Bogormen

Title: Malory Towers Collection 2 (Malory Towers #4-6)
Author: Enid Blyton
Genre: Childrens, classic
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~15hrs
Date read: August 2003, October 2022

Upper Fourth at Malory Towers
The girls are in a higher form now. This year there is the tension of exams for the first time, but there is all the fun of the summer term as well - and the high spirits of a lively and imaginative form of girls.

In the Fifth at Malory Towers
Games, lessons, quarrels and tricks all form part of a lively term, but the biggest event of all is the Fifth Form pantomime, written, acted and produced entirely by the girls. It generates a lot of fun, but also a surprising amount of trouble.

Last Term at Malory Towers
Darrell becomes head girl. Unfortunately not all the girls are as responsible as she is and in her last term Darrell sees many changes in her old school friends.


I did have a number of issues with all three books in this collection - all of them symptoms of the time and genre these books were written in. The quasi-bullying I mentioned in the first collection is apparent here as well, as was the snobbery and arrogance of some of the kids.

But putting that aside, I still really enjoyed the books. I love reading about boarding schools, and Enid Blyton does know how to write ridiculously charming books that are fun to read for children and grown-ups both.

Title: Den tavse enke (Louise Rick #11) (The Silent Widow)
Author: Sara Blædel
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 352
Date read: January, 2022

After a long leave of absence, Louise Rick is back at work as leader of the newly created travel unit. The police of Funen has called for assistance after a female inn keeper was killed, and Louise gets to meet her team for the first time.

The crime scene didn't leave the local police with many clues, but when Louise starts a thorough search of the inn, they find something that in no way fits in with the case at hand. Much against her wishes, Louise has to contact Eik Nordstrøm again. The two of them haven't seen each other since their relationship broke apart, but she needs his skills.


I can't quite explain why, but the atmosphere somehow seemed off. I still enjoyed reading about Louise Rick, but her interactions with... well, pretty much everybody else actually, seemed stilted and forced - as if Sara has gotten tired of writing about them.

She's still a really good writer though, so once I got properly into the book, I had a hard time putting it down.

Title: Kvinden de meldte savnet (Louise Rick #9) (The Woman Reported Missing)
Author: Sara Blædel
Genre: Crime
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 314
Date read: January 2015, November 2021

When a woman is murdered in England, it turns out that she is from Denmark, and was reported missing 18 years ago.

The police in England has no leads to find the unsub, and instead look for a motive to the crime. They therefore ask Louise Rick to find out why a number of Danes have deposited large sums of money to the woman's bank account.

This sends the investigation in a direction that is as controversial as it is unexpected, and it puts Louise's relationship with her partner Eik to the test.


It's always good to be back together with Louise, Camilla and the others :) This wasn't the most suspenseful book in the series, as for once the more personal aspects of the series took center stage. This might disappoint some, but I was happy to get to go "behind the scene" so to speak, and learn more about Louise and Eik's personal lives.

I guessed some of the twists relatively early on, but that in no way subtracted from my general enjoyment of the book. Plus, it made me think, which is always a good thing.

Title: Grønt støv (Louise Rick #1) (Green Dust)
Author: Sara Blædel
Genre: Crime
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 355 pages
Date read: May 2014, January 2021

One weekend, two murders. A young girl is found strangled in a park and a journalist has been killed in the courtyard behind the Royal Hotel

Detective Louise Rick is put on the case concerning the young girl, but quickly becomes involved in the other case as well, when it turns out that her best friend, Camilla Lind, crime reporter at Morgenavisen, knew the victim and is determined to solve it herself.

Louise tries to keep her friend from hedding into deep water, but Camilla isn't the type who listens to advice when she's on the trail of a good story... especially when people from the drug scene suddenly approach her.


Quite an interesting read, especially since it describes the life of a Danish police officer quite thoroughly and, according to a friend of mine who works for the police, rather accurately.

Quite amusing to read this after having gotten addicted to CSI and discovering how many things are much the same (like AFIS) and how many absolutely aren't (CSI are playing a bit fast and loose with how long it takes to get results from a DNA test).

I did think the friendship between Louise and Camilla was a bit more tell than show in this book unfortunately. It wasn't always entirely obvious why they were friends, but if I recall correctly this improves in the later books.

Title: De glemte piger (The Forgotten Girls)
Author: Sara Blædel
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 315
Date read: November 2011, October 2014, September 2021

In the woods close to Hvalsø, a forester finds the body of a woman, but who is she? According to the coroners she has been dead for about a day, and a large scar across one side of her face ought to make it easy to identify her. But nobody has reported her missing, nor is she to be found on the police's list of wanted people.

After four days Louise Rick is still at a loss. It isn't until she decides to release a photo to the public that she gets a lead: An older women identifies the woman as Lisemette, whom she took care off many years ago at a center for the retarded.

But when Louise tries to get hold of Lisemette's journal, she is in for a surprise. Because the past turns out to have an unexpected connection to the future, and Louise has to work fast to figure out what happened before it is too late.


Probably the best Louise Rick story since "Kald mig prinsesse" (Call Me Princess). I read it in one sitting, and got to bed far too late yesterday as a result. The book was full of unexpected twists and turns, as well as a more thorough peek into Louise's past. I do wish that past had been hinted at in previous books though - it's a tad too much latent trauma to introduce this late in the series.

As usual I felt the book ended too quickly, so I am glad that I am familiar enough with Sara Blædel's writing that I know that it is very likely the loose ends will be picked up again in book 8.

Title: Deenie
Author: Judy Blume
Genre: YA
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 128
Date read: February, 2011

Thirteen-year-old Deenie is destined for a modeling career, but learns she has a medical condition that will make her wear a brace for years. The story is about how she responds to this situation as well as to just growing up.

Thanks to Jeff Dunham I can no longer take the word 'scoliosis' seriously, which made me feel really awful while reading this book, as it's absolutely meant as a serious book! Drat that comedian!

That aside I really liked the book. Judy Blume approached a serious subject that not many people know anything about, and made it accessible for her readers. It's hard not to feel sorry for Deenie - first because of her mother, then because of her condition and her mother's reaction to that condition. At least she had an understanding dad, sister and friends, when her mother went off of the deep end.

I'll admit to not knowing the first thing about scoliosis (other than it having something to do with the state of your bones), and had to google "Milwaukee brace" to get a proper idea of what it actually looked like. I can't even imagine what it must be like for a young teen to be told she has to wear that for the next 3 years.

Title: Glimmerglass
Author: Jenna Black
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 294
Date read: November 2010

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she's had it with being her mother's keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl - she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go...

Good, but with reservations. I had issues with it and felt that it could have been a lot better of certain aspects had been handled differently.

It was a fast read, and I surprised myself by how quickly I got completely caught up into it. I loved the premise and the universe, where the magical world was well known, but kept apart from the human world, and the two only interacted in Avalon - and even more that Avalon wasn't reserved for those with magic, but that people actually went there as tourists on vacation! Fascinating idea! I love book placed in "our" world / time where magic plays a part.

I really liked Kimber and Finn, but hated Aunt Grace. She reminded me too much of Prof. Umbridge from Harry Potter - and that is NOT a good thing. Dana herself... well, I mostly liked her, but I did think some of her actions were hopelessly naive taking her rough childhood into consideration. She accepted things far too quickly and without any real questioning.

Most of all, however, I really disliked the ending. Dana's father's ruthlessness was appalling, and he has yet to prove to me that he cares more about Dana herself, than the power she'll give him. I hope the next book will prove me wrong.

Also, I didn't like the cover much :-/ That's very much a minor issue though ;)

Title: Aldrig mere fri (Never Again Free) Author: Sara Blædel Genre: Suspense Rating: 8/10 # pages: 374 Date read: July 2008, march 2021

In inner Copenhagen a woman is found murdered one night. The scene of the crime is very bloody, as her throat was cut in an uncommonly violent fashion.

