Top Ten Books of 2023

I don't expect to finish any more books this year, so I'm ready to call it now :-)

Not counting rereads or novel-length fanfics - my top ten of 2023.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna Just utterly charming and I think possibly the best book of the year. I think I first heard about it on TikTok and immediately downloaded it, as it totally sounded like something I would enjoy. An enjoyable stand-alone novel that's well worth the hype. The Witch is Back - Sophie H. Morgan I stumbled upon this at The Strand in NYC and was immediately charmed by both the cover and the back blurb. Fortunately it lived up to my expectations, and is once again a rare stand-alone fantasy novel. Queen's Gambit - Walter Tevis Every bit as good as the Netflix series, and I'm utterly amazed at how the author managed to make chess strategy sound interesting even to somebody who only know the bare bones of the game. Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree Touted as a "cozy fantasy" which meant I had to see what that was all about. It lived up to the description, in being a fantasy with extremely low stakes, where the main part of the plot was establishing a coffee shop and having it thrive. I've recently gotten my hands on the prequel, which promises to be even more up my aisle, as it takes place in a book shop! The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood SO hyped that I was very reluctant to read it, but I came across a very cheap copy, so decided to give it a try. It turned out that it deserved the hype, and was yet another example of the fake dating trope done right. Really sweet, and even the 3rd act conflict was handled in a believable manner. Christmas Every Day - Beth Moran Despite the titel - not actually a Christmas book! Cozy book filled with small town charm, descriptions of turning a house into a home, and even a book club thrown into the mix! A Deadly Education - Naomi Novik A very pleasant surprise! Harry Potter if Hogwarts had no professors and the castle itself was filled with evil monsters out to get you. The writing style took some getting used to, as it was more tell than show, but it actually worked with the atmosphere of the book, and I sped my way through it. It's the first in a trilogy, with the second book every bit as good as the first - unfortunately I have yet to receive the third from the library. Soon, I hope! Crumbs - Danie Stirling An absolutely ADORABLE graphic novel. It can be read for free on Webtoons, and I highly recommend you go google it. I knew I had to own it for my physical library though, and fortunately my sisters were kind enough to gift it to me for my birthday. Love at First Psych - Cara Bastone I think this is probably my favourite since "Call Me Maybe". Just utterly sweet. Kys din kæreste på rejsen - Pia Konstantin Berg Set in the time of covid and the first lock-down. One of the few Danish books I've read this year. It came highly recommended by Nina and did not disappoint. I laughed my way through it, and loved Caroline's unlikely friendship with John.

2023 Playlist

I have listened to a LOT of different music this year, so getting this down to just 22 songs was difficult! As always a lot of the songs have been inspired by friends, and unlike last year Eurovision Song Contest provided some good numbers too :-D
1. Let Go, Let God - Jack Cassidy
We'll start with one recommended to me by Simon. He remains my biggest supplier of awesome Christian music, and I absolutely adore this one.
"I'm learning to let go and let God
Show me how to be me
Your yoke is easy
Your burden is light
My daily bread and my daily delight
I'm learning to let go and let God
So I can be the real me."

2. Warrior of the Mind - Jorge Rivera-Herrans
This was a random TikTok find. I didn't quite get the full story, but apparently Jorge Rivera-Herrans was writing a musical, and holding open auditions on TikTok? Something like that anyway. Whatever the reason, the music totally grabbed me and refused to let me go again. There are a number of awesome songs on the 'soundtrack', but this is my favourite.

3. 90s CCM Medley - Anthem Lights
Simon sent this to me as a joke (I think), but I unironically love it! I knew all the songs ahead of time, and it brought me right back to youth group in New Zealand. Of course I had to add it!

4. I Don't Care - Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
Random listen on the radio. I'm usually not a fan of neither Ed Sheeran nor Justin Bieber, but apparently two minuses makes a plus :-P This is ridiculously catchy.

5. The Rock I'm On - Ross King
"I’m not saying my faith is in danger
You don’t have to worry that i’m tryin’
To quit, but i got sadness confusion and anger…
But the only way to know if your foundation’s
Gonna hold is when your house falls down…
it’s a hard hard life but nothings harder than the rock I’m on."
Some people try to claim that it's blasphemy to question God or be mad at Him, and to that I call BS. He can handle our anger and our questions, and in some cases it's the only way to move forward. It's not a crisis of faith - it's a natural part of being human. And it is SO RARE to see that concept being represented in song.

6. Dance the Night - Dua Lipa
I'd heard this long before I got around to seeing the Barbie movie, and love its energy. But then, I do tend to like songs by Dua Lipa, so it doesn't surprise me that this is no exception.

7. Eurovusion (Open Up) - Two Hearts
New Zealand's (spoof) entry for ESC 2023 - complaining why they can't join when Australia can. I had to add it for the amazing Kiwi accent alone!

8. Love Moved First - Casting Crowns
I can't have one of these lists without a song by Casting Crowns! And in fact, this is the perfect answer to "The Rock I'm On" mentioned above:
"You didn't wait for me to find my way to You
I couldn't cross that distance even if I wanted to
You came running after me
When anybody else would've turned and left me at my worst
Love moved first."

9. My Universe - Coldplay
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Coldplay. Some of their songs I absolutely LOVE -- others leave me depressed, and I have to turn it off after just a few bars. They came to Denmark this summer for a couple of concerts, and SO MANY of my friends went to hear them, so they've been more at the forefront of my mind recently. There aren't all that many songs from their new album that I'm into, but this is the odd one out, and I've found myself listening to it quite a bit. It's SUCH an earworm though!

10. 10x Better - Marielle Kraft
A random TikTok find that immediately appealled to me.

11. Shoot Tequila - Tigirlily Gold
I'm kinda surprised by how much I like this one, but it totally works for me! Also a random TikTok find.

12. All That Matters - Gateway Youth
Definite has a pop-queen/diva sound, but though the lyrics are simple, they really boil down to the heart of the matter. "Jesus, you're all that matters. Who you are is all that matters. Loving you is all that matters."

