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.

My favourite book - I capture the castle by Dodie Smith

Even though you find both the book and author on my Favourites list in my profile, it has taken me a while to write about them. I think it has to do with me having trouble describing what it is with the book that makes it pop into my mind whenever people ask me about my favourite book.

You may have heard of Dodie Smith’s name before. She is the author of the 101 Dalmatians. But the novel I like the most is I capture the castle. It is extraordinary. The way in which she has captured Cassandra’s life and thoughts are brilliant.
The main plot in the book is about Cassandra trying to write. Her father is an author, and in some way she wants to be like him. She has failed many times when writing and now she decides to free write about things that go on around her. She wants to capture the people and their surroundings.
Through Cassandra’s writing you get to know her family and their struggles on a limited income. She describes how it used to be in the past when they we fairly wealthy and tea was cakes in the afternoon now it is bread and margarine for supper.
She vividly tells about bath day, when they pull out a big tub in the kitchen and she prepares for the bath. She picks out a good book to read and she even gets a piece of chocolate from the family friend Stephen, who has a crush on her.
On bath day, is also the first time we get to meet Mr. Cotton’s sons, they are the proprietary of the castle they live in. Mr. Cotton’s sons will after this encounter have much influence on the life in the castle.
This is a basic outline of the book, but to really understand the brilliancy of it, you must read it. There is probably a copy of it at your local library.
Josefine

My recommendations: Town in bloom by Dodie Smith, another of her amazing creations.

Book and Library fair in Gothenburg

This weekend (September 27-30), it is time for the yearly Book and Library fair in Gothenburg. This year’s program will focus on Estonia. There will be several speakers from Estonia as well as Swedish writers and writers from the other Nordic countries. If you are in town, don’t miss this event.
Josefine