The Shadow Girls

By: Henning Mankell, Ebba Segerberg - translator

Narrated by: Henry Strozier, Mozhan Marno, Annie Henk, Cherise Boothe

International best-selling author Henning Mankell' s books have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. In The Shadow Girls, author/poet Jesper Humlin struggles under the pall of a frustrating life. Everything from his personal relationships to his professional pursuits to his finances seems to be failing miserably. Then Jesper happens across a group of young immigrant girls and their stories of hardship and perseverance transform his outlook on life.

©2001 Henning Mankell (P)2012 Recorded Books

I gave up after a week

I tried. I really did. Dumped it 4hrs in, as there was nothing keeping me.

A privileged view

They say no to school. They say no to work. They want what we have. They try to cut corners but the corners are sharp, slippery, dark, ugly, mean. The storyline is humorously fraught with frustrations and insights. They say no to school. They say no to work. They want what they seem to think is an entitlement somehow. That if they come there, anywhere, that they can puck the gold from the streets and magically be transformed into an existence where school didn’t matter. I’m on the fence with this book, it was good, it jarred but as someone who feels we all need to start with school I have many issues within its content because we aren’t were we come from we’re a product of our choices. And school is the first. Typically books, rides to and from and a teacher is included for free. Start there. See what happens. This was a step outside his comfort zone and mine.

A glimpse into the world wide refugee crisis

Excellent portrayal of the mental strength and ability of acceptance of horrific circumstances and how young women are forced into adulthood…….. very thought provoking

Timely given current mass migration

Tremendous foresight. HM saw what was already beginning more than 20 years ago. Worth staying with through a rocky start with some unsympathetic characters. Some end up enlightened, some stay more or less stuck with others in various degrees if obstinate resistance.
I’ve loved reading the remainder of HM’s work missing from my paper copies.
All are worth the time many are sublime.

Not What I Expected

However I really enjoyed this story. It really made me think more about the lives of refuges.

Not his best

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend to a friend because there are too many other books I liked better than this one.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character's 87-year-old mother was a real kick. She did and said what she liked.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the main character realized what his mother did for a living.

Did The Shadow Girls inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to feel guilty.

Any additional comments?

When I finally realized what the book was really about, I was about a third through it, and it was sure tedious getting there. The main character is no Kurt Wallander, but he eventually shines through with admirable qualities. Overall, I think Mankell was preaching to the reader. The story is exquisitely sad.