21st Century Literature discussion
7/21 Blood on Snow
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Blood on Snow - Whole Book - Spoilers allowed
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The Kirkus review (link in the background thread) called this book an update of Love's Lovely Counterfeit by James M. Cain. That caused be to track down and read Love's Lovely Counterfeit. I have to say that I do not see any connection, other than both being in the noir/pulp fiction style. My review of Love's Lovely Counterfeit is here -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...I found Olav to be somewhat of an unreliable narrator. He slips into his version of stories and I wondered at times what was reality. It reminded me of the July open pick -- How to Break Article Noun -- with it's different versions of what happened. Did anyone else think Olav was a bit unreliable?
LindaJ^ wrote: "I found Olav to be somewhat of an unreliable narrator. ..."What brings one to a point of wanting to unwind Olav's unreliability? Thinking back to reading this novel, I'm not sure I ever reached that point -- and probably moved on to another story/book instead.
Not sure Lily what you mean by the phrase "wanting to unwind Olav's unreliability." Do you mean unwind in order to determine what actually happened? If so, I feel no need to do that at all. I think it is an integral part of Olav's personality. He seems to find/make up a story for all that happens in his life -- e.g., his mother thinks his father is still alive, Olav thinks he killed his father; the boss's wife says she got him to be rough in bed, Olav thinks it was a slow and beautiful time. Olav sees his life in a manner that allows him to live it. Perhaps we all do that to an extent.
Mod
(I'm almost positive that I came across that interpretation, or something close to it, in a review, but I can't find it now. Anyone?)
LindaJ^ wrote: "... Do you mean unwind in order to determine what actually happened? If so, I feel no need to do that at all. I think..."Yours and Whitney's comments are both wonderful in helping place an 'old read' in perspective in my memory! THANKS!
Perhaps it was this one Whitney -- https://sevencircumstances.com/2017/0...I've not read Les Miserables.
Mod
I've not read Les Miserables."
It wasn't, but you inspired me to look again, it was this one from the Guardian, a more positive take than the one you found: "As well as people, though, Olav also fixes stories, giving us an alternative take on Les Misérables, because “the business about stealing bread just annoyed me… So: Jean Valjean was a deadly killer who was wanted throughout France. And he was in love with Fantine, the poor prostitute.” And, the reader increasingly suspects, this not entirely reliable narrator is fixing the narrative of his own life."
"https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
I haven't read Les Miserable since high school, but I don't know that it's really needed to shed light on Olev. We just need to know he 'improves' on a classic by changing the protagonist from someone stealing bread to feed his family to someone who's a killer.
I think I see the point you are making Whitney. Olav changing the story of Les Mis does forecast the changes he makes in his life story to make it "better" or at least to make him feel better about his life. I was a bit surprised that few reviewers comment on the varying versions of events. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
LindaJ^ wrote: "I think I see the point you are making Whitney. Olav changing the story of Les Mis does forecast the changes he makes in his life story to make it "better" or at least to make him feel better about..."You each shed light on my own comment at the time I read Blood on Snow: "Sort of interesting to contrast it with Modiano's In the Café of Lost Youth," which also, at least for me, left shadowy "what really happened."
Interesting comparison Lily. I read the Modiano book but it did not come to mind when I read this book. Agree that what happened there was shadowy but don't it as presenting alternate realities being presented.
Thanks to those who joined in the discussion! While our time in the sun is over, the link will remain live and I'll be checking in for any comments that might be left.
Well it seems I was a bit premature in thinking our discussion was over! Officially, we are still one of the current discussions -- until Aug. 15. Please chime in.
I am little late to the party here, I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it.To everyone's point here, I also found Olav an unreliable narrator, but I think that was part of his and the novel's charm for me. He didn't come across so much as an anti-hero but more of a delusional in his life and line of work. I think he created these alternate stories in his head to compensate for the trauma of his childhood, his parents and consequentially what he did to his dad.
While reading this novel I kept thinking it would make a great movie.
Jessica, it is never too late to join this party! I'd agree that he was a bit delusional. What do you think is the real story with respect to his father -- what his mother remembers or what Olav remembers?
I think that what Olav remembers is the real story, or that is how I felt anyways. And because of that is why he decided to become a killer and not go to college.
Do you think Olav became delusional after he killed his father and that his memories up to then are true? (Okay, I know this is all fiction but I'm sort of hung up on why Olav would become a killer!)
I think it was his dad said when he was killing him, I don't have the book anymore so I can't quote it exactly, but it was something like you're just like me or something. And I think that made Olav think/know that he was violent and kind of a monster like his father. That was my take anyways. I don't know if from then on his memories were different but since he liked making up stories in his head because he couldn't read maybe he started doing that with reality more and more since then.
I'm still on the fence as whether Olav or his mother are right about the father. You are right that if Olav did kill his father, it was likely the motivator for his becoming a killer. But if Olav did not really kill his father, then he was motivated by his delusion and that seems possible as well.
21st Century Literature
Books mentioned in this topic
In the Café of Lost Youth (other topics)Love's Lovely Counterfeit (other topics)
How to Break Article Noun (other topics)
I'm going to throw out a couple of questions that you need not pay any attention to.
What do you think about Olav? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he sort of an anti-hero? Do you think a real "fixer" could ever be like Olav?
At one point Olav says about his reading, "Sometimes the story I get into my head is completely different. So I sort of end up getting two stories for the price of one." He blames it on his dyslexia. But is it not only in his reading that Olav ends up getting two stories for the price of one?