“Each tongue is so small that it cannot be heard; together the sound is so deep and powerful that it could level the hills if it wished.”
Norwegian literature has such a distinct style and identity. Most Norwegian books are rooted in noir styles, often emphasizing gritty and dark themes of isolation, regret, and the eeriness of tranquillity and self. This is, in part, thanks to the abundance of crime dramas both in books and on-screen, with many Norwegian novels being bleak in both their setting and tone. Yet, this sense of atmosphere has led to some of the most profound, beautiful, and indeed surprising stories over the years. Join us at What We Reading as we explore some of the best Norwegian books you have to read before visiting this fascinating Scandinavian country!
I Refuse – Per Petterson
First up on our list of Norwegian books to read before you visit the Scandinavian country comes from the prize-winning bestselling author of Out Stealing Horses, Per Petterson. I Refuse is the story of two men who accidentally meet on a bridge early one morning. Once best friends, Tommy and Jim haven’t seen each other for over 35 years.
Tommy and his sister had been abandoned by their mother and later by their abusive father. Jim lived alone with his religious mother and became a socialist after attending high school. Now, back in the present, Jim is fishing when Tommy drives past in his expensive new Mercedes. In this powerful exploration of life, happiness, and time, the pair only exchange a few words but prove to be more than enough for a lifetime’s worth of memories to come flooding back for them both.
Ankomst – Gøhril Gabrielsen
Translated from Norwegian by Deborah Dawkin, Ankomst follows the story of an unnamed 36-year-old scientist who has left her husband for another man. During this tumultuous time, she has retreated to a remote cabin in Northern Norway to focus on her work. But, in this tranquil setting, focus and thoughts soon turn to obsessions and anxieties and, finally, paranoia and fear.
With just a single character and an eerily isolated setting, author Gøhril Gabrielsen can churn together a dark and creepy tale that stands as a masterpiece in steadily climbing dread, one that is sure to make you fear your own mind’s imagination.
The Snowman (Harry Hole #7) – Jo Nesbø
While it is the seventh entry in his Harry Hole detective series, Jo Nesbø’s bestseller can be enjoyed as a standalone gripping Nordic mystery. In The Snowman, readers follow Detective Harry Hole as he traverses Norway investigating a series of cold cases that share two similarities: the victims were all married mothers, and there were snowmen present at every crime scene.
Hole treks from Oslo to Bergen in this murder mystery, taking readers through the youth-filled nightlife of the city, the seven hills and fjords that surround it, and into the heart of the museums and universities that make this one of Norway’s cultural hubs. Couple this wanderlust-inducing setting with the array of twists turns, and red herrings along the way, and you have a formula for one of the best Norwegian books going.
The Ice Palace – Tarjei Vesaas
Tarjei Vesaas is considered one of the most important Norwegian authors, producing some of the most powerful novels and poetry in the post-war era. However, The Ice Palace is often considered his crowning work. Winning The Nordic Council’s Literature Prize and receiving an acclaimed adaptation on the big screen, the book tells the story of two young women, Siss and Unn, who meet in a small isolated community in Norway.
The pair spend an evening together and immediately strike up a close bond. They are both very different from each other but soon find themselves linked in a way neither of them could have imagined. And when Unn inexplicably disappears, Siss’ world is shattered. Written in lyrical prose, everything from the poetic structure, the setting and scenery, and the two female leads make this an intense and beautiful read.
Paradise Rot – Jenny Hval
Translated by Marjam Idriss, Paradise Rot is the lyrical literary debut novel by musician and artist Jenny Hval. This Norwegian book follows Jo, a newcomer in a country where she is attending university. In a house that seems to have no walls and is surrounded by a roommate with no boundaries, Jo’s sensitivity to the world becomes increasingly heightened and fraught. The lines between people and plants, and even dreaming and wakefulness become hard to discern.
Renowned for her sharp sexual and political imagery, Hval succeeds in creating a hyper-sensual horror book about queer desire and sexual awakening. Complex and poetic, Hval’s dark and visceral tale embodies the Norwegian style perfectly.
Doppler (Doppler #1) – Erlend Loe
First published in 2004 before being translated into English several years later, Erlend Loe’s Doppler series has become some of the best Norwegian books for encapsulating the clever and sometimes outlandish sense of humour possessed by those in Scandinavia.
Doppler follows our titularly-named protagonist, who decides to abandon human society. Leaving behind his job, home, and pregnant partner, Doppler sets out to live in the woods where he kills an elk. However, it turns out that this elk had a child, whom our protagonist is forced to adopt, naming it Bongo. In one of the most quirky Norwegian novels available, Doppler takes care of the baby elk, teaching it all its needs to know about the human world he has left behind and all the things about it he’s grown tired of.
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A Modern Family – Helga Flatland
One of the most popular Norwegian books in recent times, Helga Flatland’s A Modern Family sets readers up with a relatively simple premise but layers in deep psychological insights about everyday life that all readers will find themselves relating to.
Three siblings and their partners have arrived in Rome to celebrate their father’s 70th birthday. It is only then, however, that their parents have decided to divorce after forty years of being together. Shocked at the decision, the siblings attempt to come to terms with the decision, running through echoes of the past and their upbringing. Affectionate and bittersweet, Flatland’s 2017 work is a standout in exposing how we should all look at regret and relationships, and how it is never too late for change.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
