Reviews
"Sonja is a thoroughly modern heroine-middle-aged, single, chronically alone, struggling to shift the gears of her entire life . . . Comical, clever, with a knife-twist of uneasiness." - The Times (London) "Trenchant and empathetic . . . Nors's reinvention of experimental fiction is so marvellous." -The Guardian, "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review, "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly, "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "Exquisite. . . . Nors gives the invisible woman the dignity of her artful gaze. . . . This triumphant novel sounds the depths of women's unseen strength in a register that reconciles enlightened feminism with working-class rage." -- The New York Times Book Review "In flowing and absorbing prose, Nors illustrates . . . how it might be possible for anyone to overcome immense loneliness and make a connection." -- The New Yorker "First rate. . . . Often hilarious. . . . Exceedingly smart. . . . [Dorthe Nors] possesses a rare gift." --NPR "Fresh Air" "[Nors' writing is] agile and profound. . . . The novel's power builds as Sonja's inner world unfolds." -- The Atlantic "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "With this quietly moving story . . . Nors seems on the fast track to becoming a global writer." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "[A] wonderfully understated novel. . . . [Dorthe Nors is] a writer who improves with every sentence." --Rabih Alameddine, Literary Hub "While the story contains overarching symbolism, metaphors, and analogies . . . Nors's hand remains light, and the effects are subtle and elegant." -- Ploughshares "Nors's exceptional writing and her insightful grasp on the human condition bolster the heartbreak of Sonya's isolated, solitary existence." -- Shelf Awareness "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly "This bewitching Danish novel reveals its tragicomic depths gradually." -- The Guardian (UK), "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "In flowing and absorbing prose, Nors illustrates . . . how it might be possible for anyone to overcome immense loneliness and make a connection." -- The New Yorker "First rate. . . . Often hilarious. . . . Exceedingly smart. . . . [Dorthe Nors] possesses a rare gift." --NPR "Fresh Air" "[Nors' writing is] agile and profound. . . . The novel's power builds as Sonja's inner world unfolds." -- The Atlantic "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "With this quietly moving story . . . Nors seems on the fast track to becoming a global writer." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "While the story contains overarching symbolism, metaphors, and analogies . . . Nors's hand remains light, and the effects are subtle and elegant." -- Ploughshares "Nors's exceptional writing and her insightful grasp on the human condition bolster the heartbreak of Sonya's isolated, solitary existence." -- Shelf Awareness "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly "This bewitching Danish novel reveals its tragicomic depths gradually." -- The Guardian (UK), "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "Exquisite. . . . Nors gives the invisible woman the dignity of her artful gaze. . . . This triumphant novel sounds the depths of women's unseen strength in a register that reconciles enlightened feminism with working-class rage." -- The New York Times Book Review "In flowing and absorbing prose, Nors illustrates . . . how it might be possible for anyone to overcome immense loneliness and make a connection." -- The New Yorker "First rate. . . . Often hilarious. . . . Exceedingly smart. . . . [Dorthe Nors] possesses a rare gift." --NPR "Fresh Air" "[Nors' writing is] agile and profound. . . . The novel's power builds as Sonja's inner world unfolds." -- The Atlantic "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "With this quietly moving story . . . Nors seems on the fast track to becoming a global writer." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "While the story contains overarching symbolism, metaphors, and analogies . . . Nors's hand remains light, and the effects are subtle and elegant." -- Ploughshares "Nors's exceptional writing and her insightful grasp on the human condition bolster the heartbreak of Sonya's isolated, solitary existence." -- Shelf Awareness "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly "This bewitching Danish novel reveals its tragicomic depths gradually." -- The Guardian (UK), "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly, "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly, "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "First rate. . . . Often hilarious. . . . Exceedingly smart. . . . [Dorthe Nors] possesses a rare gift." --NPR "Fresh Air" "[Nors' writing is] agile and profound. . . . The novel's power builds as Sonja's inner world unfolds." -- The Atlantic "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "With this quietly moving story . . . Nors seems on the fast track to becoming a global writer." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "While the story contains overarching symbolism, metaphors, and analogies . . . Nors's hand remains light, and the effects are subtle and elegant." -- Ploughshares "Nors's exceptional writing and her insightful grasp on the human condition bolster the heartbreak of Sonya's isolated, solitary existence." -- Shelf Awareness "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly "This bewitching Danish novel reveals its tragicomic depths gradually." -- The Guardian (UK), "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "First rate. . . . Often hilarious. . . . Exceedingly smart. . . . [Dorthe Nors] possesses a rare gift." --NPR "Fresh Air" "[Nors' writing is] agile and profound. . . . The novel's power builds as Sonja's inner world unfolds." -- The Atlantic "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "With this quietly moving story . . . Nors seems on the fast track to becoming a global writer." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "While the story contains overarching symbolism, metaphors, and analogies . . . Nors's hand remains light, and the effects are subtle and elegant." -- Ploughshares "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly "This bewitching Danish novel reveals its tragicomic depths gradually." -- The Guardian (UK), "Opening [ Mirror, Shoulder, Signal ] feels like opening a window--there's a bracing freshness and chill to the writing, and the unforced ease of a song. . . . Nors can't help but handle words in interesting ways and put them to original uses. . . . If her subject is unwavering, her style remains restless, less out of a desire to be 'experimental' than out of playfulness and a genuine yearning, one feels, for contact and connection." --The New York Times "Dorthe Nors is one of the most original voices in current Danish writing." --CBC Radio, "Writers & Company" "While the story contains overarching symbolism, metaphors, and analogies . . . Nors's hand remains light, and the effects are subtle and elegant." -- Ploughshares "Nors has written a novel full of laughs and melancholy as readers observe Sonja trying to gain her freedom." -- Signature Reads "Nors is an exquisitely precise writer, and in rendering her heroine's small disruptions and, yes, victories, she is writing for, and of, every one of us." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Astute and contemplative. . . . Nors conjures a gently fraught reality in prose that evokes a life paused halfway between nostalgia for the past and hope for the future." -- Publishers Weekly "This bewitching Danish novel reveals its tragicomic depths gradually." -- The Guardian (UK)