Six novels, two history books, two collections of poems, a biography, a story, a comic, a beautiful book, a children’s book… Here are the brief reviews of fifteen outstanding works in this forty-first week of the year. .
Novel. “A few moments for eternity”, by Kjersti Anfinnsen
In the eyes of the Norwegian Kjersti Anfinnsen (born 1975), the existence of retirees constitutes a captivating literary theme, too little exploited. This is demonstrated by the two short novels that have been brought together in this volume. The minimalist prose, with chapters sometimes made up of a single paragraph, outlines the existence of its heroine. For her own retirement, the latter chose to live in Paris, so the text is a double farewell, to her native country and to the life of yesteryear. The story is reminiscent of the logbook of a new life, woven of memories, of small day-to-day concerns, but also of passions and dilemmas. No big organs, more chamber music. The result is an elegant meditation on the things that perish and those that remain. E.Ba.
“A few moments for eternity” (De siste kjærtegn. Oyeblikk for evigheten), by Kjersti Anfinnsen, translated from Norwegian by Jean-Baptiste Coursaud, Mercure de France, 140 p., €23, digital €17.
Novel. “Limberlost” by Robbie Arnott
When Limberlost was published in its original language, in 2022, Robbie Arnott, considered a young prodigy of Australian letters (he was born in Tasmania in 1989), wrote on his discreet Instagram feed: “By far the most personal thing I’ve ever written (…). I hope you like it. » Plaire is very far from reality since this novel (notably translated by Laure Manceau, who also signed the translation of the previous two), flames AND The rain birdActes Sud, 2019 and Gaïa, 2022) is overwhelming.
It all begins at the mouth of a river: an enraged whale is said to be responsible for numerous shipwrecks. Ned, who was 5 years old at the time, remembers that freezing night he spent in the water waiting for him. Ten years later, he hunts rabbits (a plague in Australia) to buy a boat and return to the scene of this primitive scene. To also return to the time when his brothers had not yet gone to war – we are in 1940 -, when his sister seemed less sad and where his father, overwhelmed by the death of his wife, did not wander, with his absent gaze. , in his orchard without apples.
From then on, we follow the gifts and challenges that life has decided to offer Ned. It is about dreams and sacrifices, silent conversations and tender love. With disconcerting lucidity, Robbie Arnott writes about life as it comes and goes, often on tiptoe. And if it speaks of finitude, it also suggests, and with what accuracy and precision, the impressive beauties of nature and the pleasures it provides. E.G.
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