The Eye of the Reindeer

It is my understanding that this book was written to increase awareness about the Sami people and the challenges that they have faced and continue facing to this day. In that respect, the author succeeded, because I was not aware of their existence, and now I am. So well done in that regard.

  However, as a novel, I thought it tried to cover many more topics than it could successfully handle. At times devoting too much time to develop a certain aspect of the book, like the mental health of Ritva, only to abandon it later in the book as if were not that important. And in the later parts it felt like it was rushing and introduced many more characters, and it felt a bit overwhelming.

  I thought it was nice to learn about the traditions and beliefs of the Sami people, but as with Watership Down, at times it felt like the mythology was somewhat forced. I thought the book was trying too hard to distance the beliefs of the Sami people from the Christian beliefs, and I felt that maybe these comparisons were at times unnecessary. What I found particularly interesting was that the Sami people seemed to be as homophobic as the Christians. I suppose I am more or less used to the Christians' justification of their homophobia by saying that God deemed those relations "unnatural". I am curious to know, what is the Samis' excuse for their homophobia?

  I also thought that Ritva's behaviour was immature when it came to her relationship with Martta. Even after she became an adult she continued being childish in that regard. Which I found quite annoying. Though perhaps not as annoying as the sense that I got that the author wanted you to believe what the Sami people believe.