Carsten's (ctpress) Take and Read - TAKE TWO

Welcome to a fresh thread - part two in my attempt to reach the 75.



Here's what I've read so far and reviewed in thread one:

January
1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1910)
2. The Fall by Albert Camus (1956) reread
3. Heidi by Johanna Spyri (1880)
4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (1962)
5. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (1971)
6. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (1970)
7. Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (1934)
8. Rumors of Another World by Philip Yancey (2004)
9. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1914)

February
10. Silas Marner by George Eliot (1861)
11. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811) reread
12. At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald (1871)
13. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper (1826)
14. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (2003)
15. A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929)
16. The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells (1896)
17. The Hidden Face of God by Michael Card (2007)

March
18. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)
19. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (1911)

April
20. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (1869)
21. Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren (1981)

May
22. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) reread
23. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor (1955)
24. Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton (1934) reread
25. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (1952) reread
26. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin (1903)
27. The Journal of John Woolman (1774)
28. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1869)
29. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (1920)
30. Death in Holy Orders by P. D. James (2001)
31. The Children of New Forest by Captain Marryat (1847)

June
32. Billy Budd, Foretopman by Herman Melville (1891)
33. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)

July
34. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1905)
35. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (1814) reread

August
36. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1938)
37. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1963)
38. Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972)
39. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard (1885)
40. The House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1860)
41. Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling (1897)
42. Emma by Jane Austen (1815) reread

September
43. Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton (2004)
44. Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1864)
45. A Bear called Paddington by Michael Bond (1958)
46. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1912)
47. Siddharta by Hermann Hesse (1922)
48. The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells (1901)
49. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1891)
50. On Stories and other essays on literature by C. S. Lewis (1966)
51. The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan (1915)
52. The Rule of Saint Benedict by Saint Benedict (around 540)
53. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1798 - published 1815) reread
54. The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey (1995)

October
55. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (2008)
56. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1932)

And here reviews from this thread:

57. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950)
58. The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1943)
59. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926)
60. Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope (1858)
61. Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (2007)
62. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818) reread

November
63. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (1950)
64. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) reread
65. Benito Cereno by Herman Melville (1855)
66. Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (1951)
67. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) reread
68. The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1913)
69. Jar City by Arnaldur Indriason (2000)

December
70. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886) reread
71. The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit (1906)
72. Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery (1909)
73. No Other Foundation: The Church Through Twenty Centuries by Jeremy C. Jackson (1980)
74. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)
75. The Maracot Deep by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1929)

Book 57: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950)



An uneven collection of short stories loosely bound together. The subject is the colonization of Mars - and the relationship between the martians and humans. There are some comical stories - and some sinister and dark ones and some very philosophical ones. A rather mixed bag. I liked some of them very much. Usher Two - foreshadowing his novel Fahrenheit 451 - is about a man who will not accept that fantasy-stories have been forbidden by the government on Mars. And a story that have been later added to the collection about some missionaries who come to Mars - but what are the human concepts of sin to a martian? Does God reign on Mars also?

Bradbury does not attempt at all to make the stories believable - most of them are cartoonish and absurd. But some of them are very poetic and dreamy.

Book 58: The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1943)



This fantasy is loved by many - unfortunately I didn't really connect with it. About a boy prince who travels from his little lonely planet to visit other planets - and then the earth - ok, there are some few funny and quirky and philosophical conversations, but the overall mood of this Children's fantasy made me sad and depressed - I don't know exactly why.

Dropping a star on your new thread, Carsten. I can't comment on The Little Prince in any sort ofan intelligent way. I read back when I was in my teens - and while I recall finding it fairly interesting -I don't remember anything else. Hmm - The Martian Chronicles I've not read them.

I am enjoying Extreme Vinyl Cafe.

You make such excellent and interesting choices in your reading. Good for you!

Carsten first time dropping by your thread. Some interesting and very diverse reading I must say - Richard Hannay, Paddington Bear and the Men in the Moon consorting with Dinosaurs via Jane Austen made for an incident filled September! Have starred.

I have starred you again and look forward to all the books you read. :)

2: The Little Prince, in my opinion, is one of those books that will mean something different to you depending on the age you read it. I had it read to me when I was little, and then continued to read it through my life. Each time I have come away with a different thought of it, so maybe in a few years you will too.

I read The Little Prince awhile back as well and had a hard time connecting with it. I knew that there is supposed to be some kind of deeper philosophical meaning behind the story, but for some reason all I couldn't see it for myself. Maybe a reread in the future will garner a different reaction from me.

Richard Hannay, Paddington Bear and the Men in the Moon consorting with Dinosaurs via Jane Austen made for an incident filled September! Not to mention St Benedict and Sherlock Holmes... What a dinner party that collection would make!

#3: Ray Bradbury is my attempt to read more sci-fi. It's not my favorite genre. Glad you like Extreme Vinyl Cafe, Deb. I like books with plain funny storytelling.

#4: LOL - when you put it like that Paul - it certainly is diverse. I do like to mix the genres....My next genre: scandi-crimes....long overdue.

#5 & 6: Thanks for sharing your experience with The Little Prince. I'm not able to pinpoint my dissapointment with it. The universal message or lessons just didn't affect me. But as it is very short I might give it another shot later on.

#7: He, he....yes. What a dinner party. I would like to hear that conversation :)

#9 I want to hear that conversation too, Carsten. Continuing to enjoy your varied choices. Have your new thread starred : ).

Hi Carsten -- I'm here and you're starred.

Carsten Sci-fi is a black spot for me as well to be honest but as visitors to my thread would know Scandi-crime figures highly on my favourites list - who do you have in mind?

#10 & 11: Hi Nancy and Anne - good to know I'm not going to be lost in threads :)

#12: Well, many years ago I read most of Sjövall and Wahlöö and recently the first Stieg Larsson - and that's that...so now I think I will start of with Jussi Adler-Olsen ( because he's one of the few popular danes) and Henning Mankell - starting with the first Walllander-book. Also Jo Nesbo I've heard much good about. Any suggestions, Paul?

Carsten just seen this... I've put a quite unhelpful list of 20 on my thread! I like Fossum and Nesser for the quietly competent inspector.
The Gotland location of Jungstedt appeals.
Indriadason's Inspector Erlendur has some gloomy similarities with Wallender especially in the self-questioning style. Nesbo's Harry Hole is a great creation albeit a touch self-destruction. Marklund, Edwardson and Siggurdardottir I like less so. Alvtegen's books are good but they are not "series" books.

What would be ONE suggestion for someone who loved all the Larsson books but is nervous about trying anything else in the Scandi-crime genre?

I think Fossum is fabulous. I think that maybe she is my favourite of the Scandi Authors, though it's difficult to chose.

I've read all of the Indriadason's Inspector Erlendur so far and really enjoyed them.

Like Paul, I've found Siggurdardottir not to be so interesting. Too much domestic activity.

@15 - That's a tough question.

#15 Tough one Morphy - 18 months ago I would always recommend to start with Mankell's Wallender series as he is the main reason for the renaissance in the genre but I would have to go for The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo to start with.

Enjoying the conversation here, Carsten : ).

#15 What would be ONE suggestion for someone who loved all the Larsson books but is nervous about trying anything else in the Scandi-crime genre? That was me exactly several months ago. I inhaled the millennium trilogy last winter and went looking for more Scandi stuff. I've since read two of Mankell's Wallander series, and two of Indridason's Erlandur series; have enjoyed both authors. But I'm still a baby in terms of the whole Scandi scene. Deb and Paul are the maniacs in that regard!

Thanks Nancy I don't think I have ever felt flattered by being termed a maniac! Also pleased you have placed me in such fine company!

I think I'd start with Henning Mankell too. He's the one I started with also. However, he is a very different writer from Larrson. Much less violent . I had the good fortune of watching the Larrson series at the cinema as they came out of Sweden , with English subtitles. Honestly , Stieg Larrson books seemed too detailed and huge for me.

Great conversation going on here and thanks to all for sharing. And a bit embarrassing I have to be "schooled" on my native authors.

Quietly competent, gloomy and selfdestructive - a good variety to choose from, Paul! Marklund seems to be a succes with everyone and since Deb concurs with Fossum it will be moved up on my list :)

Think I will start with Adler-Olsen and Marklund and have Fossum and Nesbo on the back burner...then we'll see.

And Morphy and Nancy: It seems many scandi-crime authors have to thank Stieg Larsson for the attention. Many start here and go on to the rest......as myself.

About Stieg Larsson I enjoyed it very much in the beginning but thought as you, Deb, that it was too detailed and it dragged on far to long. Now that I've seen the movies I don't think I will read the other to.

Oh! Carsten, I've been looking at the Adler-Osten book in the bookstore. You'll have to read it and let me know if it is worth the read. I am very tempted by it.....The Keeper of Lost Causes is the book of his that I've been looking at. Hmm -does not seem to have a touchstone as yet on LT.

>17 PaulCranswick: It's the third book in a series! I can't start with the third book. It would make me twitchy.

I'm thinking of Faceless Killers by Mankell or Jar City by Indridason. What do you think?

I enjoyed Jar City more than Faceless Killers.

#23 Morphy I enjoyed them both to be honest but, sorry Nancy, I think Mankell's is the stronger series even though Erlendur is also good. The plotting and characterisation of both Inspector Wallender and the well drawn setting of Ystad beats out Jar City as a series start.

#26 This spammer is interrupting other threads, too. Pet peeve with me.

How do we flag that spammer again? I'd flag that spammer but I'm not sure how.

Deb - go to the spammers profile page and then report for spam (on the right side of the page somewhere)

Just saw this spammer. I've reported/flagged it now. Thank you for helping me out so it can be removed.

I went to the spammer's profile page and flagged it. I thought there was some way of creating a flag on your thread - but anyway, hopefully LT will be on it in the morning.

BTW Carsten, I started a new thread. I don't have the link with me, but just so you know.

Click on More at the bottom of the post then Flag.

I didn't know we could report a spammer from his profile page as well as flag a message. Thanks, everyone.

I don't think you can flag a specific message. Just report/flag a profile. Well, anyway - it worked perfectly - thanks everyone :)

Nancy, remember we flagged a spammer on your page? I flagged spam this message after Morphidae explained how.

#33-34 I learned how to flag a specific message when a spammer posted on my thread. I didn't know spammers could reported from profile pages - glad to have learned that! Educational thread you're running, Carsten : ).

Got your new thread starred, Carsten. I am just loving Mercy by Adler-Olsen - or The Keeper odf Lost Causes as it is known in Nth America. Really excellent.

#36: He, he, Nancy. We have assembled a killer anti-spammer unit that shows no mercy.

#38 LOL, Carsten. We are ruthless!

#37: Well, Prue, I'm actually planning a bookshop-visit tomorrow - with Mercy in mind. And number two in the series. Now I can't wait to start reading it.

Ohhh! Carsten, I'll be looking forward to all of your aquistions- aka as books!!! I can't wait!!!

#40 Carsten lucky you - I think the 2nd Jussi Adler-Olsson is not available in translation yet.

I knew it exactly the moment I entered the bookshop and found the well assorted crime section. Coming alone, with all the crime-novel talk from this thread in the back of my head, hungry for dark and sinister murder-tales...I felt my willpower crumbling...I was a helpless victim.

Half an hour later I went out with seven novels, a bloated book budget, lured away from my beloved classics.....but with high hopes of soon be able to join the "scandi-crimemasters connoisseur club".

This was in my bag:

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo

The Keeper of Lost Causes and the second in this series by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Faceless Killers and Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell

Jar City and Silence of the Grave by Arnuldur Indridason

Authors from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland - got it all covered!

Carsten - a very solid selection. If that lot doesn't do scadicrime for u then nothing will.

#43 Nice selection, Carsten! Made me laugh with with all the crime-novel talk from this thread in the back of my head, hungry for dark and sinister murder-tales...I felt my willpower crumbling...I was a helpless victim. TOO much!

Great selection!!!!! but with high hopes of soon be able to join the "scandi-crimemasters connoisseur club". I think you're in!! And yesterday I went to the bookstore and picked up the Scandi Crime by Adler-Juss - Mercy / or The Keeper of Lost Causes as it's called here! Delighted for you, Carsten! Ahh oh! I can start the italics but I forget how turn them off!! LOL! :)

Paul - It's all or nothing :) - And I'm going to a big bookfair next month in Copenhagen where Jo Nesbo will be signing books.....I bought Redbreast on your recommandation.

Nancy - glad I got out of that bookstore in a hurry. I was in deep trouble, book-buying-vise :)

Deb - and the italics just keep on going LOL - I've already started on the Jussi-book and enjoying it. There's some good humour in it and the contours of a good story....

Carsten, Deb is right you are certainly already in the club. Are u reading the Jussi Adler-Olsson in the vernacular just for interest sake?
Deb you don't know how to switch them off but I've no idea how to switch on the italics in the first place so you are at least one up on me already!
I also have no idea how to post pictures to my thread which is why I have the dullest one around (at least in terms of layout if nothing else!).

Yes, Paul - I am reading it in the original danish - and reading and thinking...how do they translate that? That can't be translated etc. etc. like special danish phrases and references to people in Denmark that's only famous here....well, it's not anything important, just the little extra you get....

You can learn all about html-code for italic, bold and images on this library-wiki: HTML TIPS

There are several ways to insert images. I sometimes upload pictures to a page called photobucket.com - there you get the html-code for your picture and just insert the code.

Or you can take a bookcover-image from librarything and right-click on it - and then use "view image" or "copy image location" - and then insert that into a image-html-code.

Good luck spiffing up your thread with images...

TQVM Carsten I will certainly try to do this as I am green with envy at some of the superb images and photos to be seen on our fellow LT'rs threads (yours included!)

Have read a few books in the original vernacular in Malay and found the experience difficult but rewarding but I did notice that whilst my general understanding was, of course, ok some of the expressions in the translated version were not what I would have quite used. I think sometimes the ability of the translator to sympathise with the original writer and set out accurately his/her artistic intention is a very undervalued skill. Stephen T. Murray and Laurie Thompson doing some of the translating for the scandis create a very good atmosphere and how much credit they deserve themselves for this is not often stated.

#50 Paul, you must also check out this page created by our own Tad - awesome tips for inserting images, formatting text, inserting links, etc. http://www.librarything.com/topic/104943

(edited three times to get the html code for the link right, hehe! I'm tired)

#50: Yeah, Paul - undervalued and I guess also underpaid. But not always. I found out a recent danish translation of Jane Eyre had lines cut out several places, in one place almost a whole two page conversation between Mr. Brocklehurst and little Jane where he interrogates her about her belief in God and Hell etc. An essential set-up for the later portraits of Christians and Christianity in the novel. So now I'm back to the original, which is better anyway, of course. But I was a little surprised at the lack of respect for Brönte.

#51: A very helpful html-guide. Great link, Nancy.

Nancy thanks ever so much - even a dummy like me will be able to come up with something surely? Let's see what happens with my next thread.

Book 59: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926)



This was my first Christie. An ok-entertaining Hercule Poirot story with a surprising twist plot although I did see it coming....I don't think I will read her again any time soon. It left me disinterested in the fate of the people involved. OK, the fun part is guessing who did it, looking for the clues, trying to get the puzzle to fit and maybe that's that, I shouldn't expect more....but we really do not get inside their heads - there are no emotions, to much stiff-upper-lip. After reading the novel I bought P. D. James' book Talking About Detective Fiction on my Kindle and went to the place where she talks about Christie. P. D. James is after all a far superior writer. Here's a quote:

The moral basis of the books is unambiguous and simple, epitomised by Poirot's declaration: "I have a bourgeois attitude to murder: I disapprove of it". But even the horror of the murder is sanitised; the necessary violence is perfunctorily described, there is no grief, no loss, an absence of outrage. We feel at the end of the book the victim will get up, wipe off the artificial blood and be restored to life. The last thing we get from a Christie novel is the disturbing presence of evil.

#54 Great post, Carsten! I also haven't read any Christie, so can't comment directly on The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. However, based on your review and on the informative quote by P.D. James, Christie sounds like strictly a whodunnit kind of mystery writer. That's fine and good if that's all a reader wants. Like you, I'm generally looking for more - well rounded characters, emotions, etc.

#55: True, Nancy. That's it. A whodunnit kind of mystery writer. To be fair - and I should have mentioned it - P. D. James is full of appraisal for exactly that aspect. If you want a whodunnit - and only that - then there's no better place to go.

I'd agree with your assessment about Agatha Christie, Carsten. I read many of her books in my early teens since my grandparents had a lot of Agatha Christies, and I very much enjoyed them then - but as I move on, I really loved P.D. James. I have very few " favourite authors" on my profile page, but P.D. James is one of them. Ruth Rendell is definitely a talented British writer who almost writes more character driven mysteries/ thrillers than does P. D. James. Some of her books can be quite dark as Rendell really gets' inside the heads of the evil/ bad guys. She's good.

#57: Thanks Deb for mentioning Ruth Rendell. Did not know of her and have to check out her novels. I read this about her on wikipedia: Many credit her and close friend P. D. James for upgrading the entire genre of whodunit, shaping it more into a whydunit. And that is in my opinion a far more interesting question.

Oh I'm glad that you looked into Ruth Rendell. She's really an excellent writer. Indeed - wiki has hit it on the head when is says they both shaped into a whydone it.

Carsten, Ruth Rendell is also known as Barbara Vine - many of her books as Ruth Rendell involve Chief Inspector Wexford and these are a fairly traditional type of procedural whodunnit. The Barbara Vine books are more varied and psychological. PD James' Dalgleish books are somehow denser than Rendells and certainly than the traditionalist school of Christie, Sayers, Marsh et al. I would equate PD James with the Morse books of Colin Dexter - I would put Rendell with writers such as Reginald Hill. The Barbara Vine's are probably like a slightly more literate Nicci French, Minette Walters or Hilary Bonner. All of these are worth a try depending upon personal taste.

Oh dear! Carsten, I have to disagree with dear Paul. Ruth Rendell is indeed known as Barbara Vine, but her Barbara Vine books are all historical mysteries. They have never caught my interest. Oh! I would never put Ruth Rendell with Reginald Hill, who's books I cannot bear. I think that Ruth Rendells books are denser than are P.D. James , but both are good. Many of the older P.D. James do not include P.D. James, and they are some of my favourites!

Minette Walters is a very good and literate author. Personally, I have never read a Ruth Rendell featuring Chief Inspector Wexford, simply because I could not get into those series books. Both Ruth Rendall and PD James have many stand alones.

Sorry Paul! I'll have to look up some of my Ruth Rendall's and PD James a little later.

Wow, thanks for that additional info, Paul. You are a crime-novel-connaisseur in deed. I have a lot of catching up in the crime-department - and can't make a smart remark here as I've only read P. D. James of all the names you mention.

Carsten - here is a list from wiki that list Ruth Rendalls stand alone's vs her Inspector Wexford's vs her books by Barbara Vine. Later I will try to remember which of hers that I have read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Rendell

OK #62 posted at the same time another crime novel-connaissseur dared to disagree in this highly controversial literary debate. Well, sort of....

I think Ruth Rendell must be my next british crime-novel read - as she's a close friend to P. D. James I take it as a good sign (thanks for the link, Deb!)....ah, well, later on - I have a bunch of scandi-crimes to finish. BTW - I just love Jussi Adler-Olsen. 150 pages in and the plot thickens - I'm still laughing at all the wisecracks.

Book 60: Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope (1858)



I just found out today that I forgot to mention this novel - I read it in june and discussed it on some thread but forgot to put it on my thread.

Number three in the Barchester-series. Trollope carve out another memorable story from the fictitious cathedral town of Barchester - this time more focus on the love story and the themes of social status in society, how money and power affects people (or not) - The novel is rightly called Doctor Thorne - he's the strongest character in the story - standing on his principles (almost too much at times) and just loving his niece Mary, trying to protect her from all the harm she's suffering from the insufferable Countess De Courcy. The Barchester-series have not dissapointed yet. My favorite is still Barchester Towers but it's a tough pick.

Looking forward to Framley Parsonage.

Carsten / Deb - Think Debs link probably justifies my comment about her work but probably not my opinion of the quality of it. I said that many of her Ruth Rendell books feature Inspector Wexford. 23/48 of the novels according to wikipedia. I stated this series was lighter than the PD James. I ought to have said more readable as I actually enjoy them more - and don't really like Reginald Hill though I think the genre of that series is similar. Deb says she's not read any of this series ( I think I've read a dozen or more) whilst she has read the stand-alone Rendells whereas I, despite having a number, have not. The Barbara Vine books are not historical thrillers generally - I have ten of them and have read three - but if the Rendell stand alones are like those I can understand her shock and horror at the comparison with Hill. To be fair Carsten, Deb's link shows both of us right. It would be worth doing a bit of research to try to find out her thinking on the Vine pseudonym as I don't really understand it if they are of a similar psychological subject matter.

So delighted you enjoyed Doctor Thorne, Carsten. I must agree that the Barsetshire series has not disappointed. I loved Doctor Thorne and I loved the next, Framley Parsonage. When I finish my current audiobook, I have The Small House at Allington queued up!

I'll leave Paul and Deb to the crime fiction debate. I have absolutely no idea who or what either of them is talking about, hehe!

#67: Promise not to tell anyone, Nancy? Neither do I. Hush! Hush.....

Deb - Help all our sterling efforts are going to waste!

Oh dear Paul! At least we try -at least we have read many of the books. Where did you say you got your " education" again? :)

Carsten, you simply must read Ruth Rendell!!!

Paul - fancy you and I dealing with these crime neophytes. Nothing is more difficult, is it!;)

Well, truthfully, I've never been able to get into a Barbara Vine. I'm relying on the word of one of my exalted sister's with the idea that Barbara Vine are mostly historical. Later I'll see if I can remember which of Ruth Rendell books I"ve read. I found PD James much easier to read. But I suppose it is more of a taste thing. I preferred PD James earlier works to her later works, which I enjoyed too.

One could say that P.D. James slight steered towards the " cozy mystery" genre in some of her later works, in that many of stories took place in an isolated area , where one knew all of the possible suspects and Inspector Dagliesh . I can link you up with a cozy mystery definition -but honestly, if PD James wrote slightly cozy mysteries as time went on, only in the mildest way. Not those dreadful " Murder of the Chocolate Pie Maker in the Village" if you know that type of super cozy that I mean by that made up title.

Crime neophytes - he, he......as the discussion continues I can't argue with that term :)

I shouldn't have opened a second front and bragged about Christie and british crime, but just sticked with scandi-crime....

As a crime novice it's an interesting discussion. Having read Death in Holy Orders earlier this year I can see the "cozy crime" resemblance. Isolated place...."innocent" monks, all suspects in one place....

Well, Deb, I'll give Ruth Rendell a try sometime - and Paul, do muster all your forbearance - I'm just a rookie crime reader.

LOL Carsten! You have a great sense of humour! I must admit I enjoyed Death in Holy Orders. Agatha Christie is fun writer - I think I'll liked her Mrs / Miss Marple murder stories the best . Hercule Poiret did not suit my tastes!;)

Dont worry Carsten I'm forbearance personified...well that is I would be if I wasn't just so darned impatient!

You'll never guess but I agree with Deb - Christie is fun and dated too a little I guess - Marple wins over Poirot for me every time. If you get chance to see the old films with Margaret Rutherford as Miss M take it they are wonderful.

Agree with Deb again (2nd time in one post!) you have got a smashing sense of humour but I guess growing up sandwiched between Germany and Sweden....

Third to your wonderful sense of haha, Carsten. Ashamedly, I haven't read any Christie either; another one I MUST get to!

Well, peace and harmony is restored on this thread....everyone agrees on everything from british crime to humour :) Nice.

Deb - yes, maybe I should try Miss Marple next time....

Paul - a certain amount of irony have been necessary in little old Denmark :)

Nancy - daring to admit that here is showing a lot of guts :)

Book 61: Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (2007)



aka Mercy aka Kvinden i Buret (danish title). One of this year's best reads in terms of pure entertainment. A good start on my exploration of scandi-crime. Jussi Adler-Olsen have created a memorable character with the danish police detective Carl Mörck, who reluctantly gets promoted and assigned to a new very-small special-unit that tries to solve special cases which have been dropped by the police. In this first novel in the Department Q-series he's trying to solve a case of a kidnapped/missing politician. His lebanese sidekick Assad and the handicapped police-friend Hardy forms a good trio of investigators who have several clashes with the police chief - Carl Morcks dry humour suits me fine, there's a lot of good laughs and then mixed with some sinister criminals - all in all a fun and thrilling read.

Great review, Carsten! I'm looking so forward to reading my copy!!!! Great cover on the book compared the orange thing that we get in Canada! Dry humour and lots of laughs -plus sinister criminals - what could be better! :) BTW - if I ever had to live somewhere besides Canada, I think I'd choose a Scandinavian country. And Denmark sounds just fine!!! Lots of social equality and lots of oil to create a rich country in Denmark..... and then the money to be had with scandi - crime sales!;)

Yes, Deb, they should have kept the danish cover picture. oil and scandi-crime he, he...that should do it in the midst of global economic meltdown. One thing I do wish we had here was some mountains.....it's flat as a pancake. But of course Norway is not that far away....

#76 Enticing review of Keeper of Lost Causes, Carsten. Glad you are finding your foray into Scandi crime entertaining! Love your remark at #78 that oil and Scandi crime should do it in the midst of global economic meltdown. I should say!

Ahh! Flat as a pancake!! LOL!! Where I live we in right in the midst of the mountains. My particular area of the city is a river delta that is has pumps all around the the city , as we are at sea level. Practically like Holland, but we don't have to hold back the dykes with our fingers or thumbs. The perfect setup - mountains all around us - and yet, where I live , no hills to climb !!! ;) Unless of course I opt to drive into Vancouver proper!;)
I do agree - I'm not sure why they changed the cover with The Keeper of Lost Causes - or even the title! Oh well....

Nancy - I'm almost tempted to pick up number two in the Department Q-series (my dad has book nr. 3 - he's also a fan), but I will stick to my plan and go for Mankell next.

Deb - a great scenery I can tell - I'm a city dweller and have to make an effort to bond with nature.

Book 62: Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818) - reread



On the cover it's Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds from the 1995 movie-adaptation of Persuasion. My favorite adaptation.

This conclude the Austenathon - six Austen-novels in one year. It's been a great year reconnecting with her novels.

I like Anne Eliot a lot. Her bloom has gone, she's slighted by her uncaring family - it's just taken for granted that Anne is there to serve, always to bow down and give without ever getting any thanks. She has reconciled herself with that lot in life...and then everything is turned upside down. In steps Captain Wentworth - the love of her live so many years ago - and she clings to every word he speaks, interpretes every glance and action. Yet without any hope or thought that he still loves her - If ever a person were alone in the crowd - it's Anne Eliot.

As the Austenathon is over I can make my highly controversial ranking of the Austen-novels. Here goes:

1. Pride and Prejudice (ehh....an unsurprising choice as number one - but I have to agree with everyone else. Austen is at the top of her game here. Comedy, romance, dialogue. It's perfect)
2. Persuasion (I just stated why...)
3. Sense and Sensibility (the first Austen I ever read - and reading it the first time I still remember the sheer joy of finding out that Mr. Ferrars was Robert and not Edward Ferrars)
4. Northanger Abbey (it has the freshness of Austens youth - her first try as a novelist - not without faults - yet very witty and with an adorable and likable Catherine Morland)
5. Emma (I knew it...someone was going to be slighted and it was Emma Woodhouse. It could easily be moved up - dear Emma - she has to look deep in her soul as she's scolded by the wise Knightly. But she does just that.
6. Mansfield Park (it has always been number six! Well, number five, but then I hadn't read Northanger Abbey.)

#62 Wonderful post, Carsten! You did a fabulous job of getting through all six Austen in a year. Enjoyed your rating system, too. I also just watched an adaptation of Persuasion but it was the BBC/Warner production with Sally Hawkins. Thorough enjoyable. I'd love to see the one you've posted above also.

I'm a thrilled city dweller myself. I don't worry about bonding with nature - but then it's all around me. My city is rather well planned. Wow! I'll have to nudge my Jussi- Olsen further up! Great endorsement from both you and your dad!

Hats off Carsten - I have them all but have only managed 4 of the 6 Austens Persuasion and Emma have not been read yet. It is some time since I read them and to be honest differentiating between them now is difficult. Northanger Abbey stands out the most for me because it was the first one I read and has a nice title but I would have difficulty stating any preference as the stories are basically variations on the same theme.

Deb I too am eagerly awaiting the next installment of Department Q.

Nancy - The BBC-version is also good - what I like about the 1995-adaptation is the casting. These two are perfect as Anne and Wentworth - And the atmosphere of the movie has a reality to it that sets it apart from some of the other adaptations af Austen novels.

Deb - yeah, get going with Jussi. It's perfect for those long winter nights.

Paul - To be sure, an Austen-ranking is a nerdy thing :)

I too loved your Austen-ranking. P&P is at the top of my list too.

Hi Marie, P&P have for some years only been a tv-experience for me. It was wonderful to get back to the actual novel again and find some new things to appreciate.

Carsten - what happened mate - are you lost in Scandicrime or buried in Jane Austen?

Loved your review and your Austen ranking! I have only recently filled the Austen-sized hole in my reading life, and have read 5 of her 6 books since last September. 4 of them were on audio, which I loved.

Just stopping by to say hi, Carsten!!! Hope your reading and everything is going along nicely! I have a new thread, just so you know.

#89: Work happened to me, Paul :) A lot of it during the weekend. Just reading a bit - I've switched to the Brontes: Jane Eyre....and another sci-fi: I, Robot. scandicrime coming on next.

#90: I love Jane Austen as audiobooks too, Anne. What Austen are left for you to be "complete"?

#91: Gotta catch up with your new thread. It's going on lightning speed over there at Vancouverdeb :)

>92 ctpress: I've read all but Mansfield Park, and some of the smaller ones like Sandition and The Watsons. I can't believe it took me so long to read dear Jane, but I am a happy, if late, enthusiast!

Hi there Carsten! I just finished Atonement which I did not care much for -but I gave it 3. 5 stars. Just popped by to see what's new with you!

I've been out of the LT for some days. A lot of catching up.

#93: Anne - I love it when I discover new authors that feel like kindred spirits. I have that with Jane. And better late than never :) I wouldn't have appreciated her in my youth so good to wait...

#94: Thanks for popping by Deb :) I only just watched the movie adaptation but felt quite betrayed by it's story line and the surprising turn of narration.

My reading have been quite slow lately but I shift between Jane Eyre, The Hobbit and then I, Robot by Asimov.

Good to have you back, Carsten! It's annoying when work interferes with LT, hehe! You have much wonderful reading on the go! Looking forward to comments/reviews.

Oh nice mix of books that you are reading, Carsten! Jane Eyre and The Hobbit - and I , Robot which is a book I do not know really anything about.

Carsten, lucky for me I looked a brief overview of the plot - so I already knew part way through the novel that there was going to be a surprising turn of narration. Had I not known that in advance about Atonement I think I would have disliked Atonement even more had the turn I not been ready for the turn in narration and as you say - feeling of betrayal. I don't think a lot of Ian McEwen. I don't think he's the kind of guy I'd want to spend a dinner with. No thanks!!!!!

Deb, sorry you did not enjoy Atonement. Interesting comments about the turn of narration. I learn so much about how books affect others - guess that's what we're all doing here at LT!!

Ha, ha, Deb. That's an interesting question. Would you spent an evening with the author? Well, maybe a short coffee brake to give McEwen a few pointers to his next storyline....

Yes, Nancy. Stories are a living breathing thing that works it's magic in totally different ways for all of us. Thank God for that.

Stories are a living breathing thing that works it's magic in totally different ways for all of us. Thank God for that.

Hear, hear!

LOL Carsten!! Yes, maybe I could giveIan McEwen a few pointers on improving his writing if I could spare 30 minutes having coffee with him:)

Hey Carsten! Thanks for visiting my thread. I've missed you, but I totally understand that you have a life beyond Library Thing! Have a great weekend, and I must really book my visit with Ian McEwan and give him a few writing pointers!;) Have a great weekend!

Yes, everything have been mounting up at one time - feel rather drained. But now I can hopefully get on with my favorite pastime the coming weeks - not so much on my schedule. Well, I HAVE too if I'm going to reach the 75 as you, Deb :)

Book 63: I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (1950)



This is a collection of nine short stories that all have to do with humans interacting with different kinds of robots. In I, Robot Asimov gives three basic laws for robots:

1. A robot may not injure a human being.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

In most of the stories the robot begins to act in conflict with these laws and humans try to find out what went wrong. This was an interesting sci-fi as a thought experiment, but not a great read.

I, Robot form the basis for the popular movie by the same name with Will Smith - but only very loosely inspired by. In fact the movie-story is the best story of them all. So go see the movie, if you are into that kind of sci-fi-action-movie... :)

104: I'm not a big sci-fi reader, but I've always wanted to try this book even though my expectations aren't all that high either. Nice review. :)

Thanks, Marie. I wouldn't consider myself a great sci-fi fan either. But I'm trying to read some more sci-fi classics and the experience at the moment is so-so. It seems that some of these sci-fi writers are caught up in the technology-vs-human story thing but forget character development.

#104 - I love Asimov, but I, Robot is far from my favorite. It makes me a little sad that this is often the book that people go to first, and it frequently gets a luke-warm reaction (for reasons that I totally understand.) Anyway, my favorites are the Foundation novels, especially the trilogy.

#107: Good thoughts. Thanks! I have my eyes on the Foundation-trilogy also, so I haven't given up on Asimov. I guess in a novel rather than a short story there are more room for well-developed characters and descriptions of the sci-fi world.

#108 - Yay! I'm glad you haven't given up on Asimov, and I agree that novels are the best sci-fi format.

Hi Carsten long time no see on the threads!
I agree with you on I Robot - it was a great idea imperfectly executed. Not the best of Asimov maybe as Kerri says but it was also one of my only two Asimov reads Foundation being the other. The technology substituting for the story was one of the main off-puts with Sci-Fi for me and it is very much present for me in I, Robot and much less so in Foundation which I enjoyed more to be honest.
Hope you have work conquered now and that you can get on with the reading.

Hi Paul - work will be less a hassle the next few weeks I'm sure. Foundation are being moved up as one of my next sci-fi reads :)

As always, enjoyed your thoughts on I, Robot, Carsten. I read next to no sci-fi so can't offer further comment. Truthfully, I also read very few short stories. In terms of my experience, then, you've batted it out of the park on this one!

Yeah, I was kind of stretching it this time - sci-fi short stories - I keep it inside the ball park next time - Brönte coming up :)

Catching up on your thread Carsten. I need to read more Scando-crime too so I'll watch your reading with interest.

#54 I read Christie when I was younger and I think it's probably more difficult to appreciate her once you've read later crime novels I think the P. D. James quote is accurate (I love Baroness James and have had that book on my wishlist for ages) but I don't think crime writing as a genre would be where it is now if Christie and the other Golden Age writers hadn't laid a lot of the groundwork. I think Christie is more about ideas than characters or bringing the horror of murder to the reader (which are both things I think James does well) and those ideas were startlingly original at the time she wrote them.

#76 I hadn't heard of Jussi Adler-Olsen before but that has definitely gone on the list.

#82 Glad you enjoyed Persuasion so much and I also love the 1995 adaptation. Persuasion is my favourite with P&L second.

#104 Oh, see I thought I, Robot the book was much better than the film. I think I am a science fiction fan though. Have you tried later science fiction rather than the early 1950s authors? I think, similar to the differences between writers like Agatha Christie and P. D. James, the genre has developed a lot over the last 50/60 years. Asimov was an ideas writer - not great characters or world-building but amazing ideas. You might enjoy later science fiction writers that focus more on characterisation - perhaps try The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks or Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Or from female authors, Lois McMaster Bujold's The Warrior's Apprentice which is a less serious read. Or The Speed of Dark which doesn't have much science fiction but is very much about the characters (it's set in the near future which is why it's technically science fiction). If you want to try another Asimov I'd suggest The Caves of Steel which is robots again but also a crime/mystery element and (I think) some decent characterisation in Elijah Baley.

Thanks for all the good comments, Heather. I can see on the world-map on your page that you get around (reading-wise) - but you have missed little old Denmark....maybe Jussi Adler-Olsen can fix that :)

You are right about Christie - and P. D. James in her books about crime novels also acknowledge Christie and her importance for the development of the crime novel. This connection to the early sci-fi writers I haven't thought about, but it makes sense.

I have only read a few of the old sci-fi writers, so thanks for the suggestions - I have heard of Iain M. Banks, but I have to check up on the books you mention. I enjoyed Door into Summer by Heinlein last year. That was a fun read about time travel.

Carsten, I'm on the hunt for Jane Eyre by Juliet Stevenson. But the only Naxos version I can find is read by Emma Fielding. Where did you find the one by Stevenson? Thanks : ).

I'm back, and I've found the very thing at Audible! Sorry to clutter up your thread, asking questions and then answering them!

It's fine, Nancy. I got it from Audible myself.

#115 That's true - I don't think I have read a Danish author before. In fact, I don't think I've been pushing myself very much to read authors from new countries lately. Perhaps I should kick start it again next year.

I haven't read any Heinlein yet but I have him on my list as an author I should try. I think I have Starship Troopers on the TBR pile.

Finally found and starred you! :)

I felt very much the same way you did about I, Robot, when I read it earlier this year. Not sure I'm going to give Asimov another go or not yet. :)

Hi Carsten! I've never read any Asimov that I know of , but I know my dad was a big fan when he was younger. I'm so impressed by the wide genre of books that you select from -and that you can read in two languages! Bravo Carsten!

#120: All those threads....easily to get lost :) Glad you found me.....

#121: I would be lost without english, Deb - So many books not translated - or classics only in danish abridged versions...yuck.

Carsten, beginning to drop the idea/invitation of our planned group read on some threads ... a few of us (Megan, Paul, Carsten, and I so far) are doing a group read of North and South Dec 15-Jan 15. All are welcome! I'll put it non-spoiler and spoiler threads just prior to mid Dec.

eta: fixed the touchstone to point to Gaskell. Duh!

Hi Carsten! Just stopping by to say hi and shortly I'll be starting a new thread - mine is getting very long! :)

Carsten what are you reading at the moment as your reviews seem to have been eloquent in their silence for a goodly while?

Nancy - good idea. Let's get some more people on board. I look forward to it. Gaskell have been on the authors-to-read-list for some time.

Deb - good to know - a lot of book-talk and other stuff over there at vancouverdeb :)

Paul - arghhh....yes eloquent in their silence. I've read depressingly little the last few weeks. But things are really looking brighter now. The next month up to Christmas will be quite back to normal and my reading chair will be occupied again. It's still Jane Eyre and The Hobbit half way through both - I think my next one after that will be a scandi-crime.

Carsten, just so you know, I had to start another new thread here - http://www.librarything.com/topic/126731# - the thread police were after me!!!! ;)

123/126: I'm glad I stopped by your thread Carsten because I've been wanting to do a group read at least once this year and North and South has been pretty high up on my TBR pile. If you all don't mind, I'll keep an eye out for that thread when it happens.

Great, Marie Rose - the reading-group is growing :) I'll give you the link to the thread once it's there.

Book 64: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) - reread



What can I say? Simply a masterpiece.

Reading this victorian classic - or rather listening to the wonderful reading by Kate Atkinson - I was swept away again into a great bildungsroman and love story - Jane Eyre is one of the most fascinating female characters ever portrayed in literature.

I like her deep integrity and dignity which is of course tested numerous times in the novel - despite all her disappointments she continues to trust God, keep her self-worth and retain her passionate love for "my master" Mr. Rochester.

The novel is populated with memorable characters - of course the enigmatic Rochester - but also in the beginning the evil aunt, the pharisaic Broclehurst, the angelic Helen Burns and the austere priest St. John Rivers.

A must-read.

#130 Thanks, Carsten! Enjoyed your review of Jane Eyre very much. I am also presently listening to Juliet Stevenson (did you really mean Kate Atkinson?) narrate the classic. She is SO fabulous. Haven't met Rochester yet, but the evil aunt, the parisaic Brocklehurst, the angelic Helen Burns I've all met. Well said! I find myself wanting to extend my walks, just to listen longer ... not necessarily a good thing when I'm walking to work in the mornings, hehe!

My mistake. Juliet Stevenson of course. I know the feeling of wanting to extend the walk to listen some more - and have actually done it one time as I was near the end of a novel and I just had to finish it right there.

People laughed at me when I explained why I was late :)

Carsten, I've just finished The Twin (also from your part of the world) which I think you would enjoy. New thread here.

Hi Carsten, thought I'd drop by seeing as we're both in the North and South read over Christmas/New Year. Hi.
I have driven around the block a few times to avoid missing the end of a radio interview, and am sure I would even more for an audio book!

Hi Megan. Thanks for dropping by. I look forward to Gaskell. She's been on my to-read-author list since I watched the recent Cranford tv-series.

Book 65: Benito Cereno by Herman Melville (1855)



Hmmmm....Benito Cereno did not work for me. The opening part of the novel was good - a captain trying to help a slave-ship that has been knocked about in the storm. There are some puzzling things going on and the visiting captain gets suspicious. But as a reader I quickly found out the "mystery" if you can call it that - but the captain are being held in the dark (although it's strange that he doesn't realize what's going on). Even for this short novel I found it quite repetitious at times and wanted it to move a little faster, plot-wise.

Moby Dick was very, very good - at least that's how I remember it reading it years ago...With Billy Budd being a letdown, and now Benito Cereno I'm beginning to doubt dear Melville.

Book 66: Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (1951)



A world wide light phenomena in the sky makes almost everyone blind and at the same time some moving and highly deadly plants try to take over the world. Sounds ludicrous I know...but Wyndham makes it a believable and very scary post-apocalyptic sci-fi.

It's action-packed but also with a strong human love story - and on top of that a lot of ethical questions are being addressed. What do you do in a society where almost everyone is blind and only a few can see? In the midst of the chaos do you stay and help or look out for yourself? How do you organize a new community/society on the ruins of another?

As the main character reflects on his options and choices we ponder as well about the huge dilemmas and nothing seems safe or right. In the meantime the triffids are evolving and getting closer and closer.....One of the best sci-fi novels I have ever read.

Day of the Triffids is found in both 1001 Books and 501 Must-Read.

Couple of interesting and very different reviews Carsten.
I have still to get round to any Herman Melville- have both Moby and Billy Budd but not yet got round to them yet. Not heard of Benito Cereno but you do a good job of not selling it!

Great reviews, Carsten. I've wanted to read Moby Dick for some time, but have not yet managed to get there. I'll pass on Benito Cereno. Wyndham's The Chrysalids I read years ago and enjoyed; sounds like there are similarities between it and The Day of the Triffids - strong human love story and ethical questions being addressed.

I don't know anything about Wyndham so thanks for the suggestion, Nancy. I will check out The Chrysalids. This stuff is right up my alley.

#136 - Sorry you didn't enjoy Benito Cereno! While Bartleby is probably my favorite Melville (and "I would prefer not to" is one of my favorite literature quotes), I loved Benito Cereno as well. I didn't figure out what was going on right away, so that may have boosted my enjoyment a bit.

Hi Kerry. I'm not done with Melville :) and Bartleby, the Scrivener are next on the list. I hope I will enjoy that more.

Also a reread of Moby-Dick are one of my goals for next year. We'll see.....

Just stopping by for quick hi, Carsten. I'm afraid the " patient" - my husband - would throw pillows at me if I tried to read aloud to him from John A The Man Who Made Us - my biography / history book that I am reading. He is actually reading a book by Robert Parker - a mystery that I got for him from the library.

Hmm some good reads going on here! For now, I've got to get the dog out -just taken a stolen moment out to say hi! ;)

You wise woman. Bringing him a mystery-novel is the best remedy, Deb. A good novel in the right time at the right place can make everybody a reader, I'm sure.

I also from time to time take time out from novels to read biography and history. But reading aloud from it would be pushing it :)

Book 67: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) reread



OK, come on Peter Jackson, make that movie and get it into the cinemas. I'm ready now!!

The Hobbit is one of the best fairy stories or fantasy-stories ever told. The little brother to the larger Lord in the Rings trilogy.

Here are a wizard, dwarves, wargs, elves, trolls, a fierce dragon, nasty little goblins, the strange creature Gollum - and of course our own hero - the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.

It is fast paced with a lot of fighting - and the party of dwarves and Bilbo in quest of a treasure are confronted with enemies on all sides - always filled with Tolkiens wonderful sense of humour. It's told to children, but everyone can enjoy this tale of Middle-Earth.

Audiobook read by Rob Inglis - a highly recommended reading.

#145 Carsten, I think an audiobook of The Hobbit might be just the ticket. I appreciate Tolkien's absolute brilliance, and did read this classic many years ago in a children's lit course. But fantasy is not generally a hit with me. That said, I agree wholeheartedly that The Hobbit is one of the best fairly stories or fantasy-stories ever told.

Carsten - always loved the Hobbit. I remember the story being told on television in England on a programme for kids called 'Jackanory" which was narrated by a chap called Bernard Cribbens. Enraptured by it then and I can just imagine how well it lends itself to audio.

Nancy - fairy/fantasy stories are normally something I enjoy as movies - but I love Tolkiens way of writing. The Hobbit is a wonderful creation to put into this world.

Paul - I don't know if it is done today but I grew up with something similar in danish. A man in a chair telling stories....well, we only had one danish channel so you were kind of limited in your choice if you wanted a children's program :)

Rob Inglis' reading makes the story come alive in a whole new way with all the different voices of Gollum, Gandalf, Bilbo etc.

>137 ctpress: good review, too scary for me...I already have a thing about creeper-type plants, so Im pretty sure this one would do me no good at all.....

>145 ctpress: havent read any of these, but yes, saw the LOTR series at the movies. I was living overseas at the time and it made me very homesick seeing NZ all on the big screen. (and I had fun joking with my sister during the film that I recognised the beautiful scenery: but hang on, I dont remember THAT being there!

#149: Tho novel IS creepy, so good choice to stay away from those triffids.

....If that city were real I guess tourism would have gone up a notch :)

I look forward to the Hobbit-movie. It's funny, but Tolkien are not so detailed when describing the battle scenes - it's over pretty quick, but I'm sure Peter Jackson will fill it with frightening and prolonged fightings...can't wait.

Premiere is scheduled for december 2012 (the first part of the Hobbit), december 2013 for the second part.

#150 Fantasy fan or not, I also think The Hobbit will make wonderful big-screen stuff! Didn't even know a movie was in the works, so thanks for that, Carsten.

Yes Nancy, and the same director, Peter Jackson, returning to the old LOTR set and scenery. So expect something similar as LOTR - just with even greater special effects.

Book 68: Jar City by Arnaldur Indriason (2000)



aka Nordmosen (danish) aka Myrin (original).....

Continuing my Scandi-crime exploration I've moved to Reykjavik. On the crime scene is inspector Erlendur who are slowly going to unravel a murder with a lot of grim and dark secrets. At the same time he's met with challenges on the home-front, divorced and looking after his drug addict daughter.

The story is very well composed where secrets of the past are revealed slowly and we try to guess what's really going on. Very grounded in reality yet not with much comic relief....It's just get worse and worse.....This is not for the faint-hearted.

I liked it a lot - but I have to turn to something brighter quickly.....

Ohh! Glad you read Jar City. He is a dark writer, but I think that you will find that the series improves. I've read all of the series, up to Outrage.

Glad you read it, but I do understand that you may need something brighter. I'm reading something cheery myself!

Glad to see you loved Jane Eyre, it's one of my favourite books. :)

Re: #137: Have you read Blindness by Jose Saramago? It's about an epidemic of blindess that renders the world in chaos, and deals with many of the ethical and moral implications that follows. Though strictly not sci-fi, rather a post apocalyptic tale, you might just like it. I absolutely loved it when I read it last year. :)

#154: Deb - Thanks for the recommendation of the Erlendur-series. I will continue with it for sure and look forward to the even better ones - enjoy your "light" read :)

#155: I knew of a recent movie called Blindness so I guess it's based on this novel. Thanks for the suggestion, I will check it out. I like these apocalyptic stories that asks the deeper existentiel questions.....

#137 We agree about a science fiction book :-) That reminds me that on the strength of Day of the Triffids I acquired The Midwich Cuckoos and Trouble with Lichen by John Wyndham which I haven't got round to reading yet.

#145 Also looking forward to the Peter Jackson film.

#155 I read Blindness last year as part of the group read. I found it to be a very well written book but very, very dark and often rather gruesome. Lots of ethical/moral questions though.

Delighted you enjoyed Jar City, Carsten. Deb also recommended Indridason to me, and I've thoroughly enjoyed what I've read so far.

Like that phrase Carsten: "Continuing my Scandi-crime exploration I've moved to Reykjavik."....cute.
Deb is right the series does improve but the sombre tone remains.

#157: Yes, hard not to agree on such a scary and well-written sci-fi :) I will also continue my Wyndham-reading but have no idea which book will come next. About Blindness - it could be interesting to see it maybe from another perspective - if he explores it from the side of those who goes blind. In the Triffids it's only the seeing who we follow. And then it's rather obvious it will be very dark :)

Nancy and Paul - also thanks for the recommendation of Erlendur :) Next stop will be Sweden - The Dogs of Riga.

#160 "And then it's rather obvious it will be very dark :)" Oh yes :-) Inadvertant pun.

I read Jar City in the last couple of days, too, for an Around in the World in 80 Sleuths challenge. Solid read but don't know if I'll continue with the series.

Enjoy Dogs of Riga, Carsten! I read it only a few months ago and liked it much better than Jar City - Deb says the Erlandur books get better as one goes, so that works for me!

Ohh Dogs of Riga has really great atmosphere - kind of spooky!! I really loved it!! Have a great time visiting hmmm - some Baltic Country I forget! ;)

#162: Sounds like you have been visiting some murder scenes in exotic places lately.....well, there are a lot of detectives to choose from.

Nancy and Deb - I look forward to meet Wallander. I think it will be a Christmas-reading.

I've badly mixed up my detectives, I see. Duh!

I'm a little behind in my lurking, popping in to say good review on The Hobbit. I would love to see that in movie form. Such a good story, I should revisit it sometime soon!

>160 ctpress: I had Dogs of Riga on my WL, but only because my dad is Latvian (and therefore so am I...). I dont know if Ill get to it though as Im not actually a fan of thrillers.

Megan there you go - the most Latvian name I know! The Dogs of Riga is probably my favourite of the Wallender series. (Hi Carsten)

....yea well, mum is Welsh, so....
(Hi Carsten!)

#166: All those Scandinavians, Nancy.... :)

#167: Thanks! Yes, while reading I was thinking several times: How are they going to portray this scene on the big screen? No doubt it will be another massive hit.

Hi Megan: It should be "I-am-Latvian-therefore-I-read-Dogs-of Riga" :)

Hi Paul: A favorite - well, then The Dogs of Riga sounds like a good place to start with Wallander.

I should warn all of you that by descent, I am half Scandinavian!! Icelandic, to be exact!! Beware of my Viking Tendencies! However, my other parent was of Scottish background, so of course I am very thrifty and revel in Thistles! Actually, one of my brothers decided to get married in a kilt with the dress kilt pattern of our family name!My other brother was the best man and wore the non dress version of the kilt. I whispered to my dad as we were getting our pictures taken - all 5 of your children in Skirts! ;) LOL! I have two sisters too!..

Ahaaaaa....that's why, Deb :) ........ok, my sister is married to one from Scotland, he had a kilt on at the wedding too and his father played the bag pibe in church :) Crazy humour they got....

Actually my mother's from Finland, so I got some melancholic tendencies from way up north....the long, dark scandinavian nights....

I am rather disappointed that the film is being done by the company that did the Twilight Movies, they are just horrible. I watched the first one with a large group of friends and we all left disappointed. I haven't seen the rest so I don't know if they got any better, but I really hope they do much better for The Night Circus!

Not a Scandinavian bone in me, I'm afraid. So I'll have to piggy back on Deb, Carsten, and Megan!

#174: I wouldn't be to worried. The Hobbit is directed by the same guy who did Lord of the Rings - I think we can expect something like that - ah, well also 3D - although I'm not a big fan of that....

Nancy, there's always room for one more :)

>176 ctpress: surely Peter Jackson isnt responsible for the Twilight films? Im sure I would have heard if that was the case...The Hobbit should be very Lord of The Ringsy I think, I thought they did a great job of those films.

No...it's just the same film company that makes The Twilight movies and the Hobbit apparently. But it's two different projects, so you are right. I also expect more LOTR-atmosphere.....

aaaah, I get it now. Thanks for that.

Book 69: The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1913)



- Bring oxygen.

A short and bewildering message from professor Challenger to the three other adventurers of The Lost World party. Everyone is behaving rather strange in the opening of the The Poison Belt - in fact all over the world people are being infected with a devastating poison from the atmosphere....Gathered again at professor Challengers house the small group are apparently some of the only survivors on the planet. Due to the oxygen.

This is a short novel and follow-up from the amazing Lost World story. It has it's charms and very british stiff-upper-lip-attitude to apocalyptic disaster. So much so that it's very difficult to take serious at any level. I have chosen the cover because it reflects the kind of feeling I had when I read it. Rather comical. And that, I guess, is OK - I was entertained - but it's not near as good as The Lost World.

Nice review, Carsten. I love the cover you choose! Glad you are enjoying Doyle.

Yes, Nancy, Conan Doyle have been one of this years pleasant surprises. My next Doyle will probably be The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard, recommended by Paul.

yes, cool cover, hope you enjoy the next one too

It is a good cover! If I'm not mistaken I have read everything published by Conan-Doyle in terms of novels and short stories. The Holmes tales are of course irreplaceable but you should try the Brigadier Gerard series which is rip roaring fun and full of French derring-do rather than English stiff-upper lip. Doyle being a scot was immune from both of course!

Megan: I feel very much at home in Conan Doyles universe, so I expect to enjoy many hours with his different characters :)

Paul: Sherlock Holmes IS of course irreplaceable and I have only read one of his selection, so the new year will mean more Holmes. Also looking forward to the brigadier.

Book 70: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886) reread



It's the third time I read this nightmarish story of the darker and evil side of man. Although I know the plot I'm strucked by the brilliant storytelling - how elegant Stevenson reveals the horrifying truth bit by bit.

At the moment we are very occupied here in Denmark of the trial of Breivik and his evil deed in Norway where he slaughtered many innocent young people. What goes on in the mind of such a man?

I kept thinking about it when I read the transformation of Dr. Jekyll and this personification of evil in Mr. Hyde. And the frightening truth that this is about all of us. That it's there lurking in all of us....and that evil unchecked, unrestrained and unleashed is a terrible, terrible thing.

That's an interesting observation about Breivik. That was such a tragedy and so hard to understand. I'm not sure if there a lot of him in us. From what I understand, he may have been suffering with a mental illness that caused paranoia and difficult to understand behavior. No matter what, it's very horrifying.

You make think that I should read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. You've nudged me towards it.

Enjoy The Twin but at this dark time in Norway's history, maybe a cheerful book that raises one's spirits might be in order.

Deb - I think you are right about Breivik - at least the mental examination concluded he was paranoid and schizophrenic.

Yes, it might be good to read something cheerful now :)

Enjoyed your thoughtful comments about Dr. Jekyl, Carsten, and your analogy to Breivik. I suspect that penchant toward mental illness that causes a person to "go off" (for lack of a better expression) is probably much more widespread that we realize or care to realize. Your review also made me think of the young school boys in Lord of the Flies - a different story with similar results. Interesting stuff!

I'm so delighted you've picked up The Twin in Danish. Perfect holiday read, and I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

Lord of the Flies are probably the most scary book I've ever read - and it fits well into this theme of what happens when social, moral and spiritual restraints are loosened.

Well, I will make The Twin my holiday read, Nancy - and are looking forward to it - I just read the first couple of pages and it's a very "stringent" writing - maybe not the word I'm looking for in english - but I detect a certain Hemingwayish way of writing.

Book 71: The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit (1906)



Nothing like a good children's book to set ones mind on something a little more positive. I liked The Railway Children - a story about a mother with three children who are forced to move out of their house and give up their wealthy lifestyle. The father disappears rather suddenly and no one - except the mother - knows what has happened. The family moves to a little cottage at the country side near a railway - and it's here the children form new friendships and experience a lot of adventure.

OK, it's sentimental - but that usually doesn't bother me - I think Nesbit have done a great job making the children "real" - and I liked the girl Bobby the best. What a sweet little creature with a keen understanding of what goes on with the mother's struggles. Now I'm going to see the 1970-movie version.

Ah, something nice and cheerful! When I was young I just loved The Railway Children and everything by Edith Nesbit. Good choice, Carsten. I've finally just finished off I am Half-Sick of Shadows and very much enjoyed it. I know what you mean about The Twin being stringent reading. It seems to me that Gerbrand Bakker does not waste words. He's a fairly economical and somewhat free of emotion with his writing, and yet, one feels a lot of emotion . I found it to be a fascinating read.

I also liked The Railway Children and read it to the kids a couple of years ago. They failed to get some of the context but enjoyed it nonetheless. Also enjoyed the film version with Jenny Agutter and Sally Thomsett if I'm not mistaken (used to have the hots for Ms. Agutter big style when I was almost out of my teens - she played a saucy role in The American Werewolf in London which was played over and over and over (well certain scenes in particular were)!

Third for The Railway Children. What a delightful read, Carsten! Glad you enjoyed.

Deb - Good description of Bakker - It seems a lonely house, but let's see what's happening....

Paul - I know what you mean about The American Werewolf in London :) Watched it again recently had forgotten how wonderful horrid it was. Ahh.....the movies in the 80's.

Nancy - Delightful is the right word - just delightful - and I need that feeling sometimes while reading.

Book 72: Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery (1909)



I read the first book Anne of Green Gables a few years ago - and it's such a delight to continue the story of Anne. This second in the series follows her life in Avonlea from her 16th to her 18th year.

Anne - of course - get's herself into new accidents and troubles - but are also maturing a lot through her work as a teacher - and finding new important "kindred spirits" - with her open and welcoming attitude to life.

This is some of the best children's literature around - because readers of all ages can find things to laugh and cry about.

One of the themes of the Anne-books is the different approaches to life in the small community. Is it the precise theology of the elders - or the almost heretical questioning of the children? Or the closed society that are slow to open it's arms to strangers or Annes ability to see something positive in all people?

In the end of the novel it's the difference between seeing life through prose or poetry.

Marilla glanced at the radiant young face and refrained from further sarcastic comments. Perhaps some realization came to her that after all it was better to have, like Anne, "the vision and the faculty divine" ... that gift which the world cannot bestow or take away, of looking at life through some transfiguring...or revealing?...medium, whereby everything seemed apparelled in celestial light, wearing a glory and a freshness not visible to those who, like herself and Charlotta the Fourth, looked at things only through prose.

I will definitely continue this series in 2012.

Oh, Carsten, what a wonderful review! Makes me want to drop everything and read all of the Anne books back to back. The house which was the inspiration for Montgomery's Anne books is located in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada and is a tourist attraction. It attracts thousands of visitors each summer. Check out more at this site:http://www.tourismpei.com/anne-of-green-gables. Here's a photo of the house - isn't it lovely?

Hi Nancy. Thanks for that picture - it sure is lovely. Actually a few years ago, when I was in the US I planned a trip to Prince Edward Island, but unfortunately my trip was cut short, so it didn't happen. (I did however visit Concord and saw Louise Alcott's house and Walden's pond..)

Well, better perhaps to have read all the books before going to the island with the White Way of Delight and the Lake of Shining Waters :)

>189 lit_chick:/190 Lord of the Flies- makes for sinister reading. I agree.

Ohhh gorgeous picture of the Anne of Green Gables house! I had the great pleasure of seeing back when I was 16, and I think I'd read every book by L.M.Montgomery. My parents took the whole family on a cross Canada tour -by plane and rented car. It was delightful!!!

Lord of Flies was required reading in highschool -and was for my two sons as well. Depressing reading, I agree. I think maybe the most startlingly evil short story that I've ever read was The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Oh that scared me!

#198 I want to go too, to the island with the White Way of Delight and the Lake of Shining Waters! Carsten, have you seen the movie Anne of Green Gables? (1985 with Megan Follows) Delightful!

Megan - yes - sinister!! I actually remember seeing the movie before I read the novel - and it was so terrible to watch.

Deb - I bet a trip cross Canada you have seen some spectacular nature. I have never visited Canada, but some day......

Nancy - Yes - I've seen the tv-series with Megan Follows several times - they show it every Christmas here on danish tv. It's a wonderful production. It's quite interesting now to compare it with the novel.

Hi Carsten, just passing the word that the threads are up for North and South group read. Everyone is welcome!

North and South (Non-Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 1-26 (Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 27-52 (Spoiler Thread)

I’ve also added the threads to our group’s wiki page.

Thanks, Nancy. Looking forward to the group-reading :)

Book 73: No Other Foundation: The Church Through Twenty Centuries by Jeremy C. Jackson (1980)



My reading of biography and history books have been very limited this year - I decided to finish this although I had given up on it last year. I like church history, and this one tries to go beyond the specific events and describe the overall movements of church history - but it was a very dry read and absolutely not for beginners. People and events are introduced without any background information.

Book 74: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)



I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"

The moral reformation of the "Squeezing, Wrenching, Grasping, Scraping, Clutching, Covetous, Old sinner" Ebenezer Scrooge is perfect for december and the Christmas season.

I knew the story of course - as I have seen it both in the theatre and as a movie - but reading it for the first time was a special treat - or being read to by Simon Prebble. New details were added to the story and Dickens is at his best here describing the contrasts between rich and poor, the old miser Scrooge and the generous Bob Cratchit.

Ohhh Carsten, you are nearly there, with 75 Books! Congratulations in advance!

Yeessss....it will be nice to get there, Deb. And I've begun on number 75, another Conan Doyle-adventure - The Maracot Deep

205: I need to drop everything and read A Christmas Carol since I never have before. Tis the Season!

You're almost there!

Carsten, one to go!!! Love your review of A Christmas Carol. Like you, I'm familiar with the movie and will watch it again this year (Christmas tradition here). But I haven't read the book for years. Must do that!

Marie - Exactly :) Now is the time of the Christmas spirits.

Nancy - A good tradition watching A Christmas Carol. I watch It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas with my dad. And another favorit is The Shop Around the Corner!

Book 75: The Maracot Deep by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1929)



After the somewhat mediocre The Poison Belt this new Doyle-adventure was a pleasant surprise. Not professor Challenger this time but another crazy - or should we be nice and say eccentric - professor. Namely Maracot. He leads the little group of three men on a fantastic voyage - to the deepest parts of the ocean. The story is collected from different sources - but mainly we follow a young zoologist, Cyrus Headley, who narrates most of the story.

One has to leave all credibility behind - and just jump into the ocean with them - because what happens next...well, I could tell you, but you wouldn't believe me. But it has something to do with strange sea creatures, a lost city and some evil spiritual forces.

OK, it's a short novel and the characters are undeveloped - but I enjoyed it a lot - this is just the kind of adventure I love to read about. True or not.

So....yeah....finally. 75! Feels good.

Congratulations on hitting 75 books!

Yay, 75!! Nicely done, Carsten!

Enjoyed your thoughts on The Maracot Deep. Love the idea that One has to leave all credibility behind - and just jump into the ocean with them. ... for me, that's what reading is all about!

Congrats on reaching 75 books!

Thanks Marie, Nancy and Anne.

43 books was my highest count of books in one year (2010 at LT 75'ers) so this year was a big leap. It helps having a goal - and someone to discuss with :)

Congratulations on reaching the 75 books, Carsten! Even better when #75 was such an enjoyable one. It's not my favorite genre, but now I am curious about the "you wouldn't believe me" and ordered the sample for my Kindle. :-)

Carsten, congragulations on hitting 75 books! That's such an accomplishment!! :) Merry Christmas a little early , too!

Nathalie - Thanks! Happy that my "you wouldn't believe me" made you curious :) the last two years I've discovered the joy of the old adventure/sci-fi stories Wells/Doyle/Verne - I enjoy them so much for the variation they bring me after a heavy Dostoevsky and such.

Thanks, Deb. And an early Merry Christmas to you too :)

Congratulation on hitting 75! :)

Thanks :)

Congrats!

Now I really want to read A Christmas Carol - *sigh* maybe next year!

Eta: oh, and great job on hitting 75 in such a timely fashion :)

Yes, now you have to wait another year.

75 in 'one year' - it's all about timing :)

it's all about timing. Couldn't agree more! While I reached 75 this year, I don't expect 2012 to look anything like that number. But that's fine ... the company rocks!

True, true, Nancy. I've made a record of my book-reads for many years - always around 25-30 books a year - but last year 43 - and now this year.....due to the inspiration from you on LT - well, maybe a one-hit-wonder :)

Carsten - it has been great getting to know you this year and I look forward to more wit, wise words and friendship in 2012. Have a lovely christmas and holiday period & I trust that 2012 is all you want it to be.

Thanks, Paul - and I also wish you a good Christmas Holiday and the best for the new year - thanks for all the literature humour this year - and for the scandi-crime introduction :)

Merry Christmas Carsten!!

And a Merry Christmas to you, Chelle :)

Merry Christmas Carsten and congratulations on reading 75 books this year! I need to spend some time investigating Doyle's non-Sherlock Holmes works next year.

Thanks! And a Merry Christmas to you, Heather. I must say the non-Sherlock Holmes novels have been one of this years pleasant surprises.

Merry Christmas, Carsten! Best wishes for the new year :)

Merry Christmas Carsten!

Happy New Year Carsten, and well done on reaching 75 just in time!

I read A Christmas Carol for the first time last year also, having seen so many adaptations that I knew the story and thought I had read it already! It is certainly the perfect read for this time of year.

Are you over in the 2012 group? I haven't got round all the new threads there yet...