LARS OLAV: A Boy of Norway

Not Norway as a foreign land but Geiranger Fjord as the site of a cohesive, contradictory (to American eyes), uniquely fulfilling way of life is the nucleus, exemplified by a year with Lars Olav and his family. Each has not one buy many interacting roles. Mr. Grande works for the highway department, raises tomatoes for summer tourists, grows hay, pastures sheep, fishes with nets and also for sport. Lars Olav helps tend the tomatoes, harvest the hay, herd the sheep, fish; with his friends he hikes up the mountains, collects birch boughs for the tourist ships (their reward, a few kroner, pop and cake), skis and builds a ski jump; annually he goes to the nearest city with his mother (via ferry and bus), in winter he attends a one-room school (described in amusing detail). The photos follow him everywhere, even into the bedroom where he has Beatle pictures. The lesson's not underlined but it's there for the looking: the Grandes have all the comforts of (our) home, scenery sans pareil, a host of productive, pleasurable pursuits. Here in an unassuming, ingratiating package.