Anita (FAMeulstee) is able to read again; fifth thread of 2016

5 star reads this year

        

Currently reading:
    

Sprookjes en verhalen by Hans Christian Andersen, started 18 september, 17 of 156

Spion aan de muur by John LeCarre, TIOLI #7, started 20 december

--
total books read: 246
own 83 / 163 library

total pages read: 70.707

--
December 2016 (20 books, 6.322 pages)
book 246: De man die glimlachte by Henning Mankell, TIOLI #18, 445 pages,
book 245: Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn? by Frans de Waal, 335 pages,
book 244: De witte leeuwin by Henning Mankell, TIOLI #18, 543 pages,
book 243: Laatste nacht in Jeque by Henk Barnard, TIOLI #9, 161 pages,
book 242: De avonden by Gererd Reve, 223 pages,
book 241: Het wonder van Frieswijck by Thea Beckman, 96 pages,
book 240: De zevensprong by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #11, 286 pages,
book 239: De Cock en danse macabre (De Cock 35) by A.C. Baantjer, 133 pages,
book 238: Carry's kleine oorlog by Nina Bawden, 126 pages,
book 237: Hoogteverschillen by Julian Barnes, TIOLI #11, 127 pages,
book 236: Het verhaal van Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, started 23 februari, TIOLI #17, 1517 pages,
book 235: Een Duits requiem by Philip Kerr, 3 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 327 pages,
book 234: Het handwerk van de beul by Philip Kerr, 2 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 316 pages,
book 233: Het diner by Herman Koch, TIOLI #17, 301 pages,
book 232: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, 335 pages,
book 231: Oorlog zonder vrienden by Evert Hartman, TIOLI #5, 252 pages,
book 230: Zwerftocht met Korilu by Thea Beckman, 138 pages,
book 229: Het geheim van Rotterdam by Thea Beckman, TIOLI #4, 212 pages,
book 228: Hier ben ik dan by Henk Barnard, TIOLI #6, 167 pages,
book 227: Een Berlijnse kwestie by Philip Kerr, 1 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 282 pages,

November 2016 (51 books, 10.399 pages)
book 226: De doge-ring van Venetië by Thea Beckman, TIOLI #15, 205 pages,
book 225: Een lampion voor een blinde by Bertus Aafjes, TIOLI #8, 111 pages,
book 224: Herfsttij der Middeleeuwen by Johan Huizinga, TIOLI #11, 408 pages,
book 223: Reizen en avonturen van Jaques Massé by Simon Tyssot de Patot, TIOLI 13, 224 pages,
book 222: Erfschuld by Arnaldur Indriðason, TIOLI #12, 271 pages,
book 221: Gekaapt! by Thea Beckman, TIOLI #14, 133 pages,
book 220: Brieven van mijn broertje by Chris Donner, TIOLI #10, 62 pages,
book 219: Herfst by Jac.P. Thijsse, TIOLI#11, 62 pages,
book 218: Eens gestolen altijd een dief by Gunilla Bergström, TIOLI #15, 80 pages,
book 217: Tegen verkiezingen by David Van Reybrouck, TIOLI #2, 192 pages,
book 216: Zomerzeer by Hilde Hagerup, TIOLI #13, 205 pages,
book 215: Op zoek naar een oom by Jan Blokker, TIOLI #6, 46 pages,
book 214: De parel by John Steinbeck, TIOLI #4, 93 pages,
book 213: Twee jaargetijden minder by A. Alberts, TIOLI #9, 56 pages,
book 212: De stomme van Kampen by Thea Beckman, TIOLI #8, 180 pages,
book 211: Rare vogels by Rindert Kromhout, TIOLI #1, 111 pages,
book 210: Vlucht tussen hoop en wanhoop by Willi Fährmann, TIOLI #5, 174 pages,
book 209: De laatkomer by Dimitri Verhulst, TIOLI #7, 140 pages,
book 208: Kleine Beer, Grote Beer by Henri van Daele, TIOLI #14, 97 pages,
book 207: Honden van Riga by Henning Mankell, TIOLI #5, 316 pages,
book 206: Nederland : een bewoond gordijn by Rudy Kousbroek, TIOLI #9, 62 pages,
book 205: De herfst zal schitterend zijn by Jan Siebelink, TIOLI #11, 317 pages,
book 204: Het ravijn by Mariano Azuela, TIOLI #4, 154 pages,
book 203: De avondboot by Vonne van der Meer, TIOLI #13, 203 pages,
book 202: Lopen voor je leven by Els Beerten, TIOLI #6, 183 pages,
book 201: Boven is het stil by Gerbrand Bakker, TIOLI #3, 264 pages,
book 200: Memoires van minister Pieter Bas by Godfried Bomans, TIOLI #2, 168 pages,
book 199: Onder de ketchupwolken by Annabel Pitcher, TIOLI #3, 304 pages,
book 198: Oef van de mensen by Peter van Gestel, TIOLI #1, 217 pages,
book 197: De jongen die nooit heeft bestaan by Sjón, TIOLI #12, 124 pages,
book 196: Als je het licht niet kunt zien - Anthony Doerr, TIOLI #8, 543 pages,
book 195: De heks van Wefford by Michael Jecks, TIOLI #12, 314 pages,
book 194: Haas en Hond by Rotraut Susanne Berner, TIOLI #10, 75 pages,
book 193: Vullisland by Paula Fox, TIOLI #14, 130 pages,
book 192: Het verloren continent by Bill Bryson, TIOLI #7, 279 pages,
book 191: De Marokkaan en de kat van tante Da by Henk Barnard, TIOLI #6, 151 pages,
book 190: Verkiezingshandleiding by Quintus Cicero, TIOLI #2, 66 pages,
book 189: De herfstwind dringt door merg en been by Matsuo Basho, TIOLI #11, 167 pages,
book 188: De laatste brief by Hanneke de Jong, TIOLI #13, 143 pages,
book 187: Over het ontstaan van soorten by Charles Darwin, TIOLI #1, 490 pages,
book 186: Een beer in bontjas by Hafid Bouazza, TIOLI #9, 63 pages,
book 185: Lijfboek by Daniel Pennac, TIOLI #3, 251 pages,
book 184: De prins van Mexico by by Federica de Cesco, TIOLI #4, 259 pages,
book 183: Floris V en de Schotse troon by Renée Vink, TIOLI #15, 258 pages,
book 182: Het sleutelkruid by Paul Biegel, TIOLI #14, 175 pages,
book 181: Kon hesi baka : kom gauw terug by Henk Barnard, TIOLI #15, 160 pages,
book 180: Het wereldje van Beer Ligthart by Jaap ter Haar, TIOLI #8, 155 pages,
book 179: Witte kraanvogel boven Tibet by Federica de Cesco, TIOLI #10, 200 pages,
book 178: De zomer van dat jaar by Imme Dros, TIOLI #7, 131 pages,
book 177: Moordernaar zonder gezicht by Henning Mankell, TIOLI #5, 299 pages,
book 176: De angst van de wijze by Patrick Rothfuss, TIOLI #12, 928 pages,

October 2016 (28 books, 7.920 pages)
book 175: Het negerboek by Lawrence Hill, TIOLI #5, 447 pages,
book 174: Onland (Erlendur 14) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 253 pages,
book 173: De jonge Wallander by Henning Mankel, 506 pages,
book 172: De boekhandel by Penelope Fitzgerald, TIOLI #10, 140 pages,
book 171: Toen kwam Sam by Edward van de Vendel, TIOLI #15, 111 pages,
book 170: De laatste tempelridder by Michael Jecks, TIOLI #3, 315 pages,
book 169: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, 672 pages,
book 168: De Cock en een duivels komplot (De Cock 36) by A.C. Baantjer, TIOLI #10, 135 pages,
book 167: De gouden daken van Lhasa by Frederica de Cesco, TIOLI #14, 222 pages,
book 166: Ongelukkig verliefd by Imme Dros, TIOLI #12, 144 pages,
book 165: Signor Giovanni by Dominique Fernandez, TIOLI #8, 83 pages,
book 164: Loeloedji, kleine rode bloem by Toos Blom, TIOLI #10, 185 pages,
book 163: Wie de wolf vreest (Konrad Sejer 3) by Karen Fossum, TIOLI #9, 304 pages,
book 162: De luipaard by Cecil Bødker, TIOLI #7, 198 pages,
book 161: Vader (My struggle 1) by Karl Ove Knausgård, TIOLI #1, 445 pages,
book 160: Saartje Tadema by Thea Beckman, TIOLI #6, 191 pages,
book 159: Licht in de duisternis by Louise Penny, TIOLI #5, 415 pages,
book 158: De schreeuw in de wildernis by Gary Paulsen, TIOLI #4, 162 pages,
book 157: Daantje de wereldkampioen by Roald Dahl, TIOLI #11, 158 pages,
book 156: Een tijdelijke vertelling by Ruth Ozeki, 479 pages,
book 155: Het stroeve touw (Flavia de Luce 2) by Alan Bradley, TIOLI #3, 352 pages,
book 154: Vallen by Anne Provoost, TIOLI #15, 264 pages,
book 153: Nachtstad (Erlendur 13) by Arnaldur Indriðason, TIOLI #3, 247 pages,
book 152: De apotheker by Jan & Sanne Terlouw, TIOLI #3, 255 pages,
book 151: Verdwijnpunt (Erlendur 11) by Arnaldur Indriðason, TIOLI #3, 272 pages,
book 150: De naam van de wind by Patrick Rothfuss, TIOLI #13, 717 pages,
book 149: De gekte van Mees Santing by Klaas van Assen, TIOLI #10, 112 pages,
book 148: De Cock en moord in beeld (De Cock 34) by A.C. Baantjer, TIOLI #2, 136 pages,

September 2016 (37 books, 11.356 pages)
book 147: Kijk niet om by Marijn Backer, 239 pages,
book 146: Rad van avontuur by Bernard Ashley, 219 pages,
book 145: Een schitterend mysterie by Louise Penny, 392 pages,
book 144: Doodskap (Erlendur 10) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 347 pages,
book 143: Grote verwachtingen by Charles Dickens, 559 pages,
book 142: Het heelal by Stephen Hawking, 270 pages,
book 141: Onderstroom (Erlendur 9) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 255 pages,
book 140: De rommeltuin by Hans Andreus, 48 pages,
book 139: Onderkoeld (Erlendur 8) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 233 pages,
book 138: Mijn vader is werkloos by Leif Esper Andersen, 73 pages,
book 137: Vrouwtje Appelwang en tante Zuurpruim by Ruth Ainsworth, 220 pages,
book 136: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, 430 pages,
book 135: Zeven pogingen om een geliefde te wekken by Ineke Riem, 206 pages,
book 134: De straatkatten en andere verhalen by Lloyd Alexander, 123 pages,
book 133: Winternacht (Erlendur 7) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 346 pages,
book 132: Venijn (Reders & Reders 2) by Jan & Sanne Terlouw, 254 pages,
book 131: Waanzinnige wereld by Kim Fupz Aakeson, 191 pages,
book 130: De zwarte rugzak by Abbing & van Cleef, 147 pages,
book 129: Arthur & George by Julian Barnes, 480 pages,
book 128: Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín, 378 pages,
book 127: Koudegolf (Erlendur 6) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 346 pages,
book 126: De razzia van Rotterdam by B.A. Sijes, 285 pages,
book 125: De reis van de Beagle by Charles Darwin, 407 pages,
book 124: De smaak van venijn by Alan Bradley, 367 pages,
book 123: Tamar by Mal Peet, 368 pages,
book 122: Muleum by Erlend Loe, 188 pages,
book 121: De Cock en moord à la carte (De Cock 33) by A.C. Baantjer, 139 pages,
book 120: Dictator (Cicero 3) by Robert Harris, 381 pages,
book 119: Engelenstem (Erlendur 5) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 345 pages,
book 118: Moordkuil (Erlendur 4) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 249 pages,
book 117: Rotmoevie by Marian de Smet, 190 pages,
book 116: Terugkeer naar Iverness by Diana Gabaldon, 768 pages,
book 115: De schaduw van Lucifer by David Hewson, 478 pages,
book 114: Lustrum (Cicero 2) by Robert Harris, 397 pages,
book 113: De Cock en de bloedwraak (De Cock 32) by A.C. Baantjer, 137 pages,
book 112: Ter voorbereiding op het volgende leven by Atticus Lish, 494 pages,
book 111: The blackhouse : het eiland van de vogeldoders (The Lewis Trilogy 1) by Peter May, 407 pages,

August 2016 (28 books, 7.605 pages)
book 110: De tuinen van de Purperen Draak (Dragonkeeper 2) by Carole Wilkinson, 338 pages,
book 109: De Cock en een dodelijke dreiging (De Cock 30) by A.C. Baantjer (audio), 139 pages,
book 108: Drakenhoeder (Dragonkeeper 1) by Carole Wilkinson, 368 pages,
book 107: Imperium by Robert Harris, 368 pages,
book 106: Noorderveen (Erlendur 3) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 244 pages,
book 105: Dans van de doden (Nic Costa) by David Hewson, 432 pages,
book 104: Een prins zonder koninkrijk (Vango 2) by Timothée de Fombelle, 401 pages,
book 103: Grafteken (Erlendur 2) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 252 pages,
book 102: De Cock en moord eerste klasse (De Cock 31) by A.C. Baantjer, 138 pages,
book 101: De officier by Robert Harris, 445 pages,
book 100: Trouw is de andere wang by Peter Bekkers, 152 pages,
book 99: Tussen hemel en aarde (Vango 1) by Timothee de Fombelle, 381 pages,
book 98: De bonobo en de tien geboden. Moraal is ouder dan de mens by Frans de Waal, 286 pages,
book 97: Zeven minuten na middernacht by Patrick Ness, 215 pages,
book 96a: Dubbelmoord (Nic Costa) by David Hewson, 45 pages,
book 96: De Cock en moord in brons (De Cock 29) by A.C. Baantjer, 138 pages,
book 95: Het tumult van de tijd by Julian Barnes, 223 pages,
book 94: Het psalmenoproer by Maarten 't Hart, 288 pages,
book 93: De dood in Venetië by Thomas Mann, 110 pages,
book 92: Een onvoltooide reis by Patrick Leigh Fermor, 368 pages,
book 91: Schemerspel (Erlendur prequel) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 286 pages,
book 90: De Cock en het lijk op retour (De Cock 28) by A.C. Baantjer, 137 pages,
book 89: Maandagskinderen (Erlendur 1) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 258 pages,
book 88: Flauberts papegaai by Julian Barnes, 233 pages,
book 87: Noodlot by Louis Couperus, 159 pages,
book 86: De Cock en het masker van de dood (De Cock 27) by A.C. Baantjer, 137 pages,
book 85: Een man die Ove heet by Fredrik Backman, 320 pages,
book 84: Kijk niet achterom (Konrad Sejer 2) by Karin Fossum, 312 pages,
book 83: Gevallen engel (Nic Costa 9) by David Hewson, 432 pages,

