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Vesiliiv
Õhk on püssirohusuitsust hall ja hägune. Kõik peale minu on pihta saanud. Minul ei ole sinikatki.
Djursholmi üldgümnaasium on haruldane koht, kus võivad ristuda miljonärivõsude ja getonoorte teed. Ühel maihommikul kohtuvad klassiruumis viis õpilast ja õpetaja. Kohtumine lõpeb traagiliselt. Üheksa kuud hiljem astub 18-aastane Maja kohtu ette. Kas ta on tõesti süüdi kõiges, mida prokurör ja ajakirjanikud talle süüks panevad? Ja kui tema ei ole süüdi, kes siis on?
Kohtupõnevik „Vesiliiv” maalib Maja pilgu läbi pildi kolm nädalat kestvast kohtuprotsessist ja vaatab tagasi eelnenud sündmuste jadale. Miks ja kuidas läks nii, et Majast ja Sebastianist, kooli populaarseimast paarist, said koolitulistajad? Kes tegi midagi valesti või jättis tegemata? Kuidas on võimalik, et suhtest saab lõks ja need, kes peaksid hoolima, pööravad pilgu kõrvale? See on nüansirikas lugu armastusest ja reetmisest, süüst ja õiglusest, pealtnäha ilusa muretu nooruse pahupoolest, hoolimatusest ja kurbade tagajärgedega jaanalinnumängust.
Teos pälvis 2016. aastal Rootsi parima kriminaalromaani auhinna.
Djursholmi üldgümnaasium on haruldane koht, kus võivad ristuda miljonärivõsude ja getonoorte teed. Ühel maihommikul kohtuvad klassiruumis viis õpilast ja õpetaja. Kohtumine lõpeb traagiliselt. Üheksa kuud hiljem astub 18-aastane Maja kohtu ette. Kas ta on tõesti süüdi kõiges, mida prokurör ja ajakirjanikud talle süüks panevad? Ja kui tema ei ole süüdi, kes siis on?
Kohtupõnevik „Vesiliiv” maalib Maja pilgu läbi pildi kolm nädalat kestvast kohtuprotsessist ja vaatab tagasi eelnenud sündmuste jadale. Miks ja kuidas läks nii, et Majast ja Sebastianist, kooli populaarseimast paarist, said koolitulistajad? Kes tegi midagi valesti või jättis tegemata? Kuidas on võimalik, et suhtest saab lõks ja need, kes peaksid hoolima, pööravad pilgu kõrvale? See on nüansirikas lugu armastusest ja reetmisest, süüst ja õiglusest, pealtnäha ilusa muretu nooruse pahupoolest, hoolimatusest ja kurbade tagajärgedega jaanalinnumängust.
Teos pälvis 2016. aastal Rootsi parima kriminaalromaani auhinna.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Malin Persson Giolito
14 books253 followersMalin Persson Giolito was born in Stockholm in 1969, and grew up in Djursholm. She has worked as a lawyer for the biggest law firm in the Nordic region and as an official for the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.
Persson Giolito has published three previous novels. Her latest novel, Quicksand (Störst av allt), was published by Wahlström & Widstrand in June 2016 and has been sold to 24 countries and was awarded the Best Crime Novel of the Year Award 2016, Sweden’s official suspense literature award, which is given by the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy.
She lives in Brussels together with her husband and their three daughters.
Persson Giolito has published three previous novels. Her latest novel, Quicksand (Störst av allt), was published by Wahlström & Widstrand in June 2016 and has been sold to 24 countries and was awarded the Best Crime Novel of the Year Award 2016, Sweden’s official suspense literature award, which is given by the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy.
She lives in Brussels together with her husband and their three daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,458 reviews
February 12, 2020
“No one asked if I wanted to save Sebastian, but you all blame me for failing…”
I was truly excited to read and review this novel, Quicksand, by Swedish author Malin Persson Giolito. I first heard about it when it was just a deal to be translated—just another deal that happens every week in the publishing world. Yet, already I was intrigued by the premise and kept an eye out for it. So, you can imagine that when it happened across my path as an advance-read copy, wrapped in an unobtrusive (and probably at the time, incomplete) front cover, I leapt at it.
Maja Norberg is an eighteen-year-old last-year student at an expensive prep school in the center of a wealthy Swedish suburb. When she meets Sebastian, the son of billionaire Claes Fagerman, she’s immediately swept up in the ultra-cool image he’s always exuded, the weeks spent on his father’s luxurious boats and in all of the perks and toys, drugs and sex, emotional angst and obsession that their relationship evolves into. During this last year in school, the unthinkable happens, and Maja is left holding the smoking gun, literally, tearing her away from her comfy existence in the ‘burbs and placing her right in the middle of the media sensation court case of the century.
This novel started slowly, and in a tone that irritated me at first. Rather, Maja irritated me at first. But I pressed on, and I was very soon rewarded for it. For, all of the pieces of this narrative (this novel is told in interchanging sections) that seemed scattered at first, all moved together to complete the picture as a whole at a brilliant pace, pulling me in with it. This was a superb modern-day characterization of rich teens. Not a single character came off as a caricature or stereotype; they all filled the page, as if they were real people—flaws and all. Imagine Steig Larsson meets The Most Dangerous Place on Earth, and you’ve got a great idea of the sharp insight and cunningly skilled writing that you’re in for here, for this novel was everything that Dangerous Place was trying to be.
One of my favorite goodie takeaways from this novel was those thoughtful yet significant nuggets of truth and awareness here, which I so welcomed and respected. I love a sharp narrator, one who can pick apart the people around them. And that’s who Giolito gave her reader in Maja Norberg. Because, what you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find within these pages is that Quicksand features class tensions, the privilege of wealth and what happens when those taut lines cross one time too many.
“…you are wrong if you think a good story isn’t necessary. All you have to do is watch Idol or X Factor…to understand that the backstory is half the point. You all want to be surprised when the fatty sings like a star, you want to feel gratified when he made it ‘despite the odds,’ and you want to believe that it’s just bad luck that my parents don’t also live in Djursholm and work as doctors and lawyers, that it’s an injustice you are definitely not complicit in, but you can say it’s wrong and feel bad that we don’t take better care of our immigrants, if they would only be a little more Swedish, learn their new language faster, study a little harder, then the American dream would be just within reach. You love the American dream…”
In Quicksand, Malin Persson Giolito not only weaves an incredibly incisive and pulsating story, but she also manages to tackle serious social and economic issues with stunning clarity that made me sit up and re-read her passages. And, her socioeconomic commentary was presented in all of the best ways, so integrated into the actual story line that the latter would have seemed incomplete without the former, so dramatically illustrated by the sharp angles and trajectories at which these teenage lives crossed that it becomes a major undertone of the novel—a foundation of the plot rather than an accessory. Lines like, “Our problem isn’t immigrants, it’s this one percent with too much money,” cut deeply within the narrative and provoke thought all the more, because their brilliant placement within the narrative makes the reader feel that they’ve stumbled across a rare, half-hidden jewel, so that they long to find and pick up another.
I became so fully engrossed in Maja’s story, that I, too, gasped at turns of events in the courtroom and I, too, along with the judge and jury, weighed the evidence against her, trying to decide if I felt that she was guilty or not. Giolito was very skilled with the way that she handled this novel, because all parts of it—the courtroom, the jail/solitary confinement, and the backstory leading up to it—were all truly gripping, once the novel fully took off. Even the small annoyances at the beginning came together and re-presented themselves in a new light in the end, which I could only stand back and appreciate.
Giolito made me question my own instincts as to whether Maja was guilty or innocent, and I loved every minute of it. I was compelled to turn each and every page, to live these characters’ lives out with them until the very end, and for that I award the rarely given and always coveted 5 stars. *****
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I was truly excited to read and review this novel, Quicksand, by Swedish author Malin Persson Giolito. I first heard about it when it was just a deal to be translated—just another deal that happens every week in the publishing world. Yet, already I was intrigued by the premise and kept an eye out for it. So, you can imagine that when it happened across my path as an advance-read copy, wrapped in an unobtrusive (and probably at the time, incomplete) front cover, I leapt at it.
Maja Norberg is an eighteen-year-old last-year student at an expensive prep school in the center of a wealthy Swedish suburb. When she meets Sebastian, the son of billionaire Claes Fagerman, she’s immediately swept up in the ultra-cool image he’s always exuded, the weeks spent on his father’s luxurious boats and in all of the perks and toys, drugs and sex, emotional angst and obsession that their relationship evolves into. During this last year in school, the unthinkable happens, and Maja is left holding the smoking gun, literally, tearing her away from her comfy existence in the ‘burbs and placing her right in the middle of the media sensation court case of the century.
This novel started slowly, and in a tone that irritated me at first. Rather, Maja irritated me at first. But I pressed on, and I was very soon rewarded for it. For, all of the pieces of this narrative (this novel is told in interchanging sections) that seemed scattered at first, all moved together to complete the picture as a whole at a brilliant pace, pulling me in with it. This was a superb modern-day characterization of rich teens. Not a single character came off as a caricature or stereotype; they all filled the page, as if they were real people—flaws and all. Imagine Steig Larsson meets The Most Dangerous Place on Earth, and you’ve got a great idea of the sharp insight and cunningly skilled writing that you’re in for here, for this novel was everything that Dangerous Place was trying to be.
One of my favorite goodie takeaways from this novel was those thoughtful yet significant nuggets of truth and awareness here, which I so welcomed and respected. I love a sharp narrator, one who can pick apart the people around them. And that’s who Giolito gave her reader in Maja Norberg. Because, what you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find within these pages is that Quicksand features class tensions, the privilege of wealth and what happens when those taut lines cross one time too many.
“…you are wrong if you think a good story isn’t necessary. All you have to do is watch Idol or X Factor…to understand that the backstory is half the point. You all want to be surprised when the fatty sings like a star, you want to feel gratified when he made it ‘despite the odds,’ and you want to believe that it’s just bad luck that my parents don’t also live in Djursholm and work as doctors and lawyers, that it’s an injustice you are definitely not complicit in, but you can say it’s wrong and feel bad that we don’t take better care of our immigrants, if they would only be a little more Swedish, learn their new language faster, study a little harder, then the American dream would be just within reach. You love the American dream…”
In Quicksand, Malin Persson Giolito not only weaves an incredibly incisive and pulsating story, but she also manages to tackle serious social and economic issues with stunning clarity that made me sit up and re-read her passages. And, her socioeconomic commentary was presented in all of the best ways, so integrated into the actual story line that the latter would have seemed incomplete without the former, so dramatically illustrated by the sharp angles and trajectories at which these teenage lives crossed that it becomes a major undertone of the novel—a foundation of the plot rather than an accessory. Lines like, “Our problem isn’t immigrants, it’s this one percent with too much money,” cut deeply within the narrative and provoke thought all the more, because their brilliant placement within the narrative makes the reader feel that they’ve stumbled across a rare, half-hidden jewel, so that they long to find and pick up another.
