Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
184th out of 217 books
—
57 voters
Berlin Poplars (Neshov Family #1)
Just before Christmas on a farm in Northern Norway, 80-year-old Anna Neshov, matriarch of a troubled family, is taken gravely ill. Her three sons have been quietly immersed in their work: one an undertaker, one a window-dresser, and the eldest running the family farm, but now they are forced to reunite for the first time in many years. Their personalities are as disparate...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by Random House UK
(first published 2004)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
938)
První díl trilogie o navenek tradiční rodině ze severonorského venkova: čtivý a civilní (těch pár kýčovitých tahů nevadí), aktuální i s přesahem do minulosti, napínavý i rozvláčný, pravdivý a s pointou, která mi vyrazila dech. Autorka dobře vystihuje kontrast města a venkova, individuální svobody a nekonečné poslušnosti vůči rodiči, upřímnosti a až zrůdné přetvářky. Škoda jen, že jsem knížku dočetla dřív, než vyjde druhý díl.
It's possible that this book does not deserve five stars, but I'm giving it the maximum amount anyway because it's a book that means a lot to me. This was the first book I read after being unable to read any book for a full year because of my total inability to concentrate; a result of the turmoil in my life at that time (c. 3 years ago). The book brings together the members of a fractured family and allows them to reach a point where they can see each other as vulnerable, feeling, confused huma...more
2 likes · like · see review
Le roman s'ouvre in medias res sur le suicide de Yngve, un petit garçon. Ses parents appellent alors Margido Neshov qui a une entreprise de pompe funèbres. On découvre donc cet homme et un peu les parents Kotum. Ce qui m'a troublé c'est que la suite nous fait découvrir Erlend, un concepteur de vitrines. Difficile de comprendre comment tout cela va s'emboîter pour faire avancer l'histoire, la première partie nous fait découvrir des personnages différents et en conséquence je n'ai pas compris tout...more
I got this from a friend after I told her I wanted to read something quiet after all the violent books I've read lately.
While certainly a quiet book in which not a lot happens, it certainly isn't the light-hearted family story I expected either.
It starts off with the suicide of a (possibly) gay teen, so yeah, setting of depressing tone: accomplished.
It's the story of 3 brothers and their family, coming together for the first time in many years after the mother falls ill and dies. One of them is...more
While certainly a quiet book in which not a lot happens, it certainly isn't the light-hearted family story I expected either.
It starts off with the suicide of a (possibly) gay teen, so yeah, setting of depressing tone: accomplished.
It's the story of 3 brothers and their family, coming together for the first time in many years after the mother falls ill and dies. One of them is...more
Sep 11, 2008
Mike
added it
Slow, slow, slow. Depressing. Kinda what you'd expect from Skandanavia in winter somehow.
3 likes · like · see review
Started German translation, which is rotten (i.e. stays far too close to the literal, while changing the title which is kept in most other translations, go figure that one), then continued in Norwegian at a friend's house. Suprisingly engaging book, and since I lived for a year in a village in Trondelag, it was freakishly real, all the detail about life for Norwegian 'peasants.' Recommend it. Much is said without emoting much. Will read the next ones too. All were made into TV shows, I gather, w...more
Der Klappentext und reviews hier auf goodreads haben mich zu diesem Buch verführt.
Dass es sich um eine Familiensage handelt, war mir von Anfang an klar und auch, dass Familiensagen eher selten mit fingernägel-knabbernder Spannung aufwarten. Dennoch hatte ich mir ein wenig mehr versprochen.
Der verachtete Vater, der - wie es auf dem klappentext und in der Buchbeschreibung auf Seite 3 heißt - endlich reinen Tisch machen will und nach dem Tod der Mutter seinen erwachsenen und mehr als unterschiedlic...more
Dass es sich um eine Familiensage handelt, war mir von Anfang an klar und auch, dass Familiensagen eher selten mit fingernägel-knabbernder Spannung aufwarten. Dennoch hatte ich mir ein wenig mehr versprochen.
Der verachtete Vater, der - wie es auf dem klappentext und in der Buchbeschreibung auf Seite 3 heißt - endlich reinen Tisch machen will und nach dem Tod der Mutter seinen erwachsenen und mehr als unterschiedlic...more
quotes#675167 Berlin Poplars
He worked with a kind of warm and extended happiness within him. A happiness that occasionally made him catch his breath and pumped small jabs of adrenalin into his diaphragm. p40
[cliche but still good to remember]
The doctor had given the mother a sedative; the father didn't want one. It was a classic case; men tried to manage without, keep their heads clear, not break down or lose control. Instead, he paced the kitchen floor with his hands behind his back. Margido di...more
He worked with a kind of warm and extended happiness within him. A happiness that occasionally made him catch his breath and pumped small jabs of adrenalin into his diaphragm. p40
[cliche but still good to remember]
The doctor had given the mother a sedative; the father didn't want one. It was a classic case; men tried to manage without, keep their heads clear, not break down or lose control. Instead, he paced the kitchen floor with his hands behind his back. Margido di...more
Overraskende bra!
Jeg ble overrasket fordi anmeldere og kulturpersonligheter av stor og liten tapning har gjort så mye av seg i media og vært så utrolig negative.
Dette er ingen dårlig eller halvdårlig bok, selv om enkelte kritikere (kritiker i vid forstand) gjerne vil at den skal være det.
Jeanette Sky i Morgenbladet hengte seg opp i en av hovedpersonenes samling av glassfigurer, og spesielt i at han har en enhjørning og at denne knuses. Glassmenasjeriet av Tennessee Williams er jo bare så mye bed...more
Jeg ble overrasket fordi anmeldere og kulturpersonligheter av stor og liten tapning har gjort så mye av seg i media og vært så utrolig negative.
Dette er ingen dårlig eller halvdårlig bok, selv om enkelte kritikere (kritiker i vid forstand) gjerne vil at den skal være det.
Jeanette Sky i Morgenbladet hengte seg opp i en av hovedpersonenes samling av glassfigurer, og spesielt i at han har en enhjørning og at denne knuses. Glassmenasjeriet av Tennessee Williams er jo bare så mye bed...more
Cuando me regalaron este libro y leí la contraportada, me esperaba otra novela policíaca escandinava, pero nada más lejos. Es una novela que relata la historia de una familia disfuncional noruega, en el norte frío del país. Tres hermanos obligados a reunirse ante la inminente muerte de su madre. Los capítulos van alternando los narradores. La acción es lenta, y se centra mucho en las vidas tan diferentes que llevan cada uno de los miembros de la familia.
Un libro que a pesar de su lentitud consig...more
Un libro que a pesar de su lentitud consig...more
So ist das Leben in Norwegen - allgegenwärtige Kontraste zwischen Tradition und Moderne, den althergebrachten Lebensweisen der älteren und den "alternativen" der jüngeren Generation, versteckte Konflikte und Geheimnisse in der Familie, das Miteinander und doch Nebeneinanderleben, und doch Familienbande die alles zusammenhalten. Eine gelungene Geschichte über die "durchschnittliche" Familie, die sich als doch nicht so durchschnittlich entpuppt. Der Schauplatz trägt ein übriges zur Stimmung bei -...more
Интересно ми е как ще продължи разказа. Хубав скандинавски стил, като лед, по който се движат рибки, виждат се камъни, пречупва се слънце...Ще търся и другите, то се е видяло.:)
Die Trilogie um die Familie Neshov ("Lügenhaus" – "Einsiedlerkrebse" – "Hitzewelle") gehört zu den großartigsten und berührendsten Büchern, die ich gelesen habe.
Und es passiert gar nicht viel. Denn wer hätte gedacht, dass das Leben eines Schweinezüchters, eines Bestattungsunternehmers und eines homosexuellen Schaufensterdekorateurs aufregend ist? Eben.
So viel Leid, ungelebtes Leben, Traurigkeit und Ungesagtes. Warmherzig, humorvoll und zärtlich schreibt Anne B. Ragde über die Familie, ihre Nöte,...more
Und es passiert gar nicht viel. Denn wer hätte gedacht, dass das Leben eines Schweinezüchters, eines Bestattungsunternehmers und eines homosexuellen Schaufensterdekorateurs aufregend ist? Eben.
So viel Leid, ungelebtes Leben, Traurigkeit und Ungesagtes. Warmherzig, humorvoll und zärtlich schreibt Anne B. Ragde über die Familie, ihre Nöte,...more
Saw one of scenes in the movie by accident and concluded that this was not at all the drab, post WWII-story that I´d thought. Read it promptly and really, really liked it. Odd and quite charming characters in a classic going-back-to-the-farm tale.
... and the sequels are good reads, both, so look out for the english translations!
... and the sequels are good reads, both, so look out for the english translations!
Sikafarmi-trilogian ensimmäinen osa. Kirja koukutti mustalla huumorillaan ja kiehtovilla henkilöhahmoilla. Lisämausteena ympäristönkuvaus, jonka pääkohteena toimi Norjan jylhät maisemat. Yllättävä käänne tarinan loppumetreillä takaa myös toisen osan lukemisen saman tien.
