This week, our editors-at-large report on clashes between writers and politics, recent awards, and exciting events. From Pippi Longstocking’s 80th birthday to a brand-new book fair, read on to find out more!
Sofija Popovska, Editor-at-Large, reporting from North Macedonia
Venko Andonovski was recently named the most influential writer and educator of 2024 by TRI, the renowned, Skopje-based publishing house. Andonovski, whose novels and plays have been translated into twelve languages, is known as “the most widely read Macedonian writer and the most performed Macedonian novelist in the last twenty years.” Despite his fame, he is generous with both the public and his colleagues: he taught six writing workshops in 2024 and made a statement congratulating fellow Macedonian author Rumena Bužarovska on being named TRI’s most-read author of 2024, and condemning the “culture of silence” surrounding the accomplishments of domestic authors in the same breath. Andonovski termed the disinterest demonstrated by Macedonian politicians towards the literary scene “an embarrassment”, adding that the situation is exacerbated by authors who are equally silent about their colleagues’ attainments, and whose “bodies are 80% water and souls are 80% vanity.” Adding that “if we remain a culture of silence, our culture is bound to remain in silence [on the world stage]”, Andonovski posed a question that is both incisive and (unfortunately) relevant: “If we do not appreciate ourselves, who will appreciate us?”
Thankfully, both Andonovski and Bužarovska are proof that domestic authors are still read and appreciated by the Macedonian public and beyond. Bužarovska’s work has been translated into thirteen languages, and she herself is multilingual: she authored the radio play Nebenan for the German radio station WDR, writes for the Serbian weekly Vreme, and has translated a large number of works from English into Macedonian, including her own short story collection, I’m Not Going Anywhere (Dalkey Archive Press, 2023), which she co-translated with Steve Bradbury. She was also involved in founding the Macedonian MeToo movement in 2017. Her success is a testament to the fact that, unlike Macedonian politicians, younger generations are avid readers. The timeliness of her style might have something to do with it: “Every book is a document of its time,” Bužarovska recently said, “I take great care that [my] language reflects [that].”
Wambua Muindi, Editor-at-Large, reporting from Kenya
New Year, New Book Fair. From January 31 to February 2, the inaugural Thika Book Fair was held at Ananas Mall, Thika. Thika, the subject of literary writing since Elspeth Huxley’s memoir The Flame Trees of Thika (1959), was, for a weekend, the place to be for book-minded people. Book launches, signings and workshops made the maiden fair in Thika a beehive of activity. The edition’s theme of reading and sharing information for a better future brought out Adipo Sidang, author of Parliament of Owls, Tony Mochama, author of Run, Cheche Run, children’s author Muthoni wa Gichuru, author of The Hidden Package, Empress Ciku Kimani, author of Cocktail of the Savannah, and poet Scholastica Moraa, author of When Love Says Goodbye, among other writers. At Asymptote we congratulate the fair’s organisers on a successful first run and cannot wait for the subsequent fairs and the flair they will bring to Thika in the shadow of the city in the sun, Nairobi.
Congratulations are also due to Kinyanjui Kombani, the banker who writes. On February 21, to mark the 20th anniversary of the publication of his debut novel The Last Villains of Molo, the author hosted an X space in collaboration with his publisher which lasted over three and a half hours with slightly under 2000 listeners. Published in 2005 as a debut, the novel explored the politically instigated tribal clashes of 1997 in Molo, a town in what is now Nakuru county. Arguably, the novel almost foreshadowed the post-election violence that rocked Kenya after the disputed 2007 elections. Speaking during the space, Kombani acknowledged his readers for supporting his writing. Reviewing the historical novel two decades on, the cultural analyst and scholar Joyce Nyairo noted that Kombani “documents our [Kenyan] embedded culture of political violence which political scientists have dubbed ‘killing the vote’.”
Linnea Gradin, Editor-at-large, reporting from Sweden
February is a relatively quiet month on the publishing front in Sweden but a period of frenzied activity for booksellers. This year, the annual nationwide book sale officially starts on February 25th and lasts until March 30th—or until sellers run out of stock. But in the lead up to the sale, readers being pre-ordering discounted titles via online retailers (taking much of the spontaneity of shopping for a good deal out of the equation but significantly boosting the industry), perhaps picking up books outside of their comfort zone that they might not have paid full price for. Notably, retailers expect to sell more English titles than ever, as part of a larger trend of English-language exports into non-English speaking European markets.
On February 21st, Swedish artist Laleh released a birthday song she had been commissioned to write in celebration of Pippi Longstocking, who turns 80 in 2025. As one of Sweden’s most beloved and internationally celebrated literary characters, we can expect the celebrations for this classic of children’s literature to last throughout the year, with publisher Rabén & Sjögren and the Astrid Lindgren Company offering free Pippi-themed party decorations and materials for educators and parents alike. Swedish libraries and schools will also have access to a special edition script for theatre.
On the awards front, Vi magazine announced their nominations for their annual literary award. Amongst the nominees are Ella-Maria Nutti for her sophomore novel, To the Trees, which centers the loss of Sámi language and culture; Therese Bohman for Mount Verity, which has been picked up for English translation by Open Letter; and David Norlin for his 900-page novel Vikarien. The award goes to an emerging author with less than five titles published and the winner will be announced on March 20th. Anneli Jordahl’s novel The Bear Hunter’s Daughter has also been shortlisted for the French award Prix Fragonard, an award that aims to promote an openness to other cultures and highlight female talent. The winner will be announced on May 14th.
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Read more on the Asymptote blog:
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (February 14, 2025)
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (February 7, 2025)