At Malmö University, book clubs and author talks are organised every semester under the name Mau Reads. You can also start your own book club by borrowing one of the library's book club bags.

Röd cirkel, vit tecknad uppslagen bok

Every term, book clubs are held for students, alternating between Swedish and English. Each book club ends with an author talk that is open to all to attend. These are publicised in the university calendar and on this page, so keep an eye out! Occasionally, professional-orianted book clubs are organised for students on specific courses related to the book in question. Information about these book clubs is provided by the teachers of the relevant programmes and are for the time being only held in Swedish.

About Mau Reads

  • The book clubs are voluntary and are held outside of regular class time. They have a limited number of places, first come, first served.
  • The book clubs are free and you will receive the book to be read.
  • Book clubs require registration and are advertised in the calendar on the student website, on this page and occasionally in Canvas.
  • Book clubs are based on trust, and your intention should be to read the book you receive for free and participate in the discussions in your book circle.
  • The book clubs are conducted in both Swedish and English about 4 times a year.
  • The book clubs consist of 4 meetings: kick off, two book discussion meetings and a final author discussion. The author talk is open to everyone, but participants in the book clubs are prioritised and can prepare questions for the author together with their group.
  • All club meetings are held at the Orkanen Library from 17.15-18-15. Coffee is served at all meetings except the author talk.
I am happy and proud that Mau Reads offers our students fascinating and thoughtful reading experiences as well as new encounters and inspiring conversations about literature, knowledge, societal development, and human relations.

Mia Rönnmar, Vice-chancellor at Malmö University

Students have their say about Mau Reads

I gained new insight into ideas we discussed and met new people. It is nice to see familiar faces when walking around the university.
It was really exciting to chat about a book with other people, it taught me to look at the story from new points of view.

Read a cool book, met some great people, learned some things. Overall a really positive experience.

I gained a new reading experience on a perspective that I’ve never read anything about before.

Previous book clubs and authors' talks

Susanna Alakoski sitting in a chair

Susanna Alakoski was born in Vaasa, Finland, but came to Sweden with her parents in the 1960s. In 2006 she made her debut with the novel Svinalängorna, which is based on Susanna's personal experiences. Susanna Alakoski is a social worker and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Health and Society at Malmö University in 2015. Svinalängorna is about a newly built residential area in Ystad that is filled with immigrants and low-income earners during the 60s and 70s. For Leena and her Finnish parents, the new apartment is the height of luxury: three rooms, balcony, parquet floor. Svinalängorna is a loving and poignant story about people's vulnerability in an everyday life that is slowly falling apart. Susanna Alakoski was interviewed by Magnus Nilsson, professor of literature at Malmö University

Close up Ia Genberg in blue sweatshirt

Ia Genberg is a Swedish journalist and author. She has published four novels and a collection of short stories. In 2022, Genberg was awarded the August Prize for her fourth book The Details. The book received several awards, has been translated into several languages and was an international success. It was also nominated for the International Booker Prize 2024. The Details is a novel with four portraits of people that the author has loved and been changed by. The story shows the presence of time in a person, how everything we have been through remains and continues in us. It is also about love and friendship as the hub in a person's life. Ia Genberg was interviewed on a digital author talk by Martin Cathcart Fröden, Senior Lecturer Senior lecturer, within the arts at Malmö University.

Författaren Liv Strömquist i svart polotröja

Liv Strömquist is a Swedish comics writer and cultural personality, known for her satirical and socially critical comics that often explore gender, politics and culture. 2019 saw the release of "The Reddest Rose", a collection of humorous comic essays on how historical and societal changes have changed - and perhaps destroyed - "romantic love", about romantic love from the ancient Greeks to reality TV. Liv Strömquist was interviewed by Sara Kjellberg, Library Director at Malmö University during the author talk. In 2016, Liv Strömquist was awarded an honorary doctorate at Malmö University.

Författaren Nicolas Lunabba i svart t-shirt

Nicolas Lunabba made his debut as an author in 2022 with the book "Will you Care if I die?". His "Sommar in P1" 2021 was praised for its humanisation of young people caught up in spirals of violence. Lunabba has received many awards for his work with children and young people. He is active in "Helamalmö", was named Compassionate Person of the Year in 2022 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in social work at Malmö University the same year. During the author talk, Nicolas Lunabba was interviewed by Jesper Fundberg, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Health and Society, Department for Police Work at Malmö University.

Patrik Lundberg i beige jacka och svart polotröja

Patrik Lundberg is a writer who works as a reporter and columnist for Dagens Nyheter. He often portrays class and exclusion in his texts and has won the Grand Journalist Prize. In 2020, he made an acclaimed "Summer in P1" and shortly afterwards the book "Fjärilsvägen" was released, which the summer talk was based on. The book club read "Fjärilsvägen", which ended with the author talk with Patrik Lundberg where he was interviewed by Magnus Nilsson, professor of literature at Malmö University. They talked about the book and Patrik's experiences of studying at Malmö University.

Ann-Helene i ett snölandskap iklädd samisk folkdräkt

Ann-Helén Laestadius is an award-winning author and journalist. She has Sami roots and grew up in northern Sweden. Her book '"Stolen" is an international bestseller about a young Sami girl growing up, and a powerful fable about family, identity and justice. The book provides an insight into a highly topical and important subject, namely the minority Sami people living in northern Sweden and their vulnerability and the hate crimes that reindeer herding Sami are often subjected to. "Stolen" was named Book of the Year 2021 and has attracted attention far beyond Sweden's borders. The book club was held in English with many international students.

Books as exampel of the book bags

Borrow a book club bag

If you want to start your own book club with some friends, the library has ready-made book club bags to borrow. Each bag contains 6 copies of a book. There are also suggestions on how to organise your meetings, as well as author profiles and discussion questions about the chosen book.

At the moment, these books are available in english to choose from:

  • Ia Genberg: "The Details"
  • Liv Strömquist: "The Reddest rose"
  • Maja Lunde: "The end of the ocean"
  • Jacqueline Woodson: ”Red at the Bone”
  • Ann-Helén Laestadius: "Stolen"

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