The Girl on the Train

I am always a bit cautious when I see nothing but great reviews about a book – Will it be so hyped that I will expect too much, only to be disappointed when I put my own eyes on the written word? I put my name on the library waiting list facing months before I can borrow it. Then comes a colleague, with whom I discuss and recommend books: “Read this! Read this” and he let me borrow his copy.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

In the Hitchcock movie Rear Window, Jimmie Stewart was watching tenants in the other building from his apartment sitting in his wheelchair as he has nothing else to do while recovering from an accident.

Change the scenery to a London train, where Rachel on her daily commutes between home and work, passes a house, where a couple lives. She notices the house every day and imagines the names and lives of the couple.

One day Rachel has a fallout with her ex-husband Tomas and his new wife Anna, while being drunk in the same area as the house, she watches from the train. She is so drunk that she has a blackout and therefore a hard time piecing events together afterwards.

It happens to be the same day where Megan is reported missing – the lady from the house she watches. Suddenly she remembers that she has observed something different at the house while passing it and shares it with the police. Sadly, her reputation as a drunk precedes her and she is not being taken seriously as the police discovers that her life is not what people believe it to be.

When I noticed the initial resemblance with one of my favorite Hitchcock movies I was doubted the success of the book. That was until the event of the book sucked me inside so I would not let go of the book until the last page turned.  I totally get the hype about this book. READ IT

Coca-Cola Christmas 2015

This is what the Coca-Cola 2015 Christmas edition looks like in Denmark. The 1,5 liter bottle with the bow thing is new - not sure I am fond of this idea, but they did try to spice up the Christmas tradition a bit with this opportunity to turn the label into a bow

Coca-Cola does,what Starbucks is failing to do: keeping up the Christmas tradition with a new Santa motif on their cans every year. Happy that someone is still keeping up with cherished Christmas traditions.

A couple of years' Christmas cans

Christmas Cards 2015

Merry Christmas everybody :o)

Time to show and tell about the Christmas cards that I created this year and sent to family and friends. I did blog partly about the process in January, when I made some initial preparations but let it untouched until November when the cards started to take form.

The Christmas tree is from a Christmas card that I decided to recycle (one of the vast numbers of Christmas cards that was sent to the company where I work and would just have ended up in the paper recycling bin) - cut out with the TREE, CHRISTMAS #2 Sizzix die that I got for my birthday last year. The red back background is made with a Sizzix embossing folder (can not remember the name) as I had several feelings when I found the folder: Sun sparks? Snow storm? Movement? The impression leaves a feeling of a nature's background.

Cutting out the trees carefully, the patters from the original card could be used a tree decorations - it took a few cuts until I realized the effect and after that every tree was cut out with most possible details in mind.

Soon I will collecting Christmas cards again for recycling, and I have some other dies that I can use to cut out Christmas themes - but if I will use them in the 2016 edition of my Christmas cards remains uncertain until next fall.

One thing I do know is, that I have to have all my cards finished earlier than previous year. From beginning of January our local postal services have decided to double the price of stamps on priority letters (to about 5 USD overseas!!) so sending future Christmas cards as economy letters.

Starbucks Christmas 2015

If you could not spot the siren - the Starbucks logo, this could just have been any cup. What happened to the festive, decorated cups, Starbucks? The ones that some of us were looking forward to and was collecting? Just a few months ago we saw this beautiful autumn decorated cup, that made us eagerly await this years Christmas/holiday cup?

No holiday decorations - just the color red...... That would be like having a real Christmas tree in your home without any decorations or lights.

The sleeve saves the cup, the stars add the Christmas/holiday touch to the cup - but it is still too plain and boring. I am disappointed :(

November 2015 In Books

Not much reading in November - have used the time to create and prepare this year's Christmas cards to family and friends - plus events when S/Y Oceans of Hope returned to Copenhagen. The book pile from the library begging for my attention signals, that much more will be read in December.

reuse - reduce - recycle - stuffocation

Screaming* Under Water by Gerlow & Tornbjerg
(Original title: Skrig under vand)
Denmark
Library Book

Stuffocation by James Wallman
USA

Swim With Those Who Drown* by Lars Mytting
(Original tiltle: Svøm med dem som drukner)
Norway
Library Book / November Bookfriend Book

Build Sustainable* by Signe Wenneberg
(Original title: Byg bæredygtigt)
Denmark


*Literal title: the book has not been published in English version, so title is not an official title of the book

White Christmas or?

Source: www.tv2.dk

It has begun - they have started guessing the chance of a white Christmas this year. Yes, I live in Scandinavia. No, our winters does not necessary mean lots of snow. A lot of times it goes just north of us to Norway, Sweden and Finland or south to Germany.

4% - Chance might be higher. Chance might be lower. What I do know is, that we will see this barometer on the Danish channel TV2 every day until Christmas. And if you ask a Danish child - he/she will have the fingers crossed for a White Christmas. So will I :o)

I You Need a Smile.....

.... and have the chance to see a Yayoi Kusama exhibit - go see it!! After your visit to the exhibit you will leave with a big smile on your face :o)

Louisiana, Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark has her exhibit In Infinity on display right now and one day after work I went up there to see the exhibit with one of my friends.

She has something with dots........

When you enter this room you are asked by one of the museum employees to chose an adhesive dot sticker from a sheet and place it somewhere in the room - you chose the spot. Laughter when some of the guests look around and place the sticker on their sweater etc. as they too are temporarily part of the room. You can not really argue with that - can you? :o)

Polka dots will never be the same again......

Yayoi Kusama is the example where there is this hair thin line between being brilliant and being insane - she actually admitted herself to a clinic 40+ years ago, where she stays at night - and during daytime her helpers get her to-from her studio.

 

October 2015 in Books

A whooping amount of 19 books read in October!! :o) A staycation (body really needed the rest), a second round of MS attack medicine and participation in the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon helped reaching that number of books read.

Having read that vast number of books does not mean, that I am low on neither a reading list nor physical unread books. I actually expect that the number on my to-read list might grow as getting new inspiration at the annual book fair in Copenhagen next weekend

39 Steps by John Buchan
United Kingdom
E-book / Library Book


The Woman in Danchurchsocial* (Salvation Army) by Henning Mortensen
(Original Title: Kvinden i korshæren)
Denmark
E-book / Library Book / October BookFriend book

On Writing by Stephen King
USA
Library Book

Knot the Usual Suspects by Molly MacRae
USA

Purl Up and Die by Maggie Sefton
USA

Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton
USA

Pan's Secret* by Michael Katz Krefeld
(Original Title: Pan's hemmelighed ) 
Denmark

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
(Original Title: Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvan) )
Sweden

The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt edited by Donald Wigal
USA

Countdown to Murder* by Gretelise Holm
(Original Title: Nedtælling til mord ) 
Denmark

After You by Jojo Moyes
United Kingdom

Innocence by Dean Koontz
USA

Becoming Dickens by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
United Kingdom
Library book

Bitches* by Gretelise Holm
(Original Title: Møgkællinger)
Denmark

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
USA
E-book / Library Book

Moment of my Life* Edited by Lars Henriksen and Daniel Øhrstrøm
(Original Title: Mit livs øjeblik)
Denmark

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
United Kingdom
E-book / Library Book

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
(Original Title: Britt-Marie var här)
Sweden

Christmas with Rosamunde Pilcher
Germany
Library Book

*Literal title: the book has not been published in English version, so title is not an official title of the book

Always Looking Up

Michael J Fox - What can I Say: loved the Back to the Future movies when I was a teenager - actually still love them - but also the Family Ties and Spin City TV series and movies that he has been a part of.

