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Sheep Detective Story #1
Three Bags Full
A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd.
On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, a flock of sheep gathers around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared devotedly for the flock, even reading them books every night. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer.
The A-team of investigators includes Othello, the “bad-boy” black ram; Mopple the Whale, a Merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a pensive black-faced ewe with a weakness for abysses. Joined by other members of the richly talented flock, they engage in nightlong discussions about the crime, wild metaphysical speculations, and embark on reconnaissance missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. Along the way, the sheep confront their own all-too-human struggles with guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love.
Funny, fresh, and endearing, it introduces a wonderful new breed of detectives to the reader.
On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, a flock of sheep gathers around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared devotedly for the flock, even reading them books every night. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer.
The A-team of investigators includes Othello, the “bad-boy” black ram; Mopple the Whale, a Merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a pensive black-faced ewe with a weakness for abysses. Joined by other members of the richly talented flock, they engage in nightlong discussions about the crime, wild metaphysical speculations, and embark on reconnaissance missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. Along the way, the sheep confront their own all-too-human struggles with guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love.
Funny, fresh, and endearing, it introduces a wonderful new breed of detectives to the reader.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2005
About the author
Leonie Swann
11 books338 followersLeonie Swann (b. 1975 Dachau near Munich, Germany) is the nom de plume of a German crime writer. She went to school at Ignaz Taschner Gymnasium Dachau. She studied philosophy, psychology and English literature in Munich, and now lives in Berlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,995 reviews
August 30, 2018
This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read in my short life.
No, honestly: if you are tired of cliché, tired of fairytale-retellings, tired of love-triangles, tired of the usual average book, try this one. You will not be disappointed.
I know the rating is not encouraging, but that is because it is not everybody's cup of tea. The reason? Sheep. Yeah, sheep. The books main characters? Miss Maple, Othello and Mopple the Whale - Sheep! The POV? Yeah right, sheep! The dead body? Their shepherd. And the murderer? Not telling you.
Go and give it a try!
Find more of my books on Instagram
No, honestly: if you are tired of cliché, tired of fairytale-retellings, tired of love-triangles, tired of the usual average book, try this one. You will not be disappointed.
I know the rating is not encouraging, but that is because it is not everybody's cup of tea. The reason? Sheep. Yeah, sheep. The books main characters? Miss Maple, Othello and Mopple the Whale - Sheep! The POV? Yeah right, sheep! The dead body? Their shepherd. And the murderer? Not telling you.
Go and give it a try!
Find more of my books on Instagram
October 24, 2021
This was a cosy, little mystery and very unique in that the sheep in a shepherd's flock try to solve his murder. I know what you're thinking, sheep are not that smart. There is one sheep that is though, Miss Maple. I immediately thought of my favorite human detective, Miss Marples.
I particularly liked the beginning and the end of this, but was not too impressed by the sheep's reasoning which left me in a mind fog.
I particularly liked the beginning and the end of this, but was not too impressed by the sheep's reasoning which left me in a mind fog.
March 17, 2012
Three Bags Full: Leonie Swann's novel of Sheepish Detection
My thanks to the group Literary Exploration. Without the group's selection of Three Bags Fullas our group read for March, 2012, I doubt I would have ever picked up this little gem, even though I had spotted it on the shelves of our local Barnes & Noble.
A detective novel where sheep are the detectives? The thought of it makes one feel a bit, well, sheepish.
However, Leonie Swann pulls off this woolly caper with style and flair. When George, the shepherd, is found murdered, the local villagers of Killain don't seem to take much notice. But his flock, who has a better understanding of human nature than a lot of humans are determined to see justice done.
It's no small feat, for sheep have a problem with forgetfulness. However, each member of the flock has strengths and weaknesses. Where one member is lacking, another member of the flock has what is needed. In the case of memory, Mopple, the Whale, a constant grazer whose girth gives him his name, is THE Memory Sheep.
George was a good shepherd who provided clean water, proper fodder, and protection for each of his flock. He even read aloud to them, including a detective novel. Miss Maple, Ms. Swann's sly allusion to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, is the brains of the flock who knows the significance of clues and sets out to find who murdered their precious George who had promised to take all of them to Europe. He was a good sheperd, indeed.
Personally, I've never given sheep much consideration. Oh, I've watched a flock of sheep graze in a clover covered meadow while taking a travel break. It was a peaceful, pastoral scene. And I confess that I've a taste for lamb, properly prepared. Saints preserve us, one of the flock might say. But, otherwise, I just don't think much about sheep. Probably not many of us do. Perhaps that is why Leonie Swann's sheep's tale has been translated into thirty-two languages to date. It's a rare little anthropomorphic read with a wry look at human nature.
Thanks to Ms. Swann, I've learned much about sheep behavior that makes me a little ashamed to be merely human. Each member of the flock looks out after the other. We humans may rise to the occasion from time to time, but we fail miserably on a daily basis.
Sheep are cognizant of God and contemplate on the nature of souls. They correctly observe that some of God's representatives do not concern themselves with a lost sheep, such as poor George and don't seem to mind too terribly that some human pinned George to the ground with a spade through his middle.
Sheep do not gossip. The villagers of Killain are gossipers non pareil, speculating on why George was content to live alone in his small caravan, with an estranged wife, a possible mistress, and are constantly curious about whatever remained locked in George's caravan. The human inhabitants pruriently speculate on what splendors in the grass George engaged in, not only with a purported mistress, but even his favorite black ram, Othello.
The village Constable is named Holmes. However, much to his consternation he is no Sherlock. His clearance rate of crime in the County is nil. He's much more concerned with taking his Guinness at the local pub.
Then there's the nature of grass. It has two distinct meanings, one for sheep and one for humans. Humans are more interested in Cannabis Sativa L. Sheep are more concerned with grass of a different nature, sweet fodder for fuel. For them, that's enough.
Swann's novel is continually entertaining, comedic in nature, but also delving into the more tragic nature of George's life. It is a delightful diversion that reminds us that murder will out in the end, as happens in all detective novels. In this novel, the solution is a denoument that just maybe will make us a bit more mindful of the lost sheep in our own flock.
With Swann's great success in her debut novel, I'm so pleased to know that a sequel already exists in its original German edition, book:Garou: Ein Schaf-Thriller|7027202]. Either I'll have to wait for the English translation or break out meine Deutsche-English dictionary. I do know I won't have to wait for a recommendation to read it.
Solid 4 Star Read for originality, something completely different
My thanks to the group Literary Exploration. Without the group's selection of Three Bags Fullas our group read for March, 2012, I doubt I would have ever picked up this little gem, even though I had spotted it on the shelves of our local Barnes & Noble.
A detective novel where sheep are the detectives? The thought of it makes one feel a bit, well, sheepish.
However, Leonie Swann pulls off this woolly caper with style and flair. When George, the shepherd, is found murdered, the local villagers of Killain don't seem to take much notice. But his flock, who has a better understanding of human nature than a lot of humans are determined to see justice done.
It's no small feat, for sheep have a problem with forgetfulness. However, each member of the flock has strengths and weaknesses. Where one member is lacking, another member of the flock has what is needed. In the case of memory, Mopple, the Whale, a constant grazer whose girth gives him his name, is THE Memory Sheep.
George was a good shepherd who provided clean water, proper fodder, and protection for each of his flock. He even read aloud to them, including a detective novel. Miss Maple, Ms. Swann's sly allusion to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, is the brains of the flock who knows the significance of clues and sets out to find who murdered their precious George who had promised to take all of them to Europe. He was a good sheperd, indeed.
Personally, I've never given sheep much consideration. Oh, I've watched a flock of sheep graze in a clover covered meadow while taking a travel break. It was a peaceful, pastoral scene. And I confess that I've a taste for lamb, properly prepared. Saints preserve us, one of the flock might say. But, otherwise, I just don't think much about sheep. Probably not many of us do. Perhaps that is why Leonie Swann's sheep's tale has been translated into thirty-two languages to date. It's a rare little anthropomorphic read with a wry look at human nature.
Thanks to Ms. Swann, I've learned much about sheep behavior that makes me a little ashamed to be merely human. Each member of the flock looks out after the other. We humans may rise to the occasion from time to time, but we fail miserably on a daily basis.
Sheep are cognizant of God and contemplate on the nature of souls. They correctly observe that some of God's representatives do not concern themselves with a lost sheep, such as poor George and don't seem to mind too terribly that some human pinned George to the ground with a spade through his middle.
Sheep do not gossip. The villagers of Killain are gossipers non pareil, speculating on why George was content to live alone in his small caravan, with an estranged wife, a possible mistress, and are constantly curious about whatever remained locked in George's caravan. The human inhabitants pruriently speculate on what splendors in the grass George engaged in, not only with a purported mistress, but even his favorite black ram, Othello.
The village Constable is named Holmes. However, much to his consternation he is no Sherlock. His clearance rate of crime in the County is nil. He's much more concerned with taking his Guinness at the local pub.
Then there's the nature of grass. It has two distinct meanings, one for sheep and one for humans. Humans are more interested in Cannabis Sativa L. Sheep are more concerned with grass of a different nature, sweet fodder for fuel. For them, that's enough.
Swann's novel is continually entertaining, comedic in nature, but also delving into the more tragic nature of George's life. It is a delightful diversion that reminds us that murder will out in the end, as happens in all detective novels. In this novel, the solution is a denoument that just maybe will make us a bit more mindful of the lost sheep in our own flock.
With Swann's great success in her debut novel, I'm so pleased to know that a sequel already exists in its original German edition, book:Garou: Ein Schaf-Thriller|7027202]. Either I'll have to wait for the English translation or break out meine Deutsche-English dictionary. I do know I won't have to wait for a recommendation to read it.
Solid 4 Star Read for originality, something completely different
September 25, 2007
I never thought I would find myself commenting in a book review about how realistic the sheep characters seemed to be. But in Leonie Swann’s delightful murder mystery, I repeatedly found myself thinking “Yes! I bet that’s exactly what a sheep would think!” While these crime-fighting sheep are smart and understand English, they are still just so…sheepy that I had no trouble losing myself in their world. The author’s depiction of flock’s attempt to make sense of certain quirks of human behavior from a sheep’s perspective was particularly well done.
Besides, how can you not love a novel that has a flip-book built into it?
Besides, how can you not love a novel that has a flip-book built into it?
June 29, 2008
It's a cute premise: a dead shepherd is discovered by his flock of sheep with a spade sticking out of his chest, and the sheep then set out to solve the mystery of the shepherd's murder. Fine. I have no problem with cute.
The problem with this book is that it's just not a very good mystery, despite the billing. The clues are often garbled in translation from human to sheep and back again, such that the reader loses a clear sense of what's actually happening. The clues we do have don't add up to much and the author does little to try to bring it all together. And in the end, the solution has nothing--really, nothing--to do with the entire setup of the story.
So yes, it's cute. But it's also a poorly conceived and told mystery with a terribly disappointing resolution.
The problem with this book is that it's just not a very good mystery, despite the billing. The clues are often garbled in translation from human to sheep and back again, such that the reader loses a clear sense of what's actually happening. The clues we do have don't add up to much and the author does little to try to bring it all together. And in the end, the solution has nothing--really, nothing--to do with the entire setup of the story.
So yes, it's cute. But it's also a poorly conceived and told mystery with a terribly disappointing resolution.
July 17, 2008
A wonderful, priceless book, full of wit and philosophical musings and profound observations.
One morning at the small village of Glennkill, Ireland, a small flock of sheep wake up to find that their shepherd, George Glenn, has been murdered. With a spade through his guts. Miss Maple, the cleverest sheep in Glennkill, decides they should investigate and find his murderer, because even though George was a bit of a peculiar and irrascible bastard, he was still their shepherd, and who would read "Pamela novels" (romances) to them now?
So begins an interesting week of discoveries, where through the sheep's observations and investigations we learn about the townsfolk, and that some odd things were going on, and that there are mysteries beneath the mysteries. The sheep too have their own secrets, and fears, as well. Perceptions aren't static - as we learn more about George you can't help but become fond of the man, and I like his style of shepherding! Gabriel, another shepherd whom the sheep always admired, turns out to be less than worthy of their admiration. Bible-thumping Beth, as George always called her, isn't so straight-forward either.
The sheep themselves have delightful personalities, and although Swann's descriptions of raising sheep don't always coincide with my own knowledge from growing up on a sheep farm, a lot of the mannerisms and peculiarities were very familiar and often had me laughing out loud. There's Othello, a black ram with four horns who was once in a circus (part of a knife-throwing act that left him scarred); Maude and her incredible sense of smell; Sir Ritchfield, the lead ram, who's mostly deaf but still has good eyesight; Mopple the Whale, who can remember everything; Lane, the fastest sheep in the flock; and Zora, who has a ledge above the cliff from where she gazes out over the "abyss" and watches the cloud sheep.
Because the sheep have an almost childlike and very logical way of observing humans and their behaviour, it's often very humorous and also profound. The nice thing about this novel is that, aside from the sheep's ability to understand human speech and to ponder human matters, they haven't actually been anthropomorphised - they're still very much sheep, not sheep behaving like humans. Equally hilarious are the humans' perceptions of the sheep and their behaviour, which the story manages to convey with great comic timing. Using the sheep also enables clues to turn in on themselves, or be obscured until the sheep figure something out, and so on, which really keeps the detective side of the story humming along nicely.
I don't usually read crime novels of any kind, especially the generic kind, but this one I could happily re-read and notice more each time. Knowing the "whodunnit" side of things doesn't spoil it at all, because Three Bags Full is so much more than a detective story.
