Gordiyon Fiyongu

by Bernhard Schlink, Atilla Dirim (Translator)

Almanya'daki avukatlık bürosunu kapattıktan ve sakin Fransa taşrasında sevgilisiyle yaşadığı keyifli günlerin ardından önce sevgilisini yitirir Georg Holger, sonra da geçimini sağladığı tercüme işleri kesat gitmeye başlar. İşsizlik ve yalnızlıktan bunaldığı, tam anlamıyla bir "tutunamayan"ın buhranlarını yaşadığı aylardan sonra, karşısına inanılmaz bir iş fırsatı çıkar. Ve o işi sağlayan tercüme bürosunda tanıştığı, başdöndürücü bir Polonyalı kız... Bol paralı, aşk sarhoşluğuyla dolu, bir yandan da "başarı ve dinamizm"in özgüvenini şişirdiği rüya gibi günler başlar. Derken... Arkası, büyük entrikalarla dolu bir gerilim. Aslında sıradan bir "tutunamayan" olan kahramanımızın, bir yandan entrikalar, diğer yandan vazgeçmekle kara sevdaya gömülmek arasındaki kararsızlık içinde yaşadığı bir gerilim... Ve bütün bunların ötesinde, Okuyucu yazarı Bernhard Schlink'in insanlık halleri ve bir yığın gündelik teferruat üzerine "bildik" yazar ustalığı...

Genres: Fiction, German Literature, Thriller, Germany, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Noir

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Bernhard Schlink is a German lawyer, academic, and novelist. He is best known for his novel The Reader, which was first published in 1995 and became an international bestseller. He won the 2014 Park Kyong-ni Prize.

Reviews

[Bern · Rating 2 out of 5]

Schlink'in erken dönem çalışması olsa da, yazarın hukuk adamı kimliğiyle bu kadar mantık hatası yapması, kurgunun zayıf olması beni hayal kırıklığına uğrattı.

[Sevim Tezel Aydın · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bernhard Schlink sevdiğim bir yazardır, çok kitabını okudum, bunu diğerleri kadar beğenmesem de okunabilir buldum.

Gordiyon Fiyongu'nun kapağında polisiye yazıyor, hatta Alman Polisiye Yazarlar Birliği Ödülü'nü almış, ancak ben polisiye kurgudan fazla tat alamadım. Esasen enteresan bir konusu var. Avukat olan Georg monoton hayatını terk eder, kitap yazmak hevesiyle yola çıkıp Güney Fransa'da çevirmen olarak çalışmaya başlar. İnişli çıkışlı da olsa bir düzen tutturmaya uğraşırken yeni bir tercüme bürosundan bir iş alır, burada çalışan Françoise'e gönlünü kaptırır ve sonrasında kendini ülkeler arasında süren entrika dolu bir serüvenin ortasında bulur.
Dediğim gibi konu enteresan ancak çok yavaş ilerliyor. Ayrıca nereden gelip nereye gittiği belli olmayan bazı ayrıntılar arasında zaman zaman yolumu kaybettim. Neden sonuç ilişkileri, çıkarımlar beni tatmin etmedi.
Benim açımdan kitabı okunabilir yapan Georg'un ruh halleri oldu, Bernhard Schlink takıntılı, düzene karşı, sınırları zorlayan tavırları ile değişik bir karakter resmetmiş. "Bu hal ve tavırla sonu ne olacak?" diye diye kitabı bitirdim...

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georg Proger makes his living as a translator. Sometimes there isn't enough work and sometimes he is in debt. And then, out of the blue - or so it seems - his luck changes. There is plenty of work and, further, a beautiful woman happens in his life. As a reader, it's easy to think Georg might have been more cautious. I think few of us remember to look at a gift horse in the mouth.

I admit that Schlink takes his time building his story. It's like in life - you need to be patient waiting for the water to boil. There is symbolism in the title and the explanation doesn't come until the last half dozen pages. It comes with a bit of philosopy too.

Some of the GR reviewers express surprise that this could have been written by the author of The Reader. My surprise is the opposite, that an author who could write this and his series Gerhard Self could have written The Reader. They were exuberant fans of The Reader while I am more a fan of his noir.

I'll never have time to read all of the books I want to read. Will I get to the rest of the Gerhard Self series? I hope so. But I can hope to live past 100, too. In any case, this is 4 stars for me, but maybe in the lower quarter of that group.

[Anni K. Mars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dieser Roman war sehr spannend, aber die Figuren waren…scheußlich!

