Reviews

The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson

elsa_nords's review against another edition

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4.5

Röde orm är en historia som berättar om en väldigt intressant tid i Europa, där saker konstant ändrade sig och vi får se och höra om många folkslag, religioner och en hel del slag. Med en hel del humor och intressant berättarteknik lyckas Frans G Bengtsson skapa en fantastisk roman som definitivt är läsvärd!

sandraagee's review

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4.0

This book was crazy long, but despite the fact that it took me a couple of hours of listening to really get into it, I ended up enjoying the story quite a bit.

It was much funnier than I was expecting, generally in a subtle way. There was actually a whole chapter about 3/4 of the way through the book where Orm and some of the other Old Bearded Men are trying to divide fractions and exchange skins for silver and they're really terrible at it, and for some reason I thought this was an absolute hoot.

Zero feminism. Ylva had some potential but sadly became much less interesting in the second half.

Overall, a fun adventure set during a period of history that I otherwise know very little about.

lanou_u's review

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adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

5.0

The Iliad wishes it could be this

fabienne2's review against another edition

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adventurous funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

+ funnier than expected
+ adventurous 
+ likeable characters
+ well written dialogue and character development 
+ interesting historical time period

- old language (according to story but not to publishing time) 
- very sexist 
- few interesting female characters
- brutal and non ethical/moral oftentimes 

greenrain's review

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4.0

I didn't know if I would like the style of writing, which is like a saga or old fable. I ended up really enjoying it, though. The story is set in a time and place that isn't written about very often, at least in English literature, which was refreshing.

mark_lm's review

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3.0

Picaresque. The story is told as told stories. Could have been shorter. Has an Edgar Rice Burroughs quality, but some humor. From the NYRB out-of-print series.

mitchfriedman's review

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5.0

The most entertaining book I’ve read (listened to) in years.

lectriza's review

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3.0

2.5 stars

Mixed feelings

habel14's review

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5.0

It was agreed by all that Bengtsson spoke with much wisdom on this matter and his book-luck was such that of a great chieftain.

soraya_sayu's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Nothing complicated, just a damn good adventure yarn.