heyitskai's review against another edition
1.0
1 ⭐
It's a bit hard for me to collect my thoughts. I was expecting myself to like it and enjoy reading it, but sadly that did not happen. I liked the first part of the story, when the parents where still very much present. After they passed the story quickly went downhill for me. I absolutely cannot stand Johannes... all the lies and keeping Elsa quite literally in prisonment made my blood boil. Reading the second half of the book i skipped paragraphs and whole pages... plus the end didn't really give me anything! Honestly, a tad bit disappointed in this one.
It's a bit hard for me to collect my thoughts. I was expecting myself to like it and enjoy reading it, but sadly that did not happen. I liked the first part of the story, when the parents where still very much present. After they passed the story quickly went downhill for me. I absolutely cannot stand Johannes... all the lies and keeping Elsa quite literally in prisonment made my blood boil. Reading the second half of the book i skipped paragraphs and whole pages... plus the end didn't really give me anything! Honestly, a tad bit disappointed in this one.
leraoluar's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would when I started reading. I couldn't connect with the main characters (specially the part regarding the Hitler Youth) and I didn't like the last third/ending part of the book
mikehuffman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
2.75
kirstyleanned's review against another edition
2.0
When people say this is a book of two halves they aren't kidding. The first half is a very interesting exploration into Nazi propaganda through the eyes of a member of the Hitler Youth; the second half is simply a depiction of an incredibly toxic relationship that genuinely made me feel ill at times. I couldn't wait to finish this book, and I'm SO very glad Taika Waititi somehow managed to make this into a very charming film. Would not recommend anyone nearly ruin the fantastic JoJo Rabbit adaptation with this novel, because I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to watch it in the same way again.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
DNF about 33% in. Hate the main character and can see where this is going. I thought I could do it but after feeling more and more dismal as it goes on I decided I really do not want to read about a male character manipulating a woman into an abusive situation where the imbalance of power is sickening. Judging by the reviews there isn't a payoff for reading more.
quinndm's review against another edition
3.0
What happened??? The concept of this book is genius, and the first half is brilliant! Then, just over halfway through, it morphs into something that no longer represents that incredibly established core. It almost feels like two different books combined with a missing middle — a better end to the first half, and a stronger start to the second. That aside, it has some beautiful writing, as my post-it-filled copy proves.
apireading's review against another edition
2.0
This is the perfect example when a movie is way better than the book. Caging Skies inspired Taika Waititi to write his movie Jojo Rabbit which I really enjoyed. I had the chance to attend a panel where Taika presented his movie and talked a lot about the book. But he said that it was very different and he wanted to do something more about the “innocence of the youth”.
I was intrigued. And I bought the book. And I regret it. This book was not for me AT ALL. I was captivated by the first part but I slowly began to HATE my read for the last 70% of it. And that’s a lot. It was weird, disturbing, not at all the kind of things I want to read. I was utterly uncomfortable with the character of Johannes who’s drawing in his lies in a weird way. There were graphic scenes that made me want to vomit so many times.
Ugh. What a deception.
tw : nazism, antisemitism, death, hanging, sexual assault, severed limb, scars, sequestration, abortion, violence, homophobic slurs.
I was intrigued. And I bought the book. And I regret it. This book was not for me AT ALL. I was captivated by the first part but I slowly began to HATE my read for the last 70% of it. And that’s a lot. It was weird, disturbing, not at all the kind of things I want to read. I was utterly uncomfortable with the character of Johannes who’s drawing in his lies in a weird way. There were graphic scenes that made me want to vomit so many times.
Ugh. What a deception.
tw : nazism, antisemitism, death, hanging, sexual assault, severed limb, scars, sequestration, abortion, violence, homophobic slurs.
lisdweer's review against another edition
2.0
Read up until the half-way point if you'd prefer not to get caught up in a slog of random elements that don't go anywhere and an increasing sense of boredom. Johannes starts off interesting enough -- indoctrinated by the Hitlerjugend and other Nazi propaganda, but with revolutionary parents who are attempting to protect a Jewish girl, but then his character takes a deep dive and at no point does he redeem himself. Elsa is hardly better and I've already forgotten most about her.
I would recommend the first part. Consider it an open end and leave it be once his parents die.
I would recommend the first part. Consider it an open end and leave it be once his parents die.