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Italian Shoes
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
6 posts | 5 read | 6 to read
From the prizewinning master of atmosphere (Boston Globe) comes the surprising and affecting story of a man well past middle age who suddenly finds himself on the threshold of renewal. Living on a tiny island entirely surrounded by ice during the long winter months, Fredrik Welin is so lost to the world that he cuts a hole in the ice every morning and lowers himself into the freezing water to remind himself that he is alive. Haunted by memories of the terrible mistake that drove him to this island and away from a successful career as a surgeon, he lives in a stasis so complete an anthill grows undisturbed in his living room. When an unexpected visitor alters his life completely, thus begins an eccentric, elegiac journeyone that shows Mankell at the very height of his powers as a novelist. A deeply human tale of loss and redemption, Italian Shoes is a testament to the unpredictability of life, which breeds hope even in the face of tragedy.
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Anna40
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
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Pickpick

The first person narrator Fredrik lives with his cat,dog&anthill in his grandparents‘ house on an island.The only human he talks to is the hypochondriac mailman until Hariett,a former lover whom he abandoned,shows up&demands he keeps a promise he once made to her&broke by leaving.The 2 embark on a journey&Fredrik on an inner journey that doesn‘t make him a better person but a person who finally starts taking responsibility for his actions.

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SqueakyChu
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
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I‘ve had this book for a while and finally decided to read it. I‘m about 80% done. It surprised me so much! I had no idea that this author wrote anything but crime novels. This is a story, beautifully written, about a man who lives alone in an archipelago of #Sweden. I am so glad to have discovered this book and will look for more books by this same author, especially if the others are literary fiction instead of crime novels.

12 likes1 stack add
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McKinneyKatie13
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
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Pickpick

This book is so beautiful. I wanted to read it again right away!
-The translated version does have some grammar/sentence mistakes.
-There are weird moments that seem out of character for the tone, but I think that's part of its beauty!
-The ending does not tie up loose ends & leaves you wanting more. It makes you almost feel empty while leaving you in deep thought.
-Overall, this is one of the most beautiful & amazing books I've ever read!

Bransted I love this book. I've read it maybe three times. I rarely reread. It is so unlike Mankell's other books. Goes right to my heart. 3y
4 likes1 comment
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McKinneyKatie13
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
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"It's just as easy to lose your way inside yourself as it is to get lost in the woods or in a city."

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Jari-chan
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
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I got tagged first the first since I've joined (which was not that long ago), thank you @gradcat

1. I'm on Goodreads and happily accept any friend request :)

2. I like writing postcards and exchange with friends on a regular basis.

3. Reading? I don't think I have any other hobbies except that. But I like watching movies as well.

4. Speaking Russian

gradcat You‘re very welcome, babe. I don‘t have too much going on on Goodreads, but I will request you as a friend there. ♥️ Oh! And I‘m very impressed that you‘re speaking Russian—difficult language! ⭐️ (edited) 5y
Jari-chan @gradcat Awesome! Looking forward to your request :) Well, my Russian is still very basic but I'd love to speak it better. It's such a beautiful language. 5y
gradcat @Jari-chan Okay, I just sent the request on GoodReads...I hope I got the right person—it shows your first name as Joanna (ok, check), but it looks like the picture is different than the one on Litsy. But I literally just sent it in the last minute or two. ♥️ 5y
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Jari-chan @gradcat You totally got the right person :D The pictures are different but it's the same cat (since she's more photogenic than her sister 😅). 5y
gradcat @Jari-chan I thought that cat looked like the same cat! I guess she likes to try different angles!! 🤣😂😹 (edited) 5y
Jari-chan @gradcat She sure does 😄 😂 When it comes to sleeping she's very talented 😹 5y
10 likes6 comments
review
MelHopton
Italian Shoes: A Novel | Henning Mankell
Mehso-so

Bit of a plodding, slow burner. Lots of drama towards the end with a flurry of characters. Lots of imagery and subtext to read into and a twisting plotline. Well developed main character but some others are a bit lacking.