Hanna Stoltenberg’s debut novel Near Distance is a quiet look at a mother and daughter occupied by different concerns. Karin, the mother, is worried she is losing her youth, and Helene, the daughter, is worried she’s turning out like her mother. They struggle to bridge this emotional gap between them; things go unsaid, old wounds resurface, and tensions flare over a spilled cup of coffee. Yet through all of this, Stoltenberg captures the authenticity of their relationship, showing how they often fall back into a familiar, comfortable rhythm.

Published in Norwegian as Nada in 2019, Stoltenberg’s exploration of complex relationships through understated but descriptive prose has established her as an author to watch. Now, thanks to the efforts of translator Wendy H. Gabrielsen, English-speaking readers can also enjoy the novel.

The story follows Karin, a woman in her fifties working at a jewelry store in her hometown of Oslo. She spends her days socializing with men she meets online and rarely speaks to her daughter Helene. But when Helene discovers her husband is having an affair, she invites Karin on a weekend trip to London. During the trip, we see Helene navigating both her mother’s presence and this new betrayal.

On the surface, nothing much happens in this book, but with a closer look, you can see the intertwining of two lives shaped by love and unspoken tensions. The novel is an intensely character-driven tale about what it means to be a woman and a mother and how these two identities interact. Yet, despite the lack of obvious plot action, from the beginning, Karin and Helene’s relationship feels off; the reader is immediately aware of past hurts without Stoltenberg needing to spell them out. 

At first, Helene inviting Karin to London seems strange given their rocky relationship. Throughout the trip, Stoltenberg reveals how they know each other the way only a mother and daughter could while simultaneously feeling like strangers. She manages to create tension at every moment, even in simple scenes of dress shopping or going out for a drink.

Throughout the novel, the present narrative is balanced with flashbacks of Karin’s life. We witness her efforts to raise Helene and the evolution of their relationship over time. Karin finds a family with Helene and her father Erik but slowly loses it. Stoltenberg’s choice to alternate between timelines adds depth to the otherwise plot-light narrative, revealing enough to immerse readers in the unique mother-daughter bond without over-explanation. The understated nature of the novel allows readers to draw their own conclusions about the characters and their choices.

Karin never knows where she stands with Helene. She is a spectator in her daughter’s life, seeing her grow into a responsible adult from a distance. Since the novel is told entirely from Karin’s perspective, the reader is similarly kept an arm’s length away from Helene, learning about her only through Karin’s observations. 

The brevity of this novel works in its favour. The concise vignettes of Karin’s life are focused and never drag the pace. The minimalist narrative is engaging, even for those who prefer more plot-driven stories. This is also thanks to the tangible, well-written characters who feel authentic and relatable. Some details may seem extraneous at first glance, but when put together, they form a complete characterization of the two characters. Their idiosyncrasies are part of what makes the characters feel so real. They are ordinary people with flaws and strengths, just like the readers who come to know them.

It’s not just Stoltenberg’s keen observations of Karin and Helene that make her writing so striking. Even side characters—passersby, old acquaintances, and fleeting figures—are rendered with the same attention to seemingly mundane detail, making them come alive on the page. Her style and nuanced way of capturing the relationships between people, both within and outside Karin and Helene’s relationship, recalls the practice of observing strangers on the street. You’re reminded that every individual life is as complex and unknowable as your own.
Near Distance was published on Jan. 14 and is now available for purchase.