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9th out of 35 books
—
17 voters
Seal Woman
by
Solveig Eggerz (Goodreads Author)
Fiction. In the rubble of 1947 Berlin, artist Charlotte flees her past and everything she has lost by responding to an ad calling for 'strong women who can cook and do farm work' in Iceland. But painful memories and ghosts follow Charlotte as she struggles to make a new life in a raw and rugged landscape. This powerful debut novel celebrates the power of storytelling as a...more
Paperback, 170 pages
Published
September 1st 2007
by Ghost Road Press
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May 03, 2009
Mary Overton
added it
A haunted retelling of the Selkie legend as historical fiction - In a few glorious places this first novel almost verges into Magical Realism. A German woman loses her husband and their child to the violence of WWII. She moves to a remote farm in Iceland and struggles to remake her life. The author is a professional story-teller, which shows, in her use of traditional tales. I heard her read from & speak about the book at GMU. I look forward to other work by her.
A work-horse of an old farm w...more
A work-horse of an old farm w...more
Didn't like the first husband's need to stay. I think I would have drugged him and dragged him out of the country. I'm selfish like that. Can't believe he put them in such jeopardy. Idealists are selfish! Loved the character of the "old woman" who doesn't even have a name. Loved all the Icelandic farming and herb lore. The ending seemed a bit anti-climatic, but not too bad of a let down. Loose ends were tied up, which is good. Seemed like a book about dealing with loss and grief and "ghosts" con...more
This book was very haunting and moving, you had the life in Berlin before the Nazis gained full power, then how difficult life became as they gained more and more power, until it became so dangerous for The jewish people, charlotte an artist married to a fellow artist who happens to be a jew and refuses to leave the country,they have a daughter life is hard for her being half jewish.The husband is taken one day and lena the child sent to a home in the hope of being safe,will they ever be reunite...more
A German woman leaves behind her painful personal losses from WWII and starts a new life in Iceland. Told in flashback, there are stories within the stories. The characters are both vivid and yet somehow emotionally distant, laced with mystical edges that are fascinating, yet sometimes frustrating. As the title implies, the main character evokes the folk lore of the silkies, torn between two worlds and two family loyalties. I couldn't help wishing for a different (happier!) ending, but in fairne...more
Another reminder of how nice normal people get caught up in mob mentality and lose their humanity. It seems to happen all too often in the world.
Iceland is a wonderful, interesting country, and I looked forward to reading this book. The Iceland parts were my favorites. The writing is beautiful, but a bit too artsy for my taste. I liked the book, but didn't love it.
Iceland is a wonderful, interesting country, and I looked forward to reading this book. The Iceland parts were my favorites. The writing is beautiful, but a bit too artsy for my taste. I liked the book, but didn't love it.
Story about two very different worlds and to be thorn between them and not knowing what happend to your other family in war time. Takes an old Icelandic legend or folk story and connect it to a story of a young German woman moving to rural Iceland after the second world war. Liked it.
This is a wonderful story of a German woman who emigrates to Iceland after World War II. She knows her Jewish husband was killed but what about their daughter?
It's haunting and beautifully written. Prepare to lose a week or two of your life as you fall under Solveig Eggerz' spell!
It's haunting and beautifully written. Prepare to lose a week or two of your life as you fall under Solveig Eggerz' spell!
I read this for Adelante book group. Not at all what I expected (think I had it confused with the selkies of Scotland) but a somewhat gloomy story of a woman and family struggling to survive on a farm in Iceland. Evocative writing.
Actually a 3 1/2 star book, about a refugee from Nazi Germany who answers an ad for women to work farms in Iceland after WW II. How Many books will you ever read about ICELAND???? This was most interesting.
This is the first book I've been excited about in a long time. The chapters which took place in Iceland, and the exchanges between Charlotte and the old woman were beautiful.
Jan 03, 2010
Cynthia Reeser
added it
Review here: http://www.newpages.com/bookreviews/b...
This book broke my heart and then put it back together again. An absolutely amazing piece of work.
Although this story was not a crime novel it had the makings of a story within a story. It was interspersed with other stories that made it a good read.
The seal woman was what Charlotte had become. He daughter was alive back in Poland after escaping from a German death train. She seemed to find herself in her son Henrik.
The seal woman was what Charlotte had become. He daughter was alive back in Poland after escaping from a German death train. She seemed to find herself in her son Henrik.
Maybe I read too many books on Iceland this year, but I found this book to be a little depressing.
I loved this book. Was very well written. Would recommend it to others.
I Loved this book.
The book didn't focus as much on Iceland or selkie mythology as I expected it to. Thinking beyond that, the book is really about moving on after great tragedy and I agree that Iceland is a great place to do that and 'find' oneself. Solid read but still a bit disappointing.
Feb 17, 2010
Larsen
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
adults.
Recommended to Larsen by:
The author at a book review
An adult book very informative about WWII in Europe and about mid-20th Century rural life in Iceland -- Readers will likely gain increased appreciation for the emotional processes of artists and will also develope increased loathing for the atrocities of war. The author writes in a respectful way about proper, illicit, and abusive sex.
I don't often read literary books, but this one is fabulous!
Haunting and beautiful. I loved this book.
Vrey poetic and unusual. A great read.
signing at the store 9-12-08
May 11, 2013
Liz
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Rebecca
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RECIPES | 1 | 8 | 13. August, 19:30 Uhr |
06. April, 12:27 Uhr