Reviews

Child of All Nations by Irmgard Keun

nilsna's review against another edition

4.0

Ein einfach wunderbares Buch

maren_hemsath's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

shimmery's review against another edition

5.0

Kully is ten years old, the daughter of an eccentric writer and his long suffering wife. As the second world war becomes imminent, the family move from hotel to hotel all around Europe, trying to negotiate visas that keep them away from Germany where her father is wanted for writing things against the government.

The terror experienced by the adults, the erratic lifestyle and struggle is all fun and games to the fearless Kully. Her father frequently abandons her and her mother as he tries to charm money out of people to fund their extravagant accommodation and drinking arrangements.

Though it deals with serious subject matter, the book is so much fun; hugely entertaining even while the sadness of the adults that Kully does not understand is evident. For her it is all just a big adventure, with a wide range of interesting characters, which I loved reading about. A bravery inspiring book.

kathrinpassig's review against another edition

4.0

Weil ich beides kurz nacheinander gelesen habe, kommt mir das hier wie die Horrorvariante von "Als Hitler das rosa Kaninchen stahl" vor. Die Erzählerin ist etwas jünger und erzählt alles in einem "Der kleine Nick"-Stil ("ich weiß auch nicht, warum sich schon wieder alle so aufregen"), aber gleichzeitig ist das, was da erzählt wird, grausig. Und noch nicht mal aus Nazigründen (nur indirekt).

Gegenwartskompatibilität: Einige Seiten sind voll mit dem N-Wort, und das Problem ist hier nicht nur ein Wort, das sich leicht durch ein anderes ersetzen ließe.

fxp's review against another edition

4.0

I read halfway through this book, and then discovered that it was written in the 1930s. I couldn't believe it, it reads like a recent book.

ipb1's review against another edition

4.0

A child's-eye view of the precarious and peripatetic existence of a political refugee and family during the rise of Nazism (the 30s version rather than the current...).

100reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love Kully. Complex themes discussed in a simple way. It’s interesting. 

k5tog's review against another edition

2.0

I just didn’t enjoy this book. It is the story of a family self-exiled from Hitler’s Germany before WWII, as told through the eyes of a child. The father is an author who drinks too much, spends too much, borrows too much, yet somehow is liked by people. The mother is weak and fearful and accommodating to the extreme to her husband’s whims as the family hops from place to place. And the child observes all of this and tries to make sense of her life. I found the book depressing.

asha1891's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

disasterchick's review

2.0

I liked the idea of the book and started off enjoying it. However, nothing really happened, and all they really did was travel and live off other people. Nobody really seemed to be happy nor looking out for their safety, but then I did have the advantage of hindsight. There were times Kully seemed to be a very bright girl and other times just a brat. Not really a great narrator, because her observations are not for a child.