Novel "Ice" from Ulla-Lena Lundberg

All the inhabitants of Örar are in turmoil. Even “the landscape is no longer silent because” when the mail boat controls the port bay of the archipelago island and Moors at the pier. Because then brings Anton letters, newspapers and news from the mainland and the many other islands

Today, he even passengers on board, and very special about this: Petter cumin, the new pastor and his wife Mona and the daughter Sanna. Expectant Petter has stood on deck, “his church climb up the rocks and across greet with her red umbrella” see, and now he looks back on enthusiastic people who call out to him “Welcome”.

In the rectory stoves and stove are already fired up, and a hot meal is prepared. The pastor radiates good humor, not only because of the warm hospitality of its new community. Happiness is his nature, and also burns in him the fire “of all that he achieved in his life and experience will”.

The official church reception committee, led by Adele Bergman from the parish council, the cantor, the clerk and his wife Signe, is confident: “with it will go well.” Anton Notes with satisfaction: “The first impression is favorable.” But the vague phrase not imply a turn for the worse? Anton has the gift of “second sight”, he understands the signs of the “Letesgubbar”, dressed in leather mythical figures who “already old [were] when Jesus still young was,” and it is noticed that the boat, wanted to go when the minister of land, a little piece of bridge sheared away, “as if the lake would bring him back”.

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“Is”, the novel of the Swedish author Ulla-Lena Lundberg ( Karl-Ludwig Wetzig has it translated), takes its beginning in 1947 the war is over, but still the population lives more bad than good. In the only cooperative store of Örar indeed can be freely bought back since the rationing was lifted. But the low range of goods (flour, salt, oats, peas, egg powder and the like) is sold out always the same. The store carries Adele Bergman with a strong hand. Agile and dominant it has not only the parish council saying; “They perched there like a higher being, look up to the All”. The pastor’s family need to be sure not to worry, because Adele provide it with a little precaution provisions aside. Anyway, “Pastor … off the hook” are with their livestock, two lean cows, three sheep and belonging to the parish pasture on the higher juicy Kirch island. As some may already be jealous.

Such things crackling under the harmonious surface of his community can not even come close to the pastor. Also that an existing for years enmity the island into two rival camps shares ( “In the villages in the east there are people who would one not pull out of the water from the West, if he were in an ice chute drowning.”) Wants he does not know. He fulfilled his duties with passion and full of enthusiasm, cycling to his wards on their small farms. If the “Pastor Bell” rings to ancient custom, people flock to the church, join in the singing worship fervently seeking frank conversation. It never came to his mind, even rid of only one. Petter is rather taken, inspired, feels worn. Cheerfully he agrees to the praise and shall give his flock the blessing.

With so much use the popular man of God is hardly any time for his young wife Mona and the small Sanna. But Mona knows that the family needs to build their own lives at this stage that, where they have Home and Garden, create jobs in a fraction of the many things little more that could be done. There must disregard are just some things that rest anyway, but also to become “another turn and embrace”.

But “the pastor’s wife loves her husband” – more than that. It goes almost fervent love for him and withhold this it is difficult. So she throws herself day after day in their work, cared for her child, who is right now as receptive as inquisitive, the house sets up, milking the cows, mistet the fold from (previously unheard activities of a pastor’s wife to Örar), will host the fellow at church festivals and the solstice opulent with home baking and other delicacies. Their busyness brings her a lot of praise and recognition, and “so the couple practiced birth control”.

Two years later, the family cumin can enjoy the little happiness that she has created for himself, and looks to the third spring on Örar optimistic. Mona gave birth to a second daughter, “the fences are repaired, and they have traveled money for a horse and boat engine. It even need a disaster to all give up”.

“Ice” is cut a novel of little things, constantly repeating daily routines and ever recurring seasons in one of the world and its problems, lonely landscape. In the short summer in which the islands to attraction for sailors, relatives and friends will follow the autumn storms and long winter in which freezes the Baltic Sea. If even solidifies the sound of the sea, returns indescribable silence: “Finally peace on earth.” Then the ice into a walk-plane on the islanders visit one another on foot and kick-sled is.

But the idyll can not be trusted. The sparkling in the winter sun and reflecting ice crackles and cracks and can unexpectedly crack and break. Likewise, the reader from the beginning feels that under the quiet, slow-flowing in symmetry tale looming disaster. It’s this weird idea that drives us, side to devour page, detail after detail of Mona’s workaholism and Petters enthusiasm absorb. The author waives any voltage Make the conventional way. Small steps you impersonal narrator describes every detail of the scene, every movement, every thought, this sounds ( “sirr, Nudge”) and other sensations. Here her style needs no adjective diversity; they lined up simple declarative sentences in the present tense together, the feeling neutral, purely factual report, but leave out any detail. Amazing what voltage, which developed the undertow – while it is considered one of the sober life without evils, crime, violence or shocking twists.

Detached from the main narrative flow postman Anton commenting on the events. He not only has a sensitive eye for nature through the seasons, its rugged beauty and threatening potential for violence, he knows just as well his Pappenheimer with their idiosyncrasies and worries. Fatalism they live a life of deprivation, the barren, frozen ground most of the time a pitiful earnings defy off. Most are satisfied, but some suffer, become depressed.

“Ice” is more than a beautiful, sometimes melancholy reading. With the simple living conditions of the islanders before us is aware of what constitutes happiness and how fragile it is. We recognize once again in what a turbulent, superficial time we have arrived by now how hollow the ideals to which we sacrifice our precious life: consumption, career, ego, virtual realities. “Ice” gives us pause.