martynahanna's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by mum and dad. I found it hard to get into, but the claustrophobic atmosphere of living on an island quickly became palpable. Still making my mind up about it. I’d like to see it made into a movie, it would be one of those indie ones when nothing much happens, but it makes an impact and stays with you for a while. Definitely a different kind of book than my usual pick.
djohan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.5
michelesalvi_space's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
Un libro lento e piacevole, che lascia ammirare le bellezze, e la crudeltà anche, del vivere su un’Isola sperduta in mezzo al Mare di Norvegia.
La vita è dura, ma anche semplice e genuina: come la Natura.
La vita è dura, ma anche semplice e genuina: come la Natura.
gharness's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This was my first time reading Jacobsen, and I loved this book. It is admittedly partly because my great-grandfather was born in part of Norway, there are some very direct ties to me. My ancestors left Norway in the 1880s for America, so this book takes place a bit later, but it certainly helps me imagine what those who came before me dealt with.
I loved these characters and how the family, both directly related and found, worked together to build a life on a remote island. It reminded me a lot of Knut Hamsun's Markens Grøde, and to a lesser extent Paul Harding's This Other Eden. The plot is fairly thin, but how the character deal with regular everyday occurrences is beautifully constructed.
I loved these characters and how the family, both directly related and found, worked together to build a life on a remote island. It reminded me a lot of Knut Hamsun's Markens Grøde, and to a lesser extent Paul Harding's This Other Eden. The plot is fairly thin, but how the character deal with regular everyday occurrences is beautifully constructed.
rebeccagrnwd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
4.0
martymohito's review against another edition
3.0
Difficult, terse, bleak, with rather odd scandanavian language that is the only dialogue.
Got through it though. Mental note - don't move to live on an island, it's not for you!
Got through it though. Mental note - don't move to live on an island, it's not for you!
ronanmcd's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe it stems from the fact of translation, but there is something about the economical sparsity, functionality and precision of the words in this text. I imagine it must be a wider Scandinavian thing, a mindset, or a cultural fascination. Only the necessary makes it into the text. I saw this trend recently with the Icelandic Independent People, Norwegian Hunger and Danish We, The Drowned. There is a deliberateness to each that means every sentiment, every glimpse of description and each little thing that goes unspoken has such resonance.
Of these recent Scandinavian translations this has particularly struck a chord. It's not a story so much as time spent in other lives. You aren't just reading about an island near the Arctic Circle a century ago. You are there, and toiling.
Of these recent Scandinavian translations this has particularly struck a chord. It's not a story so much as time spent in other lives. You aren't just reading about an island near the Arctic Circle a century ago. You are there, and toiling.