ronanmcd's review against another edition
5.0
***mid-way notes***
I can't yet give this book the kind of glowing review it got from those played across the blurbs on its cover and endpapers. It's too familiar. It's written in the thickly laid on, impasto adroitness that any readers familiar with Irish writing will know well. Think The Deposition of Fr McCreevy but in Iceland. That's no bad thing by any stretch, but the glowing reviews all have a (slightly condescending) tone of surprise that such works can come from the bitter wastes of the Atlantic seaboard.
*finished*
The book is a creation myth, a history of humanity - from foggy past mists, through the time of myths, heroes and legends, to the discovery of writing and invention of religion to the spreading out and peopling of the world, to the modern economies with their highs and lows, and finally to the political corruption and poverty from debt.
It took 520 of the 540 or so pages to win me over but it did. The various synopses and bumpfs do not represent the narrative at all. They seek to make this a conflict, a clash of two wills. This is not the story of a man who turfs out the daughter he loves so much when their personalities make staying together impossible, this is the story of a man who has made himself a rock and the turning, spinning, drudging world around him. It just encompasses everything.
Finally, it is also set almost exactly 100 years before the 21st global boom and bust which followed the War on Terror. It describes exactly that in relation to WW1; the obsession with land, descent into property-based debt, bankrupcy and ruin. We learn nothing as we go.
I can't yet give this book the kind of glowing review it got from those played across the blurbs on its cover and endpapers. It's too familiar. It's written in the thickly laid on, impasto adroitness that any readers familiar with Irish writing will know well. Think The Deposition of Fr McCreevy but in Iceland. That's no bad thing by any stretch, but the glowing reviews all have a (slightly condescending) tone of surprise that such works can come from the bitter wastes of the Atlantic seaboard.
*finished*
The book is a creation myth, a history of humanity - from foggy past mists, through the time of myths, heroes and legends, to the discovery of writing and invention of religion to the spreading out and peopling of the world, to the modern economies with their highs and lows, and finally to the political corruption and poverty from debt.
It took 520 of the 540 or so pages to win me over but it did. The various synopses and bumpfs do not represent the narrative at all. They seek to make this a conflict, a clash of two wills. This is not the story of a man who turfs out the daughter he loves so much when their personalities make staying together impossible, this is the story of a man who has made himself a rock and the turning, spinning, drudging world around him. It just encompasses everything.
Finally, it is also set almost exactly 100 years before the 21st global boom and bust which followed the War on Terror. It describes exactly that in relation to WW1; the obsession with land, descent into property-based debt, bankrupcy and ruin. We learn nothing as we go.
tboltkid's review against another edition
3.0
"The sheep standing in sanctity by the hole in the brook stares bleating over its frozen hills, unable to impart to the children of men the virtues of its mentality. " (p.304)
_katiaz_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
redroofcolleen's review against another edition
2.0
Bleak and gloomy, though lots of beautiful prose...
frederica49's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An amazing and touching story.
meganholtzapple's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
This was a struggle to read at times, but ultimately very worth it.
lauranoonz's review against another edition
2.0
I found it really hard to read but I can appreciate its literary and cultural value. It has some great passages and biref moments of comedy. I also enjoyed the way the story unfolds and how I found the ending quite powerful, lovable and fitting. If only I hadn't struggled so much with the writing style maybe I would recommend it more.
apyzocha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
bmip666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0