Pär Poromaa Isling debuts with novel ‘Hollo’

Pär Poromaa Isling’s debut novel, ‘Hollo’, explores themes of isolation and the feeling of being an outsider. The story follows Pekka, a teacher from a Stockholm suburb who moves to Umeå University to pursue a doctoral position.

Despite his academic success, Pekka struggles to find a sense of belonging. His background as the son of a municipal official in Gällivare leaves him feeling disconnected from both his working-class roots and his new academic environment. The narrative is described as having elements of an academic thriller, highlighting the pressures and heavy workload of the humanities field, though critics noted the conclusion felt somewhat overly romanticized.