Jennifer Ray
asked
Derek B. Miller:
First, the flattery: I stumbled upon "Norwegian By Night" while surfing on Amazon and was simply blown away. I have read it three times now, recommended it to friends and am hosting our monthly book club this week to further delve into its wonders. Now, the question: can you please explain the meaning of the title? I get the "Norwegian" part; it is the "By Night" that I can't figure out. Many thanks!
Derek B. Miller
Starting with flattery was not a bad idea.
Thank you for that. That was very nice to read.
The title. Yes, titles. It started as "Norwegian for the Night." Night here is literal — Sheldon goes "native" each night sleeping in houses and in forests — and figurative in that he's old and he's going to die there one way or another because he's sold his home, moved in with Rhea, and that's that. So he's "checking out" as a Norwegian. Night here being death. It was shortened to Norwegian by Night, and I think that holds the two meanings but also expands them. Almost all the characters — goodies and baddies — are domesticated and join Norwegians society by the cover of night. But in the full light of day, they are all displaced, misplaced, and immigrants. They are foreigners and outsiders by day, but Norwegian by Night.
Other than that … it's kind of catchy!
warm wishes from Oslo.
Thank you for that. That was very nice to read.
The title. Yes, titles. It started as "Norwegian for the Night." Night here is literal — Sheldon goes "native" each night sleeping in houses and in forests — and figurative in that he's old and he's going to die there one way or another because he's sold his home, moved in with Rhea, and that's that. So he's "checking out" as a Norwegian. Night here being death. It was shortened to Norwegian by Night, and I think that holds the two meanings but also expands them. Almost all the characters — goodies and baddies — are domesticated and join Norwegians society by the cover of night. But in the full light of day, they are all displaced, misplaced, and immigrants. They are foreigners and outsiders by day, but Norwegian by Night.
Other than that … it's kind of catchy!
warm wishes from Oslo.
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