The Zone of Interest
As seen:
By Martin Amis
avg rating
2 reviews
Set against a backdrop of unadulterated evil, this book takes you on a vivid journey into the depths and contradictions of the human soul.
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Whitley Bay Book Group discussed The Zone of Interest in February 2025
I think it was one of the most diverse set of responses we’ve had to a book with the result that it was a really good discussion.
Some people really hated it. Their reasons were that the language was dense and at times impenetrable and was also being used in a way which was mocking; that the novel was not ‘comic’ at all and/or that the subject matter was unsuitable for comedy (although comparisons with Blackadder were mentioned); that the work was unremittingly grim and didn’t really give any new insights into the holocaust.
There were some very positive responses on the basis that they really liked the writing style and that they found the subject matter and the approach (from the point of view of the Germans) to be interesting and challenging. Then there was an in-between set who had mixed views/hadn’t finished/thought the ending was good or thought the ending was disappointing.
Some people had read Martin Amis before and others hadn’t but would, or wouldn’t, read him in future. So really different responses.
We awarded the book between 1 and 4.5 stars, with three people attempting to award less than the minimum of 1 star.
This is a thought provoking novel. The story is set in a concentration camp during WWII. I enjoyed reading other Martin Amis novels, but this one is very different.
