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cassiope_fastigiata 's review for:
The Black House
by Peter May
I bought this book because I will soon take my Dad to Scotland and we plan to include the Isle of Lewis in the itinerary (I was there very briefly over 20 years ago). I thought it would be good for him to start reading novels from Scotland (as well as relevant history) in preparation, and he is always in need of a book to read.
But before sending it, I read it first. There are things I found irritating (like including a pronunciation guide in the beginning - which is very useful - but then also explaining in the text how names are pronounced approximately in English. I don’t mind being challenged when I’m reading - let me look it up when I need to, don’t take me out of the atmosphere of the story). And the protagonist has suffered or been affected by so many tragedies it just doesn’t seem plausible. BUT, I couldn’t put it down. Well, I did, I did sleep one night between starting and finishing but I didn’t talk to anyone in my family until I finished it midday Sunday. So I really did like it.
On top of the story, as a past and future tourist to the area, reading about the grim life and weather, I was thinking, why actually do I want to go there? But the descriptions of the landscapes reminded me… and I thought, I will be one of those « mainland tourists » occasionally mentioned (although I will be even more foreign), who will be oblivious to the lives of those who actually live there, enjoying the drama of the scenery and the weather and then returning to my more comfortable and well connected life after a short sojourn. But at least I know a little bit more about the place through this fictional visit, for which I am grateful.
And I think I have to find the rest of the trilogy!!
But before sending it, I read it first. There are things I found irritating (like including a pronunciation guide in the beginning - which is very useful - but then also explaining in the text how names are pronounced approximately in English. I don’t mind being challenged when I’m reading - let me look it up when I need to, don’t take me out of the atmosphere of the story). And the protagonist has suffered or been affected by so many tragedies it just doesn’t seem plausible. BUT, I couldn’t put it down. Well, I did, I did sleep one night between starting and finishing but I didn’t talk to anyone in my family until I finished it midday Sunday. So I really did like it.
On top of the story, as a past and future tourist to the area, reading about the grim life and weather, I was thinking, why actually do I want to go there? But the descriptions of the landscapes reminded me… and I thought, I will be one of those « mainland tourists » occasionally mentioned (although I will be even more foreign), who will be oblivious to the lives of those who actually live there, enjoying the drama of the scenery and the weather and then returning to my more comfortable and well connected life after a short sojourn. But at least I know a little bit more about the place through this fictional visit, for which I am grateful.
And I think I have to find the rest of the trilogy!!