13. Still - Steve Curtis Chapman
I first discovered Steve Curtis Chapman back in 1996 and loved his music. Somehow I'd forgotten to keep up with him in recent years, so I was really pleased when Simon sent me this one earlier this year.

14. Guard Your Heart - 1GN
Sometimes Simon knows exactly what song I need to hear, and makes sure to send it to me. I once told him that I think he thinks more highly of me than I do. "That sounds like a 'you' problem."

15. This Is Halloween - The Nightmare Before Christmas
Would you believe that I'd never seen the movie until this year? I wasn't too impressed by the movie as a whole, but this song is terribly catchy! I first heard it in November as a friend's choir sang it for their Christmas concert, and was immediately sold!

16. Worry - Building 429
"Don't worry your life away" :-P Building 429 is a fairly new discovery, but so far I've liked most everything I've come across by them.

17. I Want Out - Renee
Awesome beat that I loved from the first time I heard it. Not my usual sound, but there are always one or two of those, where I wouldn't normally think they were my cup of tea at all, but they just work. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's got awesome lyrics as well.
"I want out of this prison
Jesus, knock these stone walls down."

18. First Things First - Consumed by Fire
Awesome song of worship that Simon introduced me to. It's juuust borderline too melancholic in sound, but stays on the right side, so I can enjoy the sound rather than get depressed by it. It's a song I can sink into, and is almost meditative in nature.

19. I Choose You - Planetshakers
At the other end of the spectrum, this is an awesomely energetic song of worship :-D. A random spotify suggestion. It's definitely got a Hillsong vibe, so I immediately took to it :-)

20. Someone in the Crowd - La La Land
Somehow I never got around to watching La La Land until this year. A friend of mine spoke very highly of it, so we watched it together one evening. I really loved this song (although not so much the instrumental part - it makes sense in the movie but is a bit long when just listening to the song), and it brings back good memories of making a new friend, so on this list it goes! So just pretend the song is only 1:30 minutes long (the first minute and the last 30 seconds) instead of 4:19 :P

21. Solo - BLANKA
Poland's entry at ESC. I love the sound. It never fails to make me sit and tap my feet in time to the music, which makes it an automatic contender for this list.

22. Our Song - Taylor Swift
Ending with an upbeat song - this is probably one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs. The lyrics are really sweet, and the music fits :-) I've listened to it a lot this year, so it seems a fitting song to wrap up the list.

Top Ten Books I Read in 2022

Unfortunately it's been a bit of a "meh" reading year, with the best books being rereads, but I did manage to find some books that deserve a mention :-)

In no particular order...

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton (also published as "7½ deaths..."). I didn't know I needed a time-travelling detective in my Agatha Christie'esque novels, but it totally worked. This became the book I've recommended the most all year. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club - Sophie Green I came for the title, I stayed for the setting. Those of you who watched "Flying Doctors" back in the 90s will definitely see shades of Cooper's Crossing. The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan. Such a charming book! And the fact that it was set in Edinburgh didn't hurt at all. Heartstopper - Alice Oseman I liked the TV series a tiiiiny bit more, but the books are super cute too! The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes I read the first one in a day! Simply couldn't put it down. Right up my aisle with all the riddles along the way. I loved book two as well, and am really hoping book three lives up to it :-D Beach Read - Emily Henry Emily Henry has been a bit hit and miss for me (I did not care for "People We Meet On Vacation" at all), but this one was terrific. Really sweet, and the people actually COMMUNICATED for once! Gasp! One of Us is Lying - Karen M. McManus Surprisingly good YA crime novel. It captured my attention completely, and I immediately went out to find the next book in the series. Midlife Magic - Victoria Danann The shortest 500 page book I've ever read! I loved book 2 as well, but after that lost a bit of interest, unfortunately. I may pick up the series again eventually. No Roses in June - Essie Summers "The Sound of Music"(first half) set in New Zealand? What's not to like! On the Island - Tracey Garvis-Graves Another book I finished in a day. While I can see its flaws, it just worked for me. Robinson Crusoe'esque plots always fascinate me, and this was no exception. I read it as an e-book and immediately added it to my physical library.

Playlist 2022

No songs from the Eurovision Song Contest this year :-( To our great disappointment, none of them had any staying power. Think that's the first time since I started making these playlists. But as usual my list is heavily inspired by Simon and Lars :-D My list is slightly longer than usual, but it was hard enough to boil down as it was - no way I could get it down further!
Link, in case the embedding stops working.

1. Ex-Wives / Get Down - Six
I tried SO hard to chose between these too, but I just couldn't. They're both brilliant and SO different. I went to see the musical together with Isabella and while I loved most of the songs, these two were by far my favourites. "Ex-Wives" is an excellent introduction to the story, and the entire atmosphere of "Get Down" is just fantastic. Love the music, love the lyrics. I mean, getting "tricked ya" to rhyme with "profile picture" - genius!

2. Surface Pressure - Encanto
Encanto had the best songs of any Disney movie I've seen in a LONG time. I love the energy of "The Family Madrigal", but it really works best when you know the movie. This song works on so many different levels, and having "being strong" (whether physically or mentally) as your entire self image is something I think many people can relate to.

3. Crazy People - Casting Crowns
Back in February Lars and I were going on our first post-COVID vacation, and my anxiety was acting up BIG time. Nina sent me this song, and I listened to it on repeat all the way from our house to the airport. It worked wonders, and I grew to love it!
Crazy people trust in Jesus
Following Him wherever He leads us
Kingdom seekers, walk by faith believers
Here's the church, here's the steeple, here's to all God's crazy people

4. W.I.T.C.H - Devon Cole
To the best of my knowledge, this song originated on TikTok as a "sing along to this" challenge, and just exploded from there. I followed its process with interest, partly because I think it's an interesting story, partly because I loved the vibe of the song. Fortunately the final product delivered :-D

5. See Me Through It - Brandon Heath
A random discovery via Spotify. "I know You're gonna see me through it - If anybody can, You can do it"

6. Provider - Cade Thompson
Just as always, Simon has heavily influenced my listening this year - this time with a new-to-me artist. This is another one of those songs that I keep considering removing from the yearly playlist, but then when I go to listen to it "just to be sure", I change my mind all over again X-D

7. Maybe You're the Problem - Ava Max
Ava Max is hit-or-miss for me, but when she's good, she's really good. This isn't actually my usual fare, but I love the progression of "And I think you should take a second just to look at your reflection", so even though I considered removing it from this playlist several times, I just couldn't...

