#swedish books

[mediocrelanguagelearner]

Swedish books read in 2024

This is my third year of challenging myself to read 5 Swedish books per year and my third year of barely making it, reading my last books during the holidays.

This year I read two classic children's books (here are the individual posts about Trollkarlens hatt and Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige), two Frederik Backman books (Björnstad and its sequel, Vi mot er) and a non-fiction book about an artist living in Stockholm in the 1800's (Josabeth Sjöbergs Stockholm). I enjoyed the children's books the least – maybe because I'm not a child, maybe because the language is a bit difficult, maybe because Nils is pretty old and long. I liked the most the Björnstad series, I guess I love Backman's books in general, but these books were so interesting and fun to read.

My first book next year will be the final book in the series. I've been saying I'll read Kallocain by Karin Boye for the past two years, and this year I really hope to get to it, after I finish the series. I already have my 5 Swedish books planned, I'm excited for some and scared of others, but I have so many Swedish books and I have to start reading even the ones I'm scared of.

Books from 2022 & 2023

[kattahj]

Armed with a gigantic bag of popcorn, we stepped into the glittering paradise, which was the town’s largest movie theater. Popcorn, as everyone knows, is roasted corn. And if everyone isn’t aware of the enormous quantities of this peculiar refreshment that is consumed in America, they can just ask me. I told Bob, that if one ever runs anyone over – which, god forbid – and there is some difficulty in identifying the victim, the autopsy would at least give one answer: if the stomach was full of corn, it was either an American or a chicken. And nothing against popcorn, but hearing the rustle of cellophane bags and the crunching of corn, crushed between teeth, just as Bette Davis walks out alone into the night under the stars and wants to die, that makes you somehow so confused, it becomes a tiny disruption in the soul, it can’t be helped.

– Kati i Amerika (Kati in America) by Astrid Lindgren (1950)

[cynosurus]

I'm finally reading the Swedish young adult book series Öppet hav (Faraway Island) by Annika Thor.

I never read it growing up even though it was very popular and much talked about. (Perhaps that was why.)

Turns out in the later books, our protagonist Steffie has both a lesbian school teacher with a "friend", and a lesbian bestie who's in love with her, of course...

[natreads]

By the way!!! Another Swedish book I enjoyed (I actually feel like it really grew on me after I'd finished it so I've been thinking about it a lot for the past couple of years) is coming out in an English translation!

Antiquity by Hanna Johansson

Translated by Kira Josefsson

Elegant, slippery, and provocative, Antiquity is a queer Lolita story by prize-winning Swedish author Hanna Johansson—a story of desire, power, obsession, observation, and taboo Antiquity follows its unnamed narrator, a lonely woman in her thirties who becomes enamored of a chic older artist, Helena, after interviewing her for a magazine. Helena invites the narrator to join her in the Greek city of Ermoupoli where she summers with her teenage daughter Olga. At first an object of jealousy, Olga morphs into an object of desire as the pull of Helena is transposed onto her daughter and the prospect of becoming someone’s first, if perverse, lover. With echoes of Death in Venice, Call Me by Your Name, The Lover, and Lolita, but wholly original and contemporary, Antiquity probes the depths of memory, power, and the narratives that arrange our experience of the world.

Picture and text taken from: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738559/antiquity-by-hanna-johannson/

Also look how cool the Swedish cover is:

[rachel-sylvan-author]

"The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" by Margareta Magnusson book recommendation by Rachel Sylvan

Thank you @postcardsandauthors for introducing me! ❤️

[waspkiller]

Finished Människor utan betydelse by Johan Kling. Its intimate look into the protagonists Magnus daily life as an unemployed 32 year old in the media world of stockholm in the late 90s. In many ways, it very closely reminds me of a more modern retelling of catcher in the rye in its meandering prose and conversations between characters. A minor bonus i would like to add is how it uses swedish slang very accurately without it feeling annoying.

All in all, pretty short book pick it up if you like catcher in the rye and the 90s in sweden. 3.0/5 enjoyed it, but probably not gonna read again for the next few years. 3.5/5 since Isaacs seems to like it

[maddiesbookshelves]

Junkwraith by Ellinor Richey (March 2023)

What happens when our most precious belongings... no longer belong? When something we loved suddenly becomes junk, a powerful energy is unleashed. One night, ice-skating prodigy Florence Sato is overwhelmed by pressure and throws away her skates. This fateful moment accidentally summons a junkwraith, a terrifying ghost which seeks revenge for its abandonment by attacking the memories of its former owner. Before she forgets who she is, and to find out who she really wants to be, Florence must set off (with her trusty digital assistant Frank) on a long journey into the Wastelands to put to rest the monster she created.

It was an interesting universe but I felt like I was missing some information. I was being told things like I was supposed to know what they meant or how they fit into this universe but it wasn't the case.

I also felt like the cheracters' actions didn't always make sense, including what kick-started the story, so we were off to a bad start. As for the characters themselves... I have nothing to say about them. I have no empathy whatsoever for "rich kid whose only problem is getting their parents' approval" type of characters so, again, that was a bad start given the main character.

Honestly, I'm saying a lot of bad things about this graphic novel but it had potential, in the art, or the universe, or even the story. But the execution left a lot to be desired. Then again, maybe other people will be satisfied and will say that what I see as flaws are what make the story charming but, oh well.

