The Content Reader

Dear blogger friends, Lately, I had a few problems with the Blogger web site for my blog The Content Reader . I took this as a sign that I should finally create a web site of my own. I have been checking out other options, but could not get my act together. Finally, I have managed to create a basic web site with Wix, which I hope will be developed over time.  It has not been easy to find my way around. One thing one can say about Blogger is that it is easy to work with.  This site will no longer be updated Follow me to my new domain @  thecontentreader.com Hope to see you there.  Lisbeth @ The Content Reader

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 ide...

November is at an end and time to wrap up the three challenges I participated in this year. Apart from German Literature Month I had a go at Nonfiction November and Novellas in November.  German Literature Month is hosted by Lizzy’s Literary Life . It is the first time I participate and I will just have to see how many books I can read. Hopefully, at least one a week, according to the schedule: Week 1 – First time for everything - The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffmann - gave me a new favourite author. Week 2 – Second Helpings  - I rarely re-read books, but choose Herman Hesse's Steppenwolf. I have not yet finished it, but have a feeling I have already read it. Fits well in other words.  Week 3 – Firm Favourites (Author or Publisher, if stated) - nothing to fit here .  Week 4 – Something Different - Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - can't say I entirely understood this novella, but that happens sometimes.  Week 5: Read as you please / group read (Book 21) - The Life an...

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 ...

We have reached the final week of November and it is time for a wrap-up. The month went very fast, but I am rather pleased with what I read. Having had a little bit of hybris, I also signed up for Novellas and German Lit Month for November. 'It is what it is' as a famous person said. For week 5 we have the following challenge. Week 5: (November 28-Dec 2) – New to My TBR: It’s been a month full of amazing nonfiction books! Which ones have made it onto your TBR? Be sure to link back to the original blogger who posted about that book! Pro tip: Start this draft post at the beginning of the month and add to it as your TBR multiplies. (Jaymi @ The OC Bookgirl )  For once I did do some notes when I found a very interesting book, which I have failed to do previous years. Even so, there have been a lot of interesting books during this month, so here are just a few I paid extra attention to (in now special order). What's Nonfiction Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman  and The Ratline and E...

We are nearing the end of November and are already on week 4 in Nonfiction November challenge. This week is hosted by Rebekah @ She Seeks Nonfiction . I find this weekly challenge difficult. Mainly since I read mostly historical nonfiction, and I am not sure it changes anyones world views. I will probably go a slightly different path, so, let's see where I end up.  Week 4:  Worldview Changers:    What nonfiction book or books has impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way?   I went to my book shelves to check out my nonfiction books. I choose three of them that has impacted me. Maybe not changed my world views but the historical events had a great impact on many people. The Sleepwalkers , How Europe Went to War in 1914  by Christopher Clark This must be the most thorough research and writings on the first world war. Mainly centered on the origins of the war. The main event, we are told, are the shots in Sarajevo killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand, h...

My first post for German Literature Month hosted by  Lizzy’s Literary Life . It is the first time I participate and since I am following another two challenges, I try to combine reading where possible.  Week 1 – First time for everything - 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? Week 2 – Second Helpings - I rarely re-read books and since I have not read that many novellas. I wanted to read Hesse for some time, so will choose (a novella) Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse  - I am still reading this book, a...

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 loo...

This week's theme is Stranger Than Fiction . When real events are so strange and incredible that no fiction author could come up with such a story.  Week 3: (November 14-18) – Stranger Than Fiction: This week we’re focusing on all the great nonfiction books that almost don’t seem real. A sports biography involving overcoming massive obstacles, a profile on a bizarre scam, a look into the natural wonders in our world—basically, if it makes your jaw drop, you can highlight it for this week’s topic. ( Christopher @ Plucked from the Stacks ) I found it rather difficult to come up with something I have read this year. I go back to 2019 when I read Stalin - The Court of the Red Tsar  by Simon Sebag Montefiore. The story of Stalin and how he ran the Soviet Union at the time was an antagonising read. I am sure no fiction author could possibly come up with a character like this. I would also like to add a TV-series that I have been watching on Netflix. It is The Vatican Girl, The Disap...

First of all I want to apologise for, hopefully, temporary problems with the blog. I managed to get the home page working, but it seems that the last post posted will also show up at the top of the labels' pages. I am trying to solve it, but alas, so far no success. Maybe this is an indication that I should look for another provider, and make my own web-site. I am still working on a Wix web-site and might be close to let it go public. If you encounter problems with access, please leave a comment (if possible) what the problem is, or send me an email thecontentreader(at)gmail.com. In the meantime ... Sometimes you are lucky with your choice of books. While visiting my parents I took another look at the common book cases and found one book I could not resist. I have neither heard of the book, nor the author. The summary of the story caught my attention. "On a summer day, a young woman alighted from a bus in the small Cape Cod village of Chatham and took up residence in a cottage...

"The adventure of a young Parisian artist and his dog. A novel of action and reflection; of fidelity and trust; of resilience, love, and the power of art. Jeremy's mother is about to go to prison for their debt to the State. He is trying everything within his means to save her, but his options are running out fast. Then Jeremy discovers a treasure under Paris. This discovery may save his mother, but it doesn't come for free. And he has to ride over several obstacles for his plan to work. Meanwhile, something else is limiting his time ... " We find Jeremy and his dog Leon at a time when Jeremy does not attend school due to a heart condition. They spend their days wandering around Paris, on Île Saint-Louis where they live. His mother is working and they don't have a lot of money. However, they live in an old house which they own, but it turns out that his mother owns the state for inheritance tax. Jeremy lives in his own world with Leon, going for walks, befriending...

  Week 2 of Nonfiction November has started. This week it is time to pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title, or, if you prefer, another nonfiction. Being in the modern time and age you could also pair it with a podcast, film or documentary. The choice is yours. This week is hosted by Rennie @ What’s Nonfiction I always find this theme rather difficult, but this year I found my perfect match right away. It has to do with history, what else? One of my absolute favourite books are A Gentleman in Moscow  by Amor Towles. It covers the years from 1922 when communism was new until 1954, the year after Stalin died. You might see my pairing here. Simon Sebag Montefiore has written an excellent account of Stalin's life and his deeds. It is mostly scary reading. In The Court of the Red Tsar  you get a detailed, well researched account on his life and times. It seems I did not write a review at the time, maybe because it is difficult to summaries everything that was happening...

Time has come for Nonfiction November. First week is hosted by Katie @ Doing Dewey  We start week 1: (Oct 31-Nov 4) with a a few questions concerning our nonfiction reading during the year.  My Year in Nonfiction Here is what I have read so far this year: (no specific order). That is 21 NF books out of the 96 books I have read so far.  Health and Life Style Chatterjee, Dr Rangan - Feel Better in 5 Antiquity, History and Religion Gilhus, Ingvild S, Thomassen, Einar - Antikens religioner  Gardner, Laurence - The Magdalene Legacy History Harrison, Dick - Kalmarunionen, En nordisk stormakt föds Harrison, Dick - Mordet på Gustav III Blom, Tomas - Dackefejden, Det stora upproret  Blom, Tomas - Sturemorden, ett blodigt maktspel Håkansson, Håkan (Ed.) - Tycho Brahe och hans tid Harrison Lindbergh, Katarina - Nordiska Gudasagor Bengtsson, Ingvar - Kapet av Skåne Laws,  Bill - Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History Autobiographies Bergstrand, Finn - Eftertan...

The months go fast that is for sure. Already time for another wrap-up. October seemed a little bit slow. I felt I read a lot, but never really seemed to finish any books.  Let's see how my challenges were doing this month. I did not follow my plan from end of September, that is for sure.  View over Öresund where I take my walks  Books read in October (8 books) Violeta by Isabel Allende The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turston Sarek (The Couple's Trip) by Ulf Kvensler Death Comes to the Archbishop by Willa Cather Livläkarens besök (The Visit of the Royal Physician) by Per-Olov Enquist Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History by Bill Laws Norrhem, Svante - Christina och Carl Piper, en biografi (NF) My own challenge a nonfiction from my TBR -  Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History by Bill Laws a fiction from my TBR - Livläkarens besök (The Visit of the Royal Physician) by Per-Olov Enquist a translated nove...

Just a short post to put a few books on my list for November. I don't really know why I am doing it, because most of the time I never follow the lists. Well, there is always a first for everything. At least I am trying to limit the books into covering more than one challenges. I am not able to follow all. My main aim is Nonfiction. Nonfiction November Hosted by five bloggers (see link) for my post Nonfiction November . Always a great and interesting event. I usually go for history books, but wanted to diversify myself this year. I have chosen three book, and one extra if I have time:  Empire of Pain, the Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Raden Keefe - heard so much about it from fellow bloggers. One of the richest families in the world, a great patron of art and sciences. But, the source of their wealth was vague. In recent years it has emerged that they were responsible for the making and marketing of OxyContin a painkiller that started the opioid crises.  The ...

I would highly recommend this book to anyone loving a thriller. It is mysterious, exciting and written from a different perspective.  "Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realises her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared. Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realise they are also building a new fut...

  Coming up shortly is Novellas in November  hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck . Cathy and Rebecca have set a category for each week – there are no rules as such (although they suggest that 150–200 pages is the upper limit for a novella, and post-1980 as a definition of ‘contemporary’).  This year they will be hosting a buddy read throughout the month. The book chosen is Foster  by Claire Keegan. If you want to join in, you can read Foster online and review it at any point throughout the month. There is also an Irish language film version of Foster – An Cailín Ciúin – which was released this year to rave reviews and is widely tipped for an Oscar nomination. Go to their websites for more detailed info.  1 – 7 November: Short Classics (Rebecca) 8 – 14November: Novellas in Translation (Cathy) 15 – 21 November: Short Non-Fiction (Rebecca) 22 – 28 November: Contemporary Novellas (Cathy) 29/30 November: My Month in Novellas/ New to my TBR I ca...

This novel came highly recommended by many of you, so when I found it at the library I grabbed it at once. I was slightly uneasy about the story line, but must admit I was totally drawn into Evelyn Hugo's story. It is told through a young, unknown journalist, Monique Grant, who is chosen by Evelyn herself to write the drama of her life. Monique visits Evelyn in her luxury apartment and wonders why she was chosen. A young journalist without reputation. And why does Evelyn, who is known to be a reclusive person, all of a sudden wants to tell it all? Evelyn reveals all the nitty, gritty details of Hollywood life. It could have become a rather banal story, but Jenkins Reid keeps it well within grip. As we follow Evelyn from her poor and abusive childhood, through her first contract in Hollywood and on to her first husband, we are with her all the way. We suffer with her, we are happy with her and wants all to be well. For each husband new details are surfacing and by the time we have r...

I can't believe it is this time of the year again. It hit me as I read Rennie's latest post @ What's Nonfiction. It is time for one of my favourite challenges, or memes, of the year, Nonfiction November. Exciting as ever and Rennie has teamed up with Katie, Christopher, Rebekah and Jamie to make this a wonderful month, guiding us with different themes each week. Head over to their blogs for full information.  Nonfiction November themes Week 1: (Oct 31-Nov 4) – Your Year in Nonfiction: Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favourite nonfiction read of the year? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? (Katie @ Doing Dewey ) Week 2: (November 7-11) – Book Pairing: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title (or another nonfiction!). It can be a “If...

I can't believe that we have already entered the month of October. Autumn is here in Sweden and the trees start to change colour into wonderful yellow/orange/red. Still the green is trying to keep its grip. The other day we were visiting the 'House of Tomatoes' (image below). For more on this you can go to my newsletter, The Content Reader Newsletter . You can subscribe for free and unsubscribe at any time.  I only read six books this months. They were all very slow, although not bad. Sometimes the finishing of a book goes very fast, and other times I struggle with finishing a book. Here are the books I read. Beckford, William - Vathek Sansom, C.J. - Dissolution Harrison Lindbergh, Katarina - Nordiska Gudasagor (Nordic Norse Tales (my transl) Wung-Sung, Jesper - Kvinna sedd bakifrån (Woman Seen From Behind (my transl) Jenkins Reid, Taylor - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Larm, Victoria - Den nionde kretsen  My own challenge a nonfiction from my TBR - The Norse Tales by K...

In his book, Kvinna sedd bakifrån (Woman Seen From the Back) Jesper Wung-Sung has written a historical fiction about Ida Ilsted, wife of Danish painter Wilhelm Hammershøi. Wung-Sung’s writing is like Hammershøi’s painting; simplistic and stripped down to the basic minimalistic surrounding, which fits very well into the life of Ida. Ida meets Wilhelm through her artist brother Peter. They become good friends and Ida is quite surprised when Wilhelm proposes to her. Ida’s life at home is troublesome with a mentally unstable mother who has not much love for her daughter, and cannot imagine why anybody would like to marry her. Wilhelm comes from an upper class home and is worshipped by his mother, who thinks nobody good enough for her son. It does not seem like a good start for their marriage. Wilhelm is a very secluded person, only happy when he is painting. Ida is also a secluded person although a bit more social than her husband. She is very supportive of his art although not knowing an...

Intimacies by Katie Kitamura is a wonderful book in many ways. It tells the story of an interpreter who comes to The Hague to work at the International Criminal Court. She is a woman of many languages and places, and she is looking for a place to call home. We meet her from her professional and private side. However, the professional side is lingering like a shadow over her private life.  Kitamura starts by giving an explanation what is demanded of a good interpreter. I wanted to quote it here but it is rather too long. An interpreter has to be neutral and interpret in tone and nuance how it is spoken by the witnesses.  "A sliver of unreliability introducing fractures into the testimony of the witness, those fractures would develop into cracks, which would in turn threaten the witness's entire persona. Every person who took to the stand was projecting an image of one kind or another: their testimony was heavily coached and shaped by either the defense or the prosecution, they...