Torbjorn’s Gold: The Secret of Isle Royale
by John Eric Nystul
Published by Singing River Publications, Ely, MN
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Reviewed by Beth Cummings
I think John Nystul intended Torbjorn’s Gold to be a novel for young adults/teens. The major character, Jens Olav Nilsen, is a first generation Norwegian-American whose father came to the United States after World War II. Nystul has this character meet an aging Norwegian resident of a Minneapolis, Minnesota nursing home and befriend him. From this old man he hears an extended tale of life in Minneapolis in the 1920s and ‘30s as well as a story of some stolen gold bars that were hidden in an abandoned mine shaft on Isle Royale in Lake Superior.
The plot of this novel takes a bit long to get started. Nystul has included too much information about people and places that are only incrementally necessary to the story. I found most of the characters to be both shallow and stereotypical.
Unfortunately, this novel needs the firm hand of a good editor. There are several errors that could easily be cleaned up and the story could use some tightening. I liked the idea of a modern story using Norwegian heritage in Minnesota, but I can’t say that I enjoyed the way it turned out. The voices didn’t ring true and the old man repeated clichéd phrases such as “ja, you betcha” but didn’t confuse his word order or syntax the way many second language speakers do.
I’m sorry that I can’t recommend this novel. It really needs some major revamping to bring it up to its potential.
Armchair interviews says: Another good story that has problems a good editing would have made a good story into a good read.