laurenjpegler's review
2.0
"Berlin is a skeleton which aches in the cold: it is my own skeleton aching".
Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin is a series of semiautobiographical short stories set in 1930s Berlin. They describe pre-Nazi Germany, the rising communist party and the decadent yet glamour Berlin society.
The first two stories really sucked me in to this narrative; they were glamorous, different, and had The Great Gatsby vibes. The characters and settings were just wonderful - they were so different to me, yet also so real and natural. It's hard to explain, really. But the last three stories fell short; they were often quite boring, uninteresting, and upsetting. The treatment of the Jews by the Nazi soldiers was brutal and real, which was the only element I could praise from these last three stories. Other than that, they had no weight or interest.
When I first started it, I really liked the idea of this book, but after a while, my expectations got the better of me. I think I would have much preferred this to have been written as a full-length novel rather than short stories; I find it hard to connect to these types of narratives, and I think this may be one of the reasons I didn't get on with Goodbye to Berlin.
I'm not too sure - I didn't hate this book by any means, but it just didn't impress me, thus the 2 star rating. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy the interwar years, and its literary offspring, but it just wasn't for me personally.
Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin is a series of semiautobiographical short stories set in 1930s Berlin. They describe pre-Nazi Germany, the rising communist party and the decadent yet glamour Berlin society.
The first two stories really sucked me in to this narrative; they were glamorous, different, and had The Great Gatsby vibes. The characters and settings were just wonderful - they were so different to me, yet also so real and natural. It's hard to explain, really. But the last three stories fell short; they were often quite boring, uninteresting, and upsetting. The treatment of the Jews by the Nazi soldiers was brutal and real, which was the only element I could praise from these last three stories. Other than that, they had no weight or interest.
When I first started it, I really liked the idea of this book, but after a while, my expectations got the better of me. I think I would have much preferred this to have been written as a full-length novel rather than short stories; I find it hard to connect to these types of narratives, and I think this may be one of the reasons I didn't get on with Goodbye to Berlin.
I'm not too sure - I didn't hate this book by any means, but it just didn't impress me, thus the 2 star rating. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy the interwar years, and its literary offspring, but it just wasn't for me personally.
cowbutch's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
tackling_the_tbrs's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
edorend's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jeremie's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, War, and Police brutality
Moderate: Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Misogyny
Minor: Classism
portlandcat's review against another edition
4.0
I’m ashamed with how long I was like “is he....gay? No. Well, maybe?”
ratwizardben's review
adventurous
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
marcel22112022's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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
inadequate's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0