It's here! My brand new online bookshop, Helena Halme Books is now open. My Own Shopify Store Since I'm not able to bring my dream of a brick-and-mortar bookshop into reality, I've gone for the next best thing. I opened my own Shopify bookstore online. I am beyond excited! The shop is simply … [Read more...]
Books Set in Scandinavia
I love books set in Scandinavia – or the Nordic countries if you include Finland and are pedantic about your geography. You couldn't set a book anywhere more beautiful than my native land. I may be a little biased, of course. But having just made a quick visit to the Åland Islands, situated … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: Little Siberia by Antti Tuomainen
I am a huge fan of Finnish author Antti Tuomainen and his new release, Little Siberia, only confirms to me his status as 'King of Helsinki Noir'. The translation of Little Siberia by David Hackston is also excellent. Fargo meets Nietzsche in this atmospheric, darkly funny thriller by the … [Read more...]
High Risk by Simona Ahrnstedt
High Risk by Simona Ahrnstedt is a story of journalist Ambra Vinter and her famous step-sister, pop singer Jill Lopez. Both women are scarred by their childhoods spent in various foster families in Sweden. Nordic Noir or Nordic Romance? To be honest, I'm in two minds about this book. While … [Read more...]
Will You Be Watching The Bridge?
It seems that I've been looking forward to watching the last series of The Bridge for ages now. The Englishman and I saw the first episode of this dark Nordic Noir TV series with the troubled female detective, Saga Noren, when it was aired in Sweden on New Year's Day. I've since been trying hard to … [Read more...]
Can We Only Do Nordic Noir?
You’d think Nordic Noir was the only genre that interests us Scandinavians. Particularly if you look at the most popular TV series, such as The Killing, Wallander, or The Bridge. Or if you read authors such as Jo Nesbo, Stieg Larsson, Yrsa Sigurdardottir or Kati Hiekkapelto. All these authors … [Read more...]
Nordic Film Wins at Cannes and Other News
The Square Wins at Cannes 2017 The Square, a film described as a social satire set in the art world, and directed by Ruben Östlund, whose previous film, Force Majeure was critically acclaimed as an 'icily disturbing family drama set in the French Alps', has won this year's Palme d'Or at the Cannes … [Read more...]
Love Nordic Noir? Now Try Nordic Comedy
It's not all Nordic Noir Did you know that there are some excellent Nordic comedy series out on TV now? Although Nordic comedy is often more than tinged with drama, these series are still hugely funny and very watchable. Here are a few of my favourite comedy/dramas that have come out of the Nordic … [Read more...]
5 Books for the New Year
I love January and the new year, because I get more time to read than in the busy time leading up to Christmas. This year, because I am a fully-fledged Driven Woman, included in my reading list for the first time is a self-help book (for lack of any other description), which was recommended to me by … [Read more...]
