This third volume opens with Tara still trapped on the 18th of November – her 1,144th repetition of the same day. But this time, something is different. A man is wearing a different shirt than usual. There can only be one explanation: he too is reliving the 18th of November. From that moment on, Tara is no longer entirely alone. Together, they discover two other people caught in the same endless loop, and then more. Unlike Tara, these newcomers are far more proactive, determined to reshape the day and make the most of it. This new development brings welcome variety to the story, and the reading remains as captivating as ever. Tara becomes increasingly attentive to sounds and to the ways in which she herself has changed through these repetitions. I still sometimes struggle to fully grasp the mechanics of the concept – what changes, what remains fixed, and what impact their actions truly have on the world – but it remains a fascinating and compelling read.
“We are monsters, really. Four people aren’t many, but four people can make a significant dent in the world. We see it in the basement, and we’re beginning to see signs of it at the nearest supermarket. Vegetables and bread have disappeared. Yogurt and eggs. The cheese counter is growing barer, and the shelves of apricot jam and muesli are gradually emptying out.
But we do not want to be monsters. We discuss solutions. We organize our shopping. Henry is responsible for provisions. He visits markets just before closing. He buys bread and vegetables that are going to be thrown out. He drives to shops in the surrounding area, sees potential in a box of spotted bananas, hauls back crates of apples, shriveled lemons or wrinkly grapes, and makes deals with local farmers and producers to pick up food that’s soon to be discarded.
To say that we eat garbage is not entirely true. We eat misunderstandings and wrong orders. We eat overproduction and minor blunders. We drink beer from a local brewery that had miscalculated its Oktoberfest sales. So we had a party after all, even though October never came.”
Original Title : Om udregning af rumfang III
Translated from Danish