Maskeblomstfamilien

by Lars Saabye Christensen

"Jeg hadde en god oppvekst. Far døde da jeg var tolv. Mor la seg tidlig. Jeg var enebarn."

Slik åpner Lars Saabye Christensen sin nye roman, et kammerspill som finner sted i de brede gatene bak Slottet, midt på sekstitallet. Fortelleren beretter om sin oppvekst, fra han er tolv til sytten, i et hjem som er en brønn av hemmeligheter, forstillelser, taushet og unnlatelsessynder. Faren, en patentingeniør, tar livet av seg på første side, mens moren legger seg for godt, og den unge fortelleren må vokse opp med en mager Tante, som ikke gjør tilværelsen lys for noen. Og i en scene fra en sommerferie sier en av farens oppfinnere som er på besøk uforvarende til ham: "Du er din fars rareste patent."

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Scandinavian Literature, Roman, School, Audiobook

285 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Lars Saabye Christensen is a gifted storyteller, a narrator who is imaginative, but equally down to earth. His realism alternates between poetic image and ingenious incident, conveyed in supple metropolitan language and slang that never smacks of the artificial or forced. His heroes possess a good deal of self-irony. Indeed, critics have drawn parallels with the black humour of Woody Allen. But beneath the liveliness of his portrayal melancholy always lurks in the books.
Since his début in 1976 Saabye Christensen has written ten collections of poetry, five collections of short stories and twelve novels. His great break through came with the novel Beatles in 1984. The book store sale of over 200,000 copies of the Norwegian edition has made this one of the greatest commercial successes in Norway, and it was voted the best novel of the last 25 years by Dagbladet's readers in 2006.

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've got to hand it to the Norwegians. They're a tiny country, with a population of a bit over four million people, and they have this incredible literature. I'm not sure whether it's cause or effect, but they really, really love books.

Maskeblomstfamilien is a startling example. We were going on a walking holiday in Norway, and I had somehow not packed anything to read - a serious omission, because there was a 10 hour train ride from Oslo to Jotunheimen. We had a break while we changed trains, and I went to the station book stall, which had about 15 different bestsellers for sale, arranged from #1 to #15 in the usual way. This was #1. I had never heard of the author, but thought it could be interesting to find out what Norwegians liked reading.

Well, you know what you'd end up with if you did that in England or the US. This is about as different as you can imagine: a dark, twisted story, very well written, which felt rather as though a Scandinavian Ian McEwan had decided to combine The Catcher in the Rye with Oedipus Rex. I was sufficiently impressed that I bought Christensen's masterpiece, Halvbroren, on the way back. These Norwegians deserve to be better known!

[iva° · Rating 4 out of 5]

mučna, jeziva i surova, crni oblak visi nad svakom rečenicom.
hermafrodizam, tema s kojom sam se rijetko -ako ikada- susrela u literaturi, teško da uopće može biti vesela i prpošna. dodaj još k tome da je pisac norvežanin i piše jasnim, britkim, izravnim stilom, emocionalno eksplicitnim, bez umatanja u celofan.
preporučam za širenje svjetonazora i ukoliko si spreman preuzeti na sebe određenu količinu nelagode i patnje.

[Bjørn Skjæveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mørk, vemmelig og småsurrealistisk stemning gjennom hele boka - jeg elsket det!

Jeg kliner like godt til med 5 stjerner, selv om jeg er litt på vippen. Denne boka er kanskje ikke for alle, for her er det mye som forblir usagt og uforløst, og det blir dermed en god del rom for tolking av hva som egentlig skjer. Det hjelper heller ikke at fortelleren er både ekstremt upålitelig og usympatisk. Dette er trolig en roman som vokser enda mer ved annen gangs lesning, så det blir nok et snarlig gjensyn med disse forkvaklede karakterene!

"Og hvis min historie beveget deg, var det en tragedie.
Lo du, bare en eneste gang, var det ikke annet enn en komedie."

[Marievelde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsker, elsker, elsker denne. Har spart på Maskeblomstfamilien i mange år, og jeg er ikke skuffet. Saabye for alltid! ❤️

[Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people wear a variety of masks in social settings; either to fit in, to seek or to avoid attention, or to protect their innermost feelings and secrets.

Adrian, the narrator and main character, is an outsider who struggles to find his place and identity, as most teenagers do. But in various aspects Adrian is different from other teenagers. There’s something “wrong” with him, something we discover could be corrected with surgery. At first this something is undefined, but eventually we understand that it is also somehow related to Adrian’s identity.

However, Adrian refuses to be a victim. Instead of “accepting” shame, he defies it, and projects it onto those around him, with psychological games and lies. He doesn’t appear to feel guilt, shame or the need to wear masks. His shamelessness and cynicism form a mask to cover his insecurity as an outsider.

While rehearsing for the lead role as Oidipus in a school play, Adrian shares Oidipus’ feelings of being unwanted by his parents and society.

Some of the most important events in this story are the ones that aren’t told explicitly, or that are barely mentioned. And sometimes the narrator, Adrian, presents a variety of events that may or may not have occurred. We are never told which is real and which isn’t. However, all the events he describes could be seen as reasons for feeling guilt and shame, and the details of the events cease to be important for the story (*).

I’m not able to conclude on my level of sympathy for Adrian, as it seems to fluctuate back and forth during the novel. He might be an unreliable narrator, and he might not be sympathetic, but he feels honest. It’s as if the unreliable narrative is a conscious act, not to obscure the truth but to make the reader think, feel and see for himself.

After finishing the book, I’m probably left with just as many questions, about who the main character really is, as when I started reading it.
——-
(*) Comment after having seen the movie (titled “Shameless” in English) based on the novel: Some of these alternatives, as well as other details, are emphasised differently in the movie, which to me served as a nice addition to my understanding of the story.

[Nora Roxette]

veldig spesiell hovedperson må jeg si, og historien tok en del vendinger jeg ikke helt så komme! mørk, dyster, men også interessant.

det var spennende å være oppe i hodet til en som til tider hadde så lite medmenneskelighet og skyldfølelse, i tillegg til manglende skam rundt egne (fæle) handlinger og tanker. et fascinerende perspektiv, men også til tider bare fælt egentlig:( skjønte meg ikke helt på hvordan han fungerte selv etter å ha lest ferdig boka tho

@emilie HIT ME UP med særemnet ditt om denne pls

[Maren Sagedahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uff.. jeg føler meg UVEL.

Min første Larsibok, og ikke den siste. Jeg var både oppslukt og tynget av denne. Skikkelig ekkelt innblikk i hodet på en upålitelig, usympatisk, ond og misbrukt unge i en jævlig familie.

Denne husker jeg lenge.

[Lauma Gurgone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Šī grāmata ir bezgalīgas skumjas. Par apkārtnes nepieņemtu cilvēku, kurš nesaprot, kas viņš īsti ir un viņa tuvākie arī to nespēj definēt. Savas sāpes viņš mēdz dzesēt, sāpinot citus. Neko gaišu grāmatā neatradu, bet autoram paldies, tik sērīgi uzrakstīts.

[Stian V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velskrevet, men dyster.

[Anne Sofie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious, dark and heavy. This is a book you have to interpret everything written, beautifully written.

[Juni Palmstrøm · Rating 5 out of 5]

dette er den beste boken jeg har lest av saabye christensen så langt, og jeg har elsket de tidligere bøkene hans
ahhhhhh

[Emil Seljestokken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fortellingen om Adrian er både sår og brutal. Boka utforsker mørke, men viktige temaer medet skarpt og presis språk. Saabye Christensen bygger opp en trykkende atmosfære der det usagte ofte veier tyngre enn det sagte. En sterk og ubehagelig, men samtidig uunnværlig leseropplevelse.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

re-read av boken jeg skrev særemne om i Vg3. vipper mellom 4 og 5 stjerner.

mørk, tidvis ekkel, og intens bok. mye forblir usagt. mye ligger mellom linjene eller hintes svakt om. en helt unik bok og fortelling. kan ikke helt sette ord på hvorfor jeg liker boka så godt. det er noe i at hovedpersonen er så uvanlig og den gjennomgående tråden om mangel på skam og skyldfølelse som er så interessant

[Lina Christiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stjerner 🌟
Veldig rar og dyster bok med litt for mange løse tråder. Heldigvis veldig godt skrevet.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting (only interrupted by the bare essentials). I was thoroughly dumbfounded by the whole thing, throughout and afterwards, but I still kept going, and I still liked it a lot. I just couldn't put it down! I had to know what really happened, and what was the reason for it happening. But then suddenly the book ended ... and now 2 days later, I'm still not sure what it is I just experienced!

This is a book where you have to read a lot between the lines, nothing is told explicitly. And that is what makes this book so good. You keep asking questions to what's really going on, and that drives you further. Makes you read another page, and then another, and then suddenly there are no more pages left. But you're still stuck with questions. And they haunt you afterwards. You ask yourself: what was the point of this book?!

The last words goes like this: "And if my story moved you, it was a tragedy. If you laughed, only one time, it wasn't anything but a comedy."
I mean ... what does this mean!? And what does it mean that I can't even seem to figure if it's a comedy or a tragedy? Maybe the deeper meaning in this piece just flew over my head, I'm not sure. But no matter what it is or isn't, I know I liked it a lot.

Saaby Christensen's writing is amazing, profoundly intriguing. There are no boring parts. I can choose a quote from almost wherever in the book and it's gonna leave me astounded. I randomly opened the book here: "I understood that Axel hadn't admitted anything, he wasn't anything but a beautiful jellyfish in the blue aquarium, where a simple-minded stubbornness is mistaken for strength of character. I had to be inside Gods line after all, because now I could save all of us at once, with a lie that by the way was true."

I want to read this again. I already want to read it again. When did this last happen? Never. I just want to understand this strange, strange book a little better.

[Marte Haga · Rating 4 out of 5]

En far dør, en mor blir syk av sorg, en tynn og streng tante flytter inn og en en ung gutt preges sterkt av livet som har tatt en uventet endring, eller, flere endringer kan en vel si. Vi følger hovedpersonen gjennom barne-og ungdomsårene.

Saabye leverer igjen. Denne gang sitter jeg imidlertid igjen med mange ubesvarte spørsmål etter å ha lagt den bort. Ting er ikke krystallklart her angående flere hendelser, hva hendte egentlig?? Er minnene hans uklare, dikter han ting opp med vilje, er enkelte ting for vanskelige å snakke om? Kanskje en kombinasjon?

At ting til tider må tolkes, eller forbli ubesvart, er ikke noe jeg anser som negativt. Av og til trenger man alike bøker også, bøker med åpne muligheter, bøker som lar leserens egen fantasi og tanker spille en rolle. Dette er en bok jeg kommer til å lese igjen senere, for jeg er nesten hundre prosent sikker på at jeg vil oppleve den annerledes ved en ny gjennomlesing. Med andre ord er det mange lag i denne boka.

Enn så lenge gleder jeg meg til å se filmatiseringen av denne ganske så snart!

[Pernille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jeg er litt usikker på hvor jeg skal starte når det gjelder denne boken.
Jeg ble aldri revet med. Jeg ble like likegyldig, som karakteren, og kjedet meg igjennom mesteparten av boken. Men selv om jeg satt med samme følelse som karakteren, følte jeg ikke på noen måte samhørighet e.l.
Den var til tider veldig godt skrevet, samtidig som den andre ganger var veldig dårlig skrevet. Setningene var for forvirrende og oppbyggingen et kapittel for seg selv. Du sitter så absolutt igjen med "hæ"-følelsen som så mange snakker om, men jeg synes personlig ikke at det var positivt dessverre.
Jeg tror rett og slett denne boken ikke var noe for meg.

[Marija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obitelj cvjetnih maski -Lars Saabye Christensen

Ovog pisca sam slučajno otkrila , puno ljudi tražilo je njegovu drugu , nagradjenu knjigu "Polubrat" I tako ja slučajno nabasah na ovu priču

Mišljenja su podeljena. Neki ljudi kažu da je ovo njegov najbolji roman , a drugi su zgrozeni , kakav je to mrak , sve je mutno i uvrnuto , neka hvala.

Sto se mene tiče , setila sam se čuvenih stihova Walta Whitmana " Zar si od mene tražila slatke stihove ...
Što su, uostalom, takvima kao ti, pjesnici k'o ja?
-ostavi zato moja djela,
I uljujkuj se onim što možeš razumjeti;
Jer ja nikog ne uljujkujem-
i ti me nikada nećeš razumjeti."
S tom razlikom što je Whitman toliko popularan , a I kao i mnogi pesnici često vrlo slojevit , tako da se može uživati iako smo samo donekle razumeli .

U Obitelji cvijetnih maski - nema slojevitosti . I nema uljuljkivanja u slatkoću pripovedanja . Ako hoćete da uživate da vam bude prijatno , ovo I nije knjiga za vas. Jer tu postoji tuzna , groteskna priča, vidjena očima vrlo neobičnog dečaka , koji je operisan od slatkorečivosti , koji skenira svojim oštrim , nemilosrdnim okom naličja ljudi i sve ono što bi promaklo nekom naivnom dobričini i on nam to sve saopštava neuvijeno.
U stvari dečak Adrijan i nije bas dečak , on je hermafrodit. I njegova porodica je neobična . Odmah na početku saznajemo da će mu otac izvršiti samoubistvo , da majka posle toga pada u tešku depresiju , a tetka je ta koja pokušava da ga vaspitava. I njen zadatak je jako težak zato sto je Adrijan prilično zao I bezosećajan . Ili to tako deluje .

Činjenice u ovom romanu nisu složene po redu i date da ih samo usvojimo. Cela priča desava se kao zagonetka , kao običan čvor , a tek kad se približimo vidimo da je to , u stvari, mrtvi čvor koji ima previše. petlji . Takodje redosled pripovedanja je ispreturan .

Njegov otac se bavi patentima, u stvari odobrava razne patente. Adrijan u jednom trenutku sreće njegovog kolegu Holmsa , koji ga čudno gleda, na plaži su , njegovo telo u kupaćim gaćama , izloženo je . Holms je bolno i netaktično iskren :" Otrčim do staze između borova. Ondje stoji Holmsen i prepriječi mi put. Bio je uzeo moj ručnik. Pruži mi ga, i u isti čas spusti ruku na moje rame, čudno se osmjehujući, što mi se nimalo nije sviđalo. Pomislim da će napokon nešto kazati, kazati što je izumio. I kazao je, ali nešto drugo, i to je bilo prvo i jedino što je kazao:
- Mora da si najčudniji patent svoga oca.
Holmsen je kazao baš tako, mora da si najčudniji patent svoga oca, i kao da je te riječi držao kao ogledalo ispred mene, mogao sam se vidjeti u njima, jasnije nego ikad, i to što sam vidio uplaši me."

Čitalac u ovom trenutku još uvek ne zna šta to sa Adrijanom nije u redu , zasto je on čudan patent i sta ga je uplašilo. Tek kasnije kad na naslovnoj strani časopisa biva uzbudjen slikom Liz Tejlor kao Kleopatre on doživljava seksualni vrhunac i pita se , da li je on to "seme izbacio iz sebe" kao žena ili kao muškarac.
Svoju majku od trenutka očeve smrti prestaje da zove majkom i naziva je Udovica.To deluje tako grubo , brutalno. Ali istina je da i ona napušta ulogu majke, napušta Adrijana u trenutku kad mu je verovatno najpotrebnija.

U priči se takodje pojavljuje čudna devojčica Emilija , unakazenih zečijih usana i zbog toga i kao drugačija, neprilagodjena , na neki način povezana sa Adrijanom. On odlazi na njen rodjendan i opisuje likove , ogoljeno, njihovu surovost , takvi teški momenti nemilosrdnosti sudbina mu ne promiču:

"I svi se u dnevnoj sobi okrenu istodobno, dotjerane djevojčice, dame u minijaturi, uski strukovi, kao boce Coca-Cole koje drže, objema rukama, lak na noktima, crvene slamke s jednom kapi na vrhu, zasjajene usne i oči, naročito crne oči, koje su klizile mimo mene, ta znatiželjna sramežljivost, i između njih, tih vjernih kopija, odmah ispod lustera, ispred stola s darovima, stajala je Emilija, izgubljena kao i u školskom dvorištu, tu, na svom rođendanu, sama medu gostima koji su došli jer je sažalijevaju, i ne samo to, tu su one mogle mjeriti svoju ljepotu, jer u blizini Emilije čak i ona najružnija postaje ljepotica."