One morning at the small village of Glennkill, Ireland, a small flock of sheep wake up to find that their shepherd, George Glenn, has been murdered. With a spade through his guts. Miss Maple, the cleverest sheep in Glennkill, decides they should investigate and find his murderer, because even though George was a bit of a peculiar and irrascible bastard, he was still their shepherd, and who would read "Pamela novels" (romances) to them now?
So begins an interesting week of discoveries, where through the sheep's observations and investigations we learn about the townsfolk, and that some odd things were going on, and that there are mysteries beneath the mysteries. The sheep too have their own secrets, and fears, as well. Perceptions aren't static - as we learn more about George you can't help but become fond of the man, and I like his style of shepherding! Gabriel, another shepherd whom the sheep always admired, turns out to be less than worthy of their admiration. Bible-thumping Beth, as George always called her, isn't so straight-forward either.
The sheep themselves have delightful personalities, and although Swann's descriptions of raising sheep don't always coincide with my own knowledge from growing up on a sheep farm, a lot of the mannerisms and peculiarities were very familiar and often had me laughing out loud. There's Othello, a black ram with four horns who was once in a circus (part of a knife-throwing act that left him scarred); Maude and her incredible sense of smell; Sir Ritchfield, the lead ram, who's mostly deaf but still has good eyesight; Mopple the Whale, who can remember everything; Lane, the fastest sheep in the flock; and Zora, who has a ledge above the cliff from where she gazes out over the "abyss" and watches the cloud sheep.
Because the sheep have an almost childlike and very logical way of observing humans and their behaviour, it's often very humorous and also profound. The nice thing about this novel is that, aside from the sheep's ability to understand human speech and to ponder human matters, they haven't actually been anthropomorphised - they're still very much sheep, not sheep behaving like humans. Equally hilarious are the humans' perceptions of the sheep and their behaviour, which the story manages to convey with great comic timing. Using the sheep also enables clues to turn in on themselves, or be obscured until the sheep figure something out, and so on, which really keeps the detective side of the story humming along nicely.
I don't usually read crime novels of any kind, especially the generic kind, but this one I could happily re-read and notice more each time. Knowing the "whodunnit" side of things doesn't spoil it at all, because Three Bags Full is so much more than a detective story.
April 1, 2023
I have to write a revised review. I have to exIplain more clearly why I really liked this book, beyond the fact that it still keeps me laughing even though I read it years ago!
I NEVER read mystery or crime novels. And yet I loved it! I never read fantasy books, and I loved it. Why? Well b/c the sheep are so wonderful. They are determined to find the murderer of their beloved Glen, whom they love b/c he was so sweet and caring to them. He read them stories..... every night. He taught them a lot. Still, the sheep had to surmount so many problems! Number one, sheep cannot talk. How can they bring the murderer to justice? And they were kind of confused sometimes. .... Their confusion is ever so charming and terribly funny! I will say this - you will NOT like this book if you cannot laugh at human beings or religion. It is utterly marvelous. A fairy tale for adults!
I NEVER read mystery or crime novels. And yet I loved it! I never read fantasy books, and I loved it. Why? Well b/c the sheep are so wonderful. They are determined to find the murderer of their beloved Glen, whom they love b/c he was so sweet and caring to them. He read them stories..... every night. He taught them a lot. Still, the sheep had to surmount so many problems! Number one, sheep cannot talk. How can they bring the murderer to justice? And they were kind of confused sometimes. .... Their confusion is ever so charming and terribly funny! I will say this - you will NOT like this book if you cannot laugh at human beings or religion. It is utterly marvelous. A fairy tale for adults!
October 18, 2021
Ovejas haciendo ovejunas deducciones para resolver el asesinato de su pastor. Absolutamente nada podrá desviarlas de su objetivo (Con la excepción, tal vez, de un poco de hierba deliciosa y aromática)
El punto fuerte está bien a la vista: un planteo original y divertido. Imposible negarse a seguir leyendo para descubrir cómo se las apaña la autora para sostener semejante historia (Spoiler: lo hace bastante bien). Comprensiblemente, a medida que la lectura avanza y una vez diluida la sorpresa inicial, la historia se torna algo lenta y ligeramente reiterativa. Los momentos jocosos la sacan esforzadamente adelante, aunque sólo de forma parcial.
Una historia divertida como solo puede serlo este delirante rebaño de Glennkill y fresca, eso sí, como una fértil pradera en primavera.
El punto fuerte está bien a la vista: un planteo original y divertido. Imposible negarse a seguir leyendo para descubrir cómo se las apaña la autora para sostener semejante historia (Spoiler: lo hace bastante bien). Comprensiblemente, a medida que la lectura avanza y una vez diluida la sorpresa inicial, la historia se torna algo lenta y ligeramente reiterativa. Los momentos jocosos la sacan esforzadamente adelante, aunque sólo de forma parcial.
Una historia divertida como solo puede serlo este delirante rebaño de Glennkill y fresca, eso sí, como una fértil pradera en primavera.
March 10, 2021
Sheep, it turns out, have quite a bit in common with humans. We are both gossipy, superstitious, and prone to exaggeration. Like us, sheep have theories about life after death - (you become a fluffy, cloud sheep in the sky), and prejudices - (goats are crazy). And occasionally, someone will offer up sane words of advice that both sheep and humans would do well to heed:
"You shouldn't believe what you don't understand. You should understand what you believe.
The sheep in this book can talk, but only to other sheep. They sometimes say cute things, but they are REAL sheep, not cartoonish fluff balls with pink bows and eyelashes aflutter.
And they are trying to figure out who killed their beloved shepherd, George. As it turns out, you don't need CSI, DNA evidence, or even fingerprints to solve a crime. You just need detectives in ovine clothing, who stand around quietly grazing, observing, listening to conversations, drawing conclusions...
There's a sweet charm to this book. The sheep can't help but act on their animal instincts - eating geraniums when they should be keeping an eye on the suspects, and devouring their master's forbidden garden - but afterwards, they experience very human emotions, standing around filled with shame, and feeling guilty over their actions.
There's also a poignant encounter with another shepherd's ram, a "meat breed" who is sadly aware of his own fate.
The mystery surrounding the death of George is less than compelling, but the antics of the sheep make this one worth a look.
"You shouldn't believe what you don't understand. You should understand what you believe.
The sheep in this book can talk, but only to other sheep. They sometimes say cute things, but they are REAL sheep, not cartoonish fluff balls with pink bows and eyelashes aflutter.
And they are trying to figure out who killed their beloved shepherd, George. As it turns out, you don't need CSI, DNA evidence, or even fingerprints to solve a crime. You just need detectives in ovine clothing, who stand around quietly grazing, observing, listening to conversations, drawing conclusions...
There's a sweet charm to this book. The sheep can't help but act on their animal instincts - eating geraniums when they should be keeping an eye on the suspects, and devouring their master's forbidden garden - but afterwards, they experience very human emotions, standing around filled with shame, and feeling guilty over their actions.
There's also a poignant encounter with another shepherd's ram, a "meat breed" who is sadly aware of his own fate.
The mystery surrounding the death of George is less than compelling, but the antics of the sheep make this one worth a look.
February 22, 2023
hayvanların gözünden yazılmış romanları, öyküleri hiç sevmem. edebiyatla ilgili en net kararım bu olabilir hatta. neden? çünkü ustaca yazılmış olanına rastlamak zor. çoğunda hayvanlara tüm insan özelliklerini yükleyerek kotarılıyor, e saçma oluyor haliyle bir kedinin köpeğin aynı insan bilincinde olması.
neyse bu kez daha da komiği var. koyun polisiyesi. ama ben bu kitabı on küsur yıl arayla ikinci kez okuyorum ve leonie swann’ın anlatıcı konusunda epey emek verdiğini ve koyun bilinci/hareketi üzerine çalıştığını söyleyebilirim.
e tabii yine de abartılı, çobanları george glenn’in öldürülmesini çözmeye çalışan koyunlar, koçlar, kuzular ama her şeyi unutmalarıyla, sürü psikolojisiyle, açlıklarıyla yine de oldukça mantıklı ve eğlenceli olmuşlar
tabii akıllı bir koyun olmazsa olmaz, burada da miss maple var. o epey sürpriz rüyalar ve tahminlerle ilerliyor. yine de dediğim gibi koyunların hareketleri, kokudan yalanı/doğruyu hissetmeleri olabildiğince “koyunca” verilmiş.
tabii işler karışık. işin içinde “ot” var, bu otun peşinde pek çok insan var, otun ne olduğunu meraktan ölen koyunlar var :) ki sonra ottan yiyip günlerce uyuyan şişko koyun mopple epey güldürüyor.
polisiye vakadan daha çok etkileyen kısmı taşranın pisliğini ve çıkarcılığını çok güzel bir biçimde anlatması. tabii mekan irlanda olduğu için katoliklik halklar��n afyonu rolünde en önde.
onun dışında koyun bile gütse onların ayrı kişilikleri, istekleri üzerine çokça düşünen ve dünyanın en iyi çobanı olan george’un ölümüyle başlayan bu kitapta en sevdiğimiz insan george oluyor. george hiçbir biçimde satmadığı, kesmediği bu koyunlarla avrupa’ya gitme hayali bile kurmuş. onlara polisiye ve beyaz dizi okuyor. her birinin yaşam macerasını destekliyor ki epey koyunun maceralı hayatını da öğreniyoruz.
yani kitap bittiğinde kasaplardan, et endüstrisinden, hayvanlarını sevmeyen çiftçilerden ve omnivor olmaktan utanabilirsiniz :(
kitap 2005 baskısı. tr yayıncılığı özeti olarak baskısı yok. çevirisi vedat çorlu tarafından gayet ustalıkla yapılmış.
kitabı okurken hatay’da tekrar deprem oldu. sanki başa döndük. bitmeyen bir kabusun içinde üstelik azar ve küfür işite işite yaşıyoruz. sanırım daha epey bir süre polisiyeyle devam edicem.
neyse bu kez daha da komiği var. koyun polisiyesi. ama ben bu kitabı on küsur yıl arayla ikinci kez okuyorum ve leonie swann’ın anlatıcı konusunda epey emek verdiğini ve koyun bilinci/hareketi üzerine çalıştığını söyleyebilirim.
e tabii yine de abartılı, çobanları george glenn’in öldürülmesini çözmeye çalışan koyunlar, koçlar, kuzular ama her şeyi unutmalarıyla, sürü psikolojisiyle, açlıklarıyla yine de oldukça mantıklı ve eğlenceli olmuşlar
tabii akıllı bir koyun olmazsa olmaz, burada da miss maple var. o epey sürpriz rüyalar ve tahminlerle ilerliyor. yine de dediğim gibi koyunların hareketleri, kokudan yalanı/doğruyu hissetmeleri olabildiğince “koyunca” verilmiş.
tabii işler karışık. işin içinde “ot” var, bu otun peşinde pek çok insan var, otun ne olduğunu meraktan ölen koyunlar var :) ki sonra ottan yiyip günlerce uyuyan şişko koyun mopple epey güldürüyor.
polisiye vakadan daha çok etkileyen kısmı taşranın pisliğini ve çıkarcılığını çok güzel bir biçimde anlatması. tabii mekan irlanda olduğu için katoliklik halklar��n afyonu rolünde en önde.
onun dışında koyun bile gütse onların ayrı kişilikleri, istekleri üzerine çokça düşünen ve dünyanın en iyi çobanı olan george’un ölümüyle başlayan bu kitapta en sevdiğimiz insan george oluyor. george hiçbir biçimde satmadığı, kesmediği bu koyunlarla avrupa’ya gitme hayali bile kurmuş. onlara polisiye ve beyaz dizi okuyor. her birinin yaşam macerasını destekliyor ki epey koyunun maceralı hayatını da öğreniyoruz.
yani kitap bittiğinde kasaplardan, et endüstrisinden, hayvanlarını sevmeyen çiftçilerden ve omnivor olmaktan utanabilirsiniz :(
kitap 2005 baskısı. tr yayıncılığı özeti olarak baskısı yok. çevirisi vedat çorlu tarafından gayet ustalıkla yapılmış.
kitabı okurken hatay’da tekrar deprem oldu. sanki başa döndük. bitmeyen bir kabusun içinde üstelik azar ve küfür işite işite yaşıyoruz. sanırım daha epey bir süre polisiyeyle devam edicem.
November 25, 2007
Read this book now! Stop whatever you are doing, turn off whatever's cooking on the stove, turn off the music you were just listening to, put down whatever lesser book you thought you'd read: go to a (locally owned/used) bookstore and buy this book. It's one of those books that if it had been written even the tiniest bit differently, the entire wondrous thing would have collapsed. But it's brilliant, it's just brilliant. It's like Watership Down meets Ruth Rendell, but with a higher percentage of lanolin.
I love it so much, I almost don't want to share it with anyone else. Forget what I just said! Don't go read this book! Leave it for me to savor and treasure and love like my own imaginary friend.
I love it so much, I almost don't want to share it with anyone else. Forget what I just said! Don't go read this book! Leave it for me to savor and treasure and love like my own imaginary friend.
August 8, 2018
It's almost a shame this book gets shelved as a mystery. While a murder mystery underpins the action on the page, the book has very little to do with mystery and hard-core mystery fans will probably come away feeling a little underwhelmed. This book is a pretty neat commentary on books and literature; it's about existentialism and the meaning of life; it's about the relationship between humans and animals; it's a sort of conversation with one of the most important novels in the English canon (and I'm not going to tell you which, because that would spoil *everything*).
