24 July 2009

The Next Anders Nilsen!



It's coming! Soon!

And Mr. Nilsen says there are three more issues of Big Questions to go, I thought this would be the last. Fantastic!

Min röst skall nu komma från en annan plats i rummet by Lotta Lotass



I've been waiting for the right moment to read this novel since probably 2006 when it came out. Even though it's been standing in my book shelf the whole time. Perhaps it's the same thing as with Susan Sontag's Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors, the first page striking a brilliant chord that makes for a quite attentive read that I might not be up to at the time.
Där bakom gestaltlös, utan skapnad, väntar med famlande, väntar med skakande ännu oformade händer det som snart skall komma.
Står med sluttande och oformlig gestalt och framåtböjd och lyssnar.

And on page 2:
Nu i formlöshet som blundar,
vänder sig om på sin andra sida,
samlar sig till något som är likt en skepnad,
andas ut, reser sig upp och i sin fulla längd och tar ett första steg och börjar gå.

I cannot recall a more poetic and vivid description of the birth of evil. And the way Lotass takes the reader inside 5 serial killers' minds is extraordinary. How she can describe the environments in and around Las Vegas; the dams, the fair grounds, without using any names or English words, even, is quite unique.

I'm very glad that Lotass will become a member of the Swedish Academy on December, 20.

20 July 2009

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri



Eight short stories touching the subject of Bengali families and betweenship. Not caring much about short stories I'm actually quite happily surprised. Especially by the first story, about a woman who feels pressured to invite her seemingly lonely father to live with her and her family; pressured by the customs of their culture. It's realistic and low key, as all of the stories. Most of all, however: it's wonderfully easy to identify with the characters. Particularly as a second generationer.

I definitely need to read more by Lahiri.

10 July 2009

The Family Reunion by T.S. Eliot



In a world of fugitives
The person taking the opposite direction
Will appear to run away


/Agatha

Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot