Det å glemme seg selv, er en fantastisk følelse
To forget about yourself is a marvellous feeling
Sich selbst zu vergessen, ist ein phantastisches Gefühl
Lars Saabye Christensen
We are sooo proud that we not only could meet Lars Saabye Christensen in the Litteraturhus at Fredrikstad/Norway but that he signed a book for us as well as he allowed us to interview him.
Wir sind sooo stolz darauf, dass wir nicht nur Lars Saabye Christensen im Litteraturhus in Fredrikstad/Norwegen treffen durften, sondern dass er für uns auch ein Buch signierte und uns erlaubte, ihn zu interviewen.
If you don’t know, Lars is after Jo Nesbø und together with Karl Ove Knausgård the most successful Norwegian author. He is translated in English and more than 30 more other languages. The Independent called him “Norway’s literary superstar” and we agree. Our dear Master with his dainty side keeps a diary of all the novels he reads. It’s a beautifully bound book with many pages, a gift from his beloved Dina, in which he writes his remarks. We had a look what he wrote about Lars’ novels.
Für alle, die es noch nicht wissen sollten, nach Jo Nesbø und zusammen mit Karl Ove Knausgård ist Lars der führende Autor Norwegens. Und wisst ihr was? Fast alle seine Bücher sind in Deutsch erhältlich und überhaupt in über 30 Sprachen übersetzt. Die englische Tageszeitung The Independent bezeichnete ihn als „Norwegens literarischen Superstar“ und das zu Recht, wie wir meinen. Da unser liebes Masterchen ja eine penible Seite besitzt, führt er ein „Dichterbuch“, ein schönes, dickes Buch, das ihm Dina vor Jahren schenkte, in welches er Anmerkungen zu jedem Buch schreibt, das er liest. Wir haben da reingeblättert und geschaut, was er zu den Romanen von Lars notiert hat.
Our Master envies Lars for his easy cool way of writing (but the our secret – don’t tell anybody!). He loves his subtle irony like in this sentence: some died and some became suddenly headmasters (The Joker). And our Master writes: “All of his novels are warmhearted, funny and full of eccentricities, but never that eccentric that they loose their grounding. That’s because Lars is an exact observer of situations and moods.” When he read “Beatles“, his break through in Norway, our Master had the feeling to read his own story. His comment: “Those were the sixties, indeed!” “Waterloo” was the sequel playing in the seventies. Our Master didn’t like so much because of its arty metaphors. For Dina that’s a problem of the translation, for our Master it’s because Lars writes quite some lyrics too where such verbal pictures are suitable but not in novels. One of Lars’ main topics is the insecurity of men especially of growing up kids (like in “Maskeblomstfamilien“, “Beatles“, “The Half Brother“, his international break through novel, and “Herman” one of his books for adolescents). Often his heroes are outsiders who don’t give up. Crazy and wild are his last two novels “Bernard Hvals forsnakkelser” (2010) and “Sluk” (2012) which is not available in English yet.
Gar nicht so verwunderlich finden wir, dass Masterchen auf den locker-lässigen Erzählstil von Lars etwas neidisch ist (aber bloß nicht weitersagen – pssst!). Er bewundert die feine Ironie, wie z.B. „einige starben, einige wurden plötzlich Studienräte“ (in „Der falsche Tote“). Er schreibt weiter: “Alle Romane von Lars sind warmherzig, witzig und skurril, jedoch nicht so skurril, dass sie nicht hätten geschehen können. Lars ist nämlich ein ausgezeichneter Beobachter von Stimmungen und Situationen.” Besonders bei „Yesterday“, Christensens Durchbruch in Norwegen, hatte Masterchen das Gefühl, teilweise seine eigene Geschichte zu lesen. Sein Kommentar: “Genauso war’s in den Sechzigern!“ „Waterloo“ war der Roman über die anschließenden siebziger Jahre, der Masterchen nicht so gut gefiel. Er fand die Metaphorik zu gewollt und deswegen nicht nachvollziehbar. Dina meint, das liegt an der Übersetzung, er meinte, das liegt daran, dass Lars viel Lyrik schreibt, in der solche Metaphorik im Gegensatz zum Roman angemessen ist. Eines von Lars Themen, ist die Unsicherheit des Menschen, besonders des Heranwachsenden (z.B. in “Nachtschatten“, „Yesterday“, „Der Halbbruder“, mit dem sein großer internationaler Durchbruch kam, und dem Jugendbuch „Herman“), oder die Außenseiter, die sich nicht unterkriegen lassen wie in dem Geschichtenband „Der eifersüchtige Friseur“. Völlig verrückt und ungebremst erzählt ist die Geschichte der beiden Störenfriede, dem Arzt Bernhard Hval und dem Geher Fipp, in dem brillanten Roman “Die unglaublichen Ticks des Herrn Hval“. Auch in Lars neustem Roman “Der Sommer, in dem meine Mutter zum Mond fliegen wollte” behandelt im ersten Teil das Thema Adoleszenz. Am besten gefiel Masterchen, wohl weil das Thema Wahrnehmung angesprochen wird, „Das Modell“, ein Roman über einen Künstler, der erblinden wird, jedoch für einen herben Preis gerettet wird. Es ist eine linear erzählte Geschichte mit genialem Ende, das wir aber nicht verraten. Empfehlenswert finden Masterchen wie wir auch „Die blaue Kuppel der Erinnerung“, eine Art Mini-Entwicklungsroman, der gekonnt unterschiedliche Geschichten verbindet, die wortgewandt erzählt werden. Es geht u.a. um einen Blumenausfahrer, der zu Beginn von einer roten Fender-Gitarre und am Schluss von einer Frau träumt. Übrigens Anspielungen auf Pop-Musik kommen in fast allen Romanen von Lars vor.
And here comes our interview:
Und hier kommt unser Interview:
This is probably the first time that two Bookfayries ask you some questions. Thank you for giving us this interview. We are a little bit excited therefore we start right away.
Das ist wahrscheinlich das erste Mal, dass dich zwei Buchfeen befragen. Ganz lieben Dank für das Interview und da wir schon so aufgeregt sind, legen wir gleich los.
Siri & Selma: We are sooo impressed because you wrote not only so many novels, if we counted correctly more than 20 are published since 1977 which makes more than one novel every other year, but also poetry, plays, children’s book and scripts. You seem to us a “writing maniac” 😉 Could you tell us what writing means for you? And do you have special places or a special time for writing?
Wir sind voll beeindruckt davon, wie viele Romane du geschrieben hast. Haben wir uns nicht verzählt, sind es über 20, die von dir seit 1977 herauskamen, was mehr als einen Roman jedes zweite Jahr ergibt. Dazu gibt’s von dir noch Lyrik, Theaterstücke, Kinderbücher und Filmskripte. Bist du ein Schreibsüchtiger? Was bedeutet Schreiben für dich und schreibst du an bestimmten Orten und zu bestimmten Zeiten?
Lars: To write is a ”natural” part of me, like breathing, so to speak. And I write best in the morning, as early as possible, before anyone or anything disturbs me. I write at home, at the attic of my house.
Schreiben ist ein “natürlicher” Teil von mir wie Atmen und Sprechen. Am besten schreibe ich morgens so früh wie möglich, bevor Störungen einsetzen. Ich schreibe zu Hause in der Dachstube.
Siri & Selma: To write that much you need a lot of ideas. We Bookfayries are especially interested in the following question because Siri Bookfayrie is sitting on our Master’s left shoulder and whispers inspiring words in his ear when he is writing in our conservatory. Do you have such an inspiring whisperer too?
Um sooo viel zu schreiben, brauchst du ja viele Ideen. Wir Buchfeen sind besonders interessiert, wie du sie bekommst, denn Siri Buchfee pflegt auf Masterchens linker Schulter zu sitzen und ihn Inspirierendes ins Ohr zu flüstern, wenn er in unserem Wintergarten schreibt. Hast du auch solch einen Zuflüsterer?
Lars: I do not have any angels whispering to me. Inspiration comes from dreams, memory, music, art, people, traveling, trainstations, airports, highways, flea markets and cats.
Ich besitze keine Flügelwesen, die mir etwas zuflüstern. Meine Inspirationen stammen von Träumen, Erinnerungen, Musik, Kunst, von Leuten, Bahnhöfen, Flughäfen, Autobahnen, Flohmärkten und Katzen.
Siri & Selma: You are great story teller. Our Master read for us from “Beatles” and he was all the time stopping because he had the feeling you have been his buddy at that time. Well, we are not that old but for us you write so touching and profoundly as well as easy at the same time. We think this has to do that you remember typical details like in “Waterloo” from the seventies. Could you, please, be so kind to tell us something about remembering und writing? Isn’t remembering a strange mixture of documenting reality, of idealising, of fiction (which we Bookfayries see as telling creative lies) and projections (the uncreative lies)?
Du bist ein großer Erzähler. Unser Masterchen las uns aus “Yesterday” vor und (nervigerweise) hielt er ständig inne, da er das Gefühl hatte, du seist sein Kumpel gewesen. Naja, wir sind ja nicht so alt, aber finden auch, dass du berührend, tiefsinnig und zugleich leicht schreibst. Das scheint uns daran zu liegen, dass du typischen Details erinnerst wie z.B. aus dem 70er Jahren in “Waterloo“. Wie ist das denn mit Schreiben und Erinnern? Ist Erinnern nicht eine eigenartige Mischung aus Dokumentieren, Idealisieren, von Fiktion (Buchfeen nennen sie “kreative Lüge”) und Projektion (der unkreativen Lüge)?
Lars: Memory is an important part of my writing, and the process of writing. And memory is a poetic way of remembering, close to fiction some times. In the novels you mention I had to remember hit lists, name of bands and things like that, but memory works on another level, I think, memory has to do with atmosphere, moods, colors, dreams.
Erinnerung ist wichtig für mein Schreiben und den Prozess des Schreibens überhaupt. Erinnern ist poetisch und bisweilen nahe der Fiktion. In den genannten Romanen musste ich Hitlisten, den Namen der Bands und ähnliches erinnern. Aber eigentlich geschieht Erinnern auf einer anderen Ebene, der der Atmosphäre, Stimmungen, Farben und Träume.
Siri & Selma: You know Bookfayries are known as cute and curious, they notice (almost) everything. In your poetry you seem to like special words, they seem to be your dear friends like “suitcase”, “calendar” and “umbrella”. Do you prefer some words to others?
Buchfeen sind bekanntlich pfiffig und neugierig, ihnen fällt (fast) alles auf. In deiner Lyrik scheinst du Lieblingswörter zu haben wie ‘Koffer’, ‘Kalender’ und ‘Schirm’. Hast unter den Wörtern bestimmte Freunde?
Lars: After so many years of writing some words are more significant for me than others. It´s the key words of my poetry. But I have used this words since the early beginning. My first real poem, I wrote it when I was 15, was about clocks, and I have been writing about time ever since.
Nach so vielen Jahren des Schreibens sind mir einige Wörter wichtiger als andere. Sie sind die Schlüsselwörter meiner Lyrik. Wörter, die ich ganz von Anfang an benutzte. Mein erstes wirkliches Gedicht, das ich mit 15 schrieb, handelte von Uhren. Seitdem habe ich immer wieder über die Zeit geschrieben.
Siri & Selma: As Dina and our Master we Bookfayries are very much interested in Nordic literature. Well, you relate to Ibsen in “The Modell” by kind of cleverly reversing his story of “Wild Duck”, you see Knut Hamsun as an author that influenced you – although we remember a scene (was it in “The Half Brother”?) where Hamsun’s collected works end up in the fire because his fancying Hitler and fascism – your novels play mostly in Oslo or in Northern Norway, but we feel that’s not everything making you a Nordic author, there is more. But our Master and Dina couldn’t tell us what actually the essence of the Nordic literature is. Can you? And do you understand yourself as a Nordic author?
Wie Dina und Masterchen sind auch wir sehr an nordischer Literatur interessiert. Du beziehst dich in “Das Modell” auf Ibsen, indem du die Geschichte von “Die Wildente” verkehrst, du beziehst dich auf Knut Hamsun – wenn du auch in “Der Halbbruder” Hamsuns gesammelte Werke im Feuer enden lässt, wegen seiner Hitler- und Faschismusverehrung – deine Romane spielen entweder in Oslo oder Nordnorwegen, aber unserem Gefühl nach ist das nicht alles, was dich zu einem nordischen Autor macht, da ist mehr. Aber Masterchen und Dina konnten uns das nicht erklären. Kannst du es? Verstehst du dich als nordischen Autor?
Lars: I consider myself of course as a Nordic author. But I do not know exactly what it is. I think it has something to do with time, landscape, weather and language: a slow melancholic attitude, interrupted by dramatic emotions, like a stone in water.
Natürlich verstehe ich mich als nordischen Autor. Aber ich weiß nicht so genau, was das ist. Ich denke, das hat mit Zeit, Landschaft, Wetter und Sprache zu tun: eine langsame melancholische Haltung, die von dramatischen Gefühlen unterbrochen wird, wie ein Stein im Wasser.
Siri & Selma: We Bookfayries understand a tiny bit of Norwegian and found so many quotes by you in the Norwegian literature that we felt dizzy. How would you like to be quoted? Just quote yourself, please.
Wir Buchfeen verstehen ja ein kleines bisschen Norwegisch und fanden sooo viele Zitate von dir in der norwegischen Literatur, dass uns ganz schwindelig wurde. Wie möchtest du denn zitiert werden? Zitiere dich mal bitte selbst.
Lars:
Dear Lars, thank you so much for this interview and thanks to you all for reading it.
Kind greetings from Fredrikstad
Lieber Lars, vielen Dank für das Interview und euch herzlichen Dank fürs Lesen.
Mit lieben Grüßen aus Fredrikstad
Siri and Selma, the cute Bookfayries of Cley
© pictures Hanne Siebers/Bonn 2014, text Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea 2014, all rights reserved.
FabFourBlog 
I don’t know this author’s work at all. I don’t read enough anymore, sadly. However, I enjoyed the interview and article very much, and I particularly like his quote about the tightrope.
I do agree that many Nordic writers, playwrights, and film-makers bring a sense of the cold and dark of those northern lands to their work. This is generally a good thing, and makes them stand out from the crowd.
Best wishes to you all from Beetley. Pete and Ollie. X
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Dear Pete,
I suppose that Lars Saabye Christensen was inspired to this sentence about the rope by Nietzsche – although he doesn’t mention it. In “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” you find (in the beginning) a scene of the tight rope walker, he comes to the middle and there comes the devil overtaking him by jumping over him. The tightrope walker falls down.
I agree the Nordic writers make us feel the cold in every respect and quite often nature is important – the nature outside as well as the inner nature like in the Ingmar Bergman films and in the novels of Herbjörg Wassmo (we blogged about “Dina” here before). In the modern Nordic crime novels, which are very successful worldwide in the last 5 years, the darkness is important, the darkness of our soul as well as the darkness of Nordic night in winter.
Dear Pete, I suppose you are more or less my age. If you want to read something of Saabye Christensen then I would recomment “Beatles” that will remind you of the sixties in a funny way.
All the best to you and Ollie, have an easy weekend
the Fab Four of Cley
Kb 🙂 xx
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Thank you, dear Pete 🙂 🙂
Siri and Selma from Fredrikstad right now
(where it is cold and raining – not far from here they have snow!)
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Dear Pete,
we’d love to change your reading habits a tiny bit and because we know you are very much a music man, we’d love to send you a copy of “Beatles”. 🙂 With a Bookfayrie signature, unfortuneately without Saabye Christensen, but Selma believes that she and Siri are the best runner ups you can wish for! 🙂
It’s on its way as soon as we have left Norway at the end of the month. Plaese be patient with us.
Love to you in Beetley and a BIG pat for Ollie,
Dina, Siri and Selma
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Yes, dear Pete, I forgot to mention: nearly all great novels of Lars have a connection to music:
Beatles – it’s obvious
Waterloo – Abba
etc.
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Thanks very much Dina and KB. There is no hurry, when you get around to it, I will send my address by e mail.
Very best wishes as always. Pete. x
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Like Beetleypete, didn’t know about this author and I enjoyed your interview and the very well prepared presentation very much! That must have been a very exciting encounter! And imagine, you got an autograph and INTERVIEW, we’re very impressed and proud of you four!
I have skimmed google and now “The Halfbrother” is on my list. 🙂
What a great quote to end the interview, it makes me stop and think – just as the almost poetic response about being a nordic writer.
Lots of love from Frankfurt to you in Fredrikstad and Cley
from Ursel and Herbert
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Dear Herbert and Ursel,
we were soooo excited to meet Lars and it wasn’t easy with all these media folks around who wanted some words of him. But of course we Bookfayries are as cute as clever and so we could charme him in giving this interview – just for us only! 🙂 🙂
Thanks goodness Masterchen and Dina coached us before because they had read all his novels and Dina even read his lyrics too. So we were quite well prepared. But it’s allways exciting to talk to such a famous person, wow …
Lots of love from Fredrikstad xxx
Siri & Selma, the happy Bookfayries 🙂 🙂
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Dear Ursel and Herbert,
lots of love from Cley as well 🙂 xx
“The Halfbrother” was the first novel of Lars I read – I read it in German “Der Halbbruder”. It’s a funny mixture of phantasies and could-be-reality. I liked it so much that I went on reading all his novels.
