Martin Berg finds himself in the throes of a midlife crisis. His wife has mysteriously disappeared, and his career is not what he had envisioned. The literary thriller “Collected Works” interweaves the present-day life of Martin and his children – the search for his missing wife is a central part of the plot – with Martin’s upbringing in Sweden during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“Osebol” is a novel about the rural village of Osebol in Central Sweden. The author, Marit Kapla, who grew up in this village, interviewed 42 of its residents – sitting in their kitchens and sipping coffee – and transcribed the conversations into a book that strikes a balance between historical testimony and poetry.
A cellist is hurrying to catch his train when he starts a conversation with a junkie. This encounter triggers a series of memories about his own troubled youth, marked by poverty, violence, and drug abuse.
A young man dies in a car crash in Stockholm. Who was he and how did he die? Was it an accident or suicide? “Everything I Don’t Remember” explores the ‘truth’ about the life and death of the deceased young man, as recounted through the memories of his friends.
Ove is a grumpy, reclusive man, disconnected from the world. However, when a young family moves in next door, an unexpected friendship begins to blossom.
Twelve-year old Klas lives with his family on a farm in Småland in southern Sweden during the 1970s. While his father dreams of him taking over the farm one day, young Klas dreams of escaping farm life. Klas, an avid birdwatcher, finds solace in the world of nature, while his father suffers from delusions and mental breakdowns.
“Popular Music from Vittula” is a coming-of-age novel about a boy growing up in a remote rural village in northern Sweden in the 1960s, a place influenced by Finnish, Swedish, and Meänkieli traditions. The novel traces the lives of local youngsters, as they form friendships, discover rock music (especially The Beatles), explore the world beyond their village, and rebel against the older generation.
Annie Raft discovers two corpses in a tent and sees a boy fleeing the scene. Many years later, she recognises her daughter’s lover as the same boy. Before she can alert the police, another murder occurs.
Katri lives in a remote, snowbound village with her simple-minded brother Mats and their dog. She befriends Anna, an older, affluent illustrator of children’s books. Before long, Katri and Mats move in with Anna, and the two women must learn to live together despite their differences.
“The Way of a Serpent” is a short, dark novel about a poor peasant family in Sweden at the end of the 19th century. The story’s narrator is in debt to a man who takes advantage of his situation by abusing the women in his family.