Adina ( not enough time )’s review of Kairos > Likes and Comments
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Her odd, detached style worked so well in 'Visitation' -- but I've failed to get engaged in any of her other books. Thanks for the warning.
I’ve heard this a lot. I’m skipping it.
Left Coast Justin wrote: "Her odd, detached style worked so well in 'Visitation' -- but I've failed to get engaged in any of her other books. Thanks for the warning." I did not publish these thoughts as i tried not to influence people but somehow it still got out :))
Glenda wrote: "I’ve heard this a lot. I’m skipping it." I see. It has mixed reviews, true.
The international obsession with Erpenbeck is just so odd... in Germany, this book got nominated for, well: Nothing.
Adina, I read Jenny Erpenbeck's The Visitation, Book of Words, The End of Days, and The Old Child and loved them. And then I read Go, Went, Gone and was really disappointed. It was more a political manifesto than a novel, with the political message hammered in. It was so different from her subtle and beautifully written previous novels. I was really waiting for Kairos hoping it would be a return to her former style.
Meike wrote: "The international obsession with Erpenbeck is just so odd... in Germany, this book got nominated for, well: Nothing." :)) Maybe Europe sees something Germany (and I) don't.
Daphna wrote: "Adina, I read Jenny Erpenbeck's The Visitation, Book of Words, The End of Days, and The Old Child and loved them. And then I read Go, Went, Gone and was really disappointed. It was more a political..." Oh no, that's the other Erpenbeck I have at home... Go, Went, Gone
I also abandoned it. This year International Booker seems weaker than last year. I only read ( and recommend) Crooked plow. I also started the one from Jente Posthuma, but scribd blocked it until next month for me. :))
Flo wrote: "I also abandoned it. This year International Booker seems weaker than last year. I only read ( and recommend) Crooked plow. I also started the one from Jente Posthuma, but scribd blocked it until n..." Yeah, unlimited books my ass. Pardom my French. I ate my Everand/Scribd allowance of nominees with Not a River and Undiscovered. I liked both of them. My month starts on 3rd so I have clear bill. I am thinking of starting either Starnone or Praiseworthy (shortlisted for Dublin prize).
Oh, no. Sorry, it didn’t work out for you. I’m going to give it a try since I am trying to read all the longlist nominees. Perhaps I will have some luck.
Kimberly wrote: "Oh, no. Sorry, it didn’t work out for you. I’m going to give it a try since I am trying to read all the longlist nominees. Perhaps I will have some luck." Good luck.
Thanks for letting us know, Adina. I know from reading a good number of your reviews that you are a sensitive reader. I was thinking of giving this novel a go since it won that award. But after reading a number of reviews here on Goodreads, I don't think this is a book for me.
My thoughts exactly, Adina, and I immediately crossed this book out of my mental list. I'm really fed up with that trope, specially if they're teachers, writers and/or married men. Sorry to all the decent men out there but I find it a bit yucky. I enjoyed her "Go Went Gone" though.
Fair enough. I'm waiting for my turn for the library copy, I don't have high expectations.
I may give it another try, but dissapointed until then that this won.
This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read further, and then the whole story skipped. It is not about an old man with a young woman, a sadomasochistic fantasy, but about the losing of trust, the losing of a whole world - and thereby describing like no other author before how the GDR really broke down. It was mesmerizing, a literary microscopic nucleus of a downfall of a utopia, that never was one. Breathtaking from this point of view, as an allegory, not as a love story. As a love story it sucked.
If you "really do not like to read books about young women having a relationship with much older men. " why did you try and read it, not finish it and leave a detailed review about it? Did you read the book description? Just curious...
Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read furt..."
Thank you for your insight!
Just fyi she is over 18, it still sounds a bit yikes inducing. My dad read it (in the original German) and did not recommend it either, and after your review I don‘t think I will give it a shot
I concur with your feelings about this book, Adina. I've read a few others by Erpenbeck and was impressed by them, but this one, no this didn't do it for me.
Glenn wrote: "Thanks for letting us know, Adina. I know from reading a good number of your reviews that you are a sensitive reader. I was thinking of giving this novel a go since it won that award. But after rea..." Thank you for your comment. It seems that it is more than a book about an affair but I cannot be bothered.
Paula wrote: "My thoughts exactly, Adina, and I immediately crossed this book out of my mental list. I'm really fed up with that trope, specially if they're teachers, writers and/or married men. Sorry to all the..." I think the man ticks all the three boxes.
Bianca wrote: "Fair enough. I'm waiting for my turn for the library copy, I don't have high expectations." Many loved it and it won the Booker so it is a good book. You might like it. I have the other one at home so I might read that instead.
Flo wrote: "I may give it another try, but dissapointed until then that this won." Have you tried reading it?
Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read furt..." Thank you Alexander, I might try again when I get past my current reading slump.
Paul wrote: "If you "really do not like to read books about young women having a relationship with much older men. " why did you try and read it, not finish it and leave a detailed review about it? Did you read..." Because I am a sadomasochist and a completist. I tried to force my way through the shortlist. The comments were mostly for me as I did not put my review on my page in March when i tried to read it. However, I think I put it when I modified my review to include the fact that it won. You can ignore it, as you shoul if the subject does not trigger you.
Elias wrote: "Just fyi she is over 18, it still sounds a bit yikes inducing. My dad read it (in the original German) and did not recommend it either, and after your review I don‘t think I will give it a shot" Yeah, I wanted to say at least whe is not underage and that i change my mind to say she is over 18 but it ended up something else. I corrected it. As i wrote in another comment this was more for me to remember why I did not finish the book.
the topic also put me off for a while, but I got back to it and the writing is so good! I think Erpenbeck showed really well how destructive the relationship is for both of them and the emotional abuse and manipulation that made the relationship last for years.
Andreea wrote: "the topic also put me off for a while, but I got back to it and the writing is so good! I think Erpenbeck showed really well how destructive the relationship is for both of them and the emotional a..."Thank you for your comment, I will keep it in mind. Maybe i will try again.
I have not yet read this novel, and after reading your review, I’m definitely more than a little apprehensive. I’m not at all into the 19-year-old/50-year-old love story played out trope, either. I do like your responses, though: “because I’m a sadomasochist and a completist” lol, and the fact that you’re still open-minded to what other people say (which is exactly how I am, so long as what other people say doesn’t devolve into any sort of personal attack/needless anger toward a person they don’t know).
I’m not sure if we have a lot of other books in common, but I’m going to check in a moment… I do enjoy talking with fellow readers on this app, but after I sent out friend requests back when I really picked up reading again (end of 2020) I didn’t send too many after that. I’d really like to be able to keep up with the friends that I *do* have. I’m really struggling to find good books released this year so far - I prefer nonfiction, but usually it’s about a 60/40 split (except for this year so far). I always appreciate recommendations - and likewise, enjoy going them!
Megan wrote: "I have not yet read this novel, and after reading your review, I’m definitely more than a little apprehensive. I’m not at all into the 19-year-old/50-year-old love story played out trope, either. I..." Thank you for your comment. I try to stay open but I unfortunately I get quite a few personal attacks. I try not to let them get me down but it is not easy. I still write what i think
I checked and we have quite a few books in common. I send you a friend invite. I am trying to keep up with my friends but it is hard sometimes. i am periodically doing a cleaning so I can keep the friends list to a manageable level. It is long overdue.
I should be reading more non-fiction. This year I have been terrible my ratio of non-fiction/fiction.
Their love story is a metaphor for the fall of Berlin Wall: old guard (Hans) vs future (Katharina). My explanation is simplistic, but might make the reading more palatable.
Kris wrote: "Their love story is a metaphor for the fall of Berlin Wall: old guard (Hans) vs future (Katharina). My explanation is simplistic, but might make the reading more palatable." i am sure there is a lot of symbolism in this book but in the end I read for pleasure. If i do not find any in a book, what is the point.
Thanks I won’t read it for that reason. I am over that bollocks.
Sheri wrote: "Thanks I won’t read it for that reason. I am over that bollocks." Me too.
Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read furt..."Mesmerizing is the right word. My husband read it to the end, although didn't like it, for various reasons. After him, I read it and found the book masterfully crafted and impressive. Not because it is the book about "young girl and older man". But we are the old acquaintances with Erpenbeck's books. For those who read it for the first time, it can be demanding.
