traveling

has anyone read this book? i loved it. it took me half of the book to love it, until then i found it spending too much space on trivial information insignificant to the story. but then i was hooked. i didn't realize it was a love story until the end, rather, i was fascinated with the cultural references in the book - the music, the literature, the art - and the time theme. 

if you've read it, please let me know what you think. i'm definately not going to see the movie, i heard it was awful and i don't want to ruin this beautiful story.

by the lake lll

corner view ::: collections ::: (i'm late, but i'm in again!)

I collect childrens books.

It took me many many years to give in to the obsession, and sometimes I grieve all the books I didn't buy along the way. 

Oh, there were many.

Sometimes I buy books for their subtle or not so subtle messages, like the interconnectedness of all things, or books with a general holistic outlook.

Sometimes I buy books for their great stories.

Sometimes - or quite often - I buy books for their illustrations. 

And sometimes I buy books for their cover.

I am seldom disappointed. Except that one time, when I bought that blue book in the photo above.

That's right, you guessed it - Madonna's. It's horrible. 

But the cover is great.

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Books in this post:

Garmanns street - by Norwegian Stian Hole. Here's a review, and here's a review by someone who did not get it. Or maybe it's just a cultural thing.

The Big Question - philosophical picture book by Wolf Erlbruch

When The Wind Stops - great ecological lesson by Charlotte Zolotow and Stefano Vitale (ill.)

The Giving Tree - by Shel Silverstein. A classic My daughter won't let me read it, it's so sad and the tree lived a meaningless life. She thinks.

The Snow Queen - by Vladyslav Jerko (ill.) and H.C. Andersen 

Min Verden I En Nøddeskal/ My World In A Nutshell - anthropological picture book by Suzanne Brøgger, Danish

The Little House In The Big Woods - by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Garmanns Summer - my favourite. By Stian Hole, the same who made Garmanns Street. Here's a review that might explain (to me) the 'cultural thing', and here's some more pictures from the book.

What If? - by Rosso Collins (ill.) and Frances Thomas. Great illustrations.

Around The Year, by Elsa Beskow. A classic. And soooo beautiful illustrations. 

The Fir Tree, by H.C. Andersen

Syngende Stein/Singing Stone - Norwegian, by Stella East (ill.) and Eyvind Skeie. 

Verden Har Ingen Hjørner/The World Has No Corners - Norwegian, philosophical picture book by Svein Nyhus

The Complete Fairytales - by the Brothers Grimm

Mr Peabody's Apples - by Madonna

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More collections:

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,

caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, allison, lise, cate, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, nicola, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale, samantha, kristina, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, aimee, sunnymama, britta, juanita, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, jodi, gillian, travelingmama, athena, pienduzz, kelleyn, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b, victoria, kathryn , lisa, liza, juliette, mulot, anne, lucy, leonor, elizabeth, helene, dominique, shokoofeh, cole, jenna, podane, grey-lemon, line, nihal, urbaNiche, inner toddler, puna, lucylaine, adrienne, emily, lynn, skywriting, eliane, the wanderer´s daughter, carole, anna, dorit, kenza, sherry, conny, susan, l´atelier, elis, kamana, anne, rosamaría, marinik, elisabelle, victoria, malo, the yellow door paperie, tikjewit, juniper, ocean girl, emily, marcie, annabel, andrea, valerie, karin, michelle, merel, pia, soisses, angie, adèle, latisha, mlle paradis, 24 ruel, cacahuete, wander chow, debra, linnea and emily, barbara, emily, maryline, tally, therese, nadine

bloody confessions

yes, i am alive. i am fine, no, i'm actually great. i just had to have a break from my computer. from the internet. from all the lovely blogs that i spent too much time reading every day. from my camera, even. i haven't found a way to use my computer efficiently, i get lost in cyberspace. until i can manage a balance i'm on a low cyber, high real life diet. it's highly recommended! when my computer suffered a serious 'oh, i'm 3 years old and having that break down my makers programmed me, along with every other computer in the world, to have so that you can go out and spend your money on a new one and make us rich'-attack, i was actually relieved. but then my birthday was coming up - and my husband did just that; went out and spent money on a new one. i am now typing on a 26 x 17 cm bright red/floral vivienne tam designed mini computer. (the guy in the shop told my husband that i'd be sure to know who that was, as a, you know, women's thing. wink wink. right. i had to google her. but it's a beautiful computer, i'll give her that.) i feel like trying it out, hope you don't mind!

