July has come to an end and it is time for a wrap-up. July is, like November, a busy month with several challenges. This year I participate in Paris in July, 20 Books of Summer and Big Book Summer Challenge. They do overlap here and there. I have read 8 books in July, making it 17 books for the 20 Books of Summer. I am very happy about that, although not all of the books come from my original pile. Since I am travelling, it is easier to read on my i-pad, even if I did take a few physical books with me. I am currently reading Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks (from my pile) and Svartfågel by Frida Skybäck (a thriller set in my region). I hope to be able to finish the last one today. Books read in July Frälsarkransen by Kristina Ohlsson The 5th book in an excellent thrller series, set on the west coast of Sweden, north of Gothenburg. Murder cases based on great stories, and we get to meet all the wonderful people in this small village. I hope there will be a 6th book. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon The is one of the side stories of Gabaldon's Outlander series. As usual it is a pleasure to read her boooks. Filled with history and great characters. Excitement from beginning to the end. I still have to read her 9th book in the series. I have waited a while to read it, to keep the story hidden a little bit longer. But, this book made me long for it. I better read it soon, since I think her 10th book might be out soon. De utvalda by Helena Kubicek Boye Another Swedish thriller set in the city where I live. Kubicek Boye has written several thriller series, but this is the first one I have read. I am waiting for the second installement, because this was another good story and mystery. "A well-known Malmö profile is found murdered in the elevator of a newly built apartment building in Västra hamnen. He has a strange burn wound over his mouth. Martin “Gulte” Guldström from the Malmö police’s special crime unit is one of the first on the scene, and what initially appears to be a derailed conflict between two neighbors soon turns out to be something much bigger." Truls Reimer is an obnoxious police from Stockholm, transferred to Malmö due to co-operation problems. Psychologist Kattis Olsson had to resign a post as profiler due to family situation. Alongside solving the crime, Reimer and Olsson have to find a way to work together with the people in the police precinct. A little bit of unusual story as characters are concern, and the murder case itself takes several turn before it is solved. Lagom finns bara i Sverige, och andra myter om språk by Mikael Parkvall (NF) Mikael Parkvall is a linguist and looks at myths in our language. The title is, in my translation, "Lagom you only find in Sweden ...". Lagom is a word meaning "not too much, not too little, just right" and is a popular word in Swedish. I think we are sometimes called "Landet lagom" ("The Country Lagom"). Interesting aspects on languages and where they come from. De som färdas om natten (La viajera nocturna/The Night Travellers) by Armando Lucas Correa I loved Lucas Correa's book " The German Girl " and when I found this one in the sales, I grabbed it and it does not disappoint. The Night Travellers is a historical novel that spans generations, exploring the lasting effects of war, racism, and displacement. The story begins in Nazi Germany and follows Ally Keller, a German woman who gives birth to a mixed-race daughter, Lilith, in 1931. As racial laws tighten, Ally must protect Lilith from persecution, ultimately sending her to Cuba for safety. The narrative continues through several generations of women—Lilith, Nadine, and Luna—each shaped by the trauma of exile, dictatorship, and identity loss. From Berlin to Havana, New York, and back to Europe, the novel reflects on how the past travels with us. It's a deeply emotional tale of survival, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds of family, making me cry floods at the end of the story. Beastly things by Donna Leon Another novel by Donna Leon since I am aiming in reading all her books. I find though that now, when I have reached her 20th + books, the stories are not always as great as they were in the beginning of the series. " When the body of a man is found in a canal, damaged by the tides, carrying no wallet, and wearing only one shoe, Commissario Guido Brunetti has little to work with. No local has filed a missing-person report, and no hotel guests have disappeared. With Inspector Vianello, Brunetti canvasses shoe stores, and winds up on the mainland in Mestre, outside his usual sphere, where they learn that the man had a kindly way with animals ." Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by david sedaris (NF) I think David Sedaris does not need a closer introduction. In this book he looks at his childhood, family and relationships, and it is, as always, a pleasure and fun to read.