Sofia wrote: "Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that..." I think i will read her other book that I have at home. Maybe I'll get back to this one after/
Ivelisse wrote: "No, it's not you, it's the book!" :))
Adina, what other books on Berlin's history would you recommend? This was my second one, and I've not enjoyed either one of them
Naina wrote: "Adina, what other books on Berlin's history would you recommend? This was my second one, and I've not enjoyed either one of them" i liked the Benrie Gunther crime series, the non-fiction The Undercurrents and The Spy Who came in from The cold.
Cassandra wrote: "Honestly I only finished this book because it won the Booker prize. Their relationship was disturbing to say the least. And at the end I felt like “I don’t get it.”" Yeah, i've read that the relationship gets very creepy so i stopped reading before it got there.
I almost abandoned it for the same reason, but then the story changes quite a bit; I was worried that the author was not critical enough of the relationship...but oh boy did it become clear she was critical of the relationship, and the society in the second half. I grew up in a post-communist society, so that aspect anchored me a bit longer. In the end, it was a good read for me. Not perfect, but interesting. However it is a very difficult read.
Laura wrote: "I almost abandoned it for the same reason, but then the story changes quite a bit; I was worried that the author was not critical enough of the relationship...but oh boy did it become clear she was..." Based on your dress I presume we live in the same post-communist country, Romania. :)) I have feeling I abandoned this too quickly. This is why I will try her other book I owe and if that works for me, i will return to Kairos.
No, it's not you-- though I understand the book could be a trigger. The author overwrites the manipulation by the man. I am surprised that a modern woman writer would keep going on like this. We all get it. The relationship is a metaphor, but it doesn't have to be overwrought.
Karen wrote: "No, it's not you-- though I understand the book could be a trigger. The author overwrites the manipulation by the man. I am surprised that a modern woman writer would keep going on like this. We al..." Agree and thank you for your comment. i lost my patience early on so I do not know hoe repetitive it ids.
TLDR: Young woman falls in love with and is deceived by an utter narcissist jerk. And East Germany falls.
Cate wrote: "TLDR: Young woman falls in love with and is deceived by an utter narcissist jerk. And East Germany falls." Maybe I'll try again at some point.
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Left Coast Justin
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Mar 25, 2024 08:12AM
Her odd, detached style worked so well in 'Visitation' -- but I've failed to get engaged in any of her other books. Thanks for the warning.
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I’ve heard this a lot. I’m skipping it.
Left Coast Justin wrote: "Her odd, detached style worked so well in 'Visitation' -- but I've failed to get engaged in any of her other books. Thanks for the warning." I did not publish these thoughts as i tried not to influence people but somehow it still got out :))
Glenda wrote: "I’ve heard this a lot. I’m skipping it." I see. It has mixed reviews, true.
The international obsession with Erpenbeck is just so odd... in Germany, this book got nominated for, well: Nothing.
Adina, I read Jenny Erpenbeck's The Visitation, Book of Words, The End of Days, and The Old Child and loved them. And then I read Go, Went, Gone and was really disappointed. It was more a political manifesto than a novel, with the political message hammered in. It was so different from her subtle and beautifully written previous novels. I was really waiting for Kairos hoping it would be a return to her former style.
Meike wrote: "The international obsession with Erpenbeck is just so odd... in Germany, this book got nominated for, well: Nothing." :)) Maybe Europe sees something Germany (and I) don't.
Daphna wrote: "Adina, I read Jenny Erpenbeck's The Visitation, Book of Words, The End of Days, and The Old Child and loved them. And then I read Go, Went, Gone and was really disappointed. It was more a political..." Oh no, that's the other Erpenbeck I have at home... Go, Went, Gone
I also abandoned it. This year International Booker seems weaker than last year. I only read ( and recommend) Crooked plow. I also started the one from Jente Posthuma, but scribd blocked it until next month for me. :))
Flo wrote: "I also abandoned it. This year International Booker seems weaker than last year. I only read ( and recommend) Crooked plow. I also started the one from Jente Posthuma, but scribd blocked it until n..." Yeah, unlimited books my ass. Pardom my French. I ate my Everand/Scribd allowance of nominees with Not a River and Undiscovered. I liked both of them. My month starts on 3rd so I have clear bill. I am thinking of starting either Starnone or Praiseworthy (shortlisted for Dublin prize).
Oh, no. Sorry, it didn’t work out for you. I’m going to give it a try since I am trying to read all the longlist nominees. Perhaps I will have some luck.
