Helga Flatland

A Modern Family

Cements her position as one of our most important, younger authors
– Dagbladet, 6 out of 6 stars

There is a hint of Ingmar Bergman in this portrayal of a completely normal family, it delves deep and wrenches your heart.
– Adresseavisen, 6 out of 6 stars

«We’re leaving each other»

A quiet earthquake occurs as siblings Liv, Ellen and Håkon, along with their partners and children, are gathered around the dinner table somewhere on the outskirts of Rome to celebrate Dad and Granddad Håkon’s 70th birthday .

Shock and disbelief follow, as the three grown children tries to cope with their parent’s decision. Not only does it affect their relationship as siblings, it echoes through the homes they have built for themselves, as well as forcing them to them reconstruct their shared narrative about their upbringing and family history.

Helga Flatland masterfully conducts this story, voiced in turn by Liv, Ellen and Håkon, with rare psychological insight, humor and an almost filmatic narrative drive. A Modern Family is a novel that will make you look at the people closest to you just a little more thoroughly.

Flatland has perfected her literary style, and this novel hits the bull’s eye. And, she is funny, too. With this book, Flatland demonstrates, once again, her impressing skills in describing the modern human being – or rather, a modern family. (…) Cements her position as one of our most important, younger authors

– Dagbladet, 6 out of 6 stars