[ book tip by Den danske Bibliotek ] Autobiographical novel about the author's alcoholism and his treatment, during which he meets Einar Thor Jonsson, an alcoholic and drug addict.
A magical, life-affirming story about the road into and out of substance abuse, about active and passive addicts, and about love.One day a prisoner being held on remand writes a letter to Einar Mar Gudmundsson, to thank him for his books and to tell him his story. This letter ends up in a pile of papers on Einar Mar's desk, until he hears the same story told at an AA meeting. He establishes contact with the man who wrote the letter and his girlfriend, and sets to work writing their story, basing it on the letters they wrote each other during his time in prison.
Einar Mar Gudmundsson has used both his family and his childhood as inspiration for previous books, but this confessional novel is the first time he has used himself as a character. He appears in the novel as an alcoholic on the wagon.
The book's protagonists are Einar Thor and Eva, both addicts, and  Einar Mar Gudmundsson weaves his own story into theirs. It is a narrative with three voices. The three people appear alternately, and as the novel begins the reader must stay alert to know who is speaking. The narrative technique is in the forefront and tells its own story. The novel is pieced together with two different narrative forms: letters between Einar Thor and Eva, and an interwoven narrator (Einar Mar). The blending of narrators together with the identical names creates a polyphony and thereby elucidates the connection and the common history.
This is no tale of self-pity, but rather a story of taking responsibility for one's own life, of finding a way out of denial and finding a better life. At the same time, the story tells us that these things are first possible only when one is ready or has hit bottom. It is emphasized that addicts may have different backgrounds and lives in their addiction, but the need, the flight, and the denial are the same.
It takes some time to get into this novel, because nothing is explained, it is "show, not tell". But though it may be difficult at first, don't give up; little by little a wonderful story emerges.
By Laila Heskjær

[ book info ] Gudmundsson, Einar Mar: Sindets tremmer. (Bars of the Mind). (original language: Islandsk) Oversat af Erik Skyum Nielsen. Vindrose, København , 2008 . ISBN: 9788774567233.