The "hero" has been rejected by a woman and is not taking it well. In a series of letters, he ranges from pleading to pitiful, from creepy to contrite.

But he's never boring and pulls off a little gem of a book in the form of an epistolary novel.

If Houellebecq opted for a miniature, it might be something like this.

While the subject may be grim, I found the book quite fascinating, and even funny when a letter manages to raise the misery to another level.

I''d gladly read more by Moe

Restless is quite unlike anything I've read before. A short book written in the form of letters documenting a man's despair, his sense of futility and unrequited love. Self-loathing, but also searching for self-acceptance, it is poetical, heart-wrenching and something that connected with me on a deep level.

Very cleverly written... Reminiscent of that mid-19th century existential literary despair but with a contemporary philosophical tilt. Although portraying deep melancholy, depression, angst and unhappiness caused by being rejected by a woman he relentlessly and obsessively desires, the author manages to make this short novel (a letter to that woman) readable and intelligent. Rather than a woeful tirade of self-pity, this is more heartbreak, heartache, anger, loneliness and fragility with some irony and humour thrown in. The protagonist is just on the right side of pathetically desperate so we can empathise and pity rather than dismiss or belittle his feelings, despite him at times acting like a self-obsessed idiot or an immature misogynist. The short, fragmented paragraphs reflect a heart in inner turmoil and a mind broken by rejection. Love of literature is used to try to make sense of his self-loathing.

Not an easy read, but one that will be remembered and to me, that is always the sign of a good book. Interested to read more from Moe. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

A young man rejected by the woman he loves.Writing haunting words to her remembering their relationship ,moments with her.He lives a lonely life mixing in literature in his thoughts,Short paragraphs drew me in to his thoughts his pain.So well written a book that lingers #netgalley#nordiskbooks