Plot Summary

To Siberia

Per Petterson
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To Siberia

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

Book Brief

Per Petterson

To Siberia

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996
Book Details
Pages

252

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Denmark • 1930s

Publication Year

1996

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

To Siberia by Per Petterson follows the memories of an unnamed 60-year-old narrator recounting her youth in Denmark during the 1930s and 1940s, centering on her relationship with her charismatic brother Jesper, who becomes involved in the Resistance during the Nazi occupation. The narrator reflects on their troubled family life, their shared fantasies of escape, and the impact of wartime events on their lives. The book includes depictions of suicide and sexual exploitation.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Nostalgic

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.8

2,377 ratings

57%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Per Petterson's To Siberia offers a poignant, atmospheric narrative capturing the resilience and struggles of a young girl during WWII. Critics praise its lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance. However, some found its pacing slow and its ending ambiguous. Overall, the novel is celebrated for its hauntingly beautiful storytelling and rich character development.

Who should read this

Who Should Read To Siberia?

A reader who enjoys To Siberia by Per Petterson would likely appreciate introspective, character-driven narratives with a strong sense of place and melancholy, much like those found in W.G. Sebald's Austerlitz or Marilynne Robinson's Gilead. Ideal for fans of contemplative literary fiction with historical undertones.

3.8

2,377 ratings

57%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

252

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Denmark • 1930s

Publication Year

1996

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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