I follow a few book blogger on Youtube. Recently, I found a new blogger, Books with Emily Fox with an interesting approach for choosing the best book read in 2022. She wrote down all her read book on a slip of paper, put it in a jar, and randomly drew book titles to arrange them two by two. Of each group she chose the best, grouped them in two by two, etc. That means that you sometimes have to choose from two favourite books, or two least favourite books and let them continue to the next round. I used a random number generator and ended up with ...? Just to keep the excitement up, I will show you the titles that ended up as the last eight. The bold ones went on the the next round. As you see three of my favourite books by Maja Lunde came this far. I must admit that all of these were my favourites, so lucky with the random numbers. Jenkins Reid, Taylor - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Von Schirach, Ferdinand - Fallet Collini (Der Fall Collini/The Collini Case) Lunde, Maja - Binas historia (The History of Bees) Lunde, Maja - The End Of The Ocean Kvensler, Ulf - Sarek (The Couple's Trip) Wung-Sung, Jesper - Kvinna sedd bakifrån (Woman Seen From the Back) O’Farrell, Maggie - Hamnet Lunde, Maja - Przewalski's Horse Next round Von Schirach, Ferdinand - Fallet Collini (Der Fall Collini/The Collini Case) Lunde, Maja - Binas historia (The History of Bees) Wung-Sung, Jesper - Kvinna sedd bakifrån (Woman Seen From the Back) Lunde, Maja - Przewalski's Horse Last round Von Schirach, Ferdinand - Fallet Collini (Der Fall Collini/The Collini Case) Lunde, Maja - Przewalski's Horse In the end it stood between two favourite books, and it was difficult to choose one. I did go for The Collini Case by Ferdinand Von Schirach, mainly because of its depth in human actions and sufferings.

Nancy at Readerbuzz tagged her followers with 'The Bookworm Tag'. Very simple rules: -answer the questions -make up new ones -tag people Here are her questions: 1. If you had to pick one book that has most influenced your life in a positive way (other than a religious book), what would it be? A very difficult question. Maybe I would choose A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, even if I read it recently, and can't really say that it has influenced my life. But, what I took with me with the book, was Rostov's positive outlook on life. To accept the way life treated him and make the best of it. I think this is a rare feature in general. However, I have always tried interesting things that turned up in my life. I usually say that I jumped on the train when it passed by. Even if I did not exactly know where it was heading. 2. What is the wisest book you have read? I would probably go for most books by Paulo Coelho. I love his books and the wisdom he provides. 3. Would you rather read a million books quickly or a few books slowly? Probably read a million books quickly. Sometimes when I read reviews, see new books, I panic a little bit, since I know I will not have time to read them all. 4. How many books do you read in a year? Around 100, give or take. 5. Do you have a favorite poem? Yes, I have a few. Here is first and last paragraph from An Arundel Tomb by Philip Larkin. Side by side, their faces blurred, The earl and countess lie in stone, Their proper habits vaguely shown As jointed armour, stiffened pleat, And that faint hint of the absurd— The little dogs under their feet. ... Time has transfigured them into Untruth. The stone fidelity They hardly meant has come to be Their final blazon, and to prove Our almost-instinct almost true: What will survive of us is love. 6. What's your favorite classic? How were you introduced to it? Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I did read it when I was rather young, but got more into it, when joining the Brontë Reading Group in Brussels. There it was analysed and I saw it in a different light. Still my favourite though. 7. Was there a time in your life when you were not a reader? If so, what changed? Yes, when I got my son. Half a year later I moved to another country, new job, another language, new family, new house (renovation object) with a big garden. It took some years before I had time to read again. 8. The average person in America reads less than one book a year. Do you have ideas about how we can reach the un-booked? A quick look at the statistics for Sweden (inhabitants around 11 millions) reveals that around 74% of the grownups read a book at least once a year, while 20% listen to a book. Maybe this is the answer. I think a lot of people find it easier to listen to a book than reading one. Many people are commuting every day and it might be a good time to listen to a book? Maybe this is the way to go? 9. What book did you read that you thought you'd hate, but ended up loving? I can't really think of any. 10. What books led you to become a reader? I can't think of any one especially. My reading came gradually. I liked very much the Angelique book series by Sergeant Golon when I was younger. It is historical fiction and maybe this is why I still love this genre. It made me interested in history and the Sun king, and led me to r eading also nonfiction. I still have the first 13 books on my shelves. I think they have written a few more. Maybe, I should have a look. My questions

We are one the road again, heading south in Europe. We left Sweden last week and arrived in Innsbruck this weekend. We had intended at few stopovers, but wheather and traffic conditions made us change our mind, so drove directly to Innsbruck, just making a stopover at a camping by Elbe, north of Lüneburg, and a few hours walk the next day in this beautiful, medieval city. The city hosted a wonderful bookshop which we visited. With armchairs and sofas where you could sit down to read a paper or check out books. There was also a coffee machine, so I could envisage myself spending some time there. The reason I went inside was that they promoted the book Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. It has popped up frequently lately with very good reviews, and I wanted to see if they had a copy in English. Alas, it was sold out. It is a fantasy, which I don't often read, although I do like them. Since it has got such raving reviews I was curious. Have to see if I can get hold of it here in Innsbruck. On my book app, I only have it as an audio-book, but I would prefer a paper back or e-book. Despair not though, I did find a few other interesting books, which also have been mentioned around the book- and vlogging world recently. It has to do with our upcoming (if weather, and fire situation allow) trip to Greece. I read an interesting article on Book Riot on why English speaking authors' books about Greek myths are so visible, while Greek authors who write about the same theme are not. I elaborate on this idea in my latest newsletter about the ancient world of Greece, and the modern. Head over there if you are interested. New purchases The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams - I found a review on This Reading Life, Broona's book s which I found intriguing. From the back cover. " Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood at her father's feet as he and his team gather words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary . One day, she sees a slip of paper containing a forgotten word flutter to the floor unclaimed. And so Esme begins to collect words for another dictionary in secret: The Dictionary of Lost Words . But to do so she must journey into a world on the cusp of change as the Great War looms and women fight for the vote. Can the power of lost words from the past finally help her make sense of her future. " _______ Ithaca by Claire North seems to be a suitable book to prepare for our Greek venture. "This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca's shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women - and their goddesses - that will change the course of the world." Having read The Odyssey by Homer, which I liked very much, I am eager to see how Claire North interprets Penelope's life while waiting for her husband to return. ______ Circe by Madeline Miller - it has been on my wish list for a while, ever since I read The Song of Achilles by her. "In the house of Helios, god of the sun and eighties of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is strange - not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. But she has a dark power of her own: witchcraft. When Circe's gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beats. Yet a woman who stands alone cannot live in peace for long - and among her island's guests is an unexpected visitor: the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything." There you are. Odysseus presence in the life of one, of the many women, he encountered on his way home to his faithful wife, Penelope.

We are half way through the Novellas in November, hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck, and this is my first post. I did manage to read a novella för the first three weeks, Novellas in November 1 – 7 November: Short Classics - The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann - I really loved this book and Hoffmann's writing. A mystery, dark and spooky tale. The Sandman is a folklore character who is said to throw sand in the eyes of children to help them fall asleep. The protagonist and narrator is Nathanael, most likely suffering from post traumatic stress due to an encounter with the sandman in his childhood. The whole story has a dark, psychological and unreal touch taking us into another world. What is real and what is suggested by our thoughts? 8 – 14 November: Novellas in Translation - Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - for someone like me who do not like insects it was a rather terrifying read. What does Kafka want to say with the novel? Alienation: people who are different are looked down upon? Work - the employer takes out everything they can from you? Family - he worries about the family which he supports. Once the family realises he can not work anymore, they take their act together and start working themselves, and manage very well. Using other people for their own means? 15 – 21 November: Short Non-Fiction - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - an enjoyable children's tale about a prince visiting different worlds. It has an educational streak. The author takes up different areas of life and show what happens when things do go well, or what one should do instead.

We are half way through the Novellas in November, hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck , and this is my first post. I did manage to read a novella för the first three weeks. 1 – 7 November: Short Classics - The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann - I really loved this book and Hoffmann's writing. A mystery, dark and spooky tale. The Sandman is a folklore character who is said to throw sand in the eyes of children to help them fall asleep. The protagonist and narrator is Nathanael, most likely suffering from post traumatic stress due to an encounter with the sandman in his childhood. The whole story has a dark, psychological and unreal touch taking us into another world. What is real and what is suggested by our thoughts? 8 – 14 November: Novellas in Translation - Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - for someone like me who do not like insects it was a rather terrifying read. What does Kafka want to say with the novel? Alienation: people who are different are looked down upon? Work - the employer takes out everything they can from you? Family - he worries about the family which he supports. Once the family realises he can not work anymore, they take their act together and start working themselves, and manage very well. Using other people for their own means? 15 – 21 November: Short Non-Fiction - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - an enjoyable children's tale about a prince visiting different worlds. It has an educational streak. The author takes up different areas of life and show what happens when things do go well, or what one should do instead.

Busy month with a lot of challenges. I decided though to join Novellas in November which I find interesting. Mostly because I don't really read novellas. This month has helped me find my way into the shorter fiction books. It is very nice to read shorter books as a break with the very long books that seem to enter our lives these days. Thank you to hosts Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck . To my own surprise I did manage to find something for each of the weeks. 1 – 7 November: Short Classics - The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann 8 – 14 November: Novellas in Translation - Metamorphoses by Franz Kafka 15 – 21 November: Short Non-Fiction - How Much Land Does A Man Need? by Leo Tolstoj 22 – 28 November: Contemporary Novellas - Master Georgi by Beryl Bainbridge 29/30 November: My Month in Novellas/ New to my TBR - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, On top of that I read Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Nikolai Leskov, recommended by Emma @ Word and Peace. This week made me discover novellas and how wonderful they are. I think I will continue reading these short fiction. I got a lot of inspiration from bloggers and have saved a few authors and titles for the future.

A while ago I checked when I did my first blog post, in order to celebrate with an anniversary post. Well, that day came and went without any reaction from me. Better late than never, so here a reminder of my very first blog post from 24 October 2012. The book was New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani. Marani is an Italian novelist, translator and newspaper columnist. While working as a translator for the European Union he invented a language ‘Europanto’ which is a mixture of languages and based on the common practice of word-borrowing usage of many EU languages. It was a suitable book to start with, being a book about letters, languages and memories. With a beautiful prose, the novel went directly to my heart. "One night at Trieste in September 1943 a seriously wounded soldier is found on the quay. The doctor, of a newly arrived German hospital ship, Pietri Friari gives the unconscious soldier medical assistance. His new patient has no documents or anything that can identifying him. When he regains consciousness he has lost his memory and cannot even remember what language he speaks. From a few things found on the man the doctor, who is originally from Finland, believes him to be a sailor and a fellow countryman, who somehow or other has ended up in Trieste. The doctor dedicates himself to teaching the man Finnish, beginning the reconstruction of the identity of Sampo Karjalainen, leading the missing man to return to Finland in search of his identity and his past." Have you read it? Please let me know in that case.

I know that many of you are a fan of this novel by Fredrik Backman. Now made into an American film with Tom Hanks as Otto. I also loved the book and the Swedish film, where the man is called Ove. Yesterday evening the author visited Malmö together with the American film version. Before the film was shown, Backman was interviewed on stage and told us a little bit of the background to the character. It seems he 'collects' real life characters and situations, which he then puts in a mental storage. These characters tend to jump out when he finds a suitable place for them in a story. Backman has a lot of humour, which I think we all see in his writings. He also has a very good eye for how we live our lives. I really loved this version with Tom Hanks. He seems perfect for the role. I think not an eye was dry in the salon during the film. It was well transferred into an American setting, and worked well there as well. Which might mean that Backman has written a universal story. I can definitely recognise myself in some of the things Otto does. Even if I don't point it out, I think about how people behave, and scan't they get their act together. I have also read My Grandmother Asks Me To Tell You She's Sorry. It is also a tragic, comical story and so well describes people and events in Sweden. However, I think they can be recognised everywhere in the world. I really loved this version with Tom Hanks. He seems perfect for the role. I think not an eye was dry in the salon during the film. It was well transferred into an American setting, and worked well there as well. Which might mean that Backman has written a universal story. I can definitely recognise myself in some of the things Otto does. Even if I don't point it out, I think about how people behave, and thinking, why can't they get their act together. Have you read the book and seen the film? What do you think?

While travelling in Portugal and was about to visit Estoril after a week in Lisbon, I found a recommendation on a travel blog for Neill Lochery’s book Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-45. Historian Neill Lochery is a specialist on Portuguese history, it is well researched, and makes for exciting reading. We are talking about spies, diplomacy, refugees and businesses, where Lisbon was a hub at the time. It was the only way out of Europe for those who needed and wanted to leave. "Lisbon had a pivotal role in the history of World War II, though not a gun was fired there. The only European city in which both the Allies and the Axis power operated openly, it was temporary home to much of Europe’s exiled royalty, over one million refugees seeking passage to the U.S., and a host of spies, secret police, captains of industry, bankers, prominent Jews, writers and artists, escaped POWs, and black marketeers. An operations officer writing in 1944 described the daily scene at Lisbon’s airport as being like the movie Casablanca, times twenty.” As you can imagine from the introduction above, this is an exciting part of, not only Portuguese, but European history. Estoril today is a quiet place. The famous Estoril Casino looks a little bit run down, but might be elegant on the inside. “The interior of the casino bore a resemblance to the gambling room in Rick’s Café in the film Casablanca, but on a grander scale. Among those who played at its tables during the war was a young British intelligence officer, Ian Fleming, who took inspiration from both the casino and the hotel for his future James Bond books.” “… Lisbon became affectionately knows as “Casablanca II.” The real-life version had all the ingredients of the fictional storyline: broken romances; desperate refugees trying to obtain the correct paperwork and selling the family jewels to finance their onward passage; a thriving black market as supply dictated that the prices of diamonds and other rare stones fell to record low levels; cafés and hotel bars full of refugees and spies scattered across the city center and along Lisbon’s coastline resorts.“ Lochery guides us through the Allies' and Axis' powers and their diplomatic efforts and spy games. It was the time of dictator António de Oliveira Salazar, who had come to power in 1932, and left only in 1968. He was a workaholic, had several minister post at the same time, and spent the war time years trying to keep neutrality for Portugal, as well as keeping up businesses. One of the most important commodities at the time, the wolfram, or tungsten, was eagerly sought after, especially by the Axis. That is how Portugal got hold of an immense amount of gold, of which, it is believed, there might still be some hidden in banks in Portugal. For those interested, Lochery’s book has much more to tell. Not all refugees were lucky enough to have money and many tragedies happened. Politics, allies vs axis, diplomacy, economy and, in the end, the people who tried to do something. Sometimes successfully, other times not. If you are interested in Portugal you can read The Content Reader Newsletter where I have several articles on our trip around the north western part of the country.

This is a difficult book, at least it was for me. I was about to give it up 4-5 times before I got my act together. The last time was on my way to Lisbon, just before Christmas. I thought it would be easier to read while I was there, but decided to give up already on the flight there. Probably because I was so tired, having been up very early. If you have read my newsletter you know that already on the first day I had an encounter with Saramago, and Pessoa (link to newsletter) since we ended up at the restaurant that both authors frequently visited. It turned out we had chosen the same table as Saramago used to sit at, and behind me on the wall was a picture of him. 'Noblesse oblige' as they say and I realised, there and then, I had to finish his book. “If proofreaders were given their freedom and did not have their hands and feet tied by a mass of prohibitions more binding than the penal code, they would soon transform the face of the world, establish the kingdom of universal happiness, giving drink to the thirsty, food to the famished, peace to those who live in turmoil, joy to the sorrowful ... for they would be able to do all these things simply by changing the words ..." The power of the word is evident in Portuguese author José Saramago's novel, The History of the Siege of Lisbon. His protagonist, a proofreader named Raimundo Silva, adds a key word to a history of Portugal and thus rewrites not only the past, but also his own life." The story sounded intriguing, and is, but I found the way in which it was written difficult. There is only text, no air on the page; hardly any full stops, the sentences just linger over page after page; the dialogue is included in the text, without citation marks or any other hint; a comma here and there (not visible in the text below). “Every novel is like this, desperation, a frustrated attempt to save something of the past. Except that it still has not been established whether it is the novel that prevents man from forgetting himself or the impossibility of forgetfulness that makes him write novels. I persisted, and I am happy about that. I did find the beginning mystifying, but then there was only long discussions, or monologues, leading nowhere. After half the book the story picked up and I found myself enjoying this part. Maybe because I was walking the same streets as Saramago’s protagonists, could see where they were heading, where Silva was living and understand the hilly nature of any walk in Lisbon. The prose and descriptions of the surroundings, the people, the houses, life and love is beautiful. There are so much wisdom hidden in the lines of this book. When I really took the time to immerse myself into it, I saw it with different eyes. Just look at this extract from the novel. So much information hidden in a description of Silva having his morning coffee. “Raimundo Silva entered, said good morning to no one in particular, and sat at a table behind the showcase where the usual tempting delicacies were on display, sponges, mille feuilles, cream cornets, tartlets, rice cakes, mokatines and, those inevitable croissants, in the shape dictated by the French word, a pastry that has risen only to collapse at the first bite and disintegrate until there are nothing but crumbs left on the plate, tiny celestial bodies which the huge wet finger of Allah is lifting to his mouth, then all that remains will be a terrible cosmic void, if being and nothingness are compatible.” José de Sousa Saramago (1922-2010) received the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature for his " parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony [with which he] continually enables us once again to apprehend an elusory reality.” I am eager to read something else by him, just to compare this novel to others he wrote. Have you read anything by him? What can you recommend?

Thank you to all of you who introduced me to this book. Although a great book, a modern classic, I find it very difficult to review. It leaves so many questions unanswered, but maybe that is why it gives you the impression it is a story beyond life. When her mother dies, eleven-year-old Unn goes to live with her aunt. At school she is keeping her distance although the class mates are eager let her into their community. Siss is the leader and feels rejected when she cannot draw Unn into her sphere. It all changes when Unn one day invites Siss over after school. The meeting is somewhat mysterious. Two teenage girls discovering each other. Unn says she has a secret to share with Siss, but not now. Siss is not entirely comfortable, and after some time she goes home. Both girls feel revived after the meeting, although next morning Unn feels she cannot face Siss and decides to visit the Ice Palace. It is a frozen waterfall, that looks like a palace. She goes in and out of different ‘rooms’ and enters further into the palace, until she cannot go further. The disappearance generates a general research for several days, without result. Siss was the last one who saw Unn and everyone is sure that she knows something. That Unn revealed a clue to her disappearance. "It was only something I said ! "I don't think so. I can see you know something. What did Unn say ?” "I can't tell you.” "Why not ?" "Because it wasn't like that, she didn't say it ! And she didn't say a word about hiding." Tarjei Vesaas was born in Telemark in Norway. He was ridden by guilt since he refused to take over the family farm. His youth was mostly spent in solitude where he was seeking comfort and solace in nature. His literary career spans over 50 years, writing about simple rural people exposed to some psychological drama. All these aspects are clearly visible in The Ice Palace. Beautiful prose and description of nature, and above all the ice palace. He takes you with him on a visible tour of the surrounding landscape in this story. A landscape where people has not yet taken over. Although the novel does not give you any clear answers, you can feel the underlying tension of the two teenage girls, who is venturing towards a grown up world. Relationship, underlying sexual tension, secrets and maybe a hint of wanting to put a mark in the world. The drama and the beauty of the story makes this a magical read.

I actually listened to this book. It came recommended from book bloggers/vloggers and I loved it. A different kind of detective story. Alan Conway is a bestselling crime writer. His editor, Susan Ryeland, has worked with him for years, and she's intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. Alan's traditional formula pays homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. It's proved hugely successful. So successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job. When Susan receives Alan's latest manuscript, in which Atticus Pünd investigates a murder at Pye Hall, an English manor house, she has no reason to think it will be any different from the others. There will be dead bodies, a cast of intriguing suspects, and plenty of red herrings and clues. But the more Susan reads, the more she’s realizes that there's another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript—one of ambition, jealousy, and greed—and that soon it will lead to murder. The story definitely takes you to Agatha Christie and it is difficult not to make comparisons between Atticus Pünd and Hercule Poirot. It is like reading one of her mystery books about the famous detective. The story also has much of Christie's genius way of telling a mystery. However, Horowitz has built up the story in quite an unusual manner. I will not reveal it here, since I think it will be a big spoiler. You just have to trust me that it is an exciting thriller which takes unexpected turns. It is also as difficult to guess the culprit as in a Christie mystery. While recommending the book to a Swedish friend, and looking for the Swedish title, I came on the information that is has been made into a TV-series. Wow, I thought, I just have to watch it. Turned out that I had already seen it, but did not connect it to this book. Of course, the Swedish TV-series title was totally different, but did make sense. I love the show, so I can recommend either the book and/or the TV-series, but probably better to read the book first. Horowitz seems to be a well known author and screen writer and there is a second novel in the Magpie series, Moonflower Murders. Something to look out for.