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Fixed Ideas
Forbruk i september er historien om Espen og Emilie. Han er litteraturkritiker i en ukeavis, hun er en ung, lovende kulturjournalist samme sted. De ligger med hverandre etter en fest på jobben. Derfra følger vi de to hver for seg og får forholdet mellom Espen og Emilie fortalt fra to helt forskjellige ståsteder. I et intenst, stilsikkert språk og gjennom særegen bruk av vekslende perspektiver undersøker romanen det selvstuderende i det sosiale spillet.
Forbruk i september er en rastløs og effektiv beretning om begjær, kjønn og kjærlighetslengsel, om grunnleggende ensomhet og den konstante, gnagende selvbevisstheten som truer vår evne til å møte hverandre som den vi virkelig er.
Forbruk i september er en rastløs og effektiv beretning om begjær, kjønn og kjærlighetslengsel, om grunnleggende ensomhet og den konstante, gnagende selvbevisstheten som truer vår evne til å møte hverandre som den vi virkelig er.
- GenresFictionAdultContemporary
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
8 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 21, 2021
The day after the breakup I bought a bouquet of flowers for myself. I wrote on the card “I am sorry you have to die alone.
Not really, of course that didn’t happen. But it was something I thought about, something I could have done. That is unfortunately the way my brain is screwed together.
Nordisk Books is a small independent publisher with a focus on Nordic literary fiction:
I have previously only read their novel Transfer Window, by Maria Gerhardt and translated by Lindy Falk van Rooyen (my review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), but have heard good things about their other work, so when they launched a new subscription service - https://www.patreon.com/nordiskbooks - I signed up.
The first book under the new service is this, Fixed Ideas translated by Duncan J. Lewis from the original Norwegian novel Forbruk i september (2018) by Eline Lund Fjæren.
The novel opens with a sexual encounter, after a work party, between two colleagues, Espen, a 36 year-old literature critic, living alone with a single bed, and Emilie, fourteen years his junior, a star writer and youngest member of staff, referred to by colleagues as a “child prodigy,” a position Espen himself once occupied.
The kitchen work surface was dappled with light, it was summer and he was not in love with her, that’s not what this is about. They had been at a party for the newspaper where they both work, the boss’s enormous garden was decorated beyond all reason, with lanterns and various drapes hanging from the trees, glass bowls of punch, like something from a film. She tried to pull him into the bathroom with her, she’s that type, without quite knowing what it is he means, but it surprised him; with her innocent appearance, the round face, big, blue eyes. She’s young, but her body is that of an adult, almost motherly, that is how he would describe her, even if the thought repels him.
The novel then follows the aftermath of the encounter over the following months from the separate close third-person perspectives of both, unearthing the deep psychological issues and insecurities that underlie the actions of each. Slightly anonymously the last section from Emilie’s perspective switches to the first person.
In a sense this is Sally Rooney territory, albeit from a slightly older generation (Espen in particular is 36 going on 50, already viewing much of his life as in the past), but thankfully rather better written.
Worthwhile although not one that particularly grabbed me. 3 stars. But an important publisher and I'd encourage others to sign up for a subscription.
Not really, of course that didn’t happen. But it was something I thought about, something I could have done. That is unfortunately the way my brain is screwed together.
Nordisk Books is a small independent publisher with a focus on Nordic literary fiction:
The goal of Nordisk Books is to bring a variety of modern and contemporary Nordic literature to an English speaking audience. The Scandinavian peninsular - not to forget the islands of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands - have had something of a golden era of crime writing in recent years. However, there is far more to our Northern neighbours' literary output than that, to which the works of our immensely talented, select band of authors bear testament.
I have previously only read their novel Transfer Window, by Maria Gerhardt and translated by Lindy Falk van Rooyen (my review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), but have heard good things about their other work, so when they launched a new subscription service - https://www.patreon.com/nordiskbooks - I signed up.
The first book under the new service is this, Fixed Ideas translated by Duncan J. Lewis from the original Norwegian novel Forbruk i september (2018) by Eline Lund Fjæren.
The novel opens with a sexual encounter, after a work party, between two colleagues, Espen, a 36 year-old literature critic, living alone with a single bed, and Emilie, fourteen years his junior, a star writer and youngest member of staff, referred to by colleagues as a “child prodigy,” a position Espen himself once occupied.
