Reviewed by Beth C. on
This is definitely a book of magical realism, so if that style is not your cup of tea, then this book will not be either. It's by turns engaging, confusing, dark and sinister, and...well...confusing again. I confess that when I turned the last page, I simply felt lost - like I had missed something along the way. With so many other positive reviews, I'm going to assume that I did and maybe this book just wasn't for me.
As for the Finnish names, etc. - I never really had a problem with them. They didn't detract from the story, and it was not difficult at all to tell the various characters apart.
I did enjoy the writing style as a whole - and there were elements within the story that drew me in. It's not a bad thing to finish a book confused, but it's certainly not a place I like to be either. So - read at your own risk. It's probably that you will be among those that really enjoy the book, but it's also possible that you may just end up feeling like you're missing out on the punch line instead.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 16 November, 2014: Finished reading
- 16 November, 2014: Reviewed