Anna S. (annapi) reviewed on 1/2/2010 + 334 more book reviews

This book was not an easy read - but it was fascinating, even if difficult to follow at times. Smilla Jaspersen is a Greenlander living in Denmark. Her neighbor and friend, 7-year-old Isaiah, is found dead one day, apparently having fallen off the roof of his home while playing. Despite the police's official verdict, Smilla doesn't believe it is an accident as she knows Isaiah to be afraid of heights, so she starts investigating - and slowly opens up a can of worms. I was fascinated by the setting and culture of Denmark and Greenland, so unfamiliar to me, but the story at several points bogged down and I found this a bit of a slow read for me. However, the language is haunting and eerie, weaving an atmosphere of quiet and mystery. There were several sections as the story progresses toward its climax when I felt that Smilla's survival in her encounters with the villains becomes a bit contrived, but it was still overall a good read. My actual rating is 3.5 but I rounded up to 4 for the intriguing characters.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details