Furthermore, I Consider that Carthage Must be Destroyed
For øvrig mener jeg at Karthago bør ødelegges
For øvrig mener jeg at Karthago bør ødelegges (Furthermore, I Consider that Carthage Must be Destroyed) is a novel about Krister Larsen, an electrician with great pride and huge back pains. It is a novel about knowing more, but never being right. About understanding the system, but never getting the upper hand. About love, anger management and working under the table.
Krister Larsen is married to Marianne, and they have a son, Andreas, who is 11. Krister is not very happy. His son is having trouble in school, his wife is only thinking about building a pergola in the garden, and then there is Yvonne, a woman he is extremely attracted to, even if he is denying it, for himself and for everybody else. Krister is a very common man, he is sensitive yet bullying, a reader and a thinker, as well as a bodybuilder. Strong on the outside, softer inside.
The whole story is told from Krister’ view, from inside his mind. In glimpses we get to know the contours of his life, a number of events involving women, temperament, but also how he is a friendly guy who wants to do well and doesn’t want trouble. Actually. It’s about work. About pride in what you do. About the difficult love. Insight into yourself and others. Alienation between spouses, parents and children and friends, social interaction and everything we are not talking about.
Nominated for the Brage Prize 2016 and shortlisted for the NRK P2 Listeners’ Prize 2016.
‘This book is entertaining, really funny in fact, but also brutal. The brilliance of the novel – nothing less – lies within the cool but elegant transition to something darker, the more threatening and irrational aspects of the cheerful chatterer from Drammen.’
NRK
