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I am very ashamed to admit that I could not finish this book, the most awarded and lauded Australian book of 2012. And another AWW! Was I too tired? Am I too frivolous? Or was the book just too slow and self-aware for my tastes? It should have ticked all my boxes. Historical fiction - yay! Set in Nazi Germany - yay! About a brilliant, independent woman mostly forgotten by history - yay! I really, really wanted to love this book, but it just put me to sleep every night. I've left it on my bedside
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I enjoyed parts of this debut novel by Anna Funder, but the first part was more tedious than I had anticipated. It is told by 2 people - one in the present day (but often recalling earlier events) and one in 1939 (a time after most of the events of the book occurred, but still flashing back to the times of 6 years or less before). Based on a true story, it was interesting (and sad) to read some of the things that happened in pre-WWII London and the treatment of refugees by Britain (“Yes, you can
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Rarely have I finished a book feeling so overwhelmed by the strength of a writer's ability. Anna Funder is a wonderful writer. The story she tells is engaging, all the more so for being true, but it is the writing itself that lifts the reader up above the ordinary.
After reading two awful books, one of which I can't even bring myself to finish, it was such a joy to start "All That I Am." From the opening line: "When Hitler came to power I was in the bath", Funder sets the tone for the whole book, ...more
After reading two awful books, one of which I can't even bring myself to finish, it was such a joy to start "All That I Am." From the opening line: "When Hitler came to power I was in the bath", Funder sets the tone for the whole book, ...more
"all that we are not stares back at all that we are..."
Took me a little while to get into this, but once about a third of the way I got a bit hooked. These courageous exiles did their best to try to get the word out that things were likely to get a bit hairy if this Hitler character stayed in power. Britain did a great job of burying its head in the sand on this issue and assuming the chap would see reason in the end. We all know things didn't quite work out this way. Well written, compelling n ...more
Took me a little while to get into this, but once about a third of the way I got a bit hooked. These courageous exiles did their best to try to get the word out that things were likely to get a bit hairy if this Hitler character stayed in power. Britain did a great job of burying its head in the sand on this issue and assuming the chap would see reason in the end. We all know things didn't quite work out this way. Well written, compelling n ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - not only is it an engrossing story with sympathetic and believable characters, I learnt a lot about pre-second world war history. The author obviously did a great amount of research to get all the minute day to day details correct and I felt as if I were living in that era as I read the book.
On paper, I should have loved this book. In reality, it was somehow both turgid and flat, the dual narration failed dismally to create any contrast between the voices, and I was bored to tears throughout. I only finished because I was reading it to tick a challenge box. I have no idea why this received all of the praise it did, but à chacun son goût I suppose. Onwards.
Could not finish. I could not relate to, or care about, the characters. I found it too dull, and the metaphors seemed forced.
I know I should have liked this book - it did after get glowing reviews and win awards, but I just couldn't get into it.
Read my full review at ...more
Read my full review at ...more
I confess, I wasn’t in love with Anna Funder’s All That I Am, the darling of the literary scene a year or so ago. I was surprised to discover it won the 2012 Miles Franklin.
Full review: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c... ...more
Full review: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c... ...more
Mar 15, 2012
Christine
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
westgarth-books-tuesday-book-group
Mar 24, 2012
Blue Eyed Vixen
marked it as to-read
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review of another edition
Shelves:
australian-author,
wartime
