eliette's Reviews (51)

This was really great! The themes it explored were fantastic, and I actually really enjoyed the slow pacing and gradual reveal of plot. It was refreshing, when so frequently I read books that almost rush to the finish line. 
I sadly had to take a star away, and actually it had nothing to do with the writing. Translation is an art form, and at its heart is about transforming the meaning and atmosphere from one language into another. While reading this, the cadence of the English was off, and I could tell I was reading a Nordic author’s writing. The translator missed a trick here, and at times I almost wanted to shake them because I could feel what the author was doing behind the English. 

I really wanted to finish this, because I think it could have been an incredibly important piece of literature. The writing is just so not great though, unfortunately. I think this also suffered from a lack of editing, and was far too long winded. Perhaps because of the publicity behind it there was limited ability of editors to make changes? I wish it had been powerful, because it needed to be. 

This was fun! I loved the setting and the sense of place that was so important throughout this book. I enjoyed learning about the different lives all the different characters had, and how those tied back into the setting. The writing was lovely and descriptive. I didn't love the ending, and I also thought that the most interesting character was under explored, but other than that a decent book.

I should have known when I saw it had won the Pulitzer that I would hate this. I have such a terrible track record with that prize. This book was whiny and self centred and I tried so hard to like the characters but they all had this sort of self dislike for themselves that I just couldn’t muster up any interest for a character so uninterested in them self . And as the entire plot was character growth it fell so very flat for me. Skip this one. 

Pretty easy and enjoyable read, but not my favourite of her books.  Still fun, but doesn’t quite grab you or hit you in your heart like her others do.