Nina Balatka

by Anthony Trollope

"...old Prague, which may not be so comfortable, but which, of all cities on earth, is surely the most picturesque..."

I took my niece to Prague this summer holiday and I have to say that all the reports I heard of the city were true - it is a beautiful! I have been trying the last while to read books connected with places I travel lately. In that connection I downloaded Nina Balatka by Anthony Trollope. It is the first book of his that I have read.

I think that I have been sceptical about what I would call reading the "classics" as I seem to have assumed that they would be difficult to read. I am discovering that this has been a misapprehension. At least this book was incredibly easy to read, just simply and sweetly written. Not exactly great literature, but still lovely. In addition, quite surprising. I simply downloaded it as it was set in Prague (so simply were my ambitions). When I started reading the preface I was somewhat perturbed. A book written about a romance between a Jew and a christian. A book published in 1866. It didn't help that the preface took up the question whether the author was anti-semitic.

I forged ahead nevertheless.

My assessment - no, Anthony Trollope was no anti-semitic. To the contrary, the heroine, Nina Balatka, as pure and faultless a heroine as there ever was. Pure, but determined, even stubborn, with a wee bit of pride. Not to mention, a healthy dash of naivité as any heroine of a book from that time period should be. The hero, Anton Trendellsohn, "the Jew". How could one not understand his scepticism? Treated as they have been by the Christians? In this book it is definitely the Christians who, despite their faith, are the villians. Rebecca Loth perhaps the true heroine of the book, as the Jewish woman who also loved Anton.

Considering the obstacles this couple face I found myself almost wishing them to go their separate ways. Naïve of me, not doubt, as the book would most definitely have been a tragedy under such a fate.

My conclusion? It is a sweet and lovely read and one of many Anthony Trollopes to come. Just perfect for the end of a tiring year.

Note: the picture is from my own trip to Prague, of St. John Nepomucene or Nepomuk on the amazing Charles bridge. I knew exactly which of the 30 statues it was from the book! As we wandered across the bridge, we noted a statues where the reliefs underneath were polished from a great deal of "handling" and wondered why. Nina Balatka answered that question for me. Precisely why it is so kul to read books about the places one travels too, even novels!

What's wrong with this picture? (Morgenbladet 9-15 Nov.)

I am actually not that much of a newspaper reader. I do more headlines that actual articles. I do however subscribe to a weekly here in Norway, Morgenbladet. It is this newspaper that has been among the biggest inspirations for this blog, as hopefully I will comment on some of the stuff that I read there which I find thought provoking.

So here is one of the first of many.

On page two of the newspaper there is always an interview with someone who has been in the headlines. This week's interview is with Géza Jeszensky, the Hungarian ambassador to Norway. He is a historian and seems to have been involved in the organisation of conference, hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Studies of Holocaust and Regligious Minorities. He was then asked by the Centre to not attend the conference in question because of a sentence in a book he wrote a few years ago.

He is quite annoyed that he was not even asked to explain himself for the sentence and admits that he would probably have phrased it otherwise today.

The whopper - apparently he thinks that the source for the controversial sentence, was wikipedia.

Is it just me, or is that just a tad ironic?

"The song before it sung" by Justin Cartwright

I find blogs like She Reads Novels quite intimidating - "She" (the blogger) is clearly quite a voracious reader and also writes clear and interesting reviews. I came across her in connection with the very book that I have just finished reading - Justin Cartwright's The song before it is sung. "She" didn't enjoy it.

I, however, did. Not because the story is sensible or the characters solidly presented - by which I mean that you feel you know them. The book achieved the "lyrical" quality which I really enjoy more often that not, and which for me at any rate makes up for a lack of a clear storyline or characters.

In the end however, I found myself wondering whether the South African origins of the author in anyway influenced his choice of subject. I certainly will always carry with me that I grew up white in Apartheid South Africa. My family was not politically active, but nevertheless against. My family is not even patriotic in any sense, neither on the South African or Norwegian side. The very loyalty which is so distinct a quality in Africa fascinates me. The loyalty and sense of belong which the character Axel von Gottburg had reminds me a lot of that.

In fact there were many parallels for me between Nazi Germany and Apartheid South Africa, and the inability of some to be able to let go of their loyalty and sense of belongingness (is that a word?). The reaction to the recent article in the Economist on South Africa brought that to the fore. That is something which I do not share, but which I can, well, recognise and have some respect for really.

That is what this book tapped into for me, and a book which reverberates with something inside you is never a wasted read.

A book fulfilling its purpose

I have just finished reading Rachel Bertsche's book "MWF seeking BFF".

Just what I needed to inspire me to do something. At least when it comes to blogging (I am thus far a failed blogger, no doubt about that). However, despite my failings I refuse to believe that one is ever "too old" to develop some self-discipline and change. So about time to prove it.

I am at least a decade older than the author, but so what? I have the basics in place, when I am not slightly incapacitated by my friendlessness I am really quite outgoing! So while I may not be sure about what to do in my "real life" I am going to at least get something out of the virtual. Not quite what Bertsche has in mind, but why not?

Anyway, the point is, the book has given me some courage (at least) to maybe do something about what I have known for a very long time. Loneliness is actually quite common, and extremely difficult to admit to others. There is a bit of stigmatization attached to being lonely, as if there is something wrong with you. Maybe not.

I just realise that at this point in my life, I do not need a man in my life as much as that elusive network of friends that I have always longed for. And it is just not going to land in my lap, I am going to have to work for it. Not sure I am up for 52 friend dates :) but I just need to get out my flat and into the real world. If anyone can make it work here in the cold North, I can. (If I tell myself that enough...

Anyway, a fabulous book, which I strongly recommend to those who feel that their friend-network is wanting and for those who just need to revitalise and/or spice up their social lives (I guess...).

So between now two blogs (haha) I am going to try to if nothing else live a it more what I dream to be, as I think it will make me a more interesting friend, and that is as good a start as any.

Not exactly a GREAT new posting, but it will do as a start. One has to start somewhere.