Europe through literature discussion

Hi all!
As we had only one nomination for a short story collection from Sweden we can already start the discussion in this thread!

Orgeluse wrote: "Hi all!
As we had only one nomination for a short story collection from Sweden we can already start the discussion in this thread!"

I should have figured this out, as I kept checking the polls and thinking, "I know Orgeluse didn't make a mistake, but ..."

Ordering this collection now and looking forward to discussing next month.

Hello, I look forward to reading with you. Nordic Fauna is ordered and I'm looking forward to the short stories. I hope I can get by with English. But I want to try.

Kerstin wrote: "Hello, I look forward to reading with you. Nordic Fauna is ordered and I'm looking forward to the short stories. I hope I can get by with English. But I want to try."

Great! The more, the merrier!
I have already finished the first story and liked it. Looking forward to your thoughts!!

I have read the first two short stories. Both are a bit sad, although I liked the style of the first better.
Especially the topics that are addressed: dementia, loneliness, violence, mental health are so topical.
The question, how do I deal with my fellow human beings, what do I allow? It's very clear with both. The child who does not know how to deal with the father should stand lost in front of the shop. Or the daughter who lives in a violent household. Violent by men of father and brother. Especially with the story I swallowed, because Lundgren always only hints at everything subliminally and you have to read a lot between the lines.

Kerstin wrote: "I have read the first two short stories. Both are a bit sad, although I liked the style of the first better.
Especially the topics that are addressed: dementia, loneliness, violence, mental health ..."

I finished this collection and fully agree with you:
The stories center around "bodiless" worries / threats that the protagonists experience so reading these stories means diving deep into minds disturbed but also struggling to cope in unusual ways. I think the quote by Djuna Barnes that precedes this collection ("... for it is given some to come out of their skins, and for others to dwindle therein") sums up very well what these stories are about.
Though I also think that the stories, disturbing as they are, are no easy reads, I admired the writing style and think this author is worth checking out in a few more years...

This became my first read of 2023. I agree about heavy themes and an admirable writing style - it's like the freshness of her language somehow balances the sadness & violence. Especially appreciated how each story is grounded in realism, then opens to a symbolic or surrealistic register. Am curious to read her latest book Den underjordiska solen (a novel, currently untranslated as far as I know).

Thanks for pointing out her latest novel! My Swedish is unfortunately not good enough to read it in the original, but the title sounds like something in the vein of her story collection and I simply hope it will be translated.