It took me two years to read his book "Always Looking Up" - not because I found it difficult to read or boring, but it touched some topics while I have pursued new horizons with my MS. I started reading it just days after I expressed my initial interest in what became the Sailing Sclerosis Project and finished the book while I was becoming comfortable (and accepting) the two hidden handicaps, that I now suffer from caused by the MS.

"Well you think about it. I just want to tell you, you'd be doing us a big favor."

Ooh, he used the f-word. To a politician, favors are mother's milk. I thanked him for the call and told him I'd consider it and call him back soon.

Michael J Fox has Parkinson's - and he has started a foundation to spread awareness, challenges etc. about the life with Parkinson's .... you name it.... putting his face out there as FACE and advocate for research.

It has not been an easy task because there are some that does not believe that he is honest about his Parkinson's and others have had harsh arguments about celebrities being spokes persons for diseases at hearings etc. But I believe that people known from the media should be spoke persons if they chose to do so as they will reach a bigger audience thus helping people with less strength/means creating awareness.

To people like Michael J Fox being spokes person for diseasses etc. THANK YOU

Beat Cancer - Knæk Kræften 2015

Tonight (now) is the annual TV Show Knæk Kræften (Beat Cancer) collecting money for a cause that affects a lot of families every day. 2 becomes 3: This year the campaign launched a third pin, so I had to add it to my collection of pins. Like last year I also supported via SMS donation.

3..... that is actually a scary number, as it is the same number of people in my network that have been diagnosed with cancer since last years Knæk Cancer campaign :o(

This months is also breast cancer awareness month, so bought one of the four bracelets that were on sale - could not have the other three bracelets in any shop, otherwise they would have been purchased too.

Empowerment Through Design

The Empowerment Though Design project had an exhibition and an embroidery workshop at the main library in Frederiksberg, Denmark last month - I went to the workshop where we were told the story behind the project, shown pictures and saw examples of local needle and yarn work from Tunesia and Morocco.

The Royal Danish Academy School of Design has since 2008 been involved in the Empowerment Through Design in both Morocco and Tunesia. Studens and teachers have travelled to the two countries to help educate local women on how to make a design from beginning to end.

Needless to say the local women are extremely gifted with traditional needle and yarn work that makes the rest of us drool with envy - skills that have been handed over through generations. But often the finishing touch has been missing when selling their crafts at local markets - despite excellent needle work, would you buy the purse if the purse itself was really badly sewn together? I am guessing "No!".

They teach the locals about design - how to create a beautiful end-product that people/tourists actually want to buy as their craft is given the little extra touch to show it's beauty. A unique product created and sold locally and not some souvenir imported from somewhere else.

Maggie Sefton

When Maggie Sefton's 13th Knitting Mystery book was published, Purl Up and Die, I realized that I was missing one book in the series, Dyer Consequenses, so I ordered both.

Maggie Sefton is a bit different than the other knit-lit mystery writers - Kelly Flynn does not own a cat, but the rottweiler, Carl. Even though  rottweilers can be one scary dog race, Carl's behavior is softened by his ever unsuccessful chase of the garden squirrels (Brazen Squirrel, Saucy, Squirrel.... Kelly has given them nick names. Maybe they are extra funny to me as I can not stop comparing them a bit with the squirrels Bip and Bop in Patrick McDonnell's cartoon strip MUTTS.

DYER CONSEQUENCES

Kelly wants to find out why she has been target with vandalism: slashed tires, broken windshields etc. when a young woman is found dead in a dye tub at the House of Lambspun. She and her friends start sleuting again to solve the murder and perhaps also other incidents of vandalism.

All this takes her mind and time away from renovating/renewing the alpaca ranch that she has recently acquired - she is eager to begin this project with Steve but they need to find out who the murderer is before they end up finding another body.

PURL UP AND DIE

Barb is teaching classes at the House of Lambspun, and suddenly her son, Tommy, is accused of assault when doing his doctor residency in Fort Connor. The situation gets worse as he suddenly becomes the number one suspects, when the young lady accusing him of assault is murdered.

Kelly and her friends supports Barb the best way they can and, Kelly once again starts sleuthing to find out, if the accusations were justified and if Tommy really is a killer.

----

Will not give too much details here as that might be spoilers - but as always I enjoy the description of snowy weather/conditions, the atmosphere at the House of Lambspun, the circle of friends, the squirrel chasing Carl. Maggie Sefton makes you fell right at home in Fort Connor in a cozy way while you snuggle up in a warm blanket, with a cup of tea and the book(s) in your hand..

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - Final Update

Source

All good and true book-lovers practice the pleasing and improving avocation of reading in bed.... No book can be appreciated until it has been slept with and dreamed over. 

Eugene Field, Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac (1896)

49 pages into The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry and time is up - The readathon has officially ended. At least I started on a new book and expect to finish it during the upcoming week. Was recommended this book as parts of it takes place in my home city, Copenhagen.

OK, so a little disappointed that I only read 439 pages, completed only two books and started reading a third. I had expected to do more considering how many books I read in my staycation besides being crafty (knitting and card making). 

Oh well! But it might be my body adjusting getting back to work again (started Thursday). But I still enjoyed every moment as got to do one of my most treasured things: reading the printed word :o) Just putting the mobile on silent for 24 hours - only randomly checking blogs: mostly to see progress by other readers in the readathon.

And just realized: this little blog turns 7 today.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - 2nd Update

Fell asleep with my book - not that it was in anyway boring, but guess body needed the rest and slept way longer than I usually do....*sigh* today of all days

11:39 AM CET - 21 hours 40 minutes -  2nd book read

Innocence by Dean Koontz (338 pages)

Total of 690 pages read

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - 1st Update

For those of you who visit from the readathon's homepage - I am Anne, participating from little old Denmark joined the Dewey 24 Hour Readathon for the first time - but not my first time reading in a readathon.

5 hours 45 minutes: First book read .... more to follow ....

"After You" by Jojo Moyes - 352 pages

Entertainment Weekly recently wrote the following about the book - and I agree:

After You may not be the sequel you expect, but it is the sequel You needed. B+

Countdown to...... Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

In little more than 3 hours (2 PM CET) the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon starts, and I have declared those 24 hours as ME TIME and putting my mobile phone in silent mode. 24 hours (give or take as I will probably fall a sleep at one point) with boos - wonderful :o) It has been a while since I participated in a readathon, last time it was a 48 hour one.

Got a stack of 4 books, that I want to read - not sure how many pages I expect to read, but then I have a good choice. Should the unexpected happen - that I finish all 4 of them, I do have extra books as backup - somehow I do not think they will be needed in this readathon.

The 4 books are:

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry (559 pages)

After You by Jojo Moyes (352 pages)

The Life of Max Mallowan (Archaeology and Agatha Christie) by Henrietta Mccall (199 pages)

Innocence by Dean Koontz (338 pages)

I will post updates about the progress during those 24 hours.

To others participating in the readathon: Happy Reading and Enjoy!!

October is...... Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - both my mum and her sister has suffered from breast cancer so I can not turn my back to this cause. The doctors claim that I might get it too given the family history so I have signed up earlier than usual for the mammograms just in case - to be honest I do not give it much thought. Not reacting to the symptoms can be fatal, which we have unfortunately witnessed in our family.

Nærmeste pårørende is the 4th Dicte book

Elsebeth Egholm is a Danish author that earlier this year revealed her breast cancer diagnosis to help raise awareness about breast cancer - I have read the first 4 books in the Dicte series (woman reporter that ends up in the middle of various crimes) and she released the latest (9th book) on August 1st.

I actually know a person that believes that the breast cancer cause gets too much attention. I totally disagree as I have heard about several incidences where was paid too little attention to symptoms thus ending badly - with awareness campaigns you reach more persons and you might just help them in time.

