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Meine Wildnis (2011)

by Peter Rock(Favorite Author)

3.55 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction

publisher

Dumont

review 1: This book kept me up at night, in more ways than one. I would read 60 pages in a sitting at night, and then wake up the next morning and read 25 more while I was eating breakfast. I think it took me all of 3 days to read those 225 pages.Spoilers!The writing is beautiful. The intricacy of the characters is beautiful. The author somehow shapes these characters in such few words and pages for their complexity. They are believable. (Except for that part where she cuts off her own toe, I don't feel that fit with her character, but it makes sense why it happened that way.)It's a dark story, but it's not told in a dark way. Like I didn't feel any overwhelming emotions when I read it. Mostly I was just so curious about this strange environment I was being immersed in. The part of ... morethe story where she sees the dog in the snow..beautiful in it's complexity. There were a lot of little moments in the book like the dog that I appreciated and added a depth to the characters beyond what I expected to be developed in it's short 225 pages.At first I thought he was on the run for killing his wife. I knew he had to be a criminal in some way. And then I thought he was just a mentally ill veteran (a tin foil hat type). And then eventually the truth unfolded. I liked that I couldn't guess.The climax of the story was outrageous, gross, and a little haunting. That imagery might be the second reason I had trouble sleeping. But something to that effect had to happen to move the story forward, Plus it was more original than being caught I suppose.In some way, I disliked the very end. Mostly because she spent her whole life being strong and alone and believing all these strange things, I wanted her to know the truth. I knew she knew the truth, but decided not to explore it. In that sense I felt like she continued to be lonely even while extruding an exterior of being brave and not needing anyone. I also felt like the author gave a gentle (open to interpretation) hint that she would be a kidnapper just like her father.I still wonder his motivations.
review 2: I found this book (set in Portland and Boise, Idaho) on Powell's recommendation list, and I loved it. It is a dark and rather surrealistic story about a homeless girl and her very disturbed father. I found it ultimately life-affirming and satisfying, but it is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. If you have unresolved parent issues this may be a book to avoid. The writing style is excellent - and I will be looking for other books by Peter Rock. less

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