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hadeanstars's review against another edition
4.0
Not so much a novel as a bureaucratic documentary of the Nazi effort to wipe the Jews from the face of the earth, or more specifically Kraków, and a singular study of the man at the centre of it all, the larger than life bon-vivant and womaniser: Oskar Schindler. If you have seen the film, then understand that it is fairly faithful to the book, but due to its visual nature, perhaps it is more difficult to get through: more visceral. That isn't to say that the book doesn't evoke a kind of slow-burning emotional trauma in its reader, because you cannot escape the horror of it, even if it is not spelled out graphically, but the novel surely does lend a different nuance to the same telling: it is often painfully banal. It is also an excellent study of the very gradual process of dehumanisation, and that which, by the end, ought to be outrageous, is merely a small movement of the gears from something that was already acceptable. To dehumanise a single person, or an entire people, seems easy enough, if you start small.
The most difficult character in the novel is Amon Goethe. He is almost a caricature, so monstrous is his mien, but at the same time, his world-view is chillingly casual. Schindler by contrast is a man who has found his time and his humanity in the midst of unspeakable evil. Before and after the war he was ordinary, human. In the thick of it, he was Olympian.
A really wonderful thing to read and understand. Important and undeniable. But perhaps not a truly great novel, because it is not really a novel at all. It is just something that happened - precious and remarkable, yes, but still an account.
The most difficult character in the novel is Amon Goethe. He is almost a caricature, so monstrous is his mien, but at the same time, his world-view is chillingly casual. Schindler by contrast is a man who has found his time and his humanity in the midst of unspeakable evil. Before and after the war he was ordinary, human. In the thick of it, he was Olympian.
A really wonderful thing to read and understand. Important and undeniable. But perhaps not a truly great novel, because it is not really a novel at all. It is just something that happened - precious and remarkable, yes, but still an account.
mjminkowich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
mimela78's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-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
3.0
extraterrestrial_congregations's review against another edition
The writing style was very much not for me; had such a hard time with the little I read. Decides to drop it after trying to read 30 or so pages at once and left with a headache and no energy at all. Pity :'D
ripsquishy19's review against another edition
5.0
of course i read the book my all-time favorite movie is based on. what a fantastic read.
rightoftheleaf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hi_itsnatty's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and War
misnyder's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Murder
travelthroughreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0