Anyone read "Purge" by Sofi Oksanen?

[Fjord_Brewer]

Just looking to see if anyone has read "Purge" by Sofi Oksanen, my girlfriend and I both want to give it a read if its any good.

[Rosamunda]

I thought it was brilliant and am reading it for the second time (first in English, now in French). IMO the English translation was excellent in that I never actually felt like I was reading a translation (which has rarely been the case in other English translations of Finnish novels that I've read such as Paasiliina). I am not too bothered how it compares to the original since I will never be able to appreciate it in Finnish in the same way I can appreciate the English/French versions. And I'm pretty sure Oksanen "approved" the English version before it was published. The book has won awards in many countries (eg recently Prix Fnac and Prix Femina in France) where I guess people don't generally know that much about Estonian/Soviet history. I love the way it bounces around juxtaposing scenes that are in fact separated by several decades. I love the attention to detail (the women's routines in the kitchen, the clothes they wear, the food they eat). I love the fact that it is a book by a woman about women.

[karen]

I read it and loved it. I read it right after finishing The Lapp King's Daughter, which took place during same war period. Although they are both excellent books and can't be compared, it was very interesting to read them so closely together. The Lapp King's Daughter is a true story and is based on letters between the authors parents as they were separated during the wars. I recommend both. Definitely read Purge if you're considering it.