And In the Vienna Woods

And In the Vienna Woods Trees Remain by Elisabeth Asbrink   464 pages

As y’all know, I don’t read nonfiction that much. I do, but it has to really caprture my attention.  And this one, by author of the internationally bestselling “1947” did. 

It’s the story of Otto Ullman, a thirteen-year-old Jewish boy who is sent form Austria to Sweden at the eruption of World War II. Alone. His story is fascinating. One of the things that enticed me was the back blurb mention that Otto becomes BFFs with Ingvar Kamprad, who grows up to become the founder of IKEA.

I believe that this is an important book for scholars of the period and those seeking this type of knowledge. There is lots of information on Sweden’s, Austria’s, and even Switzerland’s positions during the War. However, it is too much information for nonscholars like me. I was ready to abandon the book by page 75, but instead I just read the parts about Otto and how he esacaped the Nazis and his life in Sweden. He was part of Kindertransport-like event to save the children of Austria.

I was disappointed that Ingvar Kamprad didn’t show up until near the end. And in my opinion, I didn’t much see the relationship. I did learn how the name IKEA came about: he added his initials to the village’s name. Ingvar Kamprad Elmtardy Agunnaryd (IKEA).

“And in the Vienna Woods Trees Remain” seems to be thoroughly researched, and as I wrote earlier, I believe it is an important book for those studying this perios. Therefore,  “And in the Vienna Woods Trees Remain” receives  2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Beartown

Beartown by Fredrik Backman, 418 pages

You can see Sara's review here:
http://slplbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/02/beartown.html

I am late to the party and don't have much different to say but liked this book so much that I feel I have to add my review.

This novel is set in a small Swedish town. It is a remote town that is on the downswing. A large part of it is about a junior hockey team. The success of the hockey team could return the town to better times by attracting a national hockey training facility.

The beginning of the novel lets you know something major will happen but then it rewinds and it is not until almost the end of novel that you get back to that point.

With the dedication and intensity shown towards the hockey team, I can see the events of this book occurring in the U.S. although it would more likely be football than hockey.

The book is about hockey and sports but is also about family, parenthood and life in general. There were several parts that were hard to read but I just had to push through them. I rate this book pretty highly and would recommend it to hockey fans and people who like fiction.

A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman                 Audio Book: 9 hours, 9 mins.     Hardback Book:  352 pages              

I have enjoyed many books over the years, but, this book, I truly love, the film is excellent and true to the book, I might add.   Ove is the most loveable, cranky older man, ever.    He is a very principaled individual and will always do the right thing even if it inconveniences him or interrupt his suicide attempts.   This is a wonderful book and I give it my highest recommendation to every reader looking for something excellent to read.    There are so many good life lessons here and should get an award for showing just how you can’t tell what a person is really like by just meeting them, getting chewed out by them, or basing assumptions on outward characteristics.    Like all of us there are many facets to Ove.   He has a low tolerance for the foibles of others, but, in his perspective he is only holding up for what is right.   He nags and corrects people’s behavior for their better good because they aren’t doing “right,” so he crabbily educates them.   His new neighbors’ children see right through him as does their Mom.    He may fuss about doing nice things for people, but, he does whatever favors and impositions anyone asks of him, of course they will hear about it, but, his good heart won’t let him leave anyone to their own devices when they come to him for help.    There is so much good background story to this book that shows you why and how Ove came to be the way he is and he does so many kind and decent things for other folks that you will lose track of all the good.   Even when he is put upon he goes along with it fussing all the way, but, helping out, too.    I don’t want to give any more away but this is the BEST feel good book I have read in years.   Do read it, it is such a great story wonderfully told.     And the film is terrific, too.

The Sandman

The Sandman  by Lars Kepler   443 pages

Late one night, outside Stockholm, Mikael Kohler-Frost is found wandering. Thirteen years earlier, he and his younger sister were reported missing, thought to have been victims of Sweden's most notorious serial killer, Jurek Walter, now serving a life sentence in a maximum security psychiatric hospital. Mikael insists that his sister is still alive and being held by the Sandman. Detective Inspector Joona Linna, the officer responsible for Jurek's capture years earlier, knows that any chance of rescuing Mikael's sister depends on getting Jurek to talk, and recommends Inspector Saga Bauer, a young prodigy wrestling her own demons. She will have to go under deep cover in the psychiatric ward where Jurek is imprisoned, and she will have to find a way to get to the psychopath before it's too late - and before he gets inside her head.

At first I thought this was going to be a Clarice Starling / Hannibal Lecter type of confrontation, relationship, and ensuing plot; although equally unnerving, the stories and protagonists do differ. The denouement feels chaotic and illogical, and it is only after the action ceases that the reader is privy to the knowledge the characters were acting upon; the final chapters felt so rushed and convoluted that I felt had to go back and re-read several pages to fully understand the who-what-where-why-when.   

Posted By:   Regina C.   (submitted to Jen 5/21/18)

Girl in the Spider's Web

Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, 400 pages

Girl in the Spider's Web is listed as the fourth book or the continuation of the "Millennium" series, you know the one with Lisbeth Salander, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I was, when picking up this book very leery about reading it. To often I have see series destroyed and made unreadable with a change of authors, Yes I am looking at you Lustbader. But that is not the case here. Lagercrantz beautifully continued not only the characters that we know and love, but his writing style is so similar to Larsson's that at times I forgot that this was not by Stieg.

Girl in the Spider's Web like the rest of the series focuses on Lisbeth and Mikael. Mikael has been living off the fame generated by the events previously, but Millennium, his newspaper company, is slowly sinking. So when a person calls with a story of vital importance Mikael jumps at the chance. He soon learns that Lisbeth has been investigating the same story and turns to her for help. But what they uncover are secrets that people are willing to kill to protect.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the previous volumes in the Millennium series. I would, however, caution that this book does not work as a stand alone, it needs the series and the backstory to fill out the plot.

The Millennium series, often called the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, ranks among my all-time favorite books/series, and I think is the only series of which I have a complete set. I look forward to eventually adding Girl in the Spider's Web to my shelves.