Scan barcode
A review by marc129
The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book, this is literature at its finest. It contains no spectacular story and although it is a bit less captivating than the novel that I previously read from Hustvedt [b:What I Loved|125502|What I Loved|Siri Hustvedt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347721158l/125502._SY75_.jpg|1309881], this book is much more balanced. The focus lies almost completely on the inside of men and women, our psychological relation with the world and other people (the main character is a male psychiatrist). Hustvedt outlines very fragile people struggling with all kinds of issues, trauma and secrets, - sometimes validly, sometimes not at all (though that, of course, always is the view of an outsider). What is striking, is how much people keep silent about those issues, they keep them hidden, shielding them off.
While reading, I often had to think of the novel [b:The Echo Maker|19794|The Echo Maker|Richard Powers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442170821l/19794._SX50_.jpg|1256282] by Richard Powers, which I read half a year ago. This novel also outlines how strange the human brain works. But the book of Hustvedt is much better managed and balanced.
Hustvedt processed a number of autobiographical elements (her Norwegian origin, she also uses verbatim passages from the diary of her father), and one of the side figures is also traumatized by the attacks of 11 september 2001, but fortunately that does not get too much attention (though the title might suggest otherwise), it isn’t the real focus, but then again those few pages are really poignant.
I especially love the very balanced style of Hustvedt and her subtle way of looking at people, stressing the fragility of human beings. Some passages (such as psychiatrist Eric dealing with the little daughter of his downstairs neighbour) are captivatingly beautiful and endearing. What’s more, – but maybe it's just my personal interpretation – I have the impression that Hustvedt's message is: each of us struggles with issues and disappointments in life (and sometimes outright trauma), but the most effective medicine for this is not so spectacular: some attention, care, and affection. Perhaps they don’t offer a real cure or solution, but at least some relief and leniency. Or is that too much asked for?
While reading, I often had to think of the novel [b:The Echo Maker|19794|The Echo Maker|Richard Powers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442170821l/19794._SX50_.jpg|1256282] by Richard Powers, which I read half a year ago. This novel also outlines how strange the human brain works. But the book of Hustvedt is much better managed and balanced.
Hustvedt processed a number of autobiographical elements (her Norwegian origin, she also uses verbatim passages from the diary of her father), and one of the side figures is also traumatized by the attacks of 11 september 2001, but fortunately that does not get too much attention (though the title might suggest otherwise), it isn’t the real focus, but then again those few pages are really poignant.
I especially love the very balanced style of Hustvedt and her subtle way of looking at people, stressing the fragility of human beings. Some passages (such as psychiatrist Eric dealing with the little daughter of his downstairs neighbour) are captivatingly beautiful and endearing. What’s more, – but maybe it's just my personal interpretation – I have the impression that Hustvedt's message is: each of us struggles with issues and disappointments in life (and sometimes outright trauma), but the most effective medicine for this is not so spectacular: some attention, care, and affection. Perhaps they don’t offer a real cure or solution, but at least some relief and leniency. Or is that too much asked for?