Again, a masterpiece by Hoeg. This book was wery engaging and it had a flow that carried me through the book with ease. The protagonist, Kaspar Krone, is an intriguing character and Hoeg excels in describing the world through his eyes and ears.
All the important aspects of a good story are present in the book: adventure, romance, love, sex, philosophy, religion and music. As is often the case with great art, this book offers a new way to look at world. The protagonist perceives the world mostly through hearing, and music has an important role in his worldview. Hoeg's ability to use classic music as an element of his story is very impressive and shows the amount of work put into writing this book.
After finishing the book, I was not sure wether to give it four or five stars. The final pages of book felt at first a …
Reviews and Comments
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Simo rated Maa on syntinen laulu: 4 stars
Simo reviewed Hiljainen tyttö by Peter Høeg
None
5 stars
Again, a masterpiece by Hoeg. This book was wery engaging and it had a flow that carried me through the book with ease. The protagonist, Kaspar Krone, is an intriguing character and Hoeg excels in describing the world through his eyes and ears.
All the important aspects of a good story are present in the book: adventure, romance, love, sex, philosophy, religion and music. As is often the case with great art, this book offers a new way to look at world. The protagonist perceives the world mostly through hearing, and music has an important role in his worldview. Hoeg's ability to use classic music as an element of his story is very impressive and shows the amount of work put into writing this book.
After finishing the book, I was not sure wether to give it four or five stars. The final pages of book felt at first a bit bland, after very intensive and touching events. However, I believe that this is one of those books that have potential for several readings. Maybe the ending feels different when I read this book next time, in another point of my life.
Simo reviewed Auringon ydin by Johanna Sinisalo
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3 stars
Auringon ydin tarjosi mielenkiintoisen vision vaihtoehtoistodellisuuden Suomesta. Kuten hyvän dystopiakirjan kuuluukin, se herätti ajatuksia tämän maailman tapahtumista. Kirjassa oli paljon pieniä oivalluksia tämän hetken kiinnostavista kysymyksistä (esim. vaihtoehtoisuskomukset, päihteiden laillisuus), kuten myös länsimaisen kulttuurin ikuisuuskysymyksistä (valtion rooli, naisen asema). Valitettavasti näiden aiheiden käsittely ei kuitenkaan yltänyt sille tasolle, että kirjan luettuaan olisi kokenut ymmärtävänsä maailmaa paremmin, tai osaavansa katsoa sitä eri näkökulmasta, muutamaa poikkeusta lukuunottamatta.
Sinisalon tyyli kirjoittaa lyhyitä kappaleita ja sijoitella tapahtumien sekaan katkelmia sanakirjoista, lehtiartikkeleista ja kirjoista toimii hyvin vaihtoehtoisen maailman esittelyvälineenä. Hän osaa myös hyvin loppukäänteiden suunnittelun ja kirjoittamisen: vaikka en kiintynytkään päähenkilöihin niin paljon että olisin jäänyt heitä kirjan loputtua kaipaamaan, oli kirjan viimeinen viidennes pakko lukea ennen kuin malttoi mennä nukkumaan.
Sinisalossa on kirjoittajana paljon samaa kuin Neil Gaimanissa: molempien vahvuudet ovat novelleissa, joissa heidän leikittelynsä todellisuudella pääsevät parhaiten oikeuksiinsa, samoin kyky kehittää tunnelmakuvia muista maailmoista. Kuitenkin molempien romaanit tuntuvat välillä hyvien ideoiden venyttämiseltä väksisin …
Auringon ydin tarjosi mielenkiintoisen vision vaihtoehtoistodellisuuden Suomesta. Kuten hyvän dystopiakirjan kuuluukin, se herätti ajatuksia tämän maailman tapahtumista. Kirjassa oli paljon pieniä oivalluksia tämän hetken kiinnostavista kysymyksistä (esim. vaihtoehtoisuskomukset, päihteiden laillisuus), kuten myös länsimaisen kulttuurin ikuisuuskysymyksistä (valtion rooli, naisen asema). Valitettavasti näiden aiheiden käsittely ei kuitenkaan yltänyt sille tasolle, että kirjan luettuaan olisi kokenut ymmärtävänsä maailmaa paremmin, tai osaavansa katsoa sitä eri näkökulmasta, muutamaa poikkeusta lukuunottamatta.
