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A review by hearth_hobbit
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Night Guest is about a woman named Iounn who is trying to figure out what is wrong with her body. She wakes up every day sore and fatigued despite taking all the advice she can get from doctors, friends, and family. Taking the advice of someone, Iounn starts wearing a step counter to make sure she’s getting exercise that might help energize her. One night she forgets to take the step counter off and wakes up to find she’s walked 40,000 steps in the night. After this discovery Iounn, attempts to find out what her body is doing when it’s out of her control.
Reading Journey: I was captivated the whole way through the book.
Thoughts: Overall I enjoyed this book but the ending has me very confused. I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it and what it might mean.
In the beginning when Iounn tries to figure out what’s wrong with her body, everyone around her seems to have an opinion on what she should do to. Even though it’s out of concern and coming from people who care about her, the advice is overwhelming and Iounn tries just about anything that is suggested. I thought this was a very realistic portrayal of how people would respond but I felt very annoyed on Iounn’s behalf despite the intentions of whoever was talking to her.
I’m still mulling over what this book could be commentating on. I think grief and the ways it can affect someone physically, emotionally, and their personal relationships. If I’m correct, I think the metaphor is good but I do wish it was fleshed out more.
Please consider donating to a fellow book lover, Hala @bookish.forlife so she can get the help she needs.
Storygraph: hearth_hobbit
YouTube: @hearthhobbit
TikTok: hearth.hobbit
Land Acknowledgement
I record my videos on the traditional territory of the Muwekma, Ramaytush, and Ohlone. Learn about the land you live on here:
https://native-land.ca/
Reading Journey: I was captivated the whole way through the book.
Thoughts: Overall I enjoyed this book but the ending has me very confused. I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it and what it might mean.
In the beginning when Iounn tries to figure out what’s wrong with her body, everyone around her seems to have an opinion on what she should do to. Even though it’s out of concern and coming from people who care about her, the advice is overwhelming and Iounn tries just about anything that is suggested. I thought this was a very realistic portrayal of how people would respond but I felt very annoyed on Iounn’s behalf despite the intentions of whoever was talking to her.
I’m still mulling over what this book could be commentating on. I think grief and the ways it can affect someone physically, emotionally, and their personal relationships. If I’m correct, I think the metaphor is good but I do wish it was fleshed out more.
Please consider donating to a fellow book lover, Hala @bookish.forlife so she can get the help she needs.
Storygraph: hearth_hobbit
YouTube: @hearthhobbit
TikTok: hearth.hobbit
Land Acknowledgement
I record my videos on the traditional territory of the Muwekma, Ramaytush, and Ohlone. Learn about the land you live on here:
https://native-land.ca/