The Girl who saved the King of Sweden - Jonas Jonasson (VG)

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Little John
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The Girl who saved the King of Sweden - Jonas Jonasson (VG)

Post by Little John »

By the author of "The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window" and every bit as good. There is no mention of who did the translation but either Sweden has very similar idioms or the translator got a very close match.

Nombeko Mayeki is born in apartheid torn South Africa at the height of the struggle with the ANC. She supports her drug addicted mother by working as a latrine emptier until, due to her intelligence, her unique ability at maths and her ability to manipulate those around her, she works her way up to the point where the white manager becomes totally dependant on her. Then she has a bit of luck with uncut diamonds - as you do - but then gets run over on the pavement by the incompetent drunk in charge of the South African nuclear weapons project.

As a punishment for damaging his car, she is sentenced to work for him as a cleaner for seven years. During this time, she becomes an expert and covers for her boss who is also dependent on her until she befriends a delegate from China whilst acting an an unofficial interpreter having learned Chinese from some Chinese girls who have been sentenced to work in the same place having duped some South African into buying fake Chinese antiquities.

When her boss dies unexpectedly, she takes advantage of the fact that he couldn't count and had made one too many nuclear bombs which she uses to bargain with Israeli advisers to smuggle her out of the base. The plot goes on and on and gets crazier and crazier in a similar way to the 100 year old man. But along the way, are some truly insightful observations about the World and all that's in it. Marvellous stuff and very entertaining.
Yes this is the real "Little John" (or it could be "colin")
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marymary
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Re: The Girl who saved the King of Sweden - Jonas Jonasson (VG)

Post by marymary »

Thanks.
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Re: The Girl who saved the King of Sweden - Jonas Jonasson (VG)

Post by digger »

Little John wrote:By the author of "The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window" and every bit as good. There is no mention of who did the translation but either Sweden has very similar idioms or the translator got a very close match.


Rachel Wilson-Broyles according to the speil
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Little John
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Re: The Girl who saved the King of Sweden - Jonas Jonasson (VG)

Post by Little John »

Ah! The translator! Thanks, Digger!
Yes this is the real "Little John" (or it could be "colin")
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