Home 5 News 5 “Novels ask questions and do not give answers”, says Jo Nesbo

“Novels ask questions and do not give answers”, says Jo Nesbo

by | Feb 10, 2020 | News

Jo Nesbo, the renowned Norwegian crime writer, does not believe an author’s job is to change or direct the society even if his fiction influences it.

“I do not agree that writers take the responsibility of using fiction to change the society. I do not mind it but it is not me. I ask questions that could be political without an agenda, but I do not give answers,” said Nesbo on Saturday February 8, at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

“The era of great writers like Charles Dickens who used to give answers is gone. My aim is not to be politically correct or teach and educate my readers. You ask questions as a writer and challenge readers in that way,” he added.

Nesbo was of the view that fiction influences life now more than before because probably people consume stories in their own lives more than their parents.

Though he also did not happen to see the mystery movie Snowman, based on his novel, Nesbo felt it was not going to be successful as the director Tomas Alfredson took it to a personal direction. “Tomas sought my permission and I okayed it yet for various reasons it was not received well. Tomas remains a good director.”

To the surprise of many readers, Nesbo does not write in special settings. He can write anywhere. “My favorite place to write is in the airport because I like doing two things at a time. I am probably the only passenger told you are late for your flight,” he said.

Though Nesbo had no plans to write his novels in English despite being invited to it, he feels something gets lost in translation from Norwegian to English. “I led the first translation to English. Norwegian is a small language but I saw what was lost and I knew this is something I can’t fix myself. Norwegian is humorous and if you speak Norwegian, you will know I am hilarious,” he said.

For Nesbo, it is interesting to show the emotional head-heart struggle over emotions that contradict one’s opinion.

“Making protagonists and antagonists use political views is interesting. You may have certain controversial views like racism and nationalism, that you are emotionally in contradicting opinions about. Your heart and head here are in different places,” he explained.

Nesbo, the climbing enthusiast, sees the sport as a struggle that grants him control over his fears, mentioned sometimes through his famous character creation, detective Harry Hole.

“It controls my fears. I get easily scared but I do not mind that. Conquering your fears is the greatest feeling,” Nesbo emphasized.

Recent News

14May
AI and IP Drive China’s Reading Market

AI and IP Drive China’s Reading Market

China’s online literature industry continued its rapid growth in 2024, with the domestic reading market generating 43.06 billion yuan (around $5.96 billion) in revenue, a rise of 6.8 percent year-on-year, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Revenue from IP adaptations surged 14.6 percent to 298.56 billion yuan (about $41.31 billion) […]

14May
Doha International Book Fair: “From Engraving to Writing”

Doha International Book Fair: “From Engraving to Writing”

The 34th edition of the Doha International Book Fair has been hailed by organisers as the largest iteration of the event to date. This year’s fair shines a spotlight on Palestine, featured as Guest of Honour. Palestinian Minister of Culture, Emad Al Din Hamdan, inaugurated the Palestinian pavilion with a ceremony marked by children’s poetry […]

14May
Mosab Abu Toha Awarded Pulitzer 2025

Mosab Abu Toha Awarded Pulitzer 2025

The renowned Palestinian poet and author, Mosab Abu Toha, is among this year’s Pulitzer prize winners. Abu Toha was awarded for a series of essays in the New Yorker documenting the lives and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where he has lived nearly all his life. “I have just won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary,” […]

Related Posts

Doha International Book Fair: “From Engraving to Writing”

Doha International Book Fair: “From Engraving to Writing”

The 34th edition of the Doha International Book Fair has been hailed by organisers as the largest iteration of the event to date. This year’s fair shines a spotlight on Palestine, featured as Guest of Honour. Palestinian Minister of Culture, Emad Al Din Hamdan,...

Mosab Abu Toha Awarded Pulitzer 2025

Mosab Abu Toha Awarded Pulitzer 2025

The renowned Palestinian poet and author, Mosab Abu Toha, is among this year’s Pulitzer prize winners. Abu Toha was awarded for a series of essays in the New Yorker documenting the lives and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where he has lived nearly all his life. “I...

Palestine and Brazil Sign Literary Cooperation Agreement

Palestine and Brazil Sign Literary Cooperation Agreement

In a major step towards cultural exchange and solidarity, the General Union of Palestinian Writers and the Brazilian Union of Writers (UBE) signed a landmark agreement this week in São Paulo. The agreement commits both organisations to translating and promoting the...

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this

Pin It on Pinterest