The End of Drum-time, by Hannah Pylvainen, 4 stars

[NancyJ]

This is a beautifully written story about the Sami people in Northern Sweden who herd reindeer. Set in 1851, it focuses on two herding families, the minister’s family, and a shopkeeper who (not so secretly) sells alcohol. Much of the book takes place in the small village of Garasavvon, Sweden. The herding families must drive their herds across several countries in the Scandinavian tundra to feed their herds. The law is about to change, which would close the borders. I liked the historical and cultural details that showed the various pressures on the people’s lives, not the least of which is the weather. Faith, alcohol and debt all play roles in the plot. The central church had more power in the nation than I might have expected, and it wasn’t happy with the minister’s success in stirring up the citizen’s religious zeal. There is also romance, as the minister’s daughter falls for the brooding herder that we know to be a heartbreaker. (I pictured a James Dean type, but scruffier.) I liked the depth of the character development, though one pivotal character is seen mainly through his actions, which affected the lives of many others. A few of the characters will likely stay with me for some time. Overall, this book is like a classic tragedy. We can see how just a couple character flaws and bad decisions can snowball over time. The book starts off rather slowly but gradually escalates in ways that I didn’t expect.

[Booknblues]

NancyJ wrote: "The book starts off rather slowly but gradually escalates in ways that I didn’t expect. ..."

This says it all. I remember reading it and wondering, "Just where is this going? What kind of book is this?" Glad you liked it.