Chrischi_HH on tour in 2020

Hello fellow readers! My name is Christiane and I live in the north of Germany. This is my sixth year joining the Category Challenge, though my participation has decreased a bit in the last few years. I don't read as much as some others here do, but let's see what 2020 brings.

2019 has been disappointing in terms of reading, so I need to work on my reading time. Maybe my travelling categories with holiday pictures can get my motivation back to a higher level. ;)

In 2020 I will use some of my past and future travel destinations as categories, but apart from the titles I will more or less stick to my earlier set-up. It has worked well in the past, so why change it? Like all of us, I will try to read as much as possible from the TBR and the forever growing wishlist, but there will of course also be space for shiny new books.

These are my eight categories:
- Home sweet home: TBR
- New York: wishlist books
- Zakynthos: LT book bullets since 2015
- Bahamas: geo focus – outside of Europe
- Canary Islands: series
- Glasgow: CATs & KITs
- Copenhagen: overflow
- Oberstdorf: BingoDOG

There won't be target numbers for the respective categories. I'll just try to fill the categories as good as possible and to reduce my wishlist a little bit. Overlap is allowed. Regarding an overall target, I'm aiming for 25 books (which is far from what I would like to read in a year, but 25 should be more or less realistic).

Read in 2020:
1. The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain 4.5 ★ (finished 05-01-2020)
2. Der Augenjäger by Sebastian Fitzek 3.5 ★ (finished 24-01-2020)
3. Die Känguru-Chroniken by Marc-Uwe Kling (audio) 3.5 ★ (finished 25-01-2020)
4. Hinter dem Regenbogen (Engl. The Pearl That Broke Its Shell) by Nadia Hashimi) 4 ★ (finished 01-02-2020)
5. The Power by Naomi Alderman 4.5 ★ (finished 12-02-2020)
6. Blinde Vögel by Ursula Poznanski 3.5 ★ (finished 26-02-2020)
7. Die Zeugin by Sandra Brown 4 ★ (finished 07-03-2020)
8. Winternähe by Mirna Funk 4 ★ (finished 16-03-2020)
9. Weil wir längst woanders sind by Rasha Khayat 4.5 ★ (finished 22-03-2020)
10. Mit dem Teufel im Bunde by Petra Oelker 4 ★ (finished 08-04-2020)
11. Die Teerose (Engl. The Tea Rose) by Jennifer Donelly 5 ★ (finished 24-04-2020)
12. The Secret Player by Anonymous 3 ★ (finished 23-05-2020)
13. Zusammen ist man weniger allein by Anna Gavalda 5 ★ (finished 03-06-2020)
14. Die Toten Hosen: KiWi Musikbibliothek 1 by Thees Uhlmann (audio) 4.5 ★ (finished 28-06-2020)
15. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty 3.5 ★ (finished 29-06-2020)
16. Deutsches Haus (Engl. The German House) by Annette Hess 5 ★ (finished 12-07-2020)
17. Die Kampagne (Engl. The Whole Truth) by David Baldacci 4★ (finished 25-07-2020)
18. Der Garten über dem Meer (Engl. Garden by the Sea) by Mercè Rodoreda 3.5★ (finished 08-08-2020)
19. Die Schule am Meer by Sandra Lüpkes 5★ (finished 16-08-2020)
20. The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins 4★ (finished 14-09-2020)
21. Soundcheck: Geschichten für Musikfans by Christine Stemmermann 4★ (finished 26-09-2020)
22. Die Ladenhüterin (Engl. Convenience Store Woman) by Sayaka Murata 3★ (finished 02-10-2020)
NN. Dampfschiff nach Argentinien by Alexei Makushinsky (DNF 17-10-2020)
23. Police (Politi) by Jo Nesbo 4.5★ (finished 21-11-2020)
24. Als ich unsichtbar war (Engl. Ghost Boy) by Martin Pistorius 4★ (finished 06-12-2020)
25. Das fliegende Klassenzimmer (Engl. The Flying Classroom) by Erick Kästner 5★ (finished 16-12-2020)
26. Lübecker Geheimnisse: 50 spannende Geschichten aus der Hansestadt by Eva-Maria Bast 4★ (finished 22-12-2020)
27. Der satanarchäolügenialkohöllische Wunschpunsch: Die Lesung (Engl. The Night of Wishes) by Michael Ende (audio) 5★ (finished 30-12-2020)

Statistics:
Pages read: 9,133
*January: 586
*February: 1,367
*March: 1,034
*April: 1,102
*May: 293
*June: 985
*July: 841
*August: 805
*September: 625
*October: 270
*November: 527
*December: 698
Audiobooks: 3 (12h28)
From own shelves: 15
Borrowed - from library: 6 - from family/friends: 2
Rereads: 0
New books bought: 9 (3 read)
Read in German: 21
Read in English: 5
Read in Danish: 1
Books by female author: 16
Books by male author: 11
EXTRA - Magazines read: 5

Countries visited in 2020

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com
Countries visited: 16
Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Moldova, Norway, Saudi-Arabia, South Africa, Spain, UK, US

HOME SWEET HOME
- books from tbr -

Soundtrack: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

Lübeck has been my home for five years now, and it also feels like home. Not only because here I can find all my books. ;) As I keep my wishlists separately and only count owned books for my TBR, it is not too long. Still, I want to mostly read my own books to make room for new ones.

Unread books owned prior to 2020 (excluding audio books): 38

1. The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain
2. Der Augenjäger by Sebastian Fitzek (borrowed from my sister in 2018...)
3. Die Känguru-Chroniken by Marc-Uwe Kling (audio)
4. The Power by Naomi Alderman
5. Blinde Vögel by Ursula Poznanski
6. Die Zeugin by Sandra Brown
7. Die Teerose by Jennifer Donnelly
8. The Secret Player by Anonymous
9. Zusammen ist man weniger allein by Anna Gavalda
10. Die Kampagne by David Baldacci
11. The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins
12. Soundcheck: Geschichten für Musikfans by Christine Stemmermann
13. Police (Politi) by Jo Nesbo
14. Das fliegende Klassenzimmer by Erich Kästner

NEW YORK
- books from wishlist -

Soundtrack: The Wombats - Moving to New York

NYC has been on our travel bucket list forever, but soon we can cross it off. In autumn we are going to spend a few days there, and the planning of where to stay and what to do has just begun. There is no place that better fits my wishlist category!

1. Winternähe by Mirna Funk
2. Weil wir längst woanders sind by Rasha Khayat
3. Deutsches Haus by Annette Hess
4. Der Garten über dem Meer by Mercè Rodoreda

ZAKYNTHOS
- LT book bullets -

Soundtrack: Coldplay - Paradise

The Ionian Island Zakynthos was the destination of a week's vacation with my sister this summer. The Island is stunning, and the water is crystal clear. We came across it by chance, but totally fell in love. Sounds somehow familiar from one or another BB flying around here...

