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L'Unité Alphabet
L’Unité Alphabet est le service psychiatrique d’un hôpital militaire où, pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les médecins allemands infligeaient d’atroces traitements à leurs cobayes, pour la plupart des officiers SS blessés sur le front de l’Est.
Bryan, pilote de la RAF, y a survécu sous une identité allemande en simulant la folie. Trente ans ont passé mais, chaque jour, il revit ce cauchemar et repense à James, son ami et copilote, qu’il a abandonné à l’Unité Alphabet et qu’il n’a jamais retrouvé. En 1972, à l’occasion des jeux Olympiques de Munich, Bryan décide de repartir sur ses traces. Sans imaginer que sa quête va réveiller les démons d’un passé plus présent que jamais.
Le premier roman de Jussi Adler Olsen, l’auteur de la célèbre série du Département V, où éclatait déjà le talent de ce maître du thriller scandinave.
Bryan, pilote de la RAF, y a survécu sous une identité allemande en simulant la folie. Trente ans ont passé mais, chaque jour, il revit ce cauchemar et repense à James, son ami et copilote, qu’il a abandonné à l’Unité Alphabet et qu’il n’a jamais retrouvé. En 1972, à l’occasion des jeux Olympiques de Munich, Bryan décide de repartir sur ses traces. Sans imaginer que sa quête va réveiller les démons d’un passé plus présent que jamais.
Le premier roman de Jussi Adler Olsen, l’auteur de la célèbre série du Département V, où éclatait déjà le talent de ce maître du thriller scandinave.
628 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 1997
680 people are currently reading
6627 people want to read
About the author
Jussi Adler-Olsen
61 books5,215 followersJussi Adler-Olsen is a Danish author who began to write novels in the 1990s after a comprehensive career as publisher, editor, film composer for the Valhalla cartoon and as a bookseller.
He made his debut with the thriller “Alfabethuset” (1997), which reached bestseller status both in Denmark and internationally just like his subsequent novels “And She Thanked the Gods” (prev. “The Company Basher”) (2003) and “The Washington Decree” (2006). The first book on Department Q is “Kvinden I buret” (2007) and the second “Fasandræberne” (2008). The main detective is Deputy Superintendent Carl Morck from the Department Q and he is also the star of the third volume, “Flaskepost fra P” which was released in the fall of 2009 and secured Adler-Olsen ”Readers' Book Award” from Berlingske Tidende-readers, the Harald Mogensen Prize as well as the Scandinavian Crime Society's most prestigious price ”Glass Key”. The fourth volume in the Department Q series, “Journal 64” was published in 2010 and he was awarded the once-in-a-lifetime-prize of “The Golden Laurels” for this in 2011”. In December 2012 the fifth novel was published, “Marco Effekten".
Furthermore, Jussi Adler-Olsen was awarded “Favourite Author of the Danes” in 2011, 2012 and 2013 leading the organization behind to change the set-up, so the winner cannot be chosen more than once in a three year period.
Jussi Adler-Olsen's novels have had such an impact abroad, that he has also received a variety of awards there: ”The Sealed Room Award” in Japan for “Kvinden I buret”; ”Best Translated Mystery Novel of the Year”,”The Crime - Blitz Award 2011” in Germany for “Flaskepost til P” given to the best international crime, Elle magazine's French reader award: ”Prix de Lectrices the Elle” for “Kvinden I buret” as well as ”The Barry Award” in the US for “Kvinen I buret” that was elected ”Best Novel of the Year”.
His first novel “Alfabethuset” and the first four books of the Department Q series have been sold for film adaptation. “Kvinden I buret” premiered in 2013 and “Fasandræberne” opens in Denmark October 2014.
He made his debut with the thriller “Alfabethuset” (1997), which reached bestseller status both in Denmark and internationally just like his subsequent novels “And She Thanked the Gods” (prev. “The Company Basher”) (2003) and “The Washington Decree” (2006). The first book on Department Q is “Kvinden I buret” (2007) and the second “Fasandræberne” (2008). The main detective is Deputy Superintendent Carl Morck from the Department Q and he is also the star of the third volume, “Flaskepost fra P” which was released in the fall of 2009 and secured Adler-Olsen ”Readers' Book Award” from Berlingske Tidende-readers, the Harald Mogensen Prize as well as the Scandinavian Crime Society's most prestigious price ”Glass Key”. The fourth volume in the Department Q series, “Journal 64” was published in 2010 and he was awarded the once-in-a-lifetime-prize of “The Golden Laurels” for this in 2011”. In December 2012 the fifth novel was published, “Marco Effekten".
Furthermore, Jussi Adler-Olsen was awarded “Favourite Author of the Danes” in 2011, 2012 and 2013 leading the organization behind to change the set-up, so the winner cannot be chosen more than once in a three year period.
Jussi Adler-Olsen's novels have had such an impact abroad, that he has also received a variety of awards there: ”The Sealed Room Award” in Japan for “Kvinden I buret”; ”Best Translated Mystery Novel of the Year”,”The Crime - Blitz Award 2011” in Germany for “Flaskepost til P” given to the best international crime, Elle magazine's French reader award: ”Prix de Lectrices the Elle” for “Kvinden I buret” as well as ”The Barry Award” in the US for “Kvinen I buret” that was elected ”Best Novel of the Year”.
His first novel “Alfabethuset” and the first four books of the Department Q series have been sold for film adaptation. “Kvinden I buret” premiered in 2013 and “Fasandræberne” opens in Denmark October 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,060 reviews
November 19, 2021
I decided to read this book because I'm a fan of Jussi Adler-Olsen's 'Department Q' mysteries and thought this standalone (written prior to the Dep't. Q books) might be a good read.
As the story opens it's 1944 and World War II is raging. English flyboys Bryan Young and James Teasdale are sent on a mission to do aerial reconnaissance over Germany, where they get shot down.
After some hide-and-seek with German soldiers Bryan and James make their way onto a German medical transport train, throw off the bodies of a couple of Nazi officers, and assume their identities.
They soon find themselves in a mental hospital, called Alphabet House, for shell-shocked SS officials; there Bryan and James must endure endless electroshock and drug therapy.
Though their 'mental illness' allows them to remain silent Bryan and James are still in a very precarious situation; if they're exposed as either Brits or malingerers they'll be killed immediately. Thus they live in a constant state of anxiety and fear.
As it turns Alphabet House seems to be chock full of Nazis faking mental illness. One group of malingerers consists of officers who are in the habit of whispering at night, bragging about murders they've committed and their secret horde of riches. These men are extremely suspicious of their fellow patients, fearing someone might discover their deception and expose them. Thus they watch everyone closely, not hesitating to harass or even murder someone they suspect is faking. Bryan and James come under intense scrutiny by these men and James especially suffers greatly at their hands. This part of the book is very long and very disturbing.
Eventually Bryan escapes from Alphabet House, which is bombed soon afterwards by the advancing Allies. Skip ahead to 1972 and Bryan is a wealthy, successful physician who owns a pharmaceutical company and is happily married.
Bryan has never given up trying to find James, however, and when circumstances align he returns to Germany and travels to the town where Alphabet House was located.
There he comes across some people he knew in the mental ward and things take a very dramatic turn. This section of the book is also very long and disturbing.
In the prologue of the book Jussi Adler-Olsen talks about his interest in mental illness and speculates whether faking a mental disability can lead to the real thing. He explains that his interests in both World War II and mental illness led him to write this book.
Jussi Adler-Olsen being interviewed
It's hard for me to rate this story because - though it's well-written and compelling - the subject matter is distressing and many of the characters are sadistic and disgusting. Thus I settled on 3 stars; this just wasn't the book for me. I'll probably stick to Jussi Adler Olsen's mysteries from now on.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
December 3, 2024
It is difficult to express how much I enjoy Mr Jussi Adler-Olsen's 'Department Q' series and was actually a tad hesitant when The Alphabet House (his first stand-alone) came out. Probably because I was wary he may end the Q series and take a different road with his work. However, almost immediately after starting The Alphabet House I came to the realization that it is not his storylines which have hooked me, rather, it's his wickedly gifted mind, and how eloquently he brings his thoughts to life. He is both an anomaly and a phenom who is revered all around the world. His books have been translated into numerous languages and read by millions.
Not surprisingly, I became as immersed and hyper-focused as I do with the 'Department Q' series. It takes off (no pun intended:) as two pilots are given orders to do a flyover while in the middle of heavy battle fighting in the BIG ONE. . .World War II. Their assignment is a recon mission which requires finding out if the Germans are up to something exceptionally disconcerting and most likely, if successful. . . would be devastating. . . completely changing the wars current trajectory (Germans are losing) and if unable to figure out their plans would very likely end up being them surrendering or dying. (It's hard to stomach even thinking about what the world would be like if that actually happened).
As is indicated in the synopsis, they get shot down, the mission is a failure and they have to get out of enemy territory and find a safe place to lick their wounds. What happens from this point on is a whirlwind of traumatic psychological conflicts with betrayals, and living in an unrelenting state of fear.
It never ceases to amaze me when I come across stories (both real and imagined) and am reminded to never underestimate the strength of the human spirit and combined with the innate, base drive for survival people can do things they never imagined. It really is astonishing what we are capable of when pushed beyond our self imposed limits.
