“I can allow myself to write the truth; all the people for whom I have lied throughout my life are dead…” writes the heroine of Marlen Haushofer’s The Wall, a quite ordinary, unnamed middle-aged woman who awakens to find she is the last living human being. Surmising her solitude is the result of a too successful military experiment, she begins the terrifying work of not only survival, but … but self-renewal. The Wall is at once a simple and moving talk – of potatoes and beans, of hoping for a calf, of counting matches, of forgetting the taste of sugar and the use of one’s name – and a disturbing meditation on 20th century history.
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First, this book was published some time ago (decades) so the writing is not current, and I’ll try to bear that in mind. Also, the author wrote this book in German and it was published in native language initially, then translated. The book may appeal to realistic German/Austrian peoples as it is very practical and personal. The plot: a mysterious …
Intriguing, unique
Unusual first person narrative. Interesting idea and well written, but could be better as a short story.
The perspective is so honest and real and I would consider it a literary must read.
Seemed incomplete
I like end of world books so when I saw this I grabbed it. I can’t imagine living alone like she did and doing the things sge had to do just to survive. There was a good ending but it did leave you hanging. Ala in all a good read.
Sadly gripping. I couldn’t quit it although I suspected it was going to let me down at the end. Left me somewhat empty.
None of the above. This book could have been finished in one chapter.
Would not have believed a whole book could have been written about what may seem like a mundane subject. But, even though this represents deeper issues, it’s a totally fascinating read. So much to be cared about.
I could not get through this book. Maybe I will pick it up again later…
Thought provoking book about what happens after the end of the world to one woman, the only survivor, as far as she knows. She is incurious, not well educated, and a bit depressed, but she manages to survive with her dog, cat, and cow for the 2 1/2 years covered by the book. Perhaps not thinking too deeply about her situation is what helps her to …
One of the best books I’ve read in many years. Can’t stop thinking about the characters. Heart wrenching!
Could not finish it, had more interest in the animals than in the main character who was so boring and not there I could not find any empathy or feeling for her.
Slow moving but unusual and often interesting