Denmark: Mirror, Shoulder, Signal

Mirror, Shoulder, Signal by Dorthe Nors is a coming of middle age story, and maybe the world needs more of these. Sonja lives in Copenhagen and translates Swedish detective stories. She’s feeling stuck. She is also trying to learn to drive (hence the title) while dealing with vertigo and trying to figure out the next half of her life.

Midlife and existential crises are so common and yet seem to have no real resolution other than, well, resolving to get through them without being too ridiculous. Everyone around Sonja seems to be having a similar crisis, in some form or another, and so no one is really able to help her. It’s complicated by trying to hide her real and metaphorical vertigo.

I loved the writing but was disappointed that Sonja’s resolution seems so ordinary. Although, maybe it has its own sense of radicalism. The book also grapples a lot with rural/urban divides, as great in Denmark as they are (or as they are portrayed) in the United States. I referred to maps a lot while reading this, giving me a sense of Denmark’s geography. I’ve never been there.

Maybe someday. I am a fan of amusement parks, so I really enjoyed the mentions of the Tivoli Gardens. They are now on my list.