No, it's not much of a mystery. But it's a multi-layered text packed with humor, mystery, and even weirdness, and I have a hunch it gets better with every read.
Also, I loved reading a book from the point of view of sheep!
No, it's not much of a mystery. But it's a multi-layered text packed with humor, mystery, and even weirdness, and I have a hunch it gets better with every read.
Also, I loved reading a book from the point of view of sheep!
April 4, 2008
A shepherd is murdered and it's up to the flock to find out whodunnit. Lead by the intrepid Miss Maple, a delightful cast of sheep characters put their fluffy, fleece heads together to crack the case.
As a murder mystery, this book isn't that entertaining, but as a parody of the Miss Marple books, it is fantastic. Each sheep in the flock has a distinct character that gives it a unique ability to contribute to the case (these traits are listed in the front of the book with the character, just like the old Christie books). Only by working together are their powers combined, and like a group of villagers, the sheep manage to bring justice to all (or, at least in so far as it concerns them).
This book also works on a philosophical level. Because the protagonists are sheep, a good deal of their "investigating" involves understanding the human world. Do humans have souls? What happens when people die? What are the responsibilities of an individual member of society? Fortunately, the author dials down the seriousness with the occasional joke. As the sheep gather for their first round of questions, "Who would want to kill the shepherd" is listed right next to "Why did it rain last night?" The humor really plays into the Miss Marple parody, leaving readers free to address the philosophical questions or simply leave them be.
Oh, and there's a little drawing of sheep in the bottom right corner of the pages, which creates a flip book of a sheep jumping. How can you say no to that?
As a murder mystery, this book isn't that entertaining, but as a parody of the Miss Marple books, it is fantastic. Each sheep in the flock has a distinct character that gives it a unique ability to contribute to the case (these traits are listed in the front of the book with the character, just like the old Christie books). Only by working together are their powers combined, and like a group of villagers, the sheep manage to bring justice to all (or, at least in so far as it concerns them).
This book also works on a philosophical level. Because the protagonists are sheep, a good deal of their "investigating" involves understanding the human world. Do humans have souls? What happens when people die? What are the responsibilities of an individual member of society? Fortunately, the author dials down the seriousness with the occasional joke. As the sheep gather for their first round of questions, "Who would want to kill the shepherd" is listed right next to "Why did it rain last night?" The humor really plays into the Miss Marple parody, leaving readers free to address the philosophical questions or simply leave them be.
Oh, and there's a little drawing of sheep in the bottom right corner of the pages, which creates a flip book of a sheep jumping. How can you say no to that?
September 15, 2022
On the book flap, it says "Agatha Christie meets Wind in the Willows". I enjoyed this, but either I haven't read enough Christie or the person who wrote that hasn't. There isn't a detective although the sheep, as a flock, try to figure out who murdered their beloved shepherd. So nothing like Christie. It has been many years since I read The Wind in the Willows. I read it aloud to my children when they were small (and they are now in their 50s!) and is one of their favorite books. I loved making up voices for the various animals. This book could easily lend itself to such narration, though probably not to very small children. This is about a murder, after all.
The sheep are wonderful. They don't really understand humans and haven't spent a lot of time studying them. They knew George who treated them kindly and who even read stories to them every day. They didn't like the butcher. Other than that, humans and their habits were pretty much an unknown. The sheep were determined to solve this, though. They began watching human behavior and listening at windows. They talked among themselves.
This was delightful even though it is not my usual fare. The writing style is interesting and the characterizations of some of the sheep almost fully-fleshed. (Can you say "fully-fleshed" about sheep characterizations?) This is not 5-stars, even though it kept me turning pages, but a nice, well-rounded 4-stars? Yes!
The sheep are wonderful. They don't really understand humans and haven't spent a lot of time studying them. They knew George who treated them kindly and who even read stories to them every day. They didn't like the butcher. Other than that, humans and their habits were pretty much an unknown. The sheep were determined to solve this, though. They began watching human behavior and listening at windows. They talked among themselves.
This was delightful even though it is not my usual fare. The writing style is interesting and the characterizations of some of the sheep almost fully-fleshed. (Can you say "fully-fleshed" about sheep characterizations?) This is not 5-stars, even though it kept me turning pages, but a nice, well-rounded 4-stars? Yes!
September 25, 2007
Who would not be passionate about a book that has a lead sheep detective named Miss Maple? And a lovely, dim, fluffy sheep named Cloud? Or a black ram named Othello? I could not resist; I could not put it down. I love this book - the solving of the murder of their shepherd, George, is only part of the appeal.The fact that they think humans must only have small souls because of their inferior sense of smell is only the tip of the iceberg as to why these characters are so endearing. At one point, Maude (the sheep with the superior sense of smell), says, "I like mouse weed.... I'm going to think of mouse weed whenever I like. In fact, I'm going to think about mouse weed all night. Just so you know." And then, of course, she gets bored. I love it. I can't stand it - I laughed out loud, I teared up, I adored the sheep and their quest to find the murderer and, in the process, find their own place in the world. This may remind some of Watership Down meets Agatha Christie - but it is so much more. It is one of the most beautifully written and creative novels I have read in a long time. Hurrah for the sheep of Glenkill!
October 30, 2022
Delightful! I cannot remember the last book I read that made me smile and laugh, as this one did. Just Delightful!
As their shepherd, Glen, lies dead in their meadow, a flock of sheep gather around the body. Miss Maple, the smartest sheep, decides they need to find the killer. What follows is an investigation that, as I said, made me laugh and smile throughout the story. Glen was not your average shepherd, he talked and most importantly, on a daily basis, read stories to his flock. The result of this "story time" are a flock of sheep who can understand human behavior and emotions. New words do confuse them and this resulted in many humorous conversations between the sheep.
A quick, light read that I thoroughly enjoyed. There is a second book, but sadly it has not been translated to English.
As their shepherd, Glen, lies dead in their meadow, a flock of sheep gather around the body. Miss Maple, the smartest sheep, decides they need to find the killer. What follows is an investigation that, as I said, made me laugh and smile throughout the story. Glen was not your average shepherd, he talked and most importantly, on a daily basis, read stories to his flock. The result of this "story time" are a flock of sheep who can understand human behavior and emotions. New words do confuse them and this resulted in many humorous conversations between the sheep.
A quick, light read that I thoroughly enjoyed. There is a second book, but sadly it has not been translated to English.
March 28, 2009
Rating: 3.8 stars, I’m rounding up
Three Bags Full is, without a doubt, the best sheep detective novel ever written. It’s a very fun read that can be enjoyed as a simple diversion from life’s cares or as a serious, if humorous, look at dealing with “guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love” (back cover).
The story begins when George Glenn’s flock discovers his dead body in their meadow one morning. An uncommon shepherd, George had been in the habit of reading to his sheep – primarily trashy romances (“Pamela stories”), a detective novel, and, once, a book of sheep diseases – so they were very familiar with humans and their habits. That familiarity leads the flock to want to find George’s murderer.
