desirosie's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fascinating, both in its style and subject matter. Romania was a part of the Eastern Bloc I had never really considered (even after having a roommate in Moscow whose parents had fled to the US from Romania).
superfamoustia's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know a thing about this book (or author) aside from what I saw and read on the cool cover. Here goes nothin'!
* * * *
Post-reading: This edition of the book has Muller's Nobel lecture as a sort of Afterward. Only while reading that did I realize that the poetic, at times seemingly Absurd quality of this story was TRUTH. Living in Ceausescu's Romania sounds like being trapped in a nightmare Absurdist play.
I am ashamed for not having known much at all about Romania's rather recent history. Look up Nicola Ceausescu if you feel the same. And read this book. Or, heck, just read the book if you seek a challenging experience. Muller will exercise your imagination, your brain, your emotions.
* * * *
Post-reading: This edition of the book has Muller's Nobel lecture as a sort of Afterward. Only while reading that did I realize that the poetic, at times seemingly Absurd quality of this story was TRUTH. Living in Ceausescu's Romania sounds like being trapped in a nightmare Absurdist play.
I am ashamed for not having known much at all about Romania's rather recent history. Look up Nicola Ceausescu if you feel the same. And read this book. Or, heck, just read the book if you seek a challenging experience. Muller will exercise your imagination, your brain, your emotions.
iammandyellen's review against another edition
5.0
"Here no one was a guest, they were all just refugees from a meaningless afternoon." (30)
"When we don't speak, said Edgar, we become unbearable, and when we do, we make fools of ourselves." (242)
The bravery of "No."
"When we don't speak, said Edgar, we become unbearable, and when we do, we make fools of ourselves." (242)
The bravery of "No."
chocomuffinilla's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
kieza88's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
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? No
2.5
j_m_alexander's review against another edition
5.0
Herta, I believe you ate of the green plums, I believe you had both a praying grandmother and a singing one. I believe you wrote of nail clippers and shoes. I believe you, though this is not an autobiography, nay, it is fiction, and too I have no experience that even resembles this in the least. A loss, a rape of one's heritage, a theft of one's home. Friendships that were both saving grace and condemnation. Ties used to make a noose. Paranoia is a tool not a symptom. There are tales of the dictator's illnesses. There is proof of his health, of his potency. Death comes by the stone, the window, the rope, and the nut, but alas it does not come for him. How many must suffer while he lives on? A hair laid across a suitcase, a hair laid within a letter. Flee, flee or die; be torn to bits by time, by fang, by accusation, by oppression.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
"All the people who went around the city carrying their provinces with them sniffed at their hands. They didn't know the books from the summerhouse. But they wanted to go there. In the land those books came from, there were blue jeans and oranges, soft toys for children and portable TVs... whisper-thin nylons and real mascara..."
From THE LAND OF GREEN PLUMS [Herztier] by Herta Müller, translated from the German by Michael Hofmann, 1993/1996.
#ReadtheWorld21
From THE LAND OF GREEN PLUMS [Herztier] by Herta Müller, translated from the German by Michael Hofmann, 1993/1996.
#ReadtheWorld21
kathykekmrs's review against another edition
3.0
This is a story about suffering and fear. In Ceausescu's Romania poverty is everywhere. Students escaped being peasants by taking tests to study something useful. Of course one can see the provinces in another's face. There are many lies being told by everyone. There is no freedom of thought and private thoughts are most definitely not allowed.
Four young people find themselves trapped in this world.Of these four three are fired from jobs that they had with the state's permission. One will be permitted to emigrate to Germany and then be killed. Another will hang himself after the other two get to Germany. There is still much mental torture after people safely get across the Danube with permission. Those who leave without permission are often dead before they get to the border.
This is not an easy story to read as death permeates so much of the plot. It is a short book and the sentences are translated simply so it reads quickly. It is not a world anyone would chose as abject poverty with no choices is difficult. There is not enough rain. It is always cold. The guards steal whatever food is available. Religion is not permissible, but everyone goes to church anyway. The older people remember a time when one spoke of Jesus's love openly and mourn for those days.
Life in Germany is not much better as political asylum does not allow for financial benefits and letters and phone calls bring much mental torment.
Four young people find themselves trapped in this world.Of these four three are fired from jobs that they had with the state's permission. One will be permitted to emigrate to Germany and then be killed. Another will hang himself after the other two get to Germany. There is still much mental torture after people safely get across the Danube with permission. Those who leave without permission are often dead before they get to the border.
This is not an easy story to read as death permeates so much of the plot. It is a short book and the sentences are translated simply so it reads quickly. It is not a world anyone would chose as abject poverty with no choices is difficult. There is not enough rain. It is always cold. The guards steal whatever food is available. Religion is not permissible, but everyone goes to church anyway. The older people remember a time when one spoke of Jesus's love openly and mourn for those days.
Life in Germany is not much better as political asylum does not allow for financial benefits and letters and phone calls bring much mental torment.