Community Read

Big in Sweden by Sally Franson

The City of Port Townsend has proclaimed March as the official "Reading Month." Community Read is designed to promote closer ties among community members through the shared experience of reading, sharing and discussing the same book and ideas related to topics raised by the book.

• A limited number of free copies of the book will be available at the Port Townsend Public Library on a first-come first-served basis. Additional copies will be available at the Library, or you may purchase a copy at Imprint Bookshop.
• Read the book, then pass it on to others. 
• Prepare for a discussion about the book with your own book group or join in the groups listed below. A brochure with discussion issues and questions is available at the Library.
• Attend the many in-person events during the month of March.

About the Book

“Sally Franson is a world-class entertainer. She can finesse a seriocomic moment in a way that leaves you catching your breath. Deft and delicious, this book is a flat-out delight machine. A heart opener, a page turner, and a true originell! I laughed out loud, I ugly cried, and I never, ever wanted it to end.”– Meg Ryan, actor, writer, and director

A charming, wise, and laugh-out-loud funny novel following an American woman competing on a Swedish reality show in an attempt to discover her roots. Paulie Johansson has never put much stock in the idea of family: she has her long-term boyfriend Declan and beloved best friend Jemma, and that’s more than enough for her. Yet one night on a lark, she lets Jemma convince her to audition for Sverige och Mig, a show on Swedish television where Swedish-Americans compete to win the ultimate prize: a reunion with their Swedish relatives. Much to her shock, her drunken submission video wins her a spot on the show, and against Declan’s advice Paulie decides to go for it. Armed with her Polaroid camera, a beat-up copy of Pippi Longstocking, and an unquenchable sense of possibility, Paulie hops on a plane to Sweden and launches into the contest with seven other Americans, all under the watchful eye of a camera crew. At first, Paulie is certain that she and her competitors have nothing in common besides their passports and views their bloodthirsty ambitions with suspicion. Yet amid the increasingly absurd challenges— rowing from Denmark to Sweden in the freezing rain, battling through obstacle courses, competing in a pickled herring eating contest—Paulie finds herself rethinking her snap judgments about her fellow countrymen, while her growing attachment to her Swedish roots increases her resolve to win the competition herself.

Author Profile

Sally Franson is the author of the novels Big in Sweden and A Lady’s Guide to Selling Out, a Minnesota Book Award finalist. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Guardian, and Best American Travel Writing, among many others, and she has been featured on NPR, The Jason Show, Slate’s Working, and Literary Hub’s Fiction/Non/Fiction. A 2022 cast member of Allt för Sverige, a Swedish reality TV show about finding your roots, Sally lives with her family in Minneapolis. Visit her online at www.sallyfranson.com.

Special Events (All Events Free!)

ALL MONTH MARCH 1–31 

Scandinavian Delights – Grab a bingo sheet at the library, or print one from the website, to try Scandinavia things and learn about some of the healthiest and happiest people in the world! Complete a BINGO and be entered to win a prize.

StoryWalk – Pippi Longstocking A fun outdoor adventure at Kah Tai Lagoon for the whole family to enjoy Pippi Longstocking. Walk and read the book. Explore anytime during daylight hours in March.

Book Lovers’ Café: Big in Sweden Discussion
March 6 (Thursday) Port Townsend Public Library (Pink House) 2:00 pm
Join the library’s book club for a group discussion with Melody Sky Weaver.

Swedish Scandinavian Folk Festival with the Daughters of Norway
March 6 (Thursday) Carnegie Reading Room 5:00–7:00 pm
Enjoy an evening of Swedish and Scandinavian inspired food, crafts, music, and a dramatic reading from Big in Sweden.

Storytime Connections: Pippi Longstocking Tea/Coffee Party
March 11 (Tuesday) Port Townsend Public Library 4:00 pm
Listen to great Pippi stories and enjoy a Fika party with Swedish treats for kids and their families.

Community Book Discussion with Jefferson County Genealogical Society
March 13 (Thursday) 13692 Highway 19 (Airport Cutoff Road) 6:00 pm
Enjoy a discussion about Big in Sweden and visit our local genealogical society’s HQ with JCGS President Cathy Beatty-O’Shea. Visit their website here and see the Port Townsend Library on LibraryThing. 

Family Movie – Pippi Longstocking
March 19 (Wednesday) Port Townsend Library (Pink House) 4:00 pm
Come enjoy a family classic about the strongest girl in the world! Fun for all ages.

Cold Water Queen Talks Cold Water
March 20 (Thursday) Carnegie Reading Room 6:00 pm
Join the Cold Water Queen, Karyn Stillwell, as she discusses the Wim Hof Method and dives into the health benefits of cold water immersion.

My Great Swedish Adventure
March 22 (Saturday) Port Townsend Public Library (Pink House) 2:00 pm
Join Melody Sky Weaver as she shares stories of starring on a Swedish Reality show to meet her
family. Enjoy Fika and Swedish goodies.

Meet the Author: Sally Franson
March 27 (Thursday) Northwest Maritime Center 6:00 pm
Join Sally Franson for a presentation and reading. Followed by a book signing and books for sale
from Imprint Bookshop.

Art in Action: Wheat Weaving with Patt Roche
March 28 (Friday) Port Townsend Public Library 3:00–5:00 pm
Watch a live demonstration of this Scandinavian art.

PTFF Presents: The Mamma Mia! Sing-Along (movie rated PG-13)
March 29 (Saturday) Rose Theatre 10:00 am
Enjoy the ABBA inspired musical at the beautiful Rose Theatre. Reserve your FREE tickets at
www.ptfilmfest.com or pick them up in person at the library. Singing and costumes encouraged!

Live Online: Meet the Author Sally Franson Encore Presentation
March 31 (Monday) Zoom 6:00 pm
Join Sally Franson for an online presentation, discussion, and reading.

Thank you to all of our sponsors:

SPONSORS: Port Townsend Library Friends and Foundation and our community partners: Daughters of Norway, Jefferson County Genealogical Society, Port Townsend Film Festival, Rose Theatre, Imprint Bookshop, Northwest Maritime Center, Port Townsend School District, Port Townsend Jefferson County Leader, Peninsula Daily News, and KPTZ 91.9 FM.

Past Community Reads:
2024 On the Way To the End of the World by Adrianne Harun
2023 Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults by Robin Wall Kimmerer & Adapted by Monique Gray Smith 
2022 The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
2021 House Lessons, Erica Bauermeister
2020 Whiskey When We're Dry, John Larison 
2019 Piano Tide, Kathleen Dean Moore
2018 My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir, Leif Whittaker
2017 Before the Wind, Jim Lynch 
2016 This Changes Everything, Naomi Klein 
2015 Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra, Jason Fry
2014 Turn Here Sweet Corn, Atina Diffley
2013 Contents May Have Shifted, Pam Houston
2013 Teen Community Read - Life Is So Good, George Dawson and Richard Glaubman
2012 Winterkill, Craig Lesley
2012 Teen Community Read - Blank Confession, Pete Hautman
2011 The Forest Lover, Susan Vreeland
2011 Teen Community Read, Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher
2010 The Hungry Ocean, Linda Greenlaw
2009 The Measure of a Mountain, Bruce Barcott
2008 Once in a Promised Land, Laila Halaby
2007 Where Rivers Change Direction and An Unfinished Life,  Mark Spragg
2006 Counting Coup, Larry Colton