goodreads: (Default)
Title: Kongeord
Author: Jens Andersen
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 109
Date read: January, 2024

"Forbundne, forpligtet, for Kongeriget Danmark" ("Connected, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark"). King Frederik 10's motto, or "royal words" contain his personal visions for the kingship. In this book, Denmark's new king tells Jens Andersen about his thoughts and considerations behind the royal words.

About his relationship to the royal line, Danish history, Christianity and the commonwealth. About family, marriage and the journey through life – from a young, reluctant crown prince to a mature man, father and monarch.


Short, but well worth reading. It took me about an hour to read, and I enjoyed this insight into what King Frederik actually meant by his motto and why he chose the exact wording that he did. An interesting read, and it left me with a sense of ... pride? affection? can't find the exact right word for it... for our new king.

I especially enjoyed the last few pages on how he plans to follow up on his mother's legacy and which of her traditions he intends to make his own. That was lovely to read, and strengthened my opinion of him as "a man of the people".
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Oddball (Sarah's Scribbles #4)
Author: Sarah Andersen
Genre: Graphic novel, ARC
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 105
Date read: October, 2021

The fourth book in the enormously popular graphic novel series, the latest collection of Sarah's Scribbles comics explores the evils of procrastination, the trials of the creative process, the cuteness of kittens, and the beauty of not caring about your appearance as much as you did when you were younger.


Just as good as the other Sarah's Scribbles graphic novels. I like that she's returned to the format of the first book, and even though I recognized many of the comics from her instagram, as always there were some new ones as well to read and enjoy. Besides, they are all so relatable, so it was an enjoyable revisit with the ones I already knew as well.

Will definitely be purchasing this, when it comes out as a physical copy, so I can add it to my collection.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Whiteout
Author: Adriana Anders
Genre: Chick-lit, suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~11hrs
Date read: April 2021

Angel Smith is finally ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her last day, the remote research station she's been calling home is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and irritatingly gorgeous glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives...only to realize that in a place this remote, there's nowhere left to run.

Isolated with no power, no way to contact the outside world, and a madman at their heels, Angel and Ford must fight to survive in the most inhospitable—and beautiful—place on earth. But what starts as a partnership born of necessity quickly turns into an urgent connection that burns bright and hot. They both know there is little chance of making it out alive, and yet they are determined to survive against the odds—and possibly, the world.


Not very realistic, but a good yarn, so I enjoyed it all the same. I loved reading about survival on Antarctica and just wish more time had been spent on describing life on the research station. I liked seeing the growing friendship between Angel and Ford, and though the romance did come a bit out of the blue, I can totally see how being thrown together in such intense circumstances could do that.

But it does require a serious suspension of disbelief, so give it a miss if you're not into that kind of thing.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: The Devil's Apprentice (The Great Devil War #1)
Author: Kenneth Bøgh Andersen
Genre: Fantasy, Childrens
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 311
Date read: August 2020

Philip is a good boy, a really good boy, who accidentally gets sent to Hell to become the Devil’s heir. The Devil, Lucifer, is dying and desperately in need of a successor, but there’s been a mistake and Philip is the wrong boy. Philip is terrible at being bad, but Lucifer has no other choice than to begin the difficult task of training him in the ways of evil. Philip gets both friends and enemies in this odd, gloomy underworld—but who can he trust, when he discovers an evil-minded plot against the dark throne?


I was a bit hesitant at first - I generally don't read books about angels and demons, as they so easily end up feeling disrespectful to my beliefs, but this one came highly recommended by somebody I trust, so I decided to give it a go.

And fortunately I wasn't disappointed. It turned out to be a really fun children's book about a decidedly GOOD boy who's sent to hell by mistake, and ends up changing hell as much (or perhaps more) as hell changes him. I enjoyed it, and am definitely considering reading more books in the series.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Genre: YA
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 246
Date read: October, 2018

It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.

This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life.


