U Vukotrku pratimo Ulfa u njegovim sedamdesetima u gradiću Loasenu. Nakon cijelog života provedenog u lovu i na čelu lovačkog društva Ulf se mijenja. Jedan susret s vukom dovoljan je da shvati da je njegovo vrijeme lovnika prošlo.
Vukotrk je za mene bio kao bajka. Meditativan i opuštajući, iako je pred kraj čak postao i uzbudljiv. Ulfova promišljanja o proteklom životu su odlično opisana, djeluju stvarno i lako se s njima povezati. Ima nešto očaravajuće u tim skandinavskim autorima i njihovom stilu pisanja. Mogla bih satima čitati o rezuckanju povrća, kuhanju kave i šetnjama u prirodi, bez da i u jednom trenutku pomislim na dosadu.
I dok su svi ponajviše očarani Ulfovim razmišljanjima o prirodi i utjecaju čovjeka na istu, mene je osvojio opisima odnosa sa svojom ženom, psom, njihovim minulim danima i razmišljanju o starosti. Na trenutke mi se stezalo srce jer nije lako starjeti, a imam dojam da muškarci to posebno teško doživljavaju što je autorica i uspjela savršeno dočarati.
„Nikada se u životu nisam osjećao tako prokleto nesposobno. Ispijeni starčić. Nepotreban. Nemoćan.“
[english]
Löpa varg
Kerstin Ekman
In Löpa varg, we follow Ulf in his seventies in the small town of Loasen. After a lifetime spent hunting and at the head of a hunting society, Ulf is changing. One encounter with a wolf is enough for him to realize that his time as a hunter is over.
Löpa varg was like a fairy tale for me. Meditative and relaxing, although towards the end it even became exciting. Ulf’s reflections on his past life are well described, seem real and easy to relate to. There is something enchanting about these Scandinavian authors and their writing style. I could read for hours about chopping vegetables, making coffee and walking in nature, without even thinking about boredom for a single moment.
And while everyone is mostly enchanted by Ulf’s thoughts on nature and man’s influence on it, he won me over with his descriptions of his relationship with his wife, his dog, their past days and thinking about old age. At times my heart hurt because growing old is not easy, and I have the impression that men experience it especially hard, which the author managed to portray perfectly.
“I’ve never felt so damn incompetent in my life. Little old man. Unnecessary. Powerless.”
