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A review by andrewspink
De overlevenden by Alex Schulman
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a challenging, even shocking, book. It is not until right at the end that all the pieces fall into place and that the reader really understands what is going on. That also makes it very difficult to write a review completely avoiding spoilers.
The chapters switch between different perspectives and dates, and this done well. Sometimes I get a bit lost in books with flashbacks, but here Alex Schulman always unobtrusively but clearly makes it known when we are. One of the boys, Benjamin, has exceptional powers of observation. He uses this 'trick' very effectively as a means of pointing out all sorts of small but crucial details to the reader which would otherwise be difficult to bring over.
He is also very good at conjuring up the atmosphere of places, like the summerhouse.
There are also some strange things. He seems to have an odd obsession with urine. Is it meant to be symbolic of something?
It is soon apparent that the book is about a dysfunctional family and how they cope with a trauma from the past. It is not an easy topic and it deals with it exceptionally well.
The chapters switch between different perspectives and dates, and this done well. Sometimes I get a bit lost in books with flashbacks, but here Alex Schulman always unobtrusively but clearly makes it known when we are. One of the boys, Benjamin, has exceptional powers of observation. He uses this 'trick' very effectively as a means of pointing out all sorts of small but crucial details to the reader which would otherwise be difficult to bring over.
He is also very good at conjuring up the atmosphere of places, like the summerhouse.
There are also some strange things. He seems to have an odd obsession with urine. Is it meant to be symbolic of something?
It is soon apparent that the book is about a dysfunctional family and how they cope with a trauma from the past. It is not an easy topic and it deals with it exceptionally well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Animal death