- Danish academic Helle Helle is one of Scandinavia's most original writers. She's been awarded many literary prizes over her thirty year career. This English translation is published in Australia by the Giramondo Publishing company from the Writing and Society Research Centre at Western Sydney University. I've long been a great fan of their publishing output. Their focus is on quality international literature, with a modernist bent.
- This new book was first published in Danish in 2018, and translated into English recently by noted translator Martin Aitken. It is written in the present tense, and run-on commas instead of full stops dominate. The accent is the pulse, not the story.
- The book is a short 147 pages. It focuses on the very ordinary lives of young teenagers and the small town they live in. The principal character is sixteen years old. Her mother has an unfortunate illness and is taken to hospital occasionally for short periods. Their relationship is certainly not what you'd expect. Their love for each other is heartwarming. They laugh a lot, talk a lot, and cook all sorts of foods together despite not having much money.
- As you'd expect the teens constantly swig beer, indulge in unhealthy food, and smoke. And there's lots and lots of snow most days. Getting to and from school on bikes can be difficult. There are sexual attractions but nothing serious or unwanted. Basically they are all restrained, with minimal physical contact. The daughter feels a loneliness however. She often walks away from her school friends. The possible loss of her mother affects her.
- The local shopkeepers are a key part of the flavour of the town: a deli, a clothing store, a hairdresser, a bakery. They all know and respect each other, and help out when necessary. It's the shadow over all this that's affecting.
- It's a story of innocence and optimism, yet sadness. And it will stay with you.
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