The Bull from Solna

Gunnar Ardelius

Sometimes he thinks it’s unfair that women have so many advantages in life. They’re raised to claim space and justice, take a step forward, and care about their sisters. They have a powerful sense of community and an overall goal. Sebastian has learnt to hold back, to not be rowdy and macho, let the girls take up space, and that unity between men is something repulsive. Hanna’s sexual hunger is draining him from the inside. His own desire is depleted, it slips away, it’s too ragged – he can’t show it.

Sebastian is struggling to become an adult, to find friends, an apartment, a load of cash, someone to love and an education that will eventually get him a job. He struggles to get away from his mother. There is really nothing wrong with her, other than that she smells too strong, laughs too loud and cries too ugly. Without quite really knowing how it begun, Sebastian is in a relationship with his mother’s co-worker Hanna. Hanna, who could go by the term MILF, even though she doesn’t have kids. Sebastian has applied for acting school, where he meets Jakob. Maybe now everything gets better and his life can begin for real?

With a sound expression and a great deal of humor, Gunnar Ardelius portrays a young man’s sense of self in a time without any obvious answers.

Press voices 

”The bull from Solna is a quick and affecting story about a identityseaking youth … It has become a considering and entertaining roman about a young man in the crack between youth and maturity.” Peter Grönborg, Smålandsposten

”Gunnar Ardelius writes in a charming and humanistic way about Sebastians story against the backdrop of some problems that young men has to wrestle with, self-image, difficulties to make ends meet lack of housing, and also, not least the relation with women.” Marie Pettersson, Expressen

“Gunnar Ardelius youth roman The Bull from Solna is a both fun and touching story about becoming an adult.” Maria Nyström Krantz, UNT