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Italian Shoes by Henning Mankell
Aug. 15th, 2010 10:29 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
Surgeon Frederick Welin has lived alone on a deserted island, in self-imposed exile, since he was disgraced for trying to cover up a mistake on the operating table. Then, one morning, he sees a figure struggling across the ice and realises that his past is about to cover up with him.
The figure approaching him is Harriet, the only woman he ever loved, the woman he abandoned forty years ago in order to study in America. Now Harriet has tracked him down to ask him to honour a promise made many years ago: to take her to a beautiful lake, hidden deep in the forests of northern Sweden. But Welin soon discovers that Harriet has left his biggest surprise until last.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
A beautifully written, well observed and reflective novel that has a lot to say about growing old and past regrets, this is a wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Surgeon Frederick Welin has lived alone on a deserted island, in self-imposed exile, since he was disgraced for trying to cover up a mistake on the operating table. Then, one morning, he sees a figure struggling across the ice and realises that his past is about to cover up with him.
The figure approaching him is Harriet, the only woman he ever loved, the woman he abandoned forty years ago in order to study in America. Now Harriet has tracked him down to ask him to honour a promise made many years ago: to take her to a beautiful lake, hidden deep in the forests of northern Sweden. But Welin soon discovers that Harriet has left his biggest surprise until last.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
A beautifully written, well observed and reflective novel that has a lot to say about growing old and past regrets, this is a wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
