SOUNDTRACK: .
[READ: February 21, 2025] One the Calculation of Volume I
I received this book as part of New Directions “membership” where they sent me a new book each month for a year. I had never heard of Solvej Balle, who is a Danish author. This might be her first book translated into English. Barbara Haveland did the translation. I was certain I had read something else she had translated, but I guess not. Her phrasing is excellent and made this book an easy, enjoyable read.
This book is part of a seven-volume set (this book was only 161 pages) and given the scope of this volume, I’m unclear what might happen in the others–maybe they’re entirely unrelated? Turns out that Book 2 is already out, although 3 and 4 are coming out in the fall of next year. And I just checked, book 2 continues the story.
And the story is this.
Tara Selter went to a conference on November 18th. She went to bed and when she woke up, it was November 18th again.
Yup, it’s Groundhog Day, the movie. But it’s not that at all, because Tara does not find it funny. Also, and I don’t think this is a spoiler, she does not try to kill herself (like in the movie) only to find that she comes back.
The book starts on day #121 of her repeated November 18ths.
She returned from the conference and her husband wondered why she was back so soon. She explained everything and (fortunately for the book) he believes her. They go through the whole day, wondering what happened and what to do about it. And when she woke up the next day, the world had reset to November 18th, but she continued. I really appreciated the way Tara had a burn on her hand and we see it heal as the days move on. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 