What do you think?
Rate this book
Le Tribunal des oiseaux
Allis Hagtorn cherche un havre de paix, une nouvelle vie loin des projecteurs. Elle pense les avoir trouvés en acceptant un poste d’aide à domicile dans un petit fjord perdu. Mais l’homme qui l’embauche est loin d’être un vieillard démuni : âgé d’une quarantaine d’années, Sigurd Bagge est un individu taciturne et mystérieux qui dit avoir besoin d’aide pour gérer sa maison pendant l’absence de son épouse. Mais à mesure que les mois passent, Allis commence à douter que sa femme ait l’intention de revenir. A-t- elle seulement existé ? D’une intensité rare, "Le Tribunal des oiseaux" est un huis-clos envoûtant dans lequel le lecteur – à l’instar des personnages – se tient en équilibre fragile entre crainte et obsession.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
246 people are currently reading
3869 people want to read
About the author
Agnes Ravatn
25 books401 followersElev ved Skrivekunstakademiet i årskullet 2004-2005.
Debuterte i 2007 med romanen Veke 53.
Debuterte i 2007 med romanen Veke 53.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
February 9, 2017
Guess who is finally out of her reading slump? THIS GIRL! It has been so long since I’ve read a 5 star book that I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with me. (The one I posted earlier was read weeks ago so it doesn’t count!) When Karen at Orenda books said she was sending me some winners in the mail all the way from the UK, I knew they would be enjoyable based on my fellow bloggers reviews; I just didn’t know they would be all around stunning, absorbing, and gripping. I cannot express how deeply I fell in love with this little book; while it came in at 185 pages it packed a huge wallop. I was completely taken from page 1, and if hadn’t come down with a nasty cold which made me loopy in the head and sleepy, I would have finished it in a single sitting. It’s THAT good.
Clearly by the description you know off the bat that this is psychological suspense, but what you don’t know is that it’s a twisted and addictive love story. I kept thinking to myself “If it’s wrong for me to be cheering on the collaboration of these two oddballs then I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT”. That’s right, I’m completely warped and was sucked into this cat and mouse game of what the heck is going on. From the very beginning you are on this train headed for disaster, and while knowing that, you can’t jump off and save yourself. It’s really hard to pin down a single genre to categorize this tale in; while it definitely is a psychological suspense, it was simultaneously dark and light. It was disturbing, yet endearing; I’ve never read a book that has posed such a conundrum in trying to describe it, so I’ll just let it fly free and not try to nail it down to any one category. (See what I did there?)
I can’t believe I’m about to say this, as I despise Gone Girl comparisons, but if you liked the feeling that book gave you, I think you’ll like this even more. The plot is completely different, but I experienced that same mind-warped feeling after reading both books. Don’t let the length fool you; this was well done and didn’t lack in any aspects or details. Plus, the cover is gorgeous! I would highly recommend this to all fans of psychological/domestic suspense; those who like their dark and creepy with little to no gore will especially like this one as the author uses other writing tactics to give you the heebie jeebies. Buy it, buy it, BUY IT! I hope more translations of upcoming work from this author are in the works, because I’ll pick up whatever she writes next without even checking the book jacket. Again, THAT good.
*Multitude of thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my copy; you delivered and I trust your every recommendation from now on!
Clearly by the description you know off the bat that this is psychological suspense, but what you don’t know is that it’s a twisted and addictive love story. I kept thinking to myself “If it’s wrong for me to be cheering on the collaboration of these two oddballs then I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT”. That’s right, I’m completely warped and was sucked into this cat and mouse game of what the heck is going on. From the very beginning you are on this train headed for disaster, and while knowing that, you can’t jump off and save yourself. It’s really hard to pin down a single genre to categorize this tale in; while it definitely is a psychological suspense, it was simultaneously dark and light. It was disturbing, yet endearing; I’ve never read a book that has posed such a conundrum in trying to describe it, so I’ll just let it fly free and not try to nail it down to any one category. (See what I did there?)
I can’t believe I’m about to say this, as I despise Gone Girl comparisons, but if you liked the feeling that book gave you, I think you’ll like this even more. The plot is completely different, but I experienced that same mind-warped feeling after reading both books. Don’t let the length fool you; this was well done and didn’t lack in any aspects or details. Plus, the cover is gorgeous! I would highly recommend this to all fans of psychological/domestic suspense; those who like their dark and creepy with little to no gore will especially like this one as the author uses other writing tactics to give you the heebie jeebies. Buy it, buy it, BUY IT! I hope more translations of upcoming work from this author are in the works, because I’ll pick up whatever she writes next without even checking the book jacket. Again, THAT good.
*Multitude of thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my copy; you delivered and I trust your every recommendation from now on!
March 31, 2021
The Bird Tribunal by Norwegian author Agnes Ravatn is a strange and chilling little tale.
This small, perfectly crafted novel takes hold of you on page one and leads you on an increasingly uneasy journey. I really didn’t know where it was heading and it had been on my kindle so long I wasn’t even sure what genre I was reading.
Allis Hagtorn arrives at a house in the forest, miles from anywhere. She’s taken up a vague position caring for a house and its occupant, Sigurd Bagge. Sigurd is a big, middle aged man and doesn’t seem to be ill or particularly in need of care. At first he’s a blank canvas, a bit strange - he doesn’t say much and seems secretive. He has a wife but she’s not around.
Allis prepares meals and tames the unruly garden. We gather early on that she’s a tv personality, escaping a well publicised scandal.
Gradually this odd couple settle into a quiet domestic routine. Seasons change. So much isn’t said that our minds automatically start trying to fill in the gaps. There’s an eeriness, and the tension grows.
Is this going to be a ghost story, horror novel, thriller, love story, work of straight literary fiction or magic realism? Well into the book I still had no idea ….… and I must admit I liked that!
Gradually Allis uncovers disturbing secrets and everything comes into focus.
The novel is beautifully written, shot through with a simple lyricism - the isolation of the house amongst the trees, the still water of the Fiord bound by black granite, the constant presence of nature and wildlife, are all clearly invoked.
This is a dark and mysterious tale that held me throughout.
This small, perfectly crafted novel takes hold of you on page one and leads you on an increasingly uneasy journey. I really didn’t know where it was heading and it had been on my kindle so long I wasn’t even sure what genre I was reading.
Allis Hagtorn arrives at a house in the forest, miles from anywhere. She’s taken up a vague position caring for a house and its occupant, Sigurd Bagge. Sigurd is a big, middle aged man and doesn’t seem to be ill or particularly in need of care. At first he’s a blank canvas, a bit strange - he doesn’t say much and seems secretive. He has a wife but she’s not around.
Allis prepares meals and tames the unruly garden. We gather early on that she’s a tv personality, escaping a well publicised scandal.
Gradually this odd couple settle into a quiet domestic routine. Seasons change. So much isn’t said that our minds automatically start trying to fill in the gaps. There’s an eeriness, and the tension grows.
Is this going to be a ghost story, horror novel, thriller, love story, work of straight literary fiction or magic realism? Well into the book I still had no idea ….… and I must admit I liked that!
Gradually Allis uncovers disturbing secrets and everything comes into focus.
The novel is beautifully written, shot through with a simple lyricism - the isolation of the house amongst the trees, the still water of the Fiord bound by black granite, the constant presence of nature and wildlife, are all clearly invoked.
This is a dark and mysterious tale that held me throughout.
December 19, 2019
The Bird Tribunal is not your typical Scandi Nordic thriller, but watch out, it sure is dark and disturbing.
Allis Hagtorn leaves her life to seek refuge from her past. She takes a job as a cook and gardener in a remote and isolated Norwegian fjord. She finds her employer is not what she expected. Sigurd Bagge is a brooding middle aged man who is moody and unsettling. No car. No tv. No internet. Only a rundown garden and a wine cellar. This tense psychological thriller gives you a feel of foreboding throughout the book. Allis and Sigurd’s relationships turns to the obsessive. There are plenty of secrets from both sides that are haunting.
A chilling, atmospheric, short read that you can’t put down. Outstanding.
4 out of 5 stars
Allis Hagtorn leaves her life to seek refuge from her past. She takes a job as a cook and gardener in a remote and isolated Norwegian fjord. She finds her employer is not what she expected. Sigurd Bagge is a brooding middle aged man who is moody and unsettling. No car. No tv. No internet. Only a rundown garden and a wine cellar. This tense psychological thriller gives you a feel of foreboding throughout the book. Allis and Sigurd’s relationships turns to the obsessive. There are plenty of secrets from both sides that are haunting.
A chilling, atmospheric, short read that you can’t put down. Outstanding.
4 out of 5 stars
February 17, 2018
The thing with the "Bird Tribunal" by Agnes Ravatn is that it is so spellbinding and mesmerising you won't be able to put it down once you start reading, I couldn't and flew through the book in a couple of days.
Hauntingly chilling, the smouldering intrigue that starts the book leaves you with no doubt that this story is going to leave a lasting impression and guarantees that you'll always remember reading it.
This brooding and character driven psychological thriller features only two characters, Aliss Hagtorn and Sigurd Bagge, who are eccentric and intriguing. The story is written uniquely and utterly distinctive but remains beautifully poetic and sophisticated with an enigma of escalating tension and suspense that silently wraps itself deep in your thoughts and doesn't let go.
Allis leaves her life in the city, her husband and job, to take voluntary exile in a remote house on an isolated fjord to be a housekeeper/gardener. However, silent and brooding owner, Sigurd Bagge is not the old man she was expecting. As they await the arrival of his wife Nor from her travels, their relationship becomes obsessive, chilling and all consuming but with each hiding dark secrets, it soon becomes clear that atonement for past sins may not be enough.
I constantly felt my senses on guard in anticipation of something happening and at times never realised I was holding my breath. I truly LOVED this book and cannot sing it's praises enough!
"The Bird Tribunal" is an excellent literary example of Nordic Noir and has been impressively translated by Rosie Hedger. Although quite a quick read this breathtakingly atmospheric slow burner still packs a chilling punch that will leave you very much deep in thought.
Can only be a fabulous 5 stars!!!
Hauntingly chilling, the smouldering intrigue that starts the book leaves you with no doubt that this story is going to leave a lasting impression and guarantees that you'll always remember reading it.
This brooding and character driven psychological thriller features only two characters, Aliss Hagtorn and Sigurd Bagge, who are eccentric and intriguing. The story is written uniquely and utterly distinctive but remains beautifully poetic and sophisticated with an enigma of escalating tension and suspense that silently wraps itself deep in your thoughts and doesn't let go.
Allis leaves her life in the city, her husband and job, to take voluntary exile in a remote house on an isolated fjord to be a housekeeper/gardener. However, silent and brooding owner, Sigurd Bagge is not the old man she was expecting. As they await the arrival of his wife Nor from her travels, their relationship becomes obsessive, chilling and all consuming but with each hiding dark secrets, it soon becomes clear that atonement for past sins may not be enough.
I constantly felt my senses on guard in anticipation of something happening and at times never realised I was holding my breath. I truly LOVED this book and cannot sing it's praises enough!
"The Bird Tribunal" is an excellent literary example of Nordic Noir and has been impressively translated by Rosie Hedger. Although quite a quick read this breathtakingly atmospheric slow burner still packs a chilling punch that will leave you very much deep in thought.
Can only be a fabulous 5 stars!!!
November 19, 2019
This is a book that I have wanted to read for the longest time so I figured I would take the plunge when I saw it was available on Hoopla. I'm trying to make more of an effort of requesting less arcs and catching up on books that I've been wanting to read.
This book started out so strong. I love atmospheric and eerie and this was all that and more.
Allis is running away from her former life and takes a position as gardener and caretaker of a home run by the forty-something Sigurd Bagge. She is there to assist him with these tasks as his wife is away and isn't expected back soon.
The sense of foreboding was palpable. Something seems off about Sigurd to Allis and to us as readers and I loved that. My need to know had me finishing this book in a 24 hr period but when all is said and done I was left feeling very *meh* about the entire book.
Like, I hate to be a little Miss Braggy Pants, but this was so predictable. People kept mentioning the ending so I kept anticipating this HUGE twist but, alas, there wasn't one. It ended exactly as I had predicted at the onset of the book which made everything else that I loved up to that point just mediocre in the end. 2.5 stars!
This book started out so strong. I love atmospheric and eerie and this was all that and more.
Allis is running away from her former life and takes a position as gardener and caretaker of a home run by the forty-something Sigurd Bagge. She is there to assist him with these tasks as his wife is away and isn't expected back soon.
The sense of foreboding was palpable. Something seems off about Sigurd to Allis and to us as readers and I loved that. My need to know had me finishing this book in a 24 hr period but when all is said and done I was left feeling very *meh* about the entire book.
Like, I hate to be a little Miss Braggy Pants, but this was so predictable. People kept mentioning the ending so I kept anticipating this HUGE twist but, alas, there wasn't one. It ended exactly as I had predicted at the onset of the book which made everything else that I loved up to that point just mediocre in the end. 2.5 stars!
July 26, 2025
Do People Ever Really Know Each Other?
THE BIRD TRIBUNAL
by Agnes Ravatn
4 stars. TV personality Allis Hagtorn, in an attempt to escape a very public scandal, answered an ad hoping for a chance to start her life over...
Her new employer...
Sigurd Bagge was a bizarre loner seeking someone to help around his isolated cabin with the cooking, cleaning, and gardening...
During the interview, he never made eye contact with Allis...
He hired her on the spot, even though she was clearly unqualified...
He took her upstairs to her room. His room was on the ground floor, and it was always locked...
Bagge had a workroom connecting with his bedroom, where he spent most of his time. Allis was never to enter his quarters or disturb him while he was working...
She couldn't believe her luck. She'd never thought it possible to find a job to escape to good hard work, open sky, and fresh air...
However...
Do people ever really know each other? As it turns out, both Allis and Bagge have something they're hiding from each other...
This was a fine piece of Nordic noir. The first half meanders along somewhat like a Victorian Gothic story, and it's almost like it takes place in times past instead of the present. It seems like a love story until you get to 50%, and then the story is an edge-of-your-seat thriller.
I can't say anything more about the plot without spoiling the story, but it was well worth a read. I deducted a star for the ending, but the rest was intense and mysterious.
THE BIRD TRIBUNAL
by Agnes Ravatn
4 stars. TV personality Allis Hagtorn, in an attempt to escape a very public scandal, answered an ad hoping for a chance to start her life over...
Her new employer...
Sigurd Bagge was a bizarre loner seeking someone to help around his isolated cabin with the cooking, cleaning, and gardening...
During the interview, he never made eye contact with Allis...
He hired her on the spot, even though she was clearly unqualified...
He took her upstairs to her room. His room was on the ground floor, and it was always locked...
Bagge had a workroom connecting with his bedroom, where he spent most of his time. Allis was never to enter his quarters or disturb him while he was working...
She couldn't believe her luck. She'd never thought it possible to find a job to escape to good hard work, open sky, and fresh air...
However...
Do people ever really know each other? As it turns out, both Allis and Bagge have something they're hiding from each other...
This was a fine piece of Nordic noir. The first half meanders along somewhat like a Victorian Gothic story, and it's almost like it takes place in times past instead of the present. It seems like a love story until you get to 50%, and then the story is an edge-of-your-seat thriller.
I can't say anything more about the plot without spoiling the story, but it was well worth a read. I deducted a star for the ending, but the rest was intense and mysterious.
July 27, 2025
Amazing writing. It is difficult to pull off when you have two very unlikable characters (really the only characters) and an extremely slow start. It wasn’t until well into the second half that the story had more than tense and ominous going for it. Ravatn’s story has a lovely setting in a remote farmhouse set by a beautiful fjord in western Norway.
There’s a lot of mention of threatening animals (wolves and birds—yes, it is called The Bird Tribunal). Norse lore is there to discuss what is forgivable and what is not. “Skemdarig” is unforgivable. One who commits such a crime is “nithing” or nothing. Norse legends of gods and Ragnarak are part of the story.
One of the two characters is said to be walking on eggshells, a good description of how it feels to be reading this subtle thriller.
There’s a lot of mention of threatening animals (wolves and birds—yes, it is called The Bird Tribunal). Norse lore is there to discuss what is forgivable and what is not. “Skemdarig” is unforgivable. One who commits such a crime is “nithing” or nothing. Norse legends of gods and Ragnarak are part of the story.
One of the two characters is said to be walking on eggshells, a good description of how it feels to be reading this subtle thriller.
July 25, 2025
The Bird Tribunal - Agnes Ravatn
"I was too happy to cry and too sad to smile."
لم يفه بكلمة أخرى، أفرغ كأسه وأغمض عينيه. أصبح تعبيره جادًا، يكادُ يكونُ حادًا، وكان جميلًا لدرجة أنَّ مُراقبته كانت مؤلمة. أشتاق إليه رغم وجوده هنا...
"أنا لا شيء، فكرت. أنا لا شيء، ولا أملك شيئًا. أتجول كصدفة فارغة. عليّ أن أستسلم. أتوقف عن المحاولة.
~
...
تترك أليس والديها وشريكها وحياتها في المدينة بعد فضيحة مدوية في مقر عملها، وتنتقل إلى منفى اختياري في منزل بعيد يقع على مضيق بحري معزول وتعمل كطاهية وبستانية لرجل كئيب ومتقلب المزاج.
تقضي أيامها في هذا المنزل المعزول بلا جيران وبلا إنترنت أو حتّى تلفاز. لا شيء سوى المضيق وحديقة مهجورة رفقة صاحب عملها، تتحول علاقتهما الصامتة شيئًا فشيئًا لعلاقة مهووسة وإدمانية وسامة.
هذه رواية قصيرة وقصة حب مظلمة وسامة في إطار تشويق نفسي وفي أقل من 200 صفحة.
هذه رواية مقلقة وتحبس الأنفاس ومخيفة قليلًا وخفيفة في ذات الوقت... يصعب تصنيفها أو حتّى تقييمها، تضم بعض الاقتباسات التي لا تنسى، لكنها قصة كارثية أيضًا وكلنا نعرف هذا لكننا نقرأها مأخوذين بسرد الكاتبة المذهل.
