Ilmar Taska

I had some reservations with this one but it is difficult to discuss those as they would basically give away most of the plot and the ending. A way to sum it up in a more general fashion is to say that it was a bit hard to suspend belief that some of the characters acted in the way that they did and that some of the events happened so easily.

Otherwise the atmosphere of the post-World War II Soviet occupation here was well realized and the insidious nature and psychological abuse of how the show more population was manipulated is effectively portrayed, especially in the disturbing use of children as innocent and indoctrinated informers. Some of the abrupt jump-cuts could be forgiven from a first-time novelist who is more known as a television and movie producer. show less

This stands out from other novels. It concerns the Soviet takeover of Estonia immediately after the war. Depressing in some ways through its depiction of the manipulation of families, yet it was easy to read. For that we should presumably thank the translator as much as the author. I can see why Estonians like it so much.