Introduction:
I am going to review a book I have recently read titled "Blood Hunt" by Neil M. Gunn. Gunn was a classic Scottish writer who achieved much acclaim in the country and is even described, on Wikipedia, as "one of the leading lights of the Scottish Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s". Pretty impressive.
Although "Blood Hunt" is not as well-known as some of Gunn's other titles, it is a very enjoyable and touching read. He lives up to his reputation as a fantastic writer and the flaws with this book, if any, are quite insignificant.
Plot:
A little on the plot; I will try to avoid spoilers as best I can. This novel is set in the Highlands of Scotland, around the time of the major technological advances that set the foundations of the digital age in place. It centers on "Old Sandy", a retired seaman spending the last days of his life in a croft with his (very cute!) dog Queenie. His life, on the surface, is peaceful; filled mainly with sweet routine, his pet and deep ruminations on the nature of existence.
However, one day it all changes. A close friend of Sandy's, Allan Innes, commits a crime of passion and a tense chase ensues in the crossfire of which the old farmer is caught. A policeman with a very personal tie to the case is out for revenge. The blood hunt is on, and Sandy must make a very difficult decision that may change the nature of his own existence irrevocably.
My Thoughts on the Book:
I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing flows beautifully, and has the rare ability to hold you entranced in the way that only the written word can. The description in the novel is immaculate; it remains at a steady level that requires little effort to visualize, yet still pulls the reader deep into the rolling hills and wild beauty of the highland environment.
The character of Sandy is fleshed out well - the information on him is not spewed out all at once, but rather produced naturally and consistently throughout the story. He is a troubled character and it is impressed upon the reader that he has doubts about his own purpose and choices, which are only amplified when he is drawn into the murder investigation by a very angry and determined policeman, Nicol Menzies, who is the brother of Robert Menzies, the man killed by Allan. The reader is suddenly introduced to a more complicated Sandy; a very multilayered and interesting character who retains many virtues and faults that we can all relate to. But he has the ability to make the reader laugh, also, with his strange actions and witty thoughts. Summarily, he is a sweet, loving, humorous and conflicted man who is a joy to read about.
I believe the main themes of this story are love, friendship and hatred which are, admittedly, quite common. Although this book was written in 1957, when, perhaps, these concepts were not overused, it does not change the fact that people have seen them many, many times before. That being as it is, this story did not bore me as so many of these other similarly-themed novels have. It seems that its subscription to these common concepts does not hinder its ability to hook the reader. On the contrary, it amplifies that ability. The struggle within Sandy; whether he should support his friend, even after he committed a crime, or whether he should turn him in, is represented masterfully through the thoughts and actions of our protagonist. The policeman's hatred towards Allan is mostly reflected eerily through his long silences, cold stares and dark dialogue; rather than through shouting or violence, which, almost paradoxically, makes it much more effective.
Final Thoughts:
All things considered, I would recommend this book very highly. Not only is it a good read, but it offers a valuable insight into the past and poses many important philosophical and moral questions. It shows how the strength of love can actually weaken our human morality, and that the human species retains a wild and conflicting nature. Lumping these interesting themes together with the strong protagonist and masterful writing, this book offers something that is not easy to find; a simple, but effective story dealing with difficult, but nonetheless valid truths.
9/10
I am going to review a book I have recently read titled "Blood Hunt" by Neil M. Gunn. Gunn was a classic Scottish writer who achieved much acclaim in the country and is even described, on Wikipedia, as "one of the leading lights of the Scottish Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s". Pretty impressive.
Although "Blood Hunt" is not as well-known as some of Gunn's other titles, it is a very enjoyable and touching read. He lives up to his reputation as a fantastic writer and the flaws with this book, if any, are quite insignificant.
Plot:
A little on the plot; I will try to avoid spoilers as best I can. This novel is set in the Highlands of Scotland, around the time of the major technological advances that set the foundations of the digital age in place. It centers on "Old Sandy", a retired seaman spending the last days of his life in a croft with his (very cute!) dog Queenie. His life, on the surface, is peaceful; filled mainly with sweet routine, his pet and deep ruminations on the nature of existence.
However, one day it all changes. A close friend of Sandy's, Allan Innes, commits a crime of passion and a tense chase ensues in the crossfire of which the old farmer is caught. A policeman with a very personal tie to the case is out for revenge. The blood hunt is on, and Sandy must make a very difficult decision that may change the nature of his own existence irrevocably.
My Thoughts on the Book:
I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing flows beautifully, and has the rare ability to hold you entranced in the way that only the written word can. The description in the novel is immaculate; it remains at a steady level that requires little effort to visualize, yet still pulls the reader deep into the rolling hills and wild beauty of the highland environment.
The character of Sandy is fleshed out well - the information on him is not spewed out all at once, but rather produced naturally and consistently throughout the story. He is a troubled character and it is impressed upon the reader that he has doubts about his own purpose and choices, which are only amplified when he is drawn into the murder investigation by a very angry and determined policeman, Nicol Menzies, who is the brother of Robert Menzies, the man killed by Allan. The reader is suddenly introduced to a more complicated Sandy; a very multilayered and interesting character who retains many virtues and faults that we can all relate to. But he has the ability to make the reader laugh, also, with his strange actions and witty thoughts. Summarily, he is a sweet, loving, humorous and conflicted man who is a joy to read about.
I believe the main themes of this story are love, friendship and hatred which are, admittedly, quite common. Although this book was written in 1957, when, perhaps, these concepts were not overused, it does not change the fact that people have seen them many, many times before. That being as it is, this story did not bore me as so many of these other similarly-themed novels have. It seems that its subscription to these common concepts does not hinder its ability to hook the reader. On the contrary, it amplifies that ability. The struggle within Sandy; whether he should support his friend, even after he committed a crime, or whether he should turn him in, is represented masterfully through the thoughts and actions of our protagonist. The policeman's hatred towards Allan is mostly reflected eerily through his long silences, cold stares and dark dialogue; rather than through shouting or violence, which, almost paradoxically, makes it much more effective.
Final Thoughts:
All things considered, I would recommend this book very highly. Not only is it a good read, but it offers a valuable insight into the past and poses many important philosophical and moral questions. It shows how the strength of love can actually weaken our human morality, and that the human species retains a wild and conflicting nature. Lumping these interesting themes together with the strong protagonist and masterful writing, this book offers something that is not easy to find; a simple, but effective story dealing with difficult, but nonetheless valid truths.
9/10
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