ويومًا ما عليّ ألا أقع في هذا القخ، فخ قراءة أعمال بقصص مقلقة وسامة وغالبًا أوروبية مدفوعة بالسرد الجميل والشاعري، لكن هذا اليوم لن يأتي غالبًا.في الحقيقة كنت سأقيمها بـ 3 نجمات، لكن في اللحظة الأخيرة قيمتها بأربعة...
الغلاف جميل جدًا.
"I was too happy to cry and too sad to smile."
لم يفه بكلمة أخرى، أفرغ كأسه وأغمض عينيه. أصبح تعبيره جادًا، يكادُ يكونُ حادًا، وكان جميلًا لدرجة أنَّ مُراقبته كانت مؤلمة. أشتاق إليه رغم وجوده هنا...
"أنا لا شيء، فكرت. أنا لا شيء، ولا أملك شيئًا. أتجول كصدفة فارغة. عليّ أن أستسلم. أتوقف عن المحاولة.
~
...
تترك أليس والديها وشريكها وحياتها في المدينة بعد فضيحة مدوية في مقر عملها، وتنتقل إلى منفى اختياري في منزل بعيد يقع على مضيق بحري معزول وتعمل كطاهية وبستانية لرجل كئيب ومتقلب المزاج.
تقضي أيامها في هذا المنزل المعزول بلا جيران وبلا إنترنت أو حتّى تلفاز. لا شيء سوى المضيق وحديقة مهجورة رفقة صاحب عملها، تتحول علاقتهما الصامتة شيئًا فشيئًا لعلاقة مهووسة وإدمانية وسامة.
هذه رواية قصيرة وقصة حب مظلمة وسامة في إطار تشويق نفسي وفي أقل من 200 صفحة.
هذه رواية مقلقة وتحبس الأنفاس ومخيفة قليلًا وخفيفة في ذات الوقت... يصعب تصنيفها أو حتّى تقييمها، تضم بعض الاقتباسات التي لا تنسى، لكنها قصة كارثية أيضًا وكلنا نعرف هذا لكننا نقرأها مأخوذين بسرد الكاتبة المذهل.
ويومًا ما عليّ ألا أقع في هذا القخ، فخ قراءة أعمال بقصص مقلقة وسامة وغالبًا أوروبية مدفوعة بالسرد الجميل والشاعري، لكن هذا اليوم لن يأتي غالبًا.في الحقيقة كنت سأقيمها بـ 3 نجمات، لكن في اللحظة الأخيرة قيمتها بأربعة...
الغلاف جميل جدًا.
October 21, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn is one tension-filled, atmospheric ride of a book!
What it's about: Allis has run away from her old life and job after a scandal involving one of her bosses. She ends up taking a job in a remote location doing work around the house/garden for a middle-aged man whose wife is away. But both of them are harboring a secret, and everything has to come out eventually...
The Bird Tribunal was unlike anything I have ever read before. There are no quotation marks in it, but again, it worked for this book. The only other book this has worked for me in was You Were Made for This by Michelle Sacks. There isn't a ton of action per say, but the atmospheric quality of the book and the tension between Allis and Sigurd were enough to keep me reading.
There are less than two hundred pages but it was still somewhat of a slow read for me, and I highly recommend taking your time with this one. I felt lonely just reading The Bird Tribunal and I think it evokes some interesting emotions.
Finial Thought: This was my first time reading a Nordic noir novel and I really liked it! I came across The Bird Tribunal on http://crimebythebook.com and I will definitely be reading more of Abby's recommendations. I would also be interested in reading more from Ravatn. Her writing style is certainly unique, and I loved the way she made this novel feel.
The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn is one tension-filled, atmospheric ride of a book!
What it's about: Allis has run away from her old life and job after a scandal involving one of her bosses. She ends up taking a job in a remote location doing work around the house/garden for a middle-aged man whose wife is away. But both of them are harboring a secret, and everything has to come out eventually...
The Bird Tribunal was unlike anything I have ever read before. There are no quotation marks in it, but again, it worked for this book. The only other book this has worked for me in was You Were Made for This by Michelle Sacks. There isn't a ton of action per say, but the atmospheric quality of the book and the tension between Allis and Sigurd were enough to keep me reading.
There are less than two hundred pages but it was still somewhat of a slow read for me, and I highly recommend taking your time with this one. I felt lonely just reading The Bird Tribunal and I think it evokes some interesting emotions.
Finial Thought: This was my first time reading a Nordic noir novel and I really liked it! I came across The Bird Tribunal on http://crimebythebook.com and I will definitely be reading more of Abby's recommendations. I would also be interested in reading more from Ravatn. Her writing style is certainly unique, and I loved the way she made this novel feel.
August 16, 2017
Allis has done something so grievous that she’s run from her old life and taken a post as a housekeeper/gardener in a remote location. Her employer, Sigurd Bagge, has his own secrets. This was an atmospheric read that reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. There was a strong sense of foreboding, but little action. There seemed to be some symbolism with Norse mythology, but I didn't care enough to make a serious effort to suss out. The blurb calls this a “psychological thriller that builds to a shocking, dramatic crescendo that will leave you breathless.” It didn't end that way for me. 🤷♀️
November 21, 2016
The Bird Tribunal is one of the most unsettling books I’ve read in a long time. Following Allis and Sigurd’s progress through the book is almost like a character study. Both characters are clearly battling personal demons, and as the book unfolds it becomes much clearer why they are both so isolated in a physical and emotional sense.
Initially, Allis’s job as housekeeper and gardener keeps her busy but it does little to dispel the cold atmosphere created by Bagge in his home. When their relationship is turned on its head, this atmosphere becomes wrought with tension and at times, fear.
The Bird Tribunal is menacing, chilling and threatening in equal measure. Every turn of the page brings the reader closer to the unexpectedly gripping finale and it will leave you breathless as you will not see it coming.
I cannot recommend The Bird Tribunal highly enough. Disturbing, cold and completely unnerving, I could not put it down. All the stars. Exceptional!
Initially, Allis’s job as housekeeper and gardener keeps her busy but it does little to dispel the cold atmosphere created by Bagge in his home. When their relationship is turned on its head, this atmosphere becomes wrought with tension and at times, fear.
The Bird Tribunal is menacing, chilling and threatening in equal measure. Every turn of the page brings the reader closer to the unexpectedly gripping finale and it will leave you breathless as you will not see it coming.
I cannot recommend The Bird Tribunal highly enough. Disturbing, cold and completely unnerving, I could not put it down. All the stars. Exceptional!
March 4, 2017
I loved the way this story began, but then it became very SLOW and dragged to the point where I got bored with the two main characters. The lead female character was an anxious mess. The male lead character's mood swings annoyed me.
The mythology parts went way over my head and the lack of quotation marks surrounding the dialogues frustrated me at times. The ending left me scratching my head and feeling a little disappointed. For so long there was nothing happening in this book, and then suddenly, that was it--end of story?!
Perhaps I'll revisit this book at another time.
The mythology parts went way over my head and the lack of quotation marks surrounding the dialogues frustrated me at times. The ending left me scratching my head and feeling a little disappointed. For so long there was nothing happening in this book, and then suddenly, that was it--end of story?!
Perhaps I'll revisit this book at another time.
November 24, 2016
TV presenter Allis Hagtorn leaves her partner and her job to take voluntary exile in a remote house on an isolated fjord. But her new job as housekeeper and gardener is not all that it seems, and her silent, surly employer, 44-year-old Sigurd Bagge, is not the old man she expected. As they await the return of his wife from her travels, their silent, uneasy encounters develop into a chilling, obsessive relationship, and it becomes clear that atonement for past sins may not be enough.
This book is mesmerising. A truly captivating story that pulls you in. I found I was compelled to turn the pages anxious for the book to reveal some revelations. It keeps you waiting for more as each chapter builds a slow development of, Allis and Sigurd's strange and awkward relationship. Their emotions cover the full spectrum and this transcends to the reader.
It's a slow burner, but still extremely compelling. Very atmospheric and in parts poetic. Tense, captivating, suspenseful and exquisitely written. I was waiting for a massive crescendo towards the end, but looking back, I guess this was never the style of the book. Very psychologically challenging and a seriously absorbing read.
A good and slightly different read.
A good 4*
This book is mesmerising. A truly captivating story that pulls you in. I found I was compelled to turn the pages anxious for the book to reveal some revelations. It keeps you waiting for more as each chapter builds a slow development of, Allis and Sigurd's strange and awkward relationship. Their emotions cover the full spectrum and this transcends to the reader.
It's a slow burner, but still extremely compelling. Very atmospheric and in parts poetic. Tense, captivating, suspenseful and exquisitely written. I was waiting for a massive crescendo towards the end, but looking back, I guess this was never the style of the book. Very psychologically challenging and a seriously absorbing read.
A good and slightly different read.
A good 4*
October 16, 2016
This taught, non-traditional suspense novel kept me immersed from start to finish. This book isn't a "whodunnit" or even a "why-have-they-done-it" - it's a haunting, trance-like story of two strangers living on an isolated fjord, and how secrets from their past come slowly to the surface. Brooding, richly atmospheric, and darkly entrancing.
