Crown Princess Mette-Marit on "Literature journey": 2013, 2015 - 2019

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by W.Y.CII

Thanks for the summary and review ROYAL NORWAY!

I don't understand that opinion (I don't agree the "taking the attention" part too but at least I get the logic). It's like a quibble to me, promoting local literature and reading culture isn't a bad thing at all, to me that's what a royal should do.

Oh, that's simple to explain, although the psychology behind it is somewhat twisted.

You see, it's basically about snobbery.
Promoting, discussing and advocating literature, especially more "heavy-weight" literature should not be left to mere amateurs. Mette-Marit being such an amateur.
Promoting literature, higher quality art, more abstract classical music, classical ballet and so on to the ignorant unwashed masses, should be left to the recognized, self-appointed, self-confirming and studied experts. I.e. the critics.
And of course in the eyes of the studied academicae, it is of course enormously difficult for laymen (= everybody else but themselves) to even comprehend what constitutes good literature, let alone discuss it! Good heavens! (Insert a slightly condescending laugh.) (*)
I mean if common laymen can discuss literature (and perhaps even make it sound interesting...) what's to become of the cultural debates on TV and radio? (with a viewer rating of about 63...)
- In short: IMO it's a mix of snobbery, professional arrogance and the Emperor's new clothes. A trait often seen among small groups of "professional experts".
And such conceited experts tend to look down on royalty. So Mette-Marit cannot do right in their eyes. She is trespassing on their turf.

Yes, I'm being a cynic.

(*) Akin to Colonel Durnford who, I believe, shortly before he was killed by Zulus, condescendingly said something along these lines: "Savages knowing anything about tactics?!? Why, it's preposterous! You learn tactics at a military academy, not in a hut!"

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Here's a very LATE and brief summary from me:

Well, this was CP MM at her best, wasn't it.
Out meeting people, and talking about literature (her favourite thing).
And with the exception of a question from VG about Marius, when she put on her usual ''not talking to the media face,'' everything seemed to go very well.

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Nice to see a Norwegian here.

2014: The republican author, lawyer and former Minister of Justice for the Labour Party, Anne Holt criticised CP MM (on TV2 News Channel, I think) for taking the attention from authors.
Me: What??? I would actually say that she gives them more attention.

2015: Harald Stanghelle (republican editor of the former pro-monarchy, but now more balanced liberal conservative newspaper Aftenposten) & Kjetil B. Alstadheim (republican political editor of the republican liberal business newspaper Dagens Næringsliv) criticised the ''Train of Literature'' on TV2 News Channel.
I don't quite remember what they said, but think it was something about ''that this is not something a crown princess should get involved with.''

Yes, both Stanghelle & Alstadheim are republicans, but they are known to be quite serious - and many people listen to what they say.

2016: She was heavily criticized by author Birger Emanuelsen, something that was debated on both NRK and TV2, and written about in all the national newspapers.
I won't go into that criticism now, but one can read it here: Forfatter kritiserer kronprinsessens litteraturtog - NRK - translation

2017/2018: No criticism at all.

[iceflower]

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be on her "Literature Journey" again - on May 8 and 9. The Palace has released the programme of the two days today:



** kongehuset: Kronprinsessens Bokbane 8. og 9. mai 2019 ** translation **

[iceflower]

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit made a short video message prior to her literature journey this week, probably recorded during last week's event.


** Video **

[iceflower]

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Accompanied by Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit started her book journey today, May 8:



** kongehuset: Bokbane fra vest til øst **


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 ** Pic 8 ** Pic 9 ** rex gallery **


** vg.no article with gallery & video: Kronprinsesse Mette-Marit på «Bokbanen»: Har med kronprins Haakon som stand-in **

[iceflower]

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Day 2 of the book tour today, May 9, and once again Crown Prince Haakon was present as well:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **


** kongehuset: Bokbanen på vei østover ** gettyimages gallery **

[sm1939]

Great pictures thanks for posting them, really good to see the Princess out and about .

[HereditaryPrincess]

It's lovely to see MM and Haakon together at a literary event!

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Been a bit busy lately (hmm, that has actually been the case since the end of February, hence my limited time here these days), so I haven't had time to go through this, but let's do it now:

Originally Posted by iceflower

.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be on her "Literature Journey" again - on May 8 and 9. The Palace has released the programme of the two days today:



** kongehuset: Kronprinsessens Bokbane 8. og 9. mai 2019 ** translation **

Thanks!

Yes, on April 26th, the court announced on The RH-website that the ''literature train'' (CP MM's 2-3 day annual train-journey through parts of Norway [since 2014] to promote her interest in literature to young people, where she interviews authors along the various stops and talks about personal stuff such as her father's alcohol problems) would this year become the ''literature metro.'' It was stated that The Crown Princess would be accompanied by her husband along the route which would take them from Kolsås in Bærum (a neighbouring municipality of Oslo) to Stovner in Oslo on May 8-9th, stopping for events at six libraries along the line, where CP MM's usual job of interviewing the authors would be taken over by NRK presenter, Silje Nordnes.

The court was then approached by the media who wanted to know ''why?'' Well, surprise, surprise, they said it was ''due to The Crown Princess' health condition.''
Read more in this Royal Central article (link) from April 26th, written by Norwegian Royal Commentator, Oskar Aanmoen, which includes a translation of what CP MM said about this year's literature-metro in a note to the tabloid VG (Norway's largest online news-website and second-largest print newspaper, known as very pro-monarchy).

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Originally Posted by iceflower

.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit made a short video message prior to her literature journey this week, probably recorded during last week's event.


** Video **

Thanks!

Translation of what she said in the video: ''This year, the literature train has become the literature metro. And I'm really looking forward to it. We'll travel from west to east and end up at Stovner Library, and visit six libraries along the way. And we have with us writers and people who are happy to read, who will talk about important things. We're going to talk about the climate and environment, we're going to talk about fantasy literature, we're going to talk about body and gender, and we're going to talk about growing up. (Yes, I know I don't need to repeat ''we're going to'' all the time, but it was what she said!)
And not least, we are going to hear from some of the most fun hip-hop people about how it is to write hip-hop texts. That, I'm really looking forward to. And I hope you want to join us.''

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Originally Posted by iceflower

.

Accompanied by Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit started her book journey today, May 8:



** kongehuset: Bokbane fra vest til øst **


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 ** Pic 8 ** Pic 9 ** rex gallery **


** vg.no article with gallery & video: Kronprinsesse Mette-Marit på «Bokbanen»: Har med kronprins Haakon som stand-in **

Originally Posted by iceflower

.

Day 2 of the book tour today, May 9, and once again Crown Prince Haakon was present as well:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **


** kongehuset: Bokbanen på vei østover ** gettyimages gallery **

Thanks!

And The Crown Princess has been her usual warm and engaging self during all these events, visibly moved by the various interviews with the authors.
Read more about the programme and a bit about what Her Royal Highness said in her speeches (which she writes herself BTW) in this Royal Central article (link) from May 10th, also written by Norwegian Royal Commentator, Oskar Aanmoen.

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About her health: Yes, she was, of course, asked about it by the reporters present.

May 8th: She said she was ''incredibly glad'' that her form seemed to be holding that particular day, but that she ''was very tired.'' The Crown Prince BTW had to step in for her and held the last speech (which was why he was there in the first place).

May 9th: She said she had ''to take one day at a time,'' but that she ''was very happy'' that she had managed these two days, despite being ''helt utslitt'' (completely exhausted). - Especially since the literature events ''mean so much'' to her.

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Media coverage: Several news-clips (on the various TV-news), articles, hordes of journalists and unsurprisingly nothing but praise for the severely ill Crown Princess.

VG-video of the first 30 min of the journey which included one of several press-meetings (link).

NRK videos from day 1 (link) and day 2 (link).

BTW: Be aware that this was a regular metro-ride with travelling passengers, so The CP-Couple's ''Royal Police Escort officers'' (which one can read more about in the last part of this post - link) were therefore quite visible throughout the route.

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And on an endnote: I must say she impresses me, 28 engagements (with these six events) since we got the news about her illness on October 24th, not bad at all.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Crown Princess Mette Marit brings her “literature train” to Germany – Royal Central

This has been planned since last year (I wrote about it in another thread, back in January I think) and is what she uses most of her energy on right now.

But as one can see from the above post, she was ''completely exhausted'' after her ''literature metro'' from May 8-9th, and The Crown Prince (who accompanied her during the entire event) had to step in and hold one of her speeches. And according to the tabloid VG, he plans to be at her side in Germany as well.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Translation of what she said in the video: ''This year, the literature train has become the literature metro. And I'm really looking forward to it. We'll travel from west to east and end up at Stovner Library, and visit six libraries along the way. And we have with us writers and people who are happy to read, who will talk about important things. We're going to talk about the climate and environment, we're going to talk about fantasy literature, we're going to talk about body and gender, and we're going to talk about growing up. (Yes, I know I don't need to repeat ''we're going to'' all the time, but it was what she said!)
And not least, we are going to hear from some of the most fun hip-hop people about how it is to write hip-hop texts. That, I'm really looking forward to. And I hope you want to join us.''

Actually, in your translation she sounds delightfully enthusiastic about the journey!

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Crown Princess Mette Marit brings her “literature train” to Germany – Royal Central

This has been planned since last year (I wrote about it in another thread, back in January I think) and is what she uses most of her energy on right now.

But as one can see from the above post, she was ''completely exhausted'' after her ''literature metro'' from May 8-9th, and The Crown Prince (who accompanied her during the entire event) had to step in and hold one of her speeches. And according to the tabloid VG, he plans to be at her side in Germany as well.

Thank you for all the details you share. It seems sensible and considerate of the crown prince and his staff to have contingency plans enabling him to step in for his wife if necessary, which will hopefully ease her way in maintaining the engagements she is dedicated to.

[eya]

CP Mette Marit talked last night to Alf van der Hagen as part of her virtual Literature Journey

"Tonight I talked to Alf van der Hagen about interviewing others and making literature out of it.This was the first of four literature talks here on Instagram. Next Thursday at 19 I look forward to talking to Cheryl Strayed about "Tiny beautiful things".

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMAgF-jieIK/

[eya]

Second virtual Literature Journey last night for the CP Mette Merit:

"Tonight I talked to Cheryl Strayed about "Wild" and "Tiny Beautiful Things". And about finding oneself on a trip."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMShdM3CNFk/

[Countessmeout]

I think may be the first time I have heard MM speak before. Well in English so I could understand what she was saying.

I enjoyed listening to them talk. She is well spoken.

I like royals like MM and Camilla have taken on literacy issues. And are encouraging a love of reading in people. Especially during all of this.

[eya]

Another virtual Literature Journey on 26 March for the CP Mette Merit:

"Tonight it was Ruth Lillegraven og Olaug Nilssen who took part in the Literature Train. Among other things, we talked about publishing books during the pandemic and got some good reading tips for Easter.

- "Girl, woman, other" by Bernardine Evaristo - "A little life" by Hanya Yanagihara - "Correction of a chapter of grief" by Eivind Riise Hauge

Take care of each other, and a really happy Easter!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2loh2C7cG/

[eya]

Crown Princess Mette Marit hosted a working session on literature at Skaugum on 17 November

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEfNoHEV...jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEfNoIsV...jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEfNoV4V...jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEfNoV1U...jpg&name=large

[sm1939]

Great to see the Crown Princess looking Healthy and doing something she is passionate about.

[eya]

Crown Princess Mette Marit attends at the presentation of the Library's Literature Prize at Bærum library Bekkestua today 30 November


https://beta.tt.se/bildobjekt/image/sdln0XxuU3yZ1o
https://beta.tt.se/bildobjekt/image/sdlX01MAdVlbu4
https://beta.tt.se/bildobjekt/image/sdlTLqvE6XDl3E
https://beta.tt.se/bildobjekt/image/sdl_0shfeP8gQA

[iceflower]

Here are some additional photos of yesterday's award ceremony:


** ppe gallery ** anp gallery ** kongehuset:Bibliotekspris for første gang **