Book log
Here's a description of some of the books I've read recently, with some subjective notes from yours truly.
I think I've added most of the books I've read from 2004 and onwards, but before that I'll just add the odd classic or two.
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2009 | |
 | A story about a little girl that gets adopted in war-time Germany -- about her and her foster parents' daily life during the war. Interestingly her story is told by Death himself. Sounds odd, but actually works pretty well. The book centers a lot around her struggle to learn how to read, and the title stems from that all the books she reads she steals herself. It's a very heart-warming book to read, filled with love (and war horror). |
2008 | |
 | Aravind Adiga - The White Tiger A story about an Indian "entrepreneur" from birth to present day -- told as letters to the Chinese Premier. It gives an interesting picture of how India really is, in both countryside and city life. He also takes a few "interesting" choices on the way. I'm a bit split on whether I like it or not. It's an interesting way to write the book, but I never really got into the flow of the book, so it took me a while to get through it. |
 | Douglas Adams - The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy This must be the third time I've read all of the books in the "trilogy in five parts", and it's still worth it. The mind of Douglas Aamds was a very crazy mind, with a fantastic sense of humor. Even though I remembered a lot of it, I was still laughing my way through the books yet again. |
 | Andrey Kurkov - Death and the Penguin A strange little novel about a Ukrainian unemployed author who gets the strange job of writing orbituraries for a newspaper. His only "friend" is a penguin which he has a pet, and later alittle girl. Odd from the start to the end, and a bit hard to get through at times, but at a whole very worth it. |
 | Wow, what a story. It's been a long time since I've read a book which was so well written about a world so well invented. It's basically a sort of a "knights tale" in the very very weird underground world of London. The universe is really well thought out, and it kept me entertained from the very first page. |
 | Mikael Niemi - Populal Music from Vittula A crazy little book about a boy growing up in a tiny tiny village in Northern Sweden, and his finding of rock music. It includes tales of heavy drinking, fights and sauna competitions. A good fun read :-) |
 | Jonathan Durden - Essex, Drugs, and Rock'n'roll Fast-paced action following a guy in marketing who is set off on a "worry-free life" after both daughter and wife tries to commit suicide. It's full of sex, drugs and good humor. Good read, and hard to let go. |
 | Rather basic thriller with a middle eastern mastermind behind. Holds up ok, but fails to really make it plausible in the end. |
 | Morten Hesseldahl - Drager Over Kabul (Danish) Post 9-11 thriller, set in Denmark. Ok, but has some not so belieavle actions by some of the main characters |
 | Jens Henrik Jensen - Økseskibet (Danish) "Nina Portland-thriller"... basic thriller, not entirely trustable scenario or main character. Not close to the trilogy I earlier read by him. Kept me entertained though. |
 | Daniel Tammet - Born on a Blue Day Daniel Tummet has the Savant Syndrome, i.e. a form of Asperger's syndrome, but is able to communicate with others, and obviously write a book about his own life. It gives an amazing insight into how he sees the world, and how much he has to struggle to function in "our world". Fascinating book. |
 | A kid is "picked up" as an apprentice to a world-class hustler and let on a sort of a eternal road-trip of hustling and cheating people. It's a tour de force of hustling techniques -- a lot to be learnt :) |
 | Peter Øvig Knudsen - Blekingegadebankden -- Den danske celle (Danish) Review might appear one day :) |
 | A quite interesting story from Crichton about use and misuse of genes, and patenting of same. Plenty of policital statements in it, and also has an afterword by the author about his opinions. The plot is slightly confusing at times, but nevertheless a good read. |
 | A truly strange book about a boy, who being "the perfect" liar, gets involved in quite the drama. Has some slightly disturbing stories about English public schools. |
 | I have not read anything by Coupland since Microserfs, which I found absolutely hilarious and brilliant at that time. This was "marketed" a bit like a follow up to it, and it is also about people working in the software business. It is just a bit too far out sometimes, and not even close to Microserfs. Too weird. |
 | Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Shadow of the Wind An interesting "tale" about the childhood and teenage years of a Spanish boy in Barcelona, having both drama, mystery and romance sides to it. Really well told, with many unexpected turns ... including the ending. |
 | Stieg Larsson - The Girl Who Played with Fire A worthy sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Just as captivating and hard to let go. |
 | Camilla Läckberg - Prædikanten (Danish) The second book in the series about the detective Patrik and the writer Erica, with another crime to be solved in small town Sweden, in Fjällbacka. It follows the style in the first novel (Isprinsessen) closely, and kept me entertained fine. So if Isprinsessen was something for you, do not hestitate with this one :) |
 | Sixth in the "Harry Hole" series. Recommendable as always |
 | Hmm, one of the few books I have not finished. After reading "Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs" I thought I would try some more Welsh, but this book is too much. It is basically a story of a corrupt Scottish police detective that does nothing but being rude, take drugs and fuck... a bit too much for a whole book for me. |
2007 | |
 | Stieg Larsson - The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo (Danish title: Mænd som hader kvinder) Wow. Not since "The Da Vinci Code" have I read a book this quickly. It took me less than 24 hours, and (obviously) it kept be totally captivated. It's a very good crime story, with some odd personages and a a mystery setup that makes me think of Agatha Christie. Like "The Da Vinci Code" it is not a perfect crime book. There are some things which are a bit "rough" or naive, but it keeps you very very well entertained, and that is what it is all about :) I am looking forward to seeing if he can keep the tension up in the next two novels |
 | Scott Rosenberg - Dreaming in Code "Based on a true story" :) The author follows the software project Chandler for 3 years, telling the story about the project's delays and all the chaos and discussions in it. It also explains some basics of computer programing, and uses two chapters on explaining the history, foundation and software practices of "software engineering". It explains a lot about why "software is hard", which should be a very interesting read for many. It does seem a bit confused about which audience it targets though; sometimes it is clearly for the "non programmer" and sometimes I think it would be hard to follow if you were not. That said, t is an interesting book that leaves me with both hope and despair for my own profession. |
 | A very interesting and funny book. Set out in 18th century about two "odd", and very different, characters who in the very end of the book meet up in Africa. One is Mungo Park, a Scottish "explorer", the other Ned Rise, thief and whore master. It's written in a unique style with a lot of wit. Highly recommendable. |
 | Good police crime novel about a series of child killings in Norway. Has two intertwining stories, which only connect at the end. Not sure if they connect as well as they should. It was a good read though. |
 | Irvine Welsh - The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs Seriously disturbed book -- in so many ways. But that is not necessarily bad :) Twisted humour following some young Scots, drinking their way through life. With an odd supernatural twist to it. Recommended if you are into slightly twisted stuff |
 | Tess Gerritsen - The Mephisto Club Airport buy. Pretty good crime thriller with Satanic murders, and a good mythical story behind it. Was hard to let go off. |
 | Airport buy. Standard thriller on a current theme. The world versys Al-Queda. Definitely kept me entertained, but there was a bit of "standard plot" over it. But I guess that is also what I sought after :) |
 | Sixth in the "Harry Hole" series. Recommendable :) |
 | Fifth in the "Harry Hole" series. Recommendable :) |
 | Fourth in the "Harry Hole" series. Recommendable :) |
 | Third in the "Harry Hole" series. Recommendable :) |
 | Jo Nesbø - Kakerlakkerne (Danish) Second in the series about Harry Hole (Flagermusmanden was the first one). As the first one, a good crime story, again about the Norwegian policeman solving a crime abroad, this time in Bangkok. It looks like the author has done his homework again, and it's a good read. The twist in the end was a bit too much like the first though, so it ended a bit disappointing. |
 | Peter Høgh - Den Stille Pige (Danish) Some books make me wonder how anybody can have the imagination to write something like that. This is one of them. Not in any way could I write a story like this. A world famous clown is after an accident in his childhood, gifted with an extraordinary hearing. He can hear in which scale a person "is", like f.x. A Minor or E Major. That, plus the stories of a "circus life", opens up for a truly fascinating story. The main storyline is a thriller about finding a missing kidnapped girl, but that is the only mainstream about it. Highly recommendable. |
 | Jo Nesbø - Flagermusmanden (Danish) A Norwegian crime thriller. I think that's a first for me :) About the drunkard norwegian police detective, Harry Hole, who is sent to Australia to help investigate the murder of a Norwegian girl. It tells the story in a nice relaxed and humoureous way, and has a good "gallery" of odd personalities. A good crime book, and part of a series which I'll probably revisit. |
 | Mark Haddon - A Spot of Bother Like his first book: Absolutely brilliant. His ability to descrive people's minds is fantastic. A story about a "slightly" dysfuntional family, described in first person by each member. A must read. |
 | Bill Bryson - A Walk in the Woods Bill Bryson tries to walk the The Appalachian Trail in USA -- 2.100 miles of trekking. If you are into nature and/or hiking, it's a good book, with the usual hilarious Bryson comments along the way :) |
 | Rahmond Khoury - The Last Templar Reminds me a bit of The Da Vinci Code. Templars hiding 'the holy grail', and then the history until now, with people trying to hide it or find it. Not an amazing book, but an okay thriller. |
 | Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything Very good popular science book, which really is a "short story af nearly everything". Very interesting story about the history of Earth and the universe; from geology to mankind. The author also has a very good writing style with good humour. |
 | Simon Berthon and Joanna Potts - Warlord: The Heart of Conflict 1939-1945 Good and easily read book about WWII. It will probably not bring you a lot of news if you know a lot of WWII history. But if you do not, or have forgotten most :), it is a good refresher and gives you an interesting insight in the "personal fight" between the four "warlords". Scary history we have... |
 | Again an interesting little book from Erland Loe. Do not know how to describe it... |
 | Funny book about a pretty weird family through three generations. If you are into "slighty weird" books, this is a good one. With a bit of a sad ending though. |
2006 | |
 | One of these "not quite like the others" books about a boy that learns to levitate, from his violent youth to his old age. A different and entertaining read. |
 | Sam Bourne - The Righteous Men This feels a bit like a copy of The Da Vinci Code, and not a particularly good one. This time it is just Judaism and Christianity set up against each other. The plot is just a bit too thin. |
 | Fantastic little book about a man who gets enough of the "competent life", and moves into the forest. Funny tales from his days in the forest, and with his conversations with a moose :) |
 | Peter Mansfield - A History of the Middle East Review might appear one day :) |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
 | Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler - The Art of Happiness Review might appear one day :) |
 | Joseph O'Connor - Star of the Sea Review might appear one day :) |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
 | Christian Jungersen - The Exception Review might appear one day :) |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
2005 | |
 | Agatha Christie - They Came to Baghdad Once again an Agatha Christie suspense. Not with M. Poirot this time though -- just for a change :) |
 | John Connolly - The Black Angel Review might appear one day :) |
 | Tom Clancy - The Teeth of the Tiger Hmm, I have previously put Tom Clancy in the same category as Robert Ludlum, but this book was just not very good... the plot is quite weak, and there's a bit of "preaching" about how he think the world is constructed. Killed some time, but not very good. |
 | Agatha Christie - Murder in the Mews Review might appear one day :) |
 | Robert Ludlum - The Lazarus Vendetta Ludlum's books might not be the most intellectual challenging, but they are very good entertainment and keeps me busy turning pages at a constant pace. And this one is no different. Classical spy story with lots of action and taking up the "nanotech threat". |
 | Agatha Christie - Evil Under the Sun Hercule Poirot gets in to the action :) It helps having a mental picture of a Belgian guy with mustache wearing a suit as a mental picture when reading :) Straight murder story with small twists. Old school I'm tempted to say :) |
 | Agatha Christie - Murder Is Easy I've inherited a ton of Agatha Christie books, and started reading a few of them. This is the first one. Much to my surprise this one does not have Hercule Poirot in it. Very classic plot, but nontheless well-written. I do not think she will ever trigger me 100%, but as "time killers" it's good books. |
 | Leif Panduro - De Uanstændige (Danish) I had seen the movie a couple of times, and had to read it. Somewhat of a Danish "classic". The book is just as crazy as the movie. Portrays a not-quite-like-all-others family, and all the crazy stuff that they do. |
 | Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Had trouble sleeping, and read it in one night. Curious curious little book. It's written as a sort of diary of an authistic boy, and from the little I know about that it's quite well written. It does a really good job about describing why the boy acts as he does, f.x. explaining why he does not like yellow or brown food, etc. Why things has to stay the same all the time. The main character is fond of Sherlock Homes, and also quotes pieces from the books about same (and the book title itself is a quote). Highly recommended! |
 | A classic classic book. I was afraid that it would be old and boring, but was I wrong_ it is a very good and exiting read. Suspense and action throught. There are some things that are "old style English", but that's just part of the charm. It is written like diary entries from start to finish, which could be troublesome to read, but it's really well constructed. Highly recommendable! BTW, Coppola was quite true to the book when he made the movie "Dracula", except for some small things. I look forward to seeing the movie again ('92! It's 13 years old. My god, how time runs) |
 | As I read "The Da Vinci Code" with great pleasure, I also tired this one. It was just as hard to put away as Da Vinci, and just as interesting so I can only recommend it. But do not expect big changes in the bigger lines of the plot compared to DVC. It's build around the same "architecture", so a third one would probably not be good. But definately read it if you liked DVC. |
 | Jan Eske Bertelsen - 18.000 sømil midt i verden (Danish) Got this as a present, I had never heard about it. Good present :), because certainly an amazing story! This guy starts building a boat when he is 16 years old, and goes to sea in it when he is 18, and sails 18.000 nautic miles in it! Amazing what he encounters on the way. An amazing that he heads out with a boat he has (re)built himself, a compass, and a bad map of northern europe. The parts of the world he gets to see, and "the way" he sees it. Amazing amazing amazing. |
 | Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl Somewhat of a classic that I was reminding of while being in Amsterdam, and visiting The Anne Frank Huis. It is a sad story to read, and "fascinating" to read about their life, almost completely isolated. But it is also just a diary of a teenage girl, and I got tired of reading about teenage problems so I dropped it half way through. |
 | Simon Spies - Fordelen ved at have to koner (Danish) Weird little book that is easily read. It's the like the "soft porn" pages of a porn mag. I did not try to read more into it than the "raw story", do not know if there is more hiding in it. A curious read because of the author, but nothing more. |
Henrik Madsen - Spies -- Et Eventyr (Danish) An interesting book about how Simon Spies built his travel empire, and how it was destroyed by bad management and stupidity. It does give Janni Spies and Christian Kjær much credit. If the books is true, they have really been fools. Read it, and be amazed. It does not say too much about Simon Spies though. | |
 | Leif Davidsen - De Gode Søstre (Danish) The prequel to "Den Serbiske Dansker". Ok, book, but lacking some action compared to "Den Serbiske Dansker". |
 | Jens Henrik Jensen - Ulven i Banja Luka (Danish) See Kællingen i Kraków |
 | Jens Henrik Jensen - Hofnarren i Murmansk (Danish) See Kællingen i Kraków |
 | Jens Henrik Jensen - Kællingen i Kraków (Danish) The first book of three about a secret agent, half Danish half Polish. It got me from page 1, and I read this an the three others in about no time. It might not be the most intellectual challenging books, but for a good agent/thriller-story look no further. They are all well written, and have good plots. |
 | Georges Perec - Life: A User's Manual Found it on sale... a weird book with 99 chapters about a building in Paris. An amazing imagination is behind this book, and the first 50% of it was really an interesting read, but he sort of lost me after that. Some of the story is quite interesting, but in the long run there were just too many (uninteresting) details for me. |
 | Leif Davidsen - Fjenden i spejlet (Danish) The sequal to "Den Serbiske Dansker". I swallowed it in a couple of days. Not only because I read it after "My Life" :), but because Leif Davidsen knows how to write thrillers. Just as the first one, we both follow the "cop" and the "bad guy" in parallel, and I think he does a superb job. It's not the most ingenious plot, no, but it works for me :) He also has some intelligent thoughts about the current status of the world -- terror, religion, etc. Highly recommendable. |
 | Oh wee, that was one long book. I think it was very interesting to read about all the experiences Bill Clinton have had in his quite eventful life. He must have an amazing memory, and a fantastic ability to network. His story also seems honest, and is well told. It also gave an insight into what actually happens in the daily life of a US president -- quite interesting. The problem is that it is way too detailed, and thus too long. It might have been nice for him to refresh his memories of all the people he have met in his life (amazingly how many of them becomes "his very good friend" too...), but it's boring to read about all of them. And too many nitty-gritty details about not-too-important laws too. So editing the book down to about half the pages would make it a really good book. |
2004 | |
 | WOW! It did generate a lot of press when it came out, and for a reason! Thrilling and interesting suspense, with conspiracy theories from start to end. I had a hard time to let the book go, and it only took me a couple of days to read it. You can agree, or not, on the "facts" that he uses, but his reasoning is interesting, albeit very controversial for the catholic church :) |
 | Got to around page 200, reading about 2-3 pages before falling asleep... this is not my kind of book. I doubt that I will return to it. It's written in a language that is hard, for me, to understand and the sentences grow to incredible lengths, so I had to start over on a lot of sentences to grasp the meaning. |
 | The personal story of a U.S. Marine in the first gulf war. Describe the somewhat crazy life that Marines have, both before the war and during the war. Just as the books by Andy McNab, it seems like a very honestly told story, including both successes and failures. It's interesting, albeit also somewhat depressing, to read about the state of mind of the "grunt at war". Psycologically he's not having a good time, not before, not during, and not after the war. I can follow why he's thinking the way he is, and doing the things he is, but if it is normal, and I guess it is, it's a wonder that the U.S. army (and the likes..) works. Overall a good, honest, and very well written book. |
 | An interesting non-fiction book about an australian girl reluctantly moving to India, to be with her boyfriend. In the beginning she has the same objections that I have for India: Too much smog, too many people, too many hustlers, etc. She gradually learns to love India, which brings hope for me actually going there someday. The first part of the book is funny, personal and interesting and gives a good "foreigner's view" on India. Later she goes on a big "tour de religion", visting quite a lot of religions, and it frankly gets a bit boring in the end. But all in in all a good and interesting book. |
 | Richard Branson - Loosing My Virginity Wow, what a life! It's a (naturally) subjective story of a lot interesting events in both his personal life and the "life of Virgin". I am amazed about what he has done in such a short time. Not only has he built a small empire, but he has also had (some) time for his family and amazing adventure stuff. It certainely shows a not so good thing or two about British Airways. Excellent book, easily read and with good humour. It also gives the recipe for buying an island in the Caribean :) |
 | After having read "Silence of the Lambs", this book was up I guess. What can I say, suspense and a lot of it, through the entire book. A very good book, but also frightening, and I was happy when I was finished with it and could start reading about "more normal people". NB: Not that it matters, but Hannibal Lechter is almost only a cameo in the book. |
 | Thomas Harris - Silence of the Lambs I am always reluctant about movies based on books, they are always much worse than the book, but this is an exception. I saw the movie a long time ago and thought that it was the time for getting "the true story". The book is as good as the movie; That is, they are both excellent! Thrilling and a very good description of the two main characters, Hannibal Lechter and Clarice Starling. |
