Win a book! Posted by jennie on Mar 19, 2010 in Culture, Swedish Language
I went back to Sweden last weekend and as usual, coming back from one of those visits, my bag contains a very weird mix av things. This time I brought back fifteen kilos of toothbrushes (the Swedish ones are much softer than the UK ones) salty liquorice (but of course!) Polly-chocolate (can’t live without it part I) Falukorv (can’t live without it part II), snus (can live without it but… well, enough said) Snabbmakaroner (Sweden are famous for its pasta) and lots and lots of books. Swedish books by Swedish authors. Many of the Swedish authors today are worldly recognized and translated into several languages – especially in the crime genre (which we will dedicate a post to in the very near future). But most of the Swedish books will probably never make it across the border.
Yesterday, I read one of those. It’s called “Skynda att älska” (“Hurry to love”) and is written by my favourite journalist and blogger, Alex Schulman. I have never been a great fan of book reviews and I never write them either. I rather just happily accept book tips from friends and in return, force them to read the masterpieces I’ve come across. Today, I’m on a mission to make everyone I know read “Skynda att älska”. Even you people!
“Skynda att älska” is the very honest and true story about the relationship between Alex and his his father Allan, a Swedish television producer who died in 2003. Alex was 27 back then, Allan was 84. It is about growing up with a father old enough to be your grandfather and what effect that has on your life as a kid – and as an adult, when your time together slowly is running out.
You see, this is exactly why I don’t like reviews. It’s impossible to make a great book justice and therefore, I’m stopping right here. But I would really like to share this wonderful book with one of you out there. Not only because it’s a great book, but also because it gives a beautiful description of so much that is typical Swedish. And the language, boy, is it amazing! So, if you would like something fairly easy but very gripping (tissues is a must) to read or to save for the day when your Swedish is fluent, just drop a comment here. Make sure to leave your e-mail address in the required field as well (it will be for my eyes only). I’m happy to post it anywhere in the world and if you’re really lucky, I might even slip some salty liquorice in the package as well.
I’ll randomly pick a winner on the March 31.
Have a great weekend!
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Comments:
AA:
What about Schulman’s blog do you like so much? And, are there other blogs written in Swedish that you would recommend? Tack!
I’ve found one of the more frustrating things about attempting to learn Swedish is my inability to find the best search terms to find blogs of interest to use as learning tools.
@Deanna: Depending on where you are, used bookstores sometimes have a reasonable selection of foreign language books. Otherwise, good ol’ eBay and the like are good for finding books in Swedish.
Andrew:
Ah damn! I was just in Akademibokhandeln the other week looking for a good book too!
Tack tack för ditt blog.
Majlis Hanson:
I for sure will read this book although I have no idea how to as my Swedish is very limited. I was born when my dad was 63 years old. It looked odd ; I realized that when I started elementary school. However, I happened to be in a class with several foster home kids, that meant they, by some reasons, couldn’t live with their parents -young parents – or being taken away from social service department to place to live with strangers. Also was the story of one of my cousins, whose dad died at the age of 28. She was growing up without a dad.. So that did put some perspective into me that having a “normal age” father did’t guarantee you a “normal” family life, leave alone happiness. However, I couldn’t help wishing my dad could go up to the waterslides with me and that I didn’t have to see how worried my mother was everytime my dad coughed !!!
Alexandra:
Hej hej! Thank you for this blog! I’ve just discovered it and I think you’re doing a great job! Congrats! It made my day. 🙂 It’s educative and fun and you’re helping us learn more each day! Tusen tack!
Kramar, Alexandra
Nikita Koselev:
Seems a nice book to read :))
jennie:
Wow, this is great!! Still a few more days to go until I reveal the lucky winner… good luck to all of you!
@AA: I’ll make sure to write a post next week with lots of blog recommendations!
About Alex Schulman, I don’t know many who can capture emotions, memories or events the way he does. I always get the “Ah, I know exactly what you mean!”-feeling when reading his blog posts or articles and he does it in such a non complicated way. He always triggers something in me, good or bad, but his writing effects me. And – he has an amazing sense of humour!
Does it make sense? 🙂
Samantha:
I think I’d love to read this!
Tack!
Renee Piekal:
I would just love to have this book to help me in learning swedish. I had always hoped that someday I would be able to make a trip over there but at 65 years old, it doesn’t look like it is ever going to happen. My father would have been so proud of me if he knew that I was finally trying to learn his native language.
Tack,
Renee Eckerstrom
Judy:
Please put me in the book lottery! It would be fun to win it! Have you ever read “Tuesdays With Maurie?” –Another tear jerker!