Body Double by Hanna Johansson
People disappear into others in this enigmatic Hitchcockian thriller
Sold as a Hitchcockian literary thriller, Body Double is an odd and artistic book with a fun-house mirror feel, filled with spare, clipped prose. Switching intermittently between first and third person, it tells the story of two women, Naomi and Laura, who live in an unnamed city and meet by chance after swapping coats in a department store cafe. Their encounters are always fleeting but have a resounding impact on Naomi who, after no time at all, invites Laura to move in with her. Over time, Laura starts to resemble Naomi more and more, until she begins to take over her life. Meanwhile, the story jumps back and forth between another narrative: a woman who transcribes life stories for a ghostwriter begins to realise she is disappearing.
Experiencing Hanna Johansson’s second novel feels like reading the audio description of a surrealist indie film; it is dreamlike, uneasy, minimalist and a little muddling. Despite its intensity – and perhaps because it feels as if viewed through the distance of a screen – it is distinctly unemotional. More than a bit enigmatic, this book is one for readers who love to puzzle slowly over writing, who seek out their own meaning in a piece of fiction. This means it is perhaps not the best choice for readers who grow impatient with overly specific descriptions and narrative ambiguity.
