Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Penguin Books (2007), Edition: First Edition, 259 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. HTML:"Readers of Anne Tyler and Jodi Picoult will appreciate the lyrical prose and expert rendering of the themes of heartbreakk and loss."�??Booklist An unforgettable novel about friendship, love and loss. With extraordinary emotional power, Linda Olsson�??s stunningly well-crafted debut novel recounts the unusual and unexpected friendship that develops between two women. Veronika, a young writer from New Zealand, rents a house in a small Swedish village as she tries to come to terms with a recent tragedy while also finishing a novel. Her arrival is silently observed by Astrid, an older, reclusive neighbor who slowly becomes a presence in Veronika�??s life, offering comfort in the form of companionship and lovingly prepared home-cooked meals. Set against a haunting Swedish landscape, Astrid & Veronika is a lyrical and meditative novel of love and loss, and a story that will remain with readers long after the characters�?? secrets a… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member solestria
This book is billed as one of those "unlikely friendship between women" stories; the last one I'd read was distinctly awful, so I was wary of this one. It's Olsson's first novel. She clearly has some promise as a writer. Veronika, a twenty-something writer arriving in rural Sweden to work on her
The writing shows some descriptive talent. However, it's like this the whole book. Nearly everything is described this way, and it starts to get tedious rather quickly. As Veronika and Astrid meet, they both start to wake up to life or something, and start telling each other of their pasts. And the descriptions in their narrated stories are also this overdone and emotionally loaded. There's also no sense of priority as far as what has significance; memories from years ago still contain bits about the angle and quality of the light on the floorboards. Every pause in conversation, every "Astrid said nothing" and "Veronika fell silent" is recorded, as is every detail of everything they pass when they walk together. It's incredibly tiring, as are the instances of things like, "You know, Veronika, there was a time when I was afraid to come here. Now I understand that it was my own company that I feared." There are many of these.
Overall, the book is tedious and melodramatic; you hear about their great pains, and how much they've been afraid of life, and you want to tell them to get OVER it already. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the writing, and got sick enough of it that I didn't care about the characters at all. Had I not been reading this for a book club, I wouldn't have gotten past page 50.
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book, rents a house next to Astrid, who is about 78. It started out alright. A couple pages in: "[Veronika's] life slowly found its own organic rhythm. After a week she has established her morning routine. She got up early, had coffee at the kitchen table and watched to room absorb that growing daylight. It felt as if the house had accepted her, as if they had begun their life together. The soles of her feet had become familiar with the wooden stpes of the staircase, her nose accustomed to the smells of the walls, and she was gradually adding her own imprint, leaving minute traces."The writing shows some descriptive talent. However, it's like this the whole book. Nearly everything is described this way, and it starts to get tedious rather quickly. As Veronika and Astrid meet, they both start to wake up to life or something, and start telling each other of their pasts. And the descriptions in their narrated stories are also this overdone and emotionally loaded. There's also no sense of priority as far as what has significance; memories from years ago still contain bits about the angle and quality of the light on the floorboards. Every pause in conversation, every "Astrid said nothing" and "Veronika fell silent" is recorded, as is every detail of everything they pass when they walk together. It's incredibly tiring, as are the instances of things like, "You know, Veronika, there was a time when I was afraid to come here. Now I understand that it was my own company that I feared." There are many of these.
Overall, the book is tedious and melodramatic; you hear about their great pains, and how much they've been afraid of life, and you want to tell them to get OVER it already. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the writing, and got sick enough of it that I didn't care about the characters at all. Had I not been reading this for a book club, I wouldn't have gotten past page 50.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
Astrid and Veronika is a story of friendship and its power to change lives. Astrid is a reclusive older woman, known as “the witch” by locals in her remote Swedish village. Veronika, a young woman mourning the loss of a loved one, moves into the house directly across the street from Astrid. It
The two women spend a lot of their time together on walks, or having dinner. And as is the case with most female friendships, they spend a lot of time talking. They begin sharing their personal stories; Veronika has spent her life searching for love and a sense of place; Astrid’s life has been solitary, full of loss and devoid of love. Entire chapters are devoted to one woman recounting a significant event in her life. I experienced Astrid and Veronika as an audiobook, and this format worked quite well, especially for the “storytelling” chapters where it felt as if I were right there at the kitchen table with them.
