Back to the Classics - Den brændende busk

A Classic written by a female author,

The Burning Bush by Sigrid Undset and published in 1930 fits the category, even if the protagonist of this book is a man.
 
The Burning Bush  is the second part of Gymnadenia. And in this book the mysteries and puzzles of Gymnadenia come to their solutions.
These solutions are like real life, not what you expected, but something bigger and better. The persons, we met in Gymnadeina grow and develop, maybe they even mature. The historical times -- we go from the roaring twenties into the bleak beginning of the thirties -- are a realistic backdrop to the story about Paul Selmer and the journey of his life.

I warmly recommentd this book  and its prequel to all who is remotely interested in human and spiritual development.


And this is the 6th and final of my Back to the Classics 2018 series.

Back to the Classics - The Battling Prophet

A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.

The Battling Propthet by Arthur W. Upfield was one in a bag of old Penguin books, I purchased during a clearance sale in a second hand bookstore. Lots of Upfield's book were in that bag. Some of them has since been lost when moving, some I have read several times, some only once. Among those this one, which was one of the first I read from that bag in the beginning of the 1980ies. Now I re-read it, and it was way better, than my memory of it.  


Centering on a murder mystery -  who killed the so called Prophet, an uncannily accurate meteorologist - this book is so much more. It is a study in meteorology and science, drinking habits and abstinence, bull whipping, friendship and loyalty, real men and real women, heroes and villains, spies and cold war conspiracies. All the time with an eye for the Australian landscape, the bush and the people living in and off the land. 

I own and have read and re-read many of the Inspector Bonaparte books, not for the mysteries, but for the immersion in a landscape and a time that is no more, but that fostered heroes on a daily base. This is not the best of the "Bony" books in my opinion, but it may easily be the second best. 

Back to the Classics - Bjergenes datter

A classic travel or journey narrative, fiction or non-fiction

 Bjergenes datter, in English Daughter of the Mountains, is written by Louise Rankin in 1948.

It tells the tale of a Tibetan girl, Momo, who dearly wants a golden Lhasa apso dog. When she finally gets one, it is stolen from her, and she sets out to get Pempa, as the dog is called.

The first time I read this story, I was very young, 7 or 8. But the story was still good, I still felt the magical transformation of the countryside from Momo's beloved harsh mountains to the verdant lowlands, from the serenity of Tibetan mountain life to the bustle of Indian Calcutta. Also the different, and to Momo as well as to me exotic dishes are described so well you could almost taste them. And the grown up me still shivered at the thought of butter tea.

The contrast between mountains and cities are mirrored in the contrast between Momo and the people, she meet. She's steadfast, trusting,  and sure that she will eventually find her Pemba, even as almost everybody she meets are callous scoundrels or dishonourable and all of them try to make her turn back and forget about Pemba.

I love happy endings. I love this book still.

Back to the Classics - Gymnadenia

A Classic with a one word title. 

 Gymnadenia is both the name of a humble, greenish orchid, and a book by Sigrid Undset published in 1929. I read it in Danish. It was translated by Peder Hesselaa and published in 1956 by Jespersen and Pio

This book tells the story of Paul Selmer, a young Norwegian man during his formative years, which coincide with a colourful time in Norway's history, from roughly 1890 till 1916, where the war begins.

The orchid in the title is a disappointment for poor Paul, who expects a fantastic flower when hearing the name. This feeling of being cheated out of something big and beautiful runs through his life in this book. His first girlfriend and soulmate is not what she seemed, or maybe more ... you're left dangling, as this is the first book of two. His studies, his family, his friends ...

It is a really well written book, the persons are believable, even loveable with their faults and human weaknesses. The times in the book are different from now, but the eternal themes in this book - love, value of life, sin and guilt, virtue, being a human being in short - makes it a fine read today as well. The setting gives colour and a slower pace to the book, which is good. The only thing, I find a bit hard to swallow is the longish soliloquies about Christianity.

I won't tell too much about what happens in the book. I would like you all to read this book, as it is maybe even better than Kristin Lavransdatter.   

Back to the Classics - A Wrinkle in Time

A classic by an author that's new to you

A Wrinkle in time begins as a traditional "black and stormy night in a quirky family"-story; consolidating this with our main person, Meg (daughter in the family) meeting both the mysterious Mrs. Whatsit and the almost too normal Calvin O'Keefe.

