My year of reading - 2021 Reading Journal

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 50: Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith

Started: 28th of December Finished: 28th of December

A poem I have read many times before, but never owned a copy of. This gilded, illustrated copy is a perfect Christmas keepsake that I will treasure for years to come.

4 stars. ☆☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Bok 49: Den hellige natten av Selma Lagerlöf, omsett av Carl Sundby

Begynte: 28. desember Ferdig: 28. desember

Lagerlöf minnast farmor si og fyrste gongen ho fekk høyre julesoga.

2.5 stjerner ☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 48: The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol, translated by Anna Summers, illustrated by Konstantin Makovsky, Igor Grabar and Aleksei Kivshenko

Started: 27th of December Finished: 28th of December

Interesting to read something based on Ukrainian folklore, but ultimately one of my least favourites of the Penguin Christmas Classics. An appendix would not have gone amiss, either.

2 stars. ☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Bok 47: Den fantastiske familien Vanderbeeker (The Vanderbeeker’s, #1) av Karina Yan Glaser, omsett av Tiril Broch Aakre

Begynte: 15. desember Ferdig: 26. desember  

Full av varme, vennskap, familie, godt naboskap og born som brer om hjartet. Ei kjempekoseleg bok å dukke inn og ut av i julestria. Og slik gjekk det til at når dagane nærma seg jul her i heimen, så nærma dei seg jul i boka også. Perfekt timing der, altså.

4 stjerner. ☆☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 46: On Christmas Eve by Ann M. Martin, audiobook narrated by Alison Fraser

Started: 16th of December Finished: 16th of December

A sweet little Christmas book about friendship, illness, and loss – and of course – the magic of Christmas.

3 stars. ☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Bok 45: En julegjest av Selma Lagerlöf, omsett av William Heinesen

Begynte: 10. desember Ferdig: 12. desember

Ei novelle om jul og forderving, drukkenskap og det å ikkje høyre til.

2 stjerner. ☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Bok 44: Nissenes hemmelighet av Wil Huygen, illustrert av Rien Poortvliet

Begynte: 15. november Ferdig: 12. desember

Starta som eit morosamt konsept med illustrasjonar av ei langreise til nord og vakre vinterlandskap. Vidare fekk vi ein lang og seig midt-del der fint lite hende, og den brå endinga kom heilt ut av det blå. Begynte som ei julebok, utvikla seg til ei «faktabok» om nissar og enda som eit sint klimautrop. Denne boka prøvde rett og slett å vere for mykje på ein gong, samtidig som at ho var for lang og for dryg – og litt for mykje nisse-puppar for min smak.

2 stjerner. ☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 43: The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff, audiobook narrated by Bernadette Dunn

Started: 3rd of December Finished: 11th of December

This Dickensian Christmas novel was even more upsetting and heart-breaking than the actual Victorian novels. Thankfully a happy ending!

3 stars ☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Bok 42: Fred på Jorden av Selma Lagerlöf

Begynte: 8. desember Ferdig: 8. desember

Ei novelle med så myke elende og dramatikk at den fint kunne ha blitt utbrodert til ein roman, så litt skuffande er det jo at vesle historia ikkje får nå sitt potensielle klimaks og vi ikkje får vite korleis det går med Urd.

2.5 stjerner ☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 41: The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2021 by Lia Leendertz

Started: 16th of March Finished: 6th of December

I had one of these years ago and loved it, but never got around to buying another one. This spring they were again put on my radar when I spotted this in an Instagram post. I have loved dipping in and out of it since, following the seasons as the year went on. Extra lovely was it that Lia started a monthly companion podcast where she read extracts and additional seasonal goodness. I have also loved colouring in the illustrations as a calming exercise before going to bed. Excited for the 2022 edition!

4 stars. ☆☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 40: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Started: 24th of November Finished: 5th of December

The first Grisham novel I have ever read, and also probably the last, as I am not too fond of thrillers. But this one was right up my street. Whitty and clever, laugh-out-loud funny and well written. It was clear where it was going, but I didn’t mind as the road there were hilarious anyway.

3.5 stars. ☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 39: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, audiobook narrated by Hugh Grant

Started: 4th of December Finished: 5th of December

Listened to this as I made Christmas wreaths in the greenhouse by candlelight. So wonderful, and it truly encapsulates the spirit of Christmas.

5 stars. ☆☆☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 38: Wonderful Memories of It’s a Wonderful Life by Jimmy Hawkins, audiobook narrated by Jimmy Hawkins

Started: 3rd of December Finished: 3rd of December

This as a book didn’t quite work for me, but as an audiobook it worked splendidly. It is very formulaic and somewhat repetitive, as in: “I spoke to x person about working on the film at z event. This is what they had to say about it”, and so it goes. But in the audiobook, Hawkins has added several audio clips of the different members of cast and crew, which made it so much more interesting. He even went to visit one of the minor actresses in her nursing home to get her story first-hand, which I thought was lovely. The book also made it evident how truly passionate Frank Capra was about his films and their productions, so now I really want to watch more of his films and read about his life.

3 stars. ☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 37: The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage

Started: 21st of November Finished: 2nd of December

Another Christmas Victoriana about children, grandparents and the importance of family.

3.5 stars ☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Bok 36: Legenden om julerosene av Selma Lagerlöf

Begynte: 26. november Ferdig: 26. november

En liten kortroman om fattigdom, skogsmagi, og korleis julerosa vart til.

4 stjerner ☆☆☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 35: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci, audiobook narrated by Tim Matheson

Started: 9th of November Finished: 20th of November

Relatively well written but tried to be too many things at the same time, and alas, didn’t quite work.

2 stars ☆☆

[myyearofreading2021]

Book 34: A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale, audiobook narrated by Kate Handford

Started: 5th of November Finished: 9th of November

I loved the setting by the sea, but the characters were very one-dimensional, and it lacked some of that true Christmas magic. As far as these Christmas romances go, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t extraordinary either.

2.5 stars ☆☆