8. Refuge - Skillet
Simon's sent me several Skillet songs this year, and while I've liked them all, this would have to be my favourite.
I can face my darkest night
'Cause I trust You with my life
I'm not afraid, for You are my refuge

9. We Own Tonight - New Kids on the Block
I'm delighted to be able to add a new NKOTB song again! But somehow I'd completely missed that they'd released a new album! (Back in 2013! Embarrassing!). As always there are a ton of good songs on it, but right now this is my favourite, although I had a hard time choosing between this and "The Whisper".

10. 3 O'Clock Things - AJR
One of Brenda's entries last year, and it immediately spoke to me. First of all, it's got that unusual style that just immediately appeals to me (there are a few of these every year, where I can't explain why I love it, but I just do), and secondly ANY overthinker will recognize the fact that 3 o'clock is the worst time for random thoughts...

11. Bible Verses - Blake Shelton
I have NOT been able to get the chorus out of my head since I first heard it.
That I can open up that good book
And Heaven don't look like it's out of reach
When it feels like those apostles are giving me the gospel
And not the third degree
I just want it to read
Like Bible verses and not the Bible versus me
Fortunately I don't really feel that way myself, but even so, it still struck a chord deep within, and I love it.

12. Limousine - Little Sis Nora
Lars first introduced me to AronChupa / Little Sis Nora (a brother/sister pair) with "I'm An Albatraoz" back in 2017 or so. They're the kind of duo I love to hate - or hate to love. I pretty much always have to get used to their songs before I really like them, but since Lars absolutely loves them and plays their music over and over and over... Well - I tend to end up having to add their songs to my playlist after all.

13. Not Finished Yet - Building 429
I discovered Building 429 a few years ago - perhaps from the War Room soundtrack? Anyway, they're definitely a group to keep track of, as their songs tend to speak to me on several levels. The music here is catchy as, and I love the lyrics.
Child, lay down your sorrows,
'Cause I'm not finished yet!

14. A Little Faith - Riley Clemmons
I'm getting total 90s Amy Grant vibes here! But since that when I fell in love with her music, I'm all for it :-D I discovered Riley Clemmons last year, and she's definitely become a singer to look out for.

15. Hot mess - Zoe Clark
I actually think this was a TikTok discovery as well... Telling on myself here ;) But it makes me sit and dance in my chair, so it clearly works for me.

16. Teeth - 5 Seconds of Summer
I've never watched "13 Reasons Why", so I have absolutely no clue how I came across this song. It could pretty much only have been TikTok or a random Spotify weekly discovery. I keep saying I should get better at writing these things down, and I keep absolutely forgetting to do so X-D Again, I can't explain why I like it so much, as it's really not the kind of music I usually listen to, but there always seem to be a few of those. The start has a DEFINITELY ESC vibe, so that might be part of it.

17. Fear No More - The Afters
Another recommendation from Simon. A beautiful reminder that
You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night
You're my strength 'cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight
You are greater than the battle raging in my mind
I will trust You Lord, I will fear no more

18. Build a Boat - Colton Dixon
Colton Dixon is a fairly new discovery, but right up my aisle. I think I'd heard this all of twice before I knew it had to go on this list.

19. Lose My Cool - Faustix w. Klara Hammarström
Lars introduced me to this song earlier in the fall. I love its vibe :-) And he's always so pleased when I add songs here because of him ;-)

20. Happy Day - Tim Hughes
I recently started talking music with another colleague of mine, and he immediately endeared himself to me by sending me links to some of his favourite songs. I already loved this song, as we've been singing it at Hillsong Church, but I'd forgotten to actually add it to my playlist, so I'm very grateful to Yun for reminding me of it :-D

21. End of Time (Taste of Heaven) - Keiino
Keiino was a contestant at Eurovision Song Contest a few years back, and both Lars and I loved their sound. Since then Lars keeps up with any new songs they put out, and with very few exceptions I've liked all of them. Since I won't have an actual ESC entry here this year, I figure this one will have to do ;)

22. How Can You Not - Leanna Crawford
Simon sent me this and it was love at first sight... eh, listen.
I see the sunset and I wonder
If he paints it just for me
Nobody else could make a world so beautiful
How could I question his love when
It's everywhere I go
Wherever I look I find another miracle

Seems like a good song to end this list on :-)

Top 5 Christmas Books and Movies

'Tis the season....

I haven't read enough (good) Christmas books to make a full top ten, so this will be five books, five movies.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Trisha Ashley Trisha Ashley has written a TON of really excellent Christmas books, so I could pretty much have filled this list up with books by her alone! This one is by far my favourite though, as it's heavy on descriptions of Christmas planning, which always serve to put me in a Christmassy mood. ("One More Christmas at the Castle" may end up being a close second, but I haven't finished that one yet, so I'll stick with this one.) The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson I first discovered this as a kid, and find myself returning to it on a regular basis. It's a quick read (took me 30 minutes to read) and utterly delightful. (As an aside, this is one of those few situations where I think I like the Danish title better than the English one :-D Directly translated it's "Mary, Joseph and the Herdman Children") In a Holidaze - Christina Lauren Groundhog day meets Christmas chick-lit. It was delightful and adorable and charming. I loved the traditions and I loved the family feel of it. The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan Christmas in Edinburgh? Don't mind if I do! And add detailed Christmas preparations in a delightful bookshop and cute nieblings to the mix, and I'm sold :-D The Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder Most of the Little House books has some form of Christmas described, but I think this first one is my favourite. I love the descriptions of the preparations that take place, and have discovered that Christmas preperations is basically a must in a book to make it a decent Christmas read for me. Single All the Way A new find, but possibly the best Christmas movie I've seen - period! I adored every part about it. The best friends, the family who actually LIKE each other, the love-triangle that never happens, the main couple who just happens to be gay and it's not a big deal. Yes, yes, yes! This will definitely be a regular rewatch! (Netflix) Klaus I wasn't quite sure about this one at first, but it is completely delightful. A really sweet Christmas movie that's perhaps more traditional than some of the others on this list. (Netflix) While You Were Sleeping Not the entire movie, but that one scene where Lucy celebrates Christmas with Peter's family, and she just sits and hugs her present tight - not even opening it - while enjoying all the family shenanigans going on around her? Gets me every single time! (Disney+) The Knight Before Christmas Totally predictable, but SO sweet! I was greatly amused by seeing how Sir Cole got used to the 21st century, and liked that people were just generally NICE. No needless drama. (Netflix) The Christmas Chronicles Most Christmas movies (Klaus being an obvious exception) seem to be rom-coms, but I really liked that the focus here was on siblings instead. Great movie that really managed to capture the right Christmas atmosphere for me. (Netflix)