This was a great book, the best I've read in a while. I even cried at one point in the middle, and books very rarely make me cry. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy! The books have been translated into English - this one is called Berlin Poplars. I'd really recommend it!
Eighty year old Anna is rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke. Her 3 sons have not spoken in some time and are leading very different lives. However the trio reluctantly reunite at the family farm over Christmas and so the scene is set for the discussion of inheritance and the revelation of some bizarre and devastating truths. Very interesting family dynamics makes for a good read.
Das Buch wurde mir von einer Kollegin empfohlen ... es beginnt mit der Geschichte eines Bestatungsunternehmers, ich war sehr skeptisch, denn so etwas lese ich normalerweise nicht ... im Endeffekt ist es dann aber eine Familiengeschichte, die es in sich hat. Unendlich traurig aber mit solch charismatischen Charakteren, dass ich mich jetzt schon darauf freue die beiden Folgebände zu lesen (es handelt sich um eine Trilogie).
Artık hiçbir bağı kalmamış bir ailenin, annenin felç geçirmesiyle bir araya gelmesini konu alıyor kitap. Biraz Yeşilçam havasıyla da bitiyor. Çok orijinal bir konusu olmamasının yanında içinde sayfalarca , karakter, kıyafet, oda, şehir tasviri var, bu biraz boğuyor. Bazı yerlerdeki traji-komik diyaloglar hoşuma gittiği için ikinci yıldızı verdim.
Drei Brüder ganz unterschiedlichen Charakters sehen sich gezwungen, sich am Ort ihrer Kindheit zusammenzufinden, weil deren Mutter im Sterben liegt. Während alle die Begegnung mit den anderen, ihrem Vater und dem Bauernhof am liebsten vermeiden oder umgehen würden, setzen sie sich gezwungenermaßen mit sich und ihrer Vergangenheit auseinander. Und Ragde bringt einem jeden einzelnen von ihnen, wie auch die Tochter des ältesten Bruder nahe, ohne dass man eine der Personen überhaupt ins Herz zu schl...more
Obwohl nicht viel passiert, kann man das Buch nicht zur Seite legen, weil man sich als Teil der Famlie Neshov fühlt. Es ist wirklich anrührend, wie die Familie sich zusammenfindet
A gift from a dear Norwegian friend, this was the perfect holiday read: snow, Christmas, dysfunctional family, history -- the works. I devoured it in one day.
Litt stillestående, traust, fra et bondesamfunn som for meg var ukjent... Ser likevel at karakterene kan være typer som en kan finne på bygda. Ble nysgjerrig og leste alle tre bøkene - der var noe som gjorde at en måtte høre hvordan livet gikk videre for personene. Også etterhvert spennende med et persongalleri der karakterene spenner fra den mest kjedelige, trauste, tunge med en økonomi som er heller stram til den moderne, rike urbane og homofile.
Dessuten var bøkene "på alles tunger" og måtte...more
Dessuten var bøkene "på alles tunger" og måtte...more
Jul 29, 2012
Eva
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
norwegian,
in-my-real-shelf
The author paints a very honest portrait of rural Norway, the good and bad in every being, generations and finding somewhere to belong. Witty parts, sad parts, but never boring. The ending was kind of unexpected, but when you come to think of it, it all makes sense.
La lecture de ce roman, qui décrit des relations familiales plus que tendues et où la rancœur transperce à chaque page, est très plaisante. Au détour des pages nous attendent quelques rebondissements qui contrastent avec l’immobilité du paysage hivernal. L’ambiance scandinave que j’aime tant et que pourtant je n’ai jamais vécu se retrouve à chaque page du livre et j’imagine très bien la petite ville de Trondheim décorée pour Noël, le fjord, la lumière hivernale, la neige qui tombe, les lumières...more
Малко попрехвален роман, даже определян като сага. Нелошо разказана история на едно семейство. Четивно, леко.
Никога не съм си представяла, че книга, в която почти няма никакво развитие на действието, може да е толкова интересна :)) Парадокс
What a superbly written book, it had me totally captivated. Great characterisation, very funny and very moving.
Excellent. Cannot understand why her other 2? titles are not published in english. Dark humour, well written.
Personnages très interessants et complexes mais descriptions de la porcherie interminables !
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Norwegian author Anne B. Ragde (b 1957) made her literary debut in 1986 with the children’s book HALLO! HER ER JO! Since then, she has written several books for children and young adults, among them a biography about Sigrid Undset, for which she was awarded the Brage Prize. Her first novel for adults, EN TIGER FOR EN ENGEL was published in 1990. She has since written several novels, crime novels a...more
More about Anne B. Ragde...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Jan 08, 2012 09:32am