The kitchen work surface was dappled with light, it was summer and he was not in love with her, that’s not what this is about. They had been at a party for the newspaper where they both work, the boss’s enormous garden was decorated beyond all reason, with lanterns and various drapes hanging from the trees, glass bowls of punch, like something from a film. She tried to pull him into the bathroom with her, she’s that type, without quite knowing what it is he means, but it surprised him; with her innocent appearance, the round face, big, blue eyes. She’s young, but her body is that of an adult, almost motherly, that is how he would describe her, even if the thought repels him.
The novel then follows the aftermath of the encounter over the following months from the separate close third-person perspectives of both, unearthing the deep psychological issues and insecurities that underlie the actions of each. Slightly anonymously the last section from Emilie’s perspective switches to the first person.
In a sense this is Sally Rooney territory, albeit from a slightly older generation (Espen in particular is 36 going on 50, already viewing much of his life as in the past), but thankfully rather better written.
Worthwhile although not one that particularly grabbed me. 3 stars. But an important publisher and I'd encourage others to sign up for a subscription.
April 18, 2021
“She is like a mirror sat up in front of his body, he sees himself as just one long bone, one that does not know where it begins and far less where it ends.”
“It’s as if he can hear how the close, warm air almost absorbs all the noise, how everything is packed in.”
“She finds herself in a transitory state, after something and before something else, after something old and before something new. If she wants, she can set something in motion. Holding back impacts the machine’s rhythm, it just wants to move forwards.”
This little novella by Norwegian author, Eline Lund Fjæren, is about more than desire. It follows the emotional stories of two characters, interwoven by the mundane everyday routine, urban life and a sharp sense of longing, of loneliness.
In parts, the novel is written as an internal monologue, leading you to relate to the insufferable self-consciousness of living, being, loving, trying to feel at one with yourself. In other parts, you are placed at a distance from the characters, understanding their fundamental feelings of loneliness and desire, of monotony, reflecting upon your own.
This book reads like one long sigh, a low exhale, a suffocating feeling of claustrophobia at a life that is inescapable. It explores the consequences that come from a string of illicit actions, regardless of the tangent that one expects their own life to take. The characters feel masochistic, not simply in a sexual sense, but disconnected from responsibility and repercussions, viewing the future as futile and something that will come along anyway. They appear to thrive upon the pain and grief they can cause, but merely so as to feel something (better that than nothing at all).
I saw a lot of myself and my relationships within this story. The invasive musings that ask if you are worthy of love, of happiness, of success, of sharing these inner turmoils with another person.
Tusen takk Nordisk Books for the gifted copy. It was a stunning addition to my women in translation challenge.
“It’s as if he can hear how the close, warm air almost absorbs all the noise, how everything is packed in.”
“She finds herself in a transitory state, after something and before something else, after something old and before something new. If she wants, she can set something in motion. Holding back impacts the machine’s rhythm, it just wants to move forwards.”
This little novella by Norwegian author, Eline Lund Fjæren, is about more than desire. It follows the emotional stories of two characters, interwoven by the mundane everyday routine, urban life and a sharp sense of longing, of loneliness.
In parts, the novel is written as an internal monologue, leading you to relate to the insufferable self-consciousness of living, being, loving, trying to feel at one with yourself. In other parts, you are placed at a distance from the characters, understanding their fundamental feelings of loneliness and desire, of monotony, reflecting upon your own.
This book reads like one long sigh, a low exhale, a suffocating feeling of claustrophobia at a life that is inescapable. It explores the consequences that come from a string of illicit actions, regardless of the tangent that one expects their own life to take. The characters feel masochistic, not simply in a sexual sense, but disconnected from responsibility and repercussions, viewing the future as futile and something that will come along anyway. They appear to thrive upon the pain and grief they can cause, but merely so as to feel something (better that than nothing at all).
I saw a lot of myself and my relationships within this story. The invasive musings that ask if you are worthy of love, of happiness, of success, of sharing these inner turmoils with another person.
Tusen takk Nordisk Books for the gifted copy. It was a stunning addition to my women in translation challenge.
