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The Burnt-Out Town Of Miracles (2005)

by Roy Jacobsen(Favorite Author)
3.43 of 5 Votes: 4
ISBN
0719521122 (ISBN13: 9780719521126)
languge
English
publisher
John Murray
review 1: De Nederlandse titel van dit boek (in het Noors 'Hoggerne') is bijzonder slecht gekozen, want als de hoofdpersoon, de houthakker Timo Vatanen, iets niet is, dan is het wel een schlemiel. Integendeel, het is een standvastige, sterke kerel met een groot uithoudings- en overlevingsvermogen, die aan het begin van de Fins-Russische oorlog van 1939 besluit in zijn woonplaats Suomussalmi te blijven ipv mee te evacueren. Daar treft de oorlog hem hard en hij helpt een handjevol zwakke Russen, die met hem hout moeten hakken voor eerst Russische, dan Finse regimenten, onder kou en ontberingen de oorlog door.In deze in de eerste persoon geschreven scenes zit de kracht van het boek, want het brengt de oorlog met zijn eigen wetten zeer dichtbij. Het boek eindigt met een postlude van dri... moree hoofdstukken in de derde persoon, waarin het absurde van een leven in vredestijd na zo'n ervaring beschreven wordt.
review 2: In 1939 the Russian army were days away from the town of Suomussalmi,Finland. All the towns people were give evacuation orders to leave the town. Everyone, except Timo Vatanen refused to leave his town. When the Finnish army came through they had torched all the businesses and homes in the town. Most of them burnt but a few. Timo set up stakes in one of his friends house and took care of the place. The Russians came through and thought he was foolish to have stayed behind. Timo had offered to cut wood for the army as long as he was allowed to stay in his friends home. Timo had made friends with some Russian loggers and had offered the home as shelter to them. As the war waged on, with bombs landing all around the home not once was it hit. It was like an "Angel" was shielding the home from harms way and kept the occupants inside safe from harm.Jacobsen wrote a well written story of a strong willed man who stood up for himself and his love of his town. He showed the true story of friendship amongst strangers and showing what he was willing to sacrifice of himself. less
Reviews (see all)
Niece
Deceptively simple in its style, but I’m afraid it left me a little flat.
kokat19
Super haunting- it's always floating in the recesses of my mind.
Axel
This is a beautifully written book. Very moving.
Edie
Bleak wartime story set in Finland.
Sanjoli
Hassenpfeffer incorporated!
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