New Swedish Books, autumn 2020 1
New Swedish Books 42 Fight The jury: A nuanced st
ory of problematic masculinity. The switches between past and present are wonderful. What they never tell you is that it’s quick. It isn’t something perfectly coordinated or under control. When it comes down to it, all that matters is who’s first. One strike can make all the difference. After coming out of a deeply destructive relationship, Conny finds himself in a vicious circle of violence. He desperately needs the sense of belonging he gets from Ibrahim and the others, but it doesn’t come for free. It comes with the expectation to be there; at any time, at any cost, no matter what they ask of him. It comes with the expectation to ‘be a man’. Conny struggles, but in the end, it’s an easy choice. He is willing to do almost anything, whatever it takes, to show the world he’s no longer weak. Fight explores themes such as love, grief, friendship, and violence. But above all, it examines what it means to be a young man today, the expectations that are put on young men, and how they relate to each other. Karl Modig Novel, 302 p. Karl Modig Publisher Vox by Opal Rights Opal Agency Anja Eriksson, Melina Nordstrand anja@opal.se, melina@opal.se Photo: Ola Kjelbye