Den Hand Som Skälver

Finished the eight "Ann Lindell" book by Kjell Eriksson the other day. It is by far the best one in the series in my opinion. Kjell just announced that the series will end with the tenth book. These books should be coming to the U.S. in an English translation eventually. The problem is that usually it takes years before the translations are done. The one who waits though, will have something to look forward too.

I need to do some fly tying but only got to do half a dozen soft hackles the other night before I got a sore throat and my third cold of the season. I just can' t win this year. Not much else going on, signing off.

A productive weekend

I finally got all my fall duties done. I put in the second toilet in our second bathroom. I got my truck washed and now we are all set. It has been a long working around the house November. I got to go hiking with friend one Saturday though. I'm done with Kjell Eriksson's "Stenkistan". It was not one of his best but still, any Kjell Eriksson is good. I was sad to hear that he is wrapping up the Ann Lindell series with the tenth book. Currently, I'm reading another Malcolm Gladwell. It's called Blink. It is not as good as outliers but still a necessary read if you like Malcolm's books. Next I need to finish up a couple of more of Kjell Eriksson's and then move on to Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point. As you can see, fall is my reading time. I'm going to go on a hike Sunday after thanksgiving. Besides that not much else going on.

Harry Middleton

I finally finished Harry Middleton's "On The Spine Of Time". It is not an easy read as far as the flow of the language goes. It is very rich and describing in both terms of landscape and personalities. It is a decent read and one I recommend all fly fishers who fishes around these parts. I have actually read the book once before but didn't retain as much from it the first time. I still consider it to be an average book. It is recommended more for the idea that a well versed fly fisherman from the smokies just ought to have read it, if that makes sense. It has some funny parts in it and it will make you think twice about getting potato salad from a roadside diner next time you are out.

I have began another of Kjell Eriksson's "Ann Lindell" mysteries in my native language Swedish. It is a nice series of books which I found out will end with the tenth book, which just got released in Sweden. I guess I will have to get that one when I'm over in Sweden for Christmas.

A few old movies revisited

I have been hurting real bad in my arm after my accident two weeks ago. I have been trying to rest my arm and since we are having all this rain I thought it would be a good idea to watch some old movies again. I watched Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" as well as "For a Few Dollars More", both are the weaker siblings in the Leone "Spaghetti western trilogy". However, I do not by any means suggest that they are not good. They are just not as good as "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. If you like the genre and if you like some operatic filming you are in for a treat with these. Another movie which I had forgotten how good it is, is "The Ballad of Cable Hogue". Jason Robard's, and Stella Stevens are out of this world in this one. It's a tragic love story with comedy mixed in. If you can stand westerns, with some humor you would love this one. The humor is not on par with Leone's but still, Peckinpah knew his stuff.

As for reading, I am currently rereading Harry Middleton's "On the Spine of Time". I will report on it later. I also just finished a swedish novel by Kjell Eriksson. It's in the Ann Lindell series. This particular one "Den Jord Som Skälver", has not yet been released in the U.S. I never understand how the book labels reason. They publish books out of sequence from foreign authors most of the time. Go figure.

Fishing will be done tomorrow if the rain holds off.

Another Swedish TV series and a book

I began watching another Swedish TV series "Mäklarna" It's starring the great Kjell Bergqvist who is so expressive in his whole being. No one can show emotions, feelings, and general despair as good as Kjell. I have loved him ever since I saw the great "Den Bästa Sommaren" in 1999. Mäklarna is a crazy comedy type of deal directed by Ulf Malmros, who directed "Smala Sussie" among other films. Smala Sussie is actually availalbe in the U.S. as an import if anyone is interested.

Mäklarna is kind of related to the American TV series"The Office" in the way it presents the story. In this show, we are in the world of real estate instead of the newspaper business. It begins in earnest, when Kjell loses his job, his wife, and his mom, all in the same day. He seeks help from an old real estate friend and soon after the friend dies. In the meantime, Kjell gets involved in a deal to help the friend with his daughter who also works in the real estate firm. The problem: She can't do anything right and our misfit Kjell has to take charge. Obviously this is not going to be easy. I don't want to write a review since I don't do reviews but let me say this: If you like bizarre crazy comedies you will love this. I doubt it's available in the U.S. though but if you are ever in Sweden or if someone makes a trip over there. Be on the lookout for it.

As for reading. I am currently reading the first book in the "Ann Lindell" series by Kjell Eriksson. It was published in 1999. I don't understand why his American label, published "The Princess of Burundi" first since it is actually in the middle of the series. I have noticed that a lot of translated work is not put out in chronolgical order. This is irritating to say the least. The first book is called "Den Upplysta Stigen" Which means; The shining path. Yes it is in reference to the Peruvian rebel group . It will probably be translated eventually into English. I have read about halfway through it and so far so good.

That's about it. Next weekend will be a very busy one. I have to take my truck to the shop for new tires and new spark plugs. I am also going to shampoo our carpet in the house as well as clean the entire house. Phew! I'm tired just writing about it. Until later.......

I apologize

I have to apologize to the small but dedicated fan base I have. I have been very busy and obviously completely neglected this blog. I'm going to try to give you an update from my life between the last post and today. Puh! here we go. Let me first begin with the picture above. I much rather be fishing and I can't wait until I will be standing in that picture.

As for my life. After the Little River Clean up in November we did a Turkey Creek clean up in Knoxville. We (the FFF club in Knoxville) and Izaak Walton League of America with their local chapter, cleaned up trash along Turkey Creek in the remaining wetland around the development. It was a cold and crispy day but we had a good time. Then a week or so later my wife and I went to see a movie she heard a lot about. "Happy Go Lucky" is the title of it and let me put it this way. I lasted ten minutes before I had to go to the car. My wife came out after another twenty minutes or sol It was pure awful.

Around the house I did some leaf clean up in my yard. I put in a toilet in our master bedroom around Thanksgiving. My wife went to her parents and I stayed around the house doing chores.

I have finally finished my Icelandic crime novel in Swedish translation. It was by my favorite crime writer Arnaldur Indridason. The book "Arctic Chill" should be coming stateside soon if it's not already here. I have begun another Swedish crime novel this week. Kjell Eriksson's "Den Upplysta Stigen" which is his first crime novel from 1999. He wrote a few regular novels before this one but this is his first crime novel. A couple of his books are translated in to english. I personally liked "The Princess of Burundi" which is not about a princess and not about the country of Burundi. He He.

I have tied some flies for my fishing this spring, but I have a long way to go. Mostly I've been tying Zebra Midges with Bead Heads. Lisa my wife and I went to see the latest Bond finally. It was okay but no way near "Casino Royale". I can recommend "Quantum of Solace anyway, for pure adrenaline fun.

This upcoming holiday, probably will be spent at home. We are old and tired and our partying days are over. I might tie some flies and I'm looking forward to my wife's Beef Stew for tomorrow night.

I'm planning on going to see Clint Eastwood's latest "Gran Torino" when it comes out next week.
I'm thinking this is all the important stuff, fishing is on the back burner for me and I'm hoping to do some winter hikes in a few weeks. Until next time bare with me.....