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A review by dreesreads
The Family Clause by Jonas Hassen Khemiri
5.0
Fantastic novel from a well-known (in Sweden) writer.
Khemiri uses an unusual style--no one is ever named, they are only named in relation to the others (the daughter who is also a mother; the father who is also a grandfather; the 4-year-old). The paragraphs are long, and the sentences can be.
Many years ago the grandfather who is also a father left his family. He had also left his first family, who are in France. But to keep his Swedish residency, he musty return every 6 months. His son has agreed to put him up for the 10 days or so he is there every 6 months. Over time, both have become very frustrated with this arrangement. In how they talk--or don't--to each other, you can see why the son behaves as he does. He is always trying to do things the right way, to the point of being paralyzed and unable to do anything at all. His father insults him constantly (yet thinks he is joking). The father sees there as being exactly one right way to do anything, and the son has never done it despite trying. Yet the father is the man who left 2 families.
Much of this book is day-to-day life, and it is hysterical. The 3 pages on a morning with a 1- and a 4-year-old was perfect. Been there, done that, laughed a lot. Each of the kids also narrates a short section, which is also interesting. Khemiri gives all the different perspectives and the link together so the reader can see what the characters cannot.
Excellent.
Khemiri uses an unusual style--no one is ever named, they are only named in relation to the others (the daughter who is also a mother; the father who is also a grandfather; the 4-year-old). The paragraphs are long, and the sentences can be.
Many years ago the grandfather who is also a father left his family. He had also left his first family, who are in France. But to keep his Swedish residency, he musty return every 6 months. His son has agreed to put him up for the 10 days or so he is there every 6 months. Over time, both have become very frustrated with this arrangement. In how they talk--or don't--to each other, you can see why the son behaves as he does. He is always trying to do things the right way, to the point of being paralyzed and unable to do anything at all. His father insults him constantly (yet thinks he is joking). The father sees there as being exactly one right way to do anything, and the son has never done it despite trying. Yet the father is the man who left 2 families.
Much of this book is day-to-day life, and it is hysterical. The 3 pages on a morning with a 1- and a 4-year-old was perfect. Been there, done that, laughed a lot. Each of the kids also narrates a short section, which is also interesting. Khemiri gives all the different perspectives and the link together so the reader can see what the characters cannot.
Excellent.