The Summer of Kim Novak by Hakan Nesser translated by Saskia Vogel, book review

The Summer of Kim Novak by Hakan Nesser was first published in 1998 in Sweden, where it is considered a minor classic. It is the tale of an idyllic 1960s summer that turns nasty, as narrated by a 14-year-old boy, Erik, who fancies himself as a bit of a Holden Caulfield. For this to work in English, the translation needs to be razor sharp, conveying Erik's wit and foibles and empowering his voice with enough character to drive and shape the novel. This takes guile: the translator must occasionally veer away from the original words and structure in order to control the tone and rhythm of the voice.