Jan Chr. Næss

Facing the moon

Månevendt

Ravn and Akasuki – a Norwegian farmer/writer and a Japanese paper conservator – meet on a desolate country road in Østfold. What on earth is she doing there? Ravn gives Akasuki a lift to Oslo, but no sooner has he dropped her off and left her than he finds that he can’t get her out of his mind. He returns to Oslo and seeks her out with a little help from the online phone book, and soon curiosity is replaced by mutual attraction. They dine. They go dancing. Nothing is finer than mutual attraction. But Akasuki is attracted to Ravn for other reasons than he imagines. She has a black carnation growing in her chest, and it needs another life to plant its roots in. Facing the Moon is a book about weak men and strong women, about unequal – but reciprocated – love.

Gyldendal, October 2010

Bok 267
Forfatter 267
Photo: Christian Elgvin

Jan Chr. Næss lives in Oslo. He has worked as
a high school teacher and translator and published his first work of fiction in 1999.
In addition to novels he has written a number of childrens’ books. He was awarded Riksmålsforbundet’s literary prize for his last novel, It Starts with Sex and Ends with Death (2007).

SELECTED PREVIOUS TITLES
It Starts with Sex and Ends with Death, novel 2007
Fiat, novel 2004
Jotapata. An Antique Story, novel 2001
Me and My Beloved Ones, novel 1999.

Praise for It Starts With Sex…
“Scenes from a marriage – Næss narrates with
a charming ease. He writes with a sense of humour, creates hilarious episodes and has stories to relate about cohabitation and about longing. (…)
Comedy and sadness intertwine in the portrayal of his characters.”
Dagbladet, Oslo