i don't have much to show for, as i've been mostly knitting and reading the last couple of months. and watching tv, something i rarely do. and here's my confession (from one pair of fangs to another); i think i might have been bitten. just a slight touch of vampire fever, nothing bad. or - is watching the same episode of true blood three times bad?? oh, please don't answer that. but that's not the real confession. since we're still at season one, and only get to see one episode a week, i had to get my vampire kicks elsewhere while waiting for the next episode. so i read the first twilight book. i saw the movie. then i read the second book. holy crap, that is some serious shitty literature. then why am i eagerly awaiting book number three to be released from the sweaty hands of god knows how many dozens of teenage girls, and get back behind the safe walls of the library so i can pick it up?!? why am i trying to figure out how to go see the second movie and still keep my dignity?

because of the sex. the sex that isn't there. that's what these books are about, really; the sex that isn't there. the torment, despair and erotic longing that comes from unfulfilled love. bella and edward can't have sex because of edward's strength; if he looses control, he might crush her. wow. now will you get down to business and have sex already?!?! then i read somewhere that stephanie meyer, the author, is a mormon and will not write about pre marital sex. seriously - do not make me read two more books (or are there more?) of this 'i can only kiss you so and so or else i will loose control and drain your blood' stuff. it embarrasses me to read it in public.

seeing what this does to me, i'd rather not think of what it does to teenage girls with sweaty hands.

right. 'nuf said. signing off now. *blush*

corner view bergen, norway: shopping

as i've said before, i'm not a big shopper, and big malls are like living nightmares to me. so this week's theme was a challenge for me. should i take pictures of what my town has to offer for someone into shopping? or should i take pictures of what i usually shop; groceries? or should i go shopping just for the occasion and then show off my finds..? (ha!)

so - i did a mix.

yesterday was workday in town for me, so i decided to take a walk during lunch to take pictures of our outdoor fish and flower market, but neither fish nor flowers were being very photogenic. they were having a bad fin and petal day.

before i got to the fish market, though, i passed the self service book flea market just next to where i work. i've bought several books there. pick your books, and drop the coins into a metal pipe mounted to the wall. you decide how much you want to pay. not bad, eh?

i work in a touristy area of town, so i also passed some souvenir shops. mooses and trolls in all shapes, sizes and materials, handknits, sami figurines - the regular stuff.

here i am bracing myself before entering the grocery shop in a smaller mall to look for some lunch. it didn't offer anything tempting, so i went to 'madam bergen' - one of our town's prides. a shop selling locally made fish products. it's now under threat of being shut down, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that people are shocked around here. i don't know how i can survive without these delicious fish, um, cakes. that's what we call them, fish cakes. of course they're not cakes, but they're shaped like it.

three of those eaten in the office, followed by a sticky coco/cream/chocolate dessert thing.

there are some things i do like to shop for, though. craft supplies and fabric ranks high up there. books a little further down - i prefer the library as i can just lounge while thinking of what to borrow. still - i accidently stumbled upon a book sale, and got back with these cook books and a street magazine (sold by drug addicts or recovering drug addicts, as a way to provide them with dignified income).

chicken, veggies and tapas. yum.

later that afternoon my husband and i went to this cool science center for kids to pick up a long wanted object for our son; an artificial habitat for ants. in the shop i found this beautifully illustrated book about darwin's life (it's darwin year this year), and discovered that it is both published and translated by someone i know. but i couldn't afford it, and bought a pocketbook about einstein instead. hopefully, that'll stop my son from asking me all kinds of questions about him that i, embarrassing as it is, can't answer.

they also had some really cool notebooks made out of old plastic lunchboxes, pencils made out of old newspapers and pencil cases made out of old car tires. but enough is enough.

so, all in all, i figure you guys owe me about 100 dollars. oh, i forgot; i bought a shirt and 2 pair of pants for my husband at H&M (as their linen pants ("with the extra button!") are the only pants in the. whole. damn. country. that fits him. or so he says) for his upcoming birthday. so, that'll be 203 dollars all in all, thank you very much ;)

to give; to receive

how little it takes to brighten a day!

the other day, i went to pick up a world map that i ordered through my local bookstore (i had been looking for one in a particular size for months before i finally ordered one), and when there, i came upon two books on sale: the lover by marguerite duras (a classic that i never got around to read) and the unbearable lightness of being by milan kundera. kundera is a writer that made a huge impression on me when i had just passed my teens. the unbearable lightness was the first of his books that i read (some might know it better as the 1984 movie starring daniel day-lewis, juliette binoche and lena olin, a film that is beautiful in its own way that certainly made an impression on me back then, but it does by no means do the book any justice). i will give this copy to a friend.

when i got home, there were other goodies in the mail; a copy of a tolkien book that a friend sent me, as he felt i would like it a lot. i don't read much (any, to be precise) fantasy, so i'm not sure.... but i will give it a try.

there were also a package containing the soap nuts that i have been wanting to buy for a couple of years, but couldn't find a norwegian retailer until recently. with it came a small organic cotton washing bag to keep the nutshells in while washing, and a sample of organic gall soap (it's a highly efficient stain remover and comes in solid bars as well as liquid).

