1Ameise1
I'm looking forward to another wonderful reading year. Due to lots of library books I set my target for twelf from my TBR pile and everything which is more will go as an addition for the group.
# 1 The Northern Cross by Hendrik Falkenberg (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2018
# 2 Oh, No, Octavius! by Michael Gallagher (4 stars) on the shelf since 2019
# 3 Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten by Christian Kracht (5 stars) on the shelf since 2019
# 4 Village of Stone by Xiaolu Guo (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2012
# 5 Victory Square by Olen Steinhauer (4 stars) on the shelf since 2015
# 6 The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2017
# 7 Summit Lake by Charlie Donlea (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2018
# 8 An Englishman in Madrid by Eduardo Mendoza (4 stars) on the shelf since 2014
# 9 A Great Beauty by A. O'Connor (4 stars) on the shelf since 2019
#10 Known To Evil by Walter Mosley (4 stars) on the shelf since 2018
#11 Blood's A rover by James Ellroy (4 stars) on the shelf since 2010
#12 The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2014
# 1 The Northern Cross by Hendrik Falkenberg (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2018
# 2 Oh, No, Octavius! by Michael Gallagher (4 stars) on the shelf since 2019
# 3 Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten by Christian Kracht (5 stars) on the shelf since 2019
# 4 Village of Stone by Xiaolu Guo (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2012
# 5 Victory Square by Olen Steinhauer (4 stars) on the shelf since 2015
# 6 The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2017
# 7 Summit Lake by Charlie Donlea (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2018
# 8 An Englishman in Madrid by Eduardo Mendoza (4 stars) on the shelf since 2014
# 9 A Great Beauty by A. O'Connor (4 stars) on the shelf since 2019
#10 Known To Evil by Walter Mosley (4 stars) on the shelf since 2018
#11 Blood's A rover by James Ellroy (4 stars) on the shelf since 2010
#12 The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan (4½ stars) on the shelf since 2014
3Ameise1
>2 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer.
5Ameise1
>4 connie53: Thanks so much, Connie.
6rabbitprincess
Welcome back, Barbara! :)
7Familyhistorian
I know what you mean about those library books, Barbara. Good luck with your ROOTs!
8Ameise1
>6 rabbitprincess: Thanks so much RP.
>7 Familyhistorian: Meg, and since I have my tolino and I'm able to download books from my library, I'm less reading books from Mount TBR. Sigh
>7 Familyhistorian: Meg, and since I have my tolino and I'm able to download books from my library, I'm less reading books from Mount TBR. Sigh
9Jackie_K
Welcome back! Is the tolino an ereader? I've got a feeling it might be the sort my sister has (she lives in Germany).
10Ameise1
Thanks so much, Jackie. Yes, the tolino is an e-reader. Since years I have a kindle but can't download e-books from my library due needing an epub reader. Therefore I've bought the tolino last autumn.
11This-n-That
Wishing you a happy year of ROOTing in 2020! :)
12Ameise1
>11 This-n-That: Thanks so much for this lovely image. Happy ROOTing to you too.
13Ameise1
book 1 Read in German
The Northern Cross
What an exciting thriller. A dead man is found on a cross over the cliffs of the Baltic Sea, and it turns out that he is a porn star and belongs to a Free Church. The investigation appears to be hopeless. There are more and more dead who belong to this Free Church. This Free Church calls itself very open and only the ten commandments count. But if you consider the background of the dead, you will find that all of the seven deadly sins were indulged and therefore murdered. Hannes Niehaus and his colleagues have their hands full trying to track down the murderer. Whenever they think that they are on the right track, they will find that this is just a sideline.
This book held my breath from the first to the last page.
The Northern CrossWhat an exciting thriller. A dead man is found on a cross over the cliffs of the Baltic Sea, and it turns out that he is a porn star and belongs to a Free Church. The investigation appears to be hopeless. There are more and more dead who belong to this Free Church. This Free Church calls itself very open and only the ten commandments count. But if you consider the background of the dead, you will find that all of the seven deadly sins were indulged and therefore murdered. Hannes Niehaus and his colleagues have their hands full trying to track down the murderer. Whenever they think that they are on the right track, they will find that this is just a sideline.
This book held my breath from the first to the last page.
14MissWatson
You are off to a good start with your ROOTing!
15Ameise1
>14 MissWatson: Thanks so much, Birgit. Happy ROOTing 2020 to you too.
16Ameise1
book 2
Oh, No, Octavius!
This is Octavius Guy's fourth book and I personally received it from the author for Christmas. Thank you very much Michael, as always it was a great pleasure to read.
Octavius and his companion George take over a case in Highbury. George works undercover in the boys 'school while Octavius lives as a guest in Highbury House and attends the boys' school as a day student.
The point is that various residents want to get rid of the headmaster Reverend Burr and Octavius and George have to prove that the headmaster is no longer sustainable. But everything turns out differently than planned because the Reverend is found murdered in the church. Who murdered him? Octavius has his ideas there, but always has to find that he gets lost in something. He also soon realizes that various residents have their secrets and it is not that easy to uncover them.
For me as a reader it was exciting from the first to the last page, because with Octavius' considerations I only noticed at the end how and why it all happened.
Oh, No, Octavius!This is Octavius Guy's fourth book and I personally received it from the author for Christmas. Thank you very much Michael, as always it was a great pleasure to read.
Octavius and his companion George take over a case in Highbury. George works undercover in the boys 'school while Octavius lives as a guest in Highbury House and attends the boys' school as a day student.
The point is that various residents want to get rid of the headmaster Reverend Burr and Octavius and George have to prove that the headmaster is no longer sustainable. But everything turns out differently than planned because the Reverend is found murdered in the church. Who murdered him? Octavius has his ideas there, but always has to find that he gets lost in something. He also soon realizes that various residents have their secrets and it is not that easy to uncover them.
For me as a reader it was exciting from the first to the last page, because with Octavius' considerations I only noticed at the end how and why it all happened.
17Henrik_Madsen
Two books already - that's a great start to the new year.
18Ameise1
>17 Henrik_Madsen: Thanks so much, Henrik. I had some good readings so far.
19Ameise1
book 3 Read in German
Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten
The book cover says:
A Jew, a woman and a black man, this is Switzerland, this is the new world. (says Brazhinsky)
Everything is different. African youths are trained as Swiss officers and then sent to war in the heart of Europe. The story is told from the perspective of such an African officer. He is one of the very few people who can still write and read. This is no longer important, but it is for him. He has a tattered notebook where he writes everything down until one day he loses it. He is actually looking for a Polish Jew to arrest. He encounters a woman who explains to him that there is a new communication system that does not speak anymore (a kind of thelepsy?). His path leads from Bern to the reduit of the Swiss Alps. On the way he meets poor Swiss people who hardly have anything to eat. In the reduit he meets the Polish Jew, whom he does not arrest. On the one hand he is fascinated by his personality, on the other hand he also wants to learn this new communication. In the reduit he remembers his past, as the history of mankind is painted on the gallery walls as before. He has an increasing need to get away from it all. When the Alps are shaken by bombardment, he flees through the southern tunnel, comes to Ticino and on to the Mediterranean to travel to Africa on a ship. On the way he remembers writing. But since he has no paper and no pen, he puts all the words on the floor with sticks and stalks.
In Africa, attitudes and life have also changed. While the Swiss cities, schools, children's hospitals and railway tracks had previously built and thus ensured the upswing in East Africa, all of the facilities have been orphaned and people have returned to their origins back in the country.
Christian Kracht describes a utopia away from racism and the exploitation of African people to a peaceful world that somehow cannot be realized. He indirectly criticizes colonialism, annihilates the former colonial rulers such as England and Germany, but also paints a very dystopian picture.
Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im SchattenThe book cover says:
Flames over Europe. German airships bomb the power center of the Swiss Soviet Republic dug deep into the rock. East Africa enjoys the blessing of Swiss civilization, but the evolution of mankind is reversed.
