FOR the first time, Swedish literature has a dedicated home at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF).
The Embassy of Sweden and Fully Booked Philippines are hosting the ‘Read Sweden’ booth until September 13 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Home of the Nobel Prize and inventions like Spotify, Sweden is a global leader in innovation. Its culture of collaboration and strong investments in education have made it a fertile environment for creative industries: from music and gaming to design and literature. Robust state support keeps art, theatre, and literature accessible to the entire population, strengthening both creative diversity and freedom of expression.
‘I’m happy that we can make Swedish books more available for Filipino readers,’ said Ambassador Anna Ferry. ‘At the Embassy, my colleagues and I had a fun time choosing the books. These novels are well-liked in Sweden and in other countries, and we made sure that there’s a title that will cater to every reader.’
The Read Sweden booth features titles spanning literary fiction, contemporary fiction, Nordic Noir and thrillers, plus children’s books. This year’s featured authors are Fredrik Backman, Jonas Hassen Khemiri, David Lagercrantz, and Astrid Lindgren-celebrated voices in Sweden and bestselling authors globally.
All titles are available at 20 percent off the regular retail price, with exclusive freebies offered with every purchase. The booth, located on the second floor of MIBF (2-119), will also host cultural activities bringing Swedish storytelling to life for Filipino fairgoers, including a Swedish literature exhibit and language lessons.
Featured books include A Man Called Ove, Anxious People, My Friends and Beartown by Fredrik Backman; The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri; The Millennium Series, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye, and The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz; as well as Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes on Board, and Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren.