Book Blogger Hop

As the master of procrastination that I am, I would rather be hopping than doing my tax forms, so here we are!

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. Each week she asks a question so that blogger can get to know each other a little bit better. This weekend the question is:

What book-to-movie adaption have you most liked? Which have you disliked?

Whenever I get this question I have such a hard time remembering which of the movies I have seen that are based on books. I think this is because to me the book and movie are two entirely different things, so in my mind they are not connected. I like the Harry Potter movies (the 4 I have seen), but I think my favourite has to be Lord of the Rings. Yes, the movies are very different from the book, but they really brought Tolkien's universe to life for me.

Disliked? I was very disappointed in Inkheart, which lacked the magic and atmosphere that make the book so special. And who decided casting Brendan Fraser as Mo was a good idea?

What is your favourite book-to-movie adaption? Are you like me and insist on reading the book before watching the movie?

Book Blogger Hop

I haven't been hopping for a while, so I thought today might be a good day for it (it's The Big Waffle Day!).

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. Each week she asks a question so that blogger can get to know each other a little bit better. This weekend the question is:

If you could physically put yourself into a book or series ... which one would it be and why?

Oh, that's a tough one! Many of my favourite books are great to read, but I don't think I would want to physically experience them. Like many others I think the Harry Potter series would be wonderful to visit; I would love to see Hogwarts and perhaps practice some magic. Another option is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, because London Below sounds like a fantastic place to experience. Yet another option is the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, because I've never been to Africa and a conversation with Mma Ramotswe over a cup of hot bush tea might just make me a little bit wiser. But the book I really want to visit is Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, because being stuck in a snowstorm in a small town in Scotland during Christmas sounds just perfect.

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. Each week she asks a question so that blogger can get to know each other a little bit better. This weekend the question is:

What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?

I would have to say the characters. If I like the characters, if I can relate to them in some way and care enough about them to want to invest a lot of time reading about them, then I can forgive a less interesting plot. Obviously what happens is still important, but in my opinion you can have good characters and a bad plot, but if I don't care about the characers, it doesn't matter how intriguing the plot is.

Only one week until Christmas (Christmas Eve is the big day in Norway)! Eek! I was hoping to go on a shopping trip to buy the last Christmas gifts today, but it was very windy this morning, so I will have to wait it out for a while. I have decided not to work next week (the perks of being a freelancer), so hopefully I will have enough time to finish all the preparations; baking, gift wrapping, cleaning, decorating... I had planned to do everything early this year, but as usual I'm way behind. Why do I never learn?

Book Blogger Hop

I can't believe Christmas is only two weeks away! I have most of the presents under control now, but I still need to make some Christmas cards, decorate and bake four sorts of cookies, not to mention clean and tidy up my flat... Tomorrow I'm going to a Christmas concert with Oslo Gospel Choir, something I'm very much looking forward to. Christmas songs performed by an amazing choir, Christmas trees, lit candles and a lot of snow outside – sounds like the Christmas spirit isn't far away.

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. Each week she asks a question so that blogger can get to know each other a little bit better. This week she asks:

What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs? Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?

I of course enjoy reading reviews, because it's a great help in deciding whether I should try a particular book or not. It's also a good way to discover new (to me) books. In addition I really like reading more personal posts that reveal a little about the blogger's personality, be it discussion posts, memes like Top Ten Tuesday etc. I also love the enthusiasm for books and reading that is reflected on people's blogs; it's very catching.

PS. Be sure to enter my 50 Followers Giveaway – it's international and you could win a book of your choice from The Book Depository!

Book Blogger Hop

Are you sure it is Friday again? But it was Monday yesterday, wasn't it? Only just over a week until Advent Sunday, and I have the feeling I won't have enough time to everything I wanted to do before Christmas. For instance I wanted to start baking cookies this weekend, but it looks like I will have to work all day tomorrow and possibly Sunday as well. Oh well, at least I will have money to buy Christmas presents for (that would be Christmas presents for other people, not books for myself... At least not that many books for myself). ;)

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. Each week she asks a question so that blogger can get to know each other a little bit better. This week she says:

Since Thanksgiving is coming up next week, let's use this week's Hop to share what we are most thankful for and what our holiday traditions are!

Being Norwegian I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, though I wish we did, because it sounds wonderful. Food and family, what more could you want? I also like the idea of taking a moment to reflect on the things you are thankful for. We don't do that often enough.

I am thankful for my parents; that they are healthy and happy despite nearing 65. I am thankful that I am healthy and happy despite feeling lonely sometimes. I am thankful I have a nice flat and a cute car and a good job, even though I sometimes complain about the housework and the gas prices and the boring projects. I am thankful I live in a peaceful country and a small town that feels like home, even though it is cold and wet and includes nosy people. I am thankful I have the means to travel to other places, even though I always get homesick. I am thankful I can go home. I am thankful for the midnight sun and the northern lights; the clean air; the ocean and the sky. I am thankful for books and movies and music. I am thankful for good food and drinks. I am thankful for chocolate (and ice cream). I am thankful I have good friends in many different places. I am thankful for all of this and so much more, but most of all I am thankful I have someone I love and someone who loves me.

Book Blogger Hop

This weekend I'm doing my very first Book Blogger Hop!

If you've found your way here from the hop, welcome! I'm a Norwegian book lover with pretty eclectic reading tastes, which is reflected by my little blog.

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. Each week she asks a question so that blogger can get to know each other a little bit better. This week she asks:

If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?

Yes, I always start with the first book provided I can get hold of it (and I've been known to keep searching for a long time if it's a series I really want to read). Sometimes I've started with a later book, either because I didn't know it was part of a series or the order didn't matter much (like with Nancy Drew – try reading those in order!). When I was younger I didn't care that much about reading series in order, unless the next book was a direct continuation of the previous. But as I've gotten older, I've also gotten stranger habits, and now I insist on starting with the first book. This is why books like The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith (Isabel Dalhousie #3) will stay on my shelf until I can find the first two books.