Thank you to Emma @ Words and Peace  who is hosting this event this year as well. We are already guided into the various themes of this year. Head over to Emma's website for more information. I have not read any books about France and Paris in July, except the autobiography by Tamara Talbot Rice, which only partially takes place in Paris. But, for my trip to Paris in May, I managed to read a few books, during my visit and afterwards. Here are some short reviews. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway A re-read of Hemingway’s famous memoir about his early years in Paris. I enjoyed it more this time, being more familiar with the era and the places he describes. This was an updated edition of the original, edited by his son (or grandson). A must-read for anyone who loves Paris—especially the 1920s. The Most Beautiful Walk in the World, a Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter A charming and humorous introduction to walking in Paris. We follow John Baxter on his tours, daily routines, and the many small challenges of living in the city. A delightful companion for armchair travelers and Paris lovers alike. Talk to the Snail, Ten Commandments for Understanding the French by Stephen Clarke I bought this book at Shakespeare & Company on the recommendation of Marianne @ Let's Read . Clarke, a long-time Paris resident and journalist, shares the joys and frustrations of adapting to Parisian life—including the language. Witty, entertaining, and filled with sharp observations about French culture. Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford - Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford I’ve wanted to read Nancy Mitford for a while, and these two nonfiction books about iconic French figures were the perfect place to start. Voltaire in Love explores the scandalous love affair between Voltaire and the brilliant Émilie du Châtelet. Equal in intellect and passion, they shocked the French aristocracy. Voltaire—described on the back cover as a successful financier, famous poet, and troublemaker—certainly didn’t shy from controversy. A fascinating look at two bold spirits ahead of their time. Madame de Pompadour follows the rise of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, who became the most powerful woman in France as Louis XV’s mistress. I knew little about her before, and Mitford’s lively narrative brings her vividly to life. Educated, cultured, and by all accounts genuinely kind, she held her influence amid the ruthless politics of Versailles with remarkable grace. Le Bal/Snow in Autumn by Irène Némirovsky Two poignant novellas by an author I’ve long wanted to read. Le Bal tells the story of a German Jewish family in Paris and the unexpected consequences of hosting a ball—dark, unsettling, and unforgettable. Snow in Autumn is a moving account of Russian émigrés fleeing to France after the Bolshevik Revolution. I especially loved Le Bal for its sharp emotional impact. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein At first, I didn’t realize Stein herself wrote this book, though in hindsight, its style makes that clear. I had expected it to be difficult, but instead it felt like sitting across from Stein as she talked about their life in Paris—both within and beyond the famous artistic circles she helped shape. Surprisingly engaging and more approachable than I imagined. Ludvig XIV (Louis XIV) by Andreas Marklund I listened to this short account of the life of Louis XIV. It was very interesting, and I did learn a few new things about him. The most surprising was the author’s claim that the rigid court rules at Versailles—established by Louis XIV—were passed down to his son and, if I understood correctly, contributed in part to the later French Revolution. Overall, an interesting account on his life and deeds. Scott Fitzgerald by Andrew Turnbull I’ve read a few books about the Fitzgeralds, and this turned out to be a rather good one. Turnbull met Scott Fitzgerald as a child when Scott rented a house from Turnbull’s family. The Fitzgeralds’ story seems to drift toward doom early in their lives. One wonders if there was anything they could have done to change their lifestyle. It seems the will—or even the intention—wasn’t really there. A tragic story indeed. Kvinnan i Paris (A Pregnant Courtesan for the Rake) by Diane Gaston A romance to mix in with the heavier reading. It was okay, but not much more than that—an easy read, at least. Before Wisdom: The Early Poems by Paul Verlaine While walking the streets of Paris searching for Hemingway’s home, I stumbled upon the former residence of Paul Verlaine. I remembered hearing of him—perhaps through Stefan Zweig, who I believe admired him. I bought a copy of his early poems to get a sense of his work. I’m not much of a poetry reader, and I can’t say I completely understood him, though some poems were beautiful, many of them sad. Tamara, Memoirs of St Petersburg, Paris, Oxford and Byzantium by Tamara Talbot Rice This book has been on my shelves for 30–40 years, and I finally decided to read it. The title intrigued me, as I’ve visited all the cities she writes about. Unfortunately, I never quite connected with Tamara herself, and I found the memoirs rather dull—mainly anecdotes about famous people she had met. It’s a shame, because she lived through an era of big changes and could have shared so much more. Interestingly, the brief introductions to each chapter—written by her daughter—were the most engaging parts. Have you read any of the books I talk about here? If so, which one was your favourite? Anyone you would like to read after having read these short reviews?

