Novel 11, Book 18

Dag Solstad is perhaps the finest contemporary Norwegian writer, and this novel was awarded the Norwegian Critics' Prize for Literature in 1992. He is the only living Norwegian author to have received this award three times. The English translation of Novel 11, Book 18 was published at the end of last year in the UK, and is not currently available in the US.

The main character, Bjørn Hansen, is a respected government official in a small Norwegian town, who has just turned 50 and has recently separated from his long time partner. Despite his material comforts, he is unsatisfied with his life, and how chance has affected both his life and his relationship with his 29 yr old son from a previous marriage, who comes to live with him while show more attending university. He invents a plan that will dramatically change his life, and enlists another man in the town to help him carry out this act.

This subtle existential novel is one that I'll be thinking about for a while, and I'm sure I'll revisit it in the near future. I've already ordered another of Mr. Solstad's books that has been translated into English, Shyness and Dignity, and I'll be eagerly awaiting more translations of his works. show less

Well that was something.

I almost abandoned this book because I thought it was yet another "middle aged man rationalizes the bad things he has done" book. Never my favorite trope, and I slogged through one recently. But I had promised to do a #readnordic instagram post today, and I needed to finish this.

So I kept going. And wow. It got a bit better. And then it went...calmly, deliberately, wacky.

————
Summary (for me)
Bjørn Hansen abandoned his family when his son was two, to move with his mistress to her hometown when she inherits a house. And he slides into life there--he gets the job of head town tax collector (much to the anger of those who have put years into the department), he has a good friend in the dentist, and he show more participates in the theatre troupe. And, years later, she leaves him and goes back to Oslo.

And for the first time ever, he reflects on his life. Everything has been "by chance" (how is abandoning your family to follow your mistress "by chance"? Or applying and getting a good position?). But that's Bjørn. He's not one to take responsibility for his actions. So he takes charge and makes a plan. Which works, as he comes to regret. show less

I read this book because of an LT recommendation. It is without a doubt one of the most disturbing books I've read recently. Solstad writes in a very matter-of-fact style about a man who is living a relatively boring life in a provincial Norwegian town. At times, I thought where is this going and why should I care? Then the man makes an extremely bizarre decision (although its full horrifying details aren't revealed to the reader until the last 10 pages or so). I will be thinking about this book for quite a while because it packs a lot of ideas in its brief, spare pages.

Testo avvolgente, quasi ipnotico. In compagnia di Bjørn Hansen, esattore comunale, eroe romantico in navigazione attorno all'abisso. Spiazzante, grottesco, irrimediabilmente umano.

Bjørn Hansen's horror at the way his life has turned out gives me goosebumps but is also a bit bleh.

I want to say it's "technically brilliant", whatever that means.

Min andre Solstad-bok, den første var T. Singer. Nivået er like høyt. Dette er veldig bra.