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anusha_reads 's review for:
On the Calculation of Volume I
by Solvej Balle
medium-paced
BOOK #2 “ON THE CALCULATION OF VOLUME (PART 1)” BY SOLVEJ BALLE, TRANSLATED FROM DANISH BY BARBARA J. HAVELAND, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKERPRIZE2025
What a book! Can you imagine being trapped in a time loop—reliving the same day over and over again? That’s exactly what happens to the protagonist of On the Calculation of Volume (Part 1). She finds herself stuck on November 18th, unable to move forward to the 19th. The repetition of a single day takes a toll, and her struggle is both fascinating and unsettling.
“MY NAME IS TARA SELTER. I AM SITTING IN THE BACK ROOM OVERLOOKING THE GARDEN AND A WOODPILE. IT IS THE EIGHTEENTH OF NOVEMBER. EVERY NIGHT WHEN I LIE DOWN TO SLEEP IN THE BED IN THE GUEST ROOM IT IS THE EIGHTEENTH OF NOVEMBER AND EVERY MORNING, WHEN I WAKE UP, IT IS THE EIGHTEENTH OF NOVEMBER. I NO LONGER EXPECT TO WAKE UP TO THE NINETEENTH OF NOVEMBER AND I NO LONGER REMEMBER THE SEVENTEENTH OF NOVEMBER AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY.”
But what is she truly trying to calculate—the volume of heaviness she carries within? Is her dilemma a metaphor for the monotony of life? Notes on the cyclical nature of human struggles? Or perhaps an attempt to break free from time itself? As she grapples with the endless loop, we are left wondering whether she learns more with each repeated November 18th.
Solvej Balle’s writing is mesmerizing, making a seemingly simple premise feel incredibly intricate. The novel explores the weight of time, routine, and the desire for change in a deeply symbolic way. It’s hard to imagine the psychological strain of being trapped in one day forever, yet Balle conveys this experience with remarkable depth and beauty.
Tara and Thomas Selter, the novel’s central characters, are antique book dealers. While Thomas continues to live a normal, linear life, Tara remains caught in her time loop, desperately searching for a way out. Her attempts to break free raise many thought-provoking questions—what if she had done something differently? Could she have changed her fate?
Despite its brevity, On the Calculation of Volume (Part 1) is a rich and profound read. The translation is exceptional, flowing so seamlessly that it feels as though the book was originally written in English.
What a book! Can you imagine being trapped in a time loop—reliving the same day over and over again? That’s exactly what happens to the protagonist of On the Calculation of Volume (Part 1). She finds herself stuck on November 18th, unable to move forward to the 19th. The repetition of a single day takes a toll, and her struggle is both fascinating and unsettling.
“MY NAME IS TARA SELTER. I AM SITTING IN THE BACK ROOM OVERLOOKING THE GARDEN AND A WOODPILE. IT IS THE EIGHTEENTH OF NOVEMBER. EVERY NIGHT WHEN I LIE DOWN TO SLEEP IN THE BED IN THE GUEST ROOM IT IS THE EIGHTEENTH OF NOVEMBER AND EVERY MORNING, WHEN I WAKE UP, IT IS THE EIGHTEENTH OF NOVEMBER. I NO LONGER EXPECT TO WAKE UP TO THE NINETEENTH OF NOVEMBER AND I NO LONGER REMEMBER THE SEVENTEENTH OF NOVEMBER AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY.”
But what is she truly trying to calculate—the volume of heaviness she carries within? Is her dilemma a metaphor for the monotony of life? Notes on the cyclical nature of human struggles? Or perhaps an attempt to break free from time itself? As she grapples with the endless loop, we are left wondering whether she learns more with each repeated November 18th.
Solvej Balle’s writing is mesmerizing, making a seemingly simple premise feel incredibly intricate. The novel explores the weight of time, routine, and the desire for change in a deeply symbolic way. It’s hard to imagine the psychological strain of being trapped in one day forever, yet Balle conveys this experience with remarkable depth and beauty.
Tara and Thomas Selter, the novel’s central characters, are antique book dealers. While Thomas continues to live a normal, linear life, Tara remains caught in her time loop, desperately searching for a way out. Her attempts to break free raise many thought-provoking questions—what if she had done something differently? Could she have changed her fate?
Despite its brevity, On the Calculation of Volume (Part 1) is a rich and profound read. The translation is exceptional, flowing so seamlessly that it feels as though the book was originally written in English.