Reading Log: December

I didn’t quite manage to finish as many books as I’d hoped to this month, but at least I’ve started fewer than I’ve finished, so I think that’s a good sign…! I’ve stuck with much of the Swedish theme again, unsurprisingly.

De fenomenala fruntimren på Grand Hôtel by Ruth Kvarnström-Jones

Set in Stockholm's Grand Hôtel in the first decade of the twentieth century, this is a fictional account of the lives and friendships between a group of women working there, led by (the real) Wilhelmina Skogh. I truly enjoyed this - my knowledge of Swedish history is even more lacking than my British history, so it was good to have some background there filled in helpfully. As the movement for women's rights was starting to gain momentum, some women were fortunate to work for liberal employers who understood that their contributions were as valuable as those of the men on staff. At the same time, societal and legal constraints had very real impacts on their lives. Through Ottilia Ekman and her friends and colleagues, many of these challenges are brought to life.

At times I wondered if some of the attitudes and relationships felt a little anachronistic- but this is probably not the case and is my own lack of knowledge and preconceptions getting in the way. It certainly didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story, and i've already started the second book in the series.

Au revoir Agneta by Emma Hamberg

It's taken me a while to read this one, and I really don't know why. It's the sequel to Je m'appelle Agneta, but now Agneta is facing a new set of difficulties. She discovers just how bad Einar's financial situation is, and when it seems that things can hardly get any worse, they do.

It's a voyage of self-discovery for a middle-aged woman whose marriage is in crisis. I love her indomitable spark and her inner strength, her humour, and her love for those who care about her.

Badhytten by Christina Olséni and Micky Hansen [audiobook]

Now that I have access to a Swedish library, I’m enjoying listening to some books which I’ve previously read. This is the first of the Falsterbo murders, set in a small town in very southern Sweden. When a group of pensioners find the chairman of the local golf club dead in a bunker on the golf course, Fearing they they will be accused of killing him, they panic, and instead of calling the police, they phone a nephew - who also happens to be the local prosecutor. Without going into detail, a series of improbable events unfold which include the accidental killing of a prize horse, another death,, and the local police eventually solving the case. Good, fun escapism - and it’s lovely to revisit the start of the series while I’m waiting for my next visit to Sweden so I can buy the latest in paperback…

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

This account of a political adviser sort-of adopting an abandoned leveret and raising it to adulthood while living in the countryside during the COVID pandemic sheds light on a very little known species of British wildlife. For all that we’re familiar with the idea of the Mad March Hare, relatively few of us have seen games in the wild, let alone know anything about their habits and lives. While at times I was surprised by Dalton’s apparent lack of knowledge of things that I thought were well-known (thanks to a childhood spent reading Enid Blyton books, I suspect!), she generally finds the balance between sharing her discoveries and assuming too much or little of the reader. At times a touch preachy and self-congratulatory, this is still a fascinating read. Definitely recommended.

Rosengädda nästa by Emma Hamberg [audiobook]

This is the first in a lovely set of four books about discovering identity, and found family. Tessan is deeply unhappy with her job and relationship in a suburb of Stockholm. Bror lives in Lund in the south of Sweden and is worried about his parents’ nightly arguments so decides to ensure they have a month together without having to worry about him. Somehow these two both end up at the home of Jane, a n uncowoman who spends her life sewing, cooking, and looking after a wide variety of animals which have been brought to her in need of help.

As the story develops, Tessan and Bror each discover that it’s OK to be themselves, despite the constraints of other people’s expectations. Their sibling-like relationship grows, and Tessa helps Bror negotiate the anxieties of falling in love for the first time. It’s a heartwarming story, and leaves me wanting to know what happens next.

Bought:

A Stocking Full of Spies by Robin Stevens - the latest in the Ministry of Unladylike Activity series