A long and winding tour
The cold baths in Varberg
We left Stockholm on a sunny Sunday morning - except for two sunsets, all the sun we have seen on this trip south. It feels a bit like a wet whirlwind. Two nights with friends in idyllic Brösarps Backar, one night in Malmö, one in Copenhagen, one in Varberg. However lovely, no place is at its best in driving rain… Now we have landed in Åmål, famous for the film “Fucking Åmål” which had to be retitled for other parts of the world. A pretty little town on the lake Vänern. But it is raining… I am here to read during the book festival Bokdagarna i Dalsland.
I feel a little apprehensive. Sometimes, reading from my novel and from other older texts is a bit like revisiting places. Never quite like I remembered them. Sometimes for the better, but more often a little disappointing. Or just distanced. Only when mirrored in a listener do they come to life again for me. We shall see how this will develop. I have only read from the Swedish translation once before in public, and the short story I have translated for this event. It may well fall flat.
The novel is now out in the UK, but there are no news yet as to how it is faring. I can’t stop wondering about how it will do. I admire those who say they ignore reviews.