Kimberly wrote: "Oh, no. Sorry, it didn’t work out for you. I’m going to give it a try since I am trying to read all the longlist nominees. Perhaps I will have some luck." Good luck.
Thanks for letting us know, Adina. I know from reading a good number of your reviews that you are a sensitive reader. I was thinking of giving this novel a go since it won that award. But after reading a number of reviews here on Goodreads, I don't think this is a book for me.
My thoughts exactly, Adina, and I immediately crossed this book out of my mental list. I'm really fed up with that trope, specially if they're teachers, writers and/or married men. Sorry to all the decent men out there but I find it a bit yucky. I enjoyed her "Go Went Gone" though.
Fair enough. I'm waiting for my turn for the library copy, I don't have high expectations.
I may give it another try, but dissapointed until then that this won.
This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read further, and then the whole story skipped. It is not about an old man with a young woman, a sadomasochistic fantasy, but about the losing of trust, the losing of a whole world - and thereby describing like no other author before how the GDR really broke down. It was mesmerizing, a literary microscopic nucleus of a downfall of a utopia, that never was one. Breathtaking from this point of view, as an allegory, not as a love story. As a love story it sucked.
If you "really do not like to read books about young women having a relationship with much older men. " why did you try and read it, not finish it and leave a detailed review about it? Did you read the book description? Just curious...
Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read furt..."Thank you for your insight!
Just fyi she is over 18, it still sounds a bit yikes inducing. My dad read it (in the original German) and did not recommend it either, and after your review I don‘t think I will give it a shot
I concur with your feelings about this book, Adina. I've read a few others by Erpenbeck and was impressed by them, but this one, no this didn't do it for me.
Glenn wrote: "Thanks for letting us know, Adina. I know from reading a good number of your reviews that you are a sensitive reader. I was thinking of giving this novel a go since it won that award. But after rea..." Thank you for your comment. It seems that it is more than a book about an affair but I cannot be bothered.
Paula wrote: "My thoughts exactly, Adina, and I immediately crossed this book out of my mental list. I'm really fed up with that trope, specially if they're teachers, writers and/or married men. Sorry to all the..." I think the man ticks all the three boxes.
Bianca wrote: "Fair enough. I'm waiting for my turn for the library copy, I don't have high expectations." Many loved it and it won the Booker so it is a good book. You might like it. I have the other one at home so I might read that instead.
Flo wrote: "I may give it another try, but dissapointed until then that this won." Have you tried reading it?
Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read furt..." Thank you Alexander, I might try again when I get past my current reading slump.
Paul wrote: "If you "really do not like to read books about young women having a relationship with much older men. " why did you try and read it, not finish it and leave a detailed review about it? Did you read..." Because I am a sadomasochist and a completist. I tried to force my way through the shortlist. The comments were mostly for me as I did not put my review on my page in March when i tried to read it. However, I think I put it when I modified my review to include the fact that it won. You can ignore it, as you shoul if the subject does not trigger you.
Elias wrote: "Just fyi she is over 18, it still sounds a bit yikes inducing. My dad read it (in the original German) and did not recommend it either, and after your review I don‘t think I will give it a shot" Yeah, I wanted to say at least whe is not underage and that i change my mind to say she is over 18 but it ended up something else. I corrected it. As i wrote in another comment this was more for me to remember why I did not finish the book.
the topic also put me off for a while, but I got back to it and the writing is so good! I think Erpenbeck showed really well how destructive the relationship is for both of them and the emotional abuse and manipulation that made the relationship last for years.
Andreea wrote: "the topic also put me off for a while, but I got back to it and the writing is so good! I think Erpenbeck showed really well how destructive the relationship is for both of them and the emotional a..."Thank you for your comment, I will keep it in mind. Maybe i will try again.
I have not yet read this novel, and after reading your review, I’m definitely more than a little apprehensive. I’m not at all into the 19-year-old/50-year-old love story played out trope, either. I do like your responses, though: “because I’m a sadomasochist and a completist” lol, and the fact that you’re still open-minded to what other people say (which is exactly how I am, so long as what other people say doesn’t devolve into any sort of personal attack/needless anger toward a person they don’t know). I’m not sure if we have a lot of other books in common, but I’m going to check in a moment… I do enjoy talking with fellow readers on this app, but after I sent out friend requests back when I really picked up reading again (end of 2020) I didn’t send too many after that. I’d really like to be able to keep up with the friends that I *do* have. I’m really struggling to find good books released this year so far - I prefer nonfiction, but usually it’s about a 60/40 split (except for this year so far). I always appreciate recommendations - and likewise, enjoy going them!
