Children's books

Did you have a favourite book as a child? There are so many to choose from for me, but if I have to choose. I can point to some books written by a Swedish author Jan Lööf, which I can still remember very vividly. His stories were different and funny, the pictures in the books were awesome and fit perfectly to the quirky stories. The book is still at my parents’ house where I sometimes find myself looking through them.
When I got older I read a lot of Maria Gripe’s Young Adult books. They were mysteries and thinking books all at the same time. I think I read everyone of her books that had come out when I was in that age.
Tell me about some of your favourites!
Josefine

My recommendations: Around the world in eighty days by Jules Vernes

Hooked on ONE author

I often get hooked on one writer. I read one of their books, love it and I just HAVE to read everything else they’ve ever written. So, off I go to the library, check out the book and sit down in my favourite chair to be entertained. However, entertained isn’t always the case. Often when I read an author’s different books to close to each other, I get disappointed. It is probably not the book in itself; it is just me being tired of their way of writing. My solution: a system, where I write down all the books and authors I want to read, and save them for later. The list is long of writers and books I want to read, some of them are Alexander McCall-Smith, Stephen King, Philippa Gregory, Antony Beevor and the list goes on….
The Swedish author Kajsa Ingemarsson is one of the many writers I have on my list. After reading one of her books, I wanted to throw myself into all her other books, But I stopped myself and waited. It took me a couple of months before I picked up her next book and it was as good as the first one. Now I have to wait another couple of weeks (at least) before I pick up her third book.

To read one writer or one genre is good in a way, you feel safe and know what you get. But there is also the feeling of reading the same book over and over again. I think it is important to every now and then, take a chance and throw yourself into the unknown. Pick up an author or genre you haven’t read before. (I know I have used those same words, not long ago, but I really believe it) Explore the unknown, or simply do like my sister, join a book club and see what new books they will send you each month.
Josefine

My recommendations: Small yellow lemons by Kajsa Ingemarsson

nobelprize.org

I was recommended a true treasure from a friend, the website of the Nobelprize. Here you can listen to some of the literature winners’ interviews, biographies, acceptance speeches etc. It is very fascinating to hear what they have to say about their books and their writings. I really liked Portrait of Doris Lessing.
Josefine

My recommendations: the fifth child by Doris Lessing

Summer reading II

It is this time of the year again. It is time for those lazy summer days spending the days in the hammock reading. Those lazy days when you have all the time in the world to enjoy a book and catching up on all the books you have neglected during the year.

My recommendation for this summer is to use your library. During the summer months at my local library, the expiration date for the books are longer, which makes it possible to go on long vacations without being stuck with late fees on my books.
Use your library to revisit old books you read in another period of your life and see what’s changed in them, or perhaps in you. If that isn’t interesting enough, take a leap into the unknown and find a new author or genre. If you can, unlike I, don’t make yourself go through a book if it is boring, put it down and find a new. This is a time for leisurely reading, not heavy plowing.
Josefine

My recommendations: The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

CD books II - voices

Lately, I have listened to more CD books, especially when I bike to and from work. I now realize how much the voice of the reader affects the story. One of my favourite books to listen to was Rikard Wolff and Hamadi Khemiri reading Montecore a unique tiger by Jonas Hassen Khemiri. This book was probably more entertaining to listen to than to read on its own (I never read the hardcopy).

Right now I listen to Zadie Smith’s book On Beauty. In Swedish it is recorded by Johan Rabeus, he also recorded the Swedish version of The ultimate hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy by Dougals Adams. When I listen to On Beauty, I hear Arthur Dent and the other characters in Adams' story, but now they are in new costumes and live in Smith’s world. A voice, no matter what it actually says, can really create a picture before me and now I have to alter that picture, it is a strange feeling.
Josefine

My recommendations: Call it whatever you want by Marjaneh Bakhtiari (another good CD book from my latest collection)

Hawaiian soul

I just finished a really good book, Hawaii by James A. Michener. It reminded me of the time when I lived in Hawai’i. He talked about many of the places I recognized, walking up Nu’uanu Street or down in China Town. Those places used to be in my backyard.
It is a novel, which means it’s fictional but it still have its benefits. It is a great start for someone who wants to ease into the history of this former kingdom.
Josefine

My recommendations: Pompeii by Maja Lundgren

Sequels - The Orange Girl

I just borrowed a book from my sister, the sequel to Lena Kallenberg’s book The Orange girl. (if you remember, I recommended it here a couple of entries ago). I didn’t even know that there was a second book; it came as a good surprise.
I hope it is as good as the first was, sometimes that’s not always true. Most of you have probably seen several movies with both a second and a third follow-up and for every movie it has become a bit worse. I will do my best to not judge the book before I have read it. At the same time I will try not to have too high expectations of it.
By the way the name loosely translated would be Love in Stockholm. Perhaps I start to read it tonight.
Josefine

My recommendations: Alexander McCall Smith’s books about Isabel Dalhousie and the Sunday Philosophy club.