I’m still working on getting back into the groove with both reading and writing. I’m happy with my reading progress, though I need to stay on top of the writing a bit better. As I shared in my summer reading update, a priority for the fall would be to return to my literary travels around the world. I’m pleased to have completed two books that let me check off two new regions—Central America/Caribbean and Oceania—for that challenge. I also continued to make progress on my ongoing Nordic Literature Reading Challenge with a Nordic Noir from Denmark.
How has your reading been going lately?
Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas (2022)
In this middle grade graphic novel, a young Black girl moves with her dad to a new state where it turns out that Swim 101 is the only elective left for her to take. She overcomes her fear of water and with the help of an elderly neighbor who was once a swimming champion, she helps her new middle school swim team have a successful season. Besides the themes of family, friendship, and community along with the engaging artwork, one of my favorite aspects of this graphic novel was how it delved into the history of swimming in the Black community and how racism played a role in Black Americans’ ability to swim. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Summer Reading Challenge: A “CS Reader Medal”; A book with a sports or arts connection
Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros (2023)
Audiobook Narrated by Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton
Last summer it was the first in the series; this summer it was the second. I had some trouble remembering the details of the characters, setting, and story from the first book, but it didn’t prevent me from having another extremely engaging and enjoyable listening experience. I just focused on what was going on at the moment. I really enjoyed the friendships, camaraderie, chemistry, action. What a cliffhanger at the end, though! I may need to listen to the third installment sooner rather than later so I don’t forget as much. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Summer Reading Challenge: A big book
The Lost Man by Jane Harper (2018)
Audiobook Narrated by Stephen Shanahan 
I loved how this book took me to the Outback in Australia, a vast, remote, and sparsely populated area of the country. It’s about the cattle farming Bright family who is shocked by the death of the middle brother. He left behind his wife and two young daughters, as well his mother and two brothers. The circumstances of the death are mysterious—and the older brother is determined to find out what happened. It’s a story of family, relationships, and second chances with strong characters and a fascinating sense of place. ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐⭐️
- Read Around the World: Oceania (Australia)
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer (2023)
I was drawn to this story because of its setting in the Caribbean in the 1830s when slaves were freed but forced into apprenticeship instead. The story follows Rachel as she escapes the plantation where she’s been for years and begins a desperate search to find her five children who have been taken from her and sold over the years. Her journey starts in Barbados, continues to British Guiana, and then to Trinidad. I appreciated the glimpse into this historical period (her children all in very different circumstances), but the excessive mind-reading and convenient plot turns made it hard to fully connect with the story. ⭐️⭐️(⭐️)
- Read Around the World: Central America & Caribbean (Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad)
- Read my own shelf: BOTM
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup (2019)
Translated from the Danish by Caroline Waight (2019)
Audiobook Narrated by Peter Noble
This Nordic Noir is not for everyone. It’s a dark, gruesome serial killer story. There were several times I considered putting it down, yet something about it kept pulling me back in. The killer always leaves a handmade chestnut doll at the scene, and before long, a connection emerges to a young girl who was kidnapped and murdered a year earlier. Two detectives reluctantly cooperate to solve the case. Over time, the detectives grew on me and I was increasingly intrigued by the plot. After finishing, I discovered there’s a second installment with these detectives, and I just might add it to my TBR once it’s released in English despite my hesitations with this one. ⭐️⭐️(⭐️)
- Nordic Literature Reading Challenge: Denmark / Nordic Noir
- Read Around the World: Western Europe (Denmark)
What have you been reading lately?
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In the first bokprat discussion of the new year, Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, will be joined by best-selling Norwegian author Lars Mytting for a discussion of The Bell in the Lake. With its broad-canvas narrative about the intersection of religion, superstition, and duty, this novel offers a unique perspective about Scandinavian life.
Explore a selection of Danish literature in English translation with a new nationwide book club. Each month a celebrated Danish author will be selected and discussed in two virtual settings: Book Club group discussions and accompanying Literary Events. This month’s selection is We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen. The Literary Event will take place Tuesday, January 11, 10:00 a.m. PT and the Book Club group discussion will take place Tuesday, January 18, 5:00 p.m. PT.
Join Scandinavia House in New York, NY, for a virtual book talk on Present Tense Machine with award-winning Norwegian author Gunnhild Øyehaug. “With author Jennifer Offill as moderator, Øyehaug will discuss the exquisite, wistful, and slyly profound new novel, out January 11 in translation by Karl Dickson from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.” This event will take place as a Zoom webinar.
Join American Swedish Institute and create a cute felted polar bear ready for winter fun in this virtual, afternoon class. Students will follow step-by-step instructions to transform hand dyed wool from the instructor’s own sheep into a felted polar bear that will fit in the palm of your hand. Needle felting is fun, easy and therapeutic, and as your wooly friend comes to life you’ll enjoy conversation with other students and learn more about wool and the sheep who produced your kit materials! Your kit even contains enough wool to make a second polar bear, perfect for continuing with this craft beyond class. Ages 13 and up are welcome to register alongside an adult.
Vesterheim welcomes Rick Steves, a popular public television host and a best-selling guidebook author, to join them in conversation. He is the founder and owner of Rick Steves’ Europe, a travel business with a tour program that brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Rick is also an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. He will talk about travel for the purpose of challenging cultural assumptions, travel to Norway, and his background as a Norwegian American. 
Join National Nordic Museum in Seattle, WA, on January 22 as moderator Dr. Elizabeth DeNoma discusses The White Bathing Hut, a unique story of a family coming to grips with carrying a serious hereditary illness and a history of denial, concealment, and shame. Thorvald Steen’s literary career began in 1983, and he has since produced a diverse body of work spanning a variety of genres. Translated into 30 languages so far, Steen has received praise and prizes for the quality of his authorship.
Join Scandinavian House in New York, NY, for a virtual Danish literary panel with Copenhagen-based authors Ida Marie Hede, Ursula Scavenius, and Steven Zultanski moderated by editor and writer Tom Conaghan. The authors will discuss their newly translated books each exploring themes of the body and intimacy from unique sci-fi perspectives. This conversation will be recorded and available later to stream on their 
The 
Hearty, healthy Danish rye bread is a Scandinavian standard, and a must-have for open-faced sandwiches. Erin will introduce an easy take on rugbrød, no sourdough starter required. She’ll cover the basics of baking with rye as she works through the steps to create a sweet, whole grain-based rye loaf, and also discuss the possibilities for tackling a sourdough starter-based loaf. Even if you might think you’re not the biggest fan of rye bread, you have to give this recipe a spin! This class is designed as a demonstration, so students can watch the entire process and ask questions before tackling the dishes at home at a later date.
Nordiska in Poulsbo, WA, has launched its own book club for fellow Nordic reading enthusiasts to connect and be in community with one another virtually. For their January book club, they will be reading and discussing An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten, translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy. Visit 
Vesterheim’s online FamilieTid this month is a cook-along inspired by the classic heroine Pippi Longstocking! Grab your copy of the book (or 
In this online class hosted by Vesterheim, instructor Kristi Bissell of 
Cook up a Friday dinner at home with this fun virtual class! Grab some family members or friends to prep and cook a menu of Swedish meatballs, plus potatoes, lingonberries, quick pickles and a super simple dessert in two hours. Patrice will offer both a meat based and vegetarian version of the main course, and she’ll talk about the differences between Sweden’s preferred meatballs and those from other Scandinavian countries – you may be inspired to seek out even more versions after class! This class is designed as a cook-along experience, perfect for cooks who want a few extra tips and tricks while tackling a classic Swedish meal.
This class meets online from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00-2:30 p.m. CT. Once the provenance of a single holy day, Fat Tuesday, Swedes now enjoy semlor from Christmas until Easter. These sweet, yeasted buns are perfumed with cardamom, stuffed with marzipan, filled with whipped cream, and dusted with powdered sugar, a real treat. Join Erin for a baking day from your own kitchen. Start by mixing and kneading the dough, then step away from your devices while the yeast does its work. After lunch, return to shape, bake, fill, and decorate semlor. Finish with a fika in true Swedish style.
For me, September was a busy month of virtual events. I particularly enjoyed the launch event for Norwegian author Agnes Ravatn’s new psychological thriller The Seven Doors which translator Rosie Hedger also joined. I found the Dual Citizenship Webinar hosted by Norwegian Honorary Consulate General, Minneapolis, MN, very informative and helpful. Of particular interest to me were the discussions on reinstating Norwegian citizenship (for me) and retention of Norwegian citizenship (for my kids). If either of these topics are of interest to you and you missed the webinar, you can view 
Winner of the Creative Storytelling Prize at Sundance, Norwegian documentary filmmaker Benjamin Ree’s “expertly plotted, genre-blending documentary explores the personal repercussions of an extraordinary art heist… The sheer audacity of the theft of artist Barbora Kysilkova’s enormous paintings from the windows of an Oslo gallery immediately piqued documentarian Benjamin Ree’s interest. Neither he, Kysilkova nor the perpetrators could have predicted what happened next.” Available starting October 8 on BFI Player. Visit 
Scandinavia House in New York, NY, is hosting a virtual cinema presentation of Out Stealing Horses, a film based on the award-winning novel by Norwegian author Per Petterson. Immediately following the film there will be a pre-recorded discussion between Stellan Skarsgård and filmmaker Hans Petter Moland. Half of proceeds will go to support 
Scandinavia House in New York, NY, is also hosting a virtual cinema presentation of the hit Icelandic film A White, White Day with Film Movement. A White, White Day is an emotionally complex exploration of the ravages of loss set across the hypnotic landscape of Iceland. Half of proceeds will go to support 
Scandinavian Fest brings Nordic shops and businesses from around the globe together in one online location during the absence of in-person festivals. Friday, October 2, – Sunday, October 4, join Virtual Fall Folk Festival to discover unique Nordic products, take advantage of discounts, and win give-aways! For more information, visit 
The Leif Eriksson International Festival was formed in 1987 to establish an annual festival to celebrate Nordic cultural roots in the United States. Over the years, the events have brought top-ranked Nordic talent to Minneapolis. This year’s event will be virtual and feature a variety of programming including both live-streaming and pre-recorded musical performances, online worship services, and daily “destinations of the day”. 
Ever wonder how that extraordinary crisp bread is made? Join Scandinavian School in San Francisco and native Dane Leda Jessen for a traditional baking event and get the chance to learn the secrets to how the bread gets its crisp. You will be sent a list of ingredients needed prior to the event, and together with Leda you will bake the day away. For more information and to register, visit 
This October, 
A kransekake is the commanding centerpiece dessert at Norwegian weddings, graduations, baptisms, and other major life events. Made with ground almonds and consisting of tiers of wreath-shaped layers, the cake has a rich taste and texture that is uniquely its own. Learn to make this impressive cake with Brenda Lewis. Brenda will walk you through the steps of making a kransekake in this hands-on class and give you the confidence to bake one on your own. On Saturday, October 10, Brenda is teaching two sessions of the same class. For more information, visit 
Join National Nordic Museum in Seattle, WA, for an intimate series of virtual book talks where you get to “meet the author”! Each talk is moderated by Dr. Elizabeth DeNoma and will include an opportunity to ask questions to the authors. For the first talk meet Jan Stocklassa who will discuss his book The Man Who Played with Fire, translated by Tara F. Chace. For details about the book and registration information, visit the 
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a monthly bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Join in October to discuss The Redbreast, the third book in the Harry Hole detective series by Jo Nesbø. For more information and to register, visit 
“ABBA Salute is quite literally the most accurate tribute band on the planet. With painstaking attention to detail, they’ve recreated an ABBA experience that comes to life in a Las Vegas style show. Join the Swedish American Museum in Chicago and Vasa Park for a special online concert that is free but we do appreciate donations to help us through this time.” For more information and to get the link for the event, 
