Skit i traditionerna

by Leif Panduro, Nenne Runsten (Translator)

17-årige David är på rymmen från sin internatskola. Polisen hittar honom när han fastnat med slipsen i en cigarettautomat! Davids fina familj ser till att han hamnar på en psykiatrisk klinik där han dras in i den ena tragikomiska situationen efter den andra.

Skit i traditionerna är på samma gång en fars och protestroman.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Danish, Young Adult, Read For School, Coming Of Age, Denmark

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Danish novelist and dramatist, a social critic who wrote in a satirical, humorous vein.

A dentist by profession, he began in his thirties to write stories about people who can't conform to society's rules for one reason or another.

Panduro produced a number of scripts for radio, television, and film, becoming one of the most successful Scandinavian dramatists of the 1970s with such works as Farvel, Thomas (1968; “Goodbye, Thomas”) and I Adams verden (1973; “In Adam’s World”).

Reviews

[Rebekka Steg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The actual title for this week's book review is 'Rend mig i traditionerne'. It's a Danish classic, originally published in 1958, which I had to keep reminding myself of, because honestly, I'd keep forgetting, because the mindset is so like today. This is one thing that continues to amaze me, it really is true, nothing ever changes under the sun. We are dealing with the same major issues, the same thoughts and ideas, as always. Yes, technology changes, fashion changes, work changes, housing changes etc. etc., but the feelings, the thoughts and the ideas, the problems and issues are always the same.

Okay, moving on, the official name of the book in English is 'Kick Me in the Traditions', but I feel that's too literal a translation. "Rend mig" is a more polite way of saying f you (we have nothing quite as harsh as that in Danish), so I guess it's really more like screw you. However, the way it is said, it has me as the object, rather than you, the way it is in English. This is when translating idioms and sayings can get really difficult. Personally, I'd probably translate the title more along the lines of "Screw the traditions", as I feel that's closer to the original meaning, but that's neither here nor there.

So, I read Kick me in the traditions in Danish, as I always prefer to read a book in it's original language, as long as I understand it of course. I'd love to read a couple of translations of Danish books, just to see how close they stay to the original meaning. I think I'll do a separate post soon on reading books in Danish and English, the importance of translations etc.

The book takes place in the 1950's, and is the story of the high school student Daniel, who's upper class, spoiled and very confused and unhappy. He's unhappy, he feels like he's carrying a nuclear bomb in his stomach, and that no one understands him, and he's very cross with everyone. One day he snaps, and he starts running, and then biting people in their legs - even the ones he like, especially the people he like. The authorities stop him, and get him places in a sanatorium, and this is where he's telling his story, to another deaf patient.

I liked the honesty of the novel, how refreshing it was (probably especially at the time). I don't think it would've become a classic today, because we're quite used to this kind of writing now, at least here in Denmark, but I can see why it is a classic, and how it must've just shook everything up back in the 1950's. It's a break with tradition, societal norms, and a big fat question mark and why should I bother to everything that is "normal" and "just because that's how it's always been".

If you can find an English translation, I do recommend it, it's a short read, it's entertaining, and it's refreshing.

[Ida Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Planlæg og stræb! si'r gode, gamle Brøns, og så ser han ud, som om han har sagt noget evigt. Men det er der, jeg ikke rigtig kan følge med. For hvad er det egentlig, man skal opnå med alle de planer og al den stræben. Hvis det er det, alle mennesker stræber efter, fjernsyn og bil og pension og fred og ro og avancement og pænt tøj og rejser til udlandet og karriere og succes, og hvad ved jeg, så må jeg desværre bekendtgøre, at jeg ikke er med på holdet. For den slags stræben kommer man ingen vegne med. Ikke ud af pletten. Jeg gider ikke. Så vil jeg meget hellere have en atombombe i hovedet.'

'Rend mig i Traditionerne' er klart et af de bedste danske værker, jeg har læst. Alt det bedste ved Panduro akkumuleres og samles her i ét perfekt mesterværk. Humoren og ironien fra 'Av, min guldtand' bevares, og det fantastisk velskrevede, ungdommelige oprør fra 'De Uanstændige' forvarsles.