There’s a large cast of idiosyncratic characters but the chief ones are Miss Maple (the smartest sheep in Glennkill and probably the world), Othello (the literal “black” sheep of the flock), Mopple the Whale (who can remember everything), Zora (a mystical sheep who’s always looking into the abyss), and Sir Ritchfield (the lead ram) and his twin Melmoth (who left the flock but came back). One of this book’s greatest strengths is how successful Swann is in keeping to the ovine point of view and logic. Assuming that you’re willing to believe that sheep can think on a conscious level, at no point do you not believe in the plausibility of the sheep’s investigation. She also sets up some hilarious scenes of human-sheep interaction and examples of sheepish logic. For example, at one point Miss Maple, Othello and Mopple sneak into the village to spy on a conversation between two of the prime suspects. They’re lurking outside one of the women’s house but can’t see inside because of a geranium bush. Mopple devours the foliage and then Swann describes one of the funnier images in the book: “A short time later there was devastation where the geraniums had recently been growing and thriving. Beyond the devastation the sheep could see Beth and Rebecca sitting at the table. From inside the room, it looked as if Beth had planted three sheep’s heads in her window box….” (p. 133)
In another example, Sir Ritchfield’s twin Melmoth returns but the sheep don’t realize who he is. Believing him to be Sir Ritchfield, his odd behavior and words make the flock afraid that a hole has opened up in Sir Ritchfield’s memory and it’s all leaking out so they determine to create a memory so big that the hole will be stuffed: “Soon afterward all the sheep in the flock were lying on their backs in front of George’s Place with their legs in the air, bleating for all they were worth.”
It’s also funny to watch how the guilty consciences of the village butcher, Ham, and parish pries, Father William, turn Mopple and Othello into demon sheep sent to torment them; or the climactic final scene where Miss Maple, Othello, Mopple and Zora invade the “Smartest Sheep in Glennkill” contest to reveal the murderer in a pantomime the flock cooked up.
Definitely recommended to the mystery fan looking for something a bit less grim than Grisham or for those aficionados of sheep novels.
Three Bags Full is, without a doubt, the best sheep detective novel ever written. It’s a very fun read that can be enjoyed as a simple diversion from life’s cares or as a serious, if humorous, look at dealing with “guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love” (back cover).
The story begins when George Glenn’s flock discovers his dead body in their meadow one morning. An uncommon shepherd, George had been in the habit of reading to his sheep – primarily trashy romances (“Pamela stories”), a detective novel, and, once, a book of sheep diseases – so they were very familiar with humans and their habits. That familiarity leads the flock to want to find George’s murderer.
There’s a large cast of idiosyncratic characters but the chief ones are Miss Maple (the smartest sheep in Glennkill and probably the world), Othello (the literal “black” sheep of the flock), Mopple the Whale (who can remember everything), Zora (a mystical sheep who’s always looking into the abyss), and Sir Ritchfield (the lead ram) and his twin Melmoth (who left the flock but came back). One of this book’s greatest strengths is how successful Swann is in keeping to the ovine point of view and logic. Assuming that you’re willing to believe that sheep can think on a conscious level, at no point do you not believe in the plausibility of the sheep’s investigation. She also sets up some hilarious scenes of human-sheep interaction and examples of sheepish logic. For example, at one point Miss Maple, Othello and Mopple sneak into the village to spy on a conversation between two of the prime suspects. They’re lurking outside one of the women’s house but can’t see inside because of a geranium bush. Mopple devours the foliage and then Swann describes one of the funnier images in the book: “A short time later there was devastation where the geraniums had recently been growing and thriving. Beyond the devastation the sheep could see Beth and Rebecca sitting at the table. From inside the room, it looked as if Beth had planted three sheep’s heads in her window box….” (p. 133)
In another example, Sir Ritchfield’s twin Melmoth returns but the sheep don’t realize who he is. Believing him to be Sir Ritchfield, his odd behavior and words make the flock afraid that a hole has opened up in Sir Ritchfield’s memory and it’s all leaking out so they determine to create a memory so big that the hole will be stuffed: “Soon afterward all the sheep in the flock were lying on their backs in front of George’s Place with their legs in the air, bleating for all they were worth.”
It’s also funny to watch how the guilty consciences of the village butcher, Ham, and parish pries, Father William, turn Mopple and Othello into demon sheep sent to torment them; or the climactic final scene where Miss Maple, Othello, Mopple and Zora invade the “Smartest Sheep in Glennkill” contest to reveal the murderer in a pantomime the flock cooked up.
Definitely recommended to the mystery fan looking for something a bit less grim than Grisham or for those aficionados of sheep novels.
March 31, 2012
This is something else. And something else is good.
Do you think sheep are stupid? Do you think all they do the whole day long is eating grass? Far from it!
When their sheepheard George is killed, his sheep decide to bring down the murderer together. After all George read a murder story for them once, so how hard could it be? So the sheep, as crime investigator number one the most intelligent sheep-lady of Ireland, called Miss Maple (hey, you know this name? I do!), start to investigate.
But this is proving to be more difficult than they expected. Who is the mysterious girl, who suddenly arrives in their little village? What does a sheep do in a church and who could this "God" be everybody is talking about? Could he have killed George? Well, time to find out.
Together the sheep set out to find clues, but there are some mysteries to be solved inside their flock too.
I never thought I´d like sheep as protagonists that much, but I´m happy to admit that I was wrong. The story is catching and very funny because the sheep just stumble through the human world without knowing much about it. It´s an absolute mess and that's why I totally love it.
A great tip for almost every reader. You love sheep? You love mysteries? You love good jokes? This is the right book for you!
And for Kim: Absolutely NO llamas in here, don´t worry. ;)
Do you think sheep are stupid? Do you think all they do the whole day long is eating grass? Far from it!
When their sheepheard George is killed, his sheep decide to bring down the murderer together. After all George read a murder story for them once, so how hard could it be? So the sheep, as crime investigator number one the most intelligent sheep-lady of Ireland, called Miss Maple (hey, you know this name? I do!), start to investigate.
But this is proving to be more difficult than they expected. Who is the mysterious girl, who suddenly arrives in their little village? What does a sheep do in a church and who could this "God" be everybody is talking about? Could he have killed George? Well, time to find out.
Together the sheep set out to find clues, but there are some mysteries to be solved inside their flock too.
I never thought I´d like sheep as protagonists that much, but I´m happy to admit that I was wrong. The story is catching and very funny because the sheep just stumble through the human world without knowing much about it. It´s an absolute mess and that's why I totally love it.
A great tip for almost every reader. You love sheep? You love mysteries? You love good jokes? This is the right book for you!
And for Kim: Absolutely NO llamas in here, don´t worry. ;)
January 19, 2013
3.5 stars. There were aspects I loved and aspects I could've done without here.
