The year in Sweden (Mandarin)

In his light-hearted trip around the calendar, Kim Loughran has written a revealing presentation of the Swedes’ seasonal traditions, weather-induced behavioral oddities and passion for their archipelagos, forests, mountains and cities. Wandering among disparate topics—from the secularization of formerly religious holidays to the way shoppers politely turn banknotes to face in one direction before they pay—Loughran’s observations are subtle, accurate and delivered with an obvious affecti