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Bettie's Books

A Stuga On the Cusp of the Orust Riviera, tucked away next to a hobbit hole in the woods.

Leopard VI: The Norwegian Feeling for Real - Harald Bache-Wiig, Birgit Bjerck, Jan Kjarstad Who doesn't like the cover (excluding Scott from Utah of course); an extra star right there!1. On An Old Farmstead in Europe by Hans Herbjörnsrud, translated by Liv Irene Myhre. A recounting of one of Norway's oldest myths 'Blind Margjit and the Man with the Eyes'.2. The Dogs in Thessaloniki by Kjell Askildsen, translated by Agnes Scott Langeland. Pug-Ugly domestic scenario.3. Ice by Roy Jacobsen, translated by Kenneth Steven. Had to read this one eyes through splayed fingers. Excellent suspense.4. The Cock and Mr. Gopher by Jonny Halberg, translated by Don Bartlett. Culinary addiction.5. I Could Not Tell You by Jon Fosse, translated by May-Britt Akerholdt. blergh - s.o.c. affected shite.6. Cows by Lars Amund Vaage, translated by Nadia Christensen. Well that was a dairy farmer's wet dream but no more entries like that, I hope.7. The Last Beat Poets in Mid-Hordland by Ragnar Hovland, translated by James Anderson. Lovely story.8. The Jealous Barber by Lars Saabye Christensen, translated by Kenneth Steven. A psychological thriller that was noirly amusing in its absurdity.Just when I am mentally composing the end rant about the lack of female writers here, next up is a goodie:9. The Pillar by Karin Fossum translated by Robert Ferguson. Bullying father reveals his fecklessness.10. The Catalogue by Jostein Gaarder and translated by James Anderson. Superb piece of nihilism surrounding an every leap-year global publication.11. A Good Heart by Karin Sveen and translated by Katherine Hanson. Crofting community and the question of hand-me-downs ♥♥♥12. The Motif Herbjørg Wassmo and translated by Donna H Stockton. Not so much!13. Dublin in the Rain by Frode Grytten and translated by Peter Cripps.14. I'm Asleep by Tor Ulven and translated by Sverre Lyngstad. Lots of individual ideas to ponder upon here, however, does that make a good story?, I don't think so.This is the most 'quotable snippets' entry but I cannot recommend it as a whole.15. Love by Hanne ørstavik and translated by James AndersonA path runs into the forest, from a secret, forgotten place.If you can only find it, your body will follow its trace.Past trees and flowers and anthills and up to a castle so rare,In the castle sit three damsels, fabulous, fine and fair.For the prince they sit there waiting, naybe he'll come one day,They're singing a song in the meantime, a lilting, lugubrious lay.16. The Man Who Collected the First of September, 1973 by Tor Åge Bringsværd and translated by Oddrun Grønvik.17. A Forgotten Petunia by Bjørg Vik and translated by Don Bartlett.18. Deep Need - Instant Nausea by Trude Marstein and translated by Don Bartlett.19. The Story of the Short Story by Kjartan Fløgstad and translated by Sverre Lyngstad.20. Life of a Trapper by Gro Dahle and translated by Katherine Hanson.21. It's So Damned Quiet Øystein Lønn, trans by Steven T. Murray.22. Veranda With Sun Laila Stein, Katherine Hanson22. Homecoming Jan Kjæstad, Sverre Lyngstad23. The Long Trip by Beate Grimsrud, translated by Angela Shury-Smith-------------------------------------Edited by Harald Bache-Wiig, Birgit Bjerck and Jan Kjærstad.Introduction by Harald Bache-Wiig.----------------------------------------Now a good thing about anthologies is that you can get a taster, a little peek at an unknown writer. Having enjoyed #3 I have ordered a book by Roy Jacobsen about the northern war.