Background
She was born in Tana in Finnmark province in the far north of Norway, and moved to Oslo at the age of 16.
She was born in Tana in Finnmark province in the far north of Norway, and moved to Oslo at the age of 16.
Her parents are Wenche Ørstavik and Gunnar Ørstavik. She has two brothers, Paul Ørstavik and Sakse Ørstavik.She has one daughter, Mari Ørstavik. Her literary breakthrough came three years later with the publication of Kjærlighet (Love), which in 2006 was voted the 6th best Norwegian book of the last 25 years in a prestigious contest in Dagbladet.
In 2002, she was awarded the Dobloug Prize for her literary works, and in 2004, the Brage Prize for the novel Presten.
Ørstavik’s books have been translated into 15 languages.