Nice and Quiet

It is September and scorching hot – as hot as it was in September three years ago, back when Eva left him. Since then, K has moved from Ålesund to Oslo, where he has had his breakthrough as a painter. He is trying to forget Eva, but the heat bring about memories, and a enquiry and some outstanding tax forces K to see that what he wants to paint is life is distorted, and it is a distortion which goes on ceaselessly.

Nice and Quiet is a triangular love drama and an artist novel, an original and peculiar book which looks to show the ambivalence and paradoxes of existence, the longing for being seen and still remain anonymous, the wish for freedom, but also for demands. Like this an unexpected whirl of guilt and responsibilities is created, described with sincerity and humour.

”Agonising and confident about art and jealousy”
(Dagbladet)

”With Nice and Quiet, Marit Tusvik demonstrates that she is one of few. Nice and Quiet is an unusually impressive and aspiring novel – a downright work of art”
(Stavanger Aftenblad)

”Well written and unaffected about art, love and the search for a core … between what is witty and what is painful, what gives a sense of belonging and at the same time a sense of being alone, and the wish to understand and at the same time the fear of what might turn up”
(Aftenposten)

”A novel which in a grand manner shows the artist as a small man”
(Dag og Tid)

”Luminously well written”
(VG)

First Published: 2002, Forlaget Oktober
Marit Tusvik: biography and bibliography