Colony by Annika Norlin is a quietly compelling novel that explores the tension between belonging and individuality through the eyes of Emelie, a burnt-out city dweller seeking solace in the countryside. The enigmatic group she encounters, led by the captivating Sara, offers both a sense of refuge and a subtle undercurrent of unease.

Norlin’s writing shines in its emotional depth and dry humour, though at times the narrative drifts, leaving certain characters feeling more symbolic than fully fleshed out. Still, with its rich themes and haunting atmosphere, Colony lingers long after the final page.

I did not expect this to be in my top reads of the year ! I went in not really knowing what to expect at all but then a few pages in and i was hooked ! I love books about people and what this is essentially is a character study of all these people who make up said Colony . We go back in time and learn their stories but at the same time you sort of feel tense as you read , not really knowing where this book is going , what is going to be the outcome??!! It's a slow burn but if you like vibes and little plot then this is one for you . I cant say much more other than just read it !

Five star read. A nuanced portrayal of a cult which doesn’t bow to stereotypical tropes. Beautiful, elegant writing, fascinating characters and interesting social commentary. I raced through this book whilst willing myself to slow down to elongate my reading experience.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, translated from the Swedish and apparently with a TV adaptation on the way - which I think would be very powerful! It centres a group of people struggling to fit into fast-paced modern life, deciding to fend for themselves in a communal house in the countryside. Emelie is suffering burnout, and to recharge heads to the countryside where she stumbles across the colony, unofficially lead by the charismatic Sara.

The feelings Norlin evokes with her writing verge are truly discomfiting. She perfectly and agonisingly captures the stress and never-ending whirlwind of every day life in a world lived mostly online. I loved the way each character’s background was explored at their own pace, little vignettes that really make you feel like you know them, understand them - a bit scary how much I empathised with some of them and could genuinely see why they’d want to live in a commune verging on a cult 👀

Norlin tackles difficult topics with a deft hand - nothing is sugarcoated, but the horror of some the characters’ lives doesn’t feel gratuitous. Considering it’s 400 pages and dealing with heavy subjects, I felt like I flew through this. It’s addictive and readable, very good storytelling and character building.

3.5 stars
I did like this book, and I would recommend it if you enjoy a true literary fiction. It is quite long, but it's a nice character study of the human condition. I thought the writing was nice and compelling enough, but to be frank it's just nothing to write home about. It's a good book and I enjoyed my time with it but I doubt I'll think of it again.

This Swedish debut novel was published in 2023 and became an immediate bestseller, a tv adaptation is underway, it has won two literary prizes in Sweden and the rights to the book were sold to several countries.It was published here earlier this month and the hype and acclaim is deserved, it is fascinating portrayal of an alternative way to live.

Emilie is a journalist, burnt out from the pressures of her job and life in general. One day she simply cannot get out of bed, broken by all the stresses of life. When she feels a little better she decides to go out to the countryside where her Grandmother used to live and spend a couple of days camping, away from the city and spend time in nature. Once there, she witnesses a group of seven people by the river. They are a mix of ages and as the days pass she watches them from a distance, fascinated by their behaviour and interactions with each other.
We learn about each of the seven, each of whom are their own stories of alienation, tragedy , loss, chance and the reasons why they ended up living together in a forest, away from society.
This book is so well written, I was right there with Emelie as she watched this group, fascinated by the group dynamic and curious to how they ended up there. In time, the group become aware there is another person nearby and Emelie spends time with the group, she begins to see the appeal of their life but members of the group also begin to see the appeal of all they are missing out from.

This is a book about how we live now, about community and friendship and relationships and the power dynamics within them. There is brilliant characterisation and story building/ telling coupled with building tension and razor sharp social commentary on contemporary society. I very much recommend this one.

4.5

One morning, Emelie can’t get out of bed. Her therapist calls it burnout. Her neighbour calls it the tiny work death. She needs to get away from the brightness of the city lights, the noise of the people, the constant demands, so she goes to the woods, pitches her tent overlooking the lake, breathes. And that’s where she sees them, the Colony.

First of all, I enjoyed the writing. The descriptions and thoughts are so wonderfully written. The story is a bit of a mishmash and flirts from one point of view to the next and, as such, makes it difficult to follow, to begin with. So I almost DNF’d it a couple of times. It was only the quality of the writing that kept me going.

