Göran Tunström (1937–2000)

rating 2.5
I didn't enjoy this book at all. Rather grim and bleak and filled with lots of death, mental illness and strange relationships (e.g., bizarre relationships between a teenager and older women). The book follows the story of three generations of a Swedish family. It starts with the rather horrible accidental death of the mother of the family. The book focuses on psychological and emotional impact her death has on various family members as they cope with their grief. Although there are some moments of redemption, the book is largely one depressing event after another.… (more)

Juloratoriet! Vad ska jag säga om denna stora roman? Göran Tunströms vackra berättelse som sträcker sig över tre generationer av längtan och drömmar. Den här boken är ett mästerverk, varje ord är vägt på guldvåg. Du som inte redan läst boken kan jag bara gratulera! Jag har läst den många gånger och försökte skriva min c-uppsats i Litteraturvetenskap om Göran Tunströms berättande utifrån just denna bok. Jag jobbade med den när jag var föräldraledig med min dotter Alice. Varje lördag satt jag i läsesalen på institutionen och strök under och gjorde anteckningar i det slitna pocketexet. Inte sällan rann tårarna. Berättelsen är så djupt mänsklig, vacker och så satans bottenlöst sorglig att det är svårt att värja sig. Men den är också hoppfull och varm. Uppsatsen har inte blivit färdig... vem vet, en dag kanske jag skärper mig och skriver klart.… (more)

Well, the Nordic reputation for gloom and depression and sadness and cheerlessness is safe again, thank goodness. I thought a book with Christmas in the title, especially a piece of Christmas music that's renowned for being, if not jolly, then upbeat could make the reader smile! No, no, not part of the character of Tunstrom's novel, no smiling, no no, none of that!

Death. Lots of that, and only some of it physical. The psychic deaths of everyone in this book take place in locales that are lovely to look at and lushly described, as if to counterpoint the misery and sadness the humans in these places carry around with them.

I still think it would be delightful to visit Sweden, and one day before I die I WILL see New Zealand in the flesh so to speak, despite the author's best efforts to make me perceive these places as sinks of hopelessness and the futility of human happiness.

Since the work is a translation, I have no idea if the writing is good or not, so I make no comment thereon. But this is one gloomfest of a novel, and I will never, ever pick it up again. Should anyone offer me another novel by Tunstrom, I will politely decline the opportunity to make myself wretchedly depressed by reading it, tear-dampened kleenex crumpled in one clenched fist and suicidally large dose of pills in the other, searching desperately for a glimmering of a reason not to end this wasted, purposeless thing I've not-so-laughingly called my life.

So, on balance, not really recommended.… (more)