Have a happy weekend
Klausbernd 🙂
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Das Interview bis hin zum witzigen Zitat hat mir sehr gefallen! Den “Halbbruder” habe ich noch in sehr guter Erinnerung. Schön, dass Ihr so viele Bücher von Christensen kurz vorstellt. Vor allem habt Ihr mich auf das Buch “Das Modell” neugierig gemacht.
Viele Grüße,
Petra
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Liebe Petra,
vielleicht weil ich an Wahrnehmung interessiert bin, hat mir “Das Modell” besonders gut gefallen. Es ist auch spannend geschrieben. Besonders interessant ist es zu sehen, wie Lars Ibsens Thema in “Die Wildgans” hier bearbeitet. Aber auch ohne Ibsen zu kennen, wird dir die Lektüre gefallen.
Herzliche Grüße und viel Spaß beim Lesen
Klausbernd 🙂
Grüße von Dina, Siri und Selma aus Norwegen
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For en ære for dere fire å ha fått et intervju med av Norges beste forfattere! Selvfølgelig kjenner jeg hans bøker, flere av de har flyttet med oss til Weimar. 🙂
Lars Saabye Christensen, who doesn’t know him? I think everyone in Norway knows who this very popular and talented autor is. I am surprised that he gets less publicity in the UK. Several books are translated to German and I think he’s quite frequent in the media in Germany, from my point of view, anyway – as a Norwegian I’m immediately attracted to Norwegian literature abroad.
Has LSC been presented at the big bookfair in Frankfurt?
Loved the quote! I know this one. 🙂 It’s from “Bisettelsen”! I haven’t seen this book on the German market, maybe it’s not translated yet?
Greetings to you all from us in Weimar!
Per Magnus
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Dear Per Magnus, 🙂 🙂
thanks for your comment. Our Master told us that nearly all of Saabye’s novels are translated into German and most of the other European languages except English. “Bisettelsen” is not translated yet – Dina and our Master guess it not translated in any other language – maybe because it didn’t get too nice reviews?
We Bookfayries see England as quite provincial. The “normal” reader doesn’t know (and maybe isn’t interested in) foreign literature. It’s the Guardian only which reviews foreign literature regularly. You cannot compare this with the situation in countries like Germany, The Netherlands etc.
We don’t know if Saabye has been to the Frankfurt Bookfair, but when his book for adolescents “Herman” was published it was presented by NORLA (sponsoring Norwegian literature abroad) at the Frankfurt Bookfair – they have an information desk there, we suppose, every year.
With lots of LOVE to you in Weimar
from Siri and Selma in Fredrikstad xx
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Dear Per M, my friend,
I never met Lars at the Frankfurt Bookfair although I always visited the Scandinavian publishers there. But as Siri & Selma already wrote he was very present when his book “Herman” was published in German. If one doesn’t have the time for reading his long novels then I would recomment to read “Herman” – it’s like the novels of Rowling and Ende not for adlescents only. Dina and me as well as Siri and Selma read it with big delight 🙂
All the best to you and your son in beautiful Weimar
and have a happy weekend
Klausbernd 🙂
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A very well presented and an interesting read and its good to see a real person behind Novels even if I didn’t know the author before reading your interview. I used to be an avid reader of novels but sadly cannot adhere to a book anymore after head injuries from an industrial accident. But I still love short stories of interest and it looks like blogging is going to be a good experience for me because we say so much about ourselves when talking about others so the start of your blog today just says it all “to forget about yourself is a marvellous feeling” it really is because then you’re thinking and caring for others
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Thank you very much for your kind comment 🙂
Well, it’s a pity for you that Lars uses to write quite long novels – especially “The Half Brother” and “Beatles”. But he writes lyrics as well, although I must confess I haven’t read any of his poems but Dina has – I cannot really enjoy poetry.
Caring for other is one of the big topics in “The Half Brother” and in a total different way in “The Model” as well.
And you are so right: we say so much about ourselves when talking about others – every blog is as much about a topic as it is about the blogger.
We wish you a happy weekend up in Yorkshire
the Fab Four of Cley
Kb 🙂
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I agree wholeheartedly with you, Yorkshirevarmint! (Is there a special meaning to your name?)
The first quote goes right to under my skin, it does something with me and for me.
I’m sorry about your accident, it seems like you have found a good way to cope with your injury.
All the best!
Hjerter ❤️
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I’m still learning about blogging so I’ve inadvertently posted this twice .. sorry 😉
Hi Hijerter
The meaning behind my name Yorkshire “varmint” the word varmint originates from “vermin” or is described as and obnoxious or troublesome person in the dictionary. So my choice of name could be debatable, but in Yorkshire its meaning is very different; in our local dialect a varmint is usually referred affectionately to a mischievous child or person. I am a person who is never troublesome but loves getting up to mischief or winding up and joking with friends, also I’m 5ft 8inch (1.72m) tall were as most of my friends are around 6feet tall (1.8m) ; so I’m often referred to as “a little varmint”. I’ll put this on my profile to avoid any future confusion .
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Dear Yorkshire Varmint,
GREAT that I know what varmint means now 🙂
As I just wrote to my dear friend Per M about “Herman”. You might be able to read “Herman” – it’s the shortest novel by Lars. It was published in English in 2005, it’s like a long short story – oh, I like this combinations of antagonists such as long and short 😉 One of my books has a title with a similar combination “The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Dream Symbols” (New York, 1997), it’s like ” a long short story”, isn’t it …
All the best
Klausbernd 🙂
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This is very kind of you to think of me Klaus and recommend short novels. I’ve just been looking and the novel “herman” it does sound very interesting. The story of a small boy growing up looking different with a balding head and edging his way through life; while still teaching others better ways sounds so familiar to children that have to cope with disabilities in general. I’ll suggest this book to my children for them and their children to read:). When I’m reading now I’ll forget what I’ve read on the page before so my interest won’t hold. it was hard to come to terms with but I got used to this and manage my life and interests in other ways I enjoy now so I’m happy 🙂
once again thank you Klaus I really do appreciate your suggestions.
Glynn 🙂
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You are very welcome 🙂
Love
Klausbernd 🙂
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Dear Klaus and Hjerter I’ve decided to change my name on my profile. I have to thank you for this discussion; after overnight thoughts it made me realise how the varment name can be perceived by people outside our home dialect range; I’m new to blogging so it won’t’ affect things too much; My new username will be yorkshirerascal 🙂 . I always enjoy open debate and constructive criticism and I have to say I’ve certainly enjoyed this discussion. So once again thank you both 🙂 Glynn
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Dear Glynn, the Yorkshire Rascal 🙂
this name is immediately understandable even for me as a non-native spreaker and I like it 🙂
Blogging should be a mutual inspiration, shouldn’t it?
Great, that our little exchange was helpful 🙂
Have a happy weekend
Greetings from the sunny coast of coast of North Notfolk
Klausbernd 🙂
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I’m going to have to check this author out! Seems a very pleasant man and easy to talk to celebrity. His books are definitely about the time I was growing up, thank you Bookfayries! Give Klausbernd and Dina my best!
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Dear gpcox,
as I know you, you would love “Beatles” which is available on the US bookmarket. Like you are collecting information of all kind of the war in the Pacific so Lars is collecting quite a lot of experiences we went through during the sixties – it’s the story of the typical life of the after-war-generation (I am just born after the war and so I read it as my story 😉 )
All the best to you and have an easy weekend
from Siri and Selma and Klausbernd and Dina as well
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, Klausbernd, Lars does sound terrific and we did have a great age to grow up in! Have a great weekend yourself and my best to Dina and the Bookfayries!
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Flotte bilder og morsomt at dere fikk snakke med forfatteren selv!
Lars Saabye Christensen er en utmerket forfatter. Folkekjær og sosial og meget godt likt!
For meg er han en favoritt. Han bodde i min hjemby, Sortland, i mange år.
Kona jobbet ved den videregående skolen der.
Jeg mener at han fortsatt har sin skrivestue på Sortland!
I Norge er mange av bøkene filmatisert eller laget TV-serier av!
I tillegg er han med i et band (Norsk Utflukt) hvor han leser sine dikt til musikk.
Det er utgitt CD med musikken/diktene!
Av kjente nålevende norske forfattere vil jeg også nevne Jostein Gaarder (Sofies valg).
Min B&W Blog: http://hanshb.wordpress.com/
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Hei Hans,
på litteraturhuset i Fredrikstad leste Lars Saabye Christensen dikt til musikk, det var en STOR opplevelse som vi alle ble betatt av! Det var helt magisk å møte ham. Mange, mange fine lesetimer har jeg tilbrakt mellom to permer av LSC.
Det siste sitatet fra “Bisettelsen” (om linedanseren som var kommet halvveis da tauet tok slutt) har jeg sett på blå veggbilder fra Sortland, jeg ante ikke at dere alle kommer derfra. Liten verden! 🙂 Er Sortland langt fra deres nåværende hjem?
Ditt siste B&W bidrag er helt nydelig!
Hilsen, Dina, Siri og Selma
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Sortland (Blåbyen) er ca 1000km fra Trondheim, nordover! Det er jeg som kommer derfra! Da jeg for mange år siden (2001) var i København sammen med min mor (nå 97år) traff vi LSC i gågata. Jeg sa da til mamma at der kommer LCS (trodde ikke at mamma kjente han). Han skrådde over gata og kom rett mot oss og tok mamma i handa og takket for sist! Lite visste jeg at de to kjente hverandre, så ja, – verden er egentlig ikke stor…God helg til alle 4 i Fredrikstad(?)
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Aiaiai, så spennende da! Vi har plottet in Sortland på vår drømmereise Norge rundt nå. 🙂
Si meg en ting, Hans, har du sett “Halvbroren” på TV denne vinteren? Og hvis ja, hva synes du om den og hvordan var responsen ellers? Jeg var i England og gikk glipp av den og har bare lest om forberedelsene til optakene.
Det er bare vi jenter som er hjemme i Fredrikstad, Klausbernd passer hus og have i Cley. Det er ille mye bunadstyr i Fredrikstad for tiden, det var konfirmasjon og nå venter en rund bursdag og 17.mai. Så flott at moren din har nådd en slik formidabel alder! Jeg håper hun har god helse og at dere kan holde et stort selskap når hun runder 100! 🙂 Med godglade oldebarn som muntrer orntli opp! 🙂
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Ja, jeg har sett serien. Den fikk god mottakelse. Mange liker vel boka best, men sånn er det vel? Spennende nye norsk skuespillere i rollen som halvbroren! Sortland er verdt et besøk! Du vil nok se mye spennende på de blå veggene i Blåbyen. Du bør også sjekke ut Sivert Høyem og Madrugada, store norske rockeband. Og, når du først drar til Vesterålen, ta en tur til “yttersida”, Nyksund er også spennende, eller kanskje en hvalsafari fra Stø eller Andenes? Lykke til med bunad og jubileum!
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Tusen takk for dissen tippsene, Hans; de har kommet rett inn min bok. 🙂 Helt utrolig hvor flott det ser ut på “yttersida”!! Nyksund ser også spenennde ut, dette fremmer min reiselyst betraktelig. 🙂
Ha en fin lørdag!
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Ich muss gestehen, ich habe keine Bücher von Lars Saabye Christensen gelesen, das werde ich ändern! Ich habe lange gegooglet, dieser Autor finde ich spannend.
“Der Halbbruder” scheint interessant zu sein. Und “Beatles”. Die zwei werde ich gleich bestellen. Beide Bücher sind verfilmt worden, das sehe ich als eine weiteres Prädikat. Habt ihr die Filme gesehen?
“Ohne Literatur blieben viele Gedanken unsichtbar” – wie wahr! Ein schönes Zitat für meine Sammlung. 🙂
“Ohne Siri und Selma blieben mir vieles verborgen.”
Das ist von mir.
Jürgen
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Oh, lieber Jürgen,
dein Zitat über uns ist aber wirklich toll, wow, vielen Dank dir – gaaaanz doll toll haben wir uns darüber gefreut 🙂 🙂
Wir senden dir Mengen von gute-Laune-Feenhauch fürs Wochenende.
Liebe Grüße
von
Siri und Selma, die frohen Buchfeen
🙂 🙂
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Guten Tag, lieber Jürgen,
“Der Halbbruder” war der teuerste Film, den die Norweger je drehten. Leider habe ich keinen der beiden Filme gesehen – würde ich aber gern. Dina schaut, ob sie in Norwegen diese Filme in Englisch oder zumindest mit englischen Untertiteln bekommt. Daumen halten!
Mach’s gut und herzlichen Dank fürs Kommentieren.
Ein tolles Wochenende wünscht dir
Klausbernd 🙂
und liebe Grüße von Dina 🙂
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Hei Jürgen,
kennst du zufällig den Film “Max Manus”? Die gleichen Filmemacher drehen zurzeit “Beatles”, der kommst erst im August 2014 in den Kinos. Mit “Der Halbbruder” habe ich leider bis jetzt kein Erfolg. Der ist auch nicht mehr in der NRK Mediathek. Ich bleibe dran, so schnell gebe ich nie auf! 🙂
Übrigens, der Film wird wie folgt angekündigt: “Four friends growing up in Oslo in the sixties, who occasionally think of themselves as the Fab Four. Based on the best selling book by Lars Saabye Christensen.”
Greetings from the other Fab Four,
Dina 😉
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Please excuse my intrusion Dian I can’t get a link into Hijerter’s blog.
Hi Hijerter
The meaning behind my name Yorkshire “varmint” the word varmint originates from “vermin” or is described as and obnoxious or troublesome person in the dictionary. So my choice of name could be debatable, but in Yorkshire its meaning is very different; in our local dialect a varmint is usually referred affectionately to a mischievous child or person. I am a person who is never troublesome but loves getting up to mischief or winding up and joking with friends, also I’m 5ft 8inch (1.72m) tall were as most of my friends are around 6feet tall (1.8m) ; so I’m often referred to as “a little varmint”. I’ll put this on my profile to avoid any future confusion :).
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Hi dear Varmint,
we loved to read about your “profile”, how good of Hjerter to ask you, now we all know! 🙂
Hjerter (from Norway) doesn’t have a blog for herself, but she is a regular reader like Jürgen and Pia from Germany. You can see this by the automatically generated avatar/gravatar, they are different to the personalized one; they are all bloggers themselves. However, when Hjerter, Jürgen and Pia write something and fill in their E-Mails, WP automatically recognizes them and give them the same gravatar as always.
We spent some time hiking in beautiful Yorkshire a couple of years ago and now we’re considering maybe a stopover on our way back from Scotland this coming September. We’ll look out for all small and big Varmints! 🙂
Thanks a lot for commenting!
Greetings from Norway, Dina
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Thank you Dina:)
It was thoughtful of Hjerter to question my name; I did know the dictionary meaning of the old English word “varmint” but never gave it a thought. I suppose there are other regional meanings but to us its an affectionate term we use most days in South Yorkshire especially when our grandchildren or up to mischief.
You will be welcome to share tea on our lawn on you return from Scotland. If you’re traveling back to Norfolk you will pass within a few miles of our home because we live close too the major motorway junctions heading south east. 🙂
Before September we have a our youngest daughters wedding and the birth of our sixth grandchild to look forward too so were going to be kept busy 🙂
A micheaviouse greeting from Yorkshire to you too. 🙂
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How very kind of you! 🙂 We’ll bear it in mind, if it fits with our timetable, we might just do that.
We’re going to do some hiking around Loch Lomond, we’re booked for one night in Callander and then two nights in Tarbet and we still have to find something for a few more nights; or even better cancel Tarbet and find a cottage for five nights. It’s peak season and not that easy. Do you by any chance know the area? Do you know a fantastic spot after Callander, unbeknown to the rest of the world? 🙂
Sema travelfayrie hast marked down on our route, leaving Scotland: Brampton A689 via Alston to B6277 Barnard Castle. How far away ist this from you?
I find it most interesting to learn more about names and words in general, thank you once again. You do seem have a busy summer – a wedding is a big time (and money!) consumer, lots of preparations, excitement and fun. Lucky you to blessed with so many grandchildren, have a great weekend and lots of fun with each other!
Lost of love from the four of us, best wishes
Dina
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Hello Dina after overnight thoughts I’ve decided to change my name to “yorkshirerascal”. I have to thank your friend Hijerter for bringing to my attention how “varment” can be perceived outside our home range.;)
My brother has a place near Loch Lomond on the Isle of Bute. We stayed there 3 years ago; He still has this place but now works and lives in Inverness; I’m hoping to go see him in not the too distant future too;) .
