Public reader discussion about Niels Lyhne in the WeRead Catalog by J. P. Jacobsen.
By notebook_moon59
I tried putting my thoughts around this and was curious if there are other examples—like The Graduate, for instance.
By StarSteady98
Lately I’ve been thinking: how well known is Danish literature online, especially to people who already read a lot? I feel like most folks have only heard of Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard, or Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) in passing. But has anyone actually *read* them, outside of Denmark? I’m Danish myself, and I can’t help wondering how much our books really travel. Personally I’ve gotten really into the English, Spanish, German, and Russian classics—stuff like Dostoevsky, Cervantes, and Kafka. Has anyone had a similar “wait, I love this” experience with Danish authors? Or are we mostly stuck being footnotes in Disney-type stuff, or getting reduced to a quick mention in philosophical debates? I’d really like to hear what people think. And yeah, I hope you’ll try these writers too—there’s a lot to enjoy from a little island nation. Also, the irony in Danish culture/literature is kind of ridiculous… maybe even more intense than Austen?
By StillCamera4275
Just wrapped up Jens Peter Jacobsen’s *Niels Lyhne* and wow—it's kind of a small bildungsroman, but it somehow reaches really far. There are all these really nice little details and moments that just feel sharp and thoughtful. I hadn’t really run into Jacobsen before either (I think I only ever noticed him because of Rilke’s *Letters to a Young Poet*). So I grabbed it on a whim, and I’m honestly glad I did. Now I’m curious though—what other “hidden gems” have you stumbled on? Rare finds, weirdly forgotten authors, anything like that. Spill.
By AmberPanther
Time just kept slipping by—Christmas after Christmas, then Twelfth Night, then Whitsuntide came and went, and all those spring fields stayed full of flowers. Summer kept rolling in too, all bright and warm and kind of wild with sunshine and wine. But then, all of a sudden, it was gone after one day at sunset, and the only thing left was that memory: sunburnt cheeks, eyes all dazzled, and that feeling like the blood was still moving.
By writesharbor
Kind of like when I read Emerson’s Self Reliance or Didion’s Self Respect. It felt like an actual shift in how I was thinking, like dawn breaking. I’m trying to build a solitude reading plan and sort some things out. Appreciate the refs, thanks.
By DavidLovesBooks
We always end up circling the same big names—Proust, Joyce, McCarthy, Pynchon, Melville, you know the drill—but I’m more curious to hear what lesser-known writers from your own country you’d actually recommend. Let’s do just one pick per person so everyone gets to spotlight a writer they love and who deserves more attention. I’ll go first (I’m from France): Jean Giono. He’s obsessed with nature, and his writing is so poetic it feels almost magical. Reading him is like you put on these “new vision” glasses—you start really noticing how flowers look, how the wind moves through leaves, the whole soundscape of birds. And he’s not only about pretty scenery. He’s also a pretty key figure in post-WWII French lit, with books that really hit hard about cruelty and how dumb war can be. He gets lost a lot compared to other heavy hitters from the same period, like Céline, but honestly I think Giono deserves way more respect than he gets. If you want to start somewhere, I’d say Le Grand Troupeau, The Horseman on the Roof (Le Hussard sur le Toit), and A King alone (Un Roi Sans Divertissement). Also, his prose comes across really well in English, so it doesn’t feel like you lose anything reading him translated. Okay, your turn—who’s your underrated pick?
By story_fish
“Coloured” back then basically meant you weren’t able to fit into the categories of white, black, or Asian during apartheid. A lot of us came from slaves that were brought in from everywhere, then mixed with the local South Africans and the settlers. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and I remember it being pretty normal for people to think whites were smarter, blacks were less capable, and coloured people were kind of stuck in the middle. I bought into that too. People also kept saying we didn’t have culture, because we supposedly didn’t have a history, so we didn’t really have an identity. Looking back, I can see how badly that messes you up, me included. Since I didn’t really meet white or black folks (or Asians, Muslims, or Jewish people), I ended up with some pretty warped ideas about how the world worked. I’m doing this to help me get a clearer head about it all, and hopefully it’ll be useful for other people too—so yeah, ask me anything. Edit: It’s been a couple days—thanks for all the questions and comments. I’ve been on here for three years and I honestly feel like I like everyone 500% more now. Like, something heavy got lifted off me.
By Heron_Patient2507
Happy New Year! Hope everyone’s been having a good holiday break. Since people asked for it, we’re doing a one-time “Top Favorites” thread for the year. So—what books did you read in 2025 that you’d actually call your favorites? If you can, share a bit of what you liked about them or any background on why they stuck with you. It doesn’t have to be brand-new in 2025 or “the best” books ever, but feel free to go that route if you want. Also, this isn’t tied to the Annual 2025 Top 100 that’s coming out soon. Next week we’ll be doing a “Worst Books of 2025” thread too, so watch for that.
By faint-maple1998
Not sure why I ended up loving this one so much, but the characters just feel really real to me. Like, sometimes I’m going through stuff that feels way too close to what’s in the book. So yeah, I’d say it’s worth checking out if you want something pretty heavy and depressing. Give it a shot—also, I’m hoping to see some more recommendations in the comments! :D