reading

The Oxford Library of

Classic English Short Stories – I 1900–1956

It's funny how you have to wait years sometimes before you feel ready to read books that have been standing patiently on the bookshelf. It was interesting to read this collection and I could feel the stories became more modern as the decades moved upwards until the 1950s. Some of these short stories felt very random or old-fashioned, but it was interesting to read a variety of different voices. Some writers stood out in that their stories felt more contemporary and easy to read, such as H. G. Wells, John Galsworthy, Dorothy L. Sayers and W. Somerset Maugham.

Alex Garland

The Beach

For some reason I've become nostalgic about parts of 90s culture that I didn't even take part of, like backpacking and the trance/rave scene. (Can backpacking even be said to be a 90s thing?) The film The Beach and its soundtrack is embedded in my mind when I think about that time period (the movie came out in 2000) and I felt like doing a bit of time traveling. I ordered the first print of the book that came out in 1996, both to pretend I was reading it back then but mostly because I really like the design of the cover – which has no reference to the film on it. My passion for book cover design is reignited these days so looking into it I saw that the designer is not credited, but the cartoon drawing is, although misspelled as 'Paul Commick' (it should be Cemmick). All this being said, I actually really enjoyed reading the actual book too. It was so nice to finally read a proper pageturner as a lot of the books I read I have to force my way through at times...

Sigrid Undset

Kristin Lavransdatter

This is a trilogy bound together – all three written in the 1920s. The sheer physical size of the book meant I was unable to read it lying down in bed, so it took me quite a while to read and I've been reading it in stages over a year and a half. Set in the 1300s I was impressed how this epic trilogy managed to describe one woman's life from childhood to old age so movingly. We are brought into her joys and struggles, how she deals with life – duty, shame, being a wife and mother. It makes you reflect on the lines of history, all human individuals with such similar struggles through the centuries.

Lawrence Osborne

Bangkok Days

I bought this before my trip to Thailand to try and connect a little with the country mentally before going. I found it hard to get into and abandoned it before I was half way through. The language is quite dense, making it difficult to get into a flow of reading. I've been thinking of the Thailand trip recently and wanted to give the book another chance.

A Bangkok resident, Osborne writes about the other farangs he meets there – escaping, searching pleasure, receiving cheap healthcare... I found it dark (I think the cover illustrations gives the wrong impression of the content) in the sense that Bangkok is used as a playground for tourists but Osborne also goes deeper and with respect into Thai culture at times.

Summer Pierre

All the Sad Songs

I've been following Summer Pierre on Instagram for a few years now and I was waiting to see if her graphic novels could be bought here in Norway, with no luck. I finally ordered this from her Etsy shop (postage to Norway was about the same price as the book...), and I am glad I did! This was a moving memoir about the process of growing up (music playing an important role) and healing from trauma.

Joseph Campbell

Pathways to Bliss

This was at times mindblowing to me. Turns out myths are more than just weird old stories, they help us access our deeper selves and provide a safe space. Campbell also talks about comparative religion and the conflict between patriarchal and goddess-worshipping cultures – and so much more... This book opened my mind a bit more towards the spiritual world.

Steven Pressfield

The War of Art

This book is a great kick in the behind for everyone who's struggling to actually get around to doing the art they keep postponing, due to blocks, procrastination, fear, etc.

It's crazy when you realise how clever your own brain is thinking up excuses to not do what you actually want to do deep down.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Skatten på sjørøverøya

(Treasure Island)

I got this when I was about 11 years old but didn't manage to get through it at the time, so I thought I'd read it now. The back has several pages of pirate info – ships, weapons, maps, etc – that helps transport our minds to the world of pirates. Take a look at Captain Flint's treasure map here.

Daniel Clowes

Ghost World

I love Clowes' illustration style and stories where situations, moods and dialogues are depicted realistically. These stories are about a teenage friendship and how 'sticky' and awkward those can be. See some sample panels here.

Tori Amos and Ann Powers

Tori Amos: Piece by Piece

When I got interested in the indie and revival web scene I realised that one of the things I really miss is being a fan surfing the web back then. No algorithms, spending 20 minutes eagerly downloading an mp3 (maybe of a live recording of mediocre quality) and exploring lots of different fan sites. All this made me want to read this book that has been standing unread on my bookshelf since about 2005... The best fansite for a Tori fan back in the 90-00s was The Dent. Check it out – it's still up!

Lars Mytting

Hel ved

(Norwegian Wood)

A book about firewood. Chopping it, stacking it, drying it! I'm impressed it's possible to write such an engaging book about a niche interest as firewood. I now feel more knowledgeable in case I will have a fireplace in the future. I was surprised to find out this was translated and apparently became an international bestseller.

Hans Olav Lahlum

Sneen var ren

One of the traditions we have in Norway at Easter is to read crime novels or follow crime series on TV and radio. Keeping with tradition I picked up this paperback in the bookshop because I was familiar with the writer and the cover was nice. This is a murder mystery set in Oslo during WW2. I wasn't completely hooked on this book but the depiction of the tension between Nazis and non-Nazis during the occupation was interesting.

Frank Miller

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

This was one of many of my unread must-read graphic novels, so I got a used copy on Abe Books (also because I wanted this copy with the cover designed by design hero Chip Kidd). I think I might not have enough knowledge of Batman lore to fully appreciate this. Also, I am probably not a big enough fan of classic superheroes. However, when this came out in 1986 I can imagine it was welcomed by more mature readers who got a darker and more complex Batman story. Batman gets older too!

Gil Broza

The Agile Mind-Set

I did a course in Agile project management at Udacity and this book was recommended there. It was easy to read and helped really understand the importance of mindset (after determining if Agile is even the correct mindset for your situation) to be successfully implement Agile processes. Agile can also be applied in aspects of your personal life, not just the professional. Those who like exploring the old web might enjoy seeing that the original Agile Manifesto site from 2001 is still up, featuring a very Photoshop 6.0-looking picture of the fathers of Agile.

Viggo Johansen and Pål T. Jørgensen

Edderkoppen

I found this in a flea market just as I was watching a series ('Makta' – Power Play) about the power struggles in the Norwegian Labour party in the 80s (sounds dull but it was actually very good). This book is about a furniture salesman featured in the series, nicknamed Edderkoppen ('the Spider') by the media, and how he for several years manipulated party leaders for his own benefit.

Alan Moore

V for Vendetta

I read this many years ago and wanted to re-read it now that I am older and wiser. This is a story that unfortunately never loses its relevance, rather the opposite. The illustration is dark and gritty but that suits the content. Artist David Lloyd is still active and co-started online comics mag Aces Weekly. He's the artist behind the Guy Fawkes mask, which is even more widely known than the comic itself.

Eric Ries

The Lean Startup

I read this as it was recommended as extra reading in the Agile course I did at Udacity. It was an inspiring read and the processes described make it feel less overwhelming to build a larger project out of a small idea. The book is packed with information so I took notes whilst reading to help me comprehend and recall the content. You can read my notes here if you're curious.

Grant Morrison

New X-Men vol. 1: E Is For Extinction

I'm attracted to glossy, colourful American superhero comics but I find it difficult to get into them. I felt like getting immersed into a world with different characters and read somewhere that Morrison's X-Men was a good jumping-on point. I remembered I actually had this in the bookshelf and re-read it. The story is manageable for a newbie and it was nice to see character sketches and the script of the first story printed in the back. I'll be hunting for second-hand copies of the following volumes in the same print run preferably (consistency of covers).

Peter Brest

Vrak og brak: Røvarhistorie

This book was the talk of the town when it came out in 1987, as it told a story of networks of people with resources and influence, enabling 'the elite' to get their way in local politics. The book caused quite a stir as it portrayed well-known businessmen and politicians at the time. I struggled making heads or tails of the book as it told two stories in parallel – one current and one taking place in the 17th Century. Maybe some of the references went over my head? I did find the descriptions of places and characters from life in town entertaining however, and I got a sense of life in my town as it was in my childhood.

Tim Brown

Change by Design

Erika Hall

Just Enough Research

Lars Mytting

Hekneveven

(The Bell in the Lake)

Heather Morris

Tatovøren i Auschwitz

(The Tattooist of Auschwitz)

Edvard Hoem

Bror din på prærien

Frode Grytten

Garasjeland

Chris Ware

Jimmy Corrigan

Robert Louis Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde & Other Tales

H. Rider Haggard

King Solomon's Mines

Annie Ernaux

Hendelsen

(Happening)

Sax Rohmer

The Mystery of Dr Fu-Manchu

David Bayles & Ted Orland

Art & Fear

Geoff Colvin

Talent is Overrated

Roy Jacobsen

De usynlige + Hvitt hav

(The Unseen and White Shadow)

This book contains the first two novels in the Barrøy family saga. I've never read any of Jacobsen's books before but I really enjoyed his style of writing, especially in The Unseen. The language is light and understated but builds the world and characters very vividly. The story is set in coastal Northern Norway in the early 1900s, a world that still feels close to many Norwegians who live or have heritage along the coast.

Jules Verne

En verdensomseiling under havet

(Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas)

I decided that I wanted to read The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics by Alan Moore but have a vague memory of having read it years ago and not really enjoying/getting it. I then found out that there are actually some literary classics that one should read or know about to understand who the main characters are – this book being one of them, featuring main character Captain Nemo. It's very satisfying to read classic books and finally know what all these references mean. (I didn't even know that Nautilus was the name of Captain Nemo's submarine!) I was happy to find this Norwegian publisher had done fresh translations of Verne's most well known adventure books and published them with the original illustrations. Apparently these old classics often exist in many different versions where they are shortened or edited in different ways but this translation stays true to the original.