At Malmö University, book clubs and author talks are organised every semester, called Mau Reads. The book clubs are for students and vary in Swedish and English. The book clubs end with an author talk that is open for everyone to attend.

Total hits: 2

Current at Mau Reads

MALMÖ UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Event, 6 November

MaU Reading Party – fika and read together
MALMÖ UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Event, 4 December

MaU Reading Party – fika and read together

Welcome to Mau Reads

Watch a video where our students, authors and other participants talk about why you should join Mau Reads.

About Mau Reads

  • The book clubs are voluntary and are held outside regular class time 4 times a year. They are conducted in both Swedish and English and have a limited number of places, first come, first served.
  • Current book clubs are announced in the calendar on the student website and registration is required. They are free of charge and you will receive the book to be read.
  • Participation is based on trust, and your intention should be to read the book you receive and participate in the discussions at the meetings in your book club.
  • The book clubs consist of 4 sessions: kick off, two book discussion sessions and a final author discussion. The author talk is open to everyone, but book circle participants prepare questions for the author with their group.
  • All book club meetings are held at Orkanenbiblioteket at 17.15-18.15. Coffee is served at all meetings.
  • To participate in Mau Reads, you must be enrolled at Malmö University for the current semester.
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

Karin Tidbeck i svart päls och svarta runda glasögon.

Karin Tidbeck was born in Stockholm in 1977 but now lives in Malmö, where she works as a freelance writer, translator, and creative writing teacher. Tidbeck's own writing is mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction, and she writes both short stories and novels, in both Swedish and English. The book The Memory Theater is set in a parallel world where the festivities never end, a decadent paradise where time stands still for some and a slow torture where life can end in an instant for others. During the author talk, Karin Tidbeck was interviewed by Martin Cathcart Frödén, senior lecturer in creative writing at Malmö University. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Marjaneh Bakhtiari i röd blus mot svart bakgrund.

Marjaneh Bakhtiari made her debut in 2005 with Call It What You Want. Endlessly Wonderful is her fourth novel and depicts a day in the life of Shayan in Malmö, described through the author's own Malmö eyes. This is the day he will die. As the day progresses, he meets friends and family, encounters acquaintances he would rather avoid, in a city where the real threats are rarely the ones that are visible. Marjaneh Bakhtiari depicts the people and everyday life around them, in a literary universe where humor and deep seriousness coexist side by side. During the author talk, Marjaneh Bakhtiari was interviewed by Anna-Karin Ivert, head of the Department of Criminology at Malmö University.

Close up at Patrik Lundbrg in a black shirt

Patrik Lundberg is a writer and active as a reporter and columnist at Dagens Nyheter. In 2024 he was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Faculty of Culture and Society at Malmö University. He often depicts class and exclusion in his texts and has won the Grand Journalist Prize. The book Fjärilsvägen describes the author's childhood in Sölvesborg, but also his time as a student at Malmö University. The book is mainly about his love for his mother and her class journey downwards after the divorce. During the author talk, Patrik Lundberg was interviewed by Aage Radmann, Associate Professor of Sports Science at Malmö University.

Susanna Alakoski sitting in a chair

Susanna Alakoski was born in Vaasa, Finland, but came to Sweden in the 1960s. Her debut in 2006 with the novel Svinalängorna, 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 residential area in Ystad that is filled with immigrants and low-income earners during the 60s and 70s. It is a 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2016, Liv Strömquist was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Faculty of Education and Society at Malmö University. 2019 The Reddest Rose was released, which is about romantic love from the ancient Greeks to reality TV and is a collection of humorous comic essays about how historical and societal changes have changed “romantic love”. During the author talk, Liv Strömquist was interviewed by Sara Kjellberg, Head of Library 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 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 at the Faculty of Health and Society at Malmö University the same year. During the author talk, Nicolas Lunabba was interviewed by Jesper Fundberg, Senior Lecturer at the Department for Police Work at Malmö University.

Close up at Ann-Helen in a traditional swedish sami outfit

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 the minority Sami people living in northern Sweden and their vulnerability. Stolen was named Book of the Year 2021 and has attracted attention far beyond Sweden's borders. Ann-Helén was interviewed on a digital author talk by Martin Cathcart Fröden, Senior Lecturer Senior lecturer, within the arts at Malmö University.

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:

  • Karin Tidbeck "The Memory Theater"
  • 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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