NEXT WEEK: SPECIAL FFB MULLER AND PRONZINI
THE WATER'S EDGE, Karen Fossum
This was a very fine novel about a rather tired subject. The abduction and murder of two small boys. It is set up in an interesting manner though. A middle-age couple stumbles on the first body and the husband becomes obsessed with the case, seeing himself as the hero of the story. He even takes pictures of the poor child's body and passes them around.
The writing is very good although I felt the detectives played a very secondary role in this. We got the POV of the abductor and the POV of the couple and the POV of the child's mother and then the second child's mother and her boyfriend. This is certainly a misanthropic view of Norwegian society. There's hardly a good soul to be found. But it is so well-written and constructed you have to finish and admire it.
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10 comments:
Oh, I liked The Water's Edge very much, Patti. I'm glad you did, too. And thanks for including my post in the links.
I can no longer read those books. The world is enough of a downer these days. I don't want to read a 400 page book about child abduction and murder, no matter how well written.
It is very hard to avoid these subjects. Would like a list of books that do not deal in violence against women, kids, dogs. And yet still compelling and well written.
I'm trying for something later, Patti. Been a bit slowed down by pneumonia these days. But thankfully I'm on the mend. What do you know - it's actually cold here in North Carolina. Had to wear wool today. Ta-DA!! :)
Well, better late than never. I've finally got my post up, Patti. Thanks for your patience.
You can fill in my open slot now. Thanks again, Patti!
Gallows for the Groom by D. B. Olsen
Patti - I just can't read books with so many POV. I'm never sure if it's technique, gimmick, lack of ability to tell a story in a straight forward manner, or what, but for me as a reader it's like wat hung a ping-pong match, back and forth, over again. I want a character who can carry the story straight on through.
Yvette, my friend in North Carolina was complaining about the cold too. She said it is 37 but going down to 19 tonight! (She is southwest of Charlotte.)
Weather? It didn't get over 34 here today. It snowed yesterday and it's icy today. Nasty. We got down our street and to the Post Office today, but it's miserable and heading into the high 20s tonight.
Thanks Patti especially as I have not read anything by Fossum (yet).
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