Emma @ Words and Peace and Annabookbel are hosting this year's summer read. There is another questionnaire to summarise our reading for July. 1. Which book surprised you the most this month? Describe what made it stand out—was it a plot twist, unique character, or something unexpected? The Night Travellers by Armando Lucas Correa. From the start I thought it would be, more or less, like The German Girl , but it turned out to be so much more. A family saga, how earlier generations history trickle down through the heritage of the women in the family. Starting in the 1930s and going up to modern times. A really good story. 2. If your July reading experience was a weather forecast, what would it be and why? Did your reads feel like sunny days, thunderstorms, gentle breezes, or heatwaves? Difficult to say, but I would probably go for sunny days, interrupted by thunderstorms. 3. Name a setting from your July books where you’d love (or hate) to take a summer vacation. What drew you to (or repelled you from) the place? I would say Cuba from The Night Travellers. I have been to Cuba and it is a fantastic, exotic place. I would not mind going back. 4. If you could turn one book into a summer festival, what would the main event be? Describe the vibe, activities, or the bookish highlight of your imagined festival. I would say "LAGOM". A Swedish word that means "not too much, not too little", just perfect in other words. The festival would be lagom of many things; music, theatre, literary festival and whatever turns up. Lagom finns bara i Sverige, och andra myter om språk by Mikael Parkvall. My free translation: You only find LAGOM in Sweden and other myths about languages. 5. Choose your own adventure—recap July in the style of your choice: You might write a diary entry, poem, comic panel, or even a simple list. Be as creative as you like! Visiting the wild parts of Norway with our camper van. We travelled around the south western part of the country, and it is like going around in a fairy tale. So beautiful. Especially, when you go along the fjords and "fjells" listening to Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg. It felt like I was in another world. Geiranger, Norway If you are interested in our travels, please visit my newsletter The Content Reader . More Norwegian, and other, adventures to come.

Emma @ Words and Peace  and Annabookbel  are hosting this year's summer read. "Almighty God created sexual desire in ten parts, then he gave nine parts to women and one to men." Ali ibn Abu Taleb, husband of Muhammad's daughter Fatima and founder of the Shiite sect of Islam This is the first quote in Nine Parts of Desire - The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks. Geraldine Brooks (born 1955) is an Australian-American journalist and award-winning novelist. She began her career as a reporter, working for The Sydney Morning Herald and later as a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal , covering conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans. She has written several acclaimed nonfiction and fiction books. She won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for March . Her acclaimed novels, including Year of Wonders, People of the Book, and Horse , are known for weaving rich historical research with powerful storytelling. Sounds wonderful and I have to check out her novels. But, as a start, a very interesting nonfiction. I have heard so many good things about Geraldine Brooks’s books, but until now I had never read one. Nine Parts of Desire has actually been sitting on my shelves since it first came out in the mid-1990s. Having lived in the Middle East myself, I found this book particularly interesting, but I think it will also speak to any woman curious about the lives of Muslim women. Brooks’s writing is excellent. Her prose flows across the pages with the ease of a novel, although her journalistic treats shine through. As a reporter, she is skilled with words, but also with perspectives: she weaves together history, the development of Islam and its impact on women, and vivid portrayals of women’s lives in different Middle Eastern countries. One of the strengths of the book is how she captures the diversity of experiences—women’s lives can differ a lot from one country to another. Brooks manages to remain fair and nuanced, presenting voices both from within these societies and from the outside. Of course, it is important to remember that the book was published in 1995, and much has happened in the region since then. Yet, even with that in mind, it gives a fascinating insight into women’s lives—their challenges, limitations, and also their strengths and resilience. What struck me most was how Brooks combined respect with honesty: she does not shy away from difficult questions, but neither does she reduce these women’s lives to stereotypes. Reading it today, almost thirty years later, adds another layer. The political, social, and cultural landscapes of the Middle East have shifted in many ways—wars, revolutions, technological change, and women’s movements have transformed many aspects of life. Some of Brooks’s observations feel rooted in their time, while others remain relevant today. Her stories set in the 1990s becomes a reflection on how women's lives in the region have changed. But also a realisation that many of the struggles and debates continue up to this day, even if sometimes in new forms. This, my first Brook book, wet my appetite for reading more by her. As a good journalist, she has a sharp eye on events happening around her. Her analyses are honestly and fair, and she knows how to write a good story.

