On the Calculation of Volume 1

Paperback, 179 pages

English language

Published by Faber & Faber.

ISBN:: 978-0-571-38337-5

It seems so odd to me now, how one can be so unsettled by the improbable. When we know that our entire existence is founded on freak occurrences and improbable coincidences. That we wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for these curious twists of fate.

THE BEGINNING OF A MAJOR SEQUENCE IN MODERN EUROPEAN LITERATURE.

The first volume of the poetic, page-turning masterpiece about one woman’s fall through the cracks of time.

Tara Selter has slipped out of time.

Every morning, she wakes up to the 18th of November. She no longer expects to wake up to the 19th of November, and she no longer remembers the 17th of November as if it were yesterday.

She comes to know the shape of the day like the back of her hand – the grey morning light in her Paris hotel; the moment a blackbird …

It seems so odd to me now, how one can be so unsettled by the improbable. When we know that our entire existence is founded on freak occurrences and improbable coincidences. That we wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for these curious twists of fate.

THE BEGINNING OF A MAJOR SEQUENCE IN MODERN EUROPEAN LITERATURE.

The first volume of the poetic, page-turning masterpiece about one woman’s fall through the cracks of time.

Tara Selter has slipped out of time.

Every morning, she wakes up to the 18th of November. She no longer expects to wake up to the 19th of November, and she no longer remembers the 17th of November as if it were yesterday.

She comes to know the shape of the day like the back of her hand – the grey morning light in her Paris hotel; the moment a blackbird breaks into song; her husband’s surprise at seeing her return home unannounced. But for everyone around her, this day is lived for the first and only time. They do not remember the other 18ths of November, and they do not believe her when she tries to explain.

As Tara approaches her 365th 18th of November, she can’t shake the feeling that somewhere underneath the surface of this day, there’s a way to escape.

Translated from the Danish by Barbara J. Haveland.

WINNER OF THE NORDIC COUNCIL LITERATURE PRIZE.

2 editions

osau reviewed Om uträkning av omfång 1 by Solvej Balle

Philosophical and absurd

4 stars

The book is a curious version of Groundhog Day. It is an interesting exploration of how one’s psyche will alter when you are trapped in a situation where you can’t escape.

I had an initial hurdle where I was too curious about the mechanics of the repeating day. All that was explained in due time. After a while I also realized it was beside the point. The book’s strength is how the character swings, wildly, between different moods and perspectives on her situation.

The language is on the poetic side and much of the book is devoted to the thoughts and feelings of the character, which is very well conveyed. The story itself doesn’t feel terribly unique, and in stories like this it is impossible to cover all inconsistencies. It’s philosophical and absurd, and I am reminded of Haruki Murakami’s books.

It’s a septology and I plan …

The book is a curious version of Groundhog Day. It is an interesting exploration of how one’s psyche will alter when you are trapped in a situation where you can’t escape.

I had an initial hurdle where I was too curious about the mechanics of the repeating day. All that was explained in due time. After a while I also realized it was beside the point. The book’s strength is how the character swings, wildly, between different moods and perspectives on her situation.

The language is on the poetic side and much of the book is devoted to the thoughts and feelings of the character, which is very well conveyed. The story itself doesn’t feel terribly unique, and in stories like this it is impossible to cover all inconsistencies. It’s philosophical and absurd, and I am reminded of Haruki Murakami’s books.

It’s a septology and I plan to read the others.