A point which I got away from last year (as I always do) was that one of the parts of the resolution I had was to read the books I already owned. I have a lot of books, 98% bought at second hand stores, and I keep buying more whenever I find books I want to read at some point in my life. It’s hard to walk away from a book that is 5 kr (less than a dollar) even if you’ve got a whole pile of unread books at home. In some way, paying more for a book when buying it new, also motivates you to read it quicker.

I have now realised it is impossible for me to go to thrift stores without looking at the book section, and impossible for me to not buy books I want to read even if that makes the ones I own less prioritised. I will read them at some point in my life.

But I moved almost all my books into my room. Now I am surrounded and can’t escape them!

I think I need a bookshelf.

Here’s what I read so far. I haven’t really started school yet plus Frej’s internet isn’t working yet in his new apartment while he is running around decorating and won’t attend to me much… So I have had a lot of time to read. Now I am going to try to at least say a few sentences about each book!

1. Berättelserna – Torgny Lindgren
This is an edition where the short story books Merabs Skönhet, I Brokiga Blads Vatten and Legender are put together but in a new order. Plus some extra material if I got it right. Sounds like a trick to make more money out of the same books but I also noticed a lot of new things when I red the short stories in a new way. I think it’s a great book to give as a gift to someone who hasn’t read anything by him before.

2. Kyra Kyralina – Panait Istrati
This is the third book I have read by Panait Istrati and I think it’s my second favourite though it’s hard to say. It’s about the life and destiny of a homosexual lemonade salesman in Braila, Romania. His mother takes her life after having her face broken by the boy’s father, him and his sister (Kyra) lose eachother and she ends up in a brothel. The book is mainly on his search after her. Now I am starting to think it’s hard to write just a few sentences. It is a wonderful book though.

3. Kastellet - Vibeke Olsson
Vibeke Olsson was my favourite writer when I was a kid. I read the books about the roman woman Sabina when I was about 12 and thought it was the best things I had ever read. She has written loads about the roman empire and this was the first one of those I read as an adult now. And I liked it but not much more. I think I will re-read the books about Sabina some day instead.

At Frej’s place I also keep a few books that I will read a little in from time to time when I don’t feel like reading novels. One of them is this, Polisen lägger pussel – större svenska kriminalfall 1900-1950, about large crimes committed in Sweden between 1900-1950. It was printed in 1951 and it’s interesting, not only with all the fantastically strange murder stories in it but also how it as a voice of society has a quite nazi friendly approach. When I get too tired of it I move over to the other large coffee table-esque books I keep there; which are the chronicles of the working class in Sweden.