July 2016 (28 books, 8.498 pages)
book 82: De Cock en de dode minnaars (De Cock 26) by A.C. Baantjer, 154 pages,
book 81: Blauwe demonen (Nic Costa 8) by David Hewson, 448 pages,
book 80: Een heel leven by Robert Seethaler, 157 pages,
book 79: De wonderen van de Orient by Marco Polo, 232 pages,
book 78: Eva's oog (Konrad Sejer 1) by Karin Fossum, 305 pages,
book 77: Het masker van Dante (Nic Costa 7) by David Hewson, 431 pages,
book 76: Het boze oog (Yashim Togalu 4) door Jason Goodwin, 334 pages,
book 75: De Romeinse lusthof (Nic Costa 6) by David Hewson, 431 pages,
book 74: Het zevende sacrament (Nic Costa 5) by David Hewson, 439 pages,
book 73: De Cock en moord op de Bloedberg (De Cock 25) by A.C. Baantjer, 138 pages,
book 72: De kaart van Bellini (Yashim Togalu 3) door Jason Goodwin, 332 pages,
book 71: Tussen wouden en water by Patrick Leigh Fermor, 249 pages,
book 70: De engelen des doods (Nic Costa 4) by David Hewson, 388 pages,
book 69: God als misvatting by Richard Dawkins, 448 pages,
book 68: Langs Rijn en Donau by Patrick Leigh Fermor, 310 pages,
book 67: De Cock en moord op termijn (De Cock 24) by A.C. Baantjer, 138 pages,
book 66: De Cock en een variant op moord (De Cock 23) by A.C. Baantjer, 139 pages,
book 65: Het spel van kat en adelaar by Craig Strete, 302 pages,
book 64: De Pantheon getuige (Nic Costa 3) by David Hewson, 328 pages,
book 63: De Cock en de dood van een clown (De Cock 22) by A.C. Baantjer, 130 pages,
book 62: Het Bacchus offer (Nic Costa 2) by David Hewson, 336 pages,
book 61: De charmeur (Reders & Reders 1) by Jan & Sanne Terlouw, 302 pages,
book 60: De koninklijke leerling (Ranger's Apprentice 12) by John Flanagan, 447 pages,
book 59: De Vaticaanse moorden (Nic Costa 1) by David Hewson, 336 pages,
book 58: De Cock en de moord op melodie (De Cock 21) by A.C. Baantjer, 135 pages,
book 57: Het slechte pad (Cormoran Strike 3) by Robert Galbraith, 575 pages,
book 56: Een klein eiland by Bill Bryson, 399 pages,
book 55: De Cock en de ganzen van de dood (De Cock 20) by A.C. Baantjer, 135 pages,

June 2016 (16 books, 3.405 pages)
book 54: De Cock en de smekende dood (De Cock 19) by A.C. Baantjer, 138 pages,
book 53: De Cock en de moord in extase (De Cock 18) by A.C. Baantjer, 136 pages,
book 52: Zijderups (Cormoran Strike 2) by Robert Galbraith, 544 pages,
book 51: De Cock en de moord in seance (De Cock 17) by A.C. Baantjer, 136 pages,
book 50: De reiziger (Outlander 1) by Diana Gabaldon, 788 pages,
book 49: De Cock en het dodelijk akkoord (De Cock 16) by A.C. Baantjer, 134 pages,
book 48: De Cock en de dansende dood (De Cock 13) by A.C. Baantjer, 156 pages,
book 47: De Cock en de broeders van de zachte dood (De Cock 15) by A.C. Baantjer, 135 pages,
book 46: De Cock en de naakte juffer (De Cock 14) by A.C. Baantjer, 122 pages,
book 45: De Cock en het lijk aan de kerkmuur (De Cock 12) by A.C. Baantjer, 151 pages,
book 44: De Cock en de stervende wandelaar (De Cock 11) by A.C. Baantjer, 158 pages,
book 43: De Cock en de romance in moord (De Cock 10) by A.C. Baantjer, 143 pages,
book 42: De Cock en de zorgvuldige moordenaar (De Cock 9) by A.C. Baantjer, 151 pages,
book 41: De Cock en de ontgoochelde dode (De Cock 8) by A.C. Baantjer, 141 pages,
book 40: De rode halsband by Jean-Christophe Rufin, 222 pages,
book 39: De Cock en de treurende kater (De Cock 7) by A.C. Baantjer, 150 pages,

May 2016 (13 books, 4.524 pages)
book 38: De Cock en de dode harlekijn (De Cock 6) by A.C. Baantjer, 142 pages,
book 37: De Cock en het sombere naakt (De Cock 5) by A.C. Baantjer, 141 pages,
book 36: De slangensteen (Yashim Togalu 2) by Jason Goodwin, 352 pages,
book 35: De Cock en de moord op Anna Bentveld (De Cock 4) by A.C. Baantjer, 170 pages,
book 34: De verloren verhalen (Ranger's Apprentice 11) by John Flanagan, 455 pages,
book 33: De Cock en het lijk in de kerstnacht (De Cock 3) by A.C. Baantjer, 107 pages,
book 32: De vegetariër by Han Kang, 222 pages,
book 31: De Cock en de wurger op zondag (De Cock 2) by A.C. Baantjer, 95 pages,
book 30: Terug in Amerika by Bill Bryson, 301 pages,
book 29: De held van weleer (Mistborn 3) by Brandon Sanderson, 718 pages,
book 28: De bron der verheffing (Mistborn 2) by Brandon Sanderson, 751 pages,
book 27: Ziener van Zeven Wateren (Seven Waters 5) by Juliet Marillier, 431 pages,
book 26: Het laatste rijk (Mistborn 1) by Brandon Sanderson, 639 pages,

April 2016 (6 books, 2.092 pages)
book 25: De Cock en een strop voor Bobby (De Cock 1) by A.C. Baantjer, 137 pages,
book 24: Erfgenaam van Zeven Wateren (Seven Waters 4) by Juliet Marillier, 414 pages,
book 23: Het ware verhaal van het monster Billy Dean by David Almond, 287 pages,
book 22: De meester en Margarita by M.A. Boelgakov, 448 pages,
book 21: De brand van Istanbul (Yashim Togalu 1) by Jason Goodwin, 392 pages,
book 20: De stem van Tamar by David Grossman, 414 pages,

March 2016 (7 books, 2.288 pages)
book 19: Koekoeksjong (Cormoran Strike 1) by Robert Galbraith, 519 pages,
book 18: De jongen die met piranha's zwom by David Almond, 192 pages,
book 17: Ywein, de ridder met de leeuw by Chrétien de Troyes, 170 pages,
book 16: Negen levens by William Dalrymple, 320 pages,
book 15: Hasse Simonsdochter by Thea Beckman, 260 pages,
book 14: Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen , 254 pages,
book 13: Kind van de profetie (Seven Waters 3) by Juliet Marillier, 573 pages,

February 2016 (6 books, 3.741 pages)
book 12: Zoon van de schaduwen (Seven Waters 2) by Juliet Marillier, 576 pages,
book 11: De dood van Maarten Koning (Het bureau 7) by J.J. Voskuil, 226 pages,
book 10: Afgang (Het bureau 6) by J.J. Voskuil, 700 pages,
book 9: En ook weemoedigheid (Het bureau 5) by J.J. Voskuil, 927 pages,
book 8: Dochter van het woud (Seven Waters 1) by Juliet Marillier, 576 pages,
book 7: De wilde roos (Rose 3) by Jennifer Donnelly, 736 pages,

January 2016 (6 books, 2.557 pages)
book 6: Vlam van Zeven Wateren (Seven Waters 6) by Juliet Marillier, 448 pages,
book 5: De winterroos (Rose 2) by Jennifer Donnelly, 719 pages,
book 4: Slecht by Jan Simoen, 94 pages,
book 3: De graaf van Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, 937 pages,
book 2: Kukel by Joke van Leeuwen, 152 pages,
book 1: Mama Tandoori by Ernest van der Kwast, 207 pages,

Books acquired in 2016 (Jul-Dec)

December 2016
49 - Spoo Pee Doo by Dimitri Verhulst
48 - De vertrapte pioenroos by Bertus Aafjes

November 2016
47 - In krabbengang by Günter Grass
46 - Hoe H.H. de wereld redde by Wouter Godijn (poetry)
45 - Bewegend doel by Micha Hamel (poetry)
44 - Ellsworth Kelly : bloemlezing by Rudi Fuchs

September 2016
43 - De razzia van Rotterdam by B.A. Sijes (e-book)
42 - Een heel leven by Robert Seethaler
41 - Berlijnse trilogie by Philip Kerr (e-book)
40 - Onder de ketchupwolken by Annabel Pitcher (e-book)
39 - The Chessman (The Lewis Trilogy 3) by Peter May (e-book)
38 - The Lewis Man (The Lewis Trilogy 2) by Peter May (e-book)

August 2016
37 - Een man die Ove heet by Fredrick Backman
36 - Dubbelmoord by David Hewson (e-book)
35 - Dood van een maestro by Donna Leon (e-book)
34 - Reizen en avonturen van Jaques Massé by Simon Tyssot de Patot (gift)
33 - Heilige honger by Barry Unsworth (2nd hand)

July 2016
32 - La Superba by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer

--

total 49 books

21 2nd hand
13 new
13 e-books
2 gifts

Books aquired in 2016 (Jan-Jun)

June 2016
31 - De reiziger by Diana Gabaldon (e-book)

May 2016
30 - De held van weleer by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn 3, e-book)
29 - De bron der verheffing by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn 2, e-book)
28 - Het laatste rijk by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn 1, e-book)
27 - Verhalen by Isaac Babel
26 - Verschiet by Anneke Brassinga (poetry, 2nd hand)
25 - Celinspecties by Ester Naomi Perquin (poetry, 2nd hand)
24 - Waterstudies by K. Michel (poetry, 2nd hand)
23 - Bres by Leonard Nolens (poetry, 2nd hand)
22 - Mythologieën gedichten by Kees Ouwens (poetry, 2nd hand)
21 - Hier is de tijd by Esther Jansma (poetry, 2nd hand)
20 - Psalmen en andere gedichten by Leo Vroman (poetry, 2nd hand)
19 - De encyclopedie van de grote woorden by Mark Boog (poetry, 2nd hand)
18 - De zon en de wereld gedichten voor twee stemmen by Arjen Duinker (poetry, 2nd hand)
17 - Het leven van by Nachoem M. Wijnberg (poetry, 2nd hand)
16 - Hoe je geliefde te herkennen by Tomas Lieske (poetry, 2nd hand)
15 - Aangod en de afmens by Huub Beurskens (poetry, 2nd hand)

April 2016
14 - De Chow Chow in Nederland ; Ter gelegenheid van het 75-jarig bestaan van de NCCC by Janneke Leunissen-Rooseboom
13 - A Chinaman in Sussex : Sly reflections of worldly Peke by Andrew Soutar (gift)
12 - Hieronymus Bosch: Visioenen van een genie by Matthys Ilsink

March 2016
11 - Dokter Zjivago by Boris Pasternak
10 - Broer by Esther Gerritsen

February 2016
9 - Het verhaal van Genji (e-book)
8 - Kind van de profetie (2nd hand)
7 - Zoon van de schaduwen (2nd hand)
6 - Dochter van het woud (2nd hand)
5 - Winterdance
4 - Koude berg : onthechting als weg
3 - Idyllen nieuwe poëzie

January 2016
2 - Slecht (e-book)
1 - De graaf van Monte-Cristo (2nd hand)

book 176: De angst van de wijze by Patrick Rothfuss
from the library, fantasy, translated from English, original title The wise man's fear, TIOLI #12, 928 pages

I loved the first book The name of the wind, this book was nearly as good.
An innkeeper, who once was a famous man, tells his story.
Kvote travels a lot in this book. I wasn't very charmed by his encounter with fae, for me this part dragged a bit.

Recommended to anyone who liked the first book.

Happy new thread, Anita!

>11 harrygbutler: Thank you Harry!

Happy new thread, Anita!

I just cannot believe the speed of your reading (and your threads) this year, Anita. It is so neat!

I can at least wish you a Happy New Thread, Anita, and agree with you about the 2nd Rothfuss book. That's what I do!

>13 ChelleBearss: Thank you Chelle.

>14 ronincats: I can barely believe it myself, Roni, it feels like catching up for all the years I could not read.

>15 LizzieD: Thanks Peggy, Rothfuss is a great writer, but liked his first book a bit (half a star) more.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita! I need to get to Ruthfuss soon - I have the first one on my shelves...

Happy new thread. What a lot of five star reads - great stuff.

