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The Colony
The Colony | Annika Norlin
2 posts | 1 read | 7 to read
A mega best-seller in Sweden, with rights sold to over a dozen countries and a TV adaptation underway, Annika Norlin's debut novel The Colony is the biggest Swedish literary phenomenon since Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove. Winner of the Vi Literature Award and Swedish Radio's Novel Prize, two of Sweden's biggest literary awards, The Colony is a gripping portrayal of contemporary society and its alternatives. Burnt-out from a demanding job and a bustling life in the city, Emelie has left town to spend a few days in the country. Once there, in the peaceful, verdant hills, down by the river she encounters a mysterious group of seven people, each with personal stories full of pain, alienation, and the longing to live differently. They are misfits, each in their own way, and all led by the enigmatic and charismatic Sara. How did they end up there? Are they content with the rigid roles they've been assigned? And what happens when an outsider appears and is initially drawn to their alternative lifestyle but cannot help but stir things up? A masterful blend of humor, emotion, unforgettable characters, and sharp social commentary, The Colony is a magnetic and deeply touching story about love, community, and the unfathomable power we other others and that others have over us.
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ICantImReading
The Colony | Annika Norlin
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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book has a lot going for it; I can see why it‘s marketed as the latest Swedish literary phenomenon and I think it will shine as a TV series. There is some beautiful writing, the characters really pop, and the social commentary hits. There were some things that didn‘t fully work for me, but I‘m glad I read it.

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monalyisha
The Colony | Annika Norlin
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WELL.

That was a joyful chore! 😅 I‘ve placed my votes for #CampLitsy25. I chose the titles I thought would lead to the most productive discussions — or, in the case of Sky Daddy, the one(s) I didn‘t want to be alone with. 😜

Thanks for hosting, @BarbaraBB @Megabooks & @squirrelbrain !

*If you‘re interested in viewing the longlist, voting, or in the event itself, visit any of their pages or check out the hashtag!

monalyisha I didn‘t nominate any titles myself this year and it was a blast to vote without any skin in the game, tbh! I‘ll tag the only one I *did* consider adding to the mix, since it didn‘t show up otherwise. 1mo
BarbaraJean Oooh, Bibliophobia sounds so good! (And I need to do my homework and investigate the longlist, i.e. blow up my TBR…) 1mo
monalyisha @BarbaraJean Oh, it‘s so blown-up. 😆 Some I put immediately on hold (Liquid, Blob, Kate & Frida, Cat‘s People, Idle Grounds, The Incandescent). Others, like Memorial Days, which I saw you‘d nominated, I think I‘d just prefer to read on my own. And some, I want to listen to (Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert, Model Home, Heartwood), & I prefer to discuss what I‘ve read in print. Such happy sorting! 1mo
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BarbaraBB I love this post! Your choices and how I can relate to the process! Thanks! 1mo
monalyisha Thanks, @BarbaraBB ! I saved a couple to read with my IRL book club, too (Gabriele & The Tokyo Suite). We also have an elaborate nomination & voting process. 2025‘s list is already done but it‘s never too early to add things into our 2026 spreadsheet. 😅 1mo
squirrelbrain I love elaboration (and spreadsheets too of course!) 🤣 1mo
Meshell1313 Nice choices! I can‘t wait to see what wins! 1mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain is the queen of spreadsheets and totally the reason tallying votes works so well! So glad you weighed in and glad you found more to enjoy on the longlist! 1mo
squirrelbrain @Megabooks ❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣 1mo
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