Reviews

Fegefeuer by Sofi Oksanen

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viljaneito's review against another edition

4.0

Vahva romaani, eikä syyttä niin kiitetty ja arvostettu. Ei kuitenkaan aivan niin huikea kuin suuren hypen perusteella saattaisi odottaa. Parhaiten lukukokemusta kuvaa ehkä kaverini heittämä kommentti "Puhdistus-ahdistus".

kanervamk's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced

4.5

marmorienkeli's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

mordecai's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No

5.0

poachedeggs's review against another edition

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3.0

So, so depressing. Take any dank stereotype about Eastern Europe you have heard of - the coarse food; the early sunsets; the sex trade; the Communist ideologies-come-to-horrid-life - and you'll find it here.

There's a woman who, when she was young, was obsessed with her sister's husband (who seems quite a wimp, really), and who, one day, finds a girl in her yard. Aliide and Zara begin talking, but both are mistrustful of each other. Their stories intertwine, heaping timeless depravity upon historical atrocities upon present-day threats. There's no relief from their equally miserable lives, yet neither is sympathetic.

This is probably closer to 2.5 stars than 3. Aliide's obsession is like a train-wreck one can't look away from, but I wish more had been made of her character. Zara has more potential, but doesn't seem to be defined by anything other than her status as a prostitute, in the end.