Kjell Askildsen Dies Aged 91

 
Hello Gentle Reader,
 
There are few literary professions where a writer can be regarded as a master. Perhaps the short story is the only literary form with such distinguishing accolade, testifying to the exacting nature of the form, which requires a jeweler’s eye for the detail, and spin such straw into gold. Kjell Askildsen was a recognized and renowned short story master. The contemporary Norwegian Grand Master of Literature unto itself, whose influence can be seen reverberating into the literary nature of Norwegian literature. Askildsen was removed and is recognized for his contributions to the short story form, which form the better part of his oeuvre, which have marked him one of the most important Post-War writers of Norway. His literary style was noted for its somber, sober, and serious tone, riddled with bleak landscapes, darkening skies, grey seas, desolate and foreboding; it is here on the shingle coast, or the snowed in cabin, or the smoke-filled bar, where the greater questions and preoccupations of life were framed, discussed, and contemplated. Despite debuting and finding great success in the short story, Kjell Askildsen also wrote novels, and his 1969 novel: “Surroundings,” is considered to be his mainstream break through success, complete with his developed sober prose. By 1983, however, with the collection of short stories: “Thomas F’s Last Notes to the Public,” that cemented Kjell Askildsen as one of the most important writers Norway and the Norwegian language. Renowned for his concise and sober style, misanthropic characters, bleak landscapes, and dark gallows humour. These hallmarks of his literature became his calling card and the admirable qualities, which critics and readers alike adored. In the simplicity of his texts, the brute honesty, the dry ice anger, the misanthropy of his characters, and the relieving dark humour reads clamored to enjoy the works of Askildsen.
 
Norwegian literature is perhaps misrepresented as always being bleak, existential, and sparse. Repetitive and back and forth, reminiscent of the tide lapping on the shore before receding into itself once again—think Jon Fosse—but before Jon Fosse, there was Kjell Askildsen who surveyed the fjords, the shingled beaches, the grey skies, the persistent snow-covered mountains, the ancient boreal forests, and the shut-in people, who were tucked into their quarters to wait out the winter. It was Kjell Askildsen of course who envisioned these individuals and made them literary characters.
 
A writer of a monumental legacy, Kjell Askildsen will be missed.
 
Rest in Peace.
 
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
 
M. Mary

 

 

Tsitsi Dangarembga, Named the Future Library Project Writer For 2021

Hello Gentle Reader 

Tsitsi Dangarembga is the newest writer to be included in the Future Library Project. The announcement was made just under a month ago. The announcement appeared to be so quiet not even a ripple could be detected. By being included in the Future Library Project, Tsitsi Dangarembga becomes the eighth writer to participate and join the time capsule literary and art project. 

 
Previous contributors include: 
 
Margaret Atwood - 2014 
David Mitchell - 2015
Sjon - 2016
Elif Shafak - 2017 
Han Kang - 2018
Karl Ove Knausgard - 2019
Ocean Vuong - 2020
 
An overview of the previous contributors it is difficult to discern any synonymous treatment or node points which connect them in any real capacity, besides the fact that they're all writers, and some share a common literary language. Their thematic preoccupations vary, from the diverse and prolific palette of Margaret Atwood to the autobiographical mammoth work of Karl Ove Knausgard, to the still burgeoning literary output of Ocean Vuong, and the postmodern novels of David Mitchell. The rationale and reason for each writer's invitation and contribution to the project are not entirely known. Regardless, their literary voices will echo long after they themselves have become silent. 
 
Tsitsi Dangarembga is a writer who breaks down barriers, starting with the fact that she is the first black Zimbabwean female writer to write and publish in English, with her debut: "Nervous Condition," in 1988. Since then, Dangarembga has remained a spark of hope. A consistent intelligent, breathing flame that demands to entice and enrich the world with the need to cling to hope. Hope that tyranny is toppled by the will of the oppressed. Hope that hatred is replaced with empathy and understanding. Hope that injustice is appealed. Hope that tomorrow the dawn will brighten the sky in a lively flash of colour that palpitates with to startle and remind us we are alive. 
 
