Cucinare un orso

by Mikael Niemi, Alessandra Albertari (Translator), Alessandra Scali (Translator)

Lars Levi Laestadius è un carismatico pastore di origini sami, esperto botanico e fondatore di un movimento religioso revivalista che a metà ’800 si diffonde a macchia d’olio tra la gente del Tornedal, nell’estremo Nord della Svezia e della Finlandia. Jussi è il suo fedele compagno e discepolo, un ragazzo sami che Laestadius ha adottato, salvandolo dalla miseria e insegnandogli tutto sulle piante e sulla natura (ma anche a leggere, scrivere e, non meno importante, ad amare e temere Dio). Nell’estate del 1852 nel villaggio di Kengis, Jussi e il pastore sono chiamati d’urgenza da una famiglia di contadini della zona perché una ragazza che badava alle mucche è scomparsa nella foresta. Pochi giorni dopo viene ritrovata uccisa e la gente del posto subito sospetta di un orso. Lo sceriffo Brahe è pronto a offrire una ricompensa per catturare l’animale, ma il predicatore trova altre tracce che indicano un assassino assai peggiore ancora in libertà, e insieme a Jussi s’improvvisa detective, ignaro del male che lentamente si sta avvicinando a lui e che minaccia di distruggere la sua azione di rinnovamento spirituale. Con la scrittura audace e ingegnosa che lo contraddistingue, capace di intessere poesia e humour tagliente, Mikael Niemi costruisce un giallo storico appassionante e visionario e s’interroga sulle grandi questioni filosofiche della vita, calandoci nel cuore di una piccola comunità ferita da grandi eventi ai margini artici
del mondo. Cucinare un orso segna il ritorno del grande narratore svedese ed è diventato un piccolo caso editoriale internazionale alla ultima fiera di Francoforte, in corso di pubblicazione in quindici paesi.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Sweden, Historical, Swedish Literature

507 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Mikael Niemi is a Swedish author. He wrote the novel Populärmusik från Vittula (in English as Popular music from Vittula). It became a best-seller in Sweden and was subsequently translated into 30 languages.
He first became famous by writing poetry, and he has published many collections of poetry, such as Änglar med mausergevär (Angels with mauserguns), Med rötter här uppe (With roots up here) and his very first, Näsblod under högmässan (Nosebleed during the high mass). He has also written many works for the theatre.
Many of his books contain some Meänkieli language, the local variety of Finnish.
Niemi was educated in Luleå but currently resides in Pajala.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mikael Niemi blends fact with fiction in this historical mystery set in Sweden's remote north in the Arctic Circle in 1852, revolving around the actual charismatic Revivalist pastor, Lars Levi Laestadius, a towering figure with an all encompassing inquiring mind, a remarkable botanist, engaging in philosophical and theological discussions, including the position of women and a man who turns out to be a astonishing detective for the era, applying much of the cutting edge forensic science, such as fingerprints, in a terrifyingly dangerous murder investigation. The pastor takes under his wing a Sami boy, Jussi, of 10 or 11 years of age, bringing him into his family and treating him as a son. He teaches him to read and write, opening doors that allows Jussi to appreciate the power of the written word, the permanence it lends, and a conduit through which he can tell his own story, written in his own words, virtually unheard of when it came to the Sami people, discriminated against, and the target of racist scientific theories and practices.

The storytelling is deeply embedded in rural community, the divisions, the gossip, the prejudice, the judgements, the church and religion, ways of living, the unrest and uprisings. The pastor has powerful enemies, particularly due to his implacable opposition to alcohol, arousing the ire of those who profited from its sale, such as the innkeepers, and those who wanted to drink, with many addicted to it. Jussi, from an impoverished and abused background, is socially awkward, inclined to not mix with others, a loner not given to speaking, and is regarded with suspicion and shunned, even by the person he is obsessed. He regards her as his beloved, given to following her, and not put off in the slightest by her lack of interest in him. When Hilda, a maid, is found murdered, Sheriff Brahe and the constable attribute it to a bear killing, a conclusion the pastor, aided by Jussi, disagrees with, after close examination and analysis of the crime, taking in factors such as blood spatter, certain the perpetrator is far more human in form. The pastor and Jussi underestimate the forces arraigned against them, as further attacks and murders take place.

This is Swedish historical fiction that firmly draws on and embedded in the more contemporary Scandi-Noir tradition, with the gruesome brutality and horror associated with the genre. There really is a bear that is cooked as suggested by the title, hunted down, trapped and killed, along with its cubs, by locals who mistakenly believe it was guilty of killing Hilda. It is hard to stomach the injustices that arise in the narrative, particularly those aimed at Jussi, the lies and deception, and a pastor who understands far too late how far a killer is prepared to go to remain undiscovered, and the price that is to be paid for his pursuit of the truth. This is a great read, one that those interested in this particular period of Swedish history will enjoy, wide ranging in its scope with a twisted mystery at its heart. Readers who liked The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag are likely to love this too. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story of a historical figure, shedding light on Lars Levi Laestadius’ work. As a Swedish Sami pastor, he founded the revival movement to help his largely Sami congregations, who were ravaged by alcoholism.

Northern Sweden, 1852. Laestadius, an avid botanist and pastor, shelters a runaway Sami boy named Jussi. He takes the boy on many excursions into nature teaching him how to observe what surrounds them. The botanical treks are also filled with philosophical discussions, but their spiritual journey is disturbed when a maid goes missing.

Jussi is a faithful disciple in every aspect. When they’re pulled to assist in finding the missing maid, Laestadius has Jussi deducing from the scene as much as possible, with which the boy struggles at first. Pastor, on the other hand, while reasoning scenarios reveals in his knowledge. Those scenes may unnerve some.