I think she did sheep POV very well. At times, it did make me laugh out loud, and I don't commonly laugh out loud easily. I have a weird sense of humor. This book could be very clever at times. I loved the sheep, and I felt that she very cleverly told the story from their point of view. I've never had a conversation with a sheep, lol, but this aspect felt very true to me.
Maybe I'm dense, but parts of this went right over my head. I didn't like her poking fun at God/religion, although I was warned about this. Very fairly warned. It bugged me more than I thought it would. The mystery should make this a plot-driven novel, but for me, it wasn't. It was character-driven. The sheep have distinct personalities, and I think once again, the author deserves credit for this. The mystery almost seemed secondary to the story, which was philosophical in nature. That's fine if that's what you're looking for, but when I pickup a mystery, I have certain expectations. This was not your typical mystery.
I'm glad I read the book, and I'd recommend it to people who aren't after a typical mystery and would enjoy the clever humor.
I think she did sheep POV very well. At times, it did make me laugh out loud, and I don't commonly laugh out loud easily. I have a weird sense of humor. This book could be very clever at times. I loved the sheep, and I felt that she very cleverly told the story from their point of view. I've never had a conversation with a sheep, lol, but this aspect felt very true to me.
Maybe I'm dense, but parts of this went right over my head. I didn't like her poking fun at God/religion, although I was warned about this. Very fairly warned. It bugged me more than I thought it would. The mystery should make this a plot-driven novel, but for me, it wasn't. It was character-driven. The sheep have distinct personalities, and I think once again, the author deserves credit for this. The mystery almost seemed secondary to the story, which was philosophical in nature. That's fine if that's what you're looking for, but when I pickup a mystery, I have certain expectations. This was not your typical mystery.
I'm glad I read the book, and I'd recommend it to people who aren't after a typical mystery and would enjoy the clever humor.
Read
April 20, 2024About a quarter in and subjectively I like this so far, 🐑 including the sheep characters and the flock’s lore. I want to snuggle some sheep at this point, so the book has a sense of woolly coziness to it in addition to any disconcerting and mysterious meadow mists. This is the second novel I’ve read this year that’s told through the eyes of animal naïveté while observing humans, the first being Open Throat, which I also liked very much. These are two very different books however it’s worth noting the overlap of what these authors are doing—so likeably!—with point of view.
2024
2024
November 8, 2020
Das Buch hat mich zum Lachen gebracht und Schafe hüten in Irland und ihnen vorzulesen ist mein neuer Aussteiger-Plan.
March 4, 2012
An interesting concept that had me wanting to read it the moment I was told about it. Set in rural Ireland this books is about a flock of smarter-than-your-average sheep who set out to discover the truth behind the murder of their beloved shepherd. Led by the smartest sheep, Miss Maple, the rest of the flock, including Othello (the black sheep - literally and figuratively), Mopple (the sheep who never forgets), Sir Ritchfield (the aged lead ram) and a host of others, search for clues and motives in a village which isn't as nice and clean as it portrays itself.
I loved the sheep. They made for the best characters. Mopple and Zora were the best for me. I'd have liked to have seen more of Miss Maple. As much as they spoke and acted you never forgot they were sheep. Easily distracted by a nice bit of grass and scared of almost everything.
But the great writing of the sheep in turn led to what was the weakest part of the book. The humans. By the end of the book I didn't really care about why George died or who did it. I started it for the sheep and they were the reason I finished it. I also would have liked a little less Othello. There was a little too much focus on him which detracted from the rest of the flock.
A fun read, I did enjoy it. I wonder though if the sheep took too much attention away from the plot. I think this could make for a good movie as well.
I loved the sheep. They made for the best characters. Mopple and Zora were the best for me. I'd have liked to have seen more of Miss Maple. As much as they spoke and acted you never forgot they were sheep. Easily distracted by a nice bit of grass and scared of almost everything.
But the great writing of the sheep in turn led to what was the weakest part of the book. The humans. By the end of the book I didn't really care about why George died or who did it. I started it for the sheep and they were the reason I finished it. I also would have liked a little less Othello. There was a little too much focus on him which detracted from the rest of the flock.
A fun read, I did enjoy it. I wonder though if the sheep took too much attention away from the plot. I think this could make for a good movie as well.
November 17, 2013
Audiobook performed by Josephine Bailey
In the village of Glennkill a flock of sheep emerge from the hay barn to begin their daily grazing, only to discover their shepherd dead, a spade pinning his body to the ground. Who killed him? George was a wonderful shepherd, and frequently read to them. They especially liked the love stories and mysteries, and so they feel qualified to begin investigating. The sheep are determined to find out who the killer is and bring him or her to justice.
I was completely engaged and interested in this very different take on the typical murder mystery. These are very bright sheep, though they sometimes misinterpret certain clues. In their defense, their shepherd was a secretive man and there is no shortage of likely suspects. Swann fills the book with philosophical ruminations, sprinkles in some ethics and morality, and adds a good dose of humor. When all was revealed I was as surprised as the sheep at the turn of events. It was a delightful surprise, and I’m glad I read it.
Josephine Bailey does a fine job narrating the audio version. Her pacing is good and she gives all the characters (even the sheep) sufficiently unique voices to differentiate them.
In the village of Glennkill a flock of sheep emerge from the hay barn to begin their daily grazing, only to discover their shepherd dead, a spade pinning his body to the ground. Who killed him? George was a wonderful shepherd, and frequently read to them. They especially liked the love stories and mysteries, and so they feel qualified to begin investigating. The sheep are determined to find out who the killer is and bring him or her to justice.
I was completely engaged and interested in this very different take on the typical murder mystery. These are very bright sheep, though they sometimes misinterpret certain clues. In their defense, their shepherd was a secretive man and there is no shortage of likely suspects. Swann fills the book with philosophical ruminations, sprinkles in some ethics and morality, and adds a good dose of humor. When all was revealed I was as surprised as the sheep at the turn of events. It was a delightful surprise, and I’m glad I read it.
Josephine Bailey does a fine job narrating the audio version. Her pacing is good and she gives all the characters (even the sheep) sufficiently unique voices to differentiate them.
September 16, 2023
I'm not sure why I added this book to my want to read shelf, but it came in handy when I needed to read a book set on a farm this wek. I also want to add that I have been ill with a virus this week and this may well have been why I didn't laugh at any of it; I did enjoy the sheep! It's possible that had I read this in a more normal week I might have liked this better, but it's not likely I'll read it again. However, I would like to try another novel by Swann since this was her debut--awfully strong for a debut. Of course, what happens with the sheep is the reason I shelved this fantasy, but this is a whodunnit where the detectives are a group of sheep and it was fun to see the world from their (imagined) perspective.
One of the fun parts was how, because they were sheep, they misinterpreted clues, but I also liked the twists and turns that came a long--not only surprising the sheep at times.