As the Future Library Project is a time capsule - that in itself provides hope - that the human race and society is to exist into the future, surviving (or perhaps on a more optimistic level curtailing) the climate crisis, whose glowing shadow can be seen rising over the horizon of the immediate future; then the induction of Tsitsi Dangarembga is a welcome event. The writer is known for her principles, moral compass, and empathetic virtues, all of which will glow into the future. A spark of hope which will be reignited in the future, and shine a light on the past, and provide further insight into (what we hope to be) substantial social adjustments. 
 
Congratulations to Tsitsi Dangarembga, the invitation to contribute to the Future Library Project is merited.
 
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
 
M. Mary

The Booker Prize Shortlist 2021

Hello Gentle Reader, 
 
The Booker Prize judges have announced this year's shortlist. After deliberation, debate, and discussion, they have successfully whittled the longlist down to its more splintered core -- or at the very least its counterpart, a shadow of its former self. The former longlist was praised for its exceptional sense of strength and unique perspectives, which means expectations are high on the novels inducted into the shortlist. Overall, a safe understanding - if not painless caveat - to state that the judges made an honest attempt and succeeded on an overall level. Whether or not they appeased and sated the expectations is not entirely clear. 
 
This year’s Booker Prize shortlist is made up of the following: 
 
Nadifa Mohamed – Somalia/United Kingdom – "The Fortune Men," 
Damon Galgut – South Africa – "The Promise," 
Maggie Shipstead – United States – "Great Circle," 
Anuk Arudpragasam – Sri Lanka/United States – "A Passage North," 
Patrick Lockwood – United States – "No One Is Talking About This," 
Richard Powers – United States – "Bewilderment," 
 
Some of these authors have previously been nominated, while for others this marks their debut. One of the more established writers, whose been beat out on this year's Booker Prize Shortlist is the Nobel Laureate in Literature and his science fictionesque like novel that contemplated human emotions, relationships, and the peculiar concept of what it means to be human in a increasingly 'transcending world,' as observed through the eyes of a robotic companion in a near future society.  Though the future is envisioned in the stylish novel “Bewilderment,” by Richard Powers, which is considered one of the most forceful contenders for this year’s prize. Along with former nominee Damon Galgut with his novel: “The Promise,” which through the four lens’s the trivialities, consequences, bitterness, resentments, and march of time as it is reflected through the tinted and tainted lens of a member of the swart family, who are unto themselves unremarkable, which creates a sober satire that like all comedy is bitter and sweet. The other great contender of this year’s short list is the up and coming and potently talented Somalian born English writer Nadifa Mohamed with her historical novel “The Fortune Men,” which recounts the injustice of Mahmood Mattan.
 
Despite the strengths of the list which maintain a strong literary bent, it does seem surprising to see Patricia Lockwood’s debut novel, “No One Is Talking About This,” appear on the shortlist. Lockwood’s novel (from what can be deduced) is written in style that emulates social media and other virtual platforms and their use and misuse of language, to create a virtual modernist writing style, taking the stream of consciousness style and transcribing it into the virtual paradigm. The novel has been warmly received by critics in America, who have praised it one of the most innovative novels of recent memory (as if they’ve never read Tom McCarthy and his traditional modernist narratives in the information age). The notion of writing a novel in a format that reminiscent or reflective of social media or any other electronic format (ironic stating that from a blog) does not appear groundbreaking, or a stroke of literary genius. It sounds more transient, topical, even cliché. This thought may come from the fact that the world is current overtly saturated with social media, misinformation, and demagoguery in general, that the notion of the novel being written in a similar format – or seeking to emulate it – seems to be a kitschy attempt at parading the commonplace as revolutionary.
 
Congratulations to the shortlisted writers.
 
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
 
M. Mary