The book, with about 30 paintings in watercolor and gouache, is about a boy who sets out on a summer adventure in a rubber boat while his mother stands by the water's edge. She talks to the adults at the beach, unaware of her child's magical adventure.
The mother is in her adult reality and the child is in theirs. The child's journey may take place just a few meters from the mother, it may take place in the imagination, the important thing is to be able to be in the child's reality and world – in the magical, says Sara Lundberg.
"Sister books"
The story is reminiscent of her August Prize-winning book "The Bird in Me Flies Wherever It Wants" from 2017.
They are sister books, she says and summarizes her perhaps most important theme: get lost to find the right way.
This year's prize amount is approximately 440,000 kronor and Sara Lundberg hopes to be able to realize a dream and longing for a life closer to nature.
It may become a contribution to a small summer cottage.
"Raw and touching"
The literature prize goes this year to the Faroese poet Vónbjørt Vang for the poetry collection "Svørt orkidé" ("Black Orchid") about a mother whose teenage son is unwell and distances himself. "A raw and touching depiction" according to the jury.
Vónbjørt Vang becomes the third Faroese author to receive the prize. Her poetry collection is translated into Swedish, her Faroese publisher Kim Simonsen tells TT, but has not yet been published by a Swedish publisher. The Swedish nominees were Lotta Lotass with the poetry collection "Rubicon/Issos/Troja" and Andrzej Tichý with the novel "The Book of Events".
The prizes will be awarded during a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament on October 28, which will be broadcast live on norden.org.
Literature: "Svørt orkidé" ("Black Orchid") by Vónbjørt Vang from the Faroe Islands
Film: "Seinasta paradís á jørd" ("The Last Paradise on Earth") directed by Sakaris Stórá, from the Faroe Islands
Children's and young adult literature: "Ingen utom jag" ("No One but Me") by Sara Lundberg from Sweden
Music: Vikingur Ólafsson from Iceland
Environment: Grønne Nabofællesskaber (Green Neighborhood Communities) from Denmark
