Reading through the century

While looking through my book list, it became evident that I mainly read new books (from the past decade or so), or books that are around 100 years old! I can give a pretty easy explanation for both of these categories.

Firstly: New books are talked about everywhere, and it makes me curious, so I want to find out why people think this is such a great book. Also, being at the library so often, I like to look at the new arrivals, and often pick up a couple of new and shiny ones to bring home. This way I end up reading a lot of Norwegian authors that are new to me.

Secondly: Copyrights expire after 100 years in America, and it is therefore easier to find these titles available for free. Almost all the books on my kindle are in this category!

Thirdly: This is an idea I had. What if I read books from a different decade for each month for the rest of the year? That could be interesting, and I am sure I will find lots of new to me authors.

I think I will start with the 90s, and I will let you know how it goes.

By the way, it is library week in Telemark this week. Check out Bibliotekukas website for program and more. Here in Skien I will attend an Ibsen event Wednesday night, and hear mystery writer Jan Mehlum Thursday night. On Saturday the new Ibsen area and art exhibit will open, so there is a lot happening this week. Everything is free, so this is the perfect chance to visit your local library. You can even win an Ipad air!

Read // Japanese time travel

Author: Jiro Taniguchi
Title: Min fjerne barndoms by
Year: 2015
Original title and year: Harukana machi-e, 2004
Genre: Graphic novel
Pages: 405

In five words:
Family, regret, youth, second chance.

A quote:
"Forvirret og rådvill ble jeg stående og se meg  omkring i en barndoms by jeg hadde trodd var tapt for alltid." 
/ 
"Confused and bewildered, I stood looking around at a childhood's city I thought was lost for ever."

And because this is a graphic novel, another quote in context with the pictures.

Why did I read this book?
Graphic novels have never really been my thing. But this summer I picked up another one of Taniguchi's graphic novels, and was deeply moved by the story he told, both through the words and the beautiful drawings that convey a lot of emotion. So when I had this one in my hands to add it to the library catalogue, I could hardly wait for it to go through the system so I could check it out and enjoy it.

Why should you read this book?
If you like books by Haruki Murakami, this one will resonate with you as well. There is the obvious Japanese connection, but the magic realism in the story is also a common thread in their story-telling. I am so glad I have discovered graphic novels - there is so much more diversity than I thought! I suggest you give it a chance if you haven't already.

Books like this one: 
Taniguchi's My father's diary is also translated into Norwegian, and is similar in both style and theme. I think this one is my favorite, but I will gladly recommend both of them.

For the curious ones: 
- Buy the book in Norwegian.
- More about the author.

PS. This was my first attempt of a book recommendation column on the blog. The format is still in beta-mode I guess, while trying to find a template I can easily work with. I am very happy to receive comments on these posts. Maybe you have read the book?

Books I want to read

Inspired by this article about two librarians I made a list of books/authors I want to read. The two of them read very different types of literature, one prefered the classics, the other contemprorary Norwegian authors. They each gave the other 10 recommandations, and so far it seems like they both enjoy it. I have read a lot more new Norwegian literature since I started my internship at the library. All the new books on the shelves just look so tempting!

Here is the book list, I am sure I will add to it!

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia : Hundred years of solitude, 1967

Simonsen, Frøydis Sollid : Hver morgen kryper jeg opp fra havet, 2013

Harstad, Johan : Hässelby, 2007

Lunde, Maja : Bienes historie, 2015

Flatland, Helga : Vingebelastning, 2015

Smith, Betty : A tree grows in Brooklyn, 1944

Adichie, Amamanda Ngozie

Franzen, Jonathan

Eco, Umberto

Du Murier, Daphne : Rebecca, 1938

Skram, Amalie : Professor Hieronimus, 1895

Gathering Words

Currently reading:
Smith, Patti
         Sanka ull = Woolgathering. - Oslo : Samlaget, 2013.

If you follow my blog you might have noticed a long silence from me since the summer started. Blogging just hasn't been on my mind, and I have spent some of the time reading books instead. Since I am studying librarian subjects and volunteer at the library as part of my studies, I have been exposed to a lot of new literature lately. Not all of it is newly written though, so there are both classics and debutants on my ever growing to-read list.

All this has got me thinking of making a book and reading feature on this little blog. To practice communicating about literature I will recommend/review one of the books I have read lately.

One of these days I might also find time to post some recent pictures, but until then: what are you reading right now?

We read

"We know that we are reading even while suspending disbelief; we know why we read even when we don't know how, holding in our mind at the same time, as it were, the illusionary text and the act of reading. We read to find the end, for the story's sake. We read not to reach it, for the sake of reading itself. We read searchingly, like trackers, oblivious or our surroundings. We read distractedly, skipping pages. We read contemptuously, admiringly, negligently, angrily, passionately, enviously, longingly. We read in gust of sudden pleasure, without knowing what brought the pleasure along.

