Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Hogarth (2018), Edition: First Edition, First Thus
Description
Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML:A HEART-POUNDING NEW THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SNOWMAN AND THE THIRST Set in the 1970s in a run-down, rainy industrial town, Jo Nesbo's Macbeth centers around a police force struggling to shed an incessant drug problem. Duncan, chief of police, is idealistic and visionary, a dream to the townspeople but a nightmare for criminals. The drug trade is ruled by two drug lords, one of whom�??a master of manipulation named Hecate�??has connections with the highest in power, and plans to use them to get his way. Hecate's plot hinges on steadily, insidiously manipulating Inspector Macbeth: the head of SWAT and a man already susceptible to violent and paranoid tendencies. What follows is an unputdownable story of love and guilt, political ambition, and greed for more, exploring the darkest corners of human nature, and the aspirations of the criminal… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Doondeck
I have loved this series. I've never read anything by Nesbo. This was a depressing read. So dark, so dismal. I struggled to get through it. Sorry, but Nesbo is not my cup of tea.
LibraryThing member Brumby18
Average noir corrrupt and crusading coppers
LibraryThing member andsoitgoes
I like the Hogarth Shakespeare Project, I like Jo Nesbo, but I could not get into this book. I got half way through and did not want to continue. I found it boring. That being said, it was well written just what I would expect for Nesbo but it just didn't grab me.
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
If you're at all familiar with Shakespeare's Macbeth, you might be interested in this 'fanfiction' version of the story. Nesbo follows the plot literally, just moving the setting to a police department in a fictional crime-ridden town. Macbeth is head of the SWAT unit under Duncan as the police
I love the 'Scottish play' and several years ago I saw Alan Cummings perform a one-man show where he played all the parts as an inmate in a psychiatric ward - fantastic! I expected something as innovative in this book, but unfortunately, the author chose to stick to the plot quite closely. This meant there were no surprises and the characters seemed 'flat', without personality, as they didn't have Shakespeare's dialogue to enhance their parts. Often, their actions didn't make sense because the author tried to keep so close to the original plot, and there wasn't the character development to make their behavior believable.
The prose is eloquent. Several times Nesbo uses a raindrop as a metaphor for Macbeth's decline in a striking manner. I suppose if you weren't familiar with the play, you might enjoy this book more than I did. But it needed more, in my opinion, for the readers who knew the plot. Once you know that the old locomotive in the town square is named Bertha Birnam, you can foresee the rest of the story.
Ultimately, this read as expressive fanfiction, but as a device it didn't work for me.
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commissioner. The rest of the familiar characters show up: Malcolm, the assistant police commissioner, Lady, Macbeth's mate and owner of the Inverness casino, Banquo, Macbeth's sidekick, and so on. There are two rival gangs, the Norse Riders, and Hecate's band, who sell drugs and who have members of the police department on their payrolls. I love the 'Scottish play' and several years ago I saw Alan Cummings perform a one-man show where he played all the parts as an inmate in a psychiatric ward - fantastic! I expected something as innovative in this book, but unfortunately, the author chose to stick to the plot quite closely. This meant there were no surprises and the characters seemed 'flat', without personality, as they didn't have Shakespeare's dialogue to enhance their parts. Often, their actions didn't make sense because the author tried to keep so close to the original plot, and there wasn't the character development to make their behavior believable.
The prose is eloquent. Several times Nesbo uses a raindrop as a metaphor for Macbeth's decline in a striking manner. I suppose if you weren't familiar with the play, you might enjoy this book more than I did. But it needed more, in my opinion, for the readers who knew the plot. Once you know that the old locomotive in the town square is named Bertha Birnam, you can foresee the rest of the story.
Ultimately, this read as expressive fanfiction, but as a device it didn't work for me.
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LibraryThing member smik
Beware of spoilers!
Right from the beginning there is a dystopian feeling about this stand-alone novel unmistakeably related to the "Scottish play". In it you will meet modern versions of the main characters from the Shakespearian story, bearing in mind that his stage version was only that - a
The setting of the novel seems rather obscure and vague, with the city not actually being named. although obviously in Scotland. The city is no longer a bustling metropolis. The drug trade and drug pushing has gone on too long. Addicts lie everywhere. There's a depiction of the struggle between opposing groups struggling for control of its underworld and drug trade: cops, bikies, corrupt politicians. The police force has been cleansed but there is rivalry between groups, at least one mole, and power struggles everywhere you look.
Nesbo has taken themes and plot lines from the Shakespearian play and put them in modern settings. This book won't be everyone's cup of tea, especially not those who are expecting a Nordic thriller. It will mean more to those who know the original play. Other reviews that I have read on Amazon have asked why Nesbo went down this path. I think he recognised a timeless story, but just to make sure he used the same names for many of the characters: Macbeth, Banquo, Malcolm, Lennox, Fleance etc., so we would recognise them too.
An interesting rather than enjoyable novel, springing from the sort of thoughts you have after seeing the Scottish play and wondering whether it has modern relevance. I think Nesbo proves that it does.
Right from the beginning there is a dystopian feeling about this stand-alone novel unmistakeably related to the "Scottish play". In it you will meet modern versions of the main characters from the Shakespearian story, bearing in mind that his stage version was only that - a
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fictionalisation of what had happened in Scotland over 500 years earlier.The setting of the novel seems rather obscure and vague, with the city not actually being named. although obviously in Scotland. The city is no longer a bustling metropolis. The drug trade and drug pushing has gone on too long. Addicts lie everywhere. There's a depiction of the struggle between opposing groups struggling for control of its underworld and drug trade: cops, bikies, corrupt politicians. The police force has been cleansed but there is rivalry between groups, at least one mole, and power struggles everywhere you look.
Nesbo has taken themes and plot lines from the Shakespearian play and put them in modern settings. This book won't be everyone's cup of tea, especially not those who are expecting a Nordic thriller. It will mean more to those who know the original play. Other reviews that I have read on Amazon have asked why Nesbo went down this path. I think he recognised a timeless story, but just to make sure he used the same names for many of the characters: Macbeth, Banquo, Malcolm, Lennox, Fleance etc., so we would recognise them too.
An interesting rather than enjoyable novel, springing from the sort of thoughts you have after seeing the Scottish play and wondering whether it has modern relevance. I think Nesbo proves that it does.
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LibraryThing member RowingRabbit
When I was in high school, I was that weird girl in your english lit class who actually liked Shakespeare. The Hogarth Shakespeare project gave 8 authors a chance to recreate one of the Bard’s classic plays & when I heard Jo Nesbo was taking on MacBeth, I had to read it. And he’s done a
It’s a daunting challenge. After all, we already know who did what & how it ends. But Nesbo has given it a modern facelift by turning it into a dark, violent tale of cops vs criminals set in an unnamed city drowning in drugs & corruption. Poor old Duncan is the shiny new Chief Commissioner of police while MacBeth heads up the SWAT team. Other familiar names have been assigned to characters on both sides of the law, their roles staying true to the originals.
I won’t dwell on the story except to say this is decidedly bloodier than “the Scottish play”. But there are several things that make it work. First, the setting. Nesbo vividly describes his city & it’s a pretty bleak place. Relentless rain, dark streets full of skeletal junkies & rusted out factories litter the landscape. Now add in cops & politicians who have been bought & paid for by the rival drug gangs that rule the city. The result is a grim & gripping read that practically oozes moral decay.
And that of course is the point. Shakespeare wanted to shine a light on the psychological & physical ramifications for those who seek power for power’s sake, how ambition without morality leads to carnage. He also distinguished between the sexes. Not that women can’t be just as reprehensible. It’s just their methods that differ. In this story, MacBeth’s wife may not care to actually get her hands dirty but she’s more than capable of inciting violence with well chosen words whispered in the right ears.
Nesbo has nailed the themes & even sneaks in symbolic moments such as blood that won’t wash off. What I found most startling is how relevant something written over 400 years ago still is. But then all you have to do is read the news to find modern examples of his characters. It’s not an easy read but Nesbo pulls it off with style. And as always, the wonderful Don Bartlett has done an outstanding job of translation. Recommended for fans of Shakespeare and/or gritty crime drama. If you’re keeping track of this series, next up is Gillian Flynn of “Gone Girl” fame taking on “Hamlet”.
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remarkable job.It’s a daunting challenge. After all, we already know who did what & how it ends. But Nesbo has given it a modern facelift by turning it into a dark, violent tale of cops vs criminals set in an unnamed city drowning in drugs & corruption. Poor old Duncan is the shiny new Chief Commissioner of police while MacBeth heads up the SWAT team. Other familiar names have been assigned to characters on both sides of the law, their roles staying true to the originals.
I won’t dwell on the story except to say this is decidedly bloodier than “the Scottish play”. But there are several things that make it work. First, the setting. Nesbo vividly describes his city & it’s a pretty bleak place. Relentless rain, dark streets full of skeletal junkies & rusted out factories litter the landscape. Now add in cops & politicians who have been bought & paid for by the rival drug gangs that rule the city. The result is a grim & gripping read that practically oozes moral decay.
And that of course is the point. Shakespeare wanted to shine a light on the psychological & physical ramifications for those who seek power for power’s sake, how ambition without morality leads to carnage. He also distinguished between the sexes. Not that women can’t be just as reprehensible. It’s just their methods that differ. In this story, MacBeth’s wife may not care to actually get her hands dirty but she’s more than capable of inciting violence with well chosen words whispered in the right ears.
Nesbo has nailed the themes & even sneaks in symbolic moments such as blood that won’t wash off. What I found most startling is how relevant something written over 400 years ago still is. But then all you have to do is read the news to find modern examples of his characters. It’s not an easy read but Nesbo pulls it off with style. And as always, the wonderful Don Bartlett has done an outstanding job of translation. Recommended for fans of Shakespeare and/or gritty crime drama. If you’re keeping track of this series, next up is Gillian Flynn of “Gone Girl” fame taking on “Hamlet”.
