Scandinavian Mysteries discussion

I think because so many of them feature winter. Where I live in Canada winter is a powerful factor and I used to absolutely hate it. As I've grown I came to tolerate it and today I enjoy it. I've been trying understand why. I think this Ruth Stout quote sums it up nicely,

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself."

You often see characters in Scandinavian literature as the product of the privacy and solitude afforded by winter. I can relate!

I feel exactly the same way. There are parallels between the Canadian winter and those portrayed in this genre. It's not just about surviving the winter but embracing that elemental part of it. Perseverance is another important feature of this literature, too.

I agree - there is something marvelous about winter and those long stretches of withdrawing from the world. Can't do that in summer because the fog, (you can be right next to someone/something and not know it or not recognize it because everything takes on different shapes in winter) drizzle, snow, clouds and of course the cold are missing!

I was glad to find this group as I'm a big fan of Scandinavian mysteries and ran through all of the Henning Mankell books in a couple of years and now I have a more authors to try. I've also liked Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Stieg Larsson, Arnaldur Indriðason, Helene Tursten, and other authors whose names escape me.

I like all sorts of mysteries, generally, but I'll scoop up anything Scandinavian and read it right away. I'm not sure if I like them because it's genetic (both paternal grandparents were from Sweden), because it connects me with the culture and relatives in Sweden, because of the social content and general dismay the characters show about crime (as mentioned by others in this group), or a combination of all of the above. I don't particularly like the cold, however, so I'm not sure that is what influences me -- although maybe it's a wish to be a hardier Viking :)

I believe the depth of Scandinavian mysteries belies a people of huge resolve and character. I live in a very rainy Winter area where some time is allowed to be your own. I see no mention of Peter Hoeg. Reasons?

Do not know Helene Tursten and will look forward to reading her books.
Elizabeth

I am reading World Light by Halldor Laxness; a bildungsroman about Iceland's national poet rather than a mystery, it does explain the fundamental social structures that are seen unraveling or worse, hopelessly entrenched, in the mysteries of Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Stieg Larsson, Arnaldur Indriðason, Helene Tursten.

Fascinating comment Susan. Have read the other authors you mentioned but not Laxness. Do you believe this to be a valuable read?

Thank you, Elizabeth. World Light is a long book, extremely sad, in a folkloric way, but worth reading for how it nearly explains Nordic mysticism as a refuge against the thoughtless cruelty of people who live in the country.

I just put "World Light" on order. I will look forward to learning about Nordic mysticism and understanding "Last Rituals" better.

It is beginning to remind me of Pilgrim's Progress, meaning, the progress is extremely slow. Do you think Pilgrim's Progress is an ironic title?

Yes absolutely and I was a lit major in college but that was back at the University of Mich, and we were busy marching in parades and protesting everything.

We read Catch 22, Kurt Vonnegut, and all had Picasso posters on the wall. Picasso in his blue period and more. Oh and "The Bell Jar" still I think one of the best.

Yes an ironic title Pilgrim's Progress but learning for me is the basis of everything.

You sound like a kindred spirit a few years younger than me: I have a Ph. D. in comparative lit and a B. A. from Sylvia Plath's alma mater!

"The Bell Jar" is my grandaughter's favorite book and she is a antropology major. Time endures for a great book.

Will look forward to Denise Mina. Tartan Noir?

Now that I think about progress in the late middle ages the concept was altogether different from today. A progress was a simple procession not involving amelioration just movement. Pilgrim's progress then is only ironic if we add our shade of meaning.

Amelioration a great word! Send that word to Congress.
I an not sure if we can add our shade of meaning to much.

Anxious for World Light. Are you going to make me read Pilgrim's Progress again ??????

I might make you read Pilgrim's Progress again just to appreciate how funny World Light is.

Started The Glass Devil by Helene Tursten. anxious to see how it develops.

An old friend recommended Tursten: I hope you like her book as much as I did.

Liking "The Glass Devil" Helene Tursten alot. Certainly a differnt topic than I usually read about.

Refresh my memory: all I remember is the detective.

Satanism attacts the Swedish church. The different characters in the church are fascinating.

There are books by Asa Larsson with same theme.

Do you suppose Sun Storm is considered Dark? Just got it and now off again!!

Definitely dark.

Living in the desert Southwest, I usually read Scandinavian mysteries when the temperature climbs above 90F ...the bleak, chill is a welcome relief from the heat. However, they truly are a year-round treat.

Finished "The Glass Devil" by Helene Tursten. Would give it 3 stars. Too much travelogue for me. Would like to try another of her books.

Anyone tell me more about the author Peter Hoeg? Semilla' Sense of Snow (my favorite) Has he written other notables?

Great authors to add to the list. Love Anne Holt!!
Just finishing What Never Happens and then on to Sun Storm by Asa Larsson and back to Last Rituals by Sigurdardottir.

Janet Maslin had a great quote in her NYT review of "Three Seconds" from a new pair of Swedish authors (NOT one I will add to my "book shelf").

She offers: "the Seven Dwarfs of Scandinavian Noir: Guilty, Moody, Broody, Mopey, Kinky, Dreary and Anything-but-Bashful."

How wonderfully true! ....but, I love 'em.

Great review and how true but so addictive. No to adding Three Seconds to the to be read group? And why?

Loving Sun Storm. Larsson has captured me.

