Anita (FAMeulstee) keeps on going where the books take her in 2020 (3)

Welcome to my third 2020 thread!

I am Anita Meulstee, 57, married with Frank since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art and books.
I read (almost) everything, from childrens and YA books to more serious literature, mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy and I try not to forget to throw some non-fiction into the mix.

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A few pictures of our short walking vacation in Groningen last month.

Left: The holiday cottage; middle: signpost in Pieterburen with distance to paces with "Pieter" (Peter) in it; right: starting point Pieterpath
  

Left: Land art in Lauwersoog: De Poort (The Gate) by Onco Tattje; right: the starting point of the second walking day in Winsum
 

total books read in 2020: 91
17 own / 74 library

total pages read in 2020: 30,744

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currently reading:
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één nacht vertaald door Richard van Leeuwen, 3215 pages, started 2020-01-01
e-book: Ideeën van Multatuli. Tweede bundel by Mutatuli, 469 pages, started 2020-04-30

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books read in April 2020 (23 books, 8,168 pages, 6 own / 17 library)
book 91: Ideeën van Multatuli. Eerste bundel by Mutatuli, 783 pages, (msg 162)
book 90: Alle doden vliegen hoog : Amerika by Joachim Meyerhoff, 267 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 160)
book 89: Smeltend ijs by Arnaldur Indriðason, 268 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 157)
book 88: Kinderspel (Suffer the Little Children) by Donna Leon, 303 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 154)
book 87: Zwarte winter (Doomsday book) by Connie Willis, 528 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 152)
book 86: Cheops by J.H. Leopold, 32 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 151)
book 85: Dinsdag is voorbij (Tuesday's Gone) by Nicci French, 446 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 150)
book 84: Telefoon voor de dode (Call for the Dead) by John le Carré, 187 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 149)
book 83: De voorlezer (The Reader) by Bernhard Schlink, 208 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 148)
book 82: Het probleem met bokken en schapen (The Trouble with Goats and Sheep) by Joanna Cannon, 350 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 133)
book 81: Tijl (Tyll) by Daniel Kehlmann, 352 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 132)
book 80: De pest (The Plague) by Albert Camus, 223 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 131)
book 79: Mama's laatste omhelzing (Mama's Last Hug) by Frans de Waal, 366 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 130)
book 78: De offerplaats (In the Woods) by Tana French, 494 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 129)
book 77: Dichter in de jungle by Roelof van Gelder, 399 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 128)
book 76: Anton de Kom by Alice Boots and Rob Woortman, 546 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 127)
book 75: Wij slaven van Suriname by Anton de Kom, 190 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 71)
book 74: Blauwe maandag (Blue Monday) by Nicci French, 369 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 65)
book 73: Dit alles zal ik je geven (All This I Will Give to You) by Dolores Redondo, 592 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 64)
book 72: Wanderlust (Wanderlust) by Rebecca Solnit, 411 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 63)
book 71: Het fantoom van Alexander Wolf (The Spectre of Alexander Wolf) by Gajto Gazdanov, 188 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 61)
book 70: De asielzoeker by Arnon Grunberg, 352 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 60)
book 69: De bekeerlinge (The Convert) by Stefan Hertmans, 317 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 59)

April 2020 reading plans
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één nacht translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 3215 pages (118/3215)
Ideeën by Mutatuli 3846 pages (783/3846)

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TIOLI April 2020
#1: Read a nonfiction book about an animal or animals
- Mama's laatste omhelzing (Mama's Last Hug) - Frans de Waal, 378 pages (library)
#2: The long and the short of it: alternate between books with a 1-syllable title and with an 8+ syllable title
- Het fantoom van Alexander Wolf (The Spectre of Alexander Wolf) - Gajto Gazdanov, 188 pages (library)
- Tijl (Tyll) - Daniel Kehlmann, 352 pages (e-library)
- Cheops - J.H. Leopold, 32 pages
#3: Read a book you might not have read this month without COVID-19
- Blauwe maandag (Blue Monday) - Nicci French, 369 pages (e-library)
- Het probleem met bokken en schapen (The Trouble with Goats and Sheep) - Joanna Cannon, 350 pages (e-library)
- Zwarte winter (Doomsday book) - Connie Willis, 528 pages (e-library)
#4: Read a book by an author you have read before
- De asielzoeker - Arnon Grunberg, 352 pages (e-library)
- Dinsdag is voorbij (Tuesday's Gone) - Nicci French, 446 pages (e-library)
- Kinderspel (Suffer the Little Children) - Donna Leon, 303 pages (e-library)
- Smeltend ijs - Arnaldur Indriðason, 268 pages (e-library)
- Wanderlust (Wanderlust) by Rebecca Solnit, 413 pages (e-book)
#5: Read a book in which one of the main characters is blond(e)
- De bekeerlinge (The Convert) - Stefan Hertmans, 317 pages (e-library)
#6: Read a book that has something you would put in a cocktail in the title or author's name
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#7: Read a book you started before but put down unfinished
- Wij slaven van Suriname - Anton de Kom, 190 pages
#8: Read an espionage thriller published in the 1960s
- Telefoon voor de dode (Call for the Dead) - John le Carré, 187 pages
#9: Read a book where someone is sick or confined or the title includes an illness
- De pest (The Plague) - Albert Camus, 223 pages
#10: Read a book containing at least three different themes, name them
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#11: Read a book by a female author, dedicated to parent(s) or child(ren)
- Dit alles zal ik je geven (All This I Will Give to You) - Dolores Redondo, 592 pages (e-library)
- De offerplaats (In the Woods) - Tana French, 494 pages (e-library)
#12: Read a Book You Consider a Comfort Read
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#13: Read a biography or autobiography - started by FAMeulstee
- Alle doden vliegen hoog : Amerika - Joachim Meyerhoff, 267 pages (library)
- Anton de Kom - Alice Boots, 546 pages (e-library)
- Dichter in de jungle - Roelof van Gelder, 399 pages (e-library)
#14: Read a book for the APRIL rolling challenge
- De voorlezer (The Reader) by Bernhard Schlink, 208 pages (e-library)
#15: Read a COVID-19-book (Crooks-Or-Venerables-I-Discover-in-19-countries-book)
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#16: April birthstone challenge - read a book with a predominantly white/ silvery cover started by humouress
-

Reading plans in 2020
My childrens/YA project was finished in 2019.
- This year I want to tackle some big tomes (1,000+ pages). Goal read 12 big tomes.
- Reading my own books is not top priority this year, ROOT goal set at 24.

I join the TIOLI (Take It Or Leave It) challenges each month.

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Big tomes I want to read in 2020:
Dutch translation of the complete Tales from the thousand and one nights, 3215 pages
Ideeën (1-7) by Multatuli, 3846 pages
Man zonder eigenschappen (The man without qualities) by Robert Musil, 1785 pages
De razende Roeland (Orlando furioso) by Ludovico Ariosto, 1783 pages
De essays (The complete essays) by Michel de Montaigne, 1557 pages
Menselijke voorwaarden (Human condition) by Junpei Gomikawa, 1440 pages
✔ De hunnen by Jan Cremer, 1419 pages
De kracht van Atlantis (Atlas shrugged) by Ayn Rand, 1373 pages
✔ De geschikte jongen (A suitable boy) by Vikram Seth, 1366 pages
Jozef en zijn broers (Joseph and his brothers) by Thomas Mann, 1343 pages
✔ Het achtste leven (voor Brilka) (The eighth life (for Brilka)) by Nino Haratischwili, 1275 pages
Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief by Johan Harstad, 1229 pages
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort by Roger Martin du Gard, 1077 pages
Baron by Theun de Vries, 1016 pages

Totals since 2008:

books read in January 2020
book 1: Saga's van de Westfjorden en omstreken translated by Marcel Otten (thread 1, msg 64)
book 2: De Cock en dood door hamerslag by A.C. Baantjer (thread 1, msg 65)
book 3: Huishouden (Visitation) by Jenny Erpenbeck (thread 1, msg 80)
book 4: De legende van Swanhilde (The Half-Drowned King) by Linnea Hartsuyker (thread 1, msg 81)
book 5: Ziggy by Bram Hulzebos (thread 1, msg 82)
book 6: Tirza by Arnon Grunberg (thread 1, msg 132)
book 7: Stenen voor een ransuil by Maarten 't Hart (thread 1, msg 133)
book 8: Stommelen stampen slaan (Spill simmer falter wither) by Sara Baume (thread 1, msg 134)
book 9: Pompeii het dagelijks leven in een Romeinse stad (Pompeii: The Life of A Roman Town) by Mary Beard (thread 1, msg 136)
book 10: Het achtste leven (voor Brilka) (The Eighth Life (for Brilka) ) by Nino Haratischwili (thread 1, msg 137)
book 11: Waarom vuilnismannen meer verdienen dan bankiers by Rutger Bregman (thread 1, msg 155)
book 12: Een stille vlam (A quiet flame, Bernie Gunther 5) by Philip Kerr (thread 1, msg 156)
book 13: De verrader (The sellout) by Paul Beatty (thread 1, msg 158)
book 14: Grensgangers by Aline Sax (thread 1, msg 164)
book 15: De jongens van Nickel (The Nickel Boys) by Colson Whitehead (thread 1, msg 165)
book 16: Ochtendwind (Dawn wind) by Rosemary Sutcliff (thread 1, msg 178)
book 17: Erik, of het klein insectenboek (Eric in the Land of the Insects) by Godfried Bomans (thread 1, msg 179)
book 18: Anne van het Groene Huis (Anne of Green Gables) by L.M. Montgomery (thread 1, msg 180)
book 19: Buurtsupermens (Convenience Store Woman) by Sayaka Murata (thread 1, msg 181)
book 20: Sovjetistan (Sovietistan) by Erika Fatland (thread 1, msg 182)
book 21: Moederdag by Nele Neuhaus (thread 1, msg 183)
book 22: Vrouwen & macht (Women & Power: A Manifesto) by Mary Beard (thread 1, msg 184)
book 23: Het nieuwe land by Eva Vriend (thread 1, msg 219)
book 24: Het moerasmeisje (Where the Crawdads Sing) by Delia Owens (thread 1, msg 221)
book 25: Zoon van het Noorden (Odinn's child, Viking 1) by Tim Severin (thread 1, msg 222)
book 26: Eskimoland by Niko Tinbergen (thread 1, msg 223)

books read in February 2020
book 27: Oorlogsvlieger (Flight to Arras) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (thread 2, msg 28)
book 28: De beer en de nachtegaal (The bear and the nightingale) by Katherine Arden (thread 2, msg 29)
book 29: Het meisje in de toren (The girl in the tower) by Katherine Arden (thread 2, msg 31)
book 30: Spaar de spotvogel (To kill a mockingbird) by Harper Lee (thread 2, msg 32)
book 31: Schaduw van de vos (Shadow of the Fox) by Julie Kagawa (thread 2, msg 49)
book 32: De buitenjongen (The Wild Boy) by Paolo Cognetti (thread 2, msg 50)
book 33: De dood van Murat Idrissi (The death of Murat Idrissi) by Tommy Wieringa (thread 2, msg 51)
book 34: De zeven gehangenen (The Seven Who Were Hanged) by Leonid Andrejev (thread 2, msg 52)
book 35: Doodgeverfd (In the Frame) by Dick Francis (thread 2, msg 53)
book 36: De Engelse patiënt (The English Patient) by Michael Ondaatje (thread 2, msg 54)
book 37: Tot in de hemel (The overstory) by Richard Powers (thread 2, msg 84)
book 38: Buzz Aldrin, waar ben je gebleven? (Buzz Aldrin, what happened to you in all the confusion?) by Johan Harstad (thread 2, msg 85)
book 39: Ondergeschikt (Inferior) by Angela Saini (thread 2, msg 86)
book 40: Duister glas (Through a Glass, Darkly) by Donna Leon (thread 2, msg 87)
book 41: De wind in de wilgen (The Wind in the Willows) by Kenneth Grahame (thread 2, msg 88)
book 42: De geschikte jongen (A Suitable Boy) by Vikram Seth (thread 2, msg 90)
book 43: De laatste der Mohikanen (The Last of the Mohicans) by James Fenimore Cooper (thread 2, msg 100)
book 44: Er is geen daar daar (There There) by Tommy Orange (thread 2, msg 101)
book 45: Grand Guignol by Louis Ferron (thread 2, msg 102)
book 46: De laatste betovering (The last enchantment) by Mary Stewart (thread 2, msg 103)

books read in March 2020
book 47: De jungleboeken (The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book) by Rudyard Kipling (thread 2, msg 134)
book 48: De tuin (The Weather Detective: Rediscovering Nature's Secret Signs) by Peter Wohlleben (thread 2, msg 135)
book 49: De ontsnapping van de natuur by Thomas Oudman & Theunis Piersma (thread 2, msg 136)
book 50: Een jihad van liefde by Mohamed el Bachiri (thread 2, msg 138)
book 51: Italiaanse schoenen (Italian Shoes) by Henning Mankell (thread 2, msg 140)
book 52: Het water komt by Rutger Bregman (thread 2, msg 146)
book 53: De H is van havik (H is for hawk) by Helen Macdonald (thread 2, msg 147)
book 54: Zweedse laarzen (After the Fire) by Henning Mankell (thread 2, msg 148)
book 55: Vuurtorenwachter (The Lost Boy) by Camilla Läckberg (thread 2, msg 150)
book 56: Spinoza by Theun de Vries (thread 2, msg 210)
book 57: Reis door Armenië (An Armenian sketchbook) by Vasili Grossman (thread 2, msg 211)
book 58: Het lijden van de jonge Werther (The Sorrows of Young Werther) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (thread 2, msg 212)
book 59: De Hunnen by Jan Cremer (thread 2, msg 213)
book 60: Klopjacht (Blood sport) by Dick Francis (thread 2, msg 214)
book 61: Muizen en mensen (Of Mice and Men) by John Steinbeck (thread 2, msg 215)
book 62: Geef me de ruimte! by Thea Beckman (thread 2, msg 216)
book 63: Triomf van de verschroeide aarde by Thea Beckman (thread 2, msg 216)
book 64: Het rad van fortuin by Thea Beckman (thread 2, msg 216)
book 65: Wie wat vindt heeft slecht gezocht by Rutger Kopland (thread 2, msg 231)
book 66: Moord op de moestuin by Nicolien Mizee (thread 2, msg 232)
book 67: De avond is ongemak (The Discomfort of Evening) by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (thread 2, msg 233)
book 68: Platero en ik (Platero and I) by Juan Ramón Jiménez (thread 2, msg 234)

Monthly statistics
26 books / 8,690 pages in January 2020 in numbers
20 books / 7,299 pages in February 2020 in numbers
22 books / 6,686 pages in March 2020 in numbers
23 books / 8,168 pages in April 2020 in numbers
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Previous threads in 2020
book 1 - 26: thread 1
book 27 - 68: thread 2

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My readings in previous years
413 books (110,873 pages) read in 2019/1, 2019/2, 2019/3, 2019/4, 2019/5, 2019/6, 2019/7, 2019/8, 2019/9, 2019/10
534 books (111,906 pages) read in 2018/1, 2018/2, 2018/3, 2018/4, 2018/5, 2018/6, 2018/7, 2018/8, 2018/9, 2018/10, 2018/11, 2018/12, 2018/13
453 books (110,248 pages) read in 2017/1, 2017/2, 2017/3, 2017/4, 2017/5, 2017/6, 2017/7, 2017/8, 2017/9, 2017/10, 2017/11, 2017/12, 2017/13
253 books   (72,474 pages) read in 2016/1, 2016/2, 2016/3, 2016/4, 2016/5, 2016/6
  29 books   (10,079 pages) read in 2015
  17 books     (3,700 pages) read in 2014
  13 books     (3,692 pages) read in ROOT 2013
  53 books   (18,779 pages) read in 2012/1, 2012/2, 2012/3
  84 books   (30,256 pages) read in 2011/1, 2011/2
121 books   (38,119 pages) read in 2010/1, 2010/2, 2010/3, 2010/4
  78 books   (21,470 pages) read in 2009/1, 2009/2
130 books   (35,151 pages) read in 2008

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Lists on my WikiThing
My best books by year list on the WikiThing
Working on: Five star reads; Nobel prize winners; Booker prize winners; Dutch prize winners

Series I read, a list to keep track

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 5/12
1 Een Berlijnse kwestie; 2 Het handwerk van de beul; 3 Een Duits requiem; 4 De een van de ander; 5 Een stille vlam; 6 Als de doden niet herrijzen; 7 Grijs verleden; 8 Praag fataal; 9 De man zonder adem; 10 De vrouw van Zagreb; 11 De schaduw van de stilte; 12 Pruisisch blauw; 13 Vergeven en vergeten; 14 Metropolis

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 8/20
1 Het heilige vuur; 2 Het laatste lijk; 3 Het gemene gewas; 4 De kwade knecht; 5 De eenzame bruid; 6 De kille maagd; 7 Het vege lijf; 8 De duivelse droom; 9 De gouden speld; 10 Een wisse dood; 11 Een hard gelag; 12 De ware aard; 13 Een witte roos; 14 Het stille woud; 15 De laatste eer; 16 Het rechte pad; 17 Een zijden haar; 18 Een lieve lust; 19 De heilige dief; 20 De verloren zoon

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 53/70

Erica Falck & Patrik Hedström by Camilla Läckberg 9/11
1 IJsprinses; 2 Predikant; 3 Steenhouwer; 4 Zusje; 4.1 Sneeuwstorm en amandelgeur; 5 Oorlogskind; 6 Zeemeermin; 7 Vuurtorenwachter; 8 Engeleneiland; 9 Leeuwentemmer; 10 Heks

George Smiley by John Le Carré 3/9
1 Telefoon voor de dode; 2 Voetsporen in de sneeuw; 3 Spion aan de muur; 4 Spion verspeeld; 5 Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion; 6 Spion van nobel bloed; 7 Smiley's prooi; 8 De laatste spion; 9 Een erfenis van spionnen

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 16/25
1 Dood van een maestro; 2 Dood in den vreemde; 3 De dood draagt rode schoenen; 4 Salto mortale; 5 Acqua alta; 6 Een stille dood; 7 Nobiltà; 8 Fatalità; 9 Vriendendienst; 10 Onrustig tij; 11 Bedrieglijke zaken; 12 De stille elite; 13 Verborgen bewijs; 14 Vertrouwelijke zaken; 15 Duister glas; 16 Kinderspel; 17 Droommeisje; 18 Gezichtsverlies; 19 Een kwestie van vertrouwen; 20 Dodelijke conclusies; 21 Beestachtige zaken; 22 Het onbekende kind; 23 Tussen de regels; 24 Ik aanbid je; 25 Eeuwige jeugd; 26 Wat niet verdwijnt; 27 Vergiffenis

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 3/18
1 Kat & muis; 2 Blindeman; 3 Hand & Tand; 4 Ontmaskering; 5 Zwartboek; 6 Vuurwerk; 7 Laat maar bloeden; 8 Gerechtigheid; 9 Door het lint; 10 Dode zielen; 11 In het duister; 12 Valstrik; 13 Lazarus; 14 Een kwestie van bloed; 15 De rechtelozen; 16 Gedenk de doden; 17 Laatste ronde; 18 Cold case;

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 4/12
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest; 4 De duivel draagt het licht; 5 De Indiase bruid; 6 Zwarte seconden; 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn; 8 Een andere voorkeur; 9 Kwade wil; 10 De waarschuwer; 11 Carmen Zita og døden (not translated); 12 Veenbrand; 13 De fluisteraar

Martin Beck by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö 3/10
1 De vrouw in het Götakanaal; 2 De man die in rook opging; 3 De man op het balkon; 4 De lachende politieman; 5 De brandweerauto die verdween; 6 De man die even wilde afrekenen; 7 De verschrikkelijke man uit Säffle; 8 De gesloten kamer; 9 De politiemoordenaar; 10 De terroristen

Oliver von Bodenstein & Pia Kirchhoff by Nele Neuhaus 9/9
1 Een onbeminde vrouw; 2 Moordvrienden; 3 Diepe wonden; 4 Sneeuwwitje moet sterven; 5 Wie wind zaait; 6 Boze wolf; 7 De levenden en de doden; 8 Het woud; 9 Moederdag

Het rad des tijds (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson) 6/15
0 Een nieuw begin; 1 Het oog van de wereld; 2 De grote jacht; 3 De herrezen draak; 4 De komst van de schaduw; 5 Vuur uit de hemel; 6 Heer van chaos; 7 Een kroon van zwaarden; 8 Het pad der dolken; 9 Hart van de Winter; 10 Viersprong van de schemer; 11 Mes van Dromen; 12 De naderende storm; 13 De Torens van Middernacht; 14 Het licht van weleer

Sister Fidelma by Peter Tremayne 1/18
1 Absolutie voor moord; 2 Lijkwade voor een aartsbisschop; 3 Moord in de abdij; 4 De listige slang; 5 Het web van Araglin; 6 De vallei van het kwaad; 7 De verdwenen monnik; 8 Dood van een pelgrim; 9 Vrouwe van het duister; 10 Het klooster van de dode zielen; 11 De gekwelde abt; 12 De nacht van de das; 13 De leprozenbel; 14 Moord uit de golven; 15 Een gebed voor de verdoemden; 16 Dansen met demonen; 17 Het valse concilie; 18 De duif des doods

List of Nobel Prize for Literature winners:
(in bold the writers I have read)

1901 Sully Prudhomme
1902 Theodor Mommsen
1903 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
1904 Frédéric Mistral
1904 José Echegaray y Eizaguirre
1905 Henryk Sienkiewicz
1906 Giosuè Carducci
1907 Rudyard Kipling
1908 Rudolf Christoph Eucken
1909 Selma Lagerlöf
1910 Paul Heyse
1911 Maurice Maeterlinck
1912 Gerhart Hauptmann
1913 Rabindranath Tagore
1915 Romain Rolland
1916 Verner von Heidenstam
1917 Karl Adolph Gjellerup
1917 Henrik Pontoppidan
1919 Carl Spitteler
1920 Knut Hamsun
1921 Anatole France
1922 Jacinto Benavente
1923 William Butler Yeats
1924 Władysław Reymont
1925 George Bernard Shaw
1926 Grazia Deledda
1927 Henri Bergson
1928 Sigrid Undset
1929 Thomas Mann
1930 Sinclair Lewis
1931 Erik Axel Karlfeldt
1932 John Galsworthy
1933 Ivan Boenin
1934 Luigi Pirandello
1936 Eugene O'Neill
1937 Roger Martin du Gard
1938 Pearl S. Buck
1939 Frans Eemil Sillanpää
1944 Johannes Vilhelm Jensen
1945 Gabriela Mistral
1946 Hermann Hesse
1947 André Gide
1948 T.S. Elliot
1949 William Faulkner
1950 Bertrand Russell
1951 Pär Lagerkvist
1952 François Mauriac
1953 Sir Winston Churchill
1954 Ernest Hemingway
1955 Halldór Laxness
1956 Juan Ramón Jiménez
1957 Albert Camus
1958 Boris Pasternak
1959 Salvatore Quasimodo
1960 Saint-John Perse
1961 Ivo Andrić
1962 John Steinbeck
1963 Giorgos Seferis
1964 Jean-Paul Sartre
1965 Michail Sjolochov
1966 Sjmoeël Joseef Agnon
1966 Nelly Sachs
1967 Miguel Ángel Asturias
1968 Yasunari Kawabata
1969 Samuel Beckett
1970 Aleksandr Solzjenitsyn
1971 Pablo Neruda
1972 Heinrich Böll
1973 Patrick White
1974 Eyvind Johnson
1974 Harry Martinson
1975 Eugenio Montale
1976 Saul Bellow
1977 Vincente Aleixandre
1978 Isaac Bashevis Singer
1979 Odysseas Elytis
1980 Czesław Miłosz
1981 Elias Canetti
1982 Gabriel Garciá Márquez
1983 William Golding
1984 Jaroslav Seifert
1985 Claude Simon
1986 Wole Soyinka
1987 Joseph Brodsky
1988 Naguib Mahfouz
1989 Camilo José Cela
1990 Octavio Paz
1991 Nadine Gordimer
1992 Derek Walcott
1993 Toni Morrison
1994 Kenzaburo Oë
1995 Seamus Heaney
1996 Wisława Szymborska
1997 Dario Fo
1998 José Saramago
1999 Günter Grass
2000 Gao Xingjian
2001 V.S. Naipaul
2002 Imre Kertész
2003 John Maxwell Coetzee
2004 Elfriede Jelinek
2005 Harold Pinter
2006 Orhan Pamuk
2007 Doris Lessing
2008 J.M.G. Le Clézio
2009 Herta Müller
2010 Mario Vargas Llosa
2011 Tomas Tranströmer
2012 Mo Yan
2013 Alice Munro
2014 Patrick Modiano
2015 Svetlana Alexievich
2016 Bob Dylan
2017 Kazuo Ishiguro
2018 Olga Tokarczuk
2019 Peter Handke

Books acquired in 2020: 26

April (8)
Dit alles zal ik je geven - Dolores Redondo
Pieterpad deel I: Pieterburen-Vorden - Toos Goorhuis
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht - Toos Goorhuis
De eenzaamheid van de priemgetallen - Paolo Giordano
Nachtwegen - Gajto Gazdanov
De straat en het struikgewas - Armando
Telefoon voor de dode - John le Carré
Het verhaal van Aeneas - Vergilius

March (11)
CRUX by Ralph Keuning
Werner Tübke by Ralph Keuning
Wolfgang Mattheuer by Ralph Keuning
Seizoensroddel by Jan Baeke
Habitus by Radna Fabias
Boeddhisme in alle eenvoud by Steve Hagen
Generaal zonder leger by Özcan Akyol
Onze verslaggever in de leegte by Dimitri Verhulst
Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit (e-book)
Leon & Juliette by Annejet van der Zijl
Het water komt - Rutger Bregman

January (7)
Essay over de geslaagde dag - Peter Handke
Misverstand in Moskou - Simone de Beauvoir
Wandeling - Thomas Bernhard
Kali : een voorwinterverhaal - Peter Handke
De pensionering van meneer Bougran - Joris-Karl Huysmans
De Thibaults. Deel 1 - Roger Martin de Gard
De Thibaults. Deel 2 - Roger Martin de Gard

That's it, come in!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita. xx

Happy new thread Anita! I hope you read lots of great books this month.

The cottage is lovely, I love rooms that are right up under the roof beams.

Happy new thread, Anita! Your walk photos make me want to visit the Netherlands (again!)

Happy New Thread Anita :)
What a cute holiday cottage!

Happy new thread, Anita.

>1 FAMeulstee: Nice pictures! So you found land art there as well. I also loved the signpost, though it was a bit frustrating, all those destinations we can't visit right now.

Happy new thread, Anita!

>12 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dejah!
You were up late (or was it early?)

>13 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.

>14 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire.
It was a lovely place to stay, and affordable early in season.

>15 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte. I would love to have a chance to meet you again :-)

>16 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie.
A very cute place, I would not mind living there. Sadly that is not allowed, even people who own a cottage there only can stay 6 months a year.

>17 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
Yes, we managed to find land art there as well, made our trip complete.
Most of the destinations we will never visit, but is was fun to see that Petersborough was at 7438 km and the Sint Pietersplein at 1963 km.

>18 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita!

>2 FAMeulstee: Over 22000 pages. Congratulations! That's a number I usually reach around August.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread!

>20 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen.
I guess I wont reach the 100,000+ pages this year. I planned 75,000 that still looks doable.

>21 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>22 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry!

>23 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle!

>19 FAMeulstee: I was up late, lol. I'm a natural night owl, and now that I've (finally) been furloughed from work it's going to take me a while to figure out exactly what schedule I want to set for myself. I will not continue to stay up all night, reading and looking at LT!

Happy new thread, Anita. Look forward to watching you blaze through books :)

Happy new thread, Anita.

>25 Dejah_Thoris: Then I spotted it right ;-)
Good luck finding a new schedule and balance between being up and getting enough sleep.

>26 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba. To avoid disappointment: I have fallen from the habit to finish at least a book a day ;-)

>27 BLBera: Thank you, Beth.

Happy new thread Anita my dear.

Hi Anita! Glad to see you're still chuggin' along.

Happy new thread, Anita! Hope all is well with you and yours!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita!

>29 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.

>30 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, this group is my lifeline in this strange time.

>31 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, we are fine. My personal life hasn't changed much.

>32 quondame: Thank you, Susan!

>33 bell7: Thank you, Mary!

Happy Friday, Anita! Happy New Thread! I hope you and the family are healthy and safe. I saw a mute swan yesterday. I did take a couple of photos but this is not one of them:

Happy new thread Anita - I wish you a wonderful weekend.

>35 msf59: Thank you, Mark!
We saw two swans on our walk today. One of them seemed to be playing, going with his head in the water and splashing with his wings. I have never seen a swan doing this.

>36 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, wishing you the same.

Happy new thead, Anita!

Hi, Anita! Lovely new thread you have here.

Hi Anita. I seem to have missed the beginning of this new thread!

I just posted a link on my thread to a Dutch nature site that you might enjoy. Go check it out

>38 swynn: Thank you, Steve!

>39 ronincats: Thank you, Roni! Yes, it was time to move on to a next thread :-)

>40 jessibud2: Thank you so much, Shelley. I just spend nearly an hour browsing throug the Vogeldagboek (=Bird diary) site and have a subscription now.

This week I received a large sum of money, that was my part of my mothers inheritance. The rounded number was used to lower our mortgage. The remaining euro's were spend on secondhand books:
De straat en het struikgewas - Armando
Nachtwegen (Night Roads) - Gajto Gazdanov
De eenzaamheid van de priemgetallen (The Solitude of Prime Numbers) - Paolo Giordano
Telefoon voor de dode (Call for the Dead) - John le Carré
Het verhaal van Aeneas (The Aeneid) - Vergilius

Have a lovely, peaceful, safe and healthy weekend, Anita.

Nice to see some good news amid all the bad.

>41 FAMeulstee: - You're welcome, Anita. I don't know why it never occurred to me sooner to mention it.

>42 FAMeulstee: - Lovely! And nice timing, too, as Paul says

>42 FAMeulstee: That's the spirit! Secure the house, then buy books. *applause*

>43 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
We were glad my father decided to gift my mothers part of the inheritance, he didn't have to do it.

>44 jessibud2: That doesn't matter, Shelley, I am glad you did mention the site!
Indeed, we could use a sparkle in these rather dark time.

>45 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
I wish we had enough money to do it the other way round ;-)

>45 richardderus: Indeed!

Happy New Thread, Anita.

Looks like you had pretty good weather for your walking vacation in Groningen.

Hi Anita! How are you doing?

I don't know if you've watched it, but there was a very good interview on tv tonight: Isha Meyer interviewing Annie M.G. Schmidt. In Videotheek M. Funny and interesting, on her Life and writing.

>8 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! I love the way you have your series all mapped out up top. I think I just might copy you!!!
Glad you got some inheritance (and some books out of that!). And you are almost at 75 already--go, woman, go!

>48 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe.
Yes, it was nice, dry and cool weather. It is amazing how different we experienced the landscape by walking through it vs going by car.

>49 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, we are doing well enough. Although I struggle a bit with all the anxiety and insecurity that I feel around me, being sensitive I pick up those even without leaving the house.
No I didn't watch it this time, but I did see it when it was origianlly aired in the 1980s.

>50 Berly: Thank you, Kim, copy as you like!
I didn't expect it so soon, so it was a nice surprise. Just finised book #73, so I am almost at 75 ;-)

Happy new thread, Anita. It looks like you timed your vacation just right and good thing it was a walking vacation too, something that was still allowed. I hope you are keeping happy and healthy,

Hi Anita, hope you're keeping well. I am going to sit in the garden I think today and try and read a book, and avoid any more of the news (which seems to ramp up anxious feelings in my case). Waiting for my iris to open - fingers crossed.

>51 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Sorry to hear the situation is getting to you. I guess this is probably true for lots of us. I am not so much anxious but feeling stressed. And anxious when we are doing our shopping.

Hope you are still getting some reading done!

Hi Anita!

How lovely to get inheritance money and knock the mortgage down. Euros left over for book buying are icing on the cake.

>52 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg.
We were glad we had our vacation, it will be a long time before that will be possible again.
All is well, although my reading is not as stellar as in previous years.

>53 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
Yes, the news is doing that to me as well, I have managed to avoid the news in the morning, only looking early afternoon and in the evening. I only read a bit in the morning, and find myself playing games the rest of the day. My iris is also on its way, I think in one or two days the first flower will open up. Fingers crossed for yours.

>54 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, it is more a distressed feeling because of the anxiety and insecurity in the population.
I am lucky, as Frank does all the shopping.
I just finished the 6th book of this month (see >2 FAMeulstee:), I will try to write reviews later tonight.

>55 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen.
We were very happy with the inheritance money, lowering the mortgage gives less costs each month. Books are always good, I just ordered three more today :-)

Sorry to hear about your anxiety.

Hooray for the inheritance that will make your mortgage lower and ease some stress that way.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend (( Hugs))

>57 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.
We were glad that my father decided to gift my mothers part of the inheritance.
And a happy Easter to you!

book 69: De bekeerlinge by Stefan Hertmans
library, e-book, Dutch, English translation The Convert, 317 pages

started 2020-03-29
finished 2020-04-02
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book in which one of the main characters is blond(e)

Based on a few documents, Stefan Hertmans travels the track, and reconstructs the life of a woman in the 11th century. She was a christian and converted to judaism to marry the man she loved. Her husband was killed in a pogrom and her children taken to be sold as slaves. In her quest to find her children she travels all the way to Egypt.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 70: De asielzoeker by Arnon Grunberg
1001 books, library, e-book, Dutch, awarded, AKO Literatuurprijs 2004, no English translation, 352 pages

started 2020-04-02
finished 2020-04-03
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book by an author you have read before

My second try on a book by Arnon Grunberg was again no match. I don't like the style, I don't like the story. Again it was a struggle to finish the book. Others might enjoy his work, but I am done with this writer.

Title translated: The asylumseeker

book 71: Het fantoom van Alexander Wolf by Gajto Gazdanov
library, translated from Russian, English translation The Spectre of Alexander Wolf, 188 pages

started 2020-04-03
finished 2020-04-05
TIOLI Challenge #2: The long and the short of it: alternate between books with a 1-syllable title and with an 8+ syllable title

A Russian refugee, living in Paris, feels his life has never been the same after killing a man in the Russian Civil War. This kill is still haunting him. Then he reads a book by Alexander Wolf, who clearly tells the story of the kill, but from the other side, his victim didn't die! The man tries to find the writer, driven by his guilt.

A wonderful story, I needed a good read after the previous book.

Dutch and English title are the same

>42 FAMeulstee: Making a down payment on a condo with inheritance money made a huge improvement in my life. My mother had become hugely problematical rather than somewhat, but I do miss her sometimes still. So very much private language we had between us, and of course so much of how I view the world comes from her.

book 72: Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit
own, e-book, non-fiction, translated, original title Wanderlust, 411 pages

started 2020-03-24
finished 2020-04-06
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book by an author you have read before

Wandering through the (western) history of walking, from philosophers to protesters.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 73: Dit alles zal ik je geven by Dolores Redondo
library, e-book, translated from Spanish, English translation All This I Will Give to You, 592 pages

started 2020-04-06
finished 2020-04-08
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book by a female author, dedicated to parent(s) or child(ren)

Writer Manuel Ortigosa is at home working on his book, when the police comes to tell him that Álvaro, his husband, has been killed in a car accident in Galicia. Manuel can't believe it is true, as all he knows is that Álvaro is at his work in Barcelona. He travels to Galicia and finds out that his husband was a nobleman with a whole hiddden life at his family grounds in Galicia.

Not only a very good mystery, also an exceptional well written story.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 74: Blauwe maandag by Nicci French
library, e-book, translated, Frieda Klein book 1, original title Blue Monday, 369 pages

started 2020-04-08
finished 2020-04-10
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book you might not have read this month without COVID-19

Fried Klein is a psychotherapist. When a new client tells her about strange dreams, she suspects he might be involved in the abduction of a little boy. She informs the police, and goes on some searching by herself.

Dutch and English title are the same

>62 quondame: Glad to read, Susan. Sometimes a bit of money can make a difference.
Sadly my mother and I were never a good match. It is good to be reminded that some are lucky to have a better relationship with their mother.

>64 FAMeulstee: I've been looking forward to that read! I'll nudge it up the Kindlepile.

>59 FAMeulstee: I'm glad you liked this one. I too have to make sure I'm reading enough uplifting books to make up for these types of reads which are worthy but also sad.

>64 FAMeulstee: I'll have to read that Dolores Redondo, I read The Invisible Guardian last year and enjoyed it.

I enjoyed Blue Monday and intend to continue the series. Nicci French is a husband & wife writing combo.

>61 FAMeulstee: I read this in such a lovely little edition, one of those books that just fits into your hand.

>63 FAMeulstee: I still have this on the TBR shelf, waiting for me.

Thanks for the good iris wishes! It rained a lot last night, the water butt was empty, so that's a good thing.

>67 richardderus: I hope you get to it soon, Richard.
I liked it so much that I ordered my own paper copy, it should arrive next Tuesday.

>68 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry.
Not doing very well in the uplifting department, just finished a book that made me cry again.
I also enjoyed The Invisible Guardian and the second book of the Balzan trilogy: The Legacy of the Bones. Sadly the third book (Offering to the Storm) isn't available in Dutch translation yet.
I liked Blue Monday well enough to continue reading the Frieda Klein books.

>69 charl08: I like to cover of The Spectre of Alexander Wolf in this lovely little edition of yours.
You will get to Wanderlust someday.
You are lucky to get some rain, we haven't had much for over a month. After a very wet February everything is drying out now. There have been some nature fires in the last few days :-(

book 75: Wij slaven van Suriname by Anton de Kom
own, Dutch, non-fiction, no English translation, 190 pages
According to Wikipedia it was translated as We Slaves of Surinam and published in 1987, no copies at LT

started 2020-04-11
finished 2020-04-11
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book you started before but put down unfinished

The history of Surinam from black pespective made me cry. The inhumanity of the long lasting slavery (only abolished in 1863! and then the ex-slaves were forced to work 10 years for their former owners as compensation!) in colonial Surinam was terrible. Even in other parts of the American continent it was well known that it was worst to be a slave in Surinam. Some slaves managed to escape, known as Marroons they build a life in the jungle and resisted the Dutch for most of the time. For Anton de Kom the Marroon leaders are the true hero's.

While reading a biography of Anton de Kom, I realised I never finished this book and should read it before reading on in the biography.

Happy Saturday, Anita. I hope you are doing well. Our bird migration is really picking up here, so it is getting exciting. I am enjoying a long weekend off, so I plan on getting out for a walk each day. In the afternoon, I read and watch my bird feeders. Grins...

>71 FAMeulstee: I started looking for We Slaves of Surinam - I have a particular interest in Latin America - and only belatedly noticed your note that there was no English translation. It's probably just as well - I should be reading more uplifting books, too.

>72 msf59: That reminds me to head to the kitchen to make more hummingbird nectar!

I hope your weekend is lovely so far!

Hi Anita and Happy New Thread!

I'm glad you were able to have your walking vacation before the virus closed things down.

I also spent my inheritance paying off my home loan. I think it's a wise move and a good solid investment.

And hooray for buying some new books, too! I miss going to charity shops, the library store and used bookstores to browse for treasures. Not, that I am short of things to read, you understand ....

>71 FAMeulstee:

Gefeliciteerd!

Yay, congratulations on 75 books Anita.

Whoops! I missed that We Slaves of Surinam was number 75, Anita - congratulations!

Congratulations on 75 -- already!!! But then you are about the fastest reader I know!

Congratulations for reaching 75 books read!

And from me too, Anita. Nice to make the number with an author you know so well.

Congrats!

Have a wonderful Easter

>72 msf59: Thank you, Mark, enjoy your weekend.
Bird migration started early this year, probably because of the very mild winter.
This week we saw an European kestrel hovering in the field next to the road. He went down and came back up with a mouse. We had never seen a succesful catch so close before.

>73 Dejah_Thoris: The was an English translation published in the U.K. in 1987, Dejah, but I guess it is hard to find.
We had a lovely day, we went late for our walk and had the road almost to ourselves.

>74 streamsong: Thank you, Janet!
So were we, a week later we probably would have canceled the vacation. It was a bit odd because all café's and terraces were closed. No socialising with other walkers either, only ver brief talk (on a good distance) with two others, who were also walking the Pieterpath.
Books give comfort. I ordered a few more yesterday.

>75 richardderus: Dank je, Richard dear :-)

>76 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline.

>77 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dejah!

>78 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba!
Eleven other members of this group reached the goal before I did.

>79 quondame: Thank you, Susan!

>80 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
It wasn't planned, it just happened this way. I think Anton de Kom was an important writer.

>81 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!
Happy Easter to you.

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Anita. And Happy Easter.

>82 FAMeulstee: I've never seen a Kestrel actually catch something. Birds of prey must have endless patience.

Congratulations on reaching 75 books already, Anita. I have been used to seeing you out in front in the "reading league" for the last 2 years and you are a little behind those numbers this year but still mightily impressive.

I wanted my message this year to be fairly universal in a time we all should be pulling together, whatever our beliefs. Happy Celebration, Happy Sunday, Anita.

Happy Easter!

And congrats on reaching 75!

Congrats on hitting the goal!

>84 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
We saw a few tries before he actually got the mouse, I don't think it feels like patience for a kestrel ;-)

>85 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
My reading has changed, I used to read more YA, now I read more demanding books.

>86 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul, on FB I saw a really nice one: "You know what I'd really like to see go viral? Basic human decency."

>87 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle, happy Easter!

>88 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen, the same to you!

>89 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

Happy Easter, Anita! I hope you've enjoyed the day.

Happy Easter!

Congratulations on hitting 75 books, Anita! Happy Easter to you and Frank!

Congrats on reaching 75 books, Anita! Hope you're having a good day.

>91 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah. Just like every other day, working a bit in the garden, a walk with Frank & reading my books :-)

>92 quondame: Thank you Susan!

>93 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry!

>94 bell7: Thank you, Mary! A good day, like most days: reading, gardening and walking.

Nice review of We Slaves of Suriname, Anita. According to the Book Depository, Pluto Press, a London based publisher, reissued this book in English translation at the end of February. They are selling the paperback edition for £16.99, but it is currently out of stock. I'll look for it when (or if) I visit Edinburgh or London later this year.

Hi Anita!

>71 FAMeulstee: Congratulations, and a 5* read at that.

>96 kidzdoc: Thanks for the info - I'll keep an eye out for this one.

Hi Anita my dear, congrats on reaching 75 books for the year so far dear friend.

Congratulations on reaching your 75 books! I hope you had a good Easter.

>96 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl, I hope you can find a copy.

>97 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, my 4th 5* read this year.

>99 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, well on my way for the 200 books I planned for this year.

>100 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, we had a nice Easter.

Congratulations on 75, Anita!
I wish you a wonderful sunday.
And stay well!

>102 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, happy Sunday to you!

--

I am struggling writing my reviews, can't find the right words (4 books unreviewed yet). So back to reading and playing games. I try to keep up with all of you, but don't leave any messages at the moment, same problem with finding the right words.

I hope that you are having a relaxing weekend, Anita, despite everything. xx

Keep up the good reading, Anita! Congrats on hitting that 75 book mark already.

Congrats on the 75!

Good to know, Anita, we don't have to worry about you.

I am quite curious what you are reading, but I can wait;-)

>103 FAMeulstee: I understand and empathize, Anita. Sending transAtlantic hugs!

>104 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, I tried.

>105 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, the books treat me well.

>106 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda!

>107 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, I always keep >2 FAMeulstee: and >3 FAMeulstee: up to date with my latest readings.

>108 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, hugs appriciated!

>109 FAMeulstee: I had a look at what you are reading. Wow, lots of big books! I liked De Voorlezer.

>110 EllaTim: That is this years plan, Ella, to read more BIG tomes. Although I fail the original plan, not reading as much as planned.
I also liked The Reader, lots to think about in this novel.

>111 FAMeulstee: I find I'm having a hard time staying interested in a book. I've a number that I had to put away half read, because of that. Maybe it'll be only rereads this year!

>112 EllaTim: Having similair concentration issues, Ella. Although I do finish the books I start, just a bit slower than usual. The two books at the top of my readings are supposed to take all year (or a bit longer).

Congratulations on reaching 75, Anita. It doesn't seem very slow to me.

Congratulations on 75 books!

>114 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!
Last year I reached 75 in February, the year before early March, slow is relative :-)

>115 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen!

Happy Friday, Anita. I hope all is well at your place.
Stay safe and healthy.

Hi Anita! Have a lovely weekend!

>117 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, I had a great Friday, see below :-)

>118 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, looking forward reading the books I got today.

--

I managed to get 3 book from the library today!
My own local library is closed, but the library in the next city, Almere, has a service to get books. You mail them 5 titles, they mail you back when you can pick up 3 of these books. So I mailed and picked up my 3 books today. One of them is Joseph and his brothers. I was reading this book online, that didn't work well, so I am very happy to have the paper version now.

Hi Anita!

>119 FAMeulstee: Congrats on getting three books. Our library doesn't offer that service, but they have had a huge increase on library card requests. These temporary library cards are granted online for the limited use of e-books and include the 5 surrounding counties. Normally you have to work or reside in our county to get a library card.

>119 FAMeulstee: That's great organisation. I miss libraries over here.

Have a peaceful and relaxing weekend, Anita.

>119 FAMeulstee: I am astonished at how sensible the Almere system is. It would never be allowed in the US!

Spend a happy and healthy weekend enjoying Thomas Mann.

>120 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, I was very happy to get at least a few books :-)
Without the e-library I would be comletely lost, and probably be buying more books.
I can lend 10 e-books for 3 weeks, they can't be returned earlier. So with 10 e-books in 21 days I lend an e-book every 2 days. This is a national system, in the last weeks extra titles have been added, so there is plenty of choice.

>121 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
This is the only library in the province that provides this service, all others are closed. I know nationwide only a few other libraries do the same.

>122 richardderus: I was very pleased with the Almere library, Richard. The books were pre-packed in paper bags, with name and last numbers of the library card. There were time slots of half an hour. The library employee asked to keep my library card at eyehight before a closed glass door, then she got my paper bag, put it on a table in front of an other opened door. She stepped back, so I could step forward to get the bag.
This would not work at my own library, there is no door to the street. It is on only accesable by escalator and there is not enough space to keep the distance.

© Light Art by Gerry Hofstetter / Foto Frank Schwarzbach

greetings from the Matterhorn
(the Netherlands were one of the themes of the light show on the Matterhorn)

Happy weekend, Anita!!!

>124 paulstalder: Thank you, Paul.
Nice gesture to the countries, a lightshow with the flag.

>125 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda, the same to you!

book 76: Anton de Kom by Alice Boots and Rob Woortman
e-library, Dutch, non-fiction, no English translation, 546 pages

started 2020-04-10
finished 2020-04-12
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a biography or autobiography

Biograpy of Anton de Kom. He was born in Suriname, and did well at school. After highschool het worked as a bookkeeper, but was not statisfied with it as all the good jobs went to white men. He resigned and went to The Netherlands. He had left wing sympathies, in The Hague he ended up supporting the Communists, as those were the only party that agitated against colonialism. Even the Social Democrats thought the colonies were essential for The Netherlands, and would do anything to keep them. Because of his communist sympaties, he became a target for the intelligent services.
He met a nice girl, and after much resistance of her family he finally married her. In December 1932 he went back to Suriname, with wife and children. He hoped to unite the different etnic groups against their suppressors. The Dutch intelligence had warned the Surinam government about him, and he wasn't able to do as much as he had hoped. He was arrested and send back to The Netherlands, without trial.
Back in The Hague he coninued writing for left wing magazines and papers. And he finished Wij slaven van Suriname. When the war came, he was in the communist resistance. There is little known about his whereabouts at this time, as nearly all communists from The Hague were killed by the Germans, partly because the major of The Hague shared all his information about communists with the Germans, starting in the 1930s. He was arrested and send to concentration camp. He died on 24 April 24th, 1945 in Camp Sandbostel (a part of concentration camp Neuengamme).

The second part of this book is about Anton de Koms legacy, his offspring and the independecy of Suriname (1975). How different groups at different times (mis-)used his work for their own good.

book 77: Dichter in de jungle by Roelof van Gelder
e-library, Dutch, non-fiction, no English translation, 399 pages

started 2020-04-12
finished 2020-04-14
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a biography or autobiography

Biograpy of John Gabriel Stedman (1744 -1797).
Stedman was of Scottish origin. Since the Dutch Republic was independant there had been a Scotts Brigade, his father was an officer of the brigade. Stedman went o Surinam as part of the colonial army, to fight the Marroons.He kept a diary and made drawings during this time. He had a long time relationship with a slave, Joanna, and had a child with her. He went back to The Netherlands, but after the political changes he went to England. There he wrote and published The Narrative of a Five Years Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, that became important to the abolitionist movement.

Title translated: Poet in the Jungle

book 78: De offerplaats by Tana French
e-library, translated, original title In the Woods, 494 pages

started 2020-04-14
finished 2020-04-16
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book by a female author, dedicated to parent(s) or child(ren)

First book of the Dublin Murder Squad series.
Two detectives of the Dublin Murder Squad, Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox investigate the murder of a girl. This happened at a place where Rob was traumatized in his youth, and two of his friends disappeared. No one knows, as he changed his name and lived elsewhere before returning to Dublin.

A good murder mystery, with complicated backstories, sometimes a bit longwinding.

Dutch title translated: Place of sacrifice

book 79: Mama's laatste omhelzing by Frans de Waal
library, translated, non-fiction, original title Mama's Last Hug, 366 pages

started 2020-04-09
finished 2020-04-18
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a nonfiction book about an animal or animals

Scientific research about emotion in animals. Long was thought many human traits were unique to humans. Not because of logic, but to keep humans "special" amongst other inhabitants of earth.
De Waal shows how emotions evolved, and are easily found in our next of kin, the apes.

As always a very good book by Frans de Waal.

book 80: De pest by Albert Camus
1001 books, own, translated from French, English translation The Plague, 223 pages

started 2020-04-18
finished 2020-04-19
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book where someone is sick or confined or the title includes an illness

Gripping story about a city in Algeria, where the plague strikes. The city is closed down, isolated from the rest of the world. We follow doctor Bernard Rieux, who visits the sick, sends them to hospital, quarantaines suspected cases, through the year.

An intense read, especially in this pandemic time...

book 81: Tijl by Daniel Kehlmann
e-library, translated from German, English translation Tyll, 352 pages

started 2020-04-17
finished 2020-04-20
TIOLI Challenge #2: The long and the short of it: alternate between books with a 1-syllable title and with an 8+ syllable title

The story of Tyll Eulenspiegel, set in the Thirty Years' War.
Both the story of the prankster Eulenspiegel, as some historical figures from that period are very well drawn.

book 82: Het probleem met bokken en schapen by Joanna Cannon
e-library, translated, original title The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, 352 pages

started 2020-04-21
finished 2020-04-21
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book you might not have read this month without COVID-19

During the hot summer of 1976, mrs. Creasy disappears. Ten year old Tilly and Grace decide to find out what happened. Many people in the neighborhood have secrets from the past and it looks like mrs. Creasy found out as well...

Nice set up from the perspective of Grace, and going back 1967. Grace was sometimes a bit mature for her age.

>127 FAMeulstee: Wow, what a full life.

Really glad to read that you have been able to take some books out from the library - brilliant!

>134 charl08: Yes it was, Charlotte, and such a sad ending :-(

I was so happy with the Almere library, I will give it a try again next week.

Strolling by for a wonderful Visit. Hope all's well with you Anita.

Excellent reading, Anita!

>127 FAMeulstee: I'm really interested int he biography of Anton de Kom - but I'm afraid the lack of an English translation is a problem for me. I'm going to check around and see is any others are available. Thanks!

>127 FAMeulstee: I had never heard of Anton de Kom until now, but like >137 Dejah_Thoris: no English translation presents a barrier to my reading about him.

But actually it's exciting to learn of the world's "untold" stories (almost always they've been told, just not as loudly as the Elite Moneyed Class's preferred celebrations of political conformity)!

>127 FAMeulstee: >138 richardderus: Well, Book Depository has the new edition of We Slaves of Surinam being published May 30th, but it's currently US$88.60, which is too much for me! I'll keep an eye out for it, though - eventually I'll be able to pick up a much more reasonably priced used copy.

Lots of good reading Anita.

Almere' library is exceptional, I think. Our library has an arrangement for elderly people. They can get five books, to pick up at the main branch. But people can't ask for specific titles, just five picks in a certain genre to be chosen by the library.

>127 FAMeulstee: Good review. Thanks for taking the time to write it, now I know who Anton de Kom was. Interesting.

De Pest on mount TBR.

Tijl sounds interesting as well. Lots of books about him, this sounds like a good one. In fact LT has 75 titles tagged Eulenspiegel!

Hi, Anita. Just checking in. I hope you and the family are safe and healthy. I finally put up my hummingbird feeder. I hope to see a visitor soon.
I should do a reread The Plague. It would be perfect timing .

>130 FAMeulstee: I like De Waal's work Anita. Must check if I have this. One of my favourites of his was Peacemaking among Primates.

>136 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, all is well in our little corner of the world.

>137 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dejah.
I knew a little about Anton de Kom, and learned a lot more about his life.

>138 richardderus: He was a fascinating man, Richard.
Somewehere around 1999 I saw a TV-documentairy about Anton de Kom and Louis Doedel (a union man from Surinam, who was put in a psychiatric hospital after his arrest in the 1930s and only released in 1980(!), died soon after). Our nation has many dark sides in history :'(

>139 Dejah_Thoris: I hope you can find an affordable copy someday.

>140 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. I was pleased with my latest readings.
I am very happy with the library in Almere. Not only the main branch gives this service, the other three do the same. The main branch has the most books, so I went there.
Tijl Uilenspiegel has inspired many writers :-)

>141 msf59: Thanks, Mark, I hope you see hummingbirds soon.
We heard the first cuckoo last Monday on our walk.

>142 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, I haven read Peacemaking among Primates yet. I did read three others: The Age of Empathy, The Bonobo and the Atheist and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?. Can't really say what my favourite is, as I loved them all.

Hi Anita!

all is well in our little corner of the world.

I'm glad to hear that. We're doing okay out here, too.

>129 FAMeulstee: I loved this first book of the Dublin Murder Squad series, have the rest on my shelves, but haven't been tempted since I finished this one eleven years ago.

>144 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, it will be a long haul in a changed world...

Maybe one day you suddenly do take that second Dublin Murder Squad book from the shelves to read, you never know ;-)
I am not in a hurry to get to the next one either.

Stopping by to say hi, Anita! I really enjoyed The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. Our libraries are still closed, though you can borrow e- books. I am sure looking forward to the libraries re - opening - sometime!

>146 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, nise to see your message here.
Our local library is closed as well, so I am also egarly awaiting re-opening. I can borrow 10 e-books for 3 weeks, but that isn't enough ;-)

book 83: De voorlezer by Bernhard Schlink
1001 books, e-library, translated from German, English translation The Reader, 208 pages

started 2020-04-22
finished 2020-04-22
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book for the APRIL rolling challenge

A boy gets a relationship with an older woman. Later in life he sees her back in court.

This very well written book raises many (moral) questions, and kept me thinking long after I finished the book.

book 84: Telefoon voor de dode by John le Carré
own, translated, original title Call for the Dead, 187 pages

started 2020-04-22
finished 2020-04-23
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read an espionage thriller published in the 1960s

Spy mystery, first book with George Smiley as main character. It was fun to discover how his relation with Ann started.

Enjoyable read.

book 85: Dinsdag is voorbij by Nicci French
library, e-book, translated, original title Tuesday's Gone, 446 pages

started 2020-04-23
finished 2020-04-25
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book by an author you have read before

Second book with Frieda Klein, psychotherapist, who helps the police in some cases. She is very curious and gets in trouble by digging deeper than anyone else involved.

book 86: Cheops by J.H. Leopold
own, Dutch, Dutch Canon, no translations on LT, 32 pages

started 2020-04-25
finished 2020-04-25
TIOLI Challenge #2: The long and the short of it: alternate between books with a 1-syllable title and with an 8+ syllable title

Long poem, written in 1914, about a pharao who just died.

book 87: Zwarte winter by Connie Willis
library, e-book, translated, original title Doomsday book, 528 pages

started 2020-04-25
finished 2020-04-27
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book you might not have read this month without COVID-19

A student is send back in time, to the 14th century. Meanwhile in present day Oxford (2054) a strain of unrecognisable influenza turns up. Oxford is put in quarantaine.

Nice mix of SF and historical fiction.

Dutch title translated: Black winter

>158 FAMeulstee: "Cheops" is now called Khufu in English, so you're lucky the title wasn't translated. Heh.

Have a lovely Friday, dear Anita.

book 88: Kinderspel by Donna Leon
library, e-book, translated, original title Suffer the Little Children, 303 pages

started 2020-04-27
finished 2020-04-28
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book by an author you have read before

Commissario Brunetti book 16. Brunetti runs into illegal adoption and investigates fraud in pharmacies.

Dutch title translated: Childrens play

>153 richardderus: LOL and thank you, Richard dear. I probably would have found Khufu through Wikipedia ;-)
Enjoy the remains of your Thursday.

I just noticed I had forgotten to translate titles lately, went back to correct them. I skipped the titles that were the same.

>152 FAMeulstee: I've downloaded the sample. I've yet to read a bad comment about this book.

Hope your garden continues to do well: lots of rain here today has saved me the watering!

book 89: Smeltend ijs by Arnaldur Indriðason
library, e-book, translated from Icelandic, no English translation (yet), 268 pages

started 2020-04-28
finished 2020-04-29
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book by an author you have read before

New series about retired policeman Konrað. He was a side character in other books by Indriðason.
A body is found on a glacier, it turns out to be a man who went missing 30 years ago and that he was murdered. Back then Konrað investigated this case. He gets involved when the same suspect is brought in again. The suspect still denies to have anything to do with the case, and only wants to speak with Konrað. An other cold case of hit and run also seems to be connected.

Dutch title translated: Melting ice

>156 charl08: I hope you like it too, Charlotte.

We got finally some rain in the last days, after six weeks of dry weather. It wasn't enough, so I had to water some of the plants, to keep the garden florishing.

>157 FAMeulstee: So Arnaldur's given up on the Erlendur series! I'll be darned.

I got so very depressed reading Jar City that, well, I just can't do it any more. Ari-Thór didn't do it for me, either. Maybe I just shouldn't try more Icelandic crime books.

book 90: Alle doden vliegen hoog : Amerika by Joachim Meyerhoff
library, translated from German, no English translation, 267 pages

started 2020-04-29
finished 2020-04-30
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a biography or autobiography

First of four autibiographal books by the German actor Joachim Meyerhoff.
I accidently read the third book first, now continuing in the right order ;-)

This book is about his year in America, he went to Laramie, Wyoming for a year. He was 17 and attended high school.
This stay was brutally interupted when his brother died. He went back to Germany to attend the funeral, and returned to the USA a few weeks later to finish his year.

Meyerhoff has a way of writing where even sad events become funny. And there is a lot of sadness in his family.
Looking forward to the next book.

Dutch title translated: All dead fly high : America

>159 richardderus: Oh I am sorry the Erlendur books made you depressed, Richard. Lucky me, as I had no side effects reading them. I loved the Erlendur books, sadly Into Oblivion was the last one.
After that he went on with Flóvent and Thorson in the Reyjavik Wartime Mysteries, and now this series. Only one of three translated into Dutch yet.

book 91: Ideeën van Multatuli. Eerste bundel by Mutatuli
own, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 783 pages

started 2020-01-03
finished 2020-04-30

First of seven books of Ideas by Multatuli. Essays, one-liners, and interwoven the story of Woutertje Pieterse. Written in the second half of the 19th century.
He critisises the government, parliament, the policy towards the Dutch-Indies, publishers, preachers, teachers, etc. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes boring.

Dutch title translated: Ideas of Multatuli. First bundle

April 2020 in numbers

23 books read (8,168 pages, 272.3 pages a day)

own 6 (26 %) / library 17

15 male author / 8 female author
7 originally written in Dutch / 16 translated into Dutch
16 fiction / 7 non-fiction

22 books in TIOLI Challenges
16 e-books
  3 1001 books
  7 mystery/police procedural
  1 poetry

--
pages:
0 - 100 pages: 1
101 - 200 pages: 4
201 - 300 pages: 3
301 - 400 pages: 8
401 - 500 pages: 3
501 - 999 pages: 4
1000+ pages: 0

longest book 783 pages
shortest book 32 pages
average book 355 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 3
2019: 2
2020: 1

--
date first published:

19th century: 1

20th century
1910s: 1
1930s: 1
1940s: 2
1960s: 1
1990s: 2

21st century
2000s: 4
2010s: 11

--
ratings:
2 x
3 x
8 x
8 x
1 x
1 x

average rating: 3.87
--
Best books in April


De pest (The Plague) by Albert Camus
Wij slaven van Suriname by Anton de Kom

===

Walking in April: 182.6 km; average 6.09 km/a day

2020 totals to date:

91 books read (30,626 pages, 246.8 pages a day)

own 17 (18 %) / library 74

55 male author / 36 female author
27 originally written in Dutch / 64 translated into Dutch
70 fiction / 21 non-fiction

83 books in TIOLI Challenges
46 e-books
11 1001 books (total 157)
  1 Dutch Literary Canon (total 27/125)
  9 childrens/YA
15 mystery/police procedural
  3 poetry

pages:
0 - 100 pages: 5
101 - 200 pages: 20
201 - 300 pages: 17
301 - 400 pages: 25
401 - 500 pages: 14
501 - 999 pages: 7
1000+ pages: 3

longest book 1419 pages
shortest book 32 pages
average book 337 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 8
2011: 1
2016: 1
2017: 1
2019: 4
2020: 2

--
date first published:
13th century: 1
18th century: 1
19th century: 3

20th century
1900s: 3
1910s: 2
1930s: 3
1940s: 4
1960s: 4
1970s: 9
1990s: 6

21st century
2000s: 13
2010s: 42

--
ratings:
  5 x
  8 x
41 x
24 x
11 x
  1 x
  1 x

average rating: 3.81
===

Walking in 2020: 756,8 km; average 6,25 km a day

Great stats, Anita!

>148 FAMeulstee: it's a long time since I read this Anita. They made a film of it too.

>165 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah.
I am picking up my speed again.

>166 Caroline_McElwee: Yes, I heard there was a film, Caroline. Did you see it? If so, was it good?

Nice stats.

I have not read The Plague but have had it on my shelf for years. I should pull that one forward soon.

You certainly zipped on from your 75 books read since the last time I visited. All of them good reads :)

Enjoy your weekend.

>168 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, my reading speed is coming back :-)
Many are reading The plague these days, it would probably read different in non-pandemic times.
Happy weekend!

>167 FAMeulstee: it was a while since I saw that too Anita, but I think it was pretty good. Kate Winslet if I remember took the lead.

Hi, Anita.

I'm glad you had a good experience with The Doomsday Book. That's one of my favorite sci-fi novels.

>171 jnwelch: It's one of my all time favorites, too. If Anita hadn't decided to read it and added to the TIOLI Challenges, I wouldn't have embarked on a reread in April - so thanks, Anita!

>152 FAMeulstee: I have been meaning to read Connie Willis. I think I have this on my shelves... will have to look.

Happy weekend ahead, Anita, and I too am impressed with your statistics. I'm delighted the awful trough in your reading is over and done with for good.

I am way behind again, Anita, and not even trying to keep up. Just dropped in to say 'Have a wonderful weekend!'

>170 Caroline_McElwee: I can imagine it could be turned into a good script, Caroline.

>171 jnwelch: It was a good read, Joe. And a proper read in this strange time.

>172 Dejah_Thoris: Glad to be at your service, Dejah :-)

>173 banjo123: I hope you like it too, Rhonda.

>174 richardderus: For good, I doubt it, Richard, but I will enjoy as long as it lasts (and may it last a long time!)

>175 alcottacre: Good to see you, Stasia, and happy weekend to you!

Hi Anita!

>145 FAMeulstee: … it will be a long haul in a changed world... Sad to say that you’re absolutely right. Even now, only 2 months into true awareness about coronavirus, I look at photos of crowds and get upset, even looking at OLD pre-coronavirus photos of crowds.

>150 FAMeulstee: I loved the Freida Klein series. Out of the 8 books in the series the lowest rating I gave was 3.5. Most were 4.0, two were 4.5.

>169 FAMeulstee: Glad to hear that your reading speed is coming back!

Great review of Anton de Kom, Anita. I hadn't heard of him before your review of his book We Slaves of Surinam. I can't find any English translations of the biography, and the only copy of the novel is selling for over $800 on Amazon! I couldn't find any copies of it in the Atlanta or Emory University libraries, either. I'll look for a copy of it at New Beacon Books, the UK's first black bookshop, which is a short walk from Finsbury Park station, the next time I return to London.

Hi Anita my dear, i hope that you and Frank have had a good weekend despite all that is going on, i have had a good few days with my reading and have made a good start to my latest Chunkster.

Sending love and hugs to you and Frank from both of us dear friend.

>177 karenmarie: I have the same, Karen. Crowds and people packed together will never look the same.
Rated the two Frieda Klein books 1/2 a star less than you did, enjoyable enough to continue.
I hope it stays this way, it is now 4 years since reading went on a roll. I always kept the feeling it might be only temporary.

>178 kidzdoc: Glad I could introduce you to an important black Dutch writer, Darryl.
After reading his biographt I understand there was a plan for an English translation, but it fell through because of objections of his family. There might be a translation to be published later this year. The $800 copy is probably an unauthorised print...

>179 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.
I am in the midst of last months chunkster Joseph and his brothers by Thomas Mann, at page 496 of 1343. A beautiful, but slow read.
We finally had some rian in the last week, after 6 weeks of drought, so my garden plants are happy. And so am I, as there is no need to water them.
Love and hugs to you and Karen!

Waving a quick hello, Anita, and hope you're well.

>180 FAMeulstee: The rain helped here too, Anita. Hoping the promised sunshine over the next week will bring out a few more blooms.

>181 bell7: Thank you, Mary, waving back.
All is well, only no time for LT at the moment, merely checking my own thread. I am completely immersed reading Joseph and his brothers, a big 1343 pages tome. Halfway now, I'll be back catching up here in two or three days.

>182 charl08: We are back to dry weather, Charlotte, had to water the impatiens again today.
The irises are gone, now the peonies are eye catching.

>184 FAMeulstee: Lovely peonies, we won't be seeing my brothers flowers this year (he grows them), thanks to social distancing. But in our garden the lilacs are flowering.

Congratulations on passing 75 books so early in the year, Anita! wow!

>185 EllaTim: I remember you told me about your brother, Ella. Must be hard time for him with little export this year...
I love lilacs, sadly theirs scent triggers Franks nose, making him sneeze. So I removed the two we had in our garden.

>186 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah!

---
Still reading Joseph and his brothers. Nearly finished part 3 Joseph in Egypt.
Picking up 3 more books at the library in Almere tomorrow. Last time, as the libraries will open again next week.

>187 FAMeulstee: How unfortunate, no lilacs, poor Frank.
My brother first thought he couldn't sell anything this year. But he's been lucky, prices for his flowers are not too bad, and he can still sell a part. He will manage this year.

Libraries will open? Really? Oh yes, I saw. oh well. Maybe I should try, I don't really enjoy public space at the moment.

Hi Anita!

Wow, a 1343 page chunkster. Fantastic.

Our library isn't making any noises about opening, which is hard for so many people.

Anita--Wishing you a happy weekend! Hurray for libraries opening up again and have fun with Joseph. ( I won't tell Frank.)

>189 karenmarie: Hi Karen, it is a very big, very literary tome. So I took a break after book 3 and finished Eline Vere first. Now back starting book 4 Joseph the Provider.
The library in Almere opens next Monday, my library in Lelystad will follow a week later on the 18th.

>190 Berly: Thank you, Kim, happy weekend to you!
Very happy with libraries opening up, not sure if I can describe Joseph as fun, more interesting. I like to read it, also time consuming, very literary and many references. I probably miss half of those. I'll need a fun read after finishing!
No need to tell, reading right in front of Frank most of the time ;-)

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Anita.

>192 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, weekend is over and I finally finished Joseph and his brothers.

I will catch up with the threads later today.

Hope the libraries reopening goes smoothly, Anita. That must be exciting.
No sign here as yet. :-(

>194 charl08: Yes, Charlotte, very exciting!

The libraries only open for taking and returning books, all other activities are still on hold.
The library in Almere opens today, I plan to visit them next week.
Our local library waits a week, they need more time to prepare. I will wait a week after the reopening before going there myself.

>193 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on finishing your door-stopper, Anita!

Just checking in. Hope all is well. congrats on finishing your colossal novel. How exciting that the libraries are re opened. Sadly, here they are still closed. Same goes for the bookstores. I miss perusing through the shelves at my local used store.

>196 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, it was a demanding read. Now I have to sort out my thoughts about it.

>197 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, I am glad I finished it. I have The man without qualities on the list for later this year.
Looking forward to a visit to the library next week. Stores are also opening, keeping 1,5 m distance required and only a limited number of people allowed inside.

Wow! Joseph is vanquished at last, brava Anita! An actual library visit would raise my spirits quite a bit.

>199 richardderus: Yes he is, Richard, and I am happy about it. And sadly it wasn't a stellar read, a good read, but not loved like I loved The Magic Mountain and The Buddenbrooks.
I am looking forward visiting the library, I hope that will be possible for you soon.

17 days into May and I still haven't written anything about the 8 books I finished this month...
Time to start a shiny new thread, to encourage myself ;-)

New thread is up!