Knud Romer

”Musik var smerte – ikke lyst – og jo bedre man spillede, desto mere gjorde det ondt.” (135)

Jeg synes det var synd for jeg-fortælleren at hun skulle al den lidelse igennem, men havde svært ved at komme ind i hendes hoved. Romanen var så kort og strakte sig samtidig over så mange år at jeg aldrig rigtig havde greb om hvad hendes situation var og hvorfor hun udviklede sig som hun gjorde.

En bekendt sagde engang til mig at hun ikke så ballet fordi hun tænkte på hvad danserne var blevet udsat for som børn for at kunne danse så godt. Det er den spørgen sig selv om det er det værd, jeg sidder tilbage med i forhold til klassisk musik.

Og romanskrivningen generelt, hvis vi skal tro Knud Romer, interviewed af Nanna Mogensen: https://www.dr.dk/lyd/p1/skoenlitteratur-pa-p1/skoenlitteratur-pa-p1-2021-10-20). Det gør jeg ikke, men det var et godt interview.… (more)

The childhood recollections of the author, brought up in a small town in 60s Denmark, start out relatively lightly. Memories of his eccentric relatives: Father, who worked in an insurance office and was compulsively careful; Granddad, whose grandiose business schemes always fell flat. But as the book progresses, we become increasingly aware of Romer's German heritage, through his Mother. Although she had worked against the Nazis, the whole family face persecution in Denmark. Romer recalls trying to spare her the pain he went through at school, telling her jolly stories about his activities:
"And it was all lies. For the day had been spent being a German pig, hiding in the breaks, hiding my packed lunch, my bike, my clothes. For everything I had they poured scorn on, even on her name....I was never able to bring myself to tell Mother and diverted her as best I could. And she would look at me and slowly open her hand, and into its palm I placed what I had and hoped that it was enough."
Well-written memoir by a victim of racism… (more)