Rate this book

Das Siebte Kind (2011)

by Erik Valeur(Favorite Author)

2.94 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

3764505044 (ISBN13: 9783764505042)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

Blanvalet

review 1: The book is about 7 children who spend the first nights of their lives together at the Kongslund orphanage near the city of Copenhagen in 1961. These first nights left alone in the dark room where the walls are painted with blue elephants, they bond for life. The children all find new families, but they never know where they originated from, which leaves all of them feeling somewhat displaced and unattached in their surroundings. Almost fifty years later one of them decides that every child from the Elephant-room has the right to know their origin and triggers a search with the posting of an anonymous letter to each of them.They soon discover that it's not easy to retrieve the information on their biological parents, as all data has been destroyed and they find a huge opp... moreosition from very mighty players in the Danish politics. What secret is being covered-up here?At first I was being put-off by the number of pages (718) and the small lettering used, but once I started reading, I could not stop. It really is a page-turner with an ingenious plot. It's quite a complex novel with several story-lines ultimately coming together. But as it's being told by one of the children, it's very consistent and good to follow. The style is flowing and beautifully sketches the lives of the children involved. It also visualises the Danish political and societal landscape. As I spend my vacation in Denmark during my reading it, a lot of the story came to life to me. The last chapter, however, was a bit dissappointing as it leaves you with an open ending. And I do not like open endings, would rather have a happy one.
review 2: I'm not even really sure how this got past an editor. The premise is interesting enough, but the execution is just terrible. I can't even tell you how many times I rolled my eyes. So, first of all, this book seemed like he just wrote it all in one go. Like, started at chapter 1 and wrote the whole book to the end, without cross checking for plot or description repeats or anything like that. And then, there were all these tantalizing suggestions of things to be revealed, but once they were revealed it was kinda, eh. The actuality didn't live up to the hype. Which should be a crime. The characters. *sigh* I honestly couldn't tell you what any of them are, that's how much I don't care about them. They have zero personality and are only there to service the plot. I mean, the "narrator"? I guess you'd call her that? She has a personality I think, but I'm not sure what it is. Other than being a gigantic uptight holier than thou asshole.Also, I kinda guessed what the big plot mystery was kinda near the beginning, and by kinda guessed I mean I got the person right but the logistics wrong.For something that promises to be a creepy thriller, it's really anticlimactic. Just don't read it. Bookmage out. less

Download links for: Das siebte Kind

Advertising