Lolakay's review
The Exception: A Novel by Christian Jungersen
Well, I was very excited to read The Exception, after seeing a review in the Times. But I was disappointed. It could have been a much better (and slimmer) novel had it just focused on the petty evils inflicted on officemates, but it was also a grand (and overblown) rumination on the nature of evil. It might have been good as one or the other. The pair was just bad. The writing was also very... Danish. I don't actually know Danish literature, but I'm trying to give the author the benefit of the doubt. The pacing was quite good, but much of the set-up was belabored, and there was extraordinary attention paid to what the one single woman ate every night. I think this was supposed to paint a sad little portrait for us, but it was just odd. And then, I shit you not, there was a case of split personality.
As a Dane I can tell you the writing isn't very Danish at all, so your comment made me giggle. I mean no offence by saying that, but was just amused at how cultural difference show up in the oddest places.Personally I liked the plot but found the writing very stilted.
I am so busted! Well good to know all Danish literature is not like that. I was trying to hint that maybe something was lost in translation because I agree, it was rather stilted.
