| Norwegian title: | Herr Knapps uforrettede saker |
| Author: | Lars Saabye Christensen |
| Binding: | Innbundet |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Pages: | 144 |
| Publisher: | Flamme Forlag |
| Språk: | Bokmål |
| Series: | Fº |
| Serienummer: | 522 |
| ISBN/EAN: | 9788282885577 |
| Kategori: | Literature and Fiction |
Mr. Knapp had just discovered that his landline was dead. He hadn’t even been there when it happened. This was a telling example. When had he ever been present? Wasn’t he always blindsided, as they say? This was the end of an era, that much was certain. He felt depressed and significant.
Mr. Knapp is an old man. A lot of people prefer to use the phrase ‘getting up there’ when talking about old age: Mr. Knapp was getting up there. But old age was never something to which Mr. Knapp had tried to achieve. Quite the opposite. Who rushes toward something like that? He’s still dealing with his childhood. And his youth. And his family. And with people. And with love. Oh, to be in love! In Paris, the summer of 1959, visiting museums and galleries, or just walking along the streets, with his future wife, reading French poetry, especially Verlaine, “how did that poem go again, the one about rain in Paris and the heart?”
Why can’t he remember? The rain is still falling.
«Mr. Knapp's Unfinished Business is about becoming so old that one will soon die. [...] it's a mix of quiet realism, a twinkle in the eye and absurd elements. [...] It is strongest when the humour is contrasted against the very present pain.»
ADRESSEAVISEN
Charming portrait of old age
«Lars Saabye Christensen has written a charming novel about loneliness, old age and imminent death. [...] full of wit, paradoxes, puns and stinging remarks about life in its mundanity and old people in particular. During the novel, you'll want to laught, but end up crying. [..] The cheerful, charming linguistic surface often hides dark secrets. [...] Mr. Knapp's Unfinished Business is Lars Saabye Christensen at his most engaging.»
DAGSAVISEN
Byens spor / Lars Saabye Christensen
Byens spor / Lars Saabye Christensen
Lars Saabye Christensen
«Ingen annen norsk forfatter kan klemme inn like mye sjarm, sorg, glede og livsvisdom på 143 små sider som Lars Saabye Christensen.»
«Lars Saabye Christensen har skrevet en sjarmbombe av en bok om ensomhet, alderdom og snarlig død. (…) proppfull av vidd, paradokser, ordspill og sviende bemerkninger om livet i sin alminnelighet og gamlinger i særdeleshet. Underveis i boka får du lyst til å le, men ender med å gråte. (…) Den muntre, sjarmerende språklige overflaten skjuler ofte mørke hemmeligheter. (…) Herr Knapps uforrettede saker er Lars Saabye Christensen på sitt mest inntagende.»
Turid Larsen, Dagsavisen«En finurlig roman om å bli gammel i dagens Norge. (...) De fine, små, drømmeaktige visittene tilbake til barndomstiden og urmakerfaren utfyller karaktertegningen på betagende vis. (...) Knapp er en knupp, for å si det på en måte som ikke kan uttrykkes med en skarve terning.»
Janneken Øverland, Klassekampen Bokmagasinet«Saabye Christensen skriv med glimt i auget, og han strør om seg med kvardagsfilosofiske betraktningar og pussige og overraskande refleksjonar kring den samtida vi lever i (...) Saabye Christensen skriv berre gode bøker.»
Oddmund Hagen, Dag og Tid«Herr Knapps uforettede saker handler enkelt sagt om å bli så gammel at man snart skal dø, og er på det viset i nær slekt med fjorårets brageprisvinner Den dagen da Nils Vik døde av Frode Grytten. Det er den samme blandingen av traust realisme, glimt i øyet og absurde innslag. (...) Sterkest er den når humoren får sin kontrast i høyst nærværende smerte.»
Ole Jacob Hoel, Adresseavisa