Despite the notion that everything worth saying has been said, Anna Gullberg yearns for more from author Karolina Ramqvist. As literature becomes commodified, Ramqvist stands out, captivating audiences with her unique voice and perspective. Her work is both a craft and a form of therapy, offering a profound reflection on identity and creativity.
The Unyielding Allure of Karolina Ramqvist's Literary Craft
The Unyielding Allure of Karolina Ramqvist's Literary Craft
Books are barely considered decorative anymore, and indeed, everything good has already been said and written. Yet, Anna Gullberg longs for more from author Karolina Ramqvist. More books, a third appearance on Sommar i P1? One can hope.
As literary history is sold for 19 kronor a month, the reclusive author's fate is to sell herself on literary stages across the country, or for a select few like Ramqvist, around the world. She has rent and children like everyone else, but in a way, she is fortunate—unlike many, she doesn't just thirst to call herself an author—the world, for a change, is eager to read her work.
In 90 wonderful minutes, Karolina Ramqvist nails the art of writing, as much as it can be. It is as much a craft as it is a form of therapy, a kind of illness, or in Ramqvist's case, "a shield against everything." She describes it as a strange and costly occupation, and I worry she might find the price too high. "To love is like reading and writing, it shows us who we are," says Ramqvist, and I pull her debut novel "Alltings början" from my obsolete bookshelf and place it on my 17-year-old's nightstand.