I svi likovi su sjajno prikazani u ovom delu savršeno psihološki utemeljeni, sve sto se desi je logički opravdano, a ipak neke stvari i postupci ostaju misteriozni i taj paradoks u pripovedanju čini priču još snažnijom.

Na primer jasno nam je da je Adrijanov otac bio vrlo nesrećan čovek, vidljivo je da sa njim svašta nešto nije u redu , ali zašto se on u stvari ubije? Sta je okidač? Da li je nesrećan zbog posla , porodice , Adrijana ili zato sto je homoseksualac? Ili sve zajedno je razlog, zbir svih nezadovoljstava ? A i to da je homoseksualac saznajemo skoro implicitno u jednom prizoru koji se više nikad ne ponovi i nije do kraja objašnjen, niti tumacen . Adrijan ga zatekne u nekom nagovestaju čudne scene sa nekim muškarcem i samo predje preko toga i više nikad ne pomene TO. Znamo samo da otac sedi iste večeri kod kuće i plače , a Adrijan pošto ceo događaj saopštava retroaktivno , pita se : da li otac u tom trenutku plače zbog onoga šta je bilo ili zbog onoga šta će biti ?

A zatim I sam Adrijan , ko je on ? Je li taj dečak - devojčica samo jedna obična psihotična ličnost koja je stvarno zla I nesposobna da oseca ili je život prema njemu toliko okrutan da shvata da je isto da li plačeš ili se smeješ neke okrutnosti su neminovne , jer ako je patnja sudbina , onda je potpuno svejedno kako se reaguje , nista se nece promeniti ionako. Mozda je njegova duša samo nemušta i izlečilo bi je dovoljno ljubavi i malo more ispravljenih životnih nepravdi ? Ova priča zapravo otkriva koliko ljudska duša bez obzira sto se o njoj puno zna , može znati ipak ostaje tajanstvena . Najveca tajna
Mada ipak čitalac zna da u trenutku kad Adrijan na školskoj predstavi glumi cara Edipa , dok izgovara čuvenu rečenicu :"Moje je rodjenje bilo greh" ,da se on sasvim uziveo u toj misli. U mislima o sebi , ne o caru .

I na kraju ili svejedno, na početku priče , kad se otac ubije tetka želi da otvore kovčeg , da vidi još jednom njegovo lice :

"Očev joj liječnik, doktor Ask, to nije dozvolio, kazao je da je to iz obzira prema nama svima, jer sad otac nimalo lijepo ne izgleda.
Ali, ono što ti ne daju vidjeti, postaje još gore za naše oči. To raste. Nikad ne nestaje.
Neznanje je staklenik u kojemu raste najstrašnije cvijeće."

[kAtja · Rating 5 out of 5]

scares me that the main character is acting exactly the way i do

[Iveta Celmiņa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ļoti tumša un smagi dziļa grāmata par ļaunumu,kas aug ap bērnu un ieaug bērnā. Ļaunumu, ko iesākumā nevar kontrolēt, bet tikai iesākumā.

