Long sentences, hard to follow. About man who is mourning the tragic death of his family on a boat fire. ( )

uncomfortable but compelling--like exfoliating burned skin with sand. the descriptions of the landscapes moved me the most, and it seemed very fitting that arvid had a copy of 100 haiku. ( )

Per Petterson’s first published novel, “In the Wake” takes the reader on a journey of grief- related depression with Arvid, a Norwegian stoic with a desire to write novels. Translated by Ann Borne in 2003, the novel’s sentence structure is tortured and the tone is somber and hopeless in the early chapters. The setting is stark but beautiful as the characters move through scenes from fjords near Oslo to the forests of Denmark. The time line is varied with numerous flashbacks, giving the reader quick views of Arvid’s father, a man who is very competitive in physical contests but never seems to be able to finish an event. Arvid’s artistic nature clashes with the masculine bravado of his father, and he gets no paternal support for his creative work. The tragedy that occurs in his family causes Arvid to doubt his writing ability, and he stops writing for some time. Alcohol adds to his depression, but he has an inner resilience that matches the enduring landscape and culture of Norway.

Arvid brings to light his repressed memories and performs the difficult task of self-analysis. The sentence structure becomes more relaxed,and the tone lighter as Arvid gains insight, but not without a cost. He must face his neglect of his brother who was hospitalized for his own suicidal depression. The brothers are faced with the need for reconciliation, and Arvid begins to realize that he was not the only member of the family to suffer from his father’s projected disappointment.

There is a beautiful scene related to a crafts shop owner in the forested country outside of Oslo. A similar artistic scene occurs in the snow-covered hills near the hospital where Arvid’s brother is recovering. The isolated scenes are written in a lyrical style like Petterson’s entire subsequent novel, “Out Stealing Horses.” It may be better to read the latter novel first because the somber mood of the former may give a false impression of the writer’s consistent style. Per Petterson is a talented writer who tells intricate tales with interesting psychological interaction of his characters. ( )

"Per Pettersons roman "I kjølvannet" handler om to menn som savner sine nærmeste. To brødre sørger, men de vet ikke hvordan: Når skal man se seg tilbake, hvor lenge, hvor ofte? Når må man holde opp - for ikke selv å gå i stykker? Hva har aggresjon og sorg med hverandre å gjøre?" Fra http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kultur/3712...
Vældig stringent fortælling om sorg og krise uden føleri. Flot sproglig beherskelse. ( )