chamblyman's review against another edition
5.0
This complex fabulist tapestry sometimes feels like the whole history of storytelling compressed into one volume, jumping from genre deconstruction and mythic visions to earthy humor and grounded human emotion with astounding grace: Icelandic literary magic in the tradition of Calvino's Invisible Cities, Bulgakov's Master And Margarita, Gunter Grass' The Tin Drum and David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas.
braxwall's review against another edition
3.0
En bok per decennium utgör denna trilogi. Den första, "Dina ögon såg mig", hade jag redan läst. Jag är kanske inte riktigt lika entusiastisk denna gång, även om det är en intressant berättad historia. De andra två böckerna ”Med skälvande tårar” och ”Jag är en sovande dörr” funkar i kontexten för trilogin men framförallt den sista tycker jag inte står på egna ben. Hursomhelst, helheten funkar och Sjón har onekligen en egen berättarstil. Gillar speciellt golem-temat och skildringen av ett hårt Reykjavik.
lagobond's review against another edition
1.0
Flipped through, not interested. Seems like a highfalutin mess with some gore porn thrown in.
unboxedjack's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Death, Alcoholism, Infertility, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Murder, Child death, Grief, War, and Racism
_jinzo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Open this novel, step into a world of complex storytelling, and wonder…
Paradoxically, I was tempted to pick up this novel by a less than positive review by a friend. Her reference to a clay baby receiving the spark of life had me intrigued. Was this the story of a golem?
Jósef Loewe claims to remember the moment of his birth in 1962 and everything that has happened since. But while 1962 is significant, it is not the beginning. First, the skeleton of the story. The first book in this trilogy is a love story. Jósef’s father Leo, a starving Jewish fugitive in World War II Germany, is nursed back to health by a maid in a small town. Together they fashion a baby boy from clay. The second story in the trilogy is a crime story. Leo escapes to Iceland with the clay baby in a hatbox, but he cannot yet be born. Leo needs a magical ring. But Leo becomes caught up in a murder mystery: life is dangerous and complicated. Leo applies for citizenship of Iceland. In August 1962, Jósef is born. The third book is a science-fiction story. Now middle-aged in Reykjavík, Jósef attracts the attention of a geneticist. CoDex, a fictional company, wants to decode the country’s genome.
That is the skeleton (more or less) of the story, but Sjón has fleshed it out in interesting ways. This is a novel full of side-tracks and diversions, including history, theology, and folklore. I am sure that I missed the significance of some aspects, but various parts reached out and fully grabbed my attention. Such as the Berserker and the chick.
This is no linear narrative with a clear pathway from beginning to end. It is full of digressions and shifts in pace. It is a gallimaufry of ideas and stories, a book I may have to revisit.
‘With this book, as with any other, we should bear in mind that although the author has chosen to bring the story to a conclusion, it is in fact far from over.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Paradoxically, I was tempted to pick up this novel by a less than positive review by a friend. Her reference to a clay baby receiving the spark of life had me intrigued. Was this the story of a golem?
Jósef Loewe claims to remember the moment of his birth in 1962 and everything that has happened since. But while 1962 is significant, it is not the beginning. First, the skeleton of the story. The first book in this trilogy is a love story. Jósef’s father Leo, a starving Jewish fugitive in World War II Germany, is nursed back to health by a maid in a small town. Together they fashion a baby boy from clay. The second story in the trilogy is a crime story. Leo escapes to Iceland with the clay baby in a hatbox, but he cannot yet be born. Leo needs a magical ring. But Leo becomes caught up in a murder mystery: life is dangerous and complicated. Leo applies for citizenship of Iceland. In August 1962, Jósef is born. The third book is a science-fiction story. Now middle-aged in Reykjavík, Jósef attracts the attention of a geneticist. CoDex, a fictional company, wants to decode the country’s genome.
That is the skeleton (more or less) of the story, but Sjón has fleshed it out in interesting ways. This is a novel full of side-tracks and diversions, including history, theology, and folklore. I am sure that I missed the significance of some aspects, but various parts reached out and fully grabbed my attention. Such as the Berserker and the chick.
This is no linear narrative with a clear pathway from beginning to end. It is full of digressions and shifts in pace. It is a gallimaufry of ideas and stories, a book I may have to revisit.
‘With this book, as with any other, we should bear in mind that although the author has chosen to bring the story to a conclusion, it is in fact far from over.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
changwinnie's review against another edition
4.0
I have no idea what this book is about but I really enjoyed it.
ainoan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
raisa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5