A pair of bibliophiles discover common ground in unexpected areas in Andromeda, a sharp, observant novel by Therese Bohman (Eventide), translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy. In 2009, university student Sofie Andersson lands an internship at Rydéns, a Stockholm publishing house that "looks like a ship moored in the city center." Sofie's only previous job experience may have been as a maid, but she shows poise when she tells editor-in-chief Gunnar Abrahamsson, a man close to retirement age and "something of a celebrity within the industry," that she agrees with the critics' tepid reaction to a recent title. He's so impressed by her candor that he gives her three manuscripts to assess. Soon, to the irritation of jealous colleagues, Sofie becomes an editor for Andromeda, Gunnar's successful "book series featuring 'the most interesting contemporary voices.' "
In swift, compact scenes, Bohman demonstrates that Sofie and Gunnar have more in common than a love of literature. They become platonic friends who meet for extended lunches and share several guiding principles, such as skepticism of capitalism and the importance of preserving tradition. The first half of the book presents Sofie's perspective, whereas the second shifts to Gunnar and the events that shaped his life and career. Some plot points are surprisingly conservative, but Bohman's thoughtfulness and sensitivity make this a worthwhile read. And along the way, she offers sly commentary on the publishing world, as when Gunnar says of book critics, "Usually they write what they're expected to think." Oh, those critics. --Michael Magras, freelance book reviewer