Det er ikke til at sætte fingeren på, hvad præcist det er, der gør Panduro så tiltalende for mig. Det er kombination af det glimt i øjet, som Panduro har, mens han fortæller om de tungeste, mest udslettende følelser. Det er måden, han formår at beskrive det vage, tvetydige, udefinerbare, med et sælsomt præcist og pletrammende sprog. Det er måden, han skaber unikke og specielle karakterer, som man kan relatere til, og som man har set før i det virkelige liv. Jeg er fuldstændig betaget af Panduro, men især af dette værk. De sidste par måneder af mine depressive og nihilistiske tendenser afspejles kraftigt i værket, omend ikke decideret nihilisme - det er snarere denne uforklarlige følelse af, at det hele er falskt, konstrueret, 'Hollywood'. Måden, fortælleren distancerer sig selv fra de omkringliggende situationer og mennesker er velskrevet, smukt, sørgerligt, relaterbart og til tider endda humoristisk. Jeg er fuldstændig betaget af Panduro. Det falder lige ned i min kop te og smager som forrygende litteratur.

Læs Panduro. Læs det hele! Og især den her.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For evigt relevant

[Jakob Kirmayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nok en af de mest interessante karakterer jeg har mødt

[Esi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing style is so compelling and the observations so spot on. The way every character is stereotyped to the extreme works perfectly. This is by far my favourite Danish classic. And it truly is a classic, as its relevance today is just as great, as it was 50+ years ago. The subjects it touches upon and the observations that are made are universal and relatable, but by no means are they shallow.

[SofusReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

En rigtig fin bog med finurlige, virkelige indsigter i verdens tandhjul.

David er en karakter som de færreste vil kunne se sig selv i fuldkommen. Alligevel indfanger David situationer, som alle teenagere, unge og nogle voksne vil kunne se sig selv; at blive misforstået; at opleve ensomhed; frustrationer over manglende handling (især ift. kærlighed). Erkendelsen af, at man deler menneskelige kendetegn med en psykisk utilgængelig person, må uomtvisteligt bidrage til en forøget forståelse for psykisk lidende, der ellers virker helt på månen (Der er mere bag overfladen!). Pointen står ekstremt skarpt, idet vitterlig alle bogens øvrige karakterer taler ned til David, som for os læsere fremstår meget intelligent og reflekteret. Derfor er bogen vigtigt - især i konteksten af dens udgivelse i 1979.

Bogen rummer også en samfundskritik, hvilket er oplagt ud fra titlen: Rend mig i Traditionerne. Man kan læse kritikken ud fra Davids unge øjne, som stiller sig kritisk overfor stort set alting, men kritikken kan også læses som en historie fór sig: Alle spiller sociale skuespil, men ingen trives forneden. En kritik der står mere relevant nu end nogensinde før jf. sociale medier (se Opmærksomhedstyveriet, the Anxious Generation).

Og så er bogen helt i gennem unikt skrevet.

[Peter Enevoldsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradoksalt er der nærmest tradition for at den læses i 9. Klasse eller på gymnasiet.

Hamrende morsom! ...med plads til eftertænksomhed.

[Elias Roos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Den har vel komiske aspekter men ellers er den det sølle, danske svar på The catcher in the rye.

[Stina Hultberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jag hade nog höga förväntningar på den här för att min pappa rekommenderade den och vi har haft samma smak i böcker. Iallafall de böcker han läste när han var ung. Men alltså, det hände inte så mycket i den här? Den var lite för flummig. Ljusglimtar hittas på s. 59. 86-87. 104. 109.

[Kitty Red-Eye · Rating 5 out of 5]

En av de morsomste bøkene jeg har lest på lenge. Jeg husker tittelen fra Gud vet hvor, jeg tror jeg alltid syntes det var en ganske morsom tittel, men også litt en sånn som "de voksne" syns var kul, og da var det garantert ikke så kult allikevel. Så feil kan man ta! Gleder meg til "De anstændige" kommer sendt fra et eller annet dansk antikvariat, så jeg kan få lest den også. Panduro risikerer å komme inn på lista mi over skandinaviske favorittforfattere.

[Benedicte Smith-Sivertsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brighter side of Danish literature. Nobody can write a so very gloom story so satirically and ironic as the danes. In teenage: Leif Panduro has killer writing skills.

[Sölvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

þetta var fínasta bók. fjórar stjörnur frá mér. skemmtileg bók og móðins, þrátt fyrir að vera 50 ára gömul.

[Kuu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a well-written book, but I don't think that the short description here on Goodreads accurately tells what exactly happens in the book. Or, the general message fits, I guess, but when you read the book it doesn't seem like that is the actual focus. You don't get to see much or David's "life" in the hospital, he mostly tells some anecdotes about his life that in some way lead back to what he said before but still they're not entirely related.
It's a fun and easy read, which is why I gave it 3 stars - there's not a lot of plot, in my opinion, but it's written well enough.

[Alex Lindbjerg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leif Panduro skriver vildt godt.
Rend mig i traditionerne ledte flere gange mine tanker hen på Forbandede ungdom.

Hvis dit barn skal læse en selvvalgt bog i skolen, gymnasiet osv., så stik dem Rend mig i traditionerne. Bogen taler til unge, som føler sig misforstået, er let og hurtigt læst, og så er det en klassiker, som nemt scorer point hos en dansk lærer..

Rend mig i traditionerne har mine varmeste anbefalinger.

[Gunderhaegg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book at one of our 'book trade breakfasts' and it stood untouched for quite a few years until a few weeks back when I was about to leave for a train trip to Italy. This story of a young man trying to handle growing up in post-WWII Denmark (school issues, girl issues, family issues et cetera) is kind an interesting read. It is sometimes difficult to separate what is real and what is imagined, but it doesen't really matter, because his thoughts are what at least I was after.

[Alberte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hvis man leder efter en bog der gør ophold på et psykiatri hospital, teenage hormorner og rebellion humøristisk på en helt perfekt balanceret måde.

Så kan jeg klart anbefale denne.

Jeg ville helt klart foreslå den til enhver ung i en identitets krise, eller en der mangler lidt finurlig humør i daglig dagen.

[Niels Toksvig · Rating 5 out of 5]

One long darn hoot. Written in 1st person spoken Danish. Critics say that Panduro stole some ideas from Catcher in the Rye. But if you're wearing positive glasses, the Danish Author improved on Catcher in the Rye

[Pernille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeg opdagede noget interessant under læsningen af denne roman...

Det er faktisk helt vildt, hvor meget Jon Fosses fortællestil minder om Leif Panduros.

Læs Jon Fosses "Spetologi", og denne i forlængelse af hinanden, og du vil se, hvad jeg mener.

[Signe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit boring at some points, but a fascinating look into the thoughts and struggles of the youth in the 1950/60s

[Malene Winther · Rating 5 out of 5]

En humoristisk og reflekteret fortælling i et simpel velskrevet sprog.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

David spricht viele Probleme der Moderne an, aber leider ist es sehr frustrierend, ihm zuzuhören, weil er für seine Erkenntnis so lange braucht.

[Michael Pilgaard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kedelig! Kunne ikke se det morsomme i bogen og Panduros skrivestil fungerede ikke for mig.

[Anders Magnusson]

1001 böcker
Sid 42, mening 1:
”Det är det som är felet, herrn.”

[Lida Wengel]

Grotesk og tragikomisk

[Thomas Christiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still relevant after all these years.

[David Sand · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% klassiker for mig

[Klara Steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synes den var cute og morsom. Og virkelig god til lige at opfriske nogle gode gammeldags danske udtryk.

[Linnea Taubner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rolig liten bok som påminner en aning om räddaren i nöden

[Knut Sigurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den nest beste boka om dansk ungdom og psykisk sjukdom eg har lese siste 12 månader.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story is a Danish classic, but I have never really understood why. I have read it as a teenager and as an adult, both times just finding it to be silly.

The protagonist is a young man called David, who has a melt down and starts to act like a dog - running around on all fours, growling and biting people in the shins.

It has been explained to me that David is rebelling against the traditions and norms of the 1950's society. Really?!! If you want to rebel against society, then go live on a deserted island or start a revolution or something. People who bark like dogs are not rebels... they are just crazy!

I think this book is weird and pointless. The best I can say about it, is that it is a quick read.