Ingvar Even Ambjørnsen-Haefs (1956-2025) was a Norwegian writer. He is best known for his "Elling" tetralogy: Utsikt til paradiset (1993), Fugledansen (1995), Brødre i blodet (1996), and Elsk meg i morgen (1999).
Brødre i blodet ("Blood brothers") was turned into a successful movie, entitled Elling, which received an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Film category in 2001. The English translation of the novel is called Beyond the Great Indoors.
His debut novel was a semi-autobiography called 23-salen ("The 23rd Row"), in which he criticized Norway's efforts to take care of psychically challenged individuals. In all his novels he has spoken the outsiders' cause, as he did in his break-through novel Hvite Niggere ("White Niggers") in 1986. The novel is about a young man who leads a life somewhat on the edges of normal society.
He is also known for the youth's book series "Pelle og Proffen" which circles around two detective teenagers, getting involved in all kinds of mysteries or crimes involving drugs, pollution and neo-Nazism among other things. He started this project after having read some of Franklin W. Dixon's books about The Hardy Boys. The books Døden på Oslo S, Giftige Løgner, and De Blå Ulvene of this series were also turned into successful movies. In 2005 the book Drapene i Barkvik ("The murders in Barkvik") appeared, about the teenager Fillip Moberg attempting to solve an axe murder in a small Norwegian village.
Ambjørnsen has received many prizes for his writing. Among them is the prize for the 80s best book for children and young adults (Pelle and Proffen books), the Tabu prize in 2001, Telenor Culture Award 2002, and the Brage Prize 1995.
His three Samson and Roberto books have become particularly popular in Russia, in part due to the illustrations by Nikolai Vorontsov, which also contribute carefully orchestrated local Russian-related colloquialisms to the stories.
Taip ir sėdime kiekvienas sau šimtmečio senumo šveicariško stiliaus viloje ir galvojame apie meilę. Arba apie jos parodiją. Nesu tuo visiškai tikras. Sėdime čia, geriame ir svajojame. Naktį, kai alkoholis pradeda grasinti paguldysiąs mus ant menčių, pėdiname į savo vienutes. Aš myliu ją, bet iš antrojo aukšto. Manau, kad ir ji myli mane. Ten, apačioje, pirmajame aukšte. * Bet juk reikia kažką daryti. * Naktis praėjo puikiai, nepaisant tos nelauktos akistatos su mano paties anonimine tuštuma. * Bet manęs nepalieka jausmas, kad gyvenimas teka pro šalį. Kad esu kaip ir nereikalingas. Mane kankina mintis, kad metai iš metų aš čia vaikštau, lopydamas paveikslą, kuris, rodos, tuoj tuoj suirs. Bet visų baisiausia, kad šis paveikslas daugiau niekam nėra svarbus ir vertingas, išskyrus mane patį ir ją, nors ji to netgi nepastebi.
Verdt å lese, tar bare noen timer. Fantastisk beskrivelse av to dysfunksjonelle mennesker som sliter med kommunikasjonen. Boken kan vel beskrives som en fortelling om alkoholisme og hvordan de to hovedpersonene har gitt opp håpet om det perfekte livet.
Romantisert alkoholisme, men kanskje ikke på en dårlig måte.
Finner det vanskelig å sette riktige ord på denne boken, men verdt lesingen.
Ingvar Ambjørnsens fortelling handler om bankmannen Astor Eriksen og hans kone Grete Reim, forfatter av kiosklitteratur. Vi følger det alkoholiserte paret et døgn, med en del tilbakeblikk. Det er mørkt og dystert, men likevel fullt av kjærlighet. I stor kontrast til den kjærligheten kioskdronningen tryller frem i sine bøker. Som vanlig nydelig skrevet av Ambjørnsen.
To me the love between this alcoholic, middle-aged, utterly tragic couple is more belivable and truer than any of the innumerable stories I've read about young and pretty people falling in love with each other. This is a story of love that endures, of true and raw and terrible love. It is utterly tragic, but I loved every word of it and I read it in a day. Won't easily forget it.
Behagelig lesning, språket flyter fint, men å så lei jeg er av disse guddommelig tredimensjonale karakterene med alkoholproblemer, å så selvironiske de er og så mange menneskelige skavanker de har ... Selve lærebokeksempelet på platte karakterer.