Incredible story. I see the complaint that Hofmiller came across as typical spiralling flawed mc.

I think the appreciation for the dynamic of this novel is if you have experienced being in Edith’s position either due to physical disability or neurodivergence, it can be extremely frustrating.

In general I thought Zweig portrayed the dangers of people pleasing very well. Also as someone with social anxiety the ending hit hard with how mundane human interactions are more terrifying than serving in a world war.

Only thing that  is off to me is that I didn’t see him knowing anyone that was disabled so as an able bodied person writing from a perspective he doesn’t have supposedly I feel like it would have been more real if he was or knew someone that was disabled.