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The Guardian
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘A different philosophy of things': how Solvej Balle got ahead of Groundhog Day's time
If you've heard about Solvej Balle's On the Calculation of Volume I, longlisted for this year's International Booker prize, you may have experienced a sensation that is central to the Danish writer's brand of philosophical speculative fiction: deja vu. In Balle's five-book opus (of a planned septology), the first three of which won the prestigious Nordic Council literature prize in 2022, someone wakes up to find they are reliving the same day over and over. Their partner, family, neighbours: they all experience this day for the first time in their life. Only the protagonist has been there before. That person is a woman called Tara rather than a man called Phil, and the day is 18 November rather than 2 February, but the plot resemblance to Groundhog Day is striking. The only thing is: Balle got there first. When Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil hit the big screen in 1993, the kernel of Balle's story had already been stewing in her brain for six years. An obsession in her 20s with James Joyce's Ulysses – set entirely on 16 June 1904 – had led her to wonder how much a single day could contain: 'The thing that fascinated me most was the question: how can one day be so voluminous?' She decided on the title in 1989, though she didn't start writing for another 10 years and the first volume wasn't published in Danish for another 20. Watching someone turn her idea into a box-office hit in the meantime was a relief rather than a blow: 'I thought, 'Oh, that's nice, somebody's helped me to do some research and gone in a direction I wasn't going to go anyway.'' Because even when Bill Murray tries to kill himself in increasingly gruesome ways, he keeps on waking the next day. 'That's a very clear body-soul split; his soul just continues all the way through.' In On the Calculation of Volume, the balance of mind and matter is a more cryptic affair: Tara Selter, a rare-book seller in her late 20s living in rural France, may be caught in a time loop, but she's still tied to the material world. Her hair grows, her body ages, a burn on her skin slowly heals. Food she eats is missing from the fridge the next day. There's a rare Roman coin that vanishes and then reappears, a coffee grinder that has to be bought several times before it stays. The parallel universe that Tara has fallen into has 'a different philosophy of things', and the hypnotic appeal of Balle's fiction lies in the fact that her protagonist is not merely a hero seeking to escape a predicament, but an inquiring scientific mind earnestly trying to unravel its fixed laws. Balle herself has moved through life in non-linear ways. Born in 1962 in South Jutland, she has 'done all the things you shouldn't do if you wanted a career'. During her high-school years, she zigzagged between Denmark and Paris, where she first worked as an au pair and then caught the writing bug, hanging out at legendary bookshop Shakespeare and Company. She studied literature for a while and then took a degree in philosophy but didn't finish it until she was 56. Her debut novel Lyrefugl (Lyrebird) was published when she was 22, but it was her 1993 book According to the Law: Four Accounts of Mankind that truly made a mark. A quartet of interlinked philosophical parables that was translated into multiple languages, it turned the heads of literary Copenhagen. 'I remember thinking, this is world literature,' recalls Jes Stein Pedersen, literary editor of Danish broadsheet Politiken. 'It was a truly original voice.' But, in May 2005, Balle swapped the Danish capital for Ærø, a small island with a population of just under 6,000 people in what Danes call the 'rotten banana', the peripheral belt of marshland and islands in the southern part of Denmark. 'I was kind of unhappy with the Danish publishing world, which became more and more commercial, more and more about bestsellers and all that shit.' But she laughs at the idea that she became a recluse and stopped writing, as some critics have claimed. 'Denmark's cultural scene is as centralised as England's: if you move out of Copenhagen, it's almost like dying,' she laughs. 'This idea that I am about to make my comeback is nonsense – I was there all the time.' After publishing a book of art criticism and a political memoir, Balle set up her own publishing house, Pelagraf, in 2011, bringing out two books of short minimalist fiction, If and Then, and the first five parts of her septology. She is dismissive of the suggestion that life on a small island may feel much like the repetitive time loops that her character experiences. 'Here, at least, there's the summer where you're doing certain things and then there's a winter – in the city people do the same things all the time,' she says. 'Nowadays, cities are so much more conventional than the countryside, whereas it used to be the opposite.' She did find it easier to focus on the ever-expanding universe of Tara's 18 November away from the city, she concedes. 'I had to have more space in order to be able to keep all the bits in my head at the same time,' she says. She used to sing in the local choir but had to stop because she couldn't hear so many voices concurrently. 'I can sometimes go for days without seeing anyone.' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion At the beginning of the first volume, Tara is romantically and professionally intertwined with her husband, Thomas, who is also a rare-book dealer, with her scoping out new acquisitions and him managing the sales from home. Tara tells her partner about her predicament, and even amid their confusion they are happy: she likens their relationship to a 'quiet weather system with no natural disasters'. Is On the Calculation of Volume a love story? 'When I started out, I had the feeling that I was writing a love story,' Balle says. 'But was it only a love story? I don't think so.' If her books are an investigation into what is truly essential to the human condition once our routines are hollowed out by repetition, then book one concludes that love isn't it. By the end, Tara has left Thomas behind in the countryside. What Tara truly cannot do without, it turns out, is not the weather system of her matrimonial love, but the actual weather. In book two she travels to southern and northern Europe to recreate the seasonal change that the time loop has taken from her. She becomes increasingly concerned about her consumption of resources and her inability to regrow them. What set out as a love story turns into a parable about humanity's abusive relationship with the natural world. Can the time loop be broken; can Tara escape her fate? In part three, which Faber will publish in English in November, translated as the others have been by Barbara J Haveland, Balle's protagonist encounters other loopers, and there are some shoots of hope. But, by the sound of it, the author herself hasn't found all the answers to the mysteries of the world that have grown inside her head for nigh on four decades. She's currently plugging away at volume six, and wrestling with quantum physics and Epicurus. 'I like the idea that you're allowed to keep your brain while going into a book,' she says. 'I don't know why we've got brains if they can't be part of literature.' On the Calculation of Volume I and II by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J Haveland, is published by Faber. To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Chinese authorities close Uyghur wells
