hannahmejdrich's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tokidoki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
srodriguez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
The translation of this book felt kinda clunky but that aside I did enjoy this. It has a bit of a slow start though and the references to pop culture feel a little out of place. But the characters were strong and the story was endearing.
b_niki's review against another edition
Hiába a rengeteg elismerés és dicséret, ami ezt a könyvet általánosan övezi, engem sajnos nem tudott lekötni. Pedig én szeretem a lassú ritmusú, költői hangvételű regényeket, novellákat, és eddig egyetlen skandináv szépirodalmi író tollából származó művet se tettem le, mert mindegyikben találtam valami olyat, ami az egyedi látásmódnak köszönhetően könnyedén berántott és lenyűgözött.
Ebben az esetben nem ez volt a helyzet, holott kifejezetten reménykedtem, sőt, egyenesen bíztam benne, hogy így lesz. Értem én, hogy a szerző a saját bátyjának állított emléket azzal, hogy a skizofréniát, mint mentális betegséget a lehető leghitelesebben akarta ábrázolni. És eme törekvését értékeltem is az olvasás ideje alatt (végül a 115. oldalig jutottam).
De a töredékes és szaggatott narráció, ami elidegenedést keltő, a hétköznapi valóságtól teljesen eltávolodott tudattartalmakat hivatott közvetíteni csak azt érte el nálam, hogy végig érdektelen maradtam a főszereplővel és az életével szemben. Nem tudtam lelkileg belevonódni a karakterébe, ezért együtt érezni sem tudtam vele; a felszínen - vagy inkább Pállhoz hasonlóan kívül - ragadtam egy befogadói folyamatban, amelyben bizonyos mélységeket jó lett volna megélni. És ezen még az E/1. sz.-ű, misztikus elemekkel tarkított elbeszélés sem segített.
Mindenesetre biztosan fogok még olvasni az Ø kiadótól, mert Bergsveinn Birgisson Válasz Helga levelére c. kötete az év egyik kedvenc olvasmányélménye lett számomra. :)
Ebben az esetben nem ez volt a helyzet, holott kifejezetten reménykedtem, sőt, egyenesen bíztam benne, hogy így lesz. Értem én, hogy a szerző a saját bátyjának állított emléket azzal, hogy a skizofréniát, mint mentális betegséget a lehető leghitelesebben akarta ábrázolni. És eme törekvését értékeltem is az olvasás ideje alatt (végül a 115. oldalig jutottam).
De a töredékes és szaggatott narráció, ami elidegenedést keltő, a hétköznapi valóságtól teljesen eltávolodott tudattartalmakat hivatott közvetíteni csak azt érte el nálam, hogy végig érdektelen maradtam a főszereplővel és az életével szemben. Nem tudtam lelkileg belevonódni a karakterébe, ezért együtt érezni sem tudtam vele; a felszínen - vagy inkább Pállhoz hasonlóan kívül - ragadtam egy befogadói folyamatban, amelyben bizonyos mélységeket jó lett volna megélni. És ezen még az E/1. sz.-ű, misztikus elemekkel tarkított elbeszélés sem segített.
Mindenesetre biztosan fogok még olvasni az Ø kiadótól, mert Bergsveinn Birgisson Válasz Helga levelére c. kötete az év egyik kedvenc olvasmányélménye lett számomra. :)
truffe's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
anotherlovelygirl's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't really enjoy it. I didn't like the way it was written, the story was too confusing. I didn't really care for the characters. Honestly, just a no.
ragne's review against another edition
5.0
This is a gripping, funny, and sad story about a sick boy. As a comment about how mental patients were treated at that time, it's an important work. It's all the more beautiful when you know that the main character actually lived, and was the author's brother.
The first time I read it, was in Icelandic 101. That is not recommended. A crazy person talking about what happens in his head, in a language you are trying to learn, is not a good combination. ("Did he really just say 'open a barber shop on the moon', or have I completely misunderstood some words here...")
The first time I read it, was in Icelandic 101. That is not recommended. A crazy person talking about what happens in his head, in a language you are trying to learn, is not a good combination. ("Did he really just say 'open a barber shop on the moon', or have I completely misunderstood some words here...")
beesandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Final Thoughts
I think this is one of those books that nobody fully understands and anyone that says otherwise is just trying to sound impressive. It’s a descent into the mad world of Paul, who can both acknowledge that his decision making is flawed but also his world is what it is. The shadow of Klepp all his life and its inevitability for so many people is something that I just don’t have the energy to analyze at the moment. This is also a work that just might need to sit with a person for a while before they totally get it. Perhaps some thought will finish in a few months and I’ll have stronger feelings about Paul and his friends, I’m not sure.
For a more in depth review, follow this link to my book blog: https://beesandbooks.home.blog/2020/04/29/review-angels-of-the-universe-by-einar-mar-gudmundsson/
I think this is one of those books that nobody fully understands and anyone that says otherwise is just trying to sound impressive. It’s a descent into the mad world of Paul, who can both acknowledge that his decision making is flawed but also his world is what it is. The shadow of Klepp all his life and its inevitability for so many people is something that I just don’t have the energy to analyze at the moment. This is also a work that just might need to sit with a person for a while before they totally get it. Perhaps some thought will finish in a few months and I’ll have stronger feelings about Paul and his friends, I’m not sure.
For a more in depth review, follow this link to my book blog: https://beesandbooks.home.blog/2020/04/29/review-angels-of-the-universe-by-einar-mar-gudmundsson/
edsantiago's review against another edition
4.0
First: ignore the title. This isn't woo-woo or jesusy: it's a haunting, almost sublime first-person tale of schizophrenia. There, that's out of the way.
The imagery is vivid. Narration is graceful, weaving snappily through time and space and characters. I found myself frequently pausing to take a breath, slow down, and start again a few pages back; pacing myself, letting myself stop and absorb. The story is sad but not in the way you'd expect: the narrator's perspective is curiously distant even though it's first-person. The sadness I felt was for our institutions, our helplessness.
This is probbly a 5-star book. My rating reflects my own ignorance: I'm not Icelandic, and there is too much that simply flew past me. Too much culture, too much background that I'm not even aware of not knowing. I'm glad there's a translation, and am glad to have read it, but I think it may be enjoyed more by more seasoned Icelandophiles.
The imagery is vivid. Narration is graceful, weaving snappily through time and space and characters. I found myself frequently pausing to take a breath, slow down, and start again a few pages back; pacing myself, letting myself stop and absorb. The story is sad but not in the way you'd expect: the narrator's perspective is curiously distant even though it's first-person. The sadness I felt was for our institutions, our helplessness.
This is probbly a 5-star book. My rating reflects my own ignorance: I'm not Icelandic, and there is too much that simply flew past me. Too much culture, too much background that I'm not even aware of not knowing. I'm glad there's a translation, and am glad to have read it, but I think it may be enjoyed more by more seasoned Icelandophiles.
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