Fiction

The Echo of a Friend

Ingvar Ambjørnsen

Elling is finally back, as vulnerable and funny as ever. He has moved into a basement apartment in Oslo, renting from the widow Annelore Frimann-Clausen. This is Ingvar Ambjørnsen´s fifth book about Elling, and it continues to build on the strong narrative from the previous books. The new book is a beautiful and gripping story about a lonely human being, a story that many can relate to. 'What a comeback!Echo of a Friend is a genuinely funny book, offering a lovely row of shining comic episodes. But just under the cheerful surface there is a tender nerve of something different. For The Echo of a Friend is maybe first and foremost a novel about great and bottomless loneliness. Even if Ambjørnsen manages to add a feeling of redemption to the story, there is no doubt that this story is quite terrible. And terribly good, as well.'VG ****** 'Of course this is a real Elling novel. But the backdrop that Ambjørnsen has drawn up for us also contains deep and striking comments on society of today – you can by all means call it humoristic satire – but Echo of a Friend has a deeper and more serious undertone, describing some of the most pronounced contemporary features of our time.'DAGBLADET ***** 'Elling is back. Almost just as funny, and quite as sad – but even lonelier.The recognition of what Elling is struggling with, finding his place in the world and a dignity in his own life, make Echo of a Friend not only relevant, but yes – important.'ADRESSEAVISA 'Ruthlessly honest return of Elling.The return of now 20 years older Elling in Ingvar Ambjørnsen´s Echo of a Friend is sad, melancholy and at the same time invigoratingly humoristic. As a novel it is a recognizable Ambjørnsen landscape, smartly delivered with a sense for precession and dark humour. It is not an exaggeration to say that Ambjørnsen was at his very best with his books about the lonely, dysfunctional and at times crazy Elling. And he shows us again, 20 years later that he is at the same level. It is a joy to read this new novel.'DAGSAVISEN 'Ingvar Ambjørnsen is back with a new book about Elling – 20 years later. This is a reunion that you do not want to miss.Ingvar Ambjørnsen is back with a new book about Elling – 20 years later. This is a reunion that you do not want to miss. Reading this book on the tram might lead to spontaneous laughter behind the book covers, making you feel a bit like Elling yourself. This is the strength of this author. In a seemingly relaxed way he illuminates the pages with different perspectives of our time, with Elling as a modern day and anxiety filled fairytale hero. We are all Elling. We are all a bit weird. This is the thing that adds depth and nerve to the stories about Elling. Like always, the writing is great. Great images, excellent rhythm and not a single loose sentence. He is light at hand, and builds sentences the way Elling changes moods. When they are good, they are tight and snappy. This book, like they say, brings joy to both old and new readers. I can not wait for the next book, because now Ambjørnsen is on a roll – and so is Elling.'AFTENPOSTEN