Sinisalon tyyli kirjoittaa lyhyitä kappaleita ja sijoitella tapahtumien sekaan katkelmia sanakirjoista, lehtiartikkeleista ja kirjoista toimii hyvin vaihtoehtoisen maailman esittelyvälineenä. Hän osaa myös hyvin loppukäänteiden suunnittelun ja kirjoittamisen: vaikka en kiintynytkään päähenkilöihin niin paljon että olisin jäänyt heitä kirjan loputtua kaipaamaan, oli kirjan viimeinen viidennes pakko lukea ennen kuin malttoi mennä nukkumaan.
Sinisalossa on kirjoittajana paljon samaa kuin Neil Gaimanissa: molempien vahvuudet ovat novelleissa, joissa heidän leikittelynsä todellisuudella pääsevät parhaiten oikeuksiinsa, samoin kyky kehittää tunnelmakuvia muista maailmoista. Kuitenkin molempien romaanit tuntuvat välillä hyvien ideoiden venyttämiseltä väksisin täyspitkän kirjan mittoihin.
Simo reviewed Helmet of Horror by Виктор Пелевин
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2 stars
Interesting story about myths and human mind. The book is about several aliases discussing in a chatroom about how to escape a labyrint occupied by minotaur, but the discussion is more philosophical than practical. I believe that a reader more acquainted with greek myths, or myths in general, could have gotten more out of the book. For me, the book was entertaining but it did not provoke neither thoughts nor emotions.
The book was written in the form of chatroom conversation and therefore a fast read.
Simo rated Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World: 4 stars
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (世界の終りとハードボイルド・ワンダーランド, Sekai no owari to hādo-boirudo wandārando) is a 1985 novel by …
Simo reviewed Pussikaljaromaani by Mikko Rimminen
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3 stars
Pidin todella paljon Rimmisen kirjoitustyylistä. Vaikka sitä oli välillä vaikeaa tai raskasta lukea, paljon useammin kieli sai minut hymyilemään nokkeline sananvalintoineen ja lauserakenteineen. Kirjan päähenkilöiden edesottamuksia oli hauska seurata, vaikka välillä tuntuikin ettei kirjan tarina kantanut aivan loppuun asti.
Vaikka pidinkin kirjailijan tyylistä, en taida ainakaan ihan heti tarttua hänen muihin kirjoihinsa, sillä pelkään ettei tyyli enää toisella kertaa tuntuisi yhtä raikkaalta.
Simo reviewed Norwegian wood by Haruki Murakami (Keltainen pokkari)
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4 stars
Norwegian Wood is much simpler in structure than later books by Murakami that I have read. However, the same masterful descriptions of people can be found already in here. Again I was captured by the description of what the characters did and felt, and when the book ended I was sad to leave the characters behind.
Murakami is a master of sentimental prose. He can find the right balance of drama, romance, tragedy and nostalgy, without going over the top.
Simo reviewed Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
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3 stars
Ligotti's horror is the horror of dreams and surreal. He describes an universe that is dark and mindless and in which humanity is only a trope of puppets on their way to corruption or destruction. The short stories are focused on describing the surreal world in which the characters live and therefore the actual plots of the stories are not important.
Perhaps reading one story per night would be better approach to Teatro Grottesco. Reading the book through in few days seemed to lessen the impact of separate stories, as they were arranged in a way that stories similar in theme followed each other. This way separate stories did not stand out, as they each described the same nightmares.
Ligotti's horror is the horror of dreams and surreal. He describes an universe that is dark and mindless and in which humanity is only a trope of puppets on their way to corruption or destruction. The short stories are focused on describing the surreal world in which the characters live and therefore the actual plots of the stories are not important.
