Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

What are you reading this week?
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

In which countries the story & author are set? Sweden

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? I have never visited any of them but would like to visit Norway to see the Northern LIghts. I think of Sweden as being quite cold with pretty buildings and Norway as having stunning fjords

What are you reading this week?
I'm reading One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway.
In which countries the story & author are set?
It's set in Norway, mostly in Oslo.
How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I've only been to Sweden, and I had a fabulous time. We went in February, so it was cold, dark, and snowy--three things I very much enjoy. :-) Ever since that trip I've been wanting to spend more time in Nordic countries and learn more about them. One of Us is certainly a tragic story, but the background about the history and culture of Norway is fascinating and helps provide a lot of context for what happened and why.

- What are you reading this week?
The Stonecutter by Camilla Läckberg

- In which countries the story & author are set?
Sweden

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I only visited Iceland, which isn't technically Scandinavia. I picture the other countries with trees and dramatic seaside (especially the fjords)

Bonus question: if you're Scandinavian, which book do you recommend?
I'm not from Scandinavia, but I read my fair share of Scandinavia mystery/thrillers. I can only highly recommend books by Jo Nesbø, Henning Mankell, Camilla Läckberg and Stieg Larsson

- What are you reading this week? A Man Called Ove
- In which countries the story & author are set? Sweden
- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? I picture a lot of tulips and a lot of greenery. I picture mountains of course. I haven't been off of the North American continent so no I haven't visited. I recently found out my grandmother was Finnish. It has increased my urge to want to visit a Scandinavian country.

What are you reading this week?
The Son

In which countries the story & author are set?
Both are based in Norway.

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I picture them as being clean and wide open. Of course, that is based on pictures I have seen. I have not visited any yet, but future plans include visiting countries my ancestors came from.

What are you reading this week?
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

In which countries the story & author are set?
It doesn't say a country specifically. Beartown and Hed are the names of the two towns mentioned, but the author is Scandinavian and is known for writing books set in that area of the world.

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
The author described this area as cold and wild, taken over by the forest. I feel like that is quite similar to my visions of the area, although alternatively, I also picture bright cities (like Amsterdam).

What are you reading this week?

In which countries the story & author are set? Denmark
How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Snowy
Did you visit one of them? No but i definitely would like to
Bonus question: if you're Scandinavian, which book do you recommend?

- What are you reading this week?
Pippi Langstrumpf by Astrid Lindgren

- In which countries the story & author are set?
Both in Sweden.

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
Many trees and friendly people. Yes, I've been to Denmark and Sweden.

- What are you reading this week?
All In by Simona Ahrnstedt

- In which countries the story & author are set?
Stockholm, Sweden

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
Free college and everybody is tall.

What are you reading this week?
I'm reading Isprinsessen (The Ice Princess) by Camilla Läckberg

In which countries the story and author are set?
In Sweden, a small town near the coast called Fjällbakka

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Have you visited one of them?
Well, I live in Norway so I am a Scandinavian, but I've actually never been to Sweden, only Denmark, whoops. Our countries are so varied you can't even imagine. Norway has high mountains and deep valleys, glistening water and amazingly green (wet) nature.

- What are you reading this week? Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø
- In which countries the story & author are set? Author was born in Oslo, Norway
- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? Never visited but I would love to go!

- What are you reading this week?
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

- In which countries the story & author are set?
Sweden

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I live in Denmark.

Bonus question: if you're Scandinavian, which book do you recommend?
Virtue & Vice in the Middle Time by Svend Åge Madsen. He is an excellent author that is sadly not as well known outside of Denmark.

What are you reading this week?
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

In which countries the story & author are set?
Sweden.

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I've always pictured them as green and gorgeous, with lots of flourishing valleys and hills. I've never actually been to one, sadly.

What are you reading this week?

A Man Called Ove

In which countries the story & author are set?

They're both Swedish.

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?

I have actually been to three of the major countries of Scandinavia--Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. I was on a cruise so only spent one day at each. It rained the whole day in Denmark, so I have a gloomy impression of it. Sweden and Norway were both lovely as far as I remember.

Bonus question: if you're Scandinavian, which book do you recommend?

N/A

What are you reading this week?
Let the Right One In, by John Ajvide Lindqvist


In which countries the story & author are set?
Sweden

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I picture them as very socially progressive and beautifully green, but very cold! I haven't visited them, but would love to see the Northern Lights.

- What are you reading this week?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

- In which countries the story & author are set?
Sweden, both the story and the author.

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
Not sure. I've never been overseas before. I imagine it would be a nice place to visit, but it's cold as far as I know there. I hate the cold.

- What are you reading this week?
- In which countries the story & author are set? Story is set in Iceland and written by an Australian.
- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? Stark and cold. I have never been to a Scandinavian country,

What are you reading this week?
Markens grøde by Knut Hamsun

In which countries the story & author are set?
Norway

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I have been to almost all of the Nordic countries, except for Iceland which I would love to visit some day. I am Norwegian though, so the other countries are close by. Funny to read your answers about how you perceive the countries, some of you are spot on, while others pretty off ;) Not as cold as you all imagine, haha. The last couples of nights we have had the pleasure of seeing the Northern Lights light up the sky, it's really pretty!

One input though which I guess maybe have been discussed before; the wording of the prompt is really misleading, well; in fact it is wrong. Scandinavia only consist of three countries, Sweden, Denmark and Norway (don't always trust the english wiki;), whilst if you have the 5 countries, it's called the Nordic countries.

I guess you wanted to include all the Nordic countries to get more to choose from, which I get. But then you should have named the prompt: "A book written or set in one of the Nordic countries".

What are you reading this week? Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

In which countries the story & author are set The story is set in Iceland, but the author is Australian.

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? Beautiful in the summers. Cold, wet and dank in the winters. I visited Copenhagen many years ago and liked it very much. Although I haven't visited Iceland, from what friends and family who've been there have said, the Northern Lights are always spectacular.

Progress Post:
- What are you reading this week?

The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

- In which countries the story & author are set?

Lindgren was a Swedish children's book author whose books are all set in Sweden (I don't know that this is ever named)

- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?

I have been to Norway about 8 or 9 years ago, and I loved it!

What are you reading this week?Kloakkturen; med Svein og rotta by Marit Nicolaysen

In which countries the story & author are set? Both in Norway.

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? I have been living in Norway for 10 years, so I can say it is a very peaceful place, the nature is wonderful, people are respectful and the weather is really cold :(

Jo Nesbø is a very popular author here, so I recommend to read his books. I have read just one of his book, and although the book was good I didn't want to read more of them because I was too scared after one on the murders in the book happened around my neighbordhood :P

- What are you reading this week?Invisible Murder #2 in the Nina Borg series by Lene Kaaberbøl
- In which countries the story & author are set? Denmark
- How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them? I've never been. I just get stuck on thinking snow and cold. Oh! And the Northern Lights. Yes, please. Interesting factoid, my uncle just did a DNA swab on himself and there was a LARGE unexpected portion of Scandanavian, which really surprised me. I had no idea.
Bonus question: if you're Scandinavian, which book do you recommend? This does not apply to me actually but since my DNA is scandanavian I'm just gonna say I REALLY like the Nina Borg series and I will definitely continue it. Also, so far I'm a huge Backman fan.

What are you reading this week?
Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales translated by Naomi Lewis

In which countries the story & author are set?
Hans Christian Andersen was born in Denmark and some of the fairy tales are also set in Denmark.

How do you picture Scandinavian countries? Did you visit one of them?
I guess I picture beautiful scenery, snow and the Northern Lights. I have never been but I would love to go someday.