Deweys Readathon - October 2022

T-3 (11:00) It's that time of year again! The October 2022 readathon is starting in just three hours, and I'm busy getting everything ready before my partners in crime arrive. I definitely get less actual reading done, the more people we are, but it's SO much more cozy! So I'm very happy with the trade-off. Today I'll be joined by my parents, Rebekka, Michala, Rosa and Henriette! They're arriving in just over 2 hours, so time to start getting organized! The meals are in the crockpots (pulled pork and vegetarian sloppy joes), so I just need to do the last bit of tidying up and getting all the books out!

T-30 minutes (13:30) Everybody has arrived, so it's time to do our modified version of the "Getting to know you" survey!

1. Where are you reading from today? My library, as per usual.... more specifically: Lyngby, Denmark.
2. List a random fact about yourself: Mum: If I read through 2 books today I reach 100 books for the year! Dad: I have two hands? Maria: I "accidentally" read my readathon book last week, so now I have to find another one... oh the hardship ;-) Rosa: I have sooooo many books in my TBR-pile, but if I know myself, I'm only going to get to read one of them! Rebekka: Story of my life! I have a cold :-( Not Corona though! Henriette: I cannot read upside down (in response to Dad saying that he can - but that was his random fact last year, so he wanted to find a new one ;-) ) Michala: I'm probably going to fall asleep! I think I've taken naps at more readathons than I haven't.
3. How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the readathon? Mum: Six Dad: Three Henriette: One and a half Maria: Eh... 10? Plus all the ones on the shelves. Rosa: Five Rebekka: Five Michala: Eight
4. Which book are you going to start with? Mum: "Da mor var dreng" (old Danish book) Dad: Chipped Henriette: "Det tavse vidende" Maria: I haven't decided yet!!!! Rosa: Heartstopper volume 2 Rebekka: Meet me in the Margins Michala:
5. Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon? Mum: Read two books! Dad: Not really Henriette: Nah Maria: Read more than last time Rosa: Finish "It Stars With Us" Rebekka: Read a book! Dad: What she said! Michala: Not really
6. What snack are you most looking forward to? Mum: What did Rebekka bring? Rosa: It's a secret!!! Dad: Fazermints Henriette: Macarons Maria: The pistachios that are half gone already! Oooh! Rebekka's macarons (Rosa just went to get them!) Rosa: Macarons and chips! Rebekka: Macarons Michala: Macarons

Hour 3 (17:00): Three hours in and a lot of the snacks have been devoured. Rebekka's macarons were sooooo good!!!! She made three different flavours - black current, strawberry and passionfruit. They were all yummy, but passionfruit was by far my favourite. Yum!!! I finished my first book (and old Danish favourite from my childhood) about an hour ago, and am now about 60 pages into the second one - book 7 in the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. Mixi's reading graphic novels this time around, and is close to finishing book 3!! Everybody else is still on their first book, although Rosa's getting very close!! Mini-challenge of the hour: Best (and worst) film adaptation of a book? Mum: Best: Lord of the Rings Dad: Best: Harry Potter. Worst: Disney adaptations of Jules Verne's novels - back in the 60s) Henriette: Best: Lord of the Rings Maria: Best: The Martian. Worst: either "Ender's Game" or "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Both amazing books and abysmal movies. Rosa: Best: Harry Potter. I don't think I have a worst. Rebekka: Best: Either Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings Michala: Best: Lord of the Rings. Worst: My Sister's Keeper - they changed the ending completely, and made it SO tacky. Books read: "Anak fra Østen" - Estrid Ott, "Where the Drowned Girls Go" - Seanan McGuire, "Two Can Keep a Secret" - Karen McManus "Dear Enemy" - Jean Webster, "Maus", "Ella Minnow Pea" - Mark Dunn Currently reading:

My Reading Year, 2021

Total number of books: 123
# Rereads: 56 / 46%

# Physical Books on my Shelves by End of Year: 1213 (-64 ...thanks to my MAJOR declutter in August)
# TBR: 213 (+12 ...I'll DEFINITELY need to do something about that this year!)
Longest Book (not counting fanfics or omnibusses): Blue Smoke - Nora Roberts (440 pages)
Shortest Book (not counting short stories or graphic novels): Wine's Up? - Wendy Meadows (104 pages)

Average rating: 3.9

Best New Series:
For the Love of Purple by Audrey Faye. But then, I love pretty much anything she writes!
Love Lines by Cara Bastone. I've read two so far, and they were both very, very sweet.

Abandoned Books
None, but I have some on my "currently-reading" shelf that I probably ought to abandon... at least temporarily.

Worst Book(s) of the Year
* Bear, Otter and the Kid - T.J. Klune. I was so disappointed by this! I usually love everything he writes!
* The Road Trip - Beth O'Leary. Waaaay too depressing for what I thought was supposed to be a feel-good book.
* Little Lady Agency - Hester Browne. I was listening to this as an audiobook, but ended up finishing this as an e-book, as I just couldn't stomach any more of Melissa's father or her insecurity.

