Sweden is the Nordic country I have read the most from over the years. You can find a list of the books featured on this blog at my project page here. Notably, in that list and my Swedish TBR pictured above, there are the beginning books in several series.
I love starting a new crime series from the beginning – but fatigue tends to set in after the first two or three books. For instance, I read the first two of Henning Mankell’s Wallander books just before I started blogging, but haven’t read any since – the Branagh Wallander TV adaptations sufficed to replace the others (arguably freeing my time to read other books). However, I should read more of the Martin Beck books having enjoyed the first one, as they were truly ground-breaking – but sadly I didn’t keep my set (from the Book People ages ago).
Of the books pictured above, I’ve now read The Room, and I’ve started epistolary novel Some Kind of Company by Nan Östman from new kids on the translation block Aspal Press. I also plan to read The Minds Eye by Håkan Nesser, the first Inspector Van Veeteren book – my late mum was a fan of this series. If I have time to read one more book from the pile above, which should it be?
I’m taking a slightly different approach to my Swedish gateway book this week. Instead of re-reading Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist, I’ve watched the two movies, Swedish and US, made of it – more on that soon.
My gateway book for Sweden should have been the first of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but I couldn’t summon up the enthusiasm to revisit it, and indeed back then I never followed up on the others in the series. I remember that at the time, there was something so distasteful about the denouement (although I’ve read much worse since), and I wasn’t convinced by Lizbeth Salander either for some reason. The Lindqvist which I read shortly after TGWTDT however, was truly eye-opening as a contemporary vampire novel from Sweden – just loved it!
Can you recommend any other modern novels or NF by Swedish authors to me?
I read Håkan Nesser’s A Summer with Kim Novak a while back and enjoyed it. I’d also recommend To Cook a Bear which I’d not expected to like, given I’m neither a crime fan nor an historical fictioon fan, but I loved it.Fascinating!
I started To Cook a Bear but didn’t get on with it, oddly, so I passed on my copy to Hayley. I am looking forward to the first Nesser book though.
That’s a shame. Perhaps it’s because my expectations were low!
I read Harbour last week for your Nordic celebration and hope to have a review up before the end of the week. I quite liked Let the Right One In, but thought it was the rare case of the movie (the Swedish one) being better than the book.
I shall look out for your review of Harbour. I need to read more of my Lindqvist books. On Let the Right One In – hmmm, in parts, yes. I’m in the middle of writing my comparison of the two films which’ll be posted tomorrow if I get it finished in time.
Excellent, look forward to it.
I’m not sure what my first read from Sweden was, though I did devour the Wallender books. However, I rate the Martin Becks as the best Scandi-crime series about and I really must read them again some time!
Interesting mix of Swedish writers. I must admit I have not heard of all of them (most though). My absolute favourite is Håkan Nesser. He is excellent in his story telling and making his characters so personal you think you know them. At the time I was not a great fan of vampyre stories, but did like Let the Right One In. Have not read anything else by Lindqvist. Wallander’s books are excellent though.
I see you have a book by Karin Alvtegen, also an excellent author. Jonas Karlsson is fun, as is Fredrik Backman. Lena Einhorn writes historical novels which are excellent. Per-Olov Enquist is a wonderful author. Nina Burton writes nonfiction on women, history, travels etc. Camilla Läckberg is our most popular thriller writer and her stories are also very interesting.
I am behind in my Swedish reading, so many challenges this month. I am reading a nonfiction on the history of Skåne, in the south of Sweden and how the Swedes got it back from the Danes in the 17th century.
Enjoying this challenge and to get new tips from the readers joining here.
I’ve managed to miss Backman, but will get to him sometime I’m sure. Noting the others you recommend. Thank you.