Septology VI - VII: A New Name

In the third volume of Septology, A New Name, Christmas Eve is approaching and tradition has it that Åsleik and Asle eat lutefisk together; this year it is a quiet meal. Asle is exhausted and feels done with painting. He puts all his painting supplies away and drives his last pictures down to the Beyer Gallery.
We follow the lives of the two Asles in flashbacks: the narrator meets his lifelong love, Ales; joins the Catholic Church; starts exhibiting with Beyer; and can make a living by trying to paint away all the pictures stuck in his mind.
Asle has agreed for the first time to celebrate with Åsleik and his sister, Guro. On Christmas Eve, Åsleik, Asle, and the dog Bragi take Åsleik’s boat out on the Sygnefjord. The current (wind?) is with them. Their nice clothes are packed and they take turns at the helm. With them are the two painting Guro will receive as Christmas presents. Guro’s home is filled with the smell of smoked Christmas lamb.
A New Name is the final two volumes of Fosse’s masterly work of prose, and will be launched in Norwegian in September 2021 and also appear in Danish and English translations.

“Fosse’s way of “painting” pictures in words is gripping and truly different from what can be found in any other literature. What is the nature of art? That is the theme on which Fosse has written a brilliant novel.” (Dagsavisen)