katrinky's review against another edition
5.0
I can't say enough good things about this book. This trip I took, and the recommendations for local authors I got, resulted in the addition of three books to my favorites-ever list. "We, The Drowned" is one of them. It's a 675-page epic following the life of Marstal, a small shipping town on the island of Aero, Denmark. Spanning 100 years of history, Jensen jumps from island to shipdeck to port to new island and home again, telling the gruesome, heartbreaking, beautiful stories that sailors live every day. The use of "we" lends every chapter but one (so far- I've got one more to go) an immediate sense of community, of a small town involved in everyone's business and privvy to secrets behind any closed door. Laurids Madsen, the man who went to Heaven and saw St. Peter's naked bum, Knud Erick, the boy who broke his mother's heart and became a sailor, Albert, son of Laurids, who had visions of sinking ships years before they sank, Herman, the Seagull Killer, Klara, one of Marstal's widows and Knud Erick's stalwart yet vulnerable mother, Vilhjelm, the stuttering boy who miraculously survives a horrific shipwreck- the list of characters I want to remember always could go on and on. This book made me gasp, gag, laugh, shudder, and stay awake for hours after turning out the light. I miss reading it already.
kelseybon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This novel truly fits the category of an epic. Spanning a century and 4 generations, every one of its 700 pages is used wisely, and every word is important. It’s masterfully written, with incredible attention to descriptive detail, consistency, and immense character development that exists more in what is left unsaid than what is spelled out. Patience is required, but worth it; it’s not a book worth rushing. It captures the depths of the human soul across generations beautifully, tragically, and in brief glimpses, hopefully.
skello's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
elinoksana's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
aldecapo's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
walter_heape's review against another edition
5.0
I read the first half over the course of a couple of weeks, and decided today to commit to finishing it in one all-day session. I’m glad I did. It’s not my usual fare, a maritime novel, but it offered all the adventure and education of the best historical fiction.
oscarp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
melle's review against another edition
2.0
As amazing as this book is supposed to be, I just couldn't get into it. The style just didn't work for me -- don't know if that relates to it being translated or not.