Norman Erikson Pasaribu is een schrijver wiens werken zich vaak verdiepen in de complexiteit van menselijke relaties en de zoektocht naar identiteit. Zijn schrijfstijl wordt erkend om zijn lyrische kwaliteit en inzichtelijke verkenning van emoties. Pasaribu onderzoekt thema's als liefde, verlies en verlangen met gevoeligheid en literaire vaardigheid. Lezers waarderen zijn vermogen om de nuances van de menselijke ervaring vast te leggen door middel van poëtische taal.
Exploring the complexities of identity, this poetry collection delves into the experiences of those in the minority regarding sexuality, ethnicity, and religion. With a blend of heartbreak and humor, it reflects on personal struggles and societal challenges, offering poignant insights into the quest for acceptance and understanding.
Playful, shape-shifting and emotionally charged, Happy Stories, Mostly is a collection of twelve stories that queer the norm. Inspired by Simone Weil’s concept of ‘decreation’, and often drawing on Batak and Christian cultural elements, these tales put queer characters in situations and plots conventionally filled by hetero characters.The stories talk to each other, echo phrases and themes, and even shards of stories within other stories, passing between airports, stacks of men’s lifestyle magazines and memories of Toy Story 3, such that each one almost feels like a puzzle piece of a larger whole, but with crucial facts – the saddest ones, the happiest ones – omitted, forgotten, unbearable.A blend of science fiction, absurdism and alternative-historical realism, Happy Stories, Mostly is a powerful puff of fresh air, aimed at destabilising the heteronormative world and exposing its underlying absences.
This poetry collection delves into themes of labour, class, and queerness, offering a unique perspective from the author known for their acclaimed works, Sergius Mencari Bacchus and Happy Stories, Mostly. As the author's first English-language publication, it promises to present thought-provoking insights and emotional depth, reflecting on the complexities of identity and societal structures.