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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Very short book, but another good one even though it isn't Harry Hole.
This was my first Nesbo book. I read it because he has been lauded as comparable to Stieg Larsson who I am a huge fan of. Based on this book, there is no comparison at all.
Yet when I started the audiobook and heard Patti Smith's voice, that was a total bonus and redeemed this review, especially for her dark love of mysteries.
I did really like Nesbo's writing style (translated to English of course) and the pacing was perfect.
The thing I tired very quickly of and tarnishes my view of the rest of his catalog are the gender characterizations he utilizes. Overused and antiquated, these tropes should cease in being used for entertainment.
Every female character was written as a masochistic, helpless victim used as props to redeem a critically flawed protagonist. Every male character written as the abusive captor tending to his property.
Granted this is a crime drama so the code of ethics is going to be skewed. The sentiment was not just touched upon here or there but was pervasive and totally missed Steig Larsson's empathy and compassion.
Larsson's women are their own entities with intellectual abilities. Where they may be victimized, they are survivors, with their own internal desires and missions moving them forward. Nesbo completely misses the mark (not that I think he was even trying) but perpetuates this cycle of damaging gender tropes to redeem a self proclaimed idiot.
Yet when I started the audiobook and heard Patti Smith's voice, that was a total bonus and redeemed this review, especially for her dark love of mysteries.
I did really like Nesbo's writing style (translated to English of course) and the pacing was perfect.
The thing I tired very quickly of and tarnishes my view of the rest of his catalog are the gender characterizations he utilizes. Overused and antiquated, these tropes should cease in being used for entertainment.
Every female character was written as a masochistic, helpless victim used as props to redeem a critically flawed protagonist. Every male character written as the abusive captor tending to his property.
Granted this is a crime drama so the code of ethics is going to be skewed. The sentiment was not just touched upon here or there but was pervasive and totally missed Steig Larsson's empathy and compassion.
Larsson's women are their own entities with intellectual abilities. Where they may be victimized, they are survivors, with their own internal desires and missions moving them forward. Nesbo completely misses the mark (not that I think he was even trying) but perpetuates this cycle of damaging gender tropes to redeem a self proclaimed idiot.
dryly comic, darkly charming. everything good in this quick little nordic noir tale.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Blood, Murder
Good read. Not as complicated as Jo Nesbo's usual stuff, but worth the time.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes