Book

The Ice Palace

Tarjei Vesaas

A modernist novel about two eleven-year-old girls, Siss and Unn, whose intense friendship in a rural Norwegian community culminates in tragedy when Unn disappears into a frozen waterfall structure. Written in lyrical, economical prose that explores themes of isolation, connection, and loss.

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What this book knows

Two girls' single evening of unspoken intimacy becomes a grief that reshapes an entire winter and a surviving self.

Sex: Present
Work: Absent
Learning: Present
Religion: Absent

intimacygriefself-and-identity

intimacy

I feel you are so close that I could touch you, but I daren't. There is no one else. No one, no one else. You must believe me.
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Your arm is warm beneath the snow, and a welcome weight on mine. It snows and snows upon silent bridges. Bridges unknown to all.
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grief

Not a word about Unn would they get out of her. Whatever it was shining in Unn's eyes was much too delicate to be talked about.
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The snow sifted down, blanketing everything, out of doors and in people's minds. Siss did not dare. She waited in fear for the news.
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self-and-identity

Siss was burning with shame. She realized that she was on the wrong track in her isolation.
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She was shamefaced because she had somehow betrayed something when she went with them, forgotten her promise for the tempting eyes and lips of friendship.
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Illuminates

6 published passages · book excerpt · research analysis

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