Highly recommend this novel, and since it just happens to be a stand-alone this would be a fantastic first book to get a taste of Mr. Adler's work.
Not surprisingly, I became as immersed and hyper-focused as I do with the 'Department Q' series. It takes off (no pun intended:) as two pilots are given orders to do a flyover while in the middle of heavy battle fighting in the BIG ONE. . .World War II. Their assignment is a recon mission which requires finding out if the Germans are up to something exceptionally disconcerting and most likely, if successful. . . would be devastating. . . completely changing the wars current trajectory (Germans are losing) and if unable to figure out their plans would very likely end up being them surrendering or dying. (It's hard to stomach even thinking about what the world would be like if that actually happened).
As is indicated in the synopsis, they get shot down, the mission is a failure and they have to get out of enemy territory and find a safe place to lick their wounds. What happens from this point on is a whirlwind of traumatic psychological conflicts with betrayals, and living in an unrelenting state of fear.
It never ceases to amaze me when I come across stories (both real and imagined) and am reminded to never underestimate the strength of the human spirit and combined with the innate, base drive for survival people can do things they never imagined. It really is astonishing what we are capable of when pushed beyond our self imposed limits.
Highly recommend this novel, and since it just happens to be a stand-alone this would be a fantastic first book to get a taste of Mr. Adler's work.
February 19, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.
Sometimes plots and ideas don’t just work for some readers. This is one of those books for me. The Alphabet House would make an excellent movie, but as a book it doesn’t quite fly. The story starts with two English fliers in World War II. They get shot down and eventually, after a series of events that do and don’t work, find themselves in the Alphabet House, a hospital for Nazi officers.
The two Brits, Bryant and James, never really seem to come alive as individuals. They almost become interchangeable, and it is difficult to pin down their individual characters, if any. There are some supporting characters, but they are by and large interchangeable. The villains are the traditional Nazi villains. The pacing at points seems off, and the character of Lauren just doesn’t work on many levels.
It’s not a bad book, and in many ways, it is a good adventure story. It would make a good screenplay because a film version would hide the lack of characterization.
January 9, 2015
OK. So I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. It had everything I like: asylum, WWII era, historical fiction, a good plot. However, This book just drug ON, and ON, and ON. It was so slow moving, and I found myself really not looking forward to reading it every time I had time to read. It just didn't do it for me. Very creative plot, and had amazing potential for a thriller...just didn't have the thrill aspect. I wish I could have said I loved this book, but sadly it was not all I was hoping for it to be. *tear*
October 15, 2015
Još jedan vrhunski uradak odličnog, danskog autora J.A. Olsena!
Iako se radnja ovog izvrsnog i vrlo potresnog psihiloškog trilera događa u okrutnim vremenima 2. svjetskog rata ( i nešto nakon njega), ovo nije ratni roman, što i sam autor naglašava u pogovoru.
Ovo je jaka, ljudska priča o prijateljstvu, odanosti, izdaji, osveti i ostalim međuljudskim odnosima koji se mogu dogoditi u bilo kojem vremenu.
Ali, budući da u izvanrednim situacijama, poput rata, neke ljudske osobine puno lakše i brže izlaze na površinu, Jussi Adler Oslen odlučuje ovu priču smjestiti u okrilje ratnih stradanja; točnije u psihijatrijsku ustanovu za pripadnike elitnih SS postojbi, koju bolničari i pacijenitma nazivaju "Kućom abecede" zbog, naizgled, nejasnih kombinacija slova i brojki kojima je svaki pacijent označen.
U Kući abecede, nakon pada njihova zrakoplova, skrivaju se i dvojica engleskih pilota Bryan i James, prijatelji još iz djetinjstva. Glume mentalno oboljele njemačke časnike i čekaju priliku za bijeg. Ipak, oni nisu jedini simulatni među bolesnicima te im boravak u bolnici, uz jake lijekove i elektrošokove, dodatno otežavaju i ostali pacijenti na nadasve brutalne i nehumane načine (ipak se radi o SS časnicima koji su profesionalni mučitelji i ubojice te u tome nalaze i osobnu satisfakciju).
Jussi Adler- Olsen sin je psihijatra i jako je dobro upoznat sa nekadašnjim psihijatrijskim sustavom i metodama liječenja duševnih bolesnika. U vrijeme nacističke Njemačke te su metoda imale još dodatne, okrutne komponente, a često su se takve osobe jednostavno eliminirale.
Dakle, takvo je okruženje u kojem upoznajemo glavne protagoniste ovog napetog romana, a upravo će njihovi tadašnji postupci trajno obilježiti tijekove njihovih života nakon rata.
Neću vam otkrivati sudbine likova romana, ali pripremite se na puno obrata, brutalnosti, nepravdi, neočekivanih raspleta i svih ostalih elemenata koji čine kvalitetno čitalačko štivo.
Ovo je roman koji dopire u samu srž naše ljudskosti; nakon čitanja ostati ćete potreseni...pod dubokim dojmom i sigurno ćete ga jako, jako dugo pamtiti. Znam da ja hoću!
Iako se radnja ovog izvrsnog i vrlo potresnog psihiloškog trilera događa u okrutnim vremenima 2. svjetskog rata ( i nešto nakon njega), ovo nije ratni roman, što i sam autor naglašava u pogovoru.
Ovo je jaka, ljudska priča o prijateljstvu, odanosti, izdaji, osveti i ostalim međuljudskim odnosima koji se mogu dogoditi u bilo kojem vremenu.
Ali, budući da u izvanrednim situacijama, poput rata, neke ljudske osobine puno lakše i brže izlaze na površinu, Jussi Adler Oslen odlučuje ovu priču smjestiti u okrilje ratnih stradanja; točnije u psihijatrijsku ustanovu za pripadnike elitnih SS postojbi, koju bolničari i pacijenitma nazivaju "Kućom abecede" zbog, naizgled, nejasnih kombinacija slova i brojki kojima je svaki pacijent označen.
U Kući abecede, nakon pada njihova zrakoplova, skrivaju se i dvojica engleskih pilota Bryan i James, prijatelji još iz djetinjstva. Glume mentalno oboljele njemačke časnike i čekaju priliku za bijeg. Ipak, oni nisu jedini simulatni među bolesnicima te im boravak u bolnici, uz jake lijekove i elektrošokove, dodatno otežavaju i ostali pacijenti na nadasve brutalne i nehumane načine (ipak se radi o SS časnicima koji su profesionalni mučitelji i ubojice te u tome nalaze i osobnu satisfakciju).
Jussi Adler- Olsen sin je psihijatra i jako je dobro upoznat sa nekadašnjim psihijatrijskim sustavom i metodama liječenja duševnih bolesnika. U vrijeme nacističke Njemačke te su metoda imale još dodatne, okrutne komponente, a često su se takve osobe jednostavno eliminirale.
Dakle, takvo je okruženje u kojem upoznajemo glavne protagoniste ovog napetog romana, a upravo će njihovi tadašnji postupci trajno obilježiti tijekove njihovih života nakon rata.
Neću vam otkrivati sudbine likova romana, ali pripremite se na puno obrata, brutalnosti, nepravdi, neočekivanih raspleta i svih ostalih elemenata koji čine kvalitetno čitalačko štivo.
Ovo je roman koji dopire u samu srž naše ljudskosti; nakon čitanja ostati ćete potreseni...pod dubokim dojmom i sigurno ćete ga jako, jako dugo pamtiti. Znam da ja hoću!
February 26, 2015
It’s got evil Nazis and narrow escapes. It takes place in a mental hospital staffed with soulless doctors and nurses whose “care” is administered with equal parts cruelty. It’s got betrayal and a swift and certain death sentence for anyone suspected of deception. Add in a pair of World War II British pilots trapped behind enemy lines and faking mental illness to avoid capture.
So what’s not to like?
Plenty, as it turns out.
For most of the first 200 pages Bryan, the novel’s narrator, is lying in a hospital bed, feigning catatonia. He listens as German doctors appear to discuss his condition, but he’s unable to understand a word of their language. Whispered conversations in the night are meaningless to him, but it’s obvious a conspiracy among a few of the patients is developing. Bryan doesn’t know who is a potential ally or who might be plotting against him. Even his co-pilot refuses to make eye contact with him.
Bryan lives this way for almost a year.
An unbearable form of isolation, for certain, but I experienced very little of the main character’s frustration or terror. Instead, I often felt removed from events, as though they were being described by someone who was forced to testify but who was intentionally withholding the most horrendous particulars.
For example, shock treatments are administered to patients on a seemingly random basis, yet the reader is never taken into the treatment room and strapped to the table with the fully conscience narrator as he waits for the jolt that will throw his body into seizure and probably erase a part of the one thing that makes him who he is–his memory.
My stepson spent a year at Virginia Military Institute. Sometimes a sound would awaken him in the night and he’d lie there terrified that upperclassmen were coming for him to perform a expulsion ceremony known as “drumming out”. Bryan, however, seems barely concerned that the Nazi docs could be coming to perform their atrocities at any time.
The novel’s pace actually improves in part two when Bryan returns to the site of the hospital after 25 years to confront his tormenters and find out what happened to his former friend and co-pilot. Unfortunately, this is also where suspension of disbelief becomes difficult to maintain.
At 461 pages, this was a long read with lots of “tell” and too little “show”.
Thank you to Dutton and Goodreads for providing an ARC of this book for review.
So what’s not to like?
Plenty, as it turns out.
For most of the first 200 pages Bryan, the novel’s narrator, is lying in a hospital bed, feigning catatonia. He listens as German doctors appear to discuss his condition, but he’s unable to understand a word of their language. Whispered conversations in the night are meaningless to him, but it’s obvious a conspiracy among a few of the patients is developing. Bryan doesn’t know who is a potential ally or who might be plotting against him. Even his co-pilot refuses to make eye contact with him.
Bryan lives this way for almost a year.
An unbearable form of isolation, for certain, but I experienced very little of the main character’s frustration or terror. Instead, I often felt removed from events, as though they were being described by someone who was forced to testify but who was intentionally withholding the most horrendous particulars.
For example, shock treatments are administered to patients on a seemingly random basis, yet the reader is never taken into the treatment room and strapped to the table with the fully conscience narrator as he waits for the jolt that will throw his body into seizure and probably erase a part of the one thing that makes him who he is–his memory.
My stepson spent a year at Virginia Military Institute. Sometimes a sound would awaken him in the night and he’d lie there terrified that upperclassmen were coming for him to perform a expulsion ceremony known as “drumming out”. Bryan, however, seems barely concerned that the Nazi docs could be coming to perform their atrocities at any time.
The novel’s pace actually improves in part two when Bryan returns to the site of the hospital after 25 years to confront his tormenters and find out what happened to his former friend and co-pilot. Unfortunately, this is also where suspension of disbelief becomes difficult to maintain.
At 461 pages, this was a long read with lots of “tell” and too little “show”.
Thank you to Dutton and Goodreads for providing an ARC of this book for review.
August 20, 2014
The first thing I have to say is that this must have been extremely well researched, the detail is magnificent, horrifying and yet strangely fascinating. Set in two parts, the first following two friends, trying to evade capture, who end up in a mental institution in Germay, the second portion of the novel deals with the fallout many years later.
I thought this was cleverly done – the first half is fairly slow moving, allowing the story to unfold at a pace that truly allows you to take in what these two friends are going through �� descriptively speaking it is very disturbing but absolutely compelling, you can’t look away. The second half is faster moving, also difficult to review properly without spoilers, but for me it made a tale of two halves if you like – and the ending was unexpected.
Very different from the “Department Q” series but still with the author’s unique style – this is not a war story as much as it is a story of friendship under extreme circumstances, character driven throughout, often violent but always engaging and thought provoking. I can see that it will not be for everyone, but I found it to be an excellent and moving story, haunting and evocative, with some truly edge of the seat moments.
Overall a very good read indeed.
Happy Reading Folks!
I thought this was cleverly done – the first half is fairly slow moving, allowing the story to unfold at a pace that truly allows you to take in what these two friends are going through �� descriptively speaking it is very disturbing but absolutely compelling, you can’t look away. The second half is faster moving, also difficult to review properly without spoilers, but for me it made a tale of two halves if you like – and the ending was unexpected.
Very different from the “Department Q” series but still with the author’s unique style – this is not a war story as much as it is a story of friendship under extreme circumstances, character driven throughout, often violent but always engaging and thought provoking. I can see that it will not be for everyone, but I found it to be an excellent and moving story, haunting and evocative, with some truly edge of the seat moments.
Overall a very good read indeed.
Happy Reading Folks!
February 11, 2016
While I received this from Netgalley (a VERY long time ago) in exchange for an honest review, I ended up listening to this book on Audible.
4 stars.
This is a tale of two books.
The first half of is mind-numbingly monotonous and downright boring, almost to the point of putting it on the DNF shelf. The second part is exceedingly suspenseful, complete with violent confrontations, a touch of romance, and a tale of revenge on a trio of monstrous villains. Adler-Olsen touches on the universal themes of the horrors of war, man's inhumanity to man, the corrosiveness of guilt, and the cleansing nature of forgiveness. This book was written in 1997, and it is easy to see that Adler-Olsen hadn’t yet developed the writing skills he displays in his Department Q series. Even still, this is a worthwhile read.
"The Alphabet House" is first set during World War II. Two Englishmen, James Teasdale and Bryan Young, bail out when their plane is shot down over Germany during a reconnaissance mission. In desperation, they assume the identities of shell-shocked German SS officers. Assuming their roles too well, they are confined to a mental hospital behind enemy lines. How long will it take for their captors to realize that James and Bryan are imposters? What effect will the pills and shock treatments that the doctors administer to their patients have on the British soldiers' minds? Can they escape from this hellhole? The situation spirals out of control when three fellow inmates viciously turn on James and Bryan.
The second half is also set in Germany, almost 30 years later, during the 1972 Munich Olympics. In the second half, the story really comes alive, as the friends deal with the fallout of their imprisonment.
This book was obviously extremely well researched, the detail is magnificent, horrifying, and yet strangely fascinating. The pacing and layout were cleverly done – the first half is slow moving and plodding, allowing the story to unfold at a pace that allows the reader to almost experience what these two friends are going through. It’s very disturbing but absolutely compelling; you simply can’t look away. The second half is much faster paced, and I’m not going to say anything for fear of giving away the surprising events. It did ramp up significantly to the completely unexpected ending.
This is not a war story as much as it is a story of friendship under extreme circumstances, character-driven throughout, often violent, but always engaging and thought provoking. I found it to be an excellent, moving story, haunting and evocative, with some great edge-of-the-seat moments.
Overall a very good read.
4 stars.
This is a tale of two books.
The first half of is mind-numbingly monotonous and downright boring, almost to the point of putting it on the DNF shelf. The second part is exceedingly suspenseful, complete with violent confrontations, a touch of romance, and a tale of revenge on a trio of monstrous villains. Adler-Olsen touches on the universal themes of the horrors of war, man's inhumanity to man, the corrosiveness of guilt, and the cleansing nature of forgiveness. This book was written in 1997, and it is easy to see that Adler-Olsen hadn’t yet developed the writing skills he displays in his Department Q series. Even still, this is a worthwhile read.
"The Alphabet House" is first set during World War II. Two Englishmen, James Teasdale and Bryan Young, bail out when their plane is shot down over Germany during a reconnaissance mission. In desperation, they assume the identities of shell-shocked German SS officers. Assuming their roles too well, they are confined to a mental hospital behind enemy lines. How long will it take for their captors to realize that James and Bryan are imposters? What effect will the pills and shock treatments that the doctors administer to their patients have on the British soldiers' minds? Can they escape from this hellhole? The situation spirals out of control when three fellow inmates viciously turn on James and Bryan.
The second half is also set in Germany, almost 30 years later, during the 1972 Munich Olympics. In the second half, the story really comes alive, as the friends deal with the fallout of their imprisonment.
This book was obviously extremely well researched, the detail is magnificent, horrifying, and yet strangely fascinating. The pacing and layout were cleverly done – the first half is slow moving and plodding, allowing the story to unfold at a pace that allows the reader to almost experience what these two friends are going through. It’s very disturbing but absolutely compelling; you simply can’t look away. The second half is much faster paced, and I’m not going to say anything for fear of giving away the surprising events. It did ramp up significantly to the completely unexpected ending.
This is not a war story as much as it is a story of friendship under extreme circumstances, character-driven throughout, often violent, but always engaging and thought provoking. I found it to be an excellent, moving story, haunting and evocative, with some great edge-of-the-seat moments.
Overall a very good read.
March 17, 2015
The nature of friendship, war, loyalty, guilt and love told via a brilliant thriller.
I must admit I was expecting a standard World War 2 escape story, and the book does start that way. However, it rapidly descends into a dark place as the two escapees hide on a train reserved for wounded SS men where they end up in a mental hospital where they undergo various brutal treatments whilst trying to maintain their disguise.
This is not one for the faint hearted and the descriptions of the mental hospital sound scarily authentic as the two escapees struggle to maintain their sanity amidst the medications and treatments they are forced to take.
The second half takes place in 1972 and brings the story to a thrilling and taut denouement.
I won’t spoil the plot, but if you persevere you are in for a darned good read.
I must admit I was expecting a standard World War 2 escape story, and the book does start that way. However, it rapidly descends into a dark place as the two escapees hide on a train reserved for wounded SS men where they end up in a mental hospital where they undergo various brutal treatments whilst trying to maintain their disguise.
This is not one for the faint hearted and the descriptions of the mental hospital sound scarily authentic as the two escapees struggle to maintain their sanity amidst the medications and treatments they are forced to take.
The second half takes place in 1972 and brings the story to a thrilling and taut denouement.
I won’t spoil the plot, but if you persevere you are in for a darned good read.
April 17, 2018
Dobar roman, povukao me kratak sadržaj, mislio sam da je riječ o romanu o WW2, no to je tek pozornica za priču o (ne)prijateljstvu i ljudskoj prirodi koja svoje pravo lice pokazuje tek u okrutnim uvjetima. Kako je netko dobro rekao... Normalni se ljudi u nenormalnim uvjetima ponašaju nenormalno.... U ovoj priči ta tvrdnja spašava život, ponekad i na uštrb kolateralnih žrtava. Sjajan triler, s posebno naglašenim akcijskim dijelom u drugom dijelu knjige. Možda mi je tek ponegdje nedostajalo malo više opisa i dubine koji je izostao zbog brzog tempa, no ne umanjuje ukupan dojam.
Sugestija librarianu koji je pisao sažetak. Radnja se odvija 1944. ne 1941.
Sugestija librarianu koji je pisao sažetak. Radnja se odvija 1944. ne 1941.
October 9, 2017
Confession time.... this novel has been on my TBR a long time. It is the title that has been on my NetGalley shelf the longest. The reason I requested it was solely on the basis of the author as I thoroughly enjoyed his "Dept Q" series of mysteries. This stand-alone is a WWII historical mystery and the author's first novel!
Why did I wait so long???? Well, the book is very long, (over 500 pages), and I was waiting to get in the mood for a WWII novel. With all the sadness and chaos in the world, it seems that lately I've been more in the mood for something a little less intense.
The first half of the novel is set during World War II and the second half takes place thirty years later.
"Captivity was preferable to death"
Friends from childhood, British RAF pilots James Teasdale and Bryan Young are shot down while attempting to conduct a special photo-reconnaissance mission in Germany. They parachute out of their plane and run, eventually hopping aboard a German ambulance train. They toss two German patients out of the train car and assume their identities. Eventually, the train deposits the men far behind enemy lines at a German military hospital for the mentally ill. The nurses dub it "The Alphabet House" due to the way the patients, and their diagnosis, are referred to as letters of the alphabet.
James and Bryan, both in their early twenties, were tested to the limits of psychological endurance. So much so that it strained credulity on more than one occasion. They are treated with frequent electroshock 'therapy' and daily doses of dangerous anti-psychotic drugs that makes them almost catatonic.
"The days ahead might take years to live through".
The reader glimpses the horrifying and extremely disturbing way the mentally ill were treated, and how the German Nazis treated their sick soldiers. Remember the phrase 'survival of the fittest?'.
James and Bryan discover that they are not the only ones on the ward feigning mental illness. At least three of the Germans are part of "Operation Insanity", a devious plot perpetrated by avarice. When one 'malingerer' is discovered, he is taken to the yard and shot.
This was a suspenseful war thriller, but personally I think it would have made a better movie than a book. Although the author's pacing is spot-on, and he did engender tension in the reader, this wasn't enough for me - especially in the first half of the book which was set for the most part in one hospital ward with the protagonists lying in bed feigning madness. I didn't really connect with the protagonists - partly I think because we didn't really get to know them well before their 'Alphabet House' ordeal began. Partly too because their experiences were so outside of anything I can imagine. Maybe it would appeal more to male readers? I don't know... Anyway, I found the book was over-long, and dragged in spots, especially in the first half of the book. I found myself skimming, which I hate to do, and hate to admit to doing.
The second part of the book which features Bryan Young, now a physician, I expected to like more. However, that really didn't happen for me. It was overly violent, and portrayed evil men doing evil things. Over, and over, and over again.
I wanted to like this book, really I did. It had a great and interesting beginning, a somewhat tedious middle, and an almost unrealistic ending.
Although I really love the Dept. Q series, sadly I found that this book just wasn't for me.
Why did I wait so long???? Well, the book is very long, (over 500 pages), and I was waiting to get in the mood for a WWII novel. With all the sadness and chaos in the world, it seems that lately I've been more in the mood for something a little less intense.
The first half of the novel is set during World War II and the second half takes place thirty years later.
"Captivity was preferable to death"
Friends from childhood, British RAF pilots James Teasdale and Bryan Young are shot down while attempting to conduct a special photo-reconnaissance mission in Germany. They parachute out of their plane and run, eventually hopping aboard a German ambulance train. They toss two German patients out of the train car and assume their identities. Eventually, the train deposits the men far behind enemy lines at a German military hospital for the mentally ill. The nurses dub it "The Alphabet House" due to the way the patients, and their diagnosis, are referred to as letters of the alphabet.
James and Bryan, both in their early twenties, were tested to the limits of psychological endurance. So much so that it strained credulity on more than one occasion. They are treated with frequent electroshock 'therapy' and daily doses of dangerous anti-psychotic drugs that makes them almost catatonic.
"The days ahead might take years to live through".
The reader glimpses the horrifying and extremely disturbing way the mentally ill were treated, and how the German Nazis treated their sick soldiers. Remember the phrase 'survival of the fittest?'.
James and Bryan discover that they are not the only ones on the ward feigning mental illness. At least three of the Germans are part of "Operation Insanity", a devious plot perpetrated by avarice. When one 'malingerer' is discovered, he is taken to the yard and shot.
This was a suspenseful war thriller, but personally I think it would have made a better movie than a book. Although the author's pacing is spot-on, and he did engender tension in the reader, this wasn't enough for me - especially in the first half of the book which was set for the most part in one hospital ward with the protagonists lying in bed feigning madness. I didn't really connect with the protagonists - partly I think because we didn't really get to know them well before their 'Alphabet House' ordeal began. Partly too because their experiences were so outside of anything I can imagine. Maybe it would appeal more to male readers? I don't know... Anyway, I found the book was over-long, and dragged in spots, especially in the first half of the book. I found myself skimming, which I hate to do, and hate to admit to doing.
The second part of the book which features Bryan Young, now a physician, I expected to like more. However, that really didn't happen for me. It was overly violent, and portrayed evil men doing evil things. Over, and over, and over again.
I wanted to like this book, really I did. It had a great and interesting beginning, a somewhat tedious middle, and an almost unrealistic ending.
Although I really love the Dept. Q series, sadly I found that this book just wasn't for me.
February 8, 2017
Brian and James are two 20 year old Englishmen that are shot down over Germany in WWII. With a dog patrol on their heals they frantically hop on a German train, which contains SS officers that are ill. They take the place of two of them (yes, they throw two men off the train to do it but at least one of them was dead) and frantically try to do everything they can to fit in and gather information. At the end of their trip they're taken off the train on stretchers and find themselves in an insane asylum. They're forced to take the medications of 1942 and endure daily shock treatments. After a bit, James realizes that there are three SS officers that are "malingering" and posing as patients. These three men are brutal murderers and James has no way of telling Brian to be careful.
The whole time in the asylum is actually pretty difficult to take because these men are sadists. They're suspicious of both James and Brian and eventually begin to torture James in small ways. James has somewhat of a guardian angel in the form of a nurse named Petra, but although she takes extra care of him, she's not aware of what these men are doing.
When I first started this book I was trying to figure out how a nearly 500 page story was going to take place entirely in this asylum. It turns out that it doesn't all take place there and the story that falls out afterwards is especially interesting. I started describing what happens in the book to someone who was so disturbed by it that she told me to stop. Being well used to Adler-Olsen's Department Q series I did not think of this one as particularly disturbing or brutal but apparently it's not an easy one to stomach.
Apparently the author's inspiration for this book came because his father was a psychiatrist and Adler-Olsen followed his father around in the insane asylums. This is actually kind of an interesting way to come up with an idea! It also makes me wonder if that's partially why he's so good at coming up with believable characters with tightly created psychological makeup.
I've become a huge fan of this author and I enjoyed this book, although not as much as the Department Q books. I'm curious to see what else he will do in the future.
The whole time in the asylum is actually pretty difficult to take because these men are sadists. They're suspicious of both James and Brian and eventually begin to torture James in small ways. James has somewhat of a guardian angel in the form of a nurse named Petra, but although she takes extra care of him, she's not aware of what these men are doing.
When I first started this book I was trying to figure out how a nearly 500 page story was going to take place entirely in this asylum. It turns out that it doesn't all take place there and the story that falls out afterwards is especially interesting. I started describing what happens in the book to someone who was so disturbed by it that she told me to stop. Being well used to Adler-Olsen's Department Q series I did not think of this one as particularly disturbing or brutal but apparently it's not an easy one to stomach.
Apparently the author's inspiration for this book came because his father was a psychiatrist and Adler-Olsen followed his father around in the insane asylums. This is actually kind of an interesting way to come up with an idea! It also makes me wonder if that's partially why he's so good at coming up with believable characters with tightly created psychological makeup.
I've become a huge fan of this author and I enjoyed this book, although not as much as the Department Q books. I'm curious to see what else he will do in the future.
March 8, 2015
Two WWII British pilots are trapped behind enemy lines in Nazi Germany. This is the story of their desperate attempts of survival, but can they survive with their lives and their sanity?
The Alphabet House is one of those stories where I really have to ask myself, where do authors get these ideas? The story was so well developed and intricate; every minute detail fell perfectly into place.
The story is written in two parts. Part one deals with Bryan and James’ escape from their pursuers, and their stay in The Alphabet House. What is The Alphabet House? You’ll have to read it yourself to find out. The second part of the book is set twenty seven years after the war and deals with Bryan and James getting beyond the scars left by The Alphabet House. Each part is a fantastic, exciting story on its own; the two together create an amazing, unimaginable adventure. This was a book that I hated to put down.
