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turtlebassoonist's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The level of this writing, the skill of such a story, is a rare thing. In weaving together so many characters visited by and made fun of by the titular character, Kehlman has performed a juggling act as entertaining and enthralling as Tyll himself. Everyone gets their due, everyone gets to bob for an apple from the same barrel. Yet some come up with a fish in their mouths, others chip their teeth on rocks painted red, and still others drown in the barrel. The pacing is steady and the range of the stories contained is vast, so you may have to hunker down a bit, but you will love every minute. Having gone in with no real knowledge of the Thirty Years War and only stereotypes of the 17th century, the story was still deeply immersive and also informative. Several scenes are guaranteed to stick with me and several characters will haunt me for the foreseeable future.
The descriptions of war, life in the Holy Roman Empire, terrifying German fairy tales, and early modern alchemy (of which I was unaware lasted as long as it did) were all fascinating. Any of these could be considered a bonus to the expertly crafted story, but for all of them to be present speaks to the quality of this book.
The descriptions of war, life in the Holy Roman Empire, terrifying German fairy tales, and early modern alchemy (of which I was unaware lasted as long as it did) were all fascinating. Any of these could be considered a bonus to the expertly crafted story, but for all of them to be present speaks to the quality of this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Torture and Religious bigotry
tigertheory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Kehlmannâs prose is masterful. Even long, borderline rambling passages about the minutiae of the Thirty Years' War are elevated by subtle humor and a vocabulary that fits the setting without alienating a modern reader.
The book is told from many different points of view, which I personally did not mind as it is clearly part of the larger theme of historiography. It however also makes for a slightly removed reading experience and I could not connect with the story as much as I otherwise would have.
The book is about Till Eulenspiegel as much as it is not; it is about the power of a good story, about who we are when no one is watching and who we become when everyone is.
The book is told from many different points of view, which I personally did not mind as it is clearly part of the larger theme of historiography. It however also makes for a slightly removed reading experience and I could not connect with the story as much as I otherwise would have.
The book is about Till Eulenspiegel as much as it is not; it is about the power of a good story, about who we are when no one is watching and who we become when everyone is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape