For 25 years, a selection of news’s listeners has handed out the given title. The Listeners’ Novel Prize is an award where a group of five literature lovers must read, discuss and finally decide on one winner. – Just being nominated for the award is a feather in the cap. But who wins the readers’ hearts? Literature critic at news, Anne Cathrine Straume, has reviewed some of the books on the list. In alphabetical order – the nominees are: 1. “Arendal” by Karl-Ove Knausgård The car of the married father of small children Syvert Løyning breaks down, and he has to stay in Arendal through the night. It is mid-winter and bone-chilling. The streets are empty of people. “Arendal” deals with the costs of life, which life one should choose, if one can choose at all. – The novel makes the reader think about his own life, writes literary critic Ellen Sofie Lauritzen. 📖 Read the full review Photo: Forlaget Oktober & Berit Roald 2. “Blood droplet numbers” by Ingrid Storholmen Can pain be inherited? Who are all the people behind the statistics? Because from one day to the next, our lives can be completely changed. One day healthy, the next terminally ill. – Yes, this is a novel about statistics and disease. But also a story about roots, belonging, loss and memories, writes literary critic Anne Cathrine Straume. 📖 Read the full review Photo: Merete Haseth/Aschehoug 3. “The twelfth house” by Malin CM Rønning The year is 1990. Molli is 10 years old and is doing just fine – until her mother finds a new type. From there onwards, it is a matter of getting through life in one piece when you are left to adults without the ability to care. – Is there room for more books about children in dysfunctional families? Yes, says literary critic Knut Hoem. 📖 Read the full review Photo: Baard Henriksen / Forlaget October 4. “Not people I can count on” by Kyrre Andreassen Linda is smart, energetic. When Svein lay down on the sofa with depression, she was the one who took care of the children. She did the shopping, cooked, looked after the garden. Was he now really that ill, or was laziness affecting him? – You will be looking for a sharper look at the Norwegian countryside for a long time, writes literary critic Anne Cathrine Straume. 📖 Read the full review Photo: Eivind Mo Andreassen / Gyldendal 5. “Same problem” by Kathrine Nedrejord Marie lives in Paris and has not visited her family in Finnmark for several years. She lives in a self-chosen exile; in France she does not have to deal with the fact that she is Sami. But then the grandmother dies and Marie has to travel north for the funeral. – It is deeply shocking to read about the injustice from the Norwegian state against the Sami people, writes literary critic Ellen Sofie Lauritzen. 📖 Read the full review Photo: FARTEIN RUDJORD / OKTOBER FORLAG 6. “The Sirens” by Tormod Haugland Young boy Tormod looks after the farm and the animals while his parents are on holiday. What happens when the white heifer goes missing, and what really happened on the neighboring farm the night before? The story is full of longing and youthful mischief. It is told again and again, with small changes each time. – This is where reality gets a facelift, writes literary critic Anne Cathrine Straume. Photo: HELGE SKODVIN & FORLAGET OKTOBER Have you read any of the books? Yes, more of them! 1. Arendal 2. Blood baptism numbers 3. The twelfth house 4. Not people I can count on 5. The Sami problem 6. Sirene No, haven’t read any of them Show result Now it’s up to the jury to decide … but first is discussed. And you can listen. The jury will discuss in front of an open microphone, fight for the person they believe should win the recognized literature prize. – The best thing about the Lytternes novel prize is that we actually get to hear the jury at work, says literary critic Straume. Listen to last year’s discussion: – Competing in literature is actually quite paradoxical, since books resonate so differently, says Straume. – This is precisely why there are often such good discussions before the winner is finally chosen. Moreover, it can be particularly valuable for the author to hear the sincere opinions of the readers. It is news’s literary editors who decide which novels are nominated. This is the Lytternes novel prize Photo: Kristin Molvær news’s own literature prize is awarded each year to a Norwegian fiction novel that was published in the same year. Since 1998. It must have been at least five years since the author was last nominated. The prize is a graphic print, interview and celebration broadcast on P2. news’s expert jury nominates six books and then invites a bunch of listeners to discuss and vote for the best of them. The jury discussion itself is broadcast live on the radio. In 2022, the award changed its name from “P2-lytternes novelpris” to “Lytternes novelpris”. Previous winners include Karl Ove Knausgård, Linn Ullmann and Carl Frode Tiller. Published 11.12.2024, at 05.53 Updated 11.12.2024, at 15.36
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