"What in the world is this emotion?" asks Rebecca West after reading King Lear. "What is this bearing of supremely great works of art on my life which makes me feel so glad?"

We don't know: we read ignorantly. We read in slow, long motions, as if drifting in space, weightless. We read full of prejudice, malignantly. We read generously, making excuses for the text, filling gaps, mending faults. And sometimes, when the stars are kind, we read with an intake of breath, with a shudder, as if someone or something had "walked over our grave", as if a memory had suddenly been rescued from a place deep within us - the recognition of something we never knew was there, or of something we vaguely felt as a flicker of a shadow, whose ghostly form rises and passes back into us before we can what it is, leaving us older and wiser."

Alberto Manguel
A history of reading (1996)


I just wanted to share this passage from a book I am reading as I am finishing up my exam. Soon I can read whatever I want, though I do enjoy finding gems like the one above!

World Book Day

As a part of my studies I have started an internship at the library here in Skien. With over 100.000 books there are a few systems to learn, but so far I am really enjoying it. Being surrounded by all those books makes me want to read them, but for right now I will have to focus on my required reading. Fortunately, I have had some fun children's books on that list, and since today is the World Book Day, I thought I could recommend one for you.

Nasevis is a book about noses in all shapes and sizes. The topic might seem narrow, but I must say I was surprised to learn about how different noses work for humans and various animals. This book can be read for young children, but I think anyone would enjoy the curious facts presented by the funny author Erna Osland. You can get the book at your local (Norwegian) library!

Studying the written word

I want to be a librarian. At least I think I do. So now I have taken my first steps towards actually becoming one. I have started studies in Library and Information Technology. It is an online course, and this semester I am taking a class in Perspectives on Literature in History. The next 1-2 years I will be taking classes, and do an internship at a library as well. I am very excited to learn new things, but a little nervous about all the papers I have to write.

People who know me will probably not be surprised hearing these news. Since I was a little girl I have always loved reading, and brought home stacks of books from the library from a very young age. My interest for literature is also evident here on the blog. I have a page for the books I read, and I write about books sometimes. Right now I am trying to focus on my required reading, but get distracted by other books a lot, so I don´t see the harm in asking if anyone has a good read to recommend right now?

In case you are interested in some librarian accessories: Get your own library scarf here. Plus, the magnet version of the book above can be found on etsy.

Life and reading

July was a month of reading, but I can not say the same about August.  Starting a new job means new routines, and some days it can be enough to figure out dinner when I come home for the night. Trying to get into "War and Peace" might not be the best way of relaxing either, but I hope to get there one day.

On the other hand, I have actually read a lot in the Bible, starting on all the Gospels in the beginning of the month. The reading list here on my blog can be deceiving, as it lists when I finish a book, which can sometimes take a day, other times months. (I started on Psalms last November and completed in July.) My reading plan is chronological down to the verse, so I've been jumping back and forth between Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Some days that results in reading the same story or parable two to three times, and while it can feel a little tedious, I think God has gotten the chance to really underline what I needed for a day! Chronological Bible reading is only getting better as I go. Right now it is combined with "The Return of the Prodigal Son" by Henri Nouwen, and the two make a great pair.

The plot is thickening in the Gospels now. Pharisees and teachers of the law are planning to kill Jesus and there is a lot of tension and suspense. The disciples are noticing it too (Mark 10:32), but seem to have no clue that Jesus death is both inevitable and necessary. I look forward to reading the letters in a few weeks, when their perspective literally has a new dimension! 

Art: "Return of the Prodigal Son" by Rembrandt

July: a month of reading

If June was a wedding month, and it most definitely was, July has been a book of relaxing and reading. 

First of all, I got a Kindle.

Secondly, I have read a total of eight novels this month! There was a lot of time for reading on our honeymoon, and after coming back home to Skien we have enjoyed summer on the beach and at home, often with a book in hand. 

My best picks among my July reads would be "The Humans" by Matt Haig, with an interesting view on what it is to be human, and "The ocean at the end of the lane" by Neil Gaiman, a mysterious fantasy story. "The Lost World" by Arthur Conan Doyle was a real treat as well, and almost made me believe in dinosaurs! And if you find your time precious, you can skip "Songs of Willow Frost". It was not very exciting as I felt like I always knew what was happening next.

Another recommendation is "Får eg lov?", a portrait of the authors big sister, a lady with Downs Syndrom. The book is only in Norwegian, written by a co-worker in YWAM, and it is a beautiful little book about Ingrid, and the authors relationship to her sister.

There has also been time for non - fiction. I have read some exciting books in the Bible, like Daniel, Ezra and Esther, after finally getting through Ezekiel - that was a hard read! Now I am just a couple of pages away from finishing the Old Testament in my Chronological Bible Reading that started in October. I really look forward to entering the Gospels, but I have cheated a little and read a few letters to break it up in the middle of long books like Jeremiah and Chronicles.

So, now that I´m on a roll, do you have any further reading recommendations? 

Kindled reading interest

For being someone who loves both books and travel, I have been quite hesitant about e-readers. I just love the feeling of a book in my hand and turning the pages the old fashioned way. Mike on the other hand, embraces technology in a different way, and his Kindle is always with him. Since he is not into cufflinks and watches and other suggested wedding gifts for your groom, I figured a new Kindle would be perfect.
It was.

While we were in Athens on our honeymoon, we spent one afternoon in a book store looking at tons of books.There were so many pretty editions of classics, but our budget was limited and the weight of them would have been too much to bring. Though I must admit I bought three books on the trip, before we left the airport in Norway...

In USA, books loose their copyright if they are over 75 years old. I like a lot classics, so the fact that pages like Project Gutenberg lets you download these books for free is great news! Now that I have inherited Mike´s old Kindle, I have a lineup of books like "The Man in the Iron Mask", "The Journey to the Centre of the Earth" and "Les Miserables", just waiting to be read. And in the meantime it wont´t take up space on the shelf or room in a bag, win - win!

PS. A little travel tip for book lovers - Santorini has an amazing bookstore. It is located in Oia, and called Atlantis Books

Being a wise or foolish woman

In January I read a classic novel, and reading the Book of Proverbs alongside Gone with the Wind was very interesting. The contrasts are obvious, with Scarlett O´Hara on one side, and the sayings of wise men/women on the other.

Scarlett was a girl that grew up in a Catholic home, with a gentle, loving and virtuous mother. She knew this was the ideal, and must also have known the Bible pretty well, considering the daily devotions for the whole household. But as she matures, and her life becomes a lot more challenging, these values are abandoned one by one.

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Prov. 22:1
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife. Prov. 21:19 

Instead, she chooses a different path.

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. Prov. 21:13
A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. Prov. 21:6 

Loosing friends and loved ones is the result of her insatiable desire and lust for riches. These verses all fit her character very well, as one who esteemed gold more than a good name. When she finally realized the damage she had done, it seemed too late - her husband preferring "the desert" over their miserable union. A lot more proverbs could have been chosen as examples here, so this is a Bible Study I can recommend. 

Along with my Bible reading I have been listening to David Pawson´s "Unlocking the Bible". You can find the whole teaching series here on youtube. For his teaching on Proverbs what really stuck with me was that these proverbs are not promises. They are generally true wise saying, but are not to be treated like magic formulas. As with Scarlett, it is sadly not always the fact that if you Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Prov. 22:6

PS. I once sewed a dress from green velvet curtains. It is not a recommended fabric for a dress. That was a fun scene to read in the book though.

PSS. The Scarlett print can be bought here. 

A long list of books, part 2

I have found a new list of "100 books to read before you die", this time by Penguin Classics. This time the books are grouped in fives, in categories like best science fiction/romance/heroes/violence/laughs. I have only read 8 of these (marked in bold), but considering some of the categories, it is not so surprising. Any of these you recommend or advise against waisting time on?

PS. Here is another long list of recommended books.

1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey

2. Diary of a Madman and Other Stories – Nikolai Gogol

3. Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys

4. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

5. Notes From Underground – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

6. Story of the Eye – Georges Bataille

7. Spy In House Of Love: V4 In Nin’S Continuous Novel – Anais Nin

8. Lady Chatterly’s Lover – D.H.Lawrence

9. Venus in Furs – Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

10. The Canterbury Tales – Geoffrey Chaucer

11. The Karamazov Brothers – Fyodor Dostoevsky

12. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad

13. Diamonds Are Forever – Ian Fleming

14. The Master and Margarita – Mikhail Bulgakov

15. The Secret Agent – Joseph Conrad

16. A Room With a View – E. M. Forster

17. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

18. Don Juan – Lord George Gordon Byron

19. Love in a Cold Climate- Nancy Mitford

20. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Tennessee Williams

Book of the month: Gone With the Wind

In January a friend of mine challenged me (on Instagram) to join her project of "the book of the month", using the Norwegian hashtag #månedensbok2014. I failed to understand the challenge, but now, on the second round, I am in. Usually I read 2-3 books every month, so in that sense, this won't be a particularly stretching experience, but it is fun to see what other people read. Maybe I will get some good suggestions for the coming months from others.

Currently I am reading "Gone With the Wind". I haven't seen the movie, but might do it after I finish! Since the story is set in Georgia, I am more intrigued now than I would have been a only a year ago. Last summer I saw this red clay that Scarlett O'Hara loves so dearly, and Savannah, Charleston and Augusta are all familiar names to me now. I am halfway through the story and I like it. In some ways she reminds me of Anna Karenina: unconeventional, selfish, and stubborn, and I am curious to see the turn of events in the second half.