Carsten's (ctpress) 2025 - Take and Read

Danish artist Olivia Holm-Møller.

Looking forward to a new year of book-sharing and discussions, chit-chat, and/or deep philosophical musings.

I'm living as a single in Copenhagen, Denmark. Working as a journalist although as I'm now 61 I will only be working part time in 2025 - and hopefully until I retire (more time for reading...). I read and reread many classics, theology, and history - but new literature and modern novels will slip through (mainly through a small book club I'm attending).

Love reading (obviously), hiking, going to the sauna, watching movies, and my church fellowship.

I've been in this LT-group since 2010. I've only reached 75 three times I think, the latest was in 2022 - but here's hoping for another 75 books in 2025.

Currently reading:

   

Books read in 2025:

December
75. The Mark of a Christian by Francis Schaeffer (1970) 3,5/5
74. Da jeg så Jesus Smile by Leif Andersen (2025) 4/5
73. Fadervor Rundt by Henrik Laursen (2007) 3,5/5

November

72. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1940) 4/5
71. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895) 4,5/5 (reread)
70. A Study in Scarlett by Arthur Conan Doyle (1986) 4/5 (reread)
69. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien (1971) 4/5 (reread)

October
68. A Thorn in the Flesh by Pablo Martinez (2009) 4/5
67. Learning to Walk Alone by Ingrid Trobisch (1986) 3/5
66. The Divine Conquest by A. W. Tozer (1950) 3,5/5
65. Finishing Our Course with Joy by J. I. Packer (2014) 3,5/5
64. Franny & Zooey by J. D. Salinger (1961) 3/5
63. More Perfect than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan (2004) 3,5/5
62. Winter in Wartime by Jan Terlouw (1972) 4,5/5
61. Phantastes by George Macdonald (1858) 3,5/5
60. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1939) 4/5
59. The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame (1898) 3,5/5
58. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1937) 5/5
57. The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (1955) 5/5

September
56. Desiring God's Will by David G. Benner, (2007) 4/5
55. How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison (2017) 3,5/5
54. Dark night of the Soul by John of the Cross (1579) 2,5/5
53. Life Moves Pretty Fast by Hadley Freeman (2016) 4/5
52. The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen (1990) 3/5
51. Gud, hvor jeg savner ham by Jakob Søe Esmarch (2023) 5/5
50. Når en af de kære går bort by Fredrik Wisløff (1975) 3,5/5
49. Johann Sebastian Bach (Christian Encounters Series) by Rick Marschall (2011) 3,5/5
48. Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland (1992) 3/5
47. God's Grace in Your Suffering by David Powlison (2018) 4/5

August
46. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer (2019) 4,5/5
45. Factfulness by Hans Rosling (2018) 4/5
44. The School of Charity by Evelyn Underhill (1934) 4/5
43. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (reread) (1877) 5/5
42. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1933) 4/5
41. Vanedyr (Creature of Habit) by Nicklas Brendborg (2023) 4/5
40. Tak for lån by Jacob Bank Møller (ed.) (2010) 3,5/5
39. Drømme er sejl, minder er roret by Tomas Sjödin (2025) 4/5

July
38. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1798) 4/5
37. Og Gud Skabte Darwin by Mats Molén (2010) 4/5
36. On Loving God by Bernard of Clairvaux (1142) 3/5
35. Mere Apologetics by Alister McGrath (2012) 4/5
34. The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis (1945) 5/5

May
33. Kristendom og vestlig tænkning by Jakob V. Olsen (2007) 4/5 (reread)
32. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (1970) 5/5 (reread)
31. 150 kunstværker by Lisbeth Smedegaard Andersen (2002) 4/5
30. Idehistorie: Vor kulturs tanker by Svend Erik Stybe (1961) 4/5
29. De Første Ting (The First Things) by Marius Jørgensen (1980) 3/5
28. Gå Glip by Svend Brinkmann (2017) 3,5/5
27. Mod til at blive gammel (Courage to Grow Old) by Asger Brunsbak-Jensen (2002) 4/5
26. Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey (2002) 4/5
25. Den der finder sin plads tager ikke en andens by Tomas Sjödin (2018) 4/5

April
24. The Shepherd of Hermas by Hermas (170) 3/5
23. Det bländande mörkret by Owe Wikström (2007) 4/5
22. Tempel by Anne-Cathrine Riebnitzsky (2024) 3/5
21. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (2018) 3/5

March
20. Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre (1938) 4/5
19. Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich (1373) 4/5
18. The Secret of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton (1927) 3,5/5

February
17. The Remarkable Ordinary by Frederick Buechner (2017) 3,5/5
16. Vildanden - The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen (1884) 4/5
15. The Innocence of Father Brown G. K. Chesterton (1911) 3/5
14. Til Selvprøvelse (For Self-Examination) by Søren Kierkegaard (1851) 3,5/5
13. A new Name: Septology by Jon Fosse (2020) 3,5/5
12. The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare (1623) 4/5
11. Hvem skabte Bibelen? (Whe created the Bible?) by Henrik Nymann Eriksen (2011) 4/5

January
10. Apology by Plato (400 BC) 3,5/5
9. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy (1961) 2/5
8. 100 Greatest Albums by Jacob Hoye (Editor) 4/5 (2003)
7. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (1969) 2,5/5 (reread)
6. 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know by Terry Glaspey (2015) 4/5
5. The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse (1938) 4/5
4. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen (1890) 3/5
3. Jeg er en anden: Septologien 5 by Jon Fosse (2020) 3,5/5
2. The Dead Straight Guide to Bob Dylan by Nigel Williamson (2015) 3,5/5
1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Unknown (1100-1300) 4/5

Welcome back, Carsten!

>4 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

Great to see you , Carsten! So young , just 61 , and I’ll be turning 64 in January!🫨

>6 vancouverdeb: Ha, ha. Now I feel a little younger:) 64 is when I plan to retire.

That makes me the baby of this triumvirate at a mere 58!

Welcome back, Carsten.

>8 PaulCranswick: Thanks, young Paul. Happy to break in another reading year.

Happy 2025, Carsten

Happy new year, Carsten!

>2 ctpress: Wow! Already off to a solid start.

Happy reading in 2025!

>10 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul - happy new year to you.

>11 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella - also a happy new year to you.

>12 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita - happy reading to you. Yes, I always read several books at a time - so I'm having a running start of the new reading year :)

Happy New Year, Carsten. Retirement is great! I hope 2025 is a great year for you.

Hope you have a great year of reading!

Hi Carsten, wishing you a year of very wonderful reading!

>14 BLBera: Thanks, Beth - looking forward to retirement, but for now I'll let's call it part-time retirement :) Hope you'll have a great reading year too.

>15 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori - and I wish you a great year of reading.

>16 mdoris: Thanks, Mary - hope you'll get some great reading done this year.

Book 1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Unknown
160 pages, hardcover, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1100-1500



I think it's proper that I start the new year with an old classic. Such a fun and exciting read about the time of King Arthur and the round table.

This was translated for the first time in Danish in 2018 - and what a lovely Danish edition this is - with a lengthy essay about the background for the classical poem - with a lot of notes explaining the text. And even some fine new illustrations. A Christmas present I treasure.

Happy New Year, Carsten! Enjoy your part-time retirement - at least until it gets to be full-time (and then I am sure you will have a blast!)

>19 ctpress: That does look like a lovely book.

>20 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia - well, it is my plan to slowly easy into it, and I hope this will prepare me for full-time retirement-blast :)

>21 BLBera: It is Beth. I just love those Danish translation when there's put an effort into an old classic.

Book 2. The Dead Straight Guide to Bob Dylan by Nigel Williamson
336 pages, paperback, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2015



Bob Dylan is certainly a complex figure to write about, especially given the media frenzy headlines - but also the "fake news" Dylan has produced about his own persona. A mythical figure who defies easy categorization. I'm glad I read this account, as it attempts to unravel some of the misconceptions about this incredible artist. The majority of the book consists of a biography of his entire life, with about a third dedicated to a brief introduction to each of his albums and a list of his 50 greatest songs.

Carsten that Dylan book sounds like a good one. Dylan is hot right now is it because of the movie?

>25 mdoris: Yes, I’m sure the movie has reawakened an interest in Dylan. As a general introduction to Dylan this book is good.

Book 3. Jeg er en anden: Septologien 5 by Jon Fosse
80 pages, audiobook, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2020



"...and I hold the brown wooden cross between my thumb and my finger and then I say, again and again, inside myself, as I breathe in deeply Lord and as I breathe out slowly Jesus and as I breathe in deeply Christ and as I breathe out slowly Have mercy and as I breathe in deeply On me."

Nobel Prize winner Jon Fosse's Septology is slowly growing on me.

There's a lot of repetition, stream of consciousness, and memories that move back and forth in time, creating a cyclical effect. Additionally, there's a doppelgänger motif that I find fascinating.

In Danish, the novels have been published as seven separate volumes, which makes sense in a way. Each volume (so far, up to volume 5) begins with the main character, Asle, contemplating a painting with two lines that cross, forming a St. Andrew's cross. Each volume ends with Asle finding some peace while reciting prayers with his rosary. Pater Noster and The Jesus Prayer.

The story delves into mysticism and raises existential questions about death, art, loneliness, identity, and ultimately, God. The recurring question seems to be: How can I make sense of my life?

Happy New Year, Carsten! I love the idea of easing into retirement. My position at my school used to be half-time, but in my job, and probably many others, half-time just means full time hours with half the pay. I hope you have lot of reading time and great books to fill it!

>28 AMQS: Thanks, Anne - and a happy new year to you. True - some of my friends are not able to go on part-time because of the responsibility and projects in their job. Luckily, I work in shifts (mostly evenings) but as a journalist it's just each days news, and I have no projects to work on or take home or worry about, so it works very well for me. Hopefully I will do some more reading and walking/hiking this year.

Book 4. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
124 pages, audiobook, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1890



Ok, so Hedda Gabler may be sort of a victim of a patriarchal, stuffed, conventional society. Still, it's hard to have much pity on Ibsens femme-fatale - why does she marry a man she doesn't love and then act so very cruel and manipulative towards everyone? I don't know if Ibsen wants us to feel pity for her, or maybe she's a warning or one we should admire. I'm not sure. Perhaps a little of it all.

Book 5. The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse
272 pages, e-book, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1938
Series: Jeeves (6/14)



Delightful time with Jeeves and Wooster, and one of the best - if not the best - in the series so far.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Code of the Woosters so much , Carsten. Who doesn't need some levity in their life ?

>32 vancouverdeb: Yes, Deborah - Wodehouse certainly brings a much needed fresh air and "suave de vivre" to my reading. Well, I noticed while reading how many French expressions Wodehouse is using - not to say his own English expressions - and many of his own made up vocabulary. I found a homepage that goes through this novel and lists all Wodehouse's references - from Ancient Greek mythology to "modern" (his own age) expressions. Very fun to unpack.

Have a fantastic Friday, Carsten! Looks like you have had a great reading year so far!

>34 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia - and a good weekend to you and (hopefully) sweet dreams. After a slow year, I felt today the joy of being back into enjoying a lot of reading. Hope it will continue.

Hi Carsten. I had a weird reading year too last year and have fingers crossed that this year will be better so I commiserate! Oh, and good luck with the soup project. Keep us posted! i made mushroom soup today.

>36 mdoris: I too hope you'll have a good reading year, Mary. One can't really force these things, but I like it when I'm in a good reading-mode and having the time for it.

Hi Carsten, thank you for visiting my thread. Dropped a star, wishing you a lovely reading year.

I already caught 3 book bullets, oh dear…
Never read Ibsen, know next to nothing about Dylan except for watching and loving the „I‘m not there“ movie and then you brought the Jeeves series back to my mind, those should be great audios once I‘m done with the Agatha Christies.

>38 Deern: Ha, ha, it's easy to expand the reading list here on LT. I have listened to Jeeves before, and they make for a great reading aloud experience. Oh, "I'm not There" is on my watchlist. Heard great things about it. Also hoping the new Dylan-movie will be good, but I have my doubts about Chalamet.

>38 Deern: & >39 ctpress: Last year I read Enemy of the People by Ibsen and really enjoyed it.

>40 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the rec., Paul. I will certainly read more by Ibsen. Next one I plan to read is The Wild Duck.

Book 6. 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know by Terry Glaspey
367 pages, hardcover, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2015



The subtitle is "The Fascinating Stories behind Great Works of Art, Literature, Music, and Film" - I wish he would have changed Christian with Everyone in the title - because it really has a broad focus not just aimed at Christians.

Bob Dylan, Bach, T. S. Eliot, George Herbert, Emily Dickinson, C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, Pieter Brueghel, Rembrandt, William Blake, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Roberto Rossellini, U2 - well, that's just some of the artists and their works portrayed here.

Sounds interesting, Carsten! And you have already read 7 books and me , just 4 I think it is.

>43 vancouverdeb: Yes, I've had a good start of the year - I feel I have 75 in me in 2025 (very optimistic) - well, two more in January and you're on track towards 75, go for it, Deborah :)

>42 ctpress: Book 6 sounds pretty interesting!

>45 drneutron: Yes, Jim - very interesting - I like that he takes one artwork for each artist and writes about it while giving a background for how the artist works and thinks. It goes through Western civilization, from paintings in the Roman Catacombs and Book of Kells to U2's Joshua Tree and Malicks Tree of Life.

Book 7. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (reread)
231 pages, paperback, 2,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1969



I remember this as being much better. I gave it 4,5 stars years ago - but I found it really irritating this time - the point of the futility of war was made very early in the novel, and the rest was just repetition and endless time-traveling to the point of nausea. Hmmm....

Book 8. 100 Greatest Albums by Jacob Hoye (Editor)
240 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2003



I had a wonderful time with this book, although it took me a long time to get through, as I first listened to an album and then read the short essay in this book. Many of the album reviews were personal notes, and their own experiences with the album were fun to read.

There were several of my favorites in this selection, and also several that were new pleasant discoveries that are now added to my favorites. Aretha Franklin's "Lady Soul" to mention one. Then there were a few I couldn't finish listening to - rap and heavy rock are not my styles, like Led Zeppelin or NWA's "Straight Outta Compton."

None of their top ten would make my own top 10 - they have four Beatles albums on their top 10, and I'm not a great Beatles fan. Also on their list are Nirvana's Nevermind, Beach Boy's Pet Sounds, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced?, Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life, and Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde. (I would include Bob Dylan in a top 10, but in stead Blood on the Tracks.

Book 9. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
256 pages, e-book, 2/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1961



This was awarded The National Book Award in 1961. I've heard good things about it, but I found the main character very annoying, and very little happens. Although it picks up near the end, it is too little, too late.

Book 10. Apology by Plato
59 pages, e-book, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 400 BC



I do believe that there are gods, and in a far higher sense than that in which any of my accusers believe in them.
Socrates, Apology

Not knowing what has been said before, and exactly what Socrates is being accused of, it takes a little while to get into his apology. But it is a fascinating defense. He certainly was a brave soul.

Hello! I found your thread and now will return to see what you are reading. You are off to a great start!

>50 ctpress: Hi, Linda, thanks for stopping by - yes, a great start of the new year - been reading a lot in January and found much joy in it.

Book 11. Hvem skabte Bibelen? (Whe created the Bible?) by Henrik Nymann Eriksen
157 pages, hardcover, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2011



A good examination of how the different books of the Bible found their way into it. Especially interesting was the Church Fathers and their different lists of New Testament books - what should be included and excluded.

Book 12. The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare
111 pages, e-book, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1623



I enjoyed this play a lot - sort of a fairy tale both with wit, drama, and romance.

Book 13. A new Name: Septology by Jon Fosse
160 pages, audiobook, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2020



This concludes the last two books in Fosse's Septology. VI and VII.

It ends in a dreamy state with Asles increasing memories and you feel death is knocking at the door - and there's not really any conclusion to it all - I'm glad I finished it, although I think the endless repetitive train of thoughts was too much for me.

Hi Carsten you are reading up a storm!

>56 mdoris: True, Mary - I really have enjoyed reading this year - more than in a long time :)

Book 14. Til Selvprøvelse (For Self-Examination) by Søren Kierkegaard
60 pages, paperback, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1851



A short, but condensed work by Kierkegaard. I often find him very hard to read, but this Christian classic is not that difficult to understand. It consists of three sermons - the main theme is how we examine ourselves when we come to the Bible as God's Word.

Book 15. The Innocence of Father Brown G. K. Chesterton
222 pages, paperback, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1911

 

This collection of short stories are a very mixed bag. Some brilliant, but others I didn't like that much.

Book 16. Vildanden - The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen
112 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1884

 

I have read two other plays by Ibsen - Hedda Gabler and A Dolls House - but this is the best of them all, I think. At least the one I was most moved by. It seams all his plays are tragedies. Ibsen apparently was not a big believer in happy endings.

Book 17. The Remarkable Ordinary by Frederick Buechner
128 pages, ebook, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2017



My first book by Buechner, who I've been wanting to read for some time now. I like the way he weaves his personal life story into this theme or discovering the remarkable in the ordinary. Here's the book's description:

Frederick Buechner reveals how to stop, look, and listen to your life. He reflects on how both art and faith teach us how to pay attention to the remarkableness right in front of us, to watch for the greatness in the ordinary, and to use our imaginations to see the greatness in others and love them well.

>60 ctpress: The only play I have read by Ibsen is An Enemy of the People which I thoroughly enjoyed, Carsten. I will certainly look out for The Wild Duck.

>62 PaulCranswick: I think you would like it, Paul. I will probably return to Ibsen again, but I've reached my quota for tragedies now.

Book 18. The Secret of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton
202 pages, paperback, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1927



Another mixed bag of Father Brown stories. I like the variety of mysteries told from different perspectives. Some have Father Brown very much present, while others have him more in the background of the story.