 | John Irving - The Cider House Rules A truly fantastic and touching book about a somewhat special doctor, Wilbur Larch, running an orphanage (and covert abortion clinique), and the life of one of the orphans, Homer Wells. It really touched me, and it was hard to stop reading (luckily I was in Thailand, the sun was shining, and I had nothing better to do :) ). Read it! Read it! Skip the movie though, even though Michael Caine is execellently casted for the role as Wilbur Larch, the movie lacks the passion of the book. |
 | Saw the movie, bought the book :) I did not know that the movie was only "inspired by the book". The book is written just as Forrest talks, that is with a lot of spelling errors. It's a bit disturbing, but after 10 pages I did not notice it anymore. It's not a big book, so the story is a bit thin from time to time, and in contrast to the movie it is really in a hurry. You may have thought that Forrest did quite a lot of stuff in the movie, but in in the book he also rescues Chairman Mao and becomes an astronaut, but he doesn't run from coast to coast multiple times. Overall, the book is ok, but I like the "movie-Forrest" better. He is more naïve, and Lieutenant Dan is less a complete asshole. It's an easily read book, but I think the movie is better. |
 | John Grisham - The King of Torts Somewhat a "standard Grisham" novel. I usually read these types of books on holidays -- does not demand too much brain power :) When that is said, it was an ok book. The book is about lawyers specialising in mass lawsuits against companies, where they represent thousands of people (and thus get astronomous fees). The "get rich fast" scheme for lawyers. The book follows the rise, and fall, of a young lawyer. If the novel depicts "the real world", the world is even more crooked that I thought... |
 | This book was written after "Bravo Two Zero", and follows Andy McNab up until the start of the first war in Iraq (and thus "Bravo Two Zero"). He writes in the same honest, and witty, style of the first book and you follow him closely through his military career (which started when he was 16, if I recall correctly). I found it just as interesting as the first book! |
2003 | |
 | A true story about SAS (British special forces) mission in the first Iraq war, told by one of the guys on the team. I tells the story from the start of the war, when they are sent to Iraq, their planning, the mission, the capture, the prison, and finally when they are released from Iraqi prison. There has been some critique on whether he is a bit to far from the reality at times, but my feeling is that he is honest about his own strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, etc. It gave me an interesting insight into a world that I am far from in my own daily life. It is also well written, so I enjoyed reading a lot. |
 | Umberto Eco - Foucault's Pendulum *sigh* Sometimes I fear that I will never learn from my previous mistakes. I read "In the Name of the Rose" a long time ago, and didn't really get triggered by Umberto Eco's writing style: It was an interesting book, but it took my forever to get through it. "Foucault's Pendulum" was worse. I really had to fight the desire to trash the book to finish it. I have heard from others that have loved the book, so it may be a question of style. Not mine... I am definately not an Umberto Eco fan. I hope I have learned it now. |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
 | Sometimes you just read a book that's somehow "different". This one is one of these. A philosophical book about a guy stranding on a liferaft with a zebra, an orang-utang and a bengal tiger for _quite_ a long time. Sounds weird, but it is a fantastic book! |
2002 | |
 | Michael Larsen - Slangen i Sydney Review might appear one day :) |
2001 | |
 | Neal Stephenson - The Diamond Age Review might appear one day :) |
 | Neal Stephenson - Cryptonomicon Review might appear one day :) |
 | Vernor Vinge - A Deepness in the Sky Review might appear one day :) |
 | Vernor Vinge - A Fire Upon the Deep Review might appear one day :) |
1999 | |
 | A classic novel (for computer guys anyway :) ). Tells the story about a collection of computer nerds working as "slaves" for Microsoft. Weird collection of (geek) characters, characterised by their "favorite Jeopardy categories". Really funny book, and easily red! Flat food anyone? :) |
1998 | |
 | Review might appear one day :) |
 | Nelson Mandela - A Long Walk to Freedom Review might appear one day :) |
NaN | |
 | Once again a book which created a lot of noise, let's see. |
 | A very long book, needing concentration...started it some time ago, never got far. But I will be back! :) |
 | Terry Pratchett - Equal Rites (Discworld #3) Heard a lot about the Discworld series, read the first two, so this is the next one |
 | Andreas Haarder - Sangen om Bjovulf Danish edition of the classic Beowulf |
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