“A journey from Norway to Denmark becomes a life-changing rite of passage in Petterson’s beautifully understated story. . . . Petterson’s portrayal of the inner life of a preteen boy is precise and moving, and the remarkable prose captures the landscape as well as the painful deterioration of Arvid’s parents’ marriage. This early work from a master leaves an indelible mark.”
Starred review, Publishers Weekly, US
“In this slim work, Pettersen writes with minimalist reticence—a remark here, a detail there—to create poignant lyricism.”
Kirkus Review, US
“Merging time and memory to reveal the trauma, confusion, and exhilaration of growing up, this coming-of-age novel proves that Petterson’s immense talent was on display from the very first.”
Starred review, Library Journal, US
”Per Petterson catches burgeoning puberty in full in ECHOLAND. Few writers have his ability to portray so tenderly and without illusions how perfect and frail, strong and delicate, angry and sad this condition is.”
Weekendavisen, Denmark
”Long before Per Petterson’s international success Out Stealing Horses, he had created his very own universe and set the tone. It is evident in the novel Echoland, which is a small gem about a boy’s life’s sensation of heaven and sea, body and power and a family’s unspoken tensions … The experience of being a boy … is remarkably well understood and portrayed. This is quite simply a true depiction, you feel while reading.”
Politiken, Denmark
”About a month ago, his first book Ashes in My Mouth, Sand in My Shoes from 1987 was published, and already today Echoland from 1989 is released. With the translation of these books, Batzer & Co. has created a beautiful circle around this small, but in an artistic sense great Norwegian body of work … This is a literary work of art of the most vivid kind.”
Kristeligt Dagblad, Denmark
”Both novels [ Echoland and Ashes in My Mouth, Sand in My Shoes] are small gems, that nuanced and nicely capture a boy’s life … when you yourself have experienced the joy [of reading the book], your only wish will be to pass it on to others: A day in the sun with little Arvid.”
Berlingske Tidende, Denmark
”Strong and beautiful about powerless dreams”
Information, Denmark
“ASHES IN MY MOUTH, SAND IN MY SHOES and ECHOLAND are books that avoid all unnecessary ornaments. As in Hemingway’s writing, the principle is to show in order to tell. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a powerful current of unspoken feelings and stories below the surface, only that these to a large extent must be spotted between the lines … These two books show that Petterson is much more than his successful novel OUT STEALING HORSES. From the very beginning the author was writing with spark and passion.”
Sentura, Denmark
“Let this be said right away: This is great writing.”
Fædrelandsvennen
“His language is dense, intense and vivid, and the conflicts he describes, in his masculine, rough and bashful manner, are dramatic and complicated.”
Nationen
“Both in style and in intimacy with his characters, he is unique. Petterson has brought literature about children a big step forward.”
Klassekampen
“A genuine, finely crafted piece of prose.”
Dagbladet
