Rating: 
Summary: Highly recommended!
Review: This book is like no other. It's a beautiful book in it's sensitivity and strength. This is the first I've read of Hoeg's but will read more. All of what he writes of childhood, education and time force the reader to re-evaluate much of societies truths and ones definitions of self. One of my favorite books!
Rating:
Summary: gripping
Review: This book was one of the most complex I've read in years, and had my full attention on multiple levels -- the characters and their tribulations are poignant, but there is an underlying theme of the interweaving of space and time that comes out in the last chapters. I'll be reading this one again -- a rare event.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply a must-read!
Review: This book was the first of Peter Høeg's I ever read, and it continues to be my favorite! It changed the way I think about a lot of things - being Danish I recognize the system described in the book, whether I like it or not. If you liked 'Smilla' you'll love this one. In my opinion, as said, this was is even better. Well done, Peter!
Rating:
Summary: Safer than LSD, this mind-trip is a MUST READ
Review: This fresh and compelling new novel by Peter Hoeg the author of the dark yet captivating "Smilla's Sense of Snow" is like a journey into Einstein's brain - a cruise into the inner reaches of time. In fact, so much of the book is about time, that if I'm ever bed ridden or find myself with nothing better to do,I'm going to go through this book and highlight the word TIME each time it shows up, and I'm quite certain it will be there at least one thousand times. So I've established that there is some tedium and redundancy in this novel. However, time is the critical element in the 'experiment' that pushes the borderline students (two orphans and one psychotic boy who recently murdered his parents after years of abuse) over the edge while they are supposed to be assimilating themselves into an elite private school. As resourceful and unwilling to submit to government/institutional dictates as 'Smilla' was, this story (which seems to be autobiographical down to the protagonist first name - Peter) kept me on pins and needles until the very end and left me clambering for more. Dark, disturbing yet hopeful too, this book will leave you looking at everything differently . . . in TIME.
Rating:
Summary: Safer than LSD, this mind-trip is a MUST READ
Review: This fresh and compelling new novel by Peter Hoeg the author of the dark yet captivating "Smilla's Sense of Snow" is like a journey into Einstein's brain - a cruise into the inner reaches of time. In fact, so much of the book is about time, that if I'm ever bed ridden or find myself with nothing better to do,I'm going to go through this book and highlight the word TIME each time it shows up, and I'm quite certain it will be there at least one thousand times. So I've established that there is some tedium and redundancy in this novel. However, time is the critical element in the 'experiment' that pushes the borderline students (two orphans and one psychotic boy who recently murdered his parents after years of abuse) over the edge while they are supposed to be assimilating themselves into an elite private school. As resourceful and unwilling to submit to government/institutional dictates as 'Smilla' was, this story (which seems to be autobiographical down to the protagonist first name - Peter) kept me on pins and needles until the very end and left me clambering for more. Dark, disturbing yet hopeful too, this book will leave you looking at everything differently . . . in TIME.
Rating:
Summary: Time as a device
Review: This is an insightful book. If you're like me, Peter Hoeg's writing style can leave you a little frustrated; leaving so many thoughts half completed, skipping and jumping as he does between seemingly unconnected images, thoughts, facts and impressions. Apart from being just a literary devise however, this method is perhaps attributable also to the difficultly of the story's content for the author. Maybe he can only allude to the story rather than tell it because of the damage that he has seen and in fact been complicit in. Whatever the reason, it falls away once the author becomes more comfortable with the truth and uncovers wisdom in his childhood reflections. Wisdom which flows with wonderful simplicity and as a natural conclusion from his experience and adult research. I was particulalry impressed with Peter Hoeg's aptitude for philosophical commentary, and found this to be an unexpected and unique gift of his writing.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: This is most certainly one of the most interesting novels you'll ever come across - Hoeg's way of incorporating his philosophy of time with a spellbinding plot is stunning! This is not a novel to rush through in a few hours; instead, take your time to put the book aside for a moment and think about what is being said while reading it. Hoeg skillfully assembles the very heart of elitism and completely destroys every aspect of it with nothing more than a few words. All I can say is: read this novel! It will permanently change your view of the world.
Rating:
Summary: Complex, but well worth it...
Review: This is the first Hoeg book I have read. I do plan on reading more. The book had me captivated right from the beginning. The book follows three main characters, Peter, Katarina, and August. The group, as they become close start sharing feelings that they are a family despite the fact that forces within the school are trying to pull them apart. The three thus far have lead difficult lives, and though they're outsiders, they get to feel on the inside with eachother.Being a kid brought up and bounced around from institution to institution is not easy, though Hoeg tackles the topic. We get to see their inside thoughts and feelings while at the same time we get to see how they make it through by pulling together to uncover the plot the school has set against them. Though the book is engaging, it is no easy read covering complex topics. The book also jumps between time periods, some being present day while some being distant memories. I found the book readable in parts one and two, though when I got to part three, I found the book to become dry, concerning itself mainly with time. Hoeg, in my opinnion becomes to wordy covering mainy different historical thoughts and theories of time. Though relevant to the main characters, Hoeg gives just a little too much detail.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely on my top ten list
Review: This is truly one of the most haunting books I've ever read. The desperation that the kids are driven into by a cruel system is very disturbing and thought-provoking. I've read all of Hoeg's works and his detailed knowledge in odd areas never ceases to amaze me. He also has an amazing feeling for language and changes styles from almost Spartan in this one to flourishing in others.
Rating:
Summary: For those on the edge of the ice...
Review: This was my first completed Hoeg novel (save me from ...Danish Dreams, please!), and it without pause shot up my favorite books list. The greatest books are those that you see a piece of yourself in, especially a piece that you have until then never noticed. All those who feel like a borderliner will see themselves within this book.
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