BBs read:
1. The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain (2017, VivienneR)
2. Hinter dem Regenbogen by Nadia Hashimi (2017, LibraryCin)
3. The Power by Naomi Alderman (2017, avatiakh)
4. The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins (2017, Ikernagh)

2020 BBs:
1. The Fever by Megan Abbott (DeltaQueen50)
2. Victoria the Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird (VivienneR)
3. Passing by Nella Larsen (DeltaQueen50)
4. And the Land Lay Still by Kames Robertson (avatiakh)
5. Der nasse Fisch by Volker Kutscher (MissWatson)
6. Wearing Paper Dresses by Anne Brinsden (JayneCM)
7. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica (tess_schoolmarm)
8. Caravans by James A. Michener (tess_schoolmarm)
9. Gracelin O'Malley by Ann Moore (JayneCM)
10. Down Under by Bill Bryson (JayneCM)
11. Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anaonymous by Gabriella Coleman (Jackie_K)
12. Breaking News: Thre Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now by Alan Rusbridger (MissWatson)
13. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (This-n-That)
14. Sherwood by Meagan Spooner (christina_reads)
15. Thunderstruck by Erik Larson (VivienneR)
16. This Boy by Alan Johnson (VivienneR)
17. Looker by Laura Sims (RidgewayGirl)
18. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (avatiakh)
19. The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi (avatiakh)
20. The Chain by Adrian McKinty (VivienneR)
21. Mary Toft; or, The Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer (RidgewayGirl)
22. The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea (RidgewayGirl)
23. The Trespass by Barbara Ewing (DeltaQueen50)
24. Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon (Jackie_K)
25. The Salt Path: A Memoir by Raynor Winn (Jackie_K)
26. Dominicana by Angie Cruz (RidgewayGirl)
27. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (christina_reads)
28. Home Sweet Homicide by Craig Rice (christina_reads)
29. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (japaul22)
30. The Good LIfe Elsewhere by Vladimir Lorchenkov (Jackie_K)
31. Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (RidgewayGirl)
32. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (RidgewayGirl)
33. Assignment in Brittany by Helen MacInnes (christina_reads)
34. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich (RidgewayGirl)
35. Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler (RidgewayGirl)
36. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal (DeltaQueen50)
37. Teufelsfrucht by Tom Hillenbrand (MissWatson)
38. The River by Peter Heller (DeltaQueen50)
39. The Glass House by Emily St. John Mandel (RidgewayGirl)
40. Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan (RidgewayGirl)
41. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (RidgewayGirl)
42. A Lovely Way to Burn by Louise Welsh (RidgewayGirl)

Read: 0 of 42

Link to my 2019 BBs | Read: 0 of 29
Link to my 2018 BBs | Read: 0 of 56
Link to my 2017 BBs | Read: 6 of 51
Link to my 2016 BBs | Read: 3 of 34
Link to my 2015 BBs | Read: 13 of 73

BAHAMAS
- books set outside of Europe -

Soundtrack: Weezer - Island in the Sun

For our vacation in autumn we are thinking about combining New York with a cruise ship journey, where one of the stops on the way would be Nassau, Bahamas. I guess there is nothing to say no to...

1. Hinter dem Regenbogen by Nadia Hashimi (Asia, Afghanistan)
2. Die Zeugin by Sandra Brown (USA)
3. Winternähe by Mirna Funk (partly set in Israel)
4. Weil wir längst woanders sind by Rasha Khayat (partly set in Saudi Arabia)
5. Die Teerose by Jennifer Donnelly (partly set in the US)
6. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (Australia)
7. The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins (partly set in Jamaica)
8. Die Ladenhüterin by Sayaka Murata (Japan)
9. Als ich unsichtbar war by Martin Pistorius (South Africa)

CANARY ISLANDS
- series -

Soundtrack: The Kooks - Seaside

In spring we went on a two week cruise in the Canary Island area, combined with Madeira and Agadir, Morocco. Time was very limited on the respective islands, but I fell in love with all of them. The landscapes and views are stunning! The picture above was taken at La Gomera, at one of the many viewpoints. As we visited eight places in two weeks, this is the perfect match for my series category.

*Series I am reading:
Jo Nesbø - Harry Hole (read 10/12)
Petra Oelker - Rosina&Claes (read 8/10)
Sara Blædel - Louise Rick (read 3/9)
David Downing - Station series (read 2/6)
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot / Miss Marple (read 1/46)
Hjorth & Rosenfeldt - Sebastian Bergmann (read 1/5)
Ursula Poznanski - Beatrice Kaspari (read 2/4)
Derek Meister - Rungholt (read 1/5)

*Series I'd like to start:
Andrea Camilleri - Commissario Montalbano
Stieg Larsson - Millennium trilogy
Stuart Neville - Jack Lennon

1. Die Känguru-Chroniken by Marc-Uwe Kling (audio)
2. Blinde Vögel by Ursula Poznanski (Beatrice Kaspari #2)
3. Mit dem Teufel im Bunde by Petra Oelker (Rosina&Claes #8)
4. Police (Politi) by Jo Nesbø (Harry Hole #10)

GLASGOW
- CATs & KITs -

Soundtrack: The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger

RandomCAT
January: (NY resolutions) | French
February: (leap year) | The Power
March: (seasons) | Winternähe
April: (showers & flowers) | Die Teerose
May: (own shelf) | The Secret Player
June: (to the sea) | Der Garten über dem Meer | Die Schule am Meer
July: (picture this) | -
August: (music) | Soundcheck: Geschichten für Musikfans
September: (reccies) | The Tide Between Us
October: (healthcare heroes) | ?
November: (lest we forget) | ?
December:

GeoCAT
January: (Caucasus/Western Asia) | Hinter dem Regenbogen (The Pearl that Broke its Shell) - Afghanistan
February: (Europe) | Blinde Vögel - Austria
March: (Northern Africa & ME) | Winternähe - Israel | Weil wir längst woanders sind - Saudi Arabia
April: (Australia) | Nine Perfect Strangers
May: (any place you like) | Zusammen ist man weniger allein - Paris, France
June: (space) | -
July: (Central & South America) | The Tide Between Us - Jamaica
August: (East/South-East Asia) | Die Ladenhüterin - Japan
September: (Polar & Tundra) | ?
October: (GB, CA, US) | ?
November: (Africa) | Als ich unsichtbar war - South Africa
December: (free) | Lübecker Geheimnisse - Lübeck|Germany|Europe

COPENHAGEN
- overflow -

Soundtrack: Tina Dico - Copenhagen

If nothing goes, Copenhagen does. Always. My former home and favourite city, in summer or winter, spring or autumn. The city is just as amazing as the song. ♥

1. Die Toten Hosen: KiWi Musikbibliothek 1 by Thees Uhlmann (audio)
2. Der satanarchäolügenialkohöllische Wunschpunsch: Die Lesung by Michael Ende (audio)

OBERSTDORF
- BingoDOG -

Soundtrack: Sportfreunde Stiller - Ein Kompliment

Oberstdorf is a village in the German Alps, and I have returned to it several times. In 2020, it will be the first visit in winter, though, so this will be a bit of a surprise package. Just like the bingo squares each year!



