SCANDINAVIAN READING CHALLENGE COMPLETED ?

I recently completed the 2010 Scandinavian Reading Challenge hosted by Amy at the Black Sheep Dances.

I read and reviewed the following six books:

The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum, translated by Charlotte Barslund

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, translated by Don Bartlett

The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankell, translated by Laurie Thompson

The Stone Cutter by Camilla Lackberg, translated by Steven Murray

Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason, translated by Victoria Cribb

The Killer's Art by Mari Jungstedt, translated by Tiina Nunnally

These books are written by some powerhouse Scandinavian writers, who have won numerous awards, and sold millions of books, but believe it or not none of them is named Stieg.

Of course his translator is there among a formidable and talented group, who have allowed us mono-linguists to enjoy these fantastic novels.

I think there is a nice balance three men, three women, two Norwegians, three Swedes and an Icelander.

But there is the snag.

Our Danish expert Dorte of DJS Krimiblog informs me that Iceland may be Nordic, but it is not Scandinavian.

The Oxford Dictionary of English defines Scandinavian as relating to Scandinavia, its people, or its languages.

Scandinavia is defined as a large peninsula occupied by Norway and Sweden, or a cultural region consisting of the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark and sometimes also of Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands.

As a man who has never refused a Danish pastry I will, with great pleasure, accept that Dorte is correct and complete a Scandinavian Plus extra challenge by reading a Danish, and also a Finnish book.