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LibraryThing member RonSmedley
A good read but Really a depressing book, through and through, right to the ending.
LibraryThing member Hardboiled
I'm a big fan of Jo Nesbo and looked forward to his reimagining of Macbeth. Looking back after reading the novel I appreciate Nesbo's contemporary retelling. That doesn't mean this was an easy book to read - it was not. It took me at least the first half of the book to suspend disbelief to the
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point where I was immersed in the action as opposed to merely sitting back trying to get my arms around the bleakness of surroundings and the believability of the characters occupying this world. Initially, I found characters and actions bit over simplified and rushed as support for what was to come later. I finally got to the point about midway where I could lose myself in the action and enjoy the characters for themselves as their motivations, character flaws, etc. played out. Guess it all worked out in the end ... well not so much for Macbeth but enough to make it an enjoyable ride for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member AmaliaGavea
‘’A seagull swept in over Fife through the silence and moonlight under a cloud-free night sky. Below, the river shone like silver. On the west of the river- like an immense fortress wall- a steep black mountain rose to the sky.’’
Without any prologue and lengthy introductions, I must tell
Nesbø sets the action in Scotland, during the 70’s and we are transported into the fickle, cruel world of casinos, the drug ‘’market’’ and the universe of high crime. Everything is masterfully crafted to reflect Shakespeare’s world. Macbeth is the head of the SWAT unit, Lady is the owner of a quality casino, Banquo is Macbeth’s mentor. The Norse Riders gang is the main rival and Hecate is the mob boss who appears to move the strings and direct the characters’ fate. See what Nesbø did there? I think you do and I tell you it is a marvelous stance. He shows how Fate arms Macbeth’s hand and the sequence of events is immediate. The consequences unavoidable and irreversible.
‘’The king of hearts and the queen of spades. That evening they met under an evil moon.’’
As in the original material, the finest scenes are the ones between Macbeth and Lady. Dare I say that their relationship in Nesbø’s retelling is even more fleshed out and poignant? Well, I do because it’s the truth. If you love this frighteningly alluring couple in the Bard’s play, you will fall head-over-heels for them in this novel. Macbeth is perfectly drawn. He’s slightly more malicious and ruthless than his Shakespearean counterpart but this is to be expected given the setting and the direction of the story. Because of Hecate's brew, Macbeth’s visions start early and they are striking. The depiction of his guilt and the emotional toil of his actions, his steady descent into despair, his surrendering to his fate is a devastating process to read and knowing the outcome makes it even worse, it makes it even more powerful.
‘’I sleepwalk in the darkest night without hurting myself.’’
Lovely Lady...She is brilliant, as fascinating and dangerous as the Queen of Scotland. And do you know what I enjoyed the most? The fact that in Nesbø’s version, Lady is a powerful woman who has come into her own without taking orders and sh...from men. She is more experienced, more intelligent than Macbeth. Their relationship is balanced and loving yet, she doesn’t need him to define her as a person. She is not ‘’his’’ queen, she is a woman who has forged herself through fire and steel and takes responsibility of her own choices. And in this version, she is granted a number of redeeming qualities that are absolutely absent in the original play.
‘’Sleep no more. Macbeth is murdering sleep.’’
I cannot say much because spoilers are lurking. Even though we all know the original story, Nesbø has created quite a few twists and turns that forbid me to say much. It’s a joy to be able to recognise the exact scenes from the Bard’s play, the monologues and the famous quotes within the context of Nesbø’s story, to pinpoint the parallel lines between the two works. The bleak atmosphere of Scotland, the fact that most of the action takes place during the night, the frenetic 70’s vibe mirror the spirit of Macbeth to perfection. I didn’t expect such a successful adaptation of Shakespeare’s quotes into contemporary language without sacrificing their beauty, their impact, their significance. So major congratulations to Don Bartlett for the translation from the original Norwegian. The interactions are as solemn and as natural as they can be and the prose is rich in a distinct, dark Nordic beauty.
Naturally, I knew of Nesbø but I’ve never read any of his novels. I didn’t let my expectations rise too much prior to reading this but to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Nesbø took the Nordic heritage and the dark Scottish setting and remained faithful to the original source. Without presuming to be equal to the Bard, full of respect and obviously aware of the tremendous responsibility, he created a work that would make William Shakespeare proud. So, read it, dearest friends. This is the best retelling of Shakespeare’s work that we will ever come to know in our time…
‘’I owe it hell on earth.’’
