hotel3alpha
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- May 24, 2013
- Messages
- 2,055
All,
On the advice and recommendation of our very own Jazzium, I just finished this Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig. You may have heard his name being thrown around since the recent release of the film "The Grand Budapest Hotel". I too watch the movie and had no idea that it was based loosely on some of Zweig's writing and when I did, then and only then did I understand the flick's humor and characters. This is the second book of Zweig's that I have read (due to Jazz's recommendation) and I have been asking myself "how did i miss this author?". Anyway, on to the book!
Let me first say, that I am a terrible reader. I never learned in life HOW to read a book as reading books was never a priority in my youth. I never saw my mother anything, but my dad read. Well, I only saw him read one book: L. Ron Hubbards Dianetics, and he did not discuss it in the house. I don't know why, but I have never read it myself. I guess I was creeped out by the cover of the book which showed a eruption of a volcano, so I dared not pick it up. Whatever.
The point is, that if you intend on reading this book prepare yourself for a highly detailed and descriptive tale of inner thoughts and emotions. Not that it is a difficult read, but more so, a very well written second hand tale that requires a great deal of attention to the characters and their histories. Also, be prepared to stop every once and a while a look up a vocabulary word, French phrase or references of the time. I.E. Uhlans, which I did not know was the German name to describe the Polish light calvary. When you do, you will "get" what is going on in the story and the references make sense. And speaking of the story...WOW...what a sad and miserable story it is! I don't mean that to deflate the book, moreover, to give you a look into the depths of pity that people will feel for themselves and others. I mean this story really gnaws at your conscience and makes you wonder "what would you do" if you were the protagonist Lt. Hoffmiller.
So, Jazz was spot on on his recommendation! And I think I had a little bit of an advantage by reading Zweig's Chess Story first to get a feel for his prose ahead of Beware of Pity. Which was key (for me) as I had basically read Beware of Pity twice since I am such a terrible reader.
John from Texas
PS: Jazz you mentioned another Zweig novel about a poor girl who lives the lavish life with Aunt(?) and then has to go back to her old life disgruntled? Could you help me out there?
On the advice and recommendation of our very own Jazzium, I just finished this Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig. You may have heard his name being thrown around since the recent release of the film "The Grand Budapest Hotel". I too watch the movie and had no idea that it was based loosely on some of Zweig's writing and when I did, then and only then did I understand the flick's humor and characters. This is the second book of Zweig's that I have read (due to Jazz's recommendation) and I have been asking myself "how did i miss this author?". Anyway, on to the book!
Let me first say, that I am a terrible reader. I never learned in life HOW to read a book as reading books was never a priority in my youth. I never saw my mother anything, but my dad read. Well, I only saw him read one book: L. Ron Hubbards Dianetics, and he did not discuss it in the house. I don't know why, but I have never read it myself. I guess I was creeped out by the cover of the book which showed a eruption of a volcano, so I dared not pick it up. Whatever.
The point is, that if you intend on reading this book prepare yourself for a highly detailed and descriptive tale of inner thoughts and emotions. Not that it is a difficult read, but more so, a very well written second hand tale that requires a great deal of attention to the characters and their histories. Also, be prepared to stop every once and a while a look up a vocabulary word, French phrase or references of the time. I.E. Uhlans, which I did not know was the German name to describe the Polish light calvary. When you do, you will "get" what is going on in the story and the references make sense. And speaking of the story...WOW...what a sad and miserable story it is! I don't mean that to deflate the book, moreover, to give you a look into the depths of pity that people will feel for themselves and others. I mean this story really gnaws at your conscience and makes you wonder "what would you do" if you were the protagonist Lt. Hoffmiller.
So, Jazz was spot on on his recommendation! And I think I had a little bit of an advantage by reading Zweig's Chess Story first to get a feel for his prose ahead of Beware of Pity. Which was key (for me) as I had basically read Beware of Pity twice since I am such a terrible reader.
John from Texas
PS: Jazz you mentioned another Zweig novel about a poor girl who lives the lavish life with Aunt(?) and then has to go back to her old life disgruntled? Could you help me out there?
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