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Nutmeg

Nutmeg

by KristinValla (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2002

    $3.27
Synopsis

Gabriel Angelico was born during a storm with his heart and all his other organs on the wrong side of his body. He lives in a mountain town in Venezuela and his life's dream is to see the sea. One day, he climbs the tallest mountain in the area to catch a glimpse of the sea, but all he sees are more mountains. When a sensitive young Norwegian woman, Klara Jorgenson, appears in the town, Gabriel's life is changed forever. Klara must choose between her soulmate, Gabriel, and William Penn, the reliable, loving Norwegian man she has been living with on an island off the coast of Venezuela. When Klara chooses security and moves back to Norway with William to marry and start a family, Gabriel's organs slowly and painfully migrate to the right side of his body before he eventually dies. Nutmeg is used as a metaphor for love. In Venezuela, Klara pines for the seasons, and and a Scandinavian Christmas. When she learns to bake Christmas biscuits, she is taught that nutmeg has a lovely scent, but a bitter aftertaste. If you use too much of it, it intoxicates or poisons you. Like love, it casts a spell or makes you sick. This is a simple tale, told with great empathy and clarity of language. Rich with loving imagery and insightful description, the book is a tender exploration of human tragedies.

$3.27

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 224
 Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Published: 14 Nov 2002
ISBN 10: 0297607618
ISBN 13: 9780297607618
Book Overview: Moving first novel by gifted young Norwegian journalist. Written with the passion and beauty of Alessandro Barrico's SILK

Media Reviews
Gabriel Angelico is born with his heart and all his other organs on the wrong side of his body, and from the age of six decides to ignore the fact. He lives in Venezuela in a mountain town and he longs to see the sea. To this end he climbs up the mountains but without success. What changes Gabriel's life (by now he's a professor) is the arrival of a Norwegian woman called Klara. She eventually has to decide between him and her reliable Norwegian with whom she has been living for some time. When she chooses the latter, Gabriel's organs slowly and painfully move over to the right side of his body and eventually he dies. It is essentially a simple tale told with great feeling and sympathy. At the end one can only hope that some of Gabriel's ashes do reach the sea he so longed to visit. A distinguished and gentle first novel.
Author Bio
Kristin Valla was born in 1975 in Moi i Rana in the north of Norway. She studied French at the University of Oslo and then spent two years in Venezuela studying Spanish language and literature. She also studied at the Norwegian School of Journalism and worked with Dagbladet, a leading Norwegian broadsheet. She is a full-time writer and freelance journalist and is currently working on her second novel.