Reviews

The Trouble with Happiness: And Other Stories by Tove Ditlevsen

momentsonpages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ginnyk_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

pickashelf's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

frozen_tangerine's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

georginadean's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

marinacka17's review against another edition

4.0

"The fact that we are so incredibly uninterested in what is happening inside the person closest to us is probably the source of many problems."

caitlinfern's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mi04's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

dorienjulia's review against another edition

5.0

This might be the first short story collection that I’ve ever devoured with such rigor. Contrary to the Copenhagen trilogy - Ditlevsen’s memoir - which is more plot driven, this short story collection exemplifies Ditlevsen’s artistic greatness through the sheer impact of her language use.

‘The trouble with happiness and other stories’ provides a stunning insight into everyday life, the struggles of family and marriage, and the fine balance between rejecting and conforming to the social construct of what it means to be a woman.

thecatsmum's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was interesting to read as a mid-century collection of domestic short stories set in Denmark. It's probably a period and setting that I've read about rarely, if at all. At times this felt like there was a feminist streak through the novels, but at other times, less so. It could be that writing personal stories about life in a highly patriarchal society will inevitably touch on feminist criticism of that society. I am glad that this apparently rarely translated writer is now becoming accessible to non-Danish readers.

The stories themselves often felt bleak and futile, with some venturing into the tragic, as the very apt title implies. So don't pick these up with any ideas that it will be a light and easy read of a bygone era.