James and Bryan were incredibly well developed characters. The author brought me well into the depths of each of their minds, and he would switch points of view from one to the other. And the bad guys, well, they are some of the sickest monsters that I have ever read about. What makes them so horrible is that their characteristics are pulled straight from reality.
Would I recommend The Alphabet House?
Absolutely!
*I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Alphabet House is one of those stories where I really have to ask myself, where do authors get these ideas? The story was so well developed and intricate; every minute detail fell perfectly into place.
The story is written in two parts. Part one deals with Bryan and James’ escape from their pursuers, and their stay in The Alphabet House. What is The Alphabet House? You’ll have to read it yourself to find out. The second part of the book is set twenty seven years after the war and deals with Bryan and James getting beyond the scars left by The Alphabet House. Each part is a fantastic, exciting story on its own; the two together create an amazing, unimaginable adventure. This was a book that I hated to put down.
James and Bryan were incredibly well developed characters. The author brought me well into the depths of each of their minds, and he would switch points of view from one to the other. And the bad guys, well, they are some of the sickest monsters that I have ever read about. What makes them so horrible is that their characteristics are pulled straight from reality.
Would I recommend The Alphabet House?
Absolutely!
*I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2018
An interesting psychological story. Caught behind enemy lines in war time.
James and Bryan find themselves in this situation and have to find a way to survive. They steal aboard a medical train and end up in an insane asylum. One understands some German; one doesn't understand a word.
The back story of what makes up a friendship and what holds it together is explored through a torturous situation.
The story is a good one, the writing interesting but a bit uneven. There are days and days of James & Bryan lying in bed, pretending to be catatonic....yet when they are taken for shock treatment, the reader is left out, back in the ward, only to spend the next few days in a fog caused by the "treatment". We don't get a feeling for the fear and horror of having to go through such a treatment.
James & Bryan are described in such a way that it's easy to mix them up. They are almost identical.
In the final pages the action got a bit wild. Perfect Hollywood action. This would make a wonderful movie. In the perfect Hollywood world, the unevenness of events would be fixed and this would be spellbinding.
All good story and an interesting one. I listened to this on audio.
James and Bryan find themselves in this situation and have to find a way to survive. They steal aboard a medical train and end up in an insane asylum. One understands some German; one doesn't understand a word.
The back story of what makes up a friendship and what holds it together is explored through a torturous situation.
The story is a good one, the writing interesting but a bit uneven. There are days and days of James & Bryan lying in bed, pretending to be catatonic....yet when they are taken for shock treatment, the reader is left out, back in the ward, only to spend the next few days in a fog caused by the "treatment". We don't get a feeling for the fear and horror of having to go through such a treatment.
James & Bryan are described in such a way that it's easy to mix them up. They are almost identical.
In the final pages the action got a bit wild. Perfect Hollywood action. This would make a wonderful movie. In the perfect Hollywood world, the unevenness of events would be fixed and this would be spellbinding.
All good story and an interesting one. I listened to this on audio.
March 3, 2015
Interesting plot premise but it should have been 350 pages instead of 500. I loved the authors Department Q crime fiction but unlike Charles Dickens, he's not getting paid by the word - or at least, I hope not! My advice would have been to get Jo Nesbo's editor to read it with a pair of scissors at the ready before publication!
March 28, 2015
A tough book to complete-the pace and timing seemed so irregular. The first 200 pages were redundant, however the final portion moved far more quickly.
Great premise, less than well executed.
Great premise, less than well executed.
March 8, 2015
This is an ambitious psychological thriller that explores the limits of endurance and the irreparable breaches in friendships. This story is extremely detailed and begins in 1944 in the midst of WW11 when a pair of British pilots is shot down over enemy territory.
Right from the first page I was swept along so absorbed by this fantastic story that I hated to put this book down. It starts with an exciting and very tense sky chase, a losing battle for a RAF plane soon shut down in an area swarming with German troops. The two pilots, Bryan and James, took only a few minutes to escape the search party by boarding a passing train reserved for wounded SS men on the way home from the Eastern Front. Once aboard, the only way to blend in was to pose as German soldiers and feign unconsciousness. What actors, they did such a good job impersonating the men they ended up in a mental hospital for those damaged by war. Mr. Alder-Olsen depiction on how they managed to fool everyone feels so real I couldn't help but to shiver when the staff looked upon them.
This first part of the book relates the pilots’ experiences as one of the malingerers at the “Alphabet House”. The narrative switches from Bryan and James as they undergo electroshock therapy and pop pills like candies. Months and months go by faking insanity but they are not the only ones doing so ….several SS soldiers want to get through the war and recover their looted booty…..and the two pilots so happened to be in their ways……The tone shifts to a breath-catching account of survival fueled with paranoia and extreme emotion. This part is very intense and scary.
In the second half, the narrative switches to 1972 and the plot proceed to bring several of the characters together. This long- deferred day of reckoning starts slowly but soon turns into one of the most daring (although far-fetched ) journey I have read in a long time. There is lots of action and sustain suspense at every corner. This book is quite a page-turner and has provided everything I enjoy in a story.
Excellent reading
Right from the first page I was swept along so absorbed by this fantastic story that I hated to put this book down. It starts with an exciting and very tense sky chase, a losing battle for a RAF plane soon shut down in an area swarming with German troops. The two pilots, Bryan and James, took only a few minutes to escape the search party by boarding a passing train reserved for wounded SS men on the way home from the Eastern Front. Once aboard, the only way to blend in was to pose as German soldiers and feign unconsciousness. What actors, they did such a good job impersonating the men they ended up in a mental hospital for those damaged by war. Mr. Alder-Olsen depiction on how they managed to fool everyone feels so real I couldn't help but to shiver when the staff looked upon them.
This first part of the book relates the pilots’ experiences as one of the malingerers at the “Alphabet House”. The narrative switches from Bryan and James as they undergo electroshock therapy and pop pills like candies. Months and months go by faking insanity but they are not the only ones doing so ….several SS soldiers want to get through the war and recover their looted booty…..and the two pilots so happened to be in their ways……The tone shifts to a breath-catching account of survival fueled with paranoia and extreme emotion. This part is very intense and scary.
In the second half, the narrative switches to 1972 and the plot proceed to bring several of the characters together. This long- deferred day of reckoning starts slowly but soon turns into one of the most daring (although far-fetched ) journey I have read in a long time. There is lots of action and sustain suspense at every corner. This book is quite a page-turner and has provided everything I enjoy in a story.
Excellent reading
November 21, 2016
Godine 1944. dvojica britanskih pilota, James i Bryan, prijatelji od djetinjstva, oboreni su nad Njemačkom. Znajući da će biti pogubljeni kao špijuni ako padnu u ruke Nijemaca, uspiju se ubaciti u bolnički vlak koji prevozi duševno rastrojene pripadnike elitnih SS- odreda. Kad završe u Kući abecede, bolnici za mentalno oboljele njihov je jedini spas glumiti da su i sami ludi. No, koliko se dugo mogu pretvarati a da i sami ne izgube razum?
"Bryan zabaci glavu i još jednom osluhne glasove prošlosti: klicanje dječaka koji su nekoć bili, jeku njihovih glasova. Da je prijateljstvo savez koji se temelji na uzajamnosti Bryanu je oduvijek bilo jasno. Da postupci jedne strane mogu dovesti do prekida, ta ga je spoznaja mučila gotovo trideset godina. No upravo mu je sinula nova misao. Da. Prijateljstvo može zamrijeti i jer druga strana nije voljna učiniti korak pomirenja. Trebalo mu je trideset godina da si dopusti tu misao."
"Bryan zabaci glavu i još jednom osluhne glasove prošlosti: klicanje dječaka koji su nekoć bili, jeku njihovih glasova. Da je prijateljstvo savez koji se temelji na uzajamnosti Bryanu je oduvijek bilo jasno. Da postupci jedne strane mogu dovesti do prekida, ta ga je spoznaja mučila gotovo trideset godina. No upravo mu je sinula nova misao. Da. Prijateljstvo može zamrijeti i jer druga strana nije voljna učiniti korak pomirenja. Trebalo mu je trideset godina da si dopusti tu misao."
May 7, 2015
I've come to appreciate the work of this Danish author. He's fast become one of my faves. I've read his 'Department Q' series and have enjoyed them all.
This was a unique and creatively thought out plot, which I have come to expect from him. It had some great twists along the way. He does that well and the same can be said for his characters and their development throughout the story. They are detailed. The author makes them vivid, even when they aren't well liked.
I just never know what I'm going to get when I read his books and because of that I look forward to each one.
This was a unique and creatively thought out plot, which I have come to expect from him. It had some great twists along the way. He does that well and the same can be said for his characters and their development throughout the story. They are detailed. The author makes them vivid, even when they aren't well liked.
I just never know what I'm going to get when I read his books and because of that I look forward to each one.
March 28, 2015
It is 1944 and two British pilots, James and Bryan, are on a reconnaissance mission over Germany when they are shot down. To escape capture they jump aboard a train that turns out to be carrying wounded SS officers. The pair take the place of two of the officers hoping for a chance to escape unnoticed later. Unfortunately, the chance doesn’t come and they have to act as if they have had some sort of mental breakdown. Their act is so convincing that they are taken to The Alphabet House so named because of the Nazis’ penchant for bookkeeping, giving everything including different types of psychogenic ailments like those suffered by the inhabitants of The Alphabet House an alphabetical and numerical designation. The two continue to feign mental illness, an act that is aided by drugs, and electric shock. Soon, though, they discover that they are not the only malingerers and these others are not above murder to protect themselves from discovery.
Eventually, Bryan escapes alone. The story then switches to 1972. Bryan is a successful doctor and businessman. He had spent years searching for James after the war but eventually gave up. However, when he meets a man who is from the area of The Alphabet House, he hires him to find any information he can about any survivors. With his information, Bryan is on the trail again but rather than James, he finds the other malingerers who benefitted financially from the war and are determined to stop anyone from uncovering their crimes.
This is the first book I have read by author Jussi Adler-Olsen and, as it turns out, it was the first book he wrote; it is, however, the first time it’s been released in North America so firsts all around. Despite its setting, The Alphabet House is not, according to Adler-Olsen, a war story. It’s also not a perfect book. At times, it strains credulity almost to the breaking point and it says a great deal about the writing and the sheer adrenaline rush of the story that, despite the occasional ‘huh’, it never interferes with the enjoyment of the book. This is one edge-of-your-seat, nail-bitingly intense, unputdownable and a whole lot of other adjectives and adverbs that can be used to describe one hell of a psychological thriller. In other words, I liked it a lot. This may have been my first book by Adler-Olsen but it will definitely not be my last.
Eventually, Bryan escapes alone. The story then switches to 1972. Bryan is a successful doctor and businessman. He had spent years searching for James after the war but eventually gave up. However, when he meets a man who is from the area of The Alphabet House, he hires him to find any information he can about any survivors. With his information, Bryan is on the trail again but rather than James, he finds the other malingerers who benefitted financially from the war and are determined to stop anyone from uncovering their crimes.
This is the first book I have read by author Jussi Adler-Olsen and, as it turns out, it was the first book he wrote; it is, however, the first time it’s been released in North America so firsts all around. Despite its setting, The Alphabet House is not, according to Adler-Olsen, a war story. It’s also not a perfect book. At times, it strains credulity almost to the breaking point and it says a great deal about the writing and the sheer adrenaline rush of the story that, despite the occasional ‘huh’, it never interferes with the enjoyment of the book. This is one edge-of-your-seat, nail-bitingly intense, unputdownable and a whole lot of other adjectives and adverbs that can be used to describe one hell of a psychological thriller. In other words, I liked it a lot. This may have been my first book by Adler-Olsen but it will definitely not be my last.
March 7, 2015
Fans of Adler-Olsen's Department Q series with Detective Carl Morck will find The Alphabet House quite a different novel. Although billed as a psychological thriller, the uneven pacing, verbosity, and flat characters limit the amount of tension that can build up. It's unfortunate, as the plot is interesting and unusual. It would make a great movie, though.
Adler-Olsen's research into WWII and his firsthand knowledge of asylum life are apparent. I found the scenes in Part I depicting the plane crash, desperate attempts to escape, and life in the Alphabet House compelling. Part II moved very slowly; slowly enough that the tension just didn't develop for me. I was interested, but I didn't feel connected to what was happening. What is lacking is Adler-Olsen's trademark examination of the minds of his characters, which is what draws his readers so deeply into his stories. With that kind of connection, the rather flat ending would have been deeply emotional.
I also found the translation awkward at times. This is the first of Adler-Olsen's books that are obvious translations. I wonder how the book reads in the original text? Is it still a 350 page book drawn out to 480 pages?
I feel strongly that this book could be just as good as his Dept. Q novels with some good editing and a bit of reworking. If I read this book without knowing the author, I would never associate it with Jussi Adler-Olsen. It's difficult to judge the book on its own merits, as I'm familiar with his work and go into it with certain expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Adler-Olsen's research into WWII and his firsthand knowledge of asylum life are apparent. I found the scenes in Part I depicting the plane crash, desperate attempts to escape, and life in the Alphabet House compelling. Part II moved very slowly; slowly enough that the tension just didn't develop for me. I was interested, but I didn't feel connected to what was happening. What is lacking is Adler-Olsen's trademark examination of the minds of his characters, which is what draws his readers so deeply into his stories. With that kind of connection, the rather flat ending would have been deeply emotional.
I also found the translation awkward at times. This is the first of Adler-Olsen's books that are obvious translations. I wonder how the book reads in the original text? Is it still a 350 page book drawn out to 480 pages?
I feel strongly that this book could be just as good as his Dept. Q novels with some good editing and a bit of reworking. If I read this book without knowing the author, I would never associate it with Jussi Adler-Olsen. It's difficult to judge the book on its own merits, as I'm familiar with his work and go into it with certain expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2016
Kada sam počela čitati ovu knjigu, nijednom nisam pomislila da će me njen kraj ostaviti u suzama, niti da ću pisati bilo kakav osvrt. Nije ovo žanr o kojem inače pišem. Misleći da će do kraja ostati ratni roman kao što se dalo naslutiti u prvom dijelu, nisam očekivala mnogo. Bilo mi je zanimljivo, ali ne toliko da jedva čekam nastaviti sa čitanjem. Jednostavno, bilo je dobro za promjenu uzeti nešto drugačije. Sve do drugog dijela, kada sam shvatila da mi je ova knjiga postala tako zanimljiva da je ne mogu prestati čitati.
Ovaj roman nipošto nije ratni, jer mu sama tema nije rat. Samo je smješten u okvir Drugog svjetskog rata, gdje se odvijaju glavni događaji koji će prouzrokovati mnoge promjene za dvojicu prijatelja iz djetinjstva, Jamesa i Bryana. Jedna sitnica, tako zanemariva i za koju mislimo da je ispravna, može prouzrokovati pogubne posljedice, koje možda i nisu tako lako ispravljive. Ovo je roman o prijateljstvu i koliko ono znači, pogotovo u ratnim okolnostima, gdje ima puno nasilja i gdje se obično svako brine za sebe. Osim prijatelja, koji su spremni učiniti sve jedni za druge. No, hoće li to biti slučaj i u ovoj knjizi...?
Na mene je knjiga ostavila jak dojam i preporučujem je svima. Nosi i duboku pouku o prijateljstvu i koliko je ono zapravo važno svima.
Ovaj roman nipošto nije ratni, jer mu sama tema nije rat. Samo je smješten u okvir Drugog svjetskog rata, gdje se odvijaju glavni događaji koji će prouzrokovati mnoge promjene za dvojicu prijatelja iz djetinjstva, Jamesa i Bryana. Jedna sitnica, tako zanemariva i za koju mislimo da je ispravna, može prouzrokovati pogubne posljedice, koje možda i nisu tako lako ispravljive. Ovo je roman o prijateljstvu i koliko ono znači, pogotovo u ratnim okolnostima, gdje ima puno nasilja i gdje se obično svako brine za sebe. Osim prijatelja, koji su spremni učiniti sve jedni za druge. No, hoće li to biti slučaj i u ovoj knjizi...?
Na mene je knjiga ostavila jak dojam i preporučujem je svima. Nosi i duboku pouku o prijateljstvu i koliko je ono zapravo važno svima.
April 8, 2025
Odličan psihološki triler.
March 13, 2015
The Alphabet House is not a novel or audio you will consume in a single sitting. Froth with danger and unimaginable decisions the first half of the novel deals with events during the war and their stay at the Alphabet House. The second half begins almost thirty years and shares the consequences those years had on these men.
The characters Bryan and James are beautifully developed and Adler-Olsen brings their thoughts and emotions to life in a very realistic way. As I read, I feared for them, shrieked in horror and wondered what I would have done in their shoes. Secondary characters aided the stories and the villains gave me nightmares.
The tale is part thriller, part suspense but for the most part it is each man’s perspective into his actions and the consequences. War is ugly, survival is not glamours especially wrapped in the ugliness of such an atrocious war. If you are a World War II buff and curious about what occurred in these German hospitals, you will both appreciate and cringe at detail Adler-Olsen delivered with this novel. Next, you will look at the author and wonder from what depths of the psyche his tale sprouted.
The pacing of the tale changes throughout the book and I times I listened or read for a few hours. During other parts, I would read a chapter or two and set it down. Yet, even as I read other books or did other activities James and Bryan where never far from my thoughts.
I received both an audio and finished copy of the Alphabet House and bounced back and forth between them. At times, I read a long as I listened. Both formats are wonderful. Graeme Malcom was the narrator and he did an excellent job with the voices and enhanced the atmospheric tones. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The characters Bryan and James are beautifully developed and Adler-Olsen brings their thoughts and emotions to life in a very realistic way. As I read, I feared for them, shrieked in horror and wondered what I would have done in their shoes. Secondary characters aided the stories and the villains gave me nightmares.
