This month was quite a random reading month; I went from a Soviet Era Sci-Fi to The Art of War, an Ancient Chinese Military Manual. I also read a couple of Nordic Fairytales, a sensational book by Danish author Tove Ditlevsen and Eliza Clark's unhinged novel Boy Parts.
Roadside Picnic is a 1972 philosophical science fiction novel by Soviet writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It inspired the iconic film from acclaimed director Andrei Tarkovsky and still feels as relevant today as when it was written.
So I failed my book-buying ban. Oops.
In this video I have 6 books to share with you: a popular cosy fantasy and a Norwegian novel by Karl Ove Knausgard that I've wanted to read for ages.
Also, there are some history books and, finally, a book with the most stunning front cover ever; it's by Emma Glass, a welsh author, ready for me to read this month as part of the Dewithon 2023 as recommended by @KDbooks in his Celebrating Welsh literature 🏴 video - • 🏴 Celebrati...
Hi, welcome to my longest video for the shortest month of the year! Because that makes sense somehow.
I read some fantastic books in February, including a mysterious horror, a hilarious Medieval Icelandic Saga where everyone is called Thor and Han Kang's latest book to be translated, just to name a few.
I watched quite a few movies, and it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions from the heartbreaking The Whale and a devastating Holocaust drama to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Cédric Klapisch's latest film En Corps (Rise) and Netflix's Troll!
TV shows were pretty much all Nordic dramas because I recently subscribed to Viaplay - so I watched Exit, which is about 4 bankers in Norway who are despicable, Furia a drama about Fascist extremism in Europe, Jordskott a Nordic Noir meets dark Brother's Grimmesque, fairytale and Valkyrien a medical drama with a dark twist.
Essay: Sworn Sisterhood? On the (Near-) Absence of Female Friendship from the Íslendingasǫgur: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/...
Our Wives Under the Sea is an exquisite and haunting debut novel by Julia Armfield.
Read on for 5 reasons why you must read it!
This mysterious story unfolds in the alternating POV of two different characters, Miri and Leah. This adds so much tension and anticipation because as soon as you think you are about to hit a revelation, the story shifts to the other character, which is wonderfully frustrating and you just have to take the bait and be compelled to read on.
The descriptions, metaphors and similes used are beautiful, and there is a fluidity to the writing that shows Armfield to be a talent to watch as this is surprising her debut novel despite it reading like a author at the top of their game. I can’t wait to see what Julia Armfield does next!
Miri and Leah are fascinating characters, and their romance before juxtaposed with their struggles after is heartbreaking to read. I really felt a sort of affinity with Miri because of the way she thinks about things and the language she uses, which made for an even more interesting read.
Subtly horrifying, the story unravels slowly but masterfully, and it gradually gets under your skin in the best way possible. It feels very much like a sapphic Cronenbergian body horror flick and I absolutely love that vibe. In fact could we get a movie? Pretty please?
The book explores themes of death, longing, religion, curiosity for the unknown and the torture of waiting.
