Out Stealing Horses: A Novel (original 2003; edition 2008)

Beautifully written story about: 1/ a boy and his father in Norway right after the second World War 2/contemporary loneliness and remembrance of his childhood friend's tragedy brought out by moving to a house in the country 3/mystery of what the boy's father was actually doing when he was moving all of the lumber down river...and all three threads come together in a natural, accessible way. ( )

A translation from Norwegian, this novel is a award winner from several reputable sources. Petterson's prose begins simply and turns to stream-of-thought run-on sentences that are reminiscent of some of the dialog of Garrison Keillor - thoughts spoken as they come to mind. The protagonist is a man whose thoughts span decades of his own life experience and come to bear heavily on his memory of specific incidents with his father and mother and friend. I found this a very enjoyable read. ( )

This novel is a little treasure.

The main character, Trond, reflects back on his life and, in particular, one life-altering, coming-of-age summer when he was fifteen. The novel is set in 1948 Norway, very close to the Swedish border. I enjoyed picturing the settings as I was reading about them.

Petterson's style of writing is efficiently sparse and the story flows beautifully. I was engaged with the tale immediately. The youthful innocence Trond exhibits, along with his admiration and devotion to his father make him so endearing. As a sixty-seven year old man, he possesses a clarity and calmness that is enviable.

I had a similar feeling and reaction when I read My Antonìa by Willa Cather. I highly recommend Out Stealing Horses. ( )

I didnt want this book to end. I still want to read another chapter.

It was wonderful to escape at the end of the day into Trond's simple, ordered world of life just retired deep in the country, with things to get done, few people around and a faithful dog, the wisdom of life collected, and still fit enough to manage.

Whilst his life hasn't been entirely without tragedy and upset, he acknowledges several times that he has essentially been "lucky" and he's unusual among modern literary characters in being pretty psychologically secure. He is quietly self-aware and acknowledges feelings without "wallowing" and then gets on with life in the way that he finds right at the time, and I found him a very good influence.

Other than a couple of episodes, from 1948 and from the Second World War, the book was very restful. Once or twice I imagined how differently some of the family events could be related, for example as a thread on a women's internet forum, and the amount of ranting and wailing that could accompany them. I couldn't call the narrative stoic, as feelings and effects are accounted for, but essentially Trond manages never to be derailed, though some other characters are.

The book was also refreshing in that it does not seek to explain everything: we learn mostly about his eventful coming-of-age summer in 1948 and life in the country in winter 1999. Some other events are mentioned in passing yet the book feels complete as it is. (I would have liked a final chapter set in 1999 - the last one is in 1948 - but it still basically works.)

The book is full of beautiful descriptions of time spent in the natural world, scenes it is easy to imagine oneself escaping into. ( )

I waited for months to get this from the library, and it was worth the wait. Quiet & beautiful.

"But life had shifted its weight from one point to another, from one leg to the other, like a silent giant in the vast shadows against the ridge, and I did not feel like the person I had been when this day began, and I did not even know if that was something to be sorry for." (p. 102) ( )