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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
Mild; the ordinary violences of loss and failure
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief adult content; a divorced man's life
Substance Use
Some
Moderate; alcohol is a companion to grief in this novel
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Significant; depression, grief, isolation, and the difficulty of being present for your children when you are barely present for yourself
What this book is about
Per Petterson's semi-autobiographical novel follows Arvid Jansen — the same character from Out Stealing Horses — through the aftermath of a divorce and the deaths of his family members, as he tries to function as a father while barely functioning as a person. Petterson writes about grief and male isolation with his characteristic spare precision, and about the strange quiet of a life that has lost its shape.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Grief and depression themes
Moderate drinking
Reader Verification
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