New books, new experiences
People who read books collect both objects and experiences. Photo: Pixabay
Some people collect objects, others experiences. People who read books collect both. Here are a few new recommendations, all with an Uppsala University connection.
The oldest book in this batch of tips came out in November 2022. That was when David Gedin’s book was released, with a title to titillate any bookworm: Boken som fetisch: numrerade upplagor i Sverige 1819–1915 (The book as a fetish: numbered editions in Sweden 1819–1915). In the early 19th century, a new phenomenon emerged in literature – books published in limited, numbered editions. These were editions in which every single volume was made unique and given its own number. Nerdy? Perhaps, but also very exciting. The author is an affiliated researcher in literature at our University.
A comprehensive compilation of the current state of research on encampments across the Viking world and their impact on their surroundings has appeared in English: Viking Camps. Case Studies and Comparisons. The authors are Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson and Irene Garcia Losquiño. The former is a researcher at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Uppsala University. The book was published in July 2023.
And now for fiction. Daniel Åberg’s book Bränd jord (Scorched earth) is the first part of a fast-moving thriller series, “SODA”. The novel came out in September 2023 and is available as an audiobook and eBook. The author is an alumnus of Uppsala University, where he studied literature.
A book that could be just right for foodies with a taste for excitement is Tryffelfeber: bland matnördar, maffia och miljardärer (Truffle fever: among food nerds, the mafia and billionaires) by Christina Wedén and Steven Ekholm. Apart from truffles and great culinary experiences, the book is also about soaring auctions and dirty money, lavish festivals and violent reckonings. Christina Wedén is a lecturer at the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences. The book was published in October 2023.
In December 2023, Elly Griffith’s novel The Last Remains appeared in Swedish translation as Den sista utgrävningen. This mystery is the last in the series about forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway. Uppsala University has a certain role in the book. The author was chosen as Adam Helms lecturer at the University in 2021, though because of the pandemic she was not able to give her lecture in the Grand Auditorium until September 2022. Adam Helms? His collection devoted to the history of publishing and bookselling was donated to Uppsala University Library in 2019. The Adam Helms lectures are given by a prominent person in the international book and publishing industry and are organised by our University Library in cooperation with the Swedish Publishers’ Association.
Hot off the press, published in January 2024, is Mohammad Fazlhashemi’s book Iran mellan tre revolutioner (Iran between three revolutions). As the title suggests, Iran has an exceptionally turbulent history. The book offers a description of revolutions in Iran and the periods between them, from 1906 to the present day, which should give readers a deeper understanding of the current situation. The author is professor of Islamic theology and philosophy at Uppsala University.
Happy reading!
Ulrika Hurtig