Marko Hautala

Hautala has written some fantastically creepy scenes here, along with some tantalizing connections, terrifying atmosphere, and tremendously horrific images that themselves deserve notice.

And yet...I'm honestly not sure how I feel about it. There's no doubt that the beginning and ending were stronger and carried more inertia than the middle of the book. And while I can also see while he chose to structure it as he did, and pull things together as he did, I can't help feeling that the larger impression, while creepy, is also full of chaos. And I'm not sure how much of that chaos is productive vs. accidental.

I'd probably have to read the book again to get a real feel for how well I feel it's been put together, and how much of that chaos serves a purpose, but the truth is that none of the characters are sympathetic enough to come close to demanding the book be offered the time for that second read. And when I add in the fact that so much of the on-the-page sex and violence felt as if it was delivered with an eye toward shock value vs. expanding on the story...well, I'm not even sure I really want to explore more of Hautala's work.

Perhaps I'll have clearer feelings on the book later and be able to revisit this review. Until then, I'm left thinking there's a lot to admire here, but so much chaos that the book is an experience just so much as a narrative which will have any lasting impact for me, or bring me back to the author for more.… (mere)

Das Buch ist zwar sehr ambitioniert, aber dennoch nicht gelungen. Eine etwas verzwickt zusammengesetzte Familie trifft sich auf einer Insel. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Einladung steht Markus, der seit einem schweren Unfall nicht mehr er selbst ist. Markus ist Historiker, aber seit Jahren fachlich ziemlich abgedriftet. In Rückblenden werden noch andere Erlebnisse, nämlich ein Urlaub in Griechenland und eine historische Geschichte eingebettet. Die Hauptfigur ist Jenni, die früher mit Markus zusammen war, dann aber seinen Vater Aaron geheiratet hat. Auf der Insel geschehen seltsame Dinge, trotzdem hält sich die Spannung in Grenzen. Zumindest ich war innerlich kaum involviert.… (mere)