thebookofdanny's review against another edition
5.0
Kehlmann brilliantly transposes the scatalogically obsessed Tyll Ulenspiegel from the 14th Century to The Thirty Years War. Tyll's diablerie seems almost pious in contrast to the absurdity of hierarchy, war and politics. Ironically, the most ludicrous and comical moments are when Tyll is absent. The imagined exchange between Athanasius Kircher, Adam Olearius and Paul Fleming made me laugh out loud, frequently.
Tyll isn’t just funny, it’s beautifully profound and the chapters that bookend the novel evoke memento mori whilst simultaneously challenging the inevitability of death. Fucking great.
Tyll isn’t just funny, it’s beautifully profound and the chapters that bookend the novel evoke memento mori whilst simultaneously challenging the inevitability of death. Fucking great.
dxk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sonham's review against another edition
3.0
„Tyll“ ist mein erstes Buch von Kehlmann und ich wusste nicht so recht, was mich erwarten würde. Ich rechnete mit einer Geschichte rund um den Narren Till Eulenspiegel, doch eigentlich ist dieser nur das Bindungsglied in den Irrungen und Wirrungen des Dreißigjährigen Krieges, in die der Autor seine Leser versetzt.
Wir tänzeln – leichtfüßig wie Tyll und seine Begleiterin Nele – von Szene zu Szene und treffen sowohl geschichtlich relevante Personen als auch völlig erfundene Charaktere.
Es ist schwierig, sich auf eine Situation einzulassen, denn kaum hat man sich ein wenig eingelebt, wechselt die Kulisse und wir suchen Ulenspiegel in einem anderen Wimmelbild.
Ich bin mir nicht sicher, was ich von diesem Roman halten soll. Er wird oft verglichen mit dem „abenteuerlichen Simplicissimus“ und ich muss gestehen, dass ich ihn mindestens genauso zäh fand wie diesen.
Er erinnerte mich auch an den „Hundertjährigen, der aus dem Fenster stieg und verschwand“ – noch so ein Protagonist, der sich für den Nabel der Welt hält, durchs Leben fällt und unterwegs wichtigen Personen begegnet.
Am sympathischsten in diesem Buch war mir Nele, die ihre Entscheidungen sehr bodenständig und emotionslos trifft und ihren eigenen, unabhängigen Weg geht. Sie eckt dabei jedoch bei weitem nicht so sehr an wie Tyll, der Menschen dazu bringt, das Schlechteste aus sich herauszuholen.
Literarisch ist „Tyll“ sicherlich ein interessantes Werk, aber das Storytelling ist zu stark angelehnt an klassische Erzählweisen und wirkt auf mich etwas bemüht.
Man sollte es vielleicht mal gelesen haben, aber ich würde es nicht als Geschenk unter den Weihnachtsbaum legen.
Wir tänzeln – leichtfüßig wie Tyll und seine Begleiterin Nele – von Szene zu Szene und treffen sowohl geschichtlich relevante Personen als auch völlig erfundene Charaktere.
Es ist schwierig, sich auf eine Situation einzulassen, denn kaum hat man sich ein wenig eingelebt, wechselt die Kulisse und wir suchen Ulenspiegel in einem anderen Wimmelbild.
Ich bin mir nicht sicher, was ich von diesem Roman halten soll. Er wird oft verglichen mit dem „abenteuerlichen Simplicissimus“ und ich muss gestehen, dass ich ihn mindestens genauso zäh fand wie diesen.
Er erinnerte mich auch an den „Hundertjährigen, der aus dem Fenster stieg und verschwand“ – noch so ein Protagonist, der sich für den Nabel der Welt hält, durchs Leben fällt und unterwegs wichtigen Personen begegnet.
Am sympathischsten in diesem Buch war mir Nele, die ihre Entscheidungen sehr bodenständig und emotionslos trifft und ihren eigenen, unabhängigen Weg geht. Sie eckt dabei jedoch bei weitem nicht so sehr an wie Tyll, der Menschen dazu bringt, das Schlechteste aus sich herauszuholen.
Literarisch ist „Tyll“ sicherlich ein interessantes Werk, aber das Storytelling ist zu stark angelehnt an klassische Erzählweisen und wirkt auf mich etwas bemüht.
