The House with the Blind Glass Windows

Cuando estás leyendo una novela, hay personajes que sabes fehacientemente que te van a acompañar toda la vida. Tal es el caso de Tora, la niña protagonista de ‘La casa del mirador ciego’, primera parte de la Trilogía de Tora. Narrada desde el corazón, pero también desde el estómago, Wassmo nos relata la vida de los habitantes de una isla de los fiordos noruegos durante los años posteriores a la segunda guerra mundial. La prosa de Wassmo es sencilla, bella, sobria, lírica, capaz de describir perfectamente ese paisaje inhóspito y frío del norte, que casi puedes sentir, así como a sus habitantes, la mayoría de ellos pescadores o que ejercen trabajos relacionados con la pesca, gente toda ella acostumbrada a una vida show more dura.

‘La casa del mirador ciego’ es también una historia de personajes femeninos, de mujeres que han de buscar trabajo allá donde pueden cuando la pesca escasea y sus maridos no saben donde meterse, al mismo tiempo que han de hacerse cargo de la casa y los hijos.

La protagonista de esta historia es Tora, una niña a punto de entrar en la adolescencia, hija de un soldado alemán, injuria que le recuerdan a la menor oportunidad, que vive con su madre y su padrastro, que abusa de ella sexualmente. Ante estos abusos, que mantiene en silencio, Tora se evade mediante su imaginación, inventándose historias y buscando la alegría allá donde puede, en la observación de la belleza de lo cotidiano, en la compañía de su tía Rakel, optimista por naturaleza pese a todo, en su amiga Sol, en su amigo Frits, en los libros, ese gran descubrimiento, pero siempre buscando alejarse de él, de la peligrosidad, porque no es más alegre que cuando está a solas con su madre, Ingrid, una mujer que parece haber perdido la alegría.

Lo que cuenta Wassmo es duro, pero la autora noruega ha sabido describir perfectamente las situaciones sin caer en lo escabroso, algo que hubiese sido bastante fácil. No obstante, la crudeza en algunos pasajes está presente, pero Wassmo no centra su historia en el abuso, aunque siempre subyace, al igual que no cae en sentimentalismos innecesarios. La historia de Tora apela a los sentimientos, a la humanidad, que es diferente. Tora conmueve, es fuerte, es una heroína. Tora es humana, y te acompaña más allá de la lectura de la novela. show less

This is a novel written in 1981 by Norwegian author, Herbjorg Wassmo. I learned about this book from the 1001 books to read before you die list, and I'm so glad I did. It is a tough subject matter, centering around a young girl who is being sexually abused by her stepfather, but Wassmo manages to make the book about so much more without negating the trauma of abuse.

Tora lives in a small Norwegian fishing village with her mother, Ingrid, who is a social outcast after having an affair with a German soldier during WWII. Tora is the outcome of that relationship. Ingrid later marries Henrik, a man who is an alcoholic and is sexually abusing Tora while her mother works the night shift at the local plant. The book centers around Tora, Ingrid, show more and Ingrid's sister Rachel. Rachel has a happy marriage to Simon. They are well off financially though have the sadness of not being able to conceive children.

The book is beautifully written and subtly but thoroughly explores several themes, many centering on women's interactions and relationships with each other, the good and the bad. Apparently this is the first of a trilogy, but I'm having trouble finding the other books in English translation. If anyone has any leads on that I'd be very interested. I bought this book used as I think even this first volume may be out of print in English.

Definitely recommended. show less

Doloroso e ao mesmo tempo livre, são os sentires que me desperta Tora, a personagem principal desta obra de Herbjorg Wassmo. Noruega, anos 1950, poucos anos depois dos alemães terem abandonado o território, a Noruega ainda não descobriu o seu petróleo e é um país onde a pobreza reina.

A narração é feita na terceira pessoa, mas passamos a maior parte do tempo dentro da cabeça de Tora, uma rapariga prestes a descobrir a puberdade, como se fosse ela própria a contar o que se vai passando. Sentimos o seu ser, sentimos a sua surpresa, mas sentimos essencialmente a sua delicadeza. Tora leva-nos pelo seu mundo adentro, apresentando-nos às trevas que marcam, indo buscar forças não se sabe aonde para passar por entre as labaredas show more de um fogo que por muito pouco não a devora.

A escrita surge ora expressiva e metafórica ora directa e crua, por outro lado ora detalhada ora abstracta e ausente, e vamos percebendo que Wassmo assim faz porque não é de relato que se trata, mas antes de memórias, memórias que se foram esfumando com o tempo. Viajamos através dos olhos de Tora, e essa é uma viagem de sentimentos não um relato de factos. A escrita ganha assim uma tonalidade poética que nos enlaça e adocica compensando os momentos mais negros que nos repelem. show less

Wassmo has long been one of my favorite authors and this novel - the first part of a trilogy - did not disappoint.

In the novel the young girl Tora lives a life in poverty, in a poor northern part of Norway. Her mother works hard to make ends meet and spends much time worrying, her stepfather abuses her, and the villagers do not really accept her because her father was a German soldier, stationed there during the second world war. Tora spends her life walking on tiptoes, trying not to get in anybody's way - but her attempts to stay out of harm's way actually bring her into the middle of it...

Wassmo's writing style is lovely. She has a way of describing things in a very vivid manner, making you feel like you are right there with the show more characters, without going into lengthy, literal descriptions. The flow of the language is beautiful and she manages to give a realistic and intense portrait of the small, northern village where Tora lives.
The characters in the novel are also very vivid and feel like people you know personally. It feels like you are inside Tora, living her life, experiencing what she is feeling. The characters surrounding Tora are also complex and worked out very well, giving the novel a very realistic feel.
Though the novel is quite sad, there are also many funny and touching moments, making it a very complete story.

I feel like it is a pity Wassmo is so little known outside of Norway - I think she is a great author that many readers would appreciate. show less

This is the story of Tora, who lives with her mother and her abusive step father in a small village in Norway shortly after the Second World War. As she is the child of a German soldier, a lot of derision comes her way. Their circumstances are precarious, her stepfather is mostly out of work and her mother has to work night shifts at the fish factory. The situation is similar for most of the village.

The story is told from the point of view of the eleven year old Tora, who tries to make sense of the adult world around her and builds dream worlds in order to cope with the fear of her stepfather. The way the story is told is impressive and feels very authentic. The helplessness and shame, the inability to articulate, the surprise at show more finding kindness in others - these make for quite a heartbreaking tale. But the strength in Tora gives hope for the future and balances the tale. show less

This is a beautifully written book about a very disturbing subject. Sexual abuse of a child. Set on an island in northern Norway, Tora is the daughter of Ingrid. Her step father is a worthless man filled with hatred. This story thankfully is tastefully done and in my opinion captures what a young girl does to survive a horrible situation.

This book by Herbjorg Wassmo, a Norwegian novelist who won the 1986 Nordic Prize, is on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list. It is told from the point of view of Tora, a young girl who feels isolated within her family, and within the poor fishing village where she lives. She senses there is something shameful about her birth. She fears her abusive, alcoholic stepfather. And she yearns for the approval of her mother.

Her mother blames Tora for the circumstances in which the family finds itself: 'If only you were able to take care of yourself at night, then I'd still have my job!' Her mother is distant, and try as she might, Tora is unable to win her mother's love: 'It often happened that when Tora tried to talk to her mother, show more Ingrid hung a kind of curtain between them. Tora's words stopped, stuck in the curtain. Never got through.'

Tora's inner life is tender and troubling, and Wassmo's creation of her social and physical environment (in the northernmost reaches of Norway) feels true and real.

I'm not sure that this should be a 1001 book, though. I have also read Wassmo's Dina's Book, which has somewhat similar themes, but is much more complex in its characterizations and more expansive in its scope and plot. While I recommend both books, if you are only going to read one, I recommend that you read Dinas Book. show less