We live many miles to the south from Barnard Castle. It has to be at least a 2 hour drive maybe more. Because of recent comments and the mention of friends in Norfolk I was assuming thats the way you’d be returning. There will always be other time I’m sure and you will always be welcome. For information we live a mile from M18 J1 in a village called Hellaby 🙂
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I’ve put it down in my little book, YorkshireRascal! 🙂 Actually we live in Norfolk, and that’s where we are heading, returning from Scotland. There’ll always be a next time. 🙂
All the best to you from sunny Norway, all getting ready for the big, big party on Saturday; it’s the Bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution, all the children are getting their flags out, wearing national costumes.
Dina xo
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Siri and Selma, you are excellent interviewers. You don’t secretly work for the Guardian or the BBC do you? 😉
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Dear Gallivanta,
no, unfortunately we don’t but we would love to.
We always read the Guardian with our dear Master and listen to BBC when baking bread and cooking.
We wish you a happy weekend
the busy Bookfayries
Siri and Selma xx
🙂 🙂
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And the same to you. I will be listening to the BBC too.
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Dear Gallivanta,
I wish you a GREAT weekend as well 🙂
I just finished cooking rhubarb from my garden listening to BBC 3.
Klausbernd 🙂 x
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Loved the interview, but what an ending quote. I don’t know his writing, but wonder how he constructs his theme, if not through suspense – “the end of the rope”! We’re left hanging, taken right to the very edge>
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Interesting interpretation, indeed!
As I wrote before this quote reminds me on Nietzsche “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” – but probably that’s my German association.
I would not call Saabye’s novels suspense, in comparison to other modern novels his novels are actually quite suspense-free. That’s what I like because I am bored by all these suspense nowadays.
Have a happy weekend 🍀 🌞
Klausbernd 🚶 😄
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Have had an interesting session researching Zarathustra. Love your posts for giving food for thought. Going to watch out of Saabye’s English editions. Thanks KB 🙂
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All his big novels are translated and available in English and, as Clanmother wrote, you will find them in public libraries too (at least in Vancouver and in libraries here in England as well)
Good luck
Kb 🙂
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Danke fuer das tolle Interview. Und danke fuer eine Erinnerung an Lars Saabye Christensen. Er war mir irgendwie vergessen gegangen. Ich werde ihn nun fuer unseren Literaturkreis vorschlagen 🙂
Liebe Gruesse, Ilka
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Hi Ilka,
na, das ist ja toll und freut uns 🙂 Jetzt sind wir ganz neugierig: Was werdet ihr denn von Lars in eurem Literaturkreis lesen?
Wir wünschen dir ein rundum feines Wochenende
the Fab Four
Kb 🙂
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Danke! Wir werden wohl demokratisch beschliessen was wir lesen wollen. Mich reizt ‘Das Modell’! Wir hatten schon mal ein Buch (Die Frau mit dem roten Tuch von Gaarder) mit Anspielung auf Ibsen und die ‘Wildenten’, und hatten gute Diskussionen dazu.
Ich lass es die ‘Fab Four’ auf alle Faelle wissen 🙂
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Ja, danke, auch dass du uns Bescheid sagst! Und viel Vergnügen mit der Lektüre. Ich bin gespannt, wie ihr den gewählten Roman finden werdet.
Herzliche Grüße von der Küste Norfolks
Klausbernd 🙂 und die anderen Drei, die noch in Norwegen weilen
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A very fascinating post, LSC is indeed very inspiring – som dansker med en meget stor forkærlighed for Norge og norsk, så har det været imponerende at følge LSC som jo som bekendt er halv norsk og halvt dansk… 🙂
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Dear Andrikken,
well, we didn’t mention this before: although Lars is born in Norway and lives in Norway his nationality is Danish because of his father. But he writes in Norwegian and sees himself as a Norwegian. But you are right, in a way he is half and half.
A fine weekend wishing you
the Fab Four
Kb 🙂
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Lars Christensen seems very interesting and I will pursue reading some of his books, if I have not lost track of him after I move next month. I also found your exchange with the Yorkshire Varmint interesting, as he is the gentleman that recommended a possible, scenic route through the Dales and onto the Lake District, some time back.
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Dear Robert,
thank you very much for commenting. We wish you a happy time reading Saabye’s novels. They are all full of a very special kind of humour.
Enjoy the weekend
the Fab Four
Kb 🙂
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Wenn Flügelwesen Interviews führen… Ich habe von dem Autor bisher nichts gelesen, den Beitrag aber trotzdem sehr genossen. Das Seiltänzer-Zitat finde ich großartig.
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Liebe Maren,
ja, wie schon gesagt, dieses Seiltänzer-Zitat spielt meiner Meinung nach auf Nietzsches “Also sprach Zarathustra” an. Es ist an einer blauen Wand in Sortland in Nordnorwegen veröffentlicht, wo Lars länger wohnte, ein Ort, der auch in seinen Romanen öfters vorkommt.
Obwohl fast alle seine Romane ins Deutsche übersetzt wurden, ist er nicht so bekannt. “Der Halbbruder”, “Yesterday” und “Herman” sind seine bekanntesten Werke in Deutschland, aber das ist ja schon einige Jahre her, als die herauskamen. Seine neueren Werke haben zumindest im Ausland nie mehr diese Bekanntheit erreicht. In Norwegen ist das anders, da “Der Halbbruder” und “Yesterday” dort verfilmt wurden bzw. werden, was natürlich den Umsatz von Lars Büchern steigert und ihn wieder in Gespräch bringt.
Liebe Grüße von der anderen Seite der Nordsee
Klausbernd 🙂 und die anderen Drei, die gerade in Norwegen weilen
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Ididn’t know about him ! – but I shall start on his books IN ORDER OF WRITING. 🙂 You don’t mention Karin Fossum – I have several of hers …
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No, we haven’t written about Karin Fossum yet, but you’re right, she deserves a mention too! Siri and Selma are still counting and listing our books by Fossum; I have more books by this author than any other Norwegian writer. Then comes Anne Holt and Lars Saabye Christensen. Have you read Jo Nesbø? IN ORDER OF WRITING sounds very exciting, what can we expect, we wonder? Siri loves the expression and has put it down in her little fairy book.
Have a great weekend, M-R!
Big hug to you in Australia from the four of us!
Dina xo
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Dear MR,
it’s strange, but Karin Fossum was very much acclaimed in the English speaking countries but in the rest of the world she was overshadowed Jo Nesbö. There is no doubt about it that he is the most successful and known writer of crime fiction nowadays and, of course, he is the most successful Norwegian author. I am not that interested in crime fiction and suspense but I read some of Nesbö’s novels. As I am not so interested in who has done it, I found his novels not that special. I have never read any of Karin Fossum’s crime fiction. But thanks a lot I will do so soon just to get a taste of it. I still follow the habit of the scientific way of reading starting with latest book and reading backwards. So I will read “Carmen zota og döden” published in 2013. I am looking forward to it. Thanks for the hint 🙂
All the best and have a great weekend
Klausbernd 🙂
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Hei Klausbernd,
Siri hat 6 deutsche Pipertaschenbücher von K.Fossum eingesteckt, jedoch nicht die letzten Werke. Die letzten Jahre habe ich nichts von ihr gelesen, weil ich Jan Kjærstad und Knausgård sehr spannend fand und besser als Krimis sowieso. 🙂
War schön mit dir zu plaudern! 🙂
Liebe Grüße, Küsse und Feenhauch von
Dina, Siri und Selma
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Hei, mein lieben Schätzchen xxx
vielen Dank! Das ist aber lieb von Siri. Und, ihr glaubt es kaum, ich lese gerade Krimis. Zuerst las ich zwei isländische Krimis von dem hochgelobten Indridason, bei denen ich immer eingeschlafen bin. Ich fand die erschreckend langweilig, aber jetzt lese ich von der Schwedin Karin Wahlberg “Tödliche Blumen”, ein Krimi, der mir sehr gut gefällt. Auf Karin Fossum bin ich gespannt, sie wird die Königin des skandinavischen Krimis in der englischen Presse genannt. Oh dear, und ich hatte noch nie von ihr gehört.
Ganz, ganz liebe Grüße aus dem sonnigen, aber windigen Cley an euch drei Lieben
KLEM og ha en fin dag
Klausbernd xxx ooo
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I am not aware of this novelist and so many thanks for bringing him to my attention. Sounds fascinating subject matter, especially regarding the Beatles and 60s and 70s themes. Like you, Klausbernd, I am not usually that interested in ‘who dunnits’ and so am not especially attracted by crime fiction. I am more of a ‘why do it’ sort of reader. All the best, Laurence
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Hi, dear Laurence,
indeed, the ‘why do it’ is interesting. And actually in the “who dunnits”-field I prefer the classics of Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle.
I am sure that you would like “Beatles” – it’s very entertaining, funny and very well observed.
Have a great weekend and all the best to you as well
Klausbernd 🙂
and warm greeting from the other 3 as well
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I’m always interested in learning about new authors. Thanks for highlighting his work and for sharing your interview…the thought process behind his work is interesting.
Elisa
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Thank you, dear Elisa 🙂
we think that Lars is very worth reading and therefore we want to make him known to a bigger public. He is very well known in Scandinavia and his early novels are quite known on the continent as well, but he is not so much known in the English speaking world. We hope that will change – and we work on it 😉
All the best
the Fab Four from Cley
Kb 🙂
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Spannend! Was diese Buchfeen alles erleben! Ein tolles Interview! Super Fragen, sehr interessante Antworten!
Koffer, Kalender, Schirm…diese Worte tragen ja die ganze Welt in sich, da kann man schreiben, schreiben,schreiben……
Lustig, der Trailer zu “Beatles”!
Bei einer Jubiläumsfeier hatten wir eine legendäre Beatles Revival Band zu Gast und ratet mal, es hat geregnet, Wasser bis in die Kniekehlen, wir haben trotzdem wie wild getanzt!
Liebe Grüße von Pia, bestimmt gefallen mir diese Bücher sehr!
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Liebe Pia, guten Abend 🙂
ACHTUNG, wenn du den Roman “Beatles” in Deutsch suchst, findest du ihn als “Yesterday”, das ist der ‘deutsche’ Titel, well, one wonders …
Die Bücher von Lars haben fast alle indirekt mit Musik zu tun, allerdings teilweise nur sehr indirekt. Aber dennoch bin ich sicher, dass dir bes. “Der Halbbruder” gefallen würde.
Schönes Wochenende, alles Liebe
die munteren Fab Four
Kb 🙂
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I think I’ve read one of his books. I remember that in the book they were running around in different streets of Oslo and places that I know, so it was easy to picture the places.
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And I look forward to walking the streets of Grønland and Gamlebyen with you! 🙂 Gleder meg jeg.
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” And memory is a poetic way of remembering” This is the phrase that resonated within my experience. I found all of Lars Saabye Christensen’s books in our most excellent Vancouver Public Library (what would I do without the wonderful resource) and I checked out YouTube and found him being interviewed (alas, not in English) however he has a wonderful voice, perfect for a storyteller. Siri & Selma – your interviewing skills are remarkable. All the very, very best and many hugs coming across the waters to the Fab Four! ❤
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Hei, dear Clanmother Rebecca,
great that your public library has all of Lars books! You see, he is one of the leading writers of the world right now, but actually known mostly for his older titles – the newest ones are not translated into English yet.
Lars is a great storyteller. I read “The Half Brother” to Siri and Selma and they loved it, it was the perfect bed time literature (well, not that I want to say you to fall asleep reading his novel 😉 )
Have an easy week and big HUGs from the little village next the big sea
KLEM oo
Klausbernd 🙂 and greetings from Troll-country from Dina, Siri and Selma too xxx ooo
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It was such a lovely interview and what a stunning shot of the author! Well done! 😀
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Thank you so much for your kind words, dear Sonel 🙂
Have a happy week.
Love
the Fab Four of Cley
Kb 🙂
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You are very welcome Klaus and the Fab Four of Cley. Wishing you all a great week as well. 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥ from South Africa. 🙂
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Wie ich aus den Kommentaren lese, bin ich nicht die einzige, die noch nie von diesem interessanten und erfolgreichen Schriftsteller gehört hat und habe nun bereits “Beatles” gegoogelt, das ich gerne lesen würde. Da ich nicht Norwegisch kann, würde ich mich für Deutsch oder Englisch entscheiden. In welcher Sprache liest du, lieber Klausbernd den Lars Saabye Christensens Bücher? Vielen herzlichen Dank für eure spezielle Präsentation und einen sonnigen Sonntag.:) L.G. Martina
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Good afternoon, liebe Martina,
ich habe seine großen Romane wie “Der Halbbruder”, “Yesterday”, “Waterloo” in deutsch gelesen, die anderen Werke in Englisch. Ich kann ein wenig Norwegisch, ein klitzekleines Bisschen, und finde, dass er auf deutsch genuiner herüberkommt. Besonders “Der Halbbruder” hat lange und witzig ironische Sätze, was im Deutschen viel besser zu übersetzen ist als im Englischen – bisweilen hat er mich da an Thomas Mann erinnert, wenn er auch viel leichter zu lesen ist, aber diese Ironie und Sprachverliebtheit ist im milderen Maße auch bei ihm vorhanden.
Ich wünsche dir eine höchst angenehme kommende Woche und sende liebe Grüße in den Süden
Klausbernd 🙂
liebe Grüße auch von Dina, Siri und Selma aus Troll-Land 😉
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Lieber Klausbernd, es ist immer ein besondere Freude deine hilfreichen und anregenden Empfehlungen zu lesen und ich werde natürlich versuchen sie zu befolgen!
Ich sende liebe Grüsse an das ganze Team ins Troll-Land oder nach England und geniesst das Leben!:)
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… wird gemacht
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Von ihm habe ich noch nichts gelesen. Aber jetzt bin ich sehr neugierig geworden. Danke für das tolle Interview!
Liebe Grüße. 🙂
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Guten Morgen 🙂
die Sonne scheint und “alles ist gut” 😉
Ja, es lohnt sich die Bücher vom Lars zu lesen, da er unterhaltsam und witzig erzählen kann und viele auch sozusagen abgeknallte Einfälle hat, ohne jedoch je zu sehr anzuheben. Für mich war er damals eine große Entdeckung. Ich war so begeistert, dass ich gleich alles von ihm las, was ich bekommen konnte. Ich glaube, es ist gut mit “Der Halbbruder” oder “Yesterday” zu beginnen, das nur als kleiner Tipp.
Ganz liebe Grüße und eine schöne Woche dir
the Fab Four
Kb 🙂
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Danke Dir für die Einstiegsbüchertips. Hab einen sonnigen Tag!
Lieben Grüße. 🙂
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Oh, deine Wünsche haben genutzt, DANKE, es ist es sonnig und warm, und ich bin jetzt mal weg – verschwunden im Garten …
Liebe Grüße 🙂
Klausbernd
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Eilmeldung für unser Masterchen!
Wir sind soeben von unserem Ausflug zu den Trollen zurück und rate mal was wir im Gepäck haben! Halt dich fest, Masterchen, sonst fällst du um: wir haben “Halvbroren” als DVD. Was sagst du jetzt?? Psssssst… kannst du noch ‘was vertragen? Halt dich fest: wir haben “Eroberern”, die verfilmte Jonas Wergeland Trilogie von Jan Kjærstad.
Bist du schon umgefallen? Was sagst du zu “On the road” – Kerouac als Roadmovie. Die Trolle sind spitzenmässig gut mit Filmen ausgestattet, findest du nicht?
Deine Siri und Selma #### ooo
und Dina grüßt auch aus ganz herzlich aus dem Land der Trolle xxx
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Ja, ihr Lieben xxx,
da bin ich doch voll umgefallen. SUPER!
Neben Lars Saabye Christensen finde ich ja Jan Kjærstad supergut – ehrlich gesagt, noch ein kleines Bisschen besser, zumindest seine Wergeland-Trilogie (die 3 besten postmodernen und zugleich lesenswerten Romane, die ich bislang las). Das habt ihr gaaaaaaanz toll gemacht 🙂 Große Freude.
Und wird es nicht langsam Zeit, dass ihr wieder von den Trollen hierher nach Hause in Land der Seertäuber kommt?
Ganz liebe Grüße
Euer Masterchen ### ooo
und auch herzlichste Grüße an die liebe Dina xxx ooo
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Masterchen,
wir kommen, wir kommen, bald! Aber zunächst werden wir am Samstag mit Dina und der Familie und vielen Freunden ganz groß Norwegens Geburtstag feiern; 200 Jahre Grunnloven. Hipp, hipp, hurra! Wir haben unsere eigene kleine Feen-Bunad bekommen, das sieht megafesch aus. 🙂 🙂
Bis Sonntag! 👋👋🙋
Siri und Selma 👭✨🌟💫🌟✨💫
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Hallihallo, meine liebe beiden Kleinfeinfeen Siri und Selma,
euch zum 200. Geburtstag Norwegens in Feen-Bunad möchte ich mega GERNE sehen. Nicht vergessen, Fotos machen zu lassen! Und wenn ich mich recht erinnere, hat ja auch morgen eure Oma Geburtstag. Da kommt ihr aus dem Feiern ja nicht mehr heraus.
