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Title: The Elephant Keepers' Children
Author: Peter Heg, Martin Aitken (translator)
Narrator: Kirby Heyborne
Format: Unabridged
Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
Language: English
Release date: 10-23-12
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 18 votes
Genres: Fiction, Literary
Publisher's Summary:
Told from the perspective ofprecocious14-year-old Peter,The Elephant Keepers Childrenis about three siblings and how they deal with life alongside their eccentric parents. Peters father is a vicar, his mother an artisan, and both are equally and profoundly devout. The family lives on the fictional island of Fin, where people of all faiths coexist peacefully. Yet nothing is at it seems.
When Peters parents suddenly go missing, Peter and his siblings fear the worst - has their parents relentless quest to boost church attendance finally put them in danger?
Told with poignancy and humor,The Elephant Keepers Childrenis a fascinating exploration of fundamentalism versus spiritual freedom, the vicissitudes of romantic and familial love, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Critic Reviews:
"Under the madcap adventure story Heg poses serious issues about neglected children, venal church officials, and the paths to intellectual and spiritual freedom." (
Publishers Weekly)
"A picaresque tale that probes societys little hypocrisies while offering an original array of characters. At first glance, an utterly fun, absorbing read." (
Library Journal)
"Part comic teenage adventure story, part intellectual debate, the best-selling Danish authors sixth novel is a shaggy-dog story with a unique vision. Heg has an endless menu of oddities to stir into his story; whether thriller, fantasy, or disquisition on spiritual belief, love and parenting does successfully invent an inexhaustible landscape all its own." (
Kirkus Reviews)
Members Reviews:
Interesting read
I probably would not have read this book, if it wasn't a Book Club Read. Having said that, by the time I finished it, I was totally hooked! The imagination behind it, the brilliance and resilience of the children as high functioning mystery solvers was great! I laughed out loud at the hijinks of moving a dead body and trying to hide it!
Once the story begins to reveal the parents' history as "miracle-makers" I was unable to put it down.
A thriller involving young people, an insurance scam, and a terrorist drug dealer
A Protestant minister and his wife disappear in Denmark, and their children and their children's friends set off to find them. It turns out that the minister and his wife are responsible for absconding with a treasure of valuables, and want to claim the reward by disclosing its location. Meanwhile, a terrorist drug dealer, Black Heinrich, plans to blow up the Danish court, dignitaries, and treasure, but the incident turns out to be a fizzled-out bombing with little damage. There is a subplot about Danish complete lists and records of illegitimate children of Danish aristocrats and royalty.
Great detective-style drama. Characters well written and defined
It drew my interest right away. It was funny and full of detective-style drama. However it was too long. After awhile it lost its charm and began dragging on.
Is this really what life in Denmark is like? I have to wonder
Is this really what life in Denmark is like? I have to wonder. All I know about the Danes, I've learned from Peter Hoeg. My ideas may be a little skewed.
Nice contrast
The contrast between the children and their practical and meditation based approach to life and the adults and their ideology driven one is empathetic.
