The Smell of Ink/Lukten av Trykksverte

Tidligere i år leste jeg boka Post Mortem: med begravelsesagenten på åstedet av Tor-Håkon Gabriel Håvardsen og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Alt du (ikke) vil vite om døden - rått, ærlig og undersøkende fra landets mest profilerte begravelsesagent. Tor-Håkon Gabriel Håvardsen har hentet tusenvis av døde mennesker og fulgt dem trygt til sitt siste hvilested. Som begravelsesagent har han sett det meste, også mistenkelige dødsfall som av mangel på kunnskap og ressurser er blitt kategorisert som naturlige. Kanskje går det mang en drapsmann løs der ute? I denne boken gir Håvardsen svar på alt vi lurer på etter å ha sett eller lest en true crime. Det spares ikke på makabre detaljer når han tar oss med ut til blodige åsteder, til rettsmedisinerens bord, inn i krematorieovnen og ned i den mystiske graven. Underveis går han bak kulissene i jobben med døden som arbeidsgiver, følger en kropp fra rigor mortis til forråtnelsen har gjort sitt, og deler betraktninger om døds...

Recently, I read the non-fiction book Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original "Psycho" by Harold Schecter, and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads Murder Was the Least of His Crimes… The truth behind the twisted crimes that inspired the films Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs… From Harold Schechter, “America's principle chronicler of its greatest psychopathic killers” (The Boston Book Review), comes the definitive account of Ed Gein, whose ghoulish crimes stunned an unsuspecting nation. The year is 1957. Photographs would show him across the country: a slight, Midwestern man with a twisted little smile, a man who had lived for ten years in his own world of murder and depravity. Here is the grisly true story of Ed Gein, the killer whose fiendish fantasies inspired Alfred Hitchcock's “Psycho”—the mild-mannered farmhand bound to his domineering mother, driven into a series of gruesome a...

I obviously have a weak spot for all things spooky as I'm writing a book blog mainly focusing on paranormal and horror books. Over the years, I've also read a few books about ghosts, paranormal encounters, and similar, so today I wanted to write a list of five books I'd recommend that's about ghosts and/or paranormal encounters. Some of them are more tied to a place, while others have a theme to them so to speak. Anyway, here's my five book recommendations. Haunted Healthcare: Medical Professionals and Patients Share their Encounters with the Paranormal by Richard Estep Description from Goodreads Many of those who have chosen the medical profession are no stranger to the paranormal. Ghosts walk the hallways of hospitals both old and new, haunting the wards and operating rooms. Join Richard Estep, paramedic, paranormal investigator, and cast members of TV's "Haunted Case Files" and "Haunted Hospitals," as he talks to EMTs, nurses, medical pro...

As I've got a weak spot for Scotland and all things spooky, I couldn't resist buying and reading Hidden Haunts: Scotland by W. J. Gilbert for obvious reasons and today I'll post my review of this book. Description from Goodreads Uncovering the world's hidden hauntings, one chilling story at a time. Hidden Scotland delves into the lesser-known ghost stories that quietly persist in the shadows of Scotland's rich supernatural history. As you turn each page, you’ll discover eerie tales often overlooked by mainstream paranormal accounts, with a focus on both Edinburgh and the broader Scottish landscape. Embark on a journey through the haunted streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town, where sites like the Governor's House in Edinburgh Castle and Chessels Court unveil the city's dark and mysterious past. Beyond the Old Town, explore ghostly echoes in places like Craigmillar Castle, George Heriot’s School, and Royal Circus, offering a fresh and chilling perspective on Edinb...

I recently read the non-fiction book Every Camp Has A Crystal Lake by Connor Flynn and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads Summer camp, recess and amusement parks provided me many thrills during my childhood and no doubt for many of you. They are places of fun and enjoyment, however; when the sun goes down and the lights turn off, there are chills that lie beneath. From haunted dorms, ghost coasters and monsters under the staircase, my friends and I have had to fend off many spooky things. The historical locations in the pages of Every Camp Has A Crystal Lake are filled with many puzzling stories... try not to become the next chapter! My Thoughts on the Book I liked the idea of this book, but I felt it was so poorly executed, with little talk about the paranormal encounters and stories, and the backstory of locations and what-not, I almost felt a bit cheated. Perhaps I'm a bit spoiled in the sense that I've read quite a few well researched boo...

As I'm a fan of the paranormal investigation show Kindred Spirits, I couldn't resist Amy Bruni's new book Food to Die For: Recipes and Stories from America's Most Legendary Haunted Places, and today I'm reviewing the book. Description from Goodreads Discover tantalizing recipes, spine-tingling stories, and historic photos from the most notoriously haunted locations across America in this fun and fascinating cookbook. Paranormal investigator and Kindred Spirits co-host Amy Bruni leads you through eerie hotels, haunted homes, hellish hospitals, and spooky ghost towns, giving you stories and a recipe from each place. Whether you're in the mood for Lizzie Borden's meatloaf or want to serve up spooky prison stories along with sugar cookies from Alcatraz, Food to Die For is your guide to ghoulish gastronomy. One of America's favorite ghost hunters, Amy Bruni takes you to mysterious hotels, eerie ghost towns, and possessed pubs in this delightfully sinister co...

Alright, I have a confession to make. I purchased the book Scottish Ghosts by Lily Seafield on my last trip to Scotland back in 2002 and it's been sitting in a shelf ever since. So I finally got my act together and read it, which means it's time to review it. Description from Goodreads Scotland's folklore is rich and varied, with stories passed from generation to generation to generation. This vibrant storytelling tradition is captured in Scottish Ghosts with tales of spectres past and present from all over Scotland, sometimes in the most unlikely of settings. Fairies, white ladies, tortured souls, poltergeists, malevolent phantoms, hideous creatures - Scotland has them all, ready for those who are willing to hear them, see them or sense their presence. There are tales of sightings that convinced the most sceptical of unbelievers. Whether they are the products of over-fertile imaginations, the desire to keep the memory of a colourful character alive, the simple wish to spi...

I decided going a bit Non-Fiction November this month, so today I'll review Louisiana's Haunted Plantations by Jill Pascoe here on this blog. Description from Goodreads New Orleans has been called the most haunted city in America, and with good reason. But there are more ghosts in Louisiana than can be held in one city and the plantations of this state, with their luxurious buildings and centuries old trees, are the ideal resting ground for spectral inhabitants. In some places there are questions about the existence of ghosts. At Louisiana’s plantations the question is how many? In this collection of thirteen chilling tales you will explore the ghosts along the River Road at some of Louisiana’s best known plantations, and also along the back bayous of the state. You will encounter the ghosts of the most haunted house in America, meet ladies in white and black who refuse to leave, learn of spectral children who continue to play, Civil War soldiers trapped where they died, pirat...

As a fan of Kindres Spirits, I couldn't resist reading the book Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned about Ghosts by Amy Bruni with Julie Tremaine and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Star of Kindred Spirits and paranormal investigator Amy Bruni shares stories from her years of experiences with ghosts, organized around thirteen truths that guide her approach to the supernatural. Amy Bruni, co-star of Kindred Spirits and one of the world's leading paranormal investigators, has learned a lot about ghosts over her years of research and first-hand experience. Now, in Life with the Afterlife , she shares the insight she has gleaned and how it has shaped her unique approach to interacting with the spirits of the dead and those who encounter them. From her earliest supernatural encounters as a child, through her years appearing on Ghost Hunters and the creation of her company Strange Escapes, which offers paranormal excursions to some of America's...

Earlier this year, I read Haunted Healthcare: Medical Professionals and Patients Share their Encounters with the Paranormal by Richard Estep and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads Many of those who have chosen the medical profession are no stranger to the paranormal. Ghosts walk the hallways of hospitals both old and new, haunting the wards and operating rooms. Join Richard Estep, paramedic, paranormal investigator, and cast members of TV's "Haunted Case Files" and "Haunted Hospitals," as he talks to EMTs, nurses, medical professionals, and patients alike, documenting their most intense and chilling encounters with ghosts and spirits. Dare YOU walk the hallways of some of the world's most haunted medical facilities? Welcome to the world of Haunted Healthcare... My Thoughts on the Book Considering how much trauma and death that occours at hospitals, I'm not surprised there's a few paranormal encounters. Haunted Heal...

Last year, I read the non-fiction book Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive by Kristen J. Sollee and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Witch, Slut, Feminist: these contested identities are informing millennial women as they counter a tortuous history of misogyny with empowerment. This innovative primer highlights sexual liberation as it traces the lineage of “witch feminism.” Juxtaposing scholarly research on the demonization of women and female sexuality that has continued since the witch hunts of the early modern era with pop occulture analyses and interviews with activists, artists, scholars, and practitioners of witchcraft, this book enriches our contemporary conversations about reproductive rights, sexual pleasure, queer identity, pornography, sex work, and more. Kristen J. Sollee is instructor at The New School and founding editrix of Slutist, an award-winning sex positive feminist website." My Thoughts on the Book While I really enjo...

A couple of months ago, I read the feminist non-fiction book Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World without Rape edited by Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads In this groundbreaking look at rape edited by writer and activist Jaclyn Freidman and Full Frontal Feminism and He's A Stud, She's A Slut author Jessica Valenti, the way we view rape in our culture is finally dismantled and replaced with a genuine understanding and respect for female sexual pleasure. Feminist, political, and activist writers alike will present their ideas for a paradigm shift from the "No Means No" model-an approach that while necessary for where we were in 1974, needs an overhaul today. Yes Means Yes brings to the table a dazzling variety of perspectives and experiences focused on the theory that educating all people to value female sexuality and pleasure leads to viewing women differently, and ending rape. Yes M...

Tidligere i år leste jeg boka Vi snakket ikke om Holocaust av Irene Levin og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra Goodreads For noen år siden, da Irene Levin ryddet i sakene etter sin avdøde mor, fant hun noen skrevne ark. De dukket opp litt her og der, noen i en bokhylle, andre i en bunke med gamle kvitteringer. Først virket det som usystematiske skriblerier, alt fra lange fortellinger med en begynnelse og en slutt, til korte brokker, nærmest som huskelapper. Etter hvert begynte Irene Levin å gå grundigere gjennom notatene. Et nytt bilde av Fanny Raskows historie avtegnet seg, preget av selvbebreidelser fra krigen. Under datterens oppvekst i etterkrigstiden var de traumatiske hendelsene hele tiden til stede i hverdagen. De ble bare ikke snakket om. Hvorfor ble det slik? Irene Levin er akademiker og har også tidligere jobbet med taushet som fenomen. I Vi snakket ikke om Holocaust bringer hun temaet inn både i sin personlige og profesjonelle historie: Hvordan var det å være jø...

Earlier this year, I read the non-fiction book RAF Centenary Experience by James Holland and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads RAF 100 celebrates and commemorates 100 years of the Royal Air Force. With unique access to the RAF's historic archives, James Holland uses photographs and documents to bring the story of the people, planes and missions to life as never before. From its genesis in the horrors of the First World War, when pilots were open to the elements in craft made of little more than wood and fabric, to the infamous air battles of the Second World War, through to the life- saving missions carried out in today's trouble zones, RAF 100 looks at the men, women and aircraft that are at the heart of this great service. My Thoughts on the Book While it was well researched, I almost felt it was only scratching the surface a little bit, but then again, if it wasn't a condensed version of 100 years of history, it would probably have been over a th...

Tidligere i år leste jeg boka Norske frivillige i Waffen-SS av Geir Brenden og Tommy Natedal og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra Norli Over 5000 nordmenn meldte seg frivillig for å kjempe på nazistenes side under annen verdenskrig. Vel 900 av dem kom aldri hjem. Motivene deres var sammensatte, men noen fellestrekk hadde de. Blant annet var behovet for å rettferdiggjøre valget sitt viktig, og i likhet med sine tyske våpenbrødre var de flinke til å dokumentere livet ved fronten. Selv om dette livet bar preg av dødens nærhet, er det likevel et annet inntrykk man får når man får se bildene de tok. Denne boken inneholder en utrolig samling fotografier som hovedsakelig stammer fra frontkjemperne selv. Her er mer enn 1000 tidligere upubliserte bilder. Fra Østfronten får vi blant annet se frontkjempere som poserer og smiler mot kameraet, skåler til fotografen, sørger i en kamerats begravelse eller kryper sammen i skyttergravene når de russiske stalinorglene spiller opp. I tillegg innehol...

Last month I read the non-fiction book Always Remember Your Name: The Children of Auschwitz by Andra Bucci and Tatiana Bucci and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads On 28 March 1944, Italian sisters Tati (six) and Andra (four) were roused from their sleep and taken to Auschwitz, to the infamous Kinder Block presided over by Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death. By the time Auschwitz was liberated, 230,000 children had been murdered, and the sisters were among only 70 child survivors. Throughout their ordeal in the camp and the liberation of Auschwitz, their long journey from Poland to Czechoslovakia and finally to Lingfield House in Britain, they hung on to their promise to their mother to 'always remember your name'. They never forgot they were Tati and Andra Bucci, and it was this connection to their heritage that brought them miraculously back to their parents, years later and many countries away. The sisters overcame their trauma to live long lives, bear...

Earlier this year, I read the non-fiction book The Auschwitz Photographer: The powerful true story of Wilhelm Brasse prisoner number 3444 by Luca Crippa and Maurizio Onnis. Today, I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Based on the powerful true story of Auschwitz prisoner number 3444 Wilhelm Brasse, whose photographs helped to expose the atrocities of the Holocaust. When Germany invaded Wilhelm Brasse's native Poland in 1939, he was asked to swear allegiance to Hitler and join the Wehrmacht. He refused. He was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp as political prisoner number 3444. A trained portrait photographer, he was ordered by the SS to record the inner workings of the camp. He began by taking identification photographs of prisoners as they entered the camp, went on to capture the criminal medical experiments of Josef Mengele, and also recorded executions. Between 1940 and 1945, Brasse took around 50,000 photographs of the horror around him. He took them beca...

As I've read all the other books by Shaun Bythell, of course I had to read Remainders of the Day too, and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads The Bookshop in Wigtown is a bookworm's idyll - with thousands of books across nearly a mile of shelves, a real log fire, and Captain, the bookshop cat. You'd think after twenty years, owner Shaun Bythell would be used to the customers by now. Don't get him wrong - there are some good ones among the antiquarian erotica-hunters, die-hard Arthurians, people who confuse bookshops for libraries and the toddlers just looking for a nice cosy corner in which to wee. He's sure there are. There must be some good ones, right? Filled with the pernickety warmth and humour that has touched readers around the world, stuffed with literary treasures, hidden gems and incunabula, Remainders of the Day is Shaun Bythell's latest entry in his bestselling diary series. My Thoughts on the Book If you're into dry and so...

Earlier this year, I read the non-fiction book Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads During World War II a community called Manzanar was created in the high mountain desert country of California. Its purpose was to house thousands of Japanese Americans. Among them was the Wakatsuki family, who were ordered to leave their fishing business in Long Beach and take with them only the belongings they could carry. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, who was seven years old when she arrived at Manzanar in 1942, recalls life in the camp through the eyes of the child she was. First published in 1973, this new edition of the classic memoir of a devastating Japanese American experience includes an inspiring afterword by the authors. My Thoughts on the Book Farewell to Manzanar is one of those thought-provoking books about a topic that's not that much talked about, at least not in Norway where I live. Fair en...

Recently, I read the book Filipino Ghost Stories: Spine-Tingling Tales of Supernatural Encounters and Hauntings by Alex G. Paman and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Spine-tingling tales of supernatural encounters and hauntings. Ghost stories are commonplace in traditional Filipino culture. Whether they take place at a relative's funeral or a hacienda located deep in a remote province, virtually all families have their own personal accounts of their encounters with the supernatural. Passed on from generation to generation, these tales act as a bridge to the past, to a time lost or nearly forgotten. To write this book of ghostly encounters with all manner of things eerie and terrifying in the Philippines, the author collected creepy tales that have been told in his family for generations. Covering ghostly encounters in bustling cities and in remote towns—and even a short section of hauntings on American soil—Filipino Ghost Stories offers good, old-fashioned...