The Little Book of Scandi Living

This is a lovely tongue in cheek take on scandi living. Despite the humour it is full of all sorts of useful information on the Scandinavian way of life. It clearly defines the separate countries along with differences, recipes, traditions and much more. The pictures are beautiful and really make the book something special. A lovely gifting book or one to curl up with on a winters day.

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Clean lines, beautiful pictures. Fall in love with this amazing place and this peaceful life!! Scandi Living is a wonderful glimpse into a 'something more' that your life could be. A chance to slow down and enjoy.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

This a beautiful book with great photos and illustrations, and is a must-read for anyone interested in Scandinavian culture. As a Norwegian with a good knowledge of Sweden and Denmark, I can confirm that everything is mostly spot on. The book also shows the dry humor we love so much, so it's very fun reading.

A perfect book to curl up with by the fireplace and a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows. Lots of inspirational ideas, how-to's and recipes to keep you busy all winter long!

What a lovely book a perfect introduction to Scandinavia the people the culture the traditions.A charming informative read with wonderful pictures and sketches I enjoyed every page.#netgalley #quarto

3.5 stars rounding up...

I’m a self-confessed fan of all things Scandinavian and ‘The Little Book of Scandi-living’ felt like something I needed to read. And of course this handy little guide packs a punch, taking you past the mental road block of seeing past the Danes’ hot-fashion sense, ABBA, meatballs, Ikea and Norway’s unfair natural advantage of oil, fjords and mountains…if you aren’t Scandinavian.

I loved the wry humour in the descriptions about the way Swedes, Danes and Norwegians see each other but the typical guide on how to be either more Danish, Swedish or Norwegian had me laughing out loud, while trying to shape my mouth into the funny little sounds they make in the Nordic languages. There’re more anecdotes on the internal rivalry between these countries—petty, juvenile and so funny that I lapped it all up—which I hadn’t known at all, but there are also practical aspects which will actually apply to any country if you generally are understanding about how to behave like a decent human being without needing too much guidance.

The focus on only Denmark, Sweden and Norway seems a little unfair though, given the peripheral countries like Iceland and Finland are just mentioned in passing, but I’m guessing we all have Lonely Planet for those gaps.

Beautiful images, easy to read and perfect for anyone with an interest in Scandinavia. I'm a sucker for anything Scandi so this would make a perfect addition to my coffee table.

Although I liked this book and it's a neat introduction to Scandinavian living with a bunch of amazing photos, I was just a bit irked about some of the factual errors or lack of fact check at times, especially when it comes to language(s).

This may be a 'little book', but there's nothing little about the wealth of information packed into it. The writer has a great sense of humor that shines through and the layout of the book is very well done. Lots of interesting facts interspersed with beautiful pictures. My ancestry is Norwegian and I always enjoy anything having to do with Norway and Norwegians. This book was a perfect sample of what it is to be Scandi!

Pleasant and short (although still jam-packed with information) guide to life in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. As someone who is of Swedish and Norwegian heritage but who was raised without the culture and had never had the opportunity to visit my ancestral homelands, I appreciated the careful balance between providing more information than the usual Scandi living books that pop up this time of year without it feeling like a fire hose of information that isn't applicable because I don't actually plan to move there. The sense of humor throughout was also fun and very much reminded me of my grandparents and their playful squabbles about the relative merits of Sweden vs Norway.

A heavily researched and very cohesive exploration of Scandi living, packed into just a few pages. Perfect for anyone who loved the book series based on Hygge or Lykke or anyone who feels like their soul just belongs in Scandinavia.

From hygge to lagom, and everything in between, this little book is, dare I say it, a smorgasbord of information, organised beautifully and written by a real Scandinavian so it's authentic.

The writing style is fun and conversational, while always professional, making it a light-hearted read to dip in and out of or handy book for reference.
As the trend for all things 'Scandi' just continues to grow, this book will help you embrace aspects of Scandinavian life, with sections on how to 'Be more Norwegian', make your house instantly Copenhagen, or enjoy moments of 'fika' with friends. There are also funny insights into dating a Scandinavian, and hilarious idioms.
I learnt a lot from this book, having never (yet!) visited this part of the world, and can see it being a great stocking filler or shelf addition for Scandi fans, both new and experienced!

This is a great little fact-packed book. A thoroughly enjoyable read with some light-hearted and amusing observations as well as an interesting insight into the history and traditions of these countries. I know a lot more now about Scandinavia than I did before. Highly recommend. Thank you to to the author Bronte Aurell, Net Galley and the publisher, White Lion Publishing for an ARC.

This book sounded great, and the cover picture drew me in. Unfortunately I could not open this format on my phone or tablet so could not read and review it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I read this book over the holiday break, hoping that it would provide some cozy, winter vibes. While many sections of this book do involve winter and cold weather activities, since it's all about life in the countries of Scandinavia, I found that it was a bit more of a quick run-through. The author is quite snarky and that feeling comes through when they describe differing attitudes and traditions amongst the various peoples of Scandinavia. To me, that was a bit distracting and took away some of my enjoyment of the book.

Do you know which countries make Scandinavia? How would you decorate your house like a Danish person? Why are Scandinavians considered the happiest people in the world? And do they really not talk a lot?

If you always had questions about Scandinavian countries, or if you just became curious about them now, The Little Book of Scandi Living will give you answers to all these questions and more! Complete with generous doses of humor, The Little Book of Scandi Living is simple, informative, and to-the-point. After all, it is a book about Scandi living!

This book painted a wild picture of Scandinavia and I feel so much better acquainted with the culture. The ideas of the countries I had in my head were expanded upon and corrected. New information left me in awe and afraid. A great read for those interested in learning about new cultures.

How fun!

I really do not know anything about Scandinavia (despite being the descendant of Scandinavians, thanks Ancestry DNA) so this was an entertaining peek into life in a place I'd like to visit (but realistically it is just way too expensive to go.)

I'm feeling inspired to go ride a bike somewhere and take a coffee break later this afternoon.

Recommended.

This book is filled with some fascinating and surprising bits of information about the Scandinavian way of life. From a breakdown of what geographical areas Scandi living covers, to home decor, tidbits about food and a detailed walk through of an IKEA store, the author did an excellent job of packing so very much into this little book. I'd like to add, there is also quite a bit of humor throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and feel it's definitely a five star book.

An enjoyable and informative experience that felt like a long chat getting to know a new friend. I have some experience with Scandi cultures from film, literature, and travel, so I easily got quite a few of the jokes, yet still this little book taught me so much more-- e.g., Bluetooth is named after a 10th century Viking named Harald Bluetooth (English translation, of course), and the symbol is the rune letters spelling his initials. I wish all nonfiction was this fun to read.

What a lovely idea and book! I loved everything about it: the magnificent and dainty pictures, the tongue-in-cheek humour (How to date a Scandinavian, How to wear a Norwergian jumper, Quick way to annoy a Scandinavian person...). I also loved the authenticity which we can feel permeates this little book, but also the cultural aspects, the recipes. I enjoyed reading about the customs and various aspects of life (family life...).Thank you Quarto Publishing group & Net Galley!
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The Little Book of Scandi Living by Bronte Aurell is a gem as the writing is witty while be educational. I painlessly learned about Scandinavian culture while reading Aurell's book. I also loved the gorgeous photos that accompanied the text.

Highly recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

This is quite a nice book for someone who is interested in Scandinavia, maybe already knows a bit of something but is a beginner at it. Or so I guess because it was a bit hard to tell what the intended audience is supposed to be. Some information was very very basic to the point where it was somewhat common knowledge (at least for Europeans) but there were also some cultural/social details that were mentioned briefly and not explained that I don't think many people already know. The problem is that the reader is assumed to already know what the "Helan går" song is, but the Christmas traditions, even those that are exactly the same in Europe for the most part, are explained in great detail, while it should probably be the other way around. There were also a few fact check issues for example with languages and a couple in mythology, which was weird for me because these are things that require very simple research. Other than that, I liked the humour and there were some new bits about Denmark and Norway that I enjoyed. Overall I would say the book is okay, but would benefit from editing and an additional fact check.

An enjoyable stroll through the different Scandinavian traditions and methods of approaching clam and Hygga. The pictures evoke a calmness in the furnishings, foods and atmospheres of the Scandinavian landscapes. I thought I veered more towards Swedish style, but I found myself relating to Danish furnishings ;and the pastries. The photos are clear and beautifully composed. I will be dipping in and out of this book as I take on more ideas and customs in the pursuit of a calmer lifestyle.

Inspired by “The Little Book of Japanese Living” to travel without leaving my seat, I finished this in one sitting.
Short chapters, dotted with some photos, makes it an easy read.
What exactly is Scandinavia? How do the three countries (yes, it’s only three, Finland is not officially in Scandinavia) differ? What do they have in common? And what do they think of each other?
Questions I didn’t even know I had have been answered.
Author Brontë Aurell jokes about the common stereotypes, the differences between the cultures and Sweden’s biggest export (apparently ten per cent of Europeans were conceived on an IKEA bed).
“Norwegians are born with skis on their feet. Uncomfortable for the mothers, but useful once they learn to stand up and navigate down snow-covered mountains. If you can't ski, don't move to Norway.”
A large portion of the book is reserved to Scandinavian food and eating habits, including the correct way to slice cheese and the brilliant (or not?) shop called Wine Monopoly.
But if you want to find out what it means to “swallow camels” or sliding on a prawn sandwich” then have a read yourself.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Having some Norwegian heritage, I was interested in getting more information on what it means to be Scandinavian. This book was a fantastic way to enjoy, celebrate, and learn more about the region, including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It was fun to read about the traditions, festivities, food, and holidays of these countries.

I especially enjoyed the humor that was infused throughout the book, as it helped to make everything more readable and enlightening. Anyone who wants to know more about Scandinavian people should read and enjoy this book.

This book is adorable. With all the fuss about Hygge, I just had to check it out for myself. I will be adopting a more Scandi lifestyle!

The Little Book of Scandi Living is a cute tongue-in-cheek ode to all things Scandinavian. Due out 11th Feb 2020 from Quarto on their White Lion imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a cute gift type book for the Scandi fans or maybe someone planning a trip to the Nordic countries. It's not extremely fact heavy, it's funny, and it does manage to hit some of the high notes. There's a lot of light-hearted competition and sibling rivalry between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden and this book includes a lot of the highlights.

It's very generalised (Norwegians do X, Danes do Y, and Swedes do Zed). I don't think the author meant for it to be taken literally, but I have noticed some stereotypes are stereotypes because they have some real life correlations.

The chapters are arranged thematically: style, food culture and etiquette, outdoor and family life, culture, and celebration. The book is liberally peppered with cheerful illustrations and photos.

All in all it's a cheerful and sweet book which will appeal to world travelers, dreamers, and folks who are proud of their Scandinavian heritage.

Three and a half stars.

It's been interesting, informative, funny, and beatifully illustrated. Although, I would have prefered a book for every country located in the Scandinavian Peninsula, because, as the author points out, Scandinavian is a geographical definition, not a national one. Therefore, the Scandi living seems to me very general.

A fun little guide book to all things Scandinavia - from Food to Cultural quirks it has everything.

A fun read before you book tickets to Scandinavia.

The cutesy, homey cover made me think this was going to be the kind of fluffy gift book you find on little displays near the bookstore checkout counter, full of whimsical little tidbits and lots of white space. Turns out that’s not the case at all- this is a veritable encyclopedia of Nordic life and all of its little quirks.

Once I started reading, my second impression was that this book would be a bit dry and/or that it was really meant more for Scandinavian people who would get all of the inside jokes.

Then I came across the concept of Fredagsmys and I got interested. Apparently Fredagsmsys can be loosely translated as “Friday cozy” and it’s practically the law in Sweden. Every Friday night, Swedes stay home, make tacos, eat chips and dip, and watch television together. I don’t like TV, but apparently board games are also acceptable, so we’re good.

Guess who has a new weekly tradition?

⮚ You should probably have some knowledge of life in the Nordic countries if you want any hope of understanding the jokes in this book. If you’re a complete Scandi beginner, a lot of stuff is going to go over your head.

⮚ This book would be a fantastic gift for anyone moving to Scandinavia, taking an extended trip there, doing a study abroad or student exchange, etc. Also a good gift for someone just heading to one of the Nordic countries on vacation as long as they really like to dig in deep and learn a lot about their destination before they travel. If they’re the type who doesn’t even glance through a Lonely Planet guide before their trip, this will be way too much information.

⮚ The Little Book of Scandi Living goes seriously in-depth on everything from how to slice cheese the proper Scandinavian way to understanding sauna culture to why having two duvets on the bed is better than one. I’m going to steal this idea, too. No more comforter tug-of-war in the middle of the night.

An expanded review will appear on my new website, launching in February 2020.

A pleasure to read. I really liked the comedy in this book. It was interesting to read and beautifully presented.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.