The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

The Details by Ia Genberg translated by Kira Josefsson (HarperVia), Sweden/Swedish

We have ended up discussing this quite a bit on the overall thread.

But the general view seems to be a book that people enjoyed reading at the time and were impressed by the prose, but can’t really remember.

Having read it this morning I concur - indeed I have already forgotten the different characters.

Not quite sure what to make of it - on the 3 to 4 star fence. Well written and just the right length. But can’t help feeling it is Cusk’s annihilated perspective but not done with quite the same level of conviction. To be fair the premise here is a bit different - more someone who is very influenced by others.

This from The Details, is rather relevant for another book on the list (the narrator here describing her left-wing father but one who held international communism in contempt):

He argued that an ideology that can’t be put into practice without killing its opponents deserves nothing but scorn, and he was horrified that so many held this ideology for the best despite the exorbitant number of people who’d been imprisoned and murdered and starved in its name. He was very clear on that point, and the later the hour, the more keen he was to expound on his views.

His favourite position was opposing the popular argument that communism was a good idea in theory and for this reason had real value (‘ This bridge looks good but unfortunately it collapses as soon as someone tries to drive across’).

I just finished listening. This book was actually quite lovely. I wouldn't have picked it up, nor would I have persisted with it, if it weren't for the longlist. At first it seemed superficial, but it definitely deepened as it went on. The final chapter was moving, perhaps because I found it so relatable.

The final section was definitely the best part and I would have preferred the book if it focused on her relationship with her mother rather than the other 3 characters.

I agree, Paul. I would have ditched it after the first section had it not been on this list.

As Paul mentioned above, I am one of the ones who read this previously and really enjoyed but now cannot recall much about it. At the time, I thought it was perfectly succinct and I really enjoyed the writing style. When I saw it on the longlist, I was initially excited, I think because many on the rest of the longlist did not seem particularly exciting, but when I tried to recall anything about the book, I came up with nothing! So now, I am feeling like while I enjoyed it on my initial read, I can't help but feel that there are several other books (even just in the Swedish language) that I would rather have on this list instead.

I might try to reread it if it's on the shortlist.

I just finished reading this. I really liked it. I can see why it might not linger in the memory, but the reading experience was vivid and satisfying, and I thought the translation quite strong. It made me wish more of Genberg's books had been translated into English. I never would have read this if it had not been longlisted.

Paul wrote: "But can’t help feeling it is Cusk’s annihilated perspective but not done with quite the same level of conviction. To be fair the premise here is a bit different - more someone who is very influenced by others."

Yes, not so much the technical or intellectual sophistication of Cusk - as you say, it's more that people we know leave their traces on us.

The real issue for me is that this bored me, quite a feat in a book just over a hundred pages!

Surprised to see it scoring so highly with people - although maybe it's just a reflection of the weakness of the rest of the longlist - as I found it okish but very mediocre. As Rachel said, it didn't stick with me.

This was the only book I had read pre the longlist announcement. I enjoyed it, and gave it 4*. I thought it was well written/translated and I like books that let my mind wander - what would be my details? Overall my experience and enjoyment of the book while reading it was good, but like others it hasn't stuck with me.

OKish is nailed on shortlist for this longlist. Can’t see 6 books that beat that benchmark.