I had high hopes for this one, as comparisons to John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars" (which I loved) were inevitable. Unfortunately it fell very, very short. I liked the writing style, I liked that there was no too-obvious romance, but the ending fell flat. Among other things, it really bothered me that Greg's and Rachel's mums never realized how seriously they abused Greg's trust in Rachel.

So why still three stars? I enjoyed it while reading it. My complaints with it didn't register until after I had finished. Objectively speaking it probably doesn't deserve more than 2 stars, but my immediate response was to say 3, so I'm going to leave it at that.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Under bjælken: Et portræt af Kronprins Frederik
Author: Jens Andersen
Genre: Non-fiction, biography
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 380
Date read: December, 2017

"Under the Rafther: A portrait of Crown Prince Frederik" is an unusual book about an unusual person in an unusual situation. It is based on a series of conversations with the future king of Denmark, as well as his parents, brother, wife and friends.

The book focuses on the Crown Prince's battle to accept his destiny and role, and follows the personal journey from rebelious child and teenager to reckless 'froggie' and finally to happy husband and father.


I'd asked for this for Christmas, expecting it to be a fascinating read, and I was right. The Danish Crown Prince has always come across as an interesting and sympathetic person to me, so I was interested in getting to know more about him, and this book only confirmed my opinion.

Jens Andersen does a brilliant job of describing the life of probably the most famous person in Denmark, who grew up always knowing that he would one day become a king (and sometimes rebelling against this idea), and who had to grow into the role of Crown Prince.

The chapters about his life as a "froggie" (scuba-diver), on the Sirius Expedition and meeting Mary Donaldson were especially interesting, as were the photos that concluded each chapter, but I greatly enjoyed the book as a whole, and had a hard time putting it down. Don't know that it'll be one to reread often, but I'll definitely be glad to have it to refer back to from time to time.
goodreads: (Peanut: Book geek)
Title: Magic Bites
Author: Ilorna Andrews
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: 260
Date read: January, 2016

One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight.

But when Kate's guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy...


I really wanted to love this book as I'd heard so much good about the author, and a couple of years ago, it would have been right up my aisle. Alas, I just never warmed up to the characters, and therefore simply didn't care what happened to them - which made the action scenes somewhat less interesting. It might just be that I've 'gone off' paranormal novels... or at least this type of gritty/urban paranormality. Fortunately the book was well written, so I finished it anyway without considering it too much of a chore, but there were some parts I mostly skimmed.
goodreads: (Peanut: Book geek)
Title: Quicksilver (Ultraviolet #2)
Author: R.J. Anderson
Genre: Sci-fi
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 300
Date read: March, 2013

Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want - popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.

Now she's left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can't escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual... talents.

Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn't escaped her past. In fact, she's attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.

She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she's always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori's incredible electronics and engineering skills - and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.

Every bit as good as the first book in the series, even if it did take me a moment to realize that Tori was the main character, rather than Alison. For the same reason, synesthesia didn't really pay a part in this book, which was kind of a shame - but one easily forgiven, since the rest of the book was so awesome :) I especially liked reading more about her affinity for electronics, and adored Milo! Not to mention that R.J. Anderson made me care enough about Tori that I sat cringing as I read what she had to do to stay safe.

Loved it :)
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Ultraviolet
Author: R.J. Anderson
Genre: Sci-fi
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 410
Date read: July 2011

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

I've been wanting to read this for literally years, and fortunately it did not disappoint. I liked that the supernatural elements were fewer and less overwhelming than I'd originally expected, so that Alison's synesthesia is allowed to take center stage in the novel. As somebody who has a mild version of synesthesia herself, I always find it incredibly interesting to read about other people's experiences, and this was no exception.

But R.J. Anderson still managed not to let Alison's synesthesia overrule everything and lets her have a personality aside from her condition (for want of better word).

A fascinating book, and an even better 'universe' than that of her "Knife" series, so I hope she ends up prioritizing this possible series heigher.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Arrow
Author: R.J. Anderson
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 356
Date read: April, 2011

Rhosmari has lived her whole life on a sheltered chain of faery islands. But with the Empress's power growing, and her desire to enslave the entire faery race becoming a reality, Rhosmari knows she must fight back.

A bit slow to start - come to think of it, I think the others might have been too, but I just noticed it more here, because I was so eager for the action to get back to the Oak and all my old friends there. A fast and entertaining read though, with plenty of twists and turns, where I really ought to have guessed some of them, and was completely thrown for a loop by others.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Rebel
Author: R.J. Anderson
Genre: Fantasy, Christian fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 295
Date read: October, 2010

The faeries of the Oak are dying, and it's up to a lone faery named Linden to find a way to restore their magic. Linden travels bravely into dangerous new territory, where she enlists the help of an unlikely friend'a human named Timothy. Soon they discover something much worse than the Oakenfolk's loss of magic: a potent evil that threatens the fate of all faeries. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Timothy and Linden risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it's too late to save everyone they love.

This sequel to "Knife" is even better than the first book in the series! In "Knife" a lot of page-time was giving to setting up the universe and explaining the fairy's history. That wasn't necessary here, which made for a smoother story. Besides, I just found Linden's story more interesting than Knife's. Timothy was a very interesting addition to the universe, as was the power of the Empress and her fate.

"Rebel" is a quick and pleasant read - I finished it in 3 hours flat. I'll be keeping an eye out for "Arrow" now.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: The Eye of the Moon
Author: Anonymous
Genre: Paranormal, suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 380
Date read: January, 2010

Young lovers Dante and Kacy, hapless bartender Sanchez, Peto the Hubal monk and the mysterious Jessica - each will be drawn into the violent vortex surrounding the Bourbon Kid, the supernatural killer who is himself now being hunted. Hot on his heels are several vampire gangs, the US Secret Service, a couple of werewolves, some corrupt cops, and the Dark Lord himself, and none will rest until he is dead. But the Kid has vengeance of his own to wreak...

Seems like the body count was even higher here than in The Book With No Name. It was still a fascinating story, but didn't seem quite as well thought out. The author tried to give Bourbon Kid a motivation here, whereas in the first book, it was just the way he was - which actually was more in the spirit of the book.

I still really enjoyed it though, and had a very difficult time putting it down. It's wacky enough to appeal to my sense of the absurd, and only occasionally had me wincing from the graphic decapitations.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: The Book With No Name
Author: Anonymous
Genre: Suspense, paranormal
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 380
Date read: January, 2010

For many centuries the shelves of a library in South America held a terrible secret. Sitting on these shelves was a book with no name, written by an anonymous author. Everyone who ever read it ended up dead, yet the book always found it's way back to the library. In 2005 a special government investigator uncovered the truth about the book and it's link to the murders. Now available in paperback, you can discover for yourself the reason why no one ever read the book and lived, until now...

I saw this book on Amazon during a random browsing, and was so completely intrigued by the premise that I just had to read it. Thankfully the library had it, so I didn't have to wait too long :)

I've heard it described as a Quentin Tarantino style book, and I would have to agree. There are a lot of similarities to "From Dusk Till Dawn", both in plot and in style which makes for a very fascinating page-turner. And don't be mislead - it's just as bloody (in less graphic detail, thankfully), so don't assume anybody is safe, just because they seem a major character.

The story is told from several different POV, which works quite well in providing the reader with the full pictures... well, as full as we're allowed to get anyway. There are some questions left unanswered, that I assume will be picked up in the sequel.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Ateistisk andagsbog (The Atheistic Devotional)
Author: Leif Andersen
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 127 pages
Date read: December, 2009

An atheistic devotional sounds like an oxymoron, but Leif Andersen makes it work. He is an atheist by nature, and only started believing in a God because he became convinced that Christianity is the true religion. In this devotional he raises a lot of the questions and doubts a Christian might have: Does God listen to prayer? Why is there so much evil in the world? Does it really matter what you believe, as long as you are a good person? Does God ever leave us? Not all of these questions were relevant for, but enough of them were, that I felt I could use a lot of what I read. Definitely one of the better devotionals I've read.
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: YA
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 245
Date read: September, 2009

Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud. What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs.

