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The Boy In The Suitcase
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It took a few chapters for me to get accustomed to all the different characters, but after a few chapters, I got used to it and had trouble putting it down. There seemed to be so many different story lines and it was hard to imagine how everything was going to come together. I think that is also part of the reason it grabbed me so quickly, because it piqued my curiosity so quickly.
How did you like Nina? I was pulling for her the whole way, but at times I wanted to slap her. She did some pretty crazy things, like leaving the boy in the car while she not only went to buy him clothes, but then went into the grocery store. I couldn't help but think, what nurse would do this? As more of her irrational behavior patterns were revealed, I realized that these things were actually what made her character interesting to say the least!
How did you like Nina? I was pulling for her the whole way, but at times I wanted to slap her. She did some pretty crazy things, like leaving the boy in the car while she not only went to buy him clothes, but then went into the grocery store. I couldn't help but think, what nurse would do this? As more of her irrational behavior patterns were revealed, I realized that these things were actually what made her character interesting to say the least!
I first picked up this book because I had read another book about a little boy who didn't know who he was, just his first name and slowly making his way north through Italy and France, finally taken in by a reclusive? lady. No one could understand anything he said. He just knew his name was David. It had a lot of these same elements. The first books broke my heart and cost me a night's lost sleep and a box of Kleenex because I couldn't rest till I got him home.When I came across this one, I was sunk. No, not again. Out came the Kleenex and the table lamp.
I had hopped all over Europe with David, so was not surprised to once again be playing cat and mouse across the European borders trying to keep up with confusing Scandinavian names and flipping pages for updates on how the little suitcase lad was doing.
My mother's heart meanwhile was seeing red and ready to go on the warpath with our favorite sleuth.
I need to pull my copy out and do some speed reading tomorrow before I can start talking about character stuff and plots.
Thanks for reading it though... It is great and it talks about a very real issue.
Susan I had trouble with the names and places also, and just skipped over like you did.Nina drove me crazy at times with some of the things she did especially leaving Mikas in the car alone! I thought why would you do that? You should know better!
And Nina always checking the time... well that drove me batty! I couldn't work out with the deal was with it. But you find out finally why at the end of the book. A lot of the things Nina did then fell into place once the big reveal at the end.
So everyone, who is your favorite Character?
I think mine is Sigita, with Nina a close second obviously, but just the way Sigita would not give up hope that she would find Mikas. And that she went out of her comfort zone again and again! I would also imagine that it struck you ladies more so than me, as I'm not a "Mother" as yet. (well I'm a Mother to my fur baby lol)
I also liked both Sigita and Nina. I wonder if Sigita makes an appearance in either of the other two books?
I would expect that further explanation into Nina's quirks will be revealed as the series continues. The book definitely made me want to know even more about her.
I would expect that further explanation into Nina's quirks will be revealed as the series continues. The book definitely made me want to know even more about her.
Susan I didn't want to spoil it for you. Just wanted to comment that something is revealed about Nina that explains some of her odd behavior. Not far to go till the end Susan, and its all go from this point on! And Tarheelgirl I do hope we get to learn more about Nina as the series progresses. I am worried though if she takes off again on her save the world crusade what it will do to her own family!
I have downloaded book two... I will wait for everyone else before starting!! :)
I have a dear friend who was born and raised in Denmark. One day when we were talking she said something about her and her friend going to eat lunch and leaving their sleeping infants in the prams out front under the shade of the awning. I had the natural shocked reaction, but then she explained the family culture of Denmark and how there is no fear for children there like there is here. Also it is nothing to leave a child in a car, for the same reason. If you take this knowledge in to account, can you imagine how much more Nina was inflamed and raged at finding this precious innocent in the suitcase? What she did, casually is a social norm for her country.
Even at that, I sensed that she left him hesitantly because of his health and the fact that that she couldn't communicate well with him to make sure he wouldn't get out of the car.
Wow, thanks for sharing that Karen. I really didn't take into consideration different cultures doing different things like that.
How did you experience the book? (Besides it driving you crazy!!)
Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"?
I was a little overwhelmed at the start, with each chapter introducing a new character, I thought how the hell are all these people going to come together in the end? Well I guess I can eat my words can't I!! I hit my stride about chapter 5 and got used to the different point of views from each character and even was getting frustrated when I'd finish a chapter and it would on to the next person... I wanted to skip ahead to the character I was reading and see what they were doing!!