Havoc (Hærværk) - Tom Kristensen BOOK REVIEW

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[@introgreen587]

so there's a character in the book by the name of Bernard Sanders who's a communist and I've only heard about it now?

[@whiteike255]

Wow that just described my life, even down to the Catholicism

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Thank you for this! I read this when I was 17, and I'm convinced it saved me from becoming an alcoholic like so much of my family. I also recommend reading Kristensen's poetry if you can. It's absolutely gorgeous.

[@richardwestwood8212]

Stay on the right side buddy

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

@@richardwestwood8212 Thank you. I can happily report to still be there.

[@giacomoorozco7878]

Damn where you listening to Lingua Ignota at the beginning? loved it

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

That new album is great.

[@griffendurrett7302]

Was just about to ask this same thing haha, fantastic stuff!

[@Peterromer123]

Hærværk is quite a 20th century classic in Danish literature and broadly accepted as such by teachers, professors, and literary critiques. THis kept me from reading it for many years, but hen I heard a reference to the book in a song by Swedish artist Joakim Thåström. Song references to books was how I got into reading when I was a teenager, so then I had to give it a go and I loved it in many of the same ways you do. The translated lyrics in Thåström's song goes like this: "When I came to Vesterbro (central neighbourhood in Copenhagen, probably where a lot of the story is happening, but I don't remember exactly) I walked down Sønder Boulevard (one of the main streets in Copenhagen, probably feature in the book) When I came to Vesterbro It was like coming home Just to get a porter, I thought Just to see if Ole Jastrau lived here Just for somewhere to be You have to be somewhere On Sønder Boulevard On Sønder Boulevard On Sønder Boulevard On Sønder Boulevard" You can give the song a listen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHjdl6WupK6ho9E

[@zlatanista]

That also how I found this book! And what great book it is !

[@lukedavy-day1573]

A brilliant review as always. Jastrau was so well written think I’d start a go-fund me for him to go to ‘the dogs’

[@paasu-liiskens9699]

will you review/have you read Master and Margarita by Bulgakov? Would love to hear your thoughts on Russian literature. Crime and Punishment, etc.

[@RB939393]

I had to sadly unsub from the Patreon because money is tight rn but I love the content and I will be back.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

No worries at all! Thanks for the support.

[@timkjazz]

After spending all day on a roof what a pleasure to get home and see a new review from Cliff. Makes my day!

[@josea.r.avelino181]

So at the end of the day you decided not to jump, good for you, you are smart, made the right choice. :) 🙂

[@timkjazz]

@@josea.r.avelino181 Roof was about 8 foot high in the front yard, probably would have been okay, lol.

[@calum3452]

I think, if I’m remembering correctly, you may have mentioned a couple years back that you were working/planning on working on a novel? How’s that going? Your fiction would be really interesting to read man

[@ronnieiversen2359]

You should totally read Niels Lyhne by J.P. Jacobsen. Rilke learned danish just to read this book. It's a decadent, pessimistic and beautiful story about an atheist poet in the 1800's struggling with meaninglessness. Arguably the best danish novel of all time. It's right up your alley. Also one of the only danish novels as a Penguin classic.

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

I’ve been meaning to read this, along with other danish writers such as Tove Ditlevsen for some time. While she was just translated to swedish again, I now see there’s only one translation of Kristensen’s work and it’s this one, from 1976. I wish there were a bit more exchange between the nordic countries, seen to the potential

[@captainkolding]

I remember as part of our curriculum we had to read this book in high school. The Danish title 'Hærværk' is a word that actually alludes to the destruction an army creates when it marches through an area or occupies a city. Random destruction. Also of the kind teenage boys are known to perpetrate - especially when drunk. I remember the main character disliked looking at his own face in the mirror. He thought he had a 'Mongoloid' face, because it was round and full.

[@marcus_marcus]

Like someone else commented, you should read his poetry as well. Especially one entitled 'det blomstrende slagsmål' or 'the blooming fight' (I'm not sure if it's been translated ever though). It's about a bar fight with poetry about nature

[@bazzbazzley]

I so enjoy your enthusiasm and your knowledge...it's so refreshing. Thanks.

[@RB939393]

Were you quoting Swans at 5:50?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yes I was.

[@patrickweller5254]

@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews legend. What was your opinion on Leaving Meaning?

Another great review as always! Obrigada, Sargent.

[@elementofnaivity]

What a coincidence, I just wrote an assignment on this book

[@daytonadane]

Skål! Excellent review. You conveyed the Hærværk experience so much better than I would be able to do. And you are right about Kristensen being a fan of Joyce, who he actually met in Copenhagen in 1936. Also, the beautiful cover stems from a painting by Asgar Jorn, an artist that founded the avantgarde movement COBRA; a lot his work is exhibited at Silkeborg Museum and Silkeborg Public Library where I used to work - if you find yourself in Denmark, both places are a must-visit. His poetry is excellent, too: I have longed for shipwrecks, / For havoc and violent death.” Thanks again and glad you liked it!

[@NinjaNoobNR1]

As a Dane, it it quite interesting to listen to your perspective on danish literature. Hærværk sort of dwells heavily on a unique Scandinavia stoicism. During the 1930’s, a lot of danish literature focused on the cost of a social democratic state being your individuality. I personally read Hærværk as the start of social realism. Great review!

[@zlatanista]

I was waiting for you to mention Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano in this review! I love them both.

[@zlatanista]

And of course you made a reference to 'Withnail & I' as well (Uncle Monty). A must see!

[@FAgraphicandart]

You should check out some Laszlo Krasznahorkai - right down your alley! Btw it's spelled "Hærværk" in danish ;)

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yup - thanks for catching that, and for the recommendation.

[@jfcmjfcmjfcm]

Good book and good review. Another danish book you should absolutely have a look at is The Fall of the King by Johannes V. Jensen, a fin de siècle, symbolist work with an almost mythological quality to it and perhaps the most exquisite prose to come out of Denmark.

[@tomriordan6008]

I just started this book last week, I'm on page 74 and it's pretty engaging!

[@katamattyon]

Sad they haven't made an ebook version of this yet, while other NYRBC books have one

[@DavidsGameplayMC]

The actual story sounds really interesting although I want to buy this just for the cover alone.

[@tracyratelle1357]

Thank you for making reading cool again, you fucking rock. :)

[@TheKarlgiovanni]

I am on the wages of war ! Why haven't you told me this before? You now create to my despair To think of you my love did never care I once commited to the dream of In you, I trust, by now destroy an image of To me A broken heart whilst else took To lead me burried in sorrow And to think of you no more My once sweet and kind

[@frankbongio]

love the leather jacker again!

[@AcidicDelusion]

Every man needs a leather jacket

[@inesromao4740]

I think you should read the year of the death of Ricardo Reis, I feel like you’d like it a lot, maybe even the crime of Padre Amaro

[@mhandle6025]

Hey, can anyone remember the review in which Cliff quotes a character, a sailor, as saying, "I have seen the world. It is horrible everywhere"? That line is killing me!

[@sa8019]

Thanks for the exceptional content Cliff.

[@gotterdammerung6088]

Hey, are you a professional writer? You seem to be a literary man.

[@kasianfranmitja5298]

im definetely going to read this book

[@seanharbinger]

Has anyone tried to find the newscast mentioned in My Struggle Vol I with the face reflected in the water? Always thought that’d be cool to watch with Knausgaard. Also are we pronouncing the Ks now? Do I say Kn-ight? Kn-ife... Kn-nowsguard? (Literally asking just in a joking way)

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

Sean Harbinger Well, the name is norwegian, while the words are english; I don’t know the best way to pronounce his name in english, but in norwegian or swedish (which is my first language) you pronounce the K in words that start with Kn. His name is spelled differently here though. It’s ”-gård” instead of ”-gaard”, which has a different pronounciation. The ”å” isn’t like the ”a” in ”guard”, but rather like the ”a” in ”all”. So, with that said… don’t pronounce the K, I guess? ;)

[@Hurkmaniacs]

Nice Lingua Ignota start...

[@christiansanaploianu911]

Relating a book to a Lars Von Trier film...I'm in!

[@tobiastranetellefsen4203]

As a Norwegian that have red many different Norwegian authors, I actually hadn't heard about Tom Kristensen before this.😂😂

[@suwagkamalsaikia4694]

beautiful...plz make some videos on poetry also..

[@leifbjarnehammer7527]

Good as always! There should be an 'r' in 'Hærverk'.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

You're definitely correct, thank you for catching that.

[@gotterdammerung6088]

@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews Your comma placement drives me insane.

[@kylewente9114]

Damn! There was a sub boom.... Did NYRB hook you up?

[@misquotedbuffalo3757]

Reminds me of the time I drank a bottle on the roof and then jumped but I didn't die and nobody saw me and it was like it never happened and I think about it when I'm being berrated by my boss and it makes me smile. I jumped.

[@CorbCorbin]

Misquotedbuffalo Roof of what?

[@misquotedbuffalo3757]

@@CorbCorbin why do you care?

[@CorbCorbin]

Misquotedbuffalo Just curious, as I imagined something high enough to kill, but low enough to survive...like maybe a condo on the beach. I watched a friend jump from the fourth floor of one, and he survived. Your comment made me think of it and how he thought about life afterwards.

[@misquotedbuffalo3757]

@@CorbCorbin high enough to kill lol

[@misquotedbuffalo3757]

@@CorbCorbin Now you have me interested. You saw your friend jump from a hotel balcony four floors up?

[@bobtrip3000]

"buy the ticket - take the ride" priceless

[@kjelliWWW]

I think it's hærverk

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

You're right, thank you for catching that.

[@joejs7659]

No, the correct danish spelling is hærværk.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

@@joejs7659 Changed, thank you.

[@joejs7659]

Better Than Food No problem. Btw do you plan on reviewing some works by John Fante, I think there’s a severe lack of people discussing his books on KZbin.

[@maticonba]

AWESOME COVER OF LINGUA IGNOTAS

[@CorbCorbin]

Mortadella sandwich Which song

[@maticonba]

@@CorbCorbin Faithful Servant and Friend of Christ, by Lingua Ignota

[@CorbCorbin]

Mortadella sandwich Thanks. I was just about to listen.

[@kellenwright3529]

Shout out to Lingua Ignota

[@AcidicDelusion]

I'll drink to this review.

[@eliasE989]

Amazin'

[@maestro7058]

Love your reviews like always man! Btw sir what about Crime And Punishment? :D I even found the russian series considered to be a great adaptation of the book with Raskolnikov who has quite similar features to you (no pun intended bro, well... maybe just a little bit lol), take a look if you could: tinyurl.com/unwtkmz

[@charlesmocata4845]

This channel is great and everything but it's costing me a lot of money. Thank you?

[@gotterdammerung6088]

Lmfao ikr. He got me into this book and all of the works of Clarice Lispector and Borges. I spent the last few months ordering their fictions. I also read Hesse's "Siddhartha" at his recommendation.

[@baker.vision]

Dude you have to read Joyce

[@bobsbigboy_]

Lingua Ignota!!!

[@sjuvanet]

æææææææææææ so swæg

[@ZeldaZonk-zt8fr]

What about : œ œ œ œ... 😉