Reviews

Das kunstseidene Mädchen by Irmgard Keun

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mreike02's review against another edition

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adventurous funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

nastjarchive's review against another edition

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5.0

"Männer dürfen und Frauen nicht. Nun frage ich mich nur, wie Männer ihr Dürfen ausüben können ohne Frauen?"

"If a young woman from money marries an old man because of money and nothing else and makes love to him for hours and has that pious look on her face, she's called a German mother and a decent woman. If a young woman without money sleeps with a man with no money because he has smooth skin and she likes him, she's a whore and a bitch."

a witty and funny novel that sharply criticizes sexism in 1930s Berlin. through the protagonist, Doris, the book explores the societal expectations placed on women and the sad reality of their limited choices. keun's writing skillfully exposes the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated world, making this a thought-provoking and impactful read. through diary-like writing Doris is made very relatable and her humor makes this a very fun, yet tragic read, as the reality of 1920s Berlin is exposed through statistical jokes and witty quotes.

hab das auf deutsch gelesen, war echt richtig gut und enjoyable und kann es jedem weiterempfehlen der bock auf roaring 20s in Berlin hat

maess's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Sprachlich sehr interessant, anders und lustig. Einige Stellen habe ich markiert, andere empfand ich als störend oder langweilig. Insgesamt aber ein toller Einblick in das Ende der Weimarer Republik.

Content Warnings

emilymaiphuong's review against another edition

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adventurous sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

hollsesh's review against another edition

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5.0

Really enjoyed this book, specifically the way the protagonist (Doris) analyzes the world around her. She has such sharp, clever eyes, and her insights are unique from her perspective. She seems materialistic and shallow on the surface, but there is much more to her than even she herself realizes.