1. proper name in title
2. set in Asia: Hinter dem Regenbogen
3. periodic table element in title
4. about birth or death
5. not set on Earth
6. small press or self-published
7. by journalist / about journalism: Die Kampagne
8. weird book title: Der satanarchäolügenialkohöllische Wunschpunsch: Die Lesung
9. published in 1820 or 1920
10. LT author: Die Zeugin
11. non-US/UK female author: Blinde Vögel
12. "library" or "thing" in title
13. read a CAT: Weil wir längst woanders sind (GeoCAT March)
14. pen name / anonymous author: The Secret Player
15. published in your birth year
16. 3+ letters of "BINGO" in title
17. books, bookstores, libraries: The Red Notebook
18. involves real historical event: Winternähe
19. from a Legacy Library
20. red cover / red is prominent: The Power
21. published in 2020: Die Schule am Meer
22. mythology or folklore: Lübecker Geheimnisse
23. title contains a pun
24. mystery or true crime: Der Augenjäger
25. epistolary or letters

Reading order: 17 - 24 - 2 - 20 - 11 - 10 - 18 - 13 - 14 - 7 - 21 - 22 - 8

My thread is open and you are welcome to post comments on books, vacations and just about everything else. Let's have another great year on LT!

Welcome back!

Good to see you back again!

Good luck with your 2020 reading!

Yay, welcome back! I like that Glasgow is among your list of places :)

Have a great New Year and good luck with your challenge.

Wishing you good luck with your category challenges and a better year of reading.

Great to see you setting up for another great reading year, Christiane. I've placed a star here.

Thanks for dropping by and your good wishes! I'm lloking forward to another year of reading - and really hope to be around here a bit more often again. :)

Happy reading! I hope you have a fabulous trip to NYC in the fall. It’s one of my favorite places to visit.

Love your pictures, and it seems we have similar music tastes! :) Hope you have a great reading year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! May it be a good year with happiness, health and lots of good books!

>20 LittleTaiko: Thank you. We are really looking forward to NYC and are just about to start diving into the planning. :)
>21 christina_reads: Thanks Christina. :)

Home sweet home (Lübeck) looks fabulous, and your other pictures are so well chosen! Hope you can get some reading mojo from the group!

Enjoy your NYC visit! I'm looking forward to following your reading again this year.

Happy New Year, Chrischi, and good luck with your reading!

Good luck with your 2020 reading!

>23 NinieB: Thank you! It is always a pleasure to choose pictures. Unfortunately the ones from NYC, Bahamas, Glasgow and Zakynthos are not my own, but these will be replaced at the next occasion!

>24 RidgewayGirl: Thanks. I hope I'll be able to follow you more than last year. I know I am a good target for your BBs. :)

>25 MissWatson: >26 lkernagh: Thank you both!

------------------------------



Book #1:
The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain, 2014
Paperback, 159 pages, English
Genre/Tags: fiction, France, Paris, romance, books about books
Category: Home sweet home (TBR), Zakynthos (BBs), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (17) books, bookstore, libraries
Countries visited: France
Rating:

What is the best way to start the new reading year? Choose a book bullet! The Red Notebook is one I git from VivienneR in 2017. It is a lovely little book. Bookseller Laurent finds an abandoned handbag in the streets of Paris. Trying to find out who the owner is, he opens the bag and comes across a red notebook with thoughts and notes. He feels he wants to get to know this person and starts looking for the woman without even knowing her name.

It's a short but beautiful book. For me the setting in Paris, the bookstore, the personal stories of Laurent and Laure and the searching worked perfectly. Mabe it is not entirely realistic, but why should it be? I enjoyed The Red Notebook a lot and am happy to have read this as first book of the year.

What I found a bit amusing is that the author's surname is Laurain – and his main characters are called Laurent and Laure.

Recommended!

>8 Chrischi_HH: The Glasgow murals are brilliant - a really fantastic addition to the cityscape.

>27 Chrischi_HH: - Great review, and it looks like I am taking a BB from a BB. ;-)

>27 Chrischi_HH: I am taking a hit too! As soon as I saw the cover, I thought I would like it and your review clinched the deal!

>28 Jackie_K: I hope to see them myself soon!

>29 lkernagh: >30 JayneCM: Yay, book bullets! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)

Lübeck looks gorgeous! Happy New Year, Christiane.

Wonder pictures to go with your 2020 challenge! And I am also taking a BB from your first read of the year.

>32 VivienneR: Thanks Vivienne. :)
>33 LisaMorr: Yay, good that it's not only me always being hit. ;)

Last night I finished Der Augenjäger by Sebastian Fitzek. As we are now on our way to the German Alps, I'll post my comments later. Two books have found their way into my luggage, let's see how much reading time I'll have. :)

>34 Chrischi_HH: Have a great time! I haven't followed the weather reports, do they have snow?

>35 MissWatson: Thank you! We came back yesterday after a lovely week in Oberstdorf. On the mountains they had snow (about 1m when we arrived), in the valleys there was almost none. But we had two grey days bringing fresh snow, so it was a good weather mix for us. I'll post some pictures later. :)

On the way back I finished my book for the January GeoCAT, A Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi. And I managaed to finish an audiobook, too: Die Känguru-Chroniken by Marc-Uwe Kling. Reviews will follow when the housework is done...

Book #2:
Der Augenjäger by Sebastian Fitzek, 2011
Paperback, 427 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological, Germany, Berlin
Category: Home sweet home (TBR), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (24) mystery or true crime
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

Der Augenjäger is the sequel to Der Augensammler. Again we meet blind Alina Gregoriev, former policeman and now journalist Alexander Zorbach, the police team – and the hunter. This time the plot is more twisted and even more cruelties are waiting for the reader. Personally I prefered the first book, though, because the second seemed a bit too overloaded for me. Some twists and turns are highly unrealistic (hey, it's fiction, it's ok for them to be unrealistic – but that was one too many) which made the last chapters less enjoyable. However, this is my personal taste, I know a bunch of people loving both books.

Book #3:
Die Känguru-Chroniken (The Cangaroo Chronicles) by Marc-Uwe Kling, 2011
Audiobook, 4h53min (~272 pages), German
Genre/Tags: fiction, humour, satire, cabaret, cangaroo, Germany, Berlin
Category: Home sweet home (TBR), Canary Islands (series)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

The cangaroo books had been on my radar for years. On our cruise last year, they had a reading of some book chapters one night, which I enjoyed so much that I downloaded the audiobook. It too me a long time to get through it, but that's just because I am not good at reading audiobooks and therefore only listen to them when travelling...
Marc-Uwe and his flatmate – a cangaroo, a communist cagaroo – make an absurd and funny team that has many stories to tell. Political debates or just discussions about daily life, the audiobook was highly entertaining. Marc-Uwe Kling read it himself and in my opinion he does a very good job. (not really surprising, as he started the cangaroo stories on stage before making books out of it). I found my mind wandering off once in a while, but I'm not sure whether it's because of the book or because it's an audiobook. I have downloaded the next of four books, so on the next trainride I'm ready to go on.