Es geht in diesem Roman um Georg, der als freier Übersetzer in einer französischen Provinz lebt und ein ziemlich langweiliges Leben führt. Bis er einen sehr geheimen Auftrag über die Konstruktion von Kampfmitteln erhält und in die Machenschaften der verschiedenen Geheimdienste der Welt gerät. Georg weiß nicht mehr, wem er trauen kann und was er tun soll.

Ich mochte dieses Buch nur bis zu einem gewissen Punkt. Es war sehr spannend, aber auch sehr verwirrend. Figuren erhalten Decknamen, ziehen um, verstricken sich, sind verbunden, oder eben doch nicht, es werden Fährten gelegt, Geheimnisse verkauft und es wird sehr viel miteinander geschlafen.

Georg war der komischste Mann, den ich je gelesen habe (neben Leon aus Regenroman). Er hat teilweise so unglaublich irrationale Entscheidungen getroffen, in keinster Weise nachvollziehbare Handlungen durchgeführt und mich sehr verwirrt. Also nein, Georg war wirklich nicht mein Liebling. Auch nicht Francoise, die ihren Namen gerne mal ändert. Ansonsten gibt es noch viele Nebenfiguren, die aber zu einer einzigen Masse verschmolzen sind und somit nicht sonderlich kraftvoll waren.

Ich mochte den Schreibstil. Der war es auch, der mich am Buch gehalten hat, ansonsten hätte ich es abgebrochen. Man würde vielleicht Beschreibungen der Landschaft erwarten, aber das gab es kaum.

Die Struktur des Romans ist relativ schwach. Man merkt, dass es ein frühes Werk Schlinks ist. Es gibt Logikfehler, die Figuren verhalten sich sehr komisch und der Handlungsverlauf ist holprig. Man erkennt die Motivation der Figuren an einigen Stellen überhaupt nicht, sodass Handlungen völlig aus der Luft gegriffen erscheinen. Die zweite Hälfte des Romans spielt in den USA und ab da wurde es noch abgefahrener, die Ereignisse haben sich überschlagen. Das Ende war sehr unglaubwürdig und etwas zu zufällig.

Insgesamt rate ich eher von diesem Schlink ab. Die Idee des Romans war gut und spannend. Aber es mangelte an Struktur, Logik und vor allem an nachvollziehbaren Figuren. Man sollte sich lieber ein späteres Werk dieses Autors vornehmen.

[Bebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Expectations of a good read, certainly had that after reading "The Reader" I cannot fathom how this author could write this book, it does not have many redeeming factors save the locale in France, weird characters, weird plans, weird people, is it me or is this just a poorly translated work, could not get my brain around this one.

[Marcus Krug · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is absurd. After a book like this Schlink should not have been allowed anywhere near a typewriter, notepad or a computer to write anything ever again. And yet, he did, with "The Reader". It is a mystery to me that someone who wrote such despicable garbage like this book here, also wrote "The Reader" and the short story collections I love so much. It is incomprehensible. The writing is abysmal. There's only tell, no show. The author is telling the reader with every word what to think and how to feel. This directing is aggravating because the navigation through the story is quite jumpy. On top of that, the story is unbelievably trashy and implausible. Would an intelligence agency take someone like the protagonist seriously? The characters, although not unlikable, act extremely stupid at best. The protagonist's erratic behaviour is really annoying. I know that if he doesn't take on the bad guys, there'd be no story. But nobody needs a horrible story like this. This is really bad spy movie stuff straight out of a teenage boy's wet dream and imagination. An irritating and annoyingly bad book.

[Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
На моменти конфузна, на моменти едноставна, баш како едно купче јазли зврзани на една гордиева врвка. Не знам што да кажам за Шлинк после ова. На моменти ми изгледаше толку претенциозен што ме тераше да запрам со читање. Но ја доистерав до крај. Не е како „читачот“ но не е до толку катастрофална како што луѓево пишуваат на интернет. Без тие непотребни дефокуси, без таа претенциозност и со ставање повеќе акцент на полицијата и странските служби, книгата би имала многу повеќе суштина во целост. Вака, многу празни одови, чворови, повторувања одново и одово, и пак се осеќаш изгубен во некаков вител.

[Alison Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An industrial espionage crime. Not a fast-paced thriller, but a complicated plot. I found the plot a bit of a stretch, although the ending was neat, and mirrored the book title. Well-written, but I found the protagonist Georg’s actions far-fetched, and as for Francois, his lover – I hope I never meet her!

