From www.annelenebleken.dk: 'The most WONDERFUL must read book. I hereby give Olava my warmest recommendations.' 'I want to give credit to the great literary accomplishment of the book. It is written with determination, power, commitment, compassion, integrity and skill.' 'Thank you for a wonderful but also tough story. I was carried away by the moods and emotions. I was deeply moved by Olava's joy, relief, grief and strength, especially towards the end of the book. Also, as a reader, I can almost touch and smell the nature and feel its strength and life, which gives so much meaning throughout the story. I borrowed the book from a dear friend and have passed it on to a sweet colleague of mine, the next fortunate reader of Olava.' 'Reading Olava almost felt like a ceremony to me.' 'Olava is a wonderful book. I can recommend this book with all my heart as it takes you on a wondrous and enriching journey on man levels. I could not put the book down after I first started to read it and I will look forward to reading it again.' 'The novel grabbed me from the very first page. Every chapter starts with a soulful picture of a nature scene, which creates the framework of Olava's life and fate, which is masterly portrayed and leaves an almost film like impression in your memory.' 'A debut novel that signals self-development. Moving developing novel from Norway. Fine character portraits, good language. It has a timeless feel. The book signals and has therapeutic elements, but is primarily a really good developing novel set in olden days (approx. 100 years ago) about a young girl and her life's journey.' Olava is the heartbreaking story about the 13-year-old girl Olava and her family, who live on a farm in a small community in the western part of Norway around 100 years ago. As the oldest daughter of the family, Olava becomes responsible for caring for her newly born brother because her mother is too weak. When the mother loses her milk and little brother gets sick, Olava finds in secrecy and against her father's will a gypsy woman as a nurse and with the help from the servants on the farm, they manage to save the little boy. After a tragic accident Olava leaves the community and her childhood home. This is the beginning of a dramatic journey which ends in Olava getting work at a hotel in the eastern part of Norway. She enjoys the work in the kitchen but is tyrannized by the manageress. Olava tries to forget the past but cannot find out how to let go of old feelings of grief and guilt, and as the years pass, she sinks deeper and deeper into a depression. She has given up all hope when she meets the gypsy family again and this becomes a turning point in Olava's life. From the gypsy family's shuvani (medicine woman) Olava is introduced to their old wisdom and healing traditions. Back at the hotel, Olava begins a long, inner journey and she goes through a big personal development. This becomes a new beginning for Olava. www.munay.no