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sarah7691's review
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
liannelinda's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
dyeganian's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hardcoverhearts's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
booksnpunks's review against another edition
3.0
A novel about a woman working at a postal office and the strange things that happen when the community bands together to try and prevent a bill passing which will put the post out of business. This felt very Pynchon-esque to me and I’m not sure if that’s because one of the only two I’ve read of his is The Crying of Lot 49, but especially towards the end it started to weave together loads of threads and almost took on a life of its own. I think I definitely enjoyed the first half of this book more where it was focusing more on the day-to-day life of the narrator in postal office and she was making slightly unhinged decisions. Especially loved the imagery of her and her colleague walking to meetings with identical camel coats and briefcases - very cool. I didn’t like this as much as Is Mother Dead but I’m enjoying discovering Vigdis’s very sharp and witty writing as well as the way she creates a slightly bizarre idea of Oslo as a space where all of this madness happens. I would love to read Will and Testament next to complete her most famous three books.
mazloum's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting story about experiencing an existential crisis while also trying to somehow do PR work against a suggested governmental bill. A little slow at points, but really gets into the weeds with regards to self-reflection and introspective analysis.
saintdoormatius's review against another edition
4.0
A strange book that pulls off a difficult feat: I went from hating to loving the narrator by the end of the book. And this transformation, central to the conceit of the novel, is done in a refreshingly non-wrought method, without hyperbole. And the decisive moments, the moments that aid this transformation, are really stunning.
the_old_gray_cat's review against another edition
5.0
A gorgeous and thoughtful short novel about a middle-aged PR executive who is burnt out and apathetic and who has been charged with working for a postal workers union helpless attempt to stop deregulation of lightweight mail. This subject matter does not sound promising, but this book was unusual, highly engaging, and extremely rewarding. I hope more of Vigdis Hjorth's work is translated into English.