Every now and again I'll not only mention books that are constantly being referenced in the news because a movie is being made or it's a sequel of a decades old book, but because a friend might mention it to me, or I see this author/book highlighted on a shelf in a bookstore every time I go. In the case of Harry Hole, it's not the name of a book but the character in a long line of books created by Jo Nesbo. I first became acquainted with the author's name when I'd constantly see the covers of his books on shelves whenever I walked into ANY Barnes & Noble. See below for examples:
Tell me those covers wouldn't catch your eye if you were to walk into a bookstore just to browse around? I've never gotten so intrigued that I've picked up the book to read their descriptions. I've always just logged them in the back of my mind to some day check out the author. Well, the time has come the walrus said...
Jo Nesbo is a Norwegian author who has had his books translated for the UK and thusly (I just made that a word so deal with it!) they have made their way to the US where he's become a fast bestseller. But to know me is to know I won't start a series in the middle I don't care in what order they were being published. Once I see there are other books involved I must do research to make sure I'm starting at the beginning. Low and behold the first book in the series has been translated (and it looks like direct to soft cover) earlier this year:
I actually like this cover. Not as eye catching as the other ones that were released in hardback first in the UK and US but just as good. After some research I can say this book was NOT released first (even though it's the first in the Harry Hole series) because his publishing company felt it would not translate for the UK as readily and easily as the 3 I mentioned above. It isn't until recently (after the immense success of his other books) that his publishing company has decided to translate his earlier Harry Hole books. I guess it was fate that I should pick now to get intrigued. Especially after a Social Networking friend just recently gave this book
★★!
Now I gotta read for myself if he's worth it.
I will say I'm a bit apprehensive because many have described him as the next Stieg Larsson who wrote the trilogy which started with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I did buy that book but never actually read it because I got mixed reviews and opinions about it. Seemed like either you loved it or you hated it and those who hated it told me why and they tended to be reasons why I'd place a book on a "dislike and don't bother reading" category. What is that reason? Well maybe after I try this book I'll tell you if it turns out to fall under that umbrella...
Before I forget let me say that Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series is supposed to be about an investigator who solves crimes. Of course that is the VERY condensed and stripped down summary of what the books are about but what more would you need to know? Either you like cop-centric mystery books or you don't. I do enjoy a good mystery and I'm willing to try anything new.
His second book (going in his intended order of course) is called The Cockroaches which in this case the title intrigues me. This one will not be translated and released until February 4th, 2014 so I should have plenty of time to add The Bat to my already LONG (and scheduled) list of TBR's for the remainder of this year.
Amazon Exclusive: An Essay by Jo Nesbø on Harry Hole
It
is not easy to summarize the protagonist of the series in a few words,
but here are some features of Harry’s personality that are important to
me when I write about him: he’s the type of guy who is driven by his
good side as well as his darker side. At times he believes in his role
as law enforcer, at other times he doesn’t. And occasionally he is so
gripped by his emotions that they overwhelm his basic belief in the
principles of a state governed by law. He hunts down criminals with such
an intense hatred and finds revenge so hard to resist that at times he
could be mistaken for the antagonists he is fighting. But at the same
time he can feel empathy for, perhaps even a kinship with, the
lawbreaker. Harry Hole is a hero with pronounced weaknesses. All
interesting heroes have an Achilles heel, and in Harry’s case, it is
alcohol.
Harry feels something akin to what the serial killer
feels, the same tension and excitement, when he approaches a victim and
the same anti-climax after the killer is caught. It is Harry’s ambition
to understand both love and evil. He is a passionate guy in all ways.
And he is the type of man who has difficulties controlling his impulses.
The fact that he cannot set limits permeates his drinking habits and
his attitude to his job. He takes on cases and is swallowed up by them.
It is the same with his relationships with women. I could have chosen to
make Harry and Rakel live happily ever after and have children, but
then we have a completely different person. I like the fact that he is
in transit in his own life, as far as his emotions and his job are
concerned. I'm often asked how much Harry and I have in common. I won't
answer that in detail, but when you make a person a hero, as a writer
you are bound to have at least a basic set of values, a goal, a need or a
longing that you can relate to.
To learn more about Jo Nesbo, his character Harry Hole, and the 11 books (10 featuring Harry Hole) he's written thus far, go to his website
here.
