Crimson

I hadn't read anything by a Greenlandic author before so was excited to be approved for this unusual novella by Niviaq Korneliussen. Through the words of Korneliussen's young narrators we are shown how young people in Greenland are struggling to find their identities, both as individuals and as a nation emerging from Danish colonialism. There is a dark undercurrent throughout the story with destructive behaviours such as alcoholism and familial abuse being seen almost as normal. I was surprised at the emphasis our protagonists put on going to all-night parties, seemingly daily, and drinking to oblivion. Even by student standards this is excessive self-destruction!

Tellingly though, Korneliussen doesn't particularly explore this behaviour, but focuses instead on Fia, Sara and Iviq coming to terms with their sexuality and the way in which this changes the dynamics of their social group. Each of the four take a turn in speaking directly to the reader which allowed me to understand their innermost deliberations, however I didn't feel that the individual voices were always strong enough so I sometimes lost track of whose head I was in. Korneliussen includes text conversations as well as direct speech in creating an immediate and contemporary feel for this fast-moving novella. I also liked the music references, especially frequent returns to the apt Joan Jett song Crimson And Clover which I guess inspired the novella's title. Crimson does feel like a debut (which, of course, it is), but Korneliussen has an interesting voice. I look forward to reading her future work.