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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Translated from the Swedish, this book belies the belief that the Nordic countries contain nearly perfect people, a utopia, or a racism-free place. I don't know if anyone actually believes that, but that is the stereotype the media perpetuates.
But the Swedish are humans too, and as books like this, Beartown, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo demonstrate, even in countries with free healthcare, a wonderful social net, and a general high standard of living, there still persists all the flaws of humanity.
This book focuses on the native people of the Nordic countries: the Sami (derogatorily called "Lapps"). Like the Indigenous people of North America, in recent history Sami children were sent to abusive boarding schools to stamp out their native culture. They still today face prejudice and discrimination.
The story opens with a n'er-do-well, alcoholic Swede (who has his own history of abuse and abandonment) murdering a Sami family's reindeer (which have both cultural and economic significance to the Sami) and threatening the nine-year-old girl who catches him in the act. The slaughtered reindeer was one the girl, Elsa, had raised since it was a calf. Traumatized and horrified, Elsa never tells anyone she saw the perpetrator. The police are incompetent, negligent, or corrupt, as despite decades of complaints of horrifically slaughtered reindeer, they throw up their hands and close the cases without any investigation. It's only theft, and they have more "important" things to do. Meanwhile, the townfolk and their children harass and belittle the Sami, while decrying that they get "special" treatment from the government. Sound familiar? The Swedes - they really are just like us!
This book is dark and rather slow. It is a coming-of-age for Elsa, from a scared young girl in Part I, to a young woman standing up for herself in a society (both Swedish and Sami) who want her to stay quiet. The middle is repetitive, with their reindeer continuing to be slaughtered, the police continuing to do nothing, and Elsa continuing to balance what she wants (be a reindeer herder and finally getting justice for her slaughtered reindeer) and what her society expects of her (get married and stay home while her husband is the reindeer herder and stay quiet not make a big, public fuss about the police incompetence). It was hard going to get through - nothing was moving forward, and nothing was changing. Part 3 is where things finally picked up and I was fully engaged. It is worth keeping going through the middle, and the book provides a satisfying resolution.
But the Swedish are humans too, and as books like this, Beartown, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo demonstrate, even in countries with free healthcare, a wonderful social net, and a general high standard of living, there still persists all the flaws of humanity.
This book focuses on the native people of the Nordic countries: the Sami (derogatorily called "Lapps"). Like the Indigenous people of North America, in recent history Sami children were sent to abusive boarding schools to stamp out their native culture. They still today face prejudice and discrimination.
The story opens with a n'er-do-well, alcoholic Swede (who has his own history of abuse and abandonment) murdering a Sami family's reindeer (which have both cultural and economic significance to the Sami) and threatening the nine-year-old girl who catches him in the act. The slaughtered reindeer was one the girl, Elsa, had raised since it was a calf. Traumatized and horrified, Elsa never tells anyone she saw the perpetrator. The police are incompetent, negligent, or corrupt, as despite decades of complaints of horrifically slaughtered reindeer, they throw up their hands and close the cases without any investigation. It's only theft, and they have more "important" things to do. Meanwhile, the townfolk and their children harass and belittle the Sami, while decrying that they get "special" treatment from the government. Sound familiar? The Swedes - they really are just like us!
This book is dark and rather slow. It is a coming-of-age for Elsa, from a scared young girl in Part I, to a young woman standing up for herself in a society (both Swedish and Sami) who want her to stay quiet. The middle is repetitive, with their reindeer continuing to be slaughtered, the police continuing to do nothing, and Elsa continuing to balance what she wants (be a reindeer herder and finally getting justice for her slaughtered reindeer) and what her society expects of her (get married and stay home while her husband is the reindeer herder and stay quiet not make a big, public fuss about the police incompetence). It was hard going to get through - nothing was moving forward, and nothing was changing. Part 3 is where things finally picked up and I was fully engaged. It is worth keeping going through the middle, and the book provides a satisfying resolution.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
The best book I have read in 2023. Suspenseful and poignant, relatable and educational. Excellent worrying and a great plot. My highest recommendation!
I really wanted to like this book since it had so many amazing reviews but I was drudging through it. The subject matter is very unique and could have been very intriguing, but I couldn't make it past the first third.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
This took me much longer to get through than an audiobook this length usually would. The story was important and poignant, but it was just so incredibly slow. I never really felt drawn to pick it back up, and mostly finished just to get some resolution.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
The story follows nine-year-old girl Elsa when she encounters her calf brutally killed and her parents immediately believe that it was an act of terror as their family is of Sámi heritage (the indigenous Finno-Ugric people). Despite going to the local police about the incident, they do little to nothing for them as they see it as “minor theft” while the event changes Elsa and her family. A decade later and now an adult, Elsa is now more determined to bring the man responsible for the killing and recent attacks.
Laestadius’ novel is a very tense and emotionally harsh coming-of-story about family, heritage and justice that does get awfully heinous at times. The way Elsa’s story starts pretty much shows you how the novel’s tone and feel is. There’s plenty of story that also centers on others than Elsa and her family that can make it feel a bit overwhelming. She still manages to be the most engaging part of the story as she goes through so much to find justice for her family and their reindeer. Bittersweet, but still ends satisfyingly. <b>A- (91%/Excellent)</b>
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism