Another month has past and it is time to have a look at what I read in June. There are still outstanding non read books from earlier months, but I leave them in peace and will get back to them when there is time. Being on holiday and travelling around, I took with me some smaller pocket books. These are books i know I will not save and I leave them behind in a camping where, hopefully, other readers might enjoy them. Summer and all, I go for easy reads, and often thrillers or detective stories.
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| Reading while Martin is fishing |
Summary June
I have read seven books in June (one non-fiction), and in total 42 books from my shelves. Pleased with that. Three books by Håkan Nesser - Carambole, Flugan och evigheten and Halvmördaren. They are not his usual van Veeteren stories but separate from any series. I still enjoy these books where he goes more psychologically into the characters mind. Ordinary people who did something that totally changed and affected their whole life. Very interesting studies.
Arto Paasilinna - Snablar (Trunks) is his usual ironic take on society, people and how they act. This time the story is complicated by a big elephant. Or maybe one should put it, that it is not the elephant but the people around her who have to find ways to adapt.
Stina Jackson - Ödesmark (The Last Snow) is her second book on people in the north of Sweden. It is very well written, a good description of the almost empty areas in the north and how it effects the people. Her stories are rather sad. However, in the end she lets us hope for a better life for her characters.
John Banville - Kepler. I bought this trilogy (also including Newton's Letter and Dr Copernicus) when he visited a book shop in Brussels. Got them signed as well. I have read Newton's Letter but found it rather boring. However, Kepler is a really interesting historical fiction on Kepler's life.
Blom, Tomas - Sturemorden, ett blodigt maktspel about a sad, and rather bloody chapter in Swedish history.
My own challenge
a nonfiction from my TBR shelves chosen by a random generator - Sturemorden (The Sture Murders) by Tomas Blom. A sad chapter in Swedish history and especially for the king Eric XIV.
a fiction from my TBR shelves chosen by a random generator - Kepler by John Banville. Very good historical fiction about his life and discoveries. Makes for non-fiction reading.
a translated novel outside of the English- and Swedish speaking countries - Snablar (Trunks, my transl) by Arto Paasilinna from Finnish.
a classic tale - non this month
a book from my Wish list - non this month
My theme this month
The Last Kingdom/The Saxon Chronicles. After having seen the five seasons I had to go on reading the rest of the books. I have started with book number nine: Warriors of the storm, but not finished yet.
This being about the Danish Vikings 'conquest' of England, or raids into the country if one wants to put it like that. Totally suitable choice this months since we are travelling in Denmark, and have been able to visit several Viking sites and museums. Very interesting history.
Monthly Reading Theme with the Unread Shelves
A book about a journey - I add Snablar by Arto Paasilinna here, since it is, like most of his books, a journey through society, and in this one even a trip to Russia and South Africa.
Prospects for July
In July I participate in Paris in July. The challenge this year is co- hosted by Readerbuzz and Thyme-for-tea. Pop over there to see the very flexible rules on how to participate. It is a great challenge and bloggers all over the world participate and share everything they love about Paris and France.
I hope to listen to some French music, watch a French movie, read books about France/Paris, read French authors and hopefully, make a French dinner. Here are four books that I hope to read:
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Återträffen/La jeune fille et la nuit by Guillaume Musso
Hemingway, The Paris Years by Michael Reynolds
Marie Antoinette by Stefan Zweig
New purchases
While travelling and visiting museums I always try to look out for interesting books. A lot of Viking history this time and I found two books that I could not resist.
Vikings - A History of the Norse People by Martin J. Dougheerty
The Children of Ash & Elm - A History of the Vikings by Neil Price
Ooh, I have Children of Ash and Elm hanging around on my NetGalley TBR. It does look really good.
ReplyDeleteGreat LyzzBee, I did not know NetGalley had these kind of books. The author is one of the best specialists on the Viking time, so I think that will make for good reading.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteI have read several books in Bernard Cornwell's series. I think you will get more out of them if you read them in order, as you slowly see how England is made, from very separate smaller groups.
And also the life of the main hero at the beginning
I think that is true Emma. As I have seen the tv-series from the beginning you see how the times changed. I will not read the first ones, but start at number nine, where the last season left off. Of course, they do change, or adapt, the story for televisions, so when I started reading I could not really recognise the story exactly. It will be revealed, I am sure, as I read along.
DeleteWell done! I look forward to you reading The Paris Apartment and reading your thoughts. Happy July!
ReplyDeleteFredamans, I am almost half through and the mystery is in full swing. I am not sure, so far, that I like this more than the other too. But, I have to wait and see until the end. It is nice with the French touch.
DeleteYou've been very productive! I look forward to your Paris in July entries!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanie. It goes up and down. I am late for Paris in July, but just posted my first review. I really liked your post on Chagall.
DeletePS -- I love that photo of you reading while your husband fishes! And thanks for coming by, too!
ReplyDelete