Interviewing Lars Mytting at the Featherston Book Town Festival in May this year was a real treat. I’m a big fan, have read all his books, love the mix of engineering precision and intimate family saga in his writing, and so I jumped at the offer of being “on the couch” with Norway’s most famous literary woodsman, hoping he would be as interesting as his books. And he so was! The man is a joy to talk with and an absolute honey.
We talked about growing up in Norway and deer shooting in Featherston, old stories hidden beneath the new, things underground, and a bit of dark rural gothic, woodpiles, fame, herding cows, Saxon feet and old Norwegian ways to drink coffee. We talked about his character Kai Sweigaard realising that the future will judge us, and the truth behind the co-joined twins. I asked about his latest book, set in Norway during WWII and he was extraordinarily open about the evolution of shared histories between Germany and Norway and the pain of the misappropriation of legends and symbols that powered the Nazi regime. Just wow.
I walked out of that session and was mobbed by an audience who had been totally entranced and engaged by this gentle Norwegian and his way of describing his world and his philosophy of life. Then they all rushed off to the signing table.
I’ve reviewed Lars’ books over the years: The Sixteen Trees of the Somme, The Bell in The Lake, The Reindeer Hunters, The Night of the Scourge, so do have a read if you’re interested in Scandi stories, (the densely plotted historical mystery kind, rather than the noir-psycho-killer kind).
If you haven’t got Norwegian Wood on your bookshelves at home I might respectfully suggest your home is just slightly under-stocked. It’s one of the few books that anyone can pick up and immediately feel warm. All those comforting wood piles.
Here’s an author who was very generous with his audience and I loved this interveiw. Do have a listen.
This interview was part of Featherston Book Town 2025, celebrating their 10th fabulous year of this small town big heart festival.
Cristina Sanders' blog 