Bonsai

by Kirsten Thorup

Danish

267 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Kirsten Thorup, a Danish author, was born in Funen, Denmark, in 1942 and now lives in Copenhagen. She is the author of three poetry collections, a volume of short stories, and three novels including Baby which has been translated into English. She has also written for films, television, and radio. Her novel, Den lange sommer, was published in Denmark in 1979.

Recognition
1974 - Otto Gelsted Prize
1996 - Tagea Brandts Rejselegat
2000 - Grand Prize of the Danish Academy

Reviews

[ليلى المطوع · Rating 2 out of 5]

حسنا هي رواية تدور حول المشاعر، مشاعر رجل وامرأة ، المشكلة هنا ان الترجمة لم تعجبني، رغم اللغة الجيدة، لكن تداخل الاصوات سبب لي النفور، اكملتها ،
حتى الصفحة 220 وتوقفت رغم انها شارفت على النهاية، الا انني كدت أموت مللا، اذا كان العمل غير جذابا للقارئ،
أو الترجمة تسبب الضياع والتشتيت له، فلم اعاقب نفسي باكمالها

للانصاف وصف المشاعر في بعض الفصول كان رائعا، لكن المشكلة انت لاتعلم اي شخصية تتحدث، هل العمل به اكثر من رجل وامراة؟ ام ان هناك شخصيات اخرى؟
خاصة في الصفحات الاولى ينقلب السرد من رجل الى امراة او العكس من دون اي فاصل

[Hjalte Odin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Var forvirret over første del af bogen :s men efter bogen drejer sig ind på Stefan og Nina er den virkelig flot og synes at karaktererne er gennemførte og fedt at de ikke er så likeable

[Daiga · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to believe that the book itself is more than 20 years old. When all the issues it touches on are so contemporary.

The two vastly different perspectives of the same time, how very differently the two spouses can view each other, and yet. Even reading through the nonsense of Nina's letters as a reader you can already glimpse (or more like guess) into Stefan's homosexuality. Stefan's narrative is gaslighting at it's worst, misunderstood homosexual living in a homophobic 60's and heartbreaking AIDS at its end.
To say that no one in this book is a good person is an understatement. But they are bloody well written.
Nina is a disturbed person, who embraces gaslighting and transforms to losing her identity to another let's not say with joy, but gladly.
Stefan's suicide journey raises many questions that are chilling, and thought provoking and are definitely worth reading.

Yes. The language isn't easy. Especially because I read this in Latvian which I think lost a lot in translation (or maybe 2002's when this was translated, there were trendy words that didn't survive until 2021, when I actually managed to finish this book).

The only bit I don't understand is how Charlotte's chapter ties in with the rest of the book. It feels like the other side of the coin in many parts, but it's something I didn't understand. But it could be my issue. I'm not a very psychologically evolved person.

[Kirsten Degn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeg havde det lidt svært med første del af bogen - kunne ikke finde ud af hoved og hele i handlingen og personerne. Men sidste del som handler om Stefan og Nina synes jeg var spændende og en anderledes handling. Jeg har også lidt svært ved at genkende den unge Nina i den modne Nina i sidste del.

[Sarah Juul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Der er sikkert en mening med kompositionen, men for læseren fungerer det desværre ikke. Først halvvejs gennem bogen begyndte den at få noget, der ligner kohærens. Dog vil jeg sige, at Thorup er lykkes med at skabe karakterer, man skal anstrenge sig for at sympatisere med, hvilket ikke er nemt.

[Dace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Atzīšos- neizlasīju līdz galam :/
nelepojos, bet kaut kas neuzrunāja

[Martin Ledstrup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contemporary Danish middle class social realism does not not normally catch my literary attention. But, in contrast to most other writers within the same theme, she can write. Her prose is beautiful. A part of the book is about euthanasia: that part is outstanding. I mean it as a great compliment that she can make me read contemporary Danish middle class social realism. But, still, there are too many clichés for me to rate it any higher.