Tim Davys writes:

“Amberville might have a bit of Chelsea in London, Lanceheim maybe slightly Berlin. If I say Tourquai has a touch of New York and Yok a bit of Rome, I’m not lying. But I’m not telling the whole truth either. The landscape you have in mind most certainly forms the plot. But I’m not sure if that’s important for the reading experience; it’s more of an author’s tool. Every reader then forms their own opinions.”

Compare and contrast the use of setting throughout Amberville. What role do you think setting plays in your reading experience?

Is the plot more effective through the use of stuffed animals? Less effective?

Davys describes Amberville as “a novel about the nature of evil, and how it’s needed to balance the good.” Is this how you see Amberville?

Does the fact that “Tim Davys” is a nom de plume affect your interpretation of the novel?

And finally, for extra credit, how is Amberville similar to other Scandinavian crime fiction and cinema? How is it different? To help you out, here are some links to articles and to library holdings.

Män som hatar kvinnor is here!

Scandinavian misanthrophy

“How Swede It Is” Newsweek article about Hollywood remakes of Swedish cinema

Wallander based on the novels of Henning Mankell

Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg

Remember, as always with the Reader’s Den, the discussion is ongoing and you can leave your comments at any time.