Hey Dolly
Amanda Svensson
157 p.

Nordstedts, 2008.

Back cover blurb:

Dolly har en tråkig pojkvän och vänner som är seriöst psykiskt störda. Hennes familj består förutom en exemplarisk mamma av en död pappa och två syskon, som båda är döpta efter Astrid Lindgren-figurer. Själv är hon döpt efter en silikonfylld countrydiva. “Ni förstår att en relation är omöjlig”, säger Dolly. Alla hennes favoritfilmer är amerikanska produktioner, och det är hon mycket stolt över. Dolly associerar snabbt, driver iväg i fantasin, är elak, rolig och faktiskt ganska känslosam. Efter några timmar i hennes närhet är man sig inte riktigt lik.

This book is arguably the most discussed book in Sweden, possibly after Lars Norén’s diaries (which I, for the record, never intend to read). I was interested by this book, but I can’t really say why - it was not because of the author’s young age, which everyone else seems to be fawning over. I don’t see the interest in hounding someone because of their old or young age. Every review I read was ecstatic; this was the stuff!! What is interesting, is that every review has treated it as a novel for adults. If the reviews had not been so ecstatic, I bet they would have discarded it as a teenage novel. Because that is what it is, really.

And yes, it is a very good novel. At places, at least. I didn’t really like the whole subplot with the imaginary rockstar who is obviously imaginary, but they never really state it. That is, I guess, one of the problems with a novel written in the first person perspective. Fortunately, this subplot was… although quite important, not really the biggest part of the story. So I really liked it. It was well-written, funny at places, and so sad at others.

Right, there was another reason for me liking it. There were references to Morrissey. And quotes! And, well, any book which talks about Moz wins my heart directly. The first reference was after just ten-fifteen pages, so it made me one very happy camper. yaaaaay Moz. Admittedly, it was mainly There is a Light That Never Goes Out, but that is one bloody good song. And it fitted so nice in the plot. Oh, it was a good story. For those of you who know Swedish, you won’t lose anything reading it. So go and do!

Skicka hem N:r 7
Lisa Eurén-Berner
189 s.

B. Wahlströms Förlag, 1934.

For Decades ‘08.

Back cover blurb:

none

After reading two disappointing books (Den unge Werthers lidanden and Vi skulle älska om vi bara kunde), I needed something good to read. My parents advocated that I had to read Skicka hem N:r 7, and so I did. And it was hilarious. Although it might not hold such an intrinsic value, it is a nice reminder of the heaps of girl-novels were written in the thirties. I haven’t read many of them, but they have all the same happy attitude to most things. And this novel is the same. It made me happy to read it. It was so cheerful, and even when things were bad, I knew that things would look up, even though I couldn’t justify why. The girls’ enthusiasm made me smile and it was such a joy to read. That is all I can say.

New Moon
Stephenie Meyer
594 p.

Atom, 2007
(first published 2006 by Little, Brown and Company.)

Back cover blurb:

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning…

Okay, I am going to admit it: what the fuck is up with everyone being head over heels for Edward bloody Cullen? Apart from being an insensitive jerk, he is stupid as well as heartless. Every time he was in the page I got a slight urge to rip out the pages. That should say a bit about my feelings for him. I almost committed book-massacre, and that is more or less forbidden to say in my house. But I withhold: I hate Edward. As an effect all I felt for Bella was that she was being stupid and self-destroying by letting someone so stupid so easily destroy her life. Now, the concept of being messed up after a break-up is completely understandable - after all, it is something I well recognise - but it is twisted and exaggerated, beyond any kind of belief. Or any kind of belief I possess, anyway.

Too add to this dislike, it isn’t even a particularly well-written novel. If I hadn’t been so extremely annoyed with the majority of the characters, I would have finished it in two days, tops. That’s with school work included. It is seemingly written without much thought about the beauty of the language. What metaphors and similies there are are pushed too far or too blunt. And the plot itself? Seriously, give me a break. A girl breaks up with her vampire-boyfriend, angsts about it forever and gets a best friend who turns out to be a werewolf. It then turns out that the vampire-boyfriend tries to kill himself from grief, and that the girl is the only one who can save him. SERIOUSLY. This is not Nobel prize material. It isn’t even acceptable plot. Had I written something like that people would look at me as though I was retarded and declare it the sovereign state of Stupidity.

I think I can name three things I actually liked in this book. Firstly, the part where Bella is too depressed to do anything. That was a little nifty, I must admit. Secondly, the vampire Aro was really funny. He was so over-the-top and ridiculous, reminding me rather of the vampires of The Saga of Darren Shan. (overall, though, I got Anne Rice-vibes from the coven overall. I have admittedly never read anything by her, but the point is that it is a little lame.) Thirdly, JACOB. To begin with, I was more than slightly in love with Jacob, because he was a dear. He seemed to genuinely care. However, then he turns into a bleedin’ werewolf and undergoes a very dodgy psychological shift, which, well, I don’t buy. But I guess you would understand that already? Still, occasionally he glimpes back again, which is very nice.

Admittedly, I might be a little too harsh - it’s half eleven in night. But I must admit that I… I more or less enjoyed it, but it wasn’t good. And I don’t know if I will read the later books. It’s not unlikely I will, because I’m a bit of a masochist, but honestly? If I didn’t, I wouldn’t suffer. And if I do, it won’t be in the next few months. I have got enough of Bella Swan as it is.