The Colony is a strange book which takes you in so many different directions, that it can be hard to decide how you feel about it. But I ultimately really liked my time reading this novel. At first it's about a woman who has an extreme existential crisis and decides to remove herself from metropolitan society, going to stay in the woods where she can have time to decompress. Here, she comes across a group of strange people and the more she watches them the more the learns about what binds them together.

This isn't a 'cult' novel, but more a novel about chosen family and feeling a sense of belonging through overcoming your trauma. It looks at the experiences of each of the members of the colony and how they met, and it became such a wonder to read about each person and how they fit into the larger picture. Even though this is a large book I never felt as though it was dragging or any of it was unnecessary. It really took it's time in a way which was self-aware and both championed and critiqued the reliance on other people to help us overcome our biggest challenges.

I loved how it was written and how it was split up into easily digestible parts. It really hooked me at first but then I was slowly drawn in by the complete wonder of it all and the damaged characters. Definitely one I'm super glad to have read!

Emilie is burned-out and looking for something different. While camping in the Swedish forest she stumbles over a group of people living secluded and in harmony. Could this be a place for her too? The colony consists of several criminals, a boy who doesn't exist, a lonely man in love,... Norlin, a Swedish Musician and Journalist wrote the book that became a Swedish literary phenomenon. "Colony" explores topics like found family and loyalty in all its shades. Ever felt like society has no place for you? Maybe the Colony is for you.

The synopsis sounded like exactly my cup of tea. I was so excited to have been approved for this title. Unfortunately the style wasn't for me. I liked Emilie's entries, journal-like, telling her story of Burnout and finding the colony , quite liniar. The writer lost me with switching between all the characters all the time with super short chapters. As soon as I was comfortable with a voice, the perspective changed again. This constant trying to understand what is going on instead of just following a story was tiresome and not appealing to me personally. This led to me trying to read this book for several weeks, almost till the book was published and the approval would have been shelved. I was close to  giving up. Then I saw another Netgalley review claiming to work through the hard beginning and it being worth it in the end, so I continued on.  Aagny and Ersmo's storyline might have been my fav next to Emilie's and Lake's. After reaching the middle of the book I was completely immersed and was thinking about a reread of the beginning. I am still not a super fan of the way the story is being told, but I also cannot come up with a better way. Several weeks have past since finishing this title and I am still thinking about it. Thanks for letting me read this is in advance to publishing.

""Like us. An ant Colony!" A colony of individuals, where everyone worked, where everyone had a different skill set. It felt good to say it. Like there was a reason. Like it was natural."

This felt like a very unique read, I haven't read anything like this before. It dealt with many topics in a compelling way.

How did we get here? The key question at the heart of this stunning translated novel. Thought provoking, clever and gripping this is a stunning piece.

4,5

I can't say exactly why I loved this novel about a little commune in the North of Sweden so much.

In part it's the atmosphere. It's Scandinavian - of course - but it also feels very Scandinavian, warm and humane and rational at the same time. It reminded me of 'My Brother' by Karin Smirnoff.

I also loved the style, the little sentences offhandedly thrown in that made me smile with recognition. It's unpretentious, seemingly effortless and yet very carefully done.

I started this book knowing very little about it, and I’d genuinely suggest approaching it the same way. What unfolds is a captivating and deeply immersive story centered around a group of people choosing to live in unconventional ways. I won’t give too much away because this is a story best experienced without too much context.

The writing is great. It’s intelligent and compelling, and it’s easy to understand why this book became a bestseller in Sweden. That said, it can be slow and undeniably heavy, but that weight brings a certain depth. The book explores a wide range of themes: societal expectations, environmental issues, non-traditional lifestyles, education, social dynamics, relationship with nature, and the complexities of modern life.
Each character is so vividly and thoughtfully drawn. As the years pass, you’ll find yourself rooting for them or, at times, completely frustrated by them, a testament to the author’s skill in crafting such human, complex, and emotionally authentic figures.

This took a while to get going and really draw you in to the characters; I almost put it down unfinished several times. But if you can work through the slow start, it's worth the read.