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Astrid and Veronika

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Author: Linda Olsson
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$14.00~~
Buy Used: $4.11
You Save: $9.89 (71%)

New (48) Used (48) Collectible (1) from $4.11

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

19 reviews
Sales Rank: 11449

Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5 x 0.7

ISBN: 0143038079
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.912
EAN: 9780143038078
ASIN: 0143038079

Publication Date: February 6, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: has a 'used' sticker and a tear on the cover. ex-library. has a few margin notes. pages are tight.

Also Available In:

•	Paperback - Astrid & Veronica (Originally Published as "Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs")

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
With extraordinary emotional power, Linda Olssons stunningly well-crafted debut novel recounts the unusual and unexpected friendship that develops between two women. Veronika, a young writer from New Zealand, rents a house in a small Swedish village as she tries to come to terms with a recent tragedy while also finishing a novel. Her arrival is silently observed by Astrid, an older, reclusive neighbor who slowly becomes a presence in Veronikas life, offering comfort in the form of companionship and lovingly prepared home-cooked meals. Set against a haunting Swedish landscape, Astrid & Veronika is a lyrical and meditative novel of love and loss, and a story that will remain with readers long after the characters secrets are revealed.

Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

3.5 stars, good read for snatches of time March 9, 2008
I liked this book, but wasn't enthralled with it. The accidental friendship between these two women fills a need for both and allows them to face painful events in their lives as they find safety in the other's quiet presence. The language is spare and direct, just as the two women are. I found it a good read for waiting time in the doctor's office or in line for child pickup, etc.,events where interruption is expected. I found it easy to leave off and pick back up without losing anything. It's hard to find a book that offers enough to distract you during those brief snatches of time, but doesn't pull you in or require complete concentration. It served a useful purpose for me and under those circumstances, I enjoyed it. However, when I had to wait four hours for a car repair in a grim mechanic's shop, I was glad to be reading The Pillars of the Earth, which made time fly.

2 out of 5 stars

Did not enjoy it March 7, 2008
The story was very slow moving and left so many unanswered questions. We read this as a book club selection and not one of us was able to bring finality to the plots in the story.

4 out of 5 stars

The strength of friendship. November 30, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Overview:
"Veronika, a 30-year-old Swedish writer, rents a home in a remote village to finish work on her second novel. Her only neighbor for miles is Astrid, a reclusive octogenarian who has earned a reputation (perhaps undeserved) as the village witch. Veronika and Astrid gradually become friends, taking long walks and sipping wine made from the wild strawberries in Astrid's garden. Each shares painful secrets along the way. Veronika abandoned a devoted boyfriend to take up with a bartender from New Zealand. They fell passionately in love, then tragedy befell him, leaving Veronika incapacitated by grief. Astrid endured sexual abuse from her father and a long loveless marriage to a man chosen by him. Until now, she has never told anyone the truth about her infant daughter's death."

I liked this book and the writing was truly beautiful. I enjoyed how the two women, alone in their own worlds, became such good friends. Their friendship was truly self-less.

The only thing I did not like about the book was that we never knew the real reason behind Astrid's secret, the killing of her infant daughter. I assumed it was because she did not want to see the child abused, but I could not quite make sense of it. I felt a little cheated that this was not further explored.

5 out of 5 stars

Great Book! October 21, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book was recommended to me by a friend who happens to be Swedish. It is a subtle, gentle and surprising book with a slow yet compelling pace. It was a breath of fresh air, and I was able to read it on one sitting!

1 out of 5 stars

Cheated by writer October 14, 2007
3 out of 8 found this review helpful

I feel extremely cheated by this story. First, it lagged and I had to make myself read to the end. The only reason I kept reading was to find out why Astrid killed Sara, but that was not revealed. There were several other situations which left the reader hanging but the killing of the baby should not have been left unexplained. I feel cheated by this incompetent writer!

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