Marie Hermanson

Another horror story about the silent conspiracy of plants planning the downfall of humanity. (See also: Apple and Magnoliaby Laura Gehl.)

The more I learn about plant communication, the more freaked out I get. And here I learn that fungi are part of the conspiracy! The HBO documentary, The Last of Us, shows us how dangerous that crap is.

You can try to barricade your house against your lawn, but know that roots are already infiltrating your foundations in preparation for the day of show more revolution. Do not invite the enemy inside! Your houseplants are moles, sending out valuable intel to their comrades, ready to turn on you in the middle of the night.

Beware! Beware!

(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.) show less

Spännande och lättläst,man fångas direkt och sedan måste man fortsätta läsa för att få veta vad som händer. Läs himmelsDalen, det är en bok som finns kvar i mina tankar i flera dagar efter att jag har lagt ifrån mig boken.

Despite being identical twins, Max and Daniel aren’t very close. Max’ bipolarity has made it difficult for Daniel to rely on him. But when Max writes Daniel to ask him to come and visit him in an exclusive resthome in the Swiss alps, it sounds urgent enough for Daniel to go. Himmelstal turns out to be a beautiful, isolated valley, where the rich and discreet can occasionally patch up their stressed out psyches. However, it’s not cheap, and Max asks Daniel for a favour: to take his show more place for just a few days while Max gets money for the very steep hospital bill. Daniel reluctantly accepts. But Max doesn’t return, and it soon becomes evident there are a few things about Himmelstal he neglected to tell his brother about.

Marie Hermanson has written two brilliant novels (“Musselstranden” and “Mannen under trappan”), and about a handful books that aren’t nowhere near as good. So I always pick up her books hoping for greatness, but am often a little disappointed. The setup here is great, I think, and the first half of the book, where Daniel is trying to pass as his twin, while discovering things are not as they seem, is nailbitingly thrilling. But when bringing it home, Hermanson over-explains things and becomes a little predictable. Still, I hope this book gets translated into English. The idea is really cool, the characters are interesting, and lovers of for instance Dennis Lehane’s “Shutter Island” will find a lot to like here. show less

Sometimes a book doesn't hit quite right with my Littles (granddaughters ages 7 and 9). This one didn't.

But it hit wonderfully with me, the Granny!

I remember when my daughters were two Littles and I'd go up to the library's Children's Department with them, let them do their thing, and meanwhile I'd pick out books for me. It's a great way to be introduced to something you want to know because nonfiction books for young readers...

...begin at the beginning
...tell you just the basics in an easy show more to understand way
...are usually a fast read without a lot of lingo
...and do it in an entertaining way!

In this book I learned trees in the forest communicate and share nutrients through their root systems.

Just knowing that makes me happy. show less