The Year of Living Danishly (2015)
by Helen Russell
This book tells the story of the author and her husband (both British) and their year living and working in Denmark. Helen Russell had read that Denmark had repeatedly been listed as one of the “happiest” countries in the world. So during her year there, she sets out to figure out why. Each month (chapter) covers a different piece of society from education to health to hobbies. Helen’s writing is engaging and quite hilarious at times. But, I gotta say, the more I read about Denmark (at least how it was presented in this book), the more I felt like I was reading a dystopian novel. I wondered if the Danes she talked about were really, actually happy or just happy because their lives were mapped out for them. There were a few very disturbing bits in the animal segment. And I didn’t appreciate the condescension she received at various times throughout the book. I wasn’t sold on Denmark at the end, or really at all, but the author was. I wondered if her attraction to Denmark was really just because they had chosen a slower pace of life than their city home and bustling careers. hmmm. Anyway, I’m glad I read it, and I look forward to reading other books by Ms. Russell. I just don’t see us moving to Denmark anytime soon.