Jostein Gaarder: A Perspective
Jostein Gaarder, who turns 62 on August 8, haven't penned a novel for years. Rumors about a new book in the works excite fans, but this has been talked about for some time. He's not a prolific author, but in a career spanning four decades, some of his books are the most noteworthy titles in Children's literature. Metafiction, as some critics point out.
A story within a story
The history of Norwegian literature reveals meager literary activity during certain periods. Notable works include the Eddic poems from the Old Norse literature, with the twentieth century witnessing a rebirth. Gaarder, who was born in Oslo, came after Knut Hamsun. No one can figure out if he's an author of Children's books, as his main characters are mostly boys and girls. But their inquisitive nature enable them to deal with themes only adults can grasp.
"Through a Glass, Darkly" (1993) is about Cecilia, who is stricken with cancer. She's bedridden, but she manages to get up and look out of the window at night time. The countryside is covered with snow, which looks serene and beautiful under the canopy of stars. The young girl is somehow bitter, as this may be her final Christmas. (Cecilia's family tries to put a brave face, knowing that her cancer is on its terminal stage.) Then Ariel, an angel, comes to the window one late evening. The conversation between the two is peculiar, about the afterlife. The somber tone gives readers an idea on how this nightly rendezvous will end.
The tales that Ariel told Cecilia doesn't intend to make death less tragic. The loss of life is painful for whatever reason, but the cherub compares it to the seasons. In her case, it takes a leap of faith for everything to make sense.
Moving backward and forward
"The Christmas Mystery" (1992), on the other hand, is about an Advent calendar containing a story of a certain Elisabet Hansen, whose world turns upside a down after encountering a lamb in a department store. It comes to life, leading her to an angel named Ephireal. He invites her to witness an important occasion in Bethlehem, which she can't refuse. They travel through Europe, where time moves backward. The duo meet assorted characters who join their voyage, and along the way, witness peculiar moments that define the continent.
Joachim happens to buy that calendar from a store, and his learning of Elisabet's adventure makes his Yuletide special. Traveling puts everything into a perspective. Gaarder used the same device in "Sophie's World" (1991), about a fourteen year old schoolgirl who receives letters from a mysterious sender. It's about philosophy and its history. Socrates and Voltaire can't be turned into Lego construction toys, but the correspondence made her perceptive.
A departure
"The Castle in the Pyrenees", published in 2008, marks a new direction in Gaarder's literary career. A man and a woman met in the fjords, their encounter brought back memories of a road accident that happened thirty years before, when both were lovers. It changed their lives, not to mention the end to their relationship. There were lots of philosophical musings through exchange of e-mails, but the message was more or less the same.
