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eleewood's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Some really lovely poetic writing about the meaning of words and reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Torture, and Sexual assault
kiraabo02's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
5.0
How nice that a book I was very excited to read lived up to my expectation! Your pal, Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader, has been reading a LOT for a long time, and it is hard to surprise me, but "To Cook a Bear" did.
Set in the far north of what is now Sweden, it's the story of Laestadius, the Lutheran revivalist preacher and naturalist, and the Sami boy he takes under his wing. Most of the story is told through the eyes of Jussi, who, like Laestadius, is part of the indigenous community of Sami reindeer herders who are being destroyed by alcoholism. There's a murder in their village, and the pastor does not believe that the young woman's death was the result of a bear attack. We're in the 1850s and Laestadius is inventing investigatory methods.
The translation is excellent and the story flows. I'm sure I'm not alone in knowing little about the far north where people speak Finnish, Norwegian, Sami, and occasionally Swedish. It's remote, but the latest technology does find its way in in the firm of photographic equipment for Daguerreotypes. The pastor makes creative use of this edgy new technology in his investigations.
I highly recommend this novel for its originality and creativing. You will be enchanted.
Deepest thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this wonderful book.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
Set in the far north of what is now Sweden, it's the story of Laestadius, the Lutheran revivalist preacher and naturalist, and the Sami boy he takes under his wing. Most of the story is told through the eyes of Jussi, who, like Laestadius, is part of the indigenous community of Sami reindeer herders who are being destroyed by alcoholism. There's a murder in their village, and the pastor does not believe that the young woman's death was the result of a bear attack. We're in the 1850s and Laestadius is inventing investigatory methods.
The translation is excellent and the story flows. I'm sure I'm not alone in knowing little about the far north where people speak Finnish, Norwegian, Sami, and occasionally Swedish. It's remote, but the latest technology does find its way in in the firm of photographic equipment for Daguerreotypes. The pastor makes creative use of this edgy new technology in his investigations.
I highly recommend this novel for its originality and creativing. You will be enchanted.
Deepest thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this wonderful book.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
ragnaba's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
minbokhorna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
jesperhauge's review against another edition
4.0
En sjælden kombination af nordisk kulturhistorie, coming-of-age roman og krimi. Men det fungerer. Blev faktisk overrasket over krimi-aspektet, jeg ville normalt gå uden om en bog jeg opfattede som en krimi der foregår i for så længe siden. Men jeg fortrød ikke at bruge tid på bogen.
evuks16's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
girlglitch's review
3.0
To Cook a Bear is a unique, engaging read - if a little over ambitious. While I found the history immersive, and the characters intriguing, the mystery fell a little flat for me. Niemi tries to do a little too much with his genre-blending storytelling, and it's the detective elements that suffer: they feel sparse and misplaced in a narrative that is far more of a historical character study.
The real focus is the portrayal of the northern Swedish landscape and Sámi experience. There are some powerful thoughts on literacy, identity and belonging, and Niemi captures the claustrophobia of a small, rural community well.
I feel like I learned something from reading To Cook a Bear, but after a slow burn of a novel, the ending is wrapped up all too quickly.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
The real focus is the portrayal of the northern Swedish landscape and Sámi experience. There are some powerful thoughts on literacy, identity and belonging, and Niemi captures the claustrophobia of a small, rural community well.
I feel like I learned something from reading To Cook a Bear, but after a slow burn of a novel, the ending is wrapped up all too quickly.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
emiliehaugen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0