New Swedish Books, Autumn 2017 1
35 Autumn 2017 Anna Ringberg (b. 1980) In Memory
of Berit Susanne Fredriksson Publisher Ordfront www.ordfrontforlag.se Rights Ordfront lina@ordfrontforlag.se Works Boys Novel 2010 In Memory of Berit Susanne Fredriksson Sussi has had a hard life filled with addiction and isolation. She’s an intelligent, funny, but restless woman dragged down by destructive behaviour. She leads a troubled existence, always on-andoff with Tony, with whom she has her son Dennis. Now she’s suffering from late stage COPD. Her friend Anki helps her with practical matters and her brother Putte, who she used to be close to, has begun to show up again. Sussi narrates the first part of the novel; Putte the second, and the concluding part is the shared story of the two siblings. This is a very strong novel about promises and deceit. The descriptions of Sussi’s physical and emotional chaos, and Putte’s tragic story of their childhood and of his own shortcomings, are engaging, affectionate, and touching. Photo: Jan Åke Eriksson