New Swedish Books, Spring 2018 1
15 Spring 2018 Joel Mauricio Isabel Ortiz (b. 198
7) The Son Song Publisher Norstedts www.norstedts.se Rights Norstedts linda.altrovberg@norstedts.se Joel Mauricio Isabel Ortiz was born in Colombia and grew up in Norrköping in Sweden, and is a playwright, actor and musical artist. The Son Song is their first book. The Son Song Joel Mauricio Isabel Ortiz’s debut book is a direct and powerful tale, pacey and full of emotional twists. The protagonist has fled the town they grew up in for a selfdestructive existence in Stockholm’s theatre world, but has so much more to flee from. They are fleeing the memory of their abusive, alcoholic adoptive father. From the lover who wanted to get too close; from the friends whose love is never enough. From the colleagues who exoticise them and from a racist society. Trauma survivors are often driven to repeat their trauma. Such is the case here too, and in an increasingly violent sex life, the protagonist is given the opportunity to shift between the roles of victim and abuser. But after confronting their constant need to flee, they finally become able to search for their birth mother and to choose a family who set their own rules. Photo: Göran Segeholm