British star writer Deborah Levy has been compared to Rachel Cusk and Annie Ernaux. Now her genre-breaking memoir trilogy is finally being published in Danish.
Deborah Levy finds herself in a life crisis. She has started crying every time she stands on an escalator and decides to travel to Mallorca to get away. From the winter-cold holiday island, she thinks back on her life. On childhood in South Africa during apartheid, where her father is imprisoned for his support of the ANC. On her youth in England, where the writer's dream begins to sprout. And how as a woman you have to find your voice, speak loudly and demand your place in the world.
Things I don't want to know is a feminist response to George Orwell's famous essay 'Why I Write' from 1946 and is the first part of Deborah Levy's award-winning memoir trilogy, in which, based on her own history and her life in the 40s, 50s and the 60s reflect insightfully and vividly on past and present, women's roles, family, politics, literature, love and friendship.
The trilogy became an international phenomenon, praised for its elegant, genre-breaking style and called a modern coming-of-middle-age. She herself calls it 'A Living Autobiography', a 'living autobiography', written while life rages around her and not in the clear light of reflection.
"Levy is simultaneously writing her own life story and at the same time the story of all women who have ever wanted to write." ♥♥♥♥♥ Politi ken
"Close to perfect. Levy writes crisply... with both subtle humor and self-insight. A sparkling piece of memoir.« ★★★★★ Ekstra Bladet
» Things I don't want to know is a book that you read quickly but don't stop to think about... Deborah Levy writes such polished sentences that you hardly notice how elegantly she lets her images of language turn and turn throughout the book , which consisted of the objects of memory of chemical compounds.' Information
"Elegantly structured ... In Levy's memoir trilogy, the seed is laid for a new kind of women's history." Weekend newspaper
"Memories rarely come flowing in one flowing, uninterrupted movement; they hack their way through a consciousness that grows with what is happening. It is the duality that Deborah Levy succeeds in rendering so well in Things I will not know ." ★★★★ Jyllands-Posten
» Love it! Will read anything by Deborah Levy. She makes me want to write exactly as I write. She makes me want to read instead of sleep. Want to write everything I want to share but doesn't fit. She makes me want to never fit in but still make room for the misfit and inappropriate. Deborah! Drink my tea! Braid my hair! Tell me a story! Fark!” Lucia Odoom
"The little book Things I don't want to know is a magnificent novel with passages that are absolutely magnificently written. I can't wait to read more by Deborah Levy!” Book Review
"It is 144 pages of beautiful and poetic language that are the framework of this first volume in Deborah Levy's autobiographical trilogy. It is in every way a powerful and thought-provoking read ... A vivid tale of life for better and for worse, finding oneself and place in life, longings, revisiting the past, dreams, doubts, hopes and a life lived - Deborah's life as we come very close in her portrayal here. Huge recommendation for those who want to read a literary treat. Touching and engrossing therefore: 🤎🤎🤎🤎⬆️/5. "Book joy
"I read most of this book one night, I couldn't really sleep anyway. It left me with a strong urge to find something real , something true, whatever that is. Face things, confront me with life... The book is clear in its purpose, even if it is packed with intellectual references. All in all, a huge recommendation.' Anne reads books
The trilogy consists of
Things I don't want to know
Cost of living
Real estate
The author
Deborah Levy (b. 1959 in South Africa) is an award-winning author, poet and playwright. She made her novel debut in 1989 and has since published a large number of novels, short story collections, poetry collections and plays. She was associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company as a playwright for a number of years and has twice been shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize for the novels Swimming Home (2013) and Hot Milk (2016). She has received several awards for her trilogy, including the distinguished Prix Femina.
