I Capture the Castle

Definitely recommended!

It is seldom that I find a book that keeps me coming back because of a compelling narrator. It can be the tone or the plot or the language, but it is unusual to find a really compelling narrator. But however seldom it is, I have now found one. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith is a first-person narrative, and Cassandra, the narrator, is really nice, and I found that while I was reading the book, I just wanted to get back to it to spend time with her. And now I actually miss her. It makes me sad that I won't ever hear new words from her in my head.

The book is written as a series of journals spanning about a year in Cassandra's family's life. They live in a castle, and Cassandra sets out meaning to capture each member of the family and their lives. Events that reveal the characters roll along, and most of the characters go though change, large or small. The story is told subjectively, but the narrator is so awesome that I don't mind being inside her mind at all.

The style is easy, and the images and metaphors are good, and used sparsely. I caught myself wishing that I could be friends with Cassandra - and it almost felt like I was while reading the book. Of all the characters I have ever encountered in books, she is one of my favourites (I could never choose between friends). Her journey is really remarkable, she really grows up during this book, making it a coming of age story. But she manages to go through all of it without loosing herself at all, and I find that impressive.

I Capture the Castle gave me inspiration to write more in my own journal. I write much more now than I did before. Earlier this year, I bought myself a fountain pen, and I LOVE writing with it in my paperblanks journal. My expenses related to writing has gone up, given the increased rate at which I go through journals (what used to take more than a year to fill, now takes only three to four months) and how often I have to change the ink cartridge (about once a week). But I think it's worth it. I am now putting many of my thoughts into writing, and it really helps me to sort through them.

Awesome Lizzie Bennet Diary!

This is becoming quite a long blog post, but I have one more thing I want to say. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is nearing its conclusion, and they have finally released a diary to go with it! So that will definitely be my next journal - I am hoping for it as a birthday present. I just hope that the pages are thick enough to avoid bleed through from the ink (I guess changing ink colour to cyan would help a little, but I prefer black).


I really hope the next adaptation the LBD team decide to do isn't far away, because I don't know how I will cope without my Lizzie fix.

Spring: Extreme edition

2nd of March...that means spring, right? Well, this year, Trondheim has apparently decided to give us the extreme edition. Other places, you can feel the spring coming on because the sun is shining and it is actually warming you up. And you smell the fragrance of spring. Not so in Trondheim. Here, you can feel spring coming because the wind blows like crazy.

The view out of my window.
Notice the bending trees and the very wet window pane.

And this weekend, we are apparently being treated to the extreme edition of spring, with sleet and a gale. Have I mentioned that I don't really like the in-between seasons - autumn and spring? I don't like the slush, the sleet, the rain, temperatures around zero degrees centigrade, and I especially don't like the the unpredictable weather. I mean, it does help that green things start sprouting and that things go from grey to colour. But that is later - like around May. Sometimes I wish that we could just skip autumn and spring, and just go directly from summer to winter and the other way. But I guess nature needs the time to get used to a new season.




Anyway, I am glad that I have a warm, dry house to be in with a possibility of making tea and watching a film or reading a good book (I Capture the Castle, for example) while the storm rages outside. I will try to remember that I am thankful that I am not outside, and look out at the weather with a satisfaction of knowing that this takes us at least one step closer to summer.

Lifescouts

Alex Day recently started a project called Lifescouts, where you get badges for life experiences (hear him explain it here). This is a tumblr thing, where you reblog the badge and tell the story you have about that particular badge. You can also buy physical badges. That way, you can scroll through the notes of that badge and read other people's stories related to that. I have reblogged and told my stories concerning the 13 badges I have earned. I have also added a page with all the badges I've earned (this will be updated as more badges are released). Click on a badge below to be taken to my story.

Proud Norwegian Ravenclaw

My pretty mittens

I knitted some typically Norwegian mittens (Selbuvotter) during my Christmas break, and I decided to do them in Ravenclaw* colours because...well, because I identify with that house (and I was sorted into it on Pottermore), and I love the colour combination from the films (navy and light grey). It was fun knitting from a pattern. The pattern I used can be found here (leave a comment if you want a translation). I am pleased with the result, although for my next house colour project, I will be using a lighter shade of blue (this one is too close to black, I feel). My next project will be a house scarf, like those worn in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (the film). I'll post pictures when I'm finished (which will be in quite a while, I think).

These mittens will allow me to show that I am Norwegian (everyone here wears mittens like these), and subtly hint to my house identity. I really like that double message. It makes them a bit special.

You know how I talked about reading loads of books in my Christmas holidays? Yeah...that didn't happen, as you can probably guess. I decided I wanted to knit more than I wanted to read. I ended up having read 40 books in 2012. This year I have decided to focus more on the pleasure of reading, reading because I want to instead of trying to complete a goal.


All the same, if I continue reading at the pace I have been so far this year, reading 50 books shouldn't be so hard. I've already read seven books since the start of January, although lying in my bed sick for a week might have accounted for that number. The seven books I have read have been extraordinarily good - I am off to a good start on my pleasure reading year. The books I have read so far are, in order:

Isn't this book pretty?

Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith
I read this on the train returning to school. It is, according to the author, best read on a train journey. I agree. It is a book that makes you examine your heart and it has a feel and pace to it that made me relax and feel good.







Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
This one is really good, but you knew that, right? I listened to the audio book read by Stephen Fry, and it made me appreciate the book in fresh ways.

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
This is another epic tale from the planet of Pern. It's good, but a little slow at times. I would recommend that you read other Pern books before this one - try Dragonflight for a taste of the world.



Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
A message to all of us on how to treat each other and nature. Powerful and wonderful, the story of a woman's journey to learn valuable life lessons.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
This one is good, but I feel that I'm not really the right audience for it. It's really good nonetheless, and of course I had to read it after seeing the film in cinemas three times.

This cover is really nice,
one of my favourites

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
A really cool and kind of scary and creepy book that is packed with suspension and just makes you want to continue reading. A really good story with villains, marshes, an orphanage, magic, and love.

This cover is also
one of my favourites
(so stylish!)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A really good book about a mysterious circus that just suddenly appears, and is open only at night. The story is told wonderfully, even though the narrator seems kind of detached from the story. It works well, though, and I am left with amazing, almost living, wonders in my head.







* Ravenclaw is one of the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff.  Its house colours are blue and bronze in the books, although in the films this is changed to blue (navy) and silver. The other houses have other house colours. The Harry Potter series is mostly set at Hogwarts.

I like big books and I cannot lie (but short books are convenient for reaching goals)

So I've been trying to complete the 50 books challenge this year, too. The only hitch? I've been in full time education, including a summer course... I am currently at 38 books, but I have a plan. I have short and easy books lined up for the holidays (now that I finally have them). So although I like big books, short books are convenient for reaching goals.

The books I plan on reading this holiday.

Although, I might need to change the wording of that a bit. I like good books, not necessarily big (as in thick) books. As some of you remember, I have been reading Les Misérables for the past year, and I am really stalling now. I have also given up on reading The Casual Vacancy - the stories were quite heavy emotionally. It's not that I don't like those two books, but they are hard to get through.

So the grand plan is to read Of Mice and Men, Romeo & Juliet, The Chronicles of Pern, Let it Snow, and Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children. And then to read the whole Narnia series, because I read one of those books in an evening. That will add up to a total of twelve books, which is just enough to complete the 50 books challenge! Now I just need to find the time to read - maybe I should take that out of my internet time?

I will go and pack now. It will be a challenge, fitting all the books and the presents in, but I'm sure I can manage. After all, I don't need to bring the Narnia books, since we have a copy of those at home. I am looking forward to sitting on the train home, reading, knitting and looking out at the beautiful winter scenery.

Have a lovely holiday, everyone! Merry Christmas!

Cold and dark, with squeaky snow

This is Trondheim these days. There are mountains to the southeast and southwest, so even though the forecast says that the sun came up at 09:45 and went down at 14:36, the actual day is shorter. The sun actually never touches the house I live in, I think. So it is dark as night at about 4, making for looong evenings and disturbed sleep patterns. I try to see the sun every day (when it is a clear day), to be able to feel that it was actually day at one point.

Mentioning weather, it has mostly been clear the last week or so, giving temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius. There are lots of people around in their down jackets and with scarves wound around their head so that only the eyes peek out. Have you ever tried hugging someone who is wearing a down jacket? It's so soft - makes for great hugs. The only sad thing is that my cloak, which is my usual winter outerwear, is being repaired, and it is a bit too cold to use it.

But the skies have not been completely clear, we have had some new snow. It came when it was below -5 degrees Celsius, which gives snow with a wonderful sound. Oh, you thought snow was silent? Not exactly. When it is really cold, the snow sort of squeaks and crunches underfoot. I really like the sound cold snow makes underfoot - I know it is really winter when I hear that sound.

I have found out that I prefer steady seasons - summer and winter. I don't really like the changing seasons, spring and fall, because of all the chilly rain and uncertain weather. Sure, the winter is cold, but it is also beautiful, and you know what you wake up to day after day. Winter is actually the season, from my memory at least, when we have the most stable weather. We can often have really cold periods that last for up to two months (and even more!). That happens when a high pressure field moves down from Siberia and settles over parts of Norway. The sky is clear every day, the sky is starry every night, and the air is crisp and cold.

Still, I prefer sitting inside with a good book and a cup of tea looking out at all this, because the cold air really stings my face, and I often start freezing on my fingers and toes when I am outside for too long. Looking out at the moon shining down and the stars and planets shining down, I look forward to being finished with exams and starting my Christmas holiday.

Oh, and by the way, change is still scary. I moved out of my old big locker and into two small new ones, and  it's really weird. Now I have to go a different place every morning and afternoon - I have sort of changed my home base at school. I had my old locker for one and a half years, and I feel kind of sad leaving it. I think about the weirdest things sometimes. Pull yourself together, Julie! It's only a locker!

I think the exam period is starting to drive me just a tiny bit crazy - I'm starting to talk to myself now... I'll just procrastinate a bit more, to see if I can drive it any further (I am still trying to read 50 books this year, but I have 13 to go...).

Okay, I will stop my ramblings now. Have a great advent, and good luck if you are taking exams or the like!

Changing skies - November musings

The sky before I wrote this post

The sky is always changing. The clouds appear and disappear, move and make patterns. The sun moves across the sky (or rather, the Earth turns so that the sun appears to be moving) giving different hues to the things on the ground and the clouds. The clouds can be glowing bright yellow, pink or orange. Or they can be soft grays and blues. They can look menacing, soft, heavy, or happy.

And the night sky is a whole other story. The moon can shine out through a veil of clouds, or be obscured or behind the horison. It could also be there one moment, and then be completely covered the next. On starry nights, one can feel so small and so significant at the same time. I feel that when I look up at the stars, I am alone in having that experience. It makes me feel special, in a way. Sometimes I feel that I can reach out and touch the stars, but other times I feel the force keeping me tethered to the Earth, and I feel small and far away.

The sky and the Earth are always changing. But I often feel stuck in the same routines. I feel that each day is just a repeat of the last one, and that next week will just be another week. But the future is undecided, it's just that I can't live with that idea. I seek stability and predictability - it is comforting to know what is going to happen.

The sky when I had written this post

But even the skies and the Earth are governed by natural laws that dictate how and when things change. I wish the laws of my life were easy to follow and understand. Then my life would roll on as easily as the rain comes in from the ocean, and I would always be where I was supposed to be.

Clouds, stars, visible breaths in the cold air, sunsets and fallen leaves are things that add to the atmosphere of November. Darkness is taking over, the days grow shorter. Woolly jumpers are comforting, and a blanket is the perfect thing in the evenings. I sometimes wish I had a fireplace with a comfortable chair where I could sit wrapped in a blanket and read with a cup of redbush tea. This is the perfect season for that.

Musing as the November day turns towards the November night. This was just a piece of the wandering of my thoughts, I hope you enjoyed it.

