Difference between revisions of "We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen"
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
In 1848, Laurids Madsen and other men of the small | In 1848, Laurids Madsen and other men of the small | ||
| − | town of Marstal go to war to fight the Germans | + | town of Marstal go to war to fight the Germans and an explosion |
flings him up to heaven, as far as anyone can tell. But Laurids | flings him up to heaven, as far as anyone can tell. But Laurids | ||
| − | returns, claiming his sea boots were too heavy for him to stay up | + | returns, claiming his sea-boots were too heavy for him to stay up |
there – only to be lost to Marstal anyway, as he abandons his family | there – only to be lost to Marstal anyway, as he abandons his family | ||
to sail the high seas. | to sail the high seas. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
While it’s Laurids’ story which gets the book started, the main focus | While it’s Laurids’ story which gets the book started, the main focus | ||
is on Albert and Knud. We follow Albert through nearly his entire | is on Albert and Knud. We follow Albert through nearly his entire | ||
| − | life | + | life and watch Knud grow up. They’re two incredibly captivating |
characters, and the ghostly narration of much of the book by an unseen | characters, and the ghostly narration of much of the book by an unseen | ||
chorus, the ‘’we’’ of the title just adds to the novel’s ability to | chorus, the ‘’we’’ of the title just adds to the novel’s ability to | ||
entrance you. The middle part is the exception to this narration, | entrance you. The middle part is the exception to this narration, | ||
instead being told in the first person by Albert himself as he quests | instead being told in the first person by Albert himself as he quests | ||
| − | to find his father. This is just as well-written | + | to find his father. This is just as well-written and breaks up the |
massive length of the novel well. The supporting cast – from Knud’s | massive length of the novel well. The supporting cast – from Knud’s | ||
childhood friend Anton, the Terror of Marstal, to Klara, Knud’s | childhood friend Anton, the Terror of Marstal, to Klara, Knud’s | ||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
in their own way as the main pair. | in their own way as the main pair. | ||
| − | The book is an epic in every sense, nearly as sprawling and far | + | The book is an epic in every sense, nearly as sprawling and far-reaching as the sea itself, and takes in many kinds of stories. It’s an adventure story, a romance, a coming-of-age story, a war tale, a drama, and a comedy. But more than any of those, it’s a book which begs to be savoured, with gorgeous writing. The last few pages are truly breathtaking writing which I’ve just reread several times, and the closing paragraphs made this the first literature for a long, long time which brought me close to tears with their beauty. |
| − | reaching as the sea itself, and takes in many kinds of stories. It’s | ||
| − | an adventure story, a romance, a coming-of-age story, a war tale, a | ||
| − | drama, and a comedy. But more than any of those, it’s a book which | ||
| − | begs to be savoured, with gorgeous writing. The last few pages are | ||
| − | truly breathtaking writing which I’ve just reread several times, and | ||
| − | the closing paragraphs made this the first literature for a long, long | ||
| − | time which brought me close to tears with their beauty. | ||
| − | In summary this is one of the highest recommendations I can give – | + | In summary, this is one of the highest recommendations I can give – |
certainly one of my top few books of the last decade – and despite its | certainly one of my top few books of the last decade – and despite its | ||
massive length is extremely hard to put down once you’re hooked by the | massive length is extremely hard to put down once you’re hooked by the | ||
| Line 68: | Line 61: | ||
Further reading suggestion: The only literary fiction I’ve come across | Further reading suggestion: The only literary fiction I’ve come across | ||
in the last ten years which is at a similar level of excellence to | in the last ten years which is at a similar level of excellence to | ||
| − | this book is the equally breathtaking [[The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon]]. | + | this book is the equally breathtaking [[The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon]]. I wish I could recommend [[After the Fire, A Still Small Voice by Evie Wyld]], but I didn't like it at all. |
{{amazontext|amazon=0099512963}} | {{amazontext|amazon=0099512963}} | ||
Latest revision as of 11:42, 9 August 2020
| We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen | |
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| Category: Literary Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Robert James
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| Summary: Epic novel of the sea starts in a small Danish town in 1848 and spans 97 years and much of the globe. An incredible achievement with a host of wonderful characters and some of the best writing of recent times. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 704 | Date: April 2010 |
| Publisher: Harvill Secker | |
| ISBN: 978-1846550966 | |
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Share on: | |
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In 1848, Laurids Madsen and other men of the small town of Marstal go to war to fight the Germans and an explosion flings him up to heaven, as far as anyone can tell. But Laurids returns, claiming his sea-boots were too heavy for him to stay up there – only to be lost to Marstal anyway, as he abandons his family to sail the high seas.
Years later, Laurids’ son Albert sets sail to search for his missing father, and finds seedy company, premonitions of warfare, and a mysterious shrunken head. As he returns to Marstal, the town begins to change rapidly and a woman starts to dream of reclaiming the men from the sea.
Nearly a century after the book starts, Knud Eric, a small boy in Marstal who the elderly Albert befriends, grows up to become a sailor himself against his mother’s wishes. We see the Second World War through his eyes, as he becomes a man and, along with other Marstal natives, fights against the Nazis.
While it’s Laurids’ story which gets the book started, the main focus is on Albert and Knud. We follow Albert through nearly his entire life and watch Knud grow up. They’re two incredibly captivating characters, and the ghostly narration of much of the book by an unseen chorus, the ‘’we’’ of the title just adds to the novel’s ability to entrance you. The middle part is the exception to this narration, instead being told in the first person by Albert himself as he quests to find his father. This is just as well-written and breaks up the massive length of the novel well. The supporting cast – from Knud’s childhood friend Anton, the Terror of Marstal, to Klara, Knud’s strong-willed mother, to Herman the Seagull Killer, to Albert’s captain Jack Lewis with his strange cargo – are all just as memorable in their own way as the main pair.
The book is an epic in every sense, nearly as sprawling and far-reaching as the sea itself, and takes in many kinds of stories. It’s an adventure story, a romance, a coming-of-age story, a war tale, a drama, and a comedy. But more than any of those, it’s a book which begs to be savoured, with gorgeous writing. The last few pages are truly breathtaking writing which I’ve just reread several times, and the closing paragraphs made this the first literature for a long, long time which brought me close to tears with their beauty.
In summary, this is one of the highest recommendations I can give – certainly one of my top few books of the last decade – and despite its massive length is extremely hard to put down once you’re hooked by the story.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
Further reading suggestion: The only literary fiction I’ve come across in the last ten years which is at a similar level of excellence to this book is the equally breathtaking The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I wish I could recommend After the Fire, A Still Small Voice by Evie Wyld, but I didn't like it at all.
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You can read more book reviews or buy We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen at Amazon.com.
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