Apolline's continuing quest towards 75 books, take 2

Welcome to my second thread in 2010. It does not look like I will reach 75 books this year, but as so many of you have pointed out, it is the journey towards the goal that counts. At least I will read more books in 2010 than I did last year. Hmm, looks like I buy more books than I read (shocking ;D), and my wishlist and tbr pile have grown out of proportions after joining this lot! Wouldn't want it any other way:)

Thread nr. 1

Books read so far in 2010:

1. Remarkable creatures by Tracy Chevalier.
2. He's just not that into you by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
3. According to Jane by Marilyn Brant
4. Everest is Hollow by Indigo Jones
5. The Shakespeare Secret by Jennifer Lee Carrell
6. De beste blant oss by Helene Uri
7. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
8. Señor Peregrino(Tarnished Beauty) by Cecilia Samartin
9. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
10. How Not to Write A Novel by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman

11. Med støv på hjernen by Eva Ramm
12. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
13. The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie
14. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
15. A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle
16. På vegne av venner by Kristopher Schau
17. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale
18. Vaffelhjarte by Maria Parr
19. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
20. Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor

Hi Bente, found and starred your new thread. I glanced at your ticker counters and was impressed to see the one saying 57 books done - then realised that was how many books bought not read! I don't know if I dare display my total for that, but I guess like you that it would be many more acquired than read... not to mention the ever-growing wishlist of those I've not yet got a copy of.

Hello, Bente. I always wish I could read the books not written in English. I feel like I'm mising out on some good stuff!

Just stopping by to wave HELLO and star your new thread!

I'm glad to join you on your continuing quest, Bente. You are a brave woman for keeping track of the books bought. I just finished bragging about all the books I own that I've read this year over on my thread, but I fear I wouldn't be so smug if I kept track of books bought. Oh well, you and I (and many other Lters) will never run out of things to read if the libraries *gasp* go out of business!

Much roomier on this thread. Thanks for starting a new one!

Got you starred again:-)

Yay, a new thread! :) Got you starred again and looking forward to many more good reviews and nice conversations.

#3: Hi Genny! Haha, almost glad you got fooled there a little;) I'm a rather slow reader compared to others in this group, but as I mentioned I think I've already read more books this year than last year. Which is a good thing in itself. I'm more determined this year to start a new book right away after I've finished one. I'm also planning in my head what book to read next, though I often change my mind when I'm standing infront of my tbr pile. I pick whatever I'm in the mood for at the time. I love my wishlist and tbr pile! Their existence keeps me assured that I have good books waiting for me in years to come:)

#4: I wish they all were translated in to English, but sadly enough, most Norwegian books never will be. I can check and see if the good ones are up for translation:)

#5: Hi Faith! You're always welcome here:)

#6: Thanks Donna:) I'm glad to follow your thread too. And btw, I was supposed to leave you a comment on your thread the other day, but completely forget. I don't think you need to change your reading habit to get more readers to your thread! I like it just the way it is:) About the books bought ticker, I have to admit it is because I need to keep track of my shopping habits, otherwise I would go completely bananas buying books. After I finished studying and got a job, my "library" has expanded a few hundred percent. When I see how many books I've bought already this year, it is easier to resist to buy even more. Hehe, maybe it works 1 out 5 times;)

*shaking head in disbelief* may that day never come!!(that libraries go out of business!)

#7: Glad to give you some space, Stasia. That said, I guess I can't go around making other people create new threads (like Tanja), if I'm not following up myself.

#8: Hey Monica! Working on those Norwegian author recommandations:)

#9: I love our conversations too:) The weekend is coming up soon (tomorrow is soon!), and hopefully I'll finish a couple of books over the weekend. I have three reviews to be written as we speak, but I'm a bit slow, since, well....the World Cup is on and...it is summer:D Not that the weather is great, but still...

After I finished studying and got a job, my "library" has expanded a few hundred percent. That sounds familiar - but do you also find that you have less time to read than when you were a student?
When I was studying for my doctorate I had all the time in the world to read, though I could only afford to buy second-hand books. Now I buy many more books, including new ones, but have been far less good at finding time to read them. LT is helping with the reading quantities - but also encouraging even more book buying!

>10 Apolline::About the books bought ticker, I have to admit it is because I need to keep track of my shopping habits, otherwise I would go completely bananas buying books.

Going bananas sums it up quite well. It's just so hard to resist those books. I'm definitely going to keep track next year. This year's purchases are spread out in too many different hiding places to track down! In my defense, I buy most of my books used, although the occasional new one beckons to me.

And, no, I don't really think there is a danger of libraries going out of business, but I do get frustrated when they want their books back!

Aha! Thought I'd lost you - hallo!

#11 I actually didn't have the conscience to read novels during the semester, so I just read in my holidays. Didn't get much reading done to put it that way.

#12 Haha, why couldn't libraries just give away books for free??;)

#13 Hi Fliss! Still here:)

#21 Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

This is a young adult/urban fantasy novel, containing mostly human and faeries. It is the debut novel by Melissa Marr, an author unknown to me before reading this book.
In this book we meet the teenager Aislinn, normal in every way but one, she can see faeries. It is not her imagination playing games with her, but real life faeries living among people, though invisible to most. Aislinn lives by three rules; never speak to invisible faeries, never stare at invisible faeries and the most important, never attract their attention. These rules worked fine until Keenan, the summer king faery, decides to make Aislinn his summer queen. The only problem is that Aislinn does not fall for his charm, she is already hopelessly in love with her good friend, Seth. All is set for a love triangle out of the ordinary, especially when the winter girl Donia, and Keenan’s mother Beira (the winter queen) tries to keep Keenan from ever finding his queen.

Melissa Marr’s writing style was not quite as I expected. I was not fond of her language, maybe it is more suited for those a little younger than myself. I found it kind of rough and in a way a little too simple. Many fantasy novels have often good and detailed descriptions of the characters, the scenery and emotions/thoughts. This was completely lacking in Wicked Lovely, and if you ask me today, I have no clear mental picture of what either of the characters look like. Except maybe for Seth, I can remember Marr mention his piercings several times, which in my mind tells me more of the authors personal preferences than a realistic image of the character. In my opinion it seems like a typical book written to become a movie, the less description the author gives us, the easier it will be for moviemakers to do whatever they want.

The novel is in many ways predictable, but did have an unexpected twist at the end. There are no likeable characters, or to say it in another way, they are no deeper than the amount of butter you put on your bread (which in my case is not much), if you use any at all. You do not really get to know any of them, and even the main character Aislinn seems as much of a mystery to me after reading the book. Her thoughts and inner struggle seems very superficial, and Seth must be a robot. I think he was the most unrealistic, superficial and one-dimensional character in a whole book filled with fairytale creatures like faeries. He was actually one of the most unrealistic characters I have come across in a long time. All in all this was a book I have no intention to recommend to any of you. If I ever get the choice to either read the rest of the series to know how it ends, or to just Google it, I would choose the latter.

This books song has the very striking title The Girl and the Robot by Röksopp ft. Robyn, since Aislinn apparently is in love with one.

#22 Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I do not think the author needs an introduction, since she should be well known to most of you. She is one of my favourite authors, but I have to admit I knew little of this particular story when I picked up the book.
In this book we meet young Catherine Morland, a girl still in her teens, which is quite young for an Austen heroine, but not less likeable. Catherine is naïve and sweet, and soon after her arrival in Bath, falls in love with the handsome Mr. Henry Tilney. But as all of Austen’s heroines, also Catherine has to face a few setbacks in her pursuit of a husband. In Bath she is introduced to Isabella Thorpe, an unmarried girl in her early twenties, who soon becomes Catherine’s best friend and confidant. The arrival of John Thorpe, Isabella’s brother, creates a little drama in Catherine’s life when he falls in love with her and clearly wants to make her his wife. Will young Catherine be able to make her own decisions and control her own future, or will factors she has no control over decide her faith?

Northanger Abbey is both a nice love story and literary parody. Throughout the whole book I was cheering young Catherine on to get the man she deserved. The storyteller in the novel is quite visible, and fills the reader with satirical observations and comments. I would say that satire and irony are more used and easy to spot in Northanger Abbey than other novels I have read of this author, though one can easily detect both in most of her work. My favourite Austen book is probably Persuasion, with Pride and Prejudice as a very close number two. Northanger Abbey does not alter my opinion of these books, which I both love, since I more liked this one. It is not necessarily a negative difference, since I really LIKE the book, I just did not love it like the two others. My dear Ms. Jane did not disappoint this time either.

I had a hard time finding a song to represent this book, but ended up with Heartbeats by Jose Gonzales since it is sort of about falling/being in love. Hope you like it.

Hi Apolline, I read Northanger Abbey decades ago and it was my first introduction to Jane Austen. This is the book that first convinced me that literature could be great after all the boring and depressing stuff we had to read in high-school (you have no idea). After that one, I decided to read her other books as well. So that's why I'll always have a soft spot for Jane Austen and especially for Northanger Abbey.

#16: I have not read Northanger Abbey yet, but I mean to get to it in the next year or so. I hope I like it as much as you did, Bente.

Great reviews! I'm sorry Wicked Lovely wasn't very good. I'll skip that one, but Northanger Abbey is definitely going on the TBR list. I wish I had bought that one instead of Sense and Sensibility.

#14 – I actually didn't have the conscience to read novels during the semester, so I just read in my holidays.
Sometimes I wish I didn't have the conscience to read (so many) novels during the semester. I suppose it would make the end of the semester (papers and exams) a little less hard if I read more of the stuff I should be reading and less novels :)

By the way, no rush on the reviews. I didn't mean my comment like that, I just enjoy them when they come :)

#17 I read Pride & Prejudice first and completely fell in love with it. Jane Austen might not be for everyone, but she definitely did it for me. Loved Persuasion too, but now I'm scared I wont like some of the others. I've heard that both Emma and Sense and Sensibility might be a bit boring, but hopefully I will like them. Reading classics in high school can be hard, believe me I know! Tha funny part though, is that I've read a few of them later on, and they're not THAT bad. If you know what I mean? It must be an age thing.

#18 I hope so too, Stasia, but maybe I'm so blinded by it being Jane Austen, that I'm not as reflective as with other books/authors;)

#19 Hi Tanja! Please skip Wicked Lovely, it's not worth the effort! Northanger Abbey on the other hand is definitely worth a try. Though you might want to try Persuasion or P&P first (since I can recall you weren't really impressed by S&S).

Well, I was reading a lot of history every single day, and at times that can seem sort of fictional. And when I'm reading because I have to, I needed to relax when I got home at night. If I read a book, I would just feel bad for it not being curriculum.

Not rushing the reviews either...just want them out of the way:D Hope you all had a good weekend. I'm almost embarrased to say it, but I was watching the royal wedding at Saturday. Or parts of it anyway. It was nice:)

Why should you be embarrassed to say it?

#21 Yes, why should I? Really good question actually. I guess the answer is that it might seem a little pathetic to be obsessing over royalty:) We're a bit more used to kings and queens over here, and it is not just a romantic fairy tale. But I'm not really obsessed with royalty and the wedding was very romantic and nice, except for it being broadcasted to millions of people:) I think they got it as personal as possible due to the special circumstances.

I think if my country had a king or queen and he/she was getting married, I would be interested in watching it.

Hehe, yeah, it is sort of spectacular. But it was not even in my country, it was the Swedish crownprincess getting married. But all the royal families in Europe are linked to each other in one way or the other. Tha fun thing is that she married her personal trainer, a commoner so to speak:) The same thing happened here in Norway a few years back, when our crownprince married a normal single mother, with a history of lots of partying in her youth. She turned out to be a very good crownprincess and representative for the country. We love her:) There are lots of discussions whether we should turn into a republic or stay a monarchy. I think I still prefer the last.

Having never lived in a monarchy, I cannot comment on that!

Well, I've never lived in a republic either, but that's the thing really, or in my mind at least. If the monarchy works, why change it? The king has no political power anymore, but they function as good representatives for the country. I think it has a lot to do with tradition and history. Since Norway became a state, we have been ruled by kings (even when we were in a union) and I would be sad to see it change. If we were a republic, I guess I would be satisfied with that too, but I don't think we need the change. That's all:)

Sounds reasonable to me!

#17 Reading classics in high school can be hard, believe me I know! The problem was, we didn't get to read the classics! I believe when I went to school, they changed the program a bit and wanted to introduce "modern literature". So we were harassed by some inferior books (which never stood the test of time) about alcoholism, drug-abuse, rape, suicide, depression, father's dying, mothers running off, etc. All themes which may be there in Great Literature but these themes do not automatically create great literature. Maybe that was the only lesson I learned from it. Fortunately, we got to read some great literature and poetry in French, English, Latin and Greek class (the advantages of living in a multilingual country :-)), so I can't complain really. But Jane Austen came first and rescued me.
And yes, I also think princess Victoria's wedding was beautiful and oh so romantic. They seemed so happy with each other, it looked like a true fairy-tale. Btw, we are pretty happy with our crown-princess Mathilde as well.

#27: wouldn't want to be the opposite!:)

#28: Thank goodness for Ms. Austen. I bet she has saved many, many in the same situation.

Oh, I'm glad I wasn't the only one watching the wedding. It was quite beautiful indeed and they did look very happy. Who doe not get charmed when the groom fells a tear of happiness for his wife? *sigh* I want one too;)

#23 The year of the hare by Arto Paasilinna

This book has been described as a picaresque novel, a writing style originated in Spain. This kind of novel is often satirical, and tells the humorous story of a low class hero, living by his wits in a corrupt society. Other novels mentioned from the same genre, is Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote.

Arto Paasilinna is a well known author in Finland, and has published 35 novels in the years between 1972 and 2009. The Year of the Hare was published in 1975, and it is now translated into 23 different languages.

In this book we meet the journalist Vatanen, out on a job with his photographer. They are driving through a forest, and then suddenly a hare jumps into the road. The little hare get hit by the car, and as Vatanen finds it injured, he decides to leave his old life in Helsingfors and live every day as it comes, with the hare as his companion. This incident in the forest, leads Vatanen and the hare on journey through rural parts of Finland. The novel is built up on the different people Vatanen meet on his way, the jobs he get and the absurd situations he ends up in. And whatever happens to him, also happen to the hare. Throughout the reading process I wondered a few times what the author meant with these little stories. The meaning was revealed in the end, though I found the ending rather mysterious. Not annoying mysterious, but sort of in a positive way.

The language was rather simple and the book was an easy read. Fast readers will finish it in an afternoon, but it was not too short either.

This was the first book I have read which is written by a Finnish author. Except from watching the Moomin, by Tove Jansson, on television as a child, I know little of Finnish literature in general. The Year of the Hare was therefore a positive surprise. To me, this was something new and fresh, even though the book is quite old. I quite liked it! As it did to the people in the book, the little hare charmed me.

This books song is one of my all time favourite songs Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine

I'll look for The year of the Hare. I also found A Charming Mass Suicide by the same author, which caught my eye as I was looking for your book in the local online library catalogue. This might be fun also, despite the Suicide in the title.

I will be looking for The Year of the Hare too. Thanks for the recommendation, Bente!

Hi There
I found your thread, have starred it and look forward to visiting often to see the books you are reading.

#31: I will definitely read more of his works, and I've already picked a few to add to my tbr pile. I hope you like it, and I'm looking forward to hear what you think of it.

#32: You're welcome Stasia. I hope you like it too, whenever you get to it:) I know the Black Hole is huge, so it might not be any time soon. Bet let me know what you think of it when the time comes.

#33: Hi and thanks for stopping by:) I have been sneaking in your thread once in a while too!

Unfortunately, my local library does not have The Year of the Hare, so it may be quite some time before I get to it, Bente.

hi Bente

found your new thread!
About monarchy vs republic, as monarchs have barely political power these days, I think it is easier and cheaper. No elections, just one family that is doomed to deliver the next monarch. The only question is it ethical to lay this burden on them... But as long as the Royal families themselves don't complain I would keep it this way ;-)

I missed this wedding, but remember vividly watching the marriage of Charles and Di... and of course the wedding of our own crown-prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta.

Anita

I completely missed this wedding - she really got married?! I didn't know. Probably wouldn't have been watching had I known, but I do (sometimes secretly) like the monarchy, despite my being an anarchist in my heart :) I feel sorry for the poor people having to lead this horrible public life having to behave in certain ways, but they have the choice of saying no. And as long as they are willing to do it, I'll be glad to have them as monarchs. Just my opinion on subject :)

I'm definitely adding The Year of the Hare to my TBR list. It will fit nicely into the Scandinavian category, so thank you very much.

#20 – It was also my plan to be reading Persuasion as my next Jane Austen book. I've already read P&P (and loved it) and I have Persuasion on my shelf.

I think my solution to the curriculum vs. free reading is to just not read more than necessary (or less) of the curriculum stuff (which always turns out to be a bad idea when we reach the end of the semester). Also, I think the curriculum text in my study tend to be more non-fictional.. and boring! That might explain some too :)

Wow, I can see I've been neglecting my thread lately, but if any of you wondered...I'm still alive. I just started my new job last Thursday, so there is much to learn and look into. The weather is finally good too, spending a lot of my time outdoors. Well, they are also renovating my apartment building so they've closed my veranda, I can not even open the door. Yesterday they had closed of all my windows, without an opportunity to get some fresh air in. It was waaaarm! Oh, and then it is the World Cup, I'm actually watching the first semi-final between Uruguay - the Netherlands right now. It will be over on Sunday (goooo Spain!), but now le tour de France just started...shot! I did get some reading done and will post the reviews soon, just need to catch up with you guys first!!:)

#37 Have you seen the BBC production of P&P? The one with Colin FIrth as Mr. Darcy? I loooove it! Watched it las week for probably the 10th time. How are you btw?:)

#36 Glad you found my thread again Anita, though I have been fairly inactive lately. I'll try to do better!

#38 I hope the new job is going well - it is quite tiring at the beginning when everything is so new, isn't it! What kind of work do you do?

I hope you've got your fresh air back today, and that you are not so distracted by all the sport that you can't get some more reading done! (or if you are distracted, then enjoy it anyway :) )

Hi Genny! I have gotten some reading done, luckily:) If the game turned out to be a bit boring, I just read and look up if there's a goal or something. Multitasking;) Then I get the best of both.

You're quite right, new jobs can be very tiring, new tasks and new colleagues etc. I used to work in our communal archive (at the city hall), but now I work in an archive for the whole county, with material from just about 37 communes/municipalities.

You've been one busy woman lately. It sounds like you have quite a lot more responsibility in your new job.

I haven't seen Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy quite as many times as you, Bente, but I agree that it (and C.F.) is a real treat! Love the BBC adaptations.

At an archive! I've often wondered what that would be like... sorting & organizing local history sounds like it might be rather interesting... but I can't imagine what all a job like that would entail. Either way, I hope the new position is going well and that you're enjoying the work!

#41, 43 I started to explore being an archivist at one time... but was discouraged because of my allergy to dust! Librarianship (which I started to pursue instead) can also involve some dust, sometimes, but not as much as some archive work can, apparently... Do you sneeze a lot in your job?!

Oh, wow, I'm a terrible LT'er at the moment. Sorry for my late responding.

#42 The BBC adaptations are the best:) They certainly know how to get it right.

#43 Yes, it is very interesting, and some times you can find little historical treasures hidden in a protocol or i file. Though, that does not happen every day:) Being a historian it is quite enthralling to be working so close to the sources, but most of the time it is sorting and organizing and helping people finding what they need. Not many people allowed in to the archive itself because of all the sensitive information. Everything from patient files to files from the social office and school grades.

#44 Haha, yes I do sneeze occasionally, and I'm sort of allergic to dust, but I spend most of my time in the office and am only once in a while stuck in the archive for hours at the time. I'm not an educated archivist, but has a lot to do with my education, so I'll try this for a while and then we'll see. I'm enjoying it so far. I would love to be a librarian, but I'm almost ashamed to admit I didn't know there was an education especially for librarians until I already had started my MA. Silly me!

#24 Another faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

This is the debut novel for the siblings Dina and Daniel. They have started a new teen fantasy series called Another Series. Based on well known stories, they try to bring old classics in to new life. Their next novel is called Another Pan, and will be released in October 2010.
As the title reveals, this novel is based on Goethe’s Faust. For some strange reason this did not occur to me as I picked up the book, yet it did not take long to get the picture.