Happy new thread, Anita.

Congratulations on the new thread, Anita!

I'm glad you've enjoyed the Patrick Rothfuss books. Me, too. Can't wait for the next one - he admittedly is a slow, careful writer. The result is topnotch, but it sure makes for a long wait!

>17 kidzdoc: Thank you Darryl!

>18 scaifea: Oh, I loved the first Rothfuss book, Amber, I hope you get to it :-)

>19 charl08: Yes, 10 5* reads this year, Charlotte, thanks to all the great recommendations I get here!

>20 DianaNL: Thanks Diana.

>21 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, now for me the waiting for book 3 starts. And waiting for the next George R.R. Martin... I should not start unfinished series.

book 177: Moordernaar zonder gezicht by Henning Mankell
from the library, e-book, mystery, Kurt Wallander 1, translated from Swedish, English title Faceless killers, TIOLI #5, 299 pages

The first Kurt Wallander book, he is called out to a farmhouse where an old farmer is viciously murdered and his wife is almost dead. The wife dies in hospital after telling the police it were foreigners who did this. This causes an outbreak of racial hatred when it is leaked to the press.
Meanwhile Wallander has many problems in his personal life: his wif has left him, he has a difficult relation with his daughter Linda, and his father might be slipping into dementia.

book 178: De zomer van dat jaar by Imme Dros
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1981, no translations, TIOLI #7, 131 pages

Daan List is 12 years old. After this summer he will go to high school. He lives at the island Texel, where is no high school, so he and his friends will go to Den Helder by boat every day. But first they enjoy the long summer vacation.

Hi Anita - nice new shiny thread. Congrats on all the books you're reading.

Happy new thread, Anita! Wow, 178 books so far! That's amazing!

>26 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer, yes it is amazing, I don't know how it happened, it just did ;-)

Happy New Thread, Anita! Hooray for 178 books! Nice! And hooray for The wise man's fear. I liked this book too. Now, when is Rothfuss going to come out with the next book? It has been a long time.

Happy new thread Anita, from you pal from the tropics.

>28 msf59: Thanks Mark, for me the waiting just started, but like you, I would love to read Patrick Rothfuss next one!

>29 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul, happy weekend from your pal from the wet & low lands ;-)

book 179: Witte kraanvogel boven Tibet by Federica de Cesco
own, YA, translated from German, no English translation, TIOLI #10, 200 pages

Last month I read De gouden daken van Lhasa where the flight of the Dalai Lama in 1959 was part of the story. Even after these events some still hoped that China bring some good to Tibet.
But then the Cultural Revolution came... that was hard in China but even worse in Tibet.

In this book a young girl, Sonam, witnesses the brutal reaction of the Chinese when Tibetans protest for more freedom. Her father has spend many years in jail and came home with a broken body but an unbroken spirit. But the country is slowly destroyed and the Tibetans have become a minority, as more and more Han-Chinese occupy Tibet.
Because Sonam witnessed the protests and the riots, she is in danger now too, her parents decide she should leave Tibet.

The title comes from the last poem written by the 6th Dalai Lama in 1705, just before he was taken by the Mongolian oppressor of that time. In the book this poem is used as a part of Tibetan resistance.

White crane, lend me your wings
I won't go beyond Lithang
and from there I will return

book 180: Het wereldje van Beer Ligthart by Jaap ter Haar
own, Dutch, Childrens/YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1974, English translation The world of Ben Lighthart, TIOLI #8, 155 pages

Beer Ligthart lost his vision in an accident. He has a hard time adjusting to blind life, first at the hospital, later back home. The world hasn't changed, but of course Beers perspective has changed a lot. He finds being blind isn't the end, just a new, but challenging, start.

This book was written over 40 years ago, and it feels outdated. The intentions are good, but you can feel prejudice very much alive through the pages. I hope we live in less prejudiced times now....

book 181: Kon hesi baka : kom gauw terug by Henk Barnard
own, Dutch, Childrens/YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1977, no translations, TIOLI #15, 160 pages

1974, Georgien lives in Suriname with her Uncle Albert and Aunt Lucy. Her mother went to Holland 3 months ago, working hard to get money so Georgien and her brother Herwin can go there too. Many people from Suriname want to go to Holland, as their life in Suriname is hard, outside the city (Paramaribo) there is no running water or electricity. Uncle Albert has a little land where he grows vegetables.
Finally mother has enough money for a plane-ticket for Georgien and Herwin. They join their mom in Amsterdam. It is winter and very cold, especially for someone who used to live in tropical Surname. Many people and rude and angry to them, Georgien feels cold and lonely in Holland and wants to go back. But her brother likes living in Amsterdam.

In between the chapters the history of Suriname is told in short.
1594 - the Spanish tried to claim the country, but were beaten by the Indians.
After 1650 the English try to occupy Suriname, and after some failures they succeed. Some Portugese and Brasilian Jews settle in Surinam because they are prosecuted by the Portugese.
1661 - Dutch sailors defeat the English.
1667 - the Dutch give up New-Amsterdam (New York) and get Suriname officially in return.
Indians are forced to work on the Dutch plantations, but many were killed and the others went too deep into the jungle to be caught again, so like the Spanish and Portugese already did, Dutch start to ship slaves from Africa.
Slaves are treated very cruel, some escape to the jungle and fight against the plantations.
1795 - The English return, because the French have occupied the Netherlands.
1814 - The Dutch come back.
1863 - The Netherlands is one of the last counties to eliminate slavery... Over 300.000 slaves have been imported and only 33.600 are left at that time. But they still are forced to work the next 10 years at the plantation for a very low wage.
1870 - The Netherlands is allowed to get workers from India, 3.800 workers come to Suriname, within 18 months 700 of those die and their wages are much lower than was promished. So they revolt. But they are suck in Suriname.
Early 20th century they bring people from Java (Dutch Indië, now Indonesia) to work at the plantations.
Due to problems with illness of cacao-plants and the decline of cane-sugar the plantations are abandoned, leaving the Creoles (ex-slaves), Hindustani (from India) and Javanese (from Indonesia) without work, living poor lives growing some for own consumption.
After WWII bauxite was found, but for exploitation were no workers needed, only a few to handle the machinery. The profits went to the USA and the Netherlands.
1975 - Suriname became a free country. Many inhabitants went to the Netherlands.

book 182: Het sleutelkruid by Paul Biegel
own, Dutch, Childrens/YA, awarded, Beste Kinderboek 1965, English translation King of the Copper Mountains, TIOLI #14, 175 pages

The King of the Copper Mountains is old, his heart is tired. The Wonder Doctor knows a cure, a rare plant that grows far away.
To keep the King alive until the cure is found, he needs a story every night. On his way to find the rare plant, the Wonder Doctor asks every animal he meets to go to the King and tell a story....

One of my favorites when I was young. Still a great story!

>34 FAMeulstee: I just noticed on the TIOLI wiki that you'd read this. I'll have to hurry up and read my library copy. I think we have 3 or 4 shared reads over there this month. My copy of The song of seven arrived today, it's a beautiful edition and includes Dragt's illustrations, Pushkin Press do a really nice job.

>35 avatiakh: I am reading all my unread childrens and YA books, Kerry, to decide which I want to keep. And use TIOLI to keep me reading. King of the Copper Mountains will stay, and so do all the Tonke Dragt books.
We usally like the same books, so I try to make shared reads with you in the TIOLI challenges.

Let me know when you start reading The song of seven, I will read it too.

So much amazing reading, Anita! Lovely to see that you enjoyed Het Negerboek so much! As you know I loved it too.

>36 FAMeulstee: - The Song of Seven was one of my favourite books when I was young. I absolutely loved it and I must have read it at least 5 times (which was rare for me). Thanks for reminding me of that one. I think I might read it again soon to find out if it stood the test of time.

>37 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, yes it was a great book, one of the best I read this year.

>38 Trifolia: I didn't read The Song of Seven that much, Monica, only once I think. And I saw the TV adaption in the 1980s.
On the other hand I read The Letter for the King and The Secrets of the Wild Wood over a dozen times!

book 183: Floris V en de Schotse troon Renée Vink
from the library, e-book, historical mystery, no translations, TIOLI #15, 258 pages

Floris V, Count of Holland, went to Scotland in 1292 to claim the throne of Scotland, as did many others.
Based on this historical fact the writer builds a mystery, a (false) document would give Floris more chance to win the Scottish throne. Someone gets murdered over this document. Folkert Crepel, one of Floris men, unraffels the mystery.
The start of the book was weak, around halfway it got a bit better.

>39 FAMeulstee: I was such a rereader as a kid. I think I knew Little Women so well I would even have set points I'd skip as too sad. Series like Famous five, secret seven, chalet school, Trebizon series all came for the same treatment until I went to secondary school and their brilliant library. Such luxury then!

>41 charl08: Yes, Charlotte, I had many Famous five books too and Malory Towers, The black stallion, the Karl May books, they all were read, reread & read again. Library was good, but I wanted to own the books I liked and loved.

book 184: De prins van Mexico by by Federica de Cesco
own, YA, translated from French, historical fiction, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1971, English title The prince of Mexico, TIOLI #4, 259 pages

1518, Cortez starts to conquer Mexico.
Princess Tecuichpo, daughter of Aztec emperor Montezuma, loves her cousin Guatemoc, who just returned from a war. Her father wants to marry an other prince. She can avoid the marriage, but she is no longer a favourite of her father.
Then Cortez and his army arrives and in the next year Aztec life changes forever.

Like all Federica de Cesco books a well written and likable story.

Went to bed late yesterday, as we were watching Where to invade next by Michael Moore. This is a 2015 documentary film, in the style of a travelogue.
Moore visits Italy (labor rights), France (school meals), Finland (education), Slovenia (free higher education), Germany (dealing with national history), Portugal (drugs policy), Norway (humane prisons), Tunesia (womens rights)and Iceland (women in power), where he compares the way these countries deal with the various topics with the way these things go in the United States.
Funny at times, shocked by some parts and wishing there was a country where all these good things come together.

book 185: Lijfboek by Daniel Pennac
TIOLI read along with Kerry (avatiakh), from the library, translated from French, English translation Diary of a Body, TIOLI #3, 251 pages

A very special diary, the writer tries to describe only his physical body. It starts in 1936, shortly before his 13th birthday. His body grows, his body changes, from puberty into adulthood. His love life, marriage, fatherhood. Annoying little physical problems, the end of a working life, slow decline, and at the end death (2010).
He leaves his dairy to his daughter, with comments to her in between the dairy. He would have left it to his grandson, but...

In some ways an emotional read. I almost felt him growing up, remembering how that time felt myself. And how different a boy grows up! Growing older, reaching my own age, comparing our little annoying physical problems and then he passes my age... the decline of his body. A large gap in between, as he is mourning an unbearable loss. Picking up the dairy as he enters his last year.

A beautiful book, recommended.

>45 FAMeulstee: I started reading the Pennac this morning. So pleased that you liked it, I'm enjoying it so far.

>46 avatiakh: I hope you like it too, Kerry!

>45 FAMeulstee: Sounds like a good one Anita. Something a bit lighter next?

>48 charl08: Yes it was a good one, Charlotte.
Just finished the next one, not a light read, but completely different.

book 186: Een beer in bontjas by Hafid Bouazza
own, essay, Boekenweekessay 2001, no translations, TIOLI #9, 63 pages

Each year in March we have our national Bookweek. If you buy books in this week you get a book for free and since 1987 you can buy the "Bookweekessay" for a very small price. This was the Bookweekessay of 2001.
The writer, Hafid Bouazza, was born in Morocco and came to the Netherlands when he was 7 years old.

He argues that a writer should only be critised on his his imagination and use of language. Not his descent, culture or nationality. Readers tend to expect exotic tales from those who are not born in our country. That is not what Bouazza wants to give to his readers.

Hi Anita!

That essay sounds interesting, too bad I don't read Dutch! Interesting thought, too, that our expectations of "exotic" people try to slot them into genres they may not wish to write in.

>51 karenmarie: Yes it was, Karen, he had some other interesting thoughts that were to difficult to translate for me ;-)
Wouldn't it be great if we had one worldwide language so we could all read all books ever published!

book 187: Over het ontstaan van soorten by Charles Darwin
from the library, non-fiction, translated, original title On the origin of species, TIOLI #1, 490 pages

Darwins famous book about the origin of species. I am puzzled how much he figured out, without any knowledge of genes and DNA. Soley based on his experiences on his voyage around the world and his knowledge about biology and geology.
Of course some of his theories are outdated now, but I find it more surprising the times he was right ;-)

>52 FAMeulstee: Yup!

>50 FAMeulstee: Sounds similar to Adichie's argument for many diverse stories. Good point in any language :-)

>54 charl08: I can imagine more immigrant writers feel alike, Charlotte.

book 188: De laatste brief by Hanneke de Jong
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Eervolle vermelding 2002, no translations, TIOLI #13, 143 pages

Berber is 15. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her mother. Her brother just left home to live on his own.
She feels her mother gives her no space, is overly protective and all Berber needs is some space. Her mother leaves strange writings about her own youth and slowly Berber unraffels the story about her mother and the loss she experienced.

book 189: De herfstwind dringt door merg en been by Matsuo Basho
from the library, e-book, translated Japanese, poetry and prose, a collection Matsuo Basho works, TIOLI #11, 167 pages

Travel writings by the seventeenth-century Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, with many of his haikus included. Basho is often regarded as one of the greatest exponents of Zen-influenced poetry. In his time the classic poetry used only words that were used before in literature. Basho was the first to use "ordinairy" words.

