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drgnlv 's review for:
Did this book change my life? Yes, yes it did.
Even though I am over 50% Danish by birth, I have never thought too much about the home of my ancestors aside from a casual interest in Viking history. This summer I will be visiting my ancestral home for the first time and wanted to learn more about the country and its culture. Helen Russell's book could not have been a more perfect guide to Denmark for this purpose.
Not only does Russell expound on the culture and crazy weather to expect in Denmark, but she also describes in beautiful and often hilarious narrative a world I thought only existed in my imagination. One where everyone strives to be equal, takes care of one another, and works to create a better generation for tomorrow. Having never been the biggest fan of the cut-throat style of capitalist USA, I am now even more miffed to realize there are places where people do not step all over one another to get to the top 1%. Denmark is not perfect, and Helen does a fantastic job of illustrating its poorer points as well, but it sounds exactly like the sort of place you'd want to be a part of if you care more about the world and less about yourself.
I'll just come out and say it: I want to move to Denmark now. No question, it sounds like the perfect place for anyone, but I especially connected to things I had never realized could be genetic about myself. For without knowing anything about Danish culture, I already had all the following traits: an obsessive need for the softest, fluffiest blankets and a good book to curl up with (hygge); a tendency to trust overly, leading to the two-time theft of my bicycle in college and an inability to catch onto sarcasm or gullibility jokes; a baffled opinion of the work-and-more-work lifestyle of American culture; and a strong belief that money doesn't bring you happiness, but a lot of vacation, socially-provided health and education, and time with family does. I'm apparently over 50% Dane in my personality as well as my genetics!
As for the book itself, the narrative is heart-lifting and sweet, the writing style open and funny, and the quality of research superb. Russell has given me so much information about Denmark within her entertaining story that I will be re-reading it again and again to remember everything. This book, in short, is the perfect travelogue, self-realization story, and report on the "Viking Way" of Denmark.
After having read this book, I am more excited than ever to get in touch with my inner-Dane. Thank you, Helen Russell!
Even though I am over 50% Danish by birth, I have never thought too much about the home of my ancestors aside from a casual interest in Viking history. This summer I will be visiting my ancestral home for the first time and wanted to learn more about the country and its culture. Helen Russell's book could not have been a more perfect guide to Denmark for this purpose.
Not only does Russell expound on the culture and crazy weather to expect in Denmark, but she also describes in beautiful and often hilarious narrative a world I thought only existed in my imagination. One where everyone strives to be equal, takes care of one another, and works to create a better generation for tomorrow. Having never been the biggest fan of the cut-throat style of capitalist USA, I am now even more miffed to realize there are places where people do not step all over one another to get to the top 1%. Denmark is not perfect, and Helen does a fantastic job of illustrating its poorer points as well, but it sounds exactly like the sort of place you'd want to be a part of if you care more about the world and less about yourself.
I'll just come out and say it: I want to move to Denmark now. No question, it sounds like the perfect place for anyone, but I especially connected to things I had never realized could be genetic about myself. For without knowing anything about Danish culture, I already had all the following traits: an obsessive need for the softest, fluffiest blankets and a good book to curl up with (hygge); a tendency to trust overly, leading to the two-time theft of my bicycle in college and an inability to catch onto sarcasm or gullibility jokes; a baffled opinion of the work-and-more-work lifestyle of American culture; and a strong belief that money doesn't bring you happiness, but a lot of vacation, socially-provided health and education, and time with family does. I'm apparently over 50% Dane in my personality as well as my genetics!
As for the book itself, the narrative is heart-lifting and sweet, the writing style open and funny, and the quality of research superb. Russell has given me so much information about Denmark within her entertaining story that I will be re-reading it again and again to remember everything. This book, in short, is the perfect travelogue, self-realization story, and report on the "Viking Way" of Denmark.
After having read this book, I am more excited than ever to get in touch with my inner-Dane. Thank you, Helen Russell!