Reviews

I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson

krobart's review against another edition

1.0

The novel is moody and inconclusive, and for some reason I kept expecting it to become sinister, although it did not. Even though the novel is focused around his attempts to reconcile with his mother (although that is perhaps not the correct word since there has not been a falling out–she is simply cold and unresponsive to him), it seems to me that Jansen thinks about her too much, is too obsessed with her.

See my complete review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/i-curse-the-river-of-time/

aburgess15's review

1.0

I didn't get the point of this story. I must not have the background information that would make this story good. There were a lot of points left untied at the end. I was more frustrated with the book than anything. When I completed it, I asked myself what was the point of this book, what was the story?

theliteraryel's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

lokroma's review

4.0

Petterson's elegant, sparse prose is the perfect vessel for this story of a man adrift. Arvid never quite finds a way to connect to his mother, his wife, or his children, and seems as lonely as the landscape he walks.

liberrydude's review

3.0

Petterson is the master of prose when it comes to memory, time, and description of feeling. His plots and characters are not the most riveting or about likeable people. The protagonist in this story is a real loser and I cringed when he routinely took a healthy unwanted dog to be euthanized. With a title cursing time this book just beckoned to be read. These are slow reads as the action or lack of it doesn't compel you to turn the page. However, you do feel satiated from just short reads as Petterson's prose is so fulfilling.

ida_s's review against another edition

5.0

En fin og lettlest bok med en veldig sympatisk og levende hovedperson.

melatonin1mg's review

3.0

“I was scared. Not of being dead, that I could not comprehend, to be nothing was impossible to grasp and therefore really nothing to be scared of, but the dying itself I could comprehend, the very instant when you know that now comes what you have always feared, and you suddenly realise that every chance of being the person you really wanted to be, is gone for ever, and the one you were, is the one those around you will remember. Then that must feel like someone’s strong hands slowly tightening their grip around your neck until you can breathe no more, and not at all as when a door is slowly pushed open and bright light comes streaming out from the inside and a woman or a man you have always known and always liked, maybe always loved, leans out and gently takes your hand and leads you in to a place of rest, so mild and so fine, from eternity to eternity.”


Melancholic story about lost time and eroded relationships.

rachelosullivan's review

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mary412's review

For the second time I've read a Per Petterson book, enjoyed it very much and can't say why. His writing is a bit hypnotic.

mustirufatoshsu's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.0