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_inge_'s review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Read as part of the octa finals translated fiction of the BookTube Prize 2022, rating and review forthcoming when this round of judging ends.
This book has an interesting structure. It tells the story of an event that happened when the narrator was young. There are two time lines: the present is told by going back in time in steps of a couple of hours. On this day, three brothers reunite to scatter their mother's ashes in a place where they used to go on holiday - and where something happened that made them all survivors.
The storyline in the past is not as structured, there are loose memories and they slowly work up to something that happened and its aftermath. In the present time line, some things are revealed.
While reading the book, I had the feeling it was working towards some sad event involving the father for some reason, but that was not it. There really was no way to know what the ending would be - but in hindsight it gives a lot more depth to the book. This is one of those books that will probably reveal a bunch of clues when it is read again, knowing what was going on. The story structure makes the story more compelling than if it had been told chronologically - even with dual timelines. That was an excellent choice by the author.
This book has an interesting structure. It tells the story of an event that happened when the narrator was young. There are two time lines: the present is told by going back in time in steps of a couple of hours. On this day, three brothers reunite to scatter their mother's ashes in a place where they used to go on holiday - and where something happened that made them all survivors.
The storyline in the past is not as structured, there are loose memories and they slowly work up to something that happened and its aftermath. In the present time line, some things are revealed.
While reading the book, I had the feeling it was working towards some sad event involving the father for some reason, but that was not it. There really was no way to know what the ending would be - but in hindsight it gives a lot more depth to the book. This is one of those books that will probably reveal a bunch of clues when it is read again, knowing what was going on. The story structure makes the story more compelling than if it had been told chronologically - even with dual timelines. That was an excellent choice by the author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child death
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