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A review by readingoverbreathing
Lucky Per by Henrik Pontoppidan
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Usually, I can understand why a book has such a high average rating, even if I wouldn't personally be so generous. But the 4.41 on this book, a 20th-century Modernist work I as an English speaker have barely ever heard of, really has me scratching my head.
I, admittedly, did not read this in its original Danish, so there is a good chance that this translation simply has not done it justice. The writing was good and the characters fascinating, but the plot was slow and a little all over the place. I will admit that I was thoroughly invested in Per's fate, especially the middle part where it was so closely intertwined with the Salomons, but I never quite felt like I got the point, and I found Per's own hindrance of his goals extremely frustrating. I was so curious to see how this would end, but when I got there, I was thoroughly disappointed; the last chapter or so rushes through time only to culminate in a lackluster end.
As I said, though, the characters are really the strongest part of the story here. Per and Jakobe are two of the most strong-willed, vivid characters I've ever encountered. Jakobe, in fact, is one of the best women written by a man that I've ever read. She was so sharp and so brilliant — her presence likely saved this a star for me.
But again, beyond that, there wasn't really a lot here for me. Overall, there were some elements that I enjoyed, but a lot of I just felt apathetic about. I am glad that I got to read this as I was in Copenhagen, but even that special in situ satisfaction wasn't quite enough to get this to land with me.
I, admittedly, did not read this in its original Danish, so there is a good chance that this translation simply has not done it justice. The writing was good and the characters fascinating, but the plot was slow and a little all over the place. I will admit that I was thoroughly invested in Per's fate, especially the middle part where it was so closely intertwined with the Salomons, but I never quite felt like I got the point, and I found Per's own hindrance of his goals extremely frustrating. I was so curious to see how this would end, but when I got there, I was thoroughly disappointed; the last chapter or so rushes through time only to culminate in a lackluster end.
As I said, though, the characters are really the strongest part of the story here. Per and Jakobe are two of the most strong-willed, vivid characters I've ever encountered. Jakobe, in fact, is one of the best women written by a man that I've ever read. She was so sharp and so brilliant — her presence likely saved this a star for me.
But again, beyond that, there wasn't really a lot here for me. Overall, there were some elements that I enjoyed, but a lot of I just felt apathetic about. I am glad that I got to read this as I was in Copenhagen, but even that special in situ satisfaction wasn't quite enough to get this to land with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death of parent, Child death, Abortion, and Death