September 30, 2018
En god og svært klaustrofobisk roman om en kjærelighetsrelasjon mellom to nokså masochistiske vesener. Likte du «Klokken og sengen», vil du nok like denne også.
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October 23, 2018«Men hvem bryr seg, tenkte jeg. Bryr jeg meg? Bare litt. Bare akkurat nok til å ødelegge hver dag.»
August 18, 2023
So simple yet so enthralling and beautiful. A peek into the relationship between two somewhat ordinary people as they navigate their flaws and desires.
Would definitely recommend for fans of Sally Rooney.
Would definitely recommend for fans of Sally Rooney.
October 26, 2025
Kalt, viel, fremd und traurig und schmerzhaft
volle Punktzahl
volle Punktzahl
November 5, 2021
我喜欢这本书，我讨厌这本书；它太真实了，荒谬到极致得真实。从爱丁堡回伦敦的火车上，看完了第二遍，我才读懂了这本书。
若要用一句话概括 ，Dagsavisen 报纸对其评价是最适合不过的了：【A dense, elegant study of longing for love in the age of individualism】
这本书为挪威作家Eline Lund Fjæren 所著，探讨了【个人主义】与【自我意识】两大主题。故事围绕一对男女的关系展开，穿插二人的内心独白。
Espen 和Emilie 在同一家报社工作。一次公司聚会后，两人一夜风流。这一次，性别一换，女人潇洒不再联系，男人因此朝思暮想+耿耿于怀。
书中男主人公的部分更容易理解。书的前半部分：Espen就像所有普信男一样，得不到女人青睐时，内心就是：【为什么她不喜欢我？】。他不太合群，生活单调而独孤，有些大男子主义。他事业停滞不前，在职场上嫉妒杰出的女性，同时也期望通过和年轻出色的女孩睡觉而找回过去的自己。他就是这样一个鲁蛇。
在书的后半部分，他收留了Emilie。二人同居的日子，因为后者的过度依赖，他选择抽身。在亲密关系之中，他渴望一些空间，却无法再做自己。也是这时，我对他有了一份理解与同情。
至于女主角的部分，是更多层次的，更为复杂的逻辑。但追根究底，还是因为寂寞，渴望陪伴。于是，她不断说服自己进入一个以为是爱情的关系，可其实并没有那么喜欢这个男人。与此同时，在一段感情之中，她又如此害怕被拒绝；因此，没有人真正走进她的心里过。
书的结尾，久别之后，二人再次见面。这一次，他与她会重归于好吗？这一回，是真情还是取暖？
温馨提醒：
看完这本书的第二天，我因为情绪太过低落，加之回伦敦的不适应，在家躺了一天。男友读完后也觉得这本书令人抑郁。因此，读这本书有兴趣的人，可以斟酌一下。
当然，解药也是有的。我之后看了一期《披荆斩棘的哥哥》。【满满的正能量 + 童年回忆】 让我畅快得哭了两小时，抑郁也一扫而光。
若要用一句话概括 ，Dagsavisen 报纸对其评价是最适合不过的了：【A dense, elegant study of longing for love in the age of individualism】
这本书为挪威作家Eline Lund Fjæren 所著，探讨了【个人主义】与【自我意识】两大主题。故事围绕一对男女的关系展开，穿插二人的内心独白。
Espen 和Emilie 在同一家报社工作。一次公司聚会后，两人一夜风流。这一次，性别一换，女人潇洒不再联系，男人因此朝思暮想+耿耿于怀。
书中男主人公的部分更容易理解。书的前半部分：Espen就像所有普信男一样，得不到女人青睐时，内心就是：【为什么她不喜欢我？】。他不太合群，生活单调而独孤，有些大男子主义。他事业停滞不前，在职场上嫉妒杰出的女性，同时也期望通过和年轻出色的女孩睡觉而找回过去的自己。他就是这样一个鲁蛇。
在书的后半部分，他收留了Emilie。二人同居的日子，因为后者的过度依赖，他选择抽身。在亲密关系之中，他渴望一些空间，却无法再做自己。也是这时，我对他有了一份理解与同情。
至于女主角的部分，是更多层次的，更为复杂的逻辑。但追根究底，还是因为寂寞，渴望陪伴。于是，她不断说服自己进入一个以为是爱情的关系，可其实并没有那么喜欢这个男人。与此同时，在一段感情之中，她又如此害怕被拒绝；因此，没有人真正走进她的心里过。
书的结尾，久别之后，二人再次见面。这一次，他与她会重归于好吗？这一回，是真情还是取暖？
温馨提醒：
看完这本书的第二天，我因为情绪太过低落，加之回伦敦的不适应，在家躺了一天。男友读完后也觉得这本书令人抑郁。因此，读这本书有兴趣的人，可以斟酌一下。
当然，解药也是有的。我之后看了一期《披荆斩棘的哥哥》。【满满的正能量 + 童年回忆】 让我畅快得哭了两小时，抑郁也一扫而光。
Read
February 24, 2024Read this in one sitting on the train - and half the time felt like I should close it so no-one read over my shoulder oops. I love a weird relationship dynamic - especially when you finally get a glimpse into a woman's mind and discover she's completely unhinged (think a certain hunger, my year of rest and relaxation).
