Reviews

The Trick by Emanuel Bergmann

justfara's review

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5.0

This was one of the most well written books I have ever picked up. Perhaps because the author is a journalist, or perhaps because he was foreign born and spent more time on the English language, but in any case, you could just about taste each word as if it was a rare candy treat.

A comedic/tragedy taking place in current times and in the Holocaust. Bergmann creates some of the most unusual characters I have ever read about.

So far, those I have personally recommended this book to have enjoyed reading it.
You decide!

jjaylynny's review

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3.0

I must be becoming a fucking crotchety old person. I'm increasingly immune to twee, to the point where it now enrages me to read anything meant to be sweet and funny and oh a little quirky. I'm like the ogre of book clubs everywhere: "I hated A Man Called Ove and I Hate All of YOU". This would have pushed all my buttons in the past: WWII, Jewish families, precocious little boy, blah blah blah. But aside from some very funny asides (the kid likens his grandma's tales of the camps with his having to go to camp that one summer, the old man says he's too old to travel at his age because he can't afford to get diarrhea) and some actually nicely unsentimental writing, I just felt at a distance throughout this whole book until the very end, when I admit I was unexpectedly touched. But it just feels a trifle, and I feel bad about that, because I think this was this author's big deal. I'm sorry but not really because shitty old people are never really that sorry.

cestcj's review against another edition

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4.0

At times both heartbreaking and heartwarming. An interesting slight insight into what life was like in prague during the nazi regime, and the way our actions can weave through the lives of others, with unexpected results.

ohh_hey_there's review against another edition

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5.0

The entire time, I thought the trick was one thing and it ended up being another completely. A+ twist. A+ storytelling. The only thing I didn't absolutely love was the main characters' personalities, but A+ writing to Bergmann for giving them enough depth that I was still hooked the entire time.

mike_morse's review

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4.0

I got this book from a Little Free Library, which kind of lowered my expectations, but I liked it. I’d say it’s just good story telling, if that means anything to anybody but me. You know, boy runs away from home to join the circus, boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy barely survives Holocaust. Coincidences and surprises and not-too-schmaltzy schmaltz ensues. The amazing thing is the author says he wrote this in six weeks of after-work evenings!

carene's review against another edition

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3.0

3.75 stars for the audio edition. Narrator was very good.

hazelrosen's review

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funny mysterious tense fast-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

1.5

pam2375's review

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4.0

If you read the description of this book, you may think that this is just another WWII story. Well, it is, but it sure is a good one and I am glad that I read it. The story alternates between 1934 and 2007. It is the story of love, loss and hope.

memphisholli's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

franleo's review against another edition

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

1.5