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kdrmbroms's review against another edition
2.0
Another in the ever expanding sub-genre of Scandinavian thrillers with incredibly stilted dialog, terrible translation, improbable coincidences, pop psychology, insufferable hi-tech and current event references, and self-absorbed intellectual proselytizers out to save the world. Too bad since the premise is interesting and the story does kind of grow on you by the end.
kamaria's review against another edition
2.0
This book was fairly interesting. I mean, I was really hooked by the end and wanted to know what would happen, how everything would be sorted out. And I was entertained regardless of several things that bugged me. That is why I give the book two stars. I always feel like I rate noir different from other genres. I am kind of more benevolent. I give them stars for entertaining and not for their literary merit.
What I didn't like at all:
1. This is a choral novel with four narrators. That is nice, but for the fact all four had the same voice. It was easy to tell who was talking, because each had her own problems that the rest didn't perceive, so that didn't impair the reading. So there was a difference, yes, but just in context/plot, not really in style - they even used the same pet words! I hate when authors so obviously try for something -which is not that easy, by the way- and it ends up being clumsy.
2. The four narrators were women. Four distinct women. Albeit they were all built after the same cliché. I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say much. Suffice it to say that we are well beyond that 'women are neurotic' point of view to stand this novel. Human behaviour is not so easy to explain. Besides, it really showed the author was male when he described everyday actions, like getting dressed for a party, or cooking...
3. The writing was awful. I thought it might be the translation, but I read someone's review where it was said that it was as awful in the original language. The good side is that it is quite forgettable and it is written at a fast pace, so it doesn't have have you ruminating over it.
And I was so disappointed by the end, by Iben and by Zigic. It could have been a pretty good book, but it wasn't.
What I didn't like at all:
1. This is a choral novel with four narrators. That is nice, but for the fact all four had the same voice. It was easy to tell who was talking, because each had her own problems that the rest didn't perceive, so that didn't impair the reading. So there was a difference, yes, but just in context/plot, not really in style - they even used the same pet words! I hate when authors so obviously try for something -which is not that easy, by the way- and it ends up being clumsy.
2. The four narrators were women. Four distinct women. Albeit they were all built after the same cliché. I don't want to spoil it, so I won't say much. Suffice it to say that we are well beyond that 'women are neurotic' point of view to stand this novel. Human behaviour is not so easy to explain. Besides, it really showed the author was male when he described everyday actions, like getting dressed for a party, or cooking...
3. The writing was awful. I thought it might be the translation, but I read someone's review where it was said that it was as awful in the original language. The good side is that it is quite forgettable and it is written at a fast pace, so it doesn't have have you ruminating over it.
And I was so disappointed by the end, by Iben and by Zigic. It could have been a pretty good book, but it wasn't.