Norway’s huge sovereign wealth fund fueled by oil revenues reached more dizzying heights last year, also in the midst of the Corona crisis. It now tops an international list as the biggest in the world, despite the government’s biggest withdrawals ever to fund crisis aid packages. Figures released last week by the Sovereign Wealth Fund […]
Exploring the new and old Drammen
October 16, 2020
Tell your Norwegian friends you’re going on a mini-holiday in Drammen during these Corona times of restricted travel, and they’ll most likely roll their eyes. Also likely: They don’t know what they’re missing, because Drammen is a place off Norway’s tourism radar and where out-of towners seldom think to stop and stay. Drammen used to […]
Norway hails rebel-author Bjørneboe
October 8, 2020
KRISTIANSAND: Norwegians are marking 100 years of their controversial author Jens Bjørneboe (1920-1976), who spent much of his brief but noisy life challenging authorities and conventions with memorable passion. Special events honouring Bjørneboe have been taking place around the country all year, culminating on October 9, which would have been Bjørneboe’s 100th birthday. Even his native […]
Molde celebrates jazz despite Corona
July 13, 2020
Molde Jazz was opening Monday in a scaled-down version, even though it’s celebrating its 60th anniversary. Corona restrictions will limit audiences in Molde, with veteran Karin Krog expecting that she’ll be singing for about as many people at this festival as she did at the first one in 1960. Krog, now 83 years old herself, […]
New ‘Knerten’ movie rides to the rescue
July 3, 2020
Norwegian cinemas are hoping that Knerten, a piece of wood with a strong personality, will help carry them through a difficult summer season. While numerous movie launches have been delayed because of the Corona crisis, the latest sequel to the popular Knerten series for children will make its premiere earlier than planned, to meet a […]
Oslo’s new library draws good reviews
June 19, 2020
Architecture critics are hailing Oslo’s new city library, which officially opened on Thursday under the new name Deichman Bjørvika. It’s a lively statement of a new strategy for libraries, according to newspaper Klassekampen. It fits every ideal for a modern library, wrote newspaper Aftenposten. Reviewers disagree, however, on whether the actual book collection has the […]
Oslo opens ‘largest bookshelf’ to visitors
June 12, 2020
It’s been in the works for more than a decade, enduring controversy, unforeseen building problems, budget overruns and a pandemic. On June 18th Oslo’s new main library was finally opening to the public, under the new name Deichman Bjørvika. Close to NOK 2.5 billion has gone into the project, which Oslo’s City government at one […]
Last chapter for iconic ‘book boat’
June 10, 2020
Politicians in the newly-merged Vestland county in western Norway have decided that a unique floating library known as Epos will never again bring books, plays and other fun to children in remote coastal areas. The bitterly criticized decision to shut it down mirrors the complexities of Norway’s controversial regional reform. “This is a scandalous cultural […]
‘Outsider king’ remains readers’ darling
May 27, 2020
Author Ingvar Ambjørnsen has been called a king of outsiders, skillfully governing his expanding world of less fortunate, downtrodden characters through a writing career that spans four decades. Now he’s back with the most successful outsider of them all: A lonely, reclusive, neurotic, opinionated, detail-obsessed fellow by the name of Elling, who now is having […]
Bridge over ‘Hell’ wins new friends
May 18, 2020
A half-forgotten hanging bridge in the hills above Oslo has been saved from demolition following a well-timed social media campaign. Its rescuers won’t be able to use it anytime soon, however, until its owner Statnett can see what shape it’s in. The spectacular footbridge hangs 13 meters above the roaring rapids of Bjørnsjøhelvete – “Bear […]
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