Book #4:
Hinter dem Regenbogen (Engl. The Pearl That Broke Its Shell) by Nadia Hashimi, 20??
Hardcover, 553 pages, German
Genre/Tags: historical fiction, Afghanistan, women's rights, arranged marriage, abuse
Category: Zakynthos (BBs), Bahamas (outside Europe), Glasgow (January GeoCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (02) set in Asia
Countries visited: Afghanistan
Rating:

Hinter dem Regenbogen was a book bullet from LibraryCin back in 2017. The January GeoCAT made me get it from the library. With its 500+ pages it was a perfect read for several hours on the train on our way to the Alps. Nadia Hashimi tells the story of two women in Afghanistan, one set in the early 20th century, the other about 100 years later.

Rahima is one of five girls in the family. With a drug-addiceted father and no boys, money is short. Therefore Rahima becomes a basha posh, a girl dressing and acting as a boy, in order to help her mother and bring some money home. When she turns 13, her father decides to marry her and two of her sisters to a powerful warlord family.
About a century earlier, Shekiba, Rahima's great-great-grandmother, is the only surviving child after the cholera and helps her father on the fields, separated from the rest of the family. When her father dies, she is treated badly by her remaining family and finally sold as a servant. From there, she is passed on to the royal palace to work as a male guard for the king's harem.

Hinter dem Regenbogen is a powerful book. It is beautifully written and has relatable and realistic characters. The background felt well research, although my knowledge about life in Afghanistan is limited. It made me sad that so little had changed in these 100 years, that a woman's plight could be so devastating and that here is hardly anything they could do about it. The stories are horrifying, cruel, disgusting, but always with a bit of hope and a little glance of hope. The book shows us quite plainly, how lucky we are to live in the western world, to be allowed to vote and to speak for ourselves. An important book that should reach a broad audience.

>39 Chrischi_HH: - Great review! I am currently reading A House Without Windows by the same author. I am very impressed with how she conveys the horrifying way women in Afghanistan today are treated and as you mention, how lucky we are to live in the western world. Adding this one (and more Hashimi books) to my future reading list.

>27 Chrischi_HH: What a great start to your reading this year and I enjoyed all your reviews. The Red Notebook sounded so familiar to me but I don't have it listed on LT. I suspect I started reading it and set it aside for some reason. Adding it back to my list as a BB. Thank you!

>40 lkernagh: I have A House Without Windows sitting on my Kindle but I haven't gotten to it yet. Hoping that you like it and end up giving it a favorable review.

I've been sick since Wednesday and only started feeling a bit better and well enough to read yesterday. I picked The Power by Naomi Alderman for the February RandomCAT (published in 2016). I'm about 100 pages in and enjoying it a lot so far. I expect to stay home for another day or two and hope to be able to go on reading.

>40 lkernagh: That's exactly the feeling I had when reading Hashimi's book. The horrors are there, but packed into something that makes it bearable to read.

>41 This-n-That: I'm happy to hear that. :) And I hope you enjoy The Red Notebook when you get to it.

Get well soon!

Sorry to hear that you're not well. Good that you're feeling well enough to read though! Hope you're back to 100% soon :)

Hope you are feeling better soon!

>43 MissWatson: >44 rabbitprincess: >45 DeltaQueen50: Thank you! :) I haven't reached 100% yet, but I'm feeling much better. Now it's my boyfriend's turn, though. I am lucky, that I tend to get through the flu season with just a slight cold, mostly, but every few years - like now - it fully gets me.

-------------



Book #5:
The Power by Naomi Alderman, 2016
Paperback, 338 pages, English
Genre/Tags: science fiction, speculative fiction, dystopia, fantasy, feminism, women, sexism
Category: Lübeck (TBR). Zakynthos (BBs), Glasgow (February RandomCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (20) red cover
Countries visited: Moldova, UK, US
Rating:

The Power was a book bullet from avatiakh back in 2017. I picked it up for the February RandomCAT (published in 2016, a leap year) and could also fill a bingo square (red cover).

This piece of speculative / science fiction was a real page turner for me. Naomi Alderman takes us into a world just like our own, but a world where women have the power and men are the powerless gender. The book is written in a very readable style from five POV, and I liked the world building. The characters are well drawn, and I felt with them (even though I did not like all of them).

I understand The Power as satire of our world, turning the genders upside down. Now women are the strong ones, the cruel ones, while men are weak and have nothing to say. It could be some wishful thinking, but the book is much too cruel for that. In the book, women are no better then mankind has been in our past and until today.

Recommended!

>46 Chrischi_HH: I have been meaning to read this since it was first released. Thanks for reminding me about it!

>46 Chrischi_HH: I also have had this on my list for a while.

>47 RidgewayGirl: >48 JayneCM: I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

Almost three years ago, I added "magazines read" to my personal statistics, because I wanted to read and sort through the many (~50) magazines flying around here. Well, nothing really happened. Today I can happily say that I have read the first one in two years! A German National Geograpic issue from December 2014. Fingers crossed that I can manage a few more this year, I really would like to reduce the number of unread magazines and heavy paper piles in our rooms...

>49 Chrischi_HH: I love magazines! But I also tend to let them pile up. I'm trying to spend a bit more money on print journalism because I like that it exists, but I find that I still go to a book or the internet over a magazine when I have some free time.... Why did you choose that National Geographic issue?

>50 pammab: I love magazines, too! I just had to accept that I'm not good at taking the time to read them. Therefore I stopped all subscriptions a few years ago and only buy one once in a while, when I know that I am going to read them soon. I chose the National Geographic issue, because I wanted something to fully dive into. The other magazines I have are more focused on specific topics (either cycling or music or cooking). Well, and then I chose the oldest one to have them in order. :) What kind of magazines do you read?

>51 Chrischi_HH: I'm doing the same with National Geographic. I bought a 3 year subscription from my grandson as a fundraiser in 2017. It just expired and I've read 2 of them. The others are still in their plastic covers. Next year, I'm going to have a category just for them!

>42 Chrischi_HH: Just catching up. I hope you are over your illness by now and were able to find lots of good reading to help you recover.

>52 Tess_W: A separate category is a good idea!

>53 VivienneR: Thanks, Vivienne! I'm feeling good again and finished a book on Wednesday, review will follow. :)

Glad you're feeling better and reading full steam ahead!

What comes after being sick for two weeks? Right, catching up. And as I am also training a new colleague, this has been quite a challenge over the past few weeks and I've been working overtime every single day. My private life has suffered a bit, but I'm slowly getting back on track and my colleague also begins to be able to support me.

In the meantime I finished another book, the German edition of The Witness by Sandra Brown. It was one my mother wanted me to pass on to a charity book sale - but how can I pass it on without having read it myself? I had no clue what was waiting for me, but I enjoyed reading it. A review will follow soon.

The corona virus has taken control of Germany now, all major events have been cancelled, all local sports activities are cancelled until after the Easter holidays, public rooms like museums or the library are closed and schools are closed until after the holidays as well. I expect to go back to the office as usual on Monday, but the world around us is certainly slowing down for now. Good that there are enough books on my shelves. :)

>56 Chrischi_HH: Sounds about like what we have here. We haven't been mandated to telework, but I've asked to do so anyway because I am well equipped to do so and might as well avoid being out any more than necessary.

Glad to hear you are feeling better and that your new colleague is finding their feet :)

>56 Chrischi_HH: Good to see you back!

>56 Chrischi_HH: Hope you're feeling better! And I'm glad you've enough books to keep you going!

>57 rabbitprincess: >58 MissWatson: >59 Jackie_K: Thank you! :)

Finished another book yesterday, Winternähe by Mirna Funk. I should get to these reviews soon...

Today we have been sent home and I have set up my little "office" in the living room. I've tried that before, so I should be ok. I must admit that the whole situation feels a bit surreal, like in science fiction, because nobody really knows for how long this will go on and if all the small businesses that cannot earn money at the moment will survive.

I hope you are all healthy wherever you are. Let's follow the new rules and support each other!

>60 Chrischi_HH: I think the feeling will change dramatically once somebody we know in real life catches the virus. Stay safe!

>61 MissWatson: That's definitely true. I really hope this won't happen, but I guess it's rather unrealistic. And while I am (for now) enjoying the calm hours, having time for cooking, cleaning, reading and gardening - all the things that were hard to enjoy in the past stressful weeks - I am aware of this critical situation, and that it is not quite as easy for everyone to follow the rules and stay home. I know a few people who were very social, meeting a bunch of people almost every day. For them it is quite a challenge to stay at home alone.

Yesterday I got a call from our local Thalia book store. A pre-ordered book arrived, and they are now forwarding it by mail. New reading ahead! :)

>62 Chrischi_HH: While this time is stressful for all of us, introverts certainly have a natural advantage. And all that book buying over the years now seems quite prescient.

>62 Chrischi_HH: Let us hope the mail will get through for a long time still!

Finally, some reviews! I hope you are all doing ok, no matter in which country you are!



Book #6:
Blinde Vögel by Ursula Poznanski, 2013
Paperback, 476 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, thriller, mystery, crime fiction, Austria, series
Category: Lübeck (TBR). Canary Islands (series), Glasgow (February GeoCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (11) non US/UK female author
Countries visited: Austria
Rating:

Blinde Vögel is the second book in Ursula Poznanski's series with Beatrice Kaspary and Florin Wenninger. When they start the investigations on two deaths in Salzburg, they are tapping very much in the dark. Beatrice starts following their traces on the internet and quickly finds out that there was a thin connection between them, a shared group on Facebook. Soon a third person from this group dies...
I like the way Beatrice Kaspary writes and forms her characters, I like the idea of investigations using modern technologies and I like the side stories of both Beatrice and Florin. However, I found the ending a little too abrupt (though indeed surprising and thrilling!) while a huge part of the book was rather slow and about the online investigations. It was still good enough, and I will go on with this series.

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Book #7:
Die Zeugin (Engl. The Witness) by Sandra Brown, 2013
Paperback, 505 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, thriller, mystery, romance, racism, USA
Category: Lübeck (TBR). Bahamas (outside Europe), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (10) LT author
Countries visited: USA
Rating:

My Mom threw this one out a few years ago and asked me to pass it to one of our local book donations of free litte libraries. But how could I pass it on without reading it myself? I had no idea what The Witness was about, and was pleasantly surprised. This was fast-paced and intense, had quite a few surprising twists and was hard to put down. Now I will give it away and hope someone else enjoys it as much as I did.

Book #8:
Winternähe by Mirna Funk, 2015
Hardcover, 343 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, identity, family, Jewish, Israel, Germany
Category: New York (wishlist). Bahamas (outside Europe), Glasgow (March RandomCAT & GeoCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (18) involves real historial event
Countries visited: Germany, Israel
Rating:

Winternähe ended up on my wishlist right after publication and I'm happy I finally read it. Mirna Funk tells the story of a young woman, Lola, who is a German Jew and struggling with her own identity – or with what everyone thinks should be her identity. In Berlin she faces antisemitism and decides to travel to Tel Aviv. There she meets her lover, her grandfather and war. After weeks of happiness and sadness, she does not feel right and moves on once again.
I liked this book a lot. It mirrors our society, us deciding who someone else should be and how a person can struggle with that. I didn't know that there are different types of Jews (or rather, what these differences are) and found it interesting to read. It is an emotional book and well worth reading!

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Book #9:
Weil wir längst woanders sind by Rasha Khayat, 2016
Hardcover, 187 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, identity, family, migration, Saudi-Arabia
Category: New York (wishlist). Bahamas (outside Europe), Glasgow (March GeoCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (13) read a CAT
Countries visited: Germany, Saudi-Arabia
Rating:

Another very good book about identity and family roots. Layla and Basil are siblings, both born in Saudi-Arabia but grown up in Germany. Their father was Saudi-Arabian and died early, their mother is German. Layla decides to marry a Saudi, and when Basil travels to his old home, it is not only a family visit, but also a journey into his past: a lively and loving family, old traditions, the city and the sea. He feels at home, but at the same time distanced. He wonders why his sister decided to be part of this world, live in a country with very limited rights for women and strict rules.
I enjoyed reading Weil wir längst woanders sind, showing a world I don't really know and how two persons with strong bonds can feel differently about their two worlds.

Book #10:
Mit dem Teufel im Bunde by Petra Oelker, 2006
Paperback, 418 pages, German
Genre/Tags: historical fiction, crime fiction, mystery, murder, Hamburg, 18th century, series
Category: Canary Islands (series)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

Mit dem Teufel im Bunde is the 8th installment in Petra Oelker's historical mysery series set in 18th century Hamburg. Once again Rosina, a former actor and now married to a salesman, is drawn into murder investigation with officer Wagner. One of the town's first ladies is found dead in a church, and at the same day another poor young girl is found there. But nobody has seen anything, which leads Rosina to her own investigations in Hamburg's upper class.
I like this series for the detailed historical background, the characters' personalities and the sometimes quite suprising stories. This one was no exception and I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series.

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Phew, up to date! :)

Happy Easter everyone! It will be a different Easter this year, but I hope you are all healthy and can make the most out of it!

Happy Easter to you, too! I hope you're making good use of the fabulous sunshine today!

>67 Chrischi_HH: Looks like a good book, but not translated, yet!

Another month has gone without much happening. I am still working from home, and doing whatever is possible these days: watching tv, listening to music, reading, cleaning, washing, enjoying the sun from the balcony, going for walks... Only last week I started to see people again, though always keeping the 1.5m distance. On Tuesday I met a friend in town and we had a beer beside the river. It was a lovely summer evening and almost felt like a "normal" evening. On Thursday I spent the day with a few friends in the garden, which was kind of the best thing I did in months. And yesterday another friend came over to have a drink on the balcony because the football team we support just got promoted to the 3rd Bundesliga. It is weird, because we have all been waiting for this moment for years - and now it happens out of the blue and we are not even allowed to celebrate big style. So sad! And yet so happy... Oh, and the library is open again! :)

In book news, I finished two in the meantime.



