This is not a happy book, but it's an insightful read. Petterson captures the helplessness we can feel in the face of time's unstoppable march. Arvid, often whiny, cowardly, and drinking too much, is not an admirable protagonist. Still, his basic struggle is so naturally human that we can't help but relate: To err is human, right? Arvid, like us, is forced to live with the consequences of his decisions. He's forced to watch the ones closest to him grow old and get sick. He watches a friend and his wife turn into strangers. It is time that is so clearly the antagonist here. Arvid's communism is another interesting piece. It provides an ironic backdrop to his pervasive existential angst. For Arvid, time is his enemy and what's preventing him from arriving at some semblance of contentedness. This contrasts clearly with the optimism that's characteristic of communism. According to Marx, not only is the uprising of the proletariat a good thing, but it's inevitable. Arvid's work cannot fail. So why is he so unhappy? Colin Houghton (Publicity Intern, Tin House Books): I heard about Per Petterson’s I Curse the River of Time a few years ago in a New Yorker article by James Wood. He mentions that the friend of his, who recommended Petterson’s novels, had typed out the entire I Curse the River of Time manuscript just to see what it felt like. This seemed to me an insane thing to do, but like most American readers, I haven’t read much translated work, especially anything contemporary, so it seemed fitting. Not to mention, I convinced myself that based on the amazing title, I would undoubtedly love the book. And I did… I sprinted through it, slowing down only briefly to make sure I was savoring the wonderfully crafted sentences that Petterson seems to do so well. Bottom line, read it.
What do You think about Jeg Forbanner Tidens Elv (2008)?
an intense book - a good exploration of the complex relationship between mother and son
—Cecilym
travelling in Arvid's life and thoughts. sometimes almost randomly. nice little book.
—vege
I loved it. The writing and the subject were fantastic.
—Michele
