This is a really tough book to review, because on one hand the story and characters were all over the place, but on the other it was still a surprisingly decent read. Despite the fact that the story was sort of a hodgepodge of metaphorical ideas that felt a lot like congealed short story fodder, and despite the fact that most of the characters made unrealistic decisions and spoke unrealistic dialog at times (Possibly a translation issue?), it still had enough going on that it managed to hold my interest right through to the end. This is particularly surprising to me because it's a ghost story without any creepiness or scares, and a fantasy story that stumbles and trips its way to an odd, yet relatively satisfying, conclusion. If anything, this book is elevated to three stars simply because it's a rare book that I have a hard time classifying, and because of that I kept at it. Much like Sweden, this book was a foreign land that some would enjoy simply because it is so alien to our American sensibilities. I wouldn't recommend this to just anyone... It's not that type of book. Instead, I would recommend it to someone who wanted to try something a little bit different. A little quirky. A little entertaining. It won't blow anyone away, but it's a breezy, fairly entertaining romp through what may seem to many to be somewhat unfamiliar territory. Horror with brains and a heart. One of the best things about this book is the way the mundane aspects of life on the island John Ajvide Lindqvist conjures from the ocean are every bit as compelling as the heart-stopping fright scenes- and the scares when they come are genuinely chilling. The main theme of this book appears to be liminality. The characters exist on the threshold between the land and the ocean, the fantastic and the everyday, and of course life and death. The history of the island unfolds naturally via several (trickily unreliable) narrators, and every single character would be strong enough to carry a novel alone.The other thing I liked about this book, and Ajvide Lindqvist's writing in general, is that he doesn't hold your hand or outline meaning in flashy neon colors. His stories are all about subtlety and ambiguity, but he's such a great writer that you won't be left wondering what happened if you take the time to read the clues. This is one of those books that will stay in my mind for months afterwards, and the only reason I didn't race through it in a day or two as because I couldn't bear to finish it.A rare five star book for me.
What do You think about Människohamn (2008)?
I love a good spooky book. This one kind of fell apart at the end. What the heck was happening?
—Renea
Il racconto mi ha coinvolto fino a quasi la fine....non mi ha convinto 'l'adila''.....
—alygaby
A Swedish take on Cthuhlu, though not completely horror driven.
—Zaneta
Very, very strange. At least the author is pushing himself.
—Ryann
Loved it.. The third book I read by Lindqvist... best yet!
—smilem
