Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth

This is a book that the comedian Alan Davies was reading on the BBC2 Book Club programme and I thought it was worth a go a the topic intrigued me as it seemed to address issues that are often part of Irish society, that is inheritance and inequality therein.

The book is about four siblings and told from the perspective of the eldest daughter Bergljot. The initial premise is of the unfair gift of two summer houses to the youngest two daughters disinheriting the two eldest siblings from the most meaningful part of the family estate. But we realise that Bergljot has been estranged from the family for over twenty years but tries to keep her children in the wider family. The issue with the houses then draws in the son, Bard and there is much emotional baggage that gets talked about. But given that they all thought that the estate would be shared equally among the four siblings we see all the wranglings that go on. There are a couple of subplots to the main story which again highlight that family life is messy and later in the book another secret emerges.

I found the first half not the easiest read as you had to pay attention to every sentence but as it progressed, I found it easier going. I think this is a book about messy families, victimhood on all sides and some of the deeper issues around inheritance and fairness. Will and Testament is a lyrical meditation on trauma and memory, as well as a furious account of a woman’s struggle to survive and be believed.

I think I made heavy weather of the book as Julie finished it in no time but the theme was right up her street.

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