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Kathe - Always Been in Norway
"Samvittighetsfullt har 15-årige Kathe Lasnik, elev ved Fagerborg skole, med skråstilt skjønnskrift svart på 'Spørreskjema for jøder i Norge'. Under rubrikken 'Når kom De til Norge?' har hun skrevet: 'Alltid vært i Norge'. Skjemaet er datert 16. november 1942. Ti dager etter føres hun, faren, moren og en søster om bord på troppetransportskipet Donau sammen med 528 andre jøder. Den 1. desember er Kathe Lasnik drept i konsentrasjonsleiren Auschwitz-Birkenau. To av søstrene hennes klarte å komme seg til Sverige i tide.
Søbye bruker dokumentarmetoden til å beskrive et helt vanlig menneske som vokste opp i Norge i mellomkrigstiden. Hans kildebaserte framstilling følger Kathe Lasniks familie fra foreldrene kommer fra Vilnius i Tsar-Russland som flyktninger til Kristiania i 1908 og bosetter seg på Grünerløkka, og til forfølgelsen, deportasjonen og drapet på denne norske familien. Boken er illustrert."
Søbye bruker dokumentarmetoden til å beskrive et helt vanlig menneske som vokste opp i Norge i mellomkrigstiden. Hans kildebaserte framstilling følger Kathe Lasniks familie fra foreldrene kommer fra Vilnius i Tsar-Russland som flyktninger til Kristiania i 1908 og bosetter seg på Grünerløkka, og til forfølgelsen, deportasjonen og drapet på denne norske familien. Boken er illustrert."
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
5 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Espen Søbye
12 books2 followersPål Espen Søbye (born 1954) is a Norwegian author and literary critic. He has a Mag.art. degree in philosophy, and was formerly employed at Statistics Norway in Oslo. He was named literary critic of the year in 2006 by the Norwegian Critics' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 21, 2015
En bok som gir et ærlig bilde av jødeforfølgelsen i Norge. Det var veldig interessant å bli ledet gjennom prosessen Søbye har gjort for å finne ut av hva som skjedde med Kathe Lasnik og familien hennes, og ga meg en tankevekker om hvorfor det er viktig å lagre og arkivere informasjon om det som skjer rundt oss. Det var litt tørt å lese ved enkelte punkt da det ble mye oppramsing.
September 5, 2022
Viktig bok som alle bør lese!
February 21, 2022
Tothom hauria de ser recordat per qui va ser i no pas per com li van prendre la vida.
Les històries de l'Holocaust et deixen sempre tocada: aquesta és la història (real) de la Kathe Lasnik, nascuda a Oslo i filla de jueus preocedents de Vilna. L'autora explica qui van ser els Lasnik, amb la intenció que se'ls recordi per qui van ser, i no pas per ser unes víctimes més de la persecució nazi.
És un llibre lent i dens, però amb capítols curts que agilitzen la lectura.
Les històries de l'Holocaust et deixen sempre tocada: aquesta és la història (real) de la Kathe Lasnik, nascuda a Oslo i filla de jueus preocedents de Vilna. L'autora explica qui van ser els Lasnik, amb la intenció que se'ls recordi per qui van ser, i no pas per ser unes víctimes més de la persecució nazi.
És un llibre lent i dens, però amb capítols curts que agilitzen la lectura.
October 10, 2022
My reading notes on this book, "Kathe - alltid vært i Norge".
I am very critical whilst reading Holocaust literature. I am always interesed on the source material of the book. Is it a work on fiction, was it a diary of a victim, is it a purely non-fiction story?
I often question what right an author has to tell the story of Jews during this time in History. To what extent should authors be able to write about a person without enough sources. And what should be done if we want to tell the story of someone without having enough information? Does that mean we shouldn't bother? But why should an author be allowed to make up events or even dramatize events without permission?
I was firstly critical when I saw the title of this book "Always been in Norway", I felt like this was a plea for Non-Jew Norwegians to take it seriously, as if to say "I too am Norwegian and deserve your attention". On page 13 the author expresses his want to search for information about Kathe to give her a story that is bigger than just that of a "victim", I think this is interesting how there is always a want to make the stories even more dramatic or more special than they already were for their stories to be listened to. Yet the "undertitle" on the front page states "The story of an ordinary girl?" I was worried at this point that the author was going to create a story from Kathe's perspective with much source material. However, the author presents himself a strong narrator of the story, he explains what led him to want to research about Kathe's life. He found there wasn't much information and wanted to oppose the "Final Solution" by finding out as much as he could so that she wasn't just forgotten. The author expresses too that his act of resistance of his fails, he struggled with the pure lack of source material. However the writer of the forword expresses that this is still a "valiant" and "vitale" act of resistance no matter how belated.
Kathe's story is told in a non-fictional manner. It is an accurate representation purely based on evidence, documents and interviews. If he ever speculates on anything he makes it clear that it is his interpretation of what Kathe might have meant by "alltid vært i Norge".
On page 27, he quotes what one Kathe's former classmates said about a potential letter that Kathe may or may not have written on the Night she was arrested. The author makes it clear that he does not know what to think about this, and cannot vouch whether it is true or not.
Whilst the beginning of the book was promising, it also shows how hard it actually is to present the lives of people without enough sources. Large parts of the book are explanations of the Jewish situation in Norway throughout the war in a large scale, and presents other stories and information that are not particulalry conntected directly to Kathe. This did not make a particulary flowing or easy read. We don't feel a particulary connection to Kathe at all. She is just the center of the other events that are happening around her. So this book shows the complexity of telling holocaust stories if there is a lack of source material. On one hand the author has succeded in telling a historically accurate chronology of Kathe's life but he has also failed to make the reader sympathize with Kathe- and this subjective presentation is often what authors emphazise on to help readers feel a connection and understanding of what Jews went through whilst learning about the historical reality and events at the same time.
Finally, I believe the author's approach towards Kathe's life and story was done with the the upmost respect. It would be interesting to see this form of narrative used with another story which also has a bit more source directly from the person at question.
I am very critical whilst reading Holocaust literature. I am always interesed on the source material of the book. Is it a work on fiction, was it a diary of a victim, is it a purely non-fiction story?
I often question what right an author has to tell the story of Jews during this time in History. To what extent should authors be able to write about a person without enough sources. And what should be done if we want to tell the story of someone without having enough information? Does that mean we shouldn't bother? But why should an author be allowed to make up events or even dramatize events without permission?
I was firstly critical when I saw the title of this book "Always been in Norway", I felt like this was a plea for Non-Jew Norwegians to take it seriously, as if to say "I too am Norwegian and deserve your attention". On page 13 the author expresses his want to search for information about Kathe to give her a story that is bigger than just that of a "victim", I think this is interesting how there is always a want to make the stories even more dramatic or more special than they already were for their stories to be listened to. Yet the "undertitle" on the front page states "The story of an ordinary girl?" I was worried at this point that the author was going to create a story from Kathe's perspective with much source material. However, the author presents himself a strong narrator of the story, he explains what led him to want to research about Kathe's life. He found there wasn't much information and wanted to oppose the "Final Solution" by finding out as much as he could so that she wasn't just forgotten. The author expresses too that his act of resistance of his fails, he struggled with the pure lack of source material. However the writer of the forword expresses that this is still a "valiant" and "vitale" act of resistance no matter how belated.
Kathe's story is told in a non-fictional manner. It is an accurate representation purely based on evidence, documents and interviews. If he ever speculates on anything he makes it clear that it is his interpretation of what Kathe might have meant by "alltid vært i Norge".
On page 27, he quotes what one Kathe's former classmates said about a potential letter that Kathe may or may not have written on the Night she was arrested. The author makes it clear that he does not know what to think about this, and cannot vouch whether it is true or not.
Whilst the beginning of the book was promising, it also shows how hard it actually is to present the lives of people without enough sources. Large parts of the book are explanations of the Jewish situation in Norway throughout the war in a large scale, and presents other stories and information that are not particulalry conntected directly to Kathe. This did not make a particulary flowing or easy read. We don't feel a particulary connection to Kathe at all. She is just the center of the other events that are happening around her. So this book shows the complexity of telling holocaust stories if there is a lack of source material. On one hand the author has succeded in telling a historically accurate chronology of Kathe's life but he has also failed to make the reader sympathize with Kathe- and this subjective presentation is often what authors emphazise on to help readers feel a connection and understanding of what Jews went through whilst learning about the historical reality and events at the same time.
Finally, I believe the author's approach towards Kathe's life and story was done with the the upmost respect. It would be interesting to see this form of narrative used with another story which also has a bit more source directly from the person at question.
March 13, 2022
Un libro con una sorprendente cantidad de datos, creo que por eso puede ser un poco abrumador pero creo que vale la pena leerlo para entender un poco más lo que ocurrió durante los terribles años de la II Guerra Mundial en Europa. De este modo podremos evitar repetirlo.
December 28, 2025
A most unusual book about a Jewish girl, Kathe Lasnik, from Norway. A statistician found a registration card she had completed prior to being arrested and sent to Auschwitz. She, her sister, and mother were gassed immediately upon arrival at Auschwitz-Birkenau in late 1942. The statistician/ writer wanted to bring an innocent victim of the Nazis to life, in order to show that she was more than a name or statistic. Mr. Espen Sobye, the author, had been requested to collect data regarding Jews in Norway, as part of his job.
A great deal of the book is devoted to facts and figures which makes sense given the writer’s occupation. Somehow, these sections are not boring.They relate directly to the girl who is his focus. The numbers illustrate the story of the Jews in 20th century Norway, prior to World War Two. These statistics are embedded in the story of Kathe and her family.
Espen Sobye selected Kathe’s card randomly. His interest was piqued by her statement, “Always been in Norway.” From the registration card, he constructed her story, supported by the aforementioned facts and figures. He contacted relatives and former schoolmates who were alive. Very little was remembered. The informants alive at the time this book was written were very old or too young during the period between the wars to remember much. The former school friends recalled bits and pieces which seem typical.
The Jewish life of the family is missing from this book. Certainly, the author could have obtained some information from the Jewish community in Oslo. The Lasnik family was registered with the Mosaic Community of Oslo (Jewish).
When one of millions of victims is brought to life through the written word and photographs, the immensity of the tragedy is imprinted on one’s mind. Kathe was an individual whose life was tragically lost. She was, however, never merely a number.
A great deal of the book is devoted to facts and figures which makes sense given the writer’s occupation. Somehow, these sections are not boring.They relate directly to the girl who is his focus. The numbers illustrate the story of the Jews in 20th century Norway, prior to World War Two. These statistics are embedded in the story of Kathe and her family.
Espen Sobye selected Kathe’s card randomly. His interest was piqued by her statement, “Always been in Norway.” From the registration card, he constructed her story, supported by the aforementioned facts and figures. He contacted relatives and former schoolmates who were alive. Very little was remembered. The informants alive at the time this book was written were very old or too young during the period between the wars to remember much. The former school friends recalled bits and pieces which seem typical.
The Jewish life of the family is missing from this book. Certainly, the author could have obtained some information from the Jewish community in Oslo. The Lasnik family was registered with the Mosaic Community of Oslo (Jewish).
When one of millions of victims is brought to life through the written word and photographs, the immensity of the tragedy is imprinted on one’s mind. Kathe was an individual whose life was tragically lost. She was, however, never merely a number.
August 16, 2020
Det tok litt tid å komme meg gjennom boken, sikkert fordi det ble en del oppramsing av fakta enkelte steder. Likevel ønsket jeg å lese ferdig fordi jeg vet så lite om hva som skjedde med de norske jødene under krigen.
Dette er en grundig stykke arbeid utført av Søbye og jeg synes han stiller viktige spørsmål på slutten av boken. Spørsmålene tror jeg Marte Michelets bok «Hva visste hjemmefronten» besvarer.
Historien til Kathe berører meg. Selv om hennes historie foregår i Oslo, har jeg denne sommeren funnet snublesteiner i Tromsø og Narvik som vitner om noen av de over 770 jødene som ble sendt ut av Norge i 1942/43.
Selv om denne boken ikke er en dagbok slik som Anne Frank skrev i Nederland gir den oss et bilde av et kort liv levd i Norge og de utfordringene og gledene Kathe opplevde før hun ble deportert.
Dette er en grundig stykke arbeid utført av Søbye og jeg synes han stiller viktige spørsmål på slutten av boken. Spørsmålene tror jeg Marte Michelets bok «Hva visste hjemmefronten» besvarer.
Historien til Kathe berører meg. Selv om hennes historie foregår i Oslo, har jeg denne sommeren funnet snublesteiner i Tromsø og Narvik som vitner om noen av de over 770 jødene som ble sendt ut av Norge i 1942/43.
Selv om denne boken ikke er en dagbok slik som Anne Frank skrev i Nederland gir den oss et bilde av et kort liv levd i Norge og de utfordringene og gledene Kathe opplevde før hun ble deportert.
October 14, 2020
Jeg liker aldri å gi bøker som omhandler virkelige personer preget av andre verdenskrig en såpass «dårlig» anmeldelse, men akkurat denne ble litt for «tørr» for meg å lese. Historien var emosjonell og selvfølgelig en historie vi aldri må glemme, det samme med alle andre bøker som forteller historien til de berørt av nazismen, men det handler rett og slett om boka og hvordan den ble skrevet, ikke selve historien.
Jeg følte flere steder at historien ble dratt unødvendig langt ut, med mye generell fakta og lite om Kathe og hennes historie innimellom. Jeg vet at det var lite informasjon å finne om Kathe, og det har jo sikkert mye å gjøre med det, men boken ble rett og slett litt for «usakelig» og tørr til tider i mine øyne.
En emosjonell og viktig historie fortalt, men kanskje ikke den beste skrivinga og oppsett av boka etter min formening.
Jeg følte flere steder at historien ble dratt unødvendig langt ut, med mye generell fakta og lite om Kathe og hennes historie innimellom. Jeg vet at det var lite informasjon å finne om Kathe, og det har jo sikkert mye å gjøre med det, men boken ble rett og slett litt for «usakelig» og tørr til tider i mine øyne.
En emosjonell og viktig historie fortalt, men kanskje ikke den beste skrivinga og oppsett av boka etter min formening.
January 8, 2025
For lite om kathe og for mye om alt annet. Oppramsing av datoer,navn,stedsnavn, og uviktige detaljer i sammenhengen for boken.
November 12, 2014
Et kort vitnesbyrd om en liten familie som gjorde så godt de kunne og om den yngste jenta deres, som bare ble 15 år. Forfatteren har funnet fram til mange gamle mennesker som fortsatt levde og husket, men få av dem husket Kathe særlig godt. Historien om livet hennes blir til mellom offentlige dokumenter og falmede minner, og forfatteren stiller noen ganger spørsmål om hva denne norske jenta kanskje kan ha tenkt og følt, men faller ikke for fristelsen til å projisere og dikte. Nøkternt skissert og med dekning i kilder får vi historien om familien Lasnik, som kom til Norge i 1908 og jobbet hardt for å skape en tilværelse for foreldrene og etter hvert fire døtre.
Det er en rørende liten skildring, og jeg tror viktig, å huske at alle disse menneskene som ble drept ikke var eksepsjonelle eller spesielt gode eller spesielt dårlige - de var mennesker, familier, foreldre, barn og søsken, tanter og onkler og besteforeldre, som noen ganger i korte glimt trer ut av anonymiteten i historien - som i denne boka - og gir individualitet og ansikt til ufattelige tall og hauger av døde.
Det siste kapittelet, om norsk politis delaktighet og ansvar er kanskje noe i korteste laget, men å behandle det fullt ut er nok bedre overlatt til egne bøker. Fire stjerner fordi boka innen sin sjanger er meget vellykket.
Det er en rørende liten skildring, og jeg tror viktig, å huske at alle disse menneskene som ble drept ikke var eksepsjonelle eller spesielt gode eller spesielt dårlige - de var mennesker, familier, foreldre, barn og søsken, tanter og onkler og besteforeldre, som noen ganger i korte glimt trer ut av anonymiteten i historien - som i denne boka - og gir individualitet og ansikt til ufattelige tall og hauger av døde.
Det siste kapittelet, om norsk politis delaktighet og ansvar er kanskje noe i korteste laget, men å behandle det fullt ut er nok bedre overlatt til egne bøker. Fire stjerner fordi boka innen sin sjanger er meget vellykket.
February 21, 2018
Klarte ikke helt å henge med. Likevel en viktig beretning fra en grusom tid som aldri må glemmes.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews