chewable prose

[snugglekitty]

I saw the book Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson on a number of "best books of 2007" type lists, so I decided to give it a go. It seems that recently, more international bestsellers are being translated to English and finding success in the American market (the excellent mysteries of Fred Vargas are another example of this). I find this pleasing. This book was written in Norway, and translated to the English by Anne Born.
The beginning of the book is deceptively slow and quiet. It alternates between the main character's life as an old man, and his life as a boy. Everything seems peaceful. But secrets are a-simmering, my friends. And the prose is amazing. There are sentences four and five lines long, ones you can really sink your teeth into, metaphor leading to metaphor. The book becomes more and more engrossing as the characters' histories are revealed. When I started it, I was trying to get to the end quickly so I could return it to the library. By the end, I kept trying to slow down because I wanted to savor every last word.
A little gem of a book. Four stars. If you want to read one of the best-reviewed books of the year, experience some really good prose, or find out more about what life is like in Norway, this is the book for you. I'll be looking for more by Petterson.

Comments

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

"Chewable prose." What a concept! Cute.