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bryanmyoung's review
5.0
Absolutely brilliant. Reminder to the unmarried: if you're considering getting married, read this book.
hollyevaallen's review
3.0
This book. Where to begin. First I’ll say that when I think of literature as an art form, I find this book extremely effective. If you look at any form of art (including literature) as aiming to make you feel or experience something then this really does it. The story revolves around an obsessive man named Konrad who lives in an old mine and wants to write a volume on hearing/the human ear but he can never seem to start writing. The book opens with locals in the neighborhood tavern chatting about how Konrad murdered his disabled wife. It’s a striking opening and the entire novel the reader will follow the jumbled thoughts of multiple people, interlaced fluidly, to find a motive to the murder. The aimless and bizarre style of writing makes the reader feel as though they are going insane (as Konrad is) so as art I find this novel wonderful. However, as just a “novel” it is difficult to push through. The writing style is so odd it becomes cumbersome and the constant repetition of obsessive sentences makes the reader dizzy. However, if you love a challenge or are interested in stream of consciousness pieces, I would still recommend it.
andpasturesnew's review against another edition
wasnt feeling it—will return one day
jonathangolding_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jckl's review
4.0
One time I read this book before bed and was unable to fall asleep until 5 a.m.
A great source of second-hand anxiety for someone who always feels as if they must be doing something. A cautionary tale for the obsessed.
Great rhythm to the Konrads domestic doings too.
A great source of second-hand anxiety for someone who always feels as if they must be doing something. A cautionary tale for the obsessed.
Great rhythm to the Konrads domestic doings too.
squirrelnutkun's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
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
5.0
dllman05's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
chiann's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
piccoline's review against another edition
5.0
Another punishing novel by Bernhard. Is it possible this one is darker than the rest? Or is it just that it's 240 pages, rather than the usually more manageable 120 to 130?
Dense, dark, obsessive, yet as always with Bernhard the descent into the darkness helps us appreciate the light all the more, and commit to live more fully within it.
This novel also viciously emphasizes the point that if you have something that's important for you to do... you better damn well start doing it right now, then make sure you finish it. If you don't, madness and violence will inevitably follow (of either the large and flamboyant or small and self-inflicted type).
Dense, dark, obsessive, yet as always with Bernhard the descent into the darkness helps us appreciate the light all the more, and commit to live more fully within it.
This novel also viciously emphasizes the point that if you have something that's important for you to do... you better damn well start doing it right now, then make sure you finish it. If you don't, madness and violence will inevitably follow (of either the large and flamboyant or small and self-inflicted type).