When another maid goes missing, bait and traps are laid in the forest for the killer bear. The blame is put on a bear, but pastor notices traces of something else.

Meanwhile, the pastor preaches powerful sermons, praising the farmers and workers, discouraging drinking. When people choose revival over alcohol, the pastor gains enemies among local rulers who see their profits dwindle.

Jussi comes from an abusive family. The punches and hunger are the two things he remembers the most, and that’s what made him run away. The scenes of his abusive childhood are short, but are presented vividly, which may rattle some. On the other hand, there is a warm connection between the pastor and the boy. The boy sees the goodness in pastor despite experiencing only cruelty before. There is a nurturing relationship which is heart-warming. It gives the story a softer touch, which alleviates the harshness to some extent.

Pastor’s kindness extends to other students. He is convinced that with more education, the drinking would diminish, and with better diet some diseases would be eliminated. Thus, introducing potatoes in the north where one plant can produce many potatoes. Pastor is an extraordinary character who has a vision for a better future for the people of his harsh Arctic land. He knows that with kindness and education you can get much farther than with harshness and punishment of shortcomings. “The region needed pioneers who, with wisdom and tenacity, could lead the flock forward.”

The story offers the great wisdom of the pastor, which is very engaging, but his detailed reasoning at times can send a chill down your spine. Nevertheless, it keeps one guessing and in suspense. It also brings what then would be something new in solving a murder case, scientific methods of papillary patterns (fingerprints) and light-pictures.

Overall, it is a very absorbing and gripping story, with characters that engage, and captivatingly setting in motion philosophical questions of life, especially at such remote place as Arctic region with as harsh climate as people’s judgements.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

[Tara]

Ho boy. Where to start?

First off, I do not give negative reviews on Goodreads as a general practice. As an author, I respect all writing and if I don't like it, won't review it. But there was much to admire in this one, so I feel duty bound to discuss some issues that might bother some of my fellow readers so they can make an informed decision before reading.

Do NOT read if you are sensitive to gruesome violence. Really, really gruesome, detailed violence and disturbing crime scene examinations. None of this is hinted at in the book's description, so there is no warning (though with a title like this and a crime angle I should have guessed). I would not have read this if I'd known. I had to skip over parts, but it was hard not to be surprised by them in the text. You can't entirely avoid the scenes and horrid descriptions.

And it is very Rabelaisian. Everyone's nose drips snot and you get to hear about all bodily functions and status of festering wounds.

Then there was the sort of coldness of the main character and the detachment of someone who is supposed to be a pastor.

I also had trouble with the depiction of the saami people. As someone of color, I felt the author drummed home too often the ravages of alcoholism on these people and neglected to show enough of their beauty. While as a writer I LOVED the teaching of reading and writing and the power it brought the young saami boy, I still cringed at the insinuation that this made him now superior to his people. I know it gives him a voice. But it also now makes him more similar to his oppressor. Lots to discuss here for book clubs!

My take on this book: I think that there is much here to applaud and some beautiful writing, especially in the beginning. But for readers sensitive to the issues above, think twice.

Here is a valuable link to more on saami culture and history:

http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2015/12/...

[MartaMP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro molto ricco di riflessioni come l'importanza della lettura, l'importanza della cultura, della scoperta, della scienza e soprattutto della bontà d'animo.
Queste "perle di saggezza" vengono amalgamate nella narrazione alla perfezione.
La storia è ben scritta ed interessante, il finale mi è piaciuto molto, la storia svolta in un modo che non avrei pensato!

[Laura Noizez_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si può scrivere un libro tenerino\dolcino e crudo\violento allo stesso tempo?
Si.

[Ends of the Word · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lars Levi Laestadius (1800 – 1861) was a Swedish pastor, botanist and author active in the far north of Sweden, and a key figure in the pietist Lutheran revival movement. He was of Sami descent and had a Sami wife. One of the problems which plagued Sami communities at the time was alcoholism, a scourge which Laestadius had experienced first-hand as the son of an often absent and alcoholic father. Indeed, one of the key aspects of Laestadius’ ministry was its emphasis on teetotalism. This and other factors of the revivalist movement placed him in direct confrontation with the establishment.

Laestadius features as an unlikely detective in Mikael Naemi’s historical novel Koka Björn. A runaway success in the author’s native Sweden, the novel is now being published in English as To Cook a Bear, in a masterful translation by Deborah Bragan-Turner.

A milkmaid goes missing in the rural parish where Laestadius ministers to the faithful. All clues point to an attack by a bear, which is captured and killed by the villagers some days later. Laestadius, however, is not convinced. His suspicious are proven correct when attacks on young women resume, despite the bear’s capture. Laestadius uses his keen sense of logic and observation, honed through years of botanical expeditions, as well as his understanding of human nature, to solve the mystery.

It is surprising how, at least in the hands of a good author, the tropes of crime fiction seem never to get old. Sherlock Holmes had his chronicler, Watson, and the concept of a lead investigator and a sidekick is an almost inescapable feature of detective fiction. In Laestadius’ case, the assistant and narrator (at least, for most of the novel) is Jussi, a teenage runaway from the North, to whom the Preacher becomes a mentor. Laestadius is pitted against Sheriff Brahe, who heads the official investigation alongside Constable Michelsson. Unlike Conan Doyle’s Lestrade, however, who is dedicated and determined if no match for Sherlock’s genius, Brahe is both incompetent and sleazy.

There are nods to other well-worn tropes, such as (in one instance) a locked-room mystery of the type which has been puzzling crime readers since the Biblical tale of Bel and the Dragon.

