Rights catalogue

Det mørke nettet

Øyvind Strømmen

In the wake of July 22nd, Øyvind Strømmen is one of the very few able to give us badly needed knowledge about the background of the terrible tragedy that unfolded in Oslo and on Utøya. In the book Det mørke nettet, Strømmen argues that the attitudes and the hatred made obvious to all on July 22nd are in no way unique. It can be traced back in time, both to the Norwegian past and to right-wing extremist parties and movements all across Europe. Strømmen gives an account of the ideological positions which served as points of departure for what became terrorist action. He stresses in particular the so-called counter-Jihadism, internet radicalization and movements parallel to Islamism. One of the crucial issues for activists within this sphere is the fear that Groups within Europe's immigrant communities are in fact agents ready to carry out a much grander, more invasive plan: a future Eurabia, where non-western settlers are in the majority in Europe, and gradually attempt to replace western civilization and culture with conformity to Muslim doctrine and lack of freedom. Using a selection of concrete examples, Strømmen creates a complex but clearly drawn image of anti-islamic Europe – from the author Oriana Fallaci to extremist parties on the right such as Vlaams Belang and Front National, and on to the bloggers interacting in the context of the Vienna school, with the Norwegian Fjordman as one of the most distinctive voices. The author also provides an overview of the history of terrorist actions by right-wing extremists during the last few decades. ‘This has got to be the most important book of the year.’Dagsavisen ‘Øyvind Strømmen was awarded "Freelancer of the year" this fall for his journalism onright wing extremists and islamofobic blogs on the internet. It is well-deserved. And with this book he has made a strong contribution to the discussions the Norwegian socitety willgo through post July 22nd.’NRK Jon Rognlien discusses Lisa Bjurwald’s Europas skam and Øyvind Strømmen’s Det mørke nettet: ‘These two well-written, well-informed and challenging books demand that we open our eyes to the extreme right-wing, racist and intolerant underground devoted to violence, from which Anders Behring Breivik extracted his ideas.’Dagbladet ‘In order to get a sober explanation in Norwegian of the lineage of right-wing extremism , Strømmen is clearly the source to consult.’Dagens Næringsliv ‘ … whereas I and only too many of the other permanently employed journalists have prioritised, or have had to prioritise other topics, the freelancer Strømmen has dug deep.’Morgenbladet

This Sweet Life

Siri Østli

Mari, Charlotte and Irmela are growing up in a small place called Barkestad. They are best friends and share everything – until Charlotte and Irmela have one of these juvenile rows and it ruins their relationship. A few years later, they all meet in Oslo's bohemian Grünerløkka quarter; Mari tries bravely to mediate between the friends, even though she has her own issues to deal with. So have all three of them, in fact. Mari, who is coping with post-natal depression, finds a note on the kitchen table. It's written by her beloved Peter, who has moved out and left her alone with nearly-new-born Lilja in an old, draughty house with the cellar stocked with fine wines. Irmela, impulsive as ever, has run away from her church wedding, right in the middle of the ceremony. And now she worries about whether she's married or not. Charlotte, who is goal-oriented, wants just two things: a permanent job as a journalist and the status of a fashion icon. But first she simply must help Mari to sort out her life and make Irmela realise that somewhere, her husband is waiting for her.

Fall Technique

Inga Sætre

Winner of the Brage Prize 2011Winner of the Ministry of Culture's Award for Best Cartoon 2011Nominated to the Nordic Council's Literature Prize 2013 Fallteknikk is both a graphic novel and a biographical tale of a girl who moves away from home to attend secondary school. This is the story of a group of close friends that tentatively wish to play in a band, and for whom the world is waiting to be discovered. ‘Inga H. Sætre delivers best of the year with practical life philosophy in Fallteknikk. … Sætre moves effortlessly between sadness and slapstick. … Fallteknikk is both simple and complex, personal yet universal. Sætre has made a beautiful series for youth, which should also be read by parents and other adults. This is the best cartoon of the year thus far.’Dagens Næringsliv ‘Inga Sætre is convincing with her first graphic novel. … As in Møkkajentene, … this is raw, honest and funny in a redeeming way.’Dagbladet ‘Inga Sætre’s strength is the fine dialogues. The words come uncensored, thoughts are being given the space to unfold, worries as well. … At the same time Sætre presents a world which cares about you, whether it is family or girlfriends. Fallteknikk is a book about “falling”, but it is just as much about the fact that most often one has the ability to get up again, and move on, with the bruises and scratches one has been inflicted.’NRK ‘The best thing about Inga Sætre’s cartoons is how people talk to each other. They talk about ordinary things, they might use the wrong word, add emphasis in the sentence here and there. They talk past each other but understand each other anyway. … even if on paper it is a book for youth, it can just as well be read by adults.’Bergens Tidende ‘… this ugly and beautiful story about a teenage girl who tries to deal with the difficult transformation into adulthood can be read by girls (and boys) of all ages. … Read and be uplifted by unforgettable lines and rough, tender, humorous and seemingly negligent drawings and trashy text. Extremely funny and deadly honest.’Tara ‘Here is complicated feelings communicated in a straight forward way, without filter – in rough poetry. You don’t have to be 19 years old and think that to be young sucks in order to like Fallteknikk.’Adresseavisen

