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The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark: A Novel
by
Christopher Meades (Goodreads Author)
Longing to break out of his dreary existence, Henrik Nordmark—a bald, middle-aged security guard with few friends and no romantic possibilities—is determined to experience one moment of inimitable distinction, even if it kills him. His quest for authentic experience leads him to the throes of addiction, virtuous recovery, and disenchanted notoriety as a public menace. When...more
Paperback, 195 pages
Published
September 1st 2010
by ECW Press
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Jan 26, 2011
Dana
added it
Henrik Nordmark is a bald , middle-aged security guard who is the most ordinary person alive. He has no romantic possibilities and drives people away from him by saying or doing the wrong thing. Henrik drops a plum at the grocery store one day and when the plum rolls into the street Henrik's life is saved by a tuxedo clad stranger.
Henrik decides to change his life and become unique. Henrik is targeted for assassination in a case of a mistaken photo taken of him and not the tuxedo-ed stranger. Th...more
Henrik decides to change his life and become unique. Henrik is targeted for assassination in a case of a mistaken photo taken of him and not the tuxedo-ed stranger. Th...more
Henrik Nordmark may be the plainest, most uninteresting person ever. Henrik is so alienated (and alienating) that he manages at one point to drive people out of a chat room by trying too hard and saying the wrong things. This would make for a very dull story – except that things change quickly. One day at the corner grocery, Henrik chases an errant plum he's dropped outside to the street and bumps into a stranger (who prevents him from lunging into traffic) wearing a tuxedo (in broad daylight!)....more
Meades keeps his many balls in the air, juggling from each plotline and back again, piling on the coincidences, keeping momentum even when the story veers into terrifically unbelievable proportions and the entire structure resembles a particularly intense game of Jenga. That the story begins to resemble the anarchic narratives of the Marx Brothers (by way of the Three Stooges) is a compliment. The three assassins and their escapades are certainly worthy of plaudits, and Roland's desperately sill...more
I met Christopher Meades last summer while on a family holiday in Muskoka. Our daughters had a chance to play together and as we were leaving he mentioned that he was a writer and invited me to check out his books. I am always interested in new CanLit, so this was perfect. I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and at times downright hilarious...so much so that I found myself laughing out loud...i.e. Henrik at the employment centre! I loved the twists and turns and bumbling cast of char...more
I've been meaning to review this book for a while but every time I thought of it something else seemed to come up. So, here it is:
The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark is the funniest book I've read. I discovered Christopher Meades through his short story, Naked Girls & the Grinch, that was published Atlantic Canada's literary journal "The Fiddlehead" and am I ever glad I did. He's a fantastic writer! One thing in particular that I thought was great was the storytelling itself. It's funny and a...more
The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark is the funniest book I've read. I discovered Christopher Meades through his short story, Naked Girls & the Grinch, that was published Atlantic Canada's literary journal "The Fiddlehead" and am I ever glad I did. He's a fantastic writer! One thing in particular that I thought was great was the storytelling itself. It's funny and a...more
Wanted to like this book more. Parts of it were brilliantly written; other parts I wondered if the editor was asleep. Unfortunately, the clunky parts are the ones that stick in my brain, whereas the smooth-as-silk stretches glide by without catching. Such are the perils of uneven editing.
Sometimes the word choice was suspect. The noun "loafs" was used when it seemed it should have been "oafs".
Talking about removing an arrow from one's leg, he tried to "unfetter" the arrow?
Sometimes it was an awk...more
Sometimes the word choice was suspect. The noun "loafs" was used when it seemed it should have been "oafs".
Talking about removing an arrow from one's leg, he tried to "unfetter" the arrow?
Sometimes it was an awk...more
From start to finish, Three Fates kept a smile on my face and my mind wide awake. It's an absurd tale with a sad crew of characters, but the narration is genius and the plot felt tightly knit and logical.
Hidden amongst the absurdity are some sharply true observations about the human condition. I particularly enjoyed Henrik - a pathetically clueless guy who couldn't interact like a normal person to save his life. I found the author's portrayal of his social outcast protagonist to be both hilariou...more
Hidden amongst the absurdity are some sharply true observations about the human condition. I particularly enjoyed Henrik - a pathetically clueless guy who couldn't interact like a normal person to save his life. I found the author's portrayal of his social outcast protagonist to be both hilariou...more
Take one oblivious and completely average security guard, three elderly assasins, one disgruntled Coupland-esque office worker, and conniving couple bent on killing each other, and stir vigourously, and you’ll come up with something like the fast-paced, often hilarious comedy of errors that is The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark. This short, expertly plotted novel starts with the title character accidentally squirting plum juice in his own eye, setting off a fateful chain of events that will fore...more
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This book was really a lot of fun. Meades does a really good job turning each of his characters into a total bumbling boob, yet at the same time keeping them believable as characters. The story is humorous and fun. The coincidence level seems a bit high in the connections between some of the characters, but I think it works as a function of the humor. It is good for some laughs and sometimes that is exactly what I'm looking for.
Jun 18, 2012
Krystal
added it
A fabulous book, written by a wonderful local author. I highly recommend it.
The more I read...the more I liked it.
Actually would give 3 3/4 stars.
Actually would give 3 3/4 stars.
would make a good movie !!! ... filled with characters
May 03, 2013
Beth Anne
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Nov 30, 2012
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Nov 04, 2012
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Christopher Meades is a Vancouver author whose first novel The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark was released by ECW Press in September 2010. His second novel, entitled The Last Hiccup, was released in April 2012.
His story The Walking Lady won the 2009 Toyon fiction prize and his submission was shortlisted for the 2007 3 Day Novel competition.
His fiction has been featured in The Fiddlehead, The Dalho...more
More about Christopher Meades...
His story The Walking Lady won the 2009 Toyon fiction prize and his submission was shortlisted for the 2007 3 Day Novel competition.
His fiction has been featured in The Fiddlehead, The Dalho...more
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