In the crowded market of crime fiction, To Kill a Bear stands out because it has the features of the best historical novels. Rather than being an exotic appendage to the story, the setting becomes one with the reading experience, fuelling the plot, the characters’ motivations and, more importantly, their very thought processes. The real facts of Laestadius’ life are nicely woven into the fiction, and the descriptions – at times a veritable assault on the senses – brilliantly evoke the lives of the villagers with all their challenges and privations. What I liked particularly however is the way in which the novel recreates the mind-set of the era, rather than lazily presenting us with a cast of contemporary characters dressed in fancy historical costume.

There is another intriguing theme running through the novel. Jussi learns to read and write thanks to the pastor’s efforts. As one new to expressing himself in the written word, Jussi frequently digresses into philosophical musings about writing and books, and has conversations with the pastor about the subject. At one stage there is also a quaint meta-fictional passage where the characters discuss the power of books and, self-referentially, whether a time will come when novels “about murder and death… about the effects of wickedness” will become common. The pastor feels that books like these could be dangerous. Jussi begs to disagree. Surely a novel where “you can follow the devil being fought and in the end being wrestled to the ground” could even serve a moral purpose?

As the mood of the novel gets darker and the violence more explicit, one starts wondering whether To Cook a Bear will manage to conclude in a way which fits Jussi’s template of the “righteous crime novel”. I won’t be so mean as to reveal the answer to that.

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Cook a Bear is a richly imagined nineteenth-century historical crime novel and easily one of the most delightful books of the past few years. It's a fantastic tale set in the far north of Sweden in 1852 following a runaway Sami boy and his mentor, the revivalist preacher Laestadius, as they investigate a murder in their village along with the mysteries of life. Jussi, a runaway, becomes the famous preacher Laestadius's faithful son and disciple. The Preacher is an avid botanist, and with Jussi in tow he sets out on long botanical treks filled with philosophical discussions, teaching Jussi all about plants and nature; but also how to read, write and about spirituality. One day a maid goes missing in the deep forest. When she is found dead, the locals suspect a predatory bear is at large. The constable is quick to offer a reward for capturing it, but the Preacher sees other traces that point to a far worse killer on the loose. After another maid is severely injured, Jussi and the Preacher track down the murderer, unaware of the evil that is closing in on him. For it is revivalist times, and thanks to the Preacher impassioned faith spreads like wildfire among the locals. While the preacher's powerful Sunday sermons grant salvation to farmers and workers, they gain him enemies among local rulers, who see profits dwindle as people choose revival over alcohol.

It's not often a crime novel can literally pluck me from my reality and place me back down in an entirely different place and time, this time in nineteenth-century Sweden; I genuinely felt as though I was there as the descriptions were so vivid and beautiful that they transport you there in an instant. I was completely lost in these pages from the first chapter, which set the scene, right through to the denouement, and I realised I really wasn't quite ready to leave the richly-imagined world portrayed within this beguiling story. Not only does the time and place in which it is set come alive but the characters leap off the pages and into your heart too; the relationship between Laestadius and Jussi is believable and touched my heart. It's compulsive, totally engrossing and I cannot sing its praises enough, but no matter how effusive my review I still feel this is a book so full of beauty and evil, love and hope, learning and companionship that it's impossible to do it justice. It was the perfectly potent and gripping mix of mystery and intrigue, and exploration and rumination on the big philosophical questions surrounding life and love, fate and desire and is entertaining in the process. It's unlike anything I have ever experienced before and is a book that I found brutal, touching and fascinating. Many thanks to MacLehose Press for an ARC.

[lise.charmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travestito da giallo storico, questo è un romanzo sull'inclusione e l'esclusione, sul voler bene ai dimenticati perché il fatto che ci siano estranei non significa che siano persone crudeli e sul fatto che il male si annida più spesso dentro le nostre comunità apparentemente protette.
E' anche un romanzo sulla bellezza e l'importanza delle parole, una dichiarazione d'amore ai libri e un proclama all'importanza della cultura come strumento di liberazione.
Un romanzo tra l'altro scritto benissimo, davvero molto bello.
Unica pecca: il finale è imperdonabilmente frettoloso, visto che si tratta di un romanzo lungo, una ventina di pagine in più non avrebbero fatto male.

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Список вещей, о которых я не могу читать, пополнили:
1) убийство животных с детенышами
2) приготовление животных на медленном огне
3) малыши, елозящие голой попой по земле до кровавых мозолей.

Книга хорошая; вам понравится, если вы любите детективы, исторические романы и скандинавщину, то есть лес, отчаяние и кишки на люстре.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scrivo due rime
Il bosco mi culla
Tu canti serena
mia bella fanciulla
Dentro al tuo cuore
voglio abitare
Pene d’amore
dovrai provare

[iva° · Rating 5 out of 5]

ako ti se sviđalo ecovo "ime ruže", onda bi i ova mogla biti po tvom ukusu. za razliku od XIV. stoljeća u italiji, ovdje se radnja događa u XIX. stoljeću na granici švedske i finske.
pastor laestadius (inače, stvarna ličnost) ne bavi se samo svojim propovjedničkim dužnostima i duhovnom brigom za pastvu, nego koristi svoje široko znanje i iskustvo te rješava slučajeve napada i ubojstava. sebi uz bok ima jussija, zlostavljanog samskog dječaka kojeg je pokupio s ceste i uzeo pod svoje. oni se svojim zdravim razumima, zapažanjima, korištenjem širokog spektra znanja i vještim baratanjem informacijama suprotstavljaju potkupljivim, nemarnim, alkoholiziranim, lijenim državnim službenicima koji što zbog svoje gluposti, a što iz zle namjere, sabotiraju rješavanje slučaja.
spretan spoj kriminalistike i detekcije, forenzike, teologije, botanike, obavijeno realističnim prikazima surovog sjevernjačkog ruralnog života, šovinizma, rasizma i intelektualnih i klasnih razlika.
i, ah, da, nekoliko egzorcizama.
vrlo visoki čitalački užitak.

