#FUNFACT: John Ajvide Lindqvist is said to be the Swedish Stephen King. So i hope you can expect how eccentric this book is going to be. This book is the translated version of Himmelstrand, the first book from trilogy #Platserna.

This is my first book from him and tbh english is not my first language, but the plot scared the shit out of me. Kudos to the translator. I search reviews from the Goodreads to find if anyone can explain the ending, cause bruh, it was hard to understand. After searching from different sites, i think i can get a grip about what John Ajvide was trying to convey. I can say this book is full of metaphors. And im about to share my view on how i interpret the whole plot.

*SPOILER ALERT*

This story was set on an open field of nothingness. No animals, no trees, no humans. Except of four families that was scraped out from a fire camp they joined before. Tbh, i expect they will involved by some alien shit, but no lol. That's not the case. The plot got me play the game of guessing for a while until one of the character has a monologue,

' All his life he has felt God's silent presence, but since that day he has refused to respond to the wordless call.

Now it has disappeared. The presence has dissolved, the constant question is no longer being asked.

 God is not here. '

and then the plot thickening, it tells about intersections, dark clouds with acid rains, and people (?) that run away from it. So i can tell this book are leaning towards religion and faith. As i am muslim myself, and, islam and christian has a similar in one or two things about faith. So, i can understand a bit of the message he try to deliver.

Intersection-In Islam, we believe that there will be a period between a person's death and the Day of Resurrection. Its where souls reside before going to the next stage, The Day of Resurrection. In this story, it is said to be many white entities that keep on walking towards the 'track' and the scraped fire camp are said to be ON the intersections. So i think the intersection is where they are decided to go to hell or heaven, depending on their practice.

Dark clouds with acid rain-In Islam (again),while the souls reside before the Day, is where they will be questioned about their practices in Dunya, the World. We will be punished for all the wrongdoings in our lives, here. So, i think dark clouds with acid rains is the punishment.

At the finale of the story, all of the characters end with a different situation. And it really is interesting. If you already read the books, you will understand what i mean. If not, go grab it NOW!

So i'll share my views for each individual's ending scene.

Stefan, Carina, Emil Family-They are said to 'survived' the horrible scene. So if you read their struggles, and old stories, you will know that they are portrayed to be the kind of person that will makes out from the mistakes, and fights for a better future.

Majvor-She is portrayed to be a loyal wife. Tho, she almost kills her husband bc of his temper, but they managed to held the marriage after all. From what i see, she just contain her anger. She is tired of her husband, and she is just holding on. By the time the stories end, she's being asked by the entities, what exactly does she want? It is a complicated story but, she is said to want to be Jimmy Steward, not longing for Jimmy Steward.

It can be blurred for some of us to acknowledge our own dream, yes. Majvor is an excellent character to show the side of ours. She has being silent for all her life, to stay faithful for her one and only husband, Donald, and by the time arrived, finally, she managed to grab her dream back. She win.

Donald-I cant seems to understand his ending that well, but i think he has been offered to be the guardian for the life-hell door or something-as exchange for his life. Im not sure.

Olof and Lenart-They are a gay couple. They tried to deny some times, but also tried to figure out if they have feelings, the other times. In short, they have difficulties to understand their circumstances, themselves. By the end of the stories, they are the only family that do not try to get out from the hell (?) but stays until the dark clouds swallowed them wholly. By the mean, do not hate me, but i think they are being portrayed as a person that know they make mistake, but wasnt afraid of the impact. (FYI, Islam and Christian both forbid same sex relationship). Tho, they can also be interpreted as lgbt community that succeed to come out from the closet.

Peter-He has a 'thing' for older women and bc he has been a handsome footballer all his life, he is in denial and seems to hide that feeling. But, he is said to embrace his personality at the end.

There are also things, that i cant conclude. First, the white entities. Yes, they can be a wandering souls. But the other entities, the zombies-vampires thingy, sucked the blood out from the white entities for real WHY? Peter's wife, Isabelle, i know she's bad but she turned out to be one of them. And their daughter is one of the white entity. Like wtf? Second, why Donald got to be the guardian of the door? He's evil too. And what's up with all old Swedish's pop reference? Why brings out Peter Himmelstrand character? Was it correlates with the tittle itself?

Overall, the stories is about how the past will haunting you even you try your hardest to bury it. And how will you encounter you own mistakes. By saying the truth? Embraced it? Or take it to your grave? You are the one to decide.

A great book, for people who loves to guess the message. The kind of book i'm longing for. 10/10.


'Then he frowns as Monica tells him there are no seas, no islands, if God didnt make those little green apples. Monica sings about the lack of laughter and children playing, the fact the sun is cold.

If nothing exists, can love exist?

But what happens when there are no mountains, no seas?

The little details. The things that make up everyday life. Working together, sharing leisure time. If all that has been eradicates, what is left?'