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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
I really loved this introspective and thoughtful little book. I gather from other reviews that this is uncharacteristic of Nesbo so I might not care for his othets, but this had the spareness and sensibility of a great noir film like Elevator to the Gallows.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Olav je pro mě jedním z těch antihrdinů, které si vlastně oblíbíte, svým způsobem s nimi soucítíte a tak nějak nakonec doufáte, že to s nimi dobře dopadne. Olav sice na jednu stranu působil (a sám se tak prezentoval), že se k ničemu jinému než zabíjení nehodí a že není moc chytrý, ale přitom postupně zjišťujete, že to není tak úplně pravda, že přečetl dost knih a tak nějak v něm vidíte (nebo aspoň já měla takový pocit) jistou inteligenci, stejně jako svým způsobem i dobré srdce.
Moje první kniha od Joa Nesbøho, ke kterému jsem byla, vzhledem k velké popularitě (moc nevěřím bestsellerům), lehce skeptická, mě nakonec celkem příjemně překvapila.
Moje první kniha od Joa Nesbøho, ke kterému jsem byla, vzhledem k velké popularitě (moc nevěřím bestsellerům), lehce skeptická, mě nakonec celkem příjemně překvapila.
At times lacking the sheer pace and thrill of the Harry Hole novels but cleverly written thriller. A 3.5 (if only Goodreads had half stars!)
The narrator of this short novel is Olav Johansen, a contract killer, or “fixer.” His latest job is to fix his crime lord boss’s beautiful, unfaithful wife. From the beginning things go wrong.
This standalone is not one of Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels, and it is not of the quality of that series. It is much shorter and I found the plot very predictable. Some readers have said they were shocked by the last chapter, but there is so much foreshadowing that I did not find it a surprise. I did find the use of a different point of view at the end to be a form of cheating.
For me, the interest lay in determining if I was correct in my conclusions about Olav. It is certainly obvious from the beginning that Olav is not a reliable narrator. He portrays himself as a sensitive soul: “I’m way too soft, I fall in love far too easily” (13). Yet he admits to cold-blooded and sometimes brutal killings. He also likes to see himself as a simple person who doesn’t know much: “I’ve read a bit, but I don’t really know much” (13). This last bit he keeps repeating: “I don’t actually know a lot about . . . much” (5) and “But what did I know” (5) and “But what do I know” (6). Yet it turns out that not only has he read Norwegian literature, but he is familiar with a number of English authors and is currently reading Les Misérables. He also readily admits that he will change a story if he finds it unsatisfactory in some way; as a child, he told his mother, “I just want to make up stories” (150). All this suggests that his own narrative may be more invention than reality.
This is a quick read, ideal for a couple of hours on a rainy day or for a short flight. Though it is sufficiently entertaining, it will certainly not have the emotional impact of Nesbø’s other novels.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
This standalone is not one of Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels, and it is not of the quality of that series. It is much shorter and I found the plot very predictable. Some readers have said they were shocked by the last chapter, but there is so much foreshadowing that I did not find it a surprise. I did find the use of a different point of view at the end to be a form of cheating.
For me, the interest lay in determining if I was correct in my conclusions about Olav. It is certainly obvious from the beginning that Olav is not a reliable narrator. He portrays himself as a sensitive soul: “I’m way too soft, I fall in love far too easily” (13). Yet he admits to cold-blooded and sometimes brutal killings. He also likes to see himself as a simple person who doesn’t know much: “I’ve read a bit, but I don’t really know much” (13). This last bit he keeps repeating: “I don’t actually know a lot about . . . much” (5) and “But what did I know” (5) and “But what do I know” (6). Yet it turns out that not only has he read Norwegian literature, but he is familiar with a number of English authors and is currently reading Les Misérables. He also readily admits that he will change a story if he finds it unsatisfactory in some way; as a child, he told his mother, “I just want to make up stories” (150). All this suggests that his own narrative may be more invention than reality.
This is a quick read, ideal for a couple of hours on a rainy day or for a short flight. Though it is sufficiently entertaining, it will certainly not have the emotional impact of Nesbø’s other novels.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
Dear Mr. Nesbø,
First of all, can I call you Jo? You wouldn’t mind, would you? :)
Let me start by saying I’m a huge fan of your books, I’ve read them all and I loved every single one of them. The Harry Hole series holds a special place in my heart, which is why I was very reluctant to read your standalone novel “The Son”. I mean, if there's crime in Oslo, who’s gonna make things right if not Harry Hole, right? Nothing else makes sense. Luckily, I decided to give it a try anyway and it turned out to be a truly exceptional read. I’ll daresay it’s now my favorite book of yours. That’s why I was really looking forward to “Blood on Snow”, hoping it would be at least half as good as “The Son”.
And it’s not that it was bad, really. I just felt like something was missing. Like a couple of hundred pages more.
This time I wasn’t bummed that Harry wasn’t in it, because I was hoping another fantastic character like Sonny from “The Son” would come flowing from your pen. And I wouldn’t say that I was wrong. Olav is incredible. I mean, come on. A dyslectic hit man who loves to read – how insane is that? Maria was also very interesting and endearing. But I feel like I didn’t get to know them well enough. I didn’t get the opportunity to care for them, because I reached the end of the book before I even knew it.
200 pages? Really? We both know you can do better than that. :)
“Blood on Snow” was a cute little story, and it definitely has its moments, but it was too short for my taste and it’s just not as memorable as the rest of your stuff. Thus, 3 stars from me. “A” for effort, though!
So anyway, I’m really looking forward to reading more of your work. I’m hoping to find out soon what that devil Harry has been up to lately. I sure do miss him.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Ivana
First of all, can I call you Jo? You wouldn’t mind, would you? :)
Let me start by saying I’m a huge fan of your books, I’ve read them all and I loved every single one of them. The Harry Hole series holds a special place in my heart, which is why I was very reluctant to read your standalone novel “The Son”. I mean, if there's crime in Oslo, who’s gonna make things right if not Harry Hole, right? Nothing else makes sense. Luckily, I decided to give it a try anyway and it turned out to be a truly exceptional read. I’ll daresay it’s now my favorite book of yours. That’s why I was really looking forward to “Blood on Snow”, hoping it would be at least half as good as “The Son”.
And it’s not that it was bad, really. I just felt like something was missing. Like a couple of hundred pages more.
This time I wasn’t bummed that Harry wasn’t in it, because I was hoping another fantastic character like Sonny from “The Son” would come flowing from your pen. And I wouldn’t say that I was wrong. Olav is incredible. I mean, come on. A dyslectic hit man who loves to read – how insane is that? Maria was also very interesting and endearing. But I feel like I didn’t get to know them well enough. I didn’t get the opportunity to care for them, because I reached the end of the book before I even knew it.
200 pages? Really? We both know you can do better than that. :)
“Blood on Snow” was a cute little story, and it definitely has its moments, but it was too short for my taste and it’s just not as memorable as the rest of your stuff. Thus, 3 stars from me. “A” for effort, though!
So anyway, I’m really looking forward to reading more of your work. I’m hoping to find out soon what that devil Harry has been up to lately. I sure do miss him.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Ivana
I liked it, but didn't love it. It felt very movie-like - plays out in front of us, very visual, and also a sense of building dread. It was a super quick read.
An intense story just screaming for the Quentin Tarantino treatment a la Reservoir Dogs!