Scan barcode
cobwebshelves's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"I didn't dare ask, how do you migrate? What do you do about all the things that quiver?
Probably no one at the table could answer that question. Who are we? The Faroese, those who stayed, and us, the blood guests, biological seeds sown by migrants?"
What's it like, to feel out of place, to not feel home at home, to feel more yourself in a land that should have been your home? Jacobsen's "Island" explores the relationships within families, the bonds we have to our home and our ancestry. It's a look into the ways migration shapes the lives of future generations and their search for a home that should feel familiar, yet in which they still feel like intruders—like tourists.
The family from the Faroes appears mundane – they are not war heroes, or famous politicians. They are simply a family, one of many affected by the second world war, seeking opportunities, wishing for a safe place to plant trees and raise their children. Yet through the eyes of the protagonist, the memories of a child, they gain a certain magic. The family holds its secrets and traumas, but they are loved for them, despite them, nonetheless. It's the interwoven connection between life and love and death; the way a place, a moment, a person can be home.
Jacobsen's prose through the lens of Waight's translation is hauntingly beautiful, It builds a painting of greys, blues, and greens, islands surrounded by islands, floating and standing. My one gripe was the graphic descriptions of abortion and birth, which made me squeamish, though I suppose they can also attest to how impactful Jacobsen's prose was.
"Island" is a story about the simplicity of life—and the complexity of it. It's a story about how the smallest elements of our surroundings shape us, how every decision affects those who will come after us. Most of all, it's a story about searching for—and finding—home.
Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the access to the arc.
Probably no one at the table could answer that question. Who are we? The Faroese, those who stayed, and us, the blood guests, biological seeds sown by migrants?"
What's it like, to feel out of place, to not feel home at home, to feel more yourself in a land that should have been your home? Jacobsen's "Island" explores the relationships within families, the bonds we have to our home and our ancestry. It's a look into the ways migration shapes the lives of future generations and their search for a home that should feel familiar, yet in which they still feel like intruders—like tourists.
The family from the Faroes appears mundane – they are not war heroes, or famous politicians. They are simply a family, one of many affected by the second world war, seeking opportunities, wishing for a safe place to plant trees and raise their children. Yet through the eyes of the protagonist, the memories of a child, they gain a certain magic. The family holds its secrets and traumas, but they are loved for them, despite them, nonetheless. It's the interwoven connection between life and love and death; the way a place, a moment, a person can be home.
Jacobsen's prose through the lens of Waight's translation is hauntingly beautiful, It builds a painting of greys, blues, and greens, islands surrounded by islands, floating and standing. My one gripe was the graphic descriptions of abortion and birth, which made me squeamish, though I suppose they can also attest to how impactful Jacobsen's prose was.
"Island" is a story about the simplicity of life—and the complexity of it. It's a story about how the smallest elements of our surroundings shape us, how every decision affects those who will come after us. Most of all, it's a story about searching for—and finding—home.
Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the access to the arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
More...