March wrap-up

I still have some books from previous months to read, so I only added a few new ones. However, from time too time I do grab a book outside the challenges. Still not finished with some of the books so continuing into April with the following ones. 

• Kapet av Skåne, Stormaktssveriges viktigaste triumf  by Ingvar Bengtsson 
• Presidentskan (La Regenta) by Leopoldo Alas Clarín
• Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor   
• The History of the Siege of Lisbon (História do cerco de Lisboa) by José Saramago
• Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps, A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan 

My own challenge outcome for March

• a nonfiction from my TBR shelves - The Magdalene Legacy by Laurence Gardner
• a fiction from my TBR shelves - The Secret Place by Tana French
• a translated novel outside of the English- and Swedish languages - The Duchess of Langeais by Honoré de Balzac (e-book, French) and Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason (Icelandic)
• a classic tale - The Iliad by Homer (what can be more classic than this one?)
• a book from my want to read list - Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps, A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan - still reading. 

My March theme challenge: Women (anything about female achievements)

Due to the backlash in reading, I did not really concentrate on the theme in a more directed way, unfortunately. However, most of the books I read this month was by female authors, so that should count for something. 

Ingvild S. Gilhus is Assistant Professor, Study of Religion, Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religioner at the University of Bergen, Norway. She is the co-author of Antikens religioner (The Religions of Antiquity) giving an insight into how different religions in different areas were celebrated during Antiquity. Very interesting. 

Since reading a lot of nonfiction I felt I had to even out with some more easygoing books. I found three books at second hand stores by Simona Ahrnstedt. She is writing in the genre of modern romance. She also touches on problems in our society. Her books are well written and the characters stand out. 

Alltid hos dig by Maria Ernestam turned out to be a great book. I have never heard of the author before so a good, new acquaintance.  It is a story about love, sorrow and secrets from the past, set in dual story-lines. One present day, and one at the beginning of the 20th century. The story is so tense, and brings in life a hundred years ago, the difference in society, rich and poor. How two strong, young women go their own way in a time when there were not so many opportunities for women. You are drawn into the characters, past and present, and the ending brings the stories together in a wonderful way. I must admit I did cry a lot.

The Magdalene Legacy by Laurence Gardner is a nonfiction, a story asking the question: who was Maria Magdalene. If you are a fan of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and want to know more about the real facts, you will get them here. A fascinating story of the history of Jesus and the women and people surrounding him. Gardner explains the traditions of the times and why it might be difficult to understand it all today. 

"Laurence Gardner's impeccable research takes us on an exciting detective trail to piece together the true, controversial significance of the Magdalene. - Mary Magdalene is described in the New Testament as Jesus' close companion and a woman that he loved. And yet, the Church teaches that she was a prostitute who, at some stage, became repentant. Why the discrepancy between scripture and dogma? - Why does Mary appeal so romantically to artists, who have painted her throughout the centuries as something much more significant than the Church traditionally portrays? - What is the secret of Mary Magdalene and how much do we really know about her relationship with Jesus? Were they married? Did they have children, and if so, who makes up the messianic lineage? The book includes exclusive insights into: - the Da Vinci connection: The real meaning behind Leonardo da Vinci's paintings and why the Renaissance Church censored portrayals of the Magdalene - the sacred marriage of Jesus and Mary - the truth about the enigmatic Templar society called The Priory of Sion and the underground stream that protected the sacred heritage of the messianic descendants - the truth behind the Knights Templar - who they were and what their role was - the hidden gospel of the Magdalene, excluded from the New Testament canon - Mary Magdalene - goddess or prostitute? Her life and exile in France - the forbidden tomb: the secret resting place of Mary Magdalene."

Well, there are many theories about this, the greatest story of all time. The book and its theories did speak out to me. I do think that a book that has survived for such a long time as the Bible, must have some truth in it. However, I do believe that it might have been misinterpreted over time by people, or groups, with a different agenda. Today there are more and more archeological finds that might lead to other interpretations. It is all very interesting. I guess the real story we will never know though. 

The Secret Place by Tana French is just in line with French's excellent and psychological stories.  

"A year ago a boy was found murdered at a girlsʼ boarding school, and the case was never solved. Detective Stephen Moran has been waiting for his chance to join Dublin’s Murder Squad when sixteen-year-old Holly Mackey arrives in his office with a photo of the boy with the caption: “I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM.” Stephen joins with Detective Antoinette Conway to reopen the case—beneath the watchful eye of Holly’s father, fellow detective Frank Mackey.

With the clues leading back to Holly’s close-knit group of friends, to their rival clique, and to the tangle of relationships that bound them all to the murdered boy, the private underworld of teenage girls turns out to be more mysterious and more dangerous than the detectives imagined."

The investigation takes place during one day, and is intense. Little by little French reveals the story. And when you have to deal with teenagers in a posh girl's boarding school; two groups of girls who do not really love each other; with a nearby boy's boarding school; add a  murder to it, well, then anything can happen, and it does. French keeps you guessing until the very end, and then, at least I, had guessed the culprit to be anyone except the one that really did it. 

Out of eleven books read this month, six of them were by women. 

The Unread Shelf

March: A memoir or biography -  Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps, A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan. Not finished yet so will continue in April. 

Read from my TBR shelves

I read a total of 12 books in March, of which ten came from my TBR shelves. Must be a record. So far I have read 21 books from my shelves. I am very pleased with that score.

What is up for April ?

Still behind with my reading so will not add too many new books to my own challenge for April, but will disperse the unread ones to fit in the challenges. 

• Kapet av Skåne, Stormaktssveriges viktigaste triumf  by Ingvar Bengtsson (NF)
• Presidentskan (La Regenta) by Leopoldo Alas Clarín (March 'women' theme challenge)
• Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor (NF)
• The History of the Siege of Lisbon (História do cerco de Lisboa) by José Saramago
• Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps, A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan (March unread shelf and March 'women' theme challenge) (NF)
• The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber (thick book, reading a chapter a day)
• The Tower by Uwe Tellkamp (thick book, reading a chapter a day)

• a nonfiction from my TBR shelves - Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor
• a fiction from my TBR shelves - Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
• a translated novel outside of the English- and Swedish languages - The Girl With The Golden Eyes by Honoré de Balzac (e-book, French) I might have to change the language soon. 
• a classic tale - Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
• a book from my want to read list - Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps, A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan - continuing reading

The Unread Shelf

For April it is a book from and Indie publisher. We don't really have any here in Sweden. I will either leave it out, or choose a book from a second-hand shop. 

The theme for April is Explorers and Discoverers. I have a few books on my shelves which fit under this title. For example:

• Banville, John - Doctor Copernicus
• Banville, John - Kepler 
• Berggren, Laurence - Columbus, The Four Voyages (NF)
• Bojs, Karin - Min europeiska familj, De senaste 54000 åren (NF)
• Ferguson, Niall  - Civilization - The West and the Rest (NF)
• Gibson, Carrie - Empire's Crossroads, A New History of the Caribbean (NF)
• Håkansson, Håkan (red) - Tycho Brahe (NF)

Let's see what I fancy, once I am there.