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A review by msjared
Berlin Syndrome by Melanie Joosten
4.0
To be perfectly honest, I decided to read this book after watching the movie because I found the movie really disturbing and unsettling. (And I only watched it because I have a celebrity crush on Max Riemelt.) Either way, the movie stuck with me and I wanted to understand the characters and their motivations better. I was not disappointed.
The book and movie differ greatly, but the overall premise is the same: A young Australian woman, Clare, is traveling alone in Berlin and meets a handsome stranger and native Berliner, Andi. There is an instant connection and sexual chemistry so a whirlwind romance ensues. Almost immediately, however, Andi becomes obsessed with Clare and accidentally (at first), and then purposely locks her in his apartment where he keeps her prisoner.
The book is told from both Clare and Andi’s perspectives so you really do get insight into motivation and inner dialogue which I found very interesting. The writing is quiet, subtle, melancholic, and dream like. You can really picture the scenes and sense the claustrophobic and lonely environment of Andi’s apartment as two strangers navigate the unnatural situation.
The story builds hour upon hour, day upon day, week upon week, as Clare and Andi work their way around and through one another. Andi, with the goal of having Clare understand how “right” it is and come to love him and her imprisonment. And Clare on how she found herself in the situation in the first place (much self-blaming and what-ifing), how to cope with her imprisonment mentally and emotionally, and how to stay safe and live through the ordeal.
Although the drama/main event unfolds fairly rapidly, the tension builds very slowly as the reader is drawn into the story. Since there is minimal physical violence, apart from Clare being held against her will, it is less heart pounding than heart wrenching. There are moments when you fear for her life, but you more often fear for her sanity.
Overall, it was well-written, interesting and absorbing. Very much a slow-building character study with an unexpected, satisfying conclusion. The story asks, “should we be judged by the sum of our intentions or by our last worst act?”
Bechdel test: Fail.
The book and movie differ greatly, but the overall premise is the same: A young Australian woman, Clare, is traveling alone in Berlin and meets a handsome stranger and native Berliner, Andi. There is an instant connection and sexual chemistry so a whirlwind romance ensues. Almost immediately, however, Andi becomes obsessed with Clare and accidentally (at first), and then purposely locks her in his apartment where he keeps her prisoner.
The book is told from both Clare and Andi’s perspectives so you really do get insight into motivation and inner dialogue which I found very interesting. The writing is quiet, subtle, melancholic, and dream like. You can really picture the scenes and sense the claustrophobic and lonely environment of Andi’s apartment as two strangers navigate the unnatural situation.
The story builds hour upon hour, day upon day, week upon week, as Clare and Andi work their way around and through one another. Andi, with the goal of having Clare understand how “right” it is and come to love him and her imprisonment. And Clare on how she found herself in the situation in the first place (much self-blaming and what-ifing), how to cope with her imprisonment mentally and emotionally, and how to stay safe and live through the ordeal.
Although the drama/main event unfolds fairly rapidly, the tension builds very slowly as the reader is drawn into the story. Since there is minimal physical violence, apart from Clare being held against her will, it is less heart pounding than heart wrenching. There are moments when you fear for her life, but you more often fear for her sanity.
Overall, it was well-written, interesting and absorbing. Very much a slow-building character study with an unexpected, satisfying conclusion. The story asks, “should we be judged by the sum of our intentions or by our last worst act?”
Bechdel test: Fail.