Police officer Louise Rick has been put on the case together with some colleagues when she receives a phonecall from her friend Camilla Lind who's the crime reporter on Morgenavisen. She is deeply disturbed by an experience her 11-year-old son had the same morning when he on his way to school found an abandoned infant.

All clues in the murder case point towards the hooker environment of Copenhagen, but when another beastly murder is committed it's clear that new players are a field - players who ruthlessly abuse and punish others if it'd help their own lucrative business.


Slow to start, but it quickly picks up and becomes very interesting. It touches upon one of the most despicable crimes: human trafficking. It's something I feel very strongly against and therefore had a hard time stomaching the book, which also ended up being somewhat more violent than many of the earlier ones.

It ends rather abruptly and with an unexpected twist, but unlike some of her other books the abruptness doesn't mean any threads are left hanging... or rather they are, but not in an unsatisfying way, but rather because it couldn't be any different.

Title: Tithe Author: Holly Black Genre: Fantasy Rating: 8/10 # pages: 323 Date read: December, 2007

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

Review: I added Tithe to my wishlist solely because it was on my list of Amazon recommendations. A bit of a gamble, as I hadn't heard about it from anywhere else, but it paid off fortunately. A bit more YA than most YA fantasy books I've read recently, but I still really enjoyed it, and it provided a new interesting take on faeries. I'd recommend it to anybody who enjoys YA fantasy.

Book List

I've been on a "Famous Five" kick lately and have managed to finish the original series (with the exception of #20 which I've unfortunately been unable to find). So here is a review of the final 10 books.

Author: Enid Blyton
Genre: YA, mystery

Review:
11. Five Have a Wonderful Time
The Famous Five are having a brilliant time - on holiday in horse-drawn caravans - and they've discovered a ruined castle nearby! The castle looked deserted from a distance, but is that a face at the window? Or is it a trick of the light? Just who is hiding in the castle?

12. Five Go Down to the Sea
Who would deliberately lure somebody on to treacherous rocks on the Cornish coast? Somebody is flashing lights from the old tower on stormy nights - and the Famous Five sense danger. But can they solve this mystery safely?

13. Five Go to Mystery Moor
Mystery Moor is aptly named, as the Five discover! There's something dangerous out there, but gang need help to find out what it is. The travellers camped on the moor are unfriendly, so the Famous Five have no other choice but to risk the treacherous mists and follow the trail.

14. Five Have Plenty of Fun
George is not pleased when Berta, a spoilt American girl, turns up at Kirrin Cottage in the middle of the night dressed in disguise! But George hasn't got time to be jealous. Berta is in hiding from kidnappers, and she needs help. The Famous Five must risk danger to help out this stranger.

15. Five On a Secret Trail
Camping again! This time the Five have pitched their tent near an old ruined cottage, which looks as though it's been abandoned for years. When Anne hears strange noises at night the others don't believe her...until they see ghostly lights. Could the cottage be haunted?

16. Five Go to Billycock Hill
Hurrah! It's holiday time, and the Famous Five are spending it at Billycock Hill. Most exciting of all, they've made a new friend - a real pilot! But when he disappears with top secret equipment, the Five are puzzled. Could their new friend be a spy?

17. Five Get Into a Fix
The Famous Five are having lots of fun in the snow! But who is living in the mysterious house near the chalet they're staying in? The caretaker says nobody has lived there for years, but the Five are sure they've seen a terrified, haunted face at one of the windows.

18. Five on Finniston Farm
There is a ruined castle on Finniston Farm, but only the dungeons remain and no one knows where they are! The Famous Five are determined to find them, and whatever else is hidden inside, but someone else wants to find out too. Can the Five get there first?

19. Five Go to Demon's Rocks
The Five have heard the stories about treasure on Demon's Rocks, but they never thought they were really true! When they discover a very old, valuable gold coin, the myth becomes real. Who does the treasure belong to? The gang are determined to find out...but so is someone else.

21. Five Are Together Again
The Famous Five are having fun camping near the home of a famous scientist. But they might have known there'd be a mystery to solve. When the scientist's important research papers go missing, he needs the gang's help to get them back! But how can the Five work out who took them?

Book List