Many thanks to Penguin Random House, Hogarth UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review,
Without any prologue and lengthy introductions, I must tell
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you that this book is a masterpiece. It has the status of a classic, the making of a novel that will defy time. Nesbø took the masterpiece by William Shakespeare and elevated it to new heights. If you follow my reviews, you know that I have two obsessions: Wuthering Heights and Macbeth. I never thought I’d say that another writer would come to rival the greatness of the Scottish Play but there you have it. Sacrilege verified.Nesbø sets the action in Scotland, during the 70’s and we are transported into the fickle, cruel world of casinos, the drug ‘’market’’ and the universe of high crime. Everything is masterfully crafted to reflect Shakespeare’s world. Macbeth is the head of the SWAT unit, Lady is the owner of a quality casino, Banquo is Macbeth’s mentor. The Norse Riders gang is the main rival and Hecate is the mob boss who appears to move the strings and direct the characters’ fate. See what Nesbø did there? I think you do and I tell you it is a marvelous stance. He shows how Fate arms Macbeth’s hand and the sequence of events is immediate. The consequences unavoidable and irreversible.
‘’The king of hearts and the queen of spades. That evening they met under an evil moon.’’
As in the original material, the finest scenes are the ones between Macbeth and Lady. Dare I say that their relationship in Nesbø’s retelling is even more fleshed out and poignant? Well, I do because it’s the truth. If you love this frighteningly alluring couple in the Bard’s play, you will fall head-over-heels for them in this novel. Macbeth is perfectly drawn. He’s slightly more malicious and ruthless than his Shakespearean counterpart but this is to be expected given the setting and the direction of the story. Because of Hecate's brew, Macbeth’s visions start early and they are striking. The depiction of his guilt and the emotional toil of his actions, his steady descent into despair, his surrendering to his fate is a devastating process to read and knowing the outcome makes it even worse, it makes it even more powerful.
‘’I sleepwalk in the darkest night without hurting myself.’’
Lovely Lady...She is brilliant, as fascinating and dangerous as the Queen of Scotland. And do you know what I enjoyed the most? The fact that in Nesbø’s version, Lady is a powerful woman who has come into her own without taking orders and sh...from men. She is more experienced, more intelligent than Macbeth. Their relationship is balanced and loving yet, she doesn’t need him to define her as a person. She is not ‘’his’’ queen, she is a woman who has forged herself through fire and steel and takes responsibility of her own choices. And in this version, she is granted a number of redeeming qualities that are absolutely absent in the original play.
‘’Sleep no more. Macbeth is murdering sleep.’’
I cannot say much because spoilers are lurking. Even though we all know the original story, Nesbø has created quite a few twists and turns that forbid me to say much. It’s a joy to be able to recognise the exact scenes from the Bard’s play, the monologues and the famous quotes within the context of Nesbø’s story, to pinpoint the parallel lines between the two works. The bleak atmosphere of Scotland, the fact that most of the action takes place during the night, the frenetic 70’s vibe mirror the spirit of Macbeth to perfection. I didn’t expect such a successful adaptation of Shakespeare’s quotes into contemporary language without sacrificing their beauty, their impact, their significance. So major congratulations to Don Bartlett for the translation from the original Norwegian. The interactions are as solemn and as natural as they can be and the prose is rich in a distinct, dark Nordic beauty.
Naturally, I knew of Nesbø but I’ve never read any of his novels. I didn’t let my expectations rise too much prior to reading this but to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Nesbø took the Nordic heritage and the dark Scottish setting and remained faithful to the original source. Without presuming to be equal to the Bard, full of respect and obviously aware of the tremendous responsibility, he created a work that would make William Shakespeare proud. So, read it, dearest friends. This is the best retelling of Shakespeare’s work that we will ever come to know in our time…
‘’I owe it hell on earth.’’
Many thanks to Penguin Random House, Hogarth UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review,
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LibraryThing member banjo123
I really liked it. He follows the plot of Macbeth really closely, with the setting being conflicts between and within a corrupt police department and feuding drug lords. Perfect, really, as Macbeth is really the story of a tribal warlord in Scotland. It is, however, very dark, and longer than the
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other books in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member xieouyang
Great crime novel. Although I am not a fan of crime novels, this one earns high marks in my opinion. But it's perhaps because I like Shakespeare.
Takes the well-known story of Shakespeare's Macbeth and places it in a 1970s Nordic town (I assume Norway, but it coukd be any of the Nordc countrues).
No
I particulary liked, if one can like, Lady Macbeth, called simply Lady, and her slow evolution to mental decay. But the element that is bringing that decay along is the dependence on drugs, by both Macbeth and Lady.
The other Shakespeare characters appear true to form. Duff, Malcom, etc. are mirror images in the novel.
It helps a lot if one is familiar with the Shakespeare version.
Takes the well-known story of Shakespeare's Macbeth and places it in a 1970s Nordic town (I assume Norway, but it coukd be any of the Nordc countrues).
No
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need to retell the plot here, but it's worthwhile pointing out the great way in which Nesbo develops the psychology and feelings of the characters in a manner akin to Shakespeare, although with more words.I particulary liked, if one can like, Lady Macbeth, called simply Lady, and her slow evolution to mental decay. But the element that is bringing that decay along is the dependence on drugs, by both Macbeth and Lady.
The other Shakespeare characters appear true to form. Duff, Malcom, etc. are mirror images in the novel.
It helps a lot if one is familiar with the Shakespeare version.
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LibraryThing member DPLyle
Macbeth, the latest from award-winning author Jo Nesbo, is a departure from his iconic Harry Hole series. Interestingly, this is part of a new literary venture known as Hogarth Shakespeare, a series of Shakespearean stories retold and reset by modern authors. In this one, Macbeth is the leader of
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly, Samantha Cody, and Dub Walker thriller series
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the SWAT team. Along with chief of police Duncan, Macbeth must bring down the powerful drug-lord Hecate. As this fast-paced tale unfolds, the psychological interplay between Macbeth and Hecate intensifies to the breaking point—-and beyond. Their conflict will take the reader into the underbelly of an unidentified Nordic town as well as into the dark recesses of Macbeth’s mind. He is an incredibly complicated character and not opposed to employing violence when necessary. Many of the other characters are equally well drawn and the plotting is convoluted to say the least. Nesbo is a great storyteller, and Macbeth is an example of his skill. Highly recommended.DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly, Samantha Cody, and Dub Walker thriller series
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LibraryThing member Unkletom
Lovers of Shakespeare and fans of Norwegian thriller writer Jo Nesbø will enjoy the latest retelling of The Bard’s tales to be published thanks to the efforts of the Hogarth Shakespeare project. To date, Nesbø’s is the only retelling to stick with the original title, which I thought was
As a big fan of both Shakespeare and Nesbø, I was intrigued to see what the creator of the Harry Hole police procedural series would do with this classic story of love, loyalty and overreaching ambition. Nesbø chose to stick with Scotland but updates the setting to the 1970s, making Macbeth a SWAT team leader in the police force of a crime-ridden city with all of the color and charm of a Glasgow ghetto. The witches’ brew of yore has become brew, a highly addictive amphetamine developed by Hecate, the local drug lord. The idea that being bewitched is similar to addiction goes a long way in making the new setting work.
Nesbø’s Macbeth follows the plot of the original fairly closely but does take quite a bit longer to get to Act V than did Shakespeare, meaning that readers spend a lot more time in arriving at a finale that was known at the outset. Even so, the journey was entertaining as I looked forward to seeing how the key points in the play would translate into the novel. I couldn’t wait to find out just how Birnam Wood would come to Dunsinane.
Those who choose to listen to the audiorecording of Macbeth should enjoy Euan Morton’s reading. His accent is a lot like Alan Cuming’s with a little more street mixed in which perfect for this story.
Bottom line: I enjoyed this story although much of it took place in a bleak and joyless setting that can get oppressive in large quantities. I’m not sure if readers unfamiliar with Jo Nesbø’s work or the original Macbeth would appreciate it nearly as much as those who are. Also, while Nesbø’s prose is pretty good but in the end, his “The days crawl in the mud, and in the end all they have accomplished is to kill the sun again and bring all men closer to death,” doesn’t hold a candle to:
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
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somewhat odd as The Scottish Play is the one whose title superstitious theater folk believe should never be spoken. As a big fan of both Shakespeare and Nesbø, I was intrigued to see what the creator of the Harry Hole police procedural series would do with this classic story of love, loyalty and overreaching ambition. Nesbø chose to stick with Scotland but updates the setting to the 1970s, making Macbeth a SWAT team leader in the police force of a crime-ridden city with all of the color and charm of a Glasgow ghetto. The witches’ brew of yore has become brew, a highly addictive amphetamine developed by Hecate, the local drug lord. The idea that being bewitched is similar to addiction goes a long way in making the new setting work.
Nesbø’s Macbeth follows the plot of the original fairly closely but does take quite a bit longer to get to Act V than did Shakespeare, meaning that readers spend a lot more time in arriving at a finale that was known at the outset. Even so, the journey was entertaining as I looked forward to seeing how the key points in the play would translate into the novel. I couldn’t wait to find out just how Birnam Wood would come to Dunsinane.
Those who choose to listen to the audiorecording of Macbeth should enjoy Euan Morton’s reading. His accent is a lot like Alan Cuming’s with a little more street mixed in which perfect for this story.
Bottom line: I enjoyed this story although much of it took place in a bleak and joyless setting that can get oppressive in large quantities. I’m not sure if readers unfamiliar with Jo Nesbø’s work or the original Macbeth would appreciate it nearly as much as those who are. Also, while Nesbø’s prose is pretty good but in the end, his “The days crawl in the mud, and in the end all they have accomplished is to kill the sun again and bring all men closer to death,” doesn’t hold a candle to:
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Jo Nesbo gives Macbeth a modern spin in this latest entry in the Hogarth Shakespeare retellings. The setting is a decaying industrial city plagued by drugs and crime. Macbeth is the head of the SWAT team, and Lady is the owner of the Inverness, and exclusive casino. When Duncan is selected as the
I struggled with the first half of the book. I just couldn't buy into the motivation for Duncan's murder, and many of the other parallels also seemed too forced. I found the second half of the book more engaging as events began to play out. This retelling is better than Tracy Chevalier's take on Othello, but it doesn't succeed as well as Margaret Atwood's retelling of The Tempest.
