Tracy's Nordic Light

Hello, friends! 🙋🏻‍♀️As always, I hope that this finds you well and that some good reading is lighting up your days!📚

As we soon segue into August, I'm between reading — that time when I'm waiting for some books to arrive through library inter-loan. But I have some books to keep me company in the meantime.

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig is a dark and at times whimsical fantasy romance about a knight cursed to kill anyone he touches and a moth fae who offers him a dangerous bargain. They navigate treachery and forbidden magic, all the while their uneasy alliance blossoms into something deeper. The story weaves themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the power of love to break curses. Having read and greatly enjoyed Gillig's Shepherd King duology last autumn, I was excited to read this book, the first book of a new series. I was waiting for this, and it was worth the wait... I really like this and can't wait to read the next instalment!

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell is historical fiction that reimagines the brief, mysterious and unhappy life of Lucrezia de' Medici, the third wife of Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. Suspenseful and richly, deliciously atmospheric, the novel explores Lucrezia’s intelligence, resilience, sensitivity, and the looming threat of her husband. A blend of historical intrigue with a sensitively drawn portrait of a young woman navigating the power plays of others and survival in Renaissance Italy. This was my first time reading Maggie O'Farrell, and I really enjoyed the beautiful, lyrical language she used to craft this story. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Of course, it wouldn't be a month of reading for me without a little manga! I started a new-to-me series. The Flying Witch by Chihiro Ishizuka — this is a heartwarming story about Makie Kuramoto, a young witch who moves to the countryside to live with her cousins and improve her magical skills. The story blends gentle humour, rural charm, and whimsical supernatural elements as Makie navigates everyday life, forging bonds with humans and spirits alike. This is a very cosy, slice-of-life tale about belonging, nature, and the quiet magic found in the ordinary moments of life. Sweet and fun reading!

And then, A Business Proposal (volume 3), a romcom story about Shin Ha-ri, who pretends to be her friend on a blind date...with who turns out to be the CEO of her company, Kang Tae-mu. As their fake relationship deepens, misunderstandings, workplace dynamics, and antics fuel the humour and tension... and the chaos of unexpected love. Another fun read!

I'd love to hear about what you've been reading! 📖

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

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2 days ago | [YT] | 34

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hello, dear friends! ☺️Just a quick greeting: this space will be a little quieter than usual in the community Posts for the next two weeks or so. Husband TJ and I have some time off, and we will be taking a few day trips, enjoying a break from work and the weekday pace, and hopefully having some bookish encounters too!

So much is in bloom right now... The hydrangeas in our garden are just coming into bloom. And we've been picking strawberries from our little patch.

This week has been hard as it is the first anniversary of the passing of our sweet kitty Luna, who left us all too soon when we lost her to kidney disease. This photo was among the last few before we had to say goodbye to her. Missing this fur-covered angel every day...

I do have a couple of videos that I will publish during July, so there will be something here! During the summer months, I will be sharing a special series — Summer Reading Salon — where we will explore the reading life more closely, with each video covering a different topic. An introduction video will go out tomorrow. And during the month, I will continue to share a couple of essays at my Substack, if you'd like to join me there: tracysnordiclight.substack.com/

Until soon...

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 44

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hello, there, my friends!🙋🏻‍♀️ As we turn to July soon, I've been enjoying thinking about reading for a new month...

From the library, I just picked up volumes 5 and 6 of the manga series Sakura, Saku by Io Sakisaka. I started this series back in May and continue to enjoy this tender-hearted series about friendship, first love, and personal growth. We follow our heroine, Saku Fujigaya, a shy high school girl inspired by the kindness of a stranger who once helped her through a difficult moment. Determined to thank him, she discovers a connection to her classmate Haruki Sakura, and the two gradually grow closer. Such a sweet story!☺️ The soft, beautiful artwork perfectly captures the tenderness and emotion of youth.

And more continuation... I picked up volume 3 of Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya. In this many-volume series, we follow Tohru Honda, an orphan who, after meeting the mysterious Sohma family, discovers they are cursed to transform into animals of the zodiac when hugged by someone of the opposite sex--hilarity abounds when that happens! 😂 As Tohru navigates their complex lives, she helps them confront their past traumas and break the curse. The story blends humour, heartbreak, and healing, exploring themes of love, family, and self-acceptance. I love the dynamic artwork that pairs so well with the compelling storylines!

So, some heartfelt and light-hearted reads to start July along with my continued Bloomsbury Group reading.

Do you have any reading plans for July?📖

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 23

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hello, Friends!✨ It is very summery-warm here in Norway now. Still, regardless of the heat, a hot cup of tea is so satisfying! This week I've been working on some photography for a tea-related project. This was one of many. I just liked the different textures of the materials — glass, porcelain, wood...

Are you a tea or coffee person? Or maybe you don't do caffeine at all? These days I'm going caffeine-free with decaffeinated teas, as well as different green and herbal teas.

Cheers! ☕

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 41

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hello, my bookish friends! ☺️ As we near another month's end, this week I'm filming a somewhat different video that will not be the usual monthly wrap-up, as I'm still reading some of the books I've had with me during June. Very much enjoying re-immersing myself in Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group! But I have a lot of great things to share, so I hope you will join me for a video on Friday.

This week I have added some new reading into the Bloomsbury mix -- A Book of Days (gorgeous photography!) and Bread of Angels (a memoir) by musician, writer and poet Patti Smith. Chronicling her tough upbringing, creative passions, relationships, trials, tribulations, adventures...the harsh realities of where all those meet. I just love how Patti Smith writes of her life--humble, grounded, sifting through the hard pieces and finding gold. GREAT reading!

Wishing you all delight and happy reading these last days of June...📖

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 32

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hi, Friends! ☺️ Just a little note to wish you all a happy weekend ahead!

After a slow start, summer feels like it's truly here in the north. I'm so thankful to live by the coast, where many a summer morning means thousands of sparkles on the water...

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 49

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hi, Friends! 🙋🏻‍♀️ Hope you're having a good week so far and that June has been treating you well too.

Through the library, I was finally able to get hold of volumes 13 and 14 of The Way of the Househusband by Kousuke Oono for June reading. It's been a bit of a wait for these through library inter-loan, as there aren't that many volumes of these to go around. This is such a fun manga series. It's a humorous account of Tatsu, a former yakuza boss, who retires to become a devoted househusband! The series blends slice-of-life charm with highly comedic situations as Tatsu applies his intimidating past skills to everyday domestic tasks. It celebrates family, personal growth, and the unexpected joys of homemaking. The artwork is fantastic--very dynamic and engaging. And the storytelling is lighthearted, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny.

I'd love to hear about what you're reading at the moment! 📖

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 24

Tracy's Nordic Light

“June’s magic is in its gentle warmth, coaxing the world to bloom with an abundance of joy and colour.” — Anonymous

Noticing the magic of June...




With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 36

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hello, my lovely bookish friends!☺️
I hope this message finds you well, wrapped in a good week—and even better books.📖


My Reading Around the World project has been trickier than I expected. Some books have been hard to track down through the library, or they’re already checked out, leaving me in a familiar place: waiting. It reminds me of my Jane Austen Project last year, when Regency nonfiction wasn’t always easy to get my hands on month to month.


So, for the summer, I’m pivoting to a little impromptu reading project—revisiting classics and diving back into my love for the Bloomsbury Group, that brilliant British creative collective from the early 20th century.


I’m starting with Virginia Woolf, whose work I’ve been itching to revisit. First up: a reread of her debut novel, The Voyage Out. To pair with it, I’ve got The Art of Bloomsbury by Richard Stone (a stunning book!) and Among the Bohemians: Experiments in Living 1900–1939 by Virginia Nicholson. It feels like the perfect "starter kit" for my Bloomsbury Summer!✨ I will share a little about the books in a video on Friday.



What about you? Do you have summer reading projects lined up, or do you prefer to mood-read and let the season guide you? I’d love to hear!

With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 49

Tracy's Nordic Light

Hi, Friends!☺️ Something bookish-adjacent...📖


This month, over at my Substack, I'm sharing a 5-part series on journaling. 🖋️Every Monday, there will be an essay on different themes within the beautiful realm of journaling... why we need to write things down, how journaling offers companionship, a daily (weekly, monthly, yearly) place to go slow and hear ourselves think, a gentle place to witness our lives in real time. I'm excited to explore this topic!


Please join me here for the conversation: tracysnordiclight.substack.com/


Do you have a journaling practice? 📝


With LOVE,
Tracy 🩷

1 month ago | [YT] | 18