(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
There was a general stir when it became clear earlier this week that the relatively unknown Jørgen Norheim is one of this year's nominees for the Nordic Council Literature Prize. Norheim has previously published two books, Little pig in berry forest out (1994) and Mars (1998), both sold in dwindling small editions. So what is it that he has to offer, the subway driver and the historian – and the author?
This year's award-nominated book, No one is so safe in danger, is a widely-read novel with many side-stories and leaps and bounds. It is held in a sometimes very funny prose, with many sharp observations about contemporary Norway, where the author draws on great knowledge that is well-disposed.
The big story
The main story is two-fold. First, it's about Kapo, a 35-year-old retired revival preacher, and his mission to save the relatively orphaned eight-year-old Cain. Cain's father, and Kapo's former boss, have committed suicide after running the previously very successful Babel group in the ditch. In the wake of this, Cain's mother, Eva, has been forcibly removed, and Cain has ended up as a heavily neglected graffiti war. We then follow the fate of the little boy and the adult foster father, as well as other failures of the notoriously notorious company.
And then there's the second part of the main story. For the newly acquired father role, Kapo also begins to ponder who his own father is, and therefore the story will also revolve around the hunt for this. It goes through a mother in Finnmark who was partisan. And so, the war in Finnmark and the development of political relations between the east and the west is one of many bis tracks in the big story. This in turn leads to a hunt in Norwegian, East German and Soviet archives, for Kapo is eventually convinced that it must be his mother's young girlfriend during the war which is his paternal origin. But how to explain a 23 year long pregnancy? So far, history works and provides many historical insights that are, for the most part, elegantly and stylishly spun into the rest of the story. Norheim is not lucky with all the bee stories.
Many siding
One of these is the story of the aging political laughter and growth of the aging comedian Karl Emmanuel Gärtner. It starts with a visit to the information adviser, where he presents his desire to become a member of the Storting, and this is one of the more enjoyable sections. Gärtner has gained his political ambitions by constantly discussing politics with taxi drivers: "he basically liked talking to taxi drivers, they were somehow always the same with him". And one day one of them utters the liberating words: "You should be in the Storting, you!", Whereupon the political ambitions blossom. Hence the visit to the information adviser, who ignites the idea: “Daily Leiar saw a devilishly challenging challenge in transforming the somewhat helpless, grumpy middle-aged man into a national political greatness. The man had a commitment that overshadowed all self-insight, in itself a very driving force. " Gärtner comes out, transformed into the more Norwegian-adapted Karl E. Hagen, in order not to give associations to his German origins, and with an address Finnmark, because there he does not have to capture as many voices as in Oslo.
There is little doubt about who is the model for Karl E., and the two namesakes then also carry the same political ideas. Lines such as "They agreed that they had to bring the best from the emerging cultural continents as well, at the same time as one should not let too many in to take care of Norwegian welfare" also provide accurate observations of Norwegian ambivalence and double standards.
But the satire could obviously have been made a little more subtle, because the superstition destroys a bit of the power of the story, and the story could have been spun closer together with the main story (s).
unclear
Another weakness is the book's occasional allusions to Kapo's past as a revival preacher, a past that seems somewhat sticky. Mostly because it seems that the potential of this otherwise literary excellent point of departure for a professional background just isn't well exploited. We are told in a drip that Kapo has been missionary in Northern Norway and has developed into a first-class petty criminal, but it is difficult to get a grip on personal development.
His dubious professional status, however, has a festive effect, such as when he has to check into a hotel and assess which identity is most beneficial there and then. Kapo decides that for the occasion it may be wise to pretend to be an author. "Should he be asked specific questions about what he wrote, he could say that he was an experienced poet and that, 'No, unfortunately, this is very private.' Or if he was asked what he had written earlier, he could say that 'No, unfortunately, the book has not come out yet. But soon. Just wait! ' So author. ”
Deserve attention
It feels a little unfair to read an author on the basis of a big nomination such as the Nordic Council when he wrote his books up to a few days ago, without saying, at all, reviews. But in a year when it is totally unlikely that a Norwegian writer will win anyway, it is a wise move of the committee to choose to bring a relatively unknown name to light.
No one is so safe in danger is not the most formidable Norwegian novel of the year. But it is a very nice acquaintance. Norheim is funny, and throughout most of the book sparkling linguistically and with a narrative delight and a drive that makes it a delight to read him.
First and foremost, it all could have been edited tighter. Norheim vile something about his book, and it is both sympathetic and largely successful. The question is what and where he wants, and here it does not seem like he has quite decided. It speaks a little too much in just too many directions. Therefore, the publisher should also have gone an extra round with the book, for this could have been even greater literature. The potential is there, but there is still something to be done. This is nonetheless a writing that is well worth pursuing, and hopefully more reviewers and readers will catch their eye on Norheim in the future. He deserves it.
