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The latest work by Norwegian author and Nobel Prize winner John Master depicts a man who goes for a drive without a particular destination in mind. He continues to turn right and left until he reaches the end of the path in the forest. As it gets dark and snow begins to fall, he foolishly decides to venture into the forest instead of seeking help. As he grows colder and more tired, he encounters a glowing presence in the darkness. Eventually, he gets lost and his encounters with mysterious figures take on a haunting quality.
Master John’s unique style, so unique that it is difficult to describe, has been recognized by the Nobel Prize committee for “giving voice to the unspeakable.” His most famous work is septologyis a seven-part novel combined into one volume that offers readers a transcendental exploration of the human condition through one uninterrupted sentence. Damion Searles, who has translated Proust, Rilke, Nietzsche, Jelinek, Gide, and Modiano, among others, even studied the North Germanic language Nynorsk so that he could translate Foss’s work as accurately and faithfully as possible.
“And now the whole being is shining. No, I don’t understand this. It’s not something that can be understood either, it’s something else, perhaps it’s something that can only be experienced, and it’s not exactly happening. But is it possible to just experience something and not have it happen? Everything you experience is, yes, real in a sense, yes, and perhaps you are too. I understand that in a sense. But it doesn’t matter either way. It sparkles in its whiteness because it’s there.”
Foss is an excellent writer whose prose is unlike anything you’ve read before. His writing is like a gentle breeze that sweeps over you, transporting you into his world of creation. With each sentence, you become more and more immersed in his singular vision and find yourself forgetting everything around you. His long, winding sentences stretch across the page like winding roads through beautiful landscapes. His descriptions vividly paint a rich, detailed picture in your mind. As he reads, you can almost feel the cool breeze on his face and hear the rustle of leaves on the trees.
“I stand in complete silence. I want to be completely silent, I want to hear the silence, because it is in the silence that I hear the voice of God. , you don’t hear God’s voice anyway, you hear, yeah, nothing. When you hear nothing, that nothing you hear, it’s not just a metaphor, it’s just what people have said. Yes, I hear it, yes, nothing, nothing, the voice of God, whatever it is. But I think it’s up to people to decide.”
Told from the perspective of a nameless man who lives alone and suffers from feelings of isolation, this novella focuses on themes of loneliness and numbness in a mystical way. The hero tells the reader that no one will miss him even if he gets stuck in the forest.
Read more: Deliberately incorporating slow prose: Another name for Master John
The book takes a mysterious turn when a luminous figure appears and speaks to the protagonist. This figure seems to represent something beyond the visible world, both comfort and anxiety. As the story progresses, the protagonist encounters visions of her mother and father, heightening the fable-like nature of the novella. This text is rich in symbolism and suggests a direct connection to divinity. But it’s not that simple. The hallucinatory, dream-like nature of this story leaves readers pondering over different meanings and interpretations.
At just 48 jam-packed pages, A Shining can be read in one sitting. Its interesting storyline will probably make you want to read it again. Quite strange, but a great starting point for anyone interested in Master John’s work.
Hritik Verma is an independent reviewer. He blogs at allayingart.wordpress.com. He is @Hritik38233434 on Twitter and @allayingart on Instagram.
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