Watching the world turn

Turning, turning, turning through the years.

Minutes into hours and the hours into years.

Nothing changes. Nothing ever can.

Round about the roundabout and back where you began.

Round and round and back where you began.

From the song "Turning" from Les Misérables, the musical

A sunset (or Earth-turning)
seen from St. Vincent

There is something special about watching the Earth turn. It can be beautiful, mesmerizing, peaceful and awe-inspiring all at the same time. Sunrise is an almost magical time. The first rays of the sun hitting the land, watching the sunshine chase the night away, it's peaceful and pulse-quickening at the same time. Sunset is equally fulfilling to watch, colourful and amazing, but softly fading into night. Here are some more sunsets from the Caribbean. It feels so big but at the same time so ordinary being in those moments when I have the time set aside to watch the sunrise or the sunset. It's like the thoughts I have are coloured by the colours in the sky - stress becomes nothing, and all thoughts mellow out. Now that winter is coming and the days are shorter, I can more often see the sunrise and sunset - if I just remember to look out of the window. Maybe I should make that a priority, to enjoy some tranquil moments during my otherwise slightly stressful days.

The progress of the sun across the sky is something I rarely observe except during the summer, so watching the sun move sluggishly across the sky is something that reminds me of hot summer days with nothing to do but to relax with a good book. Carefree and relaxing days, just watching the world turing and going for the ride.

Focault's pendulum

At university, I find myself drawn to another thing that marks the passage of time and the turning of the Earth - Focault's pendulum. The basic idea is that the pendulum moves in the same direction all the time, but because of the rotation of the Earth, its direction appears to be changing. The one here has metal pins set up around it, and these are knocked down about every 8 to 10 minutes (yes, I have timed it).

It is mesmerizing watching it rotate, knowing that when the next pin is knocked down, the world will have changed. Ever so slightly, but changed nonetheless. The Earth turns and we go with it, however unwilling we are to go at that pace. We are turning around and around, but never back again, even though it an feel that way. We are all time-travellers, travelling forwards in time at a speed of one second per second. Those second become hours and days, which become months and years.

Sometimes, watching the Earth spin, I feel so small, stuck down here on this pale blue dot. But then I think of how beautiful this blue ball is, with its teeming life and small everyday miracles like snowflakes and dew drops. It is humbling and awe-inspiring as well as peaceful to witness the turning of the Earth and the passage of time. Happy time travelling, remember to enjoy watching the world turn.

Hardcastlevideo and hexaflexagons

My hardcastlevideo is finally here! But let's start at the beginning. Over a year ago, the name of John Green's new book, The Fault in Our Stars, was announced, and the preordering for the book began. As thanks for getting the book to number one on amazon.com and barnes & noble the first couple of days, he decided to sign every preordered copy (effectively the whole first printing). Not very long after this, Hank Green's new album Ellen Hardcastle came out. And sort of to top his brother John, he decided to let everyone who bought a physical copy of his album in the first week make him say whatever they wanted in a video - to send him a 10 word script that he would make into a short video (check out the announcement video here). I ordered within the set time, spent a lot of time trying to decide what to send in (see my blogpost containing the ones that got scrapped), sent it in, and now, finally, it is here! I must say I had a little fangirl moment when I found out - the people I watch on the internet always seem so distant, but here was one of the people I look up to saying words that I had written! So here it is, my hardcastlevideo:

Now onto the newest recreational mathematics fad - hexaflexagons! Loads of flexy fun to be had from a strip of paper! Hmmm....I don't exactly know how to explain what they are...hexagons with three sides? Flexible hexagons? I think I'll just let ViHart explain.

My own collection of hexaflexagons,
for of course I had to make some!

It this tickles your fancy - watch the other parts, and make some hexaflexagons of your own! Happy flexing!

But beware - you might experience confusion, mind-blown syndrome or even hexaflexamexicanfood cravings from too much heaxaflexing. Be sure to follow the guidelines laid out in the video below to avoid decapitated snakes and people being eaten by velociraptors. Happy, safe flexing!

Culinary delights and late-night crafting

Last Saturday, I finally started reading The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling. It came in the mail on Wednesday or Thursday last week, much earlier than what I was expecting, which was a wonderful surprise. I decided to finish the Pern book I was reading, and then I dived into The Casual Vacancy. It is realistic and gritty, and the writing style is wonderful. The pictures that are painted in my mind are very realistic and recognisable. It is captivating, but not a book that I would want to rush through - I want to savour the experience, enjoy the writing, and imagine all the scenes fully. It is so captivating, actually, that I forgot to get off the bus at my stop today. That is the first time I've done that since I moved here more than a year ago. I guess that is saying something.

My copy of The Casual Vacancy in its protective cover.

The book is, of course, a hardback. I have removed the dust jacket, as I do for all hardbacks while I am reading them. But I worried that the book was having a rough time in my rucksack and on the floor beside my bed, so I was toying with the idea of somehow getting a protective cover for it while I am reading. Last night, past midnight, actually, I decided to try to make one. So I unearthed some material that was cut off from my curtains, found a needle and some thread, and set to work. I was very out of practice with sewing, but I think it turned out okay. It took me about an hour and a half, and I was quite proud when I finished at about 2 AM. Far too late for a school night but I didn't care - I had made something that worked, served its purpose and didn't look half bad. I went to bed smiling to myself.

Now onto something else. I have recently started making more vegetarian food, and it has been quite successful, actually. I really liked the beetroot with lentils and feta cheese I made on Monday, and the beans and rice I made today was really good (and I have enough left over for three more dinners). I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of the food, but there are some good ones in the videos I was inspired by. The beetroot dish was taken from the topmost video, and the beans and rice was inspired by the second one.

Dragons, Privateering and waiting for packages

I have just finished reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsdawn, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is about the colonisation of Pern, set around two thousand years before the other Pern books I have read. It was a page-turner and a wonderful read, full of suspense and exciting events. I suddenly understood much more of the names of the places in the books set to later millennia. This book was more of a science fiction book than the Dragonriders trilogy (the ones set in later milennia), with interplanetary travel, colonisation of new worlds and a lot of interesting technology. It appears that the people of Pern lose their sophisticated science and technology in later generations, and revert to something of a medieval system.

The omnibus containing Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey,
Privateering by Mark Knopfler, and autumn trees outside

I thoroughly enjoy both the time periods and, more than anything, Anne McCaffrey's writing. Her style and technique is wonderful and draws you into the story. I have become accustomed with following several characters at once, and I really like the way it gives me a bigger picture of what's going on. Well, in short, the books about Pern by Anne McCaffrey are highly recommended. I recommend starting with the Dragonriders trilogy for an exciting introduction to Pern and the dragonriders, but I guess you could start with Dragonsdawn too, if you want to read the books in chronological order.

Since I last posted, Privateering (the new album from Mark Knopfler) has come in the mail. I was told by Amazon that it would arrive about a week after the release, but I was anxiously waiting for a full two weeks, trying not to spoil myself by listening to it on Spotify. I was very happy when it finally arrived in my post box. I have been listening to it a lot, and some of my favourites are 'Dream of the Drowned Submariner', 'Go, Love', 'Yon Two Crows' and the two pre-releases 'Redbud Tree' and 'Privateering'. I love the album, and the fact that there are two discs and a total of 20 songs makes the whole thing really wonderful.

Talking of waiting for things to arrive in the mail, 'The Casual Vacancy' by J. K. Rowling has finally been published. Once again, Amazon tells me that it will arrive a week after the release, which means I could have it by the coming friday. But if my last experience tells me anything, it is not to trust the estimates amazon gives. So I will have to be patient and try not to expect it before friday in almost two weeks. Which is hard, considering that I have already seen the book in a bookshop. Actually, I saw it in a new and wonderful bookshop here in Trondheim called Bookstars. It is a combined bookshop and coffee bar, and they have decided to drop all the other things, and focus entirely on books. I like their concept very much, and I have already added it to the list of places to visit when I'm in town shopping. A perfect place (a little difficult, though) to practice not buying books.

Autumn has really begun here, with vibrantly coloured trees and a heightened need for tea, blankets and a good book. I am going to enjoy the season sitting in my favourite reading spot with tea and books about dragons and small villages in England. And maybe with some soothing music from Mark Knopfler in the background. All this, of course, in between all the other things I will be busy doing.

A new family of animals

This is a relatively diverse family, with big differences in colour and size. The genera can be separated by close observation, but this is not usually convenient  to manage. The species can only be identified by experts and connoisseurs. The animals in this family are highly structured in their habits, and these differ throughout the year. The juvenile animals go into hibernation during the winter, while the adult ones simply change habits.

These animals change morphologically throughout the year, with different anterior and/or posterior protrusions marking the different stages. The stages differ from species to species and according to environmental factors. An animal can sometimes revert to a previous stage during a season.

The mating protrusion varies between species, but during the laying of the eggs, the animal devours all available food in its territory. This is necessary to make many large eggs, which are lain uniformly distributed on the whole of the animal's territory at the end of july and the beginning of august in places with clearly defined seasons, but this can vary according to geographical position. After a while, the animal gathers the eggs, which can vary in colour - some observed colours are green, grey, white, and black - in highly structured collections. The eggs are short cylindrical, and are lain on their side. They are not incubated, and hatch evenly throughout the winter, seldom any two at the same time from the same batch. The young animal is small, and therefore goes into hibernation until it is sexually mature, which takes about five years. Relatively few animals survive their first and second winter, usually due to hunger or neglect.

These animals are hermaphroditic, and most of them, when it is too far from the closest individual of the same species, uses self-fertilisation. The complications of this are insignificant for the animal's health. The adult's winter morphology includes an anterior mouth part which is used to eat or move snow, which is its main food during the winter. Some species can have a posterior protrusion for the dispersal of excrement or for camouflaging its trails.

These animals have in recent times been bred to need regular interaction with humans, which is why wild specimens of this family are rare. They are kept as domestic animals. It is unusual that one family owns more than three, as they can be demanding and need large territories with a lot of available food. They are herbivores during the egg-laying, but at other times they can eat humus (especially in the spring and autumn) or snow (during the winter season). Some examples of genera are John Deere and Kubota.


As you can understand, I have been brainwashed this summer...

Juice, Doctor Who, music, and Daytripper (random blog)

I have too many weird ideas and not enough to say about any of them, so this will be a random blog about whatever I feel like writing.

First: freshly extracted juice. I have recently bought a juicer. I have been juicing apples, carrots, ginger, lemons and kiwis - mostly all of them together (choosing between lemon and kiwi). It is really delicious and easy, and I like it very much. In addition it's healthy, and I get my five a day really easily.

First week of term apparently means getting a cold, so I've had a lot of chilling out to do - which means watching films or Doctor Who. I have now watched all the ordinary episodes of the new series of Doctor Who and all the christmas specials, but not the other specials...the ones between series four and five.  I really like the series, I feel invested in it, and I love the characters. I am now eagerly looking forward to the next series, number 7, which premiers next weekend, I think. I don't think it is coming to Norwegian television...but I'll find a way to see it anyway.

Julia Nunes' wonderful debut album

This summer I have discovered some new music, specifically Julia Nunes' debut album, Hellogoodbye's album 'Would It Kill You?', and Ludovico Einaudi's album 'Islands'. Of course I have also listened to Ed Sheeran (a lot) and Taylor Swift. I am looking forward to two musical releases this autumn - 'Privateering' by Mark Knopfler and 'Red' by Taylor Swift. I love the two songs that have been released from Knopfler's album, 'Redbud Tree' and 'Privateering'. You can listen to them here (on the player on the right), but they are not singles, so you have to wait until the album is released to get them.

I have just finished Daytripper by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. It is a wonderful, deep and really beautiful graphic novel. Highly recommended.

My next post will most likely be a humourous piece aimed at biologists. I say this so that you have some warning, and I hope you won't be very confused.

PS: I have changed the adress to my blog - it is now juliemynors.blogspot.com. Just so you know.

Summer haul

The summer holiday is soon over, and any holiday is book buying time (especially when in England, since the books are cheaper there). This time, I think that maybe I bought a bit too many books (the plan was one). But I love buying books! So here they are, the books and DVDs (as well as some old second-hand comic magasines) I have bought this summer.

Wow...that is a lot of stuff (full list below). No more books before Christmas! Except the already preordered ones and schoolbooks, of course... And preferably no more DVDs either, excepting new releases, like the Hunger Games, of course.

And how many of these books have I read? Only three: Dawn of the Bunny Suicides, Fahrenheit 451 (for the nerdfighter book club), and Wonderstruck. I LOVED Wonderstruck, it was fantastic. Just wonderful and beautiful. If you haven't read it yet, read it, and soon (it doesn't take long to read, since half the pages are drawings)!

This summer, I have also been listening to Harry Potter audio books, read by Stephen Fry. He is a very good audio book reader (is that what you call it?), and I am enjoying it. As I have scrolled through the chapters on my iPod, I am starting to appreciate J.K. Rowling's skill in naming chapters. Usually, when I read, I don't really read the chapter title (sorry, writers). So being aware of the chapter title is a new experience. I am also, as I listen to the audio book, picking up little rhymes and alliteration that I don't catch when I'm reading. This adds even more fun to the reading experience for me.

I hope to be blogging more often this autumn (than this summer - it won't take much), but I can't guarantee anything, since I am not going to force myself to write (unless you readers (if you are out there) demand it).

I love lists, so here is a list of all the stuff in the picture:

Book on top:

    Dawn of the Bunny Suicides - Andy Riley

Standing, from left to right:

  DVDs:

    Night at the Museum

    Slumdog Millionaire

    Pixar Short Film Collection volume 1

    Wall-e

    Tangled

    Stardust

    Love actually

    Emma

    Hugo

    Footloose

    Finding Nemo

  Books:

    Miles, Mutants and Microbes - Lois McMaster Bujold

    Masterharper of Pern - Anne McCaffrey

    Acorna - Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball

    Acorna's Quest - Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball

    Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

    Let it Snow - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

    I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

    The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde

    The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

    The Second Book of General Ignorance - John Lloyd and John Mitchinson

    Doctor Who: Dead of Winter - James Goss

    Ohrid - Tor Obrestad (poems)

    Wonderstruck - Brian Selznick

    On Dragonwings - Anne McCaffrey

    Daytripper - Fábio Moon

Lying on the floor:

    One Calvin and Hobbes magasine, and nine old Donald Duck magasines, all in Norwegian. I don't know if there even exists Donald Duck comic magasines outside Scandinavia...you are definitely missing out.

So many names!

It started off with floristics, also known as botany (or just plants). I learnt that loads of plants belonged to the rose family, and I learnt a LOT of names of plants and flowers. I would work approximately from nine in the morning till half past eleven in the evening, but of course with breaks during the day. It's a lot to learn in a short amount of time, so I spent a lot of time testing myself and memorizing names.

After four bad days for the people with pollen allergy, we moved on to marine life, and therefore on to faunistics, zoology, or animals, whatever you want to call it. The first day, I studied plankton through a stereo loupe - it was very interesting to see the animals that live floating around haphazardly in the seawater. They have really interesting shapes, and are really tiny. The I moved on to naming the species of live material fished (or scraped) up by the students who were on the research boat that day. I saw, among loads of other things, red sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, and loads of worms.

Look closely at the pilot whale to the left,
and you can see her grey calf beside her 

The next day it was my turn to go aboard the boat. We were really lucky to see loads of pilot whales (they said there were at least a hundred). They were beautiful and cute - and quite large. They had followed schools of fish into the fjord, and according to the people on the ship, they would stay there the whole summer, feeding on fish and having a good time. I saw large males, females and mothers with calves. It was wonderful to see them swimming so close to the boat.

After another day with naming species and then a trip to the beach at low tide, we moved on to terrestrial animals. In other words, insects (and, of course, many other things that live on land). Loads and loads of flies, and one of my favourite groups, the weevils, or snout beetles. We took walks to capture animals in nets (like butterfly nets). Again, there were a lot of names to learn.

Everyone talked about a steep learning curve, and it really was. It was fun, but tiring, with loads of late nights with early mornings following them. Now I can name loads more of the living things I see around me in nature. Going for walks with me will be impossible, since I will most likely stop all the time to study some living thing (and hopefully name it correctly).

Hairy and dangerous

Hairy petals

There are so many hairy plants! Using my loupe, I have discovered that parts of plants that I never thought had hairs are covered in them. Petals and stamens, for example. And the roughness of grass leaves are due to tiny hairs. And I thought only mammals were hairy!

I mean, of course the hairs are different, but they look very much the same - like hair. Some plants look woolly, and some have silky hair, and some have hairs that hurt you or give the plant a rough feel. The plant kingdom is so very diverse, with lots of interesting ways to survive and thrive.

Hairy moss (putehårstjerne, Syntrichia ruralis)

I am learning about the Norwegian flora and fauna (the plants and animals of Norway), and the main part of my course is to classify organisms. This can be tedious work, but as mentioned before, it can be really fun to know what things are called and what sets them apart from the "crowd". This makes nature even more beautiful and interesting to me, and even short walks can take a very long time.

Beware! This lovely plant is really poisonous!
 (tysbast, Daphne mezereum)

I thought  the Norwegian flora was quite boring, but it turns out that there are some relatively aggressive plants. We have flesh-eating plants (soldogg/sundew, Drosera spp.), really poisonous plants (tysbast/mezereon, Daphne mezereum), and stinging plants (brennesle/nesle, Urtica spp.). In addition, almost everything looks better or more interesting through a loupe or a microscope, so there is often something good to discover.

Summer reading

And I'm back! After a long break from both reading novels and writing blogposts, also known as exam time, I have come back to talk about what I'm going to read this summer. This summer will be different than usual, field courses and trips to go on, and an exam at the end of the "holiday". Nonetheless, I will be getting back to reading books, catching up with the 50 books challenge (according to goodreads, I'm one book behind), and finishing Les Misérables.

