The Details (2023) by Ia Grenberg

 Book Review

The Details (2023)

by Ia Grenberg

Translated from the Swedish by Kira Josefsson

  I have to say that I've come to believe that Scandinavian auto-fiction exists as an exercise of privilege.  How secure must ones place within society be to the point where you can write openly about the most intimate of your private moments and family secrets without the risk of alienating the world around you. I do find it compelling- the literary equivalent of TMZ clips online or 80's talk shows where freaks bared their nasty souls to a studio audience. 

  The interesting angle in The Details is that Swedish author Ia Grenberg does not talk about herself so much as her relationships, starting off with three sexual/romantic partners and ending with her Mom.   I feel like the last six books I've read from Scandinavia feature mentally ill women, often as the narrator or primary protagonist.  Here, at least, the narrator is the sane one.  Grenberg makes the case, obliquely, to be sure, that the mental health challenges of ones own parents manifest themselves in ones own romantic explorations.  It's not a revolutionary take, but I blazed through The Details- partially because the Audiobook is only four hours long but also because I found The Details fascinating.   This could be a shortlister/winner- seems like Grenberg might be poised for a leap onto the international literary stage.