New Swedish Books, Spring 2020 1
New Swedish Books 26 I’ll Split You in Two Mary h
as moved in with her boyfriend Philip and his family. The dad cooks sausages in the oven and the mum, well she’s in bed with exhaustion. Philip loves Mary. He represents safety and warmth, but he wants to move away. To the woods and the wilderness, maybe even do his military service. Mary, on the other hand, feels as if her life is on pause. Her friends are growing up, getting jobs, whilst Mary just stays at home with Philip, not moving on. Furthermore, Mary’s own family has dispersed. Her dad has a new wife with kids. And Mary, who’s real name is Maryam, is scared that her own background would be erased if her future kids grew up to become more Swedish than herself. Tamara Mivelli studied creative writing at the renowned Biskops Arnö School and her debut novel I’ll Split You in Two is written in a fragmentary, concise and poetic prose. In this minimalist form Tamara Mivelli succeeds in capturing the split personalities and the confusion that Mary feels as she moves towards adulthood, whilst trying to come to terms with all that tugs at her heart. Tamara Mivelli This is Tamara Mivelli’s debut novel. She has previously participated in Region Uppsala’s mentorship program for writers. YA novel, 150 p. Tamara Mivelli (b. 1989) Publisher Rabén & Sjögren www.rabensjogren.se Rights Rabén & Sjögren Agency Åsa Bergman asa.bergman@rabensjogren.se Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson