Because Venus Crossed an Alpine Violet on the Day that I Was Born
Because Venus Crossed an Alpine Violet on the Day that I Was Born by Mona Høvring, translated by Kari Dickson, Rachel Rankin
English | October 5, 2021 | ISBN: 1771667060 | EPUB | 146 pages | 1.7 MB
English | October 5, 2021 | ISBN: 1771667060 | EPUB | 146 pages | 1.7 MB
Winner of the 2021 Dobloug Prize
Winner of the Norwegian Critics' Prize for Literature
Shortlisted for the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize
In a hotel, high up in a mountain village, two sisters aim to reconnect after distant years that contrast their close, almost twin-like upbringing. Martha has just been discharged from a sanatorium after a mental breakdown. Ella agrees to keep her company in the hope that the clean winter air will provide clarity—and a way back to their childhood connection.
It's only when plans go awry, and Martha disappears in a rage, that Ella discovers a new sense of self outside her filial role. This identity is reinforced by various encounters: the hotel receptionist who takes her under her wing; the enigmatic love interest; the wistful, drunken Salvation Army soldier; the carpenter. And not least, Ella's encounter with the writings of Stefan Zweig, which have a profound impact.
Mona Høvring's award-winning novel Because Venus Crossed an Alpine on the Day that I Was Born is as sharp as it sensitive; insightful as it is original when exploring the many distractions of the heart.