Linda Olsson’s language is quite deliberate. She provides tremendous detail in setting each scene. The simplest acts are embellished with visual details. For example, where one author might write, “She sat down on the grass,” Olsson would write something like, “She sat down on the grass, her legs stretched out in front of her, hands folded in her lap.” This same technique was used time and again, whether the women were sitting, standing, walking, driving, cooking, etc. This resulted in some repetition: Astrid seemed to fold her hands across her chest a lot; Veronika was often naked in front of a mirror!
While it’s clear that Olsson wants the reader to see how the friendship changed the lives of both women, Veronika’s impact on Astrid came across more clearly than Astrid’s influence on Veronika. Veronika seemed a bit shallow throughout. Nevertheless, I found this a poignant and beautiful story that I can easily recommend to others.
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takes a long time for the two to meet face-to-face; at first Veronika simply waves at the house as she passes on her daily walk, not sure whether she is even noticed. Their initial meeting is a tentative encounter, but sows the seeds of a friendship develops over the course of the novel.The two women spend a lot of their time together on walks, or having dinner. And as is the case with most female friendships, they spend a lot of time talking. They begin sharing their personal stories; Veronika has spent her life searching for love and a sense of place; Astrid’s life has been solitary, full of loss and devoid of love. Entire chapters are devoted to one woman recounting a significant event in her life. I experienced Astrid and Veronika as an audiobook, and this format worked quite well, especially for the “storytelling” chapters where it felt as if I were right there at the kitchen table with them.
Linda Olsson’s language is quite deliberate. She provides tremendous detail in setting each scene. The simplest acts are embellished with visual details. For example, where one author might write, “She sat down on the grass,” Olsson would write something like, “She sat down on the grass, her legs stretched out in front of her, hands folded in her lap.” This same technique was used time and again, whether the women were sitting, standing, walking, driving, cooking, etc. This resulted in some repetition: Astrid seemed to fold her hands across her chest a lot; Veronika was often naked in front of a mirror!
While it’s clear that Olsson wants the reader to see how the friendship changed the lives of both women, Veronika’s impact on Astrid came across more clearly than Astrid’s influence on Veronika. Veronika seemed a bit shallow throughout. Nevertheless, I found this a poignant and beautiful story that I can easily recommend to others.
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LibraryThing member Cariola
While I was not quite as enamoured of the story as some readers have been, Olsson's writing is lovely, evocative, and perfect for this novel. It is the story of two women, both hiding from painful inciiidents in their past, one old, one young. Astrid is a recluse, sometimes called a witch;
The book's messages are a bit cliche. No man (or woman) is an island. All you need is love. Love never dies. But some cliches may ring true.
Olsson's spare style neverthless succeeds in depicting place and the senses more effectively than I've experienced in awhile. The grey cold of a Swedish winter. The taste of warm berries in early summer and wild mushrooms in late fall. The green scent of a forest in the rain. The immediate emptiness of loss.
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Veronika, her new neighbor, has arrived with few possessions and the intention of shutting herself away to finish a book (and to avoid society). Their friendship grows quietly, slowly, lovingly.The book's messages are a bit cliche. No man (or woman) is an island. All you need is love. Love never dies. But some cliches may ring true.
Olsson's spare style neverthless succeeds in depicting place and the senses more effectively than I've experienced in awhile. The grey cold of a Swedish winter. The taste of warm berries in early summer and wild mushrooms in late fall. The green scent of a forest in the rain. The immediate emptiness of loss.
