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amaezing's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
haazex's review against another edition
4.0
Norwegian Angst
Cora Sandel continues her Alberte trilogy in this second volume. One now finds Alberte in Paris. I kind of expected a continuation of her journey from Norway, i.e. stepping away from the family home, conflict etc. Instead Sandel chooses to share her memories from living a different type of life in the streets of Paris. It is actually quite interesting and Sandel has a knack for the staying in the psychological realm. I realized that I have missed Alberte since I last left her back in Norway (last month). She is such a lovable character!
It seems like she is doing some kind of writing, but it is not really emphasized in the novel. It is more a matter of pieces of paper in a box mentioned on the sidelines here and there. I presume she is heading towards some type of writing since these novels are semibiographical. Alberte has issues with making a living so she has decided to model as a nude. Kind of awkward for her and beautifully depicted in the very beginning of the novel. Quite a change from hiding in her family home in northern Norway as in the first novel.
The novel is very existential and depicts an almost dream-like world as Alberte’s reality. She seems to only live in the present and expands with connections to friends, and other people from abroad trying the more artsy life style in Paris. She barely mentions anything about Norway and her past experiences which surprised me. It is almost as if the reader is floating along in her company in the streets of Paris, its restaurants and little tiny attic rooms filled with mice, while trying to stay warm and get a bite to eat every now and then.
Sandel’s emphasis is an existential dream with Alberte floating through life with plenty of Scandinavian angst to accompany her. To me it was interesting to get a feel for the community of artists living in Paris at the time. Alberta is a bit different though, but her mind and observations allow us to get a sense of the lives of the artists, their friends, models, gatherings and the overall way of life. I sense small to medium studios with few possessions and friendships. Always a bill to pay around the corner! I keep asking myself how Alberta makes ends meet. The novel lags here and there as Alberte is trying to figure out who she is. The book is an interesting blend of realism and philosophy. Alberta continuously strives towards finding meaning in her existence. Sandel does a brilliant job suspending the reader in Alberta's mind as time flows by. It reminds me of George Orwell with an additional injection of the artist's life. The translation by Elizabeth Rokkan is excellent!
4.5/5
Cora Sandel continues her Alberte trilogy in this second volume. One now finds Alberte in Paris. I kind of expected a continuation of her journey from Norway, i.e. stepping away from the family home, conflict etc. Instead Sandel chooses to share her memories from living a different type of life in the streets of Paris. It is actually quite interesting and Sandel has a knack for the staying in the psychological realm. I realized that I have missed Alberte since I last left her back in Norway (last month). She is such a lovable character!
It seems like she is doing some kind of writing, but it is not really emphasized in the novel. It is more a matter of pieces of paper in a box mentioned on the sidelines here and there. I presume she is heading towards some type of writing since these novels are semibiographical. Alberte has issues with making a living so she has decided to model as a nude. Kind of awkward for her and beautifully depicted in the very beginning of the novel. Quite a change from hiding in her family home in northern Norway as in the first novel.
The novel is very existential and depicts an almost dream-like world as Alberte’s reality. She seems to only live in the present and expands with connections to friends, and other people from abroad trying the more artsy life style in Paris. She barely mentions anything about Norway and her past experiences which surprised me. It is almost as if the reader is floating along in her company in the streets of Paris, its restaurants and little tiny attic rooms filled with mice, while trying to stay warm and get a bite to eat every now and then.
Sandel’s emphasis is an existential dream with Alberte floating through life with plenty of Scandinavian angst to accompany her. To me it was interesting to get a feel for the community of artists living in Paris at the time. Alberta is a bit different though, but her mind and observations allow us to get a sense of the lives of the artists, their friends, models, gatherings and the overall way of life. I sense small to medium studios with few possessions and friendships. Always a bill to pay around the corner! I keep asking myself how Alberta makes ends meet. The novel lags here and there as Alberte is trying to figure out who she is. The book is an interesting blend of realism and philosophy. Alberta continuously strives towards finding meaning in her existence. Sandel does a brilliant job suspending the reader in Alberta's mind as time flows by. It reminds me of George Orwell with an additional injection of the artist's life. The translation by Elizabeth Rokkan is excellent!
4.5/5
skyeuqx's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion and Misogyny
Minor: Racism
julieeilen's review against another edition
4.0
This book is really beautifully written and the story is very nice. I really liked it.
hardcoverhearts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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