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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.
The Forest Of Hours
bookshelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, sweden, published-1988, translation, trolls, war, lifestyles-deathstyles, epic-proportions, re-read, winter-20112012, adventure, amusing, medieval5c-16c, paper-read, plague-disease, bedside
Read from December 15, 2011 to February 17, 2012, read count: 2
Translated by Anna Paterson
opening - There was once an old crone, who lived in Oringen with her two grown up sons. They were called Granarv and Groning, and had never been among people.
Skörd translates as 'crop'
HERE is all you need to know about trolls (hattip Sun online newspaper on the success of TROLL HUNTER in UK)...
It's a common misconception that all trolls are giant. Dwarf trolls do exist. They are equally grumpy and look like bats without wings.
A new-style troll is an internet bully who posts inflammatory remarks on online message boards. A nasty business, agreed. But remember the old adage: 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me'. Old-style trolls do use sticks and stones - and they will mash your bones into a rich stew.
Trolls only come out at night. Learn from the hero of JRR Tolkien's famous tome, The Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins was just about to be nobbled by three blood-thirsty trolls when dawn broke and his assailants were all turned to stone by sunlight. Rock on.[!]
Trolls are mystical creatures from Norse mythology. You already know they are ugly and savage, but you may not have heard they are unchristian — and petrified of the chime of church bells. It makes sense, Quasimodo may have had back issues but never a problem with trolls.
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Ron Weasley uses Wingardium Leviosa to disarm an angry troll, who is then KOd by his own club. Sadly, few troll-hunting Muggles have these magical dark arts at their disposal - and that often spells disaster.
It is a myth that all trolls live UNDER bridges. In fact very few do, most live in caves or on desolate wasteland. The Three Billy Goats Gruff either got really unlucky or a mischievous Norwegian was spinning us a yarn with that particular fairytale.
Given their bulk, trolls need a high protein diet. A troll's favourite recipe is a nasty stew made of 'the mashed bones of humans' and unspecified 'other meaty things'.'
If you are a child of the modern era you may think trolls have tusks sticking out of their head, study voodoo and speak in a Jamaican accent. Stop it now, you have been playing too much World Of Warcraft. It's a made-up computer game. Trolls are real.
Shrek is not a troll, he is an ogre.
Asked the difference between a troll and an ogre in a pub quiz, do not say: "About four or five pints."
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“The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.”
― Joseph Joubert
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