Litsy

On the Calculation of Volume (Book II) | Solvej Balle

pick

The narrator is still living in her alternate reality of a daily returning November 18. How to spend the time when you‘re caught in that one day again and again?
It‘s a concept that I found fascinating and the author writes so well. The ending felt a bit hurried but makes me eager to read the third part!

📸 Porto, Portugal

Lesliereadsalot Right? Really interested in the third book! 4d

Suet624 This sounds fascinating. 4d

sarahbarnes Looking forward to these! 4d

ImperfectCJ I'm looking forward to this one, but I need to find one with a different cover...this one looks a little too much like a migraine aura to me. 4d

BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ there is another edition as well, the first book I read looked very different 4d

76 likes1 stack add5 comments

RaeLovesToRead

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) | Solvej Balle

so-so

Deathly boring and mundane as this might have been, it has BOTHERED me. And that's something.

It's basically Groundhog Day if absolutely nothing of any import or interest happened, but the very NORMALITY of it all is what makes it so terrifyingly chilling.

This was not a pleasant reading experience, and yet, there is a talent to making a reader feel they are going slowly insane, so I can absolutely see this book's worth as an experiment.

RaeLovesToRead @Hooked_on_books If you want my full review, it's on Goodreads 😊 and I will probably post a video review in the next week too! 4d

Hooked_on_books I‘ve watched a few of your videos before so I‘ll probably do that—you‘re charming! I have a feeling this book is going to stick with you, whether you like it or not. 😬 4d

BarbaraBB Great review. I hope to finish it too later today 4d

See All 7 Comments

BekaReid I appreciate your honest review. I absolutely loved this one. It's her sentences and the ordinariness of life that drew me in. 3d

RaeLovesToRead @Hooked_on_books Awww, thank you so much!!! If all goes to plan, I'll drop the video on Friday. I feel like i need some epic fantasy as a palate cleanser after all that loneliness!!!!! 2d

RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB I kinda want to know where this one goes, but I'm not sure I can do it right now...... we shall see...... 2d

RaeLovesToRead @BekaReid I'm glad you loved it. I suspect it may be a contender for winner this year. But I will decide my ranking once I've read the whole shortlist! 2d

61 likes7 comments

RaeLovesToRead

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) | Solvej Balle

Guys, I'm so bored.

Like... so bored.

This is literally Groundhog Day if NOTHING HAPPENED.

Hooked_on_books Oh no! I was completely absorbed and fascinated by this one. But not every book is for every person! 5d

RaeLovesToRead @Hooked_on_books Did it fill you full of existential dread and make you want to rip your skin off in frustration? Is that a feature??? Or is it just me??? 5d

BarbaraBB I enjoyed it too and am even reading the second book now! 5d

See All 14 Comments

RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB I hate it and I feel like I'm being driven to insanity with the mundanity of it all.... BUT if that's the point then that's quite clever. Is this the point???? 5d

BarbaraBB I am not even sure there is a point at all 😉 5d

Ruthiella Oh no! 😬 5d

RaeLovesToRead @BarbaraBB It's annoying me less than House of Leaves. But only a little bit less! 5d

RaeLovesToRead @Ruthiella Send help! 😅 5d

Hooked_on_books It‘s just you. 😉 For me it emphasized both the mundanity of life and the importance of connection, which the narrator really learns when she loses any meaningful way to connect. And I feel that sinks in slowly for her in a way I found so compelling. 5d

RaeLovesToRead @Hooked_on_books I think that's kind of what I mean, but it's having a super claustrophobic impact on me... I almost wonder if it's a metaphor for depression or similar. 5d

RaeLovesToRead @Hooked_on_books She's moved out now and I feel so relieved. Just the thought of living a parallel life listening to your partners million noises each day and doing NOTHING made me want to scream!!!!!!! 5d

Hooked_on_books I think it could definitely be read as a metaphor for depression. Or would strongly impact someone who feels trapped in some aspect of their life. I think it‘s awesome how a book can affect us so strongly, whether we feel like we “like” it or not. And you might end up finding book 2 more interesting based on what you‘ve said. 4d

RaeLovesToRead @Hooked_on_books The existential dread is through the ROOF!!!!! 4d

BarbaraBB @RaeLovesToRead I loved House of Leaves too. Both more for the concept than the story. But I get that you are relieved since she moved out of the house. 4d

48 likes14 comments

BookishTrish

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) | Solvej Balle

so-so

Tara lives November 18th over and over and over. I realize this is meant to be a seven-book series. The movement in book one is almost entirely internal - not bad, but not what I was expecting.

BookishTrish #manbookerinternational 3w

Ruthiella I definitely want to try this series but I‘m going to wait until all seven books are translated. 3w

35 likes2 comments

Chiperskee

It Lasts Forever and Then It's Over | Anne de Marcken

so-so

Not bad

1 like

Lesliereadsalot

On the Calculation of Volume (Book II) | Solvej Balle

pick

Ran out to get book 2 as soon as I finished book 1. Tara continues to be stuck on November 18th, but in this volume she begins to plan out her life, how she will continue to live day after day. Book 3 coming out in the fall, and yikes! there will be 7 books in this series. These books are very different from anything else I‘ve read, and that makes them valuable to me.

Deblovestoread I have book 2 from the library. Glad to hear you are enjoying it. 3w

Lesliereadsalot I thought it started kind of slow but then really picked up. Stick with it! @Deblovestoread 3w

BarbaraBB I picked up book 2 too! Will read it soon In Dutch all seven of them have been translated but it feels weird to change to Dutch now so I think I‘ll wait for October too. I guess I‘ll have enough to read until then 😇 (edited) 3w

Lesliereadsalot I really liked where this book went! @BarbaraBB 3w

26 likes4 comments

Lesliereadsalot

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) | Solvej Balle

pick

Couldn‘t put this short novel down. The Danish author writes of a woman who is stuck on one day in time, every day for her is that same day. I of course thought it would be like Groundhog Day, but it‘s not at all as it‘s mostly about her feelings and thoughts and emotions. What to do about her husband and her future consumes her every waking moment. It‘s a thriller in an odd sort of way. Excited to read book 2!

Cathythoughts Great review! Stacked. ❤️ 3w

Lesliereadsalot I think you‘ll like it! @Cathythoughts 3w

18 likes2 comments

Chiperskee

It Lasts Forever and Then It's Over | Anne de Marcken

1 like

AnneCecilie

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) | Solvej Balle

The International Booker Prize Shortlist has been announced today

I loved On the Calculation of Volume so very happy to see that on the list.

I‘ve read Perfection, liked but didn‘t love as everyone else

Just bought A Leopard-Skin Hat so hope I like that

I‘ve seen some great reviews for Small Boat so might want to give that a chance too

What do you think of the shortlist?

ChaoticMissAdventures I am going to read Big Bird this week, I feel generally overwhelmed by the prize lists so waiting to hear what others say, I know Leopard Hat has some mixed reviews but it is the other one I am most interested in. Sad Reservoir Bitches did not make it, I thought it was wonderful (but lots of trigger warnings) 1mo

AnneCecilie @ChaoticMissAdventures I‘m sad about that too, I loved Reservoir Bitches. Leopard Hat seems to be about grieving a sister so thought I should give it a try. I also have There‘s a Monster Behind the Door waiting for me even if it didn‘t make the shortlist 1mo

BarbaraBB I enjoyed both books you did as well. And I read Leopard, which was just okayish for me. I am now reading Big Bird and really want to read Small Boat too. I preordered it, it has not yet been published here. 1mo

AnneCecilie @BarbaraBB Now that you mention it, I think I‘ve only seen Americans reviewing Small Boat (edited) 1mo

37 likes4 comments

saritaroth

Assassin of Reality | Dyachenko

Technically, this is the first line of the first chapter, not the prologue, but… And I know it‘s late, but…
“Alexandra woke up a split second after her dark blue Skoda crossed the center line and drifted into the oncoming traffic.”

3 likes

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