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LibraryThing member Whisper1
Recently added to the tbr pile and recommended by AMQS (Anne), this slow, steady, gentle story is set in Sweden and weaves a tale of two grieving women who develop a friendship.
Veronika is a writer who recently lost the love of her life; Astrid lost her youth, her love and her child years ago and
When Veronika rents the cottage near her, Astrid re-awakens to the promise of hope and of renewal.
I recommend the book, and enjoyed the gentle tone. However, there seemed to be choppy gaps and a bit of unnecessary, trite sappiness. Still, it is worth time spent because the writing is good -- not great, but good.
Veronika is a writer who recently lost the love of her life; Astrid lost her youth, her love and her child years ago and
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has lived in seclusion most of her life.When Veronika rents the cottage near her, Astrid re-awakens to the promise of hope and of renewal.
I recommend the book, and enjoyed the gentle tone. However, there seemed to be choppy gaps and a bit of unnecessary, trite sappiness. Still, it is worth time spent because the writing is good -- not great, but good.
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LibraryThing member LynnB
This is the story of two women: Veronika, who rents a house in northern Stockholm following the death of her fiance, and her reclusive neighbour, Astrid. The two women, although separated in age, are both dealing with grief.
This book explores friendship and its healing powers. It makes excellent
Sounds good? Well, not as good as I'd hoped. Astrid and Veronika are very alike in their thinking and extremely non-judgemental of each other. This made for an absence of any dramatic tension in the novel. The way the two women spoke to each other was very poetic and sentimental, which gave their conversations an air of unreality.
Just too melodramatic for my taste.
This book explores friendship and its healing powers. It makes excellent
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use of the seasons of the year as a metaphor for the changes taking place as both Astrid and Veronika deal with their losses.Sounds good? Well, not as good as I'd hoped. Astrid and Veronika are very alike in their thinking and extremely non-judgemental of each other. This made for an absence of any dramatic tension in the novel. The way the two women spoke to each other was very poetic and sentimental, which gave their conversations an air of unreality.
Just too melodramatic for my taste.
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LibraryThing member nx74defiant
Amazing descriptions. Great at capturing the moment with the look and feel. Vivid word pictures.
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
This is a story of two halves of one spirit finding one another. It is the story of a brief, yet transformative, relationship. Astrid, and elderly, isolated soul meets her new neighbor, Veronika, a devastated and wandering soul. It is the sharing of each others' wounds and loves which transform
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both of their lives. The themes in this book include: love, friendship, transformation, sharing, confessing, forgiving, and accepting. Absolutely lovely. It receives four rather than five stars because it is just a smidgeon too contrived. Show Less
LibraryThing member mairangiwoman
In a wintry landscape in the Swedish countryside, the paths of two women cross. One bleak March evening Veronika, a young writer, arrives in a small village in pursuit of stillness and solitude to enable her to come to terms with grief and loss, and to complete a novel. Her arrival is silently
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observed by Astrid, her elderly, reclusive neighbour, who in the safety of her home guards dark family secrets and personal tragedy. As the icy winter gives way to spring, the two women are drawn together. Against a backdrop of changing seasons, they embark on a tender and unusual friendship. What happens will change the lives of both women for ever. This is just a delicate and beautiful book! Show Less
LibraryThing member LukeS
"Astrid & Veronika" recounts the friendship that springs up between two women badly in need of it, and how it saves them. Ms. Olsson describes it very well; the friendship unfolds at a realistic pace and their relationship gains in sweetness as the book travels along. I would like to salute the
The seasons are turned interestingly upon their heads: spring is portrayed as the hardest time to bring forth young, while in autumn mothers have the benefit of the fullness of Earth's bounty - it's easy to find food and provide for offspring. The friendship has its hard knocks, and survives everything.
This is a gentle, graceful tale, with the possible subtitle, "Now let me sing gentle songs." This, in fact, is the name of the book Veronika winds up writing. It's life-affirming, wonderfully written, and well worth it. If you haven't checked this one out, do so right away.