French version under the cut

Que se passe-t-il lorsque l'on délaisse nos biens les plus précieux ? Florence Sato, jeune prodige du patin à glace, se retrouve un jour submergée par la pression qu'elle subit. De colère, elle jette ses patins, invoquant accidentellement un Junkwraith, une sorte d’esprit vengeur qui efface les souvenirs de ceux qu’il touche. Pour ne pas disparaitre avec sa mémoire, Florence s’embarque dans un voyage initiatique à travers les Terres Désertées. Mais arrivera-t-elle à se débarrasser du monstre qu’elle a elle-même créé ?

C'était un univers intéressant mais j'avais l'impression qu'il me manquait des informations. On me disait des choses comme si j'étais censée connaître leur signification ou comment elles s'inscrivent dans la logique de l'univers mais c'était pas le cas.

J'ai pas non plus trouvé que les actions des personnages étaient toujours logiques, notamment la mise en route de l'intrigue, donc on partait sur de mauvaises bases. Quant aux personnages eux-mêmes... J'ai rien à dire sur eux. J'ai aucune empathie pour les personnes du type "gosse de riche dont le seul problème est d'avoir l'approbation de ses parents" donc là aussi on partait mal vu le personnage principal.

Concrètement je dis beaucoup de mal de cette BD mais elle avait vraiment du potentiel, que ce soit au niveau des dessins ou de l'univers, même l'histoire. Mais l'exécution laissait à désirer. Après, peut-être que d'autres seront satisfaits et diront que ce que je considère comme des défauts font le charme de l'histoire, mais bon.

[rebb003]

Book 11 of 2023: GIRLS LOST by Jessica Schiefauer, translated by Saskia Vogel. Yes, I am reading Swedish books while I’m in Sweden. This is a YA novel about growing up and questioning one’s gender with the help of a mysterious plant.

[the-evil-clergyman]

The Changelings, from Cyrus Graner's Among Gnomes and Trolls 7 by John Bauer (1913)

[mascwoman]

I periodically go count my books to see if I have a “library” worth of books (1000+) yet and guess fucking what, I’m finally there!!!!! 💪💪💪

[babkaboy]

a few weeks ago my queen @sputnikan recommended me Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez saying “it reads like a star wars fanfic” and not only was she right but the book itself destroyed me into pieces and what a better way to get the brainrot out of me by drawing a bunch of scenes but with these space mfs. anyways if you enjoy paranormal shit, horror stuff and messed up father/son relationships please read that book

[mediocrelanguagelearner]

28.12.2024

(5/5)

Som förra året försöker jag i den sista minuten läsa klart mina svenska böcker så att jag når mitt mål. Vi mot er läste jag klart under 14 dagar vilket jag är stolt över, det är en tjock bok.

Vi mot er är den andra bokeni den Björnstadserien. Den första läste jag under våren så jag har hunnit glömma bort några saker som hände, men en sak minndes jag – att jag älskade Benji. Och det gjorde jag fortfarande i den här boken, han fortsätter att vara min favoritkaraktär och jag fortfarande vill klaga att han inte finns tillräckligt i boken, jag vill läsa mer om honom. Som med det första boken trodde jag att det skulle bli mer hockey matcher eller träningar i den där boken men istället fick jag läsa mycket om folk, politik, sammanhälle, familj, hat, död, ansvar, kärlek... Jag kan inte klaga över det.

Den här boken, som alla Backmans böcker, bröt mitt hjärta tusen gånger under läsandet. Jag är inte helt nöjd med hur några betedde sig eller hur det slutade för några, men det kanske vore bäst för dem. Jag vet inte.

Jag är hos min mamma nu och kan inte börja läsa den tredje delen av serien, men det tänker jag göra efter nyårs.

[huariqueje]

Still Life With Books and Glass * - Carl Hammoud , 2021.

Swedish , b. 1976 -

Oil on linen

Copyrighted Image *

[escapismsworld]

Fisherman at Saint Ives

1891

Etching

Anders Zorn (Swedish, 1860-1920)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA

[geritsel]

John Bauer - a mixed bag of lithographs, woodcuts and juicy leftovers

[eliasericson]

Jag är en av de över 130 tecknare som deltagit i Palestinaboken - tecknare i solidaritet av Tecknaruppropet. 🍉

Det är en bok full av obeskrivlig smärta och sorg. Det går inte att värja sig mot bilder på pappan som bär sitt barns kroppsdelar i påsar, människors hem som jämnas med marken, alla tusentals liv som släcks av bomber, svält och skott. Över 42 000 bekräftade dödade i Gaza, av dem 70% kvinnor och barn. Obegripliga siffror, varenda en av dem ett liv, en människa som hade nära och kära, passioner och drömmar.

Boken innehåller också enormt mycket kämpaglöd, visdom och hopp. Det är viktigt att understryka - för vi får inte sluta kämpa, inte sluta bry oss, inte sluta hjälpa, inte sluta göra det vi kan. Demonstrera, bojkotta, skänka det vi kan avvara, sprida kunskap, göra motstånd, höja våra röster.

Boken sålde slut på mindre än 48 timmar - helt fantastiskt! Det finns några exemplar kvar som man kan kontakta Tecknaruppropet på Instagram om man är intresserad av att köpa. Samtliga intäkter går till Palestinagruppernas akutinsamling till Gaza.🍉✊️