Are you in the mood for a quiet book? Try Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. To be honest, the only reason I picked it up is because my grandmother was Norwegian-American. I wanted to get a glimpse of Norwegian culture. I did. Great book.
I should warn you that my talkative Irish-American wife was highly frustrated by a Norwegian-American novel called Giants in the Earth. She'll pull her hair out if she reads Out Stealing Horses. Norwegians are not a chatty bunch. The book is meandering and reflective, much like our thoughts when we are alone for awhile. If you are in that mood, then you'll love the book.
My family has traced its Norwegian roots back to the 1700s. We have 3rd cousins by the dozens in Norway. This book makes me want to take a trip there, but it also prepares me for what would probably be a rather understated welcome back to the home turf.
