Patter Of Feet
First book of Monika
Monika was only ten when her father died in a motorcycle accident and left her and her brother with a mentally fragile mother, unable to keep it together and take care of them. Soon after the family was split, and Monika was sent to foster care. Today, she is 41 years old, has a stable life, a doctorate in mythology and works at Stockholm University. And for the past 11 years, her body has refused to become pregnant.
As Monika undergoes her fourth IVF treatment, she is struck by a sense of rootlessness, thinking back at the child she once was. Who is she? And if her prayers get answered and she ends up being pregnant this time round, what will she tell her child about their heritage? As Monika embarks herself on a quest to untangle the history of her biological family, she will find a story full of lies and betrayal, hope and joy, abandonment and survival, love, and a glimpse of the darker side of Swedish history.
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SWEDISH | Piratförlaget
Reviews
“Sara Lövestam writes in a way that goes under the skin, it is not possible to defend oneself or remain untouched. An absolutely wonderful book and the best thing is that two more books about Monika will soon be out.” Expressen Söndag
“Rarely have I read a book that in such an easy tone manages to tell about difficult experiences. And I have seldom laughed so much, because Sara Lövestam has the ability to use the contrast effect of humor to give the image greater depth. Fortunately, there will be more books about Monika. For those of you who have not read Sara Lövestam before, it is time to start now, for she is a writer who has been good from the start and is only getting better." ” Dagens Nyheter
"I have learned from her manuals about language that Lövestam knows words and grammar. But her incredible ability to create a story that is so beautiful, sad and genuine at the same time was a wonderful discovery... This is the First Book of Monika, I long for the next one." Birthe Wetter, Mariestads-Tidningen
"Lövestam's prose is, although it sounds strange, humorous. She uses a precise irony that both weighs up and accentuates the darkness of the novel ... it is with great excitement that I look forward to other book about Monika." Sophie Lossing, Skånska Dagbladet
"Sara Lövestam knows the art of writing humorously about sad things. And her chapter headlines are dangerously enticing - you have to read the next chapter. And the next one. ... Something - apart from the festive associations and musical language - that I am very fond of is what the author offers when I, as a reader, open the novel: A family board of Monika Bengtsson's family! "Lena Kjersén Edman, Västerbotten-Kuriren
"Sara Lövestam writes with fantastical vitality. Lively, witty, smooth and elegant. She's an elite scholar in language... It's so perfectly executed. ... rarely has other people's genealogy felt as exciting... In conclusion - lots of pleasure, despite the unfortunate fate." Bodil Juggas, Labour
"An incessantly captivating story of nothing less than life, how it can be and why. That crystal clear language twists and turns Lövestam on the eternal question: Heritage or environment? What determines our future? ... She is both strong and fragile and her fate touched me deeply. It's a good thing the next part is coming as early as this fall." Ingalill Mosander, Aftonbladet
"Not many Swedish novels portray the question that is both existential and urgent for many: to long for children but not be able to get it. Sara Lövestam has written a light-hearted and humorous first part in what appears to be a series about a 40-year-old woman named Monika." Focus