Most of the stories in this collection blend realistic everyday activities with an edge of the uncanny. In "Some Letters for Ove Lindstrom," for example, a daughter writes letters to her dead father in an attempt to make peace with her estrangement from him... and implies in passing that her mother was a vittra. They are narrated in a straightforward style, with supernatural elements taken for granted.
The name Ove Lindstrom and references to vittra confirm that Tidbeck is Swedish. Scandinavian touches such as holiday villages, cloudberry jam, and dansband music contribute to the slightly exotic atmosphere for an American reader. Tidbeck translates the stories herself, and she includes a short essay at the end of the book about how that affects their "taste."
I enjoyed the book. The stories were pleasurable and short enough not to wear out their welcome. The final few stories were more completely fantastical, and I found them less interesting.
The name Ove Lindstrom and references to vittra confirm that Tidbeck is Swedish. Scandinavian touches such as holiday villages, cloudberry jam, and dansband music contribute to the slightly exotic atmosphere for an American reader. Tidbeck translates the stories herself, and she includes a short essay at the end of the book about how that affects their "taste."
I enjoyed the book. The stories were pleasurable and short enough not to wear out their welcome. The final few stories were more completely fantastical, and I found them less interesting.
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