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A review by shanellewrites
We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen
3.0
This book has some amazing writing, and the subject matter is completely up my alley. On the whole, however, I found myself very frustrated and feel like it's a lost opportunity.
I think my main frustration with We, the Drowned is the pretty disgusting attitude that is so clearly visible behind the narrative. Over and over again, I saw misogyny and other behaviors and attitudes that are despicable. To be clear, the problem is not that these exist in the book. The problem is that rather than being challenged, commented on, or otherwise constructive, they are embraced and elevated. I am firmly of the belief that reading books solely through a political/politically correct lens is problematic, so while casual sexism in literature bothers me, I can generally see what the book has to offer beyond that. In this case, however, it took me out of the experience so severely that it was hard to focus on what the books really has to say. Reflecting on it now that I have finished, I'm not sure that I can put my finger on *anything* that it actually has to offer.
My other main problem with this book could be considered a slight spoiler, so if you have not read the book yet and do not wish to be spoiled, please do not continue reading the rest of my review.
Aside from casual attitudes that are problematic, I take issue with the ending. For me personally, it did not particularly fit the rest of the book. I loved how the book's "we" was brought in at this point, but apart from that, I found it weak. When I (finally) reached the ending, it felt like Jensen failed to realize every promise that had been made throughout the entire book.
I should note that I find translated fiction hard to review fairly, because when there are issues, it's hard to know how much of that is the fault of the author and what is due to problems in translation. In this case, the best thing We, the Drowned has going for it is its writing, which may or may not be largely thanks to the translator. With the Danish awards this book has received, however, that seems unlikely, and that is the only reason I have rated it as highly as I have.
I am fully willing to admit I could be flat-out wrong in my view of this book, but I can only speak from my own experience reading it, which was, unfortunately, largely negative.
I think my main frustration with We, the Drowned is the pretty disgusting attitude that is so clearly visible behind the narrative. Over and over again, I saw misogyny and other behaviors and attitudes that are despicable. To be clear, the problem is not that these exist in the book. The problem is that rather than being challenged, commented on, or otherwise constructive, they are embraced and elevated. I am firmly of the belief that reading books solely through a political/politically correct lens is problematic, so while casual sexism in literature bothers me, I can generally see what the book has to offer beyond that. In this case, however, it took me out of the experience so severely that it was hard to focus on what the books really has to say. Reflecting on it now that I have finished, I'm not sure that I can put my finger on *anything* that it actually has to offer.
My other main problem with this book could be considered a slight spoiler, so if you have not read the book yet and do not wish to be spoiled, please do not continue reading the rest of my review.
Aside from casual attitudes that are problematic, I take issue with the ending. For me personally, it did not particularly fit the rest of the book. I loved how the book's "we" was brought in at this point, but apart from that, I found it weak. When I (finally) reached the ending, it felt like Jensen failed to realize every promise that had been made throughout the entire book.
I should note that I find translated fiction hard to review fairly, because when there are issues, it's hard to know how much of that is the fault of the author and what is due to problems in translation. In this case, the best thing We, the Drowned has going for it is its writing, which may or may not be largely thanks to the translator. With the Danish awards this book has received, however, that seems unlikely, and that is the only reason I have rated it as highly as I have.
I am fully willing to admit I could be flat-out wrong in my view of this book, but I can only speak from my own experience reading it, which was, unfortunately, largely negative.