レビュー要約

• 社会分析としての視点は評価される一方、語り口のまとまりに物足りなさを感じる読者もいる。現地観察の面白さと、主題の重さがはっきり分かれるタイプの本として受け止められている。

レビュー

• Fishing in Utopia is the bitter-sweet memoir of the time the author spent living, working and most importantly, fishing in Sweden. He first lived in Sweden, in Stockholm, for a couple of years in his childhood and returned as a young man to be with his Swedish girlfriend. He and Anita later married and had one son but the marriage ended and he returned alone to England. During his time in Sweden, he was able to follow what appears to be the greatest love of his life - fishing, and from the book it is clear that he believes fishing there is like nowhere else on earth. The book gives a detailed insight into the psyche of the Swedes and of Sweden itself. Naturally, he still has a close affinity with the country and as he now considers himself to be an outsider, he can see how the country has changed since he first lived there - and not always for the better. I loved the book and read it in two sittings and finished it wanting more. I must be getting old and sentimental - I found it tugged at the heartstrings and spent the next few days brooding over it. A great read.

• He has some really good insights into Sweden. The book is referenced by others for how he is able to convey their way of life. Another book along these lines is The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth. And specific to Denmark: The year of living danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen Russell. The Russell book is very woman perspective (she's pregnant in Denmark) where Brown is very guy-ish: he's got some long details on fishing which you can skip. All three are English, which is a good kick to Americans as the English have their own pecking order that Americans need to get some perspective. All three are very good.

• As a Swede, now living in another country, I found this book fascinating. It added understanding for me to the country I come from. I don't agree with all he says, but then there are obviously variations. I am no fisherman, but I liked the almost lyrical descriptions of his experiences with nature when he fished - and that feels very Swedish. Sweden is a large space for not very many people, so there is lots of nature around.

• Very interesting incites into Swedish attitudes.

• It is always interesting to hear someone from abroad give his version of a country as a foreigner living in a country. Could have been written with a more satiric or joking angle to it.

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