Derek B. Miller’s NORWEGIAN BY NIGHT
June 9, 2012 at 12:03 pm 16 comments
I have never been so emotionally moved by a thriller before. This is a sad and beautiful novel that I absolutely loved. The main character of the book, Sheldon Horowitz, is an 82 year-old man who is trapped by fragile memories, devastating grief and an overwhelming desire to set things right. He is haunted by the death of his son in Vietnam and whether or not he was responsible for sending his son to war.
Sheldon’s wife of many years has recently passed away. His granddaughter, concerned that Sheldon maybe be suffering from dementia convinces him to leave New York and move in with her and her husband in their apartment in Oslo. When he witnesses the murder of a young woman he is compelled to make sure the woman’s son is protected and sets off on a seemingly impossible mission.
This is like no other literary thriller. I think another writer would have taken a harder edge to this story. Sheldon is an ex-Marine who served in Korea and this could easily have been about a toughened ex-soldier who becomes a hero one last time. But Derek Miller has created a different type of fictional hero. An endearing hero whose spirit and sadness not only engulfs you as a reader but warms you too. Sheldon is not a toughened ex-soldier he is a person whose world has been shaped and tested by the events in his life and wants to try and set them right. His humour and sadness is mistaken as cynicism and old age by those who love him (including you). Not only does this book emotionally haunt you it is also a gripping and tense thriller with an ending that will leave you gasping for breath and wiping away a tear or two.
I also love the fact that this being published in Australia before the UK and US (it has been published in Norwegian). Hats off to Henry Rosenbloom at Scribe who has personally edited and typeset this book so Scribe could be ahead of the pack. There is no need to worry about the 30/90 day rule or 14/14 days when you publish first and I hope Australian booksellers get behind this wonderful novel because we’re going to have an English language exclusive for several months on a truly brilliant book.
Read my interview with the author here
Entry filed under: Book Reviews. Tags: books, dementia, grief, Jewish, Korean War, Norway, thriller, vietnam war.
1.
Bookish | June 9, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Looks like I will NEED to read this one.
2.
PM Newton (@pmnewton) | June 9, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Sounds like a good role for Clint Eastwood. Much in the mold of his Gran Torino character. Wonder if he’s bought the rights.
3.
Jon Page | June 9, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Not sure Clint could pull off the Jewish side of the role
4.
Maxine | June 10, 2012 at 5:51 am
Maybe Mel Gibson?
5.
Jon Page | June 10, 2012 at 11:12 am
Oh dear!
6.
Maxine | June 10, 2012 at 2:09 am
Sounds like a good book – but you don’t mention the translator by name in your review. I’ll check it out whenever it wends its way to the UK!
7.
Maxine | June 10, 2012 at 5:51 am
OK, I’ve now found out it isn’t translated, but written by an American, sorry!
8.
Jon Page | June 10, 2012 at 11:13 am
Yeah interestingly it was translated and published in Norwegian first
9.
JOEL MILLER | June 10, 2012 at 8:25 am
Jon Page has truly captured the essence of this novel. Having read an English version of “Norwegian By Night” by Derek B. Miller, I could not have critique it better.
10.
Jon Page | June 10, 2012 at 11:11 am
Thanks Joel
11.
favel parrett | June 11, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Sounds incredible – on the top of my list
12.
JWS | June 22, 2012 at 4:04 am
My understanding was written by Derek originally in Norwegian. I’ve read it in English for a review. It’s brilliant. The most interesting debut for several years.
13.
Jon Page | June 22, 2012 at 9:11 am
Thanks for the comments. It is a great book. Apparently he originally wrote the book in English had it translated into Norwegian and published in Norway first. He has since revised it and changed the title many times for the English publication
14.
BOOK CHEWING: My Interview with Derek B. Miller author of NORWEGIAN BY NIGHT « Bite The Book – Book Reviews and Industry Views | July 30, 2012 at 6:40 pm
[...] Norwegian By Night is an absolutely amazing book. On the surface you could be mistaken thinking this is another crime novel in a Scandinavian setting, but it’s not. Derek B. Miller has written a novel that explores loss, both memory and emotional and also introduce readers to a fictional hero that will live on in your imagination long after you read the final page. Read my review of the book here. [...]
15.
BOOK BITES: Norwegian By Night by Derek B. Miller « Bite The Book – Book Reviews and Industry Views | August 15, 2012 at 3:23 pm
[...] Read my book review here [...]
16.
My Top 5 Reads for 2012 « Bite The Book – Book Reviews and Industry Views | November 20, 2012 at 8:48 am
[...] 4. NORWEGIAN BY NIGHT by Derek B. Miller [...]