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apossiblething's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
terese_utan_h's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarahjjs's review against another edition
5.0
Probably perfect. Lyrical writing, so lyrical that if you don't pay attention to each and every word then you are lost but when you are attentive you are sucked into the world. If you don't like magical realism then stay far far away from this - I would say it's a contributing factor to the low ratings. The female character was developed so well - a woman of the planets and stars (although now incorrect science) and the combination of science and magic in the definitions of flora and fauna added so much to the story.
The retelling of myths dispersed with science and magic was executed wonderfully. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking to myself that I've found the male Jeannette Winterson! And that's all you could ever really dream for - other then infinite more J.W. novels
The retelling of myths dispersed with science and magic was executed wonderfully. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking to myself that I've found the male Jeannette Winterson! And that's all you could ever really dream for - other then infinite more J.W. novels
thestoryofts's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
felicitassturm's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
2.0
Roh, wild, grausam und leider sehr zäh wird von einem Gelehrten erzählt, der im 15. Jahrhundert auf Island lebt. Teilweise ist die Sprache sehr poetisch, meistens jedoch langatmig. Ich hatte mir mehr erhofft von dem schönen Titel und dem schönen Cover und der interessant klingenden Handlung.
dananator13's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written, this book envelopes you as you try your best to slip inside Jonas's superstitious-yet-scientifically-oriented mindset. Providing a unique insight into a shadowy time period, it leaves you at once completely baffled and feeling that you have just witnessed something unspeakably important.
cristi_ivan's review against another edition
3.0
Tales about unicorns, living dead, tupilaks, nykurs and whales that feed on the northern lights.
“From the Mouth of the Whale” offers an insight of the Icelandic way of life, during the 17th century, capturing the clash between Paganism, Christianity and Science. Our main character, Jónas Palmason, is a naturalist who was sentenced to live on a barren and desolated island, off the coast of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, because his knowledge was deemed as blasphemous by the Icelandic High Council.
While on the island, he recalls certain events from his life: the death of three of his children, the horrific story of the massacre of the Basque whalers, how he dealt with a restless living dead at Snjafjoll, and how he fell in love with his future wife, Sigríður Þórólfsdóttir - a smart woman who understands the cosmic events that lead to eclipses.
The book is such a strange mix of stories inspired from real events and surrealist passages that at some point the story itself seems muddy – you don’t know anymore what’s real. Although, I didn’t like this book as much as other Sjon’s novels, I still appreciate the fact it poses so many questions regarding human violence, the corrupting power of religion and money, freedom and the real knowledge of the world. *** stars
“From the Mouth of the Whale” offers an insight of the Icelandic way of life, during the 17th century, capturing the clash between Paganism, Christianity and Science. Our main character, Jónas Palmason, is a naturalist who was sentenced to live on a barren and desolated island, off the coast of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, because his knowledge was deemed as blasphemous by the Icelandic High Council.
While on the island, he recalls certain events from his life: the death of three of his children, the horrific story of the massacre of the Basque whalers, how he dealt with a restless living dead at Snjafjoll, and how he fell in love with his future wife, Sigríður Þórólfsdóttir - a smart woman who understands the cosmic events that lead to eclipses.
The book is such a strange mix of stories inspired from real events and surrealist passages that at some point the story itself seems muddy – you don’t know anymore what’s real. Although, I didn’t like this book as much as other Sjon’s novels, I still appreciate the fact it poses so many questions regarding human violence, the corrupting power of religion and money, freedom and the real knowledge of the world. *** stars
partypete's review against another edition
3.0
kind of a cool book. I'm not really into Icelandic literature or Norse mythology, but I still found the book enjoyable.
jordi's review against another edition
2.0
Es cierto que el lenguaje es muy bonito pero todos los capitulos empiezan igual, con una descripcion muy larga y mas o menos todo es bastante monotono. La historia en si no tiene gran contenido y lo mas interesante son las visiones que tiene.
En general, libro bonito pero sin direccion.
En general, libro bonito pero sin direccion.