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serinas 's review for:
Sameproblemet
by Kathrine Nedrejord
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Sameproblemet (The Sami Problem) is written by the Sami author Kathrine Nedrejord, and explores the experience of being Sami in Norway. The Sami people are indigenous to Norway, but as a minority.
The experience of growing up Sami are well-written, and interesting as a woman who haven't indulged in Sami culture in any way. I have studied it, but never interacted with it - so take that into account when reading my review.
There are sides of growing up a minority that are explored thoroughly - like discrimination, racism, prejudice, and more - but there are also stories of a family being close, and stories of their life.
The main character Ánne Márjá Engmo (Norwegian name: Anna Marie Engmo) is Sami but lives in France, and has to travel back home to go to her áhkku's (maternal grandma) funeral. Márjá has to face her past, and relive some of the struggles her and her family lived through - and reflects on the past and future of Sami culture.
The story was great and the characters were fascinating. Being Sami is obviously a big part of the characters' story, but we also get to see the everyday-life that they live. Márjá's reflections are about her being Sami and the struggles she experienced because of her heritage, and was integrated well into the everyday-life that the book described.
Sameproblemet was not at all what I expected, based on the summary on the back of the book. I'd say that about 60% of the book are Márjá's reflections on the Sami problem, and the rest is her anxiety and stress about going back home. Only about 10% of the book takes place and are about the funeral, and what happens while Márjá is home. I felt like I was reading an essay, not a story about a woman going home for a funeral.
As the book felt more like an essay, I was kinda bummed. I really disliked the writing style that was used - with the book being 60% reflections and 30% anxiety and stress, and almost no actual story with the characters while Márjá is home. The reflections were great though, as they explored being Sami in Norway and Márjá's childhood with her áhkku - but still a little disappointing. I wanted to know more about the characters now, and not only see them from a 'childhood' perspective.
The book is also in a format that is really popular in Norway at the moment, with a 'stream of consciousness' vibe. The author writes what the characters are thinking, and the theme/topic might change in a paragraph or less. I hate that kind of writing - as the plot too often is forgotten in the stream of consciousness, and it's hard to follow the story and/or stream of thought. But as it's really popular in Norway, I shouldn't have been so surprised when Sameproblemet also used a 'stream of consciousness'-type of writing style.
All in all, I have very mixed feelings about this book. I wish there was more of a story - as the summary on the back of the book gave me the impression that the book had a solid story. The reflections and criticisms of Norway and the goverment's treatment of Sami people is very well done, and definitely the best part of the book.
I haven't rated it, and I don't know if I ever will. I need some time to process the story, but there are also so many elements that I liked and disliked, that it's hard to rate. I would definitely recommend it, even though it was hard to read at times.
The experience of growing up Sami are well-written, and interesting as a woman who haven't indulged in Sami culture in any way. I have studied it, but never interacted with it - so take that into account when reading my review.
There are sides of growing up a minority that are explored thoroughly - like discrimination, racism, prejudice, and more - but there are also stories of a family being close, and stories of their life.
The main character Ánne Márjá Engmo (Norwegian name: Anna Marie Engmo) is Sami but lives in France, and has to travel back home to go to her áhkku's (maternal grandma) funeral. Márjá has to face her past, and relive some of the struggles her and her family lived through - and reflects on the past and future of Sami culture.
The story was great and the characters were fascinating. Being Sami is obviously a big part of the characters' story, but we also get to see the everyday-life that they live. Márjá's reflections are about her being Sami and the struggles she experienced because of her heritage, and was integrated well into the everyday-life that the book described.
Sameproblemet was not at all what I expected, based on the summary on the back of the book. I'd say that about 60% of the book are Márjá's reflections on the Sami problem, and the rest is her anxiety and stress about going back home. Only about 10% of the book takes place and are about the funeral, and what happens while Márjá is home. I felt like I was reading an essay, not a story about a woman going home for a funeral.
As the book felt more like an essay, I was kinda bummed. I really disliked the writing style that was used - with the book being 60% reflections and 30% anxiety and stress, and almost no actual story with the characters while Márjá is home. The reflections were great though, as they explored being Sami in Norway and Márjá's childhood with her áhkku - but still a little disappointing. I wanted to know more about the characters now, and not only see them from a 'childhood' perspective.
The book is also in a format that is really popular in Norway at the moment, with a 'stream of consciousness' vibe. The author writes what the characters are thinking, and the theme/topic might change in a paragraph or less. I hate that kind of writing - as the plot too often is forgotten in the stream of consciousness, and it's hard to follow the story and/or stream of thought. But as it's really popular in Norway, I shouldn't have been so surprised when Sameproblemet also used a 'stream of consciousness'-type of writing style.
All in all, I have very mixed feelings about this book. I wish there was more of a story - as the summary on the back of the book gave me the impression that the book had a solid story. The reflections and criticisms of Norway and the goverment's treatment of Sami people is very well done, and definitely the best part of the book.
I haven't rated it, and I don't know if I ever will. I need some time to process the story, but there are also so many elements that I liked and disliked, that it's hard to rate. I would definitely recommend it, even though it was hard to read at times.