A review by naddie_reads
While We Were Dreaming by Clemens Meyer
2.75
"While We Were Dreaming" is a coming-of-age historical fiction that will either work for you or won't. Sadly I fell into the latter group. Told in a non-linear narrative, this novel portrays the hardships of Daniel and his group of friends had to go through following the fall of the Berlin Wall. The uncertainties and lack of opportunities of the time brought about social discontent and trouble for the boys, especially when drinks and drugs are brought into the mix.
While the narrative does well enough in highlighting the social issues arising due to the circumstances described above, the read can get quickly tiring with the almost repetitive narrative and constant sexualizing talks of women between the boys and the other men they encounter -- yes, we get it, it's supposed to reflect real life and it's a sad indictment of the fact that these men objectify women constantly within their groups when 'socializing' with one another, but I've had enough of the narrative after the first 300 pages or so. If this were shortened considerably I probably would've rated it higher. As it is, though, I'd rather read a non-fiction about the lives of these people post-fall of the Berlin Wall (Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall does a good job of that if you're looking for an example).
While the narrative does well enough in highlighting the social issues arising due to the circumstances described above, the read can get quickly tiring with the almost repetitive narrative and constant sexualizing talks of women between the boys and the other men they encounter -- yes, we get it, it's supposed to reflect real life and it's a sad indictment of the fact that these men objectify women constantly within their groups when 'socializing' with one another, but I've had enough of the narrative after the first 300 pages or so. If this were shortened considerably I probably would've rated it higher. As it is, though, I'd rather read a non-fiction about the lives of these people post-fall of the Berlin Wall (Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall does a good job of that if you're looking for an example).