. A lot has been said about this book, but the idea that I had to read it for school always kept me far away from it. I'm glad to say it was good. I mean, really good. The first and last chapters are something I'm not going to get out of my head for a while.
Again, I have to emphasize this: it's probably one of the best book opening sequences I've ever read. The introduction to a 'forest of the hanged' gives off such an unsettling, pressing vibe that haunts you until the very end; the imagery is superbly crafted. Same goes for the ending - the author has a striking talent for writing an atmosphere.
A very gripping novel, whose impact on the reader gets even bigger if you consider the reality behind it. As Rebreanu himself said, the book probably could not have been written so vividly, had it not been for his brother's tragic experience.
