Katrine Engberg No. 1 in Norway

Katrine Engberg performs a hat trick on this week’s official paperback bestseller list in Norway, featuring with three titles in the top five. First up at No. 1 is Blood Moon, followed by The Butterfly House at No. 2, and then lastly The Tenant at No. 4.

Fredrik Bankler

Björn Natthiko Lindeblad awarded the Storytel Award

Björn Natthiko Lindeblad’s I May Be Wrong has been chosen as the winner of the ‘Best Non-fiction’ category in the 2021 Storytel Awards. A record number of 70.000 listeners voted forth the shortlist consisting 0f three non-fiction titles, and a jury went on to select the ultimate winner. The jury’s motivation for I May Be Wrong was as follows:

“An autobiographical tale that moves and invites [the listener] to reflect on life’s great questions. The author’s vulnerable, brave and humoristic audio rendition gives the listener a powerful and unique experience.”

Stina Jackson nominated for VLC Negra’s Best Novel award

Stina Jackson’s The Last Snow is in the running for the 2021 VLC Negra Best Novel Award. VLC Negra is an annual culture festival celebrating the “noir” literary genre and is held in Valencia, Spain. Stina Jackson is nominated in the festival’s ‘Best Novel’ category. Readers will be able to vote for their favorite title till June 9. The result of the vote will be revealed during the celebration of the 9th edition of the festival, June 9-19.

‘Capable People’ shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award

Klas Ekman is shortlisted for Bonnier’s Book Clubs’ Book of the Year Award 2021 with his debut novel Capable People.

The Book of the Year award, also known as the “People’s Choice Award,” is arranged by Bonnier’s Book Clubs, the home of Sweden’s five biggest book clubs. The voting period continues until September 12, and a winner will be announced in October.

Katrine Engberg and Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger No. 1 in Norway

Katrine Engberg doesn’t budge from her No. 1 placement on the official paperback bestseller list, coming in first also this week with The Tenant. Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger meanwhile bounce to the top once more, coming in at No. 1 in e-books with Unhinged.

Fredrik Bankler

Björn Natthiko Lindeblad winner of the Swedish Sound Award

Björn Natthiko Lindeblad has been awarded the Swedish Sound Award 2021 for ‘Voice of the Year’. The award is handed out by Bauer Media and Resumé and aims to highlight and praise creative use of sound. Natthiko Lindeblad is bestowed with the accolade for his moving audio rendition of his book I May Be Wrong. The motivation is as follows: “With great presence, heart and much warmth, the voice of the year is genuinely moving. A voice that truly spellbinds its audience and captivates the ear through its magic.”

‘Purge’ chosen as one of the 21st century’s best books

The editorial team at Svenska Dagbladet – a leading daily newspaper in Sweden – has handpicked a list of the “Best Books of the 21st Century.” No. 4 on the list is Sofi Oksanen’s award-winning and internationally bestselling novel Purge, with the motivation as follows:

“In Purge, Finnish-Estonian Sofi Oksanen depicts the population in Estonia and its fate during the 20th century, with parallels being drawn to contemporary Estonians’ lives. Through two women’s differences and similarities, the reader gets to experience up close what the will to survive can do to a human being. The occupation of land and body is a strong theme in the novel, which has achieved great success both in the Nordics and in the US. Purge was also awarded the Nordic Council Literature Prize, and has become a radio serial, film and theater.”

‘Førstegangstjenesten’ nominated for the Golden Screen Awards

The Golden Screen (Gullruten) is the annual award for the Norwegian TV industry and their equivalent to the American Emmy Awards. Førstegangstjenesten, the popular NRK comedy series, is nominated for three awards.

Rolf-Magne Golten Andersen is, together with his co-writers Herman Flesvig and Marit Støre Valeur, nominated for ‘Best Script’. Førstegangstjenesten is also nominated for ‘Best Comedy’ and ‘Best Editing’.

The winners will be announced on May 7 and May 8.

Trailer premiere for ‘Whitstable Pearl’

The trailer for Whitstable Pearl, a crime series based on the mystery novels by author Julie Wassmer, is now available for viewing. The show will star After Life’s Kerry Godliman as Pearl Nolan – a restaurant owner who, having trained as a police officer earlier in her career, decides to set up a local detective agency.

Whitstable Pearl has been adapted by Øystein Karlsen, giving the crime drama a “Scandi” edge. The series will be available on the online streaming service Acorn TV in the UK and US later this spring.

Stefan Tell

David Sundin winner of the Swedish Booksellers’ Award

David Sundin’s The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read has been awarded with the Swedish Booksellers’ 2020 Award for Children’s Book of Year. The non-profit association is comprised of book retailer employees, and has since 1951 on an annual basis voted forth the “Swedish author, who with their book has bestowed them with the greatest sense of entertainment and personal satisfaction.”