---

Awards: Worst Book That Everybody Raved About: "Under the Whispering Door" by T.J. Klune. I didn't dislike it, but just found it very average - and since everybody else seems to rave about it, that was very disappointing.

Best Book I Would Never Have Read If Somebody Online Hadn't Told Me To: "Magic Uncorked" by Annabel Chase. Unfortunately I can no longer remember who told me about this 'midlife magic' genre (Paula? I think it was probably you?), but I was instantly interested, and fortunately this, my first forey into that genre, was right up my aisle!

Book read furthest away from home (vacation reads?): I didn't really travel all that far this year, so I guess it will have to be "The Holiday Cruise" by Victoria Cooke, read in the summer house Mum and Dad rented in Jutland.

Book that took you the longest to read: "The Selected Journals of LMM, Volume 1". Granted, I read this in fits and starts, but it took me half a year to read.

Book you read on your birthday: "Oddball" by Sarah Andersen. An ARC I received of a new comic by one of my favourite authors.

Book you read in 2021 but already want to re-read: "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir! I basically considered turning right around and starting all over again the minute I finished it.

Most books read by one author this year:
Counting rereads: Debora Geary (21 as herself, another 5 as Audrey Faye)
Not counting rereads: A tie between Audrey Faye and T.J. Klune (4 each)

Favourite new author you discovered Mhairi McFarlane.

Biggest Tear-Jerker: "Last Night" by Mhairi McFarlane.

Epic that Completely Captured my Attention: "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. Not sure that it quite counts as an epic, but at almost 500 pages, it's certainly not SHORT either!

Best Memoir: "The 52 Week Project" by Lauren Keenan. Half memoir, half happiness project. Granted, I'm definitely biased (I featured in the book on numerous occasions!), but I'd like to believe I'd have loved it anyway, as it's up my aisle, even putting aside the fact that the author's one of my best friends.

Best Travel Book: "The Little Brooklyn Bakery" by Julie Caplin. I know it's fiction - and not even high fiction at that! - but the book made me feel like I was in NYC while reading it - and that's quite a feat!

Best Paranormal for Grownups: "Magic Uncorked" by Annabel Chase. Apparently there's an entire genre of people finding magic in their 40s. This is the only one I've read so far, but I loved it and am DEFINITELY going to look out for more!

Book you said you'd come back to but still haven't picked up again: "And All the Stars" by Andrea K. Höst. I started reading this back in April, and still haven't finished. It's even a reread and I loved it the first time I read it, so I have no clue what's happening here. Wrong book at the wrong time, I guess.

Book read the quickest after receiving it: "The Beginner's Guide to Loneliness" by Laura Bambrey. I started it 10 minutes after purchasing it, and finished it in less than 24 hours. Definitely a case of right book at the right time.

Book you wish you could go back and read for the first time again: "A Modern Witch" by Debora Geary. *sigh*

Book you "pushed" the most people to read: "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. I started raving about it even before I finished it, and have currently pushed it to 3 sisters, 1 niece, both parents and 3 colleagues! :-D

Book you're most excited about in 2022: "Meet Me In the Margins" by Melissa Ferguson (expected publication: Feb 15th). Granted, I've read it already, but I loved it so much that I can't wait for it to be published, so I can push it on everybody else as well. Also, I want a physical copy for my library :-D

Top Ten Books I Read in 2021

This was a surprisingly difficult list to make, as I've reread a LOT, and I never count rereads for these lists. And unfortunately, when it comes to new reads, it's been a bit of a 'meh' reading year this year. But fortunately I did find some new reads that were absolutely outstanding, and became instant favourites.
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir Without a doubt the best book I've read all year. It blew me away and left me book-hungover in a way I haven't experienced in AGES! Am VERY glad to have gotten a physical copy of this one for my library!
Meet Me in the Margins - Melissa Ferguson An ARC I received earlier this year (it'll be out in February sometime). Really sweet romance with definite shades of "You've Got Mail". Loved it!
Call Me Maybe - Cara Bastone An Audible origins, meaning it was free with my subscription. Would absolutely have been worth money though. Another really sweet chick-lit that worked perfectly as an audiobook (read by two narrators). (The companion novel, "Sweet Talk" is also well worth listening to :-D )
If I Never Met You - Mhairi McFarlane Somehow I'd managed to get this far without ever coming across any of Mhairi McFarlane's books! HUGE mistake, and one I have made sure to remedy since then. This is by far my favourite, and yet another book that I immediately wanted to add to my physical library.
Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall Very cute and charming book, that had me laughing out loud more than once. Apparently I'm a huge fan of faux romances ;-)
Whiteout- Adriana Anders Not very realistic, but a good yarn, so I enjoyed it all the same.
The Little Brooklyn Bakery - Julie Caplin Mostly on this list because it was such a charming depiction of NYC that it made me completely "homesick" for it. I'll have to reread it just before our next visit, as it included some (as far as I could tell) real places, I want to go see.
Magic Uncorked - Annabel Chase Definitely a matter of the right book at the right time, but a witch who does magic through cocktails? I am so there for it! Also, I love reading about people who learn how to polish their spine.
Blue - Audrey Faye Audrey Faye's new trilogy, "For the Love of Purple", is just as charming as pretty much everything else she has written. This is the second book in the trilogy, and definitely the one I liked best... possibly because I found it easier to identify with Blue than with both Indigo and Violet.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness Until now I had been less than impressed by Patrick Ness' books, but this is definitely the exception that proves the rule. The story is brilliantly written, with a clever use of "Easter eggs" that I didn't notice until a few chapters down the line, and then had to go back and reread bits and pieces to make sure I got it all.

Playlist 2021

So... this is an unusual year. I've actually been listening to a LOT of different music this year, so it's been a lot harder to boil it down to my usual 20'ish. However, as usual the playlist is heavily influenced by music that Lars and my colleagues have introduced me to ;-)


Hopefully the embedding will work, otherwise the link is here.

