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Book Review of The Greenlanders

The Greenlanders
The Greenlanders
Author: Jane Smiley
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on
Helpful Score: 1


This books is not a historical novel, rather a fictional journalistic styled history. It reminded me of Beowulf without the poetic element. It is almost primitive in style, yet the characters do assume some life after many episodes begin to reveal personalities. Greenlanders is slow moving and develops slowly. It tends to drag and weary the reader, yet also tends to call the reader back to see what the outcome of this most difficult setting will afflict upon its settlers. If you are looking to read a story with well-developed characters, you will be disappointed. If you are wanting to discover more about this part of our world, you will learn, but it tends to go on and on and on... Am I sorry I read it? Not really. Would I recommend it to friends? Maybe 1 in 20. Would I have finished it if I had been busily engaged in life at the time. No.