Review
`His words fall like snowflakes, building up to make even the most ugly thing something of beauty. A quiet masterpiece'
--Metro
--Metro
Review
`Mankell is lyrical about the frozen landscape he knows so well.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
81 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Henning Mankell has become well known of late thanks to the BBC's adaptation of his acclaimed Kurt Wallander series. ITALIAN SHOES is a one-off story spanning a year in the life of a 66-year-old former surgeon living in self-imposed exile on a small island in the archipelago between Sweden and Finland, having botched an operation twelve years earlier and taking early retirement as a consequence. The tale involves the very unexpected return into his life of a woman he once loved and deserted thirty-seven years back, and three other women of widely differing circumstances who have a profound effect on his sense of being.
Mankell is a natural story-teller and his latest novel is rich in all manner of emotions. Loneliness, regrets, mortality and failure are just some of the issues covered here, told in the first-person throughout with a wonderful sense of comic timing in spite of the generally depressing themes. The central character Frederik Welin has only one friend - a hypochondriac postman - and even then he doesn't like him very much and hasn't invited him into his lonely abode in all of the twelve years that he has been delivering and collecting the post. As usual, Mankell is adept at describing the environment, in this case the often frozen sea and snow-covered terrain of a desolate region of Sweden, but he is even better at characterisation and dialogue. While the topics central to the main characters' lives are largely sad and downbeat, the overall impression from reading the story is surprisingly uplifting, and full of moments to make you smile if not laugh out loud. It must have been challenging to have chosen to write in the first-person about a man who is basically selfish and inconsiderate, because it then means that any impressions about him have to come in the form of responses to his self-centred behaviour from the characters around him - there is no judgement in the narrative as it is played out in diary-like style with only occasional snippets of inner reflection. The prose is easy and uncomplicated - compliments must go to the outstanding translation by Laurie Thompson - yet moods and events can change very abruptly without any forewarning.
I cannot think of a genre into which this book fits, but it is yet again a very intelligent piece of work by Mankell, full of serious if not profound issues that will make you pause to reflect and consider, yet relieved on countless occasions by moments of spirit-raising humour. I would guess that some of the anecdotes have been adapted from the author's real-life experiences, but he is in any case a most gifted writer, full of imagination, and I believe that anyone reading this will take something positive away from it, something to reflect on looking both backwards and forwards in time.
Mankell is a natural story-teller and his latest novel is rich in all manner of emotions. Loneliness, regrets, mortality and failure are just some of the issues covered here, told in the first-person throughout with a wonderful sense of comic timing in spite of the generally depressing themes. The central character Frederik Welin has only one friend - a hypochondriac postman - and even then he doesn't like him very much and hasn't invited him into his lonely abode in all of the twelve years that he has been delivering and collecting the post. As usual, Mankell is adept at describing the environment, in this case the often frozen sea and snow-covered terrain of a desolate region of Sweden, but he is even better at characterisation and dialogue. While the topics central to the main characters' lives are largely sad and downbeat, the overall impression from reading the story is surprisingly uplifting, and full of moments to make you smile if not laugh out loud. It must have been challenging to have chosen to write in the first-person about a man who is basically selfish and inconsiderate, because it then means that any impressions about him have to come in the form of responses to his self-centred behaviour from the characters around him - there is no judgement in the narrative as it is played out in diary-like style with only occasional snippets of inner reflection. The prose is easy and uncomplicated - compliments must go to the outstanding translation by Laurie Thompson - yet moods and events can change very abruptly without any forewarning.
I cannot think of a genre into which this book fits, but it is yet again a very intelligent piece of work by Mankell, full of serious if not profound issues that will make you pause to reflect and consider, yet relieved on countless occasions by moments of spirit-raising humour. I would guess that some of the anecdotes have been adapted from the author's real-life experiences, but he is in any case a most gifted writer, full of imagination, and I believe that anyone reading this will take something positive away from it, something to reflect on looking both backwards and forwards in time.
