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

August has come to an end, and in principal, end of summer in Sweden. We have been heading south for about two weeks, travelling with our camper van through Denmark, Germany to the Netherlands. Our son graduated from his second Masters in Delft, which must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We enjoyed his company for some days, and had the opportunity to be part of the graduation party. Now in Innsbruck we are staying a few days, and will then continue south to Greece for September-October. I give you a couple of photos from Delft. Due to travelling, I had to abandon part of my challenges. Instead I grabbed quite a few books from my TBR shelves to take with me. Some of them will come with me home, but most of them I will give away along the road.  I read 12 books in August and five of them were excellent reads. Lunde, Maja - Przewalski's Horse Ivesköld, Monica - Redigera framgångsRIKT Auster, Paul - The Brooklyn Follies Hawkins, Paula - Into the Water Preston, John -...

Time to take a look at the challenges I followed last year. I did not fulfil all of them, but a few at least. My Top TBR for 2021 Read: 10/10  • My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman  • Evolutionen och jag ('Evolution and I') by Johan Frostegård  • The Past by Tessa Hadley  • In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway  • The Habsburgs by Anthony Wheatcroft  • Eleanor Marx by Rachel Holmes  • Jag vill sätta världen i rörelse by Anna-Karin Palm  • Through Belgian Eyes, Charlotte Brontë's Troubled Brussels Legacy by Helen MacEwan  • The Edge of the World, How the North Sea Made Us Who We Are by Michael Pye • Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall  ******** Monthly Reading Challenge Read: 9/12 January - A book with high expectations - In Our Time By Ernest Hemingway - February - A book you got for free - Mordet på kommendören (Killing Commendatore) by Haruki Murakami  Marc...

This year I will not participate in too many challenges. I have a few I always follow, and will continue to do so. Although, there are so many interesting challenges out there, I have decided to go for a challenge of my own. Meaning concentrating on reading from my TBR shelves, more themed reading, and also reading from my wish list. Here is a summary of Challenges 2022 , more detailed info under link.  First of all my own challenge which will follow these general guidelines.  • a nonfiction from my TBR shelves chosen by a random generator • a fiction from my TBR shelves chosen by a random generator • a translated novel outside of the English and Swedish speaking countries • a classic tale • a book from my Wish list Each month will have a themed reading, which hopefully can be connected to my various lists.  January - Nordic writers (inspired by AnnaBookBel 's challenge FINDS February - Antiquity (Greek gods and other tales) March - Women (anything ...

Another year has begone and it is time to have a look at last year's reading. It was a good year for me. Maybe not difficult considering the times and the time available for reading. I ended up at 107 books. It meant I managed to achieve my aim of 100 books at Goodreads.  I have divided the genres between Fiction, Nonfiction, Mystery/Thrillers and Classics. The outcome is quite even between the genres with a slightly higher number for fictional books, which is normal.  Fiction                           38 Nonfiction                     29 Mystery/Thrillers        23 Classics                         17 Favourite books within each genre My three favourite books within each genre. Fiction Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Prisoner of Heaven and The Labyrint of the Spri...

I should not really buy any new books, but sometimes I cannot help myself. At least I manage rather well with new books since I can borrow them at the library. When I visit second-hand shops it is quite a different game. Here you often find older and non-fiction books that are not so easy to find today, although the library has them of course. No excuse there! I was just trying. I tend to go toward non-fiction history books. In the neighbourhood you also find books about local history. Lately, especially during the pandemic when there was not so much more to do than go out into the woods, I have looked more into what was happening close by. Skåne, or Scania, is an interesting place. Settlements have been found from very early on, the area was Danish for centuries and since the mid 17th century is Swedish. That means there is a lot of history around.  Books I bought recently.  Blom, K Arne & Moen, Jan - Försvunna städer i Skåneland - about lost cities in Skåne (Scania) Fost...

How time flies. Today is the first of Advent, the time in the Christian faith when we are waiting for the birth of Jesus. A lot of traditions has grown up around this time, one is the advent calendar and another is the advent candle stick with four candles, one for each Sunday in Advent. It is also a time for preparations for Christmas. Those of you who celebrate St Nicholas day on 6 December, are busy with preparations I can imagine. Here in Belgium it is a big celebration, as in my husbands native Austria. I remember, years ago when our son was a child, and our neighbours invited us to celebrate with them. Our  son made big eyes when he saw St Nicholas. It is the perfect time to check out what you have read during the year and where you are with your challenges. One is so eager and enthusiastic in the beginning of the year and when there are fewer and fewer days to read, a little bit of stress creeps up. That is ok and it is enjoyable to exchange status with fellow bloggers...

The 1 December is here and we are counting down to Christmas. This year I will make an Advent Calendar. Did we not all love them when we were kids? This one will be about books and preparations for Christmas. Do comment and let me know what you are up to. Here in Europe it is a dark season and especially in Sweden. I think that is why we Swedes love our lights and candles to make the darkness a little bit less dark. Personally, I love Christmas, the decorations, meeting the family and enjoy some special food. Just in time for 1st Advent on Sunday we did get some snow here in Belgium. I am afraid though that it will be gone by tomorrow. I have to look at the photo and remember. I have bought a new blog calendar for 2018, The Reading Woman . There I will keep track of my books and my posts. This will hopefully lead to a more regular posting for 2018! My aim for next year is to read a few more new books. I have concentrated so much on Classics and my TBR shelves, that I feel...