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Marianne's Reviews > Brightly Shining
Brightly Shining
by
by
3.5★s
Brightly Shining is a Christmas-themed novella by prize-winning Norwegian author, Ingvild Rishoi. It is translated by Caroline Waight. In the Norwegian town of Toyen, ten-year-old Macaronja and her sixteen-year-old sister, Melissa are saddled with a chronically unemployed father. The widower loves his daughters, but he’s weak. It might be grief that sees him in bars in the company of dissolute characters and (possibly loose) women, drinking more and for longer than is compatible with keeping a job.
This puts the sisters under threat of intervention by social services, something that Ronja has seen happen to other children, and thus dreads. But there are adults watching out for the girls, concerned for their welfare. In November, one of these has a suggestion for a job for their father: Christmas tree seller.
It all goes well for a while: there’s food on the table and Dad is in his responsible phase. It comes apart when he gets an advance from his employer, ostensibly for Christmas gifts and treats, much of which is spent when Dad gives in to the temptation one of his drinking pals presents.
When he fails to turn up for the job, Melissa decides the only way to cover the debt is to work his job herself, before school and in the evenings. It leaves her exhausted, and Ronja lonely. Hanging around the tree-selling site allows Ronja to avoid her drunken father and their nosy neighbour, and is tolerated by Melissa’s manager, and soon Ronja’s cuteness is selling product. But the owner, Herman Eriksen is an ogre who objects to Ronja’s participation and even her presence: she is banned.
Rishoi paints a fairly realistic picture of a family in crisis, very sad and moving. As Ronja connects and begins to trust those who care for her, there’s plenty to like about this tale, but as the situation deteriorates, it seems like the author paints herself into a corner, and resorts to magic realism for a resolution that is rather unsatisfactory but apparently appeals to many, given the high ratings. Beautifully written.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Grove Atlantic
Brightly Shining is a Christmas-themed novella by prize-winning Norwegian author, Ingvild Rishoi. It is translated by Caroline Waight. In the Norwegian town of Toyen, ten-year-old Macaronja and her sixteen-year-old sister, Melissa are saddled with a chronically unemployed father. The widower loves his daughters, but he’s weak. It might be grief that sees him in bars in the company of dissolute characters and (possibly loose) women, drinking more and for longer than is compatible with keeping a job.
This puts the sisters under threat of intervention by social services, something that Ronja has seen happen to other children, and thus dreads. But there are adults watching out for the girls, concerned for their welfare. In November, one of these has a suggestion for a job for their father: Christmas tree seller.
It all goes well for a while: there’s food on the table and Dad is in his responsible phase. It comes apart when he gets an advance from his employer, ostensibly for Christmas gifts and treats, much of which is spent when Dad gives in to the temptation one of his drinking pals presents.
When he fails to turn up for the job, Melissa decides the only way to cover the debt is to work his job herself, before school and in the evenings. It leaves her exhausted, and Ronja lonely. Hanging around the tree-selling site allows Ronja to avoid her drunken father and their nosy neighbour, and is tolerated by Melissa’s manager, and soon Ronja’s cuteness is selling product. But the owner, Herman Eriksen is an ogre who objects to Ronja’s participation and even her presence: she is banned.
Rishoi paints a fairly realistic picture of a family in crisis, very sad and moving. As Ronja connects and begins to trust those who care for her, there’s plenty to like about this tale, but as the situation deteriorates, it seems like the author paints herself into a corner, and resorts to magic realism for a resolution that is rather unsatisfactory but apparently appeals to many, given the high ratings. Beautifully written.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Grove Atlantic
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Just a little correction, Tøyen is not a town, but a borough in the city of Oslo. It’s in the east of Oslo and traditionally it was working class. Now there are also many immigrants there.