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After Dachau: A Novel

After Dachau: A Novel

List Price: $21.95
Your Price: $14.93
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dark and Twisted
Review: As a reviewer, I prefer not to discuss plot details as that is one of the main reasons people read novels in the first place. That said, I would like to caution potential readers. I almost put this book down halfway through, as it didn't seem to be leading anywhere, and the lack of character depth was irksome. I'm glad I didn't, though, because about half way through, like fragments of a jigsaw, all the disparate parts of the story came together in one seamless twist of events that will give you a new perspective on history, self, and place. Although The Holy is now experiencing similar reactions from Quinn fans, this older novel also received mixed reviews when it came out. Some said it was his best, while others said it was his worst. Without a doubt, this book is fundamentally different from Quinn's priors, like Ishmael and Story of B. Unlike them, After Dachau's message (presuming Quinn had a message in mind) is muddled and opaque, the tone dark and mysterious, leaving it the possiblity of being read on many levels. In other words, this book makes you think - which makes it worth reading in my book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant Novel
Review: Having read Ishmael and other Quinn novels years ago, and recently having read The Holy, I was expecting something a bit more along those lines... A bit of entertaining fiction with some interesting ideas behind it.

But After Dachau was a brilliant book. I was a hundred pages in, lulled into the idea of a book "about" reincarnation, when it gut-punched me with an historical twist that ends up tying into a number of themes from Ishmael, My Ishmael, The Story of B, and others.

It presents Quinn's ideas in an altogether new format, and while I'd certainly continue to recommend Ishmael to others, After Dachau is a great primer to have friends and family who refuse to read books that have "ideas preached" at them... a common objection I get. It's a rather incisive historical lesson wrapped in an enjoyable tale.

A thoughtful, insightful and well written book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: wonderful
Review: I absolutely loved this book, at first I couldn't get into it but then it sucked me in. The mystery unfolds at a great pace, truly amazing. The story is wonderful. The ending disappointed me slightly but so do most endings, however as a whole you will love this book.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not what I expected, and very short
Review: I have read most, if not all of Daniel Quinn's published work, this was definitely the most disappointing, but if ur a fan of novels, go for it, definitely not his most impacting or thought provoking piece of work, i highly reccomend The Holy and anything else he's written, I wish I'd rented this out formthe library instea dof payed whatever i payed for it, it's also vey short u can finish it in a day or 2 if u wanted to like i did, not the greatest thing he's written, doesn't stick with u, interesting concept but not anywhere near the the ideas he explores in Ishmael, Beyond Civilization, or even the Holy, very unlike any of his other work, very story driven, not for people like me whose goals have always been to save the world and be happy. I migh change my opinion at a later date, but if u really want to expereince what Daniel Quinn is saying start with Ishmael.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fine wine with big time resonance
Review: I thought of wine when I read Daniel Quinn's latest book, "After Dachau."

Wine writers desperate for metaphors might refer to a fine vintage as having a hint of vanilla, a whiff of blackberry, a character of oak, a color of blood ruby. These help to describe a wine, perhaps, but they do not replace the experience of actually enjoying the vino.

Whenever I read one of Dan's books, and particularly with "After Dachau", I feel descriptive comparisons with great minds. At times his writing resonates with the touch and smells of Socrates and Joseph Campbell, Kurt Vonnegut and Kafka, Jung and Tom Robbins.

But just as that fine burgundy is more than a whiff of vanilla, Dan Quinn is more than big time-comparisons. Dan is Dan, and more power to him. He's an influencer. He writes books that change people's lives, force them to rethink their cozy assumptions.

In this book Dan creates a parallel reality that is stunning in its simplicity, chilling in its implications.

When I teach people to write fiction, one of the most powerful triggers to jump-start a project is to ask "what if?"

In "After Dachau", Dan has used this device to write a high concept novel. I really want to tell you what this concept is, the big idea that forms the heart of the book. But I won't. Yes I will. Think about the title and ask, "what if?"

Paul Sochaczewski, author of Redheads

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Don't read the jacket or the editor's review!
Review: It is a great plot, but only if you avoid reading the spoilers. Very intriguing story line. I wish it had been longer.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Don't read the jacket or the editor's review!
Review: It is a great plot, but only if you avoid reading the spoilers. Very intriguing story line. I wish it had been longer.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A very creative and excellent novel.
Review: Quinn really thought outside the box on this one. If you like dumbfounding moments of realization, for example, like you experienced if you watched the movie The Sixth Sense, you'll love this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A very creative and excellent novel.
Review: Quinn really thought outside the box on this one. If you like dumbfounding moments of realization, for example, like you experienced if you watched the movie The Sixth Sense, you'll love this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A strange Journey into an odd future
Review: This book is like a shot to the head when you least expect it. Despite the name the book has very little to do with the horrific images the name implies. It puts a new spin on the afterlife and was very hard to put down. The only thing that doesn't make it a five star is because the timeline is a little confusing...


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