Found the translation lovely and smooth, excellent balance of subtle imagery followed by upfront crude imagery. Also really got across that feeling of listlessness and repetition in each of their lives.
Wouldn't go so far as to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was certainly weird and intriguing!
Found the translation lovely and smooth, excellent balance of subtle imagery followed by upfront crude imagery. Also really got across that feeling of listlessness and repetition in each of their lives.
Wouldn't go so far as to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was certainly weird and intriguing!
December 10, 2019
Fin hverdagsbok om relasjoner.
May 17, 2024
Screaming, crying, throwing up
November 26, 2018
Mesterlig skrevet. Eline forteller denne historien utrolig bra ikke bare handlingsmessig, men måten hun bruker ordene til å beskrive karakterenes indre liv er beundringsverdig. Anbefales sterkt!
October 9, 2021
J’apprécie l’idée, le concept, l’écriture, l’imagination, mais ça a été difficile à avaler. J’ai eu du mal à finir ce livre, sans vraiment comprendre pourquoi. Le résumé décrit à merveille ce que le livre illustre, à la manière d’un encart dans un musée sous une oeuvre d’art contemporain: « a dense, elegant study of longing for love in the age of individualism », « about fundamental loneliness and the constant gnawing self-consciousness that threatens our ability to open our eyes for other people ». Alors si le résumé m’a motivée et la promesse fut accomplie, pourquoi est-ce que ça a été si difficile ? J’ai lu une autre critique qui disait que le manque de contexte et description du monde extérieur est dommage, car on est bloqué dans la tête des personnages, qui est un très petit espace à occuper. Et effectivement, des phrases si longues et tant de mots, mais un très petit espace à occuper. Pourtant ces fils de pensées sont réalistes. Pensons-nous aussi petit ?
J’ai bien aimé le style d’écriture, mais j’étais à la recherche d’une phrase qui me percuterait durablement sans pouvoir en trouver une seule.
Si je suis censée tout aimer dans ce livre, mais que finalement rien, peut-être mériterait-il une re-lecture quand je serai un différent moi.
J’ai bien aimé le style d’écriture, mais j’étais à la recherche d’une phrase qui me percuterait durablement sans pouvoir en trouver une seule.
Si je suis censée tout aimer dans ce livre, mais que finalement rien, peut-être mériterait-il une re-lecture quand je serai un différent moi.
April 24, 2025
I'd say that I enjoyed this even if the topics at hand were deeply unoriginal, but unoriginal in a positive way. This short read explores a connection between two coworkers at the time who end up sleeping together. This event brings upon notions of desire/wants, loneliness, love and deep character traits that dictate the course of our actions. Through Emilie's POV I felt like I had became her therapist and formulated my own notions of who I see her character to be which I came to found quite complex but also unoriginal (still positive). At certain points in the story, the relationship between Espen and Emilie just became too real in a way that made me contemplate true connection and what that even looks like when other factors come in to play. What do we truly seek in others and of ourselves? Could we always want the same things all the time? Not likely which can be quite frightening when having another person involved.
I think this was a good short read exploring all of what I mentioned above. Sucker for some complexity in regards to relationships. This read explored many things for me.
I think this was a good short read exploring all of what I mentioned above. Sucker for some complexity in regards to relationships. This read explored many things for me.
