On the surface it looked like an accident. A six-year old boy fell to his death from a snowy rooftop in Copenhagen. Smilla Jasperson, the boy's friend and neighbor, looks at the tracks in the rooftop snow and is convinced that the police are wrong. This is the intriguing opening for Danish crime writer Peter Hoeg's Smilla's Sense of Snow and my selection for this week's Teaser Tuesday.Teaser Tuesday is described by its host Miz B over atShould be Reading as a "weekly bookish meme" open to any reader who wants to play along. If, like me, you're always curious about what people are reading or on the lookout for the next great read, then this may be your meme. If you want to play, just click on Miz B's link above for the very simple rules.
Smilla's Sense of Snow
by Peter Hoeg
"The coffin is made of dark wood, it looks so small, and there is already a layer of snow on it. The flakes are the size of tiny feathers, and that's the way snow is, it's not necessarily cold. What is happening at the moment is that the heavens are weeping for Isaiah, and the tears are turning into frosty down that is covering him up." p. 4
Book Description: At first you think Hoeg has written a straightforward crime novel. A boy falls to his death from a Copenhagen rooftop. Police are quick to call it an accident and try to close the case. However, the boy's neighbor is a mathematician and scientist. And like the boy she is a native Greenlander and understands what is possible in snowy, icy conditions. She pushes and is ordered to back off, threatened with events from her past. She suspects a corporate and governmental cover up that ties both her and the boy Isaiah back to an ill-fated geological expedition in Greenland many years ago.
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If I enjoy a book, I'm always happy to know that there's a film adaptation of it. For Smilla's Sense of Snow there is a 1997 film by the same name and it stars some heavy hitters such as Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris, Jim Broadbent, and Vanessa Redgrave. Even better if it's on Netflix Instant Play and it is. Here's the trailer:
11 comments:
Thank you, I now have a new author to read. :) My TT: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/02/teaser-tuesdays-the-fifth-servant.html
That sounds like an intriguing read. I do like crimes and mysteries, especially when they're not easily solved. Nice teaser.
Here's my Teaser.
Lovely imagery!
Here's my teaser for this week.
both are great, but I really love the imagery in the second. nicely played. Kaye—the road goes ever ever on
Hello Faye,
What a great post, so much detail without giving too much away, some great images and the film link, what more can you say.
This is not an author I am familiar with, YET!!
Sounds as if he writes a crime novel that doesn't rely too much on pacy action, blood and gore; but requires some thoughtful and contemplative reading, as the plot unfolds.
Thanks for bringing Peter Hoeg to my attention.
Yvonne
This does sound fascinating...I think I saw a part of the movie, but can't remember why I didn't see the whole thing. Time to add this one to my wish list.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
That's a beautiful teaser. I read this a few years back and enjoyed it.
here's mine http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-ten-tuesday.html
Amazing teaser! So vivid and heart wrenching!
Here is mine:
http://www.cafeofdreamsbookreviews.com/2011/03/teaser-tuesday-31.html
I much prefer death in the springtime :) Hmmm...I wonder if Smilla is related to or friends with Flavia de Luce of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (recommended)
My teaser is from my journey to Narnia. I hope I'm not the last one to make this trip :)
Cryptic teaser! Sounds very interesting. Awesome there was a movie. Love Julia Ormond!
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