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misschelle007's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
suvata's review against another edition
3.0
Continuing my TBR project:
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added February 16, 2017.
I had high expectations about this book. Maybe too high because I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. To me, it was too much war story and not enough crime drama.
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added February 16, 2017.
I had high expectations about this book. Maybe too high because I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. To me, it was too much war story and not enough crime drama.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Eighty-two-year-old Sheldon Horowitz is widowed and grudgingly agrees to leave his New York apartment to move with his granddaughter, Rhea, and her husband, Lars, to Oslo, Norway. Alone in their shared apartment he witnesses an argument between the woman upstairs and an aggressive man. On an impulse Sheldon grabs the woman’s young son, and flees with him from this violent scene. Neither of them speak Norwegian, nor do they speak a common language, but somehow Sheldon communicates that he will keep this boy, whom he calls Paul, safe.
What an unlikely hero! Though it is never named or specifically diagnosed, Sheldon clearly suffers PTSD from his service in Korea, as a Marine sharp-shooter – a military history he has kept from his family. He also carries a heavy burden of guilt for the death of his only son, Saul, who died serving in Vietnam, presumably to gain his father’s admiration as a warrior. Now, Sheldon is a frail, shadow of his former self; isolated by language and by dreams / fugue states that are every bit as real to Sheldon as reality.
I marveled at his inventiveness and boldness in finding his way, eluding both the bad guys and the police. My heart about stopped several times, when Sheldon, Paul and/or Rhea faced dangerous situations.
The book is also full of many humorous scenes that serve to lessen the tension. Even the bad guys fall into comic situations. (Hasn’t a love of cinnamon buns been everyone’s downfall at some point?)
Miller also gives us wonderful supporting characters. Police Chief Inspector Sigrid Odegard has few scenes, but she makes an impact – strong, resourceful, a born leader, and courageous. Her colleague Petter Hansen is the quintessential quiet detective; he pays attention to small oddities and ferrets out information that others might disregard as unimportant.
And Paul. He is a completely silent character, never saying a word, and yet Miller gives us such a clear picture of him. Frightened, isolated by language and culture, unaware of who this giant American grandfather is or why he’s doing so, Paul goes along with Sheldon. He doesn’t complain, he doesn’t balk as what he’s asked to do, he simply trusts that Sheldon knows what should be done. And he clearly feels safe with the old man.
This is a wonderful debut, and I’m eager to read more by Miller.
What an unlikely hero! Though it is never named or specifically diagnosed, Sheldon clearly suffers PTSD from his service in Korea, as a Marine sharp-shooter – a military history he has kept from his family. He also carries a heavy burden of guilt for the death of his only son, Saul, who died serving in Vietnam, presumably to gain his father’s admiration as a warrior. Now, Sheldon is a frail, shadow of his former self; isolated by language and by dreams / fugue states that are every bit as real to Sheldon as reality.
I marveled at his inventiveness and boldness in finding his way, eluding both the bad guys and the police. My heart about stopped several times, when Sheldon, Paul and/or Rhea faced dangerous situations.
The book is also full of many humorous scenes that serve to lessen the tension. Even the bad guys fall into comic situations. (Hasn’t a love of cinnamon buns been everyone’s downfall at some point?)
Miller also gives us wonderful supporting characters. Police Chief Inspector Sigrid Odegard has few scenes, but she makes an impact – strong, resourceful, a born leader, and courageous. Her colleague Petter Hansen is the quintessential quiet detective; he pays attention to small oddities and ferrets out information that others might disregard as unimportant.
And Paul. He is a completely silent character, never saying a word, and yet Miller gives us such a clear picture of him. Frightened, isolated by language and culture, unaware of who this giant American grandfather is or why he’s doing so, Paul goes along with Sheldon. He doesn’t complain, he doesn’t balk as what he’s asked to do, he simply trusts that Sheldon knows what should be done. And he clearly feels safe with the old man.
This is a wonderful debut, and I’m eager to read more by Miller.
kasia_p's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this book and it kept me turning the pages. Sometimes the story could be a bit hard to follow as it jumps timelines but the main character is a lovable old man trying to do his best for a child in the worst situation. The end left me wanting more and I felt it could have been expanded upon.
joestewart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the writing, the pace, the characters, it was an al around good novel. And a bunch of good snippets, like this gem, strategy changes with circumstance. And, doctors and engineers bicker less than politicians. Yep, I liked it!
sevenacross's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book I randomly picked up from the library and could not put down once I got a few chapters deep.
cc_1978's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
andgineer's review against another edition
5.0
Книга написана в интересной манере, по большей части от лица главного героя, посещаемого призраками прошлого, которых накопилось немало за его 82 летнюю жизнь.
У каждого в прошлом есть события, которые невозможно изменить и которые продолжают мучить своими последствиями.
Поскольку главный герой оказался на стыке и войны с германией, и с кореей, и проблемы евреев и жизни в США, и все это еще намешано с чисто норвежской очень занятной и милой спецификой небольшой благополучной страны, это составляет невероятное количество тем и подтем.
При этом книга в качестве общего сюжета имеет добротную детективно-приключенческую линию.
Все это совершенно гениально объединено автором, в итоге имеет очередную гениальную книжку, которые, как правило, просто нельзя отнести к какому-то одному жанру.
У каждого в прошлом есть события, которые невозможно изменить и которые продолжают мучить своими последствиями.
Поскольку главный герой оказался на стыке и войны с германией, и с кореей, и проблемы евреев и жизни в США, и все это еще намешано с чисто норвежской очень занятной и милой спецификой небольшой благополучной страны, это составляет невероятное количество тем и подтем.
При этом книга в качестве общего сюжета имеет добротную детективно-приключенческую линию.
Все это совершенно гениально объединено автором, в итоге имеет очередную гениальную книжку, которые, как правило, просто нельзя отнести к какому-то одному жанру.
sardinetin's review against another edition
4.0
I'll be honest - based on the cover of the edition of this book that I was given I was not expecting huge amounts - it seemed to indicate some sort of cheap spy thriller, supported by the title. However, I'm glad I pushed past those first impressions as I found a thoroughly enjoyable and highly intelligent novel that was more than just a standard crime thriller.
ilaurin's review against another edition
5.0
This was quite a nice, original story. Gave an interesting portrait of Norwegian through the eyes of an old, American Jew who fought in Korea.
The plot is original, with the Willy old man saving a Serbian boy while being chased by police and gangsters alike. He used his wits and what he learned in the war to keep the boy safe.
The plot is original, with the Willy old man saving a Serbian boy while being chased by police and gangsters alike. He used his wits and what he learned in the war to keep the boy safe.