Reviews

Salka Valka by Halldór Laxness

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singalana's review

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

Valitettavasti tämä kirja ei ollut minua varten, ja toivon että olisin tunnustanut sen jo aikaisemmin ja lopettanut lukemisen kesken.

Salka Valka kertoo pienessä islantilaisessa kalastajakylässä asuvien kurjien ihmisten kurjista elämistä. Salka saapuu kylään pienenä tyttönä äitinsä kanssa, ilman muuta perhettä tai omaisuutta.

Kylässä ihmisten sieluista taistelevat uskonto ja myöhemmin kapitalismi ja bolshevismi. Tätä vääntöä kirjassa riittää sivutolkulla. Mielestäni tämä oli erittäin tylsää luettavaa, eikä vienyt juonta eteenpäin laisinkaan. Loppua kohden silmäilin nämä kohdat läpi.

Salka Valkan elämässä on kaksi merkittävää miestä, joista kummatkin koettavat kesyttää Salkan omia tarkoitusperiään varten. Olen sitä mieltä, että tällaisessa tarinassa ihmisten elämiä pitäisi käsitellä niin, että lukija tuntee sympatiaa hahmoja kohtaan. Muuten heidän kärsimyksistään on erittäin raskasta lukea.

Mielestäni kirjasta puuttuu punainen lanka, ja se olisi voinut olla puolet lyhyempi. Myös loppuratkaisu tuntui epätyydyttävästä. Kirjan parasta antia olivat jotkin kielikuvat ja miljöökuvaukset.

Content Warnings

joanaranito's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

breadandmushrooms's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective slow-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

4.75

sprior's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.75

dcfelk's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I let this one sit too long, but ultimately didn't live up to my expectations.

hmullens's review against another edition

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1.0

Seriously one of the most depressing books I have ever read. Pepper in some pedophilia, and it’s just an awful mess.

kwils217's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

reubs_w's review against another edition

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Poor translation of a book that has nearly no narrative, it’s only upside is the fact that it took me this long to finally drop it

rexbanner's review against another edition

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5.0

Ég fann fyrir raunverulegum verk í hjartanu þegar ég kláraði. Það eru setningar og kaflar í þessari bók sem eru fallegri en orð fá lýst.

crystal_reading's review against another edition

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4.0

Salka Valka shows a vivid picture of an Icelandic fishing village. The main character is a feisty individual named Salka that lives through the economic changes in the village. In the beginning, everything feeds through the local store and the entire economic system is controlled by one man. This is later challenged due in part to Salka.

The story pulled me along and while I didn't always agree with Salka's thinking, I always admired her.

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