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A review by michaelcattigan
Snowdrops by A.D. Miller
5.0
I really liked this book!
Read it as part of the annual attempt to read at least some of the Booker books before the winner is announced and was really impressed. It is well written and the monologue voice is actually really compelling (although part of me would have liked to have seen his fiancee's - increasingly horrified I hope - reaction to his revelations!).
Set in 200s Russia, it revolves around a lawyer, his relationship with a local Russian girl (described in more detail than I'd have thought his current English fiancee would appreciate) and a rather shady business deal.
The story is not hard to predict but I think that is part of its charm: Nicholas the lawyer and narrator is increasingly aware of the shades of grey into which he is allowing himself to be drawn and the unreality of his apparent relationship and we almost share his willing self-deception. There was the potential for a twist at the end but Miller chose not to go down that route and concluded the story in a very quiet personal manner which I found to be really effective.
The story does revolve around that central image of the snowdrop: the corpse dumped in winter, covered with snow and only discovered with the thaw. repeatedly the layers of the Moscow and Russian landscape are discussed as the snow covers, blankets and hides with apparent purity the grime beneath.
Great book!
Read it as part of the annual attempt to read at least some of the Booker books before the winner is announced and was really impressed. It is well written and the monologue voice is actually really compelling (although part of me would have liked to have seen his fiancee's - increasingly horrified I hope - reaction to his revelations!).
Set in 200s Russia, it revolves around a lawyer, his relationship with a local Russian girl (described in more detail than I'd have thought his current English fiancee would appreciate) and a rather shady business deal.
The story is not hard to predict but I think that is part of its charm: Nicholas the lawyer and narrator is increasingly aware of the shades of grey into which he is allowing himself to be drawn and the unreality of his apparent relationship and we almost share his willing self-deception. There was the potential for a twist at the end but Miller chose not to go down that route and concluded the story in a very quiet personal manner which I found to be really effective.
The story does revolve around that central image of the snowdrop: the corpse dumped in winter, covered with snow and only discovered with the thaw. repeatedly the layers of the Moscow and Russian landscape are discussed as the snow covers, blankets and hides with apparent purity the grime beneath.
Great book!