Book 19. Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich
188 pages, hardcover, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1373



I love when new translations are published in Danish of old classics. This edition "Kærlighedens Åbenbaringer" is a treasure. It has three essays to begin with, both the short and long versions of her revelations (I read the longer one) and a lot of notes to the text.

Book 20. Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre
256 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1938



It was fascinating to read Nausea at the same time as Revelations of Divine Love. I can't imagine books with more different worldviews or outlooks on life. One is heavenly-directed and inspired by love, while the other is self-absorbed and obsessed with life's emptiness.

That is not to say that I didn't like reading Nausea - I think Sartre is very honest about life without God, without any higher meaning in life. This is the conclusion and it's not pretty. It's like reading Sartres philosophy as a story. I also read most of the Sparknotes for Nausea where you learn more about the philosophy behind the story.

The themes sound very interesting Carsten and might inspire or reinforce a direction.

You are reading a good mix of books , Carsten. Some very serious , thoughtful stuff and some lighter . Enjoy!

>63 ctpress: I certainly do intend to read more Ibsen, Carsten.
He was one of my listed 8 giants of literature who missed out in the first decade of the Nobel Prize awards.

Hi Carsten, I just got a collection of Ibsen’s works after reading your review and will start with Die Wildente/ The Wild Duck. That play is also much referenced in my favorite Thomas Bernhard book (so far, I only read 3 or 4), Holzfällen/ Woodcutters, I‘ve been curious for a bit. Now looking for Nausea, I thought I‘d read it in my youth, but had it confused it with another work.
Have a good weekend!

>67 mdoris: Yes, Mary - I'm exploring some old classics and some never ones, and it's always interesting when one book enlightens another book-reading.

>68 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah - I enjoy my reading a lot this year, taking some other roads than the normal novel at the moment.

>69 PaulCranswick: Will follow your reading of Ibsen, Paul. I thought he had got a Nobel prize - ah, well, Tolstoy never received one either.

>70 Deern: Looking forward to hear your thoughts on Ibsen, Nathalie. And you're in for a unique read with Nausea. It is a bit unsettling.

>72 ctpress: I had listed Zola, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Strindberg, Ibsen, Hardy, James and Twain were the eight giants that I had listed elsewhere who perhaps could and should have won the Nobel in its opening years but didn't do so.

Some fairly obvious later omissions include:

Joyce, Forster, Wharton, Cather, Frost, Baldwin, Nabokov, Ionescu, De Beauvoir, Foucault, Berlin, Orwell, Greene, Achebe, Said, Kundera, Kazantzakis, Hughes, Derrida, Djebar, Darwish, Borges, Fuentes, Auden, Holub, Z. Herbert, Proust, Pessoa, Kafka, Bolano.

>73 PaulCranswick: The eight giants you mention are really influential authors - on the extended list there are several I haven't read. Surprised that James Joyce didn't receive it - and on this list E. M. Forster is a personal favorite, but not very productive as a novelist.

>74 ctpress: He did write quite a number of essays too though. I think his output, whilst not huge, was extremely influential and he was more deserving than many.

>75 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Maybe I should seek out his non-fiction work.

Book 21. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
560 pages, paperback, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2018



It reminded me of When The Crawdad Sings in its great sense of place - loved the beginning description of the great outdoors and people in Alaska. But it was a very depressing story to get through with a lot of melodrama that took the wonder out of the book. Read for book club.

Book 22. Tempel by Anne-Cathrine Riebnitzsky
480 pages, ebook, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2024



Read for book club. Reading Danish author Riebnitzsky have been a succes so far. This one was different. It takes place around the birth of Jesus and tells the story of both biblical characters and made up characters - some of the storylines were quite good, others not so much. So a mixed bag.

Book 23. Det bländande mörkret (The Dazzling Darkness) by Owe Wikström
248 pages, ebook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2007



A book on spiritual guidance - this is as I understand it a Swedish spiritual classic already - I can understand. It takes spiritual traditions from several denominations and presents and overall view on spiritual guidance. I liked the main part of the book on the different phases of spiritual experience - it clarified a lot for me.

Stopping by to say hi, Carsten.

>80 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deborah and thanks for stopping by. We are enjoying some sunny and warm spring days. It’s beautiful in Copenhagen right now.

Book 24. The Shepherd of Hermas by Hermas
80 pages, paperback, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 170



It's incredible to think that this writing was actually close to being included in the New Testament canon. I didn't find much grace and forgiveness in it - and not quite in the spirit of the Bible, but several Church Fathers spoke highly of it. It's a long allegorical tale full of symbolism, which is explained in detail.

Book 25. Den der finder sin plads tager ikke en andens by Tomas Sjödin
280 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2018



In recent years, the Swedish priest Tomas Sjödin has become one of my favorite authors. His books are filled with sound, hopeful, and healing wisdom.
This book is a bit different. Sjödin is fascinated by his namesake - the disciple Thomas - and sets out on several journeys in his footsteps, or at least where the legends say Thomas traveled. At the same time, it becomes a story about finding one’s place in life in community with others. A very life-affirming read.

Book 26. Mod til at blive gammel (Courage to Grow Old) by Asger Brunsbak-Jensen
87 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2002



This book holds a sentimental value for me, as it was one of my father’s books, which he read a few years before he passed away. There are many underlinings in it – and passages where my father wrote: Read this aloud at the senior gathering in the church.

“Courage to Grow Old” has the subtitle “The Preciousness of Old Age” and contains a lot of life wisdom about growing older, becoming more fragile, yet still maintaining a zest for life and joy in everyday moments. The author has a gift for seeing the greatness in small things – breathing in nature and the changing seasons, beautiful music, an engaging book, and a good cup of coffee. It’s about cherishing the small miracles of daily life shared with those around us.

Quote:
What makes old age precious is living with the resonance of a long life filled with experiences and memories, and being fully aware that time is valuable.

Book 27. Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey
304 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2002



It's been a while since I last read a book by Yancey - and just after starting on this one I regretted my time away from his writings. It was so familiar again and refreshing to read all the stories he's telling, many beautiful quotes and always honest struggles with doubt, deep questions about God and how He reveals himself in our daily lifes.

Currently reading:

 

Hi Carsten, I thought I'd posted here but I must just have lurked, apologies!

I love hearing about connections people have with books they inherited, and >84 ctpress: sounds like a real window into what was important to your Dad.

On a less positive note I read Kristin Hannah's The Women recently and felt a bit emotionally manipulated by the end. I'd wondered whether to try >77 ctpress: as it sounds very different from the blurb, but I think I might pass now!

>87 charl08: "Emotionally manipulated" is actually a good way to describe my feelings about The Great Alone and a pity after such a great start to the novel. I think you might be exhausted by one extreme situation after another in the second half of the story.

You're right about the book my Dad had, Charlotte. It was a reflection of what he also treasured in old age. So no wonder he underlined so many things.

Book 28. Gå Glip by Svend Brinkmann
144 pages, paperback, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2017



Svend Brinkmann is a popular Danish psychologist. He wrote a humorous anti-self-help book a few years ago that became a bestseller. Gå Glip ("Miss Out") is about the art of limitation and the value of missing out on things. He speaks out against FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and instead praises JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). Brinkmann does not exactly go with the flow and that's a refreshing thing.

Book 29. De Første Ting by Marius Jørgensen
76 pages, paperback, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1980



A short introduction to the first pages in the Bible - creation and fall - I really liked his thoughts on man made in the image of God.

Book 30. Idehistorie: Vor kulturs tanker by Svend Erik Stybe
411 pages, hardcover, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1961



A book on the history of ideas - from the old greeks to "modern" day, ok, it was written in 1961, so not so modern days. A general introduction that was easy to follow.

Book 31. 150 kunstværker by Lisbeth Smedegaard Andersen
191 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2002

 

An explanation of the works of art that is found in an illustrated version of the New Testament in Danish. Alle the 150 artworks are commented on, some just very briefly, other works in great detail. I really enjoyed the interplay between art and Christianity. There are both famous old classical paintings, but an emphasis on Danish artists.

Book 32. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
104 pages, paperback, 5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1970



This was a really fun and delightful comfort reread - Hanff has a wonderful sense of humour - and I was not surprised she liked Pride and Prejudice and recommended Jane Austen to her friends (even though she seldom read novels).

I could rot over here before you'd send me anything to read….what do you do with yourself all day, sit in the back of the store and read? Why don't you try selling a book to somebody?

Currently reading:

I've started reading Anna Karenina again - this time for book club. I look forward to many hours together with Tolstoy. What a great storyteller.

 

>93 ctpress:, >94 ctpress: Hello Carsten I have both these books on my "to read" list. You have prompted me to get to them sooner. I read recently that the retirement age in Denmark is increading to 70&. I sure hope that won't affect you! Hope things are going well for you!

>95 mdoris: That's true, Mary. A few days ago we increased the retirement age to 70 for some younger age groups - and in the coming years - if it goes as planned - it will be increased to 74 years. I can retire with state pension (old age pension) when I'm 68. I do have a private pension and saved up money so I plan to retire in two years when I'm 64. But we'll see - at the moment I enjoy working part-time.

>84 ctpress: Hi Carsten, just passing through your thread, I saw what you wrote here. What a great memory of your father this book must be. Something to be cherished!

>96 ctpress: Good Carsten, it sounds like you have everything under control!

>96 ctpress: 70 years old for retirement, whoa, that's not easy for some, Carsten. In Canada they are increasing to 67 gradually. And 74 years! I'm glad you can retire at 64 if you wish. Dave worked until 3 months after his 67th birthday. No option for part - time in his job though.

>97 EllaTim: Yes, Ella - it was so great to read along with my father's notations, and I could just imagine him enjoying the life wisdom from this book. It was written very much in his spirit and how he himself lived.

>98 mdoris: I think many Danes have for the last few years realized that they need to start early and safe up if they want to retire earlier. And it is part of many companies policy that they contribute to a company-pension savings. The state pension - well, you can live on that alone, but money would be very tight. The thing is how far can you stretch your private pension - how long should you plan for. It's a puzzle.

>99 vancouverdeb: Yes, 70 (or 74 for that matter) is very late for retirement, I think. Physically I have no problem, but mentally I feel I don't have the same enthusiasm for it as I used to have. Enough of daily news, specially in times like these there's not a moments rest. 67 is reasonable, and happy that David were able to retire at that point.

Book 33. Kristendom og vestlig tænkning by Jakob V. Olsen
95 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2007



A very short chronological overview of the most significant Western philosophers - it is framed by an introduction and a conclusion on Christianity’s position in relation to philosophy. I must like it, as this is the third time I’m reading it.

>93 ctpress: I enjoyed that when I read it ages ago. It was a sweet book.

>104 LovingLit: very sweet. It’s a comfort read I’m sure to read again at some point. I also watch the movie adaptation every few years.

>93 ctpress: Hi Carsten. I'm reading it now and finding it delightful.

>106 mdoris: Hi, Mary. Good reading. I knew you would like it :)

Hi Carsten, You are right. It is a perfect little book!

>108 mdoris: Good to hear you enjoyed it, Mary.

Book 34. The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
160 pages, paperback, 5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1945



Few can stir the imagination as C. S. Lewis. Here he is at his best drawing for us images of heaven and hell to ponder upon. The point he makes is a sobering one: The people in hell really do not want to go to heaven. They somehow believe God is trying to rob them of something. They want to control there own lives. And God says: 'Thy will be done'.

>110 ctpress: That does look fascinating, Carsten.

>111 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. It is. Lewis has a wonderful imagination.

Vacation time. First a week with family in a summerhouse by the sea. Now touring Germany by train with a friend. Enjoying the days here, but now it will be dreadfully hot the next few days. Ugh.

Hi Carsten - happy vacation to you! Hope you are able to enjoy the getaway and family time even though it's so hot.

I am so glad you enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road - it's a favorite of mine.

>113 AMQS: Thanks, Anne. We had two extremely hot days on our train-travel through Germany visiting small and beautiful old cities. Now its milder and very pleasant weather

I've fallen a bit behind on logging the books I've read, so here's a brief summary from July:

35. Mere Apologetics by Alister McGrath (2012) 4/5
36. On Loving God by Bernard of Clairvaux (1142) 3/5
37. Og Gud Skabte Darwin by Mats Molén (2010) 4/5
38. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1798) 4/5

Book 39. Drømme er sejl, minder er roret by Tomas Sjödin
175 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2025



Another book of small essays on everyday life from Swedish priest Tomas Sjödin - full of his wonderful humor and wisdom.

Book 40. Tak for lån by Jacob Bank Møller (ed.)
147 pages, paperback, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2010



Ten essays on simple living, giving to the poor, taking care of nature - all based on a Christian perspective on God's good creation. Very challenging read.

Book 41. Vanedyr (Creature of Habit) by Nicklas Brendborg
320 pages, audiobook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2023



Creature of Habit is a revealing book about how science manipulates us with all kinds of addictive superstimuli - be it in unhealthy processed foods or endless scrolling on social media, just to name two of the subjects he’s addressing - it makes it very difficult to break the bad habits. The book is sprinkled with a lot of interesting stories, humor and science data.

(Read for book-club)

Book 42. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
303 pages, paperback, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1933



I got pretty hungry reading about all those food preparations. There's something wholesome about this old farm life where they had to make everything themselves - reminds me of Michael Pollan's food rule: "Eat all the junk food you want, as long as you cook it yourself." No processed food on this farm. Even when the dad is presented with a quicker way to harvest, he refuses. Why spend money on it when they can do it with a little more manual labour.

Little House: The Laura Years (2) (In Danish this is number five in the series) but I think this was number 2 in publication.

Hello Carsten, Just over for a bit of a visit! Hope all's well. You impress with all your reading!

>120 mdoris: Hi Mary. Thank’s for stopping by. Yes I’ve done a lot of reading in August. Feels good.

Book 43. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (reread)
880 pages, audiobook, 5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1877



What a great novel - rereading it just confirms what a literary masterpiece it is. Tolstoy’s ability to unmask the movements of the heart reveals him as a true master, especially in Anna and Levin, whose inner life is carefully unfolded. City life set up against country life, philosophical questions and search after God. Marriage as convention, lust and love - it’s all there in Stiva and Dolly, Anna and Vronsky, Levin and Kitty.

>122 ctpress: Oh you make me want to read it and I never have (bad me!).

>123 mdoris: That’s good to hear. Tolstoy is a great storyteller.

Thanks for stopping by my thread, Carsten! I think you will really enjoy Mrs Spy and at 6.99 US, not big loss in the unlikely event that you don't. Yes, Booker Season. Quite a few of the books don't appeal to me that much. I have read Anna Karenina and enjoyed it, but that was a long time ago.

>125 vancouverdeb: My first reading of Anna Karenina was in 1999, so I had forgotten quite a bit - it was read for book club, and now we are going to have a night of discussion and also watch the movie-version with Keira Knightly so I look forward to that.

Too bad that The Booker list doesn't appeal so much to you, but I will follow what you do read.

Book 44. The School of Charity by Evelyn Underhill
111 pages, audiobook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1934



The final test of holiness is not seeming very different from other people, but being used to make other people very different; becoming the parent of new life.

Certainly life is not made soft for Christians, though it is in the last resort made safe. Nor do the struggles of the spiritual life—even the most crucial and most heroic—either look or feel very glorious while they are going on.

I love Evelyn Underhill's beautiful poetic language. These short but concise meditations are based upon the Nicene Creed.

List: The Inward Pilgrimage: Spiritual Classics from Augustine to Bonhoeffer

I have read quite a few Christian Classics the last couple of years. I have several books that I use to choose the next classic.

Spiritual Companions: An Introduction to the Christian Classics (100 books)
100 Christian Books That Changed the Century
25 books every Christian should read

and

The Inward Pilgrimage: Spiritual Classics from Augustine to Bonhoeffer



The last one I have made most progress with. It consists of essays on 16 spiritual classics - so far I have read 12 of the books (including today The School of Charity - so only four to go - which is The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, The Desert Fathers by Helen Waddell, Creative Prayer by E. Hermann and then The Book of Common Prayer which is the only one I think I will skip.

Book 45. Factfulness by Hans Rosling
342 pages, audiobook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2018



The subtitle "Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think" explains in short what this book is about.

Swedish professor and doctor Hans Rosling is an inspiring voice who clarifies many things - with a lot of personal stories and his vast experience alleviating poverty and viruses around the world. And also his many talks to big companies and heads of states. Most essential for me I think it's just this healthy curiosity and questioning peoples basic assumptions about the state of the world with fact after fact that point in another direction.

>129 ctpress: That sounds like a very helpful book to read Carsten after all the doom and gloom that we are exposed to!

>130 mdoris: That's right, Mary - besides the media bias and focus on all the negative news he also warns against activists and NGO's who have an interest in making things look very bad all the time. Both when it comes to climate change and poverty. A lot of food for thought.

Carsten I have been reading exactly what you are talking about in relation to the Minneapolis shooter, a very good essay by Colin Wright (Reality's Last Stand). So many elements operaing and contributing to these horrendous tragedies.

>119 ctpress: you know, I have never read any of the 'Little House on the Prairie" books!? Maybe I should!

>132 mdoris: A very good and clear-headed article - thanks. Mary. So much confusion going on and extreme viewpoints on both sides of the debate - I haven't followed the debate around te Minneapolis shooter, but what a tragedy.

>133 LovingLit: I read some of them when I was young, and I find them so comforting to read now. Farmer Boy is a little different as Laura and the Ingalls family is not in it - it is based on stories that Laura was told of her husbands experiences as a boy growing up on a farm. It's in general a more safe environment in Farmer Boy compared to the risky life on the prairie in the Laura-books. But the same interesting way of life of making everything yourself and get the most of the material you have. So, yes - maybe you should :)

Thank you for reading the article Carsten. I am very glad that you appreciated it!

>136 mdoris: I did - thanks for pointing it out to me - have a nice Sunday.

Book 46. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
286 pages, ebook, 4,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2019



I like Comers style of writing and his humor, his honest and personal stories about his own shortcomings when it comes to living an unhurried life. Having to reboot his approach to his life totally and keep doing it.

None of this comes very easy - solitude, silence, sabbath, simplicity, slowing. But this book is very practical and show us the lifestyle of Jesus and also how we can be more intentional about these things.

Here’s something he says to himself.

Multiple times a day, I slip back into hurry. The gravitational pull is overwhelming at times.

Lately, when that happens, I have this little mantra I repeat:

Slow down.

Breathe.

Come back to the moment.

Receive the good as gift.

Accept the hard as a pathway to peace.

Abide.

It’s my rosary, my invocation, my mental and emotional reset…On especially stressful days I find myself whispering it under my breath all through the day. But each time I recite my little liturgy, I come back to the moment.

Book 47. God's Grace in Your Suffering by David Powlison
126 pages, ebook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2018



A very personal and insightful book on suffering from a Christian perspective. A lot of underlinings in this one. Here just two quotes - a short and a long one.

There is inevitably an aloneness in suffering because no one can fully enter another’s experience. Each person knows “the affliction of his own heart” (Prov. 14:10).

I cannot express how often God’s creation proved sustaining, refreshing, and sanctifying. In all seasons and weathers I went outside and walked. I noticed the flight of a goldfinch, snow on the stones in the brook, a field of white dogwoods in bloom, a thunderstorm rising in the west, maple leaves like fire in the fall. I was repeatedly drawn out onto a bigger stage than my troubles. I would pray my need and my gratitude out loud while walking. Theologians who limit the means of grace to overtly redemptive religious practices miss something about the God who speaks without words in the theater of his creation.

Book 48. Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland
282 pages, audiobook, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2018



I like Douglas Coupland’s style of writing with his many weird, funny and far-fetched analogies - it’s a bombardment of images on every page.

Here again as in Generation X we get a snapshot of the social and cultural landscape of the end of the millennium - from the perspective of 20 year old Tyler and his ex-hippie parents and other quaint members of a dysfunctional family living in California.

Tyler is unable to move forward from college - fearing the dead end of constant McJobs - roaming around on interrail in Europe or a dismal trip to Hollywood. I didn’t like Tyler in the beginning - very shallow and consumer-oriented with no direction or drive at all. But this is sort of a bildungsroman for Generation X that has a surreal but satisfying ending.

I’ve only read Generation X and Hey Nostradamus by Coupland and found them both better than Shampoo Planet. Any suggestions what I should read next by him?

I think perhaps Girlfriend in a Coma or Microserfs.

I joined a bible study at my church last spring where we studied Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer. I enjoyed it and the short videos that accompanied it , so I am familiar with him. My sister is a big fan of Douglas Coupland but I don't think I have read anything by him. Glad you enjoyed it, Carsten.

>141 vancouverdeb: The pastor in my church also recommended "Practicing the Way" - and then he told me his daughter came to him and said: "I bought this book for you, Dad. You need it." It was The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - and he said: I think that was a hint for me to slow down.

Well, thanks for the rec., Deborah - I think my next Comer will be "Practicing the Way".

Book 49. Johann Sebastian Bach (Christian Encounters Series) by Rick Marschall
192 pages, audiobook, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2011



Excellent introduction to Bach - his life and music. There are several pieces of music I now want to hear. There are about 15 books in The Christian Encounters Series - I have read three now, besides Bach, also on Jane Austen and J. R. R. Tolkien. Maybe the next one will be either Galileo, Isaac Newton or Saint Francis.

Book 50. Når en af de kære går bort by Fredrik Wisløff
81 pages, paperback, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1975



Translating the title: "When one of our beloved passes away" - A short but profound book on how to deal with the loss of a dear one. About the grief, loneliness and emptiness that hits you.

Book 51. Gud, hvor jeg savner ham by Jakob Søe Esmarch
303 pages, paperback, 5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2023



The title in English: "God, how I miss him" - Danish priest Jakob Søe Esmarch writes devastatingly honest about losing his 10 year old son after a long battle with a brain tumor. It's a really tough read - both his anger towards God, his lament and doubt, but also his hope of eternal life, and the beauty of fellowship with the family, their time together and the son's optimism despite it all.

Book 52. The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
128 pages, hardcover, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1990



Have mixed feelings with this one - the first part where he analyzes society didn't really connect with me - the second part about how to help people - by becoming a Wounded Healer - was good.

Book 53. Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned from Eighties Movies (and Why We Don't Learn Them from Movies Anymore) by Hadley Freeman
352 pages, ebook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2016



The title is a famous quote from the opening of Ferris Bueller's Day Out -

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I've been watching a lot of 80s movies lately while reading this love letter to the 80s cinema. Although I don't always agree with her take on certain films, I really enjoyed her passionate mix of personal stories about how these movies changed her life and outlook. Hadley Freemans picks would certainly not be mine for the most part, but it has made me appreciate some forgotten films more.

Some of the movies she explore more deeply: Dirty Dancing, A Princess Bride, Pretty in Pink, Ghostbusters, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Steel Magnolia, Back to the Future, Baby Boom, Batman, Trading Places, Coming to America.

Some more books I read in September:

Book 54: Dark night of the Soul by John of the Cross (1579), 111 pages (2,5/5)

Book 55: How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison (2017), 128 pages (3,5/5)

Book 56: Desiring God's Will by David G. Benner, (2007), 136 pages (4/5)

Book 57. The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis
186 pages, paperback, 5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1950



So great to be back in Narnia and in the land of fairy tales. Lewis had hoped to finish this earlier in the series, but couldn't quite get the story together. It is tricky putting the characters in to the story of creation of the land of Narnia - other than Digory and the wicked witch the other characters doesn't get so much play. Still this is a poetic masterpiece. I'm going to read the series again. I agree with those that say this should be the first book in the series. I'm reading the books together with some essays (some are book-length in size) by a good late friend of mine have written. His writing is so dear to me. Here's a lengthy quote:

The world of fairy tales does not exist as concrete reality, and yet the world is larger than what we sense and perceive, and it is full of wonder and mystery: “What shall I say when in spirit I ascend to God and see the great mighty host of gentle angelic throngs?” sings Brorson (old Danish psalm poet), and if we have no room for that in our universe, then we live in a universe smaller than reality itself. The world of fairy tales reflects our longings, our greatest dangers, and our deepest fears; it reveals the darker sides of our nature but also opens the door to hope and to faith that good will ultimately triumph. Without fairy tales, we are infinitely poorer. The tales are among the richest gifts the generations before us have left behind.

Book 58. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
384 pages, paperback, 5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1937



This is the book in the series where they arrive near Walnut Grove and meet the Nelsons and Olsons - and Nellie - and start going to school. A year also filled with snow storms and a locust plague that destroys the harvest. The best book in the series so far.

>147 ctpress: That looks fascinating, Carsten. I love books like that.

>151 PaulCranswick: It was great to know more about how these 80's movies have impacted culture. Good to revisit some 80's gems.

Book 59. The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame
64 pages, audiobook, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1898
List: Book Lover's Guide to Great Reading



A funny and whimsical take on the legend of St. George fighting a dragon - the thing is, the dragon is just fine and won't take up the challenge. I missed the more poetical and strong storytelling from Wind in the Willows, but a fine tale nevertheless.

>147 ctpress: I've added this one to the wishlist - I didn't watch many films until they made it to TV, but sounds like a fun opportunity to hear someone else's take on them.

>154 charl08: It was an amazing decade for movies and many of my all time favorites are from the 80's. I went to see a lot in the cinema back then, but mostly we rented on vhs as were the medium back then - or taped from tv - so many memories. Hope you'll like it.

Book 60. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
376 pages, audiobook, 4/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1939



The fifth volume in the series - now they move on from Plum Creek and travel to Dakota Territory in search of a better life - and better farming opportunities. Mary has gone blind due to scarlet fever, and a new member of the family, Grace, is also introduced. Another great book by Laura Ingalls Wilder - her storytelling is so engrossing.

Book 61. Phantastes by George Macdonald
197 pages, e-book, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1858



You see this Fairy Land is full of oddities and all sorts of incredibly ridiculous things, which a man is compelled to meet and treat as real existences, although all the time he feels foolish for doing so.
The Knight to Anados

This was the fairy tale that C. S. Lewis read when he was 15-16 years old and which "baptised" his imagination as he famously said. Macdonald was a major influence on Lewis and Tolkien.

I can understand why. You are transported to another realm with fantastical creatures, fairies, fauns, giants, knights etc. A lot of strange things are happening to the young man who dreams his way to this fairy land, and slowly he learns to be more unselfish, and in the end he decides to fight the good battle.

I do however prefer Macdonald's more straightforward fairy tales like The Prince and the Goblin or At the Back of the North Wind.

Hi Carsten, I am over for a visit!

>158 mdoris: Hi, Mary - nice to "see" you here :) Hope you'll have a good weekend.

Book 62. Winter in Wartime by Jan Terlouw
158 pages, audiobook, 4,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1972
List: 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up



I found this in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. A very popular novel in Holland/Netherlands. Partly based on the author's own experiences as a child during WWII. We follow a 16-year-old boy in the last winter of the war in Holland as he gets involved in the resistance movement—or instead works on his own to protect a British pilot - but there's a traitor in the village, so he can't trust anyone. Very thrilling read. Highly recommended.

Book 63. More Perfect than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan
80 pages, audiobook, 3,5/5 stars.
Date of publication: 2004
Series: Sarah, Plain and Tall (4)



Narrated beautifully by Glenn Close, who played Sarah in the movie adaptation of the first novel in the series. I like the special atmosphere that MacLachlan creates with her prose. All the things you have to read between the lines and the way we look at the world from a child's perspective. This fourth entry is not as strong - story-vise - as the others.

Book 64. Franny & Zooey by J. D. Salinger
208 pages, ebook, 3/5 stars.
Date of publication: 1961
List: 1001 books you should read before you die



Not really my cup of tea. Although I liked the final third part of the book and the discussions on the spiritual classic Way of the Pilgrim, which I read with much interest recently - it was a good conclusion. But Zooey is really annoying - and his mother even more so.

Also read in October:

Book 65. Finishing Our Course with Joy by J. I. Packer (2014) 3,5/5
Book 66. The Divine Conquest by A. W. Tozer (1950) 3,5/5
Book 67. Learning to Walk Alone by Ingrid Trobisch (1986) 3/5
Book 68. A Thorn in the Flesh by Pablo Martinez (2009) 4/5

Read in November:

Book 69. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1940) 4/5
Book 70. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895) 4,5/5 (reread)
Book 71. A Study in Scarlett by Arthur Conan Doyle (1986) 4/5 (reread)
Book 72. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien (1971) 4/5 (reread)

Hello Carsten. So very nice to hear from you over on my thread. Sending best wishes to you for a very wonderful and peaceful Christmas. 🎄

>165 mdoris: Thanks, Mary.

Read in December:

Book 73. The Mark of a Christian by Francis Schaeffer (1970) 3,5/5
Book 74. Da jeg så Jesus Smile by Leif Andersen (2025) 4/5
Book 75. Fadervor Rundt by Henrik Laursen (2007) 3,5/5

And so I made it one more time. 75 books.

Have a lovely festive season, Carsten.

And congratulations on reaching 75!

>167 ctpress: Well done Carsten. 75. That is amazing!

>168 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul

>169 mdoris: Thanks, Mary

Yes - feels good. Reached 75 in 2022, but ‘23 and ‘24 it was only 20-30 books each year. Working only part-time left room for more reading.

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Carsten!

>171 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Carsten! I hope you had a lovely Christmas.

>173 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah - this year was the "big" Christmas year, which means my sister and her two boys with their wives and children and my mom were together - and also a gathering on the 26th with over 20 people - so a lot of festivitas. Now I kind of enjoy the company of a few friends - each year after Christmas we see The Lord of the Rings trilogy which is a two-day project :)

>174 ctpress: Sounds like fun, Carsten. For a minute I thought, wait, how does your sister have two boys with wives and children and then I recalled my own sons are 41 and 35 - one married with two kids. How did that happen ? I will be 65 in January.