Funny original extraordinary deep book.
/Stanislav, Bulgaria

I think the point of view is singular. It's like moving below the surface. He's there, but not really there (yet justified). When I read this book, it's more like an experience, a nightmare exactly. It's devastating, crushing. Religion, heroism and other of our established values turned out to be a, I don't know, parody perhaps (I must confess, I was 'tickled' at some scenes) ... like my current country condition. Well, not in the same way, but I feel the same feeling. These words doesn't convey all my admiration for this great, great work. But I hope this will do.
/Krisworo, Indonesia

The fight between art and science, between modernism and post-modernism, between realism and magical realism, between love and machines has not been presented so clearly anywhere else, in my knowledge.
/Arjun, India

This book made me realize there is black magic in everyone's life.
/Hal Golson, United States

I want to give this novel 4/1/2 stars, but there are no half-stars here. This novel is grander than majestic, because of the strength given to its retarded protaganist, Oskar, reflected in his fantasies and intelligences, some seem unimaginable, mad and ridiculous to a normal person, others ever so familiar to our very own daily lives. Are we normal, or are we retarded? I believe we are some of both. This book, though 565 pages long, is indeed a little too lengthy, for Oskar's recollections of events that were recorded earlier, are to some soporific. However, it is through these repetitions that one is led into and through an ever-living, ever-fighting retarded mind. Although I was a little disappointed that this book did not live up to my expectations of its writing about the history and life in Danzig from 1925-55, I came to realise that it is precisely because of the retarded mind's egocentricm, that it is his life that is the sole most important issue in this novel. And that is why this novel is powerful.
/Teo Chee Tat, Singapore

One of the most interesting books I have ever read. The character development is incredible and Grass's story is amazingly told. Few books have I enjoyed so much.
/John, United States