Megan wrote: "I have not yet read this novel, and after reading your review, I’m definitely more than a little apprehensive. I’m not at all into the 19-year-old/50-year-old love story played out trope, either. I..." Thank you for your comment. I try to stay open but I unfortunately I get quite a few personal attacks. I try not to let them get me down but it is not easy. I still write what i thinkI checked and we have quite a few books in common. I send you a friend invite. I am trying to keep up with my friends but it is hard sometimes. i am periodically doing a cleaning so I can keep the friends list to a manageable level. It is long overdue.
I should be reading more non-fiction. This year I have been terrible my ratio of non-fiction/fiction.
Their love story is a metaphor for the fall of Berlin Wall: old guard (Hans) vs future (Katharina). My explanation is simplistic, but might make the reading more palatable.
Kris wrote: "Their love story is a metaphor for the fall of Berlin Wall: old guard (Hans) vs future (Katharina). My explanation is simplistic, but might make the reading more palatable." i am sure there is a lot of symbolism in this book but in the end I read for pleasure. If i do not find any in a book, what is the point.
Thanks I won’t read it for that reason. I am over that bollocks.
Sheri wrote: "Thanks I won’t read it for that reason. I am over that bollocks." Me too.
Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that made me read furt..."Mesmerizing is the right word. My husband read it to the end, although didn't like it, for various reasons. After him, I read it and found the book masterfully crafted and impressive. Not because it is the book about "young girl and older man". But we are the old acquaintances with Erpenbeck's books. For those who read it for the first time, it can be demanding.
Sofia wrote: "Alexander wrote: "This book has a very difficult entrance - it sucked very much, and I was about too leave it unread, too. However, the atmosphere of the divided Berlin proved to be the point, that..." I think i will read her other book that I have at home. Maybe I'll get back to this one after/
Ivelisse wrote: "No, it's not you, it's the book!" :))
Adina, what other books on Berlin's history would you recommend? This was my second one, and I've not enjoyed either one of them
Honestly I only finished this book because it won the Booker prize. Their relationship was disturbing to say the least. And at the end I felt like “I don’t get it.”
Naina wrote: "Adina, what other books on Berlin's history would you recommend? This was my second one, and I've not enjoyed either one of them" i liked the Benrie Gunther crime series, the non-fiction The Undercurrents and The Spy Who came in from The cold.
Cassandra wrote: "Honestly I only finished this book because it won the Booker prize. Their relationship was disturbing to say the least. And at the end I felt like “I don’t get it.”" Yeah, i've read that the relationship gets very creepy so i stopped reading before it got there.
I almost abandoned it for the same reason, but then the story changes quite a bit; I was worried that the author was not critical enough of the relationship...but oh boy did it become clear she was critical of the relationship, and the society in the second half. I grew up in a post-communist society, so that aspect anchored me a bit longer. In the end, it was a good read for me. Not perfect, but interesting. However it is a very difficult read.
Laura wrote: "I almost abandoned it for the same reason, but then the story changes quite a bit; I was worried that the author was not critical enough of the relationship...but oh boy did it become clear she was..." Based on your dress I presume we live in the same post-communist country, Romania. :)) I have feeling I abandoned this too quickly. This is why I will try her other book I owe and if that works for me, i will return to Kairos.
No, it's not you-- though I understand the book could be a trigger. The author overwrites the manipulation by the man. I am surprised that a modern woman writer would keep going on like this. We all get it. The relationship is a metaphor, but it doesn't have to be overwrought.
Karen wrote: "No, it's not you-- though I understand the book could be a trigger. The author overwrites the manipulation by the man. I am surprised that a modern woman writer would keep going on like this. We al..." Agree and thank you for your comment. i lost my patience early on so I do not know hoe repetitive it ids.
TLDR: Young woman falls in love with and is deceived by an utter narcissist jerk. And East Germany falls.
Cate wrote: "TLDR: Young woman falls in love with and is deceived by an utter narcissist jerk. And East Germany falls." Maybe I'll try again at some point.