Fridtjof Nansen

Carl Emil Vogt

In this biography of Fridtjof Nansen, the man is portrayed not as a superman, but as a believable human being. He was selfish and restless, a poor father and husband, exceptionally egocentric and a typical know-all. However, Nansen was also gripped by a powerful urge to be an active citizen. His role in Norwegian political life grew critical during the succession from the union with Sweden in 1905. He also displayed considerable international and humanitarian engagement over plans to deal with refugees, prisoners of war and victims of starvation. And – of course – he was a courageous leader of expeditions into the Arctic region. The First World War was the turning point in Nansen's life. His background in Polar travel formed the basis for his humanist engagement. In other words, the book turns on its head the dramatic script that underlies the arguments of all previous Nansen biographies. “Vogt’s sober, analytical way of dealing with the facts generates interest in Nansen and his projects. The historical narrative, both trustworthy and thoughtful, forms the strong backbone of this biography.” Aftenposten “A thorough, impressive biography of Fridtjof Nansen and a showcase for this complex personality...” VG “Well-written and engaged...” Dagbladet “Vogt has an excellent grip on world history at the turn of the last century, which enables him to show clearly just how much the story of Nansen was part of it – the man played a central role in most of the big events of the time.” Vårt Land

Fvonk

Erlend Loe

Just as Fvonk is contemplating life in general, a large, shiny, very clean car of a German make glides up the drive and stops without cutting the engine. It is black, has darkened windows and looks official. Fvonk resents all interference by the authorities and this one in particular. A few seconds later, the rear door on the right opens and a woman in her fifties climbs out. Irritatingly, the door makes a hollow, thumping noise – boom, boom, boom – a signal alerting everyone to the fact that it is open. The woman slams the door and checks her surroundings, making sure that she isn't observed by anyone except Fvonk. But there are just the two of them present – this woman and Fvonk. At the time when the Norway Hiking & Exercise Association was going through a rough patch, Fvonk was an employee. He can testify to the financial mess. Fvonk is deeply uninterested in culture. Then a lodger moves into his place, but not a Nobody. On the contrary, quite a Somebody. As it happens, his name is Jens and, as it happens, he is the Prime Minister. ‘With a bubbling joy of telling a story Erlend Loe creates a room where the country’s most powerful man can finally be himself. … Fvonk is first and foremost a highly entertaining book about a friendship out of the ordinary.’Vårt Land ‘Loe creates several entertaining situations with this cartoonish universe. Both on and between the lines a clear critique of The Norwegian Social Democracy’s ways of understanding and behavior can be found.’VG ‘Like most of Erlend Loe’s books, this too is a light read, light philosophy, lightly consummated. But it is not necessarily simple as a result. Because if you liked Naiv.Super. or Tatt av kvinnen, you will like this one too.’Sandefjords Blad ‘It is hard to imagine why Jens Stoltenberg felt offended by Loe’s story, because it is sensitive, sympathetic and wonderfully naïve, in best Loe style. The narrative is a stream of consciousness – often, stretching over entire pages as thoughts, separated only by commas, are reeled off at a headlong pace. It gives the novel and its language an authentic and overflowing tone that suits the two protagonists.’ Jyllands-Posten, DK ‘Laugh and have your heartstrings tugged by Erlend Loe’s new novel about Fvonk … Fvonk is filled with warmth, craziness and tiny, precise detail; it is one of the kind of stories that one swallows whole in a great gulp, despite its mad, unbelievable plot.’ Weekendavisen, DK ‘A true Loe book.’ Elle, DK ‘Yet another funny novel by Loe about the role-playing we do in our daily lives and about the need to be oneself that goes along with it, despite everything – also, one hopes, true of the powerful in the land.’ Politiken, DK ‘Erlend Loe has got a grip on both the Prime Minister and ordinary people in his ironically affectionate novel full of social criticism. Behind the power there is always a human being. Behind every book there is an author. Erlend Loe is one of those able to see through all the trappings in a way that elicits both smiles and tears, but never a malicious laugh. Which is very well done.’ Fyens Stiftstidende, DK

