Book Club: We're reading The Circle by Sara B Elfgren & Mats Strandberg
In March, the chosen read for The Local Sweden's Book Club is young adult novel The Circle, a fantasy set in a small Swedish town, Engelsfors, which has a magical problem.
Join us as we're whisked to rural, central Sweden, where there are some strange goings-on.
It soon turns out that six students, all teenage girls, are witches with the power to save more than just the town: clever Minoo, popular Rebecca, lonely Anna-Karin, party girl Vanessa, social outcast Linnéa, and bully Ida.
The girls are brought together after the death of Linnéa's close friend Elias in what most people believe to be a suicide. A spirit tells them of their task, to protect Engelsfors from evil. The park is their safe haven and the school is where danger lies.
The girls have different views on whether and how they should work together, and as the weeks pass they each discover magical skills and begin to learn to control them. The story unfolds through alternating points of view. But who can we trust?
The Circle has been showered with awards in Sweden and turned into a film, as well as being translated in over 20 languauges.
Throughout the month, we'll be discussing The Circle, so here are a few questions to keep in mind:
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What role does the setting of Engelsfors play? Does it remind you of anywhere you've visited in Sweden?
-
How do the multiple viewpoints influence your experience as a reader?
-
Does the story or style remind you of anything else?
-
How do the authors create the book's dark atmosphere and suspense? Did the novel keep you up at night?
-
Like February's book Beartown, this book is part of a trilogy. Do the story, setting and characters grip you enough to convince you to read another Engelsfors book?
We will also be speaking to Sara B Elfgren & Mats Strandberg in March and will put your questions about the book to them. So let us know what you would like us to ask!
If you'd like to share your thoughts on The Circle, or any ideas on what we should read next or other suggestions for the Book Club, join The Local Sweden's Book Club on Facebook, or send us an email.
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Join us as we're whisked to rural, central Sweden, where there are some strange goings-on.
It soon turns out that six students, all teenage girls, are witches with the power to save more than just the town: clever Minoo, popular Rebecca, lonely Anna-Karin, party girl Vanessa, social outcast Linnéa, and bully Ida.
The girls are brought together after the death of Linnéa's close friend Elias in what most people believe to be a suicide. A spirit tells them of their task, to protect Engelsfors from evil. The park is their safe haven and the school is where danger lies.
The girls have different views on whether and how they should work together, and as the weeks pass they each discover magical skills and begin to learn to control them. The story unfolds through alternating points of view. But who can we trust?
The Circle has been showered with awards in Sweden and turned into a film, as well as being translated in over 20 languauges.
Throughout the month, we'll be discussing The Circle, so here are a few questions to keep in mind:
- What role does the setting of Engelsfors play? Does it remind you of anywhere you've visited in Sweden?
-
How do the multiple viewpoints influence your experience as a reader?
-
Does the story or style remind you of anything else?
-
How do the authors create the book's dark atmosphere and suspense? Did the novel keep you up at night?
- Like February's book Beartown, this book is part of a trilogy. Do the story, setting and characters grip you enough to convince you to read another Engelsfors book?
We will also be speaking to Sara B Elfgren & Mats Strandberg in March and will put your questions about the book to them. So let us know what you would like us to ask!
If you'd like to share your thoughts on The Circle, or any ideas on what we should read next or other suggestions for the Book Club, join The Local Sweden's Book Club on Facebook, or send us an email.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
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