The Bomber, Liza Marklund

1. Sweden, 1998 / 2000 The Bomber, Liza Marklund

2. Swedish Crime Wave sweeps European charts • April 29, 2009 • Book charts in 2008-2009 • Stieg Larsson top European adult fiction author • Diverse reading culture: • 13 of the top 40 authors writing in English • Hennin g Mankell # 10 • Liza Marklund # 12 • Jan Guillou # 15 • Jens Lapidus # 17

3. Eva Elisabeth Marklund, 1962 • Journalist • revolutionized the modern Swedish police procedural • The Bomber, first installment • 8 books so far • Crime reporter Annika Bengtzon, • Bestseller worldwide. • 9 million novels sold in 30 languages • No 1 bestseller in all five Nordic countries. • The recipient of a vast number of literary awards and prizes.

4. Liza Marklund • Sales Clerk Warehouseworker Cleaning Maid Croupier Factory Worker Waitress Cafeteria assistant Circus workerPhone salesperson (of vitamins) Extra in movies News Reporter: Norrländska Socialdemokraten Aftonbladet Arbetaren Expressen Metro News Editor Editor-in_chief TV-editor

5. Chronology • Studio 69 (1999) – takes place eight years before the action of The Bomber • Paradise (2000) – a direct continuation of Studio 69 • Prime time (2002) – the action occurs between Paradise and The Bomber • The Bomber (1998) • Den rödavargen (2003) – an independent story which picks up from the end of The Bomber • Nobelstestamente (2006) – takes place some months after The Red Wolf • Livstid (2007) – a direct sequel to "Nobelstestamente" • En plats isolen (2008) - a direct sequel to Livstid

6. Questions to the author • How do you write a book? • How many books have you sold? • How much money have you made? • Why did you start writing crime fiction? • Are you and Annika Bengtzon one and the same? • Why did you begin with the fourth book, chronologically speaking? • What is the secret behind your success? • Is it cool to be famous?

7. The Covers of the books

8. Big, Blonde, and Women’s Issues • Journalist • Married with 3 children • Written since she was a girl • Tenacity, firmness, self-criticism • Life and death, order in a chaotic world • 6 foot tall, Pippi Longstocking • Recognizable people • Many details and actual events • Many female details

9. Controversy about “Gömda”, 1995 • Her big break-through • Wife Abuse / Domestic Violence • Created public debate – and political debate • A woman who was beaten and abused to hide, and finally had to leave the country • Marklund presented it as “a true story” • Criticized for this – • Should have been “based on a true story” • Before her detective fiction

10. The Bomber • Variety of themes centered on women and their roles in contemporary Swedish society • Types of women and men • Gender roles • Social conditions in Sweden • The structure of the newsroom • Journalists and Police • Trust and betrayal • Intellectual style

11. Stockholm • Sweden • Stock= fortification / holm = islet • Population: 847,073 (2010) • Population of New York City: 8,391,881 (2010) • First mention was from Norse Saga as Agnafit • Sweden ranked 10 in Global Peace Index • “Evil appears in many shapes here on earth…It would be foolish to think we’re exempt from it here in Sweden just because we haven’t had a war since 1809”

12. View of the City and Gamla Stan

15. Victoria Stadium • Intended for the 2004 Olympic Games • Designed to resemble a Greek Amphitheater

16. Sätra Hall (Sätrahallen)

18. Video Clip • Book collaboration between Liza Marklund and James Patterson – The Postcard Killers, 2010 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Db7dw90RNg

19. Annika Bengtzon • Powerful figure • “I didn’t mean to fly off the handle at you. It’s just that they’re at me all day at work, and it’s really hard. And then I feel guilty for not being at home with you and the kids. I’m so scared you’ll think I’m letting you down, but the paper won’t allow me to let them down, and so I’m caught in the middle of some crossfire…” –Annika talking to her husband, Thomas

20. Plot Summary • Woman gets a call on her cell phone to meet someone at Victoria Stadium. She is murdered there. • AnnikaBengtzon, gets call from editor at newspaper (Kvällspressen) about the bombing at Victoria Stadium • The bomber is someone in the Olympic organization- all alarms at the stadium were disarmed (confirmed by contact) • Annika and colleagues look up people with the Olympic organization to interview. Main name is Christina Furhage • Furhage is the deceased person; a shock: she is Managing Director of Stockholm Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games • Annika interviews Christina’s husband, BertilMilander. He seems upset and confused. Her daughter Lena says she’s glad that her mother is dead. • Annika visits Helena Starke, last person to see Christina alive. She says they left Christmas party together and then went their separate ways

21. Plot II • Terrorists vs. individual motive • Annika found picture of Christina’s husband and family • Has a meeting with Evert Danielsson: many people wanted Christina dead • Annika speaks with Helena Starke – who lies about son • Talks with contact – paper ruined her relationship by mentioning codes • Helena and Christina - affair • The Bomber strikes again - Sätra Hall • Berit intercepts police channel: victim builder Stefan Bjurling • Interview in Sätra Hall:Beata Ekesjö • Press Release on Explosives

22. Plot III • Annika continues investigation regarding The Bomber • Meetings with Evert Danielsson, others • Annika’s troubles managing work and family-life persist • Annika meets OlofFurhage, Christina’s secret son • The Bomber strikes again: letter bomb at Stockholm sorting office – addressed to Annika • BeataEkesjo calls Annika, claims she knows identity of The Bomber, wants to meet • Annikameets Beata at Olympic Arena • Meanwhile, police contacts Anders Schyman(Editor In Chief): Annikaneeds protection • Beata leads Annika into stadium’s tunnel system, suddenly attacks and ties her up • Beata reveals herself to Annika as The Bomber – explains her attacks, makes demands to be heard • Annika cleverly delays Beata, notifies police via cell phone • Police save Annika, shoot Beata • Beata sentenced to indefinite confinement in mental institution, wears brooch

23. Journalistic Crime Fiction • The Bomber andcrime literature thus far • Crime • Investigation • Cunning vs. Resourcefulness (Influence of technology) • Observation vs. Interrogation • Solving vs. Reporting (Journalistic Integrity) • Resolution • Epiphany vs. Gradual unraveling • Protagonist (Annika) did not even “solve” crime

24. Discussion Questions • Clarify the Swedish social system as background for the novel. • What makes this book Scandinavian? • Compare the role of Annika to other female roles in the past novels. Discuss the gender roles in the book. • Discuss Annika’s balance between home and work life? What were her options? • Is this novel a hard or soft boiled crime story? Why? • “Patrik, you’re a man and you aren’t affected by the oppression of women. Of course, it’s more difficult for a woman than for a man to hold down a position like hers, just as it would be more difficult for someone who was deaf and dumb than for someone with his faculties intact. Being a woman is tantamount to being a walking handicap.” (Annika, p. 90) Do you agree with what she is saying here? Why or why not? • Discuss the structure of the newsroom- what does it resemble? • Discuss the concept of trust among people. • Discuss the Bomber – what made Beata a criminal? • What would happen if a bombing like this occurred before hypothetical Olympic Games in the United States?