Christian Kracht creates the picture of the end of a civilization, of the end of our utopias. It leads to the future of our past and our present.
A Jew, a woman and a black man, this is Switzerland, this is the new world. (says Brazhinsky)
Everything is different. African youths are trained as Swiss officers and then sent to war in the heart of Europe. The story is told from the perspective of such an African officer. He is one of the very few people who can still write and read. This is no longer important, but it is for him. He has a tattered notebook where he writes everything down until one day he loses it. He is actually looking for a Polish Jew to arrest. He encounters a woman who explains to him that there is a new communication system that does not speak anymore (a kind of thelepsy?). His path leads from Bern to the reduit of the Swiss Alps. On the way he meets poor Swiss people who hardly have anything to eat. In the reduit he meets the Polish Jew, whom he does not arrest. On the one hand he is fascinated by his personality, on the other hand he also wants to learn this new communication. In the reduit he remembers his past, as the history of mankind is painted on the gallery walls as before. He has an increasing need to get away from it all. When the Alps are shaken by bombardment, he flees through the southern tunnel, comes to Ticino and on to the Mediterranean to travel to Africa on a ship. On the way he remembers writing. But since he has no paper and no pen, he puts all the words on the floor with sticks and stalks.
In Africa, attitudes and life have also changed. While the Swiss cities, schools, children's hospitals and railway tracks had previously built and thus ensured the upswing in East Africa, all of the facilities have been orphaned and people have returned to their origins back in the country.
Christian Kracht describes a utopia away from racism and the exploitation of African people to a peaceful world that somehow cannot be realized. He indirectly criticizes colonialism, annihilates the former colonial rulers such as England and Germany, but also paints a very dystopian picture.
20Ameise1
book 4
Village of Stone
A great emotional story. Coral (Little Dog) and Red live in Beijing. One day Coral receives a large package from Village of Stone with an eel in it. While Coral reminds her of childhood memories that she has banished deeply, Red tries to get a Fresbe tournament on its feet.
Coral's memories are very touching. She is raised by her grandparents, who have not spoken to each other for decades. Coral's mother died at birth and her birth father disappeared before birth. Coral grows up in poverty. She likes to stroll through the village, being chased by the mute and raped at seven. She is so ashamed that she doesn't tell anyone.
The grandfather dies first and her grandmother blooms. When her grandmother dies, she doesn't stay much longer in the village.
This story is very touching, I highly recommend it.
Village of StoneA great emotional story. Coral (Little Dog) and Red live in Beijing. One day Coral receives a large package from Village of Stone with an eel in it. While Coral reminds her of childhood memories that she has banished deeply, Red tries to get a Fresbe tournament on its feet.
Coral's memories are very touching. She is raised by her grandparents, who have not spoken to each other for decades. Coral's mother died at birth and her birth father disappeared before birth. Coral grows up in poverty. She likes to stroll through the village, being chased by the mute and raped at seven. She is so ashamed that she doesn't tell anyone.
The grandfather dies first and her grandmother blooms. When her grandmother dies, she doesn't stay much longer in the village.
This story is very touching, I highly recommend it.
22Ameise1
>21 connie53: Hi Connie, I have had this problem for months. When I work on the laptop, I don't see the pictures either. When I look later on my smartphone or tablet, I see the pictures. Likewise, when I work on my computer, I see the pictures too. I feel the same way when I visit other threads. There are those where I see the pictures and still others where I don't see them. I'm sorry if you don't see my pictures, but where the cause is, my humble IT skills exceed it.
