Money makes the world go round and Ia Genberg has a deep, clear-eyed vision of how. The dramatic distinctness of the five stories that make up Small Comfort speaks to the might of Genberg's imaginative powers, while the intricate threads tying them together are testament to her subtleness as a thinker. It couldn't work without Kira Josefsson's staggeringly flexible translation, which also stands out for the naturalness of its dialogue and wonderfully rhythmic prose. This duo's writing zings and smarts in all the right places as we see ourselves reflected in the characters, warts and all. Breathtakingly original, profound but with a delicious dose of irreverence. * International Booker Prize 2026 Judges * An entertaining, thought-provoking piece of fiction * A Life In Books * A delightful and exquisitely executed literary mini-study that brings to mind Joan Didion. * Expressen * Brilliantly funny, poignant and timeless, Small Comfort is so much more than five interconnected short stories about money, worth, debt and values. Masterfully translated by Kira Josefsson, Ia Genberg's wit and form-defying finesse present complex characters and relationships - personal, public and philosophical. More novellas than short stories, the pieces reveal interconnected elements without being trite or too clever, moving from form to form to tell stories that are deeply, even uncomfortably human . . . This newly Booker Prize-longlisted novel is ripe for book club discussions and is not recommended for public transport reading in case you, like this reviewer, miss your stop. * Readings Books, Melbourne * I haven't read anything better this year. * Sydsvenskan * Genberg has a joy in language and precision in expression . . . she captures, with intelligence and insight, the afflictions of our time; that smooth, qualified bullshit talk that makes truth or lies seem irrelevant. * Göteborgs-Posten * Ia Genberg writes layered stories that resist easy categorisation. They are a kind of tall tales that the author anchors in reality through precise portrayals of the ways people think, speak, and behave. The sharpness of Genberg's powers of observation, her humour and delight in language make the stories crackle with life . . . Ia Genberg is a sharp stylist who effortlessly swings between the mundane and the profound. * Svenska Dagbladet *
