Spoilers: None
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: ebook
Source: Library Loan
Rating: Liked (4★)
This is my first Jon Fosse work, and it won’t be my last.
Set in Northern Norway, the story centres on the small fishing village of Vaim, where we meet Jatgeir as he goes to Bjørgvin to buy a needle and thread. I was going to say it’s not a very dramatic tale, but it does have drama. What it doesn’t have is conflict; instead, it’s a deep reflection on living quietly and simply.
Over three distinct parts, Fosse introduces Jatgeir’s boat (Eline), his friend (Elias), the secret love of his life (also Eline, as he named the boat after her) and Eline’s husband, Frank.
Eline is the anchor and a force of nature throughout. But we don’t hear from Eline directly; instead, we see her impact. Though the men don’t seem to mind, I’m not sure it’s healthy.
What I enjoyed, and what must have been painstaking to translate, is the unfiltered stream-of-consciousness narration, which makes this very much a vibes novel.
Jatgeir keeps to himself in the novel; he has one friend, Elias. There’s a moment in the middle between the two that I found heartbreaking. It’s a quiet moment, yet it shows the power in Fosse’s writing.
It’s hard to guess where it’s all heading, but Fosse manages to sail us into swelling emotions as he navigates out of Vaim and back again.
Recommended for those who like powerful slice-of-life tales that are a little vague and a little strange.
