Hardback

Cousins

Norwegian title: Fettere & kusiner

Kristian S. Hæggernes

Whereas children his age, including his siblings, have completed their education and leapt into adult life, Njål has abandoned his studies, still lives in his parents' basement and works at the petrol station just across the road. Fettere & kusiner follows Njål through ten days during which he looks back on his childhood and wonders whether everything turned out as it did because of what happened one summer at the cabin. Ten days during which he also receives an offer and makes new acquaintances that might be able to help him out of his rut.

‘The man who won’t grow up is a familiar figure in Norwegian contemporary literature, but I have rarely seen these directionless individuals depicted in such a relaxed yet nevertheless serious fashion as in Bergen-based Kristian Hæggernes’ debut novel Fettere og kusiner. … With loneliness as a sounding board, Hæggernes writes beautifully about fellowship. … Hæggernes is able to say things like they are without it falling flat. The real nerve of the narrator confirms that this is an authorship of which we should keep track.’DAGENS NÆRINGSLIV‘By allowing ambiguity in the main character’s approach to his own situation, a sense arises in the novel that tragedy is never far away, despite its light-hearted and humorous feel.’BERGENS TIDENDE‘His text has a slightly incomprehensible appeal, perhaps because it seems honest and genuine.’AFTENPOSTEN‘Hæggernes is best with small surfaces where the material and idea is cemented into good literature, because that’s what this is about.’DAG OG TID