Reviews

Ein wirklich erstaunliches Ding by Hank Green

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mollyharms's review against another edition

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5.0

amazing!! so glad i finally got around to reading this!

rkblower1's review against another edition

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Got bored

eerie_de_sense's review against another edition

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5.0

This was an absolutely remarkable thing - It’s odd I’ve been reading so many romance and fantasy books lately that I’ve gotten used to certain tropes the way twists are presented even when new everything follows a format and arc that I can follow that I understand. And maybe this does too but it’s different from a lot I have read. It’s about the human condition in an odd way. Though I still don’t understand April May is considered special was she special or simply drawn out of a hat? Was there some known way everything would go? Why is she vital over everything else? I guess I was left with more questions but I guess it was in a good way? The portrayal of dehumanizing yourself of putting on so many masks that it’s unclear what’s underneath—that wanting to be a force for good somehow overrides being yourself—such much so you may lose who that self is? I’m honestly not sure what I just read how it made me feel or where it ended? Was it enjoyable? I don’t know but it gave me a lot to think about. The way April was willing to risk her life as if it didn’t have an much value as everything else, is that a depression response? Or does it simply feel true? I don’t understand how fame can be so addicting to someone? Is being known really desirable? How can it go so quickly from 0 to 100? And the stuff with Mya? Wtf was that? Maya loved her and I still don’t know how April felt… everyone cared for her so deeply and yet she was so self-centered and for what? To be important? What does it matter as long as you’re contributing to good, you can’t be all encompassing? And grape jelly? What’s was that? I want to understand this I want to see it all come together and well I’ll let you know when I read the next book but I still am just not sure what I think. I guess it made me reflect a lot on how society acts and how public facing things have to be viewed and presented a certain way. Also I love that there’s LGBTQ representation where them being LGBTQ is just them and it’s not ABOUT them having those identities, but it also doesn’t ignore those identities— that honestly made me really happy. Idk what I’m even saying in this rant but I also spent the entire time reading this thinking what is Hank Green through this medium trying to say about himself and the world? And maybe it’s that it’s all chaos and we over and under represent our place in it and that when something crazy and big happens we don’t know how to respond in a cohesive way and we become divided but we CAN come together? That maybe we all can unite? What do we remember of history? What becomes important? Why?

Anyway at first when rating I wanted to give it a 3/5 because I wasn’t sure I enjoyed my time and what was it even all about? And then immediately I wanted to give it a 5/5 because the way it commented on so many social constructs and made me think so deeply about so many issues and left me with so many questions and felt so real and raw and imperfect and flawed — that was beautiful. And so I settled on a 4/5 stars. (Hello later Gloria here upon reflection it’s been upgraded to a 5/5 I think I did enjoy it saying I’m not sure is definitely a lie cause I consumed this in less than 24 hours and I’m still thinking about it a bit after so yeah it’s probably a 5 star) I’m not sure what I expected but it was different, sometimes a refreshing sometimes a frustrating different, but it was something that left me with thoughts that I know will ultimately stick with me, so I guess that’s worth something.

langeletta's review against another edition

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4.0

It took me longer than normal to read this book because there were slow areas and this is why I didn’t give it five stars. The story itself is very interesting with a lesson that is bound to figuratively punch the reader in the stomach with its truth. A very well done first novel. Kudos to Hank Green.

eawilson21's review against another edition

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3.0

I don't know, man. I wanted to like it. I did finish it, but it wasn't great.

qb__'s review against another edition

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fast-paced

Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Main character is a shitty content creator who takes advantage of a major global event to get popular at the expense of her relationships, and is, therefore, very unlikeable for the most part. She did have some character growth in the last quarter or so, which kinda saves the story. I mostly listened to the audiobook, voice actress did a great job, but that only made the main character more unlikeable, I think. Also, not to sound like a literary critic, but not a big fan of the writing style? Again, better in the last quarter, or maybe half?
If I read the sequel, it'll be only for the sci-fi part, which isn't as sci-fi-y as I expected, and the goddamn

"knock"

Content Warnings