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dianenora's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First Mankell novel, pre-Wallander. I loved it. Almost poetic.
guarinous's review
3.0
An understated novel about the trials of a worker involved in a crippling accident, the Rock Blaster is often poetic, but a largely scattershot narrative often left me feeling too confused to really appreciate the prose. Mankell uses the main character's gruesome injuries to highlight the struggles of the working class, following the character throughout his life as he attempts to deal with his new reality. The main issue is the rapid switch between POVs, timelines, and characters, which honestly left me confused as to who the main character was until a bit of a ways into the novel.
I have not read any of Mankell's other works, so I can't compare the writing style, but if his other novels are written in a similar manner I would certainly give them a try. I'd just hope for a bit of a tighter plot.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group**
I have not read any of Mankell's other works, so I can't compare the writing style, but if his other novels are written in a similar manner I would certainly give them a try. I'd just hope for a bit of a tighter plot.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group**
ichirofakename's review
2.0
Juvenalia, for completists, at best. Disjointed political tale of little interest.
hillersg7's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
The writing of this novel is often sparse, terse, sometimes has a poetic repetition. The horror of the initial incident that happens to the main character in many ways fades as an anonymous narrator teases out the strands to Oskar's story. His life is also pared down and we discover something of what really matters to him.
rojo25's review
3.0
Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign.
I thought this would be more intriguing but it was okay. The description of the book leaves out the socialist-democratic and socialist ideologies that were throughout the narration. It is a bit choppy but the stories of Oskar's life as well as his accident and coping with it are well worth the read.
I thought this would be more intriguing but it was okay. The description of the book leaves out the socialist-democratic and socialist ideologies that were throughout the narration. It is a bit choppy but the stories of Oskar's life as well as his accident and coping with it are well worth the read.
feeona's review against another edition
4.0
Henning Mankell ist einfach ein Meister der Worte. Ein schönes kleines Buch über ein bewegtes Leben.
Oskar war sein Leben lang Sprengmeister. Auch ein schwerer Unfall hält ihn davon nicht ab. Oskar lebt, arbeitet, liebt seine Familie, engagiert sich politisch und doch ist er immer ein bisschen allein in seiner eigenen Welt.
Mir hat der Charakter und vor allem der Stil sehr gefallen. Ich bin immer wieder überrascht, das Henning Mankell so viel mehr ist,als "nur" ein Krimi-Autor. Schon seine Krimis finde ich immer spannend, aber bei solchen Geschichten brilliert er einfach.
Oskar war sein Leben lang Sprengmeister. Auch ein schwerer Unfall hält ihn davon nicht ab. Oskar lebt, arbeitet, liebt seine Familie, engagiert sich politisch und doch ist er immer ein bisschen allein in seiner eigenen Welt.
Mir hat der Charakter und vor allem der Stil sehr gefallen. Ich bin immer wieder überrascht, das Henning Mankell so viel mehr ist,als "nur" ein Krimi-Autor. Schon seine Krimis finde ich immer spannend, aber bei solchen Geschichten brilliert er einfach.
chelsearm's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
4.25
Mankell’s first novel, finally translated! In The Rock Blaster we follow Oskar through his life, from narrowly surviving a workplace explosion in 1911 to his life after retirement and death at 80.
Oskar is an Everyman, and through his life we see how so many political movements and events in the first 70 years of the century are not as separate as we commonly think, and how one life seemingly on the periphery can be so involved in the outside world. For this being Mankell’s first ever novel, his preface (written in 1997) reflects on how the themes of Oskar’s life were still present at the time of the preface, and one wonders how Oskar (and Mankell) would talk about the political movements happening today. As Mankell reflects, ‘some walls have come down, others have gone up in the time between publishing and now’ and Oskar’s beliefs and plight are still so poignant.
Oskar is an Everyman, and through his life we see how so many political movements and events in the first 70 years of the century are not as separate as we commonly think, and how one life seemingly on the periphery can be so involved in the outside world. For this being Mankell’s first ever novel, his preface (written in 1997) reflects on how the themes of Oskar’s life were still present at the time of the preface, and one wonders how Oskar (and Mankell) would talk about the political movements happening today. As Mankell reflects, ‘some walls have come down, others have gone up in the time between publishing and now’ and Oskar’s beliefs and plight are still so poignant.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War, Sexual assault, and Chronic illness
jacobamol's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
halime1305's review
3.0
I loved the first half. The way it kept switching from Oskar’s early years before the accident to years later right before his death. I loved the way it was written from an anonymous narrator. I loved learning about the effects of his accident during the course of his life, and I loved seeing the contrast of how he viewed his life to be so little and nothing vs what he actually went through and did.
The reason why I’m rating 3 though is because it became political in the second half of the book, which I should have seen coming considering the years it’s set in. But I feel the political second half wasn’t as enjoyable to be read as the first half.
“Oskar tries to creat a false picture of himself, and his story has to be seen and developed in the context of whatever motivated his choice.”
The reason why I’m rating 3 though is because it became political in the second half of the book, which I should have seen coming considering the years it’s set in. But I feel the political second half wasn’t as enjoyable to be read as the first half.
“Oskar tries to creat a false picture of himself, and his story has to be seen and developed in the context of whatever motivated his choice.”