i've tested the nutshells twice, both on 30 degree C washing programs. the shells has a distinct, not too pleasant smell, and even though the instructions said that the clothes would be odourless, i could still smell it vaguely on the wet clothes. however, it was completely gone by the time they had dried, and they are - odourless. the second wash i put a few drops of etheric oil on the washing bag, to see how that would be. they're still on the line, drying.

so far, i'm happy with the shells, and the clothes definetely seems as clean as they do with my usual detergents (which is sonett powder).

the giving part means sending off the handrolled hankie + + to my swap-choo partner. in this digital and electronic world it feels so good and special to send and recieve something by 'old fashioned' mail. (and look, i found a use for my impulse napkin purchase at ikea, and i've also been using my hand carved stamps!).

green week :: 4

last years favourite read. green in so many ways.
love, love, love it! i wrote about here.

little laura in the hood

we've been reading this; the little house in the big woods. an old copy from my own childhood. we love reading it together. she's all ears and wide eyed wonders. and now she wants one of these hoods (not sure what it's called in english):

right. just where the heck do you find a pattern for a thing like this??
(or maybe i should just stop giving her what she wants all the time. now that's a thought.)

garmann's summer

stian hole is a norwegian illustrator and author of children's books (and no, it doesn't read hole, but more like hoo-lé). Published in ten languages, Garmann's Summer was the recipient of the 2007 BolognaRagazzi Award, one of the most prestigious international prizes for excellence in children's book publishing. the book is about a young boy afraid of starting school, who, while spending his summer with his parents and his three elderly aunts, discovers that adults also have fears.

when i first laid eyes on this book in the bookstore, i immediately fell in love. i love his illustrations. some say repulsive, others say brilliant. and then, the story turns out to be a gem as well.
you can get this book at amazon, and there you can also read a really long and really good review of it. i have taken the liberty to copypaste some of it here:

(...) when a book like "Garmann's Summer" plops down on your lap, your initial instinct is to reject it. "It looks weird!" "What's this book about?" "Why's he look like that?" It's a knee-jerk series of reactions. Only when you slow down, read the book fully, and think about it do you realize that maybe there's room in this world for a small unassuming Norwegian tale about a boy's thoughts on death, age, fear, and losing your baby teeth. Children, as odd as it sounds, are not adverse to age-appropriate emotional complexity.

(...) What it does have is a quietness. A patience. From the start, the story acknowledges that sometimes the only grown-ups six-year-olds can really connect with are the elderly. It's almost as if at a certain point, old people have gained enough wisdom to talk to small people AND tall people in meaningful ways. Maybe that's what it means to be wise.

(...) All these books tap into children's anxieties and worries. What "Garmann's Summer" does so deftly is tie an understandable fear (the first day of school) into grown-up fears (leaving, death, messing up) and in doing so shows kids that all human beings are afraid of something. Now in an American title this would mean that the book would inevitably end with a neat and tidy resolution. Somehow the message of "there's nothing to be afraid of" would filter in and everything would be hunky dory by they tale's end. There are many reasons to believe while reading "Garmann's Summer" that it was not originally produced in America, but the clearest of these is the ending. The very last four sentences of the book are, "From the corner of his eye he sees the first leaf falling from the apple tree. Before going to bed he checks his teeth one last time to see if any are loose. Thirteen hours to go before school starts. And Garmann is scared." The thing is, this isn't seen as a good or bad thing, but a fact. The accompanying image is of Garmann looking at a windowsill, his packed backpack on the floor behind him. It's a wistful kind of ending. One that assures children, without saying too much, that they are not alone in their fears. Everyone is scared of something.

(...) Stian Hole's words are one matter. His illustrations, the first thing people react to upon seeing this book, are another. On a first reading I was initially repulsed by how different the images were from anything else I'd ever seen. A kind of mixed-media collage of photographs, drawings, and retro images, some adults have a hard time with this book. I'd love to pinpoint exactly why this is. For some of them, maybe it has to do with the three aunts. Hole doesn't beautify their wrinkles or pretty up their age.

(...) None of this is to say that the book is for everyone. It isn't. There will be a lot of parents that eye the cover warily when you hand it to them, smile, and place it gently back on the shelf again. But a book like "Garmann's Summer" teaches us that not everyone in this world is alike. Sometimes you're going to find creative adults who are willing to read this story, love it, and pass it on to their children who will (in turn) read the book and love it too. I receive a lot of books for review and I keep almost none of them. "Garmann's Summer", however, is one of the few I will keep until my children (whenever I have them) are old enough to go to school. Like nothing you've ever read before, this is the very definition of a beautiful children's picture book. Highly recommended.