The Safety Net in Reading 1001

Feb 18, 2016 Pip rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1001-books-challenge

I really loved this book. I have lived in Germany twice in the last eight years and never once did I think about the Baader-Meinhoff gang, which this book is clearly based on. I kept thinking about the Second World War, and not the terrorism of the seventies. I remembered, while reading this book, about my first trip to Europe in 1986 when security at every branch of a bank was still so tight. (I am thinking of Italy, rather than Germany, but it was the same everywhere then). What Boll does so s I really loved this book. I have lived in Germany twice in the last eight years and never once did I think about the Baader-Meinhoff gang, which this book is clearly based on. I kept thinking about the Second World War, and not the terrorism of the seventies. I remembered, while reading this book, about my first trip to Europe in 1986 when security at every branch of a bank was still so tight. (I am thinking of Italy, rather than Germany, but it was the same everywhere then). What Boll does so skilfully is describe how these terrorists can be fairly ordinary, nice people, who are loved by their families, while holding beliefs that the only way to improve society is by shocking people into examining the way that their society is organised by committing violent acts. (cf. Al Queda) What would those young terrorists have made of the corporate greed which is so much greater now? or the apathy of the noughties? or the drone strikes which are so much like the rigged birds that Fritz Tolm fears? or the War on Terror? or the reunification of Germany? Really thought provoking in my opinion. It was interesting that it was yet another book where the protagonists are Catholic. I have been thinking, John, about your statement that many religions have angels and demons. You might be right, I can't think of any in Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism or even Hinduism, but I am no expert. I think the thing that strikes other people is the guilt that Catholics carry around. which is sometimes interpreted as having been influenced by angels and devils. And there was plenty of guilt here, particularly that of Sabine's lover (whose name escapes me as I furiously type in an airport before my free half hour of internet access expires!) was it Hubert? the three Tolm offspring were examples of three ways of coping with the philosophical dilemmas of the day. I thought that the story was well written, I was keen to read what would happen next, but, I, too, was grateful for the list of characters at the beginning. I am definitely looking to read more of Boll. In my copy of 1001 Books he has three other titles, but not this one!
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Jun 01, 2014 Kristel rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-challenge, 1001-books

The story is about security. There are many characters in this book, some are family, some our business people, some are political, some are law enforcement. This is Germany from the time period following WWII to the seventies. Security would seem to be a good thing but security robs you of your freedom. You no longer can move about freely or enjoy things like birds flying. Only one person enjoys the security system and that is the one who sees it as a measure of her importance. The rest struggl ...more

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