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Near Distance
“Stoltenberg’s elegant prose makes each scene . . . so engaging that it gives plot a bad name.”—John Self, Guardian
For her entire life, Karin has fled anything and anyone that tries to possess her. Her job demands little, she mostly socializes with men she meets online, and she’s rarely in touch with Helene, her adult daughter. But when Helene’s marriage is threatened, she turns, uncharacteristically, to her mother for commiseration, and a long weekend away in London. As the two women embark on their uneasy companionship, Karin’s past, and the origins of her studied detachments, are cast in a new light, and she can no longer ignore their effects—on not only herself and her own relationships, but on her daughter’s as well.
An unnerving, closely observed study of character—and the choices we do and do not make—Near Distance introduces Hanna Stoltenberg as a writer of piercing insight and startling lucidity.
Praise for Near DistanceStoltenberg debuts with a stunning portrait of a strained motherdaughter relationship Karins contradictory emotional realitiesat times harsh at times gentleare observed precisely and beautifully and feel true to the complexities of real life Its a winner Publishers Weekly starred reviewGrimly fascinating infused with a sense of dread and observed in microscopic detail from a bemused and calculated remove Page after page leaves the reader anxiously waiting for the other shoe to dropKirkus ReviewsThe writing astutely sketches personal and familial dysfunctions in absorbing past episodes present relationships and in the brief focused storylineBooklistNear Distance tells the tragedy of missed communication and the awkwardness of familial love in a motherdaughter enmeshment In Karin and Helene Stoltenberg has created two of the most alive characters Ive read in some while With an uncanny grasp on weaving together the past while keeping sharp focus on the present Near Distance is a philosophical disarming and devastatingly true depiction of women alive todayan utterly compelling trip Elaine Feeney Bookernominated author of How to Build a BoatIn this elegant translation of Hanna Stoltenbergs first novel cool prose and precise observations overlay a heartrending and winesoaked story about marriage mothers and daughters and the weird world of yoga meditation and selfhelp Liz Harmer author of Strange LoopsThis tense novel of loneliness and dissatisfaction made me laugh a lotto begin with A double awardwinner in Norway it tells the story of 53yearold Karin and her daughter Helene Stoltenbergs elegant prose makes each scenea trip to London a memory of a past boyfriendso engaging that it gives plot a bad name John Self The GuardianNear Distance is a powerful highly original novel reminiscent of early Ian McEwan The growing sense of tension is so cleverly managed it gave me butterflies The translation is exceptional Miranda France author of The Writing SchoolAn acutely observed depiction of a motherdaughter relationship and the unreachable distances that can open up between us even when love is present Rosalind Harvey translator of Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize
Details
Dimensions:
160 Pages
7.75in * 5in * .4in
150.00gr
Published:
January 14, 2025
Publisher:
ISBN:
9781771966436
Language:
eng
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