The Reading Challenge 2026 - Part 4

In August 2026 I've read two books in English. These ones are quite untypical for me to buy for myself. Still, they are very useful, practical, educative and  great souvenirs from your journeys and can take you back there where you were time ago.

Bernard Meehan's The Book of Kells -Official Guide (in English, mine) is a great book about the famous book. It provides excellent illustration, explanations and information about this historical object. We went to see The Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland in June 2024. It was great to see that place and the book itself, even the library was under the renovation. I bought this book as a souvenir because you can't actually touch the original book, not to mention investigate it by your own hands. I usually don't buy this kind of guide books but in this case I think it is the only way to get to see The Book better. And investigate at least some pages of it. In August 2026 I finally read the whole book and paid a special attention on its illustration and refreshed my memories about Ireland and its history. Nice way to travel back there again in my memories.

Valerie Ryan's The Story of Russborough House (in English, mine) was another untypical book I bought on my journey to Dublin, Ireland in 2024. Back then I visited the place, and now I returned by the book. Unfortunately I noticed my copy was missing 4 pages of 35!!!! And the last sentences of the book revealed that I must live much longer to find out what's written in the Alfred Beit diaries. They must have something connected to Queen Elizabeth II.

The Reading Challenge 2026 - Part 3

This year in July I've read 1 novel and 2 two nonfiction books. They are all mine. The nonfiction books I've received as a gift.

Victoria Hislop's The Island has been on my "want to read" list for a long time. It was published in 2005. I read my own copy in Finnish. Despite it tells quite a hard story about Hansen's disease (leprosy) and the history of Spinalonga, Crete, it is a very beautiful book. This is for you who want to read a warm spirited Mediterranean story without murders but with hope and history.

Simo Örmä & Kaj Sandberg (Institutum Romanum Finlandiae) 's publication Villa Lante (in Finnish, mine).   This small publication introduces Roman villa Villa Lante where Young Lady spent some time during her studies. It was published in 2007 but is still valid and makes you want to travel to Rome and see the villa by your own eyes.

Giorgio Bonsanti's Caravaggio The Great Master of Art  (In English, mine). This book was published in 2014. It tells interesting history and facts about Caravaggio's life and work. The book has perfect quality printed pictures about his master pieces. It's bee a long time since I read this kind of art book. It was a pleasure and a great way to get familiar with Caravaggio.

The Reading Challenge 2026 - Part 2

This year in March-June I've read two fat and two skinny (compared to the fat ones) books. All in Finnish and each mine, but 3 of them are vintage and pre-read.

I've read:

T.I. Itkonen's Suomen lappalaiset part 1 and 2. They are huge folklore books about Sámi people in Finland. Also Forest Sámi people are included in these over 1000 pages. Unfortunately Itkonen's books are not available in English. They are very comprehensive and informative books about Sámi people written by an outsider but still one that was part of the Sámi society. He was for about 8 years old when his family moved from South Finland up to Inari, Lapland, when his father received there a job as a local vicar.

Guiseppe Acerbi's Matka halki Suomen v. 1799. That is a part of his book Travels through Sweden, Finland and Lapland to the North Cape that considers Finland. That complete book might be interesting to all and available in several languages. Again, when reading this kind of book, remember it is written by an outsider to outsiders. But it still expresses his own private experiences on his travels and he has seen what he has been shown. That's only the part of the truth, but it is his part of it. Also, because it was written 200 years ago, that creates another interesting aspect to the story.

Juhani Torkki's Plutarkhos mielen tyyneydestä. Even this book is in Finnish it actually is a translation of ancient Greek philosopher Plutarkhos' essays about the peace of mind. It is an ancient mindfulness that still works in this modern world. It is amazing that his 2000 yrs old ideas are still valid and still human nature needs practice in these skills. I received this book as a gift from YoungLady who moved out to study ancient Greek 5 yrs ago. 

Here you can find her Barchelor's thesis.

Here you can find her Master's thesis.

They both are in Finnish but I bet that google translate can understand it better than ancient Greek. They both are about horses: the former about the role of horses in book four of Xenophon's Cyropaedia (which is a partly fictional biography of Cyrus the Great) and the latter is about latin loanwords used by Apsyrtos (who was a renowed horse doctor) in  Hippiatrica (which is the only surviving work on Greek hippiatrics). The topic of horses and hippiatrics has attracted relatively little academic interest. So if you are interested in horses and ancient history, you might be interested in trying to read these with the help of translator. Hopefully she'll get the funding (and a topic!) for her dissertation.

The Reading Challenge 2026 - Part 1

I have been in The Reading Challenge for 10 years now in this blog with you. Last year I decided to show you what on earth I read. It turn out a great idea so at least in 2026 I will repeat it. 

In 2025 I read:

3 books written by Kate Morton: The House at Riverton, The Clockmaker's Daughter and The Forgotten Garden

2 books written by Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman

2 novels by Minna Cath

Jane Austen's Persuasion

Anne Lyons' The Air Raid Book Club

Viljo Rauta's book about The Great Wrath

Plus many craft, history and science books. 

In this year 2026 January - February I've read:

Astrid Lindgren's War Diaries 1939-1945 (in Finnish, mine). Actually I've started it already in November 2025. It was a bit heavy to read because it tells a lot about Finland's war time years in Ukranian war time. That's why I read it slow and with the time. 

I've read also Johannes Schefferu's Lapponia (in Finnish, mine) which is very interesting and historical book about Sámi people from the year 1674. I do recommend it to all who want to read a comprehensive book about Sámi history. But when reading you must remember it is written in 1674 by an outsider for the outsiders, by Christians to Christians. 

And I've read also Jenni Räinä's Vaino (in Finnish, mine) that's available only in Finnish and like Viljo Rauta's book it tells about the Great Wrath but is fiction that bases on the facts meanwhile Rauta's book is a science book. These books tell about genocide also around my local area in 1700-1721.

TheBooks7

In this year ReadingChallenge I decided to show you what on Earth I read. In September and October 2025 I've read few books. One is the famous Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (in Finnish, mine) I have read it at my teens but have wanted to re-read it again because of a reason. It has been about 35 years since I've read it so I remembered the key point but have forgot how the story literally goes. I recommend it for all. It is an excellent book for adults but also for the teens. It is a fiction but could be a true historical novel. It is objective and just tells the story. As a teen I wondered why on Earth she didn't write more but now as an adult I can see many reasons why not. It was originally published in July 1960 so it doesn't include bloody details etc.

I wanted to read To Kill a Mockingbird again because I actually wanted to read Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman (in Finnish, mine) which was published 2015, 55 years after Lee Harper's 1st novel. Go Set a Wacthman actually is the 1st version / earlier draft of her book To Kill a Mockingbird. But it works well as a sequel for To Kill a Mockingbird if you remember it is actually a draft and another story. At first it disturbed me but then I got over it and enjoyed the story. I can warmly recommend you both, exactly in this order like I did.

I've read also few craft books. Teija Alanko's book (in Finnish, mine) tells about the textile history and her own journey to it. It is a science book with a personal touch. It is published in 2024 and is available only in Finnish.

Riikka Platonova's craft book (in Finnish, mine) tells more about nettle as a textile fiber and in spinning. It is a very interesting issue and fascinates my mind. I do grow nettle in my arctic kitchen garden but I use only the seeds for food. Using the rest of the plant for crafts would be great! Unfortunately also this is available only in Finnish.

***

In September-October I have also read for about 40 research articles (mainly in English) about the costume history related issues.

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In this year ReadingChallenge I decided to show you what on Earth I read. In August I've read Jane Austen's Persuasion (in Finnish, mine). The original novel is from 1817 but this new translation is from 2024. Today Jane Austen brings into my mind all those covid-19 teenagers and young adults who supposed to learn to socialize at that time but all the restrictions failed those normal western style possibilities for it. Jane Austen would be something today's young adults could find quite close. Even there's 200 years between the time she lived and wrote and the world teenagers and young adults live today!

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This year I decided to challenge myself to show you what on earth I read. In July 2025 I've read the remaining half of these 47 science books. I've also read fabulous Kate Morton's The Clockmaker's Daughter (in Finnish, mine). It is a proper and good story with a surprising end. I recommend you to read this book without long breaks because it would turn a bit difficult to get back to it, who is who and what was going on. If you seek a holiday book you are able to read in quite short period of time, you like mysteries, manor houses, arts, history, nature, equality and English country side this is for you. Despite it includes a murder and deaths there is not bloody body parts etc. It was published in 2018 so I bet you can easily find it at second hand.

In July 2025 I read another book written by Kate Morton: The Forgotten Garden (in Finnish, mine). With 670 pages full of secrets and storied bind together. This one was published on 2008 so I am sure you will find it also as a second hand item. Also this book needs to be read in a relatively short period of time (few weeks), otherwise it would be difficult to keep on reading. Especially if you are living a busy life with kids & work. Kate Morton is an author that brings English country side into your home with gardens and manor houses. If you like one of her books you will like them all. 

In July 2025 I also listened 2 audio books (in Finnish, library item) of Finland's famous Minna Canth (1844-1897). She was a remarkable person and influencer on her own time. I got familiar on her 2 novels Köyhää kansaa and Salakari. Köyhää kansaa tells about poor people and starvation on her own time. The publication of the novel caused a small crisis and forced local authorities to do something about the issue. Salakari tells about women's social status of the time and describes the results that may appear if you jump out from your role. 

I find it quite interesting to read also old books which were published over even hundreds of years ago because they tell so much about the history too. And the books your ancestries may have heard or read about. And even they'd be shaking the world they don't include the cruelty, bloody body parts or affairs in the very physical way like the books of today seem to include more or less.

TheBooks4

This year I decided to challenge myself to show you what on earth I read. In this blog post I show you which books I've read in April-June 2025. These bags include half of the books. Divided in two. The ones that I still need to read and the ones I've already read. Actually there is exact 47 books I have borrowed in Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian or Sámi at the library for the scientific investigation of my upcoming book. So, in the past 3 months I've read about 23 craft or history books. Yes, I do have a very little free time BUT I am a fast reader. 😅

I've also listened to an audio book The Air Raid Book Club by Anne Lyons (in Finnish, library item). It is warm spirited feel good book despite it includes topics of war and being a fresh widow. I do recommend this book for all who love books, books shops and comfort stories. 

I listened to another audio book by Finnish author Viljo Rauta (in Finnish, library item). It is originally in Finnish and tells about The Great Wrath: the bloody period in Finnish history in 1713-1721. The Russian Tsar's soldiers occupied large parts of Finland. The Ostrobothnia region experienced particularly hard times during the occupation - for example, on the island of Hailuoto near Oulu, Cossacks killed over 800 people in one night. Kemi and Tornio also suffered their share of this bloody terror. This is a science book and can be a bit heavy. But for sure the issue is worth of knowing. Not only WW2 happenings between Finland and Russia made Finland to be always awake and alert for Russia. It has started already then when the humans inhabited these areas. I am sure some information is available also in English.

TheBooks3

This year I decided to challenge myself to show you what on earth I read. In this blog post I show you which books I've read in March 2025. 

In March 2025 I have read a very interesting book Muinaisjäännöksiä Suomen suvun asumus-aloilta. It is a facsimile edition of the original J.R. Aspelin's publications. The only change is that Aspelin published 5 books separate on 1877-1884 which all was published in 2014 in the same covers. In English the tile means something like "ancient relics from Finnic people's regions." It is my book and I read it in Finnish. It is translated to French in the same covers like the original books. The book included plenty drawings so it is more like a picture book. Very interesting and educative book with its A4 size 399 pages!!!

In March 2025 I've also read Kate Morton's The Lake House (in Finnish). It was published on 2016. It has over 600 pages but full of fascinating occasions. Fascinating story from Britain's countryside. I left my copy actually at The Trinity City Hotel in Dublin, Ireland where I was 22.-29.3.2025 and read this book as my journey story. I always carry a book with me when travelling.

TheBooks2

This year I decided to challenge myself to show you what on earth I read. In this blog post I show you which books I've read in January and February 2025. This Finnish needlebinding book has been in a hard use. I have a one day course coming up in May 2025. I do have learnt the method but I have needed this book and been reading it a lot because of educational issues. I know many people have bought this excellent book of Mervi Pasanen but still have not been able to learn needlebinding. I have made notes on the book on the parts I find the pedagogical approach needs a bit extra. This books includes also designs so it is a very good shop but it is available only in Finnish. This copy is mine but available also at the libraries in Finland. It is published on 2015 but you can't get it second hand. It is so popular that every new small edition is sold out quite soon so keep your eyes open.

This book is Finnish version of German Kerstin Balk's SoxxBook Family & Friends by Stine & Stitch. It was published on 2019 so I found it on sale. I need books for my professional library so I regularly browse through the sale items. This book turn out a great item with its several new and fresh designs and proper illustrated step by step pictures to complete the heels. Also this books needs some pedagogical notes but it really is something I can use at work. I have The socks and heels -course coming up on the next autumn! This item is mine and in Finnish but available at least in German too.

This book is one of my very special 50yrs birthday gifts on 2025. I was quite thrilled when it arrived up to the north via snail mail and I had no idea about it. It is published in 2024 and was so fresh that I didn't even know it to exist despite I just love Gilmore girls. This is a great gift to every knitwear lovers even if they would not knit. It is a very beautiful book (in English) with full of the same spirit the famous series bring. This book really proves I do R-E-A-D craft books. I have read also this one for several times. I just don't see the pics, I read it all. Crazy? Might be. But on the other hand I bet people read also recipe and fitness books even they would not cook or exercise on that very specific moment. Tanis Gray has been able to create a very special book for all Gilmore girls. I must tell few pre-orders for the Christmas 2025 have arrived already and marked on the pages by someone else than me! 

TheMagazines1

This year I decided to challenge myself to show you what on earth I read. In this blog post I show you the magazines I read. I read Kodin Pellervo. It is a Finnish lifestyle publication. Some people -who obviously have not read any issue- classify it as a political publication but it doesn't include the politics at all. I like it because it includes articles that interests me. It also includes a lot of recipes and craft instructions but only a little bit of commercial advertisement. It's more full of the real topic than advertisement. I share this magazine always with my mother. At the end I keep the craft instructions because of my work as a craft teacher and she keeps the rest. This is 100 % Finnish magazine, not international concept.

I read Taito magazine. It is published by Taito Organization which is The Finnish Crafts Organization. I read it because it includes all the fresh news on crafts field in Finland. It interests me because of my work and personal reasons. This magazine I don't share with anyone but keep myself and use at work. This is 100 % Finnish magazine, not international concept.

Daphne's Diary magazine is my personal environmental crime. For my defense I must tell I buy it only seldom and only then when I am visiting Turku because this magazine is not available in my home town Kemi. In nine years I have bought 6 issues and they are my treasures in my library. I like this lifestyle magazine because of its articles and craft instruction but also because a lot of the material it includes which I can't get locally.

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The Reading Challenge 2025 has started! The very 1st item I've read on 2025 is Kate Morton's The House at Riverton (in Finnish, mine). This is my 2nd story from her and so far I've liked both books. I read The Distant Hours on 2024. The scene at Riverton is similar but not the same and the story is different. The book has 613 pages and the plot might be a bit confusing to follow because at some points you are at first a bit like "hey, who is talking and which year, date and place it is". It do work well because the main character is an old lady who falls back into her memories and sometimes the presence and past get mixed. I like the book because it is fascinating and interesting. Despite it includes deaths and affairs it is "old school" book so all the dirty parts have been deleted before publishing the book. It neither is a crime fiction. If you like country side scenes, old manor houses, biographies and happy ends, this is a good book for you.

The Reading Challenge 2025

The Reading Challenge 2025 had several options to which it turns out. At the end I decided to tell what all I read on 2025. Every now and then people ask me if I have read this or that OR what on earth I do read. 😂😁 That's why this year 2025, instead of challenging you my dear reader, I decide to challenge me & myself. 

I challenge myself to show you what all I read on 2025. I am not sure will this be possible. The biggest problem is to remember to write it all down for you and find the time to blog about it! I need to find a new routine for that because it is just easier not to. But that is actually why we never complete certain things in our life (better well being actions, finishing things etc.) because we just never "not to". But I will try out because many people ask this because for a reason or another they find it interesting even tough I see nothing interesting in it what I read. Ha ha ha. Meaning that I can't understand why it fascinates people. So, I will try to tell you what all I read on 2025.

The Reading Challenge 2024

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

1. Poetry : Kirsi Kunnas' Puut kantavat valoa
2. Short story: Maria Jotuni's short stories
3. Fable: Bear Goes Fishing
4. Speech: Martin Luther King Jr.´s I Have A Dream
5. Folklore: Bear, wolf and fox starting to slash and burn
6. Comedy: Pertti Jarla's Fingerporin päiväkasku
7. Epic poetry: Jouni Marjanen's Suomen kansan jumalrunoja
8. History: National Board of Antiquities: Costume in Finland 1750-1900
9. Drama: Marja Jotuni's Miehen kylkiluu
10. Literary criticism: Literary Criticism
11. Satire: Satire
12. Pastoral: James Herriot's Favourite Dog Stories

I've read also the following books in 2024 and many other craft and science books not mentioned on the list.

Alfie the Doorstep Cat by Rachel Wells (in Finnish, borrowed by YoungLady). This book was warmly recommended to me by YoungLady. She said I absolutely must read it. I crab on it only to please her but she really knows what I like. It is a warm spirited adult fairy tale that reminds -on the begin- a true story. This is good for all who have had enough about blood, murders, mixed relations etc. 

Gamla, i lappmarken kända Växtfärgningsrecept by Lisa Johansson (in Swedish, library item). I usually don't list here the science books I read because there are so many of them every year. This one I want to mention because it is extremely rare (at least aboard) and not translated. It is written over 70 years ago and is up to old plant dyeing tradition in Lapland. This book really wants me to go to search university archive in Sweden!