Through the Night

Stig Sæterbakken

Dentist Karl Meyer's worst nightmare comes true when his son, Ole-Jakob, takes his own life. This tragedy forms the springboard for a complex and diverse novel, which asks essential questions about human experience. What does sorrow do to a person? How can one live with the pain of unbearable loss? How far will a man be driven by the grief and despair surrounding the loss of his child? Gjennom natten is a dark story, drawing on elements from dreams, fairy-tales and horror stories, as it explores the mysterious ways of sorrow and love. ‘Stig Sæterbakken’s novel Gjennom natten must be one of this year’s most fabulous ones – in the fabulous books’ darkest, most heart-rending way.’Vårt Land ‘Stig Sæterbakken’s first paragraph in the novel Gjennom natten is a brilliant start to a black and heart-breaking journey in mourning.’VG ‘Garanteed one of this year’s best novels … This is Sæterbakken at his best, and Norwegian literature doesn’t get much better than this.’Adresseavisen ‘… a language which makes you hold your breath in the right places, and chase from side to side, from room to room, as if in a suspense novel.’Aftenposten ‘Stig Sæterbakken sounds deeper than most writers, and with Gjennom natten he has added a new dark, painful and artistically successful novel to his authorship.’Stavanger Aftenblad ‘An almost inapproachable theme, which writer Stig Sæterbakken circles in in a way which can be called a literary feat of strength.'Dagsavisen ‘A black, merciless masterpiece from Stig Sæterbakken … It is painful, but also rewarding to read, first and foremost because Sæterbakken writes extremely well. The language never becomes a shield or a filter, to the contrary, it drills into the darkness, with a precision and ingenuity in the use of images which paradoxically feels like a relief.’Dagbladet ‘This novel by Stig Sæterbakken is strong and fine and deadly serious, en ambitious, excellent narrative in a stylish and simple, but effective language.’ Dag og Tid ‘Sæterbakken writes about the labyrinth of sorrow and does it beautifully.’ Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen ‘As the novel moves on to take place in that house, you know the one, in Bratislava, you really feel as if the entire experience of reading vanished into the night. You can’t quite work out what is going on, but your spine is tingling with anxiety.’ Bergens Tidende ‘You do know the feeling, don’t you? Wishing that the book would never end? Your attempts to hold back to make reading last, not read too much in one go? Such books are rare. But Stig Sæterbakken’s latest novel Gjennom natten is one of these.' Fædrelandsvennen

Anna's Fate

En kald vinterdag hentes fire år gamle Anna Johnsen av vergerådet. Hun plasseres hos Helga og Nils Bergmoen, som er dypt religiøse, og som ser det som sitt kall å redde henne fra det syndige livet i Ura. – Jeg vil bli med deg, hvisket hun med lav og skjelvende stemme. – Ikke denne gangen, vennen min. Moren gråt nå. – Jeg kommer tilbake og henter deg, det lover jeg, hvisket hun og tørket sine egne tårer før hun løftet hånden og tørket Annas våte kinn. – Jeg ville bare ikke reise før jeg hadde sett deg og sagt adjø, men jeg skal skrive … og jeg kommer tilbake.

Hello Crayon!

Anna Fiske

The three Hallo! books by Anna Fiske are highly popular, and now comes an activity book that builds upon them. The book is in black and white, allowing for the opportunity to draw and colour in. All one needs are five colours and a good imagination, and this becomes a fantastic little book like no other.

Ha ha, Hasse

Tore Renberg / Øyvind Torseter

Last year we met Ine and Hasse in Gi gass, Ine! This year we meet them once again in a new book, He he, Hasse. Ine and Hasse have a plan. They want to blow up the big stone on the ground. The one that gets in the way of everything. But for that they will need some dynamite. They begin by asking the elk. But he doesn’t have any left over. Then they ask the bear and owls and others they meet. But they don’t have any in stock, apart from the badger, and he is rather grumpy, particularly when he’s woken in the middle of the day. Tore Renberg’s words and Øyvind Torseter’s collage prints complement one another beautifully.

Helmer's Journey, 1979

Geir Olav Jørgensen

“Doing casual work had made him learn how to be a fixer. As he moved about, he liked striking bargains, spruce himself up and catch any chances that came his way. He bartered goods against jobs, and job against goods, or, indeed, goods against goods and jobs against jobs. Wheeling and dealing created movement, life. It was his way of playing.” Helmer, the vagabond, is a man with a keen eye for both women and cosmos. One warm evening in June 1979, he said goodbye to his girlfriend, Judith. His plan was to work in a hippie-style collective, where he has been before. He drives off across the mountain at night. At first, the journey looks like a promising road movie. But life turns out different: he is taken on a dark odyssey and soon Helmer’s soul is at stake. "A man wipped out of his inner self. This is effectivelly portayed. Both deceitful and honest."VÅRT LAND"An original and engaging tale."VG