Is Mother Dead

By: Vigdis Hjorth

Narrated by: Kim Bretton

A cat and mouse game of surveillance and psychological torment develops between a middle-aged artist and her aging mother, as Vigdis Hjorth returns to the themes of her controversial modern classic, Will and Testament

'To mother is to murder, or close enough', thinks Johanna, as she looks at the spelling of the two words in Norwegian. She's recently widowed and back in Oslo after a long absence as she prepares for a retrospective of her art. The subject of her work is motherhood and some of her more controversial paintings have brought about a dramatic rift between parent and child. This new proximity, after decades of acrimonious absence, set both women on edge, and before too long Johanna finds her mother stalking her thoughts, and Johanna starts stalking her mother's house.

©2020 Cappelen Damm (P)2023 Tantor

So real, absorbing & compelling

I loved reading this book and also Vigdis Hjorth’s other book Will & Testament.

The best part for me is the forensic approach taken to family dynamics.

It is so real that I had to keep reminding myself that it is fiction.

I kept going back to listen to sections to really absorb the interpersonal concepts.

It felt like a therapy session. I made notes too.

At the same time this was a compelling story of the relationships between a woman and her mother and sister.

I would read any and all books written by Vigdis Hjorth.

Thank you for this amazing and enriching book.

Excellent narration.