Reviews

Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida

anrobe's review against another edition

2.0

Although this book is extremely readable, I didn't care for it. I kept hoping to find something in it that would speak to me but it never happened. The writing style was stark and to the point. Something about it felt a bit off for me. I never felt like there was anything truly interesting about the writing, the characters, the plot. I kept waiting and ultimately finished the book feeling as if I'd wasted time even bothering to finish the book. It wasn't a BAD book but I am unable to find even one thing that I truly enjoyed about the book.

I kept hoping to get more detail about the place that the story focuses on - Lapland- which I know very little about. Yet, the stark writing style didn't give me any of what I was hoping for. I left feeling as if I knew even less than before I started. This was disappointing. I have to assume that this sparseness of place was intentional - to represent Clarissa's own lack of understanding/connection to place. However, it didn't work for me.

I didn't like the character of Clarissa. And not because she was selfish or interested only in her own journey. I could have gotten past that. I just never felt like we saw Clarissa. Like we were somehow only presented with part of her story or her makeup so I ultimately felt no connection to her or her journey. I just couldn't bring myself to care about her or what she was going through. I can (intellectually) say that her journey was sad, she was facing some intense things but I ultimately found myself not caring at all. Which is sad because I think if I'd been able to connect to her emotionally, I might have ultimately enjoyed the book more.

I also found the ending to be disappointing - not particularly satisfying or even clean. I thought it was a bit too simple and didn't really give me a sense that her journey had really had any impact whatsoever. It ultimately made me dislike the book even more. I just felt it was wrapped up too nicely - in too cutesy of a package.

I wish that I could recommend this one but I just cannot. I know others have enjoyed it so you might want to give it a try. However, I'd suggest you read something else.

yati's review against another edition

3.0

I am not sure I can buy the denouement of the whole thing. It's . . . too easy, in a way.

I liked the sparse prose and the short chapters and the sense of how alone everyone was, but it just wasn't enough to pull me completely in.

wildflower37's review against another edition

3.0

Some of the writing in this book was startlingly beautiful...what appeared to be average sentences on a page simply made me catch my breath. I appreciate fine writing. This story was unusual in its setting and plot; I enjoyed it felt a little lost in the middle - which was probably on purpose as the main character was a little lost as well. Overall a worthwhile read

marisahowardkarp's review against another edition

3.0

This was an interesting and quick read, but fluffier than I expected given the subject. As I was reading it I realized I read it sometime before, but obviously it didn't make enough of an impression on me that I even remembered that.

piccoline's review against another edition

3.0

I ended up disappointed. Parts of this were very good, and I bought the voice most of the time, but in the end it just seemed to drift away. I don't need a big emotional payoff at the end of a novel, but I guess I do look for *some* sort of effect. I've almost forgotten I read it already.

colleenish's review against another edition

3.0

A sour story about woman dealing with questions left by her mom's abandonment of her family.

audreyloopy's review against another edition

2.0

This book was sort of like a rococo bust... very pretty, with no real substance. The story was interesting, but you're carried away by the language.

leahjohnson2076's review against another edition

4.0

I found it wierd at first that this book was divided into titled sections which were subdivided into numbered sections, but as I got further into the book I liked how it was arranged. The different subsections were easier to understand as different episodes, since the character explores her past and present, moving in a nonchronological order. This book was definitely dark, but I really liked it, and it did have a happy ending.

penser's review against another edition

4.0

an excellent read, very quick

I was happy to see that this was 3rd place for fiction for the Discover New Writers

pinkalpaca's review against another edition

3.0

Great sense of place, out in the middle of the frozen nowhere.