ABOUT THE NOVEL & AUTHOR

Susanna Alakoski, born in 1962 in Vasa, Finland, is a Swedish-Finnish author who was brought up in Ystad, Sweden and resides in Stockholm. She is a social worker and gender researcher and has also worked with politics on a national level as press secretary for Gudrun Schyman (former party leader).

Alakoski made her debut as a fiction novelist in 2006 with Svinalängorna which was released on Albert Bonnier’s publishing house. The book was rewarded with the August award.

The jury’s motivation was:
”In Svinalängorna hard conditions of life forces a couple of children to develop their survival strategies together. Susanna Alakoski’s modern depiction of class is a humorous journey trough an infernal adult world where alcohol and disadvantages rules the day.”

The novel became a bestseller with more than 400 000 sold copies only in Sweden and was acclaimed by the critics with great reviews.

Some reviews

”One of the most enthraling novels I’ve read in many years.” ”Alakoski depicts in an convincing way how a girl, along with her siblings, is forced further into a dead-end in order to protect her parents from observation.
/Erik Löfvendahl, Svenska Dagbladet

”This is a terrible book. Terribly good, terribly strong.” ”It is a depiction of class that stings – sure. But moreover, it is a chronicle which succeeds in being both distinctive and timeless. Splendid.”
/Anneli Dufva, P1 Kulturnytt

”A wellwritten, sharp and original depiction.” ”Alakoski strikes close to the heart.”
/Jonas Thente, DN

”A study of the tyranny of youth and poverty.” ”A convincing novel about class, integrity, and in a way gender, which has been long sought for in the Swedish contemporary litterature.
/ Per Planhammar, GP