In one night, five children from different places in Europe disappears from their home, without anybody noticing and no one to miss them. A few years later they show up as siblings, starting at the elite school Marlowe High in Manhattan, New York. All five of them are a little bit smarter, a little bit better, stronger and more beautiful than the rest of the school. Each of them equipped with a special gift, given by their beautiful, but strange governess Madame Vileroy.
In the true Faustian spirit, the children made a deal with the devil, giving up the life they knew to reach the top. But in the end, are they willing to pay what it costs? Are they willing to betray, cheat and ruin lives to get what they want? If they get the chance to undo their deal, would they grasp the opportunity? One thing is certain, it is impossible to get it all.

As a person who have never read Faust, and probably never will due to my total lack of interest in reading plays, it was still a great opportunity to supplement the book and read secondhand information about Goethe and Faust. I learned a lot that I did not already know, and the book can therefore be looked upon as an eye opener for me. The book was dark, creepy and filled with unattractive characters. I did have sympathy with a few of the characters and I therefore read the ending with a hint of sadness. But I guess the ending was difficult to avoid, how can an ending be all happy, when you started off by selling your soul to the devil?

It was difficult to pick a song for a book packed up with evil, but I ended up with Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue because of the devilish actions in both song and story.

#25 The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Some times a book can present itself to you by kicking you in the leg and screaming to be read. The kick being a catchy title and the scream an enchanting cover. Some of the books turn out to deserve all the fuss, but sadly many of them are not worth either the time or effort put in to reading it. Throughout the whole book you ask yourself why you bother, and as you turn the last page you conclude you would never have read it in the first place if it was not for the already mentioned mesmerising cover and the enchanting title that magically caught your attention. They were both traps, a set-up to lure unsuspecting booklovers to buying the mediocre book, otherwise no one would even think of it.

But some times, and very few indeed, you discover a book, not by a fancy cover, the enchanting title or the book loudly screaming “read me, read me!” while you rub your aching leg from all the kicking. Once in a while a book creeps unnoticeably up behind your back, whispering gently in your ear “you can read me if you want…”. No fuss, no screaming, yet it is the most wonderful creation of literature you have read in a long time. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is this type of book. It neither screams nor casting spells. It is what it is, a thoughtful, intelligent, sweet, heartwarming creation of a story. Through a few short weeks we get all the insights of the life in number 7, Rue de Grenelle, a grand apartment building in Paris.

Paloma is twelve, soon turning thirteen, and dead set on ending her life and setting her luxurious apartment on fire on her birthday. The young girl can see no reason to continue her monotonous existence of a life, appalled by all the wrong doings in the world, and way too smart for her own age. Through the whole book we get to follow her search for a reason to live, sometimes through her profound thoughts about society, her family, animals, the new neighbour or whatever occupies a young girls mind.

Renée is the concierge in number 7, Rue de Grenelle, an uneducated woman of fifty-four, but still as well read and smart as any MA student at a good university. She has decided to live a lie. Scared to face the world outside the apartment building, she is set on living the role of a true concierge, hiding her knowledge from everyone but her best, and only, friend. But things are about to change for the both of them. Will Paloma find a reason to live and will Renée be able to live a life as a person, not the role of a concierge?

This book is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is smart, sweet, witty yet serious, very thought provoking and moving. It is a low whisper that will stick with you for a long time after reading it, both unusual and insightful. The language is lovely and the characters so well described you feel they are sitting right next to you. Definitely a memorable book, that I will enjoy countless times in the future.

I loved this book and had therefore big problems just choosing one song. I think I have forgotten some of the songs it reminded me of too, but here is a few.

The first song is a Norwegian rap group. The song is about being too scared to be all you can be: Karpe Diem - Ruter

The second song is another Norwegian artist, I guess you can understand more of this song: Susanne Sundfør - Walls

The third I chose because of the gentleness in the song, quite similar to the gentle story in the book: Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis - Auld Lang Syne

I hope you all enjoy both the book and songs!:)

Thank you Stasia, for recommending The Elegance of the Hedgehog!

#20 "I've heard that both Emma and Sense and Sensibility might be a bit boring" - who said that! They're definitely not boring! Persuasion, closely followed by Pride and Prejudice remain my favourites too though...

Wicked Lovely sounds like a bit of a disaster zone, I shall steer clear of that one!

...and shall give you a thumb for your review of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which is great. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much - I seem to be the only person I've come across not to be completely swept away by the book. Not to say I disliked it, but...

Incidently, I love your idea of naming a song for each book you read ;o)

#49 Thanks for the thumb Fliss:) After I posted my review I read some of the others and I came to the conclusion that it is a love/hate - like/dislike sort of book. There were several 4 & 5 starred reviews, but also 1 & 1.5.

It did make me want to read Anna Karenina again, a book I had given up so to speak, but I will soon pick it up again:) Hopefully I will be able to finish it this time.

I'm glad you did not find Emma and S&S boring, it gives me hope to pick them up soon, though I would have read them anyways. I'm not sure if I'm able to find any Jane Austen story boring. But if you don't like boring books, stay away from Wicked Lovely, consider yourself warned! Hope you enjoy the music though:)

Great review, Bente. I also liked the book. Someone out here wrote that he/she didn't like it so much because the end was a bit too forced as if the author had lost inspiration and because the Japanese man was a little too convenient and not enough of a real character. I think he/she is right on these points, but that doesn't mean the book is a real treat. I loved Renee and even though I thought Paloma was a bit too much, I sympathized with her.

#8: I am glad the book has found another fan!

#51 Thanks Monica. I did have some thoughts (two weeks ago) about your comment, but unfortunately I forgot to write them down...*trying to remember* since I would love to discuss he book. I'll get back to you!

#52 I'm a fan Stasia!! You and me both then:D

Gees, I have been so absent lately I nearly didn't find my thread...again! Slow on the reading front too, hopefully August will be better. Because of the renovation work on my apartment building Im not spending much time at home, trying to find things to do outside, since the apartment feels like a prison (windows and balcony all covered up in plastic and therefore useless). Doesn't leave much time reading books and hanging on LT..unfortunately. But I'm spending a lot of time outside, which is good. Yesterday my local football club played a qualification match for the Europa League against Scottish Motherwell (first international match ever for Aalesund) and it was quite fun. Even though it ended 1-1. Next week we will be playing in Scotland. So lots of people and a lot of football talk these past couple of days.

I work in the city centre, and we had the Queen Mary 2 visiting. It is huge!! Lots of brits and americans visiting. It is always fun to hear something else spoken than Norwegian.

This weekend will be quite filled up too. There is a music festival in one of the islands just outside Aalesund, and we will be going. A lot of good artist, like Damien Rice, Tom McRae, Josh Rouse and Mark Kozelek are coming (and many well known Norwegian, European and Scandinavian artists) and they are all playing for free. The festival is open for everyone, and the entrance fee is a little food to share with the rest of the crowd. It started as a party among friends on the beach a few years back, and last year 15 000 showed up:) There only live 500 people on the island, so the turn up was great, but unexpected:) I hope the sun will shiiiiine, but it is raining at the minute :(

If you want to check out the festival, here's the website: The worlds best festival

Have a lovely weekend everybody. I'm VERY far behind on everybodys threads, but I will catch up soon. My reading/writing funk just has to go first.

Yay! The weekend is coming up in just a few minutes! *happy happy happy*

Good luck with kicking the reading/writing funk, Bente!

I hope the renovations of your apartment building end soon. Sounds terrible.

Thanks Stasia. Trying to kick really hard. The good thing (if there could possibly be one) with the reading funk is that I´m listening to lots and lots of music, which I love too. Difficult to divide your given time with things you would like to do... so little time:)

The renovation will last until September, at least. They changed my bedroom windows today, and they turned out to be really pretty in the end, but I almost cried when I got home from work and could not go straight to bed. Ah well, baking focaccia instead since I need to bring something to the festival tomorrow:) How are you doing btw Stasia? How´s your knee doing?

Renovations are always stressful. Hopefully the outcome will be worth it. Your festival sounds wonderful!

Here's a few pictures from last year. The North Sea is actually the next door neighbour, rather far out to the sea so to speak:)

#58: Thanks for sharing the pics, Bente!

The knee is OK. Some days are good, some days are not so good.

15,000 people on that little island? Definitely crowded.

#59 I hope it will be better soon!

#60 15000 crowded? Yes indeed! This year I've heard rumors about at least 18000, probably more:D

Sommerfesten på Giske, I LOVE U! See you next year!!

If I could give such a wonderful day to all of my friends here on LT, I would serve it to you on a silver platter! It was amazing! Have a wonderful weekend!:)

Wow! I am glad the weekend turned out as well as you had hoped, Bente!

Hi Bente - glad the festival was good. I know what you mean about there not being enough time to divide between all the good things you'd like to do - but glad you are enjoying the music even if you are not doing much reading.

I'm just trying to finish off work things before I fly to Stavanger on Wednesday for my 2 weeks holiday - looking forward to discovering a little bit of Norway! I've been learning a few (just a very few) words of Norwegian: 'jeg heter Genny' and a few more phrases is about all!

Wow, seems like you've enjoyed yourself big time!
Have you heard Åsne Seierstad was fined for The bookseller of Kabul after all?

#50 Re Anna Karenina - me too - well, I've never actually tried reading it, but Elegance of the Hedgehog made me want to. I want to read War and Peace first though (it's on my list of stuff to read this year - although it was on last year's list too, so...)

Wow, that festival looks fantastic - I'm putting it in my "festivals" bookmark list to keep an eye on for next year. Glad you had a fantastic time - any photos for us? ;o)

#63 It was wonderful and I'm still not finished processing it in my head;) Feels like yesterday!

#64 I'm reading again...slowly, but still reading:D and you're in Norway at the moment? Cool! Love your Norwegian! Maybe you could impress your friends with this sentence: "Stavanger er en fin by" (it means "Stavanger is a nice city/town". I hope you enjoy your stay Genny! Looking forward to hear how it was.

#65 Hi Monica. Yes, it was sort of a big thing in the news last week. The lawsuit has been ongoing for a few years, I think, but it has not ended yet. I think Åsne Seierstad will appeal. So, we'll see I guess.

#66 I have to admit I have not started Anna Karenina yet, hmm, will soon;) Wow, I have not set my eyes on War and Peace yet, it seems almost impossible to get through if I can't even read Anna Karenina. If I try more Russian books it might be The Idiot.

Yes, do keep your eyes out for it next year:) I do have loads of pictures, but unfortunately I'm not sure how to put them out here yet, since I don't have Flickr or anything. I've come to understand you need to put them on the net to be able to pin them out here. But I will add a few pics that's not mine.

Pictures!!

This is the festival area seen from the bridge. It turn up 25 000 last Saturday, not all at once luckily:





Damien Rice:


One of the smaller scenes:

Here's a couple of videos from Sommerfesten 2010 too, definitely worth a look. Even if you like Damien Rice and Tom McRae or not:)

This is Damien Rice in a duet with our own Maria Mena:

9 Crimes

This is the fantastic Tom McRae:

End Of The World News

Wow, that festival looks awesome. All those people on that beautiful island. Great pictures; especially the sunset! Thanks for sharing, Bente. I'll be checking out your links to the music as soon as I post this.

I just wanted to alert you to my new thread. I just started it today. Guess you missed it 'cause you posted on the old, tired one. :-) You can find the newest DonnaReads right here.

I hope your renovation is done soon. No fun to have all that work going on around you. Just think of the end result, though.

Forget the festivals--what beautiful dramatic skies! I hope you didn't have trouble paying attention to the music.

Yes it was good fun and very beautiful indeed. I didn't have problems with listening to the music, the weather just made it even more magical:)

Describe yourself: Wicked Lovely

How do you feel: The faster I walk, the less I am. (Jo fortere jeg går, jo mindre er jeg) Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold

Describe where you currently live: Northanger Abbey

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: On Chesil Beach

Your favorite form of transportation: A wrinkle in time

Your best friend is: The best among us (De beste i blant oss)

You and your friends are: Remarkable creatures

What’s the weather like: According to Jane

You fear: Another faust

What is the best advice you have to give: He's just not that into you

Thought for the day: Everest is Hollow

How I would like to die: Traveling with Pomegranates

My soul’s present condition: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

That was fun:D maybe I'll do it again at the end of the year.

I will be doing it again at the end of the year, too! It is my favorite quiz.

I love your answers to the quiz, Bente. We'll all have more books to choose from if we do it again in a few months.

#73 - That was fun :-)

#68 Oh wow, that last photo in particular makes it look amazing... I shall take a look at the videos later on when I'm not at work...

#74 I'm planning on doing so ;o)

That quiz is fun every time I see it! I haven't done one for myself yet. Maybe this morning...

Thanks for all of your responses! Wow, I'm so bad at follow up on you guys, I'm quite shameful. I'm reading though...just finished Mansfield Park today:) You probably wont be surprised to learn that I LOVED it!

I'm finally off on a summer holiday too...so if I don't update anything in a couple of weeks, that would be the reason...though I've been so absent lately you probably wont even know the difference;)

Well, the autumn will be on its way in September, with plenty of rain and long nights best spent under a blanket with a good book! I'm looking forward to spend more time with my LT friends too, to keep track on everybody's threads and update my own.I have a few books to review, though it's been many weeks since I finished them. I'll probably just write a short note on some of the mediocre books.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, and I will see you soon. Though you guys are more often on my mind than it might appear in here. Take care!:)

Have a wonderful summer holiday, Bente! You take care too.

I hope you're having a fabulous time wherever you are, Bente. Where does one vacation when they live in paradise? Oh yeah, a warm beach somewhere I'm guessing.

We'll be here when you get back!

Hope you have/had a fantastic holiday! Where is it you're off to?

#81, 82 & 83: Thank you thank you all:) I did have a lovely holiday, and you were quite right Donna, I did go some place warm with a lovely beach, Palma de Mallorca to be more specific.

We had a great time with sangria, sightseeing, shopping and swimming:) I did get a little sunburned, but luckily I often tan faster than getting burned, so no long lasting pain;) but I did get covered with some nasty mosquito bites, almost ending up with a blood poisoning, but it ended well too:D I'm glad we don't have those horrible creatures back home.

I did get to read 3, THREE, books in one week, yay, so now I have a whole bunch to write about..yeah, yeah...coming up soon.

Hope you are all doing well! Will try to catch up with you all now:)

It's good to be home! Just had a little shopping spree at amazon. Tam ti tam:) Great!

Welcome home, Bente. The sangria, sightseeing, shopping, and swimming sounds fabulous. Too bad about the attack of the killer mosquitoes! You don't have them in Norway? Lucky you. We didn't have them when we lived in Colorado, and I didn't miss them a bit, but warm and humid Missouri has an abundance of the nasty things.

I'll be checking back to see what books you got read and also what books you got at Amazon. My, I'm nosy, aren't I?

I'm off tomorrow on a short holiday myself. None of your four-S entertainments, however. We're going to a wedding so we'll have a celebration, cake, and champagne. I'm too tired from getting ready to go to think of another C word!

Welcome home, Bente!

Amazon shopping spree? What did you get?

Wow- amazing festival photos. Damien Rice looks really friendly, glad you had a great time.

Join us for the Halloween reading this year.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/98082&newpost=1#lastmsg

#86: Wow, I didn't realise I wrote four words all beginning with S before you mentioned it;) I think your three C's works just fine! I hope you had a good time.

No, we're lucky to avoid those nasty buggers. We do have a smaller variety, but they are definitely not that bad. All those bloodsucking things seem to really love my blood (no, not talking about any creature from Twilight or True Blood or any kind of book...these are actually real), unfortunately! I get all swullen and read etc.

And by the way, you're allowed to be nosy, it's not like I'm hiding a state secret or anything;) And I'm just as nosy back, haha!

#88: Yes. he does look really friendly and sings good too:)

#89: Hey Mac. That's sounds interesting. But do I have to read all the books, or can I pick a few? Did you know we don't really celebrate Halloween in Norway?

#86 & 87: Here's my shopping list this time. And I bought a couple to read on my holiday, and a few before that...ah, well, wont run out of books in a while.

A Pair of Blue Eyes (Wordsworth Classics) - Thomas Hardy
The Woodlanders (Wordsworth Classics) - Thomas Hardy
Under the Greenwood Tree (Wordsworth Classics) - Thomas Hardy
Little Dorrit (Wordsworth Classics) - Charles Dickens
Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks
1066 and All That - W.C. Sella
The Magicians - Lev Grossman
Undercover - Beth Kephart

I've heard about a few of them in here, but some I don't know at all:) the postage costs quite a bit, but it was still cheaper than buying the books over here:)

Ouch, I just realised I reached a 75 books goal when I updated my tickers....not reading 75, but buying 75 books this year. Guess I need to bump up my reading speed!

#91: Some good reading there, Bente. I hope you like The Magicians more than I did though.

The Halloween read is a very flexibile reading thread. I will be reading all of the titles listed, but everyone else is encouraged to adapt the list to their own use.

Not all countries celebrate halloween, certainly not like we do here in the US. But there is usually some parallel holiday/festival. anything similar in Norway?

Doesn't matter. you don't have to dress up in a costume to read the books.

#94 Okey:) I might join you for a book or two:) Actually Halloween has started to be popular among kids over here, inspired by American film and tv:)

We also have our own version, but it's not a big celebration or anything. I think it's just to honor the dead. Some people light candles in the graveyard and they do something in church (I think), but it's not a big thing:)

Oh,happy day. The renovation work at the north side of my building ended today, so now it's just the south side left....and I'm eating warm waffles with home made strawberry jam:D lovely!

I'm trying to review a few of the books now, so I might have a few book related posts coming up:)

I'm eating warm waffles with home made strawberry jam How lovely life can be :-) (although I prefer mine with double cream...)

#26 She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Clara lives in New York with her father and aunt. The year is 1891, and Clara is a debutant in New York finest society. This is the book of banquets and balls, wealth and privilege, beautiful dresses and dancing cards. It is also the story about friendship, corsets and coming of age, betrayal and marriage. Clara Carter soon becomes the social seasons brightest star, followed by the society pages in both The New York Journal and The Tattler in a real Gossip Girl kind of way.
She Walks in Beauty is an entertaining book, but the characters and the story are both a little flat. However, this does not stop me from wanting to finish the book. I think it will qualify as christian literature, but this is a very underdeveloped side of the character and is therefore a very small part of the story.

Nice story, nice characters, okey book, quite average entertainment…nothing more or less.

I needed a waltz for this book, so I picked my favourite! This clip also includes people dancing the waltz. Fantastic! This melody alone makes it worth watching the New Year concert from Vienna every year!

An der schönen blauen Donau - Johann Strauss

#99 Indeed;) One has to appreciate the little things, right?

#27 Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

Annie is 39 years old, childless and living with her boyfriend Duncan in a boring little village called Gooleness, in the northern part of England. Duncan has one interest in life, a Cohen/Dylan inspired American musician named Tucker Crowe. Crowe disappeared from the spotlight after a little trip to a toilet in a local pub in 1986. A small group of dedicated fans, lead by Duncan, have spent the last fifteen years running a website and analyzing Crowes music. They speculate in his disappearance and make up theories on what he might be up to at present time.

Just like Hornby’s break-through novel High Fidelity, Juliet, Naked is a story about geeky music fans. The book opens with Duncan’s pilgrimage in the US, following Tucker Crowes footsteps across the continent. Duncan is of course in the lead, followed by a reluctant Annie, the books real protagonist. She is passive, childless and sick and tired of Duncan and everything concerning Tucker Crowe.

Then, out of the blue, there is a new Tucker Crowe album on the market. The album is a second recording of Crowes most popular album, Juliet, re released as Juliet, Naked. This is when change is set to happen in Duncan, Annie and Tucker Crowes lives.

This is the story of “fifteen years later”, of not loving your partner, of stagnation and indifference. It is also the story of change and taking responsibility of your own life and actions.

The book was ok, not bad, not brilliant, but ok. There was a lot about music, which is great. I have to admit I had to Google Tucker Crowe to see if he was a real artist, but he was not. So, what goes better to a book about music, than music? Since Crowe is not real, I will give you one of his supposed inspirations, a man who deserves the recognition of this beautiful song.

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah

Glad to see you enjoyed She Walks in Beauty, though I think I liked it more than you did :) But there's nothing wrong with good old average entertainment!

Hey, Bente! Just waving as I head through the threads.

I am a huge fan of the Nick Hornby stories as they've been translated to film but have never read any of the novels. He was on NPR a whileback and is a very engaging author. Someday I'll get around to the novels. In the meantime, i'll have to pull out the movie version of High Fidelity for a re-watch.

#101 Maybe it's just my memory. I remember enjoying it at the time, but it's been a while since I finished it. It was a good read, but not a great if you know what I mean:D

#102 Thank you for stopping by Stasia. I'm thrilled that someone is waving at my thread!! How are you?

#103 If you like High Fidelity, I suspect you would like this one too, though I have not read High Fidelity myself. It is one of my sister-in-laws favourite book/film:)

Btw, does anyone in here know how far Galveston is from Houston? In km and time?:)

The days and weeks pass by so incredibly fast. This week we had to save an old school archive, in one of the oldest schools in my hometown. They were cleaning up in the basement and suddenly found a room everyone had forgotten about...at least for some years. It was a horrible mess, and we've spent to whole days 3-5 workers, packing and saving old documents and protocols.

And......books! Loads and loads of old school books, history books, books this and books that. Box after box with old and glorious books. And that's the scary part. Our work was to save whatever must be saved, and throw away the rest. I admit I felt greedy, yes, greedy! Me and free books just don't get along...'cause I want them all! How can one possibly walk away from free books?

Well, I had to get a grip and focus on my job, but I did get, well...maybe between eight and ten. Oh, I am almost ashamed. But my coworkers got some too, so I was not alone.

How do you guys react to free books?

Well, my first job was to select books that came into the library from schools, libraries, convents, churches, etc. The first day, they gave me a box with some 20 books. I had to check if we already had them in our collection and if so, if the edition was better. If we already had it, we could either decide to give it to other libraries or throw it away. We were allowed to take with us all the books that were to be thrown away. The first day, I went home with five books, but the next day a truck arrived (literally) with appr. 3000 books which I had to work my way through... The following day, a similar truck arrived. I got cured from hoarding books right then and there. I love books but I can easily keep my distance from the physical aspect of them because there are libraries that store them for us. Nowadays, I tend to choose my books carefully and am perfectly happy with the library for the bigger part of my reading. I guess I've just seen too many books that once belonged to people that were thrown away after they died. Oh, and the fact that free books have a history which sometimes isn't so appealing (like finding cookie-crumbles, mould and other, more horrific things between the pages...)
But ah, the joys of archives and finding something unique in it. Nothing can beat that!

I love old books, especially the old hard covers, so I tend to hoard those. I have lucked out at the library sales this year and been able to pick up some very good older books from that source.

Well, maybe I'll ditch the free books to when I lack a place to put them:) I think books are beautiful, and I like to decorate with them. They're all you need really...or maybe a few pictures on the wall...the wall that holds no bookshelf;)

#107 Nice! I love old books too:) And they look so nice on a shelf!

#108: Yes, they do!

Hallo! Lovely review of Juliet, Naked - you've encouraged me to buy it after all at some point. I identified hugely with High Fidelity and I've heard a lot of reviewers say it's the same sort of thing, just not as good, so it's good to hear someone being positive about it.

...I'm afraid I prefer Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah though (is that sacrilegious?)

#103 BDB, I seriously recommend you read High Fidelity, if you enjoyed the film - I think you'll like it. I was very worried when the film came out - besides anything else, I just didn't see how it could be transferred to the US as there's a very British sense of identity to it, but I thought it worked surprisingly well (although I am a fan of John Cusack, so...) - nonetheless, it's a different story really. Fever Pitch even more so - in fact in that case, I prefer the film.

#105 What a wonderful discovery! Very jealous...

Hi Bente, just dropped in to say hello at last - it's over a month since I got back from my holiday in Stavanger, but then I was away again, and in September I have not managed to do much on LT so far.

I had a fantastic time in Norway - what a beautiful country you live in! I've put one or two pictures on my thread and hope to post some more. Although I was mostly hanging around in Stavanger visiting museums etc, while my friend was at work, we did have some trips away at weekends: we visited the Hardangerfjord area and the folk museum at Utne, and stayed at Rosendal, and we also went cycling on some of the islands north of stavanger, and climbed a smallish mountain with a great view - and I did also manage to climb up to Preikestolen also (it nearly killed me, but I got there!).

Here's one of the many spectacular views:


I managed to speak a few words of Norwegian occasionally, but usually didn't understand the reply. I wanted to buy a book in Norwegian as a souvenir - I thought that a children's book might be easier to understand, and eventually I bought a Norwegian copy of The Hobbit since I can compare that with my English copy to see how the language works a bit more. I don't know whether I will ever get round to looking at it again... but I would like to go back to Norway some day, there is so much that I didn't see.

As for your recent reading, I have read some of Nick Hornby, but not Juliet, Naked. It does sound interesting, may add that to the wishlist.

Hi Bente! I'm ashamed to say that this is my first time to your thread, look at the beautiful pictures I've been missing, the great books you've purchased and read this year. I'll need to check in a little bit more often.

#110: You're quite welcome to like the version you want:) Jeff Buckley has a nice version too!

#111: Welcome back, Genny:D I'm so impressed you made it to the preachers pulpit, I can't express it enough. You would most definitely suffer a heart attack if ever forced up there! It's so funny The Hobbitis defined as children's lit, since I don't think many kids read it over here. I think I first heard about it in my teens. Well, I guess there is something called technological progress since then, but still.. I hope you do get a chance to read the Norwegian version! Just cry out of you need some help:)

#112: Welcome to my humble(?) thread, Lynda! Hope to see you around:)

So....I'm sort of having this dilemma. I finished a book thursday afternoon, and I liked it. The problem is that I can not make up my mind as to which book I should read next! For three days I have been pacing my bookshelves, or a stack of forty books I' most likely would end up reading, but I can not decide! I pick a book, open it, close it, read the back cover again, reopen it, close it again, walk back to the shelf, leave it there and start all over again. It sucks! How to get over this? I ordered four new books at amazon to compensate, though they wont be here until next week. I have a stack of books to review as well, but my concentration is lacking, so...well, not really up for that either.

Well, just picked up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone. Hopefully it will keep me occupied the rest of the night:)

I hope you all get a lovely start of the week, and that you are all reading really good books!

;-) Oh, I know what you mean, as I look at the pile of TBRs waiting for my attention and cannot settle on anything to read!

The only danger with your pick as that you will end up having to read the whole series over again--always a danger with many of my comfort reads!

#114: I know what you mean, but I will be strong. Enjoying the read while it lasts though:)

>111 gennyt:: Genny, with your permission I'm going to steal your idea of buying a children's book in the native language next time I'm in a foreign country. How cool to choose one that you can compare to the English version. That would have made my shopping more fun when I was looking for souvenirs in Germany and Denmark a few years ago.

>113 Apolline:: Hi Bente. Sorry about the book dilemma, but looks like you solved your own problem. I sometimes ask for advice on which book to read next on my thread when I get desperate.

Also, I'm totally with you on your comments upthread about books being decorative. Lots of books and family photos make a home look loved and lived in.

Hi Bente! Finally got around to catching up on your thread. I've been missing out on so much during the summer, I can see.

Congrats on your new job, it sounds lovely. I'm a sucker for free books. I try to control myself, but it's hard, real hard :)

Another Faust sounds really great. I'll be putting it on the TBR list and hopefully get around to it soon(ish).

Oh and to answer your question waaaay back. I have watched the BBC adaption of P&P (again and again). I loooove it!

Well, hope you're doing really well (sounds like it). And hoping to stay in tune with your thread from now on (as well as possible).

#116: I have opened, read a few pages and then closed it again so many times the passed few weeks. I know I will finish the books later, but I just can't seem to concentrate on the right now. Don't think they're bad though:) Hope you're doing fine Donna, and I welcome all the book tips I can get! Please, just fill my thread with them:D

#117: Hi Tanja! You are finally back and my response is sooooo late. I'm sorry! How are you? I LOVE P&P, can't say it enough! So glad to have you back, Tanja!

#28 Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

The story in this book is based upon a Norwegian fairy tale called “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”. This was also the reason I decided to read it, since I love fairy tales and have always wondered how it would be if someone rewrote one of them in a more modern way without all the definite rules of fairy tales. Oh, how I was disappointed.

We have the standard components of a fairy tale, the lovely heroine, her stupid family (some of them at least), helpers, a polar bear, magic, trolls, snow and lots and lots of gold. The heroine is the youngest daughter of a large family. She has no name, because her mother wanted a son and therefore could not bother naming her, her family therefore just called her Pika (which means girl or “the girl”, but is rarely used and rather ridiculous as a nickname in my opinion) A great, white bear persuades her to live with him in a lovely castle, and in return her family will become rich. It would not be a fairy tale if there was no evil lurking under the surface, and so is the case also in this one. I will not reveal too much of the plot, since fairy tales are best discovered by reading it yourself or being read to instead of having it explained. Where is the magic in that?

I had such high hopes for this book. A foreign author choosing to write a book based on a Norwegian fairy tale and one of my favourites too. But maybe that is why I was so disappointed by it. I knew the tale too well, and everything seemed strange, silly and at times completely ridiculous to me. The author used names not typically for Norwegian fairy tales, she made it sound like everybody was eating “lefse” all the time, which is actually cake. Who has a diet consisting mostly of cake? Not a poor woodcutter’s family, that is for sure. Maybe it is just me; maybe it is more exotic for someone not that familiar with this tale or Norwegian culture. I do not know. I just pray you will read the original fairy tale before you read this book!

The best part of the book was the author's thank you note on page 5: “For my parents: You gave me life, you gave me love, you gave me a plane ticket to Norway. Thank you.”

The best fairy tale melody ever:
Edvard Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King

Diana Krall - East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)

#119 Hi Bente. What a strange coincidence! I just posted details on my own thread of my latest read, North Child which is a different retelling of the fairy tale 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon'. I enjoyed mine more than you did this one, by the sound of it. I would be interested to know whether as a Norwegian you find this one any more authentic. They don't eat any 'lefse' at least!

#116 Happy to lend the idea!

Hi Genny! Wow, that is quite a coincidence. I read the book a couple of months ago, hehe, so it is rather weird that both of us posted our reviews tonight! Your book sounded a lot better than mine, nice review btw, so I would definitely check it out. The one I read was filled with too many cliches, so please stay away!

#29: Jo fortere jeg går, jo mindre er jeg (The faster I walk, the less I am) by Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold

Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold is a Norwegian author, and this is her debut novel published in Norway in 2009. The book has been sold to publishers in the US, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

It starts off as a surreal story about a lonely old woman, Mathea Martinsen, living in Oslo. Mathea spends most of her time at home, in her apartment, waiting for her husband Epsilon, knitting and composing little rhymes. As we get to know her story, it is easy to see that Mathea is a woman who struggles to make contact with other people, and therefore isolates herself at home. She does not want to make any fuss, do not want to be a problem for the staff in the grocery store, all in all, she is almost invisible.

But there has been a great change in Mathea’s life. Suddenly she spends a lot of her time checking out recent deaths, and she is making a time capsule, containing everything with some value from her life. Now, as an old woman she is stricken with a large grief, and she get scared that she will die before anyone knows she has lived.

I really liked this book. It is great to see how a book can be a “feelgood” novel and yet contain so many serious topics. Social anxiety, loneliness and death are all topics either discussed or showed through Mathea’s recollection of life and in her attempts to join the outside life again. I cry for Mathea, I cheer for Mathea, and in many ways I feel so sorry for her. You cannot help but being touched, in one way or the other, by her story. It is a tragedy and a comedy, all in once. Now I want to go visit my grandparents!

Two songs for Mathea!
Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels Like Home

Sarah McLachlan - Angel

#30 And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Ten people, all strange to each other and with very little in common, get tricked to meet at an island outside the coast of Devon, England. During dinner the first night, it appears that most of them are hiding a dark secret. The same night, the first person dies, all in term with a nursery rhyme hanging in each of the bedrooms. No one is safe, and no one can leave the island due to the storm keeping them isolated from the mainland. Who will be the next victim? Who is the murderer? And why is this person apparently so vengeful?

This is one of my favourite Agatha Christie crime-novels. It is impossible to know who the murderer is before you get to the epilogue. This is my third time reading the book, and it is funny to look for the clues when you know who did it. Highly recommended for those who likes cozy mysteries!

Sting & The Police - Murder by Numbers

I have been neglecting my thread over the summer, but here's a list of the books between 21-30:

21. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
22. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
23. The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna
24. Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
25. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry
26. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell
27. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
28. The Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
29. Jo fortere jeg går, jo mindre er jeg (The faster I walk, the less I am) by Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold
30. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

#119: I enjoyed that one more than you did, Bente, in all probability because I had no familiarity with the folk tale. I am sorry you did not care for it more.

#123: That is one of my favorite Christie books too!

#118 – Oh, don't worry about late responses, Bente. I'm a bit late in general here on LT at the moment :) Well, I'm fine and glad to be back. I'm a bit off fairy tales in general, but I think I wanna read East of the Sun, West of the Moon (the real fairy tale, not the retelling). I've never heard about before, except the title appears in some Danish children song, that I can't quite recall. But you make it sound really good, and I think I might just be in the mood for it.

I thought for sure you would pick one of the versions of the jazz tune East of the Sun, West of the Moon. diana Krall has a great recording of it.

#125: Well, I guess a book can not please everybody:) There were just too many clichès for me to appreciate it.

The Christie book is ingenious:D

#126; I have always loved fairy tales and I used to read a lot of it when I was younger. Hope you like it when you get to it Tanja. Maybe you should practice reading it aloud to the little one arrives:)

#127: I would definitely have picked it if I had known about it. Thanks Mac. I'm adding it in your honor:)

#128: I guess a book can not please everybody.

That is the truth! And honestly, would we want a 'one size fits all' book? I think not.

#128 – Not that I need an excuse for reading it, but what a fine idea, Bente :)

#129 – It would definitely make LT pretty boring! Imagine all the similar reviews.. :)

#130: I read to Beth before she was born, so go for it, Tanja!

#130: Np;) Glad to be useful!

#129 & #130: I agree! What's the point of a discussion if we did not have different opinions? Where's the fun in that?:)

#132: What's the point of a discussion if we did not have different opinions?

There would be no point and frankly, I learn a lot from other people's points of view. I would hate to give that up!

#133: Exactly! What's the point if we can not learn from each other?

Hmph! It feels like only last week I complained about the weather, but sorry...can not help myself! It is snowing! Nooooo! Where did the summer go?

hi Bente, I am catching up with the threads, haven't been here for way too long.

>134 Apolline:
Summer is gone :-)
At least I am happy that the fall is here.
Well, I can complain about a little low temperature and too much rain, but give me this weather anyday over hot summer days!

>134 Apolline:: Snowing? Oh no...the downside of living in Norway. I hope it is pretty. I always love the first snow we get, although I hope it doesn't come for at least another month!

And Then There Were None is probably my favorite Agatha Christie novel of all time! At least, of the ones I've read. :)

#137 - Mine too, well that is one of my three or four.

#135: Glad to have you back, Anita! I just wish the fall would last a little longer before the snow showed up!:)

#136: Definitely the downside of living in the northern areas, though this was a little early, even for us! The snow was all wet unfortunately, but tonight it is very cold, so I guess it will freeze!:)

#137 & 138: Genius, right?! You should reread it;)

#139 - Actually, I'm (re-)reading all of Agatha Christie's books in order now, starting with the Hercle Poirotbooks. I must admit I seem to prefer the ones without a Hercule, Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence. I haven't got far as I've started on her anniversary. But A.C.'s books are quick reads and perfect when you're ill or swamped with work which takes up all brain-energy necessary for the more demanding books. You should try it too :-)

#140: Cool! I haven't read any of the books with Tommy and Tuppence, but I do like Hercule and Miss Marple:) I've read three AC books this year, and might add a few more. They really are quick reads and exiting without keeping you from getting some sleep at night!

Oh, I think I need to watch Narnia on DVD tonight. I'm currently reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a TIOLI challenge (old children's story and a book that Stasia recommended back in 2006) and listening to the soundtrack from both Lion, witch, wardrobe and Prince Caspian. Wonderful background music! And delightful book of course!

#141: I do love C.S. Lewis! I am glad to hear you are enjoying the book, Bente!

>134 Apolline: Where did the summer go?
It came to New Zealand! We've had a great few days and I have to say I'm happy to see it! So thanks for passing it on! :-)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was on TV here last night- I tried to stay up through the ads and see some NZ scenery, but had to go to bed. Have you seen the movie?

#142: It's been a while since I last read it, but it is good:)

#143: Could you please pass it back? I was not quite finished with it;)

I have seen the movie several times. It is wonderful!:) I thought about watching it Sunday, but ended up seeing Where the Wild Things Are instead. I didn't know Narnia was filmed in NZ, though I am not surprised. You have beautiful scenery "down there". I think parts of NZ have some similarities with some of the scenery in Norway. Mountains and fjords:) Oh, how I look forward to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader coming up!!

#31 Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

I read this book in Norwegian and got rather surprised when I looked up the English title. I could not remember a character named Harry Winston. I thought I had lost memory of a character since I read the book rather fast, so I had to look through the book again, but found nothing. I wrecked my brain, but still could not find a link between Harry Winston and the plot of the book. So, I Googled Harry Winston…and guess what I found. I think you American readers will shake your head in disbelief, but I can honestly say I have never heard of Harry Winston before. To be honest, I do not think it was a describing title of the book, but at least I know where to look if I am ever in need of diamonds.

Back to the book.

Lauren Wiesberger used to work in Vogue and is the author of The Devil Wears Prada. That is the main reason I picked up this book in the first place. I have not read The Devil Wears Prada, but thought the film entertaining enough to pick up some chick lit to read on the beach in Mallorca. Well, I guess I was wrong, but I will get back to that later.

Warning, this section might contain SPOILERS, just because the plot annoys me THAT much!

Emmy, Adriana and Leigh are best friends. They live in New York. They met at college. Adriana is a party princess who lives off her filthy rich parents, with no intentions of ever getting a job or settling down. Emmy is a chef who just got single, living in a tiny apartment with a nasty parrot. Leigh is a book editor, she has a good looking and perfect boyfriend, who happens to like sports and in the end is supposed to be a stereotypical jock to the point of being nauseating. Though, not in the way the author wants it to be, I actually feel sympathy with the jock, because why is it if an author needs a flat character, they choose a good looking man who likes sports and is not really smart, and not at all a right match to the lead character? Why is that every single time the protagonist have a picture perfect boyfriend/lover, but the protagonist does not love him etc. and the author just throws in a guy with ruffled hair, sparkle in his eye and is so damn predictable you want to throw up? Why is it that the picture perfect guy is portrayed in a way that his biggest flaw is that he is flawless? The unpredictable route would be to let him win or get the girl in the end. I have had two months to chill down, but this still annoys me.

Well, back to the plot. The three girls make a deal to change their lives in the following year. Adriana swears off one-night stands, Emmy swears she will start to have one-night stands, and Leigh just tags along.

I guess you wonder why I even finished the book if I disliked it that much, and believe me I wondered the same thing. My excuse is that I was on a holiday and books were few.

To put it simple, this is a Sex and the City wannabe/rip off, whatever you choose. The characters are as flat as paper and they do not get any thicker throughout the book, they do not even reach the thickness of carton. The plot is annoyingly bad and predictable. The book is even more filled with product placement than many movies, but this might be a good thing, because of the product placement this book will soon be uncool/old fashioned/out of time and therefore the book will be out of market soon. I do not have to be a psychic to predict that this book will never be a classic, and that is a good thing!

Beyonce - Single ladies

#145: Planting that one firmly on my 'Do Not Read' list! Better luck with your next read, Bente!

Good choice, Stasia! You're not missing out!:)

Doesn't sound like it! I think I can continue happily on my way without that book.

Yupp, just move on! The question I am left with is, why does bad books like this get published in the first place? Sorry, I know it is a contradiction to earlier posts...(there is a reader to every book...and not being a book snob)but I generally wonder why! Is it because the author already has name in the business? I can never imagine a débutante getting away with this!

#32 Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Lara is a twenty-something, living in London, recently dumped by the love of her life. One day an unknown great aunt dies, and Lara and her family attains her funeral. During the funeral someone tries to get Lara’s attention. It turns out it is the ghost of her dead great aunt Sadie. Frozen in her early twenties, Sadie is not finished living.
But is the ghost of Sadie real, or is Lara loosing her mind?
Lara is thrown into embarrassing episodes, a mystery containing a lost necklace and to the arms of a gorgeous man.

This is an easy read, perfect for long days on the beach, since it does not need perfect concentration. At times I was a bit annoyed with Sadie, but it was an okey pass time book, nothing more and nothing less. A typical chick lit. novel. Very superficial, but it still had a feel-good aspect to the plot.

The Charleston :D

>145 Apolline: Well, I wasn't planning to read that one, but now I am planning NOT to read it.

#151: Sounds like a good plan;)

#150: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I enjoy Kinsella's Shopaholic books, so am giving that one a try when I need something light.

#153: Definitely light reading!;)

#33: Ghost Heart or Broken Paradise by Cecilia Samartin
This book was published in 2004 with the title Ghost Heart, but for some reason it changed to Broken Paradise instead. Ghost Heart is Samartin’s debut novel, and I have already read another of her books this year, Tarnished Beauty, a book I really enjoyed. I liked this book even more!

In this novel we get to know Alicia and Nora, cousins, best-friends and kindred spirits. No one can play like Alicia and Nora and no one can laugh like Alicia and Nora. Their life in Havana is good and safe, with visits to the beach, nice clothes and good food. But then Castro and the revolution destroys everything. Nora and her family leaves for the US, while Alicia stays behind. Nora’s family escape the hunger and constant propaganda, but Nora can not let her life in Cuba go. She miss Alicia too much. Throughout the book we follow Nora’s life in the new and foreign country, and how Alicia is coping and learning to live with the revolution. I will not reveal too much of the plot, this book is too good to destroy for someone.

This is a book about finding a balance between greef and hope, love and pain. Despite of the heavy theme, it is still optimistic. There are some clichés, but they are well placed and not too many. The story is both beautiful and sad. I really liked this book, and apparently (I have not read the books myself) people who liked The Kite Runner and The Island might like this book too.

I think we need a little bit of Cuban music to this one. I'm not familiar with the band, I just picked something from youtube:) Hope you like it!

Dimi playing in Baracoa with Loly y sus atrevidos

#34: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Another Jane Austen book for me this year, and it did not disappoint. I guess most people are known with Austens works, so I wont linger on the plot. The heroine is called Fanny Price. Her mother was born rich, but married poor, and having too many children to feed, sends Fanny to live with her aunt and uncle. She soon becomes a part of the family, though maybe not completely. Her uncle early decides that Fanny is not good enough to marry any of his sons. Fanny has another aunt, Mrs. Norris, who loves to make life difficult for poor Fanny. Drama is soon to be set on Mansfield Park.

So, where to start and where to stop? Maybe I can just make it simple. I really liked this book! I am clearly an Austen-fan, though this was not my favourite. I simply can not let Persuasion and P&P go. Definitely a must-read!

Yiruma - When The Love Falls

156: Ah, the last Austen book I have yet to read. I really can't call myself an Austen-fan until I finish it so thanks for the reminder! :)

#157: Haha, maybe I'm a bit early then, I have still Emma and Sense and Sensibility left. Though, I have a feeling I will not be disappointed :)

Remember, Stasia is going to be doing an Austenathon at the first of the year, reading through all 6 novels, one a month, I believe. I know I'm scheduling rereads to join in then.

Yes, the Austenathon will be going on starting in January, reading through Austen's 6 major works. The timetable has not yet been determined - it may be one a month or one every two months, depending on the consensus.

158: Both are fantastic books! I really liked Emma in particular and I hope you will too. This Austenathon looks fun!

#159: I did not know about the Austenathon, but thanks Roni for making me aware of it! I'm so in!! Or maybe I'll skip Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey since I read them both recently, but definitely the other four!!

#160: Stasia, can I join your Austenathon? Is it a group read?

#161: I hope I will too. Looks like I might read them both next year then:D

I came across this webpage the other day, might be interesting for us Austen fan's:)

The Jane Austen’s Fiction Manuscripts Digital Edition

#162: Bente, of course you may join! I will be setting up the thread for the group read after Jim starts the new group come December.

Yay!!! Looking forward to it! Where do we start? I might need to prepare. I'm a slow reader compared to the rest of you:D

#164: We are going to read them in order: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and finally Persuasion.

#165: Saving the best for last??! haha, well that's just me I guess. But nice order, then I get some time on both S&S and Emma!

Can't wait to start:D

#165: Since both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published posthumously, I guess we could read them in reverse order, but I think we will stick with this one.

Uh, suddenly a lot of reviews here.. Lovely :)

Ghost Heart/Broken Paradise will be going on my TBR list. Mansfield Park is already there, but might be getting closer to being read. The other two I'll skip (particularly the first!).

I really like your reviewing style, Bente. Wish I could find the time and energy to review more of the books I read. Oh well, as long as I can find time to read them at least :)

#168 You should join the Austenathon, or read it when the rest do:) Or wait, when is the littleone coming? I guess you wont be reading much the first period after the baby is born:)

Thank you btw:) I do not have a boyfriend or a baby coming to occupy my nights. I guess that's just it, and you are doing good your own way:) Reading is the most important!

#167: Good plan:)

162: Sweet web site, I've bookmarked it and have something fun to do at work...not that I'm surfing the Internet or anything! :P

#145 I'd never heard of Harry Winston either; but it sounds as if the unclear title was only the beginning of the things wrong with the book. I shan't be rushing to read that one!

The Austenathon will be the place to be when 2011 rolls around. I'll be doing the "Big Two" -- P&P and S&S. I may pop in and read Emma again, too, to try and figure out why so many people are down on it. It's my second favorite Jane Austen book with Pride and Prejudice firmly in the number one spot.

I'm glad you're considering this, Bente. It will be fun to read some books together.

#169 – He (the baby) is due around November 28. So I probably won't be getting a lot of reading done after that, but maybe, if I can manage, I'll join the Austenathon for either Mansfield Park or Persuasion.

And thank you for the kind words, Bente :)

#173: For some reason, I thought the baby was due later than that! Do you have names picked out?

#173 – Nope, Stasia, it's right around the corner. Time suddenly dissappeared, I must admit :)

We believe he's going to be called Birk (which is probably pronounced differently in English than in Danish), named after a character in the children's book Ronja Rövardotter (Ronia, the Robber's Daughter) by Astrid Lindgren.

Looks like I didn't get to my Austen this year. Maybe I can join you guys for one?

#172: Thanks Donna! I'm really looking forward to it! I'll love discussing the books as we proceed:)

#175: I love that name, Tanja! Oh, it is so exciting! But I do hope you will join us in the 75'ers group once in a while next year too:)

#176: Sure! Which one do you want:)

Felt like sharing this with you tonight. A good old classic in a new wrapping:) It's almost like LT, everybody spread around the world.

Stand by me

#178: Thanks for sharing that, Bente! I am going to see if Netflix has the documentary available . . .

Unfortunately, not yet.

#177 – Thanks Bente! And I hope I can find the time to be here on LT too. It probably won't be much, but I would hate not being here at all. All the great people I would miss.. and the book talk!

the next one I was going to read was Sense and Sensibility When do you all start?

#181: We will be starting in January, Mac.

#179: We'll just have to wait and see then :) Glad you liked it!

#180: I hope you will pop in from time to time, that way we could follow little Birk too:) We will miss you when you're gone!

#181: Hope you will join us, Mac!

#35 Evermore by Alyson Nöel

After loosing her family in a car accident, Ever Bloom moves to her aunt just outside LA. Ever starts a new school, but she has left her life as a popular girl behind where she came from. After the accident that killed her parents and little sister, Ever can suddenly read people’s minds and see their auras. She decides to stay away from people, not wanting to intrude on their privacy, and therefore keeps to her two close friends. Her quiet life comes to an end when a hot, new guy shows up at school one day. Damen Auguste takes an interest in Ever, but he is different than the others. He has no aura, and Ever can not read his mind. Before she knows why, Ever is drawn towards Damen, not knowing how to stop it.

Well, if you have not yet understood it, this is another teen-series riding the Twilight wave. Yet again we meet a young girl, beautiful, but takes no notice of it. Quiet, few friends, difficult home situation etc. Then a mysterious stranger appears, more stunningly beautiful than anyone who ever walked on this planet before, get the picture?
I liked this book better than Wicked Lovely which I read earlier this year, but I am not sure whether I will read more of the series, or not. Probably not!

Evanescence - My Immortal

184: Good review, but I think I'm teenaged out after just finishing Linger. I think you summed up the Twilight wave pretty accurately. :)

#36 Undercover by Beth Kephart

How lovely it is to read a book for teens that dare escape the tiring plot about handsome, god like strangers and supposedly troubled, adolescent girls as deep as the snow in Sahara. How nice it is to read a book for teens with beautiful language and references to poetry.
In this book we meet Elisa, a young girl, who is misunderstood at home, and not really popular at school. She keeps to herself most of the time and her older sister will not even acknowledge her at school. But Elisa has a secret, a secret she shares with almost every boy in school. Or every boy who is in love that is. She is a ghost writer. She write love notes for boys who wants to impress a girl. The girls are never told who the real poet is, and so Elisa can keep up the charade. But then Elisa falls in love with Theo, a boy she just wrote a love note for, a boy who is in love with someone else.

I really liked this book. It is gentle, moving and in a way, tender. Elisa is a very likeable character, and in many ways she reminds me of Paloma in The Elegance of the Hedgehog, one of my favourite reads this year. Paloma has her profound thoughts and observation of movements, Elisa is preoccupied with explaining the changes in the nature surrounding her to her absent father.

Dear Dad, I can’t keep track of the changes alone, I can’t do this without you. Dear Dad, it snows, then the snow is gone, then it snows again harder, and I can’t find where I was going to inside all the weather. Dear Dad, Is this what it takes to be so good at poems, that you hurt all the time and you don’t have real friends and you have no one to talk to, so you write?

I needed the scorch of the moon and the cold on my face. I needed the stream beneath the moon and the sky full of stars. I needed ravens if there were still ravens clumped up in those trees, and if there were an owl hiding out somewhere, just one white owl, I’d climb his back and I would say, Please. Fly me anywhere.

Here’s another change I’ve noticed: The dark is more than the sun dropping off, more than the moon and the stars. It’s what you can’t see that you hope you will see, what hasn’t been that might be.

I would heartily recommend this book to any of you. Just looking up the quotes made me want to read it again.

Tom McRae - The Girl Who Falls Downstairs

#185 Thanks, Marie. I have not read Linger myself, but I have considered it. I guess, I wont for a while. The books always seem exciting, but then they end up disappointing. I like the good surprises instead:) How did you like Linger?

#37 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling

This was my comfort read a little while back, and I do not think it need any introduction, or a review. Roni warned me of ending up reading the whole series, and though it is tempting, I will not read all the books this time. Yay to me:) Love the book and love the series. I do not think I need to say more.

Hedwig's theme

I forgot to add a quote from the book, so here it comes!

They bought Harry's school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. Even Dudley, who never read anything, would have been wild to get his hands on some of these.

I guess that goes for me too:)

187: Well, Linger is the second book of the Mercy Falls series. Think Twilight without the vampires and just the wolves plus better writing. I liked it well enough, but I can only read so many mythical creature books before I need something else. I'd recommend it when you're in the mood to try a new series. The last book is out next year.

Undercover looks pretty good. I've never heard of Beth Kephart before, but you made me want to try her. And Harry Potter is ALWAYS good. :)

#189: I know what you mean. Guess I'll put it on my wish list and maybe I'll get to it next year:)

I had never heard of Kephart before either and just came across her book on amazon. If you haven't read The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, I highly recommend that too:)

It's not long before Deathly Hallows is out in the movies. Looking forward too it:D

#186: Thanks for the recommendation of the Kephart book, Bente. I will look for that one!

#186 – Undercover sounds really good. Putting in on my TBR list and hoping to get to it soon(ish).

Impressive that you can read just the first Harry Potter book. I would never be able to do that! Oh oh, now I must immediately think of something else or I'll end up reading the entire series (again!) and there are so many other books I want to read.

#191 & 192: I hope you both will like it:)

I'm not so sure about the Harry Potter books anymore, Tanja! I read The Tales of Beedle the Bard last nigh for the TIOLI challenge...and now I really, really want to start The Chamber of Secrets. I always enjoy reading the HP books, but as you said, there are so many books I want to read. Though, Deathly Hallows is coming up soon, can't wait!!:D

#38: I Remember You by Harriet Evans

Tess is heartbroken after a terrible break up, and decides to leave London to move back to the town she grew up. But after many years of exile in the big city, Langford is not quite as she remembered. Her best friend since childhood, Adam, still lives in Langford, after giving up his college education before he even started. Now he is too preoccupied with his new girlfriend to help Tess through her difficult time. Then you have the local quarrel over the water meadows, the mystery surrounding the local benefactor, Leonora Mortmain, and a trip to Rome.
Have time ruined Tess and Adam’s true friendship forever, will the water meadows be saved and what happened to Leonora that made her so bitter?

This was good for a chick lit book. Though it took me a little while to get enthusiastic, it did grow on me. I think it is difficult to read this type of literature without meeting any clichés, but they were not to soppy and not too many.

I Remember You

#39:The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I suppose most of you already know this one, and therefore it needs no further introduction. I read this for last months TIOLI challenge, though I forgot to register it on the wikipage thing. It is always a delight to immerse yourself in the world of fauns, dryads, centaurs and speaking lions. Narnia is a good place to escape for both children and adults. I would recommend this series to anyone who would listen. I have never read any of the books in English, but I will buy them soon, so I will not start Prince Caspian before I have the English edition. Maybe next year.

Narnia theme song

I grew up watching the BBC series of Narnia, I think they made versions of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair. Though the new films are much better (in my opinion) both in acting and special effects, I get sort of sentimental listening to the original theme.

Narnia original theme

A little taste of the BBC series

and here...

and the last one...

Now you will understand what I mean;)

#40 The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

TIOLI challenge for November.

This book is deeply connected with tha last book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It consists of an introduction by Rowling, six fairy tales for little wizzards and witches and Dumbledore’s notes to these tales.

I liked the book mostly because you get to know Dumbledore in a new way. In the series we mostly see Dumbledore through Harry’s eyes (and some of Dumbledore’s memories), but this is a new angle. It is a nice addition to the series, it just shows how much the wizzarding world has grown since the Philosopher’s stone was released.

It is the same with me and HP as with Jane Austen, it is hard to be objective. I liked it, I really did, but I’m not sure if anyone not interested in HP should be bothered. It is mainly for Potter-fans, though that does not lower my appreciation of it.

The Potter waltz (from The Goblet of Fire)

Yay! I have reached 40 books this year! I know it is nowhere near 75, but it is still a lot for me:)

Here's my list of books between 31-40:

31 Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
32 Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
33 Ghost Heart or Broken Paradise by Cecilia Samartin
34 Mansfield Par by Jane Austen
35 Evermore by Alyson Nöel
36 Undercover by Beth Kephart
37 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
38 I Remember You by Harriet Evans
39 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
40 The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Congrats on 40! Would you believe I've never read a single book by C.S Lewis before? I really should...as well as The Tales of Beedle the Bard. It's on my shelf waiting for me to read it.

Beedle the Bard was a very quick read. Don't know why I waited so long to read it...I've had it on my shelf for almost two years, can you believe that? And I call myself a Potter-fan. It's almost embarrassing;)

The Narnia books are quick reads too. The language is simple and the descriptions of the scenery is not too detailed...leaves more to your imagination. But this also means that film directors are not as bound when they make films. I haven't been disappointed yet:)

Congratulations on reaching 40!

Forty is very good, Bente! Congratulations!

Congrats on reaching 40, Bente! I got the collected Narnia stories (in Danish) for christmas a few years ago and immediately read them all. Love them, even though they are sometimes a bit too "christian" (if you might say so) for me, but still wonderful. Perhaps I should read them in English some day too.

#193 – Just think of something else, Bente, just think of something else :) I must admit I'm not a big fan of the movies myself. I think they are probably done as well as possible, but I'm just missing so much from the books, so it always bothers me to watch them. Anyway, enjoy Deathly Hallows when you get to watch it :)

#200, 201 & 202: Thanks!:)

I have not read a single thing since i finished the last book. Needed a little break I guess.

I didn't like all of the movies either (especially Order of the Phoenix), and they have left out so much of the subplots, I wonder how it will turn out. But I found nr 6 promising and therefore look forward to nr 7 part 1;) The movies are like the short/easy version of the books. Quite a substitute when I'm not allowed (by myself) to read the books....again!

Book tips anyone?

Oh, a few days ago I added up all the books I've bought this year (think I will need a ticker next year too!). I've spent 1450$ on books this year or £909. That is definitely a new record! I guess there will be no more book buying for me in a while. I think I need to work out a budget or something next year. Or maybe start using the library more.

But to my excuse I'm just saving up in case of the big book famine (don't remember what you guys called it)!
Oh, and I will definitely join the book mooching thing next year!

#203: But to my excuse I'm just saving up in case of the big book famine (don't remember what you guys called it)!

I love that excuse, Bente! BTW - it is called the World Wide Book Famine (WWBF for short).

ha ha WWBF- thats a good one. I'll have to use it.

>195 Apolline: I remember those Narnia books, my best friend as a child had the box set and I was so jealous! They looked so good. What a great reading plan.

#204 Wonderful! Great minds think alike, Stasia:D

#205 Of course you have...but if LT'ers buy of most of the books in the world (I have a feeling that us 75'ers could pull it off...at least the good books) wouldn't we create the WWBF ourselves?

Yay! I got a packet from amazon uk, today (must not be mixed with the packet from amazon us) and received the following books:

Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
Never Let Me Go byKazuo Ishiguro
Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler

I ordered these before I gave myself a book buying ban. Can't wait to start them!

Have a lovely evening everyone!

#206: Congrats on the books, Bente! Some nice reading there. Never Let Me Go was the first Ishiguro I ever read and I loved it.

#206 – Sounds like a good bunch, Bente. Looking forward to hearing more about them.

Hmm, you make me want to buy a lot of books, but I know I shouldn't. Haven't got either the money or the time to read them. The library is my very good friend, though it can never compete with the feeling when one stands with a brand new (or used, whatever) book in one's hand. Uhm, perhaps just one book. I'm actually going to a book thing (BogForum) today. Some books just might happen to fall into my hand, though I will of course try to resist :)

#207: I did read about it somewhere on LT, maybe it was on your thread:) It sounds nice!

#208: Maybe some day I will have a baby too, and I'm quite sure I wont be able to either buy or read as many books then. On the other hand, you are kicking my reading ass...I'm not going to reach 75 books this year, but you are far beyond!:)

Well, guys! I'm off to Reykjavik, Iceland, tomorrow morning. I'm staying till Sunday, so I might not be able to check in that often:) Good luck if Birk comes along one of these days!

See you guys soon!

Wow, Iceland.. Awesome! What are you doing there? And have a nice trip, Bente.

I would die to go to Iceland - hope it's a good time!

Have a wonderful time in Iceland, Bente. I would dearly love to visit there one of these days too :)

Thanks everybody! I just gor back from dinner at Perlan..lovely restaurant! We're her with work. Had to get up at 5 this morning, so a bit tired now. Went straight from the airport to the blue lagoon. It was fantastic. I truly recommend a trip.

Tell you more later, and will try to add some pictures when I get back:)

Hi guys! Back from Iceland (late last night and had to go early to work this morning) and very tired:)

I thought of adding a few pictures, but this thread is very slow, so I think I might have to start a new one. If no one minds, that is!:)

I vote PICTURES, so new thread, please!

I vote with Roni!

Thanks guys:) I will do it tomorrow. I'm off to bed now, still tired after the trip, haha!;)

OK, I guess we can wait until tomorrow :)

Can't wait to see pictures!