gray5217's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
artyemis's review against another edition
3.0
Pensavo fosse una storia completamente diversa, invece il contesto storico è solo una scusa per parlare d'altro. Metà libro così così e la metà finale noia totale. Credo che sia piaciuto praticamente a tutti insomma questo libro ma a me proprio non ha conquistato.
angelred's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
3.0
lucavarju's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
ileniazodiaco's review against another edition
3.0
Lo sfondo è quello della seconda guerra mondiale. L'ambientazione quella della Germania Nazista. La produzione letteraria basata su queste coordinate è sconfinata ma la Postorino è riuscita - furbescamente - a darne una nuova chiave di lettura grazie all'adozione di un punto di vista inedito: quello delle assaggiatrici di Hitler, un gruppo di donne assoldate con il compito di mangiare per prime i pasti destinati al Fuhrer e quindi evitargli, in caso di avvelenamento, morte certa. Un sacrificio meno onorevole rispetto alla morte in battaglia ma pur sempre patriottico. Pur partendo da una posizione apparentemente privilegiata (le assaggiatrici hanno accesso a cibi prelibati, ricevono uno stipendio, sicurezza e un trattamento di riguardo), la riflessione rimane comunque la stessa quando si indaga quel periodo storico: quali conseguenze ci sono per chi è stato un connivente? Quando si raggiunge un livello di complicità con un regime accettabile? Quando la colpa è collettiva in qualche modo si stempera ma la vergogna individuale non stinge. Un regime totalitario fa questo: in nome della collettività, isola i cittadini, li rende atomi, estranei gli uni agli altri.
L'intreccio è piuttosto classico, non ha svolte narrative impreviste ma d'altronde non è questo l'elemento di forza del romanzo, bensì la solida costruzione dell'impianto psicologico. Rosella Postorino è davvero dotata di un grande talento nel descrivere i sentimenti ambivalenti dell'animo umano, le sue contraddizioni e i suoi desideri. Sono tanti i momenti dove la scrittura stupisce per vividezza e precisione. "Uno spillo sotto l'unghia", basta questa semplice citazione per descrivere la prosa della Postorino. Una retorica misurata che fa intravedere alcuni "trucchi" autoriali, come l'immancabile (continua qui https://ileniazodiaco.org/2018/03/31/le-assaggiatrici-di-hitler-un-romanzo-troppo-perfetto/)
L'intreccio è piuttosto classico, non ha svolte narrative impreviste ma d'altronde non è questo l'elemento di forza del romanzo, bensì la solida costruzione dell'impianto psicologico. Rosella Postorino è davvero dotata di un grande talento nel descrivere i sentimenti ambivalenti dell'animo umano, le sue contraddizioni e i suoi desideri. Sono tanti i momenti dove la scrittura stupisce per vividezza e precisione. "Uno spillo sotto l'unghia", basta questa semplice citazione per descrivere la prosa della Postorino. Una retorica misurata che fa intravedere alcuni "trucchi" autoriali, come l'immancabile (continua qui https://ileniazodiaco.org/2018/03/31/le-assaggiatrici-di-hitler-un-romanzo-troppo-perfetto/)
lauconn's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
2.5
nuuamuikkunen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I felt like the beginning of the book was slow - perhaps because English isn’t my mother language, perhaps because of the writing. But I nearly did not finish it because I didn’t find the characters or plit that interesting.
But I think about half way the story finally picked up pace and I couldn’t stop reading. For me there is always an uneasy feeling present whenever I read a book I know is based on actually historical events, eventhough the story in the book is fiction. But it’s important to not sugar coat the history eventhough the actual story might not have happened af all the way it’s written in the book. And I think Rosella really did a great job with this.
But I think about half way the story finally picked up pace and I couldn’t stop reading. For me there is always an uneasy feeling present whenever I read a book I know is based on actually historical events, eventhough the story in the book is fiction. But it’s important to not sugar coat the history eventhough the actual story might not have happened af all the way it’s written in the book. And I think Rosella really did a great job with this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, War, Infidelity, and Abortion
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Miscarriage
jenmat1197's review against another edition
4.0
This is a historical fiction novel based on the real life of Margo Wolk who was a food taster for Hitler during the war. The book tells the story of 10 women in East Prussia who were pulled from their homes during World War II and forced to taste Hitler's food before it was servied to him. For more than a year, three meals a day, the women sat under armed guard in a room and were forced to eat food they didn't know was poisoned or not. The main chracter - Rosa - has lost her parents, and her husband is presumed dead on the front. She lives with her in-laws whose lives would also be in danger if Rosa refused to be a food taster.
During Rosa's time as a taster, she befriends the other women. All have their own terrible stories and fears which brings them closer together. None of them know how or when this will end and their only instinct is to survive and return to their families.
This was a good book. I stayed up late into the night reading chapter after chapter, wanting to see how it would end. I did enjoy the book overall and it was beautifully written. The ending was a little unraveled, as most endings are, but not bad. I am glad I found this one, and I recommend giving it a read.
During Rosa's time as a taster, she befriends the other women. All have their own terrible stories and fears which brings them closer together. None of them know how or when this will end and their only instinct is to survive and return to their families.
This was a good book. I stayed up late into the night reading chapter after chapter, wanting to see how it would end. I did enjoy the book overall and it was beautifully written. The ending was a little unraveled, as most endings are, but not bad. I am glad I found this one, and I recommend giving it a read.