Trond Bredesen - Selected Title Author
Trond Bredesen has written a book about his mother’s dementia. – The book is about my mother’s last living years at an institution. How she never found her feet there, how she wanted to go home to her family and how she gradually got weaker and weaker until she couldn’t get up from bed, he says.
My Mother is one of NORLA’s Selected Titles for autumn 2023. Here, author Trond Bredesen speaks about the book, who it is written for, what inspired him to write it and where and when he works best.
What is your book about?
The book is a picture book/comic book about my mother’s last two years at a residential care facility. It was supposed to be an assisted living arrangement where she could manage to take care of herself to some extent, but she was quickly unable to do so. The illustrations depict tragicomic and touching scenes, comments, and dialogues between her and me – how she can’t settle in, longs to be back home with her family, and gradually becomes weaker and eventually bedridden.
What inspired you to write this book?
When she first moved into the facility, I started jotting down her tragic and comical remarks. I also made doodles and took pictures of her. At first, it was so I wouldn’t forget, but the idea of creating a book or exhibition started to take shape quite quickly.
Who is this book for?
Anyone who’s had or currently has close family members or loved ones in a similar situation. It’s a challenging time that can last for years, and many will see aspects they can relate to. I hope the book can provide comfort and help people see the humor in it as well. The project can also be viewed as an art book that will capture the interest of illustrators based solely on the drawings.
Where and/or when do you work best?
I work best at the office I share with several colleagues at The Illustrators (Illustratørene). There, I find the ideal balance between focused work and the option of brainstorming solutions. I also have all the technical equipment I need. However, the actual drawing and ideation process can be done anywhere and at any time.
Read more
See full presentation of the book here
See all NORLA’s Selected Titles for autumn 2023 here