Elizabeth wrote: "Great review and how true but so addictive. No to adding Three Seconds to the to be read group? And why?"

Guess the review (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/boo...) sounded a bit too "smash and dash" for my taste. I like more moody character studies ...and this didn't sound one. BUT, I will keep it in mind when I read more reviews here ...goodreads is my real go-to source for recommendations.

Finished Sun Storm; Satanism at its best! I think the book would qualify for the dark category

Three seconds had a slow starrt setting up its characters and premise, but after that it was a great book.

David wrote: "Three seconds had a slow starrt setting up its characters and premise, but after that it was a great book."

I've tried starting it twice and couldn't get into it, but I'll take our word for it and try once more. I love Scandinavian mysteries generally, so I was disappointed that this one didn't draw me in.

I got it from goodreads for review so I had to finish. Once I established who the characters were, and then figured out what was going on, it was quite good. But I do agree the first sections are confusing. It seems the kind of book that would be better the second time you read it as you would know what was going on.

David wrote: "I got it from goodreads for review so I had to finish. Once I established who the characters were, and then figured out what was going on, it was quite good. But I do agree the first sections are ..."

I got it from goodreads also, so I've felt guilty about putting it down without finishing :) Plus, I got a Nook Color for Christmas so I've found it too easy to read on that and ignore my physical books. I'll stick it back on that tower of things to be read soon.

I got a kindle yesterday :-)

So what do you think about it? from a kindleless person.

It is pretty good, but a little to easy to spend money :-)

My wife really likes it and I am still trying to get my to read pile reduced before using it more. I am down to about a dozen books to go until I can get to the three I bought for it.

David wrote: "It is pretty good, but a little to easy to spend money :-)

My wife really likes it and I am still trying to get my to read pile reduced before using it more. I am down to about a dozen books to..."

I hear you on the easy to spend money! I bought myself one for Christmas, and while I added a bunch of free stuff; I've bought quite a few more books that I intended to. I have to keep reminding myself that it's not something brand new,it's still just a way to read, only in a different way. That being said, I LOVE my Kindle.

New topic okay? I have fallen for Inspector Sejer Karin Fossum's main character. He is such a hero in every way. And he loves dogs!!! Only two books left in English. Other wonderful Scandinavian inspectors that you all admire. Comments?

I managed to score some really recent books at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Alabama, including Jo Nesbo's latest two. The latest isn't even readily available in the US yet and I found it in paperback (I got The Snowman (The Snowman)and The Leopard (The Leopard) ) for only 4 dollars.

I also picked up a UK paperback edition of Ian Rankin's The Complaints (The Complaints) - a great trip all the way round.

Lucky!

Just started Fossum's " He Who Feared the Wolf." Really creepy.

We have had so much snow these last two weeks. Bought 3 Jo Nesbos and The Loney Heart. Beginning to feel like I live in Oslo.

I live in MN, all the snow and ice of Oslo without the history

And I thought I'm the only one who realized it's the cold, winter,isolation, that draw me into Scandinavian novels. Because I'm the only person among my friends who love this genre. Plus I lived in a tropical island. I'm so happy to find this thread. LOL when I read " the seven dwarf of Scandinavian noir", so true.

I just finished Jo nesbo's redbreast. It's a little more grand scale setting than his other books so it took me awhile to finally get all the characters straight. I love his "snowman".

???!!! wrote: "And I thought I'm the only one who realized it's the cold, winter,isolation, that draw me into Scandinavian novels. Because I'm the only person among my friends who love this genre. Plus I lived ..."

This thread seems to have been dormant awhile, but with the new post, I'll chime in. I love the whole 7 dwarves idea. I usually put it more like: dark, conflicted, deeply flawed, desolate, driven, tortured, etc. But I'm pretty much talking about the 'hero' of the piece. Add to that the cold/bleak/forboding evironment and it's a winner. I'm a huge Nesbo/Harry Hole fan, having moved on to him from Stieg Larsson and found him more complex and more fulfilling. Just read Keeper of Lost Causes which, while not as 'dark' as I prefer, was a winner and I look forward to the next translated work from the author. I've only read the first of Mankell's Wallander series and was underwhelmed, but the promise that it will develop into something great inspires me to keep him on my list. But I have a long way to go with catching up with my TBR list. Glad to have found groups on Goodreads to discuss with!

I have to admit that I'm not crazy about all of Hanning Mankell's novels. My favorite of his is Sidetracked.

I don't know "Keeper of Lost Causes" and after I read the profile it almost sounded like a combo of Nesbo's "Redbreast" and Larrson's Tattoo Girl. I'm a little tired of a person gone missing and believed to be dead but turned out not. even Tess Gerristen adopted this plot in her latest novel, Silent Girl, which I gave it 1 star. Surprisingly, though, "Lost Causes" got very high rating from Goodreaders. So I assume you like it. Maybe I'll give it a try after I finish with John Venon's "Think of a Number." So far it's quite gripping.

???!!! wrote: "I have to admit that I'm not crazy about all of Hanning Mankell's novels. My favorite of his is Sidetracked.

I don't know "Keeper of Lost Causes" and after I read the profile it almost sounded ..."

We did KoLC as a group read for Oct in Nordic Noir and the overwhelming response was positive, not just for the plot twists but for the character development. I suspect they only get better as the series progresses, but will have to wait to find out.