Disclaimer: take your time, it isn’t a fast-paced read.
I owe this read to Pansing’s former ME, Ms. Cheryl. She sent me this copy two years ago, and I only finished it yesterday. I genuinely feel sorry and a little regretful that I took so long because I ended up loving it. I’m giving it 4.5 ⭐.
Collected Works is a portrait of literature, academia, and the fragile inner worlds of its characters. The book unfolds like a long, winding diary shared between Martin Berg and his daughter, Rakel.
Fifteen years ago, Cecelia Berg had vanished after the birth of her second child. Her disappearance left behind an ache that never fully healed. Confusion, grief, and unanswered questions linger over every page, shaping the lives of those she left behind.
The story spans from the early 1980s to the present, told through Martin’s and Rakel’s alternating perspectives. Before Cecelia entered Martin’s life, there was Gustav Becker, his inseparable best friend. Their friendship, through every storm and season, is beautifully written. Together, they carry each other through the years until Cecelia disappears irrevocably.
Fast-forward, Rakel stumbles upon a novel introduced by her father. As she reads, something strange happens. The protagonist feels uncannily familiar, like a shadow of someone she once knew. Driven by curiosity and longing, Rakel begins her own quiet journey to piece together the figments of her memory, and maybe, her mother.
Part Three is the heart of the novel. It reminds us that no matter how close we are to someone, there are depths we may never truly know. The book touches gently on themes of friendship, mental health, and depression. I am grateful I finally read this beautifully translated work. Some stories linger with a gentle resilience long after the final page.