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bibliobrandie's review
4.0
I read this for book club. I'm not huge fan of short stories, but I was amazed by how the author was able to say so much in so few words. I was immediately taken to the places he described, could get a feel for the people, but then they were over.
snoakes7001's review
4.0
I'm not sure what drew me to this collection. I'm not a huge fan of short fiction - I generally prefer something longer that I can immerse myself into. Short fiction (and you can't really call these short stories as the majority of the book is more a collection of vignettes) often leaves me with a feeling of anti-climax, as though I haven't really GOT it. Likewise, I don't read much translated fiction. The act of translation inexorably alters the intention of the author - whether it improves or detracts from the original. There is so much I want to read that was written in English, I'm not sure if I want to be bothered with writing that may not quite be what the author intended.
Those prejudices aside, I did enjoy this collection. Some really resonated with me such as the tale of the man who lives surrounded by books and open Amazon boxes, storing his books everywhere - including in the oven and the fridge. Others left me slightly baffled.
The pieces are generally loosely linked by reading, writing and dreaming and there is some lovely imagery e.g. "His sight had become so poor that he couldn't even see properly in his dreams any more".
All in all, if you like short fiction, it's a good read with a slightly dark tinge in places. Not sure I'd read it again though, hence four rather than five stars.
Those prejudices aside, I did enjoy this collection. Some really resonated with me such as the tale of the man who lives surrounded by books and open Amazon boxes, storing his books everywhere - including in the oven and the fridge. Others left me slightly baffled.
The pieces are generally loosely linked by reading, writing and dreaming and there is some lovely imagery e.g. "His sight had become so poor that he couldn't even see properly in his dreams any more".
All in all, if you like short fiction, it's a good read with a slightly dark tinge in places. Not sure I'd read it again though, hence four rather than five stars.
danielafin's review
2.0
Short, strange stories. Some stranger in their content, some strange because they don't seem to say much. Personally, I like when authors let things develop, which I guess is why letting days or weeks or months pass in a few pages isn't my up of tea.
Interesting language though. And the stories do tend to make you think what else could be under the surface. Especially as you do tend to realize that there are some small details that bind the stories together.
Interesting language though. And the stories do tend to make you think what else could be under the surface. Especially as you do tend to realize that there are some small details that bind the stories together.
kristianspring's review
1.0
I really didn't like this one. I think my expectations may have been wrong for this book. I was hoping for something of an Icelandic flavor, which maybe I did get, but it was so dreary and sad. Almost all of the characters are having a bad time, moping, having their lives fall apart, etc. And then...nothing. It didn't seem like they learned or grew or improved from their experiences, so those bad experiences fell flat for me.
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