In July, the focus of the 2022 Scandinavian Reading Challenge is books that take place in the 1970s. Find below some highlights from that time period along with some reading suggestions.

Do you have any Scandinavian books that take place during this time period that you recommend or know of? Leave a comment or email me any suggestions. I’d love to hear them.

Some highlights from this decade:

• 1972 – The Norwegian government founded the State oil company, Statoil. Since the 1970s, oil production has helped to expand the Norwegian economy and finance the Norwegian state.
• 25 September 1972 – A referendum on joining the European Community was held and the “no” side won with 54% of the vote.
• 1973 Oil Crisis – First the government approves the weekend closure of all gas stations. Then a driving ban for vehicles on weekends is instituted.
• 1 January 1975 – Advertising of alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited.

Books to consider:

• Beatles by Lars Saabye Christensen, translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett (Oslo, 1965-1972)
• Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbø, translated from the Norwegian by Neil Smith (crime fiction, 1970s, Oslo)
• Egalia’s Daughters: A Satire of the Sexes by Gerd Brantenberg, translated from the Norwegian by Louis Mackay in cooperation with Gerd Brantenberg (first published in Norway in 1977)
• I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson, translated from the Norwegian by Charlotte Barslund (opens in 1989, goes back in time, covers Communism in Norway)
• Midnight Sun (Blood on Snow #2) by Jo Nesbø, translated from the Norwegian by Neil Smith (crime fiction, 1970s, Finnmark, Norway)
• My Struggle: Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgaard, translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett
• Pakkis by Khalid Hussain, translated from the Norwegian by Claudia Berguson and Ingeborg Kongslien (Oslo, 1970s)
• Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi, translated from the Swedish by Laurie Thompson (Northern Sweden, 1960s and 1970s)
• The Carriage Stone (“Karjolsteinen”) by Sigbjørn Hølmebakk, translated from the Norwegian by Frances D. Vardamis (first published in Norway in 1975, winner of Norwegian Literary Critics’ Prize)
• Where Roses Never Die (Varg Veum Series Book 18) by Gunnar Staalesen, translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett (crime fiction, 1970s and 2000s, winner of Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year)

Books in Norwegian (No translations yet):

• Isbjørngåten av Hans Olav Lahlum (historical crime fiction, 1970s)
• Roman 1987 av Dag Solstad (oppveksten på 50-tallet, modningsprosessen på 60-tallet og arbeidsårene på 70-tallet, winner av Nordic Council Prize for Literature in 1989)
• Og sånn blei det av Maren Uthaug, translated to New Norwegian from the Danish by Ingvild Holvik
• Fri (Book 4 in Julie series) av Anne Karin Elstad (Norway, 1960s-1972)

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1900/1910s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1920s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1930s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1940s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1950s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1960s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1980s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 1990s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 2000s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: 2010s

Go to #ScandiReadingChallenge: Multiple Decades or Places

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