But from there the story takes off into a supernatural fligth of fancy through hinted-at wonders and blatantly described virtues. It's basically a figth between good and evil book, but I did not like it. It was ... esoteric ... is the best word, I can find even if it does not fit the bill.

The persons were at the same time larger than life and one-dimensional. You just knew all along that they would do the rigth thing, like the blandest of Alcotts little ladies.

The role of the tesseract was for me not adequately explained, the children were paper thin, the Mrss. W's were too all-powerful, too mysterious and yet too set apart and self assured to become real to me. It was at places toe-curling in its description of virtues and good deeds.

I felt like a spectator all the way, never as a part of the book. 

Back to the Classics - Revised list and Wrap Up - 2018

Wrapping up the Back to the Classics 2018 Challenge. I found that I have actually read more than half the books. This will give me one entry in the prize drawing. That is if I finish in time.

The question is now, can I write a review of the missing books in time? The wrap up deadline is midnight December 31st. (PST = 9 o'clock next morning here).

UPDATE: I did it! And I've learned the lesson. In 2019 I'm going to write about the books as I read them! Promise!

Here is my revised list of books. Red means not read, green is read. Blue = in progress.

1. A 19th century classic - (published 1800 - 1899).
- Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

2. A 20th century classic (1900 - 1968).
- Glasperlenspiel by Hermann Hesse.

3. A classic by a woman author.
- Den brændende busk  (The burning Bush) by Sigrid Undset, just to tease.
A well turned book by a woman author ... featuring a male hero.

4. A classic in translation.
- Ivanhoe,

5. A children's classic.
-  Alle vi børn i Bulderby by Astrid Lindgren.

6. A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.
-The Battling Prophet by Arthur Upfield

7. A classic travel or journey narrative, fiction or non-fiction.
- Daugther of the Mountains by Louise Rankin

8. A classic with a single-word title.
- Gymnadenia by Sigrid Undset.

>9. A classic with a colour in the title.
- Valley of the Green Shadows by Poul Nørgaard

10. A classic by an author that's new to you.
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

11. A classic that scares you.

- Dr. Zhivago! by Boris Pasternak. Which I'm still reading - slowly because it still scares me!

12. Re-read a favourite classic
- The Lord of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Classic Challenge - De grønne skyggers dal

A classic with a colour in the title

As a part of the Back to the Classics-challenge, I saved my Christmas gift De grønne skyggers dal (The Valley of Green Shadows - Entering the Challenge in the "Colour in the Title-category") by Poul Nørgaard until January 1st. But writing about it almost took longer than reading the book.

It is written in 1946, by a Danish farmer and writer born in 1899. He is mostly known for a series of books for girls (which I've never read).
     De grønne skyggers dal tells the story of 3 friends, Peter, Philip and "The Professor" who after Peter's finding an old document travels to Tibet to find a far avay monastery where the monks seem to have found the fountain of youth.
     It is a book sritten for children, but the characters are three dimensional, and loveable. The story is fascinating, involving intruigues, drama and excitement. The ending is refreshingly untraditional. Some tecnicalities on flying may be obsolete; to me they were plain boring, but quickly done with. It is a book, I'd let my children read any day.

Back to the Classics - May

First of all thanks to the Queen of Carrots for reminding me of the challenge. 
My Back to the Classics Challenge is still suffering. Right now reading is on the back burner leaving room for gardening, plant dyeing, soaping and enjoying spring.

I tried colour-coding the months' books Obviously green for read, red for not read.

 

• This time (May) my die roll was 10 meaning A classic by an author that's new to you. I wonder if Madeleine L'Engle's  A Rift in Time counts here. I newer heard of her until this challenge, where she keeps on popping up.

• In January I rolled an 11 and began reading A Classic that scares you: Dr. Zhivago. Well I'm at page 50-something now. Every time I pick up this book, I begin doing something else - or reading something else. It STILL scares me!

•  In February I rolled an 8 for A Classic with a single-word title I chose Gymnadenia by Sigrid Undset. It still lies unopened here beside me, even thougt I'm sure I'll love reading it.

• In March the die was thrown. I got a 6, meaning: A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.  I imagined P.D. James to be older than she was. Try again. 

•  April's die was a 9. Meaning a classic with a colour in the title. As I have already read De grønne skyggers dal Poul Nørgaard - a gift for Christmas - this one is done!

- 📚 -

Back to the Classics - April

My Back to the Classics Challenge is still suffering ...

but this time I was lucky with the rool of a die. I rolled a 9. Meaning a classic with a colour in the title. As I have already read De grønne skyggers dal Poul Nørgaard - a gift for Christmas - I'm all set for this month.