[Silje Nordnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

interessant! adrian e en finurlig karakter. denna boka har mange tema. i løpet av boka blir adrian bli forma til det skamløse og usympatiske mennesket han e på grunn av hannes oppvekst. en oppvekst som e prega av selvmord, depresjon og mobbing. mye skjer i hodet til adrian og mye skjer på ordentlig, det e vanskelig å skille mellom sant og usant. hadde vært interessant å få høre fra tanta, faren, heidi eller emilies perspektiv! mange fine symbol! smykket og filmrullen som kommer tilbake i slutten. adrian har mange meninge om ting, og e på mange måta en loner som ikke e redd for å gjøre ting på hannes måte, men mange handlinge blir litt for uforklart for mæ. koffer skrev han brevet til skyggen fra teatersjefen? koffer lyg han så mye, både til læreran og til tanta? koffer snakka han aldri til mamman sin i slutten? æ trur æ har konkludert med at han står bak mordet til emilie, men om det va et uhell eller ikke ane æ ikke. siden emilie va det nærmeste han hadde en venn, kanskje han følte at det va for godt til å være sant? æ sitt igjen med mange spørsmål, men det største av alt e, kordan diagnose hadde han? det forsto æ aldri, kanskje æ e litt dum men æ fikk aldri det med mæ. æ syntes nesten aldri synd på adrian mens æ leste boka, men i ettertid skjønne æ jo at hannes handlinge reflektere den fæle oppveksten hannes. dem e ikke justified, men æ kan skjønne at han e litt ødelagt. i slutten får man, som skyggen sa, katarsis, fordi han blir arrestert av politiet. kanskje han får en ny start? det like æ å tenke iallefall.

[Sanja · Rating 2 out of 5]

U uzaludnom višesatnom pokušaju da pronađem jednu lijepu, sretnu, ljudsku, pozitivnu scenu u ovome kratkom (srećom) djelu, to se nije dogodilo. Ok, jasno mi je da različitosti često bivaju neprihvaćene, ali je li ih doista neophodno pretvarati u sociopatiju i psihopatiju. Možda su kulturološke razlike između Norveške i našeg podneblja prevelike. Ne znam. Samo mi je ostao grč u želucu i nekakav bljutav okus s pitanjem što mi je to trebalo. Eh da, sve je u nekakvim naznakama, nedorečenim slikama, pretpostavkama što zbunjuje čitatelja. Nije posve jasno što to nije u redu s glavnim likom, što se zapravo zbilo i s ocem i s majkom, što motivira staru vješticu od tetke, s kime to lik komunicira... No tu i tamo iskrsne poneki dojmljiv citat i to je sve.

[Malin · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

"I had a good childhood. My father died when I was twelve. My mother went to bed early. I was an only child."

These are the opening lines of Maskeblomstfamilien, a title which can be translated as The Figwort Family, but which can be interpreted in several ways, and holds more than one meaning. The plants and flowers of the Figwort Family usually have large leaves that cover up and blanket the ground. The flowers are often without scent, but if they do smell, it's more of an unpleasant stench than a refreshing smell. Foxglove, and other flowers in the Digitalis family, which is a subgroup of the Figwort family, are all poisonous.

In Norwegian, the title can also be broken into three - maske means mask, blomst means flower and familien means the family. Every significant person in this novel are not entirely as they appear at first, they all wear masks. The Greek tragedy of Oedipus also plays a central part in the last third of the novel, which is in itself structured as a classical tragedy in three acts. The flower is Adrian, the protagonist, who, considering the environment in which he is raised, unsurprisingly grows up to be a deeply twisted individual. The Wang family, his family, are not supportive or nurturing, and they all have dark secrets.

Adrian Wang might claim he had a good childhood, but the reader quickly learns that he is a very unreliable narrator. Born in the 1950s, during a solar eclipse, living in a dark and mostly empty flat in the centre of Oslo, situated right behind the Royal Palace, the reader quickly sees that he is not quite like other children. He doesn't take part in P.E, with a doctor's note ensuring that he can stay on the sidelines. He is told by more than one adult that he is completely shameless. He overhears his parents arguing with the family doctor about an operation that needs to be performed before he grows too old, and it's too late. He appears completely devoid of empathy for others, a calculating, devious child, always wanting to manipulate situations to his own advantage.

His mother is beautiful, delicate and distant. His father works long hours as a patent engineer. He doesn't seem to be around much, and when he's not working, he shuts himself away in his home office, or sits in the parlor, reading Time magazine with hands covered in white gloves. There is also an aunt, his father's older sister, who Adrian nicknames "the skeleton". She's skinny, bitter and cracks her knuckles loudly. These are the adults our protagonist is supposed to take his guidance from.