Merenpeitto by Olli Jalonen (in Finnish, mine). In 2023 I read Taivaanpallo by Olli Jalonen. Merenpeitto is the next of the story. Merenpeitto means "blanket of the sea". This book is not translated into English and it continues Angus's story and now he has a change also to investigate the sea depths with Edmond Halley. Still the literal style was a bit disturbing but not as bad as it was with the 1st book of the series. Interesting and worth of reading. Also, educative.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (in Finnish, mine). This was my 1st ever Kate Morton with 727 pages. After a long -far too long- time I read a book I noticed I got addicted into. I found myself thinking about the book when I was not with it. I really think this is the book for all those who want to read intelligent literature with mind-capturing plot and characters that feel so real that for a moment you think this happening to them and you are watching it. It is full of words and surprises all the way to the end when you think it already ended but it didn't.  Hope Morton's books are not copies from each others and she will be able to satisfy my mind also in the future. 

Life and Death from the Late Iron Age to the Middle Ages by Jari-Matti Kuusela (in Finnish, mine). This is The regional Museum of Lapland publication no 26. It includes the latest information and research considering Lapland human life. It is very interesting, informative, refreshing and available both in Finnish and English in the same book. 

The Legend of the Ice People: The Witch Hunt by Margit Sandemo (in Finnis, audio book, library item). I decided to try out Margit Sandemo and her famous fantasy saga The Legend of the Ice People. Could not find the 1st part of the series so I picked up the second. I listened it in my car and it was full of action all the way so I didn't get so tired when driving a long way alone. To me this was too much with actual mistakes, sex and scifi but it still was amusing enough not to drop out. This might be my first and last book of the series.

James Herriot

In 2024 I encourage you to read specific genres of literature. December 2024 theme is pastoral. I found out that finding non religious pastoral story is a bit challenging. That's why I ended up good old James Herriot and his Favourite Dog Stories that I found in Finnish in my own library. James Herriot was a vet who worked also on sheep farms. His stories are not exactly pastoral but they at least slightly touch the topic.  I like his stories quite a lot also because they are suitable for all, no matter the age or sex. (On the pic you can see dear Pii who was disturbed during her daydreaming and recovery over the Santa's visit.)

The Reading Challenge No12

 The Reading Challenge 2024 is here!

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

December 2024 theme is PASTORAL!

I didn't know about this genre before this challenge. Now when I've read about it I know I've read it before. Just never realized it's called pastoral. Just jump in and have fun over the holiday season!

Satire

In 2024 I encourage you to read specific genres of literature. November 2024 theme is satire. At high school my literary teacher introduced us many genres. One of my favorites was satire. But it was not high school when I got familiar to satire. Already at early childhood I found satire. It was something my grandpa introduced me into. I never saw him reading them but he had all the books of Kari Suomalainen and more keep on appearing when more was published. When I was visiting him, he had left the books in a pile on the table. I am sure he had read the all books because he seemed always to know for what and why I was giggling. My grandpa and Kari Suomalainen introduced this excellent genre of satire to me. I didn't know until my visit to Visavuori last summer that the famous Finnish sculptor was kari Suomalainen's grandfather. Or if I had been told, I had forgotten.

The Reading Challenge No11

 The Reading Challenge 2024 is here!

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

November 2024 theme is SATIRE!

Satire comes out in many forms. I am sure it is already familiar to you. This month theme is to read satire. Also in literary you can find it in many forms: speech, comedy, comics, drama etc. It is up to you how you want to get on this and which theme of satire to choose. 

Literary Criticism

In 2024 I encourage you to read specific genres of literature. October 2024 theme is literary criticism. I usually never read it. It is important to understand what it is. It is professional or non-professional information about a book. It may include personal opinion or objective description. It can be anonymous or signed so you either know or don't who wrote it. Before letting it influence on you, you should ask at least two questions: who wrote it and why?

In this challenge I randomly seek literary criticism articles on magazines, newspapers and internet. I didn't read them all but seek one about a book I am interested about and have already read or want to read. I experienced this a good way to find a book I've never heard about but now add it on my "want-to-read" list.

The Reading Challenge No10

The Reading Challenge 2024 is here!

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

September 2024 theme is LITERARY CRITICISM!

It is time to read what the others read and what they have to say about it. Actually reading my Reading Challenge short book into & evaluation posts are one form of literary criticism. Because it is a relatively short form of literature I warmly recommend you to read another literary criticism from a newspaper, magazine or online.