 Concerning the past months' reading, I can copy-past what I wrote in March:

• In January I rolled an 11 and began reading A Classic that scares you: Dr. Zhivago. Well I'm at page 50-something now. Every time I pick up this book, I begin doing something else - or reading something else. It STILL scares me!

•  In February I rolled an 8 for A Classic with a single-word title I chose Gymnadenia by Sigrid Undset. It still lies unopened here beside me, even thougt I'm sure I'll love reading it.
  

• In March the die was thrown. I got a 6, meaning: A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.  I imagined P.D. James to be older than she was. Try again. 

Then I read a couple of books that do not qualify, as they're far too recent to even get near the list. All this in order to avoid reading Dr. Zhivago. I even tried bringing that book along for long, boring train journeys on my own, but I never got to open it, free newspapers and the view from the window captured my attention. And now I began re-reading the Harry Potter series. This time in English and in one go.

Back to the Classics - March - Updated

My Back to the Classics Challenge is suffering so far.

In January I rolled an 11 and began reading A Classic that scares you: Dr. Zhivago. Well I'm at page 50something now. Every time I pick up this book, I begin doing something else - or reading something else.
It STILL scares me!

In February I rolled an 8 for A Classic with a single-word title I chose Gymnadenia by Sigrid Undset. It still lies unopened here beside me, even thougt I'm sure I'll love reading it.

In the meantime I've been reading a lot more than I have done for a very long time. I read:
- A Wrinkle in time by Madeline L'Engle (which I have placed under 3. A classic by a woman author on my list), which the library was able to find for me.
- De grønne skyggers dal by Poul Nørgaard (this one qualifies for 9. A classic with a colour in the title) which was a gift for Christmas.
Then I read a couple of books that do not qualify, as they're far too recent to even get near the list. All this in order to avoid reading Dr. Zhivago. I even tried bringing that book along for long, boring train journeys on my own, but I never got to open it, free newspapers and the view from the window captured my attention.


And now the March die was thrown. I got a 6, meaning: A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.
Well. On my table also lies P.D. James' Death in Holy Orders. Let's see if I can manage that.
Oops I imagined P.D. James to be older than she was. This book was written in 2001 - hardly a classic. Try again. 

Back to the Classics - February

Link

My January read: A classic that scares you. (Dr. Zhivago! by Boris Pasternak), is still scaring, or rather boring me. It is such a long time going anywhere, and the painstakingly correct transscription of the Russian names bother me. 
I am still scared by that book.
So much actually, that I began reading again. I read several other books, some of which could qualify for this challenge, some decidedly not.  Being either modern Sct-Fi, childrens' books or just pure time-sinks. 
Well not so good so far. The "Back to the Classics"- Challenge has sent me into the arms of modern or un-classic books.

But still the February die was thrown. I got an 8, meaning:



8. A classic with a single-word title.
- Odysseen (Οδύσσεια) by Homer. Time for a re-read. In Danish, not Greek.
- Gymnadenia by Sigrid Undset. Everybody knows Kristin Lavransdatter, but this one is maybe even better.

As I'm still struggling with Dr. Zhivago, I think I'll go for Gymnadenia, my only problem is that my copy of this book is in Norwegian ... Oh, well I think, I'm ready to tackle even this in order to avoid the Doctor.

Back to the classics -- January edition

Link

  Here is my revised list of books:

1. A 19th century classic - (published 1800 - 1899).
- Mansfield Park, Jane Austen

2. A 20th century classic (1900 - 1968).
- Glasperlenspiel by Hermann Hesse.

3. A classic by a woman author.
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
- Den brændende busk  (The burning Bush) by Sigrid Undset, just to tease. A well turned book by a woman author ... featuring a male hero.

4. A classic in translation.
- Ivanhoe,
- War and Peace
- Gone with the Wind
- The Odyssey
-

5. A children's classic.
-  Alle vi børn i Bulderby by Astrid Lindgren.
- Winnie the Pooh by Milne (in English).
-

6. A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.
- The Battling Prophet by:
- Cover Her Face or
- A Mind to Murder or
- Unnatural Causes or
- XXX by P.D. James
- XXX by Ellery Queen
-

7. A classic travel or journey narrative, fiction or non-fiction.
- Seven Years in Tibet
- Daugther of the mountains
- Lost Horizons by James Hilton compare it to De grønne skyggers dal (Valley of the Green Shadows) by Poul Nørgaard. (for 9).
-

8. A classic with a single-word title.
- Odysseen (Οδύσσεια) by Homer. Time for a re-read. In Danish, not Greek.
- Gymnadenia by Sigrid Undset. Everybody knows Kristin Lavransdatter, but this one is maybe even better.
-  

9. A classic with a colour in the title.
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knigth
- The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Valley of the Green Shadows by Poul Nørgaard.  (see 7)

10. A classic by an author that's new to you.
- I'll stumble across one eventually.
-

11. A classic that scares you.
- Dr. Zhivago! by Boris Pasternak 


12. Re-read a favourite classic
- The Lord of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

And the die was thrown. I got an 11. I'm now off in search of my old copy of Doctor Zhivago

Klassiker-udfordring - Back to the Classics

     Mangler man en god undskyldning for at læse bøger?  Uglemor gør i hvert fald af og til. Men næste år bliver det anderledes. Den gode  Queen of Carrots har gjort mig opmærksom på en udfordring. Den originale, hvor man kan melde sig til, ligger her: Books and Chocolate
12 forskellige bøger på 12 måneder. Det foregår på engelsk, derfor er resten også på engelsk.

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 If you are looking for a good excuse for reading 12 books in 2018, then look just a bit further. The good Queen of Carrots has fund the perfect excuse: Back to the Classics, 2018.
The original post, with rules and a Linky, can be found here: Books and Chocolate 
I'll follow the Queen of Carrot's lead inasmuch as I'll only pick books from our shelves. This should not pose a big problem. We have zillions of books. And as the Queen too, if I began a book, read it from page one over again.

There's more rules than what I cite here, the most important being no reading before January 1st 2018, and all books to be written (not necessarily published) at least 50 years ago.

I'll grasp a d12 on the first of every month and let chance tell me which category is up for this month.
This list will grow, as I go looking for books on the shelves in the Owlery and at bloggers' posts. 

My book list - to be updated as I fill in the holes. I'm too lazy to get up, so titles are given, but authors only when I'm sure of them.

1. A 19th century classic - (published 1800 - 1899). Alice in Wonderland I only read parts of it. Never the whole book.

2. A 20th century classic (1900 - 1968). Glasperlenspiel by Hermann Hesse. I read some of it over 20 years ago. It was a tour de force in ingenuity. I wonder if it stands the test of time?

3. A classic by a woman author. Hard one, I seldom ever notice the authors' sex and often not even the name. I'll have to go and look actively for a woman, and I hate this "turned upside down sexism". This is according to me an irrelevant criteria for the choosing of books.
Maybe I'll just leave this one out, then I'll have omne month's slack for unforseen happenings.
- After looking at other participants' list, I found it! A Wrinkle in Time. I like science fantasy, it sounds intriguing and is written by a lady: Madeleine L'Engle. Now hoping, that my local library has this book (or can find it somewhere in the national library-book-staches)

4. A classic in translation. Easy ;) I have loads of classics in Danish and English. I just have to pick one. Ivanhoe, War and Peace ... Loads I never read.

5. A children's classic. Alle vi børn i Bulderby by Astrid Lindgren. The title means: All us children of Bullerby.
- or maybe try reading Winnie the Pooh in English. I read a few chapters in Danish some years ago.

6. A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction.
I'm not an avid reader of whodunnits, but I have some Australian ones written long ago. They're describing the Australia of days gone by in a charming way. The Battling Prophet is my choice - Author: ____________ (to be filled in)

7. A classic travel or journey narrative, fiction or non-fiction. something Japanese, sea-faring or Australian again.

8. A classic with a single-word title. Erm, wonder whether it is the English or the Danish title, that counts? The Odyssey (Odysseen/Οδύσσεια) is one word in Danish and Greek, but I believe two in English. I read that one when I was 12. Time for a re-read. In Danish, not Greek.

9. A classic with a colour in the title. We have lots and lots of books with a colour in it. The Purple Pterodactyles and A Study in Scarlet come to my mind.
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knigth, or
- The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle.

10. A classic by an author that's new to you. Looking at the shelves picking one at random. Difficult, I don't know if I've ever read something by that autor before as I'm bad at names. Decision: If I don't remember the name, that author is new to me!

11. A classic that scares you. Dr. Zivago! I have begun reading ... 7 times, maybe more. It is such a slow starter.

12. Re-read a favourite classic. The Lord of the Ring I suppose .. I have many, many books that fit in this category.