Men in My Situation

Men in My Situation is a tender, scintillating portrait of grief, fatherhood, and a life nearly going to pieces. It follows Arvid Jansen, who is thirty-eight and divorced in 1992. Turid has left with their three girls, and Arvid is left to hold on to a few firm things, such as loud, smoky bars, whiskey, records, company for the night, and taxis home. Vigdis, his eldest daughter, decides against weekend visits with him, suspecting that he is a lonely man.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2021
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Men in My Situation is a poignant and captivating portrayal of grief, fatherhood, and a life teetering on the edge. Set in 1992, Arvid Jansen, at the age of thirty-eight, finds himself divorced and grappling with the departure of his three daughters, who have embraced a vibrant and carefree lifestyle among Turid's young and exuberant friends. Over a year has passed since the tragic accident that claimed the lives of his parents and two of his brothers, leaving him in a state of existential uncertainty. His existence now revolves around clinging to the few constants that remain: the allure of loud, smoky bars, the solace of whiskey, the melodies of records, the companionship of the night, and the convenience of taxis for his journey home. Alternatively, he finds solace in driving his Mazda into the breathtaking, solitary landscapes outside of Oslo, where he can sleep in his car, yearning for a connection that remains perpetually out of reach.

As time passes, the girls gradually opt out of weekend visits with their father, suspecting that his eldest daughter, Vigdis, has discerned the true nature of his character. Arvid, adrift and inept, paralyzed by grief, may be right in believing that his presence can be a source of discomfort for his daughters. Is there any possibility of redemption for a man in such a predicament? When Arvid has lost or been abandoned by those closest to him, and his life feels unraveling, there may still be a glimmer of hope for a way forward.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 146 x 223 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787301658