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Der Anwalt Georg Polger hat seine Kanzlei in Karlsruhe aufgegeben und schlägt sich mehr recht als schlecht als freier Übersetzer in Südfrankreich durch. Infolge merkwürdiger Umstände wird er Inhaber eines Übersetzungsbüros und seine Lebensumstände sehen wieder rosiger aus. Er übersetzt hauptsächlich Konstruktionspläne für Kampfhubschrauber und verliebt sich in Françoise, die Sekretärin seines Hauptauftraggebers. Eines Tages ertappt er Françoise dabei, wie sie heimlich die übersetzten Pläne fotografiert. Er muss feststellen, dass er von dubiosen Geheimdienstkreisen benutzt wurde, um an die Pläne zu kommen. Da er dieses Spiel nicht mitmachen will, wird sein Leben komplett auf den Kopf gestellt. Françoise und sein Auftraggeber sind spurlos verschwunden, das Leben im südfranzösischen Dörfchen Cucugnan wird ihm unmöglich gemacht.
Auf der Suche nach Françoise und den Drahtziehern dieser Geschichte verschlägt es ihn nach Amerika, erst New York, dann San Francisco.
Der erste Teil des Buches, der in der französischen Provinz spielt, las sich noch recht spannend und war einigermaßen fesselnd, im zweiten Teil des Buches, in Amerika, wird es allerdings immer hanebüchener und entwickelt sich zu einer absolut wirren, langatmigen und konstruierten Story. Und zu allem Überfluss wird es am Ende auch noch richtig kitschig.
Eigentlich mag ich die Bücher von Bernhard Schlink und seinen Schreibstil, mit diesem Buch konnte ich allerdings sehr wenig anfangen. Ich halte ihm zugute, dass „Die Gordische Schleife“ erst sein zweites Buch am Anfang seiner schriftstellerischen Karriere war und er sich weiterentwickelt hat.
Wäre es das erste Buch von Bernhard Schlink gewesen, dass ich gelesen hätte, hätte ich mit Sicherheit kein weiteres Buch von ihm angerührt. Daher leider keine Leseempfehlung meinerseits.

[Steffi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eigentlich habe ich den Roman angefangen zu lesen, weil die Geschichte in Südfrankreich beginnt, aber Marseille und die Landschaft werden kaum beschrieben. Dann wechselt die Geschichte nach New York und San Fransisco. Die Suche nach der geliebten Frauen und der Aufklärung des Rätsels in New York ist dann wesentlich interesssanter und wird stärker durhc die Atmosphäre dieser Stadt getragen. Nicht überwältigende, aber solide Spionagegeschichte.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a weak start the book got better with the developing story line. I found the language a little wooden and stilted in the beginning, but this also changed for the better! Overall a captivating book with unforeseeable twists and turns, fine psychological insights and descriptions.
I liked the book. I like Bernhard Schlink's books, all highly recommended!

[P A Sivachander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bernard Schlink must have lost track of his life after the roaring success of "The Reader". For, this book turns out to be a complete proof of it. The story starts off on a very dull note and on an uninspiring night with the protagonist driving his new car. We are introduced to his work, his environment, his past and present love life in a flatly beautiful manner. As he struggles on with his life, some twists in the form of a jaw-dropping job offer, a new girlfriend and an exhausting wild goose chase turn his life Topsy-turvy. The characters introduced are either uninteresting or made to look like one. Saving the interesting part where a brief history of churches and new york and the tale of Alexander's execution of the Gordian Knot, the book has nothing else to offer. This is a complete let down from Bernard. I was hoping for some reclamation to the story as the plot progressed. Alas, my hope was sincerely dumped into the fast-moving Rhein as the book ended staying to the way it began. I now feel less confident to have a look at another book by Bernard. Hope I get rid of this fear soon in order to try The Reader. As of now, Let me relax and forget Bernard. And if at all you're planning to try this out, be sure the reader in you is bold enough to stay with this. Aber, I suggest you read more on The Gordian Knot rather reading this. A much better alternative IMO.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second book by Bernhard Schlink (The Reader). The same strong personal character interactions, disturbing and dysfunctional. They seem to resonate with my life's experience, and how I perceive other people. In large part life overwhelms the character, things happen to him, not of his desire or projection. This could be the message, plan your own life or life will overwhelm you with circumstances. The storyline and plot and his cloak and dagger spy escapades were weak. The conclusion just seemed like an attempt to quickly exit a mess created by Schlink. Almost like his character, he let the book overwhelm him. Read the book for the strange relationship and a look into human psyche, do not read it as a spy mystery suspense novel, pick up Le Carre instead.

