THE COPENHAGEN TRILOGY (and "The Umbrella"!!) by Tove Ditlevsen >> You'll appreciate the trilogy all the more with a little FICTION under your belt.

Ditlevsen's three-volume memoir has made a huge impression on American readers. When I found it slightly underwhelming, I wondered if I would appreciate the work more fully if I knew her FICTION. She's hugely critically acclaimed in her native Denmark. She's written 29 books. A look at one very short story will shift your perspective, leaving you with a much deeper appreciation of this literary icon.