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author for the opening image in this book: the younger woman, Veronika, arrives at a rental home late at night and unloads her car by the light from the headlights. This makes a small tunnel of light in an otherwise black-as-pitch world; thus does hope ignite and life hold the potential for a re-start. Astrid sees this glimmer from her neighboring home and senses a return to life for herself.The seasons are turned interestingly upon their heads: spring is portrayed as the hardest time to bring forth young, while in autumn mothers have the benefit of the fullness of Earth's bounty - it's easy to find food and provide for offspring. The friendship has its hard knocks, and survives everything.
This is a gentle, graceful tale, with the possible subtitle, "Now let me sing gentle songs." This, in fact, is the name of the book Veronika winds up writing. It's life-affirming, wonderfully written, and well worth it. If you haven't checked this one out, do so right away.
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LibraryThing member kiwifortyniner
Linda Olsson has written two books and I have just read and enjoyed the second. Let me sing you gentle songs is actually the first book she wrote and I enjoyed it very much. I love the way that she writes. It is a simple story, the story of the friendship between two women, one older and one
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younger, set in Sweden. Veronika, the younger, arrives in a small village, late at night, in search of peace and solitude, to enable her to come to terms with the grief and loss that have overtaken her, and to try to finish her novel. Next door lives an older, reclusive, woman Astrid, who has her own family secrets and personal tragedies. Astrid watches Veronika unpack the car and watches her day to day activities. When she does not see Veronika for a few days she becomes worried and knocks on Veronika's door and thus begins a friendship between the two women. As they become closer they gradually reveal to each other the secrets of their lives and healing begins for both of them. . The story is told against the backdrop of the changing seasons. A beautiful story. Show Less
LibraryThing member turtlesleap
Veronika, a young woman in her 30's, comes to stay at a remote farmhouse in Sweden following the death of her lover in New Zealand. Her only neighbor is an odd, reclusive older woman--Astrid. As the year unfolds, a friendship develops between these very dissimilar women and they come to depend on
The story is beautifully written and beautifully paced, unfolding with gentle slowness against the seasonal backdrop of Sweden and with a loving attention to detail that makes each page a pleasure to read. It touches on sensitive subjects--suicide, molestation, infanticide--but with a very light touch indeed. The controversial nature of some of the action discussed in the book, and Olsson's unique style would make it a good candidate for book club discussion.
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one another for emotional solace and even redemption. The story is beautifully written and beautifully paced, unfolding with gentle slowness against the seasonal backdrop of Sweden and with a loving attention to detail that makes each page a pleasure to read. It touches on sensitive subjects--suicide, molestation, infanticide--but with a very light touch indeed. The controversial nature of some of the action discussed in the book, and Olsson's unique style would make it a good candidate for book club discussion.
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LibraryThing member wandering_star
This is the story of two women, one in her 80s and one in her 30s. Both have chosen solitude as a way to retreat from painful memories. However, after they meet, the ice gradually begins to melt, and as their friendship develops they begin to come to terms with their pasts.
At the start, this book
However, the backstory of the two women is really too melodramatic. You name a traumatic event, and one of them will have suffered it. For me, the book would have been a lot stronger if it had had the courage to be more subtle.
So, this was very nearly an excellent book. But I probably wouldn't have finished it, except for the fact that I was away from home and didn't have anything else to read.
At the start, this book
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reminded me a little of Tove Jansson's delicate, low-key story-telling. The Swedish countryside landscape (from March to late summer) is a significant part of the story, and Olsson focuses on the subtle shifts which tell you that a season, or an emotion, has changed. Her language is poetic, although sometimes it reads like a translation. However, the backstory of the two women is really too melodramatic. You name a traumatic event, and one of them will have suffered it. For me, the book would have been a lot stronger if it had had the courage to be more subtle.
