The Content Reader

I have decided not to join too many new challenges this year. However, this is too good to be true. Just in line with my own reading plans. I want to read more Non Fiction this year. Book'd Out  is hosting this challenge. Here a few of the rules (head over to Book'd Out for more). The aim is to encourage you to make nonfiction part of your reading experience during the year. The challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2020. Participants may join at any time up until December 1st 2020 So far I have read two books; The Raphaelite Sisterhood by Jan Marsh and a book about the Medicis by Göran Hägg. More of the Medicis will come up. I recently visited Florence and would like to read up on its history and important citizens. Having been to the Caribbean in December/January, I would also like to read books about the 'discovery' of the Continent. Just started Columbus, The Four Voyages by Laurence Berggren, and ordered  Empire's Crossroads: A Histo...

In Sweden there is a big book sale going on in February every year. Yesterday, I did go to have a look, aiming for two books that I had already checked out. Considering the state of my book shelves, I have to restrain myself. Did not help much since I came back with seven books, of which four were VERY thick. I don't count the Soduko book I bought. Love soduko, and find it very relaxing. I did concentrate on the non fiction books. I live in Sweden now and can easily borrow books from the library, including e-books. So convenient. Three books about Skåne. Love the covers. I could not resist a series of three books on the history of Skåne. This is the province in which I live. Until 1658 the southern part of Sweden belonged to Denmark. The history of this part is therefore very interesting. One of our famous historians, Gunnar Wetterberg has written the history of Skåne covering the periods; 11500 BC - 1375 AC, 1376 - 1720 and 1720 - 2017. He is also a great writer. I have s...

Through Readerbuzz , I stumbled upon First Book of The Year hosted by Sheila at Book Journey . A little bit late maybe, (been travelling extensively since beginning of December, making the blog suffer) but I wanted to say a few things about my first book this year. First of all the idea of this Meme. Sheila encourages us to pick a book to start out the new year. The criteria is flexible: A guilty pleasure book... A favourite book that you never got around to read or want to re-read... All in all, whatever you like to read as the First Book Of the Year... My first book was just a book I choose by coincidence. Since I was travelling, I had my ipad with me, full of downloaded books. Having read a few easygoing, historical fiction books at the end of the year, I fancied a non fiction book next. It turned out to be The Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood by Jan Marsh. We have heard about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, but Marsh (who is quite an expert on the group) choose to focu...

This meme is hosted by Guiltless Reading . Last week I spent three days in Florence. It is such a wonderful, historical city, a pure pleasure to be there. I have been there before, so I choose what to see again. Collecting a few bookmarks does not take up a lot of space in your luggage. Visiting David at the Galleria dell'Academia is always a treat. Such a beautiful statue. The Uffizi Gallery with its treasure of statues and paintings, is a must in Florence. Standing out are two paintings by Sandro Botticello; The Birth of Venus and Primavera.  The other four bookmarks are on amazing buildings in Florence; Il Duomo , Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio .

Time to look at the books I have read during the last year, and which ones are the best ones. It is always tricky to choose some out of all you have read, but there are always a few books who raise above the rest. I read unusually many detective stories/thrillers this year. It was actually the biggest genre, 33% of all I read. Maybe it does not come as a surprise that I find four, or even five books, depending on how you calculate, among my list of best books. Here are also four non fiction books. I have cheated slightly, since the books by Sara Lövestam are three, which makes it twelve books. However, they are of a similar kind so I put them as one. Here is the list in no particular order, only by genre. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams Saratoga Trunk  by Edna Ferber The Man from St Petersburg by Ken Follett (audio) Snövit ska dö (Schneewittchen muss sterben), Snow White must die) by Nele Neuhaus Stora Stygga Vargen (Böser ...

Better late than never. I have been travelling for about six weeks, from early December to mid January. We have been visiting four islands in the Caribbean. A lovely holiday, of which I will write a few posts for The Content Reader Goes Outdoors .  I managed to read 9 books, plus two books with a chapter a day or a few chapters; Moby Dick and The Merchant of Venice . The last one I just finished for the Classic Club, and Moby Dick is for end of February, a read-along with Brona at Brona's Books . Not much left of this thick book. I read 98 books last year, divided in the following categories: Fiction - 19 (19%) Nonfiction - 19 (19%) Mystery - 32 (33%) Historical fiction - 20 (20 %) Classics - 9 (9%) Summary: 79 books of fiction, 81%, and 19 books of non fiction, 19%. I hope to make the figures a little bit more even for 2020. One of my goals this year is to read more non fiction.

This year I will participate in much fewer challenges. However, this is one of my favourite one, and useful for my TBR shelves. Head over to Bev at  My Reader's Block , to find all the details. As usual it is all about lowering the number of unread books from your shelves. I have lowered my list from 219 to 181 from last year, but I added a few as well. This challenge applies to all books ended up on your shelves before 2020.  Challenge Levels: Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Vancounver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR pile/s - My aim Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s El Toro*: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s (*aka Cerro El Toro in South America) Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s I set the same aim as last year. I am still due with a post o...