As a German, I cannot begin to explain how much I despised the guy's work and public persona. A life's work dripping with perpetual delusions of moral high ground contrasted by the very late revelation of having been one of those he so colorfully looked down upon. Apologetic rambling on behalf of the general populace who didn't know anything about what was going on and couldn't have done anything, either.
Grass was a supreme example of everything wrong with this nation and that's not even mentioning his repulsive, monotonous style of writing.
If you're planning to read a modern German novel, avoid this guy at all cost. Read Handke or Jelinek, Glavinic or Kracht, Gernhard or Böll. Or any of a million others. Don't let anyone sell you the Tin Drum, please.
Grass was a supreme example of everything wrong with this nation and that's not even mentioning his repulsive, monotonous style of writing.
If you're planning to read a modern German novel, avoid this guy at all cost. Read Handke or Jelinek, Glavinic or Kracht, Gernhard or Böll. Or any of a million others. Don't let anyone sell you the Tin Drum, please.