When it comes to peers his own age, Adrian doesn't really have any. He's a solitary child, with no real friends to speak of. None of the other boys seem to like him much, and more than once he is bullied and beaten up. The closest thing he has to a friend is Emilie, the Albino girl who lives one floor down from him. She's also an only child, and more of an obvious victim with her milky white skin, cleft lip and red, sensitive eyes. She tries to show Adrian kindness and friendship, but is frequently met with scorn and rebuffed.

The book follows Adrian from the age of 12 until he is 17. As he says in the opening lines - his father died when he was twelve - by shooting himself in the head with a shotgun. Whether it's because his business is failing, or something darker and more sinister, is unclear. Lillian, Adrian's already frequently distant mother, retreats into silent grief and/or shame and becomes the Widow for the remains of the story. The aunt moves in and tries to take control of the household. The Widow is moved from the master bedroom to the maid's pantry, spending most of her time in bed, until she is finally so far gone that she is taken away by the family doctor, and only Adrian and the Aunt remain, locked in a battle of wills. Then, at the end of the first act, Emilie disappears, to be found three days later, dead in the basement. Was her death an accident, or did something worse happen to her?

Lars Saabye Christensen is a very critically acclaimed Norwegian writer, and most of his books deal with boys growing up in Oslo in the 1950s and 60s. His protagonists are often a bit different, wanting nothing so much as to fit in, be one of the guys. He has a brilliant way with words, but despite this being the sixth of his novels that I've read, his books at best leave me indifferent and bored, and at worst, creep me out and disgust me. This book was one of the ones that absolutely disgusted me. I found it completely impossible to even vaguely sympathise with Adrian, despite the ways he is mistreated as a child, and clearly not given the help he so desperately needs. When he was bullied and beaten, a part of me cheered the bullies on. It's obvious from very early on that bad things are going to happen in the book, and that Adrian is going to be the cause of some of them. He is a sociopath and a very evil person. I wanted horrible things to happen to him. I don't like feeling that way when I read, I was comforted to hear that most of the others in my Norwegian course, including the lecturer felt much the same way - you're clearly not meant to like Adrian. Even so, I've given Christensen six chances, and with each new book I read, I'm more convinced than before that his books are not for me. I'm not going to be reading any more of Christensen's books, even if most of them don't have such twisted protagonists.

[Eva Kristin Indrebø · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way the author writes his books, the way he uses the language. This one, however, often felt too vague in many ways. It was hard to know when the truth was told and not, but I do also think that at least part of the time, that was intentional. I like the subject matter of the book. The setting is Oslo in the 1960s, as often in his books. I wasn't born yet at that time, but I usually end up thinking Oslo was a horrible place to grow up in at the time. Full of mean children, young adults and adults. Not my favorite amongst his books, but it did intrigue me in many ways.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boken er en roman om skam og identitet, mørk, annerledes og glitrende godt skrevet. Fortelleren beretter om din oppvekst fra han var 12 til 17, i et hjem som er en brønn av hemmeligheter, forstillelser, taushet og unnlatelsessynder. Faren tar livet av seg på første side og moren legger seg ned for godt, og den unge fortelleren må vokse opp med en mager tante, som ikke gjør tilværelsen lys for noen. Boken er full av symboler og språklige bilder som maler frem de mørkeste handlinger for vårt indre, skrevet med en språk som gjør alt så levende at det kan få leseren til å gråte.

[Imre Johnsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dei einaste grunnane for at eg la frå meg denne boka var fordi det var så seint på natta at eg ikkje klartr halde meg vaken lenger eller fordi eg var altfor sein til jobb. Eg skulle ønskje eg kunne lese ho for fyrste gong på ny. Så fengslande!

[Alexander Rabben Mohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Først og fremst en spesiell bok; mange deler fremtoner seg omtrent som små dikt. Saabye skaper helt fra starten en ekkel følelse som blir med hele veien gjennom. Litt esoterisk iblant, må lese denne igjen en gang og se om jeg skjønner mer.

[Helena Holiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and almost scary. That's why i love it

[Oline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veldig spesiell bok- mørk og trist.

[Jan Lasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mørkt og mesterlig!