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Is Mother Dead

By Vigdis Hjorth
Series: Verso Fiction
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.84 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 5,864 ratings, 695 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Is Mother Dead by Vigdis Hjorth is an exploration of familial tension, identity, and the complexities of reconciliation. The story follows an artist who returns to Norway after many years and attempts to reconnect with her estranged family, particularly her mother. Through introspective narration, the protagonist navigates the emotional landscape of past grievances and the possibilities of forgiveness.
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Format: Hardback
$3999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to complex family dynamics and intense emotional exploration. This narrative delves into a daughter's attempt to reconnect with her estranged mother, exploring themes of guilt, identity, and the lasting impact of parental relationships in a poignant and deeply human way.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A cat and mouse game of surveillance and psychological torment develops between a middle aged artist and her aging mother, as Vigdis Hjorth returns to the themes of her controversial modern classic, Will and Testament

A cat and mouse game of surveillance and psychological torment develops between a middleaged artist and her aging mother, as Vigdis Hjorth returns to the themes of her controverdsial modern classic, Will and Testament

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"To mother is to murder, or close enough," thinks Johanna as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. Recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence, she is preparing for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood, and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a dramatic rift between parent and child.

This new proximity, after decades of acrimonious absence, sets both women on edge. Before too long, Johanna finds her mother stalking her thoughts, and Johanna starts stalking her mother's house.

Is Mother Dead delves into the intricacies of familial relationships, exploring themes of unresolved tensions and emotional distances that can linger for years.

Series: Verso Fiction

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  • Is Mother Dead
    "To mother is to murder, or close enough," thinks Johanna as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. Recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence, she is preparing for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood, and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a dramatic...
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  • Is Mother Dead
    To mother is to murder, or close enough, thinks Johanna, as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. She's recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence as she prepares for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a...
    By Vigdis Hjorth
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  • Is Mother Dead
    "To mother is to murder, or close enough," thinks Johanna, as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. She's recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence as she prepares for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a...
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    $2499
    Available
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vigdis Hjorth's Is Mother Dead is a widely praised novel exploring themes of familial estrangement and obsession. Critics highlight its gripping portrayal of a middle-aged artist, Johanna, who becomes intensely fixated on reconnecting with her estranged mother. The book is noted for its psychological depth, capturing Johanna’s turbulent emotional world through Hjorth's captivating narrative style. With suspense reminiscent of a thriller, the novel is both unsettling and compelling, offering a profound examination of mother-daughter relationships.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781839764318

Publisher: Verso Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verso Books

Illustration: ,

Contributors:

  • Translated by Charlotte Barslund

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 432g

Pages: 352

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Series: Verso Fiction Vigdis Hjorth

About the Author

Vigdis Hjorth is the author of over a dozen prize-winning and bestselling novels. Will and Testament sold 150,000 copies in Norway and has received several awards, including the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature and the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize, as well as being nominated for the National Book Award and Nordic Council Literature Prize. She lives in Oslo.

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  • Is Mother Dead
    To mother is to murder, or close enough, thinks Johanna, as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. She's recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence as she prepares for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a...
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  • Is Mother Dead
    "To mother is to murder, or close enough," thinks Johanna, as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. She's recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence as she prepares for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a...
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