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Homme Interieur (2010)

by Jonathan Rabb(Favorite Author)

3.4 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

226404974X (ISBN13: 9782264049742)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

10 * 18

series

Berlin Trilogy

review 1: Berlin: Some Light, Lots of NoirNot Bad. 1930's Berlin Noir books usually explore questions of living (and dying) in an increasingly immoral, Nazified world. In Rabb's book, the thugs come from everywhere--the Nazis are just the new kids on the block. His detective has made peace with old school evils and now has to deal with the new guys--the big problem is not that they are bad; the problem is they are too ambitious (thats what the old rich Prussian says).The book creeps thru Berlin's UFA film studios as Americans and right-wing Germans fight to take it over. Fritz Lang has finished Metropolis and it's a flop. Sound is on the way with Jolson and German porno competing. This is no Singing in the Rain. More like a wet blanket on any hope for the whole world. But you do fin... mored out who murders whom. But, of course, nobody gets punished.
review 2: I don't know what to make of this book. I liked Shadow and Light a lot, but found the plot confusing and hard to follow. Some of it made no sense. Rabb writes noirishly with great atmosphere and characters. I especially liked our tortured protagonist Kriminal-Oberkommissar Nikolai Hoffner and his son Georgi, and Alby Pimm. I never quite figured out what Leni Coyle was "really" up to but maybe I'm a superficial reader in this case. Or maybe she had no idea herself. I mainly found her annoying. The book is well-researched and peppered with "real-life" people, organizations, and events: Walther Lohmann (and the Lohmann Affair), Kurd Wenkel, Alfred Hugenberg and Scherl, Ufa, Phoebus Film, and of course, Fritz Lang and the odious Thea von Harbou (whose wrist should have been broken!)) A special treat is the cameo of the young Peter Lorre. Perhaps I should have read Rabb's other novels first to put it in perspective. Even though I found the plot pretty improbable, I'm giving Shadow and Light 4 stars due to Rabb's portrayal of the Werimar Republic and, imo, it's relevancy to today's America. I plan to read his other books. less

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