Scan barcode
A review by thebobsphere
Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth
5.0
In Thomas Vinterberg’s 1998 film Festen, a family is gathered round a dinner table celebrating the father’s 60th birthday. As the night progresses the family start revealing secrets which pertain to parental abuse, ultimately all demons are faced and the parents confess.
The film is referenced in Vigdis Hjorth;s Will and testament and, in fact, it does follow a similar path.
The narrator, Bergljot, discovers her father has died and remembers an argument she had with him and the rest of her family over some summer residences which were given to two of her three siblings. The first half of the book consists of the arguments and complications which arise when children are not treated equally.
Although hinted at in the first half of the novel, at the midway way point things take a darker turn and darker secrets emerge which Bergljot decides to face during the reading of her father’s will. From there it’s best to let the reader discover Bergljot’s future.
Will and Testament is about family dynamics – what are the consequences when you cut yourself from your family, is a family a tight unit? do all families harbour deep secrets? Like the previous Hjorth novel I read Is Mother Dead themes of parental relationships and their outcomes feature although Will and Testament is more disturbing.
I enjoyed it – I like Vigdis Hjorth’s twisty prose which has a way of lulling you then delivers a shock punch plus with her use of short chapters and quotable passages make Will and Testament a compelling read. albeit one guaranteed to make one squirm.
The film is referenced in Vigdis Hjorth;s Will and testament and, in fact, it does follow a similar path.
The narrator, Bergljot, discovers her father has died and remembers an argument she had with him and the rest of her family over some summer residences which were given to two of her three siblings. The first half of the book consists of the arguments and complications which arise when children are not treated equally.
Although hinted at in the first half of the novel, at the midway way point things take a darker turn and darker secrets emerge which Bergljot decides to face during the reading of her father’s will. From there it’s best to let the reader discover Bergljot’s future.
Will and Testament is about family dynamics – what are the consequences when you cut yourself from your family, is a family a tight unit? do all families harbour deep secrets? Like the previous Hjorth novel I read Is Mother Dead themes of parental relationships and their outcomes feature although Will and Testament is more disturbing.
I enjoyed it – I like Vigdis Hjorth’s twisty prose which has a way of lulling you then delivers a shock punch plus with her use of short chapters and quotable passages make Will and Testament a compelling read. albeit one guaranteed to make one squirm.