The tale is part thriller, part suspense but for the most part it is each man’s perspective into his actions and the consequences. War is ugly, survival is not glamours especially wrapped in the ugliness of such an atrocious war. If you are a World War II buff and curious about what occurred in these German hospitals, you will both appreciate and cringe at detail Adler-Olsen delivered with this novel. Next, you will look at the author and wonder from what depths of the psyche his tale sprouted.
The pacing of the tale changes throughout the book and I times I listened or read for a few hours. During other parts, I would read a chapter or two and set it down. Yet, even as I read other books or did other activities James and Bryan where never far from my thoughts.
I received both an audio and finished copy of the Alphabet House and bounced back and forth between them. At times, I read a long as I listened. Both formats are wonderful. Graeme Malcom was the narrator and he did an excellent job with the voices and enhanced the atmospheric tones. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
May 7, 2015
I was very disappointed with this story. For anyone considering this book because it has been said it is similar to Alan Furst's writings, don't be fooled. The WWII portion of the story is poorly done. I can't tell if it was just horrible editors, or something lost in the translation. I have one pet peeve with WWII historical fiction - it needs to be well researched and historically accurate - at least to the extent it can be to fit the fictional writing. One thing that got me in this book is the confused writing of the Waffen SS (the military units of the SS) and the lack of differentiation of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) from the Waffen SS. In the book the Waffen SS is referred to as the Wehrmacht SS - ugh... The SD was a part of the Allgemeine SS (or administrative SS), and not a part of the armed Waffen SS.
I also didn't like how the book was laid out. The first third of the book takes place in Nazi Germany towards the end of WWII. The story is not well developed. Character background isn't fully provided creating characters who seem to act incongruous of what the reader knows of them. The storyline, although a good idea, seems contrived. I think this was because it may have been edited - the book at publishing (the Kindle version) was 470 pgs. I could imagine this quickly going to 600+ if this first part of the story had been written the way it needed to be.
The last two thirds of the book take place 30 years later. Let me tell you this is the redeeming part of the book. If you like mysteries and murder dramas then you'll like this latter part of the book. It moves fast, and is engaging.
My personal opinion is the author should have made two books of this, or interspersed the back story with with main story line of the book. This would have made for a much better and captivating read. Only two stars for this one because of the botched first third of the book and the poor editing / translation.
I also didn't like how the book was laid out. The first third of the book takes place in Nazi Germany towards the end of WWII. The story is not well developed. Character background isn't fully provided creating characters who seem to act incongruous of what the reader knows of them. The storyline, although a good idea, seems contrived. I think this was because it may have been edited - the book at publishing (the Kindle version) was 470 pgs. I could imagine this quickly going to 600+ if this first part of the story had been written the way it needed to be.
The last two thirds of the book take place 30 years later. Let me tell you this is the redeeming part of the book. If you like mysteries and murder dramas then you'll like this latter part of the book. It moves fast, and is engaging.
My personal opinion is the author should have made two books of this, or interspersed the back story with with main story line of the book. This would have made for a much better and captivating read. Only two stars for this one because of the botched first third of the book and the poor editing / translation.
April 16, 2012
Dass Adler-Olsen gute Thriller schreibt, ist hinlänglich bekannt. So wurde auch sein Erstlingswerk, das bereits vor 25 Jahren erschien, mit entsprechenden Vorschusslorbeeren bedacht (offenbar ohne dass es von den entsprechenden Leuten vorher gelesen wurde).
Der Beginn ist vielversprechend: Zwei britische Soldaten stürzen im II. Weltkrieg über Nazideutschland ab und retten sich, getarnt als psychisch kranke Nazigrößen, in einem entsprechenden Militärkrankenhaus. Schweigend entgehen sie ihrer Enttarnung, doch ihr Aufenthalt dort wird zu einem Martyrium... Dreissig Jahre später finden diese entsetzlichen Erlebnisse unweit des ehemaligen Lazaretts ihre Fortsetzung.
Der erste Teil, der die Zeit der Freunde in dem deutschen Militärkrankenhaus beschreibt, lässt bereits erahnen, dass von diesem Autor noch einiges zu erwarten ist. Zwar ist die Sprache noch nicht ganz so flüssig wie in seinen Folgebüchern Erbarmen oder Schändung, doch die Spannung, die aus der jederzeit möglichen Enttarnung resultiert, lässt einen weiter und weiter lesen. Doch dann kommt Gewalt ins Spiel und damit wird manches unplausibel und einfach unlogisch, insobesondere das Ende des 1. Teils (Wie kann ein lange Bettlägriger Kämpfe auf Leben und Tod und andere körperliche Strapazen ohne weiteres bewältigen?).
Der 2. Teil, der rund 30 Jahre später einsetzt, nimmt an Unlogiken zu und ist immer weniger glaubhaft, worunter natürlich die Spannung leidet. Die Zufälle nehmen überhand und Normalbürger werden zu Kampfmaschinen bzw. es hagelt Spontanheilungen.
Zwei Punkte gibt es für den guten Auftakt (wenn auch verbesserungswürdig) und für die an sich gute Idee. Als Erstlingswerk ist es verzeihbar und Jussi Adler-Olsen hat sich ja gut weiterentwickelt ;-)
Der Beginn ist vielversprechend: Zwei britische Soldaten stürzen im II. Weltkrieg über Nazideutschland ab und retten sich, getarnt als psychisch kranke Nazigrößen, in einem entsprechenden Militärkrankenhaus. Schweigend entgehen sie ihrer Enttarnung, doch ihr Aufenthalt dort wird zu einem Martyrium... Dreissig Jahre später finden diese entsetzlichen Erlebnisse unweit des ehemaligen Lazaretts ihre Fortsetzung.
Der erste Teil, der die Zeit der Freunde in dem deutschen Militärkrankenhaus beschreibt, lässt bereits erahnen, dass von diesem Autor noch einiges zu erwarten ist. Zwar ist die Sprache noch nicht ganz so flüssig wie in seinen Folgebüchern Erbarmen oder Schändung, doch die Spannung, die aus der jederzeit möglichen Enttarnung resultiert, lässt einen weiter und weiter lesen. Doch dann kommt Gewalt ins Spiel und damit wird manches unplausibel und einfach unlogisch, insobesondere das Ende des 1. Teils (Wie kann ein lange Bettlägriger Kämpfe auf Leben und Tod und andere körperliche Strapazen ohne weiteres bewältigen?).
Der 2. Teil, der rund 30 Jahre später einsetzt, nimmt an Unlogiken zu und ist immer weniger glaubhaft, worunter natürlich die Spannung leidet. Die Zufälle nehmen überhand und Normalbürger werden zu Kampfmaschinen bzw. es hagelt Spontanheilungen.
Zwei Punkte gibt es für den guten Auftakt (wenn auch verbesserungswürdig) und für die an sich gute Idee. Als Erstlingswerk ist es verzeihbar und Jussi Adler-Olsen hat sich ja gut weiterentwickelt ;-)
April 18, 2015
Having read the Department Q series and enjoying the well developed characters, humor and the solving of cold cases I was looking forward to the Alphabet House by the same author. Before purchasing it, I read a summary and thought the plot to be original and intriguing. The story involved two British bomber pilots shot down in German territory during WW2. To avoid capture they assume the identities of two high ranking Nazi officers and are hiding in a mental hospital for elite officers who have gone insane during the war. To do so they must remain mute and pretend to be psychotic. They discover that several of the German patients are also malingerers. These are very brutal men who have a hidden fortune they hope to retrieve when the war ends. The British pilots are subjected to electric shock treatment and anti-psychotic medication. There are murders and torture within the hospital and anyone thought to be faking illness is executed. Since both pilots are mute and often semi-conscious or unconscious I found this section of the book over long and tedious reading.
The next section takes place almost 30 years later when one of the British pilots returns to Germany near the site where the hospital had been located. There is plenty of action, some barely credible. There are numerous beatings, killings, torture, drowning , stabbings, shootings, etc, which I felt went on far too long. I felt this became tedious and worked against any suspense one should feel in a 'thriller'. The ending was not satisfying to me.
There is a decent plot for a thriller there, and perhaps it would make a decent screenplay. 1.5 stars
The next section takes place almost 30 years later when one of the British pilots returns to Germany near the site where the hospital had been located. There is plenty of action, some barely credible. There are numerous beatings, killings, torture, drowning , stabbings, shootings, etc, which I felt went on far too long. I felt this became tedious and worked against any suspense one should feel in a 'thriller'. The ending was not satisfying to me.
There is a decent plot for a thriller there, and perhaps it would make a decent screenplay. 1.5 stars
October 1, 2022
I quite enjoyed the first half of this book and I'd been waiting a long time, anticipating listening to it. For me, the book had a great premise but as usual, my opinion is that a 480 page book can usually be cut by about a quarter and be much more effective. Too much malingering, repeating, and too many characters with confusing names or multiple aliases.
This turned out to be a very long listen on audio as I couldn't speed it up at all without losing hold of the story. I'm glad to have gotten through it as the first half was quite interesting, and am planning to read more of this author soon.
This turned out to be a very long listen on audio as I couldn't speed it up at all without losing hold of the story. I'm glad to have gotten through it as the first half was quite interesting, and am planning to read more of this author soon.
March 2, 2015
This book, although just translated into English, was first published in Denmark in 1997, and predated Adler-Olsen’s Department Q detective series.
It tells the story of two British pilots, Bryan Young and James Teasdale, friends from childhood, who were sent on a dangerous aerial reconnaissance mission over Germany during World War II. Their plane is shot down, and the two manage to bail out, but now they are in German territory, somewhat injured, and have no way to get back to the Allies. They jump onto a railroad car carrying injured German SS troopers, and assume the identity of two of the men. Because this is a car for those who are damaged psychologically, the Brits can get away with not speaking. James does understand German, but Bryan does not. Thus Brian’s efforts at appearing confused are convincing, but to Brian’s surprise, James is an even better actor.
The two are transferred along with the others to a sanitarium known as Alphabet House because of the alphanumeric categorization of patients with mental illnesses. (Such special treatment for SS officers who had mental problems was of course not available to most sufferers, who were gassed to death.)
At Alphabet House, James and Bryan are subjected to radical treatments for their putative psychoses, including frequent electroshock and daily administration of dangerous anti-psychotic drugs that induced catatonic-like states. Bryan tried not to take his pills, but this too was dangerous; if the officials at the facility suspected anyone of malingering, that person would be executed. As it turns out, however, Bryan and James were not the only ones pretending to have psychiatric disorders. But the others who are faking are determined to take no chances with anyone knowing about them; they have a secret to protect that will make them rich if only they can survive until the war is over. Thus, the two Brits are constantly observed, judged, suspected, and mistreated by the German prisoners to cause them to slip in their roles, if indeed they are playing roles. And as the German malingerers - high-level sadistic Nazis - increasingly suspect the two, the tension ratchets up enormously.
Evaluation: Although a few aspects of the story strained credulity, this psychological (in a double sense) thriller kept me on the edge of my seat once I got into it a bit. (Jim was pulled in right from the start.) Even though Adler-Olsen wrote this debut novel many years ago, you can see a talented writer at work, who is adept at pacing and characterization. I did not find the characters at either end of the morality spectrum unduly caricatured. This is a solidly good book, and it is a standalone. We both enjoyed reading it, as we have enjoyed the other books by this author.
It tells the story of two British pilots, Bryan Young and James Teasdale, friends from childhood, who were sent on a dangerous aerial reconnaissance mission over Germany during World War II. Their plane is shot down, and the two manage to bail out, but now they are in German territory, somewhat injured, and have no way to get back to the Allies. They jump onto a railroad car carrying injured German SS troopers, and assume the identity of two of the men. Because this is a car for those who are damaged psychologically, the Brits can get away with not speaking. James does understand German, but Bryan does not. Thus Brian’s efforts at appearing confused are convincing, but to Brian’s surprise, James is an even better actor.
The two are transferred along with the others to a sanitarium known as Alphabet House because of the alphanumeric categorization of patients with mental illnesses. (Such special treatment for SS officers who had mental problems was of course not available to most sufferers, who were gassed to death.)
At Alphabet House, James and Bryan are subjected to radical treatments for their putative psychoses, including frequent electroshock and daily administration of dangerous anti-psychotic drugs that induced catatonic-like states. Bryan tried not to take his pills, but this too was dangerous; if the officials at the facility suspected anyone of malingering, that person would be executed. As it turns out, however, Bryan and James were not the only ones pretending to have psychiatric disorders. But the others who are faking are determined to take no chances with anyone knowing about them; they have a secret to protect that will make them rich if only they can survive until the war is over. Thus, the two Brits are constantly observed, judged, suspected, and mistreated by the German prisoners to cause them to slip in their roles, if indeed they are playing roles. And as the German malingerers - high-level sadistic Nazis - increasingly suspect the two, the tension ratchets up enormously.
Evaluation: Although a few aspects of the story strained credulity, this psychological (in a double sense) thriller kept me on the edge of my seat once I got into it a bit. (Jim was pulled in right from the start.) Even though Adler-Olsen wrote this debut novel many years ago, you can see a talented writer at work, who is adept at pacing and characterization. I did not find the characters at either end of the morality spectrum unduly caricatured. This is a solidly good book, and it is a standalone. We both enjoyed reading it, as we have enjoyed the other books by this author.
April 28, 2024
2018: Izvanredan roman, prvijenac Jussi Adler-Olsena, za mene daleko bolji od popularnog serijala o inspektoru Carlu Mørcku i Odjelu Q. Ritam jednostavno ne dozvoljava da predahnete i na kraju imate o čemu razmišljati. Svakako pročitati. ♥
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2024: Pročitao sam 'Kuću abecede' još 2018. i već tada sam na Goodreadsu zapisao da mi se Jussijev debitantski roman puno više sviđa od serijala s inspektorom Morckom. Čak i nakon čitanja sedam od osam prevedenih i deset napisanih dijelova Olsenovog Sektora Q (nekako sam preskočio #7 'Žena s ožiljkom'), moje mišljenje ostaje isto. Birajući knjige za ovaj Timbar, čak sam razmišljao hoću li radije objasniti što mi se ne sviđa u nedavno pročitanoj 'Žrtvi 2117' (#8) ili Jussija predstaviti s upravo reizdanom 'Kućom abecede'.
U vašem i Jussijevom interesu, predlažem da svakako nabavite primjerak ovog debitantskog romana. Priča o dva saveznička pilota koji završe u njemačkoj mentalnoj ustanovi nakon što su oboreni, držala me zarobljenim uz knjigu od prvih stranica. Napisana je filmskom dinamikom, puna akcije s puno obrata. Ne očekujte ratni ili dokumentarni roman, bitke, taktike ili rovove. Rat je u pozadini, a 'Kuća abecede' više je psihološki triler o preživljavanju u nenormalnim uvjetima i granicama ljudske izdržljivosti. Triler o prijateljstvu, nadi i otpornosti ljudskog duha.
S obzirom na Olsenovu blizinu slavnoj skandinavskoj spisateljskoj skupini kojoj krv kaplje sa stranica, ne čudi mnogo nasilnih scena. Atmosfera mentalne ustanove i klaustrofobija, bolnički eksperimenti i mučenja povremeno podsjećaju na 'Let iznad kukavičjeg gnijezda' ili druge trilere s mentalnim ustanovama, no metode su ovdje puno brutalnije. Adler-Olsenova biografija i djetinjstvo, gdje je zbog očeve profesije prolazio kroz ludnice, jamče autentičan pogled unutar zidina.
Prijateljstvo, žrtva i izdaja ključne su riječi ovog romana koji na svojih 450 stranica ima sporih dijelova, ali je kraj furiozan.
Ovo reizdanje mami me da još jednom pročitam 'Kuću abecede' pa šaljem punu preporuku, puni aplauz.
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2024: Pročitao sam 'Kuću abecede' još 2018. i već tada sam na Goodreadsu zapisao da mi se Jussijev debitantski roman puno više sviđa od serijala s inspektorom Morckom. Čak i nakon čitanja sedam od osam prevedenih i deset napisanih dijelova Olsenovog Sektora Q (nekako sam preskočio #7 'Žena s ožiljkom'), moje mišljenje ostaje isto. Birajući knjige za ovaj Timbar, čak sam razmišljao hoću li radije objasniti što mi se ne sviđa u nedavno pročitanoj 'Žrtvi 2117' (#8) ili Jussija predstaviti s upravo reizdanom 'Kućom abecede'.
U vašem i Jussijevom interesu, predlažem da svakako nabavite primjerak ovog debitantskog romana. Priča o dva saveznička pilota koji završe u njemačkoj mentalnoj ustanovi nakon što su oboreni, držala me zarobljenim uz knjigu od prvih stranica. Napisana je filmskom dinamikom, puna akcije s puno obrata. Ne očekujte ratni ili dokumentarni roman, bitke, taktike ili rovove. Rat je u pozadini, a 'Kuća abecede' više je psihološki triler o preživljavanju u nenormalnim uvjetima i granicama ljudske izdržljivosti. Triler o prijateljstvu, nadi i otpornosti ljudskog duha.
S obzirom na Olsenovu blizinu slavnoj skandinavskoj spisateljskoj skupini kojoj krv kaplje sa stranica, ne čudi mnogo nasilnih scena. Atmosfera mentalne ustanove i klaustrofobija, bolnički eksperimenti i mučenja povremeno podsjećaju na 'Let iznad kukavičjeg gnijezda' ili druge trilere s mentalnim ustanovama, no metode su ovdje puno brutalnije. Adler-Olsenova biografija i djetinjstvo, gdje je zbog očeve profesije prolazio kroz ludnice, jamče autentičan pogled unutar zidina.
Prijateljstvo, žrtva i izdaja ključne su riječi ovog romana koji na svojih 450 stranica ima sporih dijelova, ali je kraj furiozan.
Ovo reizdanje mami me da još jednom pročitam 'Kuću abecede' pa šaljem punu preporuku, puni aplauz.
==
https://dalmatinskiportal.hr/zivot/-t...
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Link za nabavu: https://znanje.hr/product/kuca-abeced...
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Dobrodošli u kolumnu "Timbar na libar":
Na Dalmatinskom portalu: https://dalmatinskiportal.hr/kolumna/...
Na Facebooku: https://www.facebook.com/timbarnalibar
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