Olga Tokarczuk visited Rinkeby's library: "The best of the whole Nobel week"

For 31 years, children and young people in Rinkeby, with a few exceptions, have been visited by the Nobel Laureate in literature during the Nobel Week. This year it was the turn of the Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, who received both the audience's cheer and a portrait.

- When we gave it to her on stage and when she told her to put up the portrait in her home, you couldn't believe it was true. It was magical, says Anita Ali Asgar, to the Culture News.

Throughout the fall, students in Rinkeby and Tensta have been charging for this very day. They have read, illustrated and discussed works by both Peter Handke and Olga Tokarczuk, thoughts that they now shared with a large audience.

- It felt nervous but that she was watching me, warmed me. It made me a little more tagged and excited. I really wanted to get on stage, and I wanted to talk to her, ”says Navin Ratnayake and continues:

- I read the runners after all and it was like you had to go into her mind and know what she was thinking when she was younger.

Anita Ali Asgar agrees, when she reads Tokarczuk's books, it feels like she is there herself.

- I think that is the way she gets her thoughts down on paper, she creates a painting that is so personal.

At the top of the agenda was the meeting and talks between the children and the author. Conversations about both high and low.

- Just to meet all the young people - so much energy and refreshing thoughts. They asked very smart questions. They were well prepared and reflective young people. Real thinkers. I am very happy. This is the best day for me on the whole Nobel week, ”Olga Tokarczuk tells Culture News.