Perhaps reading one story per night would be better approach to Teatro Grottesco. Reading the book through in few days seemed to lessen the impact of separate stories, as they were arranged in a way that stories similar in theme followed each other. This way separate stories did not stand out, as they each described the same nightmares.
Simo reviewed Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon
The scene is Baltimore. Twice every three days another citizen is shot, stabbed or bludgeoned …
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2 stars
If I would have read this book before watching Homicide TV series or The Wire, it would have earned more stars because of the eye-opening description of the work of police detectives and the station house power plays. However, the story telling of the book looses to the two works of fiction mentioned. This may be understandable because of the requirements of describing real people and events, but nonetheless this book was a slow read and even boring at some points.
I respect David Simon for the work done and will probably read the other book written by him at some point.
Simo reviewed Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
From the beloved New York Times– bestselling author, a quintessential Nick Hornby tale of music, …
None
3 stars
This book offers great description of what it is like to love art and live inside your own head. It describes the good and bad sides of being a fan: the myths you need to create to transform real persons into idols, and the emotional highs listening to the music you love can bring.
At the same time, the book describes what it is to be living with a person who has lost their grip of reality, or what it is to be an object of fandom. It's book about changing your life and accepting the things you can't change.
This book would probably be more relevant read when one is closer to 40 than 30 years old.
This book offers great description of what it is like to love art and live inside your own head. It describes the good and bad sides of being a fan: the myths you need to create to transform real persons into idols, and the emotional highs listening to the music you love can bring.
At the same time, the book describes what it is to be living with a person who has lost their grip of reality, or what it is to be an object of fandom. It's book about changing your life and accepting the things you can't change.
This book would probably be more relevant read when one is closer to 40 than 30 years old.
Simo reviewed High fidelity by HIGH FIDELITY
None
4 stars
This book was a great read and I wasn't able to put it down until finished. The author gives an accurate picture of what it feels like to be a drifter/slacker growing old. The narrators cynical and self-deprecating opinions on work, friends, women and relationships (especially the latter two) are thought-provoking and sometimes painfully identifiable.
The only problem with the book for me was that the cultural references were not all that clear. If I had been born in the early 70's I would probably have given this book 5 stars.
This book was a great read and I wasn't able to put it down until finished. The author gives an accurate picture of what it feels like to be a drifter/slacker growing old. The narrators cynical and self-deprecating opinions on work, friends, women and relationships (especially the latter two) are thought-provoking and sometimes painfully identifiable.
The only problem with the book for me was that the cultural references were not all that clear. If I had been born in the early 70's I would probably have given this book 5 stars.
Simo rated George Orwell's 1984: 5 stars
George Orwell's 1984 by George Orwell
Nineteen Eighty-Four (also stylised as 1984) is a dystopian social science fiction novel and cautionary tale written by English writer …
Simo reviewed POP.1280 by Jim Thompson (Crime Masterworks)
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3 stars
Pop 1280 is one of those books where you are dependent on narrators' view on what happens, even though you know that this description is not the whole truth. Book tells about county sheriff who has very peculiar view on his job and life in general. At first, the book seems to be a comedic description of clueless and lazy sheriff in small town who cares only of doing as little work as possible. After a while, the narrative gets more sinister tone when more of sheriff's worldview is revealed.
The strength of the book is it main character and I was surprised to find that book was written already in 60's, as it has somewhat modern feel. It reminds me of Deadwood TV series by setting and characters.
Pop 1280 is one of those books where you are dependent on narrators' view on what happens, even though you know that this description is not the whole truth. Book tells about county sheriff who has very peculiar view on his job and life in general. At first, the book seems to be a comedic description of clueless and lazy sheriff in small town who cares only of doing as little work as possible. After a while, the narrative gets more sinister tone when more of sheriff's worldview is revealed.
The strength of the book is it main character and I was surprised to find that book was written already in 60's, as it has somewhat modern feel. It reminds me of Deadwood TV series by setting and characters.