This month's Best Read is The Heart Echoes by Helena von Zweigberk. This warm, sometimes chilling and ultimately tragic story of three sisters and long ago buried secrets by the Swedish novelist, journalist, and TV presenter, is brilliantly translated by Tiina Nunnally. An Intriguing Start The … [Read more...]
My Five Favourite Valentine’s Films
I think watching a film at home together is one of the most romantic things to do. With a glass or two of bubbly, some tasty nibbles (or even nibbling each other …), it makes for a wonderful Valentine’s evening in my book. I think it’s even better if your partner has chosen a classic film that he or … [Read more...]
German Literary Critic Reviews IKEA Catalogue
I just had to share this with you. The new IKEA catalogue is out and is reviewed by a German literary critic. This shows what brilliant PR people those cunning Swedes are. I'm almost jealous. (Very, actually). … [Read more...]
Dagmar: My favourite Swedish Fashion Label
I found Dagmar last year when I saw this skirt on the naughty-but-nice Net-a-Porter site. Its green camouflage pattern is really flattering, and the zips on the side make it a little more fun than a normal pencil skirt would be. It's also very stretchy, so even on 'fat days' I can fit into it. I've … [Read more...]
Which Nordic Noir character would you like to be?
I've got a bit of a girl crush on many of the female characters in Nordic Noir fiction, TV and film.It all started with Lisbet Salander, the feisty female sleuth in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. Who wouldn't want to battle misogyny on the streets of Stockholm? I might not have been able to do … [Read more...]
Dr Glas in London
I'd been looking forward to seeing this dark Swedish play by Hjalmar Söderberg since I interviewed Krister Henriksson in London last autumn. Henriksson, who is better known to UK audiences for starring in the Swedish detective series as the morose Wallander, has been playing Dr Glas to great … [Read more...]