German: Gesichter In this novella, an alter ego of Ditlevsen lives through a psychosis: The second marriage of children's book author Lise Mundus (DitlGerman: Gesichter In this novella, an alter ego of Ditlevsen lives through a psychosis: The second marriage of children's book author Lise Mundus (Ditlevsen's mother was called Kirstine Alfrida Mundus) is in severe crisis, she struggles to create new writing and slowly looses grip on reality, hearing voices and seeing faces. After a suicide attempt with pills, Lise is admitted to a psych ward, where she is treated by Dr. Jørgensen (the real Einar Geert-Jørgensen conducted LSD experiments with psychiatric patients, sometimes without their consent). For the reader, it becomes impossible to determine what happens during Lise's stay in the hospital.
Tove Ditlevsen herself was admitted to psychiatric hospitals several times and finally ended her life with pills. The themes of her autofictional work The Copenhagen Trilogy: Childhood / Youth / Dependency generally play a significant role in the text, but she undercuts the plot with surrealistic elements and uses references to books like The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge and Lolita to reflect, process or foreshadow.
"The Faces" contemplates mental illness, the author's personal life and the meaning of art: Personal, artistic and health crisis coincide, and in order to create new fiction, Lise needs to gain control over reality. Being able to write becomes a sign of sanity - and who doesn't like that thesis?
Still, I have to admit that I enjoyed this novella more on a theoretical level, I admired its ambition and cause, but I couldn't love it. The detailed descriptions of the psychosis are rather exhausting to read, they feel like someone tried to describe an abstract painting (which is probably a compliment considering the subject matter, but enthralling it is not, at least not for me).
I'm glad I finally read some Ditlevsen, although I will probably not join the fan club any time soon - but who cares, it's already substantial enough. :-)...more
German: Meter pro Sekunde Okay, so this was a bestseller in Denmark, and while it is certainly hygge und heart-warming, it's also certainly entertainmeGerman: Meter pro Sekunde Okay, so this was a bestseller in Denmark, and while it is certainly hygge und heart-warming, it's also certainly entertainment literature: No one has any real problems and all characters are mainly quirky. Set in the little town of Velling near the North Sea, our protagonist is a young mother who moves to the rural area with her partner who has taken a job at a local educational institution. Adaptation issues to country life ensue.
Pilgaard plays with three text forms: A traditional narration with a - who saw that one coming? - quirky voice, a newspaper advice column written by the protagonist plus re-written Danish folks songs that now refer to the story. The German translation (done by the wonderful Hinrich Schmidt-Henkel) is excellent, and the book is fun, but high literature this is not - and when you know that, you can enjoy Pilgaard's story for what it is....more
Award-winning Danish author Ida Jessen tells the story of a teacher who, after losing her husband, has to make a new life for herself - what makes thiAward-winning Danish author Ida Jessen tells the story of a teacher who, after losing her husband, has to make a new life for herself - what makes this novella so compelling is the voice of the widow as the unreliable narrator who slowly reveals the true nature of her marriage, and the possible contrasts between her and the reader's assessment of her husband's behavior. On top of that, Jessen paints a vivid picture of rural Denmark in the early 20th century and the dynamics in the town which are often equally a form of control and support.
The widow tells her story through diary entries, often depicting nature and encounters with townfolk, but more and more also flashbacks into her past as she strives to find closure. The book does require a patient reader who is willing to settle into the contemplative mood of the text, but once you really dive into it, the current will take you along and pick up speed.
This collection contains 18 short stories by writers from the eight distinctive Nordic lands of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faroe Islands, ÅThis collection contains 18 short stories by writers from the eight distinctive Nordic lands of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Åland Islands, Greenland and Iceland. Among the authors are some well-known names like Per Olov Enquist, Madame Nielsen, Linda Boström Knausgård, and Guðbergur Bergsson, and some writers whom I hadn't heard of yet, but I am glad that I know now. In case you are hesitant regarding the selection that was made here - the editor was the fantastic Sjón, so don't fear, you're in for a treat!
While the themes and topics of the texts vary strongly, there is one element that seems to connect them: In these stories, there is more to life than reality, emotional landscapes and the fantastical are important means to describe the human experience, and to find truth, these writers don't stop at the factual - there is far more territory to conquer. And of course, the book is full of dry humor and outrageous imagination.
Who is the mysterious man in the boat? Will Madame Nielsen sooner or later turn into Peter Høeg? Why does a father suddenly behave like a dog? And why does Greenlander Fia absolutely need to get to San Francisco? I particulary loved "The White-Bear King Valemon", a story that was modelled after a Norwegian fairytale and is equally enchanting and disturbing.
So go and read more Nordic literature, starting with this book!...more
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