Rec me a Danish book?

[luzula]

Hey, Danish people! I just realized that I read books by Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish authors last year, but no Danish ones. And in general I cannot recall the last time I read a Danish author. So if you were to rec me a Danish (fiction) author, which one would it be? Ideally it would be something that's translated into Swedish. Could be SF/F, or something else you think I would enjoy. My sister's boyfriend has recced me Svend Åge Madsen, is that someone you would recommend?

Also, happy New Year. : )

Comments

[lysanatt]

Happy New Year!

Anything by Thit Jensen. (Historical novels, but she writes in the most beautiful language.)

If it's /F, there are Lene Kaaberbøl's young adult series Skammerens Datter.

Or Kim Fupz Aakeson's Englebarnet. That is a fantastic and very engaging story.

No opinion on SÅM.

[ximeria]

SÅM tends to put me to sleep but I second Aakeson and Kaaberbøl.

[luzula]

Thanks! I will look those up. : )

[oneiriad]

I've read some of Svend Åge Madsen's (not all of it - he doesn't publish much anymore, but the guy was productive in his day) and mostly liked it. I just checked and apparently only two of his books are available in Swedish? And I've only read one of those, "Tugt og utugt i Mellemtiden", which is this Dickensian brick of a novel set in 70s Aarhus, except it's a very weird 70s Aarhus and I can't remember if the book itself contains the explanation or if you get it from reading his other novels (he's one of those authors where basically everything he's written has ended up tied together).

If you're willing to try reading in Danish, I'd recommend SÅM's "Se dagens lys" - it's a pretty short sf novel set in what is called a changing society, where every morning you wake to a completely new life: new job, new spouse, new kids (or no kids), new house, new everything. It's actually a utopia - until our main character falls in love with his latest wife.

Also sadly not available in Swedish as far as I can tell, but Leonora Christina Skov's "Silhout af en synder" is a very lovely gothic novel.

[kabal42]

"Se dagens lys" is one of my favourite books, so I second that one highly. (I am as always a bad Dane and haven't read neither Skov nor Kaaberbøl.)

[oneiriad]

Ever watch the movie?

[kabal42]

No, I haven't. Is it any good?

[oneiriad]

It's colourful - and by Wikke & Rasmussen. I rememember it as entertaining, but it's been years since I watched it, and my judgment might have been affected by the relative obscurity of danish sf movies? Anyway, it's on Bonanza if you want to make up your own mind.

[kabal42]

Thanks for that tip. I might try it :) Wikke & Rasmussen can occasionally be great.

[luzula]

Ha, I'm not sure I have the patience for "Dickensian brick" although knowing my sister's boyfriend's taste I am not surprised.

I'll consider the other two, thanks!

[blnchflr]

I'm disturbed to realize I can think of no Danish books to recommend - especially not SF/F.

I had to go google list of Danish books to even think of some, but I don't know that they'll be your thing.

[luzula]

Thanks anyway! Actually the Danish author I have read the most of is probably exeterlinden. : )

[blnchflr]

Heh :)

[calvinahobbes]

I don't have anything to add! Kaaberbøl and Skov are both very good.

[luzula]

Thanks for chiming in, I will look those up!

[kabal42]

Adding to what has already been said, I recommend Karen Blixen, especially the dark stories in "7 Gothic Tales" (Syv fantastiske fortællinger). I am in awe of her use of language and words and there are such intersting stories in that little collection.

(Btw loving how we are all managing to primarily rec women here :) )

Oh, and just because there are a couple of male written fantastic genre books I have to mention: "Dystopia" by Dennis Jürgensen and "Shamran - den som kommer" by Bjarne Reuter. Both are YA novels and rather darkish, but they stand out to me from my youth even now, and I haven't read them in over 2 decades, so there's that.

[luzula]

Oh hey, I have actually read Shamran, although it was a very long time ago and I don't remember any specifics. And hmm, Karen Blixen, I will look her up.

Also I realized that the Danish author I have read the most of is probably exeterlinden. : )

[kabal42]

:D Well, she is a good one!