Goodbye, 2020! As usual I have set my reading goals for the new year, and you can find them, as well as the 2021 reading journal layout that I made, on YouTube/BookTube channel.
My 2021 reading goals & reading journal layout
//Category: Misc. on Books
//Weekend Reading Vlog, 14 & 15 November 2020
//Being in a bit of a reading slump, I tried to get some reading done over the weekend. Here’s my reading vlog.
Fortnight Frights 2020
//The booktuber and blogger The Artisan Geek hosted a readathon called Fortnight Frights during the last two weeks of October. Even though I had planty of things to do, I decided that I wanted to take part in it.
The fist thing I was, was picking the books I wanted to read. Here’s my video where I talked about the books I was planning on reading for the readathon:
As you can see in my reading vlog, my “To Be Read” (or TBR) list went through the window. But at least something exciting happened (which can be seen towards the end of the video):
Do you ever take part in readathons? Do you think it’s fun?
The Diverse Reading Challenge
//Lately I have been discussing diverse books with my friend Kevin, whom I first “met” on Instagram. We both agree there are not enough diverse books out there, and that we as readers need to show we care and actually want more diversity in literature! With that as inspiration, I decided that I wanted to host a diverse reading challenge.
I want this to be as easy and flexible as possible, so I am not setting a time limit. Nor am I setting a start date – people should be able to start whenever they want. All you need to do is to fulfill each point on the list. You can read the books in whatever order you wish.
I would love it if you posted your list of books as you read them as a comment here, or if you post them on your own blog or Instagram, that’s even better! If you post them on your blog, it would make my day if you link back to this post!
- Book by a transgender author
- Book by a bisexual or pansexual author
- Book by a gay author
- Book by a Zimbabwean author
- Book by a Scandinavian author
- Book by a Japanese author
- Book by a Indian author
- Book set in Brazil
- Book set in Indonesia
- Book set in Russia
- Book set in Iceland
- Book set in Iran
- Book with a genderfluid main character
- Book with a lesbian main character
- Book with a main character with an immigrant background (first or second generation)
- Book with a main character who suffer from mental illness
- Book with a character in a wheelchair
- Book with a blind character
- Book with a deaf character
- Book with a character who has ME
- Feminist non-fiction book
- LGBTQ+ non-fiction book
- Non-fiction book on an Asian country (not a travel guide book)
- Non-fiction book on a Nordic country (not a travel guide book)
- Non-fiction book on an Indigenous people and/or their culture
I could have made this a lot longer, but that would made the challenge a lot harder. I hope lots of people will parttake!
Are you game?
Photo: Hidden in a Book © 2017
Copenhagen Book Haul (December 2016)
//October Wrap Up
//September Challenge – how did it go?
//As I wrote earlier, I set myself a challenge to read more books in Norwegian. So, how did my challenge go? How many books in Norwegian did I manage to read?
1. Hålke, written by Helene Uri
I was fortunate enough to win a ARC of Helene Uri’s new book, Hålke. It was published early in September, and is a book on an elderly couple who early in January don’t get to leave their flat due to it being icy outside. With only a little food to get by on, and the coffee running out, we get to know this elderly people. What’s their marriage built on? Why do they still keep together after over 40 years, in spite of unfaithfulness (her) and violence (him)? It was a really interesting read, and I really enjoyed it.
2. Odinsbarn, written by Siri Pettersen
This was actually a reread. I first read Odinsbarn (meaning Odin’s Child in English) shortly after it came out, and it’s the first book in the Ravneringene (meaning “The Raven Rings”) trilogy. I love this trilogy, and thought Odinsbarn was even better the second time around.
3. Et norsk hus, written by Vigdis Hjorth
This was my first book Vigdis Hjorth, and I borrowed it from the library’s ebook app. I enjoyed reading about this middle aged textile artist who rented out a part of her house to a Polish family and the conflict between them. And even though this lady is a weird woman with many faults, I grew to love her… I am definitely going to read more books by her!
4. Forbannet, written by Tonje Tornes
This was the second book in the Kire series, and it has been a while since I read hulder, the first book in the series. I am loving this series, and I liked the second book even more than the first – it’s darker and there’s more magic! I can’t wait for the third book, even though I have no idea when it will be published.
So, I ended up with four Norwegian books in September, which wasn’t so bad. I also read On Writing by Stephen King, which is also a very good read. I think my conclusion is that this challenge was good for me, even though one of the books was a reread. I will try to read even more Norwegian books, and am hoping to get some more read this year.
Did you succeed with your September challenge?
It’s Monday, what are you reading?
//I finished Et norsk hus, written by Vigdis Hjorth yesterday, on the plane back from Oslo. I had a nice week end with the boyfriend, even though I wasn’t feeling too well. The plan was to run the 10 km run during the Oslo Marathon, but I wasn’t well enough to participate.
I am kind of reading Dronningens løfte, but I can’t seem to focus, so I have decided to put it aside for now, and read Forbannet, which is the second book in the Kire series written by Tonje Tornes. I enjoyed Hulder, the first book in the series. I have a signed copy of both books in the series, so they’re not leaving the house. I have borrowed the ebook version from the library ebook app eBokBib, which makes it easier for me to read.
What are YOU currently reading?
The best way to start the day…
//Autumn is here, and the light summer mornings are gone. Getting up in the mornings aren’t as easy these days, and getting out of bed before 6 is a struggle. Knowing I can start the day with lighting a candle and having my breakfast with a good book and coffee helps, though. In my opinion, the best way to start the day os with reading a book.
September Challenge
//I recently went through the list of books read so far in 2016, and I had read very few books in my native language, Norwegian.
From January to August I read a total of 43 books, of which only 10 were in Norwegian. My challenge is therefore to read mostly Norwegian books in September.
I just started reading a book I have had on my shelf for ages, Dronningens løfte (meaning “the Queen’s Promise”), written by Margit Walsø. This is her second book, and like her previous book it is based on European history. I really liked her first book, so I hope I will like this too.
Do you have any challenge for September? If so, what is it?
