A review by inciminci
How Pale the Winter Has Made Us by Adam Scovell

4.0

To tell the truth, the only reason I picked up this book was that I was thinking it is a horror novel featuring the Erlkönig. Having lived in that general area of the French-Belgian-German border for about a decade and being thoroughly depressed of it (especially in winter time), the last thing I wanted to do was to read a collection of impressions, of historical bits and facts of that geography that depressed me so... I was in for a shock when I realized Erlkönig is but a symbol, a metaphore for something else and not what the book was all about (well, in a certain sense the book may be about him too, but not only). BUT I found that once you are able to succumb to the very slow pace and rhythm of this book, you actually start following the depressive mood, but also the serenity and distraction the protagonist finds in her surroundings. Finished it yesterday and will definitely move to other books by Scovell.