Book #11:
Die Teerose (Engl. The Tea Rose) by Jennifer Donnelly, 2004
Paperback, 684 pages, German
Genre/Tags: historical fiction, 19th century, tea, romance, Jack the Ripper, London, New York
Category: Home Sweet Home (tbr), Bahamas (outside of Europe), Glasgow (April RandomCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: United Kingdom, United States
Rating:

London in the 1880s and 1890s, a city divided by the rich and the poor, by old standards and progression. Fiona, a young girl working for a tea company, dreams of a better future, a small grocery store together with her fiancé Joe. But their plans are not falling into place and Fiona leaves him and the country for New York where she starts a new life.

Well, I loved The Tea Rose. The setting, the historical background, the romance between Fiona and Joe, their dreams and how they both struggle in life without giving up. A beautiful story.

This book is party of a trilogy, but if I understood correctly they can be read independently. I'll definitely be watching out for the second book, though.

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Book #12:
The Secret Player by Anonymous, 2013
Paperback, 293 pages, English
Genre/Tags: non-fiction, football, professional sports, Premier League, England
Category: Home Sweet Home (tbr), Glasgow (May RandomCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (14) anonymous author
Countries visited: United Kingdom
Rating:

I bought The Secret Player back in 2013 soon after publication and expected something exciting – but never actually got around to reading it. The book is written by a professional football player who shares his stories about what goes on in the background of the Premier League and other professional leagues. Team mates, managers, agents, journalists, women; they all get their share.

Unfortunately the book could not live up to my expectations. Maybe I have been too involved in football as a supporter for the past 20 years, or maybe things have changed for the worse since publication. Sure, there were many aspects that are not what to expect from a footballer (spending ridicoulous amounts of money for nothing, cheating, mobbing etc.), but there was nothing that really surprised or even shocked me.

Glad to hear that you are still safe and healthy, Christiane. In my province of British Columbia we are slowly opening but I think "normal" is still quite a way off. No sign of my library opening yet. :(

>70 Chrischi_HH: Too bad you couldn't celebrate properly!

Glad to see that you are experiencing more social contact while still maintaining physical distancing and that all continues to be well with you. Sports is tough. I have been following the developments around a possible revised Stanley Cup playoff for the professional hockey league (NHL) here in North America. They are talking about having two hub cities hosting the teams for the playoffs. Given the on-going Canada-US travel restrictions, and the regional differences in the coronavirus impacts, I am not sure how I feel about the NHL trying to salvage this season. A number of the players are in their home countries so they would need to return to play. Rumour has it a number of the broadcasting rights come up for expiration/renewal at the end of what would have been the normal season, so I worry that the association is trying to give a playoff, even in modified format, to give them a better negotiating position for the future broadcast rights. Even the professional baseball league in North America has officially scraped the 2020 season. Part of me is hoping that the players boycott and decide to sit the rest of the season out.

>71 DeltaQueen50: It really is great to have shops, libraries and now also restaurants open again. But to be honest, I am not going and and using these opportunities much. Today we met friends and visited a restaurant by the sea. It was lovely sitting there, outside in the sun with not too many people around, but I would not want to sit inside for now. And I haven't been shopping once until now. So well, somehow we are back to "normal", but it definitely is a new normal...

>72 MissWatson: It feels so weird! But I'm sure one day we will celebrate big time. :) And celebrating is not the most imortant thing right now, I guess, there is so much more to solve out there.

>73 lkernagh: Sports is a huge topic and I agree with you, that pushing things forward for money, new contracts etc. feels totally wrong. We have big discussions going on, because our football/soccer professionals in the Bundesliga restarted two weeks ago. It was clear that the main reason was the TV money, which the clubs need to survive. The supporters are now split in two groups: One group is watching the games, because they either fully support the restart or because they just can't help it, or are bored at home. The other group is angry and disappointed and is not following this season anymore. I think it is a difficult decision. Because yes, without the TV money many clubs and also connected companies might go bankrupt. But this issue clearly shows that the financial system of German/European/world football has gone wrong and should urgently be changed. However, Denmark started again last weekend, and there supporters are mostly standing behind this decision and the money discussion has not been in the focus. It is interesting how things are handled differently, and to be honest, I cannot say which decision is right or wrong. I am lucky that I play table tennis, with the table distance we can play almost like we always do, just no doubles, and with much more space around one table. But that's ok to handle. :)

On the reading front, I am enjoying Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda. A great book for these days.

It as been ages since I played table tennis (I am used to it being called ping pong), but what a perfect social distancing sport! Our current municipal council has, over the past few years, been trying to make downtown more pedestrian/cycling friendly. One thing they did, that I will admit struck me as "odd" at first, was to purchase a metal ping pong table and set it up as a permanent fixture on a side street that they had converted into a mini park. Now I am curious... I wonder how much use that table is getting. Next time I am downtown, I will venture that way and check it out. ;-)

>74 Chrischi_HH: I love Hunting and Gathering! Hope you continue to enjoy it!

Another month has almost passed, and what a busy month it was! The weather was mostly good, so I met friends outside quite often. Either just in someone's garden or somewhere by the water. I went to the beach one day and we had two birthdays and two weddings this month. After the long break of doing nothing June felt almost like a normal month, and I feel that I'm not used to all these "obligations" anymore. I'm looking forward to a quiet July!

>75 lkernagh: These metal tables are all around these days. Unfortunately it is not so easy to use them in our area, because it is always windy.

>76 christina_reads: I did, thank you. What a wonderful book!

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Book #13:
Zusammen ist man weniger allein (Engl. Hunting and Gathering) by Anna Gavalda, 2004
Paperback, 551 pages, German
Genre/Tags: Contemporary fiction, France, Paris, friendship, love, romance
Category: Home Sweet Home (tbr), Glasgow (May GeoCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: France
Rating:

In the middle of Paris we meet the young men Philibert and Franck, sharing a flat, and the young woman Camille, who moves in with them. They are all very unique personalities: Philibert knows everything about history, but struggles with social interaction. Franck is a kitchen chef who loves women and motorbikes, and whose grandmother faces dementia. Camille works at night as a cleaner and is anorexic. What sounds like an awful premise turns out to be a wonderful story, full of love and funny in parts. If you haven't read this one yet, go out and get yourself a copy!



Book #14:
Die Toten Hosen by Thees Uhlmann, 2019
Audiobook, 2h54min (~192 pages), German
Genre/Tags: non-fiction, biography, music, punk, Germany
Category: Copenhagen (overflow)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

Die Toten Hosen are a German punk/rock band and have been successful for more than 25 years. They are a huge name and nowadays there is hardly anyone left who has not heard of them at least once. The author, Thees Uhlmann, is a musician himself. In this short book, he tells his own story about Die Toten Hosen, from his first concert in their early years until the connections they have today and added personal remarks of his own life on top. I enjoyed this short ride of music history a lot, both the story and the way Thees reads it.

>77 Chrischi_HH: I'm glad life is getting back to a sort of normal for you. Our local library will reopen again next week with restrictions - good news for my husband who has difficulty finding books in their online catalogue.

>77 Chrischi_HH: - LOL, our municipal council isn't one for coming up with unique ideas so I figured they got the idea for the ping pong table from somewhere else. :-)

Book #15:
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, 2018
Paperback, 434 pages, English
Genre/Tags: contemporary fiction, suspense, suicide, grief, drugs, health ressort, Australian
Category: Bahamas (set outside of Europe), Glasgow (April GeoCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Australia
Rating:

I've had Liane Moriarty on my radar for years, and finally wanted to read one of her novels for the April GeoCAT. My first choice was Big Little Lies, but our library only has Nine Perfect Strangers in English, making the decision easy.
Nine stangers are meeting for a 10 day spa in a luxury health ressort in the middle of nowhere – to relax, to loose weight, to clean their bodies and souls. Soon they are realizing this spa is nothing like what they expected...
I enjoyed this novel, but am not a fan. The story is told from different point of views, which works fine. I also like the way Moriarty writes. But the story and characters had flaws. For the most part, nothing much happens. We get to know the characters and follow their spa routines. The suspense turn comes a bit too much out of the blue and feels exaggerated – yet still entertaining.

Everybody says that Moriarty's other books are better, so I will give them a try at some point.

>78 VivienneR: It is hard to keep an overview about the restrictions in different countries and regions. I am happy that we are back to an almost normal level, apart from cultural events and generally bigger gatherings (which is sad enough, I love football and concerts, both is only happening on tv or online now). I can understand your husband waiting for the library to open again, as I don't read e-books and need access to physical books. Seems like he doesn't have a huge TBR pile like many of us here do? ;)

The first half of the year is gone without much happening. It feels weird reading my own first posts with the categories. Why have I chosen the travel categories for a year in which travelling is more or less banned? Reading my texts and seeing the picture makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy for the week in Bavaria in January, happe for all the placed I have seen over the recent years. Sad because there won't be any new places this year. Not New York, no cruise, no Atlantic Ocean. The good thing of living in Europe is that other countries are easy to reach. We are thinking of driving through Denmark for two weeks in a camping van, because it seems like a perfect way to travel these days. Or we will just spend summer at home, which seems acceptable with the Baltic Sea close by.

Book #16:
Deutsches Haus (Engl. German House) by Annette Hess, 2018
Paperback, 365 pages, German
Genre/Tags: historical fiction, Germany, WWII aftermath, Auschwitz trials
Category: New York (wishlist)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

Deutsches Haus is a novel based on the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials in the 1960s. Eva Bruhn, working as a translator is asked to help out and translate for the upcoming trials. In these years the trials were not welcomed by everyone, because people were trying to forget the past and live in the present. Eva soon understands the importance of the trials and the unfathomable cruelties that happened in Auschwitz. Her job leads to difficulties with her fiancé and her family, who would rather see her not involved in the trials.

I had no idea what this book was about, but saw a few positive reviews and had the chance to borrow it from my sister. Well, I read this in only three days because I could hardly put it down. It brought the reader back to the 60s, with old and new visions of husband/wife relations, the urge to forget the past and to deny what happened, and at the same time the desire for justice and further investigations. For me, it felt very realistic and like a good presentation of a 1960s family in Germany. Deutsches Haus is of course not exactly a light read, but an emotional and well-written story. Recommended!

Book #18:
Der Garten über dem Meer (Engl. Garden by the Sea) by Mercè Rodoreda, 1967
Hardcover, 237 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, novella, Spain, Catalan, garden
Category: New York (wishlist), Glasgow (June RandomCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Spain
Rating:

I don't remember how I came across Garden by the Sea, but somehow I had it on my library wishlist. As it fit the June RandomCAT, I decided to give it a go, without knowing what to expect.

It is a quiet book, set in the 1920 or 1930s somewhere near Barcelona, told from the gardener's point of view. He is trusted by all inhabitants, never involved but always close by. He shares his knowledge with the reader, carefully like sharing a treasure. We get to know the house owners and their families, their visitors and neighbours. And along the path the garden becomes visible for the reader's eyes, with all the beautiful plants and the view across the ocean.

It took a while to get into the book. It remains quiet and the language is rather simple like in a conversation with a friend – yet beautiful and like a summer memory. I am happy that I chose it for the RandomCAT.

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Book #19:
Die Schule am Meer by Sandra Lüpkes, 2020
Hardcover, 568 pages, German
Genre/Tags: historical fiction, Germany, island, school, facism, Jewish, 1920s-1930s
Category: Glasgow (June RandomCAT), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (21) published in 2020
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

I cam across Die Schule am Meer on Instagram, when one of the „bookstagramers“ published a review. A book set in the 1920s-1930s on a German island? Sounds like a book for me!

And it IS a book for me. Each chapter covers one school year, though only picking out a short time period. A family and a few fellow teachers found a new private school on the island Juist, with focus and music, nature and freedom of thought. The island is a rough place to be in, both exposed to severe weather conditions and to the inhabitants' moods and increasing power of the Nazis.

The book is based on a true story, the school and many of the characters did exist at that time. I was drawn into the story right from the beginning, following the students growing up over the years and and the teachers trying to make the school as liveable as possible. A well written book, about a small piece of German history that has been made available to a larger public for the first time.

As it is a new publications there are no translations available at the moment. But if you are able to read in German, I absolutely recommend this book!

This year it feels like time is running faster than ever, without much happening. July was rainy with even less happening, but August was sunny and hot. We spent a lot of time outside, and only last weekend my sister visited me. I even watched my first football match, though only a friendly, since March, live in a little stadium. Life has felt good over the past few weeks. Now the rain has come back, but I am trying to ignore that as we only have a week to go until we go on vacation. The camper van is booked and Denmark is calling. :)

During the summer weeks I spent very little time online, therefore I followed hardly any threads. I'll try to catch up in autumn, and I hope you are all doing well, staying safe and healthy!

>83 Chrischi_HH: The second book sounds very good, if I can find it in English. A camper van and Denmark sounds lovely! Enjoy your vacation.

I have fond childhood memories of travelling parts of Europe in a camper van with my parents and siblings! We avoided all the large city centres, spending most of our time in the smaller communities. Wishing you a wonderful vacation in Denmark!

Time continues to just fly by... Thanks >85 Tess_W: and >86 lkernagh:, we had a lovely vacation. Denmark has surprised us in the most pleasant way. The north is just so beautiful, I could have stayed forever. Not that this is in any way surprising with my Danish "background", but still. We were not sure if the camper van life is the right thing for us - but yes, it is. We came back home 100% relaxed, much more than we could have been with the original plans of being in NYC and a cruise (where we would have been right now, actually, but I don't miss it at all). There are a few pictures - and some more will follow - on my Instagram. Go check out for_more_hygge if you feel like going on a digital road trip to Denmark. ;)

I'm not reading as much as I would like to these days, too often I am distracted by the internet. :( However, I am getting close to my goal of 25 books this year, so that's something!

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Book #20:
The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins, 2017
Paperback, 372 pages, English
Genre/Tags: historical fiction, Ireland, Jamaica, slavery, family
Category: Home Sweet Home (TBR), Zakynthos (Bbs), Bahamas (outside of Europe), Glasgow (September RandomCAT & July GeoCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Ireland, Jamaica
Rating:

The Tide Between Us was a book bullet from Ikernagh back in 2017. The story is set in Ireland and Jamaica and is focused on a family story on the background of slavery. An Irish boy is sent to Jamaica where he becomes a slave and has to find his own ways of surviving. The book tells his own story and that of his descendants. With the cruelties of slavery this is not an easy read, but I still liked the book. It is well written with a twist, and I was not aware of this part of Irish/Jamaican history. It's always good to learn something new. Recommended!

One of our favorite family vacations was to the north of Aarhus in Denmark. A really beautiful place and I loved the viking museum.

Book #21:
Soundcheck: Geschichten für Musikfans by Christine Stemmermann, 2019
Paperback, 253 pages, German
Genre/Tags: short stories, music
Category: Home Sweet Home (TBR), Glasgow (August RandomCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: -
Rating:

I am a music lover and when I can across this book I had to buy it. There are 19 stories from different times, music genres and countries. Generally I am not a fan of short stories, because I always feel like they are incomplete due to the shortness, I have problems connecting to them. Of these 19 stories some I really liked, though. This time, I only read the stories. I wil definitely read them again, and then listen to the related music. Great fun!



Book #22:
Die Ladenhüterin (Engl. Convenience Store Woman) by Sayaka Murata, 2016
Paperback, 145 pages, German
Genre/Tags: contemporary fiction, autism, Japanese, novella
Category: Baha,as (set outside of Europe), Glasgow (August GeoCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Japan
Rating:

Die Ladenhüterin was advertised in my local book store and I thought it sounded interesting. Unfortunately it was not the right book for me. Keiko has always been different from others having problems to integrate socially. When she starts a job in a convenience store, she feels "normal" for the first time. But things change when a new colleague joins and her world begins to totter. I liked the beginning of the book, but this new colleague drove me nuts. Maybe others like this little book more than I did...

>88 RidgewayGirl: We only spent one day in Aarhus, but we also liked the area a lot. We'll be back!

A first for me in a long time: one for the DNF. Dampfschiff nach Argentinien by Alexei Makushinsky wasn't the right book for me. It is about architect Alexandre Vosco, his life, his family, his friend Wladimir Grawe and the historical context. I really wanted to read this, because I knew more or less nothing about displaced Russians from the 1930s until today. But I simply couldn't follow the storyline. The auther is jumping back and forth in time, and after +100 read pages I still feel lost. Therefore I decided to give up. I'll count the pages in my total, but will not count the book itself for my categories or in my stats.

Now on to something that I will definitely like - the next in the Harry Hole series. :)

I started my 2021 thread - hence I should get my 2020 thread up to date before leaving it for good. In the last few weeks I finished three books, and hope to finish another two before year's end. I'll post the reviews one by one over the remaining days.



Book #23:
Police (Politi) by Jo Nesbo, 2012
Paperback, 527 pages, Danish
Genre/Tags: crime fiction, mystery, thriller, serial killer, Norwegian, series
Category: Home Sweet Home (TBR), Canary Islands (series)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Norway
Rating:

This is the tenth entry in the Harry Hole series, and I found this to be the darkest and most gruesome book so far. A serial killer is murdering police officers, and the old team around Harry is trying to solve this case that doesn't give many clues.
On the side track there are several twists and connected plots, which made this book hard to put down. But once in a while I had to pause for a minute and draw a deep breath.

Book #24:
Als ich unsichtbar war (Engl. Ghost Boy) by Martin Pistorius, 2011
Paperback, 331 pages, English
Genre/Tags: non-fiction, autobiograpy, medical, disability, South Africa
Category: Bahamas (outside of Europe), Glasgow (November GeoCAT)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: South Africa
Rating:

Ghost Boy is the autobiography of Martin Pistorius. At the age of 12 he suffers from an unknown neurological illness which leaves him unable to speak or move. He was said to be brain-dead, but his mind gradually awakened again. He tells his story of being left alone or at day-care, isolated and not being able to communicate – and how he slowly came back to life.

My mother recommended this book to me. I found it to be a very interesting account of something that is hard to imagine. It was sad and hard to read at times, but overall I would describe it as powerful and heartwarming story.

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And I read another magazine, finally. :)) National Geographic, from January 2015... There are still lots of magazines around that have to leave before we move in 2021 or 2022. I should grab the next one straight away...

Book #25:
Das fliegende Klassenzimmer (Engl. The Flying Classroom) by Erich Kästner, 1933
Hardcover, 331 pages, German
Genre/Tags: fiction, children's, friendship. classics, Germany
Category: Home Sweet Home (TBR)
Bingo: -
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

Das fliegende Klassenzimmer is a real classic of German children's literature – but it was the first time I read it. A quick and delightful read, which is more timeless than I expected it to be.

I read an edition from the 1960s that my grandmother gave to my mother as a Christmas gift in 1969.

The perfect book for the Christmas season - and the perfect book for reaching my goal of 25 books this year. This is the first time since 2015 to finish my own challenge, which gives me hope for 2021. :)

Book #26:
Lübecker Geheimnisse: 50 spannende Geschichten aus der Hansestadt by Eva-Maria Bast & Heike Thissen, 2017
Paperback, 179 pages, German
Genre/Tags: non-fiction, history, folklore, Germany, Lübeck
Category: New York (wishlist), Glasgow (December GeoCAT)
Bingo: (22) mythology or folklore
Countries visited: Germany
Rating:

This was a Christmas gift back in 2018 and I've been reading it since then. Or rather, it lay on my bedside table untouched for about one year, before I started to dive in and out and read single stories...

The book contains 50 stories about hidden „secrets“ in Lübeck. Why does one of the church clocks only have one hand? Where did Helmut Schmidt sit and read his newspaper? Why are there holes in the Town Hall wall? I enjoyed reading the stories, and will see the city with new, curious eyes.

>94 Chrischi_HH: Congratulations on completing your challenge!

Thank you, Christina!

One last (audio)book in 2020:



Book #27:
Der satanarchäolügenialkohöllische Wunschpunsch: Die Lesung by Michael Ende, 1989
Audiobook, 4h41 (~237 pages), German
Genre/Tags: fiction, children's literature, fantasy, classics, Germany
Category: Copenhagen (overflow), Oberstdorf (Bingo)
Bingo: (8) weird book titel
Countries visited: -
Rating:

It is New Year's Eve. Evil wizard Beelzebub Irrwitzer and his equally evil aunt are behind on their evil deeds for the year and their only chance is the recipe of a special potion, turning all their good wishes into the opposite and evil for the world – but only if they finish drinking before the first sound of the midnight bells. However, the two animals living with them, a raven and a cat, made their own plan to stop the dark magic.

This has been my all time favourite book for the days around Christmas and New Year's Eve, and I've read it many times. Now I tried something new and listened to the audiobook, read by Christoph Maria Herbst. He does a fantastic job, bringing the characters to life.

Now I feel ready for 2021 and will move over to the new group. Happy New Year!

Congrats on finishing your challenge and happy new year!

>97 Chrischi_HH: "Beelzebub Irrwitzer" -- what a name!