Nordic Noir Quotes

Mention the ‘Sarah Lund jumper’ (also known as ‘The Killing jumper’, which sounds less benign) to a certain kind of Nordic noir fan and they’ll immediately enthuse about how much they adore Gudrun & Gudrun’s sweaters.

Norwegian fjords As amazing as it might sound, you can travel the Norwegian coast, viewing astounding scenery, all on public transport – it simply takes planning. By flying into Bergen – an airport bus will take you downtown – you can start a journey that will take you as far as the Arctic Circle. Trains, ferries and buses connect most Norwegian towns and villages. In fact, Norway has one of the best public transport systems in the world. It will take preparation, and it won’t be cheap, although there are bus, train and ferry passes on offer to tourists – usually for packages of five days or ten. Norwegians are polite and some may consider the natives to be a little cold, but they will never harass you or overwhelm you with questions. You will be able to dine alone without a curious stare in your direction. Downside: The ferries can face some wild weather, stick to land transport if you are likely to suffer from seasickness. To read: Norway is famous for its Nordic Noir brand of crime fiction. King here is Jo Nesbo but other great Norwegian crime writers are Anne Holt and Karin Fossum.

Some mistakes require a price before freedom..."- The Penance (Book 2 of 'The Catalyst' trilogy)

Perhaps, mentally, I should become a Catholic. If I do, it’ll be more because of the aesthetics around the rites than any need for absolution. I think it’s more important to be able to forgive yourself than to leave something so important to any perception we may have of God. Love, on the other hand, is a basic need. No one needs forgiveness for being human.

The words that usually flowed with such ease deserted him this time. Instead he gazed at her, thinking that for the chosen few it was as though beauty was not a veneer that fades over time but something that shines from inside, as though its features are only mediating fragments of a larger identity.

You were subjected to a disgraceful crime. The fact that no one came to your aid was also a crime, but I still think it’s a mistake to lose your faith, because if you reject what you believe in, something else will sneak in and replace what you abandon. If you deny solidarity and humanity to others, the alternative will be worse.

Everyone has anguish they hide, he thought. Everyone has experiences that can be used to justify sides of their personality or behaviour. All anguish is unique and personal and cannot be measured and weighed against that of others.