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a fan of Henning Mankell for many years and was gratified when I realised, with the filming of three of his books for television, that I was not the only person in this burgeoning fan club. In fact, his popularity seems to grow and grow. And it is richly deserved. I have read absolutely everything he has written and have been following the exploits (bumbling or otherwise) and declining health of my hero Inspector Kurt Wallander of Ystad for about ten years. Italian Shoes is something completely different and by the time I had read the first page I knew this was a fabulously crafted tale. Translated by the wonderful Laurie Thompson, it is about a reclusive doctor who has isolated himself from society, with only a dog and cat for company, on a tiny island, or skerrie, off the coast of Sweden, south of Stockholm. The sea is frozen solid and he is taking his morning dip in the ice when he spots a figure looking at him from way out on the wastes of the frozen sea. It is a woman on an invalid walker. This would have been a heartwarming tale of forgiveness and peace in anyone's hands but Mankell's, who - as usual - twists things in such a way that leaves you wanting to give the hero a few hard slaps. That's what I love about Henning Mankell's books - they are always so unpredictable and he seems to specialise in writing about difficult men who don't understand the first thing about women. It makes me wonder! But it is a fantastic read - not to be missed by Mankell fans. I just could not put it down.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a book that doesn't seem to follow the usual rules. Likeable main character? Nope. Linear and slightly predictable plot? Er, no.
Instead, what you get is something of a curate's egg. In places, this book is beautiful, insightful and fascinating. There is a sharply-defined atmosphere, a simplicity that belies some depth of feeling and understanding. Alternatively, there is a sense for the reader that the book has not quite completed anything, and everything is partially-understood and partially-divulged.
So in summary, this book is interesting but flawed. Overall, it's an enjoyable read if a somewhat frustrating one.
Instead, what you get is something of a curate's egg. In places, this book is beautiful, insightful and fascinating. There is a sharply-defined atmosphere, a simplicity that belies some depth of feeling and understanding. Alternatively, there is a sense for the reader that the book has not quite completed anything, and everything is partially-understood and partially-divulged.
So in summary, this book is interesting but flawed. Overall, it's an enjoyable read if a somewhat frustrating one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A different Henkell
I picked this book up thinking it was another of Henkell's masterful Wallander novels. It was masterful, but the main character, Welin, was not a detective. Read more
Published 1 month ago by G. D. Courtney
A great, different type of suspense story
Having read some of the Wallander books, I wasn't sure sure what to expect from this book, but it was a fantastic read, and I didn't want to put it down. Read more
Published 2 months ago by AMparr
Disappointing
I only started reading this because it was our Book Club choice for January. I could not get into it and tried 3 times before making any progress. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hat Lady
Loved it!
I really enjoyed reading this but I'm not sure why. The book starts with the main character living, on his own, on an island - with the only contact being with his hypochrondriac... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mimimum
A Quest for Redemption
Simply put, I loved this book. Fredrik Welin is a middle-aged former surgeon who lives in a self-imposed exile on his little island in the Stockholm archipelago. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Caledonia558
Disappointing
Having read most of HMs books I have come to the conclusion that his writing is becoming more disorganised and depressing as he gets older. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JimBrazil
A taut character study of a man who has yet to come to terms with his...
This story opens in the middle of a hard winter at the beginning of the new millenium.
Frederick Welin is alone, in self imposed isolation, on a small ice bound island... Read more
Frederick Welin is alone, in self imposed isolation, on a small ice bound island... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Alison McVey
one of the worst
I enjoy Mankell's books. Not the Wallander series - ice and muddy boots and
the usual layers of plot. Wearisome. Read more
the usual layers of plot. Wearisome. Read more
Published 8 months ago by donald darkness
Aristically brilliant, rambling plot
I found this book quite breathtaking in the descriptions of the Swedish landscape, snow and ice. I was very disappointed by the plot, which was a bit rambling and incohesive. Read more
Published 8 months ago by JMD
Stunning work of literature
I won't say much other than to add to most of the reviews already posted here. For those of you who only know Mankell from his Wallander novels, you won't be disappointed despite... Read more
Published 10 months ago by John Gimblett
Popular Highlights
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I abandoned her because I was afraid of being abandoned myself. My fear of tying myself down, and of feelings that were so strong that I couldnt control them, resulted in my always drawing back. I didnt know why that should be. But I knew that I wasnt the only one. I lived in a world where many other men were just as afraid as I was.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users
But why had I become a person who always looked for hiding places instead of companionship? Why had I never wanted to have children? Why had I lived a life like a fox, with so many alternative exits from its lair?
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users
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