Last year I saw an ugly side of an awareness campaign for cancer - caused by people with MS: "What about us with MS?" they wrote on various medias, "They are taking away attention from us!" That made me very upset - they are forgetting something: When researchers are making new medicines/drugs, they often discover that other diseases might benefit from the new product too.

Yes I am supporting the awareness for breast cancer and I hope that I can show you tomorrow just how I am doing it this year.

September 2015 in Books

Two non-paper books as the MS decided to show it's ugly face ending in several trips to the local hospital where I needed company of books, but did not want to carry to much - prefer the printed versions of books, but when not feeling to well, the light weight of a tablet wins despite my hand holding the tablet tends to go to sleep.

Now onward to October, where I have two weeeks of work (more reading time), a read-along and a 24HourReadathon

Baboon* by Naja Maria Aidt
(Original title: Bavian)
Denmark
E-book

The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell
US
Library Book


Cross stitch NOW* by Tive Wessel
(Original title: Korssting NU)
Denmark
Library Book

The Next of Kin* by Elsebeth Egholm
(Original title: Nærmeste pårørende)
Denmark

The One With Richard Lange* by Emma Elizabeth Nielsen
(Original title: Den med Richard Lange)
Denmark
Library Book

Hvidstens Group* by Axel Nielsen
(Original title: Hvidstensgruppen)
Denmark
E-book

150 Scandinavian Knitting Designs by Mary Jane Mucklestone
USA
Library Book

All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
USA
Library Book



*Literal title: the book has not been published in English version, so title is not an official title of the book

Heart Problems

Well luckily, I do not suffer from that - but I have a friend who does.

The Danish Heart Association has put these 4 colors of bracelets for sale to raise money for the cause. When receiving the birthday wishlist from a young lady turning 13 years old I spotted that one of her wishes were these 4 bracelets - she has just participated in a first aid course and has decided that she should support causes that affects friends of her family.

She has also been curious about MS and is not afraid to ask me questions - she is very aware that handicaps or conditions are often invisible to others, as she for a very long time refused to believe that I even had a chronic disease. She has also announced that when she gets older she would like to do volunteer work for Red Cross.

So heart problems has become "heart warmth" - a young girl that wants to make a difference.

Bob Buttons

Could not resist buying these badges/buttons when I was in a local book shop last week.....

Immediately my mind circled around the name Bud Bottons. :o)

The name is the lost cat's name according to Mr. Heckels in the episode "The One With the Blackout" from the tv-series FRIENDS, when Phoebe and Rachel finds a lost cat in the building. Have the entire series on DVD so I watched that episode today.

Actually there were plans marked in my calendar today, but was not ready for those as the MS attack treatment earlier this week still weakens my strength so decided on some me-time with books and DVDs.

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday

Pride and Prejudice - Read-Along

Danish and English version of Pride and Prejudice.

My old English teacher did not exactly inspire to read the classic – in fact I was reluctant to speak much English until the age of 26 despite having English lessons since the age of 10 – reading Stephen King and Dean R Koontz  in original language began in 1992 (age of 19)

Much have changed – English is the official language at work (actually at all my previous jobs since 1995) and I read English just as fast as Danish – fluent in the spoken language too. 

This is actually a first reading the classic in Danish - I did finish the read-along in time, but have not blogged about it until now.

Stamp issued at the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's first publication

The current translation was done by Vibeke Houstrup in 2006 and is one  of the best translations of a book, that I have ever read. The essence is true to Jane Austen's writing which made this a happy read. The first translation to Danish was done in 1929 and believe it could be fun to track down a copy of that translation to see just how different that is compared to the one I just read - guessing that it is my inner book nerd speaking out loud know.

Now matter how many times you read it, one still hopes that Elisabeth will find her true love despite some looking down on her family's misfortune: no male heir means that her father's property will be inherited by a cousin and her mother's appearance:

She was a woman of mean understanding, mean information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous.

A nice hot cup of tea and one of these in the DVD player: bliss!!