1. Truth Be Told - Matthew West feat. Carly Pearce I think this has been my 'anthem' for the year. Simon recommended it to me back at the start of the year, and it just hit all the right notes. (No pun intended). I cried the first time I heard it, but it's incredibly empowering and I love it.
I say, "I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine"
But I'm not, I'm broken
And when it's out of control I say it's under control
But it's not and You know it
I don't know why it's so hard to admit it
When being honest is the only way to fix it
There's no failure, no fall
There's no sin You don't already know
So let the truth be told

2. Revolutionary - Josh Wilson I believe this was a random find via Spotify, but it quickly became one of my favourites. I love both the lyrics and the beat of it. And as we're fighting the stigma of "Christians" who seem to have forgotten the golden rule, it seems very apropos.
Why does kindness seem revolutionary
When did we let hate get so ordinary
Let's turn it around, flip the script
Judge slow, love quick
God help us get revolutionary
....
What would Jesus do
He would love first
So we should love first

3. Steady - Natalie Layne Soooo.... I found this song on TikTok :-P And yes, I immediately went to Spotify to add it to my playlist there.

4. Quarantine Life - Matthew West .... come on, you know I had to!

5. Hindsight - Hillsong Young & Free There's always at least one song by Hillsong on these lists, and this year is no different. I love the lyrics here:
My God isn't finished yet
If He did it before He can do it again
So I'll trust Him with what comes next
For the God I know is known for faithfulness
...
My hindsight says I can trust Him with what's next.

6. Praying - Keiino Lars and I 'discovered' Keiino at a Eurovision song contest a few years ago, and Lars especially has been a fan of them ever since. Most of their songs I can take or leave, but this one I really like :-D

7. Over and Over - Riley Clemmons According to Spotify this was my no. 1 most played song this year! Guess that automatically earns it a spot on this list (even if it was mostly because it was one of the first songs I discovered). Also a recommendation from Simon.

8. survivin' - Bastille I always look forward to checking out Brenda's yearly playlists, because she always has some awesome songs on it. This was one of my favourites, mostly due to the lyrics. 2020 and 2021 has definitely required all of us to drawn on strengths we hadn't expected to.

9. OK Not To Be OK - Marshmello feat. Demi Lovato. Another song from Brenda. The title basically says it all, but the lyrics of the chorus ("... you feel too exhausted to pray") really spoke to me. This one and "Truth Be Told" has a lot of similarities and resonated with me for many of the same reasons.
When you're high on emotion
And you're losing your focus
And you feel too exhausted to pray
Don't get lost in the moment
Or give up when you're closest
All you need is somebody to say
It's okay not to be okay

10. Shake Yourself Loose - Vickie Winans Yes, I know that this is a blatant ripoff of "Shackles (Praise You)", but come on!!! How can you NOT dance in your seat when listening to it?!

11. Are You Lonely - Steve Aoki Lars has been listening to this as LOT this year. At first I couldn't quite decide what I thought of it, but it definitely grew on me :-)

12. Devil is a Liar - Colton Dixon Spotify is getting a LOT better at anticipating my tastes. This was on its "Weekly Spotify" list back in the summer sometime, and became an instant favourite.

13. Help Is On The Way - TobyMac I "discovered" TobyMac a few years ago, and knew I had to check out more of their music. This grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go again.
Well I've seen my share of troubles
But the Lord ain't failed me yet
So I'm holding on to the promise y'all
That He's rolling up His sleeves again.

14. Insane - Black GryphOn I think this was another TikTok discovery? Not quite sure (I need to get better at writing these things down!), and it has NO business being as catchy as it is! I've considered removing it from the list several times, but I just can't make myself. I know nothing of the story behind it, and haven't actually watched the channel it's based on, but I can't help it - it's stuck!

15. The Power of the Cross - Casting Crowns One of the best songs of worship I've found this year.

16. Fallin' (Adrenaline) - Why Don't We Wish I could remember where I found this, because I love it. It hits many of the same notes as some of NKOTB's newer music, so appeals immensly to my inner teenager :-D

17. 10 Years - Daði Freyr The band who should have won ESC 2020 performed again this year with a new song. It wasn't quite as good as last years' (and didn't win - although it did get quite far), but I still like it. The main singer wrote the lyrics about his wife, and they are just so sweet! ... and of course, there's the same unique sound that they introduced us to last year.
We've been together for a decade now
Still everyday I'm lovin' you more
If I could do it all again
I'd probably do it all the same as before.

18. Undeniable - Josh Wilson Simon has introduced me to even more awesome songs than usual this year, and this is one of the best ones. I know I try not to have multiple songs by the same artist on these playlists (yeah, I know - I'm really failing at that!), but this is SO different from "Revolutionary" that I had to add both of them.

19. One Step Away - Casting Crowns Like I said - failing! But Casting Crowns are awesome and deserve the recognition. And where the previous song was more worshipful and meditative in style, this one is just so hopeful. Michala recommended this to me earlier this year, and I was immediately annoyed that I hadn't listened to it ages ago.

20. Heartbeat - Beckah Shae Another recommendation from Simon. Very unusual style for a Christian song, but that just makes it all that much more catchy. This is an awesome stand-up-and-fight anthem :-D

21. Thank You Lord - Christ Tomlin I know many of the songs have been kinda sad or melancholic this year, so I figured this was a suitable end to the playlist. For everything you give me, I thank you Lord.
Praise up
Eyes closed
One thing I know
I just wanna thank You Lord.

October Readathon!

 T-2 (noon): I figured this was as good a time as any to get the Readathon progress post started. I've gotten the crockpots started (yes, two 😄 We're going to be 8 people, so I've borrowed Henriette's, and am making chicken fajitas in one and vegetarian chili in the other! ), picked out most of my books (although you KNOW I always end up changing my mind up until the very last minute) and am now trying to figure out how we're going to fit 8 people into our library! It'll be slightly more tight than usual 😉

The readathon starts at 2pm and the others will start to arrive in about an hour, so I'd better get some lunch. I'll try to remember to update regularly this time!

T-0 (almost 2pm: Everybody's here now, and it's time for the opening survey!

1. Where are you reading from today? My library, as per usual.... more specifically: Lyngby, Denmark.

2. List three random facts about yourself: We're 8 people, so that's going to take forever! We'll just do one each!

Mum: I'm a professional translator.