Ganz liebe Grüße, feines Feiern ins Land der Trolle
Euer Masterchen 🙂 xxxxx ooooo
der auch Dina von Herzallerliebsten grüßen lässt xxxx oooo
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A great interview with Lars Saabye Christensen. Just like your Master I think his way of writing is cool, he has a certain way with words, always with humour at the end of the pen (or the computer). His has written many of my favourite books. Thanks for sharing the interview and your meeting with Lars Saabye Christensen.
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Dear Otto,
thanks a lot for commenting. Yes, to read Saabye’s book is always fun 🙂
All the best
Klausbernd 🙂
P.S.: I wrote an email the other day asking you if it’s okay when Siri & Selma will link your blog in their next blog post about the beautiful picture of the landscape. They will link an article in which you emphasis the importance of person behind the camera.
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I am sorry about the email – it has gotten completely out of memory for me. It’s been really hectic the last couple of weeks, which of course isn’t an excuse at all. Of course it’s not a problem if you want to link to my blog. On the contrary, I will be honoured and delighted. Thanks, Klausbernd.
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Thanks, dear Otto 🙂
Greeting from really hot coast of North Norfolk.I heard that this sunshine will come to you as well, in case you are in Bergen right now.
Klausbernd 🙂
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I am – and will look forward to some hot sunshine! Thanks for the «warning». 😉
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Dabei sieht er so ernst aus! Oder als ob er gleichzeitig lachen und weinen will…..
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Hi, liebe Pia,
ja, da hast du wohl recht. Er liebt es, sich so fotografieren zu lassen oder auch in einer milden Abwehrhaltung. Aber schau mal, Dina hat die Fotos ausgetauscht. Diese Fotos sehen doch viel spontaner und lebendiger aus, findest du nicht auch?
Puh, ist das eine Hitze hier seit gestern, schwitz, schwitz …
Ganz liebe Grüße vom sommerlichen Meer
Klausbernd 🙂
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Guten Tag, liebe Pia,
da bin ich nochmal 🙂 Da du doch das Skurrile liebst, muss ich dir unbedingt den “abgeknalltesten” Romananfang, den ich je gelesen habe, schreiben. You will love it!
“Dass er stirbt, passiert Viktor Strandgard durchaus nicht zum ersten Mal.”
Das ist der erste Satz des schwedischen Krimibestsellers “Sonnensturm” von Asa Larsson, übrigens ein Erstlingswerk.
Liebe Grüße
Klausbernd 🙂
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Anscheinend liebt Åsa Larrson tödliche Anfänge: Ich erinnere mich, wie wir gestorben sind. So fängt “Bis dein Zorn sich legt” an…. 😉
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Das erinnert mich an den schönlangweiligen Film mit Bruno Gans “Am Ende war mein Anfang”,…”Stirb langsam 2″ fällt mir auch noch dazu ein.
Außerdem liebe ich nicht nur das Skurrile, wie schreibt man das noch gleich?
Wenn er so den Kopf herüberdreht, entdeckt er bestimmt gerade Siri und Selma, da traut er wahrscheinlich seinen Augen nicht……
Wir haben heute Folterübungen mit dem Terraband gemacht, fast wie in Japan und China, Kuba und Russland, puhh!
…jetzt müsste man sich in die eiskalten Fluten vor Cleys Küste stürzen können……
Herzliche Grüße!
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Dear Pia 🙂
warum tut man sich denn das an?
Das fragt der Hedonist
Da lese ich doch lieber ein feines Buch 😉
Liebe Grüße aus dem hochsommerlichen Cley
Klausbernd 🙂
Grüße von den anderen, die der großen 200-Jahrfeier Norwegens entgegen fiebern – wie Lars auch 😉
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Willste tanzen, musste trainieren….aber im nächsten Leben lese ich die g a n z e Zeit!
Schätze beim Schreiben ist auch nicht immer alles “Easywriting”….
Und euch in Norwegen wünsche ich eine supertolle Feier!!
Liebe Grüße
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Liebe Pia,
nee, ist wohl wahr …
Liebe Grüße
Kb 🙂
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Hi, my dear Dina xxx
great, that you changed the pictures of this article. It looks much better, much more spontaneously. Perfect photos, gratulation! 🙂
From the really hot coast of North Norfolk lots of love. The summer will arrive at Fredrikstad tomorrow I heard in the radio.
Lots of love
Klausbernd 🙂 xxx ooo ###
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Tusen takk skal du ha, min kjære! 🙂 I think it looks much better like this too,.
The summer was here, then left abruptly and now we are eagerly awaiting some sunshine for the big celebration this coming Saturday. It looks very promising! 🙂
Siri, Selma and myself are of course wearing bunad . 🙂 🙂 🙂
Dina xxx ooo ###
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What a wonderful change….an interview of a great writer. The images of him were fantastic!! Authors are so mysterious creatures…what would we do without them in the world?
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I can’t imagine a word without authors and books. 🙂
Lovely to see you here, Laurie. Is your place far away from Fredricksburgh in the south of Texas, where our dear friend Pit lives?
All the best from the four of us,
Dina xo 🙂
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Sorry, I didn’t get it quite right… Fredericksburg..
http://pitsfritztownnews.wordpress.com
🙂
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Oh, my dear Dina,
you cannot imagine a word without authors and books – you are so right, everything is a quote in one way or the other, consciously or subconsciously we are quoting all the time. But anyway we did write about it here:
https://toffeefee.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/quotation-%E2%99%A6-zitieren/
All the best and have great birthday party: 200 years Norway – GRATULATION 🙂
Lots of love
Klausbernd 🙂 xxx ooo ###
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Oh dear, my so silly fingers again! 🙂 🙂 What a difference a letter makes… 🙂
Lots of love to you as well ❤️
God natt! xxx ooo
Naaaaacht, Msterchen! 👭 💫✨🌟💫✨🌟
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My darlings 👭 💞 💕
Gott natt og sov bra
Your Masterchen 🚶 ❤️ 💋 👄
Well L or not an L that’s the question …
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Oh dear, I just see it’s god natt – my not existant Norsk 😉 sorry. So it ends if one pretends …
God natt 😉 👍 🌛
Klem
Kb 😇
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My Dear,
don’t worry, we love your Norwegian! And you know:
GOOD TIMES ARE NEVER ENDING
WHEN WE ARE PLAYING
AND PRETENDING!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Dina, Siri and Selma
xxx ooo ###
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Thank you, my dears
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Lots of love
Klem
Klausbernd xxx ooo
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“Der Halbbruder” von Lars Saabye Christensen wurde in ganz Skandinavien geradezu hymnisch aufgenommen und mit allen wichtigen Literaturpreisen des Nordens ausgezeichnet.
