Homo Faber: A Report by Max Frisch Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Homo Faber: A Report
Book Review: Terrifying exploration of patriarchy and sin
Summary: 5 Stars
The novel opens with the author, a somewhat callous, but forthright, proud and fatherly man, taking off from New York City in a snowstorm. His plane crash lands in the Mexican desert, where he is stranded for nearly a week, playing chess in the shadow of the tailfin. This is just the beginning of his Heart of Darkness journey, for soon he has interrupted his business trip to join a comrade into the depths of languor in the jungle, where they eventually find an old friend, who has just hung himself. The author then sets out on his homeward journey to Europe via steamer from New York and meets a young woman who completely shatters his cold engineering world. The book is at first curious, and later full of suspense and agony. Gripping and thoroughly depressing conclusionBook Review: The Techniker finds his soul
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book in the German and enjoyed it immensely. Walter Faber, a globe-trotting engineer, uses technology and his scientific worldview as a shield against other people and against his own humanity. When his shield fails him, he learns to open his heart and live fully. Regardless of whether you share Frisch's opinions about science, the book is beautifully written. Walter Faber is both horrifying and touchingly sympathetic. Despite the tragic plot, the strength of the novel is its small comic moments, of which there are many. If you just watch the movie (even the German-language adaptation, which is much more faithful to the book than the American film), you will miss almost everything that is worthwhile about Homo Faber. Read the book! (In German, if possible.)Book Review: The birth of one man's passion for life
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my all-time favorite book! I read it as an undergraduate German major - in German, of course! The story has so many messages - how what we don't face will come back to us; how much of life we miss when we're to afraid to live it; how things become more intense and beautiful when love is in our hearts. The characters are developed in such a loving manner that I found myself liking and sympathizing with all, despite their faults. I think that this book makes a great summer read.
Contrary to the prior review, I would not recommend the movie based on this book. I was very excited when I heard that Sam Shepard was tackling this project, but I was ultimately disappointed. There is no replacing the real thing!