May 12, 2021
I feel that for a short novel, Fixed Ideas manages to explore a variety of interesting ideas, not least the contrast between male and female representation in literature, and perhaps too the one-dimensionality of the "male gaze." When Emilie distances herself from Espen, he immediately becomes overwhelmed with jealousy, his imagination running wild, placing her on a pedestal. The reality is very different: Emilie is experiencing considerable mental hardship and isn't quite the dream girl Espen imagines. As he comes to realise this, his interest wanes, and his guilt about this - as well as Emilie's confusion - is something entirely relatable and twists the heart in it's cage.
In short, I loved the characters for their faults, and found the pacing to be excellent. A great short read. Additionally, I agree with other reviews urging people to support Nordisk, they're doing a great thing for literature.
In short, I loved the characters for their faults, and found the pacing to be excellent. A great short read. Additionally, I agree with other reviews urging people to support Nordisk, they're doing a great thing for literature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
Great writing
I think i only really connected with this book because the main character had so many similarities to me. I found myself thinking “I’ve definitely said/thought this before”
It’s only flaw was it’s patchy writing. In some places it would definitely benefit more descriptions, even if they were “meaningless” and added nothing to the story. It’s lack of specifics stopped me from developing any emotions towards the characters, so the ending fell slightly short. Would have been amazing in a Sally Rooney, Haruki Murakami waffle description method.
I think i only really connected with this book because the main character had so many similarities to me. I found myself thinking “I’ve definitely said/thought this before”
It’s only flaw was it’s patchy writing. In some places it would definitely benefit more descriptions, even if they were “meaningless” and added nothing to the story. It’s lack of specifics stopped me from developing any emotions towards the characters, so the ending fell slightly short. Would have been amazing in a Sally Rooney, Haruki Murakami waffle description method.
August 9, 2021
It seemed like a promising story, but the characters lacked sufficient dimension for reader empathy and a sense of shared humanity. Lack of setting and atmosphere contributes to this; the reader is constantly in the characters' heads, which is a small place to occupy. I felt, at times, with the loose structure of the unformatted stream-of-conscious dialogue, that I was reading a book outline instead of a formatted novel.
July 7, 2023
I am finding this book difficult to review and it lies somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, shifting between both without actually being 2.5.
There were some brilliant bits and passages but overall the story wasn’t compelling. It was… fine.
Emelie’s character was intriguing and her thoughts were the best part of the book, but the relationship aspect was not compelling and that was the main point of the book.
There were some brilliant bits and passages but overall the story wasn’t compelling. It was… fine.
Emelie’s character was intriguing and her thoughts were the best part of the book, but the relationship aspect was not compelling and that was the main point of the book.
February 13, 2023
The writing is so good and this is such a relatable book I think, but in a really uncomfortable way. Some of it was too graphic for me and I didn’t expect it to be that sex-centred. Either way it was a page turner. You’ll probably like this if you like Lisa taddeo.
March 26, 2023
Not a long read. Nor a very good one. The quality of the language, allowing for translation did not improve the book. The only thing I found fascinating is that this is probably about how the author sees the world, or has had terrible relationships, which is a bit sad. Disappointing.
September 19, 2023
It was fine but there were some weird sentences that were really hard to follow and I’m pretty sure weren’t real sentences and at one point it randomly switched from 3rd person to 1st person and i kinda hated that
January 29, 2019
Her er min omtale av Forbruk iseptember. Linken fører til min bokblogg. https://mineboker.wordpress.com/2019/...
April 10, 2019
Veldig flott skrevet.
November 28, 2019
"for makten er hos den som liker eller elsker minst"
January 24, 2021
Uengasjerende og frakoblet om folk som er uengasjert og frakoblet egne liv. Men noen humregode setninger i ny og ne.
May 29, 2021
Meh. Litt mye stream of consciousness for min smak.
August 21, 2021
I don't really know how to feel and maybe it's interesting that neither, it seems, do the characters
January 14, 2023
“But who cares, I thought. Do I care? Only a little. Just enough to ruin every day.”
December 4, 2023
tender & depressing at the same time
July 12, 2024
Weird I like
April 25, 2025
this book felt like therapy to me, it came to me at just the right time in my life
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews