Reviews

The only reason I finished this book is because I took it on a train ride. I didn't like the writing style, characters, plot nor descriptions. Too bad because I really had high hopes for it

bibliolinde's review against another edition

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3.0

Restrained but captivating prose. This collection was a quick, affecting read.
Nors’ short stories glimpse into people’s lives with precision and scarcity, and yet there is no lack of emotional depth. Most of the stories flip between reality and visceral memory which permeates the protagonist’s headspace. The kind of writing that makes you wonder about the interior goings on in someone’s mind in any given moment.

rocketiza's review

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3.0

Not as gripping or impactful as the others that have been translated.

emelynreads's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I'd like to give this book another try in the future. I enjoyed 3 stories out of the collection.

keepreadingbooks's review against another edition

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reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Since this Danish short story collection has been translated into English (as Wild Swims), I’m including an English as well as a Danish review:

Jeg er en af de efter alt at dømme få, der aldrig rigtigt er faldet for Dorthe Nors’ forfatterskab. Jeg har godt nok kun læst to af hendes novellesamlinger – Kantslag og nu denne, Kort over Canada – men jeg er stadig ikke overbevist. Måske skal jeg kaste mig over en af hendes romaner i stedet? Jeg ved ikke, hvad det er, men novellerne formår ikke at fange mig. Det er måske meget sigende, at jeg sidder og ikke helt kan finde på noget at sige. De føles lidt overfladiske, måske for stilistiske. Det samme virkemiddel bruges for ofte; en sætning sættes sammen af to usammenhængende hændelser, ofte af en i fortiden og en i nutiden. Det kan noget, særligt første gang, men når jeg oplever det i flere af novellerne, savner jeg måske, at det er noget nyt eller noget andet, der skal overraske mig. At hun ikke bare kopierer den samme skabelon. Det lyder hårdt, og det er faktisk slet ikke så hårdt ment, for Nors er uden tvivl en dygtig forfatter. Måske er hun bare ikke en forfatter for mig. Jeg har lyst til at nævne Velsignelser af Caroline Albertine Minor, Se en sidste gang på alt smukt af Kristin Vego og en mindre kendt samling, Erle Perle af Nanna Goul, som novellesamlinger, der virkelig rammer noget i mig, og som jeg langt hellere vil anbefale.

I am one of the (it seems) very few who hasn’t really fallen in love with Dorthe Nors’ writing. Granted, I’ve only read two of her short story collections so far – Karate Chop and now Wild Swims – but I’m not convinced. Maybe I need to give her novels a try instead? I don’t know what it is, but her stories don’t draw me in. It seems telling that I can’t think of much to say, now that I’m trying to review the collection. The stories often feel superficial to me, perhaps too stylistic, and I noticed the same literary device used across several stories, which always puts me off. But I think I’m in the minority, and I suspect it’s just a case of personal preference. It almost feels like a betrayal, as she is one of very few internationally known and celebrated Danish authors, but preferences can’t be forced! I have read a number of other excellent Danish short story collections that I would love to recommend, but unfortunately, they haven’t been translated (at least not yet).

travelsinfiction's review against another edition

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2.0

This absolutely isn’t a bad collection, the writing just wasn’t to my style and it meant I struggled to follow a lot of the stories - which I think was the point but unfortunately just wasn’t my cup of tea

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