Title: The Unit
Author: Ninni Holmqvist (Translater: Marlaine Delargy)
Year: 2009
Page: 272
Genre: Fiction - Dystopian
New to me author? Yes
Read this author again? Yes
Tearjerker? No
Where did it take place? Sweden
FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library
Summary:
I don't want to post the summary here because it'll spoil the novel... This really is a book you better not know anything about it and just read it!
First Sentence:
It was more comfortable than I could have imagined.
Why did I pick this book?
Read several reviews on different blogs and thought the premise sounded interesting.
My thoughts:
- I liked this novel a lot - I am not into sci-fi book and I wouldn't really call this sci-fi because it is quite realistic, which makes it rather terrifying. I wish I didn't know much about the plot so I'd be a bit more surprised by what this book had to deliver
- The only nitpick - I am not 100% about the ending. I thought it was an okay ending, and understood why the author chose it is, but I thought it is not as powerful as it could have been - now, I don't know how it could possibly end to have more impact (I have an idea in my head but of course didn't know all the details) just that it seems a little anti-climatic. But, it was still an okay ending. At least I didn't feel like tossing the book across the room :)
- I thought the translation was done quite well - I'd read some other translated books before where the language seemed too literal. When I read this book, it didn't make me feel like I was reading a translated book at all
- This was a thought provoking story - how would you feel if we do live in a society like so? I think what makes it horrifying is that at first glimpse, you almost felt like, hey this may not be a bad idea at all... that you saw value in an arrangement like so... but of course, when you think deeper, there were a lot of ethical issues involved...
Quote
"I know it sounds crazy, but that's just how the human psyche works: we generally see what we are prepared for, what we expect to see." (p203)
"You have given my life a meaning, do you know that? The meaning of my life is you." (p216)
Rating:
You may also like these books:
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Challenges:
100+ Reading
Posts
I loved this book! And it actually did make me cry, but more becuase of personal connection as opposed to the narrative.
ReplyDeleteChrista, thanks for pointing out your review to me. I think I agree with you on all points.
ReplyDeleteI'm leaving a link to my review so others can see it too, if they're interested.
http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/the-unit-by-ninni-holmqvist/
@Carin - I must have missed your comment! I didn't see it until now, sorry! I could see why this book could be very sad... it's not a pleasant thought to think some are more deserving than others.
ReplyDelete@leeswammes - thanks for posting your link to your review! I like reading reviews of the same book just to read the different thoughts.
Sorry I'm just getting around to your review now!
ReplyDeleteI didn't mind the ending. I thought it was quite moving, but I think if the main character had made a different choice, it might have been more powerful. Ah, we'll never know.
And I agree, the translation was well done. I usually feel like something's been lost in the translation, but not this time!