Full review on CBTB: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2016/1...
Full review on CBTB: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2016/1...
April 14, 2024
Allis Hagtorn has left her life in the city behind, instead electing to take self imposed exile working as a housekeeper and gardener at a home on a remote and isolated fjord. She had expected to find herself in the employ of an older man, someone for whom upkeep of the property would be too much. However, Sigurd Bagge is nothing like she had expected. In his forties and of seemingly sound mind and body, she can see no reason why he should need her help. However, she is grateful of the job, thankful for a means to escape the mistakes of her past.
Bagge is a strange man, reluctant to spend any time with Allis, instructing her only on when he will take his meals and to take care of the garden, his wife’s pride and joy. He can give her no indication of when they should expect his wife’s return, asking only if she can stay for the summer, which Allis readily agrees to. For she is growing slightly obsessed with this strange man and as their interactions begin to change, as they spend more time together, Allis finds that she will do anything to convince Bagge to spend time with her, no matter how quickly his moods seem to change.
As their relationship begins to develop, they become more open with each other. But both have secrets they have been hiding, and sometimes simply seeking forgiveness for prior sins is not enough.
How do I begin? ‘The Bird Tribunal’ by Agnes Ravatn is quite unlike anything I have read before. From the very beginning, it was clear that to go on this journey with Allis meant setting aside my afternoon, because just like a fog across the fjord, the book surrounding me, enveloping my psyche so completely that I couldn’t step away before the final page was turned. From the hauntingly poetic narrative to the total isolation of the setting, Ravatn has created a piece of work that I am still not clear if I fully understand and if I am honest, I am still questioning myself now.
There is a certain kind of ambiguity to the text, to the way it is written. Told in Allis’ voice, there are no speech marks anywhere. I’ll admit that this seemed a little confusing at first, but instead of forcing me out of the story, ejecting me, it forced me to concentrate more on what I was reading; to take the time to try and understand what was actually being said and what was merely happening inside of Allis’s head. And believe me that is a very clever ploy by Ravatn, feeding into and reflecting the whole atmosphere of the story itself. So much of the building tension and threat is based on Allis’s confusion, her misunderstanding and assumption of what is happening, that as a reader, I found myself in almost the exact same place. Second guessing what is fact and what is fiction.
Allis is what could safely be called an unreliable narrator. Confused and suffering emotional scars from the loss of her job and the breakdown of her marriage, she is a character already on a precipice. Used to being in the public eye, her shame has seen her go into hiding, but far from the escape she had pictured, the isolation of the fjord, and her limited contact with anyone other than Bagge, begins to see her psyche and her confidence slowly unravel. A lot of the tension and fear factor comes from being inside of Allis’s head as she starts to see something sinister in everything that happens. To second guess her employer and his motives. To doubt his integrity. She jumps at every shadow, every noise, adding to the level of apprehension for the reader and making this a psychological tale in the truest sense.
And Bagge? He is a man keeping many secrets, his mood swings so extreme. Despite wanting Allis’s company, he seems determined to push her away, to scare her into leaving, so much so that you just know he is hiding something. But just how sinister is his secret? For me Bagge was an introvert to Allis’s more extrovert nature. While he craved solitude as penance for a perceived sin, Allis needed and craved his company. No matter how badly he treated her, she sought to impress him, every action carefully planned to try and intrigue and engage this very solitary man. And, like Allis, I wanted him to reappear too, wanted to know more about him, to learn his story. Bagge is a man of multiple personalities. Engaging one minute, he is distance the next. His moods range from placid to highly aggressive and can turn on a dime. The volatility and unpredictable nature of the man create a sense of danger which is almost as potent from his absences as it is when he is in the room with Allis. And the implicit threat which comes when they talk of the shopkeeper’s disappearance make you wonder the true nature of the man. But as their obsessive relationship gathers momentum, you know that this cannot ever end well.
I have seen others tell of a feeling of claustrophobia which comes from the text. Despite the open space in which the book is set, it is truly isolating. With very little deviation, the story centres around Allis and Bagge, other characters appearing only fleetingly on the page. Most of the action takes place in the house, and even when Allis tries to run or to leave for the city, she is drawn back so quickly that is almost as though she has never truly left, that much like Bagge, she is tied to the house. And because Bagge spends so much time shut away, almost everything seems to happen in Allis’s head, confining the readers experience even more and adding to the sensation of the walls closing in. But perhaps this is an extrovert’s perspective. As an introvert, the idea of isolation and solitude doesn’t bother me in the way it does Allis, and wouldn’t play into my fear centre in the same way if I wasn’t seeing it through her eyes, feeling it through her thoughts.
So much of the chilling imagery throughout adds to that building sense of foreboding. From the outset it is clear that something is not right in the house or with Bagge. From the eponymous ‘bird tribunal’, to Allis’s discovery of the small birds caught in the traps she had set for catching mice, Ravatn manages to slowly build the tension to a breath-catching crescendo, before an almost mystical feeling of calm settles across the narrative in the final pages.
Bringing me back to where I started. Second guessing myself. Was what I read real, or was it all in Allis’s head? Is she a simple victim of an increasingly obsessive relationship with Bagge, or is there more to her character? Is the serenity we see in her at the end an indication of the final detachment from her own emotions, or was she already so broken to begin with and everything we have seen has just been the slow devolution of her sanity?
Perhaps you should read and decide for yourself. A truly stunning, haunting and chilling 5 star read and such a wonderful translation by Rosie Hedger. Seamless.
Bagge is a strange man, reluctant to spend any time with Allis, instructing her only on when he will take his meals and to take care of the garden, his wife’s pride and joy. He can give her no indication of when they should expect his wife’s return, asking only if she can stay for the summer, which Allis readily agrees to. For she is growing slightly obsessed with this strange man and as their interactions begin to change, as they spend more time together, Allis finds that she will do anything to convince Bagge to spend time with her, no matter how quickly his moods seem to change.
As their relationship begins to develop, they become more open with each other. But both have secrets they have been hiding, and sometimes simply seeking forgiveness for prior sins is not enough.
How do I begin? ‘The Bird Tribunal’ by Agnes Ravatn is quite unlike anything I have read before. From the very beginning, it was clear that to go on this journey with Allis meant setting aside my afternoon, because just like a fog across the fjord, the book surrounding me, enveloping my psyche so completely that I couldn’t step away before the final page was turned. From the hauntingly poetic narrative to the total isolation of the setting, Ravatn has created a piece of work that I am still not clear if I fully understand and if I am honest, I am still questioning myself now.
There is a certain kind of ambiguity to the text, to the way it is written. Told in Allis’ voice, there are no speech marks anywhere. I’ll admit that this seemed a little confusing at first, but instead of forcing me out of the story, ejecting me, it forced me to concentrate more on what I was reading; to take the time to try and understand what was actually being said and what was merely happening inside of Allis’s head. And believe me that is a very clever ploy by Ravatn, feeding into and reflecting the whole atmosphere of the story itself. So much of the building tension and threat is based on Allis’s confusion, her misunderstanding and assumption of what is happening, that as a reader, I found myself in almost the exact same place. Second guessing what is fact and what is fiction.
Allis is what could safely be called an unreliable narrator. Confused and suffering emotional scars from the loss of her job and the breakdown of her marriage, she is a character already on a precipice. Used to being in the public eye, her shame has seen her go into hiding, but far from the escape she had pictured, the isolation of the fjord, and her limited contact with anyone other than Bagge, begins to see her psyche and her confidence slowly unravel. A lot of the tension and fear factor comes from being inside of Allis’s head as she starts to see something sinister in everything that happens. To second guess her employer and his motives. To doubt his integrity. She jumps at every shadow, every noise, adding to the level of apprehension for the reader and making this a psychological tale in the truest sense.
And Bagge? He is a man keeping many secrets, his mood swings so extreme. Despite wanting Allis’s company, he seems determined to push her away, to scare her into leaving, so much so that you just know he is hiding something. But just how sinister is his secret? For me Bagge was an introvert to Allis’s more extrovert nature. While he craved solitude as penance for a perceived sin, Allis needed and craved his company. No matter how badly he treated her, she sought to impress him, every action carefully planned to try and intrigue and engage this very solitary man. And, like Allis, I wanted him to reappear too, wanted to know more about him, to learn his story. Bagge is a man of multiple personalities. Engaging one minute, he is distance the next. His moods range from placid to highly aggressive and can turn on a dime. The volatility and unpredictable nature of the man create a sense of danger which is almost as potent from his absences as it is when he is in the room with Allis. And the implicit threat which comes when they talk of the shopkeeper’s disappearance make you wonder the true nature of the man. But as their obsessive relationship gathers momentum, you know that this cannot ever end well.
