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On the Calculation of Volume I

On the Calculation of Volume, Book 1

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On the Calculation of Volume I

By: Solvej Balle, Barbara J. Haveland - translator
Narrated by: Elizabeth Liang
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About this listen

It seems so odd to me now, how one can be so unsettled by the improbable. When we know that our entire existence is founded on freak occurrences and improbable coincidences. That we wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for these curious twists of fate.

Tara Selter has slipped out of time.

Every morning, she wakes up to the 18th of November. She no longer expects to wake up to the 19th of November, and she no longer remembers the 17th of November as if it were yesterday.

She comes to know the shape of the day like the back of her hand—the grey morning light in her Paris hotel; the moment a blackbird breaks into song; her husband's surprise at seeing her return home unannounced. But for everyone around her, this day is lived for the first and only time. They do not remember the other 18ths of November, and they do not believe her when she tries to explain.

As Tara approaches her 365th 18th of November, she can't shake the feeling that somewhere underneath the surface of this day, there's a way to escape.

©2025 Solvej Balle (P)2025 Faber & Faber Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological
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I like the premise of this book but not the execution. This could have been really interesting but it was the same thing again and again lacking any plot or drive. Definitely a character driven book but I still didn’t read any forward motion.

Repetitive

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I picked it up after seeing it shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and the first two chapters absolutely captivated me. The precision in the writing, the tension, the detail—it all felt razor-sharp and immersive. I was pulled in immediately, caught by the strange and fascinating premise, and the author’s ability to craft such an intimate atmosphere around something as abstract as time.

As the story progressed, however, my engagement began to waver. It didn’t quite build to the grand, climactic experience I was hoping for. That said, Balle’s thematic exploration still made a lasting impact. She raises profound questions about the nature of time, consumption, and human presence—what she refers to as the “pests of time.” From what we eat to how we spend, we’re constantly accumulating. And if the world stood still, what would that accumulation look like? Who would we become in the absence of constant motion?

This book made me reflect in surprising ways. It invites you to slow down, to truly notice the world again. It made me ask myself: When was the last time I paid attention to the weather? To the birds in my garden? To the sounds of a summer evening? In a culture so fixated on speed and productivity, Balle offers a rare and quiet counterpoint: what if stillness is not a void, but a mirror?

I find myself wanting to move more slowly now—to be more present, to stop trying to outrun time and instead, learn to live alongside it. This book may not offer a traditional payoff, but its power lies in the questions it leaves behind.

I’m curious to see where Book Two will take us.

power lies in the questions it leaves behind

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Extraordinary story of a Groundhog Day, but it’s the gripping subtle evolving and transforming relationships with people and surroundings that stand out. There is a philosophical quality to the replaying of the day, the changing main protagonist despite the unchanging day. A transformative read (and listen, it is perfectly interpreted).

Unusual spellbinding gentle story

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The reading was perfect and the translation flowed really nicely. However as much as I really wanted to get into this story I just couldn't connect with this take on the idea. I think my problem was I couldn't see things as the main character did so the path didn't resonate at all for me. ymmv

Perfectly read but difficult to get in to

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Time loops are some of my favorite stories, and this book blew me away. I love the grounded and poetic approach to such a story, and I could not stop thinking about it. The words are woven together beautifully, and I love all the ways Tara reflects upon her situation. The added element of a “monster” was also a very fresh take.

I am very excited for the rest of the series, and I am sure that the journey will be a joy to experience.

Absolutely marvelous!

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