I became so fully engrossed in Maja’s story, that I, too, gasped at turns of events in the courtroom and I, too, along with the judge and jury, weighed the evidence against her, trying to decide if I felt that she was guilty or not. Giolito was very skilled with the way that she handled this novel, because all parts of it—the courtroom, the jail/solitary confinement, and the backstory leading up to it—were all truly gripping, once the novel fully took off. Even the small annoyances at the beginning came together and re-presented themselves in a new light in the end, which I could only stand back and appreciate.
Giolito made me question my own instincts as to whether Maja was guilty or innocent, and I loved every minute of it. I was compelled to turn each and every page, to live these characters’ lives out with them until the very end, and for that I award the rarely given and always coveted 5 stars. *****
FOLLOW ME HERE:
Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Get a Copy of My Book | Book Editing, Author Coaching, Submit Your Book to Me
May 16, 2017
I was quite excited to have won this in the Goodreads Giveaways as it looked very intriguing since it was dubbed as Sweden's best crime novel of 2016. However, I've decided (disappointingly) not to finish it as I just can't get into it even though I've made it to page 122.
I could quite possibly be in the minority looking at reviews of this book, but I found it to be very slow and repetitive and just didn't go anywhere.
The premise of the book sounds great, and I was hooked at the prologue but that's about all I can say good about it. Of course this is just my opinion - if you like courtroom dramas with lots of very descriptive first person narrative then you should love this - I may or may not return to it one day, but there's too many more books to be read to continue with a book I'm struggling with.
I could quite possibly be in the minority looking at reviews of this book, but I found it to be very slow and repetitive and just didn't go anywhere.
The premise of the book sounds great, and I was hooked at the prologue but that's about all I can say good about it. Of course this is just my opinion - if you like courtroom dramas with lots of very descriptive first person narrative then you should love this - I may or may not return to it one day, but there's too many more books to be read to continue with a book I'm struggling with.
February 21, 2024
LA PALUDE DI STOCCOLMA
Maja, Maria Norberg, 18 anni.
Mi ci è voluto del tempo per lasciarmi conquistare, più di qualche pagina: all’inizio ero spinto solo dalla curiosità, poi man mano è diventato interesse, e piacere, sono stato catturato da Maja e dal suo racconto in prima persona.
All’inizio, invece, questa adolescente che ha appena compiuto diciotto anni, mi sembrava si sforzasse di fare la gggiovane usando termini, soprannomi, maiuscole che per convenzione rimandano alla sua età.
All’inizio mi sembrava che la voce di Malin Persson Giolito mal si adattasse a quella di Maja/Maria. Anche a causa di frasi così:
Per la prima volta intuivo quanto sarebbe stato facile per lui morire: la morte è a un solo battito di distanza dalla vita.
Poi, come ho detto, sono entrato nel gioco, mi ci sono calato.
Sebastian Fagerman, un anno più di Maja.
Si comincia subito in tromba: all’interno della classe di un liceo per terra c’è sangue, morti, un ferito, fucili, bossoli.
È stata appena commessa una strage: benché limitata, i morti sono quattro più un ferito. E tranne un professore, gli altri sono studenti.
L’unica sopravvissuta è una ragazza coperta di sangue dallo sguardo stravolto: Maja, diminutivo di Maria.
Maja viene soccorsa e appena si capisce che non è ferita, viene arrestata e isolata, non deve avere contatti né col mondo esterno né con quello carcerario, niente e nessuno deve poter corrompere le indagini, Maja va interrogata “vergine”.
E quindi, i suoi genitori non possono vederla.
A sinistra Amanda, la migliore amica di Maja, come due sorelle: Amanda è tra i morti, uccisa proprio da Maja.
E Maja ha solo diciotto anni compiuti da poco: era fidanzata con Sebastian, il figlio minore dell’uomo più ricco di Svezia.
Anche Sebastian è tra i morti: si capisce presto che Maja ha aiutato Sebastian a commettere la strage, ha poi sparato al suo ragazzo per “suicidarlo”, e lei è rimasta viva perché non ha avuto il coraggio di terminarsi.
Evidentemente qualcosa non quadra in questa ricostruzione.
La giustizia svedese riuscirà a celebrare il processo con tanto di sentenza finale in sole tre settimane, dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle 10 di mattina alle 4 del pomeriggio, incluso break for lunch, e con il venerdì più corto perché hanno tutti fretta di iniziare il weekend.
Tutti tranne Maja che vive sabati e domeniche di totale solitudine e isolamento, senza neppure le botte di vita delle udienze processuali. Le fanno passare nove mesi di isolamento assoluto, con una sola ora d’aria al giorno. Poi, se vuole, biblioteca, prete, palestra…: ma sempre senza contatti umani a parte le guardie carcerarie. Una di queste, una donna, è particolarmente gentile ed empatica verso la giovanissima detenuta.
Maja in tribunale con il suo avvocato difensore.
La stampa martella, l’opinione pubblica è assolutamente convinta che Maja sia un mostro, un’assassina, e anche una vigliacca, visto che ha avuto paura di morire a sua volta ed è sopravvissuta.
Eppure Maja era popolare, benvoluta, stimata. Lei stessa di famiglia agiata, vive nella parte più esclusiva di Stoccolma e frequenta il locale liceo, il teatro della strage.
Sebastian con accanto suo padre, una delle scelte di cast (e costume) più sbagliate, assolutamente inverosimile nella parte.
È Maja che ci parla, che racconta, che rivive, ripercorre, ricostruisce. Quando sembra non farcela, dove si ha l’impressione che anche il suo ricordo sfumi e si faccia incerto, vago, sopraggiunge il lavoro del suo avvocato, il miglior penalista di Svezia.
Questi ricchi figli di ricchi hanno rapporti laschi coi loro genitori, non tutti, ma quasi – rapporti, invece, intensi con diversi tipi di droga – e alcol – sesso con la libertà che la Svezia ci ha insegnato. Di chi è la colpa, di questa società viziata?
A me pare che Malin Persson Giolito eviti questa facile risposta. Come evita i colpi di scena, riduce al minimo gli interrogatori che potrebbero essere sorgente di informazioni importanti: per affidare tutto alla voce di Maja. Che scava, pensa, riflette, dimentica, ricorda: è questo il pregio del romanzo, quello che lo rende diverso dalla maggior parte dei thriller, questa scelta sotto traccia, low key.
E Malin Persson Giolito vince la sua sfida, riesce dove molti altri finiscono con l’essere usuali, scontati.
La serie tv dimostra ancora una volta che c’è notevole indulgenza per le serie tivvu e Netflix: non solo s’è visto molto di molto meglio, ma ha diversi problemi, spesso le situazioni sembrano poco credibili, come lo sono molte scelte di cast (l’uomo più ricco di Svezia con sgargianti pochette manco fosse un qualsiasi Ricucci) – si inventano una sequenza che nel libro non c’è, potenzialmente grandiosa (la ricostruzione sul luogo del delitto) e la sciupano con una regia e un montaggio pedestre…
Ciò detto, senza il confronto col romanzo, regge. Peccato ne rimanga escluso il mistero Maja: il mistero di questa adolescente che così sapientemente Malin Persson Giolito sa costruire.
Maja, Maria Norberg, 18 anni.
Mi ci è voluto del tempo per lasciarmi conquistare, più di qualche pagina: all’inizio ero spinto solo dalla curiosità, poi man mano è diventato interesse, e piacere, sono stato catturato da Maja e dal suo racconto in prima persona.
All’inizio, invece, questa adolescente che ha appena compiuto diciotto anni, mi sembrava si sforzasse di fare la gggiovane usando termini, soprannomi, maiuscole che per convenzione rimandano alla sua età.
All’inizio mi sembrava che la voce di Malin Persson Giolito mal si adattasse a quella di Maja/Maria. Anche a causa di frasi così:
Per la prima volta intuivo quanto sarebbe stato facile per lui morire: la morte è a un solo battito di distanza dalla vita.
Poi, come ho detto, sono entrato nel gioco, mi ci sono calato.
Sebastian Fagerman, un anno più di Maja.
Si comincia subito in tromba: all’interno della classe di un liceo per terra c’è sangue, morti, un ferito, fucili, bossoli.
È stata appena commessa una strage: benché limitata, i morti sono quattro più un ferito. E tranne un professore, gli altri sono studenti.
L’unica sopravvissuta è una ragazza coperta di sangue dallo sguardo stravolto: Maja, diminutivo di Maria.
Maja viene soccorsa e appena si capisce che non è ferita, viene arrestata e isolata, non deve avere contatti né col mondo esterno né con quello carcerario, niente e nessuno deve poter corrompere le indagini, Maja va interrogata “vergine”.
E quindi, i suoi genitori non possono vederla.
A sinistra Amanda, la migliore amica di Maja, come due sorelle: Amanda è tra i morti, uccisa proprio da Maja.
E Maja ha solo diciotto anni compiuti da poco: era fidanzata con Sebastian, il figlio minore dell’uomo più ricco di Svezia.
Anche Sebastian è tra i morti: si capisce presto che Maja ha aiutato Sebastian a commettere la strage, ha poi sparato al suo ragazzo per “suicidarlo”, e lei è rimasta viva perché non ha avuto il coraggio di terminarsi.
Evidentemente qualcosa non quadra in questa ricostruzione.
La giustizia svedese riuscirà a celebrare il processo con tanto di sentenza finale in sole tre settimane, dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle 10 di mattina alle 4 del pomeriggio, incluso break for lunch, e con il venerdì più corto perché hanno tutti fretta di iniziare il weekend.
Tutti tranne Maja che vive sabati e domeniche di totale solitudine e isolamento, senza neppure le botte di vita delle udienze processuali. Le fanno passare nove mesi di isolamento assoluto, con una sola ora d’aria al giorno. Poi, se vuole, biblioteca, prete, palestra…: ma sempre senza contatti umani a parte le guardie carcerarie. Una di queste, una donna, è particolarmente gentile ed empatica verso la giovanissima detenuta.
Maja in tribunale con il suo avvocato difensore.
La stampa martella, l’opinione pubblica è assolutamente convinta che Maja sia un mostro, un’assassina, e anche una vigliacca, visto che ha avuto paura di morire a sua volta ed è sopravvissuta.
Eppure Maja era popolare, benvoluta, stimata. Lei stessa di famiglia agiata, vive nella parte più esclusiva di Stoccolma e frequenta il locale liceo, il teatro della strage.
Sebastian con accanto suo padre, una delle scelte di cast (e costume) più sbagliate, assolutamente inverosimile nella parte.
È Maja che ci parla, che racconta, che rivive, ripercorre, ricostruisce. Quando sembra non farcela, dove si ha l’impressione che anche il suo ricordo sfumi e si faccia incerto, vago, sopraggiunge il lavoro del suo avvocato, il miglior penalista di Svezia.
Questi ricchi figli di ricchi hanno rapporti laschi coi loro genitori, non tutti, ma quasi – rapporti, invece, intensi con diversi tipi di droga – e alcol – sesso con la libertà che la Svezia ci ha insegnato. Di chi è la colpa, di questa società viziata?
A me pare che Malin Persson Giolito eviti questa facile risposta. Come evita i colpi di scena, riduce al minimo gli interrogatori che potrebbero essere sorgente di informazioni importanti: per affidare tutto alla voce di Maja. Che scava, pensa, riflette, dimentica, ricorda: è questo il pregio del romanzo, quello che lo rende diverso dalla maggior parte dei thriller, questa scelta sotto traccia, low key.
E Malin Persson Giolito vince la sua sfida, riesce dove molti altri finiscono con l’essere usuali, scontati.
La serie tv dimostra ancora una volta che c’è notevole indulgenza per le serie tivvu e Netflix: non solo s’è visto molto di molto meglio, ma ha diversi problemi, spesso le situazioni sembrano poco credibili, come lo sono molte scelte di cast (l’uomo più ricco di Svezia con sgargianti pochette manco fosse un qualsiasi Ricucci) – si inventano una sequenza che nel libro non c’è, potenzialmente grandiosa (la ricostruzione sul luogo del delitto) e la sciupano con una regia e un montaggio pedestre…
Ciò detto, senza il confronto col romanzo, regge. Peccato ne rimanga escluso il mistero Maja: il mistero di questa adolescente che così sapientemente Malin Persson Giolito sa costruire.
March 23, 2017
Ever sine Columbine, school shootings have seemed endemic to the United States, happening way to often, always devastating and difficult to understand. When I saw this was set in Sweden I was intrigued. Maja is a senior in high school when this novel takes place but will soon find herself in prison and on trial. What did she do? What did she know, and when did she know it?
Management is our narrator and she takes us into her time before the shootings, her time in jail, her talks with her lawyers and her trial. It is an intense and extensive
Character portrayal of how she felt, before, during and after. It is very well done, albeit lengthy, and often intense. All the things that went wrong, things that should have and could have gone differently, people who should have interceded, authority figures who should have had more sense, but didn't.
Although I realize that this is fiction, and would not hold true in all cases, this book provided more insight into why these things happen, and the conditions that lead up to them, than any other book I have read, or any of the mental health talking heads I have watched and listened to on television. A very well done and thought out novel.
ARC from Other Press publishers.
Management is our narrator and she takes us into her time before the shootings, her time in jail, her talks with her lawyers and her trial. It is an intense and extensive
Character portrayal of how she felt, before, during and after. It is very well done, albeit lengthy, and often intense. All the things that went wrong, things that should have and could have gone differently, people who should have interceded, authority figures who should have had more sense, but didn't.
Although I realize that this is fiction, and would not hold true in all cases, this book provided more insight into why these things happen, and the conditions that lead up to them, than any other book I have read, or any of the mental health talking heads I have watched and listened to on television. A very well done and thought out novel.
ARC from Other Press publishers.
November 23, 2017
“One percent of the people on earth own fifty percent of all the assets on earth. The poorest half of humanity owns less than five percent of the assets on earth. We don’t talk about that. I mean...”
Quicksand was good, but less of a thriller than I had been expecting. It lacks the suspense or tension often found in thrillers. Quicksand is, however, a thought-provoking psychological study on an eighteen year old woman on trial for her involvement in the mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of both her boyfriend and best friend. It sheds a light on several social and economic issues such as the unfair tax system where the wealthy pay less and the poor pay more, capitalism, prejudice against immigrants, the criminal justice system, classism, substance abuse, sexism, etc.
There is a piece of paper taped to the outside of the door; it reads THE DEFENDANT. As if anyone here believes that I am going to be able to defend myself. It’s strange that a court, where the truth is supposed to come out, has such a difficult time saying what they mean in plain language, daring to call things by their true names.
Maja is an eighteen year old senior at a prep school in a wealthy suburb. When Sebastian sets his sights on her, Maja's entire world changes. He is the son of Sweden’s richest man, Claes Fagerman. He is a whole other world of wealth and Maja's parents are thrilled at the thought of their daughter with the Claes's son. Maja is thrown into this exciting life with legendary parties seeming to love it all until she notices something darker lurking underneath in the oh so charismatic Sebastian.
The story is a very slow developing one. It takes a while to flesh out the characters while also setting the stage for the shooting and the courtroom proceedings. The chapters jump around between the courtroom, Maja's life in jail awaiting trial, and the events leading up to the shooting. I enjoyed getting the full picture, but that wasn't worth letting the narrative feel so disjointed. It didn't particularly flow well. I would've preferred the timeline to be a bit more clear.
“I hear you, Maja, I hear you. But I’m having a hard time understanding why you would write that if you didn’t mean it. Do you often say things you don’t mean?”
Quicksand is told in first person. The portrayal of the media's impact on the trial was fascinating, as well as the look at the criminal justice system. I appreciate the sharp social commentary. I just think the opportunity to fuel the pages with suspense, twists and a final explosive "wtf" moment were missed. I kept waiting for the story to shock me for reasons tied to the crime rather than only shocking me with societal issues. If I had gone into the story with the correct expectations, my rating would be higher. If you are looking for a Dangerous Girls, this isn't that book. If you are looking for a taut, insightful drama that tackles major social and economic issues, this is an excellent one to read.
January 12, 2017
Right from the first two pages, we know the premise of this extraordinary book: an attractive, popular teenager named Maja Norberg and her troubled, incredibly wealthy boyfriend Sebastian opened fire in a classroom in a tony Stockholm prep school. Maja’s best friend and Sebastian die in the shooting and there’s little doubt that Maja did it.
But does that make her guilty?
Quicksand, dubbed a literary thriller, is more “literary” than “thriller”. Those who love suspenseful “whodunnits and why did they do it” should likely look elsewhere. That being said, for those who enjoy page-turning and perceptive literary books could do a lot worse than to read Quicksand.
The chapters alternate between Maja’s current life, languishing in jail and participating in a highly publicized trial, and the events that led up to the tragic event. One thing becomes clear: Maja’s parents and best friend are thrilled with her relationship with the very wealthy Sebastian, and as a result, turn a blind eye to her struggles with his dark side. It becomes increasingly obvious that at barely eighteen, she does not have the emotional resources to cope and is inadvertently left high and dry by those who can support her.
Malin Persson Giolito goes beyond Maja’s story to depict a Swedish society that – contrary to popular perceptions – is surprisingly similar to ours, with class distinctions, worship of the most affluent, disdain for immigrants, failure of parenting. Eventually, readers will need to draw their own conclusions: who is truly guilty of this crime? Is it the perpetrator herself or is it the society that failed her? Is Maja the creature that the tabloids created or is the situation far more nuanced?
This may not be a “thriller” in the classic sense of the word, but it is provocative, insightful, and definitely page-turning.
But does that make her guilty?
Quicksand, dubbed a literary thriller, is more “literary” than “thriller”. Those who love suspenseful “whodunnits and why did they do it” should likely look elsewhere. That being said, for those who enjoy page-turning and perceptive literary books could do a lot worse than to read Quicksand.
The chapters alternate between Maja’s current life, languishing in jail and participating in a highly publicized trial, and the events that led up to the tragic event. One thing becomes clear: Maja’s parents and best friend are thrilled with her relationship with the very wealthy Sebastian, and as a result, turn a blind eye to her struggles with his dark side. It becomes increasingly obvious that at barely eighteen, she does not have the emotional resources to cope and is inadvertently left high and dry by those who can support her.
Malin Persson Giolito goes beyond Maja’s story to depict a Swedish society that – contrary to popular perceptions – is surprisingly similar to ours, with class distinctions, worship of the most affluent, disdain for immigrants, failure of parenting. Eventually, readers will need to draw their own conclusions: who is truly guilty of this crime? Is it the perpetrator herself or is it the society that failed her? Is Maja the creature that the tabloids created or is the situation far more nuanced?
This may not be a “thriller” in the classic sense of the word, but it is provocative, insightful, and definitely page-turning.
March 15, 2018
While it looks like I am in the minority compared to other reviewers, I really found this book a big disappointment. It definitely wasn’t a “thriller” as it has been touted and it was very repetitive.
At times it read like a bad teen romance novel. I only contuined to read to the end so I could see the “ verdict “ and that only covered a page.
I believe books with a similar theme such as “We need to talk about Kevin “ & “ Nineeteen minutes “ were done much better.
At times it read like a bad teen romance novel. I only contuined to read to the end so I could see the “ verdict “ and that only covered a page.
I believe books with a similar theme such as “We need to talk about Kevin “ & “ Nineeteen minutes “ were done much better.
December 18, 2017
There is a reason this Swedish novel rocketed to the top of Europe’s bestseller lists. It has everything—enormous wealth, inequality, immigration, teenage angst, drugs, sex, and death—but it also has whip-smart writing, the constraints of law, the quiet and unbreakable bonds of family. Entirely suitable for teens, this is a YA title worthy of the designation.
Told from the point of view of a young woman just out of high school, this story recounts how Maja awaited her trial on school shooting and multiple murder charges. Maja herself is silent. We only hear the voice inside her head. It is a legal thriller easily as good as America’s Scott Turow, John Grisham, Marcia Clark at the height of their powers.
Headlines scream
MASSACRE AT DJURSHOLM UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL - GIRL IN CUSTODYand
CLAES FAGERMAN MURDERED - SON’S GIRLFRIEND DEMAND: “HE MUST DIE!”We are inside the jail, inside Maja’s confused thoughts as she contemplates her imprisonment, and remembers moments in her past which illuminate her present. Readers are skeptical of any reason which seeks absolution for such a heinous crime. Maja’s lawyer is one of the most famous in Sweden, taking unpopular, unwinnable cases. Our emotions seesaw between a kind of sympathy for an ordinary teen and the extraordinary circumstances of her imprisonment.
We wrestle with big issues like the statement that “the truth is whatever we choose to believe,” and “innocence until prove guilty.” And the voice of Maja is piquant and high-school observant:
“…not a single person has ever believed that Mom is the person she pretends to be. But she keeps pretending anyway. And for the most part, people are polite about it and leave her alone…Dad’s money is hardly even fifteen minutes old. And he doesn’t have enough of it to compensate…he thinks boarding school taught him what it takes to fit in, what he has to do for high-class people to think he's one of them. He’s wrong, of course.”We are talking about the rich and the ultra rich. That in itself is an interesting perspective on high school life in Sweden: yacht trips in the Mediterranean, weekend jaunts to southern islands, parties that bring in musicians and YouTube specialists from America, multiple homes, corporate planes…you get the picture. But there is also an immigrant community in the town and the wealth discrepancy is radical. We have so many dichotomies examined in this novel between parents & youth, wealth & the lack of it, white & dark skins to name a few.
But what is best about this drama are the legal arguments. First we hear the prosecutor do her best to lay out the case against the defendant. That, and the newspapers give the court of public opinion plenty to work with until the defense can present a few counter-arguments in the weeks that follow. In the defense, we get a careful step-by-step unpicking of the prosecutor’s almost airtight case for murder. It is masterful.
Maja is uniquely well-off and privileged, but is she uniquely evil? Statistically, one could argue it is unlikely. But so much more is uncovered in the course of the trial that we cannot break away. What would cause a well-educated woman of privilege to behave in this way?
Giolito places an articulate corporate American PhD and editor-in-chief of a prestigious business publication in the position of giving a talk before the high school Maja attends, and she explicates the argument America is undergoing right now, played out by our political parties wrangling over tax policy.
“We must be cautious about the social contract. Both parties must uphold their side of the agreement. We must have comprehensible equity. It is not fair if the welfare system is bankrolled by low- and middle-income earners. If large corporations pay less in taxes than their small- and medium-size colleagues, that is not what the social contract looks like…”I don’t want to take the fun out of this spectacular book for you. Academics, teachers, high school students, lawyers, ordinary citizens will all find this beautifully-written and -translated novel a page-turner.
This is Malin Persson Giolito’s English language debut. Let’s show her American gratitude and support so we can get all her novels published here. Giolito has worked as a lawyer and for the European Commission in Brussels, where she lives with her husband and three daughters. She has entered the ranks of the best legal thriller writers working today. The translation by Rachel Willson-Broyles is exceptional. Published by Other Press.
May 31, 2017
A high octane crime thriller. It starts with a school shooting - 4 students and a teacher are shot. Only Maja remains.
Did she do it and why?
The novel switches between the intense courtroom scenes and flashbacks of events that led Maja to be in that classroom in the end.
It is a fantastic portrayal of the teenage mind, and how unsettling it can become. The characters felt real, I chose pretty early on which side I was on and so waiting for the jury verdict was as pulse pumping as if I was sat in the audience.
A great read, highly recommend to anyone interested in getting into the minds of characters affected by an issue that is unfortunately becoming more common in the present day.
Did she do it and why?
The novel switches between the intense courtroom scenes and flashbacks of events that led Maja to be in that classroom in the end.
It is a fantastic portrayal of the teenage mind, and how unsettling it can become. The characters felt real, I chose pretty early on which side I was on and so waiting for the jury verdict was as pulse pumping as if I was sat in the audience.
A great read, highly recommend to anyone interested in getting into the minds of characters affected by an issue that is unfortunately becoming more common in the present day.
February 5, 2017
This was really excellent. Atmospheric, beautifully written and the main character Maja is extraordinarily compelling.
It is described as a courtroom drama but actually the courtroom scenes are sparse, this is mostly Maja's story of how she came to be sat in said courtroom accused of murder and incitement to murder.
Brilliantly drawn and intriguing - Full review will follow a bit nearer publication.
It is described as a courtroom drama but actually the courtroom scenes are sparse, this is mostly Maja's story of how she came to be sat in said courtroom accused of murder and incitement to murder.
Brilliantly drawn and intriguing - Full review will follow a bit nearer publication.
May 1, 2017
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at https://theblondelikesbooks.wordpress...
Quicksand was my first Buddy Read of many to come with Sam from Clues and Reviews! so be sure to check out her review of the book, too.
Quicksand is a courtroom thriller about an eighteen year old girl named Maja who is on trial for a shooting at her high school that was completed by her boyfriend. Throughout the book, we'll learn what Maja's role in the shooting was. Did she know about it? Was she part of it? Guilty to innocent, you'll find out before the end of the book!
I was immediately intrigued by this book because of how similar it sounded to Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas, which if you've been following my blog or my goodreads, you may recall, I LOVED. The link will take you to my review, so you can see me rave about it if you'd like. Unfortunately, Quicksand fell flat for me.
I will start out by saying that I loved the premise. Given how much I loved Dangerous Girls, I was really excited about the plot. What I found was that hardly any of the book actually took place in the courtroom. Most of it was spent doing flashbacks of times that were before the shooting. While I can appreciate the author's attempt at giving us some insight into the characters who are eventually wrapped up in this major crime, it often felt unnecessary to me. It felt like it wasn't adding anything to what I already knew about the characters, and I found myself wanting to skim those flashbacks because they weren't holding my attention. There are some flashbacks to the time of the shooting, or right before, which I did really enjoy. I think those were perfect for the story, and I loved being able to see the shooting in the past and then fast forward to the future and hear about it again during the trial. That said, there was a ton of talk about the trial but hardly any actual trial happening. I kept waiting for it to happen, but what I kept getting were flashbacks to long before the shooting took place. It left me wanting, but not in a good way.
The other thing I really struggled with was the writing. The sentences felt very choppy, and it felt like the author was trying TOO hard to write the way people talk, using lots of sarcastic words in quotations and run on sentences, but to me it was distracting. I'm trying to be lenient because this book has been translated from its original Swedish, so I'm not sure what was lost in translation and what was the author's writing style.
Last, Quicksand was marketed as a thriller, however I felt like the suspense was lacking for me. Almost all of the characters were really unlikeable, which is okay in some circumstances, but honestly I wasn't on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened.
I really went back and forth on the rating, because the first 70-75% of the book was 2 stars for me, but the last 25-30% I'd say was 3.5 or 4 stars, because the trial finally happened and we were actually getting somewhere. Because I struggled through 3/4 of the book, I'm going to land at 2.5 stars and round down for Goodreads because I had so many issues with it. I'm sorry to say that this wasn't a winner for me. I can't say I'd recommend this book, but if the premise intrigued you, as mentioned above, I'd recommend checking out Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas.
Thank you to Netgalley, Malin Persson Giolito, and Other Press for an ARC of Quicksand in exchange for an honest review. Quicksand will be published on March 7th, 2017.
Quicksand was my first Buddy Read of many to come with Sam from Clues and Reviews! so be sure to check out her review of the book, too.
Quicksand is a courtroom thriller about an eighteen year old girl named Maja who is on trial for a shooting at her high school that was completed by her boyfriend. Throughout the book, we'll learn what Maja's role in the shooting was. Did she know about it? Was she part of it? Guilty to innocent, you'll find out before the end of the book!
I was immediately intrigued by this book because of how similar it sounded to Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas, which if you've been following my blog or my goodreads, you may recall, I LOVED. The link will take you to my review, so you can see me rave about it if you'd like. Unfortunately, Quicksand fell flat for me.
I will start out by saying that I loved the premise. Given how much I loved Dangerous Girls, I was really excited about the plot. What I found was that hardly any of the book actually took place in the courtroom. Most of it was spent doing flashbacks of times that were before the shooting. While I can appreciate the author's attempt at giving us some insight into the characters who are eventually wrapped up in this major crime, it often felt unnecessary to me. It felt like it wasn't adding anything to what I already knew about the characters, and I found myself wanting to skim those flashbacks because they weren't holding my attention. There are some flashbacks to the time of the shooting, or right before, which I did really enjoy. I think those were perfect for the story, and I loved being able to see the shooting in the past and then fast forward to the future and hear about it again during the trial. That said, there was a ton of talk about the trial but hardly any actual trial happening. I kept waiting for it to happen, but what I kept getting were flashbacks to long before the shooting took place. It left me wanting, but not in a good way.
The other thing I really struggled with was the writing. The sentences felt very choppy, and it felt like the author was trying TOO hard to write the way people talk, using lots of sarcastic words in quotations and run on sentences, but to me it was distracting. I'm trying to be lenient because this book has been translated from its original Swedish, so I'm not sure what was lost in translation and what was the author's writing style.
Last, Quicksand was marketed as a thriller, however I felt like the suspense was lacking for me. Almost all of the characters were really unlikeable, which is okay in some circumstances, but honestly I wasn't on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened.
I really went back and forth on the rating, because the first 70-75% of the book was 2 stars for me, but the last 25-30% I'd say was 3.5 or 4 stars, because the trial finally happened and we were actually getting somewhere. Because I struggled through 3/4 of the book, I'm going to land at 2.5 stars and round down for Goodreads because I had so many issues with it. I'm sorry to say that this wasn't a winner for me. I can't say I'd recommend this book, but if the premise intrigued you, as mentioned above, I'd recommend checking out Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas.
Thank you to Netgalley, Malin Persson Giolito, and Other Press for an ARC of Quicksand in exchange for an honest review. Quicksand will be published on March 7th, 2017.
September 21, 2017
“Quick Sand” by Malin Persson Giolito was named The Best Swedish Crime Novel of 2016. I found the novel to be gripping in the English translated version. Translators can make or break a novel, and Rachel Willson-Broyles deserves credit for making this a page-turner.
The main character, Maja Norberg, is involved in a mass school shooting and being tried as a co-conspirator with intent to kill. The reader slowly learns Maja’s involvement through chapters narrated by Maja. Maja is not a likable teen. In fact, all the teens in the story are not likeable (which makes this a realistic story). The teens are from an elite private school in Stockholm with the majority of the teens being “filthy rich”. They are privileged, spoiled brats.
Giolito’s writing skill is that the reader slowly builds compassion for Maja while simultaneously disliking her. Giolito also shines in slowly building an irresistible thriller.
It’s an interesting look at the lives and pressures of privileged Swedish teens. The parents in this story aren’t portrayed as particularly dutiful. The kids are allowed to run amuck and do whatever they feel like. It’s also in interesting read of the Swedish Court System, which differs from American.
All in all, I highly recommend this as a fabulous suspense read. I hope Giolito writes more and gets the novels translated in English. I am a fan.
The main character, Maja Norberg, is involved in a mass school shooting and being tried as a co-conspirator with intent to kill. The reader slowly learns Maja’s involvement through chapters narrated by Maja. Maja is not a likable teen. In fact, all the teens in the story are not likeable (which makes this a realistic story). The teens are from an elite private school in Stockholm with the majority of the teens being “filthy rich”. They are privileged, spoiled brats.
Giolito’s writing skill is that the reader slowly builds compassion for Maja while simultaneously disliking her. Giolito also shines in slowly building an irresistible thriller.
It’s an interesting look at the lives and pressures of privileged Swedish teens. The parents in this story aren’t portrayed as particularly dutiful. The kids are allowed to run amuck and do whatever they feel like. It’s also in interesting read of the Swedish Court System, which differs from American.
All in all, I highly recommend this as a fabulous suspense read. I hope Giolito writes more and gets the novels translated in English. I am a fan.
June 10, 2022
There's something painfully real surrounding school shootings that makes this novel both shocking and captivating.
The fact that it's told through the perspective of Eighteen year old Maja who's the prime suspect for the hideous crime makes it even more compelling.
The narrative weaves through both the events that led upto the tragic event, as well as Maja struggling to recall the events of that day and also the trial itself.
During flashbacks we see Maja and her relationship with wealthy Sebastian.
The various parties, drugs and sex take center stage here, it empathised that this really is a character study centeric story.
After the opening shocking scene at the school, the book took a slight slow pace.
But the more I read the more I found that I was gripped.
I'd be curious to watch the Netflix mini-series now.
The fact that it's told through the perspective of Eighteen year old Maja who's the prime suspect for the hideous crime makes it even more compelling.
The narrative weaves through both the events that led upto the tragic event, as well as Maja struggling to recall the events of that day and also the trial itself.
During flashbacks we see Maja and her relationship with wealthy Sebastian.
The various parties, drugs and sex take center stage here, it empathised that this really is a character study centeric story.
After the opening shocking scene at the school, the book took a slight slow pace.
But the more I read the more I found that I was gripped.
I'd be curious to watch the Netflix mini-series now.
August 27, 2018
Engrossing, exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the writing and it brought up a lot of interesting discussions on various issues in Scandinavian society.
March 23, 2022
2.5/5
Žinot, ko baisiausiai nemėgstu? Tų žmonių, kurie užduoda klausimą ir jo atsakymą liepia spėti. Ne retoriškai. Ne ant bajerio. O realiai laukdami variantų, kuriuos gali nuleisti nebent iš dangaus. Ar išsitraukti iš.. Nu, patys žinot, iš kur. Paėmus į rankas „Didžiausia iš visų“(pavadinimas, beje, man taip absoliučiai nesisieja su knyga, kad jam iš viso nei variantų, nei spėjimų neturiu – gal kas iš protingesnių gali paaiškint?) daugiau nei pusę knygos jaučiausi būtent taip – atrodė, kad autorė tik tampo nervus ir vis liepia spėlioti, o skaitytojas lieka stypsoti dirbdamas dėl informacijos, kurios net nežinojo, kad jam reikia.
Šiaip nemanau, kad teisminis procesas, apie kurį gali paskaityti knygoje, yra įdomus dalykas. Seriale ar filme viskas fainai – įtampa, dramatiškos kalbos, kostiumai, ašaros. Knygoje viskas kur kas plokščiau, pilkiau ir neįsimintiniau. O pirmoji „Didžiausios iš visų“ pusė ir vyksta teisme – nieko keisto, kad vietomis tikrai mintys krypo kitur, o ir spėlioti pavargau – autorė nesugeba išlaikyti dėmesio, nuklysta į nereikalingas smulkmenas ir formalumus, per daug susikoncentruoja į kabliukų mėtymą, o ne paties masalo paruošimą. Visgi, autorei pradėjus kalbėti apie esmes, knygai persivertus į antrąją pusę, pagaliau įsitraukiau – iki tol laikiausi tik dėl sarkastiškos, fainos ir nenervinančios pasakotojos, nei verksmingos, nei isteriškos, gana šmaikščios ir logiškos, kas šiaip romanuose, kuriuose pagrindinis veikėjas – paauglys, gana retas atvejis. Visgi, kliurkų ir pritempinėjimų nebuvo išvengta ir čia – mokyklinės dramos, mokyklinės meilės, draugystės ir problemos. Toli gražu ne visos nereikšmingos po dešimties metų, bet ir nežinau ar reikalaujančios tokių sprendimų, kurie autorės buvo priimti. O kur dar stipriai keistoki pagrindinės veikėjos ir ją supančiųjų santykiai, vietomis visai neįtikinantys, vietomis per daug paviršutiniškai apžvelgti, kad būtų galima tinkamai įsijausti, o priimti sprendimai iki galo įtikintų logiškumu ir realumu. Tačiau turiu pasidžiaugti, jog tai, kad autorė – ilgametė teisininkė, aiškiai jaučiasi. Mažai vyniojimo į vatą, daug realistiško teisinio teksto, neprimenančio dramatiškų serialų apie teisininkus ir aiškiai leidžiančio suprasti, kad visos žinios rašytojai atėjo per patirtį, o ne nusileido iš dangaus ar iš Google.
Tiek, kiek pradžia atrodė nereikalingai ištempta bandymu sudominti, tiek pabaiga pasirodė suskubėta ir sustumta į keletą puslapių. Viskas išsivarto taip greitai, kad net nespėji susigaudyti, tinkamai išjausti. Savo žanre knyga – neabejotinai neblogas perliukas tokio tipo kūrinių gerbėjams. Tačiau tuos, kuriuos domina paauglių smurto tema, ypač pakapstyta giliau ir įsimintiniau, rekomenduočiau „Mums reikia pasikalbėti apie Keviną“ ir siaubo Karaliaus „Įtūžį“. Galėdama „Didžiausią iš visų“ palyginti su jomis, tiek psichologinių portretų, toksiškų santykių, tiek veiksmo plėtojimo ir logikos prasme, turiu pripažinti, kad knyga – ganėtinai vidutiniška, lengvai pamirštama ir veikiau turinti daugiau šansų suspindėti ekrane, nei kad knygos puslapiuose.
Žinot, ko baisiausiai nemėgstu? Tų žmonių, kurie užduoda klausimą ir jo atsakymą liepia spėti. Ne retoriškai. Ne ant bajerio. O realiai laukdami variantų, kuriuos gali nuleisti nebent iš dangaus. Ar išsitraukti iš.. Nu, patys žinot, iš kur. Paėmus į rankas „Didžiausia iš visų“(pavadinimas, beje, man taip absoliučiai nesisieja su knyga, kad jam iš viso nei variantų, nei spėjimų neturiu – gal kas iš protingesnių gali paaiškint?) daugiau nei pusę knygos jaučiausi būtent taip – atrodė, kad autorė tik tampo nervus ir vis liepia spėlioti, o skaitytojas lieka stypsoti dirbdamas dėl informacijos, kurios net nežinojo, kad jam reikia.
Šiaip nemanau, kad teisminis procesas, apie kurį gali paskaityti knygoje, yra įdomus dalykas. Seriale ar filme viskas fainai – įtampa, dramatiškos kalbos, kostiumai, ašaros. Knygoje viskas kur kas plokščiau, pilkiau ir neįsimintiniau. O pirmoji „Didžiausios iš visų“ pusė ir vyksta teisme – nieko keisto, kad vietomis tikrai mintys krypo kitur, o ir spėlioti pavargau – autorė nesugeba išlaikyti dėmesio, nuklysta į nereikalingas smulkmenas ir formalumus, per daug susikoncentruoja į kabliukų mėtymą, o ne paties masalo paruošimą. Visgi, autorei pradėjus kalbėti apie esmes, knygai persivertus į antrąją pusę, pagaliau įsitraukiau – iki tol laikiausi tik dėl sarkastiškos, fainos ir nenervinančios pasakotojos, nei verksmingos, nei isteriškos, gana šmaikščios ir logiškos, kas šiaip romanuose, kuriuose pagrindinis veikėjas – paauglys, gana retas atvejis. Visgi, kliurkų ir pritempinėjimų nebuvo išvengta ir čia – mokyklinės dramos, mokyklinės meilės, draugystės ir problemos. Toli gražu ne visos nereikšmingos po dešimties metų, bet ir nežinau ar reikalaujančios tokių sprendimų, kurie autorės buvo priimti. O kur dar stipriai keistoki pagrindinės veikėjos ir ją supančiųjų santykiai, vietomis visai neįtikinantys, vietomis per daug paviršutiniškai apžvelgti, kad būtų galima tinkamai įsijausti, o priimti sprendimai iki galo įtikintų logiškumu ir realumu. Tačiau turiu pasidžiaugti, jog tai, kad autorė – ilgametė teisininkė, aiškiai jaučiasi. Mažai vyniojimo į vatą, daug realistiško teisinio teksto, neprimenančio dramatiškų serialų apie teisininkus ir aiškiai leidžiančio suprasti, kad visos žinios rašytojai atėjo per patirtį, o ne nusileido iš dangaus ar iš Google.
Tiek, kiek pradžia atrodė nereikalingai ištempta bandymu sudominti, tiek pabaiga pasirodė suskubėta ir sustumta į keletą puslapių. Viskas išsivarto taip greitai, kad net nespėji susigaudyti, tinkamai išjausti. Savo žanre knyga – neabejotinai neblogas perliukas tokio tipo kūrinių gerbėjams. Tačiau tuos, kuriuos domina paauglių smurto tema, ypač pakapstyta giliau ir įsimintiniau, rekomenduočiau „Mums reikia pasikalbėti apie Keviną“ ir siaubo Karaliaus „Įtūžį“. Galėdama „Didžiausią iš visų“ palyginti su jomis, tiek psichologinių portretų, toksiškų santykių, tiek veiksmo plėtojimo ir logikos prasme, turiu pripažinti, kad knyga – ganėtinai vidutiniška, lengvai pamirštama ir veikiau turinti daugiau šansų suspindėti ekrane, nei kad knygos puslapiuose.
February 6, 2017
Quicksand, the upcoming courtroom thriller, by Malin Persson Giolito follows Maja Norberg; eighteen years old and on trial for her involvement in a mass shooting at a prep school where her best friend and boyfriend were killed. I, for one, am a fan of any courtroom style thriller. I also really loved Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and the synopsis of this title seemed similar. Needless to say, I was very eager to read this one and was thrilled when my friend, Danielle from The Blonde Likes Books, decided to buddy read this title with me!
The novel opens with Maja entering the courtroom after spending nine months in jail awaiting her trial. The story develops slowly and, through flashbacks and testimonies during the trial, the reader puts together the story of what happened the day of the massacre. By the time Maja takes the stand, the plot was laced with tension and I was on the edge of my seat to hear her versions of events.
As mentioned, the novel unfolds in pieces from present day (Maja in jail) backward to the day of the massacre; bits from the past come together as Maja remembers, reflects on her time spent in prison and the prosecution and defense teams lay out the evidence. Although his narrative style was different, I also found it to be a very disjointing. The novel didn’t feel like it flowed as the flashbacks were not sequential and didn’t follow any particular timeline. Also, some of the flashbacks seemed irrelevant and didn’t really align with the story of the school shooting, instead, they set the stage to develop Maja’s character. I didn’t mind this; I just felt like the shooting became a secondary plot and the main events circled around the development of Maja and her teenage angst/love triangle.
My main complaint with this title was the fact that it read like a YA novel. As far as I know, this one was not YA. Maybe it should have been expected since an eighteen-year-old girl did narrate the plot; I just felt like it wasn’t nearly as developed, as I wanted it to be.
Nonetheless, I did enjoy this novel overall and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a YA courtroom thriller or something a little lighter; although the subject matter seems very dark, it is actually a much lighter read than expected.
The novel opens with Maja entering the courtroom after spending nine months in jail awaiting her trial. The story develops slowly and, through flashbacks and testimonies during the trial, the reader puts together the story of what happened the day of the massacre. By the time Maja takes the stand, the plot was laced with tension and I was on the edge of my seat to hear her versions of events.
As mentioned, the novel unfolds in pieces from present day (Maja in jail) backward to the day of the massacre; bits from the past come together as Maja remembers, reflects on her time spent in prison and the prosecution and defense teams lay out the evidence. Although his narrative style was different, I also found it to be a very disjointing. The novel didn’t feel like it flowed as the flashbacks were not sequential and didn’t follow any particular timeline. Also, some of the flashbacks seemed irrelevant and didn’t really align with the story of the school shooting, instead, they set the stage to develop Maja’s character. I didn’t mind this; I just felt like the shooting became a secondary plot and the main events circled around the development of Maja and her teenage angst/love triangle.
My main complaint with this title was the fact that it read like a YA novel. As far as I know, this one was not YA. Maybe it should have been expected since an eighteen-year-old girl did narrate the plot; I just felt like it wasn’t nearly as developed, as I wanted it to be.
Nonetheless, I did enjoy this novel overall and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a YA courtroom thriller or something a little lighter; although the subject matter seems very dark, it is actually a much lighter read than expected.
March 29, 2017
In brief - Hum - didn't work as well for me as it obviously does for some. 2nd half was much better than the first though.
In full
The opening chapter of this book caught the scene well for me. Maja is there in the classroom, the only uninjured person, with her boyfriend and best friend lying dead after a mass shooting. The main part of the book starts when Maja, having been in prison for 9 months, appears in the courtroom charged with murder and inciting murder. The story deals with the time before the shooting and the time after as well as the court case.
