Reviews

Ankeriaan testamentti by Patrik Svensson

lauraschhh's review against another edition

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Do not go into this thinking it’s a book about eels, because BOY OH BOY YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.

leonidasm's review against another edition

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3.0

Δεν κατάλαβα ποτέ γιατί θέλησα να διαβάσω ένα βιβλίο που έχει θέμα τα χέλια, ακόμα και τώρα που τελείωσα και ξέρω τόσα πολλά για τα χέλια δεν είμαι σίγουρος αν ήθελα πραγματικά να ξέρω τόσα...
Όπως και να έχει η γνώση είναι πάντα καλοδεχούμενη, το βιβλίο δεν έχει να κάνει μόνο με τα χέλια, είναι και αυτοβιογραφικό. Η προσωπική ιστορία του συγγραφέα με τον πατέρα του που περνάει μέσα απ'αυτή που είχαν με τα χέλια δίνει μια δεύτερη διάσταση στο βιβλίο που σε άλλους θα φανεί συγκινητική, σε κάποιους άλλους αδιάφορη.
Τα τρία αστέρια είναι μάλλον το πιο θερμό τριάρι μου γιατί είναι όντως μια ωραία δουλειά, βγαλμένη από την καρδιά του συγγραφέα.

stella94's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

2.5

thedreaminghare's review against another edition

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I learned a lot about eels, which was cool. I also learned a lot about the author's childhood which was... unexpected. I wasn't looking for a personal memoir, and I would have enjoyed this more if it hadn't contained those sections at the beginning of each chapter. 

sabinea's review against another edition

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3.0

Fin bok om mycket mer än bara ålar, som blandar vetenskap och historia med en berättelse om författaren och hans pappa. Jag är svag för djur, havet och vetenskap men fastnade ändå inte helt, det blev upprepande och på vissa håll spretigt. De verkliga höjdpunkterna i boken var när frågeställningar om ålen sömlöst övergick i filosofiska resonemang exempelvis om vad det innebär att vara människa, vad tid är och vad är egentligen ett liv.

archaeomancer's review against another edition

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Because instead of it being mostly about eels, it did what a lot of science non fiction is doing nowadays, which is turning the book into a personal memoir of sorts. Usually about a parents death or a personal tragedy. If I wanted to read a memoir I would pick one up, if I pick up a book about eels I want to learn about eels. I like hearing about scientists personal experiences in their fields, not about how their parent died; that's just not what I pick up science non fiction for. 

maidinnah's review against another edition

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informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.75

Equal parts memoir, historical account, and scientific essay, The Book of Eels is insightful and profound, fully capturing the elusiveness and mystique of the eel.  Fair warning -- the undercurrent of the book is the author describing his close relationship with his father, which may turn off some readers. However, at this book's core is the author's sheer fascination and admiration for a creature that is as central to our understanding of entire cultures and the human condition, as it is mysterious. 

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adnielsen's review against another edition

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4.0

Fun, short book on eels that intersperses the author’s experiences fishing for eels in Sweden. I found the book to be hard to put down and relished learning more about enigmatic eels. Would recommend.

roconnor's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

teachinsci's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.25