The book of the year

One of my great discoveries last year was the American writer Joyce Carol Oates. I happened upon her by mistake, browsing the library for something to read and she has really become one of my favourite authors. Therefore I will declare her novel Black Girl, White Girl my favourite book of the year. It was through this book I first met her wonderful way of writing. It is different, like you think. She jumps between time and space and different scenes. At the same time she does it in a way that makes you understand exactly what is going on.
After finishing Black Girl, White Girl I have also read Black Water and currently I am reading The Falls.

My hopes and expectations for this new year is that I will have time to read as much and varied as possible (one of the perks of not having to read for school anymore). My New Year's resolution is to read at least six writers, which are new to me. It wouldn’t be too difficult to read a new writer every other month.
Josefine

My recommendations: Black girl White girl by Joyce Carol Oates.

Christmas gift

This is a Christmas gift idea for a writer or a book lover, or why not a New years gift for your self?

The Swedish designer Jan Lundqvist has really come up with a gem for booklovers when he designed some very funky bookends. It is a collection of Swedish writers made in blackened steel plate and is about 15x15 cm. Another brilliant feature of the bookends is to place it against a wall and light a tea light in front of it and the figure will make a reflection on the wall.

I think this is a great Christmas gift to booklovers all over the world. For a foreigner not accustomed to Swedish writer, these might work as an inspiration to read their books.
Josefine

My recommendations: The wonderful adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf

What if?

A story that intrigues me is the ”What if?” in historical fiction. With a bit of imagination and a “what if?” question, an author can go along way to alter the world we live in.
Such as in the Plot against America by Philip Roth. What if Charles Lindberg becomes the next president instead of F.D. Roosevelt? The possibilities to create a parallel universe are endless made by one simple question “what if?”
I think we need more of those books. Do you have any good “what if?” books or even a “what if?” questions that should have been answered and made into a book? Share your thoughts.
Josefine

My recommendations: Jules Verne, 20 000 leagues under the sea

The art of reading more then one book at the same time

I have noticed that there are two kinds of bookworms. There is the ones reading one book from cover to cover before starting on a new. Then there are those, like me, who has any various numbers of books started at the same time. For example, I currently read an autobiography, an historical non-fiction, a collection of feminist essays and listen to a fiction CD book and of course the random magazines that I subscribe to.
To me it depends on what kind of mood I am in. It requires a special mood to follow in the sometimes difficult arguments in the essay collection. On the other hand, I need the CD book when I bike to work at six in the morning and want something that does not require full brain activity. There are different times for different books.

I can’t understand those people who only read one book at the time. I t would take me too long to do that. What if I am not in the right mood, then what would I do? Not read? But I have to admit that sometime I admire those people who read only one book at the time, it requires a determination to finish what you started, which can be helpful in other aspects of life as well.
Josefine

My recommendations: Wild swans by Jung Chang

The book or the movie?

It’s the classical question. Every time a book is made into a movie, the discussion among reviewers in the newspapers and on TV repeats all over again. Does the movie give fair credit to the book? What is missing from the movie that was in the book? The questions are the same but the answers are always different.
Generally I fall on the side of the book. In my reading life, what I can remember, I only once thought the movie was better than the book. That was Umberto Eco’s In the name of the rose. In the book, the vivid and lengthy description of the monastery got me out of touch with the story and left me no desire to continue. The movie however had a quicker pace, which moved the story forward and thus making it easier to follow.
It do happens that I think the movie is equal to the book, it is usually because the movie portraits another angle. One book like that is Stephen King’s the Green mile. In the book version of the Green mile, the focus is more on the guard Mr. Paul Edgecombe. While the movie focuses on the destiny and life of the inmate John Coffey sitting on death row.
Now I pass the question to you, which is best, the book or the movie?
Josefine

My recommendations: The hours by Michael Cunningham.

A book to pass time

I always carry a book with me where ever I go because you never know when they come in handy, at that really long line at the bank or when you wait for a friend who is running late. There are innumerous ways you can need a book to let time pass.
Even though I find it very convenient to always have a book handy, I am surprised of how many people that don’t use it as a way to distract time. Instead they are standing in line stomping their feet, sighing heavily and looking at their watch as the line to the register moves slowly ahead. Why does not people take the time standing in line to calm down and think about something else then their stressful lives? Perhaps a scientific investigation to find out how much you can reduce your stress levels when you wait in line by bringing a book would help? Anyone up for the challenge?
Josefine

My recommendations when waiting in line: Can you keep a secret by Sophie Kinsella

The Nobel Prize in literature 2007

Doris Lessing received the Nobel Prize in literature this year. The only book I've ever read from her is the fifth child and I think I remember that it was somewhere around ninth grade, which means it was a very long time ago. I do remember that I did not like it very much, but perhaps it is time to give it another try now, when I am older and hopefully wiser.

The feminist in me thinks it is great that a woman got the honours this year. Lessing is only the eleventh woman to receive the prize (and it has been given out since 1901).
Josefine

My recommendations: Hurry to the library and borrow something from her before everyone else gets the idea.