Reading the 20th Century discussion

Welcome to our buddy read of On the Calculation of Volume I Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025 this book (or series of books) has been making a buzz recently and I was inspired to suggest a buddy read after listening to Backlisted/Locklisted this morning, when it was discussed.

This is a short volume, at under 200 pages, and is the first in a proposed seven-book series. Three are currently translated from Danish to English.

Tara Selter has slipped out of time.

Every morning, she wakes up to the 18th of November. She no longer expects to wake up to the 19th of November, and she no longer remembers the 17th of November as if it were yesterday.
She comes to know the shape of the day like the back of her hand - the grey morning light in her Paris hotel; the moment a blackbird breaks into song; her husband's surprise at seeing her return home unannounced. But for everyone around her, this day is lived for the first and only time. They do not remember the other 18ths of November, and they do not believe her when she tries to explain.
As Tara approaches her 365th 18th of November, she can't shake the feeling that somewhere underneath the surface of this day, there's a way to escape.

Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize and Winner of the Nordic Council Prize for Literature, On the Calculation of Volume I is the first volume of the poetic, page-turning European masterpiece about one woman's fall through the cracks of time.

I'm going to be making a start on this.

I'm puzzled (already!) by the scar on her hand from the burn the night before Tara started reliving the 18th November: the burn created on the 17th has gone through the normal cycle of time, scabbing, scab dropping off, scar becoming fainter and now barely noticeable.

So while Tara is reliving 18th November, her body is still travelling through time?

I will join you on this, but not quite yet

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm puzzled (already!) by the scar on her hand from the burn the night before Tara started reliving the 18th November: the burn created on the 17th has gone through the normal cycle of time, scabbi..."

I decided that trying to figure out the science or logic of what changes and what remains the same as time progresses, stops and repeats, would only frustrate me and completely spoil any chance of enjoying what I had already read if I came across anachronisms which I feel are probably there. So I dismissed that questioning approach from my head and decided to give the author full freedom to tell the story any way she liked. That way I wouldn't spoil my read and I figure I can always make an assessment on what she did later. As an example, when reading Blindness, by José Saramago, I was constantly fact checking the author's the presentation so once finished, all I had was a number of criticisms and absolutely no appreciation of what other readers whom I respect found wonderful in that novel.

Yes, I think you're right and we just have to accept the author's rules on how her world works - the burn came very early before I realised the anomalies and inconsistencies were a part of the book.

That's an interesting comparison with Blindness - I was one of those blown away by that book!

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm puzzled (already!) by the scar on her hand from the burn the night before Tara started reliving the 18th November: the burn created on the 17th has gone through the normal cycle of time, scabbi..."

It suggests her mind and body are inhabiting something akin to parallel universes. I'm not sure if it will get explained in later volumes. I liked the first one but not enough to rush out and buy the next ones, particularly as she hadn't finished the series. Don't know if she has now. I quite liked the repetitions, different iterations of the same day. I thought it drew attention to what was/wasn't significant in her life, the mundane, taken-for-granted pleasures/expectations.

I talked about this in my review. I was particularly struck by the commentary on environmental concerns, the ways in which the narrator's existence, her consumption practices highlight the impact of individuals on ecosystems and their local networks, I also liked the emphasis on attentiveness. But, then again, I like to listen out for the bird who nests every year in the tree by my kitchen window, and makes a point to look at the moon every night. Those aspects of the novel also made it feel a little like a pandemic narrative.

Yes, the book isn't without interest - sort of Proust meets Groundhog Day! - and I'm glad it wasn't longer. But I think I'm done. I read some of the reviews of the further volumes and it goes somewhere that I don't want to follow.

I mentioned in my review that the recounting of minutiae reminded me of The Details, a book I didn't like. It feels like a very Scandinavian thing, this attention to small things and endless introspection. I mean, I love interiority but somehow not really like this.

Alwynne wrote: "I was particularly struck by the commentary on environmental concerns, the ways in which the narrator's existence, her consumption practices highlight"

Yes, I mentioned that too in my review though it felt a bit marginal - but I think it becomes a stronger element in the later books.

I like your idea of it being a pandemic novel with the emphasis on alienation, isolation and loneliness. I thought the breakdown of the marriage was sad because they're effectively living at different times.

I have started this now. I was also puzzled by the burnt hand. It seems that everyone is living through the 18th November but she realises it and has to keep explaining it to her husband. Eventually, she removes herself as he doesn't know she is there.

I like the flow of it though. It does feel a little Proustian.

I have a copy of it from the library and hope to get to it this month


RC, did your Blindness comparison hold? Like you, I thought that was a magnificent book.

Some of the other comments make me less convinced it’s going to land. 🤔

It was Sam who first mentioned Blindness as a book where the literal facts didn't always make sense - I wasn't bothered by that and loved Blindness. It wasn't logic gaps that bothered me about Calculation, I just didn't find it nearly as thoughtful and original as many people have suggested. That said, I don't regret reading it as it's so short it was a few hours only, and there are elements I liked hence 3-stars, a middling rating from me.

Thanks. That’s very helpful

I placed a hold on a library copy. Unfortunately, I'm 14th in line with 4 copies, but I'll head over to this thread eventually.

The thread will be here when you're ready, Greg - and we can relive reading the book all over again like a bookish time-loop!