Nordic Noir discussion

What is it about this genre that drew you to it? the darkness; the mystery or something else

I don't even know what Nordic Noir is. Perhaps I am in the wrong group?

I really love how graphic they are.

@ pam - NN is the name for lots of the mysteries that come out of the scandinavian countries

@ marilyn - totally agree - love the graphic / dark and disturbing nature of them

I love the stark almost forbiding landscape. They are just in your face and very gritty.

Thanks Dee.

I just love a good mystery and the ones I've read are that. I suppose the landscape has much to do with the feel of the story.

Pam..no you aren't..Lisa said you took an interest in Karin Fossum!! We can introduce you to a ton more!

I know this is a whole different genre but I'm reading and enjoying Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. He brings to the vampire novel the Nordic bleak, dark and relentless dread that the you see in the thriller/suspense books. I had pretty much given up on vampire books as I don't enjoy vampire romance and sex so this appeals to me. OK, I admit I just like dark and bleak books.

I have this one on the pile Marilyn - I just requested it from the libary today...maybe need a couple of new threads...nordic but not noir and noir but not nordic ;)

I haven't been able to figure out why I like the nordic authors so much. There's just something about the writing that seems fresh.

Naomi wrote: "Pam..no you aren't..Lisa said you took an interest in Karin Fossum!! We can introduce you to a ton more!"


Thank you to you, too, Naomi!

Hey..I always get little messages(sarcastically) from Lisa thanking me for her everexpanding TBR List!

Lisa, sarcastic? No way! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

I always warn people if they are going to start following Naomi's reviews - good luck. Quit your job, get rid of the TV, let your family know they will have minimal access - for all the books I have on my list now, I wish I could read that fast, but it is what it is.

Pam wrote: "Lisa, sarcastic? No way! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA"

LOL

Lisa B. wrote: "I always warn people if they are going to start following Naomi's reviews - good luck. Quit your job, get rid of the TV, let your family know they will have minimal access - for all the books I ha..."

All true...

well, what do you expect when she has like 60 books going at once ;)

As I am reading [book:Misterioso|8562631 it came to me that the reason that I really like Nordic fiction is because they don't waste words, they don't use alot of flowery language and they keep the plot moving.

very well stated Diane

i also like, come to think of it, that the characters do fail...like in Faceless Killers...they don't solve the case for a while...unlike other books where it seems like the case is wrapped up in a number of days, usually with no problems

No, Wallander is not someone I would consider a very successful person. Great character, but far from perfect.

that makes him more "real" to me, for lack of a better word...

Exactly

I agree. Are the books as good as the series? Usually I find books are better, but not always.

i've only read the first 2...the first one was ok, really liked the second one...naomi and I did a sorta buddy read/listen...which meant, she finished wayyy before me ;) I have the 3rd sitting in the pile

I don't read as fast as most others I read with. I'm still working for one thing (I do read on breaks & at lunch) & I read more than one at a time. I probably do read fast, it just seems like it takes a long time to finish one. :-) I have Faceless Killers, but haven't been able to fit it in yet.

Martha i'm the same...lol!

I meant to say that since I read several at a time, I probably do read fast. I knew I was in good company, Dee. :-)

i knew what you meant...I read fast, but because I have several books going at once - I tend to dedicate equal time to those - so while 1 book might normally take me a night if i'm reading it by itself, when i'm reading in conjunction with others, it might take a couple of days

I tend to read the same way plus I usually have an audio book going in the car. I read fast but not as fast as Naomi who holds the land speed record.

You know what..I have been so off the last 2 weeks it isn't even funny..I am dragging like there is no tomorrow.

I listen to audio books, too, Marilyn, during my commute. I listen on my iphone now and sometimes continue listening for awhile after I get home at night.

the audiobooks of the wallander series aren't too bad - and I really loved Simon Vance who did the Larsson series (he is def. on my list of my listen narrators now)

Question. How do you define Nordic noir? As opposed to Scandinavian Crime Wave, which I suppose is a genre now, or just Nordic crime? Which authors do you consider Nordic noir writers? I can't think of many internationally published Nordic writers that I consider noir.

James wrote: "Question. How do you define Nordic noir? As opposed to Scandinavian Crime Wave, which I suppose is a genre now, or just Nordic crime? Which authors do you consider Nordic noir writers? I can't thin..."

Thanks for asking the questions. I am looking forward to reading some of the answers, since I know little to nothing about this genre. My perception is that it is always a mystery involving cold weather. Is it EVER warm in Scandanavian Countries?

Sure, it was really warm yesterday. Not every year, but most, we get some nice weather in June and July. Of course, it depends on how far north you go and what you think is warm.

Well, I think the key word here is NOIR. Noir is dark, bleak, and there is seldom any ray of hope for a better world at the end of the story. Most crime writing is definitely not noir.

Since I live in St. Louis, warm to me is 100 degrees with 90% humidity. Nothing like the good ole midwest humidity!

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

James, I guess to American readers Nordic authors are dark and bleak as compared to American authors. This is not bad, in fact for a reader like me I love it.
As far as the hopeless goes, no I don't see that either as far as the authors I have read. I also think that a lot us like the weather and long arctic nights as a backdrop to the books, it gives a feeling dark and bleak to the story. Just my 2 cents here.
Also, for the most part the books are well written and edited. I would guess we lose something in the translation.

Pam wrote: "Since I live in St. Louis, warm to me is 100 degrees with 90% humidity. Nothing like the good ole midwest humidity!

Thanks for taking the time to respond."

I'm pretty close to St. Louis (near Springfield, IL), Pam, & grew up in Louisiana so upper 90s & high humidity constitutes warm/hot weather to me as well. I've often dreamed about summering in Canada! LOL
I remember wearing shorts in the winter (mostly inside) and never owning a winter coat ... just a jacket with a thin liner because that was all we needed. Well, that and a good raincoat ... it rains a lot in Louisiana.

Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. They're (meaning most) dark and bleak, especially compared to most of the big name American crime writers, but I don't consider them as noir. Scandinavian Crime Wave seems more appropriate to me.

Alright, James..I have to ask..what would your def. of noir be then??

That's why I don't read much crime fiction by bestselling American authors. Even amidst the most heinous series of serial killings, in some aspect of the story, a shiny ray of happiness seems to radiate, and the stories end with the feeling that all is right with the world once again. I get tired of that.

The noir guru, Otto Penzler, has a defininition that you can find if you google. His places some emphasis on the role of women in noir. I would state it simply like this:

Societal values are flipped. What is psychotic is normal and what is normal is for sissies. The protagonist is a sociopath or at least has sociopathic tendencies, as do most secondary characters. Corruption is the norm. The story climax doesn't put an end to corruption or make all right with the world once again, nor does it cure the demons of the protagonist. Dark and bleak are givens. That's off the top of my head, but something like that.

There's nothing like -20 weather, heating up in the sauna, and running outside naked for a roll in the snow.

James wrote: "That's why I don't read much crime fiction by bestselling American authors. Even amidst the most heinous series of serial killings, in some aspect of the story, a shiny ray of happiness seems to ra..."

But don't you all think that 'generally' we Americans are always looking and expecting to find that silver lining in every circumstance?

James wrote: "There's nothing like -20 weather, heating up in the sauna, and running outside naked for a roll in the snow."

UM, no thank you! ;-)

What is psychotic is normal and what is normal is for sissies

I think this might be my new favorite quote!!

Pam wrote: "James wrote: "There's nothing like -20 weather, heating up in the sauna, and running outside naked for a roll in the snow."

UM, no thank you! ;-)"

ohhh c'mon...you know you wanna ;)

lol, I was chuckling at the news the other night - one of my friends posted it on facebook - a guy streaking in the middle of hurricane irene while the guy is doing the weather update

OMG, a streaker in a hurricane! The image of a guy running around in rain and wind with his stuff flappin' while debris is flying all over the place. Really? Why did he think that would be a good idea? HAHAHAHAHa