The Norwegian Festival Of Literature in Lillehammer

[drakkar]

This week the Norwegian Festival of Literature reigns in Lillehammer.
Each year on Saturday evening, there is a Pub-to-Pub event with tableaus, reading and music.
This year's Pub-to-Pub event is Lars Mytting's Vampire Evening.

But. The event head lines did not include Eli. Only Nosferatu, Dracula and Lestat. After sending Mytting a message, expressing my concerns about the literary quality of the event (music methinks is excellent), he reassured me that Eli will be present. Anyway I will go there and see for myself - and I've promised to behave.

[DMt.]

Eli appears to be more and more present, these days...

[drakkar]

Do you believe (s)he could be conjured?;) I'll look for her.

[covenant6452]

Good luck with that. Hope it's fun!
If there are loads of wannabe vampires, get some pics!

[decltype]

That's quite a long trip you'll be making, isn't it? Enjoy yourself!

I didn't find the programme too impressive, but I guess I'm just out of touch with contemporary Norwegian literature. That made be a bit sad, because I thought I weren't

[drakkar]

Good luck with that. Hope it's fun!
If there are loads of wannabe vampires, get some pics!

Thanks! It will be fun, this is a tradition - friends gathering and having a good time, claiming we're attending the Literature Festival. Pub-to-pub, remember? It's my 6th consecutive festival.

Edit: I've checked further, and they're doing it cronologically, so Eli will appear at Haakon's pub eleven o'clock in the evening. Should be dark by then...

That's quite a long trip you'll be making, isn't it? Enjoy yourself!

I didn't find the programme too impressive, but I guess I'm just out of touch with contemporary Norwegian literature. That made be a bit sad, because I thought I weren't

Don't worry, I'll be driving Norwegian Blue (that's what I call it at the Honda Civic board). A good four hours drive, if the passengers behave.
The programme is, as always, rather low key. It's a really lot of interesting events, but you have to look carefully, and they frequently pass under my radar. (Or I miss them, this year I will be just a few hours late for John Irving). It usually also is quite a few small but good concerts, and this year I'm looking forward to Vampire Evening with Daniel Herskedal on (jazz) tuba .

[drakkar]

Back from the festival yesterday.
It was great fun from the beginning, as I managed to infect one of the passengers on our way to the festival! Norwegian mountain scenery, Johan Söderqvist and a gentle push from me did it. Second thing after arrival was to order LdRKI, Människohamn and En tid for alt (A Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven) by Karl Ove Knausgård (another of mine favourites).

Lars Myttings Vampire Evening event was a great experience. 2x1 hours at two different pubs. I spoke with Lars afterwards, and I got credit for bringing JAL into it. Part of the event was readings from important vampire litterature through history (chronological).

Hence LdRKI was one of the last. It was a very interesting to watch the audience hearing Zombie-Håkan killing Benke at the hospital (no less). From being amusingly entertained by a row of blood dripping stories, a slight unease now was spreading. My newly infected friend stared at me and asked what the heck I've made her buy. It was striking to watch how deep JAL's simple words dug into the audience compared to the (verbosity from the) other writers.
LdRKI was also the only novel getting applause prior to reading upon announcing (not from me ).
And of course beer and music was excellent, as always in Norway.

[gattoparde59]

It was striking to watch how deep JAL's simple words dug into the audience compared to the (verbosity from the) other writers.

In translation, his style seems telegraphic to me. (short, simple sentences) Does it read read that way for you?

[drakkar]

The word "telegraphic" doesn't hit me, even if I understand what you mean and agree with you.
I've used phrases like "an apparently simple language" or "simplistic style", and I believe that also sort of covers it.
Point is that when you read it - or have it read for you - it is very easy to get the message. And together with the message comes something that is capable of evoking strong emotions in you. You just feel it.

A bit off topic, but during the event I was thinking about the LTROI reconsidered thread, where it is asked

So I ask again: What do any of us know about what it's like to be Eli?

I think JAL told us much more about Eli than we are aware of. The long and plentiful discussions indicate that. Many of us feel we're knowing Eli on a almost personal level.

[decltype]

Back from the festival yesterday.
It was great fun from the beginning, as I managed to infect one of the passengers on our way to the festival! Norwegian mountain scenery, Johan Söderqvist and a gentle push from me did it. Second thing after arrival was to order LdRKI, Människohamn and En tid for alt (A Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven) by Karl Ove Knausgård (another of mine favourites).

Nice to hear that you had a good time. Must have been disappointing to learn that Knausgård cancelled. Although I don't understand the mechanics that led to him becoming famous - as in "tabloid famous", he is a great writer that definitely has the power to move.