Edward Piercy

Gronland og detektiv litteratur

Friday, 9. March 2007, 20:50:24

Julia Ormond in Smilla's Sense of Snow.
One thing I do know, no native Greenlander would ever wear
a crappy Euro anorak like the one Ormond has on.

I'm sure that if I didn't get that post title right, Allan will let me
know very quickly if he stops by.

Before I developed my cultural interest in Greenland and the arctic in
school, I read Peter Hoeg's novel Smilla's Sense of Snow -- in translation,
of course. It was a very unusual and mesmerizing crime detection novel. They
also made a movie out of it, but I haven't seen it yet. Maybe now that I have
my new DVD player I can rent it. Along with a couple hundred other movies
I seem to have missed over the past decade.

One note on the movie, though. It was directed by Billie August. Now you
think if you were going to do what may be the movie featuring Greenland
over the next decade, that you maybe would get Lars von Trier to do it. He's not
only Danish, but one of the greatest film directors in the world. In any case
that would have been the ideal combination, in my opinion. As it was, the movie
didn't get very good reviews. But I'm going to watch it anyway.

Highly recommended reading for the book, though. I can't give it a full
review simply because it's been too long since I read it. But if I were
to rate it informally, I would give it a 4 out of 5 GU P.M.P.I. rating.

Hoeg has also written other works that are not crime novels. He's really
closer to a literary writer than a genre novelist, if my perception is
correct.

My DesktopOn "Heroism"

Comments

Allan # 9. March 2007, 23:33

It´s not every day you meet someone interested in Danish language and literature - except for Danes of course. That´s interesting

You got the title of the post right - except for the one letter you don´t have on your keyboard. And for the fact that it´s uncommon in Danish to use big initial letters in headlines. To be absolutely correct it would read:

Grønland og detektiv litteratur

I think you should watch that film now you have that dvd player - but brace yourself; I fear you´ll be disappointed. You could make a review in an upcoming post, if you wish.

Oh, just one thing more: I don´t think it´s an anorak that this pretty woman is wearing. It looks more like a (fake) polar jacket of some kind. An anorak will not open in the front - only a bit at the upper part of the chest. And the opening wouldn´t look like that - methinks

Edward Piercy # 9. March 2007, 23:44

You are right about the anorak. I just used the Inuit word. The "thing" she has on suits Paris Hilton, but is hardly fit for 30 degrees below zero.

Seeing as orthography is as important as spelling, I'm removing the inital caps. As you note I dont have the right "o" on the keyboard -- I assume that was what you were referring to???

Thanks for your help with the language!

And, BTW, and IMO, Denmark is one of the most interesting and coolest of all European countries, really of any country out there. I've felt that since my research dealing wiht the Danish Polar Center doing the Greenland stuff; and in paricular developing an admiration for H. J. Rink, an administartor in Greenland in the 19th century who was one of the most culturally perceptive thinkers I have ran into as an anthropologist. In fact, I think that he anticipates in a very real way the work of Franz Boas some 30 years later -- Boas being my idol and distant mentor of sorts.

My ideal of the Danes, is one of an essentially rational and cool-headed people. but who are nonetheless rather on the existential side. People who, in other words, could go out on a photographic walk and see a wave come up, and think about it, and really get something out of it.

As opposed to the guy in the SUV.

Of course, I know you have your problems over there, too. Nothing is perfect. I read about Conservative impulses over there just as I see them here.

Allan, thank you so much for your coming by over the months. I always look forward to both your posts and your comments on mine. As such, it is both an honor and a pleasure to deal with your difficult and wonderful language.

Allan # 10. March 2007, 08:31

Objection!

Don´t consider it an honour that I read your stuff. You´re one of the people who actually write - and write damned good, too! Also you bring up issues and fiction which are out of the ordinary.

If I should explain to someone unfamiliar with the Blogosphere why I am into that - you would probably be the example I would use.

In other words: It´s me who has the honour.

Thanks for the clarification as to why you´re interested in Denmark. I undestand why, then. These are good ambassadors.

And thanks for the grand compliment. I will save that for darker times.

Edward Piercy # 10. March 2007, 08:57

You betcha! And as a special post, for you, another of my Barber Shop things that you seem to like.

I should have it up by tomorrow, if not sooner. A new idea occured to me.