Across The China Sea
Over det kinesiske hav
With a story based on real events Gaute Heivoll has written a deeply humanistic novel about defenceless individuals, the ties between brothers and sisters and a mother’s lifelong love for her child.
Just before the Second World War a couple opens their own care home for the “mentally deficient”. In addition to their little family of four – father, mother, son and daughter – their rooms are soon filled with patients: the religious brooder Christian Jensen; the silent Matiassen, forever sitting and rocking to and fro, and Uncle Josef, one of the best-read people in the
district. After a while a group of five brothers and sisters also move in. Josef calls them simply “the boobies from Stavanger” but nevertheless they soon become part of this motley family.
The war ends, but those living in the little “madhouse” will have anything but peace. For soon they are to suffer a tragedy that will pursue them for the rest of their lives.
Praise
“Again Heivoll shows his brilliance as a storyteller … a powerful, original, deeply moving story … in long parts this novel is both beautiful and disturbing” – Dagsavisen
