The Bookseller Käthe's Reading Log in 2021 (2)

Happy new thread - happy reading February!

Welcome to part 2 of my reading log for 2021. My name is Käthe and I am 34 years old. I have been working as a bookseller for almost ten years and have been a book lover since forever. I live with a dog and four .. coughcough... currently 4 grown-up and 17 baby rats in Austria.

I love LibraryThing because I get many new recommendations especially when it comes to English writers. There are not many genres I don't read at all. I even give crime novels and thrillers a chance from time to time even though I usually know on page 80 how the whole story is going. ;-)

Favourite authors include T.C. Boyle, D.H. Lawrence, Edward Carey, Philipp Roth, John Steinbeck and John Irving. Favourite female writers include Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Christine Wunnicke, Christa Wolf, Maria Lazar, Hannah Arendt, Rebecca Solnit and Hilary Mantel. And Isabel Wilkerson.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Timmy


The rat pack
----

READING STATISTICS:

Read in 2021:

January (14 books, 3,404 pages)
1. Take a girl like you by Kingsley Amis **1/2
2. Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo *****
3. Der Tod in ihren Händen by Ottessa Moshfegh **1/2
4. Die Anderen by Laila Lalami ***1/2
5. Das Baby ist meins by Oyinkan Braithwaite ***
6. Kindheit by Tove Ditlevsen ****
7. Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo *****
8. Jugend by Tove Ditlevsen ****
9. Der Atem einer anderen Welt by Seanan McGuire **1/2
10. Emilio und das Meer by Elisa Sabatinelli ***
11. Camel Travel by Volha Hapeyeva ****
12. Einspruch! by Ingrid Brodnig ****
13. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson *****
14. Eine Seuche in der Stadt by Ljudmila Ulitzkaja **

------

------



February
15. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson ****
16. Fallout by Fred Pearce ****
17. Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier *****
18. PESTS by Emer Stamp ****1/2
19. Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch *****
20. Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernardine Evaristo *****
21. Die Filmerzählerin by Hernán Rivera Letelier 1/2
22. Ein Tag im Leben des Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn *****
23. And then there were none by Agatha Christie ****
24. Irre glücklichby Jenny Lawson ****
25. Der Quasselkasper by Janosch **
26. Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett ****
27. Eine ganze Welt by Goldie Goldblum ***

-----

-----

Read the world - my challenge for 2021

I assume that next year travelling will still not be possible, so I spontaneously decided to make reading the world a challenge. I will try to read a book from every country in the world - which is basically a challenge I can't win as it I'd need to read almost 200 books. But it is always nice to look outside the own reading box.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia (Czech Republic), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini (fmr. "Swaziland"), Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany , Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine State, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. United Kingdom: Take a girl like you by Kingsley Amis, Fallout by Fred Pearce, PESTS by Emer Stamp, Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernadine Evaristo, And then there were none by Agatha Christie
2. South Korea: Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
3. USA: Der Tod in ihren Händen by Ottessa Moshfegh, Die Anderen by Leila Lalami, Der Atem einer anderen Welt by Seanan McGuire, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, Irre glücklich by Jenny Lawson, Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett
4. New Zealand: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
5. Nigeria: Das Baby ist meins by Oyinkan Braithwaite
6. Denmark: Kindheit by Tove Ditlevsen, Jugend by Tove Ditlevsen
7. Hungary: Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo
8. Austria: Einspruch! by Ingrid Brodnig
9. Italy: Emilio und das Meer by Elisa Sabatinelli
10. Belarus: Camel Travel by Volha Hapeyeva, Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch
11. Russia: Eine Seuche in der Stadt by Ljudmila Ulitzkaja, Ein Tag im Leben von Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn
12. France: Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier
13. Chile: Die Filmerzählerinby Hernán Rivera Letelier
14. Germany: Der Quasselkasper by Janosch

Ideas:
Zimbabwe: This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga
Mexico: Das Flüstern der Bienen by Sofia Segovia
Japan: Der Klang der Wälder by Natsu Miyashita
Guinea: Kleiner Bruder by Ibrahima Balde
Mauritius: Black Spartacus by Sudhir Hazareesingh

Found this in Lori's (thornton37814) thread and I use that as well!


1) one-word-title: Jugend by Tove Ditlevsen ✓
2) by or about marginalized group: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson ✓
3) dark or light word in the title: Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch ✓
4) character you'd be friends with: Kindheit by Tove Ditlevsen ✓
5) arts & recreation: Die Filmerzählerin by Hernán Rivera Letelier ✓
6) Title describes you: Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernardine Evaristo ✓
7) You heartily recommend: Einspruch! by Ingrid Brodnig ✓
8) nature or environment: Emilio und das Meer by Elisa Sabatinelli; Iacopo Bruno ✓
9) classical element in the title
10) 2 or more authors: Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier ✓
11) impulse read: Take a girl like you by Kingsley Amis ✓
12) contains love story: These violent delights by Chloe Gong
13) (read a CAT or KIT - replaced) animal-related title: Camel Travel by Volha Hapeyeva ✓
14) Southern hemisphere
15) made you laugh: Pests by Emer Stamp ✓
16) suggested by another generation: Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo 🗸
17) new to you author: Die Anderen by Laila Lalami ✓
18) set somewhere you'd like to visit: And then there were none by Agatha Christie ✓
19) about history or alternate history: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson ✓
20) 20 or fewer LT members: Fallout by Fred Pearce ✓
21) less than 200 pages: Das Baby ist meins by Oyinkan Braithwaite ✓
22) senior citizen protagonist: Der Tod in ihren Händen by Ottessa Moshfegh ✓
23) type of building in the title
24) about time, or time word in title: Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo ✓
25) about or contains magic: Der Atem einer anderen Welt by Seanan McGuire ✓

Hope I am not to soon to say, Happy New Thread, Kathe?!

>6 PaulCranswick: Not at all, Paul! Welcome and make yourself at home!

Happy new thread, Käthe!

>1 PersephonesLibrary: I love the look of those piles of little rats on the right.

Happy new thread!!

Happy new thread, Käthe! I love the visual in >4 PersephonesLibrary: with all the country names and the ones you have read bolded and struck through. Does the book have to be set in that country, or the author from that country?

Happy new thread!

Happy new one!

>8 FAMeulstee: Anita, thank you! I am excited about a second thread! :) You know, they would have soft cushions and hammocks, cuddly nests and warm beds.. but now, the wooden board is their choice.



>9 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda! Have a lovely Sunday!

>10 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! The author has to be born there or identify as coming from there. If I am unsure I look at the author's or wikipedia page. That can be surprising - These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, e.g. - she's from New Zealand, but that's what I love about the challenge: Your prejudices and assumptions are challenged!

>11 drneutron: Thank you, Jim! I am currently a very loyal LT - fingers crossed I can stick to that!

>12 figsfromthistle: Anita, thank you for stopping by! I really need to check your thread - I don't know why, but it has disappeared from my "home" page.

It's time for a wrap up before entering February! I am quite satisfied with the results and the reading progress. And the ratio of male/female writers is acceptable. :) I am not sure if I can keep that level but I will try my best. I am glad to be back and active on LT again!

Books finished: 14
Pages read: 3,404

Female writers: 12
Male writers: 3

Best rated *****: Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo, Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Worst rated **: Eine Seuche in der Stadt by Ljudmila Ulitzkaja

------------------------------------------------------
January
1. Take a girl like you by Kingsley Amis **1/2
2. Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo *****
3. Der Tod in ihren Händen by Ottessa Moshfegh **1/2
4. Die Anderen by Laila Lalami ***1/2
5. Das Baby ist meins by Oyinkan Braithwaite ***
6. Kindheit by Tove Ditlevsen ****
7. Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo *****
8. Jugend by Tove Ditlevsen ****
9. Der Atem einer anderen Welt by Seanan McGuire **1/2
10. Emilio und das Meer by Elisa Sabatinelli ***
11. Camel Travel by Volha Hapeyeva ****
12. Einspruch! by Ingrid Brodnig ****
13. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson *****
14. Eine Seuche in der Stadt by Ljudmila Ulitzkaja **

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

Happy new thread, Käthe!
It is impressive how quickly the children grow up....
>5 PersephonesLibrary: I like the idea of the bingo, let's see if I enter.
>14 PersephonesLibrary: This is a very impressive list - and a just as ratio of male/female writers.
I wish you a good start into the week.

Happy new thread!

>15 SirThomas:
Thank you, Thomas! Time is flying with those little rascals. And in these days I have to start "sorting" them by sex because they get their maturity soon. The last thing I need is another bunch of babies. :)

I liked the bingo idea as well - and I am not very strict with the rules. It's just for fun without additional pressure. I hope to keep my pace during the rest of the year!

Have a lovely Monday!


>16 false-knight: Thank you very much, Emery!

15. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson ****

In this non-fiction book, Wilkerson take a topic she has already implied in The Warmth of Other Suns: Caste. She explains why there is a caste system in the USA, its pillars, how it has developed over the years - and what it has to do with the Tr*mp election. She draws parallels from the caste system in India and the Nazi regime in the Third Reich.

Again, she gives a precious insight into today's United States. To me it became much clearer how it was possible a) that Tr*ump was seen as an actual valid candidate by his voters and b) that so many women voted for him.

It's easy to read but there is an overkill of comparisons and metaphors. They sometimes felt like "filling material" which the book definitely didn't need. On the other hand it might make it easier for young adults to read it which would be a good thing considering the importance of the topic.

As it's February, my book buying ban is interrupted and I got the following ebooks - inspired by Isabel Wilkerson:

* Silencing the past by Michel-Rolph Trouillot
* Making Whiteness by Grace Elizabeth Hale
* Vor-Urteile by Mahzarin Banaji
* Remembering Jim Crow by William Henry Chafe

But first on my list is Fallout by Fred Pearce.

Happy New thread, Käthe!

Thank you, Connie! :D

Happy new one, Käthe. You're very busy and did some great reading.

Barbara, I surprised myself. 😊 Thank you! I hope your week has started smoothly.

Today, I gave in. I had a control appointment with my psychiatrist and got a sick leave for the next two weeks. It just got too much: The Christmas business season stress, the stocktaking, the meetings with publisher's representatives, the weather, the unhappy discussions on Twitter, the bad news, the mourning in my family, the lockdown and feeling quite lonely...

I really had a bad conscience for consulting my doctor because next week lockdown will be softened and stores will open up again. But after calling and informing my boss that feeling dissolved into nothing. Last week, we actually talked about me getting a week off next week. That's why I thought, now was the best time for a time-off. Today she was like "no, not next week, this week" - though we both know that wouldn't have been possible. Anyway.

Now, I have got two weeks to restructure my thoughts and my life, catch up with tasks I should have done a while ago. I don't want to "plan" anything but I am thinking about reading, drawing, finally baking or crocheting - just to get my mind of everything else.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And now, to something more cheerful:

Sleepover party:
---

Momma milk bar:


Four and more amigos:
-

Oh, and please no worry to ignore the personal stuff. It would probably be more fitting for a diary. I just try to speak very openly about mental illness.

Käthe, I respect and admire your honesty. It sounds like you did exactly the right thing. I think you should feel good about consulting your doctor - you acted in a way that will help you to take good care of yourself, and that is so important. These are such weird and stressful times, and we all need to be kind to ourselves and understand what our limits are when dealing with everything.

The photos are terrific! I especially like the bottom left one with their little heads peering over the edge. They are all completely adorable.

I am glad you try to take care of yourself, Käthe, that is important.
Long ago I neglected myself way to long, and ended on disability because of mental illness.

And years later it turned out that part of the problems was my malfunctioning thyroid.

>26 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie. I don't want anyone feeling pressured to react to that. But if someone wants to talk about it, I offer an open space.

It will be so hard to say goodbye to the little noses... but for a last few days I can enjoy their company.

>27 FAMeulstee: Anita,the line is a thin one. I have struggled with depression since I was 16. Still do. But I have learned a lot and found coping strategies - and the right medicine, so I am usually doing well. Even last year with my mom's death, a big surgery, water breaking the apartment, lockdown.. I delt well with it. But that was just too much now.

How did you deal with it? I have to check for "thyroid" tomorrow. How are you feeling nowadays?

Reading status

I am currently on page 150 of Fallout by Fred Pearce,a non-fiction book about the nuclear age. Dealing with the history of nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

As a side snack I will read And then there were none by Agatha Christie. (I am not completely sure, but this might be my first Christie novel...)

Well, if that’s your first Christie, you picked a good one!

Enjoy your reading, and I hope the two weeks off helps you recuperate. Take care of yourself!

I think being open about it is also a good contribution to healing.
I wish you good recreation and much joy with your little sweeties and books.
I totally agree with >31 drneutron:

Hi Käthe, I'm glad you are able to talk about your mental health openly. My husband is having a bad time since his retirement 5 years ago. And of course that effects my life too. So I know you need to do what you need to do to get better or at least more capable coping. And if it takes a few weeks off, that's what you do. I hope it helps.

Finally tracked you down - hadn't twigged the name to the LT name (I'm often slow). Starred and mostly caught up.

Take care of yourself and make sure you do what you need to help your mind reset. I had an awful week of it last week and I'm somewhat scared of those feelings at the moment as they are still threatening. Sometimes it really is the everything, rather than anything in particular that triggers. Anyway, you have definitely done the right thing and I hope it helps.

>30 PersephonesLibrary: Oh and beware - it is an excellent one, but I think (probably should check my reading log) it is what started me on Christie-fest 2020 - I read over 30 Christie last year. Literally could not stop reading them.

>29 PersephonesLibrary: My major break down was in 1995, Käthe, after a series of stressful events.
I had been to a psychiatrist before, but that hadn't worked. In 1995 I found a better psychiatrist, and after a long search we found a anti-depressant that worked (Seroxat). Besisdes the depression and a personality disorder, I suddenly got servere phobia's. Agoraphobia was the worst one, I wasn't able to get out of the house without Frank or the dogs by my side. The depression went away, but the phobia's were untreatable.
In 2005 we moved from Rotterdam to Lelystad, as I had gotten worse and needed a quiter place. The Seroxat didn't work well anymore, and we found another antidepressant that worked: Effexor.

In 2011 is was discovered that my thyroid (Schilddrüse) didn't work well, and I was put on Thyrax. In 2013 my phobia's were suddenly gone. Meanwhile I have had them back a few times when my thyroid numbers were on the low side again. I have to be in the upper side of normal range, else the phobia's return.

The quiet life here has helped, (or maybe the thyroid had also a role in depression), after returning to Seroxat in 2012, I was able to wean off completely in 2015.
As long as I take enough Thyrax, live my quiet life, and don't have to deal with much stress, I am fairly okay.

>31 drneutron: Jim, to be honest I know several adaptations of the story - so it won't be much of a surprise. But when it comes to crimes stories (and later horror stories) I am a fan of "one after another"... :) Like the French adaptation "They were ten" or a different TV series "Harper's Island".

>32 false-knight: Thank you, Emery! I will try to structure my day. Get personal stuff done but also find enough time to relax. 😘

>33 SirThomas: Thomas, thank you - I am positively overwhelmed by the lovely support of LibraryThingers. :)

>14 PersephonesLibrary: I just love the title "Der Atem einer anderen Welt" for some reason.

Great start to your reading year.

>34 connie53: Thank you for sharing this, Connie! Did he miss working? I heard that especially men were prone to depression when they retire. I imagine it being hard for you - and for family members and friends in general to deal with such a situation. I wish you both all the best! ❤

>35 BekkaJo: Welcome, Bekka! I am sorry to hear that you didn't feel well last week. Yea, those feelings are always threatingly lurking and just waiting for the right moment to attack you... And currently, I am not surprised that anyone would feel overwhelmed and helpless. Are you working or at home? How are you doing this week?
Thank you for the warning - 30 read Christies are quite the recommendation! I will check for your reading log - and maybe I am not as lost for crime novels as I thought! :)

>36 FAMeulstee: I am impressed by how you handled this difficult times, Anita! And I am glad you had Frank and the dogs. It's so important to have someone supporting you around you! It is even more important to talk about mental health when you think that it has actually "just" an organic origin that can be treated. I suffer "only" from basic depression and I can't imagine how hard phobias must hit you. Thank you very much for sharing!

I should have started with therapy way earlier but was scared to death as a teenager that it will mean I will be "locked away" and not getting out of it anymore. It is so important that the stigma is deleted and that people are shown the different possibities and solutions.

>38 sirfurboy: Stephen - indeed, apart from Bluesalamander's recommendation that title tempted me to read it. It is very poetic!

>39 PersephonesLibrary: Before my thyroid problem was discovered I never thought there could be physical reasons for mental problems. Mental health professionals are rarely aware of this, and often react very hostile when I tell them. I even lost my last mental health supporter in an argument over this. And nearly went back in the black vortex after :-(

I was as scared as you are for getting "locked up", but then I am still scared of all hospitals and doctors.
I changed my mind a bit when a neighbor had a servere breakdown, and got a lot better after a few months in a mental hospital.

*hugs*

Well done for taking that sometimes-scary step and doing what's best to take care of yourself! I struggle with that, tons, but mental health and self care are *so* important. You need and *deserve* that time off, friend.

>39 PersephonesLibrary: He did miss his students and his colleagues a lot and the fact that his hobby was his work and he had no hobbies besides his work did not help either. He has physical complaints like stomach and belly aches and is constantly nauseous. We visited all kinds of doctors and homeopathists, psychologists, psychiatrists, in fact all kind of - ists. He had numerous medical tests but nothing is physical wrong with him.

>41 FAMeulstee:

I never thought there could be physical reasons for mental problems.

And it works the other way around too, Anita.

Glad you are taking care of your mental health. So many times people push it aside until it gets unmanageable. I hope the two weeks will help get you steady on your feet :)

>41 FAMeulstee: That's not very useful if mental health professionals have got a perspective like that. They are as disrespectful as doctors who don't believe you are in physical pain and blame psychological issues for it.
As far as I know it's standard procedure to check physical as well as psychological aspects before deciding on a therapy here in Austria.

>42 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! I tend to sacrifice myself for a "purpose" which makes it difficult to take breaks without guilt. But I am slowly learning and getting better at it. :) Oh, and plan for some creative self-therapy inspired by your knitting. I just know how to crochet so I want to try different patterns.
-

>43 connie53: I can see how hard this must have been on him. I tend to be invested in my work as well so I can relate. You have got that social net around you - and suddenly lose it from one day to another. And building up a new social network is hard. Did he keep some friends from work?

>44 figsfromthistle: Anita, I have made that experience once in 2017. I was on sick leave for two months - and nowaydays I felt to drift into that direction again. So, even if the time is not the best (but when is it ever?) I pulled the emergency break now. I just really need two weeks off, then I can get back to 100% but with a structure to have what they call a "work-life-balance". Thank you!

16. Fallout by Fred Pearce ****

Fred Pearce deals with the history of nuclear power: From the beginning during Word War II, the atomic euphoria during the 1950's, the three big accidents in 1957, Cold War, to Chernobyl and Fukushima he explains the developments on a scientific and social level. He evaluates the arguments pro and contra nuclear energy and assesses its risks and dangers.

Additionally, he discusses how companies and governments are to blame for the distrust and fear people have got because of their secrecy and coverups when it came to accidents. He is not a champion pro nuclear energy but he tries to give a fair evaluation. But if you just look at the difficulty and the costs of cleaning-up and getting rid of nuclear waste, it is actually the biggest argument against it.

In my opinion he gives a good overview over the topic. I got challenged to question my on biases on nuclear energy which made it an even more interesting read. You start discussing with the author in your head. :)
Sometimes the writing was a bit clumsy and the translation seemed bumby, hence only four stars.

>45 PersephonesLibrary: Aw, I love the looks of that pattern! I can't crochet, but Charlie is learning, which is pretty cool. And yay for crafty self care!

Okay, I was perusing people's threads and I LOVE that you have ratties. I don't currently have any but I've had a set of 3 sisters and then I had 4 rats (unrelated to eachother). I miss having rats sooo much!

>47 scaifea: Amber, I wanted to start yesterday, wool ready... but somehow I misplaced the hook... :)
Isn't the colour(s) great? And I found a project I have started about two years ago - a patchwork blanket with three colours.

-


>48 leperdbunny: Hi Tamara and welcome! Yay, another rat lover! Have you thought about getting a new mischief?

-

17. Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier *****

This one is a graphic novel masterpiece. It deals with the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. How the US-Americans rushed to get it before Hitler could lay his hands on one - and then to prevent it from being actually used.

Don't expect a non-fiction book - it is very well researched but there is a lot of artistic freedom in it.
It is informative (on a very basic level), well constructed and illustrated, compelling and touching. There were many scenes where I could actually "hear" the sounds in the pictures. Especially, the moment when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima gets under your skin.

18. Pests by Emer Stamp ****1/2

I read this one after finishing the graphic novel - for better sleep. :) It is a cute, adorable children's book for about eight-year-olds. It deals with the adventure of Stix who - after losing his grandma - detects a secret school for pests in the basement.

It has got everything a children's book needs: lovely and fun characters, moments of sadness and moments of laughter, adventure, a villain that - of course - gets punished in the end.
I didn't give it the full five stars because the black-and-white prints of what seems to be actually colour drawings make it look a little bit like "self-made". Don't get me wrong, they are cute, but would have looked sooo much better in colour.

As my reading mood has got a will and life on its own, I am now about 60 pages into Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch. I have been "fascinated" by the Chernobyl incident since I heard about it for the first time. It has got to do with the fact that I was born only about two weeks after the disaster, so I feel a certain "connection" to it.

As a kid Die Wolke by Gudrun Pausewang and another children's novel of her Die letzten Kinder von Schewenborn made a huge impression on me.

Last year, I read Störfall by Christa Wolf which was an amazing book and I can only recommend it for everyone to read. I also read Der Radfahrer von Tschernobyl by Javier Sebastian, Mitternacht in Tschernobyl by Adam Higgonbotham and started Die ausradierte Stadt by Francesco Cataluccio. I bought the Alexijewitsch book already back then - but didn't manage to read it.

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

By the way, is it just me that thinks it's weird that names are "translated"? I understand a translation from e.g. cyrillic scripture because of readabilty - but why is there an English and a German way of the name.
I have already wondered about this in school, when we didn't learn about Henry VIII but Heinrich VIII, or Ludwig XIV instead of Louis XIV...

>49 PersephonesLibrary: Ooooh, I *love* the self-striping yarn and those lovely, bright colors! And I also love the colors in the blanket!

>45 PersephonesLibrary: Just one, but that died slowly.

>53 scaifea: I got a new crocheting hook today and will try out this wool. :)

>54 connie53: I am sorry about that. I would suggest joining a group for ...I don't know, fishing, chess... but that would be hypocritical because I should do the same and just don't do it. I hope you both get through this!

>55 PersephonesLibrary: I hope he will take up cooking again. He used to do that and loved trying out new recipes but he could not make himself do anything. We found a program with multiple disciplines and we hope that that helps. We just started two weeks ago.

And he made his famous potato soup again!

>56 connie53: I love potato soup! :) This sounds like a great idea - and something you both could profit from. Al het beste et veel kracht! ❤

Happy Saturday!

I slept way to long and soon we will get lunch. I am still reading Tschernobyl and it is brutal, but so important and well written. Quote:
“The mechanism of evil will work under conditions of apocalypse, also. That's what I understood. Man will gossip, and kiss up to the bosses, and save his television and ugly fur coat. And people will be the same until the end of time. Always.”

For the weekend I have got several ideas: Maybe I will find the mood to draw. I will continue on my colourful blanket - I got a few rolls of wool around - but I am not sure if it will be enough... eh, I am flexible, then it will become a big scarf:





Here are some mood pictures for the weekend:

-----

I like the pictures.
Sleeping and reading are always good for rcovery.
I wish you a wonderful recreative weekend, Käthe.

Wow, you've made a lot of progress on your crochet project already! That's impressive! And thanks for the furry buddy photos - so sweet. I particularly like the juxtaposition of the big paws and the tiny paws...

>59 SirThomas: Thanks, Thomas! I hope your weekend is relaxing, too!

>60 scaifea: Amber, that's why I love thick wool. ;-) Especially to refresh your skills it makes it easier to count the stitches - and you get progress quickly. I just noticed that I probably won't have enough of that neon melange wool and I can't find it anywere to order, so I am thinking of mixing one of the colours into it, e.g. 8 rows the colourful mix, 8 rows blue. What do you think?
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Going to bed now to read a few more pages...

>62 PersephonesLibrary: I think that's a *perfect* solution! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

>63 scaifea: I will keep you updated. :)

19. Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch *****

Swetlana Alexijewitsch has collected the memories of different people who witnessed the Chernobyl accident or its aftermath. You get to know liquidators and their wives, politicians and journalists, scientists and medics, resettlers and returners, mothers and fathers and their children - and receive a panorama of a tragedy which is deeply haunting and disturbing. After reading it you wonder how anybody could even think of nuclear energy as an option nowadays.

>65 PersephonesLibrary: I read this one a few years ago and some of it is very moving.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>64 PersephonesLibrary: A handful of us 75ers are also members of the Needlearts group, where we each have a thread to show our crafty work and chat about it. It's a lovely, fun group and we'd be happy to have you over there, too!

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/59/Needlearts

>65 PersephonesLibrary: and another BB, Käthe!
My public library has it in stock, but it is on loan. I have reserved it for myself.
I wish you a wonderful rest of Sunday.

I have been following your thread for a while, but I just wanted to actually let you know that I enjoy your thread and your posts. I'm a bit fearful about the little creeping creatures, but I like your reading-tastes. I also noticed your ambitious global challenge. I have started a similar challenge myself back in 2010 and am still trying to read one book for every country in the world because it's a very rewarding reading-experience.
I hope you'll feel better soon. I cannot give you any advice other than to be kind to yourself and try to enjoy what makes you happy. And try to catch a bit of that wonderful Austrian air too every now and then. Things will become better eventually.

>66 PaulCranswick: Happy Sunday, Paul! At least I hope, it has improved for you. That experience with the "former" user must have been weird. Just know, that you are always welcome here. :) Yes, the book is very touching. I definitely want to read other writings by Alexijewitsch! Though I will need a little break - her topics are usually hard to handle.

>67 scaifea: Ooh, that sounds nice. I will check it out! Thank you for the link!

>68 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas! I am glad to be the reason for a BB for once! :D I hope you'll get a lot out of the book.

>69 Trifolia: Welkom, Monica! doe alsof je thuis bent. I am happy you broke your silence. :) And soon fur the babies will move to their new homes, then there will be less pictures of them anyway.
At the moment it's easy to find reading material for different countries - so I will have enough to read for this year. But there are actually some countries where I haven't found any translation I could read. I will come back to you - maybe you've got an idea. :)
I am very relieved that I have got another week at home. It would be too hard, if I had to go tomorrow... I have made a goal for myself about structuring my everyday life for me - a structure which will help me to have something of a life-work-balance after my sick leave.

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

I have started today a book that has been on my wishlist - and that I finally received as an ACR:

> Hi Käthe, you're always welcome for book-suggestions, although I'm not an expert. I initally started reading globally alphabetically. That wasn't easy especially since I prefer to read books by local authors. I'll have to revive the thread. Thanks for reminding me.

Structure is very good. It may help you to better cope with everything. And realize that you do make a difference with your presence here. You might even convince me to like the little creatures (although i like your choice of books even more) :-).

>71 Trifolia: I will come back at you, Monica! Maybe we'll find a country whose book we could read together. :)
That's so sweet of you to say, thank you very much!

One change I made was "no smartphone/laptop/internet after 10 pm" - but I can read until I get tired. As Girl, Woman, Other is a great book I read until looong after midnight. Not sure, if that was a good new rule... 😏

My motto for this week:

>62 PersephonesLibrary: Ooh, Little My. :)

>72 PersephonesLibrary: Nice quote. I try to do the same. I spend a lot of time these days biting my tongue.

So many people think 1+1=5 !

>72 PersephonesLibrary: One sign of a good book is where the narrative will not allow you to consider sleep.

>74 sirfurboy: Ooh I can relate to that!

>73 sirfurboy: I love the Moomins - and I kind of relate to Little My!
>73 sirfurboy: + >74 sirfurboy: I laughed out loud at that! This is brilliant and so true. Nowadays, you have to chose your battles wisely. :) Thanks for sharing it and have a great start of the week, Stephen!

>74 sirfurboy: Paul, it is one of those "just one more pages"/"just one more chapter" novels... sleep is overrated anyway. ;-)

Hi, Käthe!

Chiming in to say that I love the Moomins, too!

>77 scaifea: Yay, another Moominmate! They published a new edition of the series in 2019 and I got about five or six books - love to read them during the time before Christmas.

Today, the lockdown ended in Austria, so I could finally go to get new wool - the pink looks surprisingly good in combination with the colourful wool (I first thought it'd be too bright):


By accident I passed the local library and saw through the windows that they had a book flea market going on. Long story short, I got 4 books:
* Schnelles Denken, langsames Denken by Daniel Kahneman (Yay, I have been looking for this.)
* Die Filmerzählerin by Hernán Rivera Letelier (for my around the world challenge - Chile)
* Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence (Yay, I have been looking for this, too.)
* Denn schreiben will ich! by Anne Frank

20. Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernardine Evaristo *****

Evaristo has created a panoramic view of society through gender, classes and generations from women's or trans men's perspectives. Her writing is full of energy and life - and very captivating. Her characters are believable and have got a lot of depth. She deals with topics women and trans men have to face today. She doesn't portray the people as victims but strong fighters. But - and this is important - they keep being realistic: They are not superheroes but make mistakes, misjudgements, have prejudices: They stay human.

I enjoyed reading the novel consisting of different voices a lot - despite sometimes mixing up the names, because I read it so quickly (as I almost couldn't lay it aside).

Hi Käthe! I've seen you around the threads, and thought to pay you a visit.

>78 PersephonesLibrary: Love those colours, and how nice that you could go out, lockdown ended, that's great. And 4 books!

>79 PersephonesLibrary: A BB, glad you enjoyed it so much.

>78 PersephonesLibrary: Schnelles Denken, langsames Denken - I have read this one (In English) and can thoroughly recommend it.

>78 PersephonesLibrary: I agree - that pink looks perfect!

Moomins: One of Charlie's favorite picture books was (and still is!) The Book about Moomin, Mymble, and Little My. *So* fun to read aloud together.

>72 PersephonesLibrary: - Good idea :-) both about reading a book together and no internet etc after 10 pm. But reading after midnight? Well, consider it reading early in the morning and it sounds completely different.

>79 PersephonesLibrary: - Ouch a BB!

>80 EllaTim: Hi Ella, nice to see you here! :D On the one hand it is a relieve to get out a little bit again and see other stuff. On the other hand the infection rate is still way too high. I am sure there will be another lockdown soon. Yes, am I lucky or what to run into that flea market! I hope you will enjoy the novel, too. There is so much going on, so many aspects, without getting overwhelming.


>81 sirfurboy: Good to know, Stephen! I have wanted to read it for years. Let's see if I'll understand what he explains. Hopefully, the writing is not too complicated.


>82 scaifea: I am looking forward to the final result of the blanket - but I am already quite satisfied. :) I have also taken a look at the needle work group. For now, I will pass because that would put pressure on me. But if I make crocheting a constant hobby, I will definitely join! Thank you for telling me about it!

Have you heard that Lego ideas is thinking about bringing out a Moominhouse set? You do realize I will have to get that, if they'll decide to make it: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/85bc1974-13d7-4145-9ec3-7376f8e1c7be




>83 Trifolia: Monica, the after midnight part wasn't planned at all. :D When I am back at work this will regulate itself as I have to get up earlier in the morning and will be more tired in the evening.
Great! I will keep collecting the book ideas for the world challenge up at >4 PersephonesLibrary:. (I need to put Pamuk's My name is Red there as well, I just remember. It's for a group read on LT in April - and then I could strike off Turkey.) If you have got your hands on something we could share just let me know. Looking forward to it!

I hope you will enjoy the Evaristo novel. The topics are not always easy to digest but the book is great!

21. Die Filmerzählerin by Hernàn Rivera Letelier 1/2

Oookay. This one started really nice and cute with the little girl becoming the famous "movie narrator" of the village. But then there is one customer who sexually abuses her when she's only ten. And as a fourteen-year-old she becomes the mistress of a 51-year-old.

I can't exactly put a finger on it... and I don't want to accuse the author of anything - but his writing feels "pedophile" and misogynistic. The way he has created the girl's character, the way she deals with the abuse... she even claimed to love the 51-year-old guy who gave a job to her and a roof over her head when she slept with him. Considering the author was around the age of that guy when he wrote this... Yuck!

Apart from the whole pedophile part, it is not really a novel but a sketch with flat characters and flat storytelling.

------------------------------------------------------------
PS: I usually bring the books I don't want to keep to the bookstore in case my coworkers want to read them. Or I give them to one of the "public book shelves" where peope can bring and take books others don't want anymore. This is the first one I will put into the paper waste container.

>24 PersephonesLibrary: good for you. Self care is so often neglected, there is always something pressing, right? I have down-graded my stress this year by making myself unavailable for casual university contracts, and already I feel less stressed. Today (even though I had to go and report for jury duty!) I made a lovely vegetarian tortilla stack, and invited my mum over to share it for dinner. I wouldn't have had the mental energy to do that if I had been rushing from home-work-home again. So- I applaud you!

>73 sirfurboy: omg, me too! I feel like I have finally matured now that I can truly not care about what other people spout. I can let them blather on, and then move on. An excellent motto of the week!!

I also loved Girl, Woman, Other- I read it over a few days and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Eta: >85 PersephonesLibrary:, yup, sounds like a good one to shred. No one needs that in their life.

Hello Megan,

indeed - and I tend to scream "here" when a task needs to be done. I have improved but still do it from time to time. Does "casual contract" mean they call you when they need you?
I read on your thread that you weren't chosen for jury duty! Yay to some free time!

I can feel you. I like cooking a lot, unless it is "just for myself" at 7 pm after a hard day of work. I need to find a way to not use my whole energy on the job and to keep something for myself and my spare time.
The motto might be a good start - not only for this week. :)

Evaristo's novel is really great. I am glad you enjoyed it like I did!

I ACTUALLY shredded it before putting it into the waste container...

I have started to read And then there were none yesterday evening. I am sooo relieved the rhymes are about sailor boys... I half expected racial slurs and was afraid of it. As I have mentioned I already kind of know the story - but it's still interesting to read the book.

I have watched the movie from 1974 with Gert Fröbe, Charles Aznavour - and my movie crush Oliver Reed.

-



After having read Girl, Women, other by Evaristo I was in the mood for London - so I started a puzzle I got for Christmas. In 2016, I have lived there for three months and worked at theaters and participated in a director's class. (And no, despite leaving London the day when they hold the referendum, I have got NOTHING to do with the final result.) I still like to remember those times very much!

And I have made some progress with the blanket.

-

>88 PersephonesLibrary: The puzzle looks lovely, Käthe, we visited London in 2017.
I have finished my 500 piece puzzles, and will start a 1000 piece puzzle soon. It is addictive :-)

>84 PersephonesLibrary: There's absolutely no pressure felt in the Needlearts group; sometimes I don't post there for yonks if I haven't had time for an crafty work, but the people over there are lovely and work on some need stuff and the conversations are interesting and fun. I get it, though, if joining would mean you couldn't help putting more pressure on yourself, so I understand if you don't want to just now.

And omg that Lego set! How cool would that be?!

Enjoy your puzzle, that looks like a good one!

>90 scaifea: I believe you, Amber. I know I would pressure myself.
That Moomin house would be so awesome. (Pst, have I mentioned that I got myself a Moomin advent calendar?)

>91 false-knight: Emery, I finished that one today. But luckily I have got two other puzzles from Christmas. This time in 3D. I haven't decided yet with which I will start:
-
(No, I haven't finished watching GOT yet, please no spoilers.)

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

Yesterday, I read Ein Tag im Leben des Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn - thanks to Megan (LovingLit). Review will follow.

>92 PersephonesLibrary: I quite enjoyed that novel. So well written and the description of daily life was excellent. Glad you enjoyed it!

>92 PersephonesLibrary: 3D PUZZLES… *grabby hands*

>93 figsfromthistle: I agree, Anita. And I think it was quite clever that Solschenizyn hasn't chosen a "hard" day but actually, a good one for his protagonist. That leaves the threats lingering and lurking in the dark and makes you see an alternative, darker story at the same time.

>94 false-knight: I started those last year with a ship by Revell. I am also a fan of lego sets (rather would be as I have got neither the money nor the space to present them). Urbania has got some great designs which look "high of value" (got the bookstore of course, and the fire station). And if you build and dismantle them carefully, you can redo them like normal puzzles.

--

22. Ein Tag im Leben des Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn *****

Inspired by Megan/LovingLit I spontaneously read this on Wednesday. As I have already read many books and memories about different kind of camps, I was suprised by how tame this one seemed to be.

Solschenizyn has chosen a good day for his protagonist Iwan Denissowitsch Schuchow. Work went well, he gets twice the lunch and dinner, he gets tabacco... but what if it would have been an average or worse day? This is the question that always lingers in the back of your head.

>96 PersephonesLibrary: gorgeous puzzles and BBs, Käthe - what a February!
Today arrived my copy of Tschernobyl, so I will read this one first and Solschenizyn later, probably in March - At the moment I am busy with the Tin Drum.
One for the women to men ratio, one for the Nobel Challenge.
I wish you a wonderful weekend and good recovery, Käthe.

>97 SirThomas: I know that feeling... I get shot with BBs in every other thread. :) Hm, I can't really say "enjoy" the Tschernobyl read, can I? Maybe I rather wish you to be touched by it as I was.
Tin Drum is waiting for my shelves as well... And I have thought about the Nobel Challenge. But this would kill my whole women to men ratio. So, I'll just slip one in from time to time.



Puzzle: finished



Dog: tired



Books: currently reading or potentially reading next

--

Hello, Käthe! Finally caught up with you. Loved the photos of the babies and the projects. The blanket you are working on is so cheerful. Sounds like you are making excellent use of your time off.

>79 PersephonesLibrary: I also loved this one. It is one I know I will revisit someday.

>96 PersephonesLibrary: I have this in the stacks, and you are making me want to get to it.

>98 PersephonesLibrary: Dog tired!! So sweet. And look how well your book covers go together!

Those puzzles all look so fun and amazing! And OMG, a Moomin advent calendar?! *works through jealous reactions*

>96 PersephonesLibrary: This one has been on my list to get to forever! Glad to see you liked it.

I was really into puzzles for several months last year, but haven't done one for a while now. I think I need to clear off the dining table and take one out again. We just got our first snow of the season and puzzling sounds like a good cozy weekend activity.

Love the puzzles above in several posts, Käthe. I'n never done a 3-d puzzle so I'm curious how that works out.

>98 PersephonesLibrary: You finished your puzzle fast, Käthe!

I don't think I have "enjoyed" books by Alexijewitsch, I would call them very informative, interesting, and sometimes haunting reads.

How are the little rats doing? Have you found homes for them?

Love the puzzle posts. It has been years since I have done a 3D puzzle. I remember enjoying them. I have gotten into Lego sets since having children. I remember having basic Lego bricks as a child but never sets. I like following the instructions rather than trying to free build. I agree that the price and space for completed builds is definitely a factor in keeping my Lego spending in check!

>99 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, I really used the time for relaxing activities. I am a bit unsure about next week when I go back to work... but I'll try my best to keep the balance.
Me, too: I'm going to keep Mädchen, Frau, etc. on my shelves.
The Solschenizyn book is a very quick read. I think it took me about two or two-and-a-half hours. And it didn't pull me down as I expected before reading it. Maybe that helps putting it further up your TBR pile. :)


>100 scaifea: Yeees, there are two different calendars, Amber. One was a ship and one was a theater stage. So awesome!


>101 curioussquared: Natalie, it's really worth the read - and as I wrote to Mamie: Considering the topic it's an "easy" read.
I puzzle in phases, too, usually when it's cold or raining. Like you I do them for several weeks/months - and then there are months without them. It's usually a question of space. :) Yay to your snowy weekend - what's more perfect than sitting down with tea and cookies and a puzzle after a long walk in the snow?!

>102 connie53: Connie, I started with the Taj Mahal... and let me put it this way: I thought "14+ years" means the age when you have got the skills to build it. And not the time it will actually take you to build it. Additionally, they don't believe in instruction manuals. That piece of paper in black-and-white on the right is everything you get. 😂 Good thing I am not easily discouraged.

-



>103 FAMeulstee: Anita, I had not many other tasks to do and I really enjoyed it.
Yes, what do you say with very sad, disturbing...books? Somehow I "enjoyed" reading "Chernobyl" because I wouldn't read/finish books I don't enjoy. But you can't wish someone to enjoy a terrifying and shocking book. So, maybe the best wish is that you get as much out of it as I did.

The little rats are growing fast. No, I haven't found anyone yet. There were five people interested but they either didn't show up, cut the communication - or would only get one rat which would be cruel because rats are pack animals and there need to be at least three of them.

---


>104 jayde1599: I understand. I loved Lego as a kid, but I think I have grown too unimaginative to create something "by heart". There is still the red London double-decker bus I have got an eye on... Do you have a particular theme you're interested in or do you enjoy all different kinds of sets?

I would also be new to 3-D puzzles Kathe but I am about to start (tomorrow!) a world map puzzle of 500 pieces to build up to a couple I have of 1000 pieces.

>107 PaulCranswick: World maps are so awesome to make - they can be very difficult though because of the colours. Please post them in your thread when you are finished. I am always curious. :)

23. And then there were none by Agatha Christie ****

Being not a big fan of crime novels in general, I fancy this particular kind of thrillers: When one character after another is "ended" and they start suspecting each other. It has usually got the atmosphere of a Huis Clos with psychological effects and implications.

I have finished the blanket, yesterday... though it is not as large as I thought it would be, I can cuddle beneath it to read. AND it will fit into the washing machine perfectly. :)

>110 PersephonesLibrary: and >106 PersephonesLibrary: Both pics are amazing.

I will put pictures of my puzzling adventures on my thread. Right now I don't have any puzzle going. Perhaps this afternoon.

>106 PersephonesLibrary: The 3D puzzle really looks complicated.

Sometimes you see people who have one rat, that they take everywhere, they show off with it a bit. But I think almost all animals do better when they are not the only one. Even cats. People sometimes forget to consider the needs and wants of pets. I hope you can find good people for your little rats.

>110 PersephonesLibrary: It looks wonderful.

>110 PersephonesLibrary: Well done, you! I love the colors so much.

>111 connie53: Thank you, Connie! I am happy I finished it before going back to work tomorrow.
Yes, please do that - I'd like to see your choices. :)



>112 EllaTim: Ella, I had smaller ones from the company. They were easier to make because they were more colourful. I started to think in levels and build the parts without the instructions now. This helps a lot.

When I was in school, we had such pupils, too, who brought their rat to school. This is pure stress and very harmful because they rely very much on their smell and need their used-to surrounding...

I agree: If you decide to take care of an animal, do it right - and consider their natural ways of living. For dogs your family is usually the "pack", so you don't necessarily need several. But for every other animal I'd only take in more than one. Do you have pets?



>113 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! They turned out nicely! Next I might try one of the easy crochet animals... we'll see. :)



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have started to read Der Archipel-Gulag by Alexander Solschenizyn. It started good - but during that second chapter he starts bringing in sooo many abbreviations, historical events and contexts, names and positions, parties and ideologies... I don't know enough about that part of the history to make that "readable" to me. I will skip now this chapter and resume reading with chapter three.

The edition is the first German translation form 1974 (almost 50 years!) - and slowly falling apart while I am reading it.

Good for you for starting Gulag. I read Ivan Denisovitch years ago and have been meaning to read Gulag ever since, but it still sits on the shelves.

I have heard of a couple instances of people keeping single rats without too much distress (usually because they'd kept multiple but the others had died earlier), but it requires such a level of committed interaction with them, because you're their only pack, which probably nobody who sets out to get a single rat is really thinking of.

Good to see the babies, though! (Or…teenagers, now, I guess?)

Oh, the Taj Mahal must be extra difficult because it's all one color…there's a puzzle at my great-aunt's house that my mother and uncle would take out every time we all visited, of Albrecht Dürer's hare, and every time they'd spend the entire time they were working on it complaining about "the damn rabbit that only has two colors".

>114 PersephonesLibrary: Ooh, amigurumi! I can't wait to see what you create!

I *still* haven't read Gulag. One of these days...

>106 PersephonesLibrary: I do not really have a Lego theme that I like, but builds that I can fit into the decor, or mean something to me.
I made "The Child" from the Mandolorian and D.O droid because they fit down in our rec room. I also made the Steamboat Willie build during quarantine because that fit down there too.
I have the NYC and San Francisco architecture builds because I have visited those places. There are a few more of the architecture places I have visited, that I am interested in building but have not wanted to spend the money on yet.

This is the most recent one, and my thought was that they could fit in an antique face my grandmother gave me, but the vase is a little too big. I still might plop them in there though...

>114 PersephonesLibrary: I don't have pets anymore unfortunately. Every time I had pets, I realised they needed more than I could give them. We had parakeets, in a cage of course. Then we let them out of it once, and they flew through the room, and I just couldn't lock them up anymore, I realised it was a cage and birds should be able to fly. I've had cats, but I don't feel right anymore about locking them in a small apartment without access to the outdoors. And our shared allotment cat has died last year. He kept us as pets more than the other way round, I think. Well, I like looking at the birds outside;-)

Hi Käthe, I like your craft work. Wishing you a lovely Tuesday.

>115 banjo123: Rhonda, it's a difficult topic and you need to be in a special mood to read those kind of books. I understand that they sometimes just have to wait for the right moment.

>116 false-knight: Emery, if the other rats had died it is probably a bit different. Because the integration of new rats can be stressful, too. Then you have to asses what's better for them. But if someone hasn't had rats yet - and now wants one... I can't give them a lonely one. Yes, they are teenagers and behave like teenagers. ;-)

The parts looked all so similar - but I managed to build it!! :D Next time will be way easier! I had to laugh about the "damn rabbit". I can imagine that vividly and have experienced that myself several times.

>117 scaifea: Oooh, no, no, no... amigurumi are way to delicate and small for me. I have got a book about easy animals which are bigger and (hopefully) easier to make. I'd love to make amigurumi though - maybe when I get enough practice I can retry them. :)
One book after another, Amber. One after another.

>118 jayde1599: I have seen the flower bouquets and they are so cool, Jess! Maybe you need to build a little lego pedestal to put into the vase - so that the flowers are heightened a bit?
Steamboat Willie and Architecture - great choices! I'd build them, too!

>119 EllaTim: Ella, I understand that very well! Lol, until about three years ago I did a lot of "catsharing" with my neighbours. They had cats, fed them, went to the vet with them... and they came to me for cuddles. :)

>120 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, thank you for visiting! I hope everything is well!

Yesterday, I went back to work again. I am still not fully back to normal but I try my best. I have reached my therapist and I waiting for her to tell me the date of my next appointment. This is a light of the current tunnel.



But I finished the 3D Taj Mahal... slightly crooked but still looking good:




My current reads are the following: About Solschenizyn I have already written a bit. Remembering Jim Crow is a very intriguing book, too: POC tell about their experiences in the South during the Jim Crow era. This time I really recommend the ebook over the print edition (if there is one) - because there are original recordings of the interviews with Jim Crow witnesses on it you can listen to. This creates a connection you wouldn't get otherwise.




New mischief pictures:

-

-



ETA: I tried to visit your threads - just can't today. But I will be back soon to see what you are up to. :)

>123 PersephonesLibrary: I hope, the light will grow, Käthe.
I love your Taj Mahal, it is terrific.
The little ones have developed very well, thanks for the pictures.
Your visits are always welcome - come by when you can.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>121 PersephonesLibrary: all wearing little rat hoodies and sulking in their rat bedrooms listening to rat pop punk

Hooray, finished building!

Happy Wednesday, Käthe. Take care of yourself. Thinking of you.

>123 PersephonesLibrary: That 3-D puzzle is amazing. So are the rats.

Good to read you see some light at the end of the tunnel.

>123 PersephonesLibrary: The Taj Mahal came out great!

Best of luck back to work. We are on spring break this week and I really do need it to clear my head and just relax!

>123 PersephonesLibrary: The litte ones still look adorable, Käthe.

>121 PersephonesLibrary: Teenagers now, does that mean you have to split the males from the females to avoid next litters?

>124 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas! I know it's a phase and it will get better again. That's typical for January/February. Those puzzles really do look amazing. Love the fur balls, they get more and more audacious. :)

>125 false-knight: This description fits so perfectly well, Emery! :)


>126 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, thank you! Have a nice Friday - and then enjoy your weekend!

>127 connie53: Yes, Connie, I will have the appointment on March, 8. So, there is still some time to go. This week went a bit up and down. But I know those kind of phases - and I know they'll pass. As next week the usual manager of the bookstore will return from maternity leave I can shed some responsibility which will make things easier.

>128 jayde1599: It really looks impressive, doesn't it, Jess? Considering it is "only" a puzzle. Yay to spring break! I hope you have found a lot of time to go out, clear your head - read and relax!

>129 FAMeulstee: Anita, they keep getting more adorable from day to day. Indeed, I seperated them around the beginning of February. They get fed by their mom for 30 days and pretty soon after that's done they get mature. I even made a countdown/alarm for seperating them. And I check for "latebloomers" just in case every day.

Hey, tomorrow is Friday and then I will have survived this week. It was partly hard, partly improving. The next two weeks will be busy because the manager I replaced for the time of her maternity leave will return. It will take a huge burden from me.

I have put my reads of Archipel Gulag and Remembering Jim Crow on hold. Those topics are massively interesting and important but I don't think they will help me feeling better.



My next read arrived today - and was a book bullet from Leperdbunny: Irre glücklich by Jenny Lawson. (I love the cover so much!)

Then my copy of My name is red by Orhan Pamuk arrived - for the group reading in April. But I might start a bit earlier.

Moreover I received an ACR of Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follet. I am looking forward to this one: This novel was written by a 12-year-old (born in 1914), was a bestseller back then and recently re-discovered. The edition's design is marvellous.

--

>132 PersephonesLibrary: I love all three covers, of your new books, Käthe.

Glad your week was at least improving. Wishing you a good weekend.

That first cover made me smile, Käthe.

>132 PersephonesLibrary: I know what you mean about putting aside some darker books right now, Kathe. I am purposefully reading happy and comforting reads right now! I hope you feel better soon and am glad it sounds like you can put aside some responsibility soon.

Oh, that is a great cover.

>98 PersephonesLibrary: Tschernobyl is very touching book. It took me a little longer to read it. Not because it's badly written, but because I had to keep taking breaks. The book was mentally exhausting, but I still enjoyed reading it - if I may say so.

>132 PersephonesLibrary: I love this cover!

Have a wonderful weekend, Käthe!

>133 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella! Indeed, I start feeling better. I just need to take better care of myself - we all should.

>134 connie53: That cover made me want to get the book, Connie! And it is really fun to read as well!

>135 curioussquared: I am usually all in for dark stuff. But I have learned that January and February are for the lighter aspects of life from now on. So far it's working quite well! Hope you are doing good!
I will be manager of another bookshop in July - but this will be different because there will be some huge changes. And I have promised myself to look after myself.

>136 false-knight: The raccoon one? I love it - it's hilarious! :) And the book is fun to read, too! How are you doing, Emery? Do you already know when your new job will start?

>137 SirThomas: Thanks for your opinion, Thomas. It was exactly the same reading experience for me - I know what you mean. Have a lovely weekend yourself - will you get delicious food delivered again? :)



I forgot to mention one book I got as well on Thursday: The First Four Books of Poems by Louise Glück!

>139 PersephonesLibrary: I read those first four collections in December - I was impressed.

Have a lovely weekend, Kathe.

>139 PersephonesLibrary: No delivery today, we had cauliflower curry with rice.
And tomorrow we will open the barbecue season - it will be sunny and warm: 16°C.

>140 PaulCranswick: I am looking forward to it, Paul. A LT member shared a poem - and I immediately fell in love.

>141 SirThomas: Sounds delicious as well! :) It was very summer-y today and quite perfect for being outside. BBQ is a great choice!

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


I used the marvellous weather to go for a walk: It was so warm - nice to catch some sun rays.
People were already swimming (though they were grimacing because of the cold).

-





Then I was checking the rats who are up and about. And I am one step away from simply ordering a second cage and keep them all.




For tonight I don't really have plans. I will probably continue reading Irre glücklich. And mabye I will start the following puzzle (though the weather is not actually fitting anymore 🤔): A Winter Stroll.



Have a lovely Saturday!

Hi there, Käthe! I wanted to thank you for keeping my thread going. You are so sweet -- love when you pop in. : )

Glad to know you are taking care of yourself and I know your honesty and openness about depression helps others immensely. LOVE the 3D puzzles! And, of course, all your books. Good luck on the world reading tour.

>139 PersephonesLibrary: I'm doing fine, thanks for asking! Still don't know when I start, but that's the way it is, I guess—should know by March, maybe. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What nice weather! That's the best part of February, the occasional reminder that it won't be February forever.

>143 Berly: Hi Kim, I won't be able to come over on a daily basis as I am working again. But I try as often as possible. :) Talking about it also gives some power back to me and reminds me that there are better times again. SUNSHINE is helping a lot with that, too - going out, not having to do anything... I think it's warm enough to sit outside in the afternoon - so my reading will take place in the garden today. Thank you for stopping by and enjoy a lovely Sunday!

>144 false-knight: Sounds great! It feels very like spring at the moment (after the minus degrees just a week ago) and I try to go outside for a certain time each day to profit from that. How's it in San Diego?

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

I have finished Irre glücklich (review will follow) and will read Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett next.

24. Irre glücklich by Jenny Lawson ****

Jenny Lawson lives will all kinds of psychological barriers (phobias, neuroses, depression, ocds...) and physical difficulties like an auto-immune disease. She explains with a lot of humour, irony and sarcasm her situation and how she deals with it. It's an informative and entertaining read - and shows how important it is to not be left feeling alone with those kind of burdens.

Why not five stars? Because the German edition's subtitle includes "survival training" - and I expected a few more ideas for the reader. But there are not really instructions in the book, it's a memoir. (Which is still great to read!) I liked it so much that I want to read her first book Let's pretend this never happend.

Glad to hear that you had a nice stroll. Do you have for all rats a nice place to go?
Happy Sunday, Käthe.

>147 Ameise1: Is it sunny in Zurich, too, Barbara?
No and yes. Interested people were unreliable and rude (not coming to a fixed appointment, not answering calls, etc). So, I am actually considering to keep them.

>148 PersephonesLibrary: We're staying in Davos until next Saturday. The weather is beautiful.
I'm sorry to read that these people were so rude. Well, I suppose another cage makes sense.

>146 PersephonesLibrary: I need to get round to reading Lawson's books - they sound so good.

Happy Sunday!

>87 PersephonesLibrary: My casual contracts at the university were short term, usually 2-4 months, and I have (had) been on consecutive contracts for the last 18 months. they come with no sick pay, and with holiday pay already included in the wage, so time off feels tricky So, while I wasn't to be available at any time (I had set hors) that came with none of the usual benefits of being a regular employee...
All of this was compounded by my name periodically dropping off the emails lists, meaning I would receive no notice of staff stuff including the Christmas Party invitation, or other get togethers, and I just ended up feeling used up.

>123 PersephonesLibrary: wow! Taking puzzling to a new level!

>141 SirThomas: and now I know what I am making for dinner :) Spiced cauliflower rice, and home made naans. Thank you!

>149 Ameise1: It's annoying that you can't visit Thomas at the hospital. But I hope you can still profit from Davos a bit.

>150 scaifea: It was the perfect read for me right now, Amber! I hope you will enjoy them, too!

>152 PersephonesLibrary: Yup, it's a pitty but I will enjoy Davos.

>151 LovingLit: Oh, wow, I completely understand your position! I would feel exploited, Megan. I know that universities have to stay flexible but that's only another reason for them to treat their employees fairly.

Indeed, a 3D-level. 😊 At the moment I went back to "normal" puzzles. But there is still one 3D to go. Soon.

>153 Ameise1: Good for you!

Today it was so warm I could read in the garden.



Have a nice start of the week, my friends!

>145 PersephonesLibrary: The weather here's wonderful—sunny, mid-70s (about 25 C?) ("February is actually terrible" isn't something I learned until I moved to Pennsylvania for college, it and March were the months when the novelty of experiencing a four-season climate really wore off…) I should really be making the most of it and walking to the park more often, maybe that's what I'll try to work on next week. Today it'll have to wait for a bit, we're doing the family phone call with my little brother, but after that I can at the very least bribe myself to get out of the house for a short walk.

>142 PersephonesLibrary: I love the pictures. Such blue water.

I spend my day reading in the garden too. And today will be just as warm. Up to 19C. So I will be out there again. I should do some work in the garden too. I should but I don't know if I will do so.

Just de-lurking/catching up to wave. Love the 3-d puzzles. It's been years and years since I did one of those.

My hubby bought me a mini dollhouse book shop craft kit last Christmas. I'm still only about halfway through - must pick it up again :)

>142 PersephonesLibrary: The BBQ was tasty.
Your pictures are awesome.
>156 PersephonesLibrary: reading outside in the sun is always a pleasure - we were on the terrace in the beach chair.
I wish you a wonderful week, Käthe.

>157 false-knight: That sounds great! I am slowly learning that what I do I do for myself. Thinking "I should go outside" only makes me feel like fullfulling a duty. I hope you can enjoy going into the park. A book, a snack, a blanket - and the perfect reading location is created. :) Were you meeting on zoom for the family phone call? Do you have other brothers or sisters? I have three, yes, three older brothers.



>158 connie53: I have never experienced such a blue sky and water in February in my area. I am not sure if garden work does make sense already, because I am afraid there will be another temperature drop. But I am really feeling to make something out of my garden this year. :)



>159 BekkaJo: Hi Bekka! *waving back*. I love building something - if it's puzzles, legos or other sets. It's a nice hobby to relax when you are too lazy to read. Oh my, I think I have seen pictures of that DIY kit online! It looks adorable and really cool. I will hop over to your thread to see if you have shared pictures!



>160 SirThomas: Excellent, Thomas! My neighbours have started BBQ season as well according to the smell in our area. :)
Thank you, I am lucky to live so close to a "Naherholungsgebiet".

Can you believe it is the last week of February? And today was my last day as "boss" of the bookstore. Tomorrow, the "original" manager will return from maternity leave. I have already tried to take it a bit slowlier to not overstrain myself and it is going quite well. Keanu Reeves' motto is working wonders. :)

When I went to work yesterday I was welcomed by sooo many books, mainly ACRs:

-----

And Emery's BB has arrived as well (thanks, Emery!):



There should really be a law that booksellers get a few more holiday weeks to read. :)

My walk from the parking spot to the bookstore this morning. That's one of the things I am going to miss:

>162 PersephonesLibrary: Oooh quite a nice haul! The midnight library looks interesting.

>163 PersephonesLibrary: I can understand that you miss this, Käthe.
Beautiful.

>163 PersephonesLibrary: Love those pictures, Käthe. Really beautiful.

>163 PersephonesLibrary: Oh, what a gorgeous commute you have! When I was in grad school, my daily walk to work/school took me past a lovely little campus lake and I appreciated it so much. I loved stopping to watch the ducks for a bit on my way home:

>164 figsfromthistle: I have been waiting for that one, Anita! Someone told me it was inspiring and uplifting to let go of regrets, etc.

>165 SirThomas: I can still go there in my free time. But it was a nice ritual every day. :)

>166 connie53: Thanks, Connie! It is a nice place - and during last summer I took my lunch breaks at the lakeside.

>167 scaifea: That's marvellous! Water is simply magic - I love waterfalls, lakes and rivers. Oceans, of course. And it's lovely to have something like just as a daily habit in your life. Thank you for sharing the picture - I can understand that you liked to stay there. And the colours are beautiful!

>162 PersephonesLibrary: Hi Käthe, what means ACR?

>163 PersephonesLibrary: Do I missed somthing? Why will you miss it? Won't you work anymore there?

>161 PersephonesLibrary: I did enjoy the park! It helps if I think of it as less "I have to do this" than "Someone hid your endorphins outside! Go get 'em!"
Yep, zoom call. I only have the one brother, which is probably for the best—we fought enough as kids over the family computer that I don't really want to imagine what it would've been like with more of us. Three older brothers…jeez. My dad was the youngest of seven kids and I have no idea how my grandma managed. Are you close with them?

>163 PersephonesLibrary: Wow, that's so pretty!

>169 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! ACR is a typo :) - ARC is "advanced reading copy" (Leseexemplar) - free copies of the latest publications booksellers get from publishers. It's a blessing and a curse at the same time because there are sooo many books and topics I am interested in.

The actual manager of the store had a baby and was in maternity leave for the past year. I just took over the management during that time. I will still work for the bookstore - but as another manager will retire in July I will change my work location and stay there for good. It's a nice bookshop as well, but there is no lake/nature around.



>170 false-knight: Yay, that's great! I have got my day off today and I plan to go outside as well.
Oh, maybe more would have changed the balance - but siblings will always fight, I guess. ;) Not too close, but I really appreciated how everybody stood together last year when our mom died. And childhood was fun because I had "boyish" as well as "girly" things.

Eight children - wow! One couple of my grandparents had two, the other three kids. But e.g. my grandma had (if I count correctly) seven siblings as well. If you consider that was around 1910.. I just can't imagine that way of life.

The city wouldn't offer much if there wasn't the lake. It is beautiful - and it is so peaceful and calm to walk there in the morning when almost nobody else is around. The other shop I will take over around April or May is in a city center with no nature around. That will be a harsh change.

Things you find at the charity shop (apart from books I won't enlist because I am ashamed of my untamed greed for books despite having piles at home): They were so cugly (cute and ugly) I had to take them with me. The blue one's Lorenzo and the white one is Giulia.

Very cute - hopefully they do not scare your rats ;-)

>173 SirThomas: They won't get in each others way. The rats would probably start gnawing at them, so I 'll keep them out of reach. :)

Reading status: finished
* Der Quasselkasper by Janosch

Reading status: read in progress
* Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett

Puzzle status: finished


Next will be a special one: 299 cats and one dog
-

>168 PersephonesLibrary: It *is* a lovely spot and I miss those walks. We live in a development now and I enjoy our daily walks around it, but we don't have anything as picturesque as that here.

>175 PersephonesLibrary: Hey, I could translate that puzzle title on my own! *pats self on the back*

I'll see your three older brothers and raise you two older sisters...

>84 PersephonesLibrary: - I'll add Pamuk's My name is Red to my Thingaversary-list. Pamuk is one of those writers whose books I always wanted to read but never got to (like Murakami, Mahfooz). But now that you are reading it and I found out that one of my forefathers was a miniaturist, this book cries out to me.

>88 PersephonesLibrary: >109 PersephonesLibrary: - Agatha Christie is my guilty pleasure and And then there were none was (is) a favorite of mine.

>95 PersephonesLibrary: - I love those 3D-puzzles by Urbania. It looks difficult.

>162 PersephonesLibrary: - I probably have missed something but what would Keanu Reeves' motto be?

>172 PersephonesLibrary: - OOOh, they are so cugly :-)

>175 PersephonesLibrary: - With all those puzzles, you have tempted me. But I'll be brave, try not to order one and wait till autumn because I already have so much on my plate and I should get outside more. But the cats and 1 dog puzzle looks like fun.

>176 scaifea: Hopefully, they consider some kind of water place in your neighbourhood!
Your German is flawless, Amber! ;-)

So... you have got five older siblings?! My sympathies.

>177 Trifolia: Monica! Have you heard about the Pamuk group read in April? So, if you get the book for your Thingaversary you could probably join? :) That's so fascinating - are there things left your ancestors made?

When I was in Amsterdam I visited the Rijksmuseum - and there was a fascinating doll house with sooo many details. Do you know it? There is even a novel about it The Miniaturist which I have got somewhere on my shelves.

I have got a collection of Christie novels which I want to read. I know the stories of Tod auf dem Nil, Mord im Orient-Express, Das Böse unter der Sonne - which novel would you recommend to read next?

The smaller ones like Urbania are not difficult at all - they are usually between 250 and 300 pieces which are easily distinguishable. The larger ones are harder because you have to figure out what is what first.

Oh, there was an interview where he said something like: "I am old enough to not participate in debates anymore. If someone claims 1+1=5, I say: Yes, you're right. Have fun." So, basically, I try to not keep discussing things that don't really need to be discussed. Or rather: Choose your battle and manage your energy wisely.

They are, aren't they? I have seen them already once last year and was tempted to take them. Yesterday, I thought - 2 bucks each, whatever, I'll take them. :)

I use the puzzles mostly in the evening when I am too tired to read. They are a great way to "calm down" and relax. But autumn is the more fitting time for puzzles anyway. I will probably take a break, too.

>179 PersephonesLibrary: - Yes, I saw you mentioned the group read earlier in your thread. I'll try to fit it in. I never tried a group-read. Well, actually I've thought about is a lot, but never actually joined.

I have only recently found out that the miniaturist is my ancestor. But I have decided to first try to find all my ancestors's names and dates (and sources to prove they are my ancestors) and only look into their historical background when I've finished. However, he's my 17th generation forefather and in that generation, I theoretically have 65.536 forefathers and -mothers, so I'll probably will be busy for a while. I've never heard of the doll house but the book looks interesting.

Keanu Reeves is a wise man :-)

Books finished, to review: Der Quasselkasper by Janosch; Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett

Next, I will read Eine ganze Welt by Goldie Goldbloom.

Today, I finally made some progress: I was asked if I would switch shifts tomorrow - and imagine that: I finally said "no". Of course, I have got a bad conscience - but I will remain steadfast. :-)

>180 Trifolia: Don't feel pressured to join in. I have experienced that group reads can make me feel like I "must" read the book. That's why I got the book a bit earlier to avoid the time pressure. But it will be interesting for sure.

Oookay. Then there might not be much left from that generation. :) But genealogy is so fascinating! My grandma gave a family tree to me that reaches back to somewhen in the 15th century.

>49 PersephonesLibrary: I have but with having a preschooler I have my hands full. I was hoping maybe in a few years I could get a few for my daughter and I to enjoy together!

>58 PersephonesLibrary: Ah sooo cute!

>176 scaifea: >178 PersephonesLibrary: you guys are a laugh :) (it is 299 cats and one dog, right?)

My only German is a swearword, and because whenever I swear I usually say 'excuse my French' afterwards, now I find myself in a very strange situation....

>182 PersephonesLibrary: - I have the same feeling about group-reads, but on the other hand, a little pressure might result in a bigger reward. A good idea to start early though.

Well, miniaturists did not sign their work at that time but used a mark as a signature. There are some documents that mention his name and one document in which his mark was registered (a little flower). There is one miniature that might have been his, but it's not obvious to prove that it was a signature or just a coincidence.
And yes, genealogy is fascinating. 15th century is superimpressive! I don't know about the Austrian archives (well, actually I do because I spent a week in the Haus- Hof- und Staatsarchiv for my Master's Degree but not in the older archives) but here in Belgium, it's hard to find reliable information before 1600.

>171 PersephonesLibrary: and where will your new work place be?

>179 PersephonesLibrary: I've read The Miniaturist. Enjoy it.

>179 PersephonesLibrary: - Forgot to mention my favourite Agatha Christie-books (so far):
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
- The Man in the Brown Suit
- Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

>172 PersephonesLibrary: Another thing we have in common, Käthe. I have all kinds of cat figurines too.

>183 leperdbunny: I can only imagine, Tamara. :) With kids you are completely busy!
>184 leperdbunny: They are just criminally cute.
Thanks for stopping by - have a lovely weekend!

>185 LovingLit: Well done, Megan! ;) Ha, isn't that the usual way to learn a language? By learning the curse words first? That happened to me in New Orleans with English and in France with - well French. :) Sacrebleu...

>186 Trifolia: I hope I am not lying but I had 15th century in mind. I'll check that! Usually, every village's church had birth and death books which help a lot to reconstruct family history. Wow, I have been in that archive. What have you been researching there?

>187 Ameise1: Do you know Dornbirn?
How nice! I am afraid it is somewhere in a box - I will only stumble over it by accident. But then I'll cling to it! :)

>188 Trifolia: Thank you, Monica! It's easier for to decide then what to read by Christie!

>189 connie53: That's so fun! I just have got one other cat figurine - one of those Maneki-nekos I found while renovating one of our bookshops.

Have a nice weekend Käthe!

>193 PersephonesLibrary: Dornbirn is very close to Switzerland. Are you living close to it?

>197 Ameise1: I live about an hour away from Zurich. 🙂

😃

It looks like you're living in Switzerland. It takes me more then an hour to come to the border of Austria.

>192 PersephonesLibrary: - What a coincidence! Did you work there? I did research into the correspondence of an Austrian count who was a member of an international comittee. I was slightly underwhelmed by the small reading room of the HHSA but the personnel was very friendly and helpful and I did find a lot of information. When the HHSA closed at 5 p.m., I went to the Nationalbibliothek. And there I was overwhelmed by the beauty and the splendour of the reading room. Oh my, I could sit there for hours without opening a book... But that's a long time ago...

>193 PersephonesLibrary: - Dornbirn, really? The count was from Dornbirn (Graf Pergen) and I spent some lovely holidays in the region (Brandnertal).
>163 PersephonesLibrary: - That lake looks familiar to me. It reminds me of Bregenz, but I could be wrong. I have not seen all the lakes in the area 😃.

>200 Ameise1: - It always took me over an hour merely to get "past" Zurich on my way to Austria 😃. What a bottle-neck because of the seemingly everlasting road works there, but still worthwhile. I prefer that route over the German route.

>196 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella!

>200 Ameise1: Okay, maybe it's 1,5 hours. I live in Götzis, so very much at the border. :)

>201 Trifolia: Oh, no - typos - I shouldn't write here on my phone... I have NOT yet been in that archive, sorry! The National Library is very famous - and the reading room is spectacular. I know this feeling - I felt the same in Dublin when I visitied the Trinity College Library!

A Dornbirn count? That's so funny! The world is really small! That makes my day. :)
And indeed, it's the Bregenz part of the lake - you are completely right.

I had to work this morning and soon, we will drive to my brother and his family: My youngest nephew and the niece of another brother have got their birthdays put together. Later, I will go to the rats - and I slowly have to say goodbye to the girl rats because there will come people over tomorrow and on Monday to get them.

Bookwise I just want to finish Eine ganze Welt this weekend, then I will wrap up my Reading February.

Eight rat girls could move today already. Earlier than planned. And now, I am sad. I -know- it's for the better.
Still.

Oh, hope you get pictures of the girl rats in new homes.

Letting go is painful.
I think they will be fine - and hope you will too.

>207 banjo123: That'd be nice, Rhonda. :)

>208 SirThomas: I just need time to get used to it again. :) I will miss their bustle.

25. Der Quasselkasper by Janosch **

This one I found at a charity shop. Janosch is a very famous German writer of children's book and I usually like his stories because they are slightly melancholic and interesting to grown-ups as well. Like Michael Ende.
I didn't know this story and I didn't like it as much as others because the moral punched you in the face.

>206 PersephonesLibrary: - Letting go is always hard, but it may be comforting to realize that they will make other people happy in their new home. Just thnking.

>210 PersephonesLibrary: - So now I'm curious, what was the moral?

26. Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett ****

Barbara Newhall Follett was twelve when her novel was published in a 2,500-copies-edition in 1926 - and immediately sold out.

It's about a girl who was always drawn to nature and runs away from her home to live first at a meadow, then at the sea and later in the mountains. Her parents try to catch her and lock her into the house but Eepersip will always escape...

It's a magical novel with a very strong voice - better and more vividly written than many works by grown-ups and experienced writers. The protagonist sometimes reminded me of a Peter Pan figure. But she is willing to learn and not so selfish as Peter. The natural descriptions are lovely. It's a perfect fairytale to escape reality. And the edition is wonderfully designed with butterflies and print that shimmer golden. I will keep that in mind to give away as gifts when I need an idea.

>211 Trifolia: That's a good point, Monica! I will try to keep that in mind. I am already better today. It is just hard to part. And it's normal to be sad.

The moral was: Everything modern is bad, modern world corrupts people, people consume too much and having money is bad. I don't say it is not true. But I can't remember Janosch being that "flat".

27. Eine ganze Welt by Goldie Goldbloom ***

Surie, 57-year-old women, from a chassidic community learns that she is pregnant with twins. This puts her into a very difficult position because of the strict rules and habits of her community. But it will also bring her to take a look into a completely different world...

I am not completely sure about this novel - maybe I will change my review in a few days. It is well written with interesting characters. The insight into the chassidic religion is very interesting - though it does make me even more sceptical about religion in general. It is a solid read but not a "must". I just question what Goldbloom's point is - right now, it seems to me quite pessimistic.

As I was two weeks on sick leave I could read a lot. Now, I am back at work and I think I will manage not as many. I'll try my best. I had some fantastic reads and one disgusting one. But all in all, it was a good reading month. New month, new thread. See you later!

Books finished: 13
Pages read: 3,397

Female writers: 8
Male writers: 7

Best rated *****: Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier, Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch, Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernardine Evaristo, Ein Tag im Leben des Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn

Worst rated 1/2: Die Filmerzählerin by Hernán Rivera Letelier 1/2

--------------------------------------------------​

February
15. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson ****
16. Fallout by Fred Pearce ****
17. Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier *****
18. PESTS by Emer Stamp ****1/2
19. Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch *****
20. Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernardine Evaristo *****
21. Die Filmerzählerin by Hernán Rivera Letelier 1/2
22. Ein Tag im Leben des Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn *****
23. And then there were none by Agatha Christie ****
24. Irre glücklichby Jenny Lawson ****
25. Der Quasselkasper by Janosch **
26. Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett ****
27. Eine ganze Welt by Goldie Goldblum ***

-----

-----

>213 PersephonesLibrary: We bred some litters with our smooth Chow Chows. I thought the best thing was the happy new owners leaving with their pup. Spreading happiness was one of my goals in breeding :-)