I have seen others tell of a feeling of claustrophobia which comes from the text. Despite the open space in which the book is set, it is truly isolating. With very little deviation, the story centres around Allis and Bagge, other characters appearing only fleetingly on the page. Most of the action takes place in the house, and even when Allis tries to run or to leave for the city, she is drawn back so quickly that is almost as though she has never truly left, that much like Bagge, she is tied to the house. And because Bagge spends so much time shut away, almost everything seems to happen in Allis’s head, confining the readers experience even more and adding to the sensation of the walls closing in. But perhaps this is an extrovert’s perspective. As an introvert, the idea of isolation and solitude doesn’t bother me in the way it does Allis, and wouldn’t play into my fear centre in the same way if I wasn’t seeing it through her eyes, feeling it through her thoughts.
So much of the chilling imagery throughout adds to that building sense of foreboding. From the outset it is clear that something is not right in the house or with Bagge. From the eponymous ‘bird tribunal’, to Allis’s discovery of the small birds caught in the traps she had set for catching mice, Ravatn manages to slowly build the tension to a breath-catching crescendo, before an almost mystical feeling of calm settles across the narrative in the final pages.
Bringing me back to where I started. Second guessing myself. Was what I read real, or was it all in Allis’s head? Is she a simple victim of an increasingly obsessive relationship with Bagge, or is there more to her character? Is the serenity we see in her at the end an indication of the final detachment from her own emotions, or was she already so broken to begin with and everything we have seen has just been the slow devolution of her sanity?
Perhaps you should read and decide for yourself. A truly stunning, haunting and chilling 5 star read and such a wonderful translation by Rosie Hedger. Seamless.
March 30, 2018
4.5 Stars. What took me so long to read this one? I love the false sense of security I had reading this one. So beautifully written. You know something is going to happen because, hello!!, this is a thriller!, but you really have to WAIT for it.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
November 8, 2016
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I had heard amazing things about The Bird Tribunal for awhile now and while I was very eager to read it myself, I was also a bit apprehensive. I’m sure we’ve all read heavily hyped books and been disappointed by them, but I can happily say that this one deserves all of the hype and more. I’ve never read a book quite like this before, it’s hard to even put my finger on what genre I would classify this under, but I think that only adds to the intensity and mystery of the story.
The world in this story is small, the majority takes place in a very secluded house inhabited by a man named Sigurd Bagge. Allis is the woman he hires to be his housekeeper/gardner and she is desperate to escape her current life, so the opportunity to live in such an inaccessible location is perfect for her. It’s clear from the get go that Bagge is hiding something, there is a very apparent feeling of uneasiness and dread throughout. He reveales very little about himself to Allis, he is shrouded in mystery and any slight details he does share are hauntingly vague.
I was so wrapped up in their odd, desolated existence, Ratavan’s writing pulled me right into the house with Bagge and Allis. There were no dialogue/speech markings and instead of alienating me, it only served to draw me deeper into the story. I found it odd that it didn’t bother me as I think it would have if this were any other book, but it worked brilliantly here. She created such a confining and vivid atmosphere that was eerily beautiful, yet unsettling. I worried for Allis living in such a remote location with such a moody and sometimes volatile man such as Bagge. I found myself very anxious and paranoid about the entire situation, but not in an unnerving way, in a protective manner and one where I was yearning to find out what Bagge was hiding from Allis.
This book is on the short side but it sure packs one hell of a punch. The ending left me with a sense of peace that I didn’t even realize I was craving. I don’t recall ever being quite so absorbed by a book before and I believe this is due in part by never being exactly sure where things were heading. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark, mysterious settings, fascinating characters with secrets and obsessions, and writing that enraptures you and transports you to a chilling and intriguing location.
I had heard amazing things about The Bird Tribunal for awhile now and while I was very eager to read it myself, I was also a bit apprehensive. I’m sure we’ve all read heavily hyped books and been disappointed by them, but I can happily say that this one deserves all of the hype and more. I’ve never read a book quite like this before, it’s hard to even put my finger on what genre I would classify this under, but I think that only adds to the intensity and mystery of the story.
The world in this story is small, the majority takes place in a very secluded house inhabited by a man named Sigurd Bagge. Allis is the woman he hires to be his housekeeper/gardner and she is desperate to escape her current life, so the opportunity to live in such an inaccessible location is perfect for her. It’s clear from the get go that Bagge is hiding something, there is a very apparent feeling of uneasiness and dread throughout. He reveales very little about himself to Allis, he is shrouded in mystery and any slight details he does share are hauntingly vague.
I was so wrapped up in their odd, desolated existence, Ratavan’s writing pulled me right into the house with Bagge and Allis. There were no dialogue/speech markings and instead of alienating me, it only served to draw me deeper into the story. I found it odd that it didn’t bother me as I think it would have if this were any other book, but it worked brilliantly here. She created such a confining and vivid atmosphere that was eerily beautiful, yet unsettling. I worried for Allis living in such a remote location with such a moody and sometimes volatile man such as Bagge. I found myself very anxious and paranoid about the entire situation, but not in an unnerving way, in a protective manner and one where I was yearning to find out what Bagge was hiding from Allis.
This book is on the short side but it sure packs one hell of a punch. The ending left me with a sense of peace that I didn’t even realize I was craving. I don’t recall ever being quite so absorbed by a book before and I believe this is due in part by never being exactly sure where things were heading. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark, mysterious settings, fascinating characters with secrets and obsessions, and writing that enraptures you and transports you to a chilling and intriguing location.
February 5, 2017
This story revolves around only two characters Allis Hagtorn and Sigurd Bagge. Allis is a journalist who has recently had to leave her position and Sigurd is looking for a housekeeper and gardener, Allis decides to take the job to get away. At first she is surprised to see that her new employer is not the old man she presumed who needs her help, Sigurd is 44 years old and Allis believes his wife is away and will return at some point in time. These two characters have many secrets and little trust in each other. As time goes on we soon realise that this relationship is all about secrets, lies and obsession. This is a compelling and unsettling story that slowly draws you in, even though it is only 200 pages long.Well written and highly enjoyable.
January 21, 2020
This was a remarkable and quite unusual novel. Tremendously atmospheric and only two primary characters. I was completely drawn into this from the beginning and could not stop reading. I would love to read more from Agnes Ravatn.
August 8, 2024
,,𝙋𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙢 𝙙𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞 𝙢𝙤𝙜𝙪 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙞 𝙪𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙫𝙚 𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙚. 𝙋𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙢 𝙪 𝙩𝙤. 𝙎𝙠𝙪𝙫𝙖𝙨̌ 𝙣𝙚𝙨̌𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙥𝙤, 𝙘̌𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙨̌, 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙨̌ 𝙫𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚 𝙪 𝙗𝙖𝙨̌𝙩𝙞, 𝙣𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙢 𝙫𝙚𝙘̌𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙖 𝙫𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙨̌ 𝙡𝙟𝙪𝙗𝙖𝙫. 𝙐𝙫𝙚𝙘̌𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞 𝙨𝙫𝙖𝙠𝙤 𝙪 𝙨𝙫𝙤𝙟𝙤𝙟 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞, 𝙘̌𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞 𝙞 𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙯̌𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙞 𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙪, 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙤 𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙜𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞 𝙤 𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙪, 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙢𝙖, 𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙘́𝙪."
Izdvojila sam najljubavniji citat iz najnapetije knjige čiji su glavni likovi dva bolesnika i obožavam ih. 💘
Svakako sam nakon pet godina druga osoba, a nakon drugog čitanja mnogo sam više ispodvlačila knjigu, neki delovi su me mnogo više pronašli, negde sam se sigurno više mrštila. Primetila sam da prevod (naročito dijaloga) nije baš idealan, negde je bilo ozbiljnih grešaka što se vidi po kontekstu, a neophodno je da bude utegnuto jer se dosta toga dešava u prećutnom. Pritom nema navodnika, tako da se naratorkine misli stalno prepliću sa izgovorenim. Volela bih jednog dana da je pročitam na engleskom.
,,𝙎̌𝙩𝙖 𝙟𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙟 𝙘̌𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙠? 𝙎𝙫𝙞 𝙩𝙞 𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙞 𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙥𝙞, 𝙩𝙖𝙟 𝙫𝙪𝙠 𝙪 𝙣𝙟𝙚𝙢𝙪. 𝙄𝙥𝙖𝙠, 𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙠, 𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙘́𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙤 𝙞 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙤 𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙤 𝙨̌𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙚 𝙩𝙪, 𝙣𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙪 𝙢𝙤𝙟𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙚."
Ova priča je zaista jedna igra vuka i srne, i to na smenu. Dve povređene i labilne individue ophrvane krivicom i u potrazi za pokajanjem koje se možda ipak ne može naći u totalnoj izolaciji i odsečenosti od sveta.
Napeto, napeto, prelepo, gothic, obožavam. 💕
_______________________________________
prvo čitanje: oktobar 2019.
Daš mi atmosferu, dao si mi sve.
Alis je mlada žena koja pokušava da pobegne od svog života i greške koju je počinila. Čini se da je Bageov oglas idealan za njenu željenu izolaciju od gradskog sveta i tako postaje njegova kućna pomoćnica, kuvarica i baštovanka. On je povučen, krut, hladan i krajnje misteriozan što ga čini utoliko više privlačnim za Alis, ali i za čitaoca koji zajedno sa njom proživljava sva osećanja koja su dodatno naglašena idilom i hladnoćom norveškog krajolika (šuma, planine, fjord).
