The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

In the Spring of 2014, SRC member Elizabeth B gave us the task “Nordic Noir.” She began with the phrase: “It's been more than 10 years since I got the Nordic noir bug.” Now, because of Elizabeth B’s task 10 yrs. ago, I can honestly say that, too.
I am bringing back the task almost exactly as Elizabeth B outlined it and moderator Kristina Simon edited it.

Unlike the previous task, though, mine is for adults only. No books with the genres “Children’s” or “Kids” are allowed.
Variations of the “same name” in option B.1. are not allowed this time; the name must be exact – trying to avoid a lot of questions and confusion. I eliminated one option for Book B.
Other than that, here’s how Elizabeth B and editor Kristina Simon gave Nordic Noir to us, and I give it to you.

The task is for 2 books that total 500 pages or more.

Book A: Read a book set primarily (at least 50%) in a Nordic country or written by a single Nordic author (by birth or by residence). For the purposes of this task, the Nordic countries will be considered to be: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Åland Islands, the Faroe Islands, and Svalbard. These lists might give you some ideas, but be careful as it's possible that not all books on the lists will fit the task: Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries
Scandinavian Literature

REQUIRED: If the GRs description does not make it clear, explain how your book fits the task.

Book B: Read a book that is connected to Book A in one of the following ways:
1. By author’s name -- The first or last name of the author of Book B is the same as the author of Book A. Names may appear in any position (Variations in spelling of the same name are NOT allowed – this might be exasperating for Scandinavian authors, but I want to avoid as much confusion as possible.) Both books may be by the same author as well.
2. By setting -- Book B is set at least 50% in the same country as Book A.
3. By year of first edition -- Book B was first published in the same year as Book A.

REQUIRED: Identify how Book B is related to Book A when you post.

For Book B #3 - can it be any book (that meets SRC rules) published in that year, even if it has nothing to do with Scandinavia or Noir books?

This is my thinking: - David Lagercrantz OPTION A & - David Lagercrantz SAME AUTHOR

Morning.

Just a quick one. Could it be a book with two authors, as long as both of them are from the same country? I was debating Reykjavík: A Crime Story: both Ragnar Jónasson, and Katrín Jakobsdóttir are listed, and both were born in Iceland - indeed, Katrin is the current Icelandic PM.

Robin P wrote: "For Book B #3 - can it be any book (that meets SRC rules) published in that year, even if it has nothing to do with Scandinavia or Noir books?"

Yes! Any book published in the year of book A will work.

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "This is my thinking: - David Lagercrantz OPTION A & - [author:David Lager..."

Yes! Any book with the same author fits Book B. Option 1.

Trish wrote: "Morning.

Just a quick one. Could it be a book with two authors, as long as both of them are from the same country? I was debating Reykjavík: A Crime Story: both

To tell the truth, I had forgotten about the multiple authors issue. So I have to go back to way the task is worded. I ask for a book with "a" author, and I guess that means one.

There may be some way to figure out how to use Reykjavík: A Crime Story as Book 2. You could not use it for Option 1, because the way I have that worded, again it calls for a single author. But it could be used for Option 2 if Book A is set in Iceland, of for Option 3 if Book A is set in any of the approved Scandinavian countries and 1st published in 2022.

Hope you find a way to use it.

Fair enough. Thanks.

For option B(2): you say a book set in the same country as book A.

Using The Land of Dreams for book A (author born and lives in Norway) and it is set in Minnesota...

So ANY book set in the USA is eligible for book B?

no requirement that option c be a nordic noir mystery right?

right now I have:
The Hidden Child - book a (pg 1 of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries) - first published 2007

Captain's Fury - first published 2007

just checking the first book does not have to be on one of those lists to work

Kathy KS wrote: "For option B(2): you say a book set in the same country as book A.

Using The Land of Dreams for book A (author born and lives in Norway) and it is set in Minnesota...

So ANY book..."

Set in the same country as Book A. Book A is written by an author born and residing in a Nordic country. So yes, if Book A is set in the USA, then Book B. opt. 2 can be any book set in the USA. (--not exactly what I intended, but then I am piggy-backing on another person's task, so I'm not going to change things.)

Dee wrote: "no requirement that option c be a nordic noir mystery right?

right now I have:
The Hidden Child - book a (pg 1 of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries) - first published 2007

[book:Capta..."

Any book published in 2007 will work.

Marie (UK) wrote: "just checking the first book does not have to be on one of those lists to work"

You are correct. I only give the lists as helpful references -- they are not mandatory.

Nick wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "For option B(2): you say a book set in the same country as book A.

Using The Land of Dreams for book A (author born and lives in Norway) and it is set in Minnesot..."

Thanks. It was surprising to me that the book I chose from my TBR fit for Book 1, but the setting threw me, whether to use Minnesota OR USA. I'm about 1/2 way through and it's definitely all in Minnesota to this point.

I had planned to use The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth for task 25.13, but I'm wondering if it would work for this task, as well? It is NF, written by an English journalist who lives in Denmark with his Danish wife and sons. It compares the five Nordic countries, so it isn't set >50% in any one of them, but is sectioned to cover each of them.

Kim wrote: "I had planned to use The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth for task 25.13, but I'm wondering if it would work ..."

Sorry. The official instructions are for the book to be set 50% in one Nordic country -- or by a Nordic author. Neither is true for your selection.

Kim wrote: "I had planned to use The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth for task 25.13, but I'm wondering if it would work ..."

EXCEPT -- if you can send info that the author is a resident of Denmark, then the selection will work. You should not, however, use Option 2 -- same setting -- for Book B, since the setting has to be one country.

Nick wrote: "Kim wrote: "I had planned to use The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth for task 25.13, but I'm wondering if it..."
The bio on the book itself says he lives in Denmark with his wife and two sons. Apparently he was a resident at the time he wrote the book, he may not be now.
This is from his website:
In this timely book he leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success and, most intriguing of all, what they think of each other. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterised by suffocating parochialism and populated by extremists of various shades.
http://www.michael-booth.com/the-almo...

Kim wrote: "Nick wrote: "Kim wrote: "I had planned to use The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth for task 25.13, but I'm wo..."

Sounds like his adopted home is Denmark, so you are good to go.

Nick wrote: "Kim wrote: "Nick wrote: "Kim wrote: "I had planned to use The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michael Booth for task 25.13..."
Thanks so much!