corner corner GOODBYE TO BERLIN.

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GOODBYE TO BERLIN.
by Christopher. Isherwood | Literature & Fiction
Registered by davemurray101 of Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Average 7 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by perryfran): travelling


5 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by davemurray101 from Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, July 01, 2008

7 out of 10

A great book. Rich imagery capturing the fall of the Weimar republic from the street level. Reminds somewhat of Huxley's work. But otherwise a very rich text, rightfully in the 1001 books you must read before you die.


New 1001 Bookray - participants so far

1. tqd (au)
2. cat207 (au)

3. Kiri (us)

4. perryfran (us)



5. Withoutwings (us)

6. darkpunkangel (can)

7. fushmush (uk)

8. jellyfish67 (uk)

9. Sidney1 (de) 

Journal Entry 2 by davemurray101 at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, July 13, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (7/13/2008 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to TQD via Australia Post. 

Journal Entry 3 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 14, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Thanks davemurray101! The book arrived in my letterbox this morning, and I am looking forward to reading it. I wonder just how much like "Cabaret" it will be...

I did have fun unwrapping it from its mummy-like clingwrap bandages, too. I almost had a Twin Peaks moment, I was definitely thinking "wraaaaaped... in plaaaastic...", and hopefully I didn't say anything out loud, I might have frightened the coworkers. 

Journal Entry 4 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 14, 2008

8 out of 10

Thank you very much for this fascinating read. (I am dying for a chance to re-watch the movie now - even though the book was very different - and with the Olympics on TV and not much else, I might be able to make some time to do so this week! I've got some of the music already stuck in my brain.)

More a series of meditations on the people Isherwood met while living in Berlin during the early years of the 1930s than a coherent novel. But fascinating characters, and a creepy feeling of menace with the rise of Nazism, especially with the hindsight of what happened to all his Jewish friends. The last chapter in particular was terribly sad, with the sudden and dramatic increase in oppression with the rise of the Nazis.

And what crazy person goes to a city like Berlin in the early 1930s because of the interesting political situation? Call me a wuss, but "interesting" political situations make me head in the other direction. Although I'm glad he was there, because it was rather fascinating reading. (Again, I have learned something new. I always thought the Nazis were pretty much unopposed, but, no, there were Communists fighting them. Another bit of knowledge gleaned...)

I was expecting something more glitzy and socially glamorous (damn you, Bob Fossey) than this queer collection of down-on-their-luck Berliners (did I just call them doughnuts?). And what a shock that Sally Bowles is British... But that's my delusion, well, maybe Bob Fossey and Michael York and Liza Minelli are a bit to blame here, and not at all Herr Issyvoo's fault.

I have cat207's address, and shall pop this in the mail asap (hopefully tomorrow!). 

Journal Entry 5 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 14, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (8/14/2008 UTC) at Sydney, New South Wales Australia

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In the mail to cat207 today. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 6 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Monday, August 18, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Arrived in today's mail. Thank you tqd, and davemurray101 for sharing. X 

Journal Entry 7 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, August 20, 2008

7 out of 10

An interesting insight into the lead up to Hitler's regime.

Have PMed for Kiri's address. 

Journal Entry 8 by cat207 from Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Thursday, August 21, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Off to Kiri in today's mail. 

Journal Entry 9 by Kiri from Santa Rosa, California USA on Sunday, August 31, 2008

This book has not been rated.

TBR - really looking forward to reading this! =) 

Journal Entry 10 by Kiri at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, September 20, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (9/19/2008 UTC) at to the next participant, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Onto PerryFran! 

Journal Entry 11 by wingperryfranwing from North Ogden, Utah USA on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Received in today's mail. Thanks davemurray101 for including me in this bookray and Kiri for sending it on. Looking forward to reading this. I know it was the basis for the movie "Cabaret" which I have always liked. Also this is a nice old and a little bit fragile Penguin copy from 1958 - I'll try to be careful with this one but it may need some reinforcement before I send it on. I have one bookring in front of this and will then start this one - shouldn't be long.

Edit 10/4/08: Started today. 

Journal Entry 12 by wingperryfranwing from North Ogden, Utah USA on Tuesday, October 07, 2008

8 out of 10


Well, this definitely was NOT "Cabaret"! However, it was a very interesting glimpse into the lives of people living in pre-Nazi Germany. This was definitely autobiographical given that the narrator was Christopher Isherwood or Herr Issyvoo as his landlady Fraulein Schroeder calls him. He also references his first novel "All the Conspirators" in the narrative. The book actually is an episodic look at Isherwood's acquaintances while he was in Berlin working as a writer and teacher. Included among these acquaintances was Sally Bowles, the naïve young singer and hopeful actress who would and does sleep with most anyone to further her career. I was hoping for a more flamboyant personality like she was portrayed by Liza Minelli in the movie but Sally in the book was not quite what I was expecting. Others described in the book were Peter and Otto, an obviously gay couple struggling with their relationship; the Nowaks, a poor family that Isherwood boarded with; and the Laundauers, a rich Jewish family who owned a department store. All of these people would be most at risk from the uprising Nazi movement which overshadows the lives of the characters. When this was published in 1939, I’m sure it was very scandalous and risqué. In fact, I found a scan of a copy from 1952 that states on the cover: "Bohemian Life in a Wicked City." Overall, I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.

Thanks again for including me in this bookray. I have Withoutwings' address and will get this in the mail tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 13 by wingperryfranwing at Bookray, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, October 07, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Released 3 yrs ago (10/7/2008 UTC) at Bookray, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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Sending on to Withoutwings to continue this bookray. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 14 by wingperryfranwing from North Ogden, Utah USA on Friday, December 26, 2008

This book has not been rated.

Sending a replacement copy of this book to darkpunkangel to continue this bookray. See this JE for the replacement copy. 



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