At the centre is Edvard who lost his parents at age 3 so has grown up with his grandfather Bestefar (love that name!). At the bar with the sign that reads 1-800-THE-LORD, Taylor finds Turtle, who will become the most precious part of her life. by MacLehose Press. Lars Mytting er en norsk journalist og forfatter. This is one level. The novel follows Edvard, who grows up on a remote potato farm in Norway with his taciturn grandfather, Sverre. Op”, “Si lo que tienes es un dos de tréboles y un tres de diamantes, eso es lo que hay. Add in some risible similes ('he sat there like a wax figure in a German fighter jet'; 'she was quiet and guarded like an old floor clock') and lots of inset stories prefaced by a 'she told me that...' and I was a bit hard pressed to stick with. Format. In the novel, commercialized religion works not as the means to salvation, but as a humorous lucky charm. Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? Sverre's death hits Edvard hard as he ponders over his future and the mystery of the beautiful art deco coffin, handmade many year. Authuille is the tiny settlement which was actually at the centre of the WW1 Battle of the Somme. It seems to be a Scandinavian thing to write in a loose, circulatory, baggy kind of way with lots of musings and maneuverings around the main thrust of the story. Privacy Policy. Lars Mytting described the haunting atmosphere very well. The novel follows Edvard, who grows up on a remote potato farm in Norway with his taciturn grandfather, Sverre. Very impressive to get such lyrical and emotional language from the off and to keep it flowing so naturally throughout. The author successfully pulls you into the mind of this young man on a journey of self-discovery, love and loss. De werkdag binnenstappen, de schouders eronder zetten, volhouden, me afmatten. All the emotions and heart of the novel lead here. The book moves from a remote farm in Norway to an isolated island in the Shetlands. ‘Because there was something about Mamma and Pappa’s story that was stirring, quietly, like a viper in the grass.’. “Enthralling, dramatic, compelling” … a perfect description of this amazing book! Phone orders min. But he knows that the fate of his grandfather’s brother, Einar, is somehow bound up with this mystery. No thank you. Mytting har arbeidet som forlagsredaktør og journalist i Dagningen, Aftenposten, Arbeiderbladet og Beat. I’ve tried and tried to think of some things to say about this book but my mind is drawing a blank. Lars Mytting, The Sixteen Trees of the Somme, trans. The Sixteen Trees of the Somme is about the love of wood and finding your own self, a beautifully intricate and moving tale that spans an entire century. Edvard is looking for answers about what happened to his uncle and to him as a child. His novel The Sixteen Trees of the Somme was awarded the Norwegian National Booksellers’ Award and has been bought for film. ), Purchase Links* Sverre had a brother Einar who did not want to farm and left to go to Paris to improve his talents of wood carving. Backpack Reading Lists. I was a mess by this point to be honest. Edvard, (Édouard, Edward) Hirifjell (the 3 versions are rel. Life can be lonely as the community is very small and claustrophobic. Edvard later plants trees on his far in memory of those who lost their lives. Authuille is the tiny settlement which was actually at the centre of the WW1 Battle of the Somme. 2 questions answered. Refresh and try again. Era(s): 20th century. The Sixteen Trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting is a book I’ve been thinking about reading for a while – mainly because I’d heard it is similar in feel to All the Light we Cannot See which I loved.. Sometimes when a book is translated into English the music of the original language is lost. Australian Book Retailer of the Year 2020. Wow. Join Now . The story is very clever and interwoven well but I didn’t care enough about either of the main characters to get behind them. 20th century: A family saga spanning centuries, wars and countries.. Edvard grows up on a remote mountain farmstead in Norway with his taciturn grandfather, Sverre. The author tried too hard to create deep characters and a meaningful storyline and fell short most of the time. I loved this book – and for once so did most of the book club. Highly recommended. The Sixteen Trees of the Somme is a slow-moving mystery that explores entangled themes of death, grief, history, family and timber. This is a stunning novel by Lars Mytting translated from the Norwegian. The whole book and storyline about discovering his family history felt like such a pretence. Lo único que justifica que te quejes es que te hayan repartido cuatro cartas si te corresponden cinco.”, International Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2019), See all 4 questions about The Sixteen Trees of the Somme…. Visit the locations and go on this amazing journey. The descriptions of place – especially the Shetlands – are stark and harsh, yet intriguing. Perhaps Einar is not dead after all. Monthly Newsletter. Det er i hvert fall det som slutten indikerer. The story is very clever and interwoven well but I didn’t care enough about either of the main characters to get behind them. Mytting and his book are "whole wood" - the real thing. . *links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme, Find The Sixteen Trees of the Somme on Goodreads. As Edvard slowly untangles the mystery of what happened in 1971, he must travel beyond the Norwegian potato farm to the Scottish Shetlands and to the beginning of the twentieth century. Been to the area in France, been to the Thiepval Memorial. Sixteen Trees of the Somme [Lars Mytting] on Amazon.com. I want to learn these words and meet them in their natural habitat so to speak. The characters were so greedy and self-serving. Ese día pierdes y se acabó. Good translations as well. She creates a fictitious name but Edward discovers her real identity. It’s good to belong to one and be able to talk about books. 4.5 He is a great storyteller - Mytting! But he also leaves clues.” Truth emerges like new growth. An excellent, grown-up book following a young Norwegian farmer as he works to understand some of the mysteries surrounding his parents death during a trip to France. Buy Now X Buy from Amazon or your favourite bookseller. Author(s): Lars Mytting . TF Book Club; Add a Book; Add a Review; Great Books Map; Contact; Why Join? A well paced thriller - despite the literary looking cover and blurb. About the author . This starts to add to the complexity of Edvard’s heritage. I was so worried about going at first but it is wonderful to have a group of people with whom I can just chat about books over a cup of tea. Edvard’s desperate quest to unlock the family’s tragic secrets takes him on a long journey – from Norway to the Shetlands, and to the battlefields of France – to the discovery of a very unusual inheritance. During all this time while seemingly supportive of Edvard, Gwen has her own ambitions to discover the truth of events. He leaves behind tools and books and clothes. The Sixteen Trees of the Somme has a compelling, enthralling story line with wonderfully atmospheric settings and well-developed characters. I thought it was beautifully written and the author’s love of wood and well crafted objects really showed through – his descriptions were wonderful. We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. It’s a journey of a novel in both setting, locations and its emotional heart is beating strong. The author can string together some beautiful words. Edvard’s search reaches back in time to WW1 and WW2, bringing to light painful facts from the past – death, injury, separation and betrayal – but also revealing stories of courage, determination and devotion. ‘Eerily free of trees’: Shetland provides the setting for Lars Mytting’s mystery novel. Lars Mytting, a novelist and journalist, was born in Fåvang, Norway, in 1968. 163 x 238 x 37mm | 676g. His journey will take him far and wide…to the most remote and northern parts of the Shetland islands where he meets someone who will help his story come together. I feel that this read has been beautifully translated and the very essence of the original book is in tact. ( Log Out / Fabulous descriptions of places but the story keeps going until the finale. The setting of the Somme is perhaps the most emotional and complex of the three. The Sixteen Trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting is a book I’ve been thinking about reading for a while – mainly because I’d heard it is similar in feel to All the Light we Cannot See which I loved.. Rose Maurice works as a bookseller at Readings Doncaster.