[Douglas Ogurek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernhard Schlink's Gordian Knot is the story of Georg Polger, a struggling German translator living in France. When a prominent translator dies in a car accident, the mysterious Mr. Bulnakov offers Polger a lucrative position. Polger falls in love with the beautiful Francoise, but soon discovers her photographing some of his top secret documents. Then Francoise disappears. Polger sets off on a dangerous quest to find Francoise and take down her employers. This was an enjoyable noir story, but it moved a bit slow for me.

[Aysel · Rating 2 out of 5]

..Многие пытались развязать этот узел, а Александр разрубил его мечом. Тому, кто справится с узлом, мудрецы предрекали власть над Азией, и это пророчество сбылось на Александре. Правда, в этой Азии он заболел и умер. Надо было ему все-таки не разрубать, а распутывать узел. Любой узел можно распутать. Потому что мы сами завязываем все узлы. Нет гордиевых узлов — есть гордиевы петли.

[G Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the last book I bought at the west Maui bookstore where I volunteered before it burned down in the fires that destroyed Lahaina on 8/8/23. It wasn’t good but I relished every word.

All volunteers at the Maui Friends of the Library bookstore survived. Only one lost her house (and some kittens). We are, ultimately, lucky.

I hope we can reopen some day in Lahaina again.

[Liz Thackray · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Read in German]

A fairly long winded account of industrial espionage and international skullduggery. At times confusing - perhaps because of reading the original German rather than a translation - but some interesting and enjoyable elements. I won't be reading this book again in a hurry

[Eugenio Yunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inteligente novela que va más allá del género policíaco, con intrigas políticas, de espionaje industrial, y también amorosas.
Además, enmarcada en lugares tan atractivos como la Provenza, New York y San Francisco.

[Yash Dongare · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for of the beauty and betrayal, without Françoise's character I wouldn't have been able to finish the book. The details are too confusing. To understand you'd have to refer the book like tax calculation guide.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Когда привык, как пишет Шлинк, что пишет Шлинк, о ком и о чем пишет Шлинк, - а тут унылая шпионская история с русской разведкой, КГБ против ЦРУ и дурилки картонные в качестве персонажей. На мужское чтиво в мягкой обложке тоже не тянет, хотя пыталось.

[Lisy V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fast paced thriller, slow beginning, overall disappointed. Expected more from this author, since I enjoyed "The Reader."

[Tony Rampling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!

[Isabelle Del'haye · Rating 2 out of 5]

misschien niet slecht voor wie van de combo literatuur en spionage houdt

[Vincent · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book read like a boys own adventure story for 14 -16 years old. I find it hard to believe thia same person wrote 'The Reader'

[David Gagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting idea that kinda fizzled out.

[Felix Nütz · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - this is so bad.

[Leonard Entwistle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written intriguing story almost Le Carré but not quite.

[Colin Hulett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rubbish the worse plot of all time. Totally unbelievable. Gave up at 80%. Didn't care what happened to anyone.

[Necdet Yücel · Rating 4 out of 5]

sonu biraz aceleci bağlandı gibi geldi bana

[Johann Guenther · Rating 2 out of 5]

SCHLINK, Bernhard: „Die gordische Schleife“, Zürich 1988
Eines der früheren Bücher von Schlink. Eine Agentengeschichte. Ein junger deutscher Anwalt, der ausgestiegen ist und im Süden Frankreichs als Übersetzer arbeitet. Er kommt in den Kreis von Spionage, weil er für Kampfhubschrauber Dokumentationen übersetzt. Sein Leben wird rundlegend verändert. Er will das nicht wahrhaben und kämpft dagegen. Seine Geliebte spioniert und kopiert seine Arbeiten. Plötzlich ist sie weg. Auch bekommt er keine Aufträge mehr. Mit dem restlichen gebliebenen Geld versucht er sie zu finden und fliegt nach Amerika. Die Geschichte wird immer skurriler und als Leser ist es schwer oft den Anschluss zu finden und mit dem Autor und seiner Phantasie Schritt zu halten. Er schreibt aber ein Happy End, bei dem der Übersetzer und seine Geliebte plötzlich als traute Familie am Ende in Portugal wohnen.