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Best Scandinavian Books

December 2024

Beartown

In the depths of a Swedish forest, where winter’s grip never truly loosens, lies Beartown – a community on the brink. Hockey is their lifeline, their passion, their everything. As the junior team prepares for a crucial game, hopes soar and tensions simmer. But when a shocking incident shatters their fragile unity, the town must confront its darkest secrets and deepest fears. Backman’s prose cuts like ice, revealing the raw humanity beneath small-town facades. A powerful exploration of loyalty, dreams, and the price we pay for belonging.

A Man Called Ove

Meet Ove, a curmudgeonly widower whose world is upended when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Behind his cranky exterior lies a story of love, loss, and unexpected friendship. As Ove’s icy heart begins to thaw, he discovers that life is full of surprises, even when you least expect them. Backman’s touching tale reminds us that it’s never too late to start anew and that sometimes, the most unlikely people can change our lives forever.