fuckthisshit's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ihyuca's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ckoss400's review against another edition
3.5
Interesting beginning but lackluster the rest of book.
icoltman7036's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
cbbenton's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.75
rhodaj's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rissaleighs's review
5.0
Staggeringly beautiful. This is probably the best piece of contemporary literature I've ever read.
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed Out Stealing Horses. The rhythm of the sentences really swept me away, it sometimes felt like that of Cormac McCarthy's work. The prose has a clean, sparseness that is a pleasure to read. Whenever snow, rain or the river are described, I feel as if I am there. A touching, fragmented story with an elderly man reflecting upon the defining events of his teenage years. I'm very keen to read more of Petterson's work.
"You decide yourself when it will hurt"
"You decide yourself when it will hurt"
mia_48419's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jenmat1197's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of a man named Trond Sanders. It is the year 1999 and he is 67 years old and has bought a cabin in Norway that he is going to fix up and spend the rest of his life in. He has moved in late in the season, and is worried about getting the cabin ready before Norway winter really sets in. As he gets things ready, he runs into a man that was part of his distance past, and it brings up a lot of memories of the last time he was at this lake.
The book travels back and forth between 1998 and 1948 when Trond was 15 years old and at this very lake for the summer. It is just he and his dad. His dad was there thinking he could make some money doing logging. Trond meets a young boy his age named Jon who talks Trond into "Stealing" horses from neighboring farms. The boys don't actually steal them, just ride them and return them, but the idea is thrilling to the young boys.
A tragedy during that summer leaves two families torn apart, for very different reasons. Trond learns things about his father he wished he never knew. Jon has to live with what he has done.
The book delves into relationships of fathers and son, best friends of youth, and how things can come full circle. There are some things from your past you cannot escape no matter how hard you try.
The last line in the book was the best of all: "We decide for ourselves when it will hurt".
It was an excellent novel. It is beautifully written and I could picture the harsh Norway countryside as I read. The story takes so many twists and turns, all revolving around the pain we feel for things that happen in our past and how we chose to deal with them and face them in the future. I encourage you to read this short novel for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
The book travels back and forth between 1998 and 1948 when Trond was 15 years old and at this very lake for the summer. It is just he and his dad. His dad was there thinking he could make some money doing logging. Trond meets a young boy his age named Jon who talks Trond into "Stealing" horses from neighboring farms. The boys don't actually steal them, just ride them and return them, but the idea is thrilling to the young boys.
A tragedy during that summer leaves two families torn apart, for very different reasons. Trond learns things about his father he wished he never knew. Jon has to live with what he has done.
The book delves into relationships of fathers and son, best friends of youth, and how things can come full circle. There are some things from your past you cannot escape no matter how hard you try.
The last line in the book was the best of all: "We decide for ourselves when it will hurt".
It was an excellent novel. It is beautifully written and I could picture the harsh Norway countryside as I read. The story takes so many twists and turns, all revolving around the pain we feel for things that happen in our past and how we chose to deal with them and face them in the future. I encourage you to read this short novel for yourself. You will not be disappointed.