The question is what really happened in that classroom. Various aspects about the case and issues surrounding it are gradually revealed. Initially I found Maja's voice (and it is all told in her voice) rather "matter of fact" story telling which I initially liked. It was somewhat understated and equally had a feel of being uninvolved. A combination of that and the rather disjointed nature of the chapter content did make the book feel it lacked pace in the first half.
For me the story became more interesting/compelling around half way through. The courtroom drama once it got going was good. Around this time the peripheral narrative dealing with Maja's life leading up to the shooting seemed far more alive and relevant than earlier on.
This is certainly not a book I would have given up on. Other than the lack of pace early on sadly none of the characters really appealed to me in any way and some really didn't get me interested at all with the exception really of Samir.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/fiction/quicksa...
In full
The opening chapter of this book caught the scene well for me. Maja is there in the classroom, the only uninjured person, with her boyfriend and best friend lying dead after a mass shooting. The main part of the book starts when Maja, having been in prison for 9 months, appears in the courtroom charged with murder and inciting murder. The story deals with the time before the shooting and the time after as well as the court case.
The question is what really happened in that classroom. Various aspects about the case and issues surrounding it are gradually revealed. Initially I found Maja's voice (and it is all told in her voice) rather "matter of fact" story telling which I initially liked. It was somewhat understated and equally had a feel of being uninvolved. A combination of that and the rather disjointed nature of the chapter content did make the book feel it lacked pace in the first half.
For me the story became more interesting/compelling around half way through. The courtroom drama once it got going was good. Around this time the peripheral narrative dealing with Maja's life leading up to the shooting seemed far more alive and relevant than earlier on.
This is certainly not a book I would have given up on. Other than the lack of pace early on sadly none of the characters really appealed to me in any way and some really didn't get me interested at all with the exception really of Samir.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/fiction/quicksa...
June 13, 2018
Astoņpadsmitgadīgā Maja ir deviņus mēnešus pavadījusi pirmstiesas izmeklēšanas cietumā, un nu ir pienākusi kārta stāties tiesas priekšā, kur viņa tiek apsūdzēta līdzdalībā masu slepkavībā, kūdīšanā uz slepkavību un arī slepkavības veikšanā. Kas īsti notika, ka šī it kā paraugmeitene kļuva par slepkavu?
Sākot lasīt grāmatu, radās iespaids, ka tā būs mīklaināka un būs vairāk jānodarbojas ar minēšanu - ko tieši izdarīja vai neizdarīja Maja un cik liela ir viņas vaina notikušajā. Un vēl cerot, ka beigās nebūs sižeta pavērsiens, ka Maju attaisno, bet viņa, auksti smiedamās, aiziet mājās plānot nākamo masu slepkavību, jo izrādās, ka vnk ir no tām trakajām. Bet Maja izstāsta visu stāstu - pilnīgi visu. Bez meliem un ilūzijām. Un brīžiem tas bija sāpīgi. Un es biju dusmīga. Un vietām atpazinu pati sevi. Bez liekvārdības un uzspēlētas spriedzes tiek izstāstīts stāsts, kur savijas tik daudzi apstākļi (rasisms, aizspriedumi, augstprātība, cilvēku dzīšanās pēc citu, šķietami vērtīgu, cilvēku sniegtas atzinības, mūsu nespēja pamanīt, ka otram ir vajadzība palīdzība, mūsu nespēja lūgt palīdzību, mūsu ilūzijas par to, kādai ir jābūt mūsu dzīvei un cilvēkiem tajā, mūsu knašā mešanās nomētāt citus ar akmeņiem), kas neizbēgami kulminē visļaunākajā veidā. Bet visa centrā - salauzta bērna dvēsele. Un tik ļoti gribas, kaut tas nebūtu noticis. Un tad es atceros, ka nenotika jau. Jo šis it kā ir izdomāts stāsts. Bet tik ticams, tik reāls, ka sāpēja.
"Esmu gana gudra, lai saprastu, cik bezjēdzīgi ir būt gudrai, cik maz tas nozīmē un kādas problēmas sagādā."
Plašāka atsauksme blogā - https://oysternotes.wordpress.com/201...
Sākot lasīt grāmatu, radās iespaids, ka tā būs mīklaināka un būs vairāk jānodarbojas ar minēšanu - ko tieši izdarīja vai neizdarīja Maja un cik liela ir viņas vaina notikušajā. Un vēl cerot, ka beigās nebūs sižeta pavērsiens, ka Maju attaisno, bet viņa, auksti smiedamās, aiziet mājās plānot nākamo masu slepkavību, jo izrādās, ka vnk ir no tām trakajām. Bet Maja izstāsta visu stāstu - pilnīgi visu. Bez meliem un ilūzijām. Un brīžiem tas bija sāpīgi. Un es biju dusmīga. Un vietām atpazinu pati sevi. Bez liekvārdības un uzspēlētas spriedzes tiek izstāstīts stāsts, kur savijas tik daudzi apstākļi (rasisms, aizspriedumi, augstprātība, cilvēku dzīšanās pēc citu, šķietami vērtīgu, cilvēku sniegtas atzinības, mūsu nespēja pamanīt, ka otram ir vajadzība palīdzība, mūsu nespēja lūgt palīdzību, mūsu ilūzijas par to, kādai ir jābūt mūsu dzīvei un cilvēkiem tajā, mūsu knašā mešanās nomētāt citus ar akmeņiem), kas neizbēgami kulminē visļaunākajā veidā. Bet visa centrā - salauzta bērna dvēsele. Un tik ļoti gribas, kaut tas nebūtu noticis. Un tad es atceros, ka nenotika jau. Jo šis it kā ir izdomāts stāsts. Bet tik ticams, tik reāls, ka sāpēja.
"Esmu gana gudra, lai saprastu, cik bezjēdzīgi ir būt gudrai, cik maz tas nozīmē un kādas problēmas sagādā."
Plašāka atsauksme blogā - https://oysternotes.wordpress.com/201...
February 21, 2019
5 stelle nel suo genere.
Buon equilibrio narrativo tra i mesi scontati nella sezione giudiziaria del carcere, la fase dibattimentale del processo e la ricostruzione dell'antefatto.
Miglior Crime nordico del 2017 e miglior Crime Europeo del 2018.
Ora posso ritornare da Marcel Proust.
Una persona è innocente finché un tribunale non dichiara la sua colpevolezza. Che strana affermazione. O uno è sempre stato innocente oppure ha commesso il fatto fin dall’inizio. Il tribunale dovrà scoprire quale delle due, no? Mica decidere qual è la verità. Che la polizia e i giudici non fossero presenti e non sappiano esattamente chi fece cosa non significa che il tribunale possa inventarselo a posteriori
Buon equilibrio narrativo tra i mesi scontati nella sezione giudiziaria del carcere, la fase dibattimentale del processo e la ricostruzione dell'antefatto.
Miglior Crime nordico del 2017 e miglior Crime Europeo del 2018.
Ora posso ritornare da Marcel Proust.
Una persona è innocente finché un tribunale non dichiara la sua colpevolezza. Che strana affermazione. O uno è sempre stato innocente oppure ha commesso il fatto fin dall’inizio. Il tribunale dovrà scoprire quale delle due, no? Mica decidere qual è la verità. Che la polizia e i giudici non fossero presenti e non sappiano esattamente chi fece cosa non significa che il tribunale possa inventarselo a posteriori
December 18, 2017
Αυτό το βιβλίο το ευχαριστήθηκα πάρα πολύ! Για να πω, όμως, την αλήθεια στην αρχή πήγα να το αδικήσω. Γιατί; Επειδή στο στο εξώφυλλο έγραφε "δικαστικό θρίλερ" και εγώ περίμενα ένα βιβλίο σαν την "Υπόθεση Jacob" που μέχρις στιγμής δεν έχω βρει ανάλογο. Πρέπει, όμως, ένα βιβλίο να μοιάζει μ' ένα άλλο; Και φυσικά όχι. Και το βιβλίο τη Giolito είναι τόσο καλό για αυτόν ακριβώς το λόγο! Φαίνεται η συγγραφέας να έχει τρομερό ταλέντο, καθώς ξέρει πως να κρατάει τον αναγνώστη σε αγωνία, οι χαρακτήρες της είναι αρκετά καλά δομημένοι, τόσο που είχα την αίσθηση πως είναι υπαρκτά πρόσωπα. Κατά τη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης του άλλαζα διαρκώς άποψη για τους ήρωες, αλλά και στο τέλος ένιωσα πως τους συμπαθώ αλλά και τους αντιπαθώ ταυτόχρονα. Αρκετά ωραία μηνύματα θέλει να περάσει η συγγραφέας, με έναν διακριτικό τρόπο και με μια ιδιαίτερη ιστορία. Ένα μειονέκτημα αυτού του βιβλίου είναι ότι μετά από τη 200η σελίδα πηγαίνει η δράση πιο γρήγορα. Ίσως, βέβαια, να το αισθάνθηκα αυτό, επειδή περίμενα να διαβάσω κάτι διαφορετικό. Εξαιρετική η Giolito, θα διάβαζα ευχαρίστως τα επόμενα βιβλία της.
March 21, 2018
Quicksand tackles a situation so quintessentially American that it’s easy to forget its Swedish setting…a school shooting, something that’s become tragically quotidian in the US news and is quite unusual for other places. At least, because it is Swedish, it avoids certain nightmarish logistics and no one proposes to arm the teachers, but it does go on at length about so many other things. The fascinating angle here is perspective, the story is told by a survivor/participant in the massacre now on trial for her (well, not life, this is, once again, a civilized reasonable country) freedom. Then again that angle is also the novel’s detractor, because as a reader you’re essentially trapped in the mind of a very privileged very entitled teenage girl, which can get really tiresome really quick. Mind you, the author tries to address this, she’s made her protagonist very intelligent and has given her some really thought provoking insights when it comes to the legal process and culpability and public perception and so on, but it is still a 17, later 18, year old girl. There is a certain degree to emotional immaturity when it comes to relationships, one of which in particular with a troubled scion of an incredibly prosperous and credibly brutal businessman is what eventually leads to the main tragedy. The book unfolds (very leisurely) is such a way that while you know the outcome from the get go, the paths to it are revealed in a deliberately measured pace and exhaustive detail, which is to say it tracks back a year and chronicles the dysfunctional dynamics of young love. Actually, the relationship is dysfunctional on such a high level that it can really be ageless, except that there is a certain level of drama that can sometimes be very youth specific, think Romeo and Juliet, extremes, extremes. It also sands to mention that while some parts of the book can almost come across as YA, it is definitely too heavy and too sophisticated of a story for that general classification. If you’re a fan of legal drama, you’ll love this. It features a genius defense attorney, best money can buy, obviously, since money and privilege is sort of a theme. I’m not even really a fan of that particular thriller subgenre and still easily appreciated Sander’s scenes. If you’re just in it for the drama, there’s a lot of that (parents/children, friendships, relationships) and also some clever meditations and critiques on the social and financial societal structures that are universal enough in nature to appreciate universally. It even addresses immigration, although a reductive view of this might mention that the only student with something resembling a functional moral compass is an immigrant, a serious studious kid from the ghetto who tries to make good. That seems like as easy cliché for a book that seems to otherwise avoid being easy. It is essentially a good read and the author’s real life legal experience really brings an authenticity to the proceedings. The narrative is compelling and it reads easily enough for its bulk, but it is bulky, heavy in every way, and is quite an investment of time and effort to get to the finish line. Not sure if it would reads differently with adult characters of similar natures. And obviously it wouldn’t work, plot wise. Slightly surreal to read a story that seems right off the news and makes you long for the world where such things belong exclusively in the realm of fiction.