Citation from "Journey to Sarashina" when he travels over a very narrow path in the mountains: Each time I thought he would tumble down; seen from the back he looked to be in mortal danger. The Buddha must feel the same when he looks down at humanity.
His most famous haiku is Old pond – frogs jumping in – sound of water that has many different translations and was paraphrased often, like this one by Ryōkan (1758-1831) A new pond, without the sound of jumping frogs.

book 190: Verkiezingshandleiding by Quintus Cicero
own, translated from Latin, English title Handbook for an election campaign, TIOLI #2, 66 pages

Letter from Quintus Cicero to his brother Marcus about all the important things in his campaign to be elected as Consul.
If I hadn't read the Cicero trilogy by Robert Harris earlier this year, I would have missed much. Written in the 1st century BC, many still applies to any election campaign.

Your historical reading sounds fascinating Anita. I've not read anything by Basho, but would like to from your review.

I love that pond haiku. So few words and yet so much there.

>59 charl08: I accidently stumbled upon that one, Charlotte, while looking for a book with "herfst" (=autumn in Dutch) for a TIOLI Challenge this month. There seem to be a lot of English translations available. It was a soothing read yesterday, an other century, an other country and very poetic language, to keep my mind off the Trump victory...
I also hoped this would get me going again for The tale of Genji a very long 11th century Japanese story that I started an Januari, but have neglected lately.

book 191: De Marokkaan en de kat van tante Da by Henk Barnard
own, Dutch, childrens/YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1973, no translations, TIOLI #6, 151 pages

Toon, Hans, Dik, Els and Marleen are friends. They sometimes visit Aunt Da, who lives in the same neighborhood. One day Aunt Da's siamese cat, called Ali Baba, is missing. The five friends decide they will help searching fot the cat. Instead of the cat they find a man from Morocco, he has no papers and is looking for a job. The kids do their best to hide the man and find him a job so he can obtain his papers...

Leonard Cohen died...
I saw him live in Rotterdam in September 2013, one of the highlights of my life.

Rest in peace and thanks for the songs Mr Cohen.

It is sad that Leonard Cohen died. He was a Canadian. My favourite song by him was "Hallejuah " as sung by K.D. Lang, another Canadian. She has a fabulous, powerful voice and sings sort of jazz/blues/ pop/ country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

I hope that works , Anita.

Yes , it would be great if we had one common language, but how I admire you abilty in more than one language, whereas I only know English and just a smattering of French.

Thanks Deborah, I like K.D. Lang's performance of this song.
My personal favorites are "The Partisan" and whole "The Future" album.

Happy Friday, Anita! You are a reading machine. I love it!

And I want to thank you, for all the kind and thoughtful support, about our current election. We are still reeling a bit but trying to find some hope, in an uncertain future.

So sorry about Cohen. Great songwriter.

>65 msf59: Thanks Mark, no reading today, we visited my parents and are just back home.
You are always welcome when in need of support :-)

>66 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, yes he was, we listened to his music most of today...

Great man Cohen.

I think the best version of the brilliant "Hallelujah" is by Jeff Buckley - now jamming in heaven with Leonard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

Yes he was, Paul, we love his music.

I prefer Leonard Cohens own version, when Jeff sings Love is not a victory march, it's a cold and it's a broken halleluja it is too pretty and polished, a large gap between lyrics and voice... I do know many love this version.
But I am sure they can make a great version together up there ;-)

book 192: Het verloren continent by Bill Bryson
from the library, translated English, non-fiction, travels, original title The lost continent : travels in small-town America, TIOLI #7, 279 pages

Bill Bryson traveling by car through 38 states in the USA. Funny and informative most of the time.

For me it's the Rufus Wainwright version of that song. Just great songwriting.

Hi Anita
Another fan of Leonard Cohen here. I listened to part of his concert in Amsterdam, must have been 2013 as well. He was playing in the Olympic Stadium, it's in my neighborhood. I was on a walk, and heard the music. So I listened, sitting on a bench behind the stadium, and was sorry that I hadn't bought a ticket, because it was great. Lovely music.

Belated happy new thread Anita and glad you also enjoyed The Wise Man's Fear. Now we just have to wait for the sequel :-(

Happy Sunday, Anita.

>71 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, I will look for that one on YouTube.

>72 EllaTim: Hi Ella, nice to see a message from you!
My husband went to see him twice. The first time in Mönchengladbach (Germany) in 2012. At that time I wasn't able to go with him, as my agoraphobia was still there and I could not handle so many people around me. Like you I sat outside the stadion where the concert was, waiting to pick up my husband, listening to the music.
I was so happy that a year later I was able to attend his concert in Ahoy :-)

>73 souloftherose: (Sort of) Patiently waiting with you, Heather ;-)

>74 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, enjoying our special Sunday: Frank & me are 32 years married today!

Happy Sunday, Anita! I NEED to read more Bryson. I have only read 2 of his.

book 193: Vullisland by Paula Fox
own, Childrens/YA, translated from English, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1993, original title Monkey island, TIOLI #14, 130 pages

A boy in New York City becomes homeless after first his father and then his mother loose their jobs and leave him behind. He finds some comfort with two homeless men who try to help and protect him.

Happy anniversary, Anita and Frank.

Thank you Barbara!

book 194: Haas en Hond by Rotraut Susanne Berner
own, childrens, translated from German, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1999, English title Hare and Hound, TIOLI #10, 75 pages

The Hare family and the Hound family can't stand eachother. When they meet eachother they call eachother names. No one remembers how this started, it has been like this forever. One day the Big Race is held in the local village. Both Harley Hare and Hugo Hound compete. Halfway the race a thumderstorm breaks out and Harley and Hugo only have eachother...

A beautiful story with matching illustrations by the writer.

book 195: De heks van Wefford by Michael Jecks
from the library, e-book, translated, medieval mystery, original The merchant's partner, 2nd book of Medieval West Country Mystery, TIOLI #12, 314 pages

Second book of a nice historical mystery series, set in England 14th century.
Agatha Kyteler is found brutally murdered near the village of Wefford. Simon Puttock and Sir Baldwin Furnshill try to solve the murder mystery and seem to find the one who did it very soon. But there is more than meets the eye at first...

The story deserved more than the 3 stars I gave it, but the translation was far from perfect :-(

I've just listened to several versions of Hallelujah, including Cohen's, k.d. laing's, and etc., and I think this song is like Amazing Grace. All versions work, all versions bring peace and serenity. I heard John Cale's first yet never tire of the song regardless of who it's by.

Happy Anniversary, Anita and Frank!

Happy Anniversary! Hope you had a lovely day.

Hi Anita, It's nice to be back. Happy aniversary, and hope you had a nice day.
Too bad when the translation spoils the book!
After reading your thread I started on my own version of Andersen. The complete version of the fairy tales, that I bought because I loved them so much as a child. But it's a new translation, and it's too bad, I don't like it...:(

Happy anniversary!

Happy anniversary, Anita

Happy Anniversary, Anita! How many years?

Happy Anniversary, Anita!

Thanks Karen, Charlotte, Ella, Harry, Paul, Joe and Roni, we had a good day and will have diner tomorrow in Rotterdam in honor of our 32nd anniversary.

>84 EllaTim: Maybe you can find the translation you had when you were young at boekwinkeltjes.nl?

book 196: Als je het licht niet kunt zien by Anthony Doerr
from the library, translated, WWII, original title All the light we cannot see, TIOLI #8, 543 pages

Two children before and during WWII, Marie-Laure is blind, lives in Paris with her dad, who works in a museum. When the war starts they go to Saint-Malo, where her fathers uncle lives. Orphan Werner Pfennig in Germany listens together with his sister to French broadcasts on the radio. Werner gets selected to a pestigious nazi school and ends up in the war, first to the east, later to France. In 1944 Marie-Laure and Werner meet eachother and spend less than a day together. The French broadcasts Werner heard in his youth were done by Marie-Laure's grandfather and great-uncle.
And in between a German officer is in search of a giant diamond, that was in the museum where Marie-Laure's father worked.

Not a great read, not really compelling, just a nice story of somethings that could have happened in WWII. The best were the parts where is explained how blind Marie-Laure senses the world in wartime.

Hi Anita

I'm thinking of you. I'm reading a YA book titled The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse. The setting is Amsterdam under Nazi seige. You might be interested in this book.

I hope all is well with you. I added The King of the Copper Mountain to my reading list.

>91 Whisper1: Thanks Linda, I will look for that book.
Here all is well, I hope it is the same with you.

book 197: De jongen die nooit heeft bestaan by Sjón
from the library, e-book, translated Icelandic, English title Moonstone : the boy who never was, TIOLI #12, 124 pages

1918, Mani Steinn, a gay teen in Reykjavic has sex with men for money and uses that money to dream away at the movies. He lives with his great-aunt, as all his other family have died. Then the Spanish flue arrives and many in Reykjavic fall ill and die. Mani survives the flue. The day Iceland gets its independency from Denmark becomes a black day for Mani.

An very good read, written in honor of the writers uncle, who died of AIDS in 1993.

Hi, Anita! Sorry, All the Light didn't work for you. I was very happy with it and would like to read some of his earlier work too.

Moonstone sounds interesting too.

>93 FAMeulstee: I thought that was very powerful. It made me think about the impact of the flu virus on small communities. Must have been terrifying.

>90 FAMeulstee: Didn't work for me either. I Pearl Ruled it after 20 pages or so.

>94 msf59: Hi Mark, I think part of the problem was it did not feel "European" to me, tiny little things that a French or German writer would have done different...
Moonstone was very good, both being homosexual in a time you should not be & the impact of the Spanish flu.

>95 charl08: I completely agree with you, Charlotte.

>96 ChelleBearss: I am reading so fast these days, Chelle, that I haven't abandoned any books lately ;-)
When my reading was slower, I expected/needed more from each book and did Pearl rule a few.

Today we visited the Ellsworth Kelly exhibition in Museum Voorlinden.
More pictures will follow, but for starters here the beautiful library (from behind glass doors).

 

Ooh. That looks stunning!

>99 charl08: Yes it is, Charlotte, filled with books about Modern Art :-)

book 198: Oef van de mensen by Peter van Gestel
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1989, no translations, TIOLI #1, 217 pages

Oef is a white anthropoid ape of an unknown species. He lives on the (fictional) island Sidarap, a part of the Dutch East Indies.
All his fellow apes can talk, well they speak only one word: their name. When Oef is young his mother is killed by a white man and Oef is taken to the village. The white man and his wife just lost their little boy to tropical fever and they raise Oef like a son. Although Oef is much more limber that other kids and only speaks one word at the time, he becomes almost human. His human mother reads to him and his favorite story is from Genesis, about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
One day his human parents have to return to the Netherlands and Oef does not want to leave the island. He finds the girlfriend of his youth back and returns to where his was born. His father dies and Oef becomes leader of the apes. His father used to sit in a large tree, where he allowed no one else. Now Oef sits there and eats the fruit... and forgets everything human, as this was the Tree of Ignorance.

The idea of the book was great, the book itself not as funny as other books by this writer.

book 199: Onder de ketchupwolken by Annabel Pitcher
own, translated, YA, awarded, Gouden Lijst 2015, original title Ketchup clouds, TIOLI #3, 304 pages

Zoe lives in England, she writes letters to a man on deathrow in the USA. She thinks he is the only one who can understand her, as she feels terrible guilty. What she has done is terrible and there is no one else she can tell her story.
We read the letters, her story starts months before the terrible thing happened. How her father lost his job, how her parents argue a lot, her interactions with her younger sisters, Soph and Dot (who is deaf). How she did at school and how she got her boyfriend. All leading us to that terrible evening...

It was a surprising and thoughtprovoking read, there is a lot of sadness but there is also fun and humor.
Recommended

Ketchup Clouds sounds very interesting, Anita. Great review! Ohh beautiful library above!

Beautiful library pictures, Anita!

When I read All The Light We Cannot See I gave it 4 stars, but in hindsight I would tend to agree more with your assessment Not a great read, not really compelling, just a nice story of somethings that could have happened in WWII.

>102 FAMeulstee: Thank you Deborah, Ketchup Clouds was very good :-)

>103 vancouverdeb: Thanks Karen, glad we agree.

Ellsworth Kelly : Red Curve IV (1973) with Frank


more pictures at facebook

And we bought the book Ellsworth Kelly : bloemlezing by Rudi Fuchs, 44th book that entered our house this year.

book 200: Memoires van minister Pieter Bas by Godfried Bomans
from the library, Dutch, no translations, TIOLI #2, 168 pages

The (fictional) memoires of minister Pieter Bas, written after his death in 1936. Containing his school years and his years at the university of Leiden, where he studied in Law school.

Dry humor, published in 1936, I probably missed most references as I am not familiair with all politics before 1936, but to ones I caught were rather funny. A bit outdated.

book 201: Boven is het stil by Gerbrand Bakker
from the library, e-book, Dutch, English translation The twin, TIOLI #3, 264 pages

A Dutch farmer, lonely on his fathers farm, takes care of his old father. He had a twin brother, long ago, when he started at the university in Amsterdam. Then his brother died and he came back to help out at the farm and he gave up his dreams.
He never liked his father, his twin brother was fathers favourite. Now he decides to put his father away to the upstairs bedroom of the house, so he can redecorate downstairs. Unexpected the fiancée of his late brother contacts him and his life starts to change.

book 202: Lopen voor je leven by Els Beerten
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Zoen 2004, no English translation, TIOLI #6, 183 pages

Noor is 18 years old and wants to run the marathon. Until now women weren't allowed to run the marathon, but that has just been changed. So Noor enters the marathon in Berchem, where women are allowed to run for the first time. We follow her running the 42,195 kilometer of her first marathon ever.
While she is running memories pop up in her head. How she started running. How her trainer, Toni, encourages her. The girl next door: Rosie. The boy next door (and her boyfriend): Mattia. Her parents and her little brother. The other girl in the same street: Linda. The running training with Vincent and Zoë. Loneliness at school. Feeling great when running. That Linda has died. How she and Rosie were blamed. The events that led to Linda's death...

Beautifully written how Noor during the marathon finds the trauma of her youth and finally deals with it.

>109 FAMeulstee: What a great plot for a novel. Tempted!

Seeing all your gorgeous reviews makes me realise that I need to do less talking on my thread, and more reviewing! You're an inspiration :)

Oh The Twin! I loved that. Such spare prose and a beautiful , quiet story, Anita!

>108 FAMeulstee: & >112 vancouverdeb: I am another who really enjoyed The Twin.

Have a lovely weekend, Anita.

>110 charl08: Yes it was very good, Charlotte, as far as I know there is only a German translation available...

>111 LovingLit: Thanks Megan, it is just that nearly all my time goes into reading these days :-)

>112 vancouverdeb: & >113 PaulCranswick: Glad you both loved The twin too. Funny the title is completely different in Dutch. The dutch title would be "It's quiet upstairs" in English. Both titles fit with the book.

book 203: De avondboot by Vonne van der Meer
from the library, Dutch, no English translation, TIOLI #13, 203 pages

Stories about people on vacation at the island Vlieland, connected by their stay in the same vacation-house.
The different family stories did not really grab me.

Happy Saturday, Anita! You are a reading machine, my friend. I also loved The Twin.

book 204: Het ravijn by Mariano Azuela
own, translated from Spanish, 1001 books list, English title The underdogs, TIOLI #4, 154 pages

Demetrio Macías takes up arms against federal forces in Mexico (1910s), after his house is burnt by the federals. He gathers men around him, they all want to support the revolution. The poor people give them food and shelter, while they fight the federals. Demetrio's succes attract more men and slowly the group changes into a bloodthirsty gang that plunders and kills on their way. In the end Demitrio and his men are defeated and killed.

Mariano Azuela wrote this novel in 1915, based on his own experiences in the Mexican Revolution. It shows how constant violence alters people so that in the end the revolution, that started with good intentions, turns people into greedy, ugly beings.

>116 msf59: Thanks Mark :-)
I don't know how long I can continue this fast reading, but I do enjoy it immensely!

Nice to hear so many loved The twin.

>117 FAMeulstee: You are covering some great translated books here.

I have been reading Hisham Matar's memoir, the last chapter I read was about collecting books under the dictatorship, and how his books were banned. I could read about this kind of thing all day very happily.

Hi, Anita! Happy weekend!

>119 charl08: Thanks Charlotte.
Hisham Matar writes about awfull times in Libya. I hope things will get better there in time.

>120 scaifea: Thank you Amber, happy Sunday to you!

book 205: De herfst zal schitterend zijn by Jan Siebelink
from the library, Dutch, no translations, TIOLI #11, 317 pages

This book was the writers first popular book.
Michiel and Hella are married and have a daughter Yvonne. Both are unemployed, Michiel was writing his thesis when he found out someone in Berlin was doing the same. He quitted his writing and destroyed all his writings. Hella is a teacher, but is looking for something else.
We mainly read about their thoughts, memories and dreams. Everyone is locked up in their own life.

I did not like this book, one day I might try an other book by this writer.

book 206: Nederland : een bewoond gordijn by Rudy Kousbroek
own, Dutch, essay, no translations, TIOLI #9, 62 pages

Each year in March we have our national Bookweek. If you buy books in this week you get a book for free and since 1987 you can buy the "Bookweekessay" for a very small price. This was the first Bookweekessay (1987).
The writer, Rudy Kousbroek, was born in the Dutch East Indies and came to the Netherlands in 1946 when he was 16 years old.

After a description of his first years in the Netherlands and the things that stood out for him, the writer looks how foreigners saw our country in past and present. He compares their view to his own impressions. As always Kousbroek finds some funny anecdotes that he weaves through his arguments.

book 207: Honden van Riga by Henning Mankell
from the library, e-book, mystery, Kurt Wallander 2, translated from Swedish, English title The dogs of Riga, TIOLI #5, 316 pages

The second Kurt Wallander book, he is called out to the shore where a rubber lifeboat is found with two dead men in it. The trail leads to Letland and a police officer from Riga comes over to help. When the police officer returns to Letland he is killed and the Riga police asks Wallander to come over and help them.

Hello Anita! Happy Sunday. My, my, you are getting in such a lot of excellent reading. Good for you!

Thank you Karen, feels good all this reading :-)

Safely back in my house...
We were evicted for a short while, a leaking gas pipe in our neighbours house. Frank was still asleep upstairs when the bell rang. A police officer asked me how many people were inside and then said we had to leave because of the gas leak.
A few years ago this would have put me in major panick-mode, but I kept almost calm went inside to wake up Frank & told him what was going on. Grabbed my e-reader & leashed Ari and went outside. Nice neighbours took us in and 20 minutes later the leak was mended and we could return home.

Glad it was over so quickly!

That sounds like a very quick response to the gas problem Anita. Glad all ok now.

I love the idea of a book week essay. There was a project in independent bookshops selling essays as pamphlets (mostly about reading). I found them very tempting!

Nice, all those reviews! You gave me some book bullets.
The Kousbroek, the library should have it. Heard lots of good things about Boven is het stil, but mostly about the movie. I'm going to try the book!

Congrats on all the reading! I have wishlisted Moonstone.

I didn't like All the Light very much either.

Oh, gosh, scary about the gas leak, but I'm so glad that it was fixed so quickly!

>128 mstrust: Yes we were glad to return home quickly, Jennifer.

>129 charl08: It was hours later when I realised it could have been much worse, Charlotte.
Those essys were all resting quietly on the shelves, a TIOLI challenge to read essays made me read them. Enjoyed them more then I had previously thought ;-)

>130 EllaTim: You are welcome Ella, I hope you enjoy those books as much as I did.
Long ago I collected all "Anathema" books and after this short Kousbroek essay I intend to read more by him next year.

>131 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda, I hope you like Moonstone too and glad I am not alone with All the light we cannot see.

>132 scaifea: Thank you Amber, I was surprised myself how calm I kept, only hours later I realised it had been a scary situation...

book 208: Kleine Beer, Grote Beer by Henri van Daele
own, Dutch, childrens, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1993, no translations, TIOLI #14, 97 pages

Short stories about Joris and his grandfather. Joris is 5 years old (nearly 6!). Before and after school he spends his time at his grandparents. He calls his grandfather "Great Bear" and his gandfather calls him "Little Bear". They have lots of fun together.
Probably better when read out loud to a child.

book 209: De laatkomer by Dimitri Verhulst
own, Dutch, English translation The Latecomer, TIOLI #7, 140 pages

Hilarious story about an elderly man, Désiré Cordier, a former librarian, trapped in a loveless marriage, who decides to fake dementia to be freed from his wife and his degrading life. He succeeds and tells his story while he is staying in a nursing home. Surrounded by old people suffering from dementia he himself becomes a forgotten family member.

book 210: Vlucht tussen hoop en wanhoop by Willi Fährmann
own, translated from German, childrens/YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1984, original German title Das Jahr der Wölfe, TIOLI #5, 174 pages

Konrad Bienmann and his family live in Prussia, it is January 1945 and the Sovjet army is approaching. They try to get away, like many others, with horse and carriage. First to the coast, where they have to go over the frozen water of the Baltic Sea and see others disappear through cracking ice into the water. Then to Danzig and Gdynia, where his father tries to get them on board of the Wilhelm Gustloff. Luckly they don't get on board (as the ship was sinked by the Sovjets, over 9.000 people died). Eventually they reach their family in Berlin.

book 211: Rare vogels by Rindert Kromhout
own, Dutch, childrens/YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1996, no translations, TIOLI #1, 111 pages

A chicken, a pheasant, a ram and a rabbit are traveling actors who play their play every night in an other town. A few months back a bulldog named Socrates joined them and he appointed himself the leader of them all. Now winter is approaching and they have to find a place to stay, as it gets to cold to travel. The bulldog tells they can stay with his sister Sophie.
Meanwhile a young porcupine starts to work for Sophie and he finds out something terrible is ging to happen to the actors.

Hej Anita
I just finished Der Prinz von Mexiko by Federica de Cesco. I liked the story. And so we have two shared reads these month.
There is an English translation of that book: The prince of Mexico, London : Burke, 1968; and New York : Day ; 1970

Hi Paul
That makes 3 shared reads :-)
Der Prinz von Mexico, Der Bibliothekar, der lieber dement war als zu Hause bei seiner Frau und Die letzte Fähre.

Good day to you, Anita!

Gas leaks are scary, Anita, and I'm glad you maintained your calm. Your priorities are good - husband, Ari, and e-reader!

>139 FAMeulstee: oh, thanks, I didn't remember the last ferry

>140 karenmarie: The same to you, Karen.
Yes, good priorities, it was a good reminder of what really matters in such a case of emergency.

>141 paulstalder: You are very welcome, Paul :-)

book 212: De stomme van Kampen by Thea Beckman
own, Dutch, YA, historic fiction, no translations, TIOLI #8, 180 pages

Hendrick Avercamp was born deaf at the end of the 16th century. His parents were well-to-do citizens of the city of Kampen. His mother teached him how to read and write. A local painter took him as apprentice and he finished his training in Amsterdam. Eventually he returned to his place of birth and became a famous painter of Dutch (winter-)landscapes.

book 213: Twee jaargetijden minder by A. Alberts
own, Dutch, essay, no translations, TIOLI #9, 56 pages

Each year in March we have our national Bookweek. If you buy books in this week you get a book for free and since 1987 you can buy the "Bookweek Essay" for a very small price. This was Bookweek Essay of 1992.

A. Alberts writes about his time in the Dutch East Indies, how he ended up there and how the Dutch part of the government evolved since 1815.

Sorry to hear about your gas leak in your area, Anita . I'm glad it was resolved so quickly. It looks like you are enjoying your reading as always!

>145 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, I was surprised how quick it was resolved.
Yes, the last months I am reading very much, this month looks to become an exceptional month with already 39 books :-)

book 214: De parel by John Steinbeck
from the library, translated, classics, original title The pearl, TIOLI #4, 93 pages

In this classic parable Kino, Juana and their baby live in their small shack near the sea. Kino dives for pearls to make a living. One day he finds a very large pearl and he thinks fortune has finally turned for the good. But sadly greed is all around and in the end all the pearl brought was misfortune...

book 215: Op zoek naar een oom by John Jan Blokker
own, childrens, awarded, Beste Kinderboek 1961, no translations, TIOLI #6, 46 pages

Tanja and Martijn are on their way to school, when they see a crying boy. Alexander is crying because he has no uncle. They decide to go and find Alexander an uncle. On their way they meet various others searching. A plant with an awfull name, who wants an other name. A walking stck, who has enough of walking. A musical note, who lost his job. A word escaped from the dictionary, because he was useless.

Funny, with a serious message to help eachother. A bit outdated, but still a childhood favourite :-)

Looks like you've had some excellent reads lately.

Hi, Anita. I think The Pearl was my very first Steinbeck and I have been in love with his work ever since.

>149 thornton37814: Thanks Lori, I am very happy with most of the books I have read this month :-)

>150 msf59: Its not my first Steinbeck, Mark, as a long, long time ago I have read Of mice and men for English class on highschool. I don't remember much of it, except a vague memory of the story and the fact that I was in tears about it. It might be time for a re-read, not immediately, first I need some time to fully digest The pearl.

book 216: Zomerzeer by Hilde Hagerup
own, YA, awarded, Ziveren Zoen 2006, there might be an English translation called Dandelion Song, TIOLI #13, 205 pages

Gerd is a boyish girl, she lives with her mother and sister Siv in a small house near the sea. Her father died when she was 5 years old, he went fishing with her sister and only Siv returned. Siv has been a little strange ever since. Gerd misses her father, as they were a bit alike. When a family from Oslo come to live in the village Gerd looses her only friend, Kasja to the new girl Maja. Gerd doesn't take this very well, she gets mean to everybody around her.

Very well written, it almost felt like I was that angry teenager again, that I used to be, long ago... The story crawls under your skin and that is not always a pleasant feeling.

>151 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! I have read both The Pearl and Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men reminds of Flowers for Algernon and I remember being upset by both of them.

I hope you're having a lovely day of good books.

>153 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I am considering to dedicate next year to reading a book each month that I had to read for language classes and that I might like better now.
Dutch/Flemish books like Max Havelaar, Het reservaat and Reizigers in de anti-tijd.
American writers like Ernest Hemmingway, William Faulkner and John Steinbeck.

book 217: Tegen verkiezingen by David Van Reybrouck
from the library, Dutch, non-fiction, essay, can't find English translation, TIOLI #2, 192 pages

The title would translate into "Against elections". Van Reybrouck argues in this essay against the present Western practice of elections. Instead of the last election the coming one has become more important. Partly because political parties want to maintain their influence and fight eachother instead of working together to find a better solution.
In Athens, Venice, Florence and a lot of other places thre was no voting but they used the system of drawing lots, so everyone (of the happy few) could participate in politics. In Venice this was done to keep rivaling families calm. Before the American and French revolution these ideas had some supporters, but finally the aristocratic elite was replaced by the civil elite (politicans).
In recent years there have been some iniatives to bring back the practice of drawing lots to select representatives in Iceland, Canada and Ireland. Not all with succes, but with promishing outcomes.
The writer thinks that it would be good if one of the two parts (chambers?) of parliament would be replaced by drawing lots and the other still by vote, so our democracy would get closer to goverment by the people.

OVer 200 books and 32 years married!! Those are some big numbers. :) Carry on....

>155 FAMeulstee: Those are some interesting ideas. I am reading Reybrouck (if it is the same David) on the history of the Congo. I am enjoying it so far.

>156 Berly: Thanks Berly, both happy occasions that I hope to continue ;-)

>157 charl08: Yes, it is the same Reybrouck, Charlotte, I have Congo waiting at the shelve.

Today 3 books came into our house, as it is Franks 55th birthday today :-)
In krabbengang by Günter Grass
Hoe H.H. de wereld redde by Wouter Godijn (poetry)
Bewegend doel by Micha Hamel (poetry)

book 218: Eens gestolen altijd een dief by Gunilla Bergström
own, translated from Swedish, childrens, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1980, no English translation, TIOLI #15, 80 pages

Jenny lives in a small village in the north of Sweden. Because her father finds a job in Stckholm, they have to move. Jenny has a hard time to adjust to the big city. She starts stealing sweets and money to buy sweets, so she can share it with her class mates, just to get friends.
In the end she finds a friend so there is no need to steal anymore.

book 219: Herfst by Jac.P. Thijsse
from the library, Dutch, nature, no English translation, TIOLI #11, 62 pages

Jac.P. Thijsse was a teacher who loved nature. He wrote many books, most of them were published in co-operation with a bisquit factory. The book came without the illustrations, those could be gathered by buying the bisquits. This way he reached a large audience.
Together with his collegue and friend E. Heimans he published the Geïllustreerde flora van Nederland = Illustrated flora of the Netherlands.

This book is a reprint, it was originally published in 1910 as third in a series about nature in the seasons.
Thijsse takes the reader on walks in autumn to show them about plants, trees, mushrooms, insects, birds and other animals in the Netherlands. He mentions the ""Zuiderzee" a few times, the place I live was back then still sea.

book 220: Brieven van mijn broertje by Chris Donner
own, translated from French, childrens, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1996, no English translation, TIOLI #10, 62 pages

In hilarious letters written to his brother Chris, Matti writes about a disasterous vacation at the Mediterranean. Slowly we find out why Chris isn't there, he went to Italy with his boyfriend and his parents don't accept he is gay. When things completely get out of hand Chris comes over, with his boyfriend, to help out.

>160 FAMeulstee: This sounds lovely, reminds me of the books I read by Robert MacFarlane.

>162 charl08: Thanks Charlotte for mentioning Robert MacFarlane he sounds like a modern day equivalent of Jac.P. Thijsse. My library has two books of him in translation, maybe I get to them next year.

Hi Anita! Your reading rate is staggering. I'm happy for you.

>164 karenmarie: Thank you Karen, it makes me very happy too.
Never even dreamed I would end up near Stasia's league :-)

book 221: Gekaapt! by Thea Beckman
own, Dutch, YA, historical fiction, no English translation, TIOLI #14, 133 pages

1399, Gerlof lives in the city of Kampen and is going with his uncle to Brugge and London to trade. On their way to London their ship is taken by pirates and Gerlof and his uncle are prisones until a ransom is paid. Gerlofs dad pays the ransom and months later Gerlof and his uncle return in Kampen. When the city of Kampen and other Hansa cities plan to get the pirates together, Gerlof wants to join, but his father forbids him to go. A year later Gerlof gets it his way and is part of the crew who destroy the last pirates in the Baltic Sea.

>155 FAMeulstee: fascinating. I'd love to read that, it mind-boggling to think about how many books are out there that are unavailable to me for language differences.

>167 LovingLit: Yes Megan, I feel the same sometimes I am able to understand both Dutch and English, but reading Dutch is so much easier so I wait for translations most of the time.
If you are interested David Van Reyenbrouck uses ideas from James S. Fishkin and John Burnheim. Works of these two might be accessable for you.

book 222: Erfschuld by Arnaldur Indriðason
from te library, translated Icelandic, mystery, English title The Man from Manitoba, TIOLI #12, 271 pages

Again an great police procedural by Indriðason. This time an other main character, Konrað a retired police officer. He offers his help when an old mans death was not a natural death, as at first was thought. The police has no time to investigate, so Konrað is allowed to work on this case. It turns out to be related to a murder in 1944.

Well last week my laptop was declared beyond repair, so it won't be returned. We got our money back, as we bought it in April. Now I am going to look for a new laptop again. No Toshiba, I have had Toshiba laptops since 1999, but this last one was trouble most of the time.
I am using now Franks HP, I might go for a similair one.

Sorry about the computer Anita. I hate all the faffing that goes with changing to a new one. Glad to hear they've refunded you.

book 223: Reizen en avonturen van Jaques Massé by Simon Tyssot de Patot
own, translated from French (although the author was Dutch), fictional travels, English translation The travels and adventures of James Massey, TIOLI #13, 224 pages

This book was originally published around 1714. Simon Tyssot de Patot was born in London. His father was a soldier who went to France shortly after Simon was born. But as a protestant (Huguenot) life was not safe in France, so they went to the Netherlands.
The book was originally written in French and only this year the first Dutch translation was published. We got this book from a dear friend and descendant of Tyssot de Patot.

Very readable story of a (fictional) traveler in the 17th century. Jaques Massé travels on a ship as ship's doctor. First voyage all goes well, second voyage the ship goes down 1000 miles from St Helena, near unknown land. Most survivors want to stay near the beach, but Massé and two others want to explore the land. One of them dies in the mountains, the other two find an utopian country, where the inhabitants laugh at their Christian beliefs. Massé wants to stay, but his partner, La Forêt wants to try to get back to Europe. Massé gives in and at the beach the find some of their old mates back. They are picked up by a ship, Massé ends up in Goa, that was Portugese at the time. He has a good time until he gets accusated by the Inquisition and is convicted and sold into slavery. Eventually he gets back to London.

Large parts of the book include atheïstic ideas and go against christian beliefs of the time. Even in a rather tolerant country as the Netherlands these ideas were not accepted and Simon Tyssot de Patot is forced to leave the city of Deventer after this book is published. He moves to the free city of IJsselstein for his remaining years.

>171 charl08: hi Charlotte
We first had to send it in for repair three times, if it isn't fixed by then you get a refund. That was already a hassle, so I am in no hurry to buy the next one to start all over again...

>172 FAMeulstee: This sounds rather wonderful. Will have a look for it. A very early 'banned book'.

>174 charl08: I am not completely sure the book itself was banned (it probably was, I can't find anything about it on the www), but the author was banned from his city, in the same way Spinoza was banned from Amsterdam.

book 224: Herfsttij der Middeleeuwen by Johan Huizinga
own, Dutch, non-fiction, English translation The Autumn of the Middle Ages, TIOLI #11, 408 pages

This book is considered a classic in Dutch literature, published in 1919. Johan Huizinga was the first Dutch writer who wrote about the Middle Ages without condemning Catholisism, as was usual in our protestant country.
The book gives an view on culture in the last two centuries of the Middle Ages with a lot of examples from art and literature. He argues you can't fully understand the medieval mind without knowing the medieval culture and its roots.
Not an easy read, as I have read only very few of the books he mentions, I have seen some of the paintings.

Tomorrow I am going to donate the first 36 childrens/YA books to a local library in Rotterdam. Public libraries are seriously cut back in the last years and in this area they try to start up a library so people can lend books in their own neighborhood.
I am presently trying to read all my childrens/YA books (I have 804, of those 266 were read since 2008) and then decide to keep or not. I was happy to find a place where I can donate them!

>170 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! I'm sorry to hear about your computer woes. My daughter loves her Toshiba, and my husband and I have been happy with Dells for 18 or more years. Good luck in your quest!

>177 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on culling. Feels good, doesn't it? I donate to a local thrift store, my books aren't usually in good enough shape for a library.

>178 karenmarie: I used to love Toshiba, Karen, after this last one I am not sure. I use Franks laptop now and he rarely needs it, so I am no hurry at all.
Culling feels good, especially with a good place to give them their next life. Most are in excellent condition as they are only read once.

Hi Anita--Good luck finding a computer replacement--how nice to be able to take your time looking! And congrats on finding a home for the books and freeing up some space.

>172 FAMeulstee: Interesting that the author had to move after publication. So much for tolerance of fiction!

Thanks Kim, we need some place for new books, the bookcases are overflowing. We try to hold back with buying books, but there are allways books we can not resist ;-)

I think "fiction" was no argument back then (18th century), he tried to defend himself aguing it was fiction.

book 225: Een lampion voor een blinde by Bertus Aafjes
own, Dutch, mystery, no English translation, TIOLI #8, 111 pages

Each year in March we have our national Bookweek. If you buy books in this week you get a book for free, this was the free book in 1973.

Situated in Japan, 18th century, when the Dutch were the only foreigners allowed to trade in Japan.
The Shogun has send Judge Ooka (after a real Japanese judge in Edo, 18th century) to escort his Dutch visitors. Strangly there are two doctors at the Dutch settlement Decima, only one is needed there. Both men looked forward to their stay in Japan.
Then a murder occurs and Judge Ooka has to find out who did it.

It was a fun read, with some haiku's thrown in (in a nice way). Bertus Aafjes wrote 4 more books about Judge Ooka and I have ordered those, as they are not available at my library.

book 226: De doge-ring van Venetië by Thea Beckman
own, YA, historical fiction, no English translation, TIOLI #15, 205 pages

1397, novice Thomas and monk Matthias are send on a special quest. To get more visitors to their small monastery thet are send to Venice to buy a relic. It is a long journey but most nights they can spend in other monasteries, they stay some time in Venice, but eventually find a scull that is said to be the scull of St Juliana of Nicodemia.
Nice descriptions of Venice at the end of the 14th century.

>177 FAMeulstee: Nice to be able to give your books to such a good cause, Anita. A local library is a good thing for children. I have happy memories of the small library in the village where I grew up. And now too, in spite of TV and internet, I think lots of children love books, love to read.
Did you go there to donate your books?

It is wonderful that you are able to give your books to such a good cause, Anita. Still waiting on our new computer, but that is okay, because this one is still working and switching things over is such a hassle. It should be here by the end of the week, but the I need to wait on my son to set it up for me.

A new home for the books sounds wonderful - and very generous. I have just finished The Dinner - what a thought provoking book....

Yes, Ella, Deborah and Charlotte, Frank and I went to Rotterdam yesterday and I dropped off 37 childrens/YA books at the library to be. They were still busy to make everything in order as the library will open on December 10th. Volunteers have been working hard, the bookcases they made were beautiful they used alternately light and dark wood. My visit was short, only one voluteer was there and he had clearly a lot of other things to do.

>184 EllaTim: It is so sad to see libraries are cut back, Ella, and there are so few libraries left. In Rotterdam each area used to have a library, now only a few large libraries are left, so for many children the library is way to far to reach on their own.

>185 vancouverdeb: I hope your new computer arives soon, Deborah, I have decided to wait a while before buying the next.

>186 charl08: I haven't read The Diner, Charlotte, but vaguely know the story line. Might look for it at the library :-)

Good morning, Anita!

Our little town of Pittsboro, North Carolina USA has a very nice library, just built about 5 years ago to replace the little old house in town that was ramshackle and too small. I am on the board of the Friends of the Library, and what the county cannot fund we do. Our annual budget is US$60,000 and since all members of the Friends are volunteers, this is quite a bit of additional funding to keep out little library robust.

I read The Dinner in 2013 and thought it very good.

>188 karenmarie: I am glad your little town has a library, Karen, and that you are active there.

We used to have a dense network of public libraries, but in the last 20 years that has reduced due to cuts in their budget. The library I donated the books to is a private library run by volunteers, it is sad that this is needed now...

I just went to the library today and one of the books I took home is Het diner, so we can compare thoughts soon.

Took 5 books home from the library today:

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Het diner by Herman Koch
Hoogteverschillen by Julian Barnes
De vergiftigde bruid (translated by) Robert van Gulik
Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn? by Frans de Waal

Oh, my wife, daughter and I all loved Eleanor & Park, Anita. Hope you have a good time with it.

>191 jnwelch: If you all loved it I will probably love it too, Joe, I have it on my TBR list for a while, as it won a YA prize over here last year.

November in numbers

51 books read (10.399 pages)
44/7   fiction/non-fiction
43/8   paper book/e-book
36/15 male/female author
32/19 own/from the library
27/24 Dutch/translated

ratings
2 x  
11 x
18 x
12 x
7 x  
1 x  

4 books aquired

book 227: Een Berlijnse kwestie by Philip Kerr
own (first part of Berlijnse trilogie omnibus 1-3), translated from English, mystery, original title March violets, 1 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 282 pages

This is the first book of a series with Bernie Gunther as main charachter. Gunther is a detective in Nazi Germany. It is 1936 and the Olympic Games are held in Berlin. The case he works on involves someone high up in the Nazi hierarchy who is murdered, together with his wife, who was a daughter of a very rich and influencal man. After the murder the house was burned down.
The case is difficult and Gunther, who is not a Nazi, gets himself in a lot of danger. He even spends some time in Dachau, a complete nightmare, to save his life.

An intense read, the mystery to be solved was good. The vivid description of fearfilled Berlin/Germany in the years before WWII was exellent.

Hej Anita, I have noted that you give the title of the English translations of the books you are reading. That is very useful. I also noted that LT is not a big help here. If you click on 'Work Details' you only get the 'other language titles' but English is not counted as 'other' language. Even if the English title is on the English CK site under 'Canonical Title', that title doesn't show in the 'Work Details' page. For example >169 FAMeulstee: has an English title (The Man from Manitoba), but is not shown on the not-English LT pages.
Tim Spalding promised now to take care of that and add the English titles to the 'Work Details' pages. That will make it easier to find any other language title of a book.
I thought I let you know of that little piece of information.

Thank you Paul, I always go to 'Editions' to check for an English edition. I must have overlooked The Man from Manitoba, or that one was added later. I hope Tim will change it, because that is indeed an easier way to check.

Happy Friday, Anita! Hooray for Eleanor & Park. I loved that one and so did my daughter. Not a fan of The Dinner though. Hope it works for you.

>197 msf59: I hope to get to Eleanor & Park next week, Mark, it has some fans around here :-)
Not sure about The Dinner either, I know roughly how the story goes, but it is Dutch and many here have read it, so I thought to give it a try when I saw it at the library.

Hi Anita! I'm thinking of you and hoping you are well. It is a cold morning. I am delaying getting ready for work and going out into the cold air.

All good wishes to you.

>199 Whisper1: Hi Linda, good to see you doing the rounds!
We have a mild and sunny day toady, so I worked a bit in the garden removing leaves from the pathways.

Well done on the leaves Anita. I have been picking up beech leaves for a week or two: never ending, it feels like.

>201 charl08: Only worked for an hour, Charlotte, and it is a never ending task. Hope to do some more tomorrow.

book 228: Hier ben ik dan by Henk Barnard
own, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1983, no English translation, TIOLI #6, 167 pages

Aydin lives with his uncle and aunt in Turkey. His parents and little sister live in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. One day a big truck from Rotterdam gets a flat tire while Aydin walks by. He helps the truck driver to find someone to repair the tire. Aydin misses his family and decides to ask the truck driver to take him to Rotterdam.

book 229: Het geheim van Rotterdam by Thea Beckman
own, YA, historical fiction, awarded, Kiderjury 1991, no English translation, TIOLI #4, 212 pages

Rotterdam, 15th century. Caspar is a foundling, taken in by a barrel maker and his wife, who just lost their baby. One day he meets the daughter of an alchemist. The alchemist, named Melchior, and his apprentice, named Balthasar, are working to find the philosopher's stone. With Caspar added their names are the same as the three wise men from the bible. Melchior is sure they wil find the mystery now Caspar works with them.
Meanwhile Rotterdam is taken by Jonker Frans van Brederode, a rebel against Maxilmilian of Germany. The city suffers under his reign. Eventually Jonker Frans and his men are defeated, but Melchior and his family has to flee from Rotterdam, because he is accused of witchcraft.

book 230: Zwerftocht met Korilu by Thea Beckman
own, YA, fantasy, adventure, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1971, no English translation, TIOLI #15, 138 pages

Jasper is the smartest boy in Amsterdam. He has read all books from the library, does not have to go to school anymore because he is too young to go to university. He sits on a bench in the park when he meets Korilu, a very small humanlike being, who takes him on an adventure. They travel around the world, first through Europe, then Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and finally back to Amsterdam.

I would have loved reading about Jasper as a kid. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

>206 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, the book started very promishing but did not hold. Weekend is good here :-)

book 231: Oorlog zonder vrienden by Evert Hartman
own, YA, historical fiction, awarded, English translation War without friends, TIOLI #5, 252 pages

1942, the Netherlands are occupied by the Germans. Arnold is 14, his father is a member of the NSB (Dutch Nazi party). He has a hard time at school, as there are no other NSB members in his class, most classmates don't like the Germans and the NSB.
His father makes career, but Arnold isn't sure his father is right. When the father of a classmate is taken away, everyone thinks Arnold has told the Germans...

This was the first young-adult book that was written from the perspective of the "other side", before almost all WW II novels were about jews or the resistance. NSB members and their family were "not done" for decades after WW II.

Already waltzed past 3 x 75 Anita. This really is a stellar year in your little corner of the Netherlands.

Have a lovely weekend. xx

>209 PaulCranswick: Yes, it is a stellar reading year, Paul, and I love it ;-)

I am going to keep my eye out for The Man from Manitoba, Anita. Thanks for that! I am a fan of Arnaldur Indriðason so I'll be keeping an eye for that one here in Canada.

>208 FAMeulstee: My library has War without friends so I'll definitely try it.

My daughter and I both liked Eleanor and Park.

Hi Anita!

We have a lot of leaves here, too. We've had a lot of wind, fortunately, which blows most of them back onto the grass and pastures. Husband will mulch them with the riding lawn mower one more time this fall, but other than that we just usually use an electric blower to get them off the concrete driveway and off the back deck, back to the grass and pastures. We're essentially very lazy people..... *smile*

I hope things are going well for you.

>211 vancouverdeb: It is like all others by Arnaldur Indriðason, Deborah, good mysteries in present and past and a nice main character. I hope you can find it soon.

>212 avatiakh: I hope you like War without friends, Kerry. I just finished Eleanor & Park and liked it very much :-)

>213 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I try to be lazy too, but as I missed the last months of last year, because of my broken arm, there was a layer of composted leaves beneath the ones of this year. So I had to make the paths free of that, so they can be used next season ;-)
I never use a blower, too much noise, so I just use the broom & dustpan. Last two days it was too cold to do anything outside, except for walking Ari...

book 232: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
from the library, translated Engels, YA, awarded, Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur Prijs translated 2015, English title is the same, 335 pages

Eleanor, a new girl at highschool, steps into the bus and ends up sitting next to Park. They both aren't happy with the situation, but slowly they become friends. Eleanor lives with an abusive stephfather and hides deep down, so he isn't annoyed by her. Park has a Korean mom and a veteran dad, he loves comics and music, a bit of a nerd who isn't a popular guy at school.
It is a romance, but not a typical one, it is sweet and bitter, good times and bad times, as life is.

Recommended

Happy Sunday, Anita! Hope you are having a nice weekend! Hooray for Eleanor & Park. So glad you loved it.

>216 msf59: Thank you, Mark, we are having a perfect Sunday. Feyenoord (soccer team) did win today and we just finished our diner: mashed potatoes with sauerkraut & stewed beef, it was delicious, cooking is one of the best qualities of my husband ;-)

Yes, I loved both Eleanor and Park :-)

book 233: Het diner by Herman Koch
from the library, Dutch, awarded, NS Publieksprijs 2009, English title The dinner, TIOLI #17, 301 pages

Dark, funny, unsettling, hilarious at times, disturbing.
Two couples going out to dinner, two brothers and their wives, the one brother, Paul, tells the story, he does not want to be at the restaurant, but could not say "no" to his brother Serge, who is a succesfull politican and might be the next prime minister.
Slowly the reason they are together here unfolds, something terrible their sons got into and how far every one of them is willing to go to protect their offspring....

More happiness here for your enjoyment of Eleanor & Park, Anita. I hope she returns to these characters some day.

>215 FAMeulstee: Eleanor & Park sounds good Anita - onto the wishlist!

>218 FAMeulstee: Was the book what you expected Anita? I did find it quite shocking. I am not sure if I want to read more Koch.

>219 jnwelch: Yes a sequel would be nice, Joe, I liked them.

>220 souloftherose: Its a very good story, Heather, I think you would like it.

>221 charl08: I was better prepared, Charlotte, before he started to write he was in an absurdist comical/satirical tv-show for 15 years, starting in the 1990s, that had dark twists sometimes and they liked to shock the viewers now and then. I can understand the book is rather raw and shocking if you never heard of Koch before. For me there was always a comical undertone in taking something so awfull way over the top.
The book is based on a real crime that happened in Barcelona in 2005, where three weathy boys did kill a bag lady and put it on YouTube, they were convicted.
I like his writing style, I might try other books by him.

That makes sense Anita. A great example of some local knowledge there. Will be interested in your review of any others - he did genuinely surprise me.

Here to leave Happy Sinterklaas wishes and some hugs!!
I only skimmed through your thread and can only for the umpteenth time say how great it is you're reading for me (and others) this year as well!

Have a lovely week!

>223 charl08: I am wondering how this book would have felt without this knowledge, Charlotte, I think I would have been surprised big time...

>224 Deern: Thank you Nathalie, so nice you took the time to leave a message :-)
We didn't celebrate Sinterklaas-eve, no children around. We used to celebrate with some friends and their kids, but those have kids of their own now. Besides the celebration wasn't nice in many places, pro and con Black Peter have been harassing eachother, even worse than last year :-(
And I reply from the umpteenth time that it feels so good to be able to read so much ;-)
The same to you!

book 234: Het handwerk van de beul by Philip Kerr
own (second part of Berlijnse trilogie omnibus 1-3), translated from English, mystery, original title The pale criminal, 2 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 316 pages

This is the second book of a series with Bernie Gunther as main charachter. Gunther is a detective in Nazi Germany. It is 1938 and he is hired by a rich widow to discover who has been blackmailing her, and by the Berlin police to track down a serial killer, and runs into bizarre psychotherapy and medicinal practices and Nazi occultism.

An intense read, as good as the previous one. Sadly he names the Shar-Pei dog and this is supposed to be in the 1930s, when no one ever could have known this dog breed, as it only arrived in the West in the 1970s. Usually I don't care that much about details, but in this case it is about dog breeds, a subject I happen to know and care about....

>225 FAMeulstee: Saw an article in Der Spiegel today about Black Peter on the Antilles, where it seems to be no discussion at all. Some originally dark-skinned Peets paint their face in different colors.
I'm glad we have a devil-like Krampus here instead (and in Germany a Knecht Ruprecht) who won't be subject to any racial issues soon and spoil the fun for the kids.

>227 Deern: That is one of the solutions proposed here, Nathalie, not black but different colors.
Although Black Peter has no roots in slavery, some feel discriminated, or better said are called Black Peter in this time of year, not in a nice way. So the easiest solution would be changing Peter a little bit, different colors, or as he is supposed to come through the chimney, only some black strokes and blurs on the face. Commercial TV (RTL) did change this year to Chimney Peter. But others keep tight on BLACK Peter and feel they are accused of discrimination, wich feels wrong to them...

Frank has decided that I can keep his laptop and that we look next year for a new one for him. He mainly used it as second tv-screen & some courses for work, that would not run on his old desk-top.

book 235: Een Duits requiem by Philip Kerr
own (third part of Berlijnse trilogie omnibus 1-3), translated from English, mystery, original title A German Requiem, 3 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 327 pages

This is the third book of a series with Bernie Gunther as main charachter. Gunther is a detective in post war Germany. It is 1947 and he is hired by a Russian officer to find evidence that will save a murderer in Vienna from hanging. This man is a former collegue of Bernie, and not a very nice man. Bernie goes to Vienna and soon finds himself between American, Russian and ex-Nazi forces, each with their own agenda and trying to infiltrate into eachothers departments. Bernie barely gets out alive...

Again a very good mystery, set in the turbulent times after WW II. Sometimes the violence is at the edge of what I can cope with. I look forward to the next books in this series.

You make we want to reread these books Anita! I have a lovely penguin edition. Somewhere. Must have a reorganisation of the shelves soon.

>231 charl08: Have fun finding & reading them ;-)

I am not reading much at the moment, went back to my big project: add all books culled in 2005 to LT, that will take a while!

book 236: Het verhaal van Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, started 23 februari 2016
own, e-book, translated from Japanese, classic, 11th century, English translation The Tale of Genji, TIOLI #17, 1517 pages

The Japanese classic from the 11th century, the worlds first novel and written by a woman.
The main character, who stays with us for the most part of the book is Genji, tha radiant prince of imperial descent. He is the great in everything that is important in this time at the imperial court: writing poetry, calligraphy, playing instruments, seducing women...

It took a long time to read this epic (1517 pages in the Dutch edition) and I am glad I did. It was not always an easy read, the culture is so different. But through the cultural differences I still could find human beings who developed thoughout the book. I liked the last chapters, after Genji died, a bit less...

book 237: Hoogteverschillen by Julian Barnes
from the library, translated from English, non-fiction, original title Levels of life, TIOLI #11, 127 pages

Julian Barnes writes about bringing together two things for the first time and how things can change after that.
The first part talks about ballooning and photography. How Fred Burnaby, Sarah Bernardt and Félix Tournachon went up in the air with a ballon in the 19th century.
The second is about actress Sarah Bernhardt and Fred Burnaby and a relationship the might have had.
In the third part Barnes talks about his personal grief over the loss of his wife, Pat Kavanagh. How his grief evolved in time and how it felt and feels. Beautiful written and heartbreaking.

>234 FAMeulstee: I really want to read this one. Sounds good (if sad).

I'm glad that you enjoyed Levels of Life, Anita. I'll try to get to it early next year.

Just a quick hello and Happy Sunday, Anita.

Happy Sunday, Anita! I would really like to get back to the Berlin Trilogy, (I have it on shelf) I read the first one, March Violets but never got to the others.
Hope you are having a good weekend.

>235 charl08: Julian Barnes is always a treat, Charlotte, excepte for Flauberts Parrot with 3,5 stars, I rated all his other books with 4,5 or 5 stars.

>236 kidzdoc: If you want to get to all the books you want to read next year, Darryl, I think you need to become a full-time reader ;-)

>237 Ameise1: Hi Brbara, nice to see you around!

>238 msf59: The others are also very good, Mark, so go for it!
Weekend not so good, see next msg...

We had a big scare with Ari this weekend, he suddenly could not use his left back leg... It started yesterday and last night he kept on whining now and then, so this morning we went to the vet. Why do these things always happen in weekends?
With the rather long back, Pekingese sometimes suffer from nerve problems coming from the back, so we were very worried. It turns out his leg does function, he feels in his toes an the knee-reflex was alright too. The problem seems to be around his left hip (he has bad hips) and he was in a lot of pain. He got painkiller injected from the vet and a daily dose for the next week. We hope that will do the trick.
When we returned home the painkiller started to work and he has been sleeping since. Obviously very tired after being unable to sleep because of the pain...

>240 FAMeulstee: I hope Ari recovers quickly, Anita!

Oh, no, poor Ari! Here's hoping for a fast recovery, as Harry says.

I hope Ari is feeling much better now! Poor baby.
You're right about these things always happening on weekends. Our Lab's arthritis got really bad on Thursday afternoon, and not only does our vet not work Friday-Sunday, but he was on vacation. We're very lucky that he's friends with my husband, so talked to us on the phone and called in a prescription for her.

Poor Ari, good that he is sleeping it off.

I've started The Song of Seven and finding it lots of fun.

Oh, poor Ari--I hope the shots help! Always, ALWAYS, these things happen on the weekend or on Friday night, never at a time when it's easy and less expensive to access a veterinarian.

Thanks Harry, Amber, Jennifer, Kerry and Roni.

Ari slept most of the day yesterday. I took the buggy for his walk in the afternoon and he did the late evening walk before bedtime with Frank all by himself (that is a short walk). He still has some trouble with his left back leg, but he does use it.
Hopefully he wil improve the next week.

>244 avatiakh: I hope to start Song of Seven tomorrow. Glad you like it Kerry.

Oh the poor little guy! I hope he gets better soon!

>239 FAMeulstee: Ha! That is absolutely true, Anita. Can I use you as a reference when I request my (paid) one year sabbatical next year?

I'm sorry to hear about poor Ari. I hope that the shot and medication make him feel better.

BTW, Reading Globally's first quarter 2017 theme will focus on authors from the Benelux countries, so I'll read books by several Dutch authors in the next three months, including The Assault by Harry Mulisch and Rituals by Cees Nooteboom. I met "Monkey", who is leading the discussion, and her husband Frans in Maastricht last year, and he gave me several recommendations for Dutch authors and their books, as did you and Frank. I'll post a link to the group read on my thread once "Monkey" has published it.

Currently reading The Evenings (De Avonden) in a new English translation. I don't think I've ever read anything like it before, and so bleak!

Hope Ari is improving.

Thanks Nathalie, Darryl and Charlotte.
Ari is improving slowly, walking a bit further each day.

>248 kidzdoc: Of course you can use me as a reference, Darryl, for such a good cause ;-)
I own both books, so I can join you.

>249 charl08: I have never read it, Charlotte, I do know it is ment to be bleak and boring... many fellow Dutch have never finished it. I might give it a try next week.

book 238: Carry's kleine oorlog by Nina Bawden
own, translated English, YA, awarded, Vlag en wimpel 1981, original title Carrie's war, 126 pages

Carrie and her brother are evacuated from Londen in WWII and end up in Wales.
They stay with a nasty shopkeeper and his sister, not a nice place for children to stay. Before Chrismas they are send to the house of the other sister of the shopkeeper who are not on speaking terms. To their surpise they find a nice place, where they can hide now and then.

>251 FAMeulstee: Loved Carrie's War - due a reread.

Sometimes I think the definition of a classic book should be 'one that most readers didn't finish'. Good to know I've got lots of company if I don't get through it! It's a lovely shiny new hardback, on the plus side...

Glad Ari is continuing to improve.

>252 charl08: Yes, Carrie's war was a good read, worth a re-read and I hope you can finish The evenings.

Ari is still improving, not completely recoverd, that will take some more time.

Sorry, haven't been around much the past days. I worked hard to add 1147 books that were culled in 2005. I still had my own data on these books.
I am glad it is done, now back to reading books ;-)

book 239: De Cock en danse macabre (De Cock 35) by A.C. Baantjer
from the library, e-book, police mystery, 35th book of 70 De Cock, 133 pages

A rich collector of silverware dies and his collection disappears, next a collector of Chagall paintings dies and his collection is replaced with fakes. According to the pathologist they died of natural causes... De Cock doesn't believe in coincidence, what is going on?

Glad to hear Ari is doing better, Anita.

Hi, Anita! Glad to hear Ari is improving. Yah!!

Whew! Glad to hear that Ari is doing better...... That's one up side of coming in way late to a thread. I can read about a problem and not have to worry about it.
You may have pushed me into March Violets. I'm trying to find relatively short books to get me to 75 this month, and I was looking at my copy earlier today. We'll see.....
It was a long time ago, but I'm another one who agrees with your assessment of *All Light*.
Hope your weekend turns into a relaxing/invigorating one!

Oh, so sorry to hear about Ari! I'm glad he is on the mend . I know what you mean about these sort of things always happening on the weekend, or at night. Our vet works all weekends, but overnight we'd have to access an emergency vet , and that is about a 45 minute drive and $200.00 just to walk into the door , never mind the fees for helping your animal.

>256 ronincats: Thanks Roni, so are we :-)

>257 msf59: Thank you Mark, Ari is getting back to his happy self.

>258 LizzieD: That is a good way to avoid worries, Peggy ;-)
I hope you like March violets too and always happy to know I am not alone in my assessment.
Weekend is starting well, nice quiet evening at home with Frank & Ari.

>259 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, the Chow Chows had a better record, I can't remember they ever needed a vet in weekends... Luckely our vet is not that expensive!

book 240: De zevensprong by Tonke Dragt
own, Dutch, YA, TIOLI #11, English translation Song of Seven, 286 pages

A class and their teacher, a boy with an evil uncle and a hidden treasure. Seven people work together to save the boy & find the treasure.

>259 vancouverdeb: Wow that is expensive, Deb. Malaysia is not too expensive but I found the vets to be quite hard hearted in that they don't seem to understand that we don't mind caring for our pets. When one of our cats had a bad fall and would be permanently unable to walk properly the vet's immediate solution was kill the cat. Thankfully we didn't do that and Bambi has had a happy life for these last five or so years.

Have a lovely weekend, Anita. xx

>262 PaulCranswick: In some countries it is still a luxery to afford vet care for pets, Paul, so the vets are used to act accordingly. Your cats are lucky to live with your family!

Wish you a lovely weekend too :-)

book 241: Het wonder van Frieswijck by Thea Beckman
own, Dutch, YA, historical fiction, no translations, 96 pages

Alijt Kuinretorf lives in the Dutch city of Kampen in the 15th century. Her dog has bitten a boy and is summoned to court. The boy was nasty to her and her dog only defended her. The penance is that the dog has to go on pilgrimage. A Porugese captain is stranded in Kampen and wants to go on pilgrimage too, together with his slave. So they end up traveling together to the Virgin in the Tree in Frieswijck.

Happy Saturday, Anita! We are all ready deep into winter here. Sighs...

Enjoy your weekend.

>265 msf59: We crossposted, Mark, I would take a bit of your winter if I could ;-)

Re my post regarding vet fees , just to clarify for you and Paul. To take my dog for a wellness check up - check the teeth, check over the dog would cost about $60.00 If I needed immunizations for my dog , that would cost me about $40.00 more. I do that once a year. To have my dog spayed at the vet costs about $350.00 -$00.00. ( Did that when she was about 7 months old )

However , at an emergency vets, they are open 24 /7/365. They are equipped with an " intensive care unit for animals, " , ready to do emergency surgery, have an MRI, CT scanner , can do immediate blood tests etc. That is the place that would cost $200.00 just to walk in the door. From there, what your animal needs as far as care goes costs quite a bit more than that, depending on what is wrong. I know my parents had an Irish Terrier that had a seizure at about 10 pm one night and they rushed off to the emergency vet. They put the dog in the ICU and did ? CT scan or something and determined that dog had a stroke, had gone blind and would continue to have seizures, but they gave my parents the option of trying the dog on medications to prevent seizures or putting the dog to sleep. I think that cost my parents about $1500.00 for the care and testing, but in the end, my parents decided that it would be difficult for the dog to live with blindness and seizure., so they had him put to sleep. That is an example of what a 24 hour emergency vet might be used for. Sad time, that , as the dog was just 6 years old.

Interesting how it varies from country to country.

>267 vancouverdeb: Most vets here in town cost more, our vet is in the next village, half an hour from us. For the weekend consult + medicines we only had to pay 75 euro. They don't have fancy equipment, only x-ray. Blood tests are send elsewhere, but in most cases that is enough. And there is always a vet you know.

Hi Anita, glad to hear your dog is doing better. Joints and back can be a problem for dogs, but I always thought this was more for large dogs.
You are reading a lot of Thea Beckman. I never knew she wrote so many historical novels. They sound interesting. Hope to find them in the library.
I read the evenings in high school. Very depressing. As was fully intended, I think. But I'm not even tempted to reread...

Thank you Ella, indeed large dogs do tend to have more joint problems, the smaller dogs have them too but it usually doesn't get problematic. The small dogs with long backs, like Dachshund and Pekingese, are prone to back problems.

I have always loved Thea Beckman, my love for her books started with Kruistocht in spijkerbroek and the three books in the Hunderd Years War in France: Geef me de ruimte, Triomf van de verschroeide aarde and Het rad van fortuin. I am reading now all my un-read childrens and youth books (most) alphabeticly, and I had some of Thea Beckman that I did not read before ;-)

I never read The evenings before, so when someone else here was reading it I was tempted to do the same. It is depressing, but not as bad as I thought it would be.

book 242: De avonden by Gerard Reve
own, Dutch, classic, English translation The evenings, 223 pages

Frits van Egters is in his twenties, in 10 chapters his days from 22 december 1946 to the start of the New Year are told. Most of it is depressing and dull, Frits is depressed and most of life is dull. He lives with is parents but tries to spend the evenings with friends and aquaintances, as time at home goes way to slow. He is not a nice person, sadistic to animals, oppressing to women, not nice to his friends and very disturbed (because of his depression, because of the just ended war?).
It all feels like a group of young people who suffer from PTSS, but no one talked about the war after the war. You should forget what happened to you personally and just get on to build up the country.
There is some (dark) humor between the lines but overall a way to masculine book to be enjoyable.

>271 FAMeulstee: I was thinking of reading something by Gerard Reve for the upcoming Reading Globally theme on Benelux authors, but it won't be this book!

>272 kidzdoc: I don't think others are better, Darryl, but if you read something else by Reve, I will reluctantly join and probably put him away forever after that. So I can say I tried ;-)

>273 FAMeulstee: Ha! Frans, Monkey's husband, who is Dutch, also dissauded me from reading anything by him when we met in Maastricht in June.

>274 kidzdoc: Then I agree with Frans, Darryl, but if you insist I will read one more ;-)

I'm glad I read it, but it was a struggle. There was a funny quote from the author in the front of my copy, saying that he thought it would just be circulated between his friends, and it wasn't his fault it was so popular!
I think it's interesting, as you said, to think about it as a book about what happened after the war - young people whose lives were upset, changed, but had little or no control and now are expected to just get on with very boring, humdrum days and nights. Thanks for your comments on it Anita - they really helped!

book 243: Laatste nacht in Jeque by Henk Barnard
own, Dutch, YA, Mozambique, awarded, Nienke van Hichtum prijs 1979, TIOLI #9, no translations, 161 pages

Raul lives in the North-East of Mozambique in the early 1970s. At that time Mozambique is still a colony of Portugal. FRELIMO fights for independence. One day Raul meets FRELIMO soldiers and brings them to his village. Many men of the village join FRELIMO. The freedom fighters don't only fight, they try to teach the villagers to read and write and help them with the crops on the fields.
The last night in Jeque (title of the book), where Raul was educated, he thinks about his village and how he ended up in Jeque. Mozambique is a free country now and tomorrow he will leave Jeque to go to Ribaue for further education.

>276 charl08: I feel the same Charlotte, I am glad I read it, but it was no easy read. That quote is indeed funny and some love it so much they read it each year between 22 december and 31 december a chapter a day...
I am happy my comments were helpful. There is a little hint that Frits might have done some resistance work in the war, as one of his friends calls him "captain". Then is is even more understandable that life after the war is difficult to fit in.

I have marked my spot in the 2017 group: 2017 thread.

With 11 days to go I will finish some books before the end of the year, so I will be mainly active here.

book 244: De witte leeuwin (Wallander 3) by Henning Mankell
from the library, e-book, police mystery, 3rd of Kurt Wallander, TIOLI #18, English translation The white lioness, 543 pages

A woman has disappeared. She was, together with her husband, owner of a real-estate company. The police is complete in the dark until the woman is found in a well, executed. This turns the track to a plot in South Africa to assassinate Nelson Mandela. Kurt Wallander gets way too much involved in the investigation eventually leading to a servere breakdown.

I love Wallander and I love this one even more that the previous books!

moved to next thread

Hi, Anita! I really liked The White Lioness. I should get back to Wallander. I think I read the first 5 or so.

Hope your week is going well.

Hi Mark!
Yes the Wallander books are very good, I just started the next one.

The end of an awfull day... sometimes I think I am doing better, sometimes reallity shatters that tought...

I had an appointment with an cardiologist today. My brother died in July of an heartattack and autopsy revealed he had an heartattack before the fatal one. Family members were urged to be examined...

Sadly all went wrong, I had to wait too long, it was too crowded and I panicked big time. I tried to wait some longer, but I collapsed, so we went home...

Off to bed now, hoping I can sleep...

>284 FAMeulstee: - Since I don't want to "spoil" your brand new thread, I decided to post my support for you here. I hope you feel better now. I completely understand that you had a panic-attack under these circumstances. I think it's perfectly normal. I guess it was a wise decision to postpone it and get some sleep. Have you thought of bringing a book with you that calms you, that allows you to forget the waiting-room and all the stress that surrounds you? Something fluff or cozy or anything that works for you? It helped me when I was under enormous stress last year going through all the medical examinations, etc, so it might do the trick for you.

>284 FAMeulstee: Oh, Anita, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I hope you're feeling okay now.

>285 Trifolia: Thanks Monica, I had my e-reader with me, I always have. I just never got to it.
At my GP we have an arrangement that Frank goes inside and waits, I stay in the car reading, until Frank picks me up. Then I can go straight to the doctors room. When Frank made the appointment he asked, but they said it was never crowded and that the doctors always were punctual. Yesterday they apparently had some emergencies, so all went wrong. I am not sure yet if I want to try again...

>286 scaifea: Thank you Amber, I am okayish now, a bit wobbely. A night with better sleep will probably do the trick.

Hope you get a good night's sleep and feel better soon Anita.

Thanks Charlotte, I didn't get much sleep last night and the night before. Guess I am tired enough now to do better ;-)