This review is based on an electronic advanced readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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new chief commissioner of police with an anti-corruption agenda, Lady and Macbeth plot to kill him so that Macbeth can become the chief commissioner, because he would do a better job of cleaning up the corruption. Apparently they're of the opinion that the end justifies the means. A reference to Hiroshima and Nagasaki having occurred 25 years earlier places this novel in the 1970s.I struggled with the first half of the book. I just couldn't buy into the motivation for Duncan's murder, and many of the other parallels also seemed too forced. I found the second half of the book more engaging as events began to play out. This retelling is better than Tracy Chevalier's take on Othello, but it doesn't succeed as well as Margaret Atwood's retelling of The Tempest.
This review is based on an electronic advanced readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
Jo Nesbø does Shakespeare, and like the rest of his writing, it's brilliant, especially if you like the Scottish play.
Listened on audio and because two us were listening, and one only likes audiobooks in the car, it took a loooong time and many miles, to finish.
Listened on audio and because two us were listening, and one only likes audiobooks in the car, it took a loooong time and many miles, to finish.
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
I know that Scandinavian Noir has been one of the most popular genres of fiction over recent years, making writers such as Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell household names, even in such literarily insular and conservative, if not actually xenophobic, countries as Britain. I have, however, failed
Jo Nesbo is one of the leading proponents, and his novels have sold in their millions all around the world. I was, therefore, intrigued when I learned that he had been commissioned by the Hogarth Shakespeare programme to write a novel inspired by Macbeth, one of my favourites among the Bard’s works. Throwing caution to the wind, I took a chance and plunged straight into Nesbo’s reworking of that famous tale. Unfortunately, my verdict is that I chose poorly, and my prevailing view of Scandinavian Noir remains unchanged.
The story is updated to a decaying and crime-ridden 1970s city, where control of the police has passed to Duncan, a force for good struggling to overcome a long history of corruption and collaboration between those in power and the leading criminals. Among his committed deputies are Inspectors Duff and Macbeth. Duff is insanely ambitious, desperate to clamber as far up the greasy pole as he can, convinced of his entitlement to advancement and recognition. Macbeth, meanwhile, is more capable, yet also more modest in outlook, and not as transparently driven by the desire for career progression.
The scene would seem to be set for a fascinating novel, especially when Macbeth is chosen over Duff to replace the fallen Cawdor. Sadly, it was at that stage that I started to feel that the characters, and the tortuous plot shifts were just a little too contrived. Perhaps it works as a straightforward crime story, but for someone eager for a deft reworking of Shakespeare, it just doesn’t quite work.
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to understand why, having never managed to steel my literary resolve sufficiently to mange to finish any such book. I don’t know where the problem lies, and I genuinely don’t think I am guilty of my own uber-insularity or xenophobia, but I just find them unreadable.Jo Nesbo is one of the leading proponents, and his novels have sold in their millions all around the world. I was, therefore, intrigued when I learned that he had been commissioned by the Hogarth Shakespeare programme to write a novel inspired by Macbeth, one of my favourites among the Bard’s works. Throwing caution to the wind, I took a chance and plunged straight into Nesbo’s reworking of that famous tale. Unfortunately, my verdict is that I chose poorly, and my prevailing view of Scandinavian Noir remains unchanged.
The story is updated to a decaying and crime-ridden 1970s city, where control of the police has passed to Duncan, a force for good struggling to overcome a long history of corruption and collaboration between those in power and the leading criminals. Among his committed deputies are Inspectors Duff and Macbeth. Duff is insanely ambitious, desperate to clamber as far up the greasy pole as he can, convinced of his entitlement to advancement and recognition. Macbeth, meanwhile, is more capable, yet also more modest in outlook, and not as transparently driven by the desire for career progression.
The scene would seem to be set for a fascinating novel, especially when Macbeth is chosen over Duff to replace the fallen Cawdor. Sadly, it was at that stage that I started to feel that the characters, and the tortuous plot shifts were just a little too contrived. Perhaps it works as a straightforward crime story, but for someone eager for a deft reworking of Shakespeare, it just doesn’t quite work.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
This retelling places Duncan has chief police commissioner in a once-important industrial city infested with drugs, organized crime, and corruption. All the major players have roles in the police leadership. When Duncan dies, Macbeth, the head of the SWAT team, succeeds him as commissioner. The
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Norse Riders fill the role of a gang. The setting did not work for me. I'm not a fan of gritty noir novels, and this take on the classic Shakespeare fit the category. I received an advance electronic copy through the publisher via NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member browner56
In a downtrodden Scottish city, the ultimate struggle for power is playing itself out. The long-standing and thoroughly corrupt head of state has just died and a lot of the people under his command are scheming for ways to move up the organizational ladder. Urged by his cunning, greedy, and
If you are thinking that you have read that story already, you undoubtedly have. It’s Macbeth! Only, in this case, it is Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo’s thoroughly impressive retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tale of out-of-control ambition. The author does a truly masterful job of bringing the story forward in time by almost 400 years while staying true to the genre that he knows so well. He transforms the quest to control a sovereignty to the quest to control the police department that effectively runs the town and also embeds a number of other clever updates (e.g., Hecate, head of the witches in the play, becomes a drug lord who exerts his power behind the scenes). The author even makes the bold choice to use as many of the original names as possible, which, after the reader adjusts to it, becomes an effective device.
