A novel of loneliness and insecurity. We can see what the poor woman, Sonja, must do. She cannot. It takes an act of kindness for Sonja to grab her life. Getting to that stage we have a stream of consciousness, much reminiscing of her childhood and episodes from the parts of her life which she believe sustain her; massages, driving lessons (that’s where the title comes from) and translating a famous Swedish crime writer’s work into Danish. The author is a much respected young Danish literary writer whose short stories, Karate Chop, won prizes. She also has four novels under her belt. This is the first to be translated into English. Short (188 pages), unsettling and perceptive, it’s not an easy read. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2017A spikily funny, startlingly perceptive and beautifully written novel about modern life by the brightest light in Danish fictionSonja's over forty, and she's trying to move in the right direction. She's learning to drive. She's joined a meditation group. And she's attempting to reconnect with her sister. But Sonja would rather eat cake than meditate. Her driving instructor won't let her change gear. And her sister won't return her calls. Sonja's mind keeps wandering back to the dramatic landscapes of her childhood - the singing whooper swans, the endless sky, and getting lost barefoot in the rye fields - but how can she return to a place that she no longer recognizes? And how can she escape the alienating streets of Copenhagen?Mirror, Shoulder, Signalis a poignant, sharp-witted tale of one woman's journey in search of herself when there's no one to ask for directions. Dorthe Norswas born in 1970 and studied literature at the University of Aarhus. She is one of the most original voices in contemporary Danish literature. Her short stories have appeared in numerous international periodicals including includingThe Boston ReviewandHarpers,and she is the first Danish writer ever to have a story published in theNew Yorker.Nors has published four novels so far, in addition to a collection of storiesKarate Chop, and a novellaMinna needs rehearsal space, also published by Pushkin Press.Karate Chopwon the prestigious P. O. Enquist Literary Prize in 2014. She lives in rural Jutland, Denmark.
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