Member Reviews
Posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6575989800
Brightly Shining is a Christmas story about two sisters, Ronja and Melissa, and their struggles with an alcoholic and perpetually unemployed father. A kindly neighbor plants a seed about a job selling Christmas trees in Ronja's mind for her father, who wrestles daily with his parental responsibilities and temptations of addiction, often putting the job (and his family) at risk. The sisters boldly take matters into their own hands, working at the stand and charming customers, managing to take care of themselves and their father, while staying under the radar of child services. There are glimpses of dreams past and future of wanting a better life. The story is told from a child's perspective and is heartwarming and honest. It's far from an idyllic Christmas story yet is raw and honest about the maladies that besiege many families. The language is sometimes whimsical, incorporating subtle elements of magical realism to depict the strength of sisterhood, the kindness of strangers, how family can be created through community, and how one can find humor and tenderness in any situation if they so choose.
Beautifully written and translated story set around Christmas time.
Shattering, because parents are awful (or they can be) yet hopeful, because it takes a lot to have a child despair.
Seen through the eyes of a 10 year old, this book tells the story of two sisters and a father in the days leading up to Christmas. The opening pages are innocent enough but soon it becomes rather clear that pasta with ketchup is a daily dinner - that is: if there’s money for food. It’s also clear that yes, Dad does love them very much, but there’s something in the world that he just loves more.
I don’t want to give anything away, as I started reading it without any knowledge at all and that made for such a discovering read.
I always marvel at book that have such easy sentences in them, that are so sharp and clear they cut like knives. This book is full of them, and only after I finished I realised not ONE gave me pause, meaning not ONE sentence felt like it was translated.
I've shelved it at Goodreads as "buy"
3.5★s
Brightly Shining is a Christmas-themed novella by prize-winning Norwegian author, Ingvild Rishoi. It is translated by Caroline Waight. In the Norwegian town of Toyen, ten-year-old Macaronja and her sixteen-year-old sister, Melissa are saddled with a chronically unemployed father. The widower loves his daughters, but he’s weak. It might be grief that sees him in bars in the company of dissolute characters and (possibly loose) women, drinking more and for longer than is compatible with keeping a job.
This puts the sisters under threat of intervention by social services, something that Ronja has seen happen to other children, and thus dreads. But there are adults watching out for the girls, concerned for their welfare. In November, one of these has a suggestion for a job for their father: Christmas tree seller.
It all goes well for a while: there’s food on the table and Dad is in his responsible phase. It comes apart when he gets an advance from his employer, ostensibly for Christmas gifts and treats, much of which is spent when Dad gives in to the temptation one of his drinking pals presents.
When he fails to turn up for the job, Melissa decides the only way to cover the debt is to work his job herself, before school and in the evenings. It leaves her exhausted, and Ronja lonely. Hanging around the tree-selling site allows Ronja to avoid her drunken father and their nosy neighbour, and is tolerated by Melissa’s manager, and soon Ronja’s cuteness is selling product. But the owner, Herman Eriksen is an ogre who objects to Ronja’s participation and even her presence: she is banned.
Rishoi paints a fairly realistic picture of a family in crisis, very sad and moving. As Ronja connects and begins to trust those who care for her, there’s plenty to like about this tale, but as the situation deteriorates, it seems like the author paints herself into a corner, and resorts to magic realism for a resolution that is rather unsatisfactory but apparently appeals to many, given the high ratings. Beautifully written.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Grove Atlantic
📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Norway is a truly magical place, powered by nature and deep in lore of trolls and Norse mythology. For sisters, Ronja and Melissa, this Christmas season is bleak and it is a struggle for their family to even keep food on the table. A new job selling
Christmas trees provides a glimmer of promise for a merrier holiday season until they are let down by their father yet again. Doing the best she can in a desolate situation, Melissa takes over the job. Brightly Shining is a exquisite and uniquely told Christmas tale about finding hope in even when life has got you down. This is such an enchanting Christmas tale that is certainly worthy of a revisit every year.
Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!