Home and Away by Mats Sundin

How hard is Home and Away to read?

Home and Away scores 27 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it relatively accessible. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 38 out of 100

The vocabulary is generally accessible and contemporary, typical of a sports memoir. While it includes common hockey terminology like 'face-off,' 'power play,' and 'five-hole,' these are either widely understood or clarified by context. A few Swedish terms such as 'mysigt' or 'Javla skit' are introduced but explained, placing it above a child's vocabulary but far below texts with extensive archaic or specialized jargon like 'Moby-Dick'.

Sentence structure: 35 out of 100

The text employs predominantly direct and declarative sentences, contributing to a clear and straightforward narrative flow. While some sentences contain multiple clauses to elaborate on events or feelings, they remain grammatically simple and easy to follow. There are no instances of convoluted structures or experimental syntax, making it comparable to the directness found in '1984' rather than the complex hypotaxis of 'The Golden Bowl'.

Abstraction: 30 out of 100

The memoir is highly concrete and narrative-driven, focusing on specific personal experiences, hockey games, and family anecdotes. Even when touching on broader historical events like the Olof Palme assassination or Cold War politics, the content remains firmly anchored in the author's direct observations and immediate impact. It lacks philosophical debates or theoretical digressions, making it more akin to 'Asterix the Gaul' in its concreteness than 'The Great Gatsby's' social observation.

Information density: 40 out of 100

Information is presented in a clear, chronological, and linear manner, allowing for a steady reading pace without demanding intense concentration. While numerous names and events are mentioned, they are integrated naturally into the narrative, and the text avoids complex interweaving plotlines or dense conceptual layers. This makes the information load manageable, similar to a plot-driven novel like 'The Housemaid,' rather than the encyclopedic density of 'Ulysses'.

Narrative indirection: 25 out of 100

Mats Sundin's memoir employs a highly direct narrative, explicitly stating events, emotions, and lessons learned without requiring readers to infer meaning. For instance, he openly shares his anxieties ('the knot in my stomach') and his motivations, leaving little room for ambiguity or hidden interpretations. This straightforward approach aligns closely with the direct expression found in 'Are You There God?'.

Symbolic density: 18 out of 100

The text exhibits very low symbolic density, focusing on literal events and personal experiences rather than employing extensive motifs or allegories. Recurring elements like the 'red net' or the 'knot in his stomach' function as direct references to his passion or anxiety, not as complex symbols requiring interpretation beyond their immediate meaning. This direct, non-symbolic approach is akin to the experiential narrative of 'Diary of a Young Girl.'

Ironic distance: 15 out of 100

'Home and Away' maintains a consistently earnest and sincere narrative voice, with Mats Sundin directly expressing his experiences, feelings, and reflections without any apparent ironic distance. The author's intent aligns directly with the text's surface meaning, offering a straightforward account of his life and career. This direct, unironic engagement mirrors the voice found in 'Diary of a Young Girl.'

Resolution withholding: 25 out of 100

The narrative structure of this memoir provides a clear sense of progression and thematic resolution, particularly in its reflections on career milestones and personal growth. While life continues, the excerpt concludes with Mats Sundin's explicit understanding of lessons learned and his career trajectory, offering a form of closure for the experiences recounted. This direct resolution aligns with the genre-expected endings seen in 'Beach Read.'

Structural complexity: 35 out of 100

The book employs a relatively simple structural design, primarily utilizing a clear framing device that opens in 2009 before flashing back to a largely chronological account of Mats Sundin's early life and career. There are no shifts in point of view, unreliable narration, or experimental formal elements. This straightforward, linear progression, despite the initial temporal jump, places its complexity closer to 'War and Peace' in its chronological nature, but simpler than 'The Great Gatsby' which has more subtle narrative layering.

How Home and Away is regarded

Home and Away holds a literary regard score of 90 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Mats Sundin