So, this was very nearly an excellent book. But I probably wouldn't have finished it, except for the fact that I was away from home and didn't have anything else to read.
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LibraryThing member THEPRINCESS
This book is a gentle telling of the development of friendship between two very needy women. Both have their demons to deal with and become friends in the process. I did find it a bit odd that Astrid decided suddenly, after all those years, to open up to someone she didn't even know, but it worked
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well somehow once it got going. It was a touching story with some gaps but enjoyable in its softness and gentleness. Show Less
LibraryThing member piefuchs
It surprised me how much I enjoyed this quite predictable and somewhat melodramatic book and inter generational female friendship. The writing was very good, the characters, particularly Astrid, were well developed, and the plot was enough to entice me to read it in one sitting.
LibraryThing member Ebba
The story of a strong friendship between two women of different generations. Perhaps a little bit too sentimental for my liking.
LibraryThing member clamato
Absolutely Wonderful! It's been a long while since I have read such gorgeous writing. I work pt in an independent bookstore and sold 2 copies having only just started the book! The descriptions for me were so clear and vivid. The story so emotional. A work of fiction hasn't made me react like that
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is such a long time. I highly recommend this book and will in the store. I can't wait to read more by this lovely new author. Show Less
LibraryThing member kambrogi
I liked the concept behind this book: an exploration of a deep friendship between an older woman and a younger one, and how that relationship changes both their lives. The stories they share with one another are fascinating, and the setting is beautifully evoked: the landscape of a full calendar
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year in Sweden. However, its muted quiet was sometimes a drag – like listening to one note on and on for hours, instead of the usual variety of a full symphony. This is especially true of the voices: both women speak and think exactly alike, and that voice is also the voice of the narrator. The effect is to mute emotion and evoke sleep. Show Less
LibraryThing member mayoung
After the recent death of her fiance, Veronika retreats to Sweden in an attempt to finish her novel and heal from her loss. While renting a little house Veronika finds that her only neighbor, Astrid, is a curious soul and the two become friends and they both begin to heal.
LibraryThing member suejackson
Beautiful story written in a very serene style. Tells the story of a developing relationship between a young Veronika and her elderly neighbour Astrid as they reveal past secrets and tragedies in their own lives.
LibraryThing member ashley_schmidt
To me, reading this book was like floating in the serene calm of a warm bath... It slowly eases you in making you feel all wam and clean and you come out feeling renewed and refreshed... One of my favorites!!
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
This was a delightful, frothy story about two women who spend a summer telling each other everything that they had been holding secret.
While some of the events should have been deeply disturbing, the soft focus dulled the effect.
While some of the events should have been deeply disturbing, the soft focus dulled the effect.
LibraryThing member debnance
Astrid is suffering. Veronika is suffering. Against all odds, they meet and become friends. The friendship heals both of them.
LibraryThing member CatieN
The book is set in a small village in Sweden. Veronika is a young woman in mourning who rents a home there to give herself time to grieve. Astrid is an older woman who lives in the house across from Veronika and has her own painful past to deal with. This is a story of an unlikely friendship and
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also how the women help each other recover from the tragedies in their lives. Show Less
LibraryThing member lizhawk
Veronika, in search of ... something, temporarily moves into the house next door to Astrid, an aging farm wife, known to the village as a witch. Through silence and loneliness, a friendship forms despite their differences in age and experience. Both have suffered tragically from loss of love.
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Astrid chose to lock herself away, in a loveless marriage, in her home. Veronika seeks to heal. Show Less
LibraryThing member jomajimi
I was looking up Veronica by Mary Gaitskill which I want to add to my to be read pile, but came across this one and remembered it. I LOVED this book! What a great story of a friendship between two women, one young and one old, in Sweden, where I have never been and was thrilled to live in for a
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week or so while I was reading the book. There was one thing about the ending that didn't seem consistent but what the hey. A great read.Michele Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
259 p.; 7.72 inches
ISBN
9780143038078