New Swedish Books, Spring 2018 1
New Swedish Books 56 Comedy Queen Jenny Jägerfeld
has distinguished herself through her gift of being able to wrap layers of anaesthetising comedy around the most painful of situations. Here a mother’s deep depression and suicide, along with the crisis that follows on from the loss, is recounted. Sasha makes a list of the things she needs to avoid in order not to become like her dead mum: Don’t dress in black, Don’t take care of anyone, Do become a comedian. The description of her grief is heart-breaking and deeply moving, at the same time as the story is both sharp and hilarious. The cast of characters are on point, from the sarcastic friend from school, Tyra, to her Dad’s brother Ossi, who blames most things that go wrong on his ADHD diagnosis. Yet it is he who supports Sasha in her grief and in her desire to become a standup comedian. The dialogue eavesdrops on current ways of talking and the details that make the characters come alive are pitched just right. Jenny Jägerfeld (b. 1974) Comedy Queen Publisher Rabén & Sjögren www.rabensjogren.se Rights Grand Agency lotta@grandagency.se Selected Works Här ligger jag och blöder YA 2010 Jag är ju så jävla easygoing YA 2013 Brorsan är kung! Chapter Book 2016 Literary Prizes Augustpriset 2010 Astrid Lindgren-priset 2017 Photo: Hugo Thambert