If you've been following our blog for a while, you know that we both love to read. In the past year, we've read very little because we simply haven't had the time, but now we're eager to read again. Today we present our best book tips!
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ShareThree book tips
Here are three books that are not brand new, but worth reading and still available (either as an e-book or an audiobook).
1. "Niceville" by Kathryn Stocket
White socialite Skeeter and black maids Aibileen and Minny live in the American South in the 1960s. Racial laws in Mississippi at this time are highly segregated and Skeeter's white friends at the 'League' are deeply involved in issues of separate toilets for people of different colours.
Skeeter, who dreams of becoming a writer, has a very different, and very controversial, idea. Little do they realise what this risky project will lead to ...
2. "The Dream" by Harry Bernstein
Bernstein made his literary debut at the age of 95 with the book 'The Invisible Wall'. This is his second novel in which he tells the story of how, at the age of ten, he emigrated with his poor Jewish family from England to the United States.
The new country is hit hard by the Depression and the dream of a better life remains partly a dream. Harry's angelic mother does her best to make life easier while his mean father does everything in his power to make things worse. About how important money is when you don't have it, but even more about how important love and relationships are.
3. "Escape from Camp 14" by Blaine Harden
North Korea is a country that many consider to be a huge prison in itself. Inside that country are closely guarded prison camps that hold hundreds of thousands of prisoners. And inside these camps are underground prisons ...
American journalist Blaine Harden has written the unlikely story of Shin Dong-hyuk's escape from Camp 14, which eventually took him all the way to South Korea and the United States. This is not only a story about Shin, but also about what grotesque conditions do to people and about the totalitarian state of North Korea.
Three books I am curious about
As I said, we haven't read any books for a long time, and that means there's a lot to be curious about! Here are three titles that I would like to read.
1. "My Fantastic Friend" by Elena Ferrante
"In a rented barracks near the highway in Naples in the 1950s, the two girls Elena Greco and Lila Cerrullo grow up and become lifelong friends. It is a post-war, emergency year and violence still characterises Italy in the form of assassinations and arbitrary executions ..."
2. "A Little Life" by Hanaya Yanagihara
"A novel for those who want to get caught up in the big story - deeply moving, merciless and unforgettable..." One of the best books of the year according to The New York Times.
3. "Movement - the second place" by John AJvide Lindqvist
I love John Ajvide Lindqvist's books, but had difficulty understanding the novel "Himmelstrand". But still, or maybe because of that, I want to read this ...
Do you have any good book tips or are there any books you are keen to read this autumn?
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The travel dream says:
Good book tips, although I have not read Bernstein's book "The Dream". Of the books that you are curious about, the Ferrante series is very good. Interesting about friendship, class differences and good portrayal of people. A Little Life, which is a brick of about 700 pages, so I don't know how long it takes to listen to. There are good character portraits and about being able to give and receive love, but also reflections on what is a family, which people are included in a family. I have only read one book by John Ajvide Lindqvist, I don't remember which one, as I don't like that type of book.
Happy listening!
19 September 2017 - 7:20
Helena says:
Glad you like the Ferrante series! There are a bunch of books, so I have something to get into 😉 I'll see if I can get into A Little Life ... but I've become curious! John Ajvide doesn't really resemble what I read otherwise, but somehow I'm still stuck in his world.
19 September 2017 - 19:38
åsa in åsele says:
Fun with book tips 🙂
I do read - as you have probably heard before - a lot of books, the goal is 52 books a year, one a week 🙂 ).
But I'm a book reader, I want to hold my book and read... also I want to have books in my bookshelf, good books are good friends 🙂.
19 September 2017 - 7:56
Helena says:
Yes, I know you read a lot! I also like books really, but when we started travelling more I realised that there was an advantage to not having to carry a lot of heavy books 😉.
19 September 2017 - 19:40
Lennart says:
We have a gang in the campervan waiting for us to get time!
19 September 2017 - 8:09
Helena says:
We have also had little time for reading, but when you get time, it's cosy! 🙂
19 September 2017 - 19:41
Emma, sun like sun? says:
I love e-books but I want to read them in my e-book reader so this doesn't work. Too bad! But there are still so many books available, for example via my library card at Stockholm City Library. Or the Gutenberg project and the Runeberg project if you want to read older books.
19 September 2017 - 9:03
Helena says:
We have also used e-book readers actually. Let's see how it goes in the future though... Can't you change the brightness of the screen?
19 September 2017 - 19:42
Ama de casa says:
Before the first cruise, I gave in and tested the e-book version (was probably so much packing with anyway, even without books...). And if you look at - there I also had to change my mind. As good as any! 🙂
But with the surf / reading tablet I have, it works poorly in sunlight, so some paperbacks also had to follow this time. I will look at someone who is more adapted to "just" reading, I think.
I borrow all the books for free on bibliotek.se - perfect! 🙂
19 September 2017 - 9:23
Emma, sun like sun? says:
I can't emphasise enough the difference between reading on a regular tablet and a real e-book reader! I have some pdf's I read on my tablet because it has colour but I go crazy with all the glare on the screen and it's so much more comfortable with the real thing!
Go and try some, they're not that expensive now. We bought one for our son at Carrefour for about €70 a few years ago now. Good for him to start with but it lacks some features.
19 September 2017 - 16:33
Helena says:
I can understand what you mean Emma! But can't you adjust the brightness of the phone/ipad so it glares less...?
19 September 2017 - 19:50
Emma, sun like sun? says:
But it's not the same at all. An ebook reader has a matte surface just like paper, while tablets and mobiles have glossy ones. Glossy is hard on the eyes and you'll never get rid of the gloss completely.
I see that there is a difference between brands of phones etc, for example my son's phone is better than mine in terms of reflectors. But still it is not enough for the eyes to relax. This is my experience but I have also read a lot about it so I think it is a correct perception.
20 September 2017 - 18:00
Helena says:
I have had the same experience as you, Ama. I really like real books, but when I started travelling I realised how great it is to not have to pack a lot of heavy books ...! Can't you change the brightness of your phone/tablet to see better ...?
19 September 2017 - 19:43
Ama de casa says:
Yes, you can change it. But not enough. At least not on the one I have. But it's great otherwise.
20 September 2017 - 10:08
Lisa in the village says:
I haven't read a book in many years, can't read because I can't hold a book, and find it so hard to concentrate on what I'm reading.
However, I listen to a lot of audiobooks, even though I buy them.
I often fall asleep away from the book, so that's why I want a CD book, not an MP-3.
Thanks for the book tips. Always fun with tips. I'm also looking forward to Millennium 5.
19 September 2017 - 10:34
Ruth in Virginia says:
Is there a Swedish library in Torre?
19 September 2017 - 14:57
Helena says:
Glad you found a way to "read" that suits you! So heavenly relaxed to slip into a story sometimes! 🙂
19 September 2017 - 19:51
Anja says:
Totally agree with Ama! Bibblan is the best! ?
19 September 2017 - 12:29
Mr Steve says:
I was once again reminded of how long it has been since I read my last book. It may soon be time to "sink my teeth into" one of these book tips.
19 September 2017 - 13:20
Helena says:
I myself have not read for a long time ... but now I got the urge! Peter and I have read a lot over the years when we've been out and about with the camper van 🙂.
19 September 2017 - 19:53
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
I would also like to have more time for reading. I've tried listening to books but find it a bit difficult to get the necessary concentration, maybe I'll give it another chance. Elena Ferrante, part 1, came with me to Crete so now I just want some free time for parts 2 and 3. Great reading!
19 September 2017 - 18:14
Helena says:
Glad you liked Ferrante! That made me even more curious 😉 I haven't really fallen in love with audiobooks either (yet), but I love the practicality of e-books!
19 September 2017 - 19:54
BP says:
Like Åså, I stick to "real" books (so far). I like John Ajvide Lindqvist to a certain extent. Do I remember correctly that he was one of Peter's favourite authors?
19 September 2017 - 18:53
Helena says:
Nix pix, John Ajvide is my favourite and not Peter's, I've read all his books except this one 😉 Peter reads detective stories. I asked if he wanted to give his tips, but he was a bit too tired after his trip to Greece 😉.
19 September 2017 - 19:55
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Haha! So you open a little for an ebook reader ...!
20 September 2017 - 18:02
Emma, sun like sun? says:
(The above comment was directed to BP!) 😀.
20 September 2017 - 18:12
Matts Torebring says:
With my feet in the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees behind my back, is my perfect reading spot, but I'm not there now...
19 September 2017 - 19:30
Helena says:
It sounds like a lovely place for reading! 🙂
19 September 2017 - 19:56
Felicia says:
Love Niceville, it's really good! The film too 🙂
19 September 2017 - 20:20
Helena says:
I have not seen the film. Sounds interesting!
22 September 2017 - 13:38
Maria's Memoirs says:
I haven't been much of a reader lately, I must admit, although I did read a bit when I travelled around Australia. Audio books (and podcasts) I have been really bad at so far, but I intend to give it a real chance this autumn if I get some night shifts. Reading books to stay awake doesn't really work, it might be easier to listen to a voice in those cases. So will probably try this when I have some night shifts going on! 🙂
19 September 2017 - 21:04
Helena says:
Where do you work the night shift? I haven't really fallen in love with audiobooks yet myself (maybe I'll try again at the right time!) but I've realised that I think e-books are really handy when travelling!
22 September 2017 - 13:40
Annalena says:
I have not read any of the ones you recommend, so now there will be more on my list 🙂 Have been on sick leave for a long time and have not managed to read at all from the beginning and then only in English. But now I have read three pieces in a short time in Swedish. Started a little simple to train the concentration with Nora Roberts Three Sister Island and I have also just read out Nazibruden by Anna-Lena Joners Larsson (?) Interesting story with insight into a world unknown to me ... I have received a bunch of audiobooks from a relative that I will try, again, but have had difficulty with it before. Would like to wander away with my thoughts if I don't hold the book and turn the pages 😀.
20 September 2017 - 0:10
Helena says:
Nice to be able to start reading again! Thanks for the book tips! Sounds interesting 🙂
22 September 2017 - 13:41
Ninny says:
Great book tips! have read some of them, including Ferrante, "My fantastic friend". But unlike most others, I wasn't very impressed at all...I had to struggle through that book, didn't like the characters or the way Ferrante writes.
I haven't got into audiobooks at all, I'd rather have a book to browse through and read myself. In fact, I have only tried listening to an audiobook once. I had difficulty concentrating, my thoughts flew off somewhere else. But I am a restless soul, so I think I need something to hold (the book) to keep my thoughts there.
20 September 2017 - 19:53
Helena says:
It's so interesting, what kind of books you like. Sometimes I've lent out a favourite book but the person reading it hates it ... or vice versa 😉.
22 September 2017 - 13:42
Annette says:
I had a long period when I hardly read at all because of lack of time and because I read so much non-fiction, but two years ago I took up reading again, and it feels great 🙂 I take the opportunity to read at all times, such as when I wait for our girls when they have dance and music lessons, and that's a lot of time if you add up, and many books read. Over 70 books so far this year. "Niceville" I read on a trip to France a few years ago, it was so good! I saw the film too, which doesn't have the same depth but a nice feelgood film that I can recommend, if you haven't seen it already.
21 September 2017 - 10:38
Helena says:
I haven't seen the film, so I can imagine! and 70 books, that was impressive! 🙂 I have read a lot in periods, but this year it has been bad... Love to read, so hope I find my way back to it soon!
22 September 2017 - 13:43
Marina says:
I have always been a real bookworm...love books ?
But due to a neck injury it was stopped for several years...then came audiobooks on cassette (how old am I?) and now I devour audiobooks but via the internet then...?...the best books for several years I think are The Last Witnesses & War has no female face by the Nobel Prize winner in literature 2015 Svetlana Alexievich ????
10 October 2017 - 21:01
Travelsis says:
Oh Niceville is definitely one of my favourites?. I have just bought Ferrante which will probably follow me to Lisbon....
10 October 2017 - 23:23