Journalists, authors, editors, anyone who has dealt with the intricacies and politics that go on within publications and publishing houses will enjoy Therese Bohman’s Andromeda. But the novel is deeper than those superficial interactions between co-workers. It shines a light on an intimate, though platonic relationship, that could have been so much more had the two parties spent less time talking about books and more time talking about themselves.
Although years apart in age, Gunnar and Sofie have much in common. They both had humble beginnings and had to work hard to where they are now – running an imprint, Andromeda, in the well regarded Swedish publishing house, Rydéns. Andromeda was Gunnar’s idea, a way to publish books that veered from following current trends, and in doing so, made a splash, won awards, and made best seller lists. Sofie was drawn to Andromeda and, of course, to Gunnar because she believed in his vision. He saw a curiosity and honesty in her that was lacking in other young women working at the publishing house. She was brave enough to say a bestseller was shallow. Only an intern, Sofie was tapped by Gunnar to become his assistant, much to the disdain from other editors who felt they had been overlooked.
Gunnar enjoyed talking with Sofie and Thursday afternoons, where they retired to a nearby restaurant to drink wine, became routine. Because of something that happened early on during his time at Rydéns, Gunnar was reluctant to turn their professional relationship personal. For her part, Sofie envisioned that Gunnar enjoyed a near perfect life with his wife, Marianne. They had a huge apartment in the city and a weekend house in France. Gunnar never talked about his wife and Sofie believed that he was deeply in love with Marianne who occupied a social sphere she could never hope to join.
When Gunnar is forced to retire because of a heart problem, Jenny is made the editor in chief and the Andromeda imprint discontinued. Sofie finds herself editing books she dislikes and when she tells Gunnar what she’s working on his criticism makes the situation even worse. She never socialized with the younger editors, but goes on a few dates with Richard, whose only success was a book about weeds. Richard, however, doesn’t share Sofie’s passion for editing books, seeing what he does as just a job.
Arriving at work one day, Sofie sees the flags flying any half mast. Gunnar has died and she is one of the last people at Rydéns to know. “The person I was with him had died, our mutual understanding of the world was gone, the whole world seen through our eyes was lost. And the worst thing of all was the lack of closure,” Sofie says. “What was I without him? Now I was only me.”
Closure does come, however, in the missive that Gunnar writes to Sofie. Was it really delivered to her? We don’t know, but if it was, then Sofie would have been able to understand who Gunnar really was and she would be able to finally grieve what they both lost in not being honest with each other while drinking all that wine on Thursdays afternoons.
Bohman’s writing is heartfelt and honest. We feel the emotions, whether from Sofie or Gunnar, as each grapples with conflicted feelings. At several points it would have been easy for one of them to take a risk and, consequences be damned, cross that line. Perhaps Sofie in her new job won’t allow those restrictions to hold her back again.
Andromeda
Therese Bohman
Translated by Marlaine Delargy
Top photo: Bigstock
Our editors love to read and independently recommend these books. As an Amazon Affiliate, Woman Around Town may receive a small commission from the sale of any book. Thank you for supporting Woman Around Town.