Dad: I can read upside down! (Maria: Yes! He used to do that when he read aloud to us!)

Maria: I can write with both hands at the same time.

Rosa: I just found a sock that I forgot here LAST readathon! Also, sometimes I pretend I can't speak English and speak Danglish instead.

Isabella: I'm allergic to cats, but that does not stop me from petting them!

Rebekka: I don't like coffee.

Henriette: Me neither!

Michala: I love coffee.

3. How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the readathon?

Mum: Six

Dad: Two

Henriette: Two

Maria: 117

Rosa: Five

Isabella: Two on the table and all the ones on the shelves!

Rebekka: Four

Michala: Two

4. Which book are you going to start with?

Mum: Pastorale or Gone-Away Lake... haven't decided yet.

Dad: Arne Dahl's Skyggezone

Henriette: "Hvor der er vilje"

Maria: Ronja Robber's Daughter

Rosa: Bernstein Bears

Isabella: Also Bernstein Bears

Rebekka: Still making up my mind!!! Either "In a Holidaze" or "Library of the Dead"

Michala: What's Up Beanie?

5. Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon?

Mum: To make time go by as slooooowly as possible.

Dad: To read?

Henriette: Same.

Maria: To read more than last time I guess?

Rosa: To read at least three books. Or finish the one I started last time.

Isabella: Decide which books to read?

Rebekka: To stay awake! (Rebekka came straight from a night shift)

Michala: That's my goal every time!

4pm: Two hours gone, and MOST of the snacks X-D We always go a bit nuts in the beginning ;-) Rosa and Isabella have both finished their Bernstein Bear chapter books, and I've just finished "Ronja Robber's Daughter" - probably my favourite Astrid Lindgren book ever! Now I need to figure out what to read next...

But first - the challenge of the hour.

Do you have any childhood comfort books that you still return to from time to time?

Michala: The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

Rosa: Bernstein Bears - the originals, not the chapter books

Isabella: Harper Hall trilogy by Ann McCaffrey (Maria: YES!!! I love that one too!)

Rebekka: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Dad: Perhaps not any that I read myself, but when it comes to reading aloud to others, I love Winnie the Pooh.

Mum: The Little House series

Maria: Several... Little House, Narnia, Baby-Sitter's Club, Famous Five and many others!

5pm: Mum finished "Gone-Away Lake" and is now reading "If I never Met You" which she and Dad gave me for my birthday. It's good! :-D Rosa finished her second Bernstein Bear chapter book, and asked me to go look if there were any more questions for her to answer, so here goes...

Top 10 12 things about Readathons

1. Snacks!

2. Hygge!

3. Company

4. Guilt-free reading time!

5. Mixi: No kids (This caused Rosa to glare at her, so she rephrased, "None of MY kids.")

6. Rebekka: Bringing my kid!

7. Rosa: Being the smallest one here!

8. Being in a library with tons of good books.

9. Dad: sitting in this chair!

10. Maria's crock-pot dinner!

11. Relaxation!

12. Being together without finding it awkward that we don't have anything to talk about.

9pm: I finished my second book ("End of Summer" by Rosamunde Pilcher) just before dinner. Unfortunately, it was only okay (VERY unrealistic), so now I'm returning to a reread instead - the first "Dragon Kin" book by Audrey Faye & Shay Geary.

Next challenge:

What's book outside your comfort zone did you end up loving?

- Michala: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

- Isabella: Wonder or Anna and the French Kiss

- Rosa: Vildheksen

- Maria: Feed by Mira Grant. I had NOT expected for a book about zombies to become one of my favourites!

- Dad: Laurus

- Mum: "Until the End of the World"

What is the best book you've read so far in 2021?

- Henriette: A Gentleman in Moscow (reread)

- Rosa: Baby-Sitters Club (her auntie is SO happy that she FINALLY has a niece who's reading them!

- Rebekka: Call Me Maybe

- Michala and Maria: YES!!!

- Mum: "Return to Me" - Lynn Austin

- Isabella: My Hero Academia

- Claus: Dominion - Tom Holland

10am: And I'm back 😄 People started leaving between 9:30-10:30 last night, and as I had slept poorly the night before, I actually didn't last much longer after that either, and didn't wake up until 9am!! Must have needed the sleep! I finished "Dragon Kin" this morning, and am now reading "Last Night" by Mhairi Mcfarlane which my sisters gave me for my birthday. At 400 pages, it's a tad longer than I usually prefer for readathons, but I was in the mood for a new read by a known author, so there you go 🙂 I'll probably only just finish it before the readathon ends though.

Books Read: "Ronja Robber's Daughter" - Astrid Lindgren (192), "End of Summer" - Rosamunde Pilcher (160), "Dragon Kin: Sapphire & Lotus" - Audrey Faye (247)

Currently Reading "Last Night" - Mhairi McFarlane (managed 260 pages before 2pm)

Almost time for the April Readathon! 

  Hour 0 - Opening Survey!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Copenhagen, Denmark.

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Rebekka: Under Currents - the only one in my stack.

Michala: I'm missing 10 minutes of my audiobook! Looking forward to seeing how it ends.

Rosa: Vildheksen! Bought specifically for today!

Dad: The same Agatha Christy I said last time, but never ended up reading!

Mum: Tre piger i en bil

Henni: The Secret Inheritance by Natasha Lester - also the only book in my stack!

Me: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire - a Christmas present I saved for today!

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Michala: Rebekka's macaroons!

Everybody else: SAME!!!

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

We have an extra visitor this year - Rebekka's oldest daughter Rosa has decided to join us, and she has been looking SO much forward to it!!! She and Rebekka even arrived early because she COULD NOT WAIT any longer (according to Rebekka, she's been asking to come over since 6:30 this morning!!!)

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

Michala: Hopefully not getting a phone call that my son has to go in quarantine...

Rosa: Not reading alone!!!

Mum: Actually being here in person rather than over skype!

Dad: Yes, same!

Rebekka: Bring my daughter along!!!