May 12, 2024
not your typical thriller
August 2, 2017
Reseña completa en: http://elcaosliterario.blogspot.com.e...
El libro juega a despistar al lector. Al estar narrado por Maja, la sospechosa de asesinato, hace que tengamos una visión parcial de todo lo que está ocurriendo. El lector conoce todo lo que pasa por la cabeza de la protagonista pero ¿hasta qué punto es cierto? ¿Está alterando la realidad? Estas dos preguntas están muy presentes entre sus páginas.
La primera página logró captar mi atención. Sí, con solo una logró convencerme para querer seguir leyendo y saber qué había pasado. Creo que su forma de escribir tan intrigante y a la vez concisa, fue lo que me cautivó en el primer momento.
El problema de esta historia llegó en los siguientes capítulos. Al avanzar se hace un poco pesado por la poca cantidad de diálogos que aparecen. Además, la protagonista le da demasiadas vueltas a todo sin centrarse en el tema central del thriller cuando ella misma sabe la verdad y es la que lo está narrando.
Toca bastantes temas pero no profundiza en ellos. Creo que conocer de antemano a la sospechosa y a los fallecidos ha pesado demasiado en la historia y la escritora no ha trazado un desarrollo demasiado claro de lo que sucede, dando la sensación de que ni ella misma sabe hasta dónde quiere llegar.
Respecto al final, lo que me parece interesante es la crítica que esconde y la conclusión que podemos sacar de este caso. ¿Algo negativo de ello? Sobran algunas páginas para contarlo.
El libro juega a despistar al lector. Al estar narrado por Maja, la sospechosa de asesinato, hace que tengamos una visión parcial de todo lo que está ocurriendo. El lector conoce todo lo que pasa por la cabeza de la protagonista pero ¿hasta qué punto es cierto? ¿Está alterando la realidad? Estas dos preguntas están muy presentes entre sus páginas.
La primera página logró captar mi atención. Sí, con solo una logró convencerme para querer seguir leyendo y saber qué había pasado. Creo que su forma de escribir tan intrigante y a la vez concisa, fue lo que me cautivó en el primer momento.
El problema de esta historia llegó en los siguientes capítulos. Al avanzar se hace un poco pesado por la poca cantidad de diálogos que aparecen. Además, la protagonista le da demasiadas vueltas a todo sin centrarse en el tema central del thriller cuando ella misma sabe la verdad y es la que lo está narrando.
Toca bastantes temas pero no profundiza en ellos. Creo que conocer de antemano a la sospechosa y a los fallecidos ha pesado demasiado en la historia y la escritora no ha trazado un desarrollo demasiado claro de lo que sucede, dando la sensación de que ni ella misma sabe hasta dónde quiere llegar.
Respecto al final, lo que me parece interesante es la crítica que esconde y la conclusión que podemos sacar de este caso. ¿Algo negativo de ello? Sobran algunas páginas para contarlo.
March 4, 2017
Maja is on trial for the mass murder at her school that involved her killing her boyfriend and her best friend. She has become the most hated teenager in the country but no one really knows what happened and she hasn't exactly been talking. Is she really a cold blooded killer or a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with a self defense tactic gone wrong?
While I am usually a fan of courtroom crime thrillers, this one just didn't quite hit home for me. I felt there was a lot of repetition and read extremely slow in some places. This goes back and forth, starting at the point where she has been in jail for 9 months awaiting trial. We see her relationships with her family, her best friend and her boyfriend - all of whom have their own issues. The book kept me engaged enough to want to see what the final verdict will be... but when the ending came, it left me wanting. This is where I wish books wouldn't say "if you like this, you'll love that"... this says it's The Secret History meets We Need To Talk About Kevin... I kinnnnnd of see that, but ultimately, I think I expected much more because of this statement. If you like courtroom crime and a layered story of teen angst gone wrong, this could be a book better suited for you. Would love to get other's views on this one, so if you pick it up, please get back with me to discuss!
While I am usually a fan of courtroom crime thrillers, this one just didn't quite hit home for me. I felt there was a lot of repetition and read extremely slow in some places. This goes back and forth, starting at the point where she has been in jail for 9 months awaiting trial. We see her relationships with her family, her best friend and her boyfriend - all of whom have their own issues. The book kept me engaged enough to want to see what the final verdict will be... but when the ending came, it left me wanting. This is where I wish books wouldn't say "if you like this, you'll love that"... this says it's The Secret History meets We Need To Talk About Kevin... I kinnnnnd of see that, but ultimately, I think I expected much more because of this statement. If you like courtroom crime and a layered story of teen angst gone wrong, this could be a book better suited for you. Would love to get other's views on this one, so if you pick it up, please get back with me to discuss!
January 2, 2018
If ever there was a book that shows that the Best Swedish Crime Novel award needs to be closely followed, QUICKSAND is it. Scandinoir remains one of the big things in worldwide crime fiction, but, as you'd expect, there can sometimes be a little sameness to the sub genre. Which is not intended as criticism, there's only so many subject matters, styles and approaches available when you're writing psychological thrillers or crime fiction. QUICKSAND, on the other hand, has taken an unusual and different approach to a very difficult subject, handling that undertaking with considerable aplomb.
The novel is narrated by teenager Maja Norberg, who is standing trial for a high school shooting in which her best friend, several other students, a teacher and her boyfriend and fellow shooter, Sebastian, were killed. She's been in jail for nine months and seems surprisingly calm and sanguine about the possible outcome. Maja is a most unlikely killer, not because she comes from a privileged and wealthy background, but as she seems to be searching for answers herself.
The storyline switches between past and present seamlessly, always within Maja's viewpoint, going back to when she first met Sebastian, their growing romantic and sexual connection, and simultaneous relationships with her family, his father and her friends. Author Malin Persson Giolito hasn't flinched from making this character a difficult girl to connect with. She's a teenager with attitude and adolescent angst aplenty, contemptuous, judgemental, more often than not frustratingly annoying. Which makes this a discomfortingly realistic portrayal. A young girl beset with doubts and complex emotions, looking down on her parents, her teachers, her surroundings and society in general, reserving any real emotion and affection - not for the boyfriend she can't break away from - but for her baby sister and grandparents.
As the story progresses much about Sebastian and his own background becomes clearer, as does Maja's own involvement. Both of these teenagers have had unexpected difficulties to cope with - subtle and perhaps more "first world" than any problems associated normally with poverty and disadvantage, but nonetheless, there's something bubbling away under the surface of these seemingly perfect lives that isn't right and not good. There's much being said here about that idea of wealth and privilege compensating for bad parenting, unreasonable expectation and disaffection. As you'd expect, as more is revealed, the mental state of, and relationship between, Sebastian and Maja becomes more erratic, controlling and toxic.
But was it toxic enough for her to join him in his murderous plan? Did she know what Sebastian did on that final morning, was she an active participant? Did she incite or did she somehow get caught up in the madness herself? There's plenty of proof to say who shot who in that final scene in the classroom, but not necessarily why or even how. Even Maja is struggling for understanding, whilst in solitary confinement, in consultations with her lawyers and in a courtroom.
QUICKSAND is very clever in the way that it pulls readers in and repulses at the same time. It gives you licence to really dislike the central character, and the freedom to empathise, sympathise and change your mind all at the same time. Everyone is incredibly real - from parents right to the teenagers themselves. And because of that everyone is flawed, and the things that people do allowed to stun, confront, bemuse and annoy. It's finally a lesson in what you see is not always what you get, and right up until the judgement is read in court you'll be unsure how the rest of Maja's life is going to pan out.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
The novel is narrated by teenager Maja Norberg, who is standing trial for a high school shooting in which her best friend, several other students, a teacher and her boyfriend and fellow shooter, Sebastian, were killed. She's been in jail for nine months and seems surprisingly calm and sanguine about the possible outcome. Maja is a most unlikely killer, not because she comes from a privileged and wealthy background, but as she seems to be searching for answers herself.
The storyline switches between past and present seamlessly, always within Maja's viewpoint, going back to when she first met Sebastian, their growing romantic and sexual connection, and simultaneous relationships with her family, his father and her friends. Author Malin Persson Giolito hasn't flinched from making this character a difficult girl to connect with. She's a teenager with attitude and adolescent angst aplenty, contemptuous, judgemental, more often than not frustratingly annoying. Which makes this a discomfortingly realistic portrayal. A young girl beset with doubts and complex emotions, looking down on her parents, her teachers, her surroundings and society in general, reserving any real emotion and affection - not for the boyfriend she can't break away from - but for her baby sister and grandparents.
As the story progresses much about Sebastian and his own background becomes clearer, as does Maja's own involvement. Both of these teenagers have had unexpected difficulties to cope with - subtle and perhaps more "first world" than any problems associated normally with poverty and disadvantage, but nonetheless, there's something bubbling away under the surface of these seemingly perfect lives that isn't right and not good. There's much being said here about that idea of wealth and privilege compensating for bad parenting, unreasonable expectation and disaffection. As you'd expect, as more is revealed, the mental state of, and relationship between, Sebastian and Maja becomes more erratic, controlling and toxic.
But was it toxic enough for her to join him in his murderous plan? Did she know what Sebastian did on that final morning, was she an active participant? Did she incite or did she somehow get caught up in the madness herself? There's plenty of proof to say who shot who in that final scene in the classroom, but not necessarily why or even how. Even Maja is struggling for understanding, whilst in solitary confinement, in consultations with her lawyers and in a courtroom.
QUICKSAND is very clever in the way that it pulls readers in and repulses at the same time. It gives you licence to really dislike the central character, and the freedom to empathise, sympathise and change your mind all at the same time. Everyone is incredibly real - from parents right to the teenagers themselves. And because of that everyone is flawed, and the things that people do allowed to stun, confront, bemuse and annoy. It's finally a lesson in what you see is not always what you get, and right up until the judgement is read in court you'll be unsure how the rest of Maja's life is going to pan out.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
November 1, 2019
Sve što sam znao o ovoj knjizi pre čitanja je da je u pitanju kriminalistički roman koji je nagrađivan više puta, čitajući intervju sa spisateljicom koji je obavila Nataša (ako se ne varam) iz Dokaz izdavaštva saznao sam da je knjiga počela da se uvodi u srednje škole u Švedskoj i da pokreće mnogobrojna pitanja i otvara prostor za debate.
Naviknut sam na trilere i o tome da se o zločinima piše iz ugla policajaca koji istražuju zločin. Očekivao sam sličnu priču i ovde, međutim to nije bilo slučaj. Ovaj roman je priča Maje Norbeg. Ona iz svog ugla priča o suđenju, o zatvoru, o događajima koji su usledili zločinu za koji je optužena. Na korici imamo "Da li smo baš svi nevini dok se ne dokaže suprotno?" pitanje. I na kraju odgovor neće biti jednostavan. Mislim da je ovo jedna od onih knjiga čija tematika vam ostane u mislima. Vratićete se njoj za 7 dana, mislićete o nekim pitanjima koji su pokrenuti u knjizi za mesec dana. Diskutovaćete o njoj sa prijateljima, poznanicima, na internetu. I mislim da je ovo odlična knjiga za buddy read jer je ovo knjiga koja pokreće diskusije.
Čini mi se da kod nas nema toliko stranaca i imigranata (bar pričam za deo Srbija u kom ja živim) i možda ne mogu najbolje da osetim taj problem stranaca koji dolaze i "uzimaju" poslove, koji postaju domaći itd. Kroz knjige sam se više puta susreo sa imigrantima i njihovim razlozima zašto napuštaju svoju zemlju i odlaze tamo negde. Čitao sam i u raznim člancima o tome i uvek sam se trudio da razumem. Ova knjiga donosi priču gledanu iz malo drugačijeg ugla.
Ovde ćete čitati o bogatim klincima i razuzdanim žurkama, o nemarnim roditeljima koji kinje svoju decu, o drugarstvima koja nemaju duboke korene, o (ne)razumevanju među ljudima, o potrebi da se jedna osoba u društvu izdigne. I na kraju, ovo je priča koja vam postavlja pitanje da li je osoba koja je pucala iz oružja i ubila nekog uvek kriva ili ipak postoje izuzeci?
Likovi u ovom romanu su veoma dobro prikazani. Pre svega možemo da doživimo kako Maja razmišlja, možemo da joj uđemo u glavu. Kroz njenu priču možemo da imamo uvid i u ostale likove. Tu je imalo više negativnih likova ali najomraženiji meni je bio Klas. Takve osobe ne bi trebalo da budu roditelji! Od omiljenih likova nemam baš koga da izdvojim, ali advokatovo ispitivanje Samira je ostavilo veliki utisak na mene pa ću njega izdvojiti.
Naviknut sam na trilere i o tome da se o zločinima piše iz ugla policajaca koji istražuju zločin. Očekivao sam sličnu priču i ovde, međutim to nije bilo slučaj. Ovaj roman je priča Maje Norbeg. Ona iz svog ugla priča o suđenju, o zatvoru, o događajima koji su usledili zločinu za koji je optužena. Na korici imamo "Da li smo baš svi nevini dok se ne dokaže suprotno?" pitanje. I na kraju odgovor neće biti jednostavan. Mislim da je ovo jedna od onih knjiga čija tematika vam ostane u mislima. Vratićete se njoj za 7 dana, mislićete o nekim pitanjima koji su pokrenuti u knjizi za mesec dana. Diskutovaćete o njoj sa prijateljima, poznanicima, na internetu. I mislim da je ovo odlična knjiga za buddy read jer je ovo knjiga koja pokreće diskusije.
Čini mi se da kod nas nema toliko stranaca i imigranata (bar pričam za deo Srbija u kom ja živim) i možda ne mogu najbolje da osetim taj problem stranaca koji dolaze i "uzimaju" poslove, koji postaju domaći itd. Kroz knjige sam se više puta susreo sa imigrantima i njihovim razlozima zašto napuštaju svoju zemlju i odlaze tamo negde. Čitao sam i u raznim člancima o tome i uvek sam se trudio da razumem. Ova knjiga donosi priču gledanu iz malo drugačijeg ugla.
Ovde ćete čitati o bogatim klincima i razuzdanim žurkama, o nemarnim roditeljima koji kinje svoju decu, o drugarstvima koja nemaju duboke korene, o (ne)razumevanju među ljudima, o potrebi da se jedna osoba u društvu izdigne. I na kraju, ovo je priča koja vam postavlja pitanje da li je osoba koja je pucala iz oružja i ubila nekog uvek kriva ili ipak postoje izuzeci?
Likovi u ovom romanu su veoma dobro prikazani. Pre svega možemo da doživimo kako Maja razmišlja, možemo da joj uđemo u glavu. Kroz njenu priču možemo da imamo uvid i u ostale likove. Tu je imalo više negativnih likova ali najomraženiji meni je bio Klas. Takve osobe ne bi trebalo da budu roditelji! Od omiljenih likova nemam baš koga da izdvojim, ali advokatovo ispitivanje Samira je ostavilo veliki utisak na mene pa ću njega izdvojiti.
June 15, 2017
This is not exactly what I would call a murder mystery. There are murders, to be sure, and there is mystery as to what one character is actually guilty. But, I would call it a novel of suspense. It is well written and I like how it gradually reveals more pieces of the puzzle. I was never lacking interest so I will say it is actually 3.75 if we rated a bit more specifically overall. The first 85% of the book is definitely 4 stars, but it was so exceptionally good that the ending is actually anticlimactic. I would go as far as saying the ending was both lackluster and unimaginative. Pedestrian. Trite. I am always so disappointed when I am 100% engaged with a story and one that seems like there is going to big swerve only to find myself having a big yawn at the end.
I watched an English movie called 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage." An American watches an attack on the Italian wife in the art gallery she and her husband own. The American is stuck between two glass doors and can only watch as the villain escapes. The gallery owner's wife survives and the American stays in the country to try and help the police capture this villain whom they believe to be responsible for 3 previous killings. Because something is nagging the American about what he witnessed; we, the audience get to see this attack several times over again as the American tries to figure out what bothers him that he can't remember. The movie has one of the biggest bang endings I've ever witnessed or read and for the longest time it felt like Quicksand was going to have the same kind of bomb go off for an ending. Far from a bomb, I wouldn't even say it was a sparkler........
I watched an English movie called 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage." An American watches an attack on the Italian wife in the art gallery she and her husband own. The American is stuck between two glass doors and can only watch as the villain escapes. The gallery owner's wife survives and the American stays in the country to try and help the police capture this villain whom they believe to be responsible for 3 previous killings. Because something is nagging the American about what he witnessed; we, the audience get to see this attack several times over again as the American tries to figure out what bothers him that he can't remember. The movie has one of the biggest bang endings I've ever witnessed or read and for the longest time it felt like Quicksand was going to have the same kind of bomb go off for an ending. Far from a bomb, I wouldn't even say it was a sparkler........
April 11, 2021
Najbolji skandinavski kriminalistički roman 2017.
Najbolji evropski kriminalistički roman 2018.
Zašto?
Maja Norberg je osamnaestogodišnjakinja koja je optužena da je učestvovala u planiranju masovnog ubistva u jednoj elitnoj školi u Stokholmu, koju je pohađala sa svojim momkom Sebastijanom.
''Živi pesak'' roman je čija radnja ne teče linearno, pa se tako nalazimo čas u sudnici, čas u vilama i jahtama bogate švedske djece, koja naizgled proživljavaju tipične tinejdžerske probleme: zaljubljivanje, eksperimentisanje sa drogama, drame subotnjih žurki.
Iako se autorka svojski potrudila da njeni likovi oslikavaju društvo multikulturalizma Švedske, gdje su zastupljeni rođeni Šveđani, imigranti Sirijci i Afrikanci, promaklo joj je da ti likovi budu bilo šta više od kartona na kojem je napisano njihovo ime i rasa.
Prateći suđenje Maji Norberg, koja je i naratorka ovog romana, saznajemo priču o sirotim malim bogatašima, koji samo žele da ih neko voli, a u taj miks ubačeni su elementi društvene odgovornosti, površni presjek švedskog društva u periodu najintenzivnije migracije ljudi sa Bliskog istoka, i još površnije emocije tinejdžera, sa kojima, sigurna sam, niko od čitalaca ne može da saosjeća.
Bezlični likovi proizveli su i bezličan zaplet, koji na 400 strana sa moje strane nisu izazvali ni malo empatije, zbog čega je ovo jedna od lošijih knjiga koju sam pročitala u poslednjih nekoliko godina.
Dvije zvjezdice - samo zato što sam uspjela da završim čitanje.
Najbolji evropski kriminalistički roman 2018.
Zašto?
Maja Norberg je osamnaestogodišnjakinja koja je optužena da je učestvovala u planiranju masovnog ubistva u jednoj elitnoj školi u Stokholmu, koju je pohađala sa svojim momkom Sebastijanom.
''Živi pesak'' roman je čija radnja ne teče linearno, pa se tako nalazimo čas u sudnici, čas u vilama i jahtama bogate švedske djece, koja naizgled proživljavaju tipične tinejdžerske probleme: zaljubljivanje, eksperimentisanje sa drogama, drame subotnjih žurki.
Iako se autorka svojski potrudila da njeni likovi oslikavaju društvo multikulturalizma Švedske, gdje su zastupljeni rođeni Šveđani, imigranti Sirijci i Afrikanci, promaklo joj je da ti likovi budu bilo šta više od kartona na kojem je napisano njihovo ime i rasa.
Prateći suđenje Maji Norberg, koja je i naratorka ovog romana, saznajemo priču o sirotim malim bogatašima, koji samo žele da ih neko voli, a u taj miks ubačeni su elementi društvene odgovornosti, površni presjek švedskog društva u periodu najintenzivnije migracije ljudi sa Bliskog istoka, i još površnije emocije tinejdžera, sa kojima, sigurna sam, niko od čitalaca ne može da saosjeća.
Bezlični likovi proizveli su i bezličan zaplet, koji na 400 strana sa moje strane nisu izazvali ni malo empatije, zbog čega je ovo jedna od lošijih knjiga koju sam pročitala u poslednjih nekoliko godina.
Dvije zvjezdice - samo zato što sam uspjela da završim čitanje.
August 20, 2018
Plūstošās smiltis, kurās iegrimt un netikt laukā. Smiltis saujā, kas plūst caur pirkstiem, to saņemot ciešāk, kontrole pār apkārtējo pasauli, tuviem cilvēkiem, vecākiem un citiem pieaugušajiem piedāvātās iespējas palīdzēt, garīgā veselība, ļoti daudz simbolu silmiltīm var atrast šajā psiholoģiskajā drāmā, kuras gavenā varone, 18 gadīgā Maja, tiek tiesāta par masu slepkavību Zviedrijas "krutajā" vidusskolā.
4 no 5 tikai tāpēc, ka vērtējumus lieku, balstoties uz savām emocijām. Nu daudz niknuma, skumju un depresīvu domu sagādāja šī labi uzrakstīta psiholoģiskā drāma. Grāmatas tēli šķita īsti cilvēki, ar savām labajām īpašībām, trūkumiem, dažus pieaugušos gribēju sakratīt, dažu smagi iekaustī, bet visnemīļākais tēls man tomēr visas grāmatas garumā palika nemainīgs - SAMIRS!
4 no 5 tikai tāpēc, ka vērtējumus lieku, balstoties uz savām emocijām. Nu daudz niknuma, skumju un depresīvu domu sagādāja šī labi uzrakstīta psiholoģiskā drāma. Grāmatas tēli šķita īsti cilvēki, ar savām labajām īpašībām, trūkumiem, dažus pieaugušos gribēju sakratīt, dažu smagi iekaustī, bet visnemīļākais tēls man tomēr visas grāmatas garumā palika nemainīgs - SAMIRS!
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