If this is not a perfect story, that is at least partly because Shakespeare’s Macbeth is not a perfect play. But it is a great play that alternates between being disturbing and thrilling in roughly equal measures. And so it is with Nesbo’s novel that draws from the same source material. This is a grim, gritty, and depressing tale in which no one really wins in the end. Although some semblance of order is restored as the story concludes, it is not at all clear that the plight of the besieged city is going to improve, regardless of who is in control. But, of course, you could not really reproduce Macbeth and have it work out any other way.
This is the seventh effort to appear in Hogarth Shakespeare’s ambitious project to reimagine some of the Bard of Avon’s best work. Have read them all—and enjoyed most of them—I have to say that Nesbo really rose to the occasion here. While the most of the other books were relatively short at around 250 pages or so (undoubtedly because stage plays themselves are generally shorter), the author here has gone the other way to produce a work that is almost twice that length. This commitment to deepening the story allowed him to turn several less-developed players in the original play (e.g., Caithness, Lennox, Seyton) into fully realized characters. In fact, as riveting as the story itself is, the novel Macbeth might work best as a collective character study on the destructive power of addiction: to the pursuit of power, to narcotics and other vices, and to the inability to move on from the past. Along with Margaret Atwood’s inventive Hag-Seed, this a book that fulfills the promise of what this series should be.
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ruthless wife, one man in particular exhibits the resolve to reach all the way to the top. As a man of action rather than his own ideas, he clears the path for his ascent with a murderous, drug-fueled rampage that leaves many people—both the innocent and the not-so-innocent—dead or injured. Although he does briefly reach his goal, none of this ends well: he dies at the hands of his best friend and chief rival while his wife, haunted by a past she cannot outrun, commits suicide. If you are thinking that you have read that story already, you undoubtedly have. It’s Macbeth! Only, in this case, it is Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo’s thoroughly impressive retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tale of out-of-control ambition. The author does a truly masterful job of bringing the story forward in time by almost 400 years while staying true to the genre that he knows so well. He transforms the quest to control a sovereignty to the quest to control the police department that effectively runs the town and also embeds a number of other clever updates (e.g., Hecate, head of the witches in the play, becomes a drug lord who exerts his power behind the scenes). The author even makes the bold choice to use as many of the original names as possible, which, after the reader adjusts to it, becomes an effective device.
If this is not a perfect story, that is at least partly because Shakespeare’s Macbeth is not a perfect play. But it is a great play that alternates between being disturbing and thrilling in roughly equal measures. And so it is with Nesbo’s novel that draws from the same source material. This is a grim, gritty, and depressing tale in which no one really wins in the end. Although some semblance of order is restored as the story concludes, it is not at all clear that the plight of the besieged city is going to improve, regardless of who is in control. But, of course, you could not really reproduce Macbeth and have it work out any other way.
This is the seventh effort to appear in Hogarth Shakespeare’s ambitious project to reimagine some of the Bard of Avon’s best work. Have read them all—and enjoyed most of them—I have to say that Nesbo really rose to the occasion here. While the most of the other books were relatively short at around 250 pages or so (undoubtedly because stage plays themselves are generally shorter), the author here has gone the other way to produce a work that is almost twice that length. This commitment to deepening the story allowed him to turn several less-developed players in the original play (e.g., Caithness, Lennox, Seyton) into fully realized characters. In fact, as riveting as the story itself is, the novel Macbeth might work best as a collective character study on the destructive power of addiction: to the pursuit of power, to narcotics and other vices, and to the inability to move on from the past. Along with Margaret Atwood’s inventive Hag-Seed, this a book that fulfills the promise of what this series should be.
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LibraryThing member Kristelh
Reason read: retelling of Macbeth, Shakespeare.
This follows Macbeth pretty closely, maybe too closely. This is a police procedural thriller. This is my first book of Norwegian author, Jo Nesbo.
This follows Macbeth pretty closely, maybe too closely. This is a police procedural thriller. This is my first book of Norwegian author, Jo Nesbo.
