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zoemeyer's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
gmh711's review against another edition
3.0
I've read several Nordic authors the last few years so I was looking forward to expanding out to Icelandic authors. However, I was disappointed with this novel; more specifically, with the translation. Phraseology was often clumsy, especially the vernacular. I think some of the other more negative reviews may be due to the fact that the translation is awkward or downright incorrect. The story was a nice one, but I felt it could have been developed a little more.
scrabblerz's review against another edition
2.0
After the reviews and interviews and prizes, I thought I would like this more. I think something may have been lost in translation from Icelandic...
wildflower37's review against another edition
4.0
Very unusual story of a young Icelandic man who is figuring out what to do with his life. He misses his deceased mother and learns he is to be the father of a child resulting froma single encounter with a woman. He journeys to another country to restore an ancient rose garden.
Parts of the story feel fable-like, particularly because the countries through which he journeys and languages that are spoken are not named. There are archetypal forsts and religious allusions. It sounds cluttered but is actually a spare, meditative story. Unique, beautiful, recommended.
Parts of the story feel fable-like, particularly because the countries through which he journeys and languages that are spoken are not named. There are archetypal forsts and religious allusions. It sounds cluttered but is actually a spare, meditative story. Unique, beautiful, recommended.
elyseng's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Un récit doux et surprenant.
malex's review against another edition
Je me suis arrêtée à la moitié, trop lent et ennuyeux pour moi :/
elwoodicious's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet, gentle, and short novel about finding one's direction and purpose.
imyril's review against another edition
3.0
This is a coming-of-age novel about grief, responsibility, commitment and finding yourself in unexpected places. In some ways it feels above my likes and dislikes, but I rather enjoyed it.
Narrator Arnljotur leaves Iceland after the death of his mother to travel to a European monastery and resurrect their once-famous rose garden, leaving behind his aging father, his autistic twin brother and the accidental daughter he fathered one drunken evening in his mother's greenhouse. The narrative is self-conscious, Arnljotur being very concerned with visual memory and his physical experiences; the sensations and actions of his body sometimes take him by surprise (some readers suggest he's well along on the autism spectrum himself, and I can see where they're coming from, but I don't disbelieve in him as an awkward 22-year-old). His thinking often (inadvertently?) dehumanises as he struggles to categorise and make sense of the world; those who hate novels called The X's Y may well struggle with his tendencies to see people in these terms rather than by their names.
When Anna brings his daughter to Europe and asks him to take care of her while Anna finishes her thesis, Arnljotur undergoes a series of rapid realignments with the support of his friend Father Thomas (and his extensive knowledge of non-Hollywood cinema) and the culinary encouragement of the community. His uncertainty and inexperience are endearing and amusing; while I felt there was a lot more going on that met the eye, I chose not to engage in literary interpretation, and just enjoyed this for the simple, quiet story that the surface presents.
My only real criticism is that the ending felt rather abrupt and unsatisfying - I wanted more closure, or at least a sense of more completion on the journey; instead, it felt we left Arnljotur on the brink of a new journey, but it was unclear where it would lead or what his choices would be.
Narrator Arnljotur leaves Iceland after the death of his mother to travel to a European monastery and resurrect their once-famous rose garden, leaving behind his aging father, his autistic twin brother and the accidental daughter he fathered one drunken evening in his mother's greenhouse. The narrative is self-conscious, Arnljotur being very concerned with visual memory and his physical experiences; the sensations and actions of his body sometimes take him by surprise (some readers suggest he's well along on the autism spectrum himself, and I can see where they're coming from, but I don't disbelieve in him as an awkward 22-year-old). His thinking often (inadvertently?) dehumanises as he struggles to categorise and make sense of the world; those who hate novels called The X's Y may well struggle with his tendencies to see people in these terms rather than by their names.
When Anna brings his daughter to Europe and asks him to take care of her while Anna finishes her thesis, Arnljotur undergoes a series of rapid realignments with the support of his friend Father Thomas (and his extensive knowledge of non-Hollywood cinema) and the culinary encouragement of the community. His uncertainty and inexperience are endearing and amusing; while I felt there was a lot more going on that met the eye, I chose not to engage in literary interpretation, and just enjoyed this for the simple, quiet story that the surface presents.
My only real criticism is that the ending felt rather abrupt and unsatisfying - I wanted more closure, or at least a sense of more completion on the journey; instead, it felt we left Arnljotur on the brink of a new journey, but it was unclear where it would lead or what his choices would be.
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