A Moth to the Flame by Stig Dagerman

This was a tough read, in the sense that it’s dark, it took me awhile to read, and the prose is dense, despite it being a relatively short book. Could be the translation as well? Unfortunately three years of Swedish at school have left me none the wiser.

The novel is about grief, disgust, and loathing, and how these thorny feelings can get all tangled up in your mind. It’s also about saying and doing the wrong thing in a way I am sure we can all relate to.

The young man who narrates his complex reaction to his mother dying is disturbed yet also strangely compelling. The dysfunction and violence and hatred against women is tough to read, though it’s only present in flashes. There’s quite a few funny and absurd moments too.

And the exploration of grief in all its complexity is valuable. And I related to many elements of Nordic culture too.

Stig Dagerman is a Swedish cultural icon, would be interested to read some of his poetry and journalistic writing too.