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A review by jhscolloquium
Outside by Ragnar Jónasson
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
Four old friends meet for a reunion. Ármann, a former guide who now owns and operates his own tour company, has organized the gathering, suggesting at the last minute that the group embark on a ptarmigan hunt in the remote Iceland highlands across the country from Reykjavik. The plan is to go to an isolated location and disconnect from everything -- except each other -- for a bit. Daniel grew up in Iceland, but has spent some years living in England, studying acting and then trying to establish himself in the theater. Unfortunately, although he believes his friends think he has hit "the big time," he survives by waiting tables. But he's definitely not fooling all of them. He does not know how to shoot, but agrees to participate in the hunt and let Ármann teach him. Helena is an engineer working for a start-up company and Gunnlaugur is a lawyer.
They set out in the morning with only provisions for the day, not even taking sleeping bags with them. The weather quickly grows ominous. Soon they find themselves attempting to navigate a full-fledged blizzard, walking single file through the "whirling whiteness" that leaves them in darkness. Because of his expertise as a guide, the others find themselves with no option but to trust Ármann to lead them to safety. They must keep moving to avoid freezing to death. Ármann claims he knows of an old hut, one of the emergency refuges that are scattered on the highlands, where they can take shelter and wait out the storm, so they trudge along single-file. Daniel brings up the rear, behind Helena, cold and struggling to keep up with the others. It does not help that he is severely hung over because whenever the friends meet up there seems to be an exorbitant amount of alcohol involved. And the prior night was no exception.
At last, they reach the hut, but the door is locked, they are miles from the nearest house, and their cell phones are useless because there is no signal. Ármann manages to break open the key box with his gun, extract the key, and gain access to the hut. Daniel senses "an indefinable smell of danger in the air, among the thickly falling flakes, but he can't work out where it had come from." As soon as they open the door, Daniel's fear is confirmed. There is a man sitting in the corner of the hut, holding a shotgun. He remains seated, staring at the group, his eyes wide open and unspeaking. He does not react or respond to the group's arrival. "Perhaps the eeriest aspect of it all was the stranger's stillness. He was almost like a living corpse, only his open eyes revealing that he was fully conscious and watching them." He is a terrifying presence.
As the storm continues to rage outside, the four friends begin quietly discussing how best to approach the situation. Who is the man in the hut? Why is he just sitting there staring at them? Is he in a state of shock as a result of some sort of trauma? Is he dangerous? Do they dare occupy the hut along with him? Do they really have a choice, considering the severity of the storm?
To tell the tale, author Ragnar Jónasson employs third-person narratives set forth in short, crisply drafted rotating chapters, each of which is focused on one of his four characters. He presents their backstories and explains the characters' relationships, revealing the ways in which their lives have been intertwined for years. Notably, Daniel was surprised to learn that Gunnlauger would be joining them for the reunion because in recent years, he, Helena, and Ármann have tacitly agreed not to invite him due to his "darker, more difficult side" that has been revealed with time.
Gunnlauger, however, considers the other three his best friends. He works for a medium-sized law firm in Reykjavik and has given up on the hope of keeping pace with his colleagues. He failed his medical exams twice so his father insisted that he attend law school, but he has no passion or flair for the law. He also has been unable to maintain a relationship with a woman for more than a few weeks, and has long "had a thing for" Helena. He is well aware that she does not feel the same way about him and, in fact, mercilessly teases him about his love life. The night before they head out on the hunt, he has his first drink in two years, which takes Helena aback because his troubles with alcohol are well-known. Gunnlauger has been receiving ominous letters from an anonymous sender and suspects they may be coming from one of his three friends.
The night before they head out, Helena has "a feeling of disquiet" and dreams of Vikingur, their friend who died "cold, exhausted, abandoned and alone" five years ago. She still misses him terribly, and is haunted by her belief that he suffered before he died of hypothermia under suspicious circumstances.
Ármann boasts about his success, which Daniel chalks up to an inferiority complex and Gunnlauger resents, secretly hoping that Ármann's business will fail and they will find themselves on more equal footing. Ármann was not a good student, and after graduation got involved in selling drugs but he got himself sorted out and now operates a thriving business. Helena has always looked out for and taken care of him. These days, he seems to be married to his job after a long relationship ended.
Eventually, they decide that Ármann and Gunnlauger will remain in the hut while Daniel and Helena head south to another hut that is equipped with a radio they can use to summon help. Ármann estimates that, given the weather conditions, they should be able to hike there and back in about an hour. Ármann tells them to leave their guns, and Daniel has "a horrible premonition that there is something out there in the darkness . . . more dangerous than anything his imagination could conjure up . . . " He is convinced he is "heading to his certain death." Nonetheless, he and Helena strike out on their own, leaving Ármann and Gunnlauger with the mysterious man.
Outside is an entertaining and imaginatively-conceived story about betrayal and retribution. He places his characters in an extremely dangerous geographic location and proceeds to reveal numerous reasons why they neither believe the stories they tell or trust each other. And with good reason. Over the course of their long friendship, they have learned a great deal about each other and various incidents have caused them to develop resentments and hold grudges. They still try to impress each other by appearing to be successful and popular when, in fact, each of them has experienced some form of failure and committed heinous, unforgivable acts. They are all harboring dark, explosive secrets and within the group there are concealed alliances that evolve and shift as the story proceeds. Eventually, Jónasson reveals that the invitation to get together for the weekend was issued with more ominous intent than some of the group realize. But they will figure it out.
While entertaining, there are two aspects of Outside that keep it from being a truly first-rate thriller. The characters' histories and relationships are interesting, but none of the characters are likable or have any immediately apparent redeeming qualities. They are all manipulative, phony, and self-involved, and they only interact with the others in service to their ulterior motives and need to feel better about themselves and their own lives. There is not a single character that readers can take into their hearts and cheer on. They are all pathetic and reprehensible. Perhaps that is the point Jónasson wanted to make.
And the book ends abruptly without bringing the story to a satisfying resolution. It may be that Jónasson plans a sequel, which would explain why the story suddenly falls right off a literary Icelandic cliff. Regardless, the conclusion is jarring and unsettling. Again, that may have been a deliberate choice made by Jónasson.
Despite those shortcomings, Outside is engrossing and fast-paced. It is also richly atmospheric which heightens the dramatic tension, and amplifies the paranoia and palpable fear his characters experience as they confront with their past mistakes and mortality on the Icelandic highland. And, as noted, the story is populated by interesting, if irredeemable, characters, some of whom meet fates they clearly deserve, providing some satisfaction to readers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
They set out in the morning with only provisions for the day, not even taking sleeping bags with them. The weather quickly grows ominous. Soon they find themselves attempting to navigate a full-fledged blizzard, walking single file through the "whirling whiteness" that leaves them in darkness. Because of his expertise as a guide, the others find themselves with no option but to trust Ármann to lead them to safety. They must keep moving to avoid freezing to death. Ármann claims he knows of an old hut, one of the emergency refuges that are scattered on the highlands, where they can take shelter and wait out the storm, so they trudge along single-file. Daniel brings up the rear, behind Helena, cold and struggling to keep up with the others. It does not help that he is severely hung over because whenever the friends meet up there seems to be an exorbitant amount of alcohol involved. And the prior night was no exception.
At last, they reach the hut, but the door is locked, they are miles from the nearest house, and their cell phones are useless because there is no signal. Ármann manages to break open the key box with his gun, extract the key, and gain access to the hut. Daniel senses "an indefinable smell of danger in the air, among the thickly falling flakes, but he can't work out where it had come from." As soon as they open the door, Daniel's fear is confirmed. There is a man sitting in the corner of the hut, holding a shotgun. He remains seated, staring at the group, his eyes wide open and unspeaking. He does not react or respond to the group's arrival. "Perhaps the eeriest aspect of it all was the stranger's stillness. He was almost like a living corpse, only his open eyes revealing that he was fully conscious and watching them." He is a terrifying presence.
As the storm continues to rage outside, the four friends begin quietly discussing how best to approach the situation. Who is the man in the hut? Why is he just sitting there staring at them? Is he in a state of shock as a result of some sort of trauma? Is he dangerous? Do they dare occupy the hut along with him? Do they really have a choice, considering the severity of the storm?
