unfinished? Maybe? Or is this just how life is - weird things happen and people do a bad job of dealing with it, life goes on, and there aren't really any answers.
marthaweeze's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dafunnypimp's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
abroadwell's review against another edition
4.0
Bolaño had a masterful way of creating suspense and writing dialogue. This novel really gets at the creepy psychological undertones of playing war games in which the death and destruction of millions is abstracted away to a question of moves and strategy. For Udo, the death of his real life friend and the loss of his job and girlfriend are no more important than the deployment of his imaginary troops.
glovestealer's review against another edition
3.0
Creates a great atmosphere of something threatening and builds towards an utterly disturbing feeling. Sadly, it ends in an anti climax.
emalda's review against another edition
4.0
What just happened? I am purely giving this 5 for confusion and awe.
I don't really know what to say. I loved how the main charachter develops and how the diary entries are mixed with game descriptions. I love the language and the "dialogue". I love this story, but I really don't know what happened and why and I couldn't care less, because this is all you need and all a story needs to keep the reader/listener in it's grip. I will very likely go through this again as I will and have done with Bolaño's other work. I am truly enthralled that such a writer has existed such a short time ago. His works make me feel like at home and a bit humbled too. Truly a master of his craft he was.
I'm not sure what this reminds me of except it's written like its older than it is. A contemporary Goethe who shoots himself in the head just to be woken up/born again. So many bubbles burst. So many dicks teased. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves the mundane and who has ever lost interest or doubted their enthusiam with a subject someone else didn't understand :) Also to those who've had strange and more or less romantic encounters in strange places and times of their lives.
I don't really know what to say. I loved how the main charachter develops and how the diary entries are mixed with game descriptions. I love the language and the "dialogue". I love this story, but I really don't know what happened and why and I couldn't care less, because this is all you need and all a story needs to keep the reader/listener in it's grip. I will very likely go through this again as I will and have done with Bolaño's other work. I am truly enthralled that such a writer has existed such a short time ago. His works make me feel like at home and a bit humbled too. Truly a master of his craft he was.
I'm not sure what this reminds me of except it's written like its older than it is. A contemporary Goethe who shoots himself in the head just to be woken up/born again. So many bubbles burst. So many dicks teased. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves the mundane and who has ever lost interest or doubted their enthusiam with a subject someone else didn't understand :) Also to those who've had strange and more or less romantic encounters in strange places and times of their lives.