
Skilsmässan The Divorce
Together for thirty-odd years, Bea and Niklas live a comfortable life in an exclusive Stockholm neighborhood. Following a trivial argument one evening, Niklas disappears. Bea expects him home with his tail between his legs as soon as he’s calmed down, but the hours go by and there’s no trace of Niklas. During the days that follow he ghosts her completely as her anger amplifies. This is unacceptable and inexplicable behaviour following a long, happy marriage and with two teenage daughters still at home. Not letting his apparent mid-life crisis wreck their summer holiday, Bea brings the kids to stay with Niklas’ family at their island summer house. When it emerges that Niklas has met someone else, everything is brought to a head nevertheless. Cold and unreasonable, he has no interest in talking through their sudden crisis, and callously insists on a divorce.
But is the divorce really coming out of the blue? Is the person who does the leaving always the bad guy? What emerges once you begin scratching the surface…?
Awards
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best fiction) Sweden | 2023 |
Shortlisted for Book of the Year Award Sweden | 2022 |
Reviews
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“The dialogue and the protagonists’ inner thoughts flow in a well-written and accessible language that doesn’t shy away from gravity or humor, and that attains the reader’s presence in all goings-on and milieus. Through the achieved realism, the reader’s sympathies, denunciations and views on the twin daughter’s reactions can shift according to own experiences and imagination, in a way that serves to elevate the narrative a further layer.”
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“Highly convicing about divorce and unusual family constellations.”
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“In Moa Herngren’s The Divorce we get to see both sides of the coin, which is truly refreshing.”
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“Moa Herngren’s divorce novel finds just the right tone. /…/ Moa Herngren is skilled at creating recognition and portraying relationships, especially when they’re under strain.”
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“Nervy divorce drama that is pitch perfect. /…/ Moa Herngren with her very unique (not to say perfect) pitch for conflicts in interpersonal relationships, shows how two people who’ve lived a long life together can have entirely different perceptions about what kind of life they’ve lived. Thrilling, and a little bit spooky! –”
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“With fascination mingled with horror we get to follow the family when the existence and security they’ve built falls apart. Very well-written and engaging drama where no one is innocent.”
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“Herngren is masterly when it comes to writing about relationships and emotions we don’t speak of. /…/ That’s where Moa Herngren is so brilliant, in conveying how situations can be perceived so utterly different and how little everyday things can grow into unsurmountable obstacles.”
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“In The Divorce the initial image of Bea as the abandoned victim is transformed, so captivatingly told that you hardly notice before it’s too late. She is talented, Moa Herngren, when she makes the reader’s sympathies shift.”
- Author
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Moa Herngren
- Published
- 2022
- Genre
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- Fiction
- Pages
- 347
- Reading material
Swedish edition
English translation
- Rights sold
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Albania, Shkupi
Arab World, Al Arabi
Canada, HarperVia
Croatia, Znanje
Czech Republic, Metafora
Denmark, Grønningen 1
Estonia, Hea Lugu
Finland, Gummerus
France, Buchet-Chastel
Germany, Kein & Aber
Hungary, Libri/Helikon
Iceland, Ugla
Israel, Tchelet Books
Norway, Kagge
Poland, Albatros
Slovenia, HKZ
Sweden, Norstedts
UK, Manilla Press
Ukraine, Nora-Druk
US, HarperVia