LibraryThing member c.archer
This is the first Nesbo book that I've read. It won't be the last. I was hypnotized by the intensity of his characters. You really don't know who to root for since the good guys ultimately aren't so very good, and they keep changing. The action picks up fairly quickly and doesn't slow down until
I also haven't read the Shakespeare work, Macbeth, which this book recreates in a more recent setting. Since I knew it was an important part of the story, I read a summary which helped to place the characters and setting into perspective. I'm quite sure that fans of the original Macbeth will find this to be an intriguing take on Shakespeare and equally violent.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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the bitter end. No real moral lessons are to be found in this book, but rather a bit of a warning as to where we could wind up, particularly in the world we find ourselves in today.I also haven't read the Shakespeare work, Macbeth, which this book recreates in a more recent setting. Since I knew it was an important part of the story, I read a summary which helped to place the characters and setting into perspective. I'm quite sure that fans of the original Macbeth will find this to be an intriguing take on Shakespeare and equally violent.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Hogarth publishers have commissioned a number of current writers to redo some of Shakespeare’s plays by setting them in modern times with modern characters. The assignment can be very tricky. Jo Nesbo has undertaken to reprise Macbeth, with limited success, in my view.
Instead of contending for
Nesbo strives mightily to retell the Macbeth story in modern guise. Nearly all the characters have the same names as in Shakespeare’s opus. There is even an appearance of three witch-like characters who prepare a potent brew of amphetamines [to be marketed to junkies] not unlike the witches’ brew in the original. I could overlook Banquo’s naming a son Fleance, but I just could not buy into Lady (yes, that’s her name: just “Lady”) convincing her boyfriend, Macbeth, that he must murder his boss, Duncan, if his career is to get any traction.
While I generally enjoy retellings, and admittedly Macbeth is a difficult story to modernize, I felt Nesbo’s attempts to reference the original were too heavy-handed.
Instead of contending for
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the crown of the Kingdom of Scotland, the characters joust over control of the police department of a seedy town. This trope might work for some stories, but Macbeth involves serial murders and a blood lust for power that is plausible when the prize is a kingdom (especially one as beautiful as Scotland), but seems too much a stretch when the prize is a merely better paying job with moderately increased perks and prestige.Nesbo strives mightily to retell the Macbeth story in modern guise. Nearly all the characters have the same names as in Shakespeare’s opus. There is even an appearance of three witch-like characters who prepare a potent brew of amphetamines [to be marketed to junkies] not unlike the witches’ brew in the original. I could overlook Banquo’s naming a son Fleance, but I just could not buy into Lady (yes, that’s her name: just “Lady”) convincing her boyfriend, Macbeth, that he must murder his boss, Duncan, if his career is to get any traction.
While I generally enjoy retellings, and admittedly Macbeth is a difficult story to modernize, I felt Nesbo’s attempts to reference the original were too heavy-handed.
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LibraryThing member kakadoo202
Not my cup of tea. I was hoping this to be Skandinavien
LibraryThing member JBD1
An excellent addition to the Hogarth Shakespeare series. Nesbø was the perfect author to take on the Scottish play.
LibraryThing member DGRachel
I was a little worried, based on some reviews I’ve seen, that this was going to take a weird detour at the end and be awful. I couldn’t be more excited to say I was wrong.
Like all of Nesbo’s books that I’ve read, this one has a rather slow start . The darkness and grit are all there from
If you find yourself struggling at any point, I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Euan Morton. I alternated between the audiobook on my commute and the hardcover copy when I was at work or home. Morton’s narration helped me find a rhythm in my head when reading the print version that made the whole experience even more enjoyable. And the ending! Nesbo handled that whole thing beautifully, and even managed a couple of surprises. The more I think about it, the more I love this book.
Like all of Nesbo’s books that I’ve read, this one has a rather slow start . The darkness and grit are all there from
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the beginning, but it takes a little bit for everything to get and become unputdownable. But Nesbo’s Nordic Noir style works perfectly with the source material, creating a Shakespearean retelling that is dark, sad, twisted, gritty, and in a way, elegant. Macbeth is my favorite Shakespearean tragedy, hands down, and Nesbo did a fantastic job with this retelling. If you find yourself struggling at any point, I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Euan Morton. I alternated between the audiobook on my commute and the hardcover copy when I was at work or home. Morton’s narration helped me find a rhythm in my head when reading the print version that made the whole experience even more enjoyable. And the ending! Nesbo handled that whole thing beautifully, and even managed a couple of surprises. The more I think about it, the more I love this book.
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LibraryThing member Vulco1
Wow. This was great and something for everyone.
There's romance, action and even a little adventure.
Want a good Noir novel? This is it. Double crosses, casinos, evocative language, violence. Has it all and done well.
Want Shakespeare? Classic lines from the play. Good adaptation and reinterpretation.
This is just a great book.
There's romance, action and even a little adventure.
Want a good Noir novel? This is it. Double crosses, casinos, evocative language, violence. Has it all and done well.
Want Shakespeare? Classic lines from the play. Good adaptation and reinterpretation.
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Lots of callbacks and call forwards.This is just a great book.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Thriller/Suspense — 2019)
The British Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — 2019)
Bästa översatta kriminalroman (Nominee — 2018)
Language
Original language
Norwegian
Original publication date
2018
Physical description
6.38 inches
ISBN
1781090254 / 9781781090251
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 839.823 |