Lately, I have not participated in that many challenges. Mostly because I tend not to follow the list I prepare for each challenge. However, I did join a few challenges this summer that has been rather successful. You know what it is like when hybrid sets in? You feel you can do anything. I follow a few book readers on Youtube, which is both inspiring and encouraging. I have found a few odd challenges lately and felt eager to follow them. There are three in particular which caught my attention. None of them very easy. HRCYED II - The Hardest Reading Challenge You've Ever Done (7 July 2025 - 6 July 2026) This amazing, and difficult, challenge is hosted by Qwordy , but has been picked up by several other youtubers. It should last for a year, but you can be flexible if you feel like it. In principal you can start whenever you like. I am sure I will need more than one year to cover this challenge. The good thing is that you can keep track on The StoryGraph, and, I presume, Goodreads (which I don't use anymore). Here are the prompts for 25/26. The Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do (7 July 2025 - 6 July 2026) By the 100s (up to 800) 24-Hour Readathon Subgenre Reads: First to Sixth Series Staircase: (Standalone book/Duology/Trilogy/Quadrilogy +) Award Season: Entrants, semi-finalists, finalist, and winners) TBR Game Books The Last Ten Years: 2015 - 2025 - Bonus 2026) All the Adaptations: Original Books - Modern Retelling - Comic/Graphic - Musical - Stage Play - TV Show - Web Series - Animation - Movie Disability Challenge: 5 books Heritage Months: Disability Pride - Hispanic - Indigenous - Black - Women’s History - Arab - Jewish - AAPI - Queer Pride Translation Challenge: 5 books Around the World - North America - South America - Africa - Europe - Asia - Australia - Antarctica The Bigger Rainbow: Red - Orange - Yellow - Green - Teal - Light Blue - Blue - Purple - Pink - Black - White - Gold/Silver + Rainbow, any cover with more than seven colours on it Make a Quote Spooky Creatures: Vampire - Shifter - Magic User - Fae Folk - Spirit - Merfolk - Zombie - Other Creature The Avatar Challenge: Water - Earth - Fire - Air Readathon Challenge Animals Challenge: House Pets - Exotic Pets - Farm Animals - Wild Animals - Zoo Animals The Bigger Queere Alphabet: Gay - Lesbian - Bi/Pan - Trans - Intersex - Asexual - Polyamory - Non-binary -Genderfluid Your Favourite Prompt from HRCYED 1 Bipoc Authors: 10 books New Release: July 2025 - June 2026 Your Own Custom Prompt Non-fiction Challenge: 5 books Q’s Reviews and Recs: Cozy Mini review - Full reading vlog - TikTok/Reel/Short Secret Prompts I hope I got that right. Under many of the headings are several books to read. Some are customizable so you can choose what to read. Each prompt has a separate entry on StoryGraph and when you add your books, it shows clearly what you have read and where you are in the process. Please let me know if you are joining this one. The 52 Book Club The 52 Book Club (youtube channel) has another interesting challenge called Connections Reading . Here are some of the rules, but head over to their web-site for more information. "Special Challenge Rules: One of the unique elements of this challenge is that each prompt somehow connects to the prompt that came before it. Each book you choose will influence the books that come next. This is why the challenge must be completed in order. The prompts may look a little confusing at first, so take the challenge one prompt at a time. For example: Prompt 1 is “Pick any book.” Let’s say that you pick Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess as your first prompt. Prompt 2 is “Title shares a word with the previous book’s title.” For this prompt, you could pick Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie because it shares the word “Murder” with your prompt 1 title. Prompt 3 is “Set in the country where the previous author is from,” so you choose to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The book is set in England, which is where the previous author, Agatha Christie, was from. And so on. Continue through the challenge, taking it one prompt at a time." It sounds like an interesting way of reading. Words and Peace Emma at Words and Peace has a similar reading challenge called BookBound. It is related to Connected reading, but has fewer prompts for each first book. Here you deal with three books, connected by title, author, country or whatever you can find. If you are interested, ask Emma for the excel sheet to share your reading with others. Thematic months For the autumn I am thinking of adding a theme for each month. The idea is not to only read the thematic books, but more like reading about a special subject, author, classic or similar. I am thinking the following themes for the rest of the year. Preferably from my own shelves. September - Roman empire/Antiquity - I feel like reading about old times again. October - Russian authors - I have a few on my shelves, most of them very thick. November - Biographies - I have quite a few lying around, very thick as well. December - Egypt - to prepare for our trip there over Christmas and New Year. I don't set up a number of books, and I will read other books as well. I am pleased with my 20 Books of Summer that I already fulfilled in the beginning of August. Not all on my original list, but still. I also intend to continue reading from my list. Left are mostly very thick books, so might not be able to finish them this year. I am also travelling for more or less a month, which means I will stick with e-books. I must not forget November which is a busy challenge month. I might only join Nonfiction November this year, due to my travels. Have you made a plan for your autum reading? Or Spring if you are from down under? Please let me know, it is always interesting and inspiring to hear.

In the park on the other side of the Inn from where we are, there is a free library. Mostly books in German or course, but from time to time there are some interesting books in English. I usually leave my English and Swedish books, that I don't want to keep, here. To my surprise, even the Swedish ones disappears rather quickly. The other day I was passing by to leave Geraldine Brook's book Nine Parts of Desire that I finished last week. To my surprise I found three excellent books in English, and one rather fun book in German. This is a book for creatives. In translation it is called Fun With Trash, Design from Waste. It is all about being creative and recycle things in stead of throwing them away. There are quite a few very nice way of creating something useful from various kinds of trash. There is a page of the final product, followed by a couple of pages with instructions. It is something that anyone can do, even if you are not very handy with tools. A great book which I gave to my husband. Just waiting to see what comes out of it. If any. Three classics The other three books were classics in English. Maybe Ian McEwan's Black Dogs would not be called a classic, but definitely he is an author I wanted to read for a long time. I have high hopes on this book. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene Graham Greene is a favourite author and this book, The Power and the Glory is supposed to be his masterpiece. I have already read it, and it is truly a great, but very sad story, of faith, poverty, weakness, and survival. There is a historical background to the story, of which I did not know anything. In 1917 a change to the Mexican Constitution restricted the Church's public role. Priests had to register, church property was confiscated and religious services shut down. It led to the Cristero War (1926-1929) Greene's story is set in the 1930s and it follows a nameless priest - known only as the "whisky priest". He is not allowed to work as a priest anymore and is roaming around the country. He drinks too much, makes mistakes, and carries guilt for fathering a child. In spite of the situation he continues to serve the people when asked, and are thus wanted by the authorities. Greene's writing takes us directly to this poverty stricken region where people hardly have food to survive the day. The dust, the poor houses, the desperate lives are so well portrayed that you are right there, suffering alongside the people. It is a depressing story about ordinary, brave people who fight to survive in a hostile environment. The priest fight with his own demons of not being able to help people, his own shortcomings, and his doubts about his priesthood. Nevertheless, he keeps going until he comes to a point where he makes a final decision. Greene's hero is not a saint. His imperfections shine through his daily life, but he somehow manages to show grace and courage along the way. Doing what we all do: trying to be a good person in spite of our imperfections. Not surprisingly, the novel met debate and especially the Catholics were scandalised by the portrayal of the priest. Time has been kind, and it is considered one of Greene's greatest works. The poverty background that shows what people have to do to survive puts an emphasis on the ever big questions of morality, redemption and the never ending clash between religion and politics. Although I found the book terribly sad, I was deeply drawn to it. From time to time I had to put it down, yet it always lured me back. The characters the priest encounters feel like friends, even though you don’t spend much time with them. As he travels, constantly meeting new people, facing new situations, and entering new environments, you can’t help but feel close to him. The story and the people stay with you, long after you have finished the book. Dubliners by James Joyce I have given up on certain classics, because I think they will be too difficult for me. Or, not being able to attract me to reading them. However, lately, I have been rethinking, and decided that I want to read the great classics. Even if they are long, difficult, and might not have a topic that I am very interested in. I can always read a chapter a day. So, when I found Dubliners by Joyce, and saw that it is not one of his thicker novels, I grabbed it. I hope to read it before I leave Innsbruck, so I can give it back to the free library. That was a few of my new, rather interesting findings, for no money at all. Is it not great? I hope you are enjoying the summer challenges. I have managed to read more than 20 books so far, so I am really happy.

I’ve been blogging since the end of 2013—first on Blogger and more recently on Wix. While I still enjoy writing about books, keeping up with the blog has started to feel burdensome, especially after moving from Blogger to Wix. Wix works well in many ways, but I’ve struggled to design a site that looks and functions equally well on both computers and mobile devices. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the future of my blog. I haven’t been posting regularly, mostly because other commitments have taken up my time. At times, writing a post has felt more like an obligation than a joy, and I know some of you can relate to that feeling. Over the last couple of years, I’ve been using a program called Substack. It functions more like a newsletter, though you can share text, videos, podcasts, and more. I find it very simple to use, and somehow it feels easier to write there. Substack doesn’t have all the same features as a traditional blog (like labels), but I’ve realised those aren’t the most essential parts of my blogging. That’s why I’ve decided to move my blog to Substack as well. I’ve created a newsletter called My Bookish Corner , and the first introductory post is already up. Just like with a blog, you can visit the site to read both new and past posts. If you subscribe (it’s free), new posts will go directly to your inbox. You can like and comment as before—only this time, it’s much easier. I truly hope you’ll join me there. I’ll continue posting in parallel on Wix until my subscription ends in late 2026. Most of the posts will be the same, though I may share a few extras exclusively on Substack. For the next year at least, you’ll be able to choose where you prefer to read. Here’s the link to My Bookish Corner . As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts—both on the posts and on the newsletter itself. I also have two newsletters where I write about my travels, history, culture and anything that makes life more interesting. One in English and one in Swedish. For those interested, here are the links: The Content Reader Newsletter Den tillfälliga besökaren

Emma @ Words and Peace  and Annabookbel   have once again hosted this year’s 20 Books of Summer challenge. As always, there’s a fun questionnaire to look back on our reading adventures. This August, I read 12 books , and in total, I managed 30 books over the summer ! Did you manage to finish all 10/15/20 books? If not, what kept you from completing the challenge? Yes, I reached the 20-book goal —and even went beyond with 30. Not all were from my original list, but I managed 8 from it. Since I was traveling and couldn’t carry all the books with me, I turned to e-books and audiobooks. I still have five books from my list with me, which I’ll finish on my long train journeys home (6 + 11 hours—plenty of reading time!). Of all the books you read this summer, which one was your favourite and why? Without a doubt, Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman. It tells the thrilling true story of the group who dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall to help people escape. Reality here was more gripping than fiction. Did you DNF any? Why? Yes— The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. It’s a beloved book for many, but I just couldn’t connect with the story. Which book surprised you the most? The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon. I’ve read and loved most of her Outlander series and expected this to focus on Jamie’s time in prison. It wasn’t, but it reminded me of how excellent Gabaldon’s writing is and how skillfully she blends history with fiction. Did you notice any patterns in the genres you read? As usual in summer, I leaned toward lighter reads—especially crime fiction. In total, I read 13 detective stories . Which one had the best cover? The Night Travellers by Armando Lucas Correa. Stunning. Longest and shortest reads? Longest: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (512 pages) Shortest: One Boat by Jonathan Buckley (168 pages) Format mix (print, ebook, audio)? A real mix this summer: Print: 13 Ebook: 10 Audio: 7 (quite a lot for me!) AND NOW FOR SOMETHING MORE CREATIVE: 8. Imagine you’re hosting a “20 Books of Summer” wrap party. Which book would you nominate as guest of honor? I think I’d invite Voltaire, after reading Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford earlier this year. He would certainly keep the conversation lively—though probably quarrelsome! It might not be the most peaceful evening, but it would definitely be memorable. 9. Which character would you want as a summer buddy for a weekend getaway? I read two books by V.E. Schwab ( A Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows ) and would happily spend a weekend with her characters. Imagine a party with Prince Rhy, his brother Kell, and the bold Lila—perhaps with Holland crashing uninvited. The most intriguing guest would be Alucard Emery, the charming, elusive pirate who always keeps you guessing. Yes, it would definitely turn into a surprise party! 10. Any other comments? I love imagining a literary gathering. There are so many characters I’d like to meet, maybe even to get clarifications from their stories. If I could meet a real historical figure, I’d choose Count Axel von Fersen. He lived through dramatic times, moving between the French and Swedish courts, and his life ended violently in Stockholm during political turmoil. I’d love to hear his side of the story—especially his relationship with Marie Antoinette. As for fictional characters, I’d choose Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, or Catherine and Heathcliff—characters who provoke strong feelings and make you think about love, power, and survival. But that’s a post for another day!

I finally got around to reading something by Ann Patchett. I’ve heard so many good things about her books, especially this one, and I can only agree—it’s a wonderful story. I loved it. Probably the best book I’ve read so far this year. “Do you think it’s possible to ever see the past as it actually was?” I asked my sister. We were sitting in her car, parked in front of the Dutch House, in the broad daylight of early summer. This is a place where the siblings, Danny and Maeve, spend much of their time once the Dutch House is out of their reach. The house holds a kind of magic over them, shaping their lives in ways they don’t always recognize. It’s difficult to talk about the plot without giving too much away, so here’s a short passage from the book’s description: “The story is told by Cyril’s son, Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled by their stepmother from the house where they grew up. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is each other. It is this unshakeable bond that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.” The novel spans five decades and reads almost like a dark fairy tale about a house that leaves no one untouched—whether you love it or hate it. Danny and Maeve are deeply marked by their mother’s sudden disappearance when they are still young. Their father raises them, but he is cold and emotionally distant. When he remarries, life goes from bad to worse. Told through Danny’s eyes, the story follows the siblings from childhood through their education and into adulthood. While on the surface they seem to cope, there are undercurrents of grief and longing that shape their choices. Maeve, as the older sister, is fiercely protective. Danny, outwardly successful, is nonetheless tied to his sister’s well-being, which complicates his own family life. The two of them only truly seem at ease in each other’s company, their bond forged early on. And through it all, the Dutch House remains a haunting presence—the one constant in their lives. This is, at its heart, a family saga about a lost childhood paradise—a paradise broken by absence, betrayal, and silence. It’s about how we endure sorrow, how we build new lives, and how, in the end, we must face our ghosts and make peace with the past if we want to be whole. I’ve always been fascinated by houses: old mansions, castles, and places that seem to hold their own stories. The Dutch House is one of those—the kind of house, and the kind of novel, that leaves you changed. Following Maeve and Danny in their fight for survival and belonging, you carry them with you long after finishing the book. And of course, with such a powerful story, you wonder how it will end. Will it disappoint? Will it satisfy? For me, the ending was beautiful. It made me cry, but it left me happy.

It’s that time of year again—the leaves are turning colour and slowly drifting to the ground. Autumn has arrived. Here in southern Sweden, we’ve been fortunate with the weather so far, enjoying bright, crisp days filled with sunshine and soft clouds. Absolutely beautiful. November, however, is often considered an “in-between” month, not usually the most exciting. But in the blogging world, it brings a burst of energy, discoveries, and reflections on nonfiction. It’s one of my favourite challenges of the year, and here are the hosts along with the weekly itinerary. But first, let’s admire the wonderful image created for this year’s event. The Hosts Liz is an ex-librarian, a freelance editor and transcriber, a runner and a volunteer. She blogs about everything from social justice and geology nonfiction to YA romance and literary fiction at Adventures in reading, running and working from home . Frances Spurrier is a poet, essayist and reviewer. Her novel The Winchester Codex was published in 2024. She lives in London with her husband and Suki the Golden Doodle. Her blog can be found at Volatile Rune . It covers books she happens to be reading – both fiction, non-fiction and poetry. She especially enjoys biographies of writers and artists. Heather is a veterinarian living in Ohio who blogs at Based on a True Story . She reads all genres but really loves nonfiction and fantasy. Rebekah is a designer, crafter, and cat parent living in Pittsburgh, where she writes book reviews and other leftist musings at She Seeks Nonfiction . Deb is a Texas librarian-for-life who loves to read nonfiction-that-reads-like-fiction, literary fiction, classics, and children’s picture books. Deb plays guitar, swims, draws, writes, thinks about happiness, and blogs at Readerbuzz . The Rules Each Monday, our weekly host will post our topic prompt and include a linkup where you can link your posts, connect with other bloggers, and dive deeper by reading and sharing nonfiction book reviews. Feel free to use our official Nonfiction November graphics, too! The weekly prompts Week 1 (10/27-11/2) Your Year in Nonfiction: Celebrate your year of nonfiction. What books have you read? What were your favorites? Have you had a favorite topic? Is there a topic you want to read about more? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? ( Heather ) Week 2 (11/3-11/9) Choosing Nonfiction: There are many topics to choose from when looking for a nonfiction book. For example: Biography, Autobiography, Memoire, Travel, Health, Politics, History, Religion and Spirituality, Science, Art, Medicine, Gardening, Food, Business, Education, Music. Maybe use this week to challenge yourself to pick a genre you wouldn’t normally read? Or stick to what you usually like is also fine. If you are a nonfiction genre newbie, did your choice encourage you to read more? ( Frances ) Week 3 (11/10-11/16) Book Pairings: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. Maybe it's a historical novel and the real history in a nonfiction version, or a memoir and a novel, or a fiction book you’ve read and you would like recommendations for background reading. Or maybe it’s just two books you feel have a link, whatever they might be. You can be as creative as you like! ( Liz ) Week 4 (11/17-11/23) Mind Openers: Nonfiction books are one of the best tools for seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. They allow us to get an idea of the experiences of people of all different ages, races, genders, abilities, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, or even just people with different opinions than ours. Is there a book you read this year from a diverse author, or a book that opened your eyes to a perspective that you hadn’t considered? How did it challenge you to think differently? ( Rebekah ) Week 5 (11/24-11/30) New To My TBR: It's been a month full of amazing nonfiction books! Which ones have made it onto your TBR? Be sure to link back to the original blogger who posted about that book! ( Deb ) And there you have it—a presentation of our wonderful hosts and their creative weekly prompts. I would be happy to see you join us, whether or not you usually read nonfiction. Who knows? A whole new world may open up to you. The participants are knowledgeable, eager to share recommendations across a wide range of themes, and always ready to answer your questions.

