The Profiles' Summer Reading: "Painfully Beautiful"

Short story collections, thrillers, and a novel suite – now some Swedish profiles share what they read this summer. I read a short story a day, that's what my "attention span" can handle on vacation, says author Denise Rudberg.

» Published: July 22 2024

The Profiles' Summer Reading: "Painfully Beautiful"
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Short story collections, thrillers, and a novel suite – now some Swedish profiles share what they read this summer.

I read a short story a day, that's what my "attention span" can handle on vacation, says author Denise Rudberg.

Pascal Engman, author:

"Roots" – novel by Alex Haley.

It's about slavery in the USA. It follows a boy who is taken as a slave, and it's about his and his relatives' lives. It's a classic, and it's incredibly good.

.

Denise Rudberg, author:

"To be a man" – short story collection by Nicole Krauss.

Nicole Krauss was completely new to me. She writes a lot about New York. I lived there for four years, so it's great to be thrown back to 1990s New York with her pen.

"Motives" – short story collection by Malin Persson Giolito.

Since they are both short story collections, I can switch between the books. I read a short story a day, that's what my "attention span" can handle on vacation.

.

Jacob Widell Zetterström, Djurgården goalkeeper:

"The Alexandria Quartet" – novel suite by Lawrence Durell.

It's a heavy brick that I got from my mom when I recently had a birthday. I think it's fantastically beautiful, it's a beautiful description of Alexandria in the 1930s by the Mediterranean, and there's a sensuality that's beautiful to read about.

"If Beale Street could talk" – novel by James Baldwin.

I recently finished reading it. I'm a big Baldwin fan, he wrote in a way that's almost painfully beautiful.

.

Liv Strömquist, cartoonist and artist:

"Jerusalem" – novel by Selma Lagerlöf.

I've been thinking of reading it, because for some reason I haven't read it. There are always classics you've forgotten to read, so it's a fun project.

.

Agneta Sjödin, host:

"Ruth Galloway" series – 15-part book series by Elly Griffiths.

I work all summer, so I usually listen to audiobooks when I travel and commute. Right now, I'm on book six in Elly Griffiths' book series about the archaeologist Ruth, who helps the police solve cases.

.

Caroline Ringskog Ferrada-Noli, author:

"The new right-wing radicalism" – essay by Theodor W Adorno.

I'm going to do a summer talk, so I read things that make what I say more substantiated. I've read this book before, it's very good and deals with the emotional aspect of Nazism.

"The zero point of literature" – non-fiction book by Roland Barthes.

I think it might not be that good. It feels like he wrote it when he had become established, so he could just coast. It's about language and is interesting, but I don't recommend it.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

The Who Reinstates Drummer Zak
1 MIN READ

The Who Reinstates Drummer Zak Starkey After Brief Firing

Haley Joel Osment Apologizes for
2 MIN READ

Haley Joel Osment Apologizes for Anti-Semitic Remarks After Arrest

Malin Stenbäck Exits "Let's Dance"
1 MIN READ

Malin Stenbäck Exits "Let's Dance" After Heartfelt Performance

Nate Bargatze to Host 77th
1 MIN READ

Nate Bargatze to Host 77th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles

Harvey Weinstein Transferred from Rikers
2 MIN READ

Harvey Weinstein Transferred from Rikers to Manhattan Hospital

Menendez Brothers' Sentencing Hearing Delayed
2 MIN READ

Menendez Brothers' Sentencing Hearing Delayed to May 9

Anis Don Demina Unmasked as
2 MIN READ

Anis Don Demina Unmasked as Detective Owl on "Masked Singer"

Bryan Ferry Reflects on Roxy
4 MIN READ

Bryan Ferry Reflects on Roxy Music's Legacy and New Collaborations

Ryan Gosling to Lead in
2 MIN READ

Ryan Gosling to Lead in New 'Star Wars: Starfighter' Film, Premiering 2027

Concert Cancellations Continue for New
1 MIN READ

Concert Cancellations Continue for New Miss Snusk Artist

Cinemas Boost Security for "Minecraft"
1 MIN READ

Cinemas Boost Security for "Minecraft" Movie Screenings

Karl Fredrik Gustafsson Brings Summer
3 MIN READ

Karl Fredrik Gustafsson Brings Summer Charm to SVT's New Show

Gaza Boy's Portrait Wins World
1 MIN READ

Gaza Boy's Portrait Wins World Press Photo Award

Edvin Törnblom's "Edvin's Paradise" Premieres
1 MIN READ

Edvin Törnblom's "Edvin's Paradise" Premieres on TV4 May 5

Nils Poletti Departs Östgötateatern for
1 MIN READ

Nils Poletti Departs Östgötateatern for Parkteatern Leadership Role

Greentea Peng to Perform at
1 MIN READ

Greentea Peng to Perform at Gothenburg's Way Out West Festival

KAJ Leads Betting Odds for
1 MIN READ

KAJ Leads Betting Odds for European Song Contest Victory

Fyre Festival 2 Cancelled; New
1 MIN READ

Fyre Festival 2 Cancelled; New Date to Be Announced

Bianca Ingrosso Returns to "Wahlgren's
1 MIN READ

Bianca Ingrosso Returns to "Wahlgren's World" Full-Time Next Season

Documentary Challenges Riefenstahl's Claims of
3 MIN READ

Documentary Challenges Riefenstahl's Claims of Ignorance on Nazi Atrocities

Michelle Trachtenberg's Death Linked to
1 MIN READ

Michelle Trachtenberg's Death Linked to Diabetes Complications

Rare Signed Nirvana 'Nevermind' Album
1 MIN READ

Rare Signed Nirvana 'Nevermind' Album Sells for £18,600 at Auction

Matilda Klarqvist Triumphs in "Sweden's
3 MIN READ

Matilda Klarqvist Triumphs in "Sweden's Master Chef" Competition

Bronze Reuterswärd Sculpture Stolen from
1 MIN READ

Bronze Reuterswärd Sculpture Stolen from Swedish Sports Hall

Ewan McGregor to Join Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Ewan McGregor to Join Stockholm Comic-Con This June

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Spotify Restores Service After Hours of Global Disruptions

JK Rowling Applauds UK Supreme
1 MIN READ

JK Rowling Applauds UK Supreme Court Ruling on Women's Rights

Gitte Ørskou's Tenure Extended at
1 MIN READ

Gitte Ørskou's Tenure Extended at Modern Museum Until 2026

Gene Hackman's Wife Sought Covid
1 MIN READ

Gene Hackman's Wife Sought Covid Info Before Her Passing

Gayle King Defends Space Travel
1 MIN READ

Gayle King Defends Space Travel Against Environmental Criticism

Culture Minister Outraged by Activists'
1 MIN READ

Culture Minister Outraged by Activists' Vasa Ship Protest

Samar Yazbek's New Work Debuts
1 MIN READ

Samar Yazbek's New Work Debuts at Royal Dramatic Theatre

The Who Parts Ways with
1 MIN READ

The Who Parts Ways with Drummer Zak Starkey After 30 Years

Christina Schollin Joins Cast of
1 MIN READ

Christina Schollin Joins Cast of SVT's "The Beetle Flies at Dusk"

Björn Gustafsson Stars in 'The
2 MIN READ

Björn Gustafsson Stars in 'The Penguin Lessons' and More This Week

"And Just Like That" Season
1 MIN READ

"And Just Like That" Season 3 Debuts on Max May 30