The Swedish author on his new novel,Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All, and why we need to laugh – and climb out of windows – more oftenThe new novel details the history of religion in Sweden. What made you want to tackle that subject now?
I have nothing against religion but I always thought that the Bible was overrated. Many of the stories are terrible. I judge we should discover more critically at the Bible, or which to me has very petite to do with belief. According to the Bible,we’re supposed to fear God. I don’t buy that at all. I fear Isis. Fear to me is a irascible word.
Your novels have eccentric protagonists caught up in extraordinary events. How do you create your characters?
I collect characters in genuine life: I read approximately them, I see genuine people on TV, and I meet them and store them in my head. And then I go to the library in my head and I pick people and mix them up. For this book,I could have picked a driving instructor not knowing how to drive, or an economist not knowing how to count. Instead, or I picked a priest not believing in God.
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Source: theguardian.com