While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute.

Had I read this when I was younger, I think I would have loved it. I still found it both well-written and interesting, but I was very obviously above the target age.

It's strength is definitely in its writing style. Melinda hardly speaks, so there's very little dialog - and what little there is, is written like lines from a manuscript - most of the story is told through her thoughts and actions - or lack thereof. In this book Laurie Halse Anderson proves that she is capable of "showing rather than telling" - because due to her own choices it isn't possible to 'tell' and still remain true to her characters.

I have to say that it REALLY bugged me that nobody forced Melinda to get professional help when it was obvious that she was changing. Also I was somewhat disappointed by the abbruptness of the ending - I'm the kind of reader who likes the bad guy to experience the consequences before the book is over - I know that that isn't what I'm supposed to get out of the book though, and that its real strength is the very last sentence.

The Danish title is "Silent Conversation", which I actually find a lot more poignant than the original "Speak".
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Good Things I Wish You
Author: A. Manette Ansay
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 254
Date read: July, 2009

Recently divorced Jeanette is trying to figure out how to juggle her book, her child, and suddenly being part of the "dating game" again. Especially the latter isn't going too well, until she meets German-born Hart. Although they both agree that the chemistry isn't there, they still feel some strange attraction, brought on - in part - by their mutual fascination by music.

As luck would have it, Jeanette's book is a fictionalized account of the lives of a German composer-trio, and she happily enlists Hart's assistance in translating letters and journal entries for her. Describing the friendship that grew between Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms during and after Robert Schumann's sickness and death, Jeanette is convinced the friendship was completely appropriate, and that any love between the two was purely platonic or even that of a mother and a son. Hart scoffs at this. "A man and a woman can never just be friends," he claims, and as if following his command, circumstances set out to attempt to prove him right.

Good Things I Wish You is a pleasant book and a quick read, but it is as if it can't really decide whether it wants to be a novel or a biography, so it twists and turns, and ends up becoming a bit of both. If I had any prior knowledge, or any personal interest in the lives of Clara and Johannes I think I would have absolutely adored this fictionalized account of their lives. As I don't have either, I couldn't help but feel that I was missing out on something, although it shows the quality of A. Manette Ansay's writing that I still enjoyed the book, and wasn't bored by the historical details. Instead I was charmed by the characters, and especially by the discovery of a book within the book.

Book List
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Knife
Author: R.J. Anderson
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 9/10
# pages: 317
Date read: January, 2009

Summary: As the Faery Queen's appointed Hunter, Knife alone has the courage and skill to fight the crows and other predators who threaten the Oakenfolk's survival. Yet neither she nor the Queen can do anything to stop a mysterious magical disease from claiming the faeries of the Oak one by one.

Knife determines to learn the truth about the Oakenfolk's relationship to humanity, no matter what the Queen might do to prevent her - a quest which threatens the growing friendship between herself and the human, Paul; puts both their lives in jeopardy, and challenges everything Knife has ever believed about humans, faeries, and her own heart's desire. And when at last Knife discovers the secret the Faery Queen has been hiding, she is forced to make an agonizing choice between love and freedom that will change her life, and the lives of her people, forever.

Review: Well, I originally bought this book because I know the author. Turned out that was a brilliant investment, because I can honestly say it's a book I would love to own no matter who had written it.

"Knife" is an alternate look on fairies from what we've seen in many recent books ("Tithe" and "Wondrous Strange" spring to mind), but - IMHO - a more 'correct' one (which makes no sense at all, I know, but bear with me). I loved being introduced to the life and society of the fairy court, and seeing the hesitant contact with humans grow into a strong friendship.

I loved it :-)

Book List
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Jamen, bad jeg da for lidt (But... Then Didn't I Pray Enough?)
Author: Leif Andersen
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Rating: 9/10
# pages: 93
Date read: January, 2009

Summary: Jesus has promised to give us everything we pray for. So why don't we always get it?

Did we pray wrong? Or pray too little? Or believe too little?

It goes without saying that this is one of the most difficult and most important issues in our life with God. Unfortunately it's also the cause of some of the most shallow and superficial cliches in the Christian tradition. And we all suffer under these quick and far too basic answers.

In his usual honest and direct manner, Leif Andersen takes the reader through the many difficult questions connected to prayers apparently left unanswered.

Review: Leif Andersen has a very down-to-earth way of explaining difficult topics, and this book is no exception. I do believe that God loves me personally and individually and I do believe He takes an interest in what happens to me and that prayers do make a difference - so why the apparent silence sometimes?

The answer is as straight-forward as they come - it's not that God remains silent and doesn't answer my prayers, but that He doesn't always answer them in the way I expect or would have preferred. But I can trust that they're always answered in the way that are ultimately best for me.

Interestingly and succinctly written, it's a quick read that I think will stay with me for quite awhile.

Book List
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Peaches
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Genre: YA
Rating: 8/10
# pages: 320
Date read: November, 2008

Summary: Three Georgia peaches are in for one juicy summer...
...but Birdie would rather eat Thin Mints and sulk in the A/C.
Leeda would prefer to sneak off with her boyfriend, Rex.
And Murphy would much rather cause a little mischief.

Together these three very different girls will discover the secret to finding the right boy, making the truest of friends, and picking the perfect Georgia peach.

Review: Sweet YA fiction, very similar in style to "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants", only this book lets us see the beginning of a friendship. How three very different girls, thrown together for a summer by circumstances, can become the most important people in each other lives. Mostly aimed at girls age 13-18, but well enough written that I'd recommend it to anybody who enjoys YA.

Book List
goodreads: (Default)
Title: Flowers in the Attic
Author: Virginia Andrews
Genre: suspense
Rating:
# pages: 385
Date read: October, 2007

Summary: The four Dollanganger children had such perfect lives -- a beautiful mother, a doting father, a lovely home. Then Daddy was killed in a car accident, and Momma could no longer support the family. So she began writing letters to her parents, her millionaire parents, whom the children had never heard of before.

Momma tells the children all about their rich grandparents, and how Chris and Cathy and the twins will live like princes and princesses in their grandparents' fancy mansion. The children are only too delighted by the prospect. But there are a few things that Momma hasn't told them.

She hasn't told them that their grandmother considers them "devil's spawn" who should never have been born. She hasn't told them that she has to hide them from their grandfather if she wants to inherit his fortune. She hasn't told them that they are to be locked away in an abandoned wing of the house with only the dark, airless attic to play in. But, Momma promises, it's only for a few days....

Then the days stretch into months, and the months into years. Desperately isolated, terrified of their grandmother, and increasingly convinced that their mother no longer cares about them, Chris and Cathy become all things to the twins and to each other. They cling to their love as their only hope, their only strength -- a love that is almost stronger than death.

Review: You'll notice the rating has been left empty. This is not an error, but because I honestly have no idea what I thought of the book. For ability to keep me captivated, it deserves a 10 - I could hardly tear myself away from it to go to work. For the way it made me feel, it deserves a 2 or a 3 - it made me physically sick to read, and several times I had to put it away, because I wanted to beat up the 'mother' and 'grandmother' (a mockery to the titles to call them that). For the plot itself, I guess it'd deserve around a 7, for being interesting, but not terribly original and very soap-opera'ish.

I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I want to read the other books in the series. Part of me would like to know what happens next, but from my experience with Virginia Andrews' books, they're likely to be 300+ pages of misery followed by 2-3 pages of happiness. Not really worth it, especially since interlibrary loan only has the first one (which is where I got it from), so I'd have to spend money on them.

Book List

Profile

goodreads: (Default)
goodreads

June 2025

S M T W T F S
1234567
891011 121314
15161718192021
22 232425262728
29 30     

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 9th, 2025 01:49
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios