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:
Deanna Yates:
OOooo!! I would love a book in swedish! Plus it sounds really good. ^_^ Why don’t we have any fun books in other languages in the U.S. (they aren’t easy to find, at least.)
Laurel Hoberg:
Jag älskar svenska kulturen, den vackra natursköna vyer, är de vänliga människorna och maten att dö för.:)
Lars Hedbor:
Tack så mycket!
alice:
omg, i’ve been readin schulman’s blog, it’s great! but as far as i don’t read swedish so good, i’ve done it with a help of google translate 😀
julie:
I’m 44 but I think I will be 84 before I even begin to master this language…
If i’m lucky and my name is drawn out of the hat the book would have pride of place on my book shelf and would defo be an incentive for me to learn swedish. Jag kommer fran London. Jag bor i Sverige i Halsingland…
Tack sa mycket
Lycka Till ,allihopa
Julie
Samantha:
I’ve bought the first installment of the Millennium series in Swedish in the hope that one day when my Swedish is good enough I’ll be able to read it!
Ashley:
Jennie this sounds like a very inspiring story! If I dont win…i might just have to go purchase the book myself!
Justin:
Mmmm…Salt liquorice…
Oh…The book sounds good too.
Tina Smith:
My great grandmother was origanlly from Sweden and I still have family that live in the same my greatgrandmother grew up in. My sisters and and my mom went there one year and met them. They are hoping to go back soon.
Carol Goller:
Of course I can’t resist the opportunity to try for a free book and after I read it, I will put it in our library with Jennie’s “book review.” I like to hear about Swedish books for myself and for people I am recommending library books to.
Also, I have a question: Are there some of the older Swedish authors who seem to be classics that would be good for people learning Swedish? Strindberg plays? Other examples–Per Anders Fogelström, Ivar Lo-Johansson, Göran Tunström?
kehali yoseif kelkay:
hej,
tack ,vad du göra är så töppen!
Kate:
A free book?! In Swedish?! Irresistible!
Tack så mycket!
Sylwester:
I would read it with pleasure!
Have a nice weekend
Darcy Parks:
pick me!
Will Wheatcroft:
Hej!
I have been reading each and every blog of yours as soon as it gets sent to my inbox. I’m trying to learn Swedish, but work full time so your recent blog ‘How to maintain your Swedish’ on 17th March was very useful. I would love to read this book as my (half) Swedish friend says that it is very good. I may even save it for my next trip to Sweden in July. The salt liquorice would be given to my (half) Swedish friend as she can’t live without the stuff…I can!
Tack sa mycket. (My keyboard doesn’t seem to type Swedish correctly!)
Will
Mana:
Tack så mycket! 🙂 Det låter bra!
Susanne:
I haven’t got any books in Swedish yet, so I’d love to start the craze with a truly great one!
Xavier O:
Sounds cool story. Never in my life have I read any swedish books hence it’d be intriguing to have this seemingly tears-drawing story as my very first one.
Michael:
Speaking of books. . . Bokus had stopped shipping to the US. Do you know if they have resumed. They were a good source.
Tack!
km:
Tack!
Amanda Champlin:
Tack så mycket! I love that you included a book review too. It’s really piqued my interest. 🙂
Kenia:
With that review you’ve made about the book and the title, you bet it makes me want to read it in any possible language. Now the fact that it’s a swedish book is just great, perfect combination of story and language! I’ll cross my fingers for luck!!!
Kenia:
With that review you’ve made about the book and the title, you bet it makes me want to read it in any possible language. Now the fact that it’s a swedish book is just great, perfect combination of story and language! I’ll cross my fingers for good luck!!!
Natasha:
I enjoy Alex Schulman’s blog. It sounds like a touching keep-the-tissues-handy kind of book.
Vera:
Swedish.. what a beautiful language, What a beautiful word.
kiyan:
just try my luck 🙂
i’m planning to learn Swedish. Wish I could understand the book one day.
christie:
Jag skulle älska att få en bok på svenska! Jag bor i USA och har inte kunnat hitta vilken bok som helst på svenska här. Tidigare bodde jag i Sverige och saknar nu kontakt med landet, språket, osv. Snälla om ni skulle skicka mig boken skulle jag bli så väldigt tacksam! Och som Michael har meddelat, det går inte längre att få böcker från Bokus eller något annat bolag heller så det vore helt underbart om jag kunde få denna som du talar om! Vänliga hälsningar från USA!
Cecile Pham:
aww i’d love a good read. 🙂 sounds like a beautiful story
Helen:
Tack så mycket! I finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a while ago and I’m waiting for the second book to come out in paperback. Right now, I’m reading another Swedish book, Let the Right One In. =)
Michelle:
I have been reading your blog for awhile now, as I am a Swedish student in Australia. I’d love to read the book!
Johann:
Hej!
Tack for offering this! I’d love to have the chance to have this book as a motivation to continue studerar svenska…I hope to come to a point that I can fully read this book.
God dag!
Aidan Fritz:
Jag läste hans blog men ha inte läste hans böcker.
Joanne:
Jag vill den!
Carla:
I love a good read (the fact that it is Swedish is completely intriguing…..as I am in the process of learning). Reviews ARE really hard to give, but that was not too shabby 🙂 Tack så mycket!!!
Ksenia:
I don’t have Swedish books either (only articles from the internet to translate), it would be great to have one! Tack!
Bilitis Kruse:
Hello!
I would enjoy having a Swedish book “fairly easy but very gripping to read”! A good friend of mine is in the same position: he just became 34 and his father is 85 …
Därtill jag tänka jobber i Sverige 🙂 – and I have to learn, learn, learn!
Greetings from Germany. Have a nice weekend. Hejdå!
Natalia:
I’d love to have this book! 🙂
Sandy DeLauretis:
My Swedish is rusty, but I’m picking it up quick. I would love this book, sounds like it would be an excellent read.
Charles Burklund:
I am interested in the free book
Minty:
I want to win a book! please please!
😀
Luke (Sydney):
Mig, mig, mig!
Maria Rowena Verano:
oh my.. Love books… please, please, please pick me! snälla…
snabel:
det är så intressant… jag hoppas att en som får den här boken ska bli nöjd av den och kanske ska skicka boken till nästa lycklig person sedan.
Letícia:
Wow, I can totally relate to that story. My dad is 45 years older than me. I think I might buy the book myself if I don’t win. 🙂
Nic Fletcher:
I suppose I can afford to just buy the book… but maybe the incentive of being given one in Swedish will push me more… although I really am trying (säger jag som skriver på engelska!)!
doerte:
I’d love to read my first (!) Swedish book. I’m in the middle of learning Swedish and it’s so much fun. So maybe the book still has to wait a little until my Swedish is good enough, but what a blast it will be when someday I’m gonna be able to read it. 🙂 What’s more, the story sounds very nice, reminds me a little of Per Petterson’s “Out Stealing Horses” which i’ve just finished…
Have a sunny day.
Scott Hayes:
hello,
Sounds like a good book, and would help me learn swedish.
cheers
scott
Steve Schedin:
I enjoy your blog very much! I am interested in the book Skynda att Älska.
Tack ska Du ha.
davinia:
Is totally impossible to find books in swedish in Mexico!!! I hope to get lucky 😀
Jordan:
Thank you for giving this book away. I’m excited to practice my Swedish!