The Tin Drum - Gunter Grass

When I first started reading the book, I recognized it as great literature. The image of little Oskar Matzerath's grandfather climbing under the skirts of a Kashubian potato lady not only engaged my interest but is described so well and with a flowing ease that only the great possess. But as I read on, the prose became more and more tedious to me. There is simply too much background information on German history, which is all relevant, of course, but makes for pretty boring reading unless you're interested in that topic. Plus, the names of the cities are so difficult to pronounce and so frequently mentioned that I found this to be a hindrance as well. All in ...  Read the complete review

This is a surreal and darkly comic chronicle of Germany through the first half of this century. While comedy may seem out of place with the rise of National Socialism, this is the result of the unusual narrator and hero, Oskar Matzerath. Combining a keen intelligence with the body of a child, he guides you through horror and absurdity to the beat of a toy drum. The setting is the city of Danzig, then controlled by Germany and bordering on Poland. This dual nationality is reflected throughout, from the conflicts of war to Oskar's two possible fathers. Alfred, German, is a respectable shopkeeper, but his civic pride extends to joining the Nazi party. It is ...  Read the complete review