Too Far Afield

Rarely do I give up on a book, but trying to read "Too Far Afield" was a painful experience. I made it to page 104 (of 658 pages) setting the book aside several times and finally quit. This novel is not for the average reader seeking relaxing, pleasurable entertainment.

It came to my attention after researching on the internet that the story involves the personality of a famous German author who’s name or identity is never revealed in the book... at least not by page 104. All that is revealed is a character named Fonty. And to confuse things, there are two Fontys - one born in 1919 and the other born in 1819. And they both had wives named Emilie.

At any given time, either one of the Fontys could be the subject of observation but you show more never know which until all of a sudden a date or incident is thrown into the plot and you realize you are not in the same era you had been just reading about, and by the time you figure that out, you start to analyze everything you have previously read and question whether you should continue.

Throughout the story references are made to German names and incidents that unless you are a German citizen, or a German historian, you will most likely know nothing about, and therefore understanding the plot is like wading through a dense fog. In one paragraph alone there was mention of "The Likedeeler Project", "Stortebeker’s piracy", and "the case of Oskar Panizza". And from the very start “The Immortal” is mentioned over and over. Who is the “Immortal”? The mysterious German author? Finally on page 86 the narrator throws out a clue that “The Immortal” includes “the archival collective” - whatever that means. German politics? German espionage? At this point does anyone really care?

But I have been rambling- let me tell you what this story is supposed to be about. It’s 1989 and two 70 year old men are watching the Berlin Wall being torn down. That much is clear. One or both of them were previously spies and may still be. I didn’t get far enough into the plot to find out where their loyalties lie. But, they appear to trust each other and are working together methodically destroying files in the Archival building.

Based on the description on the back cover it should have been a captivating story. Gunter Grass is a wonderful writer. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature. I highly recommend his other books "The Tin Drum" , "Cat and Mouse", and "Dog Years". But "Too Far Afield"? it was just too far afield for me. show less

I think I liked this better than The Tin Drum, although I would understand if most people thought I was crazy. Two men, tied together through history, and making their ways through a Nazi, a communist, and a capitalist regime. They push and pull, and are utterly flawed. And random.

One of the most interesting parts of this book is the reaction of characters from East Berlin to the wall going down. Inflation of rents and the cost of living is a big change to normal everyday life. Commercials all over the place are replacing the boring political slogans and propoganda. Theo is consumed by doubt about his political destiny and about the relationship with his wife.

A very dense novel that doesn't extend a welcome mat to the average reader--and still is rather challenging to a reader of Theodor Fontane, who isn't an author most english-speaking readers encounter. The novel operates on at least two levels--sometimes simultaneously, where the characters at the time of the crumbling of the Berlin wall mirror (and sometimes are) the characters of Theodor Fontane, novelist, and an investigator. A central motif is that of the paternoster, a constantly running opendoored elevator, which operates on multiple levels at once, as well. Not at all an easy read, but proof that Grass has far more intricate and interesting things to offer than Tin Drum

(Goodreads) From the Nobel Prize-winning author of My Century and The Tin Drum, a novel of broad historical proportions set in Berlin during the years of German reunification.

Marvelous, fascinating, unique and simply Grass.

German Literature