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claudia_elisabeth's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lkreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
blackbird27's review against another edition
5.0
In trying to source all the greatest novels of the 1910s (that I can read), I have had to turn to the magnificent Interlibrary Loan system for translations into English that have fallen so far out of print that Amazon is no help. The first ILL book that arrived was Eduard von Keyserling's 1911 Wellen, which the 1929 translation I read rendered Tides but which would be literally (and more thematically appropriately) translated Waves.
Eduard von Keyserling was a member of the decaying Baltic German aristocracy: his family held land in what was then the Russian Empire and is now Estonia, and Tides is set in a community on the Baltic Sea, where a wealthy German estate overlooks the humble fishing cottages of the local peasantry. I have no spoilers to give -- it's the kind of book that should be experienced exactly as written: like a tone poem, the minute distinctions of coloration fading into each other as the melody gradually unfolds -- but the fact that the book is not principally about the aristocracy (although the aristocracy, its power and judgment, hangs over practically every glance and gesture) was rather a relief to me.
In fact, the whole thing was a pleasant surprise; I am given to reading contemporary reviews when I can get my hands on them, and the American literary journals of the twenties rather scolded Keyserling (who died in 1918) for being so bleak and pessimistic. But I didn't find Tides bleak at all: it's full of vibrancy and color, and if it grinds rather fatalistically toward an obvious death at the end, that just seems European rather than depressing. Several other of Keyserling's novels and novellas were translated in the same period, and all are just as thoroughly out of print, but I'm interested in reading them all now; and curious too about those that never made it into English at all.
Eduard von Keyserling was a member of the decaying Baltic German aristocracy: his family held land in what was then the Russian Empire and is now Estonia, and Tides is set in a community on the Baltic Sea, where a wealthy German estate overlooks the humble fishing cottages of the local peasantry. I have no spoilers to give -- it's the kind of book that should be experienced exactly as written: like a tone poem, the minute distinctions of coloration fading into each other as the melody gradually unfolds -- but the fact that the book is not principally about the aristocracy (although the aristocracy, its power and judgment, hangs over practically every glance and gesture) was rather a relief to me.
In fact, the whole thing was a pleasant surprise; I am given to reading contemporary reviews when I can get my hands on them, and the American literary journals of the twenties rather scolded Keyserling (who died in 1918) for being so bleak and pessimistic. But I didn't find Tides bleak at all: it's full of vibrancy and color, and if it grinds rather fatalistically toward an obvious death at the end, that just seems European rather than depressing. Several other of Keyserling's novels and novellas were translated in the same period, and all are just as thoroughly out of print, but I'm interested in reading them all now; and curious too about those that never made it into English at all.
xanadu_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
buddenbrooks_97's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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
2.0
gabitheaustrian's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
In Eduard von Keyserlings "Wellen" treffen mehrere Figuren aufeinander, nur um dann, wie besagte Wellen, auseinanderzudriften. Dieses Buch ist ein schönes Beispiel für jene Geschichten, in denen es einen Auslöser braucht, um sehr zerbrechliche Konstrukte auseinanderbrechen zu lassen. Dies hat Keyserling in schöner, ansprechender Sprache geschrieben, die dem Klang der Wellen entspricht. Ein unbekannter Klassiker, der aber mehr und mehr wiederentdeckt wird und dies auch verdient!
lisefaerch's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
emmentalol's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jersy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Während Handlungen, in denen Untreue eine große Rollen spielt, mich eigentlich nicht ansprechen, erlebe ich oft genug in Klassikern, wie sie mit guten Charakterzeichnungen und Gesellschaftskritik doch sehr interessant sein können.
Die Figuren sind wie aus dem Leben gegriffen und bringen sehr viel Schwung in das Buch. Man kann viel Gefühl und unterschwelligen Humor in den oft gewollt banal gehaltenen Gesprächen finden und mir gefiel auch, wie unterschiedliche Persönlichkeiten und deren Beziehungen untereinander dargestellt wurden. Es liest sich ein bisschen wie eine Mischung aus Jane Austen und Theodor Fontane.
Auch der Handlungsort wurde gut gewählt und symbolisiert vieles, was man in der Handlung wiederfindet, von kühlem Ostseewind bis zu stürmischen Wellen unter der Sonne.
Das Buch zieht mich ein bisschen aus einer Flaute, wo ich alles was ich so lese am Ende höchstens ok finde, trotzdem hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass manche Figuren, wie z. B. Lolo, eine größere Rolle bekommen.
Die Figuren sind wie aus dem Leben gegriffen und bringen sehr viel Schwung in das Buch. Man kann viel Gefühl und unterschwelligen Humor in den oft gewollt banal gehaltenen Gesprächen finden und mir gefiel auch, wie unterschiedliche Persönlichkeiten und deren Beziehungen untereinander dargestellt wurden. Es liest sich ein bisschen wie eine Mischung aus Jane Austen und Theodor Fontane.
Auch der Handlungsort wurde gut gewählt und symbolisiert vieles, was man in der Handlung wiederfindet, von kühlem Ostseewind bis zu stürmischen Wellen unter der Sonne.
Das Buch zieht mich ein bisschen aus einer Flaute, wo ich alles was ich so lese am Ende höchstens ok finde, trotzdem hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass manche Figuren, wie z. B. Lolo, eine größere Rolle bekommen.