Brynjulf Jung Tjønn is not a new star in the Norwegian author’s sky, with a total of 12 books already floating out in the literary sphere. “White, Norwegian man” is therefore number 13, but is anything but unlucky. This one moved me to tears. More than once. Writing about racism, difference, outsiderness – this is not something new or ground-breaking in itself, neither for this writer nor for writers in general. But that does not diminish the potency and importance of this work. There is something about the deeply personal and anecdotal style, set in a boiled down lyrical format, that really grabs you. The longing for Norwegianness The poems are divided into sections, or chapters if you like. Together they form a kind of line through the author’s experiences and memories of living in his head, his body. A Norwegian man with a Norwegian name, brought up in the most Norwegian way imaginable, an impressive career, and then yes, that small detail, the one that has shaped everything: He was adopted from South Korea when he was two years old. The focus is first on the outside world. Little anecdotes from a life lived with a shell that stands out, they come like pearls on a string, all the unconscious comments and questions, which, despite innocence and good intentions, eventually shape a motley and fragmented identity. A thousand microaggressions accumulate and become something more, something on the macro scale, a longing to avoid being constantly reminded of one’s fragile and vague belonging. In short: A longing to become a white, Norwegian man. Wouldn’t life then be so much easier? Not a cry for help The journey continues, inwards and outwards, forwards and backwards, through life lines and kinship. Thoughts about who he is and his place and value in the world. It is sometimes painful to be a part of. Nevertheless. This is not a cry for help, nor a lament. Rather, it is a deeply existentialist and vulnerable examination of roots and identity. It is a personal reflection process in literary form. There are no conclusions, no solutions, but perhaps there is some redemption in sending these words out into the world? Liberating raw It’s been a while since I’ve read something as brutally vulnerable and poetically probing as this. It takes me a few pages to land in the right frequency as a reader, a couple of clichés at the very beginning make me a bit skeptical, but bang, then he has me. I float along with the waves of thought, feel the stabs in my stomach, being incorporated by the creeping desperation, the song of a homeless soul. The style is direct, raw and forthright. It feels liberating that things are said directly without emotional adjectives, that it is naked and honest without being self-pitying. There is a mood in the words that is close to life, peppered with a grateful touch of irony. Shortcut to empathy The value of Tjønn’s “White, Norwegian man” is twofold, as I see it. Firstly, it’s an outstretched hand to all the Brynjulfs out there, someone who can put into words feelings that you may not have dared to fully feel, that you haven’t dared to say out loud. Secondly, there is an eternal need for increased awareness of what it is like to live in Norway and not be ethnically Norwegian. As we experience again and again – there is a lot of “no harm meant” behavior that is uninformed, unconscious and ultimately harmful. Art like this is a shortcut to increased understanding, more empathy and greater respect. I choose to be optimistic in my belief that some of them who badly need to wake up a little will get this one. Or really, when I think about it, these poems should be read by absolutely everyone. news reviewer Photo: Cappelen Damm Title: “White, Norwegian man” Author: Brynjulf Jung Tjønn Genre: Poetry Publisher: Cappelen Damm Number of pages: 92 Date: September 2022
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“White, Norwegian man” by Brynjulf Jung Tjønn – Reviews and recommendations
