Book List Week 23: Systembolaget, Hotel Books, Bartenders, and Slavoj Žižek's Key Card

This week's book list delves into the literary world's fascination with various professions, particularly those that serve as fertile ground for aspiring writers. The review notes a trend where authors draw inspiration from their experiences working in places like Systembolaget, Sweden's state-run alcohol monopoly, and the hospitality industry.

Several Swedish authors are featured, with discussions on Tone Schunnesson and Wera von Essen's new works. The piece references Måns Wadensjö's novel "Monopolet" and Emil Boss's poetry collection "Acceleration" as examples of literature inspired by Systembolaget. The hotel setting is also explored, recalling Heinrich Böll's "Billiards at Half-Past Nine" and Stephen King's "The Shining," alongside more recent Swedish examples like Rebecka Bülow's "Genom väggarna" and Kristian Petri's essay collection "Hotellet [1981-2025]."

Taika Mannila's debut novel, "Drömhotellet" (The Dream Hotel), is described as a "sad-girl saga" and a love letter to girls who grew up online, opening with a quote from Lana Del Rey. On an international scale, the review highlights Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer's extensive novel, "Grand Hotel Europa," which uses a fictional hotel as a metaphor for Europe itself. The author is still reading the 550-page novel but promises a return to it.

Additionally, the article mentions Philippe Collin's "Bartendern på Ritz" (The Bartender at the Ritz), a book about the legendary hotel, which the reviewer plans to take along for an upcoming trip to Paris. The piece suggests that these diverse literary explorations offer a glimpse into the lives and minds of authors, often shaped by their professional experiences.