Reviews

Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen

elisereading's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

friedefreudefredie's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Statt einer klassischen Geistergeschichte erwartet einen hier ein Drama mit noch lebenden Geistern. 
Oswald Alving kehrt nach langer Zeit zurück in die Heimat und so beginnt ein unaufhaltsamer Prozess des Aufdeckens von Familiengeheimnissen. Obwohl die meisten Charaktere recht unsympathisch erscheinen, sind die Dialoge zwischenzeitlich sehr unterhaltsam und verleihen der Handlung eine nicht abklingende Spannung.
Auch wenn Dramen nicht meinem sonstigen Leseinteresse entsprechen, habe ich "Gespenster" gerne gelesen und mich stets über den Inhalt gewundert.

bookishgoblin's review against another edition

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3.0

Quite a good play, filled with the dirty implications expected from scandalous plays at the time! Rather enjoyable, even if some of the characters seemed to have a bit of a non-ending to the story, but still nicely written, rather like a Tennessee Williams play! If you enjoy realism, then go for this.

emilytyx's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kellyoneill's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

miamh's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

liliammtz's review against another edition

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4.0

Los primeros dos actos son excelsos, sin embargo, el final deja muchas cosas al aire.

dwemberg's review against another edition

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3.0

ikke helt my cup of tea tbh.

haazex's review against another edition

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4.0



A very dark play focusing on difficult social issues and conventions in late 19th century Norway. The play's original title in Norwegian ("Gengangere") seems more appropriate than "Ghosts" since "Gengangere" refers to a spirit that returns to haunt somebody. It is a bit more sinister than the translator's choice (Ghosts) as a title. The play was not performed in Norway (where it was banned), but rather in a small venue in Chicago. Knowing this I expected some severe social criticism in the play. However, all the issues are severely cloaked in layers of words and insinuated rather than stated. I find it peculiar that these careful phrases led to that the play was banned. The Victorian society was certainly very good at using its imagination to read between the lines. In the modern world the issues covered in the play seem nominal. As usual I very much enjoyed Ibsen's style which is direct and filled with forebodings. He has an amazing quality to pull the reader into the center of the play and making its world real. I very much look forward to experiencing this play on stage if I get the chance. There is a good reason for him being regarded as one of Europe's greatest 19th century playwrights.



PS! I came across an excellent radio version from BBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG8YHo0juS8

mojci's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nikol ne vem kk bi ocenla knjige ko jih berem za šolo sam strahovi so mi bli res všeč tk da I guess 5 stars?