And, yes, the author knows that real sheep couldn't do this-you can continue to enjoy eating lamb and mutton. I can't remember where I read that this might make you change your mind, but then read The Secret Life of Cows written by a woman who raises beef humanely.
People have the right to embrace veganism, but you may as well know right now that I never will.
One of the fun parts was how, because they were sheep, they misinterpreted clues, but I also liked the twists and turns that came a long--not only surprising the sheep at times.
And, yes, the author knows that real sheep couldn't do this-you can continue to enjoy eating lamb and mutton. I can't remember where I read that this might make you change your mind, but then read The Secret Life of Cows written by a woman who raises beef humanely.
People have the right to embrace veganism, but you may as well know right now that I never will.
August 1, 2012
Da ich mich nicht leicht in ein Schaf hineinversetzen kann, war der Roman für mich bis fast zum Finale wirklich gewöhnungsbedürftig. Die Krimihandlung auf Umwegen aus der Sicht der Schafe zu erzählen, hielt ich ursprünglich für eine ausgezeichnete und mit jeder zusätzlich gelesenen Seite für eine schlechtere Idee, weil die Geschichte dadurch wirklich erheblich an Tempo und Spannung verliert. Trotzdem Hut ab vor der Autorin, die diese gewählte Konstellation mit einer Konsequenz und Konsistenz durchgezogen hat, die seinesgleichen sucht.
Am Ende kommt auch noch die Story in Schwung, die Szene in der Bar beim Wettbewerb des klügsten Schafes und die darauffolgende Auflösung des Falls ist wirklich köstlich. Auch den Täter konnte ich nicht vorab überführen, da ich von den Schafen derart abgelenkt war ;-)
Fazit: Ganz Guter Krimi mit Schwächen und Längen am Anfang aber einer Steigerung im Finale
Am Ende kommt auch noch die Story in Schwung, die Szene in der Bar beim Wettbewerb des klügsten Schafes und die darauffolgende Auflösung des Falls ist wirklich köstlich. Auch den Täter konnte ich nicht vorab überführen, da ich von den Schafen derart abgelenkt war ;-)
Fazit: Ganz Guter Krimi mit Schwächen und Längen am Anfang aber einer Steigerung im Finale
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2012
Amusing, rambling, jumble of a tale.
December 27, 2018
I don't know how I could overlook this book for that long. It combines many things that I love - sheep, a compelling mystery, the concept of seeing yourself in comparison to others - and did I mention sheep? Yes, you can make me very happy if you present me a new kind of story.
'Glennkill' is a mystery story set in Ireland. Another favorite of mine - unfortunately, the setting is not that important to the story. One day, a flock of sheep wakes up to find their shepherd murdered. After their initial panic settles down, the smartest sheep of them, Miss Maple, tries to solve the crime. To find out what happened, the sheep have to resort to stalking villagers and concurring their own fear when it comes to leaving the herd.
I love the concept of the novel. Sheep are among my favorite animals and the book actually managed to teach me something new about them. I also love the fact that they observed a lot while they didn't know what those actions were about. It was fun to read about their efforts to come up with an explanation for everything while they compared their life to those of the humans around them.
The characterization was great. I hardly needed the directory as it was easy to distinguish the different animals. I also like the setting - their pasture on the edge of the ocean representing their safe haven that they needed to leave in order to still their curiosity.
This is a charming, little story with an ending I didn't expect. I am glad that I finally read it and hope to check the second book out soon.
'Glennkill' is a mystery story set in Ireland. Another favorite of mine - unfortunately, the setting is not that important to the story. One day, a flock of sheep wakes up to find their shepherd murdered. After their initial panic settles down, the smartest sheep of them, Miss Maple, tries to solve the crime. To find out what happened, the sheep have to resort to stalking villagers and concurring their own fear when it comes to leaving the herd.
I love the concept of the novel. Sheep are among my favorite animals and the book actually managed to teach me something new about them. I also love the fact that they observed a lot while they didn't know what those actions were about. It was fun to read about their efforts to come up with an explanation for everything while they compared their life to those of the humans around them.
The characterization was great. I hardly needed the directory as it was easy to distinguish the different animals. I also like the setting - their pasture on the edge of the ocean representing their safe haven that they needed to leave in order to still their curiosity.
This is a charming, little story with an ending I didn't expect. I am glad that I finally read it and hope to check the second book out soon.
September 9, 2019
Dit boek is briljant!
Dit boek is geschreven vanuit het standpunt van schapen. Ze gaan de moord op hun herder oplossen.
Maar ik leer de schapen dus kennen. Met hun eigen karaktertrekken, dingen die ze kunnen, hun eigenaardigheden. Ik leer over de dynamiek in een kudde, ik leer hoe schapen mensen zien. Ik leer over de dingen waar schapen in geloven.
Ik vind het bijzonder knap en bijzonder leuk geschreven.
Het viel me op: ik hou van boeken vanuit een niet-menselijk perspectief. Zo ben ik ook dol op The Art of Racing in the Rain en op The Humans.
Heel erg van dit boek en de originaliteit genoten. Ik kijk nu toch anders naar schapen dan voorheen..
Ik heb trouwens het bookazine hiervan tweedehands op de kop kunnen tikken gelukkig! Die cover klopt niet (de schapen hebben witte koppen terwijl de schapen in het boek zwarte koppen hebben..) maar ik vind de cover van de paperback helemaal afgrijselijk lelijk...
Dit boek is geschreven vanuit het standpunt van schapen. Ze gaan de moord op hun herder oplossen.
Maar ik leer de schapen dus kennen. Met hun eigen karaktertrekken, dingen die ze kunnen, hun eigenaardigheden. Ik leer over de dynamiek in een kudde, ik leer hoe schapen mensen zien. Ik leer over de dingen waar schapen in geloven.
Ik vind het bijzonder knap en bijzonder leuk geschreven.
Het viel me op: ik hou van boeken vanuit een niet-menselijk perspectief. Zo ben ik ook dol op The Art of Racing in the Rain en op The Humans.
Heel erg van dit boek en de originaliteit genoten. Ik kijk nu toch anders naar schapen dan voorheen..
Ik heb trouwens het bookazine hiervan tweedehands op de kop kunnen tikken gelukkig! Die cover klopt niet (de schapen hebben witte koppen terwijl de schapen in het boek zwarte koppen hebben..) maar ik vind de cover van de paperback helemaal afgrijselijk lelijk...
December 14, 2015
My first impression of this book was; it reminded me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in the sense of an unlikely detective solving a crime. It was probably with this thought that made me not enjoy this book as much as expected. While there is some very interesting concepts in this book; it has a very philosophical theme throughout of this book, I thought the author padded the book a little too much. While the sheep made for very interesting and enjoy about characters, I felt that they were the only part of the book that I actually enjoyed. In the end I just felt the book was too cutesy for my likely.
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