Ubrzo nam postaje jasno da nije sve kako treba, ali istovremeno želimo da verujemo da nismo u pravu i da Alis i Bage mogu da pronađu mir, oprost, iskupljenje i na kraju ljubav. Napetost njihovog odnosa je zapravo srž ovog psihološkog trilera. Iako ima dosta mračnih momenata, ima i humora i određenog spokoja, mada sam celu drugu polovinu čitala sa grčom u stomaku i strepnjom. Kraj me nije razočarao. Definitivno knjiga koja obuzima, prelepo čudna, hičkokovska, a donekle je i moderni miks "Rebeke" i "Džejn Ejr" protkan nordijskom mitologijom u pozadini.
Kada bih svoje najdraže knjige delila po kategorijama, "Ptičji sud" bi definitivno bio smešten zajedno sa romanom "Sve ptice pevaju" Ivi Vajld. Ima nečega u tim pticama.
Izdvojila sam najljubavniji citat iz najnapetije knjige čiji su glavni likovi dva bolesnika i obožavam ih. 💘
Svakako sam nakon pet godina druga osoba, a nakon drugog čitanja mnogo sam više ispodvlačila knjigu, neki delovi su me mnogo više pronašli, negde sam se sigurno više mrštila. Primetila sam da prevod (naročito dijaloga) nije baš idealan, negde je bilo ozbiljnih grešaka što se vidi po kontekstu, a neophodno je da bude utegnuto jer se dosta toga dešava u prećutnom. Pritom nema navodnika, tako da se naratorkine misli stalno prepliću sa izgovorenim. Volela bih jednog dana da je pročitam na engleskom.
,,𝙎̌𝙩𝙖 𝙟𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙟 𝙘̌𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙠? 𝙎𝙫𝙞 𝙩𝙞 𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙞 𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙥𝙞, 𝙩𝙖𝙟 𝙫𝙪𝙠 𝙪 𝙣𝙟𝙚𝙢𝙪. 𝙄𝙥𝙖𝙠, 𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙠, 𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙘́𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙤 𝙞 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙤 𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙤 𝙨̌𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙚 𝙩𝙪, 𝙣𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙪 𝙢𝙤𝙟𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙗𝙚."
Ova priča je zaista jedna igra vuka i srne, i to na smenu. Dve povređene i labilne individue ophrvane krivicom i u potrazi za pokajanjem koje se možda ipak ne može naći u totalnoj izolaciji i odsečenosti od sveta.
Napeto, napeto, prelepo, gothic, obožavam. 💕
_______________________________________
prvo čitanje: oktobar 2019.
Daš mi atmosferu, dao si mi sve.
Alis je mlada žena koja pokušava da pobegne od svog života i greške koju je počinila. Čini se da je Bageov oglas idealan za njenu željenu izolaciju od gradskog sveta i tako postaje njegova kućna pomoćnica, kuvarica i baštovanka. On je povučen, krut, hladan i krajnje misteriozan što ga čini utoliko više privlačnim za Alis, ali i za čitaoca koji zajedno sa njom proživljava sva osećanja koja su dodatno naglašena idilom i hladnoćom norveškog krajolika (šuma, planine, fjord).
Ubrzo nam postaje jasno da nije sve kako treba, ali istovremeno želimo da verujemo da nismo u pravu i da Alis i Bage mogu da pronađu mir, oprost, iskupljenje i na kraju ljubav. Napetost njihovog odnosa je zapravo srž ovog psihološkog trilera. Iako ima dosta mračnih momenata, ima i humora i određenog spokoja, mada sam celu drugu polovinu čitala sa grčom u stomaku i strepnjom. Kraj me nije razočarao. Definitivno knjiga koja obuzima, prelepo čudna, hičkokovska, a donekle je i moderni miks "Rebeke" i "Džejn Ejr" protkan nordijskom mitologijom u pozadini.
Kada bih svoje najdraže knjige delila po kategorijama, "Ptičji sud" bi definitivno bio smešten zajedno sa romanom "Sve ptice pevaju" Ivi Vajld. Ima nečega u tim pticama.
October 16, 2016
Aside from my fixation on crime fiction, my other reading pleasure comes from the lure of bijou contemporary fiction in translation, so was pretty sure that Agnes Ravatn’s compact Norwegian thriller would tick many boxes…
From the outset we are completely immersed in the suffocating claustrophobia and changes of tension that exist in the relationship between Allis Hagtorn and her new employer, the mercurial and distant Sigurd Bagge. Almost instantly I was reminded of one of my favourite books, Embers by Sandor Marai, that is built on the discourse between two characters, and the revelations from the past that come to light. To sustain the reader’s interest with such a compressed cast of characters is always a difficult task, and having read other books that have spectacularly failed in this respect, Ravatn stood tall. Using the dual protagonist structure, with only the intermittent appearance of a local shopkeeper, the reader is anchored firmly in the lives of both Allis and Sigurd, and witness to the unfolding details and changing parameters of their relationship, as if viewing them on a stage with the reader as the single audience member. It’s beautifully done.
As Ravatn slowly reveals the emotionally charged and turbulent details of both character’s back stories, where we are, in common with Allis, slightly on the back foot, she weaves a story laden with myth, guilt and undulating emotions. By incorporating the essence of myth, and the consistent references to the changeability of nature, our sense of reality is manipulated, and sometimes the writing attains a dreamlike quality, affecting our perception of Allis and Sigurd and their true natures and intentions. In common with Patricia Highsmith, and early Ruth Rendell, Ravatn ramps up the psychological tension and underlying menace, and I liked the allusion to another seminal work of English fiction, which would act as too much of a spoiler if I was to mention it here. The writing, and the dialogue, in particular is clipped and measured, and every sentence seems to exist under the weight of precise authorial intention. No word or image is wasted.
When you encounter a book like this with its unique intensity, it does return to your thoughts now and again. That to me is a sign of a good book and The Bird Tribunal more than fits the description. It’s dark, psychologically tense and packed full of emotion both overt or deliberately disguised, with the reader invited to fill the spaces between. Not forgetting the flawless translation by Rosie Hedger too. Highly recommended.
From the outset we are completely immersed in the suffocating claustrophobia and changes of tension that exist in the relationship between Allis Hagtorn and her new employer, the mercurial and distant Sigurd Bagge. Almost instantly I was reminded of one of my favourite books, Embers by Sandor Marai, that is built on the discourse between two characters, and the revelations from the past that come to light. To sustain the reader’s interest with such a compressed cast of characters is always a difficult task, and having read other books that have spectacularly failed in this respect, Ravatn stood tall. Using the dual protagonist structure, with only the intermittent appearance of a local shopkeeper, the reader is anchored firmly in the lives of both Allis and Sigurd, and witness to the unfolding details and changing parameters of their relationship, as if viewing them on a stage with the reader as the single audience member. It’s beautifully done.
As Ravatn slowly reveals the emotionally charged and turbulent details of both character’s back stories, where we are, in common with Allis, slightly on the back foot, she weaves a story laden with myth, guilt and undulating emotions. By incorporating the essence of myth, and the consistent references to the changeability of nature, our sense of reality is manipulated, and sometimes the writing attains a dreamlike quality, affecting our perception of Allis and Sigurd and their true natures and intentions. In common with Patricia Highsmith, and early Ruth Rendell, Ravatn ramps up the psychological tension and underlying menace, and I liked the allusion to another seminal work of English fiction, which would act as too much of a spoiler if I was to mention it here. The writing, and the dialogue, in particular is clipped and measured, and every sentence seems to exist under the weight of precise authorial intention. No word or image is wasted.
When you encounter a book like this with its unique intensity, it does return to your thoughts now and again. That to me is a sign of a good book and The Bird Tribunal more than fits the description. It’s dark, psychologically tense and packed full of emotion both overt or deliberately disguised, with the reader invited to fill the spaces between. Not forgetting the flawless translation by Rosie Hedger too. Highly recommended.
August 5, 2019
What a bizarre, enchanting, darkly chilling little book. I am not in the habit of quoting others' reviews in my own, but there's a blurb from crime writer Rod Reynolds on the book that says 'A masterclass in suspense and delayed terror, reading it felt like I was driving at top speed towards a cliff edge - and not once did I want to take my foot off the pedal' - and I think that sums it up better than I could.
I've had this book on my shelf for years, and I can't remember where or how I first heard about it, but I think I had it in my head that it was going to be a fairly standard thriller, which I had been in the mood for. But it was no disappointment to me when it turned out to be a different beast entirely. The Bird Tribunal felt to me like a modern-day Scandinavian Rebecca, following a young woman living in the shadow of her enigmatic employer's first wife, but with all the dreary atmosphere and profound social isolation of Wuthering Heights. But though I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a thriller, and I think it might disappoint readers who are specifically seeking out twists and turns, the tension and sense of growing dread I experienced while reading this were palpable.
The relationship between Allis and Sigurd is a tender, terrifying thing; this is the hook that gets its claws in you from the offset. Through Allis's first person narration we're drawn into her obsession with Sigurd, a distant, surly man who employs Allis as a kind of housekeeper while he awaits his wife's return. Though Allis is blind to so many of the warning signs that the reader has access to, her obsession with Sigurd doesn't feel unnatural or unrealistic or frustrating - reading this book isn't like watching a train wreck so much as feeling like you're the one steering the train. I wouldn't say I 'enjoyed' this as the sense of discomfort I felt while reading it was pretty significant, but the fact that I stayed up until 1 am finishing this after taking Benadryl two hours earlier since I couldn't tear myself away kind of says it all.
I've had this book on my shelf for years, and I can't remember where or how I first heard about it, but I think I had it in my head that it was going to be a fairly standard thriller, which I had been in the mood for. But it was no disappointment to me when it turned out to be a different beast entirely. The Bird Tribunal felt to me like a modern-day Scandinavian Rebecca, following a young woman living in the shadow of her enigmatic employer's first wife, but with all the dreary atmosphere and profound social isolation of Wuthering Heights. But though I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a thriller, and I think it might disappoint readers who are specifically seeking out twists and turns, the tension and sense of growing dread I experienced while reading this were palpable.
The relationship between Allis and Sigurd is a tender, terrifying thing; this is the hook that gets its claws in you from the offset. Through Allis's first person narration we're drawn into her obsession with Sigurd, a distant, surly man who employs Allis as a kind of housekeeper while he awaits his wife's return. Though Allis is blind to so many of the warning signs that the reader has access to, her obsession with Sigurd doesn't feel unnatural or unrealistic or frustrating - reading this book isn't like watching a train wreck so much as feeling like you're the one steering the train. I wouldn't say I 'enjoyed' this as the sense of discomfort I felt while reading it was pretty significant, but the fact that I stayed up until 1 am finishing this after taking Benadryl two hours earlier since I couldn't tear myself away kind of says it all.
September 28, 2016
The Bird Tribunal – A haunting tale
The Bird Tribunal from Norwegian writer Agnes Ravatn is a stunning introduction to the writer who has delivered a breath-taking book. This may be a short story and a winner of the English Pen award, but it delivers massive punches throughout the book for the reader and with a structured build up completely gets under your skin.
TV presenter Allis Hagtorn leaves her partner and career, she is running away from things, and decides to go in to voluntary exile as a housekeeper in a remote house on an isolated fjord. Her job does not just include being the housekeeper and gardener, but she is also taking care of Sigurd Bagge. He is not an old person as she was expecting but a man if 44 years old, who is married, who rarely talks to Allis.
All Allis knows that Sigurd’s wife is away touring and that he is awaiting her return, and then what happens to her she has no idea. But there is something strange and unsettling about Sigurd, she can tell he his keeping a secret but no idea as to what it is. Allis comes across, at first, as very self-centred especially as she is acting as the story narrator.
As Allis gets to grips with her new life looking after Sigurd, strange things to do happen but nothing that will cause concern. At times Allis comes across as maddening as she is not conventional and not easily likable and it is as if Sigurd is the male version of her.
Both know they are keeping secrets from each other, especially as Sigurd has a habit of disappearing, sometimes for hours other times for days. Allis has been told she is not welcome to enter Sigurd bedroom or workroom, and the curiosity drives her crazy. As the story progresses we see a formation of a relationship develop, but there are some serious questions raised as the reader is being psychologically teased throughout.
This is a deeply compelling, and at the same time quite unusual story that will keep you gripped throughout. The reader is not sure what will happen but you are drawn in and Allis is a compelling character and Sigurd comes across as eccentric at best, weird at worst. The story and ending is intriguing as you really do not know how this will end, this is truly Norwegian Noir at its eerie best. It can be unsettling, and the translation bring out the best of the haunting prose. This really is a masterclass of suspense and psychological thriller at its best, that will send chills down your spine.
The Bird Tribunal from Norwegian writer Agnes Ravatn is a stunning introduction to the writer who has delivered a breath-taking book. This may be a short story and a winner of the English Pen award, but it delivers massive punches throughout the book for the reader and with a structured build up completely gets under your skin.
TV presenter Allis Hagtorn leaves her partner and career, she is running away from things, and decides to go in to voluntary exile as a housekeeper in a remote house on an isolated fjord. Her job does not just include being the housekeeper and gardener, but she is also taking care of Sigurd Bagge. He is not an old person as she was expecting but a man if 44 years old, who is married, who rarely talks to Allis.
All Allis knows that Sigurd’s wife is away touring and that he is awaiting her return, and then what happens to her she has no idea. But there is something strange and unsettling about Sigurd, she can tell he his keeping a secret but no idea as to what it is. Allis comes across, at first, as very self-centred especially as she is acting as the story narrator.
As Allis gets to grips with her new life looking after Sigurd, strange things to do happen but nothing that will cause concern. At times Allis comes across as maddening as she is not conventional and not easily likable and it is as if Sigurd is the male version of her.
Both know they are keeping secrets from each other, especially as Sigurd has a habit of disappearing, sometimes for hours other times for days. Allis has been told she is not welcome to enter Sigurd bedroom or workroom, and the curiosity drives her crazy. As the story progresses we see a formation of a relationship develop, but there are some serious questions raised as the reader is being psychologically teased throughout.
This is a deeply compelling, and at the same time quite unusual story that will keep you gripped throughout. The reader is not sure what will happen but you are drawn in and Allis is a compelling character and Sigurd comes across as eccentric at best, weird at worst. The story and ending is intriguing as you really do not know how this will end, this is truly Norwegian Noir at its eerie best. It can be unsettling, and the translation bring out the best of the haunting prose. This really is a masterclass of suspense and psychological thriller at its best, that will send chills down your spine.
April 19, 2023
First book from Madeira hotel library. Chosen as a Norwegian Scandi noir. Simple story of a tv presenter - Allis- leaving her job and becoming house keeper to a strange man - Bagge- in of course a remote house.
Sigurd Bagge is not a man of many words initially and the relationship between the two is a strange one. The book blurb refers to ‘a chilling, obsessive relationship.’ And that is true.
Easy book to read. Very enjoyable.
Ok now on to the next library book😉
Sigurd Bagge is not a man of many words initially and the relationship between the two is a strange one. The book blurb refers to ‘a chilling, obsessive relationship.’ And that is true.
Easy book to read. Very enjoyable.
Ok now on to the next library book😉
October 29, 2025
Ein „Thriller“ wie es hier fett am Cover prangert, ist das mitnichten. Das ist eine wahrhaft idiotische Dreistigkeit des Verlags. Idiotisch deshalb, weil es die eigentliche Zielgruppe dieses Romans zumindest teilweise verprellt, da es genügend Leute gibt, die beim Wort Thriller abwinken. Und echte Thriller-Fans enttäuscht man, weil das mit einem Thriller absolut gar nichts zu tun hat.
Am ehesten könnten sich begeisterte Leser von Romanen wie Schiffsmeldungen von Annie Proulx dafür erwärmen. Auch hier geht es um gesellschaftliche Außenseiter, die einen Neustart inmitten der Natur versuchen. Mit dem Unterschied, dass es beim Vogeltribunal nicht diese honigsüße neue soziale Gemeinde gibt, wo einer dem anderen beisteht und hilft und fast alle irgendwie sympathisch in ihrer Mackenhaftigkeit sind.
Sondern hier ist es im Wesentlichen ein Kammerspiel, ein 2-Personen-Stück, das aus der Perspektive der Frau erzählt wird, es ist die Story einer langsamen Annäherung mit ungewissem Ausgang.
Kurz zum Plot: Allis ist aufgrund eines moralischen Fehltritts geächtet und flüchtet aus der Stadt, wo sie in der Einöde am Fjord eine Stelle als Hilfe im Haushalt und Garten bei Sigurd Bagge annimmt. Der lebt da alleine, wobei seine Frau, die angeblich auf einer langen Reise ist, irgendwann wieder zurückkommen soll.
Man merkt schnell, dass an der Geschichte mit der Frau irgendwas faul ist. Aber auch Allis hat ihre dunklen Flecken, die erst nach und nach enthüllt werden.
Das beschreibt im Wesentlichen die Mache der Autorin. Sie hält die Fakten unter Verschluss und rückt nur nach und nach damit raus. Mich hat das eher genervt, weil das Konstruktionsdesign ziemlich platt ist. Man soll bei der Stange gehalten werden, aber es ist völlig unglaubwürdig, dass die Hauptfigur Allis, in deren Gedankenwelt wir uns ständig aufhalten dürfen, so wenig über ihre Erlebnisse, die sie zur Flucht veranlasst haben, reflektiert. Aber egal, man erfährt genug und ab der zweiten Hälfte wird es auch tatsächlich etwas spannender, sodass ich in einen von Neugier getriebenen Leseflow gekommen bin.
Die ersten 100 Seiten fand ich zu lang, da wird zu viel herumgeheimnisst und eigentlich ahnt man ja schon nach 10 Seiten, wo das hinführen wird. Erst in der zweiten Hälfte kommt die Geschichte besser in Gang.