That is actually a major goal with my reading this summer - finishing Les Misérables. I have been reading it since Christmas, and as you can see from the picture, I am almost halfway (the green bookmark marks the page). I actually like it quite a lot, but reading it requires a good portion of concentration and time. I mean, I'm almost halfway, but I still have over eight hundred pages to go! And I will finish it!

In addition I will finish The Wind in the Willows, which I started during the exam period, but didn't finish. It's a pleasant children's book, perfect for getting back into reading. Next on my list is to read Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. This is for a youtube book club that sablecaught is arranging, and I am looking forward to reading and talking about a book with others. Next up after that, is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which lots of people have recommended. The cover and design of the book are lovely, and I can't wait to know what's inside that beautiful cover.

During the summer, I will also read three Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. I discovered that my local library actually have many Pern books, so I borrowed three of them for summer reading. I love the world of Pern, and I can't wait to visit it again.

And then I have the "just in case"-books. If I finish the previous books, I will read one of the ones in the picture.  Name of the Wind and the two last books of His Dark Materials have been sitting on my shelf for far too long, so they will be priorities. Everyone I talk to who have read Name of the Wind have loved it, and they all assure me that it is a gem, and something to look forward to. I just hope it lives up to the hype. I haven't read The Help yet, or seen the movie (I pledged, remember?). So that will be done soon, if not during the summer. I have also heard good things about Between Shades of Gray, so I'm looking forward to reading that one too.

This is shaping up to be a summer full of the reading of good books and learning to name nature. I'm almost becoming a child again, running around in the woods or along the beach being amazed by nature, shouting out when I find something cool. Many organisms have earned this label lately, spiders among others. I am a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals and plants we have to know, but i think it's fun. It's almost like going treasure hunting, and who doesn't love that?

Hugo

Yesterday, I read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and today, I went and watched Hugo in the cinema. Both experiences were wonderfully captivating and magical, and I wanted to share this magic with you.

The story is of an orphan boy who tends the clocks in a railway station in Paris in the 1930s. He loves mechanical things, and by the end of either the book or the film, you probably will too.

Clocks!

The book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, is a story told in both pictures and text. It really captures the imagination, and doesn't take a long time to read, despite being over 500 pages long. The pictures, or illustrations, or drawings - whatever you call them - are wonderfully made, sometimes with exquisite detail, and sometimes with lots of tension. But no matter what emotion or feeling they convey, they do so beautifully, full of life. The combination of pictures and text is magical. The two ways the story is told complement each other, and work together to create a wonderful atmosphere of childlike wonder. The emotions are so well conveyed in the pictures, I felt as if I was Hugo Cabret, experiencing all this for the first time.

The film, Hugo, captures the mood and feeling of the book very well. Of course, things are added and things are taken away, but aren't they always in the process of making a good film from a book? In my opinion, the core of the book was captured very well. The atmosphere is just right, the magic comes to life, and I am left with the same childlike wonder. The score is beautiful, and it all just comes together.

I would highly recommend both the book and the film, for children of any age, be it nine or ninety (maybe not under nine, though). It is a wonderful journey into a magical land of clocks, robots, and early film. I think you should embark on this journey, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Like many other people, I like Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful story, the characters are lovely, the comedy is just right, and it's just really a good book. It has also been made into several different films (some better than others), and a BBC mini series (twice? I'm not sure). The story has been enjoyed through all these media by lots of people, and it has been hugely successful.

Yesterday, I discovered that this story is being told once again, but this time in a more modern format, namely the video blog. Basically, for those of you who don't know, a video blog is when someone sits and talks to their camera about their life or anything that interests them, and then uploads it to the internet. Kind of like a blog, but in video form - as the name implies.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is a fresh take on Pride and Prejudice, set to the modern day. Some changes have been made to accomodate this (I mean, five children is NOT normal anymore), but I don't think this will matter much. The acting is really good, and I find myself believing the illusion really easily. The first two episodes have been posted so far, so if you join now, you'll get to see the story unfold, with new instalments every week, I think. I must say, I'm already a fan. You can watch the first video below, or check out the whole thing on youtube.

Harry, A History

Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli

This book let me delve into the Harry Potter fandom like I have never been able to. I was a latecomer to the books (Harry Potter, that is) and I read the books in the autumn of 2007 - when all of them were already published. I was never able to go to a midnight release party or immerse myself in plot discussions and speculation. This book took me on a guided tour of the fandom and behind the scenes of a phenomenon whose products I now see.

This book was wonderfully personal, but at the same time covered all the important things that one would expect of a book about the Harry Potter phenomenon. Everything from fanfiction and shipping wars to wizard rock is covered. The author, a well known fan and webmistress of The Leaky Cauldron, takes you along on her personal experience with the books and the fandom, letting you get inside the head of a fan and explaining everything on the way.

It ends after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published, but with the promise of continuation of the phenomenon. The fandom is, of course, still going strong, living and growing. The strong friendships formed between people who have met through Harry Potter continue on, and wizard rock bands are still rocking out. The message of love from the books continue shaping people's lives, and charity work in the name of Harry Potter (The Harry Potter Alliance), and last but not least the fostering of young people who love to read, as well as many other wonderful things, are still happening.

The end, about reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, took me right back to my experience of finishing the series for the first time. All the anxiety and sense of closure was there for me too, although I hadn't been waiting for nearly as long before I got to know everything.

This review has become a mixture of my personal experience with the Potter books and phenomenon, and about this book. It made me think of my own fandom experiences, and structuring my own experience. In the beginning of the book I felt a bit alienated, but I soon became immersed in the story of the fandom growing and expanding. It is wonderfully written, and takes you on a whirlwind tour of the phenomenon we know as Harry Potter with a wonderful guide. I would almost go so far as to say that this should be required reading for any Harry Potter fan.

PS: Now that I'm writing and thinking about it: A HUGE THANK YOU to Fatima, who pressured me to finally read the Potter books. Thank you so, so much!

Hits By Day

For those of you who thought today was Palm Sunday (or April Fool's Day), well...it's also Godiva Day, the day that Alex Day's new single Lady Godiva comes out. You can listen to it below (or buy it on iTunes). Alex's last single, Forever Yours, reached number 4 on the UK Cristmas Charts for 2011.

Alex Day (or nerimon on youtube) has also recently started a new thing, called Hits By Day. It's basically a half-hour long radio show only available for streaming on the internet. It features Alex Day as host, and eight of his currently favourite songs. He has kind of made a promise to make it a weekly thing, and I really hope he does. It's a great way to discover new (old) songs. So far he has made three, and I have posted the first one below. You can find more of them on his web page.

Hits By Day - March 10th 2012 by Alexday on Mixcloud

Happy Godiva Day!

Naming nature

I am beginning to feel the effects of the flora and fauna course I am taking. I can't look at a patch of moss without wondering which moss it is, and I want to know the names of all the birds I see. As spring is coming on and nature wakes up, I become more and more interested in it.

Common Goldeneye pair

The last couple of weeks, as I have looked out of my window while eating breakfast, I have seen some black and white ducks on the river. They would dive suddenly and come up again like a floatation device.  It was nice to have the company on the dreary mornings, but I wanted more. I wanted to label them. Today, I walked home from University and saw them closer up. I found out what they were, finally: Common Goldeneye - or in Norwegian, Kvinand.

Somehow, knowing this doesn't destroy the joy and magic of nature. I will still love having them for company in the mornings, maybe even more, because now that I have a name for them, they'll almost be like friends.

Learning these things about nature - not only the names of things, but also the internal and external structure of plants and animals, their life cycles, their preferred food and their habitat - makes me appreciate nature that I see all around me all the more. Now that I know a little bit of how amazing it is, I can be awestruck every time I see a patch of moss or a little sparrow. I think that is wonderful. I am looking very much forward to the spring coming for real and seeing nature alive and vibrant again.

Snow in March

The snow dances
a wild dance.
The snow maidens are chased
by enamored suitors
who fly through the air
on their handsome horses.

The wind plays
with the trees,
in a game
full of surprises.

The snow men and wives
veer across
the white carpet
in a beautiful waltz,
while the snow maidens
are asked to join
in a passionate tango.

Everything dances
including my soul,
which swings slowly around
in the white
and is engulfed
in the intense dance.

Nature is having a ball tonight.
Winter's last joyous celebration
before spring comes along.

The Norwegian look

This past week, we've had some days with a clear blue sky. That means a cold night and a sunny and warmer day. Around this time of year, the sun is warm to the feel again. I know, that isn't technically a correct statement (you can't touch the sun, and of course it's always hot, it's a miasma of incandescent plasma!), but what I mean is that you can feel the heat from the sunlight that hits your face. In Norway, this isn't always the case. During the winter months, especially December, there is little or no difference between sunlight and shade when it comes to warmth. So, when the sun starts to warm you up again, it feels really awesome.

That is where the Norwegian look comes in. It is not the name of a fashion look or anything like that. It is the innate response of Norwegians to the sun warming them on their faces again after the long winter. It is a sure sign that spring is on the way when people stop and show off the Norwegian look in the middle of the street. Here is how to get the Norwegian look:

If you are skiing, plant your ski poles behind you, pointing slightly outwards. Lean a little backwards on them. If you are not skiing, plant your hands on your hips or lay your hands on the small of your back, and lean a little backwards with your legs planted a little apart. Raise your head towards the sun, shut your eyes (these two things define the Norwegian look) and smile a little. Can also be done while sitting down.

The Norwegian look while sitting down

There you have it. The Norwegian look. Remember, only for use in the late winter and spring. Enjoy soaking up the D vitamins in the sun!

No milk today

I am sitting here at my kitchen table. As usual here in England, it is raining. For the first time in a long time, the weather corresponds to my mood. Yesterday evening, my love (I still call her that - I still love her) decided to leave me. She packed her bags and left. Just like that. She left the kingdom where she had reigned as queen, and she left me behind. So now I sit here, staring out at the rain, thinking of the sodden note outside my door - No milk today. The empty bottle from yesterday is standing lonely beside it. The people who pass my nondescript door don't know the significance of this little note - it seems a common enough sight. How could they know that this message means the end of my all hopes and dreams? How could they know how good things were only yesterday, and how much everything has changed?

We had wonderful parties, dancing through the night. Everyone was  happy, and I was probably the happiest of them all. As the music played, we danced faster and faster, swirling in each other's arms. We looked into each other's eyes, and we could both feel the spark becoming a flame. From that our romance just escalated. The fire burned higher and higher, fueled by the milk she was constantly drinking. She had no good explanation of this peculiar behaviour - she just said that she liked it. And I loved kissing away her milky mustache, so I didn't complain.

Now, I can't help but think of her when I see a milk bottle. And all that is left is this place, dark, empty, and lonely. I sit behind the lace curtains of the kitchen in my terraced house and peek out into the awful street outside. But this horrible, dark, lonely place becomes a shrine when I think about my love. It reminds me of the things we did together, and I remember my love for her. My little terraced house is just a two up two down, but still it can rise so high and fall so hard.

So, milkman, I will have no milk today - my love has gone away. The empty bottle on my doorstep is a symbol of the dawn after the endless party-night. Of waking up to reality after the fairytale dream world of the night. All that is left is this dark and lonely place where I sit staring out at the rain, and will probably be doing that for quite a while.

This is my interpretation of the song No Milk Today by Herman's Hermits. I have taken liberties with the story line, and this is strictly my interpretation. I do not pretend to know the true meaning of the song. Listen to the song below.

Book survey!

Kayley took this survey from her friend, then Bryarly took it from Kayley, and now I have taken it from her. How could I pass up this great opportunity to talk about books?

The books I have checked out of the library
at the moment and the books I am reading.

1. Favorite childhood book?
Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver by Michael Ende, the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome and the Elizabeth Gail series by Hilda Stahl.

2. What are you reading right now?
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo and Poems from the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None, I collected the last one I had on request yesterday. It was Harry, A History by Melissa Anelli.

4. Bad book habit?
I can't get rid of books, they're like my friends...I don't know if this is good or bad. Also, I buy books I could have borrowed from the library, making for stuffed shelves more often. In addition (these keep cropping up) I have a habit of jumping forward in my books, only to go back and read it all again. Sometimes I end up having read a book one and a half time by the time I'm finished...

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Poems from the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Harry, A History by Melissa Anelli, The Complete Poems by Walt Whitman, and Favourite Verse edited by Christopher Hurford. I am trying to find my favourite poet, because I don't know where to start or which book(s) to buy. I would like there to be more poetry on my shelves.

6. Do you have an e-reader?
No, and I don't want one.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I prefer to read one at a time, but if the book is long, I'll usually split it up and read books in between parts or volumes. I can cope fine with several at once, but I don't prefer it.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Yes, but the decision to start a blog was coupled with the decision to read more. More specifically, to read 50 books in a year, which I managed!

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

Preludes and Nocturnes (Sandman 1) by Neil Gaiman.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
I can't decide between Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. One of those, they are all excellent and amazing books.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I am still kind of finding my comfort zone, but I have sort of settled, so I read outside my comfort zone maybe once a month or every two months.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Fantasy, children's books and dystopians are what I read the most, I think. As I said, I am still kind of searching for my comfort zone. So for now, it is quite broad.

13. Can you read on the bus?
Yes. I don't get car sick (in a bus, anyway). I actually do a lot of my pleasure reading on the bus to and from University.

14. Favorite place to read?
In bed, when I have made my "reading corner" with pillows, duvet and blankets piled up in one corner.

15. What is your policy on book lending?
I lend books to anyone who asks (usually friends), but I ask them to take good care of my books. For example I don't like broken spines and dog-eared books.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
No. Well, some times in books I don't care about. But usually not in my books for pleasure reading.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
No.

18. Not even with text books?
Okay, yes, I do. But they don't count!

19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English, I think. I prefer to read books in the language they were published, if I can read it. If I can't read the original, it's kind of random whether I choose the Norwegian or English version.

20. What makes you love a book?

Memorable characters and saying something profound about life or humanity. Sometimes just the deliciousness of the book - how much I loved reading it. Puns and humour also helps - a lot.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I liked or loved it, and think other people will like it. I will selectively recommend according to what I know people like to read. Sometimes, I just want the whole world to have the amazing experience I had when reading that book.

22. Favorite genre?
Fantasy, I think.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

Biographies, I think. I tend to go for the books that enable me to escape from the real world, but the real world can be interesting, too.

24. Favorite biography?
The one about Helen Keller - for children. I haven't read many biographies since I read those biographies for children.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I don't think so.

26. Favorite cookbook?
My homemade one. I don't own many cookbooks. (I think I own one that is not homemade.)

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Inspirational...inspiring what? Thought? Awe? Action? Maybe The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Yes, I think so.

28. Favorite reading snack?
Doritos, chocolate (Melkedrøm bringebær - a chocolate we have in Norway), or licorice with salmiak, another Norwegian snack (I know it sounds weird, but I love it).

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Reading John Green's first four novels - Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. The hype made me expect great things, but I realised that I couldn't relate very well to his characters.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I usually don't read reviews done by professionals. I guess I often agree when I do.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I often try to not be too explicit about it, or I just don't review the books I don't like.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Spanish, maybe. Or French. Those languages are so beautiful!

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Wuthering Heights, I think. But mostly because of what I've heard about the mood of that book.

35. Favorite Poet?
As I said, I am trying to find out. I really liked some of the poems in The Fault in Our Stars, and I want to find a poet I really like so that I can buy a collection of poems or something like that to have more poetry on my shelves.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
I don't often go to the library, I have a tendency to buy all the books I want to read (bad, bad habit). But this year I have decided to read some classics, and I have discovered that my local library has more of the books I like to read than I thought, so I am becoming better at going there and borrowing books. I usually borrow about 3 to 5 books at once - as many as I can comfortably carry or as many as I think I can read in one month.

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
I do it sometimes - especially if I know I want to read the book later or I am going to buy the book. I prefer reading the copy I own.

38. Favorite fictional character?
Jane from Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, Elisabeth from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Hermione from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Hadassah from the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Favourite couples: Jane and Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, and Angel and Michael in Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

39. Favorite fictional villain?
Bellatrix Lestrange and Dolores Umbridge (from Harry Potter, of course) - they're very interesting characters. I am also quite intrigued by Javert in Les Misérables.

40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?
The next big or heavy books I plan on reading which I have heard good things about. These would usually be classics, fantasy or dystopians. I try reading new books for the time being - so many books to read, so little time to re-read!

41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.
Probably a couple of months - without reading novels, that is.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - too many intrigues.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Nothing much. I almost forget to get off the bus sometimes. But right now, when I am reading Les Misérables, I can't listen to music while reading.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Lord of the Rings, probably. The BBC series for Pride and Prejudice is also pretty awesome.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I don't know. Maybe Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
A lot of money...maybe two or three thousand crowns (the Norwegian currency), which is around 225 to 340 GBP or 350 - 530 USD.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Quite often. I also sometimes skim books while reading them if the tension is high or it's an exciting, fast-paced book.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If I get stuck and I don't want to read it anymore.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Yes. Now, they're organised by colour if they're not in a series, in which case they are sorted by series.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I keep them, usually. I prefer it that way.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Pure romance books, and especially Christian fiction romance books - they are too predictable.

52. Name a book that made you angry.
I rarely get angry generally, so I can't remember getting angry over a book. I might have gotten angry over The Time Traveller's Wife.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Hmm...I think I was kind of surprised at how much I liked The Lord of the Rings - I had read very little classic fantasy before that.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

I expected to like John Green's early books much more than I did. I was kind of disappointed. I also thought I would like The Princess Diaries since I enjoyed the film, but I didn't like it much at all.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - one of my all-time favourites.