SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

"Touches Life and Death in a Unique Way"

An accessible authorship, which simultaneously explores serious and major issues in a new way. This is how this year's Nobel Prize winner in literature Han Kang is described. A traditional novelist, who at the same time tells about her country's traumas, says the author and critic Jens Liljestrand, who predicted Kang as the winner in advance.

» Updated: 10 October 2024, 14:18

» Published: 10 October 2024

"Touches Life and Death in a Unique Way"
Photo: Gorm Kallestad/NTB/TT

Several of her works touch on life and death in a completely unique way, and explore the woman and the female body in a human and touching way.

So says Beata Gårdeler, director who last year put up Han Kang's novel "The Vegetarian" as a play at Dramaten.

In some way, you feel very close to her characters, even though she is from another part of the world. It feels very human, says Gårdeler, who thinks the prize is well-deserved.

Author and critic Jens Liljestrand believes that the Swedish Academy, by choosing Han Kang, wants to show that they have "an open eye".

- I think it's fun and unexpected. I think I can see a pattern from the Academy lately to occasionally want to reward a public and relatively young authorship, says he.

"Mainstream"

It's also fun that the prize goes to an author from South Korea, a country that has never received it before, thinks Jens Liljestrand.

It's an accessible authorship, one that ordinary book readers can relate to. One, with all respect, mainstream authorship you could say. I just talked to a publisher who said "we read her in my book club", it's that kind of author, says he and compares her authorship with names like Kazuo Ishiguro or Orhan Pamuk.

A realistic and strong authorship, which can captivate readers. It's easy to see it all ahead. In that way, a traditional novelist, who at the same time tells about her country's traumas, says Jens Liljestrand.

"Lukewarm"

Literary critic Sara Abdollahi Lekta thinks that just "The Vegetarian" is an incredible novel – but calls the Swedish Academy's choice "lukewarm", considering the entire authorship.

It feels like a tendentious trend to latch onto trauma writing. I would rather have seen someone like Thomas Pynchon, says she.

Anna Gustafsson Chen, who translates Chinese literature, says that Han Kang is liked by many and is a good author.

She writes about serious, big questions in a very beautiful and poetic way. And you get very deeply touched when you read her texts.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

She was forced to leave "Idol" - "I'm incredibly proud"
2 MIN READ

She was forced to leave "Idol" - "I'm incredibly proud"

Artist sues image agency for millions
1 MIN READ

Artist sues image agency for millions

Journalist Göran Skytte Dead
1 MIN READ

Journalist Göran Skytte Dead

Pernilla Månsson Colt turned down "On Track"
1 MIN READ

Pernilla Månsson Colt turned down "On Track"

The Norwegians opt out of theater
1 MIN READ

The Norwegians opt out of theater

Kendrick Lamar surprises with album release
1 MIN READ

Kendrick Lamar surprises with album release

Book by Stieg Larsson banned in Florida
1 MIN READ

Book by Stieg Larsson banned in Florida

Melanie C to Sweden
1 MIN READ

Melanie C to Sweden

National Museum acquires key work
1 MIN READ

National Museum acquires key work

The First Biography about Göran Tunström
1 MIN READ

The First Biography about Göran Tunström

Trump Actor: The Film Scares Colleagues
1 MIN READ

Trump Actor: The Film Scares Colleagues

Well-known German Theater Threatened by Severe Cuts
1 MIN READ

Well-known German Theater Threatened by Severe Cuts

After Illness – Stromae Back with New Music
1 MIN READ

After Illness – Stromae Back with New Music

Punk legends Sex Pistols to Sweden Rock
1 MIN READ

Punk legends Sex Pistols to Sweden Rock

August Gala in the Shadow of Non-Fiction Debate
4 MIN READ

August Gala in the Shadow of Non-Fiction Debate

The Great Journalism Prize for SD Investigation
2 MIN READ

The Great Journalism Prize for SD Investigation

New Director for the World Culture Museums
1 MIN READ

New Director for the World Culture Museums

She receives SvD's literature prize
1 MIN READ

She receives SvD's literature prize

Bromberg to Leave Bromberg Publishing
1 MIN READ

Bromberg to Leave Bromberg Publishing

Netflix is making a second Pokémon season
1 MIN READ

Netflix is making a second Pokémon season