Man sollte es vielleicht mal gelesen haben, aber ich würde es nicht als Geschenk unter den Weihnachtsbaum legen.
gasserane's review against another edition
4.0
Mesmerizing story telling techniques. With such economy of words but with so powerful and hipnotice sugestive power. One of the most pleasant reads for long time. But also, because I have read it in an excelent Romanian (native language) translation.
tonythep's review against another edition
5.0
Daniel Kehlmann is possibly the most original and masterful storyteller I've ever encountered. In Tyll, he places us in Seventeenth century Europe during the Thirty Years War. Against this backdrop of immense human suffering, Kehlmann gives us a clown to weave together the stories of kings, queens, scholars, and peasants. He makes us care for even the smallest characters and wrenches human insight out of the most unlikely situations. Tyll is filled with darkness, and death, but also tenderness, hope, and humor. Magic abounds but is never fully explained or explained away. Kehlmann continues to add objects spinning above his head, much to the delight of this rabble.
badoit90's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars // A novel that had the potential to become a masterpiece, but goes off course way too often.
Tyll is a story inspired by the protagonist of a German folklore of the same name: Till Eulenspiegel. A traveling artist, a juggler, a jester and trickster by trade, he was said to roam the lands during the Middle Ages and play jokes on his contemporaries. Daniel Kehlmann takes the chapbook that this tale originates from and weaves a whole story of friendship and betrayal, of politics, religion and war around it.
The author tells his tale in a non-linear fashion: Split up into different episodes, we jump around the timeline a lot, thereby seeing Tyll from his childhood years up to the height of his 'career', from being born as a poor Millers boy up to being involved in the Thirty Years War. Despite Tyll being the books clear main protagonist, the author introduces a myriad of other characters along the way in this style of storytelling. Unfortunately, ‘Tyll’ is at its strongest, when we follow the eponymous main character - more often than not though it steers off the main path, introducing side-stories and themes that I didn’t really sign up for, like the intricate politics of the Thirty Years War of the time. Having forgotten most of the conflicts outlines, these side-stories felt weirdly tacked on and by far not as entertaining as Tylls tumultuous life itself.
Having read the book in German (and can therefor only speak for this version), it is really, really well written though - and it’s Kehlmanns strong writing that carries the novel through the side-stories it so desperately wants to give the spotlight. Would it have stayed in course and just focused on Tyll himself, maybe expanding even a bit more on his day-to-day, this could have stood on the same high pedestal as Patrick Süskinds Perfume, which it very much reminded me of during its strongest moments.
Tyll is a story inspired by the protagonist of a German folklore of the same name: Till Eulenspiegel. A traveling artist, a juggler, a jester and trickster by trade, he was said to roam the lands during the Middle Ages and play jokes on his contemporaries. Daniel Kehlmann takes the chapbook that this tale originates from and weaves a whole story of friendship and betrayal, of politics, religion and war around it.
The author tells his tale in a non-linear fashion: Split up into different episodes, we jump around the timeline a lot, thereby seeing Tyll from his childhood years up to the height of his 'career', from being born as a poor Millers boy up to being involved in the Thirty Years War. Despite Tyll being the books clear main protagonist, the author introduces a myriad of other characters along the way in this style of storytelling. Unfortunately, ‘Tyll’ is at its strongest, when we follow the eponymous main character - more often than not though it steers off the main path, introducing side-stories and themes that I didn’t really sign up for, like the intricate politics of the Thirty Years War of the time. Having forgotten most of the conflicts outlines, these side-stories felt weirdly tacked on and by far not as entertaining as Tylls tumultuous life itself.
Having read the book in German (and can therefor only speak for this version), it is really, really well written though - and it’s Kehlmanns strong writing that carries the novel through the side-stories it so desperately wants to give the spotlight. Would it have stayed in course and just focused on Tyll himself, maybe expanding even a bit more on his day-to-day, this could have stood on the same high pedestal as Patrick Süskinds Perfume, which it very much reminded me of during its strongest moments.
shibaandcrochet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
gabesteller's review against another edition
5.0
Gahhh! This book was so fun and hard to define! Crazy, chronology jumping story of a sort of evil Jester trying to ~survive and thrive~ in one of those never ending European wars (Thirty years!). Really runs a gamut of tones, funny, scary, nauseating, thrilling, sometimes super vivid sometimes absurd.
Especially loved the theme of the power of superstition and the limits of who can and cant get away with believing their own bullshit.
Tyll is a character I hadn’t heard of before but is apparently a popular part hero of German and Eastern European folklore, and if I had a criticism it would probably that he be in it just a bit more. I loved that each chapter is told from a different POV and Tyll usually drops in later or around the edges, but honestly he was always the best part and sometimes just one scene with him is not enough!
Read this in english idk why only the german version exists on here
Especially loved the theme of the power of superstition and the limits of who can and cant get away with believing their own bullshit.
Tyll is a character I hadn’t heard of before but is apparently a popular part hero of German and Eastern European folklore, and if I had a criticism it would probably that he be in it just a bit more. I loved that each chapter is told from a different POV and Tyll usually drops in later or around the edges, but honestly he was always the best part and sometimes just one scene with him is not enough!
Read this in english idk why only the german version exists on here