I first saw a post about this challenge on Readerbuzz , hosted by Sue Jackson on Book by Book . Below the details, but head back to Sue's website for more goodies on this challenge. The Details: Hey, it's summer, so we'll keep this low-key and easy! Anything 400 pages or more qualifies as a big book. The challenge runs from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend (May 23 this year) through Labor Day (September 1 this year). Choose one or two or however many big books you want as your goal. Wait, did you get that? You only need to read 1 book with 400+ pages this summer to participate! (though you are welcome to read more, if you want). No sign-ups are necessary! All readers are welcome to participate. If you are a blogger or YouTuber and want to share your Big Book Summer plans, book reviews, or wrap-ups, you can add your link(s) to the links list below so others can find you. If you post a YouTube video for Big Book Summer, please tag Melinda and I. Join the 2025 Big Book Summer Goodreads group to enjoy Big Book discussions all summer long! We always have a lively group with lots of fun book chat. Or if you prefer, join the Big Book Summer Storygraph group. For chatting on other social media platforms, use #BigBookSummer My participation I also join this challenge since I noticed that nine out of my 20 books of summer are books over 400 pages! However, did I choose so badly? Well, now the list is there ( 20 Books of Summer ) although I did make one change. A Thousand Miles Up the Nile by Amelia B. Edwards I bought while living in Egypt. I never got around to read it, but it should be interesting. Amelia writes about the trip she did at the end of the 19th century. Should be very interesting. However, since I am going to Egypt over Christmas and New Year, and will go up the Nile, I thought it would be more useful to read the book in connection to the trip. I therefore changed this book into Carlos Ruiz Zafón's Marina (and it is not over 400 pages long, I did learn something). My list of books I chose the now eight books from my summer read with more than 400 pages. They are: The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (615 pages) Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (562 pages) The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Galbadon (507 pages) Facing the Light by Adèle Geras (403 pages) Tychonium - Experimentet by Jan Johannesson (448 pages) Now Face to Face by Karleen Koen (586 pages) Shakespeare and the Countess by Chris Laoutaris (416 pages) Blondie by Joyce Carol Oates (862 pages)

I managed to read 14 books in May, of which nine of them had some kind of connection to Paris. I will not review them here, but will wait until Paris in July. This year I will have a lot of posts covering Paris, since I spent 12 days there in the beginning of May. I don't have to say I had a great time. Read in May ​Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon  I Will Find You by Harlan Coben The Most Beautiful Walk in the World, a Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter (NF) A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway (NF) Talk to the Snail, Ten Commandments for Understanding the French by Stephen Clarke (NF) Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford (NF) Before Wisdom: The Early Poems by Paul Verlaine Le Bal/Snow in Autumn by Irène Némirovsky Otroliga Historier, Ur vår danska historia by Birgitta Petrén (NF) The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein (NF) Ludvig XIV (Louis XIV) by Andreas Marklund (NF) Scott Fitzgerald by Andrew Turnbull (NF) Tid för Lisbeth by Annelie Sylvan Kvinnan i Paris (A Pregnant Courtesan for the Rake) by Diane Gaston (May) Apart from the books connected to Paris/France, I read rather easygoing books. It is this time of the year. I managed to get hold of one Donna Leon and one Harlan Corban, always exciting reads. Although this one by Leon was not as good as they usually are. I read one nonfiction book about the history of the Danish time here in the south of Sweden. Tid för Lisbeth (Time for Lisbeth) was recommended by a book club member, and I though I had to read a book with my name in the title. A modern story of a woman in her sixties whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. It was an easy read, although I was a little bit irritated on Lisbeth from time to time. All in all, it was an exciting reading month, considering the books I read about Paris. Apart from Hemingway they were all new authors to me. I even managed to put in a poetry book by Paul Verlaine. More about these books in July. If you are interesting in following me around Paris, I post articles on my visit here - The Content Reader Newsletter .