[Albóndiga Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me ha resultado muy interesante esta novela ambientada en el siglo XIX en la Suecia profunda, donde la investigación de una serie de asesinatos corre a cargo de un pastor de la iglesia (que además resulta que es una figura histórica, cosa que descubrí al final del libro y el muchacho sami que tiene acogido.

Me ha gustado la meticulosa recopilación de pruebas y razonamientos de la investigación policial adaptada a los medios y tecnología de la época, pero me ha cargado un poco el contexto histórico y religioso, y el ayudante se me ha hecho odioso.

La novela es larga, pero se lee bastante rápido, así que si os apetece daros un paseo por la época os animo a echarle un ojo.

[Valentina Vekovishcheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Если "Имя розы" - сложно, то вот его разбавленный до захватывающей и развлекательной консистенции вариант!

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the real life figure, the Revivalist preacher, Lars Levi Læstadius as the central character, adds an authenticity and deeper level of interest to the book, and being unfamiliar with this highly intelligent, progressive and insightful man, there is a real frisson of Niemi linking the past with the present here. To try and encapsulate in a review the many themes of the philosophical, spiritual and metaphysical, and the razor sharp historical detail that Niemi so confidently and brilliantly entwines in this book won’t be easy, as this is a novel quite unlike any other that I have encountered of late.

On a very basic level, this book is a murder mystery with a small community filled with fear and suspicion as a murderer walks amongst them, preying on defenceless young women in a series of attacks driven by violent rage. As such, even with such a seemingly simple premise, Niemi constructs a chilling and compelling mystery, as the suspicion amongst the local people is attributed by turn to a possible bear attack, to a wandering miscreant, and then far more dangerously into the perpetrator being from the community itself. Reading this from a contemporary viewpoint, I was struck by how little the human race has moved on in terms of accepting peoples’ differences, as the community quickly turns on Jussi, the young Sami boy that Læstadius has taken into his tutelage. This fear of the unknown and the different runs like a vein throughout the book, as even Læstadius himself, with his Revivalist preaching and fervent followers puts him at odds with the men of influence in the town, who value wealth and gaiety over religion and abstinence. Consequently, there are many trials and pitfalls for Læstadius and Jussi, who intent on identifying the perpetrator find themselves in an increasingly perilous position.

What I was increasingly struck by was the progressiveness and intuitive thinking of Læstadius, harnessing clues and applying practical chains of thought to the residual evidence of each crime. Obviously, forensic science was very much in its infancy in this period, but Læstadius neatly assesses and applies increasingly modern methods to his dissemination of the physical evidence he uncovers, based on common sense and lateral thinking. Hence, we see the rudimentary application of the crime scene analysis, we as modern readers are familiar with in its purest form, as Læstadius inches forward with his knowledge and supposition on how to gather clues, analyse them, and catch a killer. From fingerprints to daguerreotypes, from simple pencil shavings to indentations in the landscape, Læstadius draws on his knowledge of psychology, botany, literature and branches of science and pseudo science to close in on the perpetrator.

I think it serves as a testament to the quality of Niemi’s writing and his erudite turn of phrase, and by turn the sublime translation by Deborah Bragan-Turner, that I revisited several passages throughout my reading of the book. His rendering of this harsh, but beautiful landscape, the sheer drudgery and hardship of these people’s lives, the physicality of his characters, and the more metaphysical musings of Læstadius himself on art, literature and education, held me in their thrall. On the subject of the community he is a part of, I was struck by their deep connection to the land and the way that their lives have this naturalistic interconnectedness, perhaps stronger than faith and education itself. “ You might easily form the impression that the farm-maid or the reindeer herder lacked the disposition for academic study. But even though they didn’t read books, they knew the changes in the movement of the animals at every moment in the year. They knew hundreds of reindeer marks by heart, and manged to find old pasture grounds, berry patches and fishing lakes from the high mountains to the coastline…In many matters, local people had a deeper understanding than all of Uppsala’s professors.” As much as Læstadius recognises that these people and particularly their children have the potential for a profession, education and improvement, he never loses sight of this more basic characteristic of his flock that connects them to the soil. Likewise, with his apprentice Jussi, he recognises and respects Jussi’s physical need to wander and be amongst nature, but aims to educate him as fully as possible, and their relationship seems to transcend a simple one of teacher and pupil or even adoptive father and son.

To Cook A Bear proved to be an incredibly enjoyable reading experience for me, and as someone who has an innate curiosity of the world and our place within it, I found it tremendously satisfying. Not only did it read as a compelling tale of jealousy and murder, with its nods to early forensic techniques, but it expanded out to envelop a host of larger themes based on religion, morality, art and at its heart an enduring interconnectedness with the landscape and the changing of the seasons. Mikael Niemi has produced a completely fascinating, intelligent, and beautifully written book. Highly recommended.

[Liz • りず · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I sat there for a long time, listening to the waterfall intone, its sound filling my ears. It was like the murmur of countless voices and I thought they were prayers. All humanity's laments and powerlessness. Perhaps this is what it sounded like to God, a cacophony that never ended."
🐻 🪓 🌲
A macabre and beguiling tale that blends fact and fiction in a richly imagined 19th-century historical crime novel. Set in the wild far north of Sweden in 1852, To Cook a Bear follows a fugitive Sami boy, Jussi, and his mentor, the revivalist preacher Laestadius, as they investigate a brutal murder in their remote community. The two are faced with mounting dangers and betrayals, as well as the deeper mysteries of life, complexities of human nature, and the inexplicable supernatural forces that loom over them.
Told in turn by young, tormented Jussi and logical Laestadius, the narrative presents a dual account that is rich with deep insight, philosophical musings, and raw human emotion.
Laestadius introduces innovative scientific methods using papillary patterns (fingerprints) and light-pictures, which would be novel in solving a murder case at that time. It was fascinating to see the mystery unfold, and the haunting voice of Jussi lingers in your mind long after finishing the novel.
An eerie, gripping story, starring an intriguing cast and a compelling mystery that slowly unravels in the remote Arctic region, where the climate is as harsh as people’s judgments and prejudices.

[Tyrone_Slothrop (ex-MB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un Padre Brown incerto tra i Sami

Romanzo storico che oscilla tra un giallo alla Chesterton e un crudo racconto esistenziale, questo.
Il fulcro di tutto è il pastore Læstadius, figura storica fondamentale per tutta la Scandinavia, grande botanico, carismatico predicatore, riformatore sociale e fustigatore dei costumi.
Ma non è un Guglielmo di Baskerville rinato in Norvegia: anche se il pastore vede molto più degli altri, non riesce ad impedire al male di colpire, fa errori tattici marchiani e esiziali per i suoi protetti, viene in sostanza sconfitto dalle forze della conservazione sociale. Si coglie l’idea della forza naturale e spirituale del popolo Sami, vero secondo protagonista del romanzo.
La scrittura è agevole e mantiene spesso un buon ritmo; non mancano parti di grande afflato naturalistico e parti molto dure, quasi “gore” nella descrizione di violenza e sofferenza.

[Massimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molto bello! Un libro dai molteplici aspetti con tantissimi temi importanti trattati. Un pò giallo e un pò thriller, racconta una serie di "improbabili" eventi e mette in luce uno spaccato di umanità affascinante. Esce allo scoperto il lato oscuro dell'umanità, le miserie e le cattiverie delle persone guidate solo dai propri interessi, mentre le categorie "povere" sono inevitabilmente vittime: minoranze, orfani e disadattati. Alla fine non vince nessuno, anche se un minimo di soddisfazione e giustizia emerge giusto nel finale.

[ElephantNico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cucinare un orso è forse il libro con la copertina più bella al mondo, e devo ammettere che questo è stato il motivo per cui ho voluto farmelo regalare. Ma fortunatamente, oltre a questo c'è molto di più.
Siamo in Lapponia, precisamente nel Nord della Svezia, al confine con la Finlandia. Una ragazza scompare per poi essere ritrovata morta e, per risolvere il mistero, vengono interpellate due persone (il reverendo e il giudice distrettuale) che svolgeranno indagini in parallelo.
Il nostro narratore si chiama Jussi ed è un sami della Lapponia. E' un ragazzo cresciuto da una famiglia di avvinazzati, senza un briciolo di affetto, che appena ha potuto è scappato verso il Sud incontrando il proprio salvatore: il reverendo Laestadius, il protagonista di questo libro.

Sono due, secondo me, i punti forti di questo libro.
Il primo, senza dubbio, è la caratterizzazione dei personaggi.
Jussi è un ragazzo maltrattato, schivo, taciturno e ombroso e, proprio per questo, inviso alla maggior parte della popolazione della cittadina di Pajala; viene chiamato "noaidi", sciamano, a causa della sua diversità. E' il bambino che non esiste, almeno finchè il suo nome non viene scritto da Laestadius nel registro dei battesimi.
Attraverso la voce di Jussi conosciamo anche Laestadius, il reverendo. Egli prende a casa propria Jussi e gli dà un'identità. E' un uomo di grande religiosità, fondatore del movimento dei "Risvegliati", una setta protestante fondata su un rapporto diretto con Dio e con lo Spirito Santo (condita con estasi spirituali e possessioni demoniache). E' anche un uomo profondamente intelligente, conoscitore della botanica e interessato all'istruzione dei poveri. Con lui viviamo intensamente anche i suoi dubbi, le sue crisi, le sue paure... Insomma, ci viene presentato come uomo vivo e vero. E, dato che si tratta di un personaggio realmente esistito, viene voglia di approfondire la sua storia.

Ma la forza principale di questo romanzo sta, senza dubbio, nella potenza dell'ambientazione. Sicuramente nel luogo, con le sue torbiere, i boschi, le estate cortissime... ma soprattutto nell'ambientazione storica, grazie anche al ritratto impietoso delle popolazioni del Nord della Scandinavia nell'Ottocento: vengono presentati come arretrati, dediti all'alcol, superstiziosi, facilmente impressionabili. Sono tutte caratteristiche che Laestadius, con la sua opera di scolarizzazione, vorrebbe cambiare per rendere la Svezia un paese più moderno.

Chiaramente questo libro è da consigliare a chiunque ami i gialli storici e i romanzi storici in generale. Ma devo dire che io, personalmente, ho apprezzato di più la capacità di Niemi di far
entrare il lettore in empatia profonda con i personaggi e con l'ambiente. Lo consiglio, quindi, anche a chiunque cerchi un coinvolgimento emotivo molto forte.

[Kurkulis (Lililasa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 zvaigznes ir par grāmatas vēsturisko pusi, par 19.gadsimta vidus dzīvi Zviedrijas ziemeļos, par sāmu atmodu un dumpi, par aizspriedumiem, par lestadiānismu, par reālu vēsturisko personu - prāvestu Larsu Levi Lestadiusu. Par vārdu - rakstīto un runāto, par izglītību, par grāmatām, par ticību.

"Šajos vākos atrodama viena cilvēka garā dzīve. Un es nospriežu, ka turu rokās pašu laiku. Laiku, kas var sākties, pārlēkt uz beigām, sākties no jauna, atkāpties atpakaļ. Īstajā dzīvē laiks vienmēr rit uz vienu pusi, taču grāmatā var notikt citādi. Tas šķiet gandrīz neomulīgi. Prāvesta plauktā es redzu grāmatu muguriņas sānu pie sāna, un tās visas ir piepildītas ar dažādu veidu laiku. Laiku, kas pagājis, uzrakstot grāmatu, laiku, kas tajā attēlots, un laiku, ko prasa tās izlasīšana. Un es ar stindzinošu sajūtu aptveru, ka pie zināma grāmatplaukta lieluma grāmatām jāietver sevī vairāk laika, nekā spēj ietvert cilvēka dzīve. Grāmatu pieredze kļūst lielāka, nekā atsevišķs cilvēks to jebkad spēj aptvert. Domu ir vairāk, nekā cilvēks mūžā var pagūt izdomāt."

Lasot par ticības atmodināšanu (kas bija gan Jēzus vārda un grēku nožēlošanas sludināšana) un par to, kā tas izvērsās tā saucamajā sāmu dumpī (Kautokeino dumpis / Kautokeino rebellion, par ko var ieskatīties šeit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kautoke...), atcerējos pirms kāda laika lasīto Hannes Eštavīkas grāmatu ''Mācītāja'', kas arī skar šo tēmu.

- Mēs aizkūrām uguni, - sacīja prāvests. - Mēs gribējām, lai tā sasilda un dara labu. Taču uguns var arī iznīcināt.

Vēsturiskais ir veiksmīgi savīts vai, pareizāk, papildināts ar detektīvlīniju, kas īstenībā arī ir laikam un videi atbilstoša. Izglītots un vērīgs mācītājs un varu pārstāvošs lensmanis. Ja lensmanis saka, ka vainīgs lācis, tad prāvesta apsvērumi un pierādījumu vispār netiek ņemti vērā. Pirmais un pēdējais vārds ir varai. Tas man brīžiem radīja bezspēcības sajūtu. Un beigās ir tikai tāds nosacīts happy end.

Aizspriedumu, aizspriedumi, aizspriedumi ... tie, šķiet, visu laiku pavada citādo un, jo īpaši, sāmus. To es ieraudzīju Olivjē Trika grāmatā '' Pēdējais lapzemietis'' un tās bija modernas mūsdienas (un tas nekas, ka Norvēģijā). Tad iedomājieties, kāda bija attieksme 19.gadsimta vidū.

"Norlandes dižums un mežonība bija tas, ko viņi visi meklēja. Kalni, ko iekarot, vareni ūdenskritumi, viss, kas varētu tālākā perspektīvā sagādāt viņiem medaļu no karaļa rokas. Turpretim mazā dzīve pagāja viņiem garām. Zīdaiņu slimības, zemnieku klepus un krampji, trūcīgo pastieptās rokas. Visas neizdevušās ražas, viss bads un nāves cīņa nožēlojamās guļvietās. Un alkohols, čūsku inde, šie kodīgie mīzali, kas ar savu indi saēda mājas un atstāja izpostītas teltis un pamestus bērnus."

Nevar nepieminēt izcilu Daces Deniņas tulkojumu.

[Ellis ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambientato nel nord della Svezia della seconda metà dell'Ottocento seguiamo le vicissitudini del pastore Læstadius e del lappone Jussi che si improvviseranno investigatori e indagheranno su alcuni crimini violenti che hanno scombussolato la città.
Il romanzo pecca di qualche ingenuità a livello di intreccio ma tuttavia, attraverso la scelta del genere letterario giallo\mistery storico, riesce a emergere un quadro perfetto del rapporto tra uomo, religione e istintualità. Cittadini solo all'apparenza irreprensibili, ligi al dovere e fortemente devoti che nascondono con scaltrezza il nero del loro cuore.
Niemi focalizza l'attenzione del lettore anche su altri temi: la passione per i libri, l'amore, l'importanza di proteggere con i mezzi che si hanno a disposizione le persone a noi più care, le difficoltà scaturite da un ambiente povero di cibo ma ricco di arretratezza e ferocia, il problema dell'emarginazione sociale da attribuirsi a preconcetti di razza e altro ancora.
Impossibile non affezionarsi a Jussi, di lui colpisce soprattutto il candore del suo animo mantenutosi intatto nonostante il doloroso passato che ha vissuto.
E' solo verso la fine che si ha la piena consapevolezza di aver letto una ricostruzione romanzata di fatti realmente accaduti.
La valutazione finale è di 3,5 su 5!
Ringrazio il gruppo Viaggio nell'Emisfero Boreale per aver istituito questo GDL e avermi dato modo di conoscere questa piccola perla della letteratura scandinava. 😊

[Павел Смолоногин · Rating 5 out of 5]

Я — идеальный читатель для этой книги. Как благодарный зритель, который охал-ахал в нужных местах, пугался там, где это задумано сюжетом, кривил лицо, когда на авансцене разбрасывали кишочки, и улыбался, если были шутки. Детективная часть меня полностью удовлетворила и подарила отличный как-же-я-сам-не-догадался момент. Часть про силу слов лишний раз заставила задуматься над произношением. Пропаганда трезвости убедила не пить еще долгое время. И что танцы — это дьяволово, что сегодня пляшешь, а завтра в петле, поэтому "Сварить медведя" стала отличным началом проекта "Книга лучше вечеринки". Да, это я так оправдываю свою старость, когда можно наконец-то никуда не ходить вечером в субботу, а вместо этого картинно завалиться на диван, накрыться пледом, сфотографироваться, откинуть плед, потому что жарко, читать до поздней ночи, пока голова не окажется в тумане. То есть примерно так же, как после интенсивного рейва с напитками.

Music: Katie Gately “Loom”

[Ieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vēsturiskais fons man likās vienkārši ārkārtīgi interesants - nav nemaz tik daudz grāmatu, kas atdzīvinātu 19.gs. vidus rurālos Zviedrijas un vispār Eiropas galējo ziemeļu apvidus, runātu par sāmu problēmām, par kristietības dažādajiem attīstības ceļiem utt. Detektīva līnijā savukārt man patika, ka paguvu nodomāt: "Nu kas tas ir, ka policija (vai tās agrīnie ekvivalenti kā šeit) vienmēr ir tik nekompetentas." Kamēr autors tomēr zināja ko dara ar šo konkrēto sižeta stereotipu.

[Ulla Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helt fantastisk spændende historie.

[Inese Okonova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neliela vilšanās tomēr. Pēc apraksta un atsauksmēm likās, ka šis nu būs kas ļoti, ļoti manā gaumē, bet detektīvintriga pati tāda paknapa sanākusi, un šis tomēr ir detektīvs, tāpēc žēl.

Atliek ļoti interesanti izvēlētais vēsturiskais fons - 19. gadsimta vidus Zviedrijas ziemeļos, kur pamatā mīt somi un lapi, un prāvests Lestādiuss detektīva lomā. Bet arī šeit tikai ļoti labvēlīgi noskaņots lasītājs bez iebildumiem pieņems nevis pašu faktu, ka prāvesta audzēknis, lapu puika, raksta par savu dzīvi, bet gan to, ka viņa rakstu darbs tik ļoti nepārprotami nācis no 21. gadsimta, ka mazliet tomēr traucē. Ja vēl tās būtu tikai Jusi domas un atmiņas, tad nu neko, bet grāmatā atklājas, ka viņš to visu arī uzrakstījis un nodevis prāvestam.

Lasīt var droši. Vides un laika savdabība liks šo grāmatu atcerēties. Bet varēja būt daudz labāk. 3,5 *

[Ubik 2.0 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Padre Brown in Lapponia

Lars Levi Laestadius è stato un pastore luterano realmente vissuto in Lapponia nel XIX° secolo, fondatore del movimento spiritualista laestadiano (o della “Rinascita”, mirato alla liberazione dello spirito e all’emancipazione del popolo Sami soprattutto dalla piaga dell’alcoolismo), nonché botanico di fama internazionale. Oltre al suo riconosciuto talento per gli studi teologici e ai titoli ottenuti presso l’Università di Uppsala in campo botanico, Mikael Niemi, autore svedese di discendenza Sami, attribuisce al personaggio Laestadius una propensione e un ingegno particolari per l’investigazione tramite l’analisi approfondita delle prove e degli indizi, con procedure ancora agli albori a quel tempo e in quelle lande.

A partire da questi (e numerosi altri) ingredienti nasce questo particolarissimo romanzo che definire thriller è decisamente riduttivo, poiché rappresenta un efficace spaccato della realtà lappone nell’ottocento fra superstizioni e credenze di sapore antico e l’incipiente introduzione di scoperte scientifiche come la fotografia (ancora allo stato di dagherrotipia) e di nuovi sapori provenienti dal sud del mondo (gustosa la digressione sulla “scoperta” della patata…)

L’autore affianca al pastore Laestadius un originale assistente, discriminato e poi perseguitato dalla comunità per la sua ascendenza Sami, che narra gran parte del romanzo in prima persona dal proprio sbalordito punto di vista, cosa che ha indotto a paragonare Cucinare un orso (per inciso il titolo è l’elemento più discutibile del libro…) a Il nome della rosa e i suoi due protagonisti a Guglielmo di Baskerville e Adso da Melk. Altri accostano Laestadius a Padre Brown per il binomio religioso/investigatore.

Poco importa, l’ambientazione nella Lapponia della regione del Tornedal al confine fra le attuali Svezia e Finlandia, costituisce l’elemento più convincente del libro attraverso la descrizione naturalistica della sua essenza selvaggia e la vita nei villaggi dettata da ritmi ancestrali e dalle stagioni boreali.

Tuttavia, a differenza di altri romanzi simili che esauriscono la propria originalità nella particolare ambientazione in luoghi inediti, Niemi dimostra una buona padronanza del genere e, anche quando il racconto sembra incanalato su binari ampiamente sfruttati (la contrapposizione fra la perspicacia deduttiva e priva di pregiudizi dei due detective dilettanti e la boriosa inettitudine degli uomini di legge professionisti), riesce a conferire al suo romanzo soluzioni narrative efficaci e imprevedibili.

Ci sarebbe anche da affrontare la contraddittoria questione dei convertiti alla spiritualità visionaria della “Rinascita”, da un lato sacrosanto impulso alla redenzione della popolazione di etnia Sami sottoposta a una vera e propria emarginazione razzista, dall’altro incitamento alla sollevazione anarchica con episodi di violenza collettiva storicamente documentati, ma sono molteplici i temi che inducono alla lettura di questo corposo romanzo, interessante, originale e allo stesso tempo divertente.

[Sandra Koka (pielasit_sirdi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"-Tik daudz laika, es izstomīju. - Neviens nevar pagūt izlasīt visas.

-Jā, droši vien nevar.

-Tikai....Dievs.

-Jā, protams, Dievs. Varbūt tā arī ir bibliotēku jēga, lai mēs piedzīvotu Dieva diženumu.

-Bet, ja jau pastāv bibliotēkas, vai mums vispār ir vajadzīgas baznīcas?" (258.lpp.)



Kā būtu, ja 19.gs. zviedru prāvests atpestītu ne tikai grēkojošās dvēseles no elles liesmām, bet arī meklētu taisnību un ļauno izvestu patiesības gaismā?!

Lars Levi Lestadius ir Dieva gans tālu Zviedrijas ziemeļu nekurienē, kur valda nabadzība ne tikai uz galda, bet arī prātos. Izglābjot kādu klaiņojošu zēnu no bada briesmām, prāvests ne tikai iemāca viņam visas savas zināšanas, bet iegūst arī sabiedroto, lai atklātu, kas pastrādājis noziegumu šajā nomaļajā nostūrī. Pievēršot uzmanību detaļām, arvien vairāk parādās aizdomas, ka biedējošais lācis- cilvēkēdājs, iespējams ir zvērs uz divām kājām pašu vidū.



"Kā nomedīt lāci" ir vēsturisks kriminālromāns, kas daudz attaino konkrētās lokācijas ģeogrāfiskās, vēsturiskās un kultūras īpatnības, tāpat arī tā laika sabiedrības pārliecību, dzīves apstākļus un dažādo izcelšanos sašķeltību, parādot arī cilšu etnisko dzīvesstilu.



Lestadiuss, kas ir reāla persona, savā ziņā attēlots kā Puaro (citur minēts kā Šerloks)- ar asu prātu, milzu zināšanām, tādejādi pievēršot uzmanību sīkām detaļām izloba laukā nozieguma secību. Šis stāsts nebūtu tik interesants bez neparastā un reizē pazemiskā mācekļa, kuram ir savi pagātnes murgi, kas neatkāpjas pat drošā un tēvišķā aizgādņa pavadībā. Katrā ziņā šī ir aizraujoša lasāmviela, kura ievelk atmosfērīgā un neparastā stāstā.



Savā ziņā es vilku paralēles ar citu zviedru vēsturisko kriminālromānu "1793", bet jau pirmajās lappās sapratu, ka esmu kļūdījusies. Abas ir pavisam citādāku stilu, vardarbības līmeni un sarežģītību. Abas ir pilnīgi un nevajadzīgi salīdzināt, jo ta katra ir ar savu īpašo raksturu.



"Ar rakstīšanu ir tik savādi, tā iespiežas dvēselē. (..) Rakstīšana modina nemieru, tev gandrīz kļūst slikti." (281.lpp)



3.8zvaigznes

[Patryx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il protagonista dl romanzo, Lars Levi Læstadius (1800-1861), è un pastore protestante di origine Sami che vive ed esercita il suo ministero nell’Impero svedese, nel profondo nord al confine tra Finlandia e Svezia. Combatte strenuamente le condizioni di pregiudizio, degrado e discriminazione in cui vivono i Lapponi. Læstadius combatte soprattutto l’alcolismo diffuso tra la popolazione lappone sia cercando di far leva sul fervore religioso sia creando scuole, nella convinzione che la conoscenza e la cultura sono uno dei fattori necessari per poter reclamare un posto nella società. Insieme a un gruppo di fedeli, è iniziatore di un movimento religioso, noto come Il Risveglio la cui vocazione moralizzatrice non è benvista dai rappresentanti del governo svedese.
Læstadius è anche un botanico (ha descritto alcune specie che portano il suo nome) e l’autore del romanzo usa questa sua formazione per descriverlo come un attento osservatore della realtà che si basa su evidenze scientifiche per trovare una soluzione agli omicidi che si verificano nella sua comunità.
La lettura di questo romanzo mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine senza un momento di noia (magari di perplessità ogni tanto) e mi ha fatto immergere in un contesto culturale di cui sapevo poco.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is loosely based on real characters. If this covers the events themselves, I'm not sure. It was far better plotted than expected, with some truly fascinating characters and insight into human nature. Not your usual "whodunnit" by any means. Definitely recommended.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeg tror helt ærlig det må bli 5 stjerner... Dette var en bok jeg likte utrolig godt, som fenget meg fra starten og som virkelig ga meg noe å bryne meg på.

Vi er i Kengis i Nord-Sverige på 1850-tallet og prosten Læstadius og den samiske gutten Jussi prøver å finne ut av hva som dreper de unge kvinnene i bygda. Lensmannen er udugelig, og prosten og Jussi opptrer som en slags Sherlock Holmes og Watson for å løse mysteriet. Men dette er ikke bare et mysterium, det er en bok om språk - om skrivekyndighet - om verdien av det. Og for et språk Mikael Niemi bruker! Han skriver utrolig kraftfullt og billedlig og han gir meg nesten bakoversveis noen ganger av beskrivelsene han bruker. Han kan skrive så brutalt at jeg nesten blir kvalm, så hjerteskjærende at jeg nesten blir rørt til tårer og så vakkert at jeg får en trang til å komme meg ut av byen og inn i skogen. Her må det jo også gis lit kred til oversetteren, da jeg leste boka på norsk. Godt jobba Erik Krogstad.

Nå kommer jeg rett fra et bokklubbmøte og et bar besøk etterpå så jeg er kanskje litt overentusiwastisk, men jeg tror virkelig dette er en av de beste bøkene jeg har lest i år. Hvertfall topp 5, men nå husker jeg ikke helt hva jeg har lest. Men når jeg nevner bokklubben må jeg jo også si at jeg synes det var utrolig godt jobba av oss på forrige møte at vi klarte å være så observante og legge merke til så mange spor. Det gjorde boka så mye bedre å kunne diskutere og prate om den underveis.

[Santa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Šī noteikti ir grāmata, no kuras nezini, ko īsti gaidīt, tomēr tā tevi pārsteidz ar atmosfērīgumu, brīnišķīgiem galvenajiem varoņiem un skaistu valodu.
Grāmatas vidū gan mana sajūsma nedaudz noplaka, bet tas nesabojāja prieku lasīt, jo bija interesanti. Šis bija tāds veclaiku detektīvs, ļoti saistošs tieši tādēļ, ka vēl nav atklātas mūsdienīgas izmeklēšanas metodes, bet ir taču prāvests Lestadiuss, kurš ar savu aso prātu un izmeklētāja talantu visiem ir piecus soļus priekšā.