What do you think?
Rate this book
Ask Burlefot #1
Lasso rundt fru Luna
«En høy, vadefuglaktig mann» stiger inn i nattoget på Østbanestasjonen i Oslo. Det er den 32 år gamle komponisten Ask Burle. Han er på vei hjem for å følge sin yngre bror Balder til graven.
Og der, i den skakende, nattsvarte sovevognkupeen, begynner Ask Burles jakt etter den tapte tid. Hvor begynner egentlig rapsodien Lasso rundt fru Luna . verket som nå skal oppføres ved de unge komponistenes konsert i Aulaen? Tolv år tilbake, tilbake til det året da den forvokste, flaksende ynglingen Ask Burlefot var handelsskolebestyrer et sted i Nord-Norge. Ett år og to kvinner. Først svek han Gunhild, så svek han Siv. Skjønt svek han? Var de ikke selv like skyldige? Men Balder? Svek han Balder? Var dette prisen han måtte betale for å bli kunstner?
Og der, i den skakende, nattsvarte sovevognkupeen, begynner Ask Burles jakt etter den tapte tid. Hvor begynner egentlig rapsodien Lasso rundt fru Luna . verket som nå skal oppføres ved de unge komponistenes konsert i Aulaen? Tolv år tilbake, tilbake til det året da den forvokste, flaksende ynglingen Ask Burlefot var handelsskolebestyrer et sted i Nord-Norge. Ett år og to kvinner. Først svek han Gunhild, så svek han Siv. Skjønt svek han? Var de ikke selv like skyldige? Men Balder? Svek han Balder? Var dette prisen han måtte betale for å bli kunstner?
Audiobook
First published January 1, 1954
39 people are currently reading
767 people want to read
About the author
Agnar Mykle
30 books22 followersAgnar Mykle was a Norwegian author.
He became one of the most controversial figures in Norwegian literature in the 20th century after the publication of «Sangen om den Røde Rubin» («The Song of the Red Ruby») in 1957 which ignited what became one of the most famous court cases in Norwegian history.
Mykle and his publisher Harald Grieg were accused of writing and publishing immoral, pornographic, and obscene material. Mykle's defense attorney was Johan Bernhard Hjort. Mykle and Grieg were both acquitted, but the remaining copies of the book were ordered withdrawn from the market. The Norwegian Supreme Court overturned the ruling on the confiscation in 1958.
The translations of The Song of the Red Ruby gathered tremendous attention outside of Norway, especially in the USA. Huge sales followed, but Mykle nevertheless had financial difficulties for the rest of his life.
He became one of the most controversial figures in Norwegian literature in the 20th century after the publication of «Sangen om den Røde Rubin» («The Song of the Red Ruby») in 1957 which ignited what became one of the most famous court cases in Norwegian history.
Mykle and his publisher Harald Grieg were accused of writing and publishing immoral, pornographic, and obscene material. Mykle's defense attorney was Johan Bernhard Hjort. Mykle and Grieg were both acquitted, but the remaining copies of the book were ordered withdrawn from the market. The Norwegian Supreme Court overturned the ruling on the confiscation in 1958.
The translations of The Song of the Red Ruby gathered tremendous attention outside of Norway, especially in the USA. Huge sales followed, but Mykle nevertheless had financial difficulties for the rest of his life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 6, 2015
From Jan Kjærstad's Forføreren (my translation):
_____________________________________
Update: having finally obtained a copy (thank you Stian!) I have now read the passage in question in the original Norwegian. It turns out that Axel wasn't exaggerating at all.
More when I've finished...
_____________________________________
Mid 20th Century Norwegian Literature. 90 minutes
1. When Agnar Mykle was 20, he worked for a year at two business schools in the extreme North of Norway, becoming the youngest headmaster in the country. During this time, he was romantically involved with two different women, both of whom became pregnant.
Mykle's novel Lasso Rundt Fru Luna, in contrast, is about a 20 year old man, "Ask Burlefot", who works for a year at two business schools in the extreme North of Norway, becoming the youngest headmaster in the country, and is romantically involved with two different women, both of whom become pregnant.
