Depths: A Novel

Yet another dark, Scandinavian novel here; this one set in the wilds of the WWI Baltic Sea. The plot, such as is it, follows hydrographer Lars whose declared intention is to find a depth that can't be plumbed, through a liminal world of shifting seas and conflicting tides into a world of madness. But it's not so much the character Lars on which one focuses, or the two women in his life, but the liminal seascape/dreamscape of the world he inhabits. About fifty pages into the over 400 page novel, I began to ask myself what was dream and what was waking cognition here. For Lars, as he spirals into greater depths, greater confusions, "It seemed to him that he was living in many different worlds at the same time. Each one of them was equally true."Ultimately, this book is quite disturbing and brings to the surface, as it were, several philosophical questions, such as this one contemplated by Plato and Plotinus:"`Children would no doubt like to choose their parents,' she said. `Maybe they do, did we but know it.'"Eventually, in these wild Baltic waters, all waking, human cognition dissolves, all the artificial constructs we create in order to identify loved ones, to name them, to fix them in place - loved ones who, after all, are in the constant process of changing into someone else - sink into the unknown. As Lars's wife says, on the verge of clinical madness:"I have realised that I am married to a man who doesn't exist, a shadow with a circulatory system and a brain that is nothing more than an invention, a figment of the imagination."I'm only giving the book 4 starts because the staccato minimalist prose is a bit off-putting for my taste. But this book is still one to be recommended by all serious readers who realise that, in the vast deeps of this cosmos, we may well be nothing more than shadows with circulatory systems who briefly haunt it.

Dark and disturbing story but very well written. This is my second novel from Mankell. I like different cultural genres and he certainly has his own.Very wonderful character development. Always kept one guessing and was hard to put down.

Wrapped in the coating of theSwedish Navy in WW1, depths tells the story of a terribly afflicted individual searching for meaning in life but possessed by personal torments he can not control

This was my very first Mankell-book, and I loved it. I just finished it yesterday, and now I am searching for something that is just as good. Any suggestions?But as for the review: There was initially something about the language of this book that just really swept me away, much like an underwater stream would slowly but surely sweep you further away from land. It was the short sentences, the sometimes very short chapters, the feeling that only the very most necessary information was shared with the reader - what then, about all the information that wasn't shared? I simply had to keep going and keep going.I will admit that around Part 2 of the book, things became a bit more 'boring' (or slow, perhaps). It felt a bit more like a stand-still from the rest of the book, yet after he meets this woman on this deserted skerry, the story really picks up.I was early on puzzled by the main characters use of names. For instance: His full name was Lars Tobiasson-Svartman, and he insisted on being referred to Tobiasson-Svartman at all times. Flames of fury would burn in him should someone accidentally just call him Svartman. The same with is wife; he always referred to her as Kristina Tacker. Not once, even in his thoughts, did he allow himself to just say Kristina. This was naturally also the case with the woman on the skerry; Sara Fredrika. Not just Sara, nor just Fredrika. Oh no. Sara Fredrika. He is a man of great control. He finds comfort in the fact that he has full control of his objective surroundings. He knows the depth of every part of the nearby ocean. That is his job: to measure ocean depths, and he does his job with great pride. Yet, as the reader will find out, while trying desperately to hold on to every ounce of control even of the more subjective sides of life, mainly his own and others' emotions, he sinks. Deeper and deeper. Into an abyss that seemingly has no bottom.He is offered plenty of opportunities to save himself. To correct his wrongs. But that would be to admit defeat. And by refusing to admit defeat, defeat eventually begins to stalk him, like a wolf after its prey, hiding in the shaddows, waiting to strike. How long can he really hide from it? How long can he escape?This is by no means a feel-good book. If you're in the mood for something dark and mysterious however, this is an excellent book to enjoy.

I've read a lot of Henning Mankell - including most of the Wallender books (which I love) so I picked up The Depths with great anticipation. Sadly, it was a huge disappointment, and I'm sorry I a) bought it and b) read it. Personally, I don't like books where there's no one to root for. I prefer to have at least one character in the story that is at least complex enough to have both good and bad characteristics - somebody human, approachable, realistic - like you would meet in real life. Nobody in The Depths is worth rooting for - they are all despicable or pathetic, and you hope bad things happen to them as they are all nuts or victims. Frankly, this was a better written version of Greg Isles' "Third Degree" which was one of the worst books I've ever read. Mankell wrote the book in his typically great style, but the substance wasn't there to carry the day. Avoid this one & read "Kennedy's Brain" instead.

Austere and unusual book, very different from Mankell's Wallander novels. Tells the story of a naval officer's slow descent into madness. Unnervingly, it is possible to discern aspects of oneself in this portrayal. As the author explains, he has somewhat altered the setting in Sweden from reality, but you feel its essential truth and hardness remain. The format (it is in parts, totalling 206 short chapters) make it easy to read quickly or slowly according to choice. As usual with Mankell's books, very well translated.

I have read a lot of Henning Mankell's books and they are of varied style. I absolutely loved this novel, though it is quite dark and psychological. Some people have said that it is slow to start, I didn't find that at all, it was setting the scene. Because it is written in "short bursts" it is very easy to read.As the book progresses you follow the story of Lars as his life unravels and he loses control. I found that I disliked him more and more as the book went on, I wanted to jump in and shake some sense into him!A lot of books are entertaining, you read and enjoy them and as soon as you finish you forget about them, however this book is playing on my mind, I can't get rid of it!If you have read Italian Shoes and enjoyed that then I think you will love this one.

Excellent and different Mankell offering - I've read all the 'Wallanders', and chose this because the blurbs suggested that it could follow up the final one of those, with its sea-theme, but it certainly took a surprising - and bleaker - turn. Reminded me of those little Baltic archipelago islands, but they were in late summer for us, so the largely freezing and dark context of "Depths" provided a sadder and very gripping storyline, aided by the preponderant almost newspaper-type short chapters. The variation of Henning Mankell within and outside the 'Wallander' canon is amazing - a truly great and, to me, favourite author.

I'm a fan of Henning Mankell. His books are well crafted, easy to read and very atmospheric. This book proved to be more of the same. Set in Sweden in the years 1912-1914 it tells the story of a naval officer who's task it is to sound depths and check navigational charts. But whilst there is plenty of interest in his naval career the main focus of the book is on his psyche and most particularly on his desire to plumb his own depths. This leads to his setting off a chain of events in his private life that is shocking and gripping in equal measures.As other reviewers have remarked the book focuses on his surroundings and to very good effect - the overall impression is haunting. The book is cleverly written in a very high number of very short chapters and this facilitates you being able to easily dip in and out of it but in truth it's one of those books that tempts you to sit and read for longer spells.This is very good. Not, in my humble opinion a masterpiece as some others have noted, but well worth a read. Recommended.

No this isnt Wallander and it isnt a thriller . Instead its a poetic account of a mans obsession and how easily one lie can lead to many more . This story does start very slowly and there were times when I nearly gave up but by the end I was so glad that I didnt [ reading shouldnt always be easy ] This is an amazing amazing story that you have to read and appreciate mankells use of language. I would give it 10 . Rather like reading a painting .