emelee

I'm reading 3 crime series, where it's obvious that you don't need to read them in the correct order. Like "crime of the week" series. Now all 3 series have spoiled the ending of some earlier novel in the series. And in all 3 cases, it's been absolutely unnecessary to do so. There are usually 2 major plots in series. Plot 1 is the "crime of the week" that begins and is resolved within that novel. Plot 2 is focus on the private life/lives of the main character/detective/police. Plot 2 usually begins in novel 1 and doesn't end until the series end. Plot 2 is one I can understand that authors spoil. But Plot 1 stories should not be spoiled, ever, IMO. Why read a #1-#7 Wallander novel (for instance) if you start with book #8 -- if the author in book 8 writes about how Kurt Wallander solved previous, Plot 1, cases? Don't authors know by now that people don't always begin with book #1 in crime series? That they might begin with book #8 to see if they like it or not. Ps: I took Wallander as an example. I have not read more than 1 Wallander novel. It was not #1 in the series, but Mankell didn't spoil his previous books. It was just an example.

Have you read a book in a series (a series that, even though it's a series, the novels can be read as stand-alone novels --- often in the crime or police procedural genre) where the author spoils the ending of his/her previous novels? I've read a few of those, and it's so annoying. I choose to read a novel that seems interesting, then I get the ending of previous novels by the author revealed when the main character reflects on things. I end up feeling like there's no point reading the previous novels as I know how they'll end. Why would an author want to spoil their own books? I get that characters want to reflect, but why spoil the ending?!

Bo Balderson's books about "The Cabinet Minister" (the main character is never referred to by his name, just his title). There are only 11 in the series, and I've read 6 of them. I grieve every time I finish another, cause I am closing in on the end. They are just too good!!!!

The Mountain Grave by Hans Rosenfeldt & Michael Hjort

It's already this time of year? Better dust my Christmas theme books off and place them by the bed.

I thought the Game of Thrones books would "win". War and Peace, huh... That was many!!!

Possibly indirectly. As far as I know, she focuses most on the past. 70s and 80s. She was in exile from her home for years and could only return in 2011. So during these years, she couldn't interview people like she used to for her books. But the NEW book “Second-hand Time: The Demise of the Red (Wo)man” is the story of the last twenty years of Russian history. https://charter97.org/en/news/2015/5/15/151651/ http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2015/oct/12/svetlana-alexievich-truth-many-voices/

By the way, Belarus is a good example of a dictatorship. Lukashenko is a nasty dictator. Svetlana Aleksijevitj, who is from Belarus, has only had her books published there by independant publishers. The rest refuse her. Here's what Svetlana has to say herself: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/nobel-prizewinner-blasts-putin/

You should never believe numbers coming out of Russia. They rig things a lot. As an example: they have a show called "Call Putin" or something. People can call in and ask Putin questions. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well... The questions are rigged. No anti-Putin question allowed. It's pretty much a "praise Putin" program. Russians are raised to love Putin pretty much. You just don't go against Putin, or you will be stalked and harrassed. Fair elections, Russia does not appear to have. Think North Korea. They have elections just like the rest. 100% of the votes are on their dictator. They must REALLY love that guy................... Or else.... He's got his people more whipped scared than Putin.

She does sound like a courageous woman. She's anti-Putin, which of course is not popular to be over there. Russia is, afterall, not a real democracy. So for her to write about the former Sovjet region, takes guts. I think it was an excellent choice, on that basis alone.

In Sweden, whoever recieves the Nobel Prize gets their books fronted in book stores. No one knows in advance who will get it, so no one is prepared to put all copies out on display. It takes a couple of weeks to order in copies and front them. And also, if the author hasn't been translated to Swedish - they will be. Then of course it takes more time. Last year, it took a while before Patrick Modiano's novels came out in stores. I believe some of his novels hadn't been translated. Some people were put on the job, and finally, the books were fronted in stores. I saw on the news today that many people rushed to get a copy of a Svetlana Aleksijevitj book. There were very few copies to get hold of, and many stores ran out of the precious few copies they had. But her books have been translated to Swedish already, so all they need to do is order more copies.

I've heard about her before - but only as a constant Nobel Prize candidate. She's been on the guessing lists for some time now.

Nice to read what others do with their books. I would like to sell some of my stuff (I'm really not made of money!), but I live in an apartment and I don't want to pay rent for a place to sell things at. Or spend a lot of time selling online and shipping etc. So I can choose between keeping it, or donate to charity. I lean towards option 2.

Belarusian author Svetlana Aleksijevitj has been chosen as the 2015 Nobel Prize winner in literature. Her most famous work is "Voices from Chernobyl", a book where she has interviewed many of the people who were in Chernobyl during the nuclear disaster. She's also written about the downfall of the Sovjet Union.

"It was a morning in August". - Bo Balderson: Statsrådets verk (The creation of the Cabinet Minister) http://www.nordinagency.se/portfolio-item/stadsradets-verk-the-creation-of-the-cabinet-minister/

I've realized that some books I have read, I will just never read again. So last week, I packed up some books and handed them in to a store that sell things people have donated - profits go to charity. One of these stores is for the Salvation Army and the other for the Red Cross. I love their 2nd hand stores. Almost only because of the books you can find there that others have donated. I recently bought 4 "Game of thrones" novels in one of these stores. 4 books for the price of what 1 usually costs when ordering online. I am now thinking I will donate a bunch of clothes that I never wear anymore. Better they go to charity than to the dumpster. Have you ever donated books to charity? Or bought books for charity?

1. Seinfeld 2. Fawlty Towers 3. Twin Peaks 4. Game of Thrones 5. Dallas 6. 'Allo 'Allo! 7. Soap 8. Frasier 9. Father Ted 10. Married... with children Honorable mentions: Homeland That 70s show Family guy X-files Mad men Millennium Police squad New adventures of old Christine Veep Chicago hope Scrubs Big bang theory Modern family etc

I have completely snowed in on a handful of artists lately. Peter Gabriel Lana Del Rey Florence + the Machine Bo Kaspers Orkester Lykke Li

He was planning on writing another Wallander novel, for the 25th anniversary. He didn't believe he was going to die anytime soon.

I started reading Bo Balderson puzzle mysteries recently. A series of 11 novels written between 1968 - 1990. It features The Minister (never named) and his brother-in-law who he constantly drags with him while trying to solve the murders. They are hilarious! LOL-hilarious. "Bo Balderson" is a pseudonym for an unknown author. After all these years, no one but the author and the publisher knows who Bo Balderson really is, but he seems to have enough knowledge to have worked close to the government at some point. His identity will be revealed when he dies.

Prepping to watch the 1st episode of season 5 of Homeland tonight. I believe this season will focus a bit on cyber terrorism.

I started watching this show this summer and finished season 5 last week. I got hooked quite quickly. I am glad right now that none of my top favorite characters have died.

Summer is a good time for watching shows you've never seen before, and to catch up on shows you're behind with. I am currently watching: Veep -- season 2 House of Cards (US) -- season 1 Satisfaction -- season 1 Bob's burgers -- season 1 Family Guy -- season 13 Project runway -- season 14 Chicago Hope (rewatch) -- season 1 The affair -- season 1 Frasier -- season 1 Mad men -- season 4 And waiting eagerly for new seasons of Modern family, Homeland & Big bang theory......

In no order: Michael Connelly Carlos Ruiz Zafon Daphne Du Maurier Richard Ford Ingrid Hedström John Le Carré Vilhelm Moberg Joseph Conrad Lev Tolstoj Joyce Carol Oates

Read The Hound of the Baskerville yesterday. Sherlock, my sneaky man.