Europe through literature discussion
2023 - Archive of Challenges
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Valerie's 2023 EtL Bongo
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I will have a look at the Andrus Kivirähk, as this novel of his seems to be a fantasy novel?
Also Het geheim van het Mývatn-meer sounds as though it was my cup of tea!
And also thanks for bringing The Fifth Gospel up!
If your choice falls on the Peter Hoeg, I am curious about what you make of it - the only book I really liked is Smilla's Sense of Snow, the rest is (in my opinion) kind of weird :))
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You have such an interesting list! I'm tempted to try Ellen Lupko. Happy reading!
Orgeluse wrote: "What a bundle of interesting titles you have already accumulated and your list is not yet complete :))I will have a look at the Andrus Kivirähk, as this novel of his seems to be a..."
Thanks Orgeluse. Tales of the Night was recommended to me by a Danish friend who said it was his favourite book by a Danish author. So I will be curious to see what I make of it.
Kivirakh's novel does indeed look it might be a mixture of historical fiction and fantasy.
Carolien wrote: "You have such an interesting list! I'm tempted to try Ellen Lupko. Happy reading!"Thank you Carolien. Happy reading to you too!
Book 2 - a travel report about a European region, city or countryUnnur Jokulsdottir - Het geheim van het Mývatn-meer***
This ended up being more about the natural environment of the Myvatn lake area in Iceland than a travel report, so I might try to read another book which fits the prompt better.
Book 3 - A title about / from a country we will be reading in 2024 or 2025 Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen - Island (Faroe Islands/Denmark)****
It was between a 3 and 4 star read for me. Beautiful and evocative writing about the Faroe Islands, family ties and belonging. I am a bit tired though of autofiction and novels with no real stories to them; that is not a shortcoming of the book itself however but more my enjoyment of it being affected by my current tastes in literary fiction.
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Unnur Jokulsdottir - Het geheim van het Mývatn-meer***
This ended up being more about the natural environment of ..."
Sounds interesting nevertheless!!
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Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen - Island (Faroe Islands/Denmark)****
It was between a 3 and 4 star read for m..."
This one is on my TBR :) thanks for sharing!!
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Lupano & Chemineau - La Bibliomule de Cordoue****"
This is such an amusing read! Your entry here reminds me that I have just read this graphic novel quite recently - what a coincidence :)))
I already completed the prompt for an essay or essay collection but since Knausgaard's book isn't really an essay collection I read another book to fulfil this prompt: Le Grand Tour. Autoportrait de l'Europe par ses écrivains.**** This edited volume collects essays written by one author from each European country in which they explore how a particular geographical location in their country links to European identity and culture. It was a fascinating read and highly recommend picking it up!
Book 12 - A title from a country we will be reading in 2026 or 2027Andrus Kivirahk - Les Groseilles de novembre (Estonia)****
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This children's book sounds fun!
Orgeluse wrote: "You are making good progress and this reminds me I also have to update my thread...This children's book sounds fun!"
Thanks Orgeluse - am hoping to complete all the prompts by the end of the year.
It was such a cute book; highly enjoyed it.
Book 15 - A (Nobel) Prize winnerAnnie Ernaux - The Years***
I managed to squeeze in one more book before the end of the year. I nearly made it to full completion of the challenge, but alas I am one book short. It has been fun though and the challenge made me discover some great new books and authors.
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Europe through literature
Books mentioned in this topic
The Years (other topics)The Years (other topics)
The Radetzky March (other topics)
The Radetzky March (other topics)
Ghoulia and the Ghost with No Name (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Andrus Kivirähk (other topics)Andrus Kivirähk (other topics)
1 a short story or a short story collectionVarious - Fenêtres sur court : nouvelles
2 a title from our bookshelf that you haven't yet readJoseph Roth - The Radetzky March
3 a fantasy novel or a sci-fiMaja Lunde - The History of Bees
4 a title about / from a country we will be reading in 2024 or 2025 (Bulgaria, Serbia, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Croatia, Georgia, Bosnia, Armenia or Albania)Siri Ravna Hjelm Jacobsen - Island (Faroe Islands - Denmark)
5 a graphic novelLupano & Chemineau - La Bibliomule de Cordoue
6 free choiceFranck Bouysse - Born of No Woman
7 a (Nobel) prize winnerAnnie Ernaux - The Years
8 a title about or set in one of the 5 smallest European countries (Andorra, Lichtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican)
Michele Barriere – Natures mortes au Vatican
Ian Caldwell – The Fifth Gospel
9 a children's bookBarbara Cantini - Ghoulia and the Ghost with No Name
10 a crime story / novelLupko Ellen - Moddergraf
11 a travel report about a European region, city or country (not necessarily by a European author)Unnur Jokulsdottir – Het geheim van het Mývatn-meer
12 a poem or a poetry collectionAbdelkader Benali - Wax Hollandais
13 a title from a country we will be reading in 2026 or 2027 (Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Latvia, Kosovo, Estonia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Malta, Iceland)Andrus Kivirakh – Les Groseilles de novembre (Estonia)
14 a playHenrik Ibsen - A Doll's House
15 a group readFernando Pessoa - The Anarchist Banker
16 an essay or an essay collectionKarl Ove Knausgaard - Winter (not sure this counts as an essay collection??)
Olivier Guez (ed.) - Le Grand Tour. Autoportrait de l'Europe par ses écrivains