Hier der Anfang, Auszug von der Leseprobe, Randomhouse:
(prolog)
»Vielen Dank!«
Ich stand auf Zehenspitzen, streckte den Arm so weit nach vorne,
wie ich konnte, und bekam von Esther das Wechselgeld zurück, fünfundzwanzig Öre auf eine Krone. Sie beugte sich durch die enge Luke und legte ihre schrumplige Hand auf meine goldenen Locken, ließ sie dort eine Weile liegen, nicht, dass ich das sonderlich mochte, aber es war ja nicht das erste Mal, so langsam gewöhnte ich mich daran. Fred hatte mir schon lange den Rücken gekehrt, die Tüte mit dem Kandiszucker in die Tasche gestopft, und ich konnte an der Art, wie er ging, sehen, dass er aus irgendeinem Grund wütend war. Fred war wütend, und das war beunruhigend, ziemlich beunruhigend. Er schurrte mit seinen Schuhen über den Boden und schien sich seinen Weg zu bahnen, sein Kopf lag tief zwischen den hohen, spitzen Schultern, es war, als kämpfte er mit starkem Gegenwind und müsste alle Kräfte mobilisieren, aber es war nur ein ruhiger Nachmittag im Mai, ein Samstag war es außerdem, und der Himmel über Marienlyst war glänzend blau und rollte langsam wie ein riesi- ges Rad auf die Wälder hinter der Stadt zu. »Hat Fred wieder angefangen zu sprechen?«, flüsterte Esther. Ich nickte. »Was hat er gesagt?« »Nichts.« Esther lachte verlegen. »Lauf schnell hinter deinem Bruder her. Damit er nicht alles aufisst.«
Sie zog ihre Hand aus meinem Haar und schnupperte einen Au- genblick lang daran, während ich mich beeilte, um Fred einzuholen, und genau daran erinnere ich mich, das ist der Muskel des Gedächt- nisses, nicht die gelben Finger der alten Dame in meinen Locken, sondern wie ich schnell hinter Fred, meinem Halbbruder, herlaufe und es fast unmöglich ist, ihn einzuholen. Ich bin der kleine, kleine Bruder, und ich möchte nur wissen, warum er so wütend ist, ich fühle, wie es pocht in meiner Brust, und spüre einen warmen, scharfen Dunst im Mund, denn möglicherweise habe ich mir auf die Zunge gebissen, während ich auf die Straße gelaufen bin. Ich balle die Faust um das Wechselgeld, die warmen Münzen, und ich laufe hin- ter Fred her, hinter dieser schmalen dunklen Gestalt in all dem Licht um uns herum. Die Uhr hinten beim NRK, beim Norwegischen Rundfunk, zeigt acht nach drei, und Fred hat sich schon auf die Bank bei den Büschen gesetzt. Ich spurte so schnell ich kann über den Kirkevei, es herrscht so gut wie kein Verkehr, denn es ist Sams- tag, nur ein Leichenwagen fährt vorbei, und plötzlich hat er mitten auf der Kreuzung eine Panne, der Fahrer kommt heraus in seiner hellgrauen Uniform, und er schlägt fluchend ununterbrochen auf die Motorhaube, und in dem Wagen, in dem lang gestreckten Kof- ferraum hinter den Sitzen, da steht ein weißer Sarg, aber der ist be- stimmt leer, es will doch wohl niemand an einem Samstagnachmit- tag beerdigt werden, die Totengräber habe jetzt sicher frei, und wenn doch jemand drinnen liegt, dann macht das gewiss auch nichts, denn die Toten müssen viel Zeit haben, so denke ich, ich denke so, damit ich etwas zu denken habe, und der graue Fahrer mit seinen schwarzen Handschuhen schafft es endlich, wieder den Wagen zu starten, und verschwindet Richtung Majorstuen. Ich atme ganz tief den schweren Geruch von Abgasen und Benzin ein und laufe übers Gras, an den kleinen Fußgängerüberwegen, Ampeln und Fußwegen vorbei, die es dazwischen gibt, wie eine Stadt für Zwerge, wo wir einmal im Jahr hin befördert werden, um von großen Polizeibeam- ten in Uniformen mit strammen, breiten Gürteln die Verkehrsre- geln zu lernen. Genau dort, in dieser kleinen Stadt, geschah es, dass ich aufhörte zu wachsen. Fred sitzt auf der Bank und schaut nicht zu mir, sondern ganz woanders hin. Ich setze mich neben ihn, und hier gibt es nur uns beide, an diesem Samstagnachmittag im Mai.
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A fascinating author! Obviously a man of many talents. I enjoyed reading the prolog, I will look out for his book tomorrow when I go to Canterbury. Great portraits, Dina!
Best regards to you, Klausbernd and the Bookfayries,
John
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Dear John,
thanks for commenting.
Indeed, Lars Saabye Christensen is a very fascinating author who is able to combine a lot of phantasy with clear remembering of bygone times and with fine humour. And then he knows quite a lot about pop-music, he makes films, writes poems and scripts and you name it …
Best ragards from
The Fab Four of Cley
Kb 🙂
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Thanks, Klausbernd! I’ve to confess, I hadn’t really noticed this talented author.! Somehow, I don’t read that much books any more. Now I’m a pensioner and much to my surprise, I’m so busy doing a lot of other things that was not on my agenda before… 🙂
Enjoy your evening!
John
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Dear John,
with me it’s just the other way round. I am a pensioner as well, but now I read lots and lots of books I like to – before I had to read only those books I could write or teach about. But I can well imagine that I will be happy doing my garden and working on the house only one day. But now I am in an phase I love to read and read – and none of those books have anything to do with what I was writing and teaching about, I love that 🙂
Enjoy your busy time.
All the best
Klausbernd 🙂
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Hei alle sammen!
Sad to say, my work at the institute has taken most of my time lately. Hardly any time left for visiting your blog and what a surprise to see what Siri and Selma have been up to! An interview with one of Norway’s finest authors and then getting his autograph too, I’m impressed! 🙂 I enjoyed “The Halfbrother” very much, a great novel.
Have a truly fantastic party on Saturday. 🙂
Kram, Annalena
The weather in Stockholm is improving…
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Hej, dear Annalena,
yeah, Siri and Selma have been quite courageous to make contact with Lars Saabye Christensen and they were soo excited when they got the interview then. And now they are very proud 🙂 🙂
We have summer here: blue sky and really warm. Dina, Siri and Selma will have the same weather in Norway for theit big party. They look sooo great national costumes, their bunader, so sweet 🙂
You did ask if you could reblog this interview, yes you can we have the copyright for text and pictures.
I wish you all the best and a great sunny weekend to come 🙂
Lots of Love
Kram
Klausbernd 🙂
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Reblogged this on Buchdames Blog and commented:
An interesting interview of one of the most prominent contemporary Scandinavian authors. Worth reading!
Annalena
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Dear Annalena,
thanks a lot.
I amazed, you are soooo quick! 🙂
We feel honoured and we hope your students like our interview.
Kram
Kb 🙂
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Thank you, Annalena -for your good wishes as well as reblogging our post! 🙂
Klem, Dina
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It’s amazing, this is the first blog in which the number of likes nearly equals the number of comments.
What does that say?
Well, maybe nothing …
or?
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Hei Klausbernd,
how are you, are you doing fine without your girls? 🙂 We all met yesterday. xxx 🙂
I also had the BIG honour of talking to Lars Saabye Christensen, I thought I was going to faint, after his great stage performance with lyrics and music in Fredrikstad Litteraturhus. Siri, Selma, Dina and myself thought it was more than magic – in Norway he’s very special, like a “superstar”. Probably the equal to Schätzing in Germany, as you once pointed out.
We are surprised that response to this brilliant interview is way below what you normally get for a nice photo, if you don’t mind me saying so. I wouldn’t worry, Siri and Selma made them speechless! 🙂
There are known knowns … but there are also unknown knowns, Dina quoted Donald Rumsfeld (not quite correctly) yesterday.
I’ll see all your girls again tomorrow. We’re celebrating 200 years of the Norwegian Constitution together. All of us in bunad, of course! 🙂
Have a lovely day!
Loves, kisses and hugs from us all in Fredrikstad
Tone og gutta xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Dear Tone,
great reading from you 🙂
Well, without the girls it is more boring, they bring fun, life and love in my life 🙂
Yes, it’s a pity that the reaction to this interview of Lars is far beyond our nomal replies. I suppose one of the reasons is that Lars is not that known in England, the US and Germany. Of course he is a literary superstar in Scandinavia but outside the North he is not that known. Probably he is too much in the shadow of Jo Nesbo, every knows on the continent, England and the US. I always listen when cooking or cleaning to BBC 3. They introduce this week Per Petterson (an author I like) and to the Norwich festival Knausgard is exspected in about 3 weeks time. Lars Saabye C. got a lot of press coverage with his early novels and brilliant reviews, but some his latest novels first of all are not translated neither in German nor in English and they didn’t get such good reviews. I haven’t read his newest novel because it isn’t translated.
I wish you a great birthday party tomorrow, 200 years that’s a reason, indeed!
Will you wear a bunad as well? Dina did send pictures of Siri and Selma in their bunader, wow, they look soooo sweet 🙂 🙂
Lots of love and have a great time together in Fredrikstad
Klem
Klausbernd xx
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But of course, dear Klausbernd, wee are ALL wearing bunader tomorrow! 🙂 We’ll make some photos! And we are all partying at ours in the evening. Siri and Selma are coming too, so their flight back home has to be postponed until Monday morning . after a good nights rest. 🙂
see you!
Klem, Tone
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Dear Tone,
I wish you all a GREAT party and happy birthday Norway. I am looking forward seeing the party-pics 🙂
Okay, Siri and Selma are coming on Monday, that’s fine by me. I am very much looking forward having them around again. I missed them sooo much.
Ha en fin dag tomorrow
Lots of love to you all
Klem
Klausbernd xxx ### ooo
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I am not familiar with his work, but I admire the photos Dina took 🙂
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Hi dear Paula,
well, as I said before Lars Saabye isn’t that much known outside Scandinavia, although he is one of the literary megastars.
Thanks a lot for commenting and praising Dina’s photographs. She is in Norway right now celebrating the 200th birthday of Norway together with Siri and Selma. Big party tomorrow 🙂 lots of fun 🙂
Have a happy weekend and all the best
the Fab Four from Cley
Kb 🙂
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Normally I do not read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this writeup very compelled me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite great article.
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Dear John,
thanks a lot 🙂
the Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I am impressed with this website, rattling I am a big fan.
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And another John 🙂
thanks to your kind commentary as well 🙂
the Fab Four of Cley
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