Norwegian by Night

By: Derek B. Miller

Narrated by: Sean Mangan

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Sheldon Horowitz - 82 years old, impatient, and unreasonable - is staying with his granddaughter's family in Norway when he disappears with a stranger's child. Sheldon is an ex-Marine, and he feels responsible for his son's death in Vietnam. Recently widowed and bereft, he talks to the ghosts of his past constantly.

To Norway's cops, Sheldon is just an old man who is coming undone at the end of a long and hard life. But Sheldon is clear in his own mind. He'd heard the boy's eastern European mother being murdered, and he's determined to protect the child from the killer and his Balkan gang. With an endearing combination of dexterity and daring, Sheldon manages to elude the police in what is hostile, foreign territory for him. But what he doesn't know is that the police and the gang both know where he's heading.

Norwegian by Night is the last adventure of a man coming to terms with the tragedy of his own life as he tries to save another's. It combines laconic, deadpan humour, moral seriousness, visceral grief, and narrative tensions in a remarkable way - and Sheldon, in particular, is about to become a famous fictional hero.

©2012 Derek B. Miller (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Norwegian by Night ‘may just be the Australian publishing coup of the decade, for this is a very powerful novel indeed, and Sheldon Horowitz is an absolutely unforgettable hero....A novel that will last and, soon enough, will be added to that canon of those finer works that transcend mere genre." (Jonathan Dawson, Sunday Tasmanian)

"To say this is an enigmatic read would be the understatement of the season." ( Courier Mail)

In depth, sometimes slow, but masterful

The story builds very gradually and delivers in the end. Lots of backstory for the characters, making for an incredibly rich narrative. Sometimes I was a bit anxious and impatient for new events in the story to progress, as it waivers between places and time, and leaves big moments dangling. But the narrative restraint was well woven and gave a nice look into concurrent activities.

Norwegian by Night - Fargo, The Epitaph

What does Sean Mangan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sean Mangan's dialect and pronunciation of the Norwegian words and characters is simply priceless. While you may wonder in reading the book what the Norwegian phrases and nouns sound like, Sean brings the entire book to life through his pronunciation. His dual tone reading of Sheldon Horowitz and his "ghosts" and recollections makes the narrative very easy to follow and appreciate..His character reading and interpretation of Sheldon elevates this character to the level the author intended.

If you could take any character from Norwegian by Night out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Sheldon Horowitz for his character, wit, and his uncanny acumen on humanity.

Any additional comments?

The Coen Brothers would do well to consider bringing this book to the silver screen. It might have the capabilities to become the next Fargo - or a foreign sequel to Fargo. This is beyond doubt one of the best books I have listened to on Audible.

Excellent

Wonderful story. Beautifully descriptive prose. Sheldon is a fascinating character...proud, stubborn, cranky, smart and full of torment. A great read or listen.

I couldn't put it down.

Seriously! It was that good. The ending was not what I hoped for ; though it was poignant.

Sean Managan did a great job on the reading. Get this book. You won't regret it.

Gripping and poetic

Brilliant! This book has everything. Culture. Humor. Suspense. Social commentary. Poetry. Family.
The story of aging in the new millennium. It's not for sissies!!
The narrator was good.
I thought the flash backs to the Korea war and Vietnam war were painful to listen to, but I guess that was the point, and they were necessary for the story.

Good Story, Poor Narration

The narrator mispronounced the name of the protagonist's son (Soul instead of Saul). Also gave British pronunciation for the words "been" and " against". Jarring and annoying to listen to. Book itself was good, however.

Captain Dementia

I have watched many loved ones suffer through the ugly unforgiving agony of this disease. But now I have a new vision. Sheldon. Now I can smile, because there may be a hero like Sheldon behind those vacant eyes. This book has changed me forever. Thank you, Mr. Miller!

Excellent story and performance

Interesting story about an 82 year old Jewish Marine from the Korean War relocated to Norway where he befriends a young Serbian boy and saves after they witness the murder of boy’s mother. Narration was excellent and provided good sense of life through the old man’s eyes.

Mezmerizing

Loved this story of an elderly, ex-Marine dealing with a form of PTSD, cultural shock, disorientation and still manages to be a hero.

Loved 95%

Oh why! For a book that was detailed and could paint such pictures, to end that way was not congruent or worthy. However, serious nod to the humor that was peppered throughout this awesome book makes me recommend it not to mention the thought provoking themes. Loved two of the characters- loved them! I want a series dedicated just to Chief Inspector Odegard.