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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
This is great little collection of stories. It reminds me a little of Hemingway. The stories are about a child growing up in Norway. There are simple events that happen but they help the main character become who he is becoming.
Another excellent book by Per Petterson who writes so well, creating vivid pictures in few words. This is a short book of vignettes, sketches from a childhood.
Ashes in my Mouth, Sand in my Shoes, first published in 1987, was Norwegian writer Per Petterson’s first book, yet it was only translated in 2013. Like many other successful authors who write in languages that are not English, his books have been translated out of order. This means that for fans, like me, we have to read things out of chronological order. Not that it really matters: reading a Per Petterson novel is always a treat, regardless of when it was published, and this one is no exception.
The book, which is beautifully presented with French flaps and high-quality paper, comes in a small format paperback measuring 11.9cm x 16.6cm, making it perfect to fit in a handbag or, in my case, a bike bag. I toted it around with me for about a week and read a chapter each morning as I ate my breakfast having cycled 6.5 miles into work. It was the perfect way to start to the day.
Ashes in my Mouth, Sand in my Shoes tells the story of Arvid, a character who features strongly in Petterson’s later novels, In the Wake (first published in 2000 and translated into English in 2007) and I Curse the River of Time (first published in 2008 but translated into English in 2010) and is said to be loosely based on Petterson himself.
In this debut novel, Arvid is a six-year-old boy living on the outskirts of Oslo in the 1960s. His world revolves largely around his working class parents — his Danish mother, who is a cleaner, and his father, a factory worker — his older sister Gry and his paternal uncle Rolf, who is a socialist.
Structured around 10 self-contained chapters, it reads a bit like a short story collection, but the unifying thread is Arvid’s unique take on the world coupled with his inability to comprehend the adult situations around him. His childhood naivety is utterly endearing, but there are also moments when you realise his honesty may work against him.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
The book, which is beautifully presented with French flaps and high-quality paper, comes in a small format paperback measuring 11.9cm x 16.6cm, making it perfect to fit in a handbag or, in my case, a bike bag. I toted it around with me for about a week and read a chapter each morning as I ate my breakfast having cycled 6.5 miles into work. It was the perfect way to start to the day.
Ashes in my Mouth, Sand in my Shoes tells the story of Arvid, a character who features strongly in Petterson’s later novels, In the Wake (first published in 2000 and translated into English in 2007) and I Curse the River of Time (first published in 2008 but translated into English in 2010) and is said to be loosely based on Petterson himself.
In this debut novel, Arvid is a six-year-old boy living on the outskirts of Oslo in the 1960s. His world revolves largely around his working class parents — his Danish mother, who is a cleaner, and his father, a factory worker — his older sister Gry and his paternal uncle Rolf, who is a socialist.
Structured around 10 self-contained chapters, it reads a bit like a short story collection, but the unifying thread is Arvid’s unique take on the world coupled with his inability to comprehend the adult situations around him. His childhood naivety is utterly endearing, but there are also moments when you realise his honesty may work against him.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
Lovely little short story cycle. I'm a huge fan of Petterson's and it's great to see where he started. There are glimpses of his future books in these stories, but Arvid is also a character unto himself.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Tipikus északi szövegnek érzem, nagyon tetszett. Pap Vera-Ágnes fordítása gyönyörű, rengeteget hozzátesz az élményhez. Érdekes volt olvasni Arvid világlátásáról, elmélkedéseiről; családja dinamikájáról és az apjával való kapcsolatáról. A történetfüzérek remekül voltak elosztva, de párnál volt egy pici hiányérzetem. A szerzőtől szeretnék még olvasni máskor is. ❤️
Vorig jaar las ik "menn i min situasjon" van Per Petterson, een sublieme roman met als hoofdpersonage Arvid, die een echtscheiding heeft meegemaakt en zijn weg verder zoekt in het leven. Groot was mijn vreugde toen bleek dat Per Petterson reeds meerdere boeken schreef rond het leven van Arvid, te beginnen met deze "Aske i munnen, sand i skoa". In dit boek ontmoet de lezer Arvid, een dan 6-jarige jongen uit Oslo, voor het allereerst. In 10 korte verhalen krijgen we een mooi beeld van wie Arvid is, hoe zijn familie eruit ziet, wat er in zijn dagelijkse leven speelt en vooral... hoe hij als 6 jarige naar de dingen kijkt. Zo is Arvid bijvoorbeeld stiekem blij dat zijn grootvader overlijdt want nu mag hij eindelijk de kano uitproberen waar hij van zijn grootvader niet in mocht. Petterson slaagt er zeer goed in volwassen situaties door de ogen van ene kind te beschrijven. Ik ga zonder twijfel meer lezen van deze auteur.
This was a sweet novella that gives the reader snippets in the life of a little boy, Arvid, living with his parents in Norway in the early 60’s. His father works in a shoe factory and his Danish mother works as a cleaner. Arvid wets his bed at night and has nightmares about crocodiles, but slowly he is beginning to piece the world together.
Looking at life through the eyes of a sensitive, hyper-imaginative child is always insightful and I enjoyed the stories full of humor and poignant observations.
The writing is simple and straightforward, with occasional beautiful prose.
I found out only after finishing that it’s a prequel to the book [b:I Curse the River of Time|7433149|I Curse the River of Time|Per Petterson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427667063s/7433149.jpg|4872975] which I want to read at some point as well.
Looking at life through the eyes of a sensitive, hyper-imaginative child is always insightful and I enjoyed the stories full of humor and poignant observations.
The writing is simple and straightforward, with occasional beautiful prose.
I found out only after finishing that it’s a prequel to the book [b:I Curse the River of Time|7433149|I Curse the River of Time|Per Petterson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427667063s/7433149.jpg|4872975] which I want to read at some point as well.
This is a slice of life novella of a young boy in 1950s or 1960s Norway. The prose is sparse, but I really enjoyed the stories.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes