Repetition by Vigdis Hjorth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An unnamed author, a writer in her 60s, reflects on her teenage years growing up in a town in Norway. She focusses on a particular time in her life, at 16, when as most 16 year olds, she was looking to expand socially, see life beyond homework, beyond just hanging out with girfriends, discovering boys and partying.

She was the eldest daughter, the second born of six children, and yet her mother was obsessively watching only her, wanting to know her every move, criticizing her, warning her of the perils of drinking, alcohol, sex. All the things that the author was drawn to do, even though she was a very dutiful daughter…the author was driven to telling lies so she could do these regular things with her teen friends (under the guise of homework). She was more drawn to those activities likely because her mother was so vehemently opposed. Her father, a very distant figure, the breadwinner of the family, would always tell her mother to leave her well enough alone. Likely more for his sake, so he wouldn’t have to continually listen to the drama. Such an oppressive household, but interesting that the mother is so different with her younger siblings.

The repetition is in the description of her daily life, a teen’s life, going to school, meeting her friends, discovering makeup, burgeoning interest in boys – it seems quite a regular adolescent existence. Almost mundane. What is irregular is her mother’s attitude, hovering, fearful for her daughter.

As a reader, you are lulled not into boredom, it’s quiet, this seemingly normal life of a typical teen. There were some great details in the descriptions, placing you right there in the house parties, while she went for her little date with her first boyfriend, many of the passages seemed like they were pages from a diary, that the author was that teen girl, rather than recalling the events over 40 years later.

I sensed a latent darkness, wondered if there was something to be revealed. At the climactic event, when things take a turn, you are hit with a gut punch. The ending in incredibly healing.

An effective memoir-like novel. I read somewhere that this category is known as “auto-fiction” – not quite autobiography, some basis in fiction. A short read, I finished it in a day. Because it was so ordinary and extraordinary at the same time, it will sit with me for a while. A solid 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley, Verso publishing and the author for an ARC for review.





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