After Dachau

by Daniel Quinn

Paperback, 2006

Status

Available

Genres

Collection

Adult Circulating

Publication

Steerforth (2006), Edition: Reprint, 240 pages

Description

In a powerful novel of reincarnation and a deadly alternate future, the bestselling author of Ishmael explores alternative realities within the mainstream, in this case a dystopian future in which Hitler has won World War II and all non-Aryans have been eliminated.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Giglio.Danny

Following the same philisophical arguments of the Ishamel Trilogy, Quinn moves from transcribing conversations to reccounting actual plot lines. The novel focuses on the idea of reincarnation, altough the author claims to neither dispute nor endorse the belief. He simply wishes to "use it as a

vehicle" with which to present his ideas. The underlying theme of the book comments the the accuracy of history, and the degree to which we should believe what we're told. I can epitomize this conecpt by paraphrasing a line from the book:
"What if every detail of our past that we teach our children is a falsehood?"
This is a very frightening concept, but at the same time very possible. I feel that the book did a tremendous job of slowy unraveling this theme, while at the same time continuing an enthralling storyline, regardless of its philisophical value.
I reccomend reading the ishmael trilogy prior to "After Dachau", although this is not necessary to understand the book. It does, however, increase the reader's ability to appreciate the novel's underlying theme.

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LibraryThing member nickdreamsong

A truly fascinating premise (a world in which the Final Solution truly became final)presented in an interesting way, but without the literary style that could have made this a wonderful book. I found myself spending too much time rewriting individual passages and not enough time thinking about the

world in which the book was set. A nice try.

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LibraryThing member jacketscoversread

My friend Helen recommended After Dachau by Daniel Quinn to me, so I checked it out. When I told her I had finished it today, she said she had never got around to reading it.

I saw a lot of potential with the story of Mary Anne Dorson but Quinn chucks that to the side in favor of a confusing story

line. Plus, the middle of this book is not very good. By the end Quinn has pulled it all together and it finishes fairly strong.

However, I felt no connection to the characters, the writing is overly simple and he doesn’t fully develop his ideas.

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LibraryThing member Judde

The main problem that I had with the book was the inconsistency of themes. Quinn would switch back and forth between the themes of accuracy of history and what it means to be a true individual. The former theme was only portrayed well in one chapter, in which the school girls retell the history of

the world. However, that is not persuasive at all and feels entirely fabricated and unnatural. The latter theme was even more poorly developed. It felt as though it was intended to be a central theme of the novel, but it really didn't even begin to be discussed until the very end (the hints towards it by the Uncle were terrible foreshadowing/set up). When the theme is being discussed at the end, the reader really doesn't know what Quinn is doing since Quinn has deviated from the goal of the book.

Ishamael was intriguing and eye-opening. The Story of B was ok. But this was ... not worth my time.

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LibraryThing member KRaySaulis

This started out a little slow, interesting but nothing to push me to continue in the first two chapters, and then it took hold of me. I read the rest of the book in one morning. Couldn't put it down. Gripping and fascinating. The whole time I was entranced and couldn't wait to see what came next.

LibraryThing member bookwyrmm

I really had no clue what to expect when I picked this up, but wow, mind blown. This is a book that keeps you on the edge the whole way through.

LibraryThing member alexlubertozzi

I can't say much about this book without giving too much away, so I'll simply say I really enjoyed it. I found it reminiscent of some early Vonnegut (Sirens of Titan, Cat's Cradle). It's very thought-provoking. Although I could certainly see why some people might not enjoy it as much as I did.

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