Me: Nah, I've pretty much got it sorted by now ;)

Hour 2 Mixi finished her audiobook and then promptly decided to take a nap! ;-D One hour later, dad decided to follow suit - but then he does have the best chair of us all ;-) I'm just over halfway with "Come Tumbling Down" - have had a few problems settling down and getting properly into reading, but that's definitely not the fault of the book - it's just as good as I had expected it to be.

Hour 24 Completely forgot all about updating here. I didn't get quite as much reading done as usual - actually only finished two books - but there was more talking than usual (Rosa couldn't quite keep her focus for the entire time, but she managed admirably, until she fell fast asleep at 9pm!) and unlike most readathons, I didn't pick my book back up on Sunday morning. I loved having Rosa there though, and hope she'll want to join us again another time. It was also great to have Henni back! She's a great addition to the tradition :-D

Books read: "Come Tumbling Down" - Seanan McGuire, "The Strangers" - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Playlist for 2020

Direct link in case the embedding doesn't work

Perfect Disaster - Drew Sycamore
Lars has been listening to this a lot, and it's totally grown on me.

Already There - Casting Crowns
There as to be at least one song recommended to me by Simon on these lists, and this year is no exception. I love Casting Crowns, and the lyrics to this one just got to me. "When I'm lost in the mystery / To You, my future is a memory / 'Cause You're already there"

Courtesy Call - Thousand Foot Krutch
A Canadian Christian rock band. I'd never heard of them myself, but a friend from work played it for me because he figured I ought to know of them.

Hard to Be the Bard - Christian Borle
I found this via tumblr and was immediately hooked! I've never seen the musical it's from, but have seen Christian Borle in other things, and absolute adore him :-D

You're Welcome - Dwayne Johnson
After having watched the two new "Jumanji" movies, I've become a total Dwayne Johnson fangirl. Anybody who can make THAT much fun of himself is A-OK with me :D Then I saw him singing "You're Welcome" to his daughter, and I was sold ♥

Lions - Skillet
Terrify the Dark - Skillet
Two more recommendations from Simon. I kept waffling about which one to keep on here and could NOT make up my mind - so both it is :-D Somehow he always knows exactly what I need to listen to. Skillet is definitely not my usual fare, but they have a few songs that I love.

Good Grace - Hillsong
We started singing this in church right when the services went virtual. The start "People, come together" got me every time - not to mention "God is madly in love with you" :-)

Me Without You - TobyMac
Think I got this off the "War Room" sound track, although I'm pretty sure I've heard it before that. It's foot-tappingly good :D

Impossible - Building 429
We're never given the spirit of fear Only the power of love We'll keep on running and not grow weak His strength is more than enough
Also from the "War Room".
When we trust the God of miracles. There's no such thing as impossible.". Amen!

Break My Heart - Dua Lipa
Lars listened to this a lot at the start of the year. I was immediately hooked.

You've Always Been - Unspoken
Before my heart knows what to pray You've already made a way, Jesus You've been my Savior, Sustainer, when I'm at my end My Healer, Redeemer, again and again Everything I've needed Lord, You've always been
Another recommendation from Simon. I've reminded myself of this over and over again when life seemed bleak.

Wake Up - Julie and the Phantoms
My newest obsession - I had a really hard time picking out which song to use here (I also adore "Flying Solo"), but this was the song that made me fall in love with the show, so it had to be this one. If you haven't yet seen the Netflix series - what are you waiting for?!?!?

The Other Side - SZA & Justin Timberlake
The music from Trolls has absolutely no place being as good as it is.

Mama - Clean Bandit & Ellie Goulding
There HAS to be a Clean Bandit on this list apparently :-D It's one of the few artists who's a favourite of BOTH Lars' and mine.

Think About Things - Dadi Freyr
Iceland's entry at the did-not-happen Eurovision Song Contest. I didn't like it much at first, but it totally grew on me. Though the contest itself was cancelled, all the songs were aired in two long live streams on Youtube, so Lars and I could keep up our tradition of watching and commenting :-D

Story of My Life - Lesley Roy
Ireland's Entry to the ESC-that-wasn't and my personal favourite. I know it's a total Katy Perry rip-off, but....

Yes - Ben & Tan
Denmark's entry. I almost left this out of the list, but the more I listened to it, the more I loved it.

UNO - Little Big
Russia's entry and probably Lars' favourite. I cannot count how many times he's listened to this since! Their music videos are very much in the "I don't know how to process this!" category - this one and "Hypnodance" especially.

Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte
During the first lockdown, a friend from work set up a discord voice channel for a bunch of us, so we'd have a bit of company. It worked like a charm, and we got to share some of our favourite songs as well! (There's a bot that allows you to play music). This was his contribution, and I'm surprisingly fond of it.

They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! - Napoleon XIV
Another friend from work introduced me to this one. It never fails to make me laugh!

Top 10 Books of 2020

Deciding on my top 10 books was really difficult this year, as I've been rereading a LOT. Thanks to COVID I was in more need of comfort books than usual and therefore had very little patience with new books (and even less with new authors!), so I've been rereading a lot more than usual. Fortunately I still managed to find some really awesome new reads, although I'm settling for 9 this year.


Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated - Kaley & Rhonda Rhea Thank you for this recommendation! I absolutely loved it! Such a charming read :-D

Crumbled Love Notes - Jen A. Durand Chick-lit. Unexpectedly sweet.

I Temporarily Do - Ellie Cahill Faux romance FTW :-D

In a Holidaze - Christina Lauren A Christmas version of Groundhog Day. I loved it!

The Hitman's Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love - Alice Winters Delightfully funny! I laughed out loud on several occasions. Very similar to T.J. Klune's books in humor.

The House in the Cerulean Sea - T.J. Klune Very different from everything else I've read by him, but I loved it.

The Calculating Stars - Mary Robinette Kowal Slow-moving, but absolutely unputdownable.

Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston A great mix of friendship, romance, coming-of-age and finding one's own place in the world.

The Gem Thief - Sian Ann Bessey No clue why I loved this one so much. On one hand it's nothing special - on the other, it's totally charming.