Ingrid Noll

Elegant novel that is too urbane to be a thriller and too stark to be a romance. Two young women form an informal alliance against the petty restrictions of social mores as they take everything that they want and kill the people who inconvenience them. This appalling story is delivered with a surprising delicacy and sympathy but no apology.

What an excellent example of the ‘seven deadly sins', and their impact on so many lives, is this tightly-written treasure of a book. The Pharmacist is a twisted, mesmerising anecdote – my English copy brilliantly translated from the original German – which, though written fourteen years ago, easily stands the test of time in delivering a decidedly cautionary tale of lust and greed.

Hella Moormann, a qualified pharmacist, during an extended stay in hospital for an undisclosed condition, show more relates the story of her young life every night to her unassuming, older room mate. With little thought to consequence or repercussion, Hella reveals intimate personal details, many seriously incriminating, from her time in school to the present; describing subsequent aspects of her life whilst dwelling, especially, on her poor preferences in men. Until she meets Levin, a handsome younger man, who is studying dentistry, has a rich grandfather and is an eminently more suitable partner, (hopefully) in the estimation of both Hella’s family and friends; such a major factor in any of her decision–making. The upshot of this choice is a saga full of murder, death, infidelity, avarice, jealousy and many other surprising circumstances; comparable to the best of any written crime fiction.

Told exclusively from Hella’s point of view, Ingrid Noll, at first, builds a portrait of a somewhat ordinary but intelligent female, well-educated and highly-ethical; whose main problem is, seemingly, her continual selection of unsuitable male companions. And which initially allows the reader to assume that the aftermaths of many of these narrated situations are beyond Hella’s control. But as events unfold, and Hella continually collaborates and conspires with, or against, the people who come to inhabit her life, it is apparent that the rewards are much to her liking; suggesting she may not be the innocent victim of circumstance first intimated. With delicate skill the author uses Hella, and her world, to portray the darker, immoral nuances of humankind – often conceiving actions and outcomes many of us will have, at one time, at least contemplated; painting a thought-provoking picture of the more sordid facets underlying portions of our society.

Undoubtedly this story offers a splendid illustration of extreme moral reprehensibility, even as the author artfully encourages the reader to empathise with Hella; at times leaving us open to, and forgiving of, her continual lack of conscience and selective choice of principles. Equally fascinating and appalling, such a tale appeals directly to our baser instincts – while leaving the reader wondering just where it will all end. A first-rate crime book!

(Aug 23, 2008) show less

Sie hält sich für eine Benachteiligte, die ungerecht behandelt wird und zu kurz kommt. Mit zweiundfünfzig Jahren trifft sie die Liebe wie ein Hexenschuss. Diese Chance muss wahrgenommen werden, Hindernisse müssen beiseite geräumt werden. Sie entwickelt eine bittere Tatkraft: Rosemarie Hirte, Versicherungsangestellte, geht buchstäblich über Leichen, um den Mann ihrer Träume zu erbeuten.

Ich habe früher einige Bücher von Ingrid Noll gelesen und mochte ihre bösen weiblichen Figuren und ihre von Sarkasmus und Wortwitz geprägte Sprache. Allerdings kommt mir beides in diesem Buch ein wenig zu kurz, die Figuren ein wenig zu sehr Klischee und die Handlung an einigen Stellen zu abstrus. Definitiv kein völlig schlechter Roman, aber meine Erwartungen hat er nicht erfüllt.