252 quote from Helmer Grundstrom’s Ma - ( May), 1954. The snippets of Swedish poetry, none of which I had ever read but which have been translated here, are so well chosen too and lovely to read in this context. Brahms is mentioned throughout, and Brahms suits to a T as its musical accompaniment (rather than, say, Beethoven or Wagner). Theirs are the the kind of losses that knock you clean out the window of life. I admire this enormously, as I think it is not easy to pull off a novel that is essentially about two women doing ordinary things whilst healing from tragedy. The book is high drama, really, but so very low key. Because of this emotional restraint, I was able to feel for them instead of them doing all the feeling and acting-out of big emotions. There is no rending of clothes or gnashing of teeth to be found here, even when Veronika and Astrid are narrating traumatic events.

I liked especially the calmness of it all. Her tale is neither overwrought nor austere in its telling. It was tremendously satisfying emotionally, even if in some part of my brain I was saying, “oh come on, really?”Įven if I did say that in part of my mind, I believe, still, that Linda Olsson had hit all the right notes by the time I closed the book. Also, I preferred a clean finish with this particular book, because I felt the characters deserved it after all they’d been through. Some parts of the book were, I felt, a bit too neatly tied up (again towards the end) but, overall, I thought it very well done. We do, from time to time, turn over an old platitude and find truth hiding underneath.

There are moments when the characters do speak in philosophical platitudes (especially Astrid, towards the end) but then I am reminded that we do this in life too. Ultimately, through the delicate art of companionship, they are able to rediscover life and beauty in the heart of their sorrows. They soon begin sharing walks, picking berries, talking, eating, and narrating their lives for one another in short scenes that are understated but often trenchant. Each is isolated in her own silent, aching grief, and together, they are isolated from the rest of the community. Veronika and Astrid meet as new neighbours who are situated on a hillside overlooking a mountain town in Sweden. It’s a quiet story about two women, one in her thirtieth year and the other decades older, helping each other through terrible losses merely by being present to one another. 63 quote from Edith Sodergran’s Sorger ( Sorrows), 1916.Īs the title suggests, this is a gentle song of a book. Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs by Linda OlssonĬome, sit by me, and I shall tell you all my sorrows we shall talk to each other about secrets.

Book Review: Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs, by Linda Olsson td Whittle Posted on March 1, 2016

Astrid and veronika by linda olsson