An October DNF…

Mittens and Sunglasses

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I was given the e-book The Book of Autumn, written by Molly O’Sullivan as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I requested this book because I was drawn in my the gorgeous cover (it’s even prettier in colour), and was promised…

a spellbinding debut about ambition, privilege, second chance romance, and ancient magic set at an enchanted school tucked among the red mesas of rural New Mexico, where a formidable pair of magicians are summoned to pursue an alleged killer.

As you can see from the title of this entry, I ended up DNF-ing this book. (To DNF a book means that you «Did Not Finish» it). Going into the book I had no idea it would be steeped in Christian mythology. As much as I normally (at least if we’ll done) enjoy fantasy books, Christian mythology tend not to be my jam. I think it’s because it’s already used so much, maybe even overused. The times I seem to be okay with it, is in horror, but even then it takes a bit for me to actually think it’s good. I struggled with this one even early on, and wanted to DNF it at 5%. After further consideration, and some communication elsewhere about DNF-ing, I decided to give it at least 10%. In the end I read the first four chapters, and at 11% I decided enough was enough, and that I would not finish it.

I honestly feel like I gave this book a chance, and I really wanted to love it. I don’t like talking badly about debut authors, they’ve put a love and heart into their work. That being said, a book will never be for everyone, and I really wish we had been told Christian mythology would be so in the forefront of this book. Had I known, I would probably not have picked up this book at all.

I can absolutely see that this book might be something others enjoy, and if you like this sort of thing, by all means, grab a copy. It’s just not for me…

A hand is holding a mug of coffee to the left, resting in a lap covered by a blanket. To the right is a Kobo e-reader showing the cover of the book "The Book of Autumn".
Photo: Mittens and Sunglasses © 2025

Book Review: Sense and Suitability, written by Pepper Basham

Mittens and Sunglasses

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I was given the regency rom-com Sense and Suitability, written by Pepper Basham and narrated by Fiona Hardingham and Christopher Ashman as an audiobook ARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

It’s no secret that I am a huge Jane Austen fan, and that I’ve read a fair share of Jane Austen retellings, so when I saw Sense and Suitability on NetGalley on NetGalley, I knew I just had to request it. I was very happy to be approved, and was quite excited to dive into the audiobook.

The <i>Sense and Suitability</i> audiobook cover. Two people standing in front of the entrance of a house, framed by flowers. They're both leaning against their own door frame.This book is told from two points of view, alternating between our heroine, Emmeline Lockhart, and our hero Simon Reeves. At the beginning of the book we learn that Emmeline expects Simon to ask for her hand in marriage, but at the last minute something happens so that Simon changes his mind, and Emmeline is left with a broken heart. Not only is this a bit of a scandal in their society, but she also carries a big secret that she has to hide, even from not only Simon, but also most of her own family…

I must admit it took me a while to get into this book. Even though I loved the narrators, there was something that didn’t quite sit right with me. Mostly something I couldn’t quite put my finger on… Fortunately this changed after a bit, and I ended up really enjoying it.

I ended up really loving most of the characters, though there were a couple of annoying “villains” (mind you, they were not meant to be anything but). Though it’s clear that the book is in no way written back in the actual regency period (the language is naturally too modern for that), it’s also very much written in the spirit of Jane Austen. I even think that if Jane Austen had lived today, she’d enjoyed this book, and also would have been honoured by the homage paid to her own books in this novel.

For people who enjoy romance with little to no spice, I can reassure you that there’s not any in this book. The most spicy scenes are kisses, the rest is left up to your own imagination.

I found this book to be a fun and heartwarming read in the end, and would advice people not to give uo should you, like me, struggle a bit at the beginning.

Book Review: The Scary Book of Fairy Tales, written by Tim Rayborn

Mittens and Sunglasses

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I got The Scary Book of Fairy Tales, written by Tim Rayborn and narrated by Dennis Kleinman, as an audiobook ARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Book cover.
I’m not gonna lie, I loooove fairy tales! I always have. I gobbeled up all sorts as a kid: Asbjørnsens and Moe (of course, they’re Norwegian), The borthers Grimm, H. C. Andersen, 1001 Nights, and whatever I could get my hands on. When I saw The Scary Book of Fairy Tales, written by Tim Rayborn, as a “listen now” on Netgalley, I knew I just had to grab it.

I run audiobooks on at least 1.5 speed, but the narrator, Dennis Kleinman, sounded good from what I could tell. I’m definitively glad it wasn’t AI. I’ve only once tried an audiobook narrated by AI, and I didn’t stand it. It’s clear that this was read by a voice actor, thank goodness!

This is a collection of fairy tales that claims to be the original. When it comes to collected fairy tales, it’s hard to know how they actually were originally, but this is how they were when they were collected. There are also some fairy tales that have been “disneyfied” later, i.e. made more “family friendly”, like H.C. Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. When I was a kid, a lot of the fairy tales I read were not the disneyfied. I remember having this book containing the brothers Grimm’s “Snow White”, and I clearly remember the description of the chopping off toes and heels. Pretty bloody.

I know this might sound strange to many, but I found this book delightful. Some stories were quite familiar to me, but many I had never heard or read before. I especially enjoyed the once from all over the world. This is a book I would highly recommend to all lovers of fairy tales, gruesome stories, and folklore!

This is enough

Mittens and Sunglasses

Over the past few months I’ve been pondering about life a lot. Of where I want to go leading forward. For three months I cut down on work, only working 90% (meaning I had every second Monday off). It didn’t take long for me to realise it didn’t make a huge difference economically, and in general it made me feel better.

After my trip to India in October I have also realised that I don’t feel the urge to take the longer trips anymore. I feel quite content with what I’ve seen of the world so far. After all, most of the people of the world have seen by far less. I have visited around 30 countries, and there are still countries on my own continent I haven’t seen. Should I feel the urge of seeing a new country, I should maybe look closer to home?

I’m also trying to lean into a more slow way of living. I can’t say I’m there yet, but it’s also a journey. Fitting in meditation every day, working on being content with what I have and where I am. One of the challenges is how I miss living in Oslo. I love our house, and I am excited to get everything there sorted, but Oslo will always have a special place in my heart.

At the end of 2024, I signed up for an online teacher training course in meditation and mindfulness. It’s first and foremost for me to deepen my practice, but it’s also a part of the bigger picture. If I could teach meditation as well, I think I would be able to work less in my day job more permanently. Maybe cut it down to 80%? Time will show. I’m not jumping to decisions. Not right now.

As I’m writing this I’m on a flight from Norway to Ireland. I will post it once I’m in a place where that is possible.

For now, this is enough.

A small buddah statue sitting, with a mala around his neck.
Photo: Mittens and Sunglasses © 2022

Vegan Norwegian waffles

Mittens and Sunglasses

Who says you need eggs and dairy to make perfect waffles? These vegan waffles are light, crispy on the outside, and wonderfully fluffy on the inside — thanks to the magic of aquafaba. Whether you’re serving them as a sweet afternoon snack or a cozy dessert, this simple recipe delivers delicious results. Pair them with vegan sour cream and jam for a classic touch, or get creative with your favorite toppings. Enjoy a plant-based take on a timeless favourite!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 dl aquafaba
  • 1 dl sugar
  • 5 dl soy milk
  • 4 tbsp plant-based oil (e.g., canola or sunflower)
  • 400 g sifted wheat flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cardamom

Instructions

Whisk the aquafaba and sugar until stiff. I recommend using an electric mixer; otherwise, it will take a very long time. With an electric mixer, it should take around five minutes. The colour should be white, and the consistency should be velvety smooth and not runny.

Mix the soy milk and oil together, then gradually add them to the aquafaba and sugar mix, while stirring gently. Next, mix all the dry ingredients. Use a sieve and sift in a little of the dry mixture at a time, stirring thoroughly. You can also use the electric mixer on the lowest setting. Make sure the batter doesn’t get lumpy. Once everything is combined, let the batter rest for about 30 minutes.

Bake the waffles in a greased waffle iron until golden. Serve fresh with topping of your choice.

This batter also works well for breakfast pancakes.

A white plate with golden waffles with sourcream and jam. Up in the right corner you can see a Moomin mug with black coffee.
Photo: Mittens and Sunglasses © 2025

Book Review: Motheater, written by Linda H. Codega

Mittens and Sunglasses

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Motheater, written by Linda H. Codega was given to me by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review. I don’t know what I expected when I was given this book, but I was very intrigued by the description. To be honest it being a queer fantasy book was enough to intrigue me, and I was not disappointed!

This story is set in the Appalachian Mountains in the US. We meet Bennie, whose friend passed away, and in her effort to uncover what killed her friend as well as other miners on Kire Mountain, she loses her reputation and her relationship. Then one day she finds a half-drowned white woman in a dirty mine slough, and rescues her because she feels it’s the right thing to do, but also because she feels it may help her in some way. The woman calls herself Motheater, and says she’s a witch, and Bennie feels drawn to this mysterious woman.

This was such a delightful read! I fell in love with the characters. It’s diverse, and deals with important themes like what we’re doing to the planet we live on. I’m so happy I got to this gem!

A Kobo e-reader laying halfway on top of a brown blanket and halfway on top og white sheets. The Kobo shows the cover of the book Motheater.
Photo: Mittens and Sunglasses © 2025