Relief + Yuletide + recent reading

[luzula]

My mom does not have cancer! I never said anything here, but we've had a couple of weeks being worried that she might have, but further investigation reveals that no, she doesn't. *hugely relieved*

I have my Yuletide assignment, and have an idea for it which seems doable, though I'm still mulling it over. I'd actually spontaneously offered Jean and Darklis from Bonnie Dundee, when I saw them among the nominations, but since nobody has requested this fandom, I think it reveals nothing for me to say that I'm sort of disappointed not to be assigned that.

Mitt hjärtas slag: en motståndsrörelse by Hanna Wikman (2021) [The Beat of my Heart: a Movement of Resistance]
Well hey, I read something in Swedish! This book has just been published and is written by a friend of mine (or maybe more of an acquaintance) whom I know through my union. It's an m/m romance set in northern Sweden during the 1930's, which is also about unionizing among loggers. That is to say, it's an m/m romance in the sense that there are two men in a relationship, but not at all in the genre sense! I doubt the author ever read one, or slash fanfic either. Anyway, I liked it a lot--it's great at portraying nature and community, and has a lovely sense of warmth to it. The relationship has the rush of new youthful love, with a lot of physicality to it without much explicit sex scenes. The main character (Adrian) has younger siblings that he loves, and takes care of when his mother becomes depressed by the grief for the death of a child (the father is out of the picture). This is why he doesn't go with his beloved Alvar when he leaves to fight fascists in the Spanish Civil War. I really thought this book would end with Alvar never coming home! Not because he dies in the war, but because he stays in Göteborg after he gets home, and doesn't seem all that interested in coming back to the north where Adrian is pining away for him. We do eventually get a happy ending for them, but I don't quite think the book sticks the landing for me? It leaves too many things unexplored: why is Alvar so cold towards Adrian when he first comes home, and what is it about Adrian's letter to him that changes that? How did his experiences during the war change him? I wanted more, and I just don't see why she didn't write that... Well, I guess I'll discuss it with her!

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Very glad about your mom.

[dolorosa_12]

That's wonderful news about your mother! What a huge relief!

[regshoe]

Oh, that is good news about your mom.

Mitt hjärtas slag sounds like a really intriguing combination of ideas and historical, setting and character elements. Perhaps I'll put it on my list of Swedish books to read when I'm able :D

Good luck with the Yuletide assignment! Hmm, yeah, Darklis and Jean could have been a good thing—perhaps one for future years...

[china_shop]

That's great news about your mom. *hugs*

That is to say, it's an m/m romance in the sense that there are two men in a relationship, but not at all in the genre sense! I doubt the author ever read one, or slash fanfic either.

Heh. It's always interesting to step outside the genre. What were the main ways it was different, if you don't mind saying?

[rachelmanija]

I'm so glad about your mother!

[hyarrowen]

I'm so glad about your mom. :)

[garonne]

I'm so glad to hear about your mother.

And that book sounds great. Maybe someday it will be translated into English. I can only hope!

[dhampyresa]

What great news about your mom!

[osprey_archer]

I'm so glad about your mom!

And good luck with your Yuletide assignment! Even though it isn't Jean & Darklis, alas alas... Maybe some other year.

[mergatrude]

So glad for your mum and your family! *hugs*

[nnozomi]

So glad that all is well with your mom *knock wood for continued health of all concerned* <3

Very interesting-sounding book! It's lovely to be able to say "I guess I'll discuss it with [the author]" once in a while, without needing the help of a spiritualist to do so ;)

[killclaudio]

That's great news about your mother, it must be a huge relief! Waiting and not knowing what's going to happen can be so stressful, I hope you're okay. ♥

I'm still pondering my Yuletide assignment too - I have a couple of ideas, but nothing that really grabs me. Gonna let it simmer in the back of my mind for a while and see if anything better pops up. :)

[riverlight]

Oh, what great news about your mom! Yay!

I might have to see if I can get a copy of that book for my mom for Christmas. (Jag vet inte om min förtrogenhet med svenska räcker till romaner, tyvärr…) Thanks for the rec!

[chestnut_pod]

Wonderful news about your mom!

[seascribble]

I am very glad about your mum!

[cahn]

Oh yay about your mom, that must be such a relief <3

And (in a different way :) ) yay Yuletide! I have an assignment which is perfect for me, but might be a nightmare for someone else who had offered different characters (recip requested Any), so I am happy about it plus have the pleased feeling of having saved someone else from a bullet :)