23Ameise1
book 5
Victory Square
This is the last book in the Eastern Bloc series that tells the story of an Eastern Bloc country during the Cold War. On the one hand, this book was a summary of everything that had happened and clearing up the old corrupt guard. It shows who still believes in communism, but which is actually more like totalitism and who has recognized the true meaning of socialism, but is slowed down by the corrupt elite. It is very exciting to read, like the other books. Olen Steinhauer has managed to write a fictional story, which is very accurate in its main features. I can highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the history of Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
Victory SquareThis is the last book in the Eastern Bloc series that tells the story of an Eastern Bloc country during the Cold War. On the one hand, this book was a summary of everything that had happened and clearing up the old corrupt guard. It shows who still believes in communism, but which is actually more like totalitism and who has recognized the true meaning of socialism, but is slowed down by the corrupt elite. It is very exciting to read, like the other books. Olen Steinhauer has managed to write a fictional story, which is very accurate in its main features. I can highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the history of Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
24Ameise1
book 6 Read in German
The Cruellest Month
The third volume of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series was also wonderful to read. A participant dies during a seance. On the one hand you find out that she has a deadly substance in the body and on the other hand her facial expression shows that she was scared to death.
It is not easy for Gamache and his team to get to the bottom of it. Too many protagonists have a reason to put the dead out of the way. Which motif is strongest?
In addition, there is intrigue against Gamache and this from within his own ranks. Who else can he trust? Does he bring his opponent down?
It was an exciting read right from the start and the people from Three Pine really got to my heart.
The Cruellest MonthThe third volume of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series was also wonderful to read. A participant dies during a seance. On the one hand you find out that she has a deadly substance in the body and on the other hand her facial expression shows that she was scared to death.
It is not easy for Gamache and his team to get to the bottom of it. Too many protagonists have a reason to put the dead out of the way. Which motif is strongest?
In addition, there is intrigue against Gamache and this from within his own ranks. Who else can he trust? Does he bring his opponent down?
It was an exciting read right from the start and the people from Three Pine really got to my heart.
25Ameise1
book 7 Read in German
Summit Lake
This is a sensitive, impressive reading. It is the story of two women who have had similar experiences. While the young student is dead, the journalist survived the rape and explores the reasons why the student had to die.
The chapters alternate. One is told from the perspective of Becca, the student. This story starts in the last college year. The reader gets to know Becca and her friends. The other chapters are from the perspective of journalist Kelsey Castle, who is slowly trying to solve the murder. However, this is rather difficult because the family of the dead has obtained a closure of the files.
This book is very excitingly written. Whenever I felt I knew the killer, that assumption vanished.
Summit LakeThis is a sensitive, impressive reading. It is the story of two women who have had similar experiences. While the young student is dead, the journalist survived the rape and explores the reasons why the student had to die.
The chapters alternate. One is told from the perspective of Becca, the student. This story starts in the last college year. The reader gets to know Becca and her friends. The other chapters are from the perspective of journalist Kelsey Castle, who is slowly trying to solve the murder. However, this is rather difficult because the family of the dead has obtained a closure of the files.
This book is very excitingly written. Whenever I felt I knew the killer, that assumption vanished.
26Ameise1
book 8
An Englishman in Madrid
This was an interesting read. Anthony Whitelands, a gentleman and art historian (specializing in Velázquez) travels to Madrid in 1936. Actually, he is supposed to assess a picture that is with an aristocratic family, but he gets caught in the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War. He is spied on by the Spanish police and also monitored by the English embassy. He is used by various political groups, although he is politically neutral and is not interested in it at all. He gets involved in love affairs, which must not be. Like the cat, he must have seven lives because there are always dead people around him, only he is spared.
An Englishman in MadridThis was an interesting read. Anthony Whitelands, a gentleman and art historian (specializing in Velázquez) travels to Madrid in 1936. Actually, he is supposed to assess a picture that is with an aristocratic family, but he gets caught in the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War. He is spied on by the Spanish police and also monitored by the English embassy. He is used by various political groups, although he is politically neutral and is not interested in it at all. He gets involved in love affairs, which must not be. Like the cat, he must have seven lives because there are always dead people around him, only he is spared.
27Ameise1
book 9
A Great Beauty
I got this book as an early review. It grabbed me from the start. It is a subject that I knew very little about.
Mick is a kind of freedom fighter for the independence of Ireland. He has many friends who protect and support him. Among them are an English lady who originally came from America and a young Irish woman. In the course of history, the underground Irishman becomes a 'diplomat' who has to negotiate with the Classe politique of the 1930s in England. This is not his thing and therefore he is supported by the English lady. This creates a love affair that is not hidden from anyone.
A Great BeautyI got this book as an early review. It grabbed me from the start. It is a subject that I knew very little about.
Mick is a kind of freedom fighter for the independence of Ireland. He has many friends who protect and support him. Among them are an English lady who originally came from America and a young Irish woman. In the course of history, the underground Irishman becomes a 'diplomat' who has to negotiate with the Classe politique of the 1930s in England. This is not his thing and therefore he is supported by the English lady. This creates a love affair that is not hidden from anyone.
28Ameise1
book 10 Read in German
Known To Evil
I also really liked the second volume of the Leonid McGill series.
This time Leonid has to protect a young woman on the one hand, help his sons uncover a girl trade and help a former victim out of trouble. He also reveals other corrupt government employees and finds that his wife has a much younger lover.
Fortunately, he can always fall back on old friends, but cannot avoid getting involved in various physical battles and has to find out that he is no longer the youngest.
Known To EvilI also really liked the second volume of the Leonid McGill series.
This time Leonid has to protect a young woman on the one hand, help his sons uncover a girl trade and help a former victim out of trouble. He also reveals other corrupt government employees and finds that his wife has a much younger lover.
Fortunately, he can always fall back on old friends, but cannot avoid getting involved in various physical battles and has to find out that he is no longer the youngest.
29Ameise1
book 11
Blood's A Rover
This is the third part of the Underworld USA trilogy. At first it was again a summary of all the protagonists, before it was about Nixon's campaign on the one hand, but also about how Hoover clings to his position with all the tricks. It is about drugs, gang wars, money laundering and shows once again how corrupt the police and various secret services are. In doing so, their peers fight to the blood and go over dead bodies.
Once again it was extremely interesting.
Blood's A RoverThis is the third part of the Underworld USA trilogy. At first it was again a summary of all the protagonists, before it was about Nixon's campaign on the one hand, but also about how Hoover clings to his position with all the tricks. It is about drugs, gang wars, money laundering and shows once again how corrupt the police and various secret services are. In doing so, their peers fight to the blood and go over dead bodies.
Once again it was extremely interesting.
30Ameise1
book 12
The Gauguin Connection
This is an exciting first work from the Geneviève Lenard series and I will definitely read the other books in this series as well.
Geneviève works in a renowned insurance company. She specializes in reading body language. Even she hardly dares to trust people because she is autistic. Her boss has the greatest understanding and gives her a free hand and respects her comfort zone. But suddenly she has to find out for the European secret service why young art students are murdered and why more than a thousand confiscated weapons have disappeared. If she could do all of this from her safe office or 'safe' home, it would not be a problem. Unfortunately, she has to leave her comfort zone much too quickly. On the one hand, two men step into her life to protect and support her, on the other hand, the bad guys also threaten her life.
The Gauguin ConnectionThis is an exciting first work from the Geneviève Lenard series and I will definitely read the other books in this series as well.
Geneviève works in a renowned insurance company. She specializes in reading body language. Even she hardly dares to trust people because she is autistic. Her boss has the greatest understanding and gives her a free hand and respects her comfort zone. But suddenly she has to find out for the European secret service why young art students are murdered and why more than a thousand confiscated weapons have disappeared. If she could do all of this from her safe office or 'safe' home, it would not be a problem. Unfortunately, she has to leave her comfort zone much too quickly. On the one hand, two men step into her life to protect and support her, on the other hand, the bad guys also threaten her life.
32Ameise1
Thanks so much, Connie. Since the libraries will remain closed until June 8th and the bookstores will only open again in 3-4 weeks, there is no other option than to dismantle the mountain TBR ;-).
33MissWatson
Congrats on reaching your goal! Well done!
37Familyhistorian
Congratulations on getting to your goal so early, Barbara!
