Eine alte Universität und ein unheimliches Verbrechen …
Die junge Schwedin Maja ist nicht nur wegen ihres Kunststudiums an der renommierten Oxford Universität nach England gekommen. Die Polizei in Brighton erhofft sich ihre Mithilfe bei der Aufklärung des Mordes an ihrer Mutter. Inspektor King, Stephen King, der bisher eher einen realistischen und abgeklärten Blick auf das Leben pflegte, bemerkt schon bald, dass Maja anders ist. Denn sie sieht mehr als die meisten Menschen. Und während sich die Herbstschatten über Oxford legen, beginnt Maja dem Geheimnis um ihre Mutter ein Stück näherzukommen …
Det dröjde inte många minuter förrän jag var fast i Döden på en blek häst. Amanda Hellbergs språk och känsla för detaljer är en sällsam njutning. Som skräckroman betraktat är den inte heller helt oäven, där smygande sinnesstämning och lite splatter blandas på ett lagom otäckt sätt.
"Jag lämnar Brighton baklänges, i ett tåg som är sensommarkvalmigt och septemberrått på samma gång. Min vagn luktar trycksvärta och kaffeandedräkt och jag har inte många medresenärer."
Denna bok var konstig. Det tog mig en väldigt lång tid att bli klar med boken och jag fick tvinga mig själv att läsa boken. Det fanns några intressanta händelser i boken, men inte tillräckligt intressanta för två stjärnor.
This was not a very good book. Actually, this was herzschmerzschmulze, that is heartsickness of the sticky teenage kind.
But then, I only read the first 50 pages.
Most reviews I've seen have been positive. I had my suspicions, but read it anyway.
I had to sit and stare at the pages. What is this!? A youth novel? Not officially.
I can't see the fantastic about this novel. After 20 pages I'd had enough, but after 50 I had to give up. It just wasn't worth it. I am really disappointed.
Then, what's wrong? Well, it bothers me that everything is described in smallest detail. The vault would have fitted better in a gothic church. Ok. She was small and pretty with feathery blonde hair. Ok. All the presented characters are described as if wanted for questioning. Height, build, hair color, hair quality and clothes. Who cares?
Then they sit and talk silly and just in case you have forgotten, in spite of the endless descriptions, that we are in England, there's an english phrase here and there. I am not senile. Shut the f*** up.
Also, the kids drink copious amounts of alcohol. I just couldn't care less about how many beer they get from the bar or that it's cost price or if they have a mini-bulb strand over the bar. Can I just please think for myself for a minute, dear author? I'm suffocated.
So I gave up. I just feel sick and frustrated and angry. I am sure there will be great ghosts and love and obstacles. Maybe the weird girl dies. Maybe the blonde is a lesbian and falls in love with Maja. I don't care. If I wanted teenage tomfoolery, romance and drinking parties and pretentious art discussions, I'd either think back to my own teenage life or read a vampire book with roses on the cover. No thriller features can persuade me.
I am obviously not part of the target group for this book. I have nothing to say bout the technical parts. The language is good, surprising and uplifting. It was the contents that pined me.
The plot:
Maja Grå comes to Great Britain to study art at Oxford. At the same time she takes the opportunity to talk to the police about her mother's bloody death by murder.
The police is of course very charming and he also starts to believe in ghosts.
Maja Grå is cute, artistic and special. Her friends are also artistic and special, but in other ways. One of them has even met someone like Maja before, so he understands exactly how you mean. At the same time Maja wonders about her relationship with her mother, gets involved with melancholic painters and sees ghosts.
Amanda Hellberg- Döden på en Blek Häst [Maja Grå #2] Läsutmaning 20
Plot.
I had this book in my shelf so I did not voluntarily buy or borrow it. It's a Swedish book which story is set in England. To be short: It's about a young woman who can interact with the dead, including her deceased mother. Basically, we follow her life in an art school, what she's painting and what she's doing while out with her friends. Some romance, odd romance to that, but at least it's refreshing and not in focus.
Characters.
It was some time ago that I finished this book, but I don't think I liked anybody particularly much. And since I can't remember; The book wasn't so good. MOSTLY boring and so was the characters.
Summary.
The ending was a bit exciting and unexpected but not enough to lift up the rest of the book. The most interesting part now afterward is almost the parts in class when they learned how to paint.
I have no interest or desire to read the first book or the sequel to this one, and I don't really recommend it to anyone. I don't remember why I gave the book 3 stars, maybe it was because of the ending. Now I felt it was a 2. aaaaagghhh, to be short, it's nothing special about this book.
Though you're really aware of the Swedish style this book is written in since it doesn't try to make everything perfect or romantic and clean. (especially with the romance)
K byyeeeeee
#lasutmaning20 Läs en bok där huvudkaraktären kan kommunicera med spöken.
Jag hade höga förväntningar på den här boken och de infriades allihop. Det här var den första riktiga spökbok jag läst på nästan hur länge som helst. Det var precis så där mysigt rysligt som det ska vara, inget splatter (nåväl, lite blod var det väl) utan bara spöklikt. Läs mer på http://bokslut.blogspot.se/2012/09/do...