Reviews

Oeroeg, by Hella S. Haasse

sandra_buckwell's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective 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

4.0

sergefelipe's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

catvonb's review against another edition

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3.0

Het verbaasde me dat ik dit boek niet treuriger vond dan ik het vond. Een vriendschap en je thuisland verliezen is geen pretje, maar de hoofdpersoon blijft er erg verbazingwekkend nuchter onder.
Het leuke aan dit boek vind ik dat Haasse door middel van kleine details de verschillen tussen verschillende bevolkingsgroepen in Nederlands-Indië weet duidelijk te maken. Ze laat zien hoe Oeroeg door zijn kleding kan laten zien bij welke groep hij wil horen, en de hoofdpersoon heeft de veranderingen direct door en begrijpt ze ook. Prachtig stukje (fictieve) geschiedenis dat je, zonder dat je het echt doorhebt, vertelt over hoe het in Indië was voor de inlanders.

marthevisser's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

maxim_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kurt_v's review against another edition

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

3.5

matthijs's review against another edition

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3.0

Lief, teder en elegant boekje dat af en toe een tikkeltje problematisch is. Goede schets van de tijd en wat toen voor politiek deugdelijk doorging.

ladyofbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Actual rating 3.5 ⭐. I found this through the Wayback Machine and it was only 130 pages, so I quickly read through it to knock it off my tbr. I do really love the cover, however the story itself wasn't quite for me. But as a translated work it was quite good. I'm hoping to get a physical copy so that I can reread it later. 4 stars.

anneliesb's review against another edition

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3.0

This one is short and therefore quite popular in schools. But...short as it is, it does pack an unexpected punch.

This little book (book week gift 1948) focusses on the friendship between the son of Dutch colonialists and the son of one of the tea plantation workers. After their mothers are pregnant together they grow up side by side as the best of friends. But through the years their friendship changes and they grow more and more apart until they find themselves opposites in a war.

This novella raises questions about friendship and otherness. Was this friendship always doomed? Can it only exist in the naivete of childhood? Who is to blame for the waning of the friendship? Is it in their character or is it the influence of their environment?

Although I was pleasantly surprised by this work, it's only 3* for me. There are too many loose ends, too many interesting characters that could have been delved into. Too many voices unspoken.

smb04's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0