Death Drives an Audi

Lingvo: English

Eldonita je 20-a de decembro 2021 de Parthian Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-912681-32-7

(1 recenzo)

Kristian Bang Foss’s darkly comic, prize-winning road-novel satire sees two unlikely friends set out to defy the Danish welfare state – and Death himself – with both hilarious and tragic consequences.

Life is looking pretty bleak for Asger. After a fiasco at work finds him unceremoniously booted from both his advertising job and his family home, he finds himself the carer of Waldemar, arguably Denmark’s sickest man. Their initial days together in a Copenhagen ghetto only serve to pile on the hopelessness. But then Waldemar hatches a plan: fabled healer Torbi el Mekki offers a miracle cure to all who seek an audience. Only thing is, he’s in Morocco – over two thousand miles and another continent away. Piling into a beaten up Volkswagen, the two set off on a zany road trip across Europe towards a dubious salvation. But it soon seems they may have unwanted company, for on …

Kristian Bang Foss’s darkly comic, prize-winning road-novel satire sees two unlikely friends set out to defy the Danish welfare state – and Death himself – with both hilarious and tragic consequences.

Life is looking pretty bleak for Asger. After a fiasco at work finds him unceremoniously booted from both his advertising job and his family home, he finds himself the carer of Waldemar, arguably Denmark’s sickest man. Their initial days together in a Copenhagen ghetto only serve to pile on the hopelessness. But then Waldemar hatches a plan: fabled healer Torbi el Mekki offers a miracle cure to all who seek an audience. Only thing is, he’s in Morocco – over two thousand miles and another continent away. Piling into a beaten up Volkswagen, the two set off on a zany road trip across Europe towards a dubious salvation. But it soon seems they may have unwanted company, for on their tail is a pitch-black Audi...

1 eldono

Stephanie Jane recenzis Death Drives an Audi de Kristian Bang Foss

Disappointed not to have enjoyed this more

3 steloj

I was disappointed to not have enjoyed this satirical novel more than I did. It's a very readable tale of two very different people bonding in unlikely circumstances and Foss, together with Waight's translation, does an amazing job of bringing the varied locations to life. His descriptions of the dismal social housing tower blocks in Stentofte was particularly vivid, making it easy to understand why the people who lived there were so unmotivated and despondent.

Neither Asger or Waldemar are typical literary heroes and Asger's initial self-centred attitude meant I didn't like him much, but his burgeoning friendship with Waldemar does redeem him to a certain extent. It is unusual for such a chronically ill character as Waldemar to take a leading role in this way and I liked seeing how he blossomed mentally once his dream of escaping Stentofte became a reality. I hope Foss' portrayal is realistic. The …

I was disappointed to not have enjoyed this satirical novel more than I did. It's a very readable tale of two very different people bonding in unlikely circumstances and Foss, together with Waight's translation, does an amazing job of bringing the varied locations to life. His descriptions of the dismal social housing tower blocks in Stentofte was particularly vivid, making it easy to understand why the people who lived there were so unmotivated and despondent.

Neither Asger or Waldemar are typical literary heroes and Asger's initial self-centred attitude meant I didn't like him much, but his burgeoning friendship with Waldemar does redeem him to a certain extent. It is unusual for such a chronically ill character as Waldemar to take a leading role in this way and I liked seeing how he blossomed mentally once his dream of escaping Stentofte became a reality. I hope Foss' portrayal is realistic. The one character I felt was underused was Death himself. The mysterious setup is cleverly done, but I didn't think its early promise really came to fruition which was a shame.

Overall I enjoyed reading Death Drives An Audi. There are darkly humorous moments, although I didn't spot any 'hilarious consequences' as per the synopsis. I did however frequently feel as though I wasn't quite on the same page as Asger and Waldemar so much of their humour was probably lost on me. It was a bit like being the designated driver at a drunken party, hearing the same joke as everyone else, but not understanding why they have all dissolved into hysterics.

Temoj

Germanic literature