Die Autorin ist am stärksten, wenn sie die Begegnungen, Gespräche und gemeinsamen Aktivitäten von Allis und Sigurd beschreibt, da macht es auch immer wieder Spaß, ihren zurückhaltenden, feinfühligen Beschreibungen zu folgen, vereinzelt auch mit Humor. Auch die wenigen Ausflüge in die „Außenwelt“ - in den Kaufmannsladen oder in die Stadt, schildert sie sehr überzeugend.
Was die Autorin nicht gut macht ist die Plot-Inszenierung: zu viele Wiederholungen, kaum Wendungen oder unerwartete Szenen und besonders krass schlecht fand ich das Ende. Statt es offen zu lassen, sodass man als Leser selbst auf den Fjord rausdriften könnte, endet sie den Roman mit einem rabiaten Holzhammer-Paukenschlag.
Fazit: insgesamt war es ok die Geschichte zu lesen, aber ich wüsste niemanden, dem ich sie weiterempfehlen könnte, schwanke in der Bewertung zwischen 2-3 Sternen. Von der Autorin werde ich eher nichts mehr lesen.
Am ehesten könnten sich begeisterte Leser von Romanen wie Schiffsmeldungen von Annie Proulx dafür erwärmen. Auch hier geht es um gesellschaftliche Außenseiter, die einen Neustart inmitten der Natur versuchen. Mit dem Unterschied, dass es beim Vogeltribunal nicht diese honigsüße neue soziale Gemeinde gibt, wo einer dem anderen beisteht und hilft und fast alle irgendwie sympathisch in ihrer Mackenhaftigkeit sind.
Sondern hier ist es im Wesentlichen ein Kammerspiel, ein 2-Personen-Stück, das aus der Perspektive der Frau erzählt wird, es ist die Story einer langsamen Annäherung mit ungewissem Ausgang.
Kurz zum Plot: Allis ist aufgrund eines moralischen Fehltritts geächtet und flüchtet aus der Stadt, wo sie in der Einöde am Fjord eine Stelle als Hilfe im Haushalt und Garten bei Sigurd Bagge annimmt. Der lebt da alleine, wobei seine Frau, die angeblich auf einer langen Reise ist, irgendwann wieder zurückkommen soll.
Man merkt schnell, dass an der Geschichte mit der Frau irgendwas faul ist. Aber auch Allis hat ihre dunklen Flecken, die erst nach und nach enthüllt werden.
Das beschreibt im Wesentlichen die Mache der Autorin. Sie hält die Fakten unter Verschluss und rückt nur nach und nach damit raus. Mich hat das eher genervt, weil das Konstruktionsdesign ziemlich platt ist. Man soll bei der Stange gehalten werden, aber es ist völlig unglaubwürdig, dass die Hauptfigur Allis, in deren Gedankenwelt wir uns ständig aufhalten dürfen, so wenig über ihre Erlebnisse, die sie zur Flucht veranlasst haben, reflektiert. Aber egal, man erfährt genug und ab der zweiten Hälfte wird es auch tatsächlich etwas spannender, sodass ich in einen von Neugier getriebenen Leseflow gekommen bin.
Die ersten 100 Seiten fand ich zu lang, da wird zu viel herumgeheimnisst und eigentlich ahnt man ja schon nach 10 Seiten, wo das hinführen wird. Erst in der zweiten Hälfte kommt die Geschichte besser in Gang.
Die Autorin ist am stärksten, wenn sie die Begegnungen, Gespräche und gemeinsamen Aktivitäten von Allis und Sigurd beschreibt, da macht es auch immer wieder Spaß, ihren zurückhaltenden, feinfühligen Beschreibungen zu folgen, vereinzelt auch mit Humor. Auch die wenigen Ausflüge in die „Außenwelt“ - in den Kaufmannsladen oder in die Stadt, schildert sie sehr überzeugend.
Was die Autorin nicht gut macht ist die Plot-Inszenierung: zu viele Wiederholungen, kaum Wendungen oder unerwartete Szenen und besonders krass schlecht fand ich das Ende. Statt es offen zu lassen, sodass man als Leser selbst auf den Fjord rausdriften könnte, endet sie den Roman mit einem rabiaten Holzhammer-Paukenschlag.
Fazit: insgesamt war es ok die Geschichte zu lesen, aber ich wüsste niemanden, dem ich sie weiterempfehlen könnte, schwanke in der Bewertung zwischen 2-3 Sternen. Von der Autorin werde ich eher nichts mehr lesen.
September 17, 2016
Atmospheric drama beautifully written especially when it comes to descriptive sense of place. Full review to come on the blog tour.
December 2, 2016
At least it was short?
September 16, 2014
This is just so wonderfully written that I don't really know what to say to get the message across. I have completely fallen in love with nynorsk lately due to the wonderful books I've been reading, but this one really drove the point home.
The story in Fugletribunalet is not very spectacular. It's as old as can be. It's Jane Eyre meets... whatever (ideas?), in a modern day, rural Norwegian setting. Anyone who has ever traveled outside the big (heh) cities of Norway knows that this country is the perfect setting for gloomy literature on loneliness. There are so, so many cut-off places, hidden valleys, hard-to-access corners where people have randomly built a huge house. And perhaps 1% of the country is flat, so moving around can be difficult. It's ideal for hiding.
Allis is hiding. She is an actual modern day, publicly scandalized woman who just can't handle what happened to her, and has therefore fled. She finds a position cooking for an odd man and caring for his garden while his wife is away. He's mysterious and gloomy, does not want her to eat in his presence, their eyes never meet, his mood changes abruptly and he hardly ever talks to her. She tries to fit in, be useful, as her curiosity grows. That's it. That reads like something out of a romance novel.
It is the plot of a romance novel, and it works beautifully. (Remember that this is Scandinavia, however. A typical romance novel would never win any award here, and this one just got "Novel of the Year" in Norway. I think.) And how do you know that this works beautifully, that this is brilliant and not just another one of those stories, besides from the award and so on? Well, take a look at the cover for the Norwegian edition. There's not a beach, woman or straw hat in sight. There are two rather un-feminine birds, and that's it. It's really quite spectacular. This book was not marketed for a female-only audience!
And with good reason. It's simply a very, very good book, with some of the best writing I've seen in Scandinavia. I read more slowly in nynorsk than bokmål, but this book took me even longer to read than usual because I also had to put the book down in my lap after almost every page to contemplate something on it or just marvel at how the author just wrote the perfect line. Again.
The rest of my views are best hidden behind a spoiler.
The story in Fugletribunalet is not very spectacular. It's as old as can be. It's Jane Eyre meets... whatever (ideas?), in a modern day, rural Norwegian setting. Anyone who has ever traveled outside the big (heh) cities of Norway knows that this country is the perfect setting for gloomy literature on loneliness. There are so, so many cut-off places, hidden valleys, hard-to-access corners where people have randomly built a huge house. And perhaps 1% of the country is flat, so moving around can be difficult. It's ideal for hiding.
Allis is hiding. She is an actual modern day, publicly scandalized woman who just can't handle what happened to her, and has therefore fled. She finds a position cooking for an odd man and caring for his garden while his wife is away. He's mysterious and gloomy, does not want her to eat in his presence, their eyes never meet, his mood changes abruptly and he hardly ever talks to her. She tries to fit in, be useful, as her curiosity grows. That's it. That reads like something out of a romance novel.
It is the plot of a romance novel, and it works beautifully. (Remember that this is Scandinavia, however. A typical romance novel would never win any award here, and this one just got "Novel of the Year" in Norway. I think.) And how do you know that this works beautifully, that this is brilliant and not just another one of those stories, besides from the award and so on? Well, take a look at the cover for the Norwegian edition. There's not a beach, woman or straw hat in sight. There are two rather un-feminine birds, and that's it. It's really quite spectacular. This book was not marketed for a female-only audience!
And with good reason. It's simply a very, very good book, with some of the best writing I've seen in Scandinavia. I read more slowly in nynorsk than bokmål, but this book took me even longer to read than usual because I also had to put the book down in my lap after almost every page to contemplate something on it or just marvel at how the author just wrote the perfect line. Again.
The rest of my views are best hidden behind a spoiler.
February 5, 2017
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08b7ttrDescription: In the Norwegian writer Agnes Ravatn's haunting psychological thriller, two people, each with a secret, seek atonement for past sins. TV presenter Allis Hagtorn seeks solace in a remote house on an isolated fjord when she takes up a new job as a housekeeper and gardener. Her 44 year old employer is not what she is expecting. Sigurd Bagge is an enigmatic presence, and Allis, like a moth to a flame, finds she is simultaneously drawn to him and alert to his disquieting moods. Lydia Wilson is the reader.
Agnes Ravatn is a novelist and columnist and has published several collections of essays. The Bird Tribunal has won two awards in Norway, the NRK P2 Listener's Novel Prize and the Youth Critic's Award, and it has also been adapted for the stage.
Rosie Hedger is the translator of The Bird Tribunal, and has lived and worked in Scandinavia.
August 11, 2019
An atmospheric and haunting story that takes hold of you on the very first page and doesn’t let go until long after you finish the book. Allis is a woman running away from something; Sigurd is a man with something to hide; and their encounter takes place in nature at its most sinister. Beautifully written and totally engaging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews