FrkFrigg's 75 books challenge 2010 #2

Thread no.2 is now alive...

I'll be reading both English and Danish book, and I'll list both. When possible I'll post the English title along with the Danish when I read Danish books.

I'll post the books as I read them and try and give each book a small review.

Here's a tiny introduction to me.

Oh yeah, and I'm also in the Books off the shelf challenge 2010, so 25 of my 75 books is going to be books I've bought no later than 31/12-09 (I hope..).







MY STARS:
0.5 - I absolutely hate it!
1.0 - Not good, I didn't really like it, but it's possible to get through without puking.
2.0 - It's OK I guess, nothing remarkable or memorable.
3.0 - A decent book. A nice way to spend an afternoon.
4.0 - Really good, recommendable.
4.5 - I love it. A definite favorite.
5.0 - Absolutely wonderful!

Heeeeey! You're back:D And I found you...and starred you, and send my best wishes for your last paper and exam!!

Woot! Found you again, Tanja.

I echo Bente: good luck with the last paper and exam!!

Haha, Bente, you managed to outrun Stasia, though Stasia usually always finds people's new threads first - sometimes almost before they are created :P

Thanks both of you!! And great to be back :)

I hope to update a bit on the book front today. Not that there is much to update, but still..

#4: Bente has a distinct advantage - she lives closer to you than I do, so does not have to overcome an 8 or so hour time deficit. I do sleep sometimes, you know?

#5 - I suspected it, but I didn't know for a fact that you sleep. I'm glad to know now, though I must say it increases the mystery of your reading speed, Stasia :P

49. Puk længe leve! (Puk 20)
50. God ferie, Puk (Puk 27)
51. Puk i højt humør (Puk 32)
52. Puk og Pim (Puk 37)
53. Puks overmand (Puk 41)
54. Ih, hvor er det spændende! (Puk 44)
55. I sidste sekund! (Puk 45)
56. Puk sætter rekord (Puk 46)
57. Hvor er Jill? (Puk 52)
58. Tre skrækkelige gavtyve (Puk 53)
59. En vildkat tæmmes (Puk 54)
60. Filmstjernens hævn (Puk 55)
61. Pigeskolens skræk (Puk 56)

All by Lisbeth Werner (and behind this female pseudonym hides one or two men, I don't exactly remember). For a tiny bit more info on this series, see here on the old thread.

62. Stillerum - lær at meditere by Marianne Beck & Gustavo Ribeiro. 2,5 stars.
A very easy read and sometimes slightly silly book about meditation. It has a beautiful (though perhaps a bit too light blue for my taste) layout and some good and simple pieces of advice on meditation for beginners. Not translated to English.

#6: There is no mystery about my reading speed, trust me. Just long nights of reading when everyone else is in bed.

#8 - So you say, Stasia, so you say. I'm still utterly impressed and slightly mystified :)

#9: So you say, Stasia

I have witnesses! No need for being impressed and/or mystified.

Oh, can't I please be just a little bit impressed..? I promise I'll keep silent about it (well, at least for some time).

Nope, no saying you are impressed. Go read a book or something as punishment :)

#12 I would hardly call reading a book punishment, but come to think of it, that really depends on the book. Some books are just...snoringly bad!

But hey, maybe I deserve a prize since I outdid you Stasia?? That is definitely a first. I have been out enjoying the sun, and watched football (Norway against Montenegro) today, unfortunately no reading. Tonight is the BIG Eurovision song contest, hahaha, who do you think will win Tanya? I wish Denmark the best of luck, don't think Norway will win this year. I guess it is time with something new, since Alexander Rybak has tormented us with Fairytale for a whole year by now ;D (believe me, it is much worse here in Norway than Denmark!!)

Hey LT stole my message.. here's the recreation (yes I forgot to copy the text).

#12 - You know what, I think I'll do just that, Stasia. It's been too long since I last read a (real - those Puk books don't count) book.

#13 - You definitely should get a prize.. hmm... Here it is.. Tadaa:

and the joy of reading a good book of your own choice! Congratulations!

You watch the Eurovision Song Contest? I'm surely not going to watch it, I've enjoyed hating it for as long as I can remember. And I hope very much that Denmark won't win, else I'll tormented with the supposedly horrible song for I don't know how long. Right now I haven't even heard the song and I prefer to keep it that way. Stupid, stupid contest!

If it is worse in Norway, Im really glad to be in Denmark :D

Haha, yeah, it's been a lot of Fairytale up north, quite happy to pass it on to tonights winner, Germany! But the fun part is to hate the Eurovision, to laugh at all the freak shows, the dresses and terrible songs, to shake your head disapprovingly when all the Eastern European countries only give points to their neighbour countries, and to stand up in rage when your own neighbour countries (hint hint Finland and Iceland) don't give points to you:D I have to admit I was quite astonished when Russia actually gave points to Georgia....didn't see that coming. A lot of politics in the Eurovision;)

Well, off to bed in a sec. Have a lovely weekend!

#13: There you are on the top step, Bente. I am on the second step, but I have no idea who that other person is :)

#15 - But I don't 'love to hate' it, Bente, I just plain oldfashioned HATE it. I refuse to have anything to do with it.. I don't know why I hate it that much, but I do, I really do :P

I would say nice weekend to you too, but I guess that just passed (I can't keep track of the days at the moment..), but have a lovely week then :)

#16 - Stasia, intruders - they are everywhere! :P And a lovely week to you too.

#17: I hope you have a great week as well, Tanja!

Done with paper no.2 and have read a few books:

63. Gravid med jordforbindelse / How to Have a Baby and Still Live in the Real World by Jane Symons. 1 star.
I suppose the title reveals it, but it's a book about pregnancy, giving birth and that sort of things. A sort of guide to pregnant women.

I didn't like this book! I mean at first it was pretty funny, but after just five comparisons of this kind: '(something pregnancy related) is like (something completely stupid and exaggerated)' I'd had enough. The whole book is trying to be funny in that way and it becomes really annoying very quickly! And so does the stereotypic male and female descriptions.

Apart from the exhausting humour, I don't really trust the facts in this book. I found several different things that was either completely wrong or just slightly off.

One good thing I have to say about this book is that the translation to Danish is great. They have actually changed a lot to make it fit Danish conditions. That isn't something you see everyday. Just wish the book itself was better.

64. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. 4,5 stars.
Series: Queen's Thief (3)
I liked this book a lot more than I liked the first two in the series, but I can hardly tell why without spoiling the plot of the entire series and this specific book. I'm looking forward to reading the next, but I suppose it'll take some time before it arrives at the Danish libraries.

65. De 5 - og den skjulte borg /Five on Finniston Farm by Enid Blyton. 3 stars.
Series: De fem serien / The Famous Five
I have never before read any of the books in the series. I remember watching a bit of the tv series at some point. And then some months ago I found this book at the library sale and bought it. It is really sweet. I hate the way the girls do woman chores and boys do man work (even George, who looks like a boy). And I'm both amused and annoyed by the way the dog, Tim, and all other animals think like human beings and understand exactly what is said to them. But despite this, I liked the book. It's sweet and nice, and it made me want to be a kid again.

Hey, you're back and posting about books. Nice! But I have to admit that your reading makes me a little curious. Tam, tam...yes, I am talking about book nr 63:)

#16: and Stasia, no way I can take the top step with you second...you can be on top every time:)

#19: Nice to see you back, Tanja!

#20: I am not exactly sure how to reply to that, Bente :)

Sorry Stasia, I was a little bit tired writing that, might be a bit unclear:) I just think you must be the star of the 75'ers group, and therefore I wouldn't want to rob you of your nr 1. position, even for just one time. You give so much to others in here, so you definitely deserve to be nr 1 every time:)

Sorry. I know what to say in Norwegian, but sometimes it just get lost in translation...

#22: No problem, Bente. I should not have said anything, but it was a double entendre that I could not pass up.

Thank you for your kind words, but I think we are all stars in the 75ers group. It takes all of us to make the group work as well as it does :)

#20 - Yep, I'm back and posting about books.. Nice feeling! :) And yes I'm pregnant. I figured you'd guess it from the book. It would be rather odd to be reading such a book without being pregnant :D

#21 - Thank you, Stasia, nice to be back - with books! :)

#22 - I know that feeling, Bente! It's very annoying when you can't express what you want, or it just accidentally comes out wrong. I wish I could express myself as easily in English as in Danish, but I'm hoping it might get better by trying.

Congratulations on the baby, Tanja! How far along are you?

If I might make a recommendation, What to Expect When You're Expecting is a very good book, so you might give that one a try.

Congratulations Tanja, that is such good news:) I'm very happy for you! I bet there will be many more books about babies and pregnancy in your reading list this year! I'm sorry to say that I can't recommend any though.

#23 Hahaha, I have to admit I had to read the message a few times this morning before I discovered my error. Of course you can't pass up such a chance;) I guess mistakes like that is bound to happen when you're trying to be bilingual. I'm glad to say I'm learning every day thanks to you guys:)

#23: We have a lot more people in the group this year for whom English is not their first language, so needless to say, I am learning a lot from you all too!

Thanks guys! I'm 15 weeks (3,5 months) along, due 28. November. And very happy. I just hate the fact that I can't follow the little one and see how he/she is doing. It makes me so damn nervous not knowing if he/she is okay all the time. But I guess that's normal.

Thanks for the suggestion, Stasia. I just checked and it has been translated to Danish, so I'm going to pick up from the library soon. When it comes to pregnancy books I prefer reading books in Danish, because there is such a difference from country to country.

There'll probably be some more, Bente - perhaps even a lot, but until now I've been getting most of the information from the internet, so I don't think it'll be overwhelming with the amount of pregnancy books though :)

And speaking of books.. I discovered I'm only missing ten books and then I'll be on 75, so I decided to make it a little more interesting for myself and have therefore by inspiration from the 1010 challenge made 9 different groups of 9 books each.

IRAN
1. Karin Bergquist: Revolutionens børn: Unge i Teheran (Children of the Revolution: The Youth of Tehran)
2. Azar Nafisi: Reading Lolita in Tehran
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

POETRY
1. Per Højholt
2. Benny Andersen
3. Inger Christensen
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

FANTASY
1. Diana Wynne Jones: Det magiske slot / Howl's Moving Castle
2. Diana Wynne Jones: De syv magter / Archer's Goon
3. Tamora Pierce: Terrier
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

(Only one book from each series counts)

NEW DANISH LITERATURE
1. Jakob Ejersbo: Eksil
2. Morten Ramsland: Sumobrødre
3. Jan Sonnergaard: Om atomkrigens betydning for Wilhelm Funks ungdom
4. Alberte Winding: Barbara Tristan Møllers svære begyndelser
5. Sanne Munk Jensen: Satans yngel
6.
7.
8.
9.

UNKNOWN PLEASURES
Non-English/American/Scandinavian etc. literature - books from countries I don't usually read books from..
1. Gabriel García Márquez: At leve for at fortælle / Vivir Para Contarla / Living to Tell the Tale (Started, but gave up)
2. Aravind Adiga: Den hvide tiger / The White Tiger
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

CLASSICS
1. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra: Don Quijote
2. Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility
3. Martin Andersen Nexø: Pelle Erobreren 1 / Pelle the Conquerer 1
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

SCANDINAVIAN (NOT DANISH)
1. Arto Paasilinna: The Year of the Hare (Finland)
2. Mikael Niemi: Populærmusik fra Vittula / Popular Music from Vittula (Sweden)
3. Einar Már Gu∂mundsson: Beatlemanifestet (Iceland)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

NON-FICTION
1. Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Hathaway: Hvad kan du vente når du venter dig? / What to Expect When You're Expecting?
2. Anna Skyggebjerg: Super Mor
3. Julia Lahme: Hvor lagde jeg babyen?
4. Dennis Christiansen: Far alene hjemme
5. Gitte Dencker: Fødselshjælperen
6. Henry David Thoreau: Walden
7.
8.
9.

SHORT STORIES (COLLECTIONS)
1. Pia Juul: Dengang med hunden
2. Marcel Proust: Noveller (Short Stories)
3. Jan Sonnergaard: Radiator
4. Douglas R. Barnes (ed.): Short Stories of Our Time
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

I will be interested in seeing what books fill in all those slots!

Congratulations on the baby Tanja!

#38 - Me too, Stasia :)

#39 - Thanks Anita!

66. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. 1,5 stars.
Category: classics.
I loved Pride and Prejudice, so I was very disappointed in this book. I found it to be utterly boring and predictable. The great satiric humour of Jane Austen was there, but it just seemed to be the same things she kept mentioning, the same stupidities in human kind, the same follies. And within very few pages I discovered I just wanted to skip to the end to see if ended the way I thought it would - it did! The whole middle of the book just plain annoyed me. There were really great, fun parts, but most of it bored me livid.

It's definitely not a book I intend to reread, but it hasn't robbed me of my admiration for Jane Austen, I know what she can do, so I'll absolutely try other books of hers.

#41: Sorry you did not enjoy that one more. There is a terrific film version of the book starring Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant. You might want to try it some time.

I hope you enjoy your next read more, Tanja!

#42 - Hmm, I might try it then. I had a first thought I wouldn't, but maybe I'll give it a chance if happen to run into it.

I hope so too, Stasia. And chances are that I will.

MAY

44. Lisbeth Werner: Puk på kostskole #246 (RR)
45. Lisbeth Werner: Puk slår sig løs #246 (RR)
46. Lisbeth Werner: Puk har fart på #246 (RR)
47. Lisbeth Werner: Stakkels Puk #246 (RR)
48. Lisbeth Werner: Det ordner Puk #246 (RR)
49. Lisbeth Werner: Puk længe leve! #7 (thread 2) (RR)
50. Lisbeth Werner: God ferie, Puk #7 (RR)
51. Lisbeth Werner: Puk i højt humør #7 (RR)
52. Lisbeth Werner: Puk og Pim #7 (RR)
53. Lisbeth Werner: Puks overmand #7 (RR)
54. Lisbeth Werner: Ih, hvor er det spændende! #7 (RR)
55. Lisbeth Werner: I sidste sekund! #7 (RR)
56. Lisbeth Werner: Puk sætter rekord #7 (RR)
57. Lisbeth Werner: Hvor er Jill? #7 (RR)
58. Lisbeth Werner: Tre skrækkelige gavtyve #7 (RR)
59. Lisbeth Werner: En vildkat tæmmes #7 (RR)
60. Lisbeth Werner: Filmstjernens hævn #7 (RR)
61. Lisbeth Werner: Pigeskolens skræk #7 (RR)
62. Marianne Beck & Gustavo Ribeiro: Stillerum - lær at meditere 2,5 stars #7 (NF)

Books read: 19
Books off the shelf: 0
Iran books read: 0

(BBR) Books bought and read: 0
(RR) Rereads: 18
(NF) Non-fiction: 1
(GR) Group read: 0
Poetry: 0

I am hazarding a guess that you really like Lisbeth Werner?

#45 - I can see it would appear so, Stasia, but no, not particularly :)

Lisbeth Werner (or rather the two men behind the pseudonym) is the author behind this Danish girl book series about a girl called Puk, who is on a boarding school and solves mysteries. I mentioned it in the last thread. And the only reasons I've read so many of the books are that I've got them, know them well and each book only take about an hour to read, so they were excellent reads for a break in the studying.

Truth be told, I'm not sure I really like them so much anymore. I mean, I still think they are sort of sweet and nice to read (mostly the first books of the series, the later gets very preachy at times), but there are so many things in these books that annoy me, and they aren't very well written, but I've had them since I was about ten, so they bring me back to my childhood and require absolutely no thinking. Very good studying reads :)

I considered not listing them as books, because they are so easy to get through and gives nothing new to me, but I decided they could add up for some of the studying books I don't list. This month some 'real' books will come :D

67. Pelle Erobreren 1 / Pelle the Conquerer 1 by Martin Andersen Nexø. 5 stars.
Category: classics
This book is a Danish classic, and deservedly IMHO. It is divided into 2 books (at least it is in my version) and I have now read the first book (517 pages). This book is again divided into two parts: Childhood and Apprenticeship. The book takes place around 1900 and describes the poor working man's struggle to survive and attempts to reach higher in the hierarchy.

In Childhood we meet young Pelle Karlsson and his father, Lasse, who have come from Sweden to Bornholm in Denmark to look for work, cause they've heard that in Denmark there's plenty of everything. But it's hard for an old man and a little boy to find good work and they end up on Stengården, a farm out in the country and struggle their way through.

In Apprenticeship a young Pelle, who is tired of working without getting anywhere goes to the city after his confirmation. He is certain that in the city he'll find work and go straight to the top, he'll finally earn some money and be somebody. But again, he is disappointed. By coincidence he gets an apprenticeship as a cobbler even though there doesn't seem to be much future in it. And throughout the rest of this part we follow Pelle's struggles in the city.

I love this book! The first part, Childhood, has been made into a movie by Bille August. I've seen this movie several times (it's wonderful) and it was the only part of the book I knew, so I was almost scared to start reading the second part, Apprenticeship, but I loved it too. Pelle is amazing in his neverending belief in the future. He just keeps fighting back no matter how much they get him down, day after day after day.

And the book is so wellwritten. Very oldfashioned, I had troubles a few times in the beginning understanding what was meant, but I soon got used to the language and it was just the language of the poor man at the time. So perfectly showing their lifes and thoughts. I have never read a book that better described the situation of the lower working class. This book doesn't pity them, it doesn't make them saints, it just shows their situation and their struggles, plain and simple. I'm very glad I read this book and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, the last two parts, where Pelle has went to Copenhagen to try and make a living there. This is very much a favourite!

I remember having heard of this book before. Your review makes it sound great - I'm adding it to my list. Thanks.

#28 I'm looking forward to hear your progress. This is exciting:) Good luck with your baby!

I'm also looking forward to see those spots being filled with, hopefully, good books. I haven't read Sense and Sensibility myself, but I am sad to hear you didn't like it. It has not been on my priority list of Jane's books, but I will read it eventually. I just finished Nothanger Abbey last monday, and even though I liked it, I didn't love it like Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion. I think Persuasion is still my favorite Austen, close followed by P&P (very close). Have you read Persuasion?

#48 - Hello Janet, nice of you to stop by :) I'll definitely recommend it, though I have no idea how the translation is. I hope it's good and that you'll like it when you get to it.

#49 - Thanks Bente! No, I haven't read Persuasion yet, but I bought it along with S&S (and Emma - have you read that one?) and I think it will be next on the Jane Austen agenda, but I guess I'm gonna take a little break from her – need to recover from the disappointment first :)

#46: Well, even if you do not like the Lisbeth Werner books particularly, if they make good study reads, all to the good!

#47: Adding Pelle the Conqueror to the BlackHole. It looks like one I need to read.

#51 - Very true, Stasia! I just felt a need to state that I don't particularly like her (well, them).

I hope you'll enjoy Pelle the Conquerer. I really wish I knew how the translation is, but at least it is translated :)

#52: Translated, yes. Available at the local library, no. *sigh*

I saw the movie of Pelle and loved it, but didn't realize it was also a book. I'm adding it to my list.

And congratulations on your soon-to-be new baby. How exciting!

#53 - Sorry to hear that, Stasia. I just have to love the Danish library system, when I hear about your troubles getting books. In Denmark all libraries in the country cooperate, so that if just one library somewhere has a book, you can get it from whatever library you want for free. That's really nice!

#54 - Hi Aruba, nice of you to drop by :) I hope you'll enjoy the book - and can get ahold of it. And thank you very much! It is very exciting, indeed :)

That does it! I am moving to Denmark :)

You're very welcome! And I shall gladly guide you to the nearest library :D

I wonder if I can get my husband to go along with the decision to move . . .

I can't blame him if he won't. If it wasn't for the libraries (and the fact that I was born here) I'd never move to Denmark.

I would like to move to Denmark, for a while at least:) Looove Copenhagen! It's worth to go there some time Stasia! If only just for a holiday:)

Hope you're doing well, Tanja! Enjoying your holiday?

#60: In my case, it would just have to be a holiday. My husband is not interested in Denmark's libraries at all, so I will never be able to convince him to move there!

#60 – Finished my last exam today - finally holiday! Books and sunshine here I come! Yep, Bente, I'm doing very well. Hope you are too!

#61 – How can anyone not be interested in Danish libraries?! Very strange.. :P

#62: My husband, a wonderful man, is just not a reader. We celebrate our 22nd anniversary next week. In these 22 years, he has read exactly two books.

Congratulations on finally being on holiday!

#63 – Peculiar species those non-reading people :P But yes, they can be great nonetheless! :D I talked to a friend of mine a few weeks ago, she turned out to be pregnant as well, and of course we talked about websites with information on pregnancy and pregnancy calenders and we like them equally much - only difference is that I read the text, she looks at pictures. She wouldn't dream of sitting down with a book ever or read anything she didn't necessarily had to.

And thank you, Stasia, I'm enjoying it very much :D

I am glad to hear that you are enjoying your holiday!

68. Sumobrødre (Sumobrothers) by Morten Ramsland. 3,5 stars.
Category: New Danish Literature
I’ve read Morten Ramsland’s great success book, Hundehoved / Doghead, and loved it! Sumobrødre isn’t nearly as good, but I did like it. I even liked it more than my boyfriend though it is a very male universe.

The book is about the 11-year-old boy, Lars. He lives in a place called Paradishaven, where everything evolves around beating up and getting beat up. They are cruel to animals, eat disgusting things and fight each other. They are boys (in a very far out way).

The book reminded me of those stories we told each other as kids about the place where someone’s cousin lived and they got beat up everyday, about what happened in the bushes at the far end of the soccer field, about the pervert living ‘somewhere down there’. All those stories that we all knew were lies and fantasies, but we accepted them as real. What these boys do in this book is like those stories – slightly too crazy to be true. No, actually they could be true, but I don’t want to see them like that, because then I would be terrible offended by the book.

It is a disgusting book! It is a horrible, brutal and awful book. But it is also a good book. Nothing much happens and yet a lot happens and it is all seen from the perspective of an 11-year-old kid. Basically the story is about coming of age.

The reason this book only gets 3,5 stars is that I found the ending rather flat. The story about Lars is wrapped up nicely, but there is an almost equally important story about his father that just sort of stops and it left me hanging there thinking: “Now what? Was that it?” and that annoyed me a great deal.

69. Hvad kan du vente når du venter dig? / What to Expect When You’re Expecting? by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff & Sandee Hathaway. 3,5 stars.
Category: Non-fiction
Basically this is a very good book about pregnancy. There is a lot of information, it is well written and nicely set up. But it is getting rather old. The latest update on the Danish version is from 1995 and 15 years is a lot of time when it comes to pregnancy and the book isn’t really up to date on a lot of things. That’s sad, because it is a good book. I wish they would update it.

70. Det magiske slot / Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. 3,5 stars.
Category: Fantasy
Series: Howl’s Castle (1)
I might be getting into deep water here. Everybody seems to love this book, but I didn’t. I found it very well written. It was funny and sweet. It just didn’t appeal to me. It didn’t interest me. I don’t think I’ll be reading the rest of the series, but I will be reading some more DWJ books. She is a splendid writer and I discovered another book of hers I have read and loved as a child, Archer’s Goon. There was a picture and a description of it at the end of Howl’s Moving Castle and as soon as I saw it I remembered reading it several times and finding it both very good and very strange. I’m going to have to read that book again soon.

But overall I don’t think DWJ writes the kind of fantasy that appeals to me. I’m much more of a Tamora Pierce, Tolkien, classic fantasy kind of type. So if anybody knows any books of that kind I’ll gladly take suggestions.

Too bad that the Danish version of What to Expect When You're Expecting is not updated, Tanja. I hope you find something that is more current.

#67 – It's not very necessary, Stasia, I can get all the info I need on the internet. I just like to read about it in all sorts of ways :)

#68: I did the same thing when I was pregnant, so I understand.

71. Katten har skarpe kløer / Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart. 1 star.
Well, I think I might have liked it had I read it when I was younger. At the age where I discovered Victoria Holt and thought she was awesome this book might have been to my taste. As it is now, I'm sorry, but I just didn't like it.

#70: Sorry you did not like that one, Tanja, especially since it is one of my favorites.

I hope you enjoy your next read more!

#71 – Don't be sorry, Stasia, I guess it's just the way it is sometimes :) But I can tell you I didn't hate reading it. I just didn't find anything in it that worked for me, but I'm glad I read it before giving it away.

And my next read was better, but not great. I hope the next one will be though.. :)

#72: Here's hoping the next read is terrific! You are about due for a very good one.

Sorry about your bad reading lately, Tanja. Fingers crossed for it to be better soon:)

Well, I guess I should just pick a 'safe choice' next time :) I'm kind of waiting for Archer's Goon to come knock on my door (or well, be available at the library), and I can't pull myself together to start reading anything else at the moment. Currently just rereading a diary written by someone I used to know a little bit - and it is as long as a book!

Review (or something of the sort) on book no. 72 coming up soon..

Well, it looks like you're waiting for something good then. Haha, old diaries can be a good read;) Maybe you should write a review of it. Looking forward to your 72nd review though:)

Congratulations on the pregnancy. I know when I was pregnant it affected what I wanted to read and how. I gave up having several books on the go for a few years and only returned to doing that this year.

Hi elkiedee, and thank you! I don't think it has affected my reading yet, but I'm sure it will when the baby comes out :P

Just finished the diary, but don't really feel like reading anything else right now, though I've gotten Archer's Goon from the library. Maybe I'll start reading it tomorrow, maybe not.

Can't pull myself to write a review of the 72nd book, maybe I just haven't got much to say about it.. Here goes nothing:

72. Sidste nat / Crashing by Chris Wooding. 3 stars.
Category: None
A typical teenage-last night with the gang-big party-everything happens-kind of book. It was a pleasant read, but there wasn't really anything in it. The characters were too harmonious. The problems were too easily solved. And the ending was way too happy. I probably would have liked it more when I was younger, but I don't think it would ever have become a reread book.

73. Diary by M. 4,5 stars.
Well, you suggested I should review it, Bente.. :) And since it is longer than some novels (didn't put page numbers on when I printed it, but the amount of paper talks clearly enough) it deserves to be treated like a book IMO
It's a diary written on the internet by a girl I used to know a little bit. It takes place over two years and is mainly just her thoughts about her life and human kind in general. It isn't really cheerful reading. She's having a hard time trying to deal with life, her mother's sickness and everything else. But she has a splendid, whimsical humour that appears from time to time. Her eating habits are both appalling and appealing. Her musical taste is interesting. And some of her thoughts are just great! The diary could definitely use a lot of editing. But in my opinion it's worth reading through trivialities and repetitions to get to the really good stuff. I'm glad to hear from a common friend that she, the diary writer, is well and doing fine now. Without that knowledge it would be even harder to read this diary, because she really wasn't fine whilst writing it.

Getting awfully close to 75 now, Tanja! Keep going!!

Haha, I will, Stasia, don't worry.. :P I believe I'll be starting Archer's Goon tonight if not sooner.

Another DWJ for me to put in the BlackHole *sigh*

#81 - You'll hardly notice it, Stasia, it's just one book out of sooo many :P

Review or something like it coming soon. Just one thing now: I really did like this book, yay!

#82: You have an unfortunate point!

74. Archer's Goon / De syv magter by Diana Wynne Jones. 4,5 stars.
Category: Fantasy
I liked this book a lot more than Howl's Moving Castle, but I'm not sure whether it is because I read Archer's Goon as a kid or I simply find it to be a better book. I think it might be the latter.

The book is well written, funny and even though I've read it several times as a kid, I didn't fully remember the plot - far from. I can't say exactly what makes it better IMO than Howl, perhaps I can just relate more to it, and I think I found it more relevant, more interesting than Howl. Howl was sort of unimportant, trivial IMO. I was missing something more than just a funny story. That 'something' I found (or refound) in Archer's Goon. (Hmm, well perhaps I can say exactly what makes it better after all..)

All in all I really liked this book a lot!

That's it - rub it in that I cannot find that one at my local library. I know you did that on purpose :)

I'm sorry... :(

Seriously, I don't understand that you can't find it. I thought it was supposed to be one of her more famous books. I'm very appalled by your local library and I hope you'll manage to get your hands on it one way or the other :)

My local library has exactly 4 of DWJ's titles. No idea why so few, but there you go.

I am sure I will get my hands on a copy eventually!

Now that's just sad! She has written so many and is so liked by so many.. tut tut. She might not be my favourite author, but I do think she deserves better than that. You must pull their ears and tell them to behave better, Stasia :D

I better not pull the ears, Tanja. My librarians are pretty good to me - and besides, it is probably not their fault :)

Alright then.. you might be right about that :)

75. Radiator by Jan Sonnergaard. 1,5 stars.
Category: Short stories
These short stories reminded me of why I generally dislike short stories. They reminded me of the Danish classes in school and the endless Freud obsessed analyses of short stories like these (with far too obvious analysis objects) - of course it didn't help that someone has be so annoying as to write notes in the margin throughout the entire book!

I didn't find one story in this book that I could really relate to. It might have been partly because it was a rather masculine univers, but also it seemed very exaggerated and unbelievable. I noticed there was an enormous amount of anger and a feeling of being a victim (and the satisfaction with this), and I could probably understand that if it hadn't been for the exaggerations that kept putting me off. Sometimes I got the feeling that Sonnergaard was trying to describe poverty, unemployment and being at the bottom of society without knowing anything first hand about it, and therefore needing to exaggerate every action, every feeling, everything.

I wasn't very fond of the language, the writing, itself. Sonnergaard seems to be very fond of keeping the characters anonymous (he/she - no names) in the beginning of the stories and then suddenly in the middle of the story the name is mentioned. I don't mind getting the names, but it seems wrong, when half the story has been told in he/she-anonymity. It really bugged me, and he did it in more or less every story. Other than that I have no particular comments on the writing, but it didn't appeal to me.

#91: OK, sounds like I can skip that one. Wow, what a bad book to reach 75 on! Congratulations on that anyway.

Thanks Stasia! And yeah, I should have picked something better, but I thought it might be good.. well, it wasn't. Anyway, I'm just going to continue with the books, so it really doesn't matter.

#93: I am sure you will manage to fit some better books in some time this year!

Congrats!

#94 – I'm sure you're right, Stasia. It would be sad six months if I didn't manage to find some good books, and right now the library's got some Tamora Pierce books waiting for me. That's always a treat in my world.

#95 – Thanks Jim!

#96: I read my first Tamora Pierce book the other day. I really enjoyed it!

#97 – I'm so glad you liked it, Stasia. She's one of my all time favourite authors! :D Which one was it?

#98: Alanna, the first book in the Song of the Lioness quartet.

Oooh, my favourite series! I can't imagine how many times I've read this series :D

Oh, darn...I missed your 75! Sorry Tanja! But congrats on reaching the set target!:) Hope you are doing fine!!

Skipping that Radiator book though, 1.5 stars does not sound promising. I think I have already added the Alanna book to my tbr pile because of you:)

Thanks Bente! And I'll support you're skipping Radiator. It's not worth reading IMO.

I'm 10 km from internet access during the summer, so my visits here will be sporadic and I might often skip reviews. I am still reading though, even if it's a bit slow at the moment. Have an apartment to pack down and fix up, a summer to venture out into and some other things :)

Anyway, finished 76. Terrier by Tamora Pierce this morning. 5 stars!
Category: Fantasy
What can I say, I looove Tamora Pierce's writing and with Terrier she has produced yet another awesome book. I will be moving on to Bloodhound almost immediately (after some packing and 'other things').

Miss you Tanja! Have a lovely summer and good luck with the packing:)

Thanks Bente! I hope you'll have a lovely summer too! And I do miss all of LT even though it's nice to be out in the nature :D I still come by from time to time, but I miss reading other people's thread, but I can't possible keep up with such limited time. I'll just have to try and catch up when I return..

77. Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. 4,5 stars.
Category: None.
Series: Beka Cooper (2)
I didn't love this book as much as the first book in the series, because I missed 'the gang' so to speak. I missed all the people the main character is usually surrounded by. But it was still a very good book and I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series (is it out yet?).

78. Super Mor by Anna Skyggebjerg. 4 stars.
Category: Non-fiction
A book about making life easier when you have kids. Mainly for single moms, but just as useful for non-single moms – and even for people without kids, I'd say. A really good book. There was just one chapter (about the relationship to the father after a divorce/break) I didn't agree with, but I loved the rest of the book.

#105: I read Terrier but have not read Bloodhound yet. I guess it can wait a bit longer. I do not see that book 3 in the series is out yet.

Stasia, I'll definitely recommend Bloodhound even though I missed some of the characters from Terrier. And I think you're right, the third isn't out yet. I'll just wait :)

How did you like Terrier?

#107: I enjoyed Terrier for the most part. There was something which I cannot recall right now that irked me a bit when I was reading it though. That being said, I will get around to Bloodhound eventually - although I will need to reread Terrier I suspect, since it has been a while.