Deusdedit RuhangariyoSpecial to ICT Around the World: Chinese authorities close Uyghur farmers' water wells in southern Xinjiang, Nordic Council launches Arctic program prioritizing local communities, and a funding boost for Aboriginal cultural understanding in Western Australia schools. Water wells deemed illegal by Chinese authorities have been shut down in three Uyghur villages located on the edge of a vast desert in Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia reported on Jan. 21. Those who wished to dig wells were typically required to obtain permits. However, no permits were provided to the farmers, and there were no clear restrictions on constructing wells in the area. The villages, including one named Achchiq, are situated in Yopurgha county, which is part of Kashgar prefecture. The county lies on the western edge of the massive Taklamakan Desert, an area nearly the size of Germany, and is predominantly inhabited by Uyghurs. This news follows an investigation that revealed 46 illegal wells dug in another part of Xinjiang, many of which were constructed by Han Chinese settlers to cultivate cotton and vegetables, significantly depleting water resources. However, authorities have avoided cracking down on those wells. Recent videos shared by Zumrat Dawut, a former detainee of a Uyghur internment camp now living in Virginia, USA, show the demolition of wells constructed by Uyghur farmers in Achchiq village. In the videos, officials can be seen forcing farmers to fill in the wells they had previously dug as part of efforts to tackle the region's ongoing water scarcity crisis. Critics have described the actions as excessive and harmful to the local community. When Radio Free Asia reached out to the security director of Achchiq village for confirmation, he stated that officials had indeed shut down 'illegal' wells in three villages. 'I was involved in closing wells in villages 6, 7, and 8,' he said. The director mentioned that the well closures began in February 2024 but did not provide information about the potential effects on residents. Another security director, based in Terim village in Yopurgha county, also confirmed that wells dug by Uyghurs there had been closed, forcing residents to purchase water from the Bingtuan, officially known as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. An Arctic initiative launched by the Nordic Council will allocate 30 million Danish Kroner (approximately $2.66 million) over the next three years to focus on addressing social, economic and environmental challenges in Arctic regions, The Barents Observer reported on Jan. 25. 'For nearly three decades, the Nordic Council has been involved in Arctic affairs, supporting projects that tackle a wide range of issues,' Secretary General Karen Ellemann said. 'This new programme is an extension of our commitment to strengthening local communities and increasing resilience to climate change.' The programme was announced just ahead of the Arctic Frontiers conference, which begins Jan. 27 in Tromsø, Norway, where the Nordic Arctic programme will officially be launched. Ellemann emphasized the importance of supporting northern communities as they navigate the increasingly complex impacts of environmental changes. 'Climate change is affecting communities in the Arctic, and it's essential that we focus on both the environmental and social aspects of resilience to ensure these communities are better equipped to adapt,' she said. In addition to the broader Arctic programme, the council backed the Arctic Youth Conference, held in Tromsø from Jan. 24 to Jan. 26. Ellemann highlighted the significance of including youth perspectives in the conversation. 'We need to listen to young people who will inherit these challenges,' Ellemann said. 'Their perspectives will help shape the future of the Arctic, and I look forward to hearing from the youth representatives at the conference.' The Nordic Council represents Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Norway, as well as the autonomous regions of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland, an autonomous region of Finland. Cultural awareness efforts are becoming increasingly prominent in classrooms throughout Western Australian schools, driven by the state government's Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) programs, the National Indigenous Times reported on Jan. 25. The 2024-25 Term 4 round of the PALS program was announced on Jan. 24, with the initiative supporting 21 WA schools through grants totaling $88,608. This funding is aimed at advancing reconciliation efforts in schools across Western Australia. Through these initiatives, students will have the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal cultures, their contributions, and histories. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr. Tony Buti stated that the Labor government has allocated over $177,000 to more than 40 schools in the 2024-25 funding rounds, focusing on enhancing students' understanding of Aboriginal cultures. 'Gaining a deeper insight into the cultures, achievements, and histories of Aboriginal people helps school communities build better relationships with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members,' he said. 'This is a great funding round outcome, and I look forward to seeing the continued positive impact the PALS program has on WA communities.' The Term 1 2025 grants for this initiative will open on Jan. 30 and close on March 27. The program will be administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The funding will help foster stronger relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members by offering valuable insights into Aboriginal cultures, achievements and histories. My final thoughts are in Xinjiang where the closure of wells in Uyghur villages of Yopurgha county is a devastating blow to Uyghur farmers. Water is a basic need, especially for those living near the harsh Taklamakan Desert. These wells were their lifeline, helping them grow crops and support their families. Now, with the wells destroyed, they are left to struggle. What's worse is the unfairness. Han Chinese settlers in the region have similar wells, yet theirs remain untouched. This isn't just about water — it's about justice. Targeting one group while sparing another deepens existing inequalities. Farmers who tried to survive in difficult conditions are now being punished. Water scarcity is a real issue, but this isn't the way to solve it. Actions like this only create anger and distrust. The solution lies in collaboration, not destruction. Authorities should work with the farmers to create fair systems for managing water. They could provide permits, build shared infrastructure, or invest in alternative sources like rainwater harvesting. Listening to the farmers and involving them in decision-making would make a huge difference. Above all, any regulations must be enforced equally for everyone. Uyghur farmers deserve support, not punishment. Their hard work to survive in a tough environment should be respected. By focusing on fairness and cooperation, authorities can address water challenges without harming lives. It's time to choose compassion and equity over heavy-handed policies. Working together is the only way to build a sustainable future for everyone. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter!
