Peter Hoeg

Smilla's Sense of Snow! A poetic name. Like a line in a poem. Lyrical lines, observations galore. Bits of illuminations about human behaviour, observations about human nature. It is a delight to read this expansive novel.

The story is large, in the true sense of the term. It encompasses not only the events in the death of a small boy, Isaiah, but his death and aftermath through the life events of Smilla Jaspersen. It is a story about Smilla and her downstairs neighbour Peter, as well as Isaiah's mother. It is the story of Smilla's parents, how one day her mother disappeared. It is also about the Cryolite Corporation of Denmark.

But throughout, above everyone and everthing else, is snow. The look, feel and characteristics of snow. The desolateness that snow creates, the cold and the colour of snow. The mood of snow, and the dangers it entails. Hunting in snow, and walking on snow. Endless observations about snow delights and enlightens, expecially people who have never seen snow.

For those populations whose life centers around snow, it is a reliving of their life through the eyes of Peter Hoeg, and reexperiencing the beauty and the difficukties of nthat lifestyle. The countries of Denmark (Copenhagen) and Greenland, as well as Inuit culture are woven intricately into the story.

Hence this is a novel about snow, and cultures, about science (the Cryolite Corporation of Denmark), about people, about love, muder and mystery.

I read Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel

Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel, A Pale View of the Hills, is about a Japanese woman who remarries, relocates to England, and how her decision to live life in this way is so much similar to Sachiko, the woman she had met long time ago, and her child Mariko who loved cats.

Nowhere is it told blatantly that she is a woman who decides on her own, or is strong. But she does make decisions in the end. She turns out to be a woman with a mind of her own.

The feeling of Japan - Nagasaki and Fukuoka - of England (London, and rural England), and of America - in the American tourist they meet at a fair - are well-blended into the story, without being loud about it. Things are implied, soft and subtle, and one could feel the Japanese etiquette and reverence in the way they spoke.

The effects of World War II, in the thread of the father-in-law coming to visit them comes through clearly. The postcard representation of the War symbols are to an extent funny and humorous to her.

There is an underlying thread of suspense and mystery. There are at least stories beautifully intertwined.