The Gothenburg Book Fair: The crisis of reading and the importance of literature

What happens when we read?

The eye follows black letters on the white paper from left to right and thoughts, which someone else thought, just now or a thousand years ago, become part of ourselves. "It is a miracle greater than that a grain of grain from the tombs of the pharaohs was made to sprout. And it happens every moment," observes Olof Lagercrantz in his classic book "On the art of reading and writing".

It is worth remembering this beautiful definition of reading, at a time when it is seriously threatened. The Pisa survey this week shows that it is not only the reading of qualified novels and children's books that is under threat, but the ability to read itself. Approximately one third of Swedish 15-year-olds do not reach the basic level of knowledge in reading comprehension, that is, they are functionally illiterate. It is an existential threat not only to the future of the book industry, but to the whole of democracy.

The deep reading crisis will also be at the center of many of the conversations during this year's Book Fair in Gothenburg. For example, Marlen Eskander from the Läsfrämjarinstitutet in Södertälje, one of those who have long sounded the alarm about the new emerging illiteracy in Sweden, will come to DN's stand already on Thursday morning. Perhaps this year's book fair can become a gathering place where central actors realize the seriousness and a national action plan for literacy.

But in DN's stand there is also room for everything that makes the Book Fair the year's richest and most enjoyable gathering place in Sweden's literary and public life. This year, Lydia Sandgren, Åsa Wikforss, Tomas Ramberg, Johannes Anyuru, Martin Modeus, Kjell Westö, Anders Hansen, Peter Englund, Philippe Sands, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Anna-Lena Laurén, Carola, Roland Paulsen, Tone Schunesson, Johanna Frändén and Jonas Gardell and 74 other authors and public figures will come to talk about their books - and how to read them.

The idea is, as usual, that author and reader should meet and see each other clearly, face to face. Lack of oxygen, shoe chafing and sweating all take their toll – when mutual understanding arises, most crises can be resolved.

Together with Expressen, we also pay attention every day to the imprisoned Swedish journalist Dawit Isaak, who this week has been imprisoned for an unimaginable 25 years.

Welcome every day to booth F01:39 - here you will find our entire program.

PS. Also, don't miss the big event "Back to an enlightened world", which DN is co-organiser of in Gothenburg's Konserthus on Friday 25/9 at 19.00.