79. Anne på egne ben / Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery - 3 stars
Category: None
Series: Anne of Green Gables (4)
Another sweet Anne book. A little less coherent, but with amusing stories of life in a little city. Particularly in this book I noticed the extreme harmony of the Anne books. Everything – even the worst situations – always resolves themselves to the satisfaction of everybody.

80. Anne i drømmehuset / Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery - 3,5 stars
Category: None
Series: Anne of Green Gables (5)
More coherent than the last Anne book, but still very sweet and extremely harmonious. Something really, really bad happens, but it turns out to be a good thing! That kind of pissed me off, because it's really not a good thing happening and I hate that it is made to be a good thing. Despite that it is still a a darling book.

81. Hvor lagde jeg babyen? by Julia Lahme - 5 stars
Category: Non-fiction
A diary-ish book about the first time (about six months) with the first baby. The author is very amusing and well writing. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, but through all the humour she manages to show how extremely hard it is to have a baby. A really good book to read before (and perhaps during – if there's time) maternity leave. Very recommendable, but I don't think it has been translated from Danish.

Hey, Tanja! Glad to see you back. It has been a few days.

It sure has Stasia, but I guess that's how it goes when there's 10 km to my internet access and lots of other things to be done :) But I'll make sure to pop in once in a while.

Good for the popping in now and again!

Oh goodness, I haven't read your thread since before the Eurovision Song Contest?! Well, I am checking back in now - better late than never, I suppose ;o)

#14 "I'm surely not going to watch it, I've enjoyed hating it for as long as I can remember." - you see, despite the APPALLING music, I do watch the contest. Every year - one of my mates always has a Eurovision Party. In our defense, can I just say that it is always a very tounge in cheek event for us - although, with the sad loss of Terry Wogan commentating, it will never be quite the same (he used to take the piss the whole way through) - Graham Norton is about the only person that could replace him and he does an admirable job, but it's just not quite the same! No one ever votes for the UK any more anyway (with good reason...)

#15 "Haha, yeah, it's been a lot of Fairytale up north, quite happy to pass it on to tonights winner, Germany! But the fun part is to hate the Eurovision, to laugh at all the freak shows, the dresses and terrible songs, to shake your head disapprovingly when all the Eastern European countries only give points to their neighbour countries, and to stand up in rage when your own neighbour countries (hint hint Finland and Iceland) don't give points to you:D I have to admit I was quite astonished when Russia actually gave points to Georgia....didn't see that coming. A lot of politics in the Eurovision;)" - that's the one Bente! Says it all really!

#24 WOO! VERY belated congratulations! (on the pregnacy - oh dear I have a lot of posts to catch up on...!)

#41 Oh, I'm so sad you didn't enjoy Sense and Sensibility more Tanja. Yes, I agree there are weak parts, but I do so love the relationship between the two older sisters. Re the Emma Thompson film, you may enjoy it more - it is, as Stasia says, very well done and, in my opinion, it improves on the not-so-good bits of the book.

Ooooh and ABSOLUTELY read Persuasion next - it's my favourite also ;o)

#47 I think I shall have to look for Pelle the Conqueror - sounds intriguing...

#66 ...and oh no! "But overall I don’t think DWJ writes the kind of fantasy that appeals to me." - now I'm very sad! But I'm glad you like Archer's Goon. Can I ask you to give Fire and Hemlock, Time of the Ghost or Homeward Bounders a go - they're more along the lines of Archer's Goon. Perhaps Power of Three or Spellcoats too, if you're a fan of Tamora Pierce?

#109 Hmmm. I've been thinking that it may be time to re-read the Anne of Green Gables books again...

...and more very belated congratulations on passing 75 books!

Yay! Caught up!

I echo the Sense and Sensibility film suggestion - I'm sure I've also made it to someone on this list.

#113 - Well, hello flissp! Glad to see you back here again :D

I do actually understand the whole watching the Eurovision Song Contest while hating it, but I really don't want to do it. I mean I would do it, but I would have to be drunk and in the company of people hating it as much as me, and the being drunk part isn't really compatible with my pregnancy (and thank you by the way!).

About S&S - I will watch the movie. If it's half as good as P&P (the BBC mini series), I'll probably love it. And I do really think S&S has potential I just wish there had been a bit more editing, cutting out some of the weak parts (or just improving them).

And I will be reading Persuasion next - when that will be is not to say, but it is one of the (too many) books I haven't packed down while we fix the apartment over the summer.

Regarding DWJ - I haven't given up! She is a splendid writer and I will be reading more of her books, I just won't read them when I'm longing for fantasy of the Tamora Pierce-ish style :)

Are Power of Three and Spellcoats Tamora Piercian in style? I might try and find them next if that's the case.

#114 - Hi Elkiedee, I'll definitely have to find it (shouldn't be too hard).

82. Reading Lolita in Tehran - A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi - 5 stars
Category: Iran
A wonderful literature and life confirming book and a disturbing and sharp view at Iran after the revolution. Is it possible to imagine anything worse than having your life, your unique personality stolen and being forced to participate in this stealing?

I love the way she springs forwards and backwards in time circling events, but sometimes it confused me a lot. I don't think it ruined the reading and the general understanding though, so it's ok. A thing I would have liked different was her way of writing dialogues. It was very confusing trying to figure out who is saying what, or was it just a thought? That really bugged me, but still - it is a marvelous book that I will strongly recommend for anyone interested in books or Iran or Islam or women.. or life in general!

I own book #82 and have wanted to read it for so long now...must bump it up!

#115: I have read that one a couple of times and really enjoy it. I am going to re-read it in September. I am glad you liked it, Tanja!

I look forward to hearing what you think of Persuasion when you do get to it ;o)

"Are Power of Three and Spellcoats Tamora Piercian in style? I might try and find them next if that's the case." - writing-style-wise not at all, but I'd say they are closer to Tamora Pierce in spirit and story than some of her other stuff, so maybe more in keeping...

A few of us are reading/rereading Reading Lolita in Tehran for the August TIOLI challenge.

#116 – Hello BookAngel, I'd say, you really should bump it up :) I hope you'll like it!

#117 – Hi Stasia, I'm definitely going to reread it too some time. Glad you liked it.

#118 – It might take some time, Fliss, my boyfriend keeps bringing home pregnancy and parenting books, that I "accidentally" read because they look good (and they usually are).

Spirit and story is good enough for me. I'll try to get around to them some time soon. I don't mind that the writing style isn't TP-ish, I like DWJ own style of writing.

#119 – That sounds awesome, elkiedee, I might check out what you all think of it if I can remember it when I from time to time have access to the internet. Hope you all enjoy it!

BTW, I went looking for the S&S movie the other day, but all I could find was a series of some sort (BBC, I think). Strange, all other times I have found the film version with Emma Thompson (and annoyingly not bought it, stupid me).

I am actually going to be re-reading Reading Lolita in Tehran this month rather than September, it turns out. It is one of the books on the TIOLI challenge :)

Hey Tanja!!! How are you? When will you move closer to the internet again?

Btw, I bet the BBC production is good too. They always are:D I definitely LOVE the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice.

#121 – The sooner the better :D

#122 – Hi Bente! I'm just fine. Hope you are too.. can't really manage to follow your thread (or any other) with such limited internet access, but I suppose I'll be back in the beginning of September. It was supposed to be at the end of August, but fixing the apartment seems to be taking a bit longer than expected. I hope it won't be too long, can't wait to get back to internet access and baths (less than 10 km away), and my school starts back up at September 1. so I'd really hate to be so far away for much longer than that.

I love the P&P BBC production too! Actually I haven't seen the film version of P&P because I just love the BBC version. And I did think about buying the BBC S&S version, but decided against it because everybody has been mentioning how great the film version with Emma Thompson is, so I figured I'd get that one.

83. Beatlemanifestet by Einar Már Gu∂mundsson. 4 stars
Category: Scandinavian (Iceland)

#120/122/123 There are two BBC Productions of Sense and Sensibility - the old one is a bit dated and quite slow moving, but faithful to the book (there was another BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation around the same time which is also dated, but I still love - mostly because I like the Lizzie - I think she's better than Jenifer whatsit in the newer one). The new Sense and Sensibility is, well, hmmmm. Neither are great to be honest - definitely the right decision to go for the Emma Thompson one...

84. Far alene hjemme by Dennis Christiansen. 3 stars.
Category: Non-fiction
Because my boyfriend brought it home..

85. Fødselshjælperen by Gitte Dencker. 3 stars.
Category: Non-fiction
Because my boyfriend brought it home..

86. Short Stories of Our Time edited by Douglas R. Barnes. 4 stars.
Category: Short stories
In contrast to the last short stories compilation I read, this one reminded me of why I like short stories (I had entirely forgotten that I do). These stories incredibly enough made me want to analyze them, something I never usually want to. And they reminded me of the English lessons in school. And however short all of the stories managed to grip me. A really nice read.

Currently reading: Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Very interesting.

#125: Because my boyfriend brought it home.

Nice boyfriend bringing books home for you to read :)

#126 – Yes, it's really sweet of him – though I suspect he mainly brings them home for himself to read and I just steal them :)

87. Walden by Henry David Thoreau. 3,5 stars.
Category: Classics (+ Non-fiction, but I had to choose)
I really liked this book and I really disliked it. At some places it is a both lyrically and philosophically beautiful book and at other places it is just plain boring. In my opinion it could use some editing. But I don't regret reading it, not the least bit. It was quite the experience.

88. Populærmusik fra Vittula / Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi. 4,5 stars.
Category: Scandinavian (Sweden)
A really great book about growing up in the very northern part of Sweden in the 60's and 70's. It's funny, interesting, captivating and many other things. I really liked this book, even though I wasn't really in the mood for the style of anecdotic chapters, but none the less it was an excellent read!

#128: I know the chances are nonexistent that my local library has the Niemi book, but I am adding it to the BlackHole anyway!

#129 – If you ever get a chance to read it, I'll surely recommend it, Stasia.

#130: I lucked out - the local college library has it. Thanks again for the recommendation, Tanja.

Hey Tanja!

I knew Populærmusik fra Vittula was a film, but didn't know it was a book too...or originally. It goes straight to my wishlist.

I look forward to catch up with you soon:) I hope you and the baby are doing wonderfully.

Talk to you soon:)

#131 – Wauw, that's great, Stasia. I hope you'll enjoy it!

#132 – Hi Bente! Well, I didn't know it was a film. I think I'll try and find it some time.

Looking forward to returning home (and returning to LT), but I guess it'll take some time yet. And thank you, we are both doing very fine. He's growing and kicking and I'm getting a really big belly :)

89. Du skal være far by Dick Sundewall. 3 stars.
Category: Non-fiction
A book about becoming a father. A nice read, but rather stereotypical and a bit oldfashioned. Sometimes slightly too decisive about what to do and how to act in certain situations.

And now, hopefully, there will be other things than pregnancy and parenting books in the non-fiction category..

Currently reading: Beat by Lars Movin – about the beat generation. And Al den snak om vinger ("All this talk about wings" – probably not translated) – about.. well, I have no clue. A strange book so far, but it's been sitting on my shelf too long, so now I'll either finish it or toss it out.

#133: I am hoping to get hold of it soon. I will keep you posted.

90. Al den snak om vinger by Anette Steinbrüchel. 1 star.
Category: Books Off the Shelf
I started reading this book long, long ago, but quit it. Now I started again and finished, and let me just say it wasn't worth the time it took reading it (which wasn't long). NOT recommended! It will be given away as soon as possible.

#135: Oo, sorry to hear about that one. Hope your next read is better, Tanja.

Thanks for the recommendation of Popular Music from Vittula. I enjoyed it!

#136 – I'm so glad you did, Stasia!

At least I finally got it off the shelf, that's worth something :) And the other book I'm reading at the moment is infinitely better. It's Beat by Lars Movin as mentioned in #133. I don't think it has been translated, but it's a great book about the beat generation. I think my next fiction book will be Vernon God Little, so I'm confident that will be much better too :)

Glad you have some good reading coming up to make up for that last one!

Hi Tanja:) I haven't seen the film myself, but it is supposed to be good. Maybe I'll check it out too, soon. Or maybe I'll just read the book first. That's usually better:)

I'm back.. well kind of.. Very busy getting back in place and writing three papers during the next month or so. Phew, and I thought it would be so relaxing to get back! :)

Taaaaaanja! Missed you!:) Good luck on the papers!

Hallo and good luck!

Best of luck, Tanja! Glad to see you 'kind of' back!

Thanks guys, I just wish I'd have more time to be on LT!

Real life always takes precedence, Tanja. We understand. Just check in every now and again as you can.

Before I forget it completely..

91. Vernon God Little by D.B.C. Pierre. 4 stars.
Category: None
I had some trouble caring enough about the characters while reading the book, afterwards they've really grown on me. This is a great book.

#146: I have seen rather mixed reviews of that one. I suspect one of these days I will have to pick it up just to see which side I am on.

#147 – Stasia, I'll say it's an annoying book. The actions (or the lack of same) of the characters frustrated me immensely while reading it, and I'm glad I didn't grade it until now (weeks later), because I needed time for it to sink in and reach it's true capacity, so to speak.

Oh, I completely forgot. I've read another book..
92. The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster. 4 stars.
Category: Books Bought and Read
I bought this book some while ago, because I love Paul Auster's writing and I'd heard that this was supposed to be his best book. Started reading it a few weeks ago, and somewhere in chapter three I realised I had already read it! I had just forgotten all about it. Come to think of it, it's quite common for me when it comes to Auster's books. It doesn't mean I don't like them, I just can't remember what happens. One of my favourite books ever is Moon Palace, but for a long time I only remembered the first third of the book.

Anyway, The Book of Illusions is a good book in my opinion, but I wouldn't call it Auster's best, not even close. Not the worst either though, and genuinely a good book.

I still need to read Auster. I have not read anything by him yet.

Well, some like him, some don't. I've always considered him a master. But there are people who claim he tells the same story over and over again, and I can see what they mean, but it's just that he tells this story so damn well :)

Anyway, I'd recommend Moon Palace or The Brooklyn Follies.

Thanks, Tanja. I will see if my local library has either of your suggestions.

Hope you'll enjoy them if luck is with you in the library, and looking forward to hearing what you think.

I had luck with the library - all bad, unfortunately. It does not have either book.

Wow, that's incredible, how can an american library not have either of those great Paul Auster books?! I'm amazed.. and sorry. Well, I guess you have plenty of other good books to keep you company :)

Oh yes, no worries about my having other books to read!

93. Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (1)

94. The Dead of the Night by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (2)

Both are rereads. I read them as a teenager, but felt a sudden urge to read them again. I think they are great, but as I remember it, some of the later books in the series annoyed me a bit. Looking forward to discovering if that is still the case.

Uh, just discovered that there is a follow-up series: The Ellie Chronicles. I must remember to find them when I'm done with The Tomorrow Series.

#156: I own the first book of the series but have never read it. I will have to see where I put it. . .

Glad to see you are enjoying the series again, Tanja!

Hope you'll enjoy it too, Stasia – if you can find it :)

Thanks for the heads up about the follow up series too. I did not realize that there was one.

You're welcome :)

95. A Killing Frost by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (3)

96. Michael Laudrups tænder by Maise Njor. 4,5 stars.
Category: Non-fiction (Reread)
An e-mail correspondance between two very funny female Danish journalists about their lives. Pure amusement.

#161: I really need to get a move on the Marsden series!

I don't think it'll run away, so no rush, Stasia :)

#163: True, Tanja, very true!

It is so nice to see you are back on a regular basis, Tanja! Have a great night:)

Thanks, Bente. You too – well, perhaps a little late now, but have a great night tonight then! I'll go celebrate my father-in-law's birthday with very big feet, uncomfortable clothes, a big belly and a lot of unknown Norwegians :P

97. Darkness Be My Friend by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (4)
Still not really annoyed. But sometimes it is a very long series, because a lot of the same things happen again and again in the books. Not that it's really a bad thing. It's always a bit different, and the main characters change and grow (or become smaller) throughout the series. The author is very good at showing what the war does to them as human beings and still keeping the beat in the books.

#166: Have a good time at the birthday party, Tanja!

Hope you had a good time, Tanja, though I would think a whole bunch of unknown Danish people are better company than the Norwegians;) More exciting at least!

Thanks guys, I had a very good time. Why would you think unknown Danish people would be more exciting, Bente?

The Norwegians were very sweet, and pretty easy to understand (though it was hard to hear what was said because of all the talking). There where a few Swedes too and they were definitely harder to understand :) But just as amiable as everybody else. And the food was splendid, so all in all a very fine party, but auch my feet hurt when I was ready to hit the sack – I was in fact the last one standing, might I add.. :D

98. Burning for Revenge by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (5)

#169: Glad to hear that you had a good time, Tanja!

#168: Just a little prejudice against my own kind;) Did you know it is easier for Norwegians to understand Swedish people than Danish people when they talk? I had a really hard time understanding Danish, but after my trip to Copenhagen last year I got a better hang of it, though I have to consentrate more than with Swedish. Then again, there has always lived lots of Swedes here, because of the fish industry...young people come here to work for a while and then travel the world afterwards:) On the other hand it is easier to read Danish than Swedish, haha! Funny/weird (choose whatever fits) little bunch of people us Scandinavians;)

I'm glad you had a good time though, and the last one standing too:)

Oh, oh...I can see you will soon reach 100 books read. Which book will be the lucky nr. 100?

#171 – Oh, I hadn't even seen that coming up. 100 books! Exciting.. I suspect it will be the last book of The Tomorrow Series. Well, of course I can't be sure.. :)

It makes good sense, that you can understand Swedes easier than Danes if you are exposed to them more. It's pretty clear that Danes from Sjælland/Zealand understands Swedes better than those from Jutland do. They understand more German on the other hand.

It's just silly that we're having such a hard time understanding each other, when our languages are so similar after all.

#172 I agree. May we should practise more...meaning traveling more, yay:D

#173 – That is a very good plan! I'm all for it.. still remember those beautiful pictures from your place.

I might be going to Sweden in the summer actually, there was something about a summer cabin up there that somebody owns and which we might be able to borrow together with boyfriend's brother and sister-in-law. That would be nice.

JUNE

63. Jane Symons: Gravid med jordforbindelse – 1 star #19 (NF)
64. Megan Whalen Turner: The King of Attolia – 4,5 stars #19
65. Enid Blyton: De 5 – og den skjulte borg – 3 stars #19 (BBR)
66. Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility – 1,5 stars #41 (BBR)
67. Martin Andersen Nexø: Pelle Erobreren 1 – 5 stars #47 (BBR)
68. Morten Ramsland: Sumobrødre – 3,5 stars #66
69. Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff & Sandee Hathaway: Hvad kan du vente når du venter dig? – 3,5 stars #66 (NF)
70. Diana Wynne Jones: Det magiske slot / Howl’s Moving Castle – 3,5 stars #66
71. Mary Stewart: Katten har skarpe kløer / Touch Not the Cat – 1 star #70 (Shelf)
72. Chris Wooding: Sidste nat / Crashing – 3 stars #78
73. M: Dagbog – 4,5 stars #78 (RR, NF)
74. Diana Wynne Jones: De syv magter / Archer’s Goon – 4,5 stars #84 (RR)
75. Jan Sonnergaard: Radiator – 1,5 stars #91

Books read: 13
Books off the shelf: 1
Iran books read: 0

(BBR) Books bought and read: 3
(RR) Rereads: 2
(NF) Non-fiction: 3
(GR) Group read: 0
Poetry: 0

JULY

76. Tamora Pierce: Terrier – 5 stars #103 (RR)
77. Tamora Pierce: Bloodhound – 4,5 stars #105
78. Anna Skyggebjerg: Super Mor – 4 stars #105 (NF, BBR)
79. L.M. Montgomery: Anne på egne ben / Anne of Windy Poplars – 3 stars #109
80. L.M. Montgomery: Anne i drømmehuset / Anne’s House of Dreams – 3,5 stars #109
81. Julia Lahme: Hvor lagde jeg babyen? – 5 stars #109 (NF, BBR)
82. Azar Nafisi: Reading Lolita in Tehran – A Memoir in Books – 5 stars #115 (NF)

Books read: 7
Books off the shelf: 0
Iran books read: 1

(BBR) Books bought and read: 2
(RR) Rereads: 1
(NF) Non-fiction: 3
(GR) Group read: 0
Poetry: 0

AUGUST

83. Einar Már Gu∂mundsson: Beatlemanifestet – 4 stars #123 (BBR)
84. Dennis Christiansen: Far alene hjemme – 3 stars #125 (NF)
85. Gitte Dencker: Fødselshjælperen – 3 stars #125 (NF)
86. Douglas R. Barnes (red.): Short Stories of Our Time – 4 stars #125
87. Henry David Thoreau: Walden – 3,5 stars #128 (NF, BBR)
88. Mikael Niemi: Populærmusik fra Vittula – 4,5 stars #128
89. Dick Sundewall: Du skal være far – 3 stars #133 (NF)

Books read: 7
Books off the shelf: 0
Iran books read: 0

(BBR) Books bought and read: 2
(RR) Rereads: 0
(NF) Non-fiction: 4
(GR) Group read: 0
Poetry: 0

SEPTEMBER

90. Anette Steinbrüchel: Al den snak om vinger – 1 star #135 (Shelf)
91. DBC Pierre: Vernon G. Little / Vernon God Little – 4 stars #146
92. Paul Auster: The Book of Illusions – 4 stars #148 (RR, BBR)

Books read: 3
Books off the shelf: 1
Iran books read: 0

(BBR) Books bought and read: 1
(RR) Rereads: 1
(NF) Non-fiction: 0
(GR) Group read: 0
Poetry: 0

Nice summaries, Tanja!

I thought it was about time, Stasia. Sad to see how little I've been reading in September though.

Yeah, sad when RL interferes sometimes.

#181 – Haha, right about that, Stasia :)

99. Hvor lagde jeg babyen? (Where did I leave the baby?) by Julia Lahme. Again...
Well, just felt a sudden urge to read this book again now that the baby can come anytime soon. So I did. And it was still good and funny and a wonderful read.

#182: I hope you reach 100 before baby shows up! lol

#183 – I did, Stasia, I did! :D

Tratratadadaa... (imagine a drum roll or trumpet fanfare)
100. The Night is for Hunting by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (6)

Cool beans, Tanja!

101. The Other Side of Dawn by John Marsden. 4,5 stars.
Category: None
Series: The Tomorrow Series (7 - and last)
Done with this series, and discovered that The Ellie Chronicles are impossible to borrow from the library in Denmark. They just don't seem to have them. Damn! But perhaps it'll be good to read something completely different.

Too bad about The Ellie Chronicles, Tanja. Maybe the library will get the books soon for you. In the meantime, I am fairly sure you probably have another book or two around that you could read :)

I don't think the library will get the books, Stasia. The series just haven't come to Denmark. I could buy them myself of course, but as you mention, there are other books to read (and plenty of them!) Besides, this is the first time it has happened to me, I've got nothing to complain about compared to you :)

Here shortly, baby will be taking your mind off books for a while too, so maybe it is not such a bad thing for you right now not to be able to get your hands on the books.

When is baby due? Some time toward the end of this month, right?

Yep, November 28. But really he can come anytime now, and is very welcome – I'm getting rather impatient :)

Been there, done that, so I know how it goes. I did not think Beth was ever going to get here! She was 3 weeks late.

Do you have a name picked out yet?

Oh my, 3 weeks late! In Denmark there is a policy about starting the birth if the baby isn't here 2 weeks after the "due date" (I don't know what that is called in English?). I'm glad to know that there is a limit for my waiting :)

Yes, we believe he's going to be named Birk after a character in Astrid Lindgren's beautiful children's book Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. I love that book and movie!

#192: The doctor tried to induce labor the day before Beth actually made her arrival. I never had a contraction.

Birk - I like it. I have never heard of that particular Astrid Lindgren book, so now I will have to check it out!

I hope he arrives just in time, Tanja!

#193: Do check out Ronia, Stasia. It is a wonderful story. It is set back in the viking era/middle ages (not really sure), and Ronia and Birk lives in a castle which is split in two parts. They live in one part each, and their fathers are enemies...hmm, sorry, bad explanation, but it is a good story:)

This is Ronia and Birk from the movie made in 1984 (I think it still runs on tv regularly and is still very popular)

#194 – Mmm, beautiful picture, Bente! :D No wonder I fell in love with that guy when I was a kid. Though my Birk probably wont look anything like him, the chances of him getting red hair are pretty much nonexisting :)

#193 – And yes, check it out Stasia, it's one of my absolute favorite children's books. And glad you like the name :)

I checked and my local library has the book, so I will get to it eventually I am sure.

Yay! I hope you'll like it.

102. The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. 3 stars.
Category: None (I think..)
Appearently I haven't written down who recommended this book, but I'm pretty sure I discovered it here on LT. No matter, I think it's a very sweet and charming story. My only complaint is that there are too many repetitions. I know it's supposed to be poetic – and it is in a smaller amount – but it's too much and then it stops being poetic and becomes annoying instead IMO.

#198: Sorry you did not enjoy that one more, Tanja. I fear I am the one who recommended it :(

It was you, Stasia? I'm glad to know that. I usually write it down. And don't feel sorry, I did enjoy the story – despite the repetitions :)

I guess I've just had enough of "wannabe poets", who think repeating things make it poetry. Not to say that that is what Kathi Appelt is doing. I'm just rather hypersensitive to that kind of writing.

I never can remember who recommends what, so no worries there, Tanja.

I did appreciate the book for its poetical nature, but I am not sure that the kids it is designed for would. That being said, I think a lot of the repetition in the book is for the kids' sake. They tend to like books with either rhyme or repetition or both.

You might be right about that, Stasia. And I think I should have read it slower. Fewer chapters at a time. Then some of the repetitions might not have bothered me so much.

I think I'm adding it to my wish list:)

Hope you are doing fine, Tanja! No baby yet?

#203 – I hope you'll enjoy it, Bente. It's very sweet.

And there's plenty of baby, he's just still inside me – and everything hurts. I'm so crappy.. Get out, get out, get out, I just wanna scream, while I'm pretending to be patient :)

#204: I'm so crappy.. Get out, get out, get out, I just wanna scream, while I'm pretending to be patient :)

Sounds like a completely normal pregnant woman in her ninth month to me!

#205 – Haha, glad to know I'm at least normal, Stasia :D

As I am sure others are telling you "Just hang in there!"

Yep, everybody's saying that, and I will.. not much else I can do I guess :P

True!

103. Barbara Tristan Møllers svære begyndelser (Barbara Tristan Møller's difficult beginnings) by Alberte Winding. 4 stars.
Category: New Danish Lit
Series: Barbara Tristan Møller (2)
I was at a book fair sunday, where I heard the author tell about this book. Actually I thought she was going to tell about the first book in the series (which I read about a year ago), I didn't know she had written another. Unfortunately I couldn't make up my mind on whether I should buy a signed copy of the book or not, so I ended up not buying it and regretting it as soon as it was too late to do anything about it. Luckily I found the book in the library and after reading it I still regret not buying a signed copy. Stupid me! Well, ok, it's not so much because of the book (which is definitely good!) I wanted a signed copy as because of the author. She is also a very talented singer-songwriter and I just love her!

I actually ended up not buying any books at all at the book fair. Impressive, some might say, but I think it's quite typical for me. There are to many people, too many books and they are usually too expensive. I like bookshops (particularly secondhand) more. And you know, since I didn't buy anything at the fair, I should be allowed to buy some books some other place, right..?

Right!

#210: Of course!

#211 & 212: I'm so glad you agree! :D

104. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 4,5 stars.
I'm so glad I read this book. I've always loved the movie (and still do), but there is so much more in the book. It's terrifying actually. But also fun and a great piece of literature.

105. Satans yngel by Sanne Munk Jensen. 4,5 stars.
Series (kind of): Alma-bøgerne (2)
Category: New Danish Lit
I went to an interview with the author about this book on the forementioned book fair, since I had read the first book about Alma (En dag skinner solen også på en hunds røv) and loved it. And I love this book too. She is a splendid author. I hope her books will be translated some day.

Books are great – I almost don't want to go into labour yet, just because I've got some great library books I would like to read before the baby comes and disturbs everything :)

I have never read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. One of these centuries I will get to it!

It's definitely worth reading, Stasia!

Oh, I know. It is just getting to it is the problem.

#217 – It always is.

106. Submarino by Jonas T. Bengtsson. 5 stars.
Category: New Danish Lit
A tough, yet appealing book about social inheritance; about drugs, alcohol, childhood and family. About life. About breaking the social inheritance – if you can. It's extremely well written, but it's a tough read and worth it all.

And there is no way I can review this book justly in English, but if it is (or will be) translated, it is very, very recommended.

#218: Sounds like a great book!

No baby yet????? It's time now, don't you think??;)

#220: Tanja may think it, but evidently baby Birk does not!

Guess you're right, Stasia:)

#222: My oldest daughter was very late. I know how it goes :)

#220-223 – Yep, it's time - it very much is IMO, but I'll just have to wait I guess. Meanwhile I'm just reading good books and enjoying the snow that keeps falling from the sky so slowly. I wish I could take a good long walk in it, but everything hurts, so I'll just look out the window and wait, wait, wait. Come out Birk, come out.

#219 – It is a great book, Stasia, it really is. A shame it doesn't seem to have been translated to English. It seems to have been translated to German or Dutch or something like that though.

When is Birk's official due date?

November 28. – Only two days away, but he probably won't come that day. If he's as lazy as me he won't arrive until he has to :P

Well, whenever he choose to arrive, I'm looking forward to see his beautiful little face! If you post pictures that is:)

First babies are notorious for being late, so I expect he will show up in December. Hang in there, Tanja! Not much longer now.

#227 – I'll post a picture when I get around to it, Bente, but it might take a while after his arrival. I guess it's a pretty overwhelming situation.

#228 – I know, Stasia, I know :)

107. Den hvide tiger / The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. 3,5 stars.
Category: Unknown pleasures
Recommended by MoonshineMax. I liked this book. It's not a book I would typically read, and I don't suspect I'll read it again, but it amused me and surprised me and I'm glad I read it.

Yes, I can imagine that. We're patient:) Hope everything will be fine!

#229: I already have The White Tiger in the BlackHole. I will get to one of these days.

#231 – I hope you'll enjoy it, Stasia.

#230 – I wish I could be patient too, Bente :)

108. Den ny Edda by Ole Gotved. 0,5 star.
Category: New Danish lit
This is an attempt to write about the old northern gods in a modern environment, bring them up to date so to speak. The idea is good, but the actual doing is.. well, awful, to be honest. Ole Gotved is not a great writer. The stories are boring, lacking spirit and extremely predictable. And the book is in serious need of proof reading! The only recommandation I'll make regarding this book, is to stay far away from it.

#232: Since it probably has not been translated into English, I do not think I will have trouble staying away from it! Thank goodness, from the sound of the book.

Wuhuu, Birk finally came out at December 8. And he's just beautiful and wonderful and everything! And very time consuming :P so I probably won't spend much time here in the nearest future, but I will post some pictures as soon as I can get around to it.

Hope you guys have a wonderful December!

#234: Congratulations, Tanja! I cannot wait to see pictures of the little guy!

Congratulations, Tanja!! And a big "Welcome to the world" to Birk:) Looking forward to see pictures!

Have a wonderful December and christmas, Tanja!!:)

Congratulations!

Welcome, Birk. :)

Congratulations!

Merry Christmas, Tanja! have a wonderful holiday with little Birk:)

Holiday greetings from Norway;)

Tanja, the 2011 group is up and running. Come join in the fun when you have a chance: http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin20111

Thanks guys! And a merry christmas to you too! Hope you'll have a wonderful time.

I'll join the 2011 group when I can find the time – incredible that such a small person can be so time consuming :) I promised you some pictures. They are now in my picture gallery.

Off to look at the new arrival. . .

Happy Christmas, Tanja!

What a beautiful little boy you have, Tanja! Congratulations again:) Have a Merry Christmas!!

Oh, he's gorgeous, Tanja.

Happy Christmas.

Thank you very much! Hope you all had a lovely christmas! We did, even though we had a very tired, but NOT sleeping little boy. Guess christmas was a bit more action, than he could take :)

109. The Hounds of Morrigan (part one) by Pat O'Shea. 3 stars.
Category: Fantasy
I read it several times as a kid, but I don't think I've read it since I was 12. Nice to read it again, a sweet story, but not "big literature".

Glad to hear that Birk's first Christmas was a good one!

Just posting the last book of 2010 and then off to make a 2011 thread..

110. The Hounds of Morrigan (part two) by Pat O'Shea 3 stars.
Category: None
Better than part one IMO. I'm still a bit annoyed by the fact that they get help every time they get into a dangerous situation, they never have to deal with anything themselves. And Pidge's thought are still completely unrealistic, but very sweet. And I like the book in general.

2011, here I come...

Welcome to the world baby Birk, see you Tanja at 2011.