Magma

A Novel

Twenty-year-old Lilja is in love. As a young university student, she is quickly smitten with the intelligent, beautiful young man from school who quotes Derrida and reads Latin and cooks balanced vegetarian meals. Before she even realizes, she's moved in with him, living in his cramped apartment, surrounded by sour towels and flat Diet Cokes. As the newfound intimacy of sharing a shower and a bed fuels her desire to please her partner, his acts of nearly imperceptible abuse continue to mount undetected. Lilja desperately tries to be the perfect lover, attempting to meet his every need. But in order to do so, she gradually lets go of her boundaries and starts to lose her sense of self.

With astounding clarity and restraint, Hjörleifsdottir sheds light on the commonplace undercurrents of violence that so often go undetected in romantic relationships. She deftly illustrates the failings of psychiatric systems in recognizing symptoms of cruelty and in powerful, poetic prose depicts the unspooling of a tenderhearted woman desperate to love well.

Contains mature themes.

©2019 Thóra Hjörleifsdóttir; English translation copyright 2021 by Meg Matich (P)2021 Tantor

oof

If you weren't her, weren't almost her, you likely knew her. Well done. ouch.

stunning

beautifully tragic story - one many of us can relate to. TW: SELF HARM, NARCISSISTIC ABUSE

Short and Interesting

I went into this story completely oblivious and got quite the unexpected shock. I found it fairly interesting and binged it while cleaning. To whoever said a lot of women go through this, I hope y'all are okay and seek help and glad I never experienced this whirlwind of emotions and actions centered around a dude. I enjoyed the short read though.

How can such a short book hit so hard?

I would love to read a longer version of this, but despite how short it was it was definitely complete. It paints an all too familiar portrait of love that is rarely talked about. I felt like I was reading a diary.

Short but moving

This book is short but intense. I was amazed at how much character development occurred in such a short span. I will look for more by Thora H.