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liakeller's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book with the mountains and Italy, but I had to force myself to finish it. Nonetheless, a wildly imaginative story with a touch of bizarre.
frogggyyyyy's review against another edition
3.0
really wanted to love this one and there’s a good story in there but an editor should have chopped off at least 100 pages of it. much too slow paced but the twists were good.
fraanhell's review against another edition
4.0
É um thriller interessante, mas definitivamente não é o melhor que eu já li. Demorei muito para realmente me interessar pela história (já estava na metade do livro), e isso já significa muita coisa pra mim! Gosto de livros que me prendem desde o começo, o que não foi o caso.
yellowchevron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nmbx's review against another edition
3.0
3.75* rounded up.
In New Zealand it's currently winter - it's cold, dark and the mountains are looming on the horizon, so I enjoyed being swept away into the alpine world. The descriptions of the landscapes and the small town of Siebenhoch were immersive and I loved that, but being translated into English from Italian the language felt a little clunky so wasn't the easiest read.
The story gripped me. I wanted to know the mystery behind the Bletterbach killings and despite the slow moving story line, was compelled to know more. I suspected everybody but did not guess the killer! I understand why D'Andrea took the group back up to the Bletterbach for the final scene, it ties the whole story in nicely and makes the history of the killings become real and present. In my mind though, and as much as I loved the ecological niche side-story, the jaekelopterus rhenaniae was just a figment of Salinger's imagination in the end scene as this would have really ruined the book for me if it was a real sighting. Noting that there was no mention of this on the post mortem appeased me a little.
I loved Clara. Her character was so sweet and pure and this was conveyed through Salinger's thoughts and feelings about her. I had warmed to Salinger by the end but taking Clara up to the Bletterbach abolished all the respect I had left for him. She was needed at the Bletterbach to recreate the '85 killings and to add more suspense but what father in his right mind would take a 5 year old child out into the rain, let alone into the rain in a glacial forest!
All in all, a good read. Gripping story although a little slow moving, a few good characters and Siebenhoch was just charming.
Side-note: could not put the book down when Salinger was heading into the caves! Glued to the pages with a pounding heart... what would he find?!
In New Zealand it's currently winter - it's cold, dark and the mountains are looming on the horizon, so I enjoyed being swept away into the alpine world. The descriptions of the landscapes and the small town of Siebenhoch were immersive and I loved that, but being translated into English from Italian the language felt a little clunky so wasn't the easiest read.
The story gripped me. I wanted to know the mystery behind the Bletterbach killings and despite the slow moving story line, was compelled to know more. I suspected everybody but did not guess the killer! I understand why D'Andrea took the group back up to the Bletterbach for the final scene, it ties the whole story in nicely and makes the history of the killings become real and present. In my mind though, and as much as I loved the ecological niche side-story, the jaekelopterus rhenaniae was just a figment of Salinger's imagination in the end scene as this would have really ruined the book for me if it was a real sighting. Noting that there was no mention of this on the post mortem appeased me a little.
I loved Clara. Her character was so sweet and pure and this was conveyed through Salinger's thoughts and feelings about her. I had warmed to Salinger by the end but taking Clara up to the Bletterbach abolished all the respect I had left for him. She was needed at the Bletterbach to recreate the '85 killings and to add more suspense but what father in his right mind would take a 5 year old child out into the rain, let alone into the rain in a glacial forest!
All in all, a good read. Gripping story although a little slow moving, a few good characters and Siebenhoch was just charming.
Side-note: could not put the book down when Salinger was heading into the caves! Glued to the pages with a pounding heart... what would he find?!
envy4's review against another edition
5.0
Very fun... If that can be said about a murder mystery! When you think it's over, it has just begun!
kellylacey's review against another edition
5.0
I first started the book in audio format on audible. I couldn't connect with the narrator and stopped listening and I did go to pick another audio but decided to give The Mountain a chance the old fashioned way and the read the hardback, Thank goodness I did, it would have been a mistake of epic proportions if I hadn’t dived in.
For a debut novel, it’s breathtaking. I’ve never read a book with so many layers.Stories within stories. Don’t get the wrong idea it flows beautifully and it's not complicated. I didn’t want to take my hardback out and about so I went and purchased the kindle version too. I was emotionally invested and I didn't want the book to end. I even found myself slowing down and reading it in short bursts trying to consume every little crumb of the divine writing.
When trying to think what was at the very roots of the story I had a hard time because there are so many topics covered. But for me I decided it would be lies, Every lie having a consequence, I think they call it the butterfly effect. One action having a plethora of reactions.
There wasn’t a character that I didn’t like in The Mountain, they each had a story to tell and very distinctive voices. It’s crime fiction with an accent of mild horror threaded through the pages. A book that infuses your brain and leaves you with ghosts and the urge that you want more.
What a fabulous book to read and it definitely made it into my top reads of 2017. I thoroughly recommend adding it to your TBR pile.
A stunning debut that is simply a terrifying whopper of a must read!
For a debut novel, it’s breathtaking. I’ve never read a book with so many layers.Stories within stories. Don’t get the wrong idea it flows beautifully and it's not complicated. I didn’t want to take my hardback out and about so I went and purchased the kindle version too. I was emotionally invested and I didn't want the book to end. I even found myself slowing down and reading it in short bursts trying to consume every little crumb of the divine writing.
When trying to think what was at the very roots of the story I had a hard time because there are so many topics covered. But for me I decided it would be lies, Every lie having a consequence, I think they call it the butterfly effect. One action having a plethora of reactions.
There wasn’t a character that I didn’t like in The Mountain, they each had a story to tell and very distinctive voices. It’s crime fiction with an accent of mild horror threaded through the pages. A book that infuses your brain and leaves you with ghosts and the urge that you want more.
What a fabulous book to read and it definitely made it into my top reads of 2017. I thoroughly recommend adding it to your TBR pile.
A stunning debut that is simply a terrifying whopper of a must read!
debtat2's review against another edition
3.0
Well written and engrossing and almost like two books in one with the helicopter crash and then the mystery of the 3 gruesome murders. A great little read that will have you reaching for the hot water bottle as you can feel the chill seeping off the pages!
muddy_gardener's review against another edition
1.0
I love the Dolomites and have visited the Alto Adige region where this book is set. Also, I sometimes like mysteries.
So I had very high expectations of this book after I saw a good review in The Evening Standard (a London paper). Whoops! I am finding it overwrought and hokey. I skipped ahead hoping for better, and found that the ending was predictable.
A big thumbs down from me, but clearly publishers have high hopes as it has been translated into 30 languages. Why?
So I had very high expectations of this book after I saw a good review in The Evening Standard (a London paper). Whoops! I am finding it overwrought and hokey. I skipped ahead hoping for better, and found that the ending was predictable.
A big thumbs down from me, but clearly publishers have high hopes as it has been translated into 30 languages. Why?