To tell the tale, author Ragnar Jónasson employs third-person narratives set forth in short, crisply drafted rotating chapters, each of which is focused on one of his four characters. He presents their backstories and explains the characters' relationships, revealing the ways in which their lives have been intertwined for years. Notably, Daniel was surprised to learn that Gunnlauger would be joining them for the reunion because in recent years, he, Helena, and Ármann have tacitly agreed not to invite him due to his "darker, more difficult side" that has been revealed with time.
Gunnlauger, however, considers the other three his best friends. He works for a medium-sized law firm in Reykjavik and has given up on the hope of keeping pace with his colleagues. He failed his medical exams twice so his father insisted that he attend law school, but he has no passion or flair for the law. He also has been unable to maintain a relationship with a woman for more than a few weeks, and has long "had a thing for" Helena. He is well aware that she does not feel the same way about him and, in fact, mercilessly teases him about his love life. The night before they head out on the hunt, he has his first drink in two years, which takes Helena aback because his troubles with alcohol are well-known. Gunnlauger has been receiving ominous letters from an anonymous sender and suspects they may be coming from one of his three friends.
The night before they head out, Helena has "a feeling of disquiet" and dreams of Vikingur, their friend who died "cold, exhausted, abandoned and alone" five years ago. She still misses him terribly, and is haunted by her belief that he suffered before he died of hypothermia under suspicious circumstances.
Ármann boasts about his success, which Daniel chalks up to an inferiority complex and Gunnlauger resents, secretly hoping that Ármann's business will fail and they will find themselves on more equal footing. Ármann was not a good student, and after graduation got involved in selling drugs but he got himself sorted out and now operates a thriving business. Helena has always looked out for and taken care of him. These days, he seems to be married to his job after a long relationship ended.
Eventually, they decide that Ármann and Gunnlauger will remain in the hut while Daniel and Helena head south to another hut that is equipped with a radio they can use to summon help. Ármann estimates that, given the weather conditions, they should be able to hike there and back in about an hour. Ármann tells them to leave their guns, and Daniel has "a horrible premonition that there is something out there in the darkness . . . more dangerous than anything his imagination could conjure up . . . " He is convinced he is "heading to his certain death." Nonetheless, he and Helena strike out on their own, leaving Ármann and Gunnlauger with the mysterious man.
Outside is an entertaining and imaginatively-conceived story about betrayal and retribution. He places his characters in an extremely dangerous geographic location and proceeds to reveal numerous reasons why they neither believe the stories they tell or trust each other. And with good reason. Over the course of their long friendship, they have learned a great deal about each other and various incidents have caused them to develop resentments and hold grudges. They still try to impress each other by appearing to be successful and popular when, in fact, each of them has experienced some form of failure and committed heinous, unforgivable acts. They are all harboring dark, explosive secrets and within the group there are concealed alliances that evolve and shift as the story proceeds. Eventually, Jónasson reveals that the invitation to get together for the weekend was issued with more ominous intent than some of the group realize. But they will figure it out.
While entertaining, there are two aspects of Outside that keep it from being a truly first-rate thriller. The characters' histories and relationships are interesting, but none of the characters are likable or have any immediately apparent redeeming qualities. They are all manipulative, phony, and self-involved, and they only interact with the others in service to their ulterior motives and need to feel better about themselves and their own lives. There is not a single character that readers can take into their hearts and cheer on. They are all pathetic and reprehensible. Perhaps that is the point Jónasson wanted to make.
And the book ends abruptly without bringing the story to a satisfying resolution. It may be that Jónasson plans a sequel, which would explain why the story suddenly falls right off a literary Icelandic cliff. Regardless, the conclusion is jarring and unsettling. Again, that may have been a deliberate choice made by Jónasson.
Despite those shortcomings, Outside is engrossing and fast-paced. It is also richly atmospheric which heightens the dramatic tension, and amplifies the paranoia and palpable fear his characters experience as they confront with their past mistakes and mortality on the Icelandic highland. And, as noted, the story is populated by interesting, if irredeemable, characters, some of whom meet fates they clearly deserve, providing some satisfaction to readers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.