Banal seriousness

I had never before read any books from Marja-Leena Tiainen and I can promise that there will not be any others. I have better use for my time.
   The book which I read was 'Kahden maailman tyttö' (direct translation would be 'Girl of two worlds'). It tells about, 17 years old Tara, who is an immigrant. She would like to live like normal Finnish girl, but her brother and father have their own plans. In the end Tara has to run away to a shelter.

The novel handles interesting, important and serious issues, like honor violence, but it don't make justice for them. It keeps a processing of those things in the level of newspaper writing. Characters do and think things, but it haven't any kind of affect to the reader.
   The most irritating character is Tara. She's a stereotype of young girl: she is quite good at school, like languages and fashion, dreams about eternal love and looks gorgeous without known it. She also seems to be little indolence: she just wander through the happenings and she only emotion seems to be horror mixed with agony.
Language is almost as horrific as the main character: because it is a book for youngsters, the writer tries to use youthful language, with awful consequences. There is some 'youthfull' expressions in the text, like 'galtsu' (abbreviation from IRC-gallery). Youngsters really don't use this kind of language.
   The novel try to be a serious story about serious subject, but end up to be banal and ridiculous. There's many better ways to spend your time. For example staring a fly on ceiling.



Mark: 4