How would you assess the author's claim in the Foreword that "the characters in this book are entirely fictitious, and it is in no way based on real events"?
2. The greater part of the action takes place in the town of "Indrepollen", often identified with the real Kirknes.
Which answer best fits the geographical location of Kirknes?
A. Middle of nowhere.
B. Back of beyond.
C. When you get to the back of beyond, keep going until you see the sign for Ultima Thule. Then take the next right and you can't miss it.
D. Like C, but a bit more so.
3. Which of the following novels do you consider is most similar to Lasso Rundt Fru Luna? To what extent do you think each one was influenced by it? Justify your answer.
A. Jan Kjærstad, Forføreren.
B. Karl Ove Knausgård, Min Kamp.
C. John Updike, Rabbit, Run.
D. Erica Jong, Fear of Flying.
4. Which of the following authors would you say is most misogynistic? Justify your answer.
A. Guy de Maupassant
B. August Strindberg
C. Agnar Mykle
D. Bret Easton Ellis
E. None of them are misogynistic, they should all be read ironically.
5. The imagery in Lasso Rundt Fru Luna is largely based on...?
A. Classical sagas of the Norse gods.
B. Business administration workbooks.
C. Both A and B.
D. This is a trick question, right?
6. Match the characters from the book with the descriptions below.
i) "Gunnhild"
ii) "Siv"
iii) Ask's mother
A. Neurotic, shallow, manipulative, overweight, self-obsessed non-stop talker who dresses like a cheap hooker and is unable to see the hero as anything more than a projection of her worthless self.
B. Neurotic, shallow, manipulative, grasping, dishonest blackmailer, con artist and part-time prostitute.
C. Tiny, radiantly beautiful, angelic blonde creature whose only wishes are to have sex with the hero at every hour of the day or night, bear his child, and cherish each moment she is fortunate enough to spend in his company.
7. The book became notorious for its explicit sex scenes. In the most memorable of these, Ask, who has never previously slept with anyone, is about to bed an experienced older woman and is terrified that he will disappoint her. He prays for guidance to the god Frej's steed Gyldenborste, after which he is able to bring her to a screaming orgasm twice, using a couple of acrobatic positions she has never previously tried, before regally taking his own pleasure.
How would you describe the above episode?
A. You can't have read that right. Are you sure your Norwegian is as good as you think it is?
B. Uh, I guess it must be ironic or something? Excuse me if I repeat myself.
C. Just because you're so pathetically inadequate, you needn't assume everyone else is too.
D. Didn't you know? This often happens when you address heartfelt prayers to magic sexy flying pigs.
(My answers here)
"Okay, listen up guys, who wrote this: 'Her body was moving in great surging billows under him. For one fearful moment they listened to each other's gasping breathing and she whispered in his ear: 'Yes.' The darkness in front of his eyes was lit by myriads of tiny twinkling, singing stars. In cruel rapture mingled with pain and fear he let it happen.'"I give in: I just have to check out Mykle's controversial masterpiece.
"Nabokov," suggested Thomas. "Miller," said Trine. "It's got to be an Englishman," said Alva. "D.H. Lawrence." Axel smiled and shook his head as wilder and wilder suggestions rained down on him from all sides.
"Agnar Mykle," he said. If he had been wearing a hat, he would have raised it: Axel had only one literary hero in Norway, Agnar Mykle. "From a translation of Lasso rundt fru Luna. A scandalously bad one, I should add. The stupid fuckers have cut at least ten sentences just in this little passage. It's a joke."
_____________________________________
Update: having finally obtained a copy (thank you Stian!) I have now read the passage in question in the original Norwegian. It turns out that Axel wasn't exaggerating at all.
More when I've finished...
_____________________________________
Mid 20th Century Norwegian Literature. 90 minutes
1. When Agnar Mykle was 20, he worked for a year at two business schools in the extreme North of Norway, becoming the youngest headmaster in the country. During this time, he was romantically involved with two different women, both of whom became pregnant.
Mykle's novel Lasso Rundt Fru Luna, in contrast, is about a 20 year old man, "Ask Burlefot", who works for a year at two business schools in the extreme North of Norway, becoming the youngest headmaster in the country, and is romantically involved with two different women, both of whom become pregnant.
How would you assess the author's claim in the Foreword that "the characters in this book are entirely fictitious, and it is in no way based on real events"?
2. The greater part of the action takes place in the town of "Indrepollen", often identified with the real Kirknes.
Which answer best fits the geographical location of Kirknes?
A. Middle of nowhere.
B. Back of beyond.
C. When you get to the back of beyond, keep going until you see the sign for Ultima Thule. Then take the next right and you can't miss it.
D. Like C, but a bit more so.
3. Which of the following novels do you consider is most similar to Lasso Rundt Fru Luna? To what extent do you think each one was influenced by it? Justify your answer.
A. Jan Kjærstad, Forføreren.
B. Karl Ove Knausgård, Min Kamp.
C. John Updike, Rabbit, Run.
D. Erica Jong, Fear of Flying.
4. Which of the following authors would you say is most misogynistic? Justify your answer.
A. Guy de Maupassant
B. August Strindberg
C. Agnar Mykle
D. Bret Easton Ellis
E. None of them are misogynistic, they should all be read ironically.
5. The imagery in Lasso Rundt Fru Luna is largely based on...?
A. Classical sagas of the Norse gods.
B. Business administration workbooks.
C. Both A and B.
D. This is a trick question, right?
6. Match the characters from the book with the descriptions below.
i) "Gunnhild"
ii) "Siv"
iii) Ask's mother
A. Neurotic, shallow, manipulative, overweight, self-obsessed non-stop talker who dresses like a cheap hooker and is unable to see the hero as anything more than a projection of her worthless self.
B. Neurotic, shallow, manipulative, grasping, dishonest blackmailer, con artist and part-time prostitute.
C. Tiny, radiantly beautiful, angelic blonde creature whose only wishes are to have sex with the hero at every hour of the day or night, bear his child, and cherish each moment she is fortunate enough to spend in his company.
7. The book became notorious for its explicit sex scenes. In the most memorable of these, Ask, who has never previously slept with anyone, is about to bed an experienced older woman and is terrified that he will disappoint her. He prays for guidance to the god Frej's steed Gyldenborste, after which he is able to bring her to a screaming orgasm twice, using a couple of acrobatic positions she has never previously tried, before regally taking his own pleasure.
How would you describe the above episode?
A. You can't have read that right. Are you sure your Norwegian is as good as you think it is?
B. Uh, I guess it must be ironic or something? Excuse me if I repeat myself.
C. Just because you're so pathetically inadequate, you needn't assume everyone else is too.
D. Didn't you know? This often happens when you address heartfelt prayers to magic sexy flying pigs.
(My answers here)
August 15, 2015
After Jens Bjørneboe and Karl Ove Knausgård Agnar Mykle was the third author from Norway, with whom I got into contact. What is it with these men from the North? Somehow they all seem to have some serious problems, and show it in their works. Depression, alcoholism, melancholia, mania, or, like in this book, egoism, ignorance and lack of sense of responsibility.
Ask Burlefot is the hero of this story. Ask is his name, a Nordic name, "Ash" (as in the tree) in the English edition. As a 20-year-old Ask unexpectedly gets a temporary position as headmaster of a trade school in the far north of Norway. The city in the book is called Indrepollen, but in truth it is Kirkenes at the border with Russia, a city so far from everything that you have to reset your clocks when traveling from Finland eastward to Kirkenes! — (just think about it).
After several unsuccessful attempts by Ask to come together with a girl, it finally works in Indrepollen/Kirkenes. He starts not one but two relationships with women (more or less consecutively) and it is safe to say that both relationships pretty much failed. And to me, it is his fault. He is not particularly endearing. Sure, he has his problems, like all young men at that time (1936-37). With his parents, his younger brother Balder, with superiors and particularity with women. His insecurity and feelings can be understood in some ways.
His resulting actions, however, cannot! I know that in the second part of the series (The Song Of The Red Ruby) it even gets worse with this reckless fellow.
Mykle and his publisher were accused of publishing obscene material in Red Ruby. But also the first part contains some explicit descriptions. This was perhaps remarkable for that time (1954) but today it's nothing to write home about. Nevertheless I learned that the most "hot" scene of the book got heavily crippled for the English edition. After all both books are considered a kind of clearance and helped to eliminate sexual taboos in Scandinavia in the 1950s and 60s.
And that's something, I think?
I assume that what we are dealing here is some kind of autobiographical essay. If you put the live of Ask Burlefot beside the known biography of Agnar Mykle, there are simply too many similarities (equalities), to call this book "fictional". I don't buy the disclaimer about people and incidents in this book being fictitious. Neither does it help to write the story from the perspective of a neutral narrator. And there's no reason for it too, because the only person we actually learn about his inner life is Ask. Nice try, Agnar Mykle!
What I liked most about this book, apart from the beloved/behated protagonist, are the interesting insights into the pre-war Norway social- and family structures. I hope the second part will continue with this. There is also an interesting background story that is set twelve years after the events of the main story. The background actually moved me quite a bit.
So, where do I stand with my men from the North now? It seems to me that Agnar Mykle was a rather problematic (or should I say unlikeable?) man that I want more to read about. I'm not sure about Knausgård after only two of six books of his Min Kamp series. The tragic figure to me, is Jens Bjørneboe, the only one who had a real struggle with his life. Incidentally, Bjørneboe defended his fellow author Mykle after his trial and offered high praise for his books (see lecture Svikeren in Norge, mitt Norge). Bjørneboe's Without a Stitch has probably also caused also quite a stir. It's sitting on my shelf right next to Mykle's Red Ruby.
[to be continued here]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Ask Burlefot is the hero of this story. Ask is his name, a Nordic name, "Ash" (as in the tree) in the English edition. As a 20-year-old Ask unexpectedly gets a temporary position as headmaster of a trade school in the far north of Norway. The city in the book is called Indrepollen, but in truth it is Kirkenes at the border with Russia, a city so far from everything that you have to reset your clocks when traveling from Finland eastward to Kirkenes! — (just think about it).
After several unsuccessful attempts by Ask to come together with a girl, it finally works in Indrepollen/Kirkenes. He starts not one but two relationships with women (more or less consecutively) and it is safe to say that both relationships pretty much failed. And to me, it is his fault. He is not particularly endearing. Sure, he has his problems, like all young men at that time (1936-37). With his parents, his younger brother Balder, with superiors and particularity with women. His insecurity and feelings can be understood in some ways.
His resulting actions, however, cannot! I know that in the second part of the series (The Song Of The Red Ruby) it even gets worse with this reckless fellow.
Mykle and his publisher were accused of publishing obscene material in Red Ruby. But also the first part contains some explicit descriptions. This was perhaps remarkable for that time (1954) but today it's nothing to write home about. Nevertheless I learned that the most "hot" scene of the book got heavily crippled for the English edition. After all both books are considered a kind of clearance and helped to eliminate sexual taboos in Scandinavia in the 1950s and 60s.
And that's something, I think?
I assume that what we are dealing here is some kind of autobiographical essay. If you put the live of Ask Burlefot beside the known biography of Agnar Mykle, there are simply too many similarities (equalities), to call this book "fictional". I don't buy the disclaimer about people and incidents in this book being fictitious. Neither does it help to write the story from the perspective of a neutral narrator. And there's no reason for it too, because the only person we actually learn about his inner life is Ask. Nice try, Agnar Mykle!
What I liked most about this book, apart from the beloved/behated protagonist, are the interesting insights into the pre-war Norway social- and family structures. I hope the second part will continue with this. There is also an interesting background story that is set twelve years after the events of the main story. The background actually moved me quite a bit.
So, where do I stand with my men from the North now? It seems to me that Agnar Mykle was a rather problematic (or should I say unlikeable?) man that I want more to read about. I'm not sure about Knausgård after only two of six books of his Min Kamp series. The tragic figure to me, is Jens Bjørneboe, the only one who had a real struggle with his life. Incidentally, Bjørneboe defended his fellow author Mykle after his trial and offered high praise for his books (see lecture Svikeren in Norge, mitt Norge). Bjørneboe's Without a Stitch has probably also caused also quite a stir. It's sitting on my shelf right next to Mykle's Red Ruby.
[to be continued here]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
February 3, 2020
Funny, depressing, and at times a bit maudlin, this Norwegian *Cumming of Age* tale is told by a narrator who does not sugarcoat his own weak, selfish character. Repelled by the mediocrity and conventionality of his own family, he travels north to make his way in the world, only to cowardly sneak away leaving two pregnant women behind (one a gross bar tramp, the other an angelic divorcee). Though the young man has some minor successes, and he ends on the verge of fulfilling his dream of being a famous composer, the price he is willing to pay mark him in his own eyes as a loser. It's a wild tale, and it must have caused shock waves when it was first published in the 1950s. For me, the unquestioned greatness of the novel is the author's willingness to spare no squalid detail, no matter how minor: "He gripped her big round bosom and bent her backwards over the draining board so that her long black hair swept the dead flies off the sill." What a beautiful image!! Vivid, shameless novel.
January 17, 2012
I was unsure about this book at first. There are aspects of it that are very dated (it was written in the 1950s), and it smacked of mysogyny. There is a very strong, opinionated narrative voice, I couldn't decide if the attitudes expressed about (some) women were unconscious reflections of the author's own attitudes, or if it was a deliberate move to help the reader enter into the perspective of the young man protagonist. I'm inclined to think the latter. Mykle did a great job capturing the arrogance, innocence, and painful awkwardness of being a young adult. The book dealt with sex graphically, but none of it seemed gratuitous or sensational, and didn't make me squirm uncomfortably. Keywords? Sensitive. Poignant. Youth. Loss. All in all, I liked it, and it had me weeping in the end, which for me is a perverse sign of a good book (hey, it had me emotionally invested, right?).
November 1, 2017
4.5 A tale of the artist as a young man, a tale of a young man and his sexual awakening, a tale of a young man searching for his identity, a tale of a young man fleeing his family and the feeling of being trapped. A tale of a selfish young man that thinks of no one but himself. A tale of a young man not knowing what he wants but that has these extreme longings, a longing for greatness and desire to create something larger than himself. A tale of a young man going to the north of Norway, like so many young men after him (like Knausgård), to try himself. A tale about loss and losing the only person that really matters. A very poetic and emotional novel.
(And yes it is sexist, but if you are going to portray a young man going through a sexual awakening in the 30s in a society with strict morals, you must go there, but of course it gives you mixed emotions reading it today)
(And yes it is sexist, but if you are going to portray a young man going through a sexual awakening in the 30s in a society with strict morals, you must go there, but of course it gives you mixed emotions reading it today)
September 27, 2020
"Telegramtelefonen? Vil De ta et telegram. (Man spør ikke damen: 'Vil De ta et telegram?' Man viser sikkerhet og myndighet, man avskjære enhver mulighet for tidspille og kvinnepassiar, man sier: 'Vil De ta et telegram.') Det er fra handelsgymnasiet. (Punkt 1: si alltid hvem det er fra.) Det er rektor som ringer. (Punkt 2: De vil alltid vite hvem det er som telefonerer telegrammet inn.)[...]"
"[...] Du skal aldri stole på dine medmenneskers intelligens."
En av flere ting jeg tar med meg fra boken: Korrekt telegrammofoni.
"[...] Du skal aldri stole på dine medmenneskers intelligens."
En av flere ting jeg tar med meg fra boken: Korrekt telegrammofoni.
January 23, 2023
Boom, for en bok. En potent kilde til latter, frustrasjon og sorg.
Jeg håper det finnes en lesesirkel av 21 år gamle gutter som tar for seg denne, en gang, et sted.
Jeg håper det finnes en lesesirkel av 21 år gamle gutter som tar for seg denne, en gang, et sted.
January 29, 2019
Fantastisk.
September 22, 2022
Ask var en ordentlig klyse
May 25, 2014
Fukketu.
October 16, 2014
Beautifully written. I had to dry my eyes after finishing it and it will have a special place in my heart for the rest of my days.
July 27, 2016
Mykle er den eneste som kan få deg til å gråte av en skildring av en sovekupé på toget. En uendelig god og uendelig sår bok.
December 9, 2025
For en bok. Lang, men bussturen opp til dragvoll ble bra denne måneden. Ekstrautgave uten endring av Mykles originale versjon.
January 30, 2022
okay idk if my rating is accurate bc i’ve been thinking of giving this anything between 2-5 stars. not quite sure how i feel about the book? i listened to the audiobook and it was 22 hours long so it took forever but i got through it all somehow.
it’s incredibly well written, the digressions and descriptions are vivid and entertaining but on the other hand i didn’t really like any of the characters but at the same time they’re very well written and flawed for a reason so??? idk this book is a lot. at points it did make me physically nauseous, mostly because it feels extremely raw. ultimately the biggest positive aspect of it was that it deals with family and sibling dynamics which!!! i eat that stuff UP and the ending is probably one of my favorite endings of all time. it takes forever to get there but i guess it was worth it after all. and the part where the main character say something like when two frenchmen engage in conversation it’s something almost spiritual, meaningful & mutual whereas norwegians engage in conversation to show someone they can stick a nail through their nose or something like that… he kinda spilled! there are a lot of allusion sprinkled throughout the book but i especially loved the norse mythology sprinkled in anywhere from digressions and descriptions to the names of the characters. even though i ended up liking it more than i thought i would for like 80% of the book i still don’t really feel tempted to read the sequel even though that’s the most iconic one? i liked the ending and it feels complete to me so i don’t feel like continuing the series anytime soon.
it’s incredibly well written, the digressions and descriptions are vivid and entertaining but on the other hand i didn’t really like any of the characters but at the same time they’re very well written and flawed for a reason so??? idk this book is a lot. at points it did make me physically nauseous, mostly because it feels extremely raw. ultimately the biggest positive aspect of it was that it deals with family and sibling dynamics which!!! i eat that stuff UP and the ending is probably one of my favorite endings of all time. it takes forever to get there but i guess it was worth it after all. and the part where the main character say something like when two frenchmen engage in conversation it’s something almost spiritual, meaningful & mutual whereas norwegians engage in conversation to show someone they can stick a nail through their nose or something like that… he kinda spilled! there are a lot of allusion sprinkled throughout the book but i especially loved the norse mythology sprinkled in anywhere from digressions and descriptions to the names of the characters. even though i ended up liking it more than i thought i would for like 80% of the book i still don’t really feel tempted to read the sequel even though that’s the most iconic one? i liked the ending and it feels complete to me so i don’t feel like continuing the series anytime soon.
August 3, 2025
[4.5/5.0]
Lydbok, Gyldendal 2017, lest av Anders Ribu, Operasjon Hjernerystelse.
En detaljrik, indre dialogfylt, psykologisk, eksplisitt, kunstnerisk, humoristisk, skarp, gripende, trist, kaotisk, troverdig og fascinerende perle av en roman.
I boka følger vi Ask Burlefot fra ungdom til voksen. Han feiler, reiser seg, feiler igjen, rømmer, krangler, roter det til for seg, reiser seg igjen, osv. Et nokså vanlig liv, altså.
Det som gjør boka unik er Mykles fantastiske fortellerstil. Han skriver på en hypnotisk måte gjennom digresjoner, bi-historier, assosiasjoner og hyperrealistiske detaljbeskrivelser. Det er kanskje noe sånt Knausgård prøver å få til, når han på søvndyssende vis beskriver hvordan laksen forandrer farge i panna? Mykle kan derimot skrive både fengslende og humoristisk, side opp og side ned, om en enslig brødskive, hvordan osten er lagt kjærlighetsløst på, og attpåtil bare en tynn skive, skåret med høvel!
Ordvalget er fantasifullt og treffsikkert. Setningene varierer mye i lengde, stil og oppbygging. Noen avsnitt er nærmest lyrikk.
Mykle beskriver karakterene på nydelig vis. Her er humor og dybde som lett når opp til det ypperste fra Hamsun. Mykle perfeksjonerer også den psykologiske skrivestilen til den tidlige Hamsun.
Innleser er Anders Ribu. Han leser alltid veldig bra, og denne boka er kanskje den aller flotteste jeg har hørt. Innlevelse, tempo, variasjon, uttale… alt er så godt som perfekt!
Lydbok, Gyldendal 2017, lest av Anders Ribu, Operasjon Hjernerystelse.
En detaljrik, indre dialogfylt, psykologisk, eksplisitt, kunstnerisk, humoristisk, skarp, gripende, trist, kaotisk, troverdig og fascinerende perle av en roman.
I boka følger vi Ask Burlefot fra ungdom til voksen. Han feiler, reiser seg, feiler igjen, rømmer, krangler, roter det til for seg, reiser seg igjen, osv. Et nokså vanlig liv, altså.
Det som gjør boka unik er Mykles fantastiske fortellerstil. Han skriver på en hypnotisk måte gjennom digresjoner, bi-historier, assosiasjoner og hyperrealistiske detaljbeskrivelser. Det er kanskje noe sånt Knausgård prøver å få til, når han på søvndyssende vis beskriver hvordan laksen forandrer farge i panna? Mykle kan derimot skrive både fengslende og humoristisk, side opp og side ned, om en enslig brødskive, hvordan osten er lagt kjærlighetsløst på, og attpåtil bare en tynn skive, skåret med høvel!
Ordvalget er fantasifullt og treffsikkert. Setningene varierer mye i lengde, stil og oppbygging. Noen avsnitt er nærmest lyrikk.
Mykle beskriver karakterene på nydelig vis. Her er humor og dybde som lett når opp til det ypperste fra Hamsun. Mykle perfeksjonerer også den psykologiske skrivestilen til den tidlige Hamsun.
Innleser er Anders Ribu. Han leser alltid veldig bra, og denne boka er kanskje den aller flotteste jeg har hørt. Innlevelse, tempo, variasjon, uttale… alt er så godt som perfekt!
June 22, 2017
Leser Lasso rundt fru Luna igjen etter mange år. Den framstår mer nevrotisk, springende og uferdig enn jeg husket den. Men uansett; jeg faller igjen for Mykles intense følsomhet og flotte, triste og fornøyelige beskrivelser av mennesker og omgivelser rundt Ask Burlefot. Det var verdt et gjensyn.
August 21, 2018
A different kind of Nordic Noir! Plot (youth confronting realities of life after leaving the family home in 1930s Norway) is a bit dated but writing still has power. Part one of a trilogy that I hope to read.
August 24, 2020
I was very interested in this book
December 1, 2021
The worst Norwegian novel since ... well, Sangen om den røde rubin.
June 30, 2022
duum bok
Read
February 8, 2024Makeløs slutt
February 18, 2025
Nei hva skal man si. Første bok jeg gir en femmere her i goodreads. For et språk.
July 16, 2025
Beste!
July 30, 2025
lang. kunne vært kortere. men brødskiver med lite pålegg er ikke lov
May 20, 2007
Finished rereading this one, not in the original Norwegian (I wish I could--lasso rundt fru luna) and thinking on unhappy kinsmen. I must like it; I've read it 3 or 4 times, now. Sort of a Crime and Punishment with sex.
It has a character with a limp, too.
It has a character with a limp, too.
July 7, 2021
"Engang skal vi allesammen ligge i natten med skyggen af en død broder i armene. Og der, i natten, i mørket, først der skal vi vemodigt ane, at Døden er en blomst, der vokser i Begyndelsens bed."
"Lasso om fru Luna" var en helt fantastisk læseoplevelse!
"Lasso om fru Luna" var en helt fantastisk læseoplevelse!
August 23, 2012
Utrolig morsom og velskrevet bok som sammen med Den Røde Rubin er noe av det beste som er skrevet i Norge. Jeg har lest alle Mykles bøker flere ganger. Synd at han ble sprø og sluttet å publisere.
March 16, 2013
Den beste romanen jeg har lest av en norsk forfatter!
April 10, 2015
Kanskje den beste boken jeg har lest. Kanskje.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews