Anita (FAMeulstee) reads on in 2017 (5)

More art from Flevoland: De tong van Lucifer (= "Lucifers tongue") by Rudi van de Wint
Located on the Knardijk (the first dike for the construction of Flevoland) next to higway A6.

  

Reading plans in 2017

I have a large collection of mostly awarded childrens & YA books. At the moment I am reading them all, mostly alphabeticly, to decide wich to keep. The ones not to keep are donated to a library in Rotterdam (where we lived until 2005).
I started in 2016 with 803 books, now down to 738 books (on April 1st: 123 read, 65 culled).

I will try to read more of my own books, of the 244 books I have read in 2016 83 were own and 161 from the library.

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

And I try to read a Russian classic each month from our Russian Library editions.

total books read in 2017: 130
own 83 / 47 library

total pages read in 2017: 31.984
--

currently reading
--

Books read in April 2017 (31 books, 6.549 pages)
book 130: Tirannen (The present takers) by Aidan Chambers, 141 pages, , msg 256
book 129: Het geheim van de grot (Seal secret) by Aidan Chambers, 100 pages, , msg 255
book 128: Leven en lot (Life and Fate) by Vasily Grossman, 959 pages, , msg 247
book 127: De rode kous (Offbeat Friends) by Elfie Donnelly, TIOLI #12, 118 pages, , msg 230
book 126: Fantoom in Foe-lai (The Chinese Gold Murders) by Robert van Gulik, TIOLI #7, 185 pages, , msg 209
book 125: Aurelio en de wilde hengst (Stallion of the sands) by Helen Griffiths, TIOLI #19, 164 pages, , msg 203
book 124: Dichtbij ver van hier by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #14, 34 pages, , msg 200
book 123: De plaats van de ster (La Place de l'Étoile) by Patrick Modiano, TIOLI #14, 155 pages, , msg 197
book 122: Je moet dansen op mijn graf (Dance on my grave) by Aidan Chambers, TIOLI #17, 239 pages, , msg 187
book 121: Tot aan het bittere eind by Werner J. Egli, TIOLI #22, 133 pages, , msg 182
book 120: M-train (M Train) by Patti Smith, TIOLI #3, 254 pages, , msg 170
book 119: De weg naar Little Dribbling (The Road to Little Dribbling) by Bill Bryson, TIOLI #12, 348 pages, , msg 165
book 118: Begin een torentje van niks by Ted van Lieshout, TIOLI #15, 30 pages, , msg 148
book 117: Dan ben je nergens meer by Miep Diekman, TIOLI #9, 160 pages, , msg 132
book 116: Tobbe by Mikael Engström, TIOLI #16, 260 pages, , msg 131
book 115: De robot van de rommelmarkt ; Route Z by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #2, 74 pages, , msg 123
book 114: Federico (Federico) by Helen Griffiths, TIOLI #7, 124 pages, , msg 122
book 113: Jij zegt het by Connie Palmen, TIOLI #21, 268 pages, , msg 119
book 112: Het einde van de rode mens (Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets) by Svetlana Alexijevitsj, TIOLI #8, 478 pages, , msg 118
book 111: Het spookklooster (The haunted monastery) by Robert van Gulik, 181 pages, , msg 112
book 110: Matilda (Matilda) by Roald Dahl, TIOLI #3, 220 pages, , msg 111
book 109: Abels eiland (Abel's island) by William Steig, TIOLI #12, 113 pages, , msg 110
book 108: Een grapje van God (A jest of God) by Margaret Laurence, TIOLI #5, 218 pages, , msg 109
book 107: Lieveling, boterbloem by Margriet Heymans, TIOLI #6, 40 pages, , msg 105
book 106: Een heel lief konijn by Imme Dros, TIOLI #1, 63 pages, , msg 104
book 105: De poorten van Anubis (The Anubis Gates) by Tim Powers, TIOLI #10, 447 pages, , msg 102
book 104: Boris (The ice road) by Jaap ter Haar, TIOLI #11, 158 pages, , msg 97
book 103: De levende doden (Barefoot Gen, Vol. 2: The Day After) by Keiji Nakazawa, TIOLI #18, 261 pages, , msg 96
book 102: De boten van Brakkeput (The haunted island) by Miep Diekmann, TIOLI #4, 156 pages, , msg 73
book 101: Oorlog en terpentijn (War and turpentine) by Stefan Hertmans, TIOLI #20, 334 pages, , msg 57
book 100: De Cock en de dood van een profeet (De Cock 39) by A.C. Baantjer, TIOLI #13, 134 pages, , msg 51

Books read in March 2017 (32 books, 7.901 pages)
book 99: De Penderwicks (The Penderwicks) by Jeanne Birdsall, 287 pages, , msg 48
book 98: De laatste wildernis (The Wild Places) by Robert Macfarlane, 351 pages, , msg 43
book 97: Klokken van Kao-yang (The chinese bell murders) (Judge Dee 3) by Robert van Gulik, 239 pages, , msg 36
book 96: Het zwaard van de Islam (Children of the book) by Peter Carter, 252 pages, , msg 30
book 95: De stenen engel by Margaret Laurence, TIOLI #4, 284 pages,
book 94: De weglopers by Victor Canning, TIOLI #8, 211 pages,
book 93: De dag van de geitenman by Betsy Byars, TIOLI #6, 104 pages,
book 92: De gebroeders Karamazow by F.M. Dostojewski, TIOLI #2, 959 pages,
book 91: Stilte by Shusaku Endo, TIOLI #2, 233 pages,
book 90: De blauwe tweeling (Reders & Reders 4) by Jan & Sanne Terlouw, 285 pages,
book 89: Tegenstroom (DCI Banks 3) by Peter Robinson, 304 pages,
book 88: De gehangene van Dartmoor (Sir Baldwin 3) by Michael Jecks, TIOLI #15, 311 pages,
book 87: Hoe schilder hoe wilder : Haarlem by Miep Diekmann, TIOLI #3, 248 pages,
book 86: Hoe schilder hoe wilder : Leiden by Miep Diekmann, TIOLI #3, 192 pages,
book 85: Het laatste lijk (Cadfael 2) by Ellis Peters, TIOLI #7, 218 pages,
book 84: Blote handen by Bart Moeyaert, TIOLI #14, 94 pages,
book 83: De geest op de rotswand by Ann O'Neil Garcia, TIOLI #14, 146 pages,
book 82: De Boeddha in de wereld by Pankaj Mishra, TIOLI #11, 415 pages,
book 81: Winterdieren by Bibi Dumon Tak, TIOLI #5, 137 pages,
book 80: Zoon (My struggle 3) by Karl Ove Knausgård, TIOLI #15, 443 pages,
book 79: Chocolade oorlog by Robert Cormier, TIOLI #13, 234 pages,
book 78: Boris Beer by Dick Bruna, 25 pages,
book 77: Lieve oma Pluis by Dick Bruna, TIOLI #1, 25 pages,
book 76: Het dansende licht by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #6, 104 pages,
book 75: Tegenvoeters Bill Bryson, TIOLI #2, 382 pages,
book 74: Aan de rivier by Steven Herrick, TIOLI #12, 234 pages,
book 73: Balthasar by Henri van Daele, TIOLI #9, 116 pages,
book 72: De man in het bruine pak by Agatha Christie, TIOLI #10, 234 pages,
book 71: Rokus en het Tiende Leven by Alet Schouten, TIOLI #8, 92 pages,
book 70: Heraios en de beker by Sacha Burger, TIOLI #2, 231 pages,
book 69: De zwerfkatten by Betsy Byars, TIOLI #7, 105 pages,
book 68: Celia Garth by Gwen Bristow, TIOLI #4, 406 pages,

Books read in February 2017 (34 books, 7.778 pages)
book 67: Kinderverhalen by Mies Bouhuys, 176 pages,
book 66: De Cock en het duel in de nacht (De Cock 38) by A.C. Baantjer, 135 pages,
book 65: Het bittere kruid by Marga Minco, 90 pages,
book 64: De vloek van Woestewolf by Paul Biegel, 135 pages,
book 63: Lang zul je leven : bakerrijmpjes by Ienne Biemans, 43 pages,
book 62: De kleine kapitein by Paul Biegel, 127 pages,
book 61: Nachtlicht (DCI Banks 2) by Peter Robinson, 243 pages,
book 60: Bij nader inzien by J.J. Voskuil, TIOLI #21, 1207 pages,
book 59: The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan, 88 pages,
book 58: Kwaad bloed by Marita de Sterck, TIOLI #13, 159 pages,
book 57: Laatste verhalen van de eeuw by Paul Biegel, TIOLI #7, 222 pages,
book 56: Heerlijke nieuwe wereld by Aldous Huxley, TIOLI #8, 301 pages,
book 55: Dief van de duivel by Mikael Engström, TIOLI #4, 272 pages,
book 54: Wie is Julia by Alyssa Brugman, TIOLI #5, 195 pages,
book 53: Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín, 316 pages,
book 52: Ver heen by P.C. Kuiper, TIOLI #16, 168 pages,
book 51: Misdaad en straf by F.M. Dostojewski, TIOLI #2, 568 pages,
book 50: Van den vos Reynaerde by Willem, transl H. Adema, TIOLI #11, 127 pages
book 49: Lasse Länta by Cor Bruijn, TIOLI #6, 176 pages,
book 48: Man zonder land by Kurt Vonnegut, TIOLI #9, 143 pages,
book 47: Dromen van mijn vader by Barack Obama, TIOLI #15, 415 pages,
book 46: Lawines razen by An Rutgers van der Loeff, TIOLI #18, 160 pages,
book 45: Walden ; Burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid by Henry David Thoreau, TIOLI #10, 412 pages,
book 44: De rode prinses by Paul Biegel, TIOLI #20, 128 pages,
book 43: De verjaardag van de eekhoorn by Toon Tellegen, TIOLI #14, 36 pages,
book 42: De verjaardag van alle anderen by Toon Tellegen, TIOLI #14, 112 pages,
book 41: Bajaar by Martha Heesen, 124 pages,
book 40: De eeuwigheid verzameld : Helene Kröller-Müller (1869-1939) by Eva Rovers, 602 pages,
book 39: Overal en nergens by Bill Bryson, TIOLI #19, 287 pages,
book 38: De Cock en de ontluisterende dood (De Cock 37) by A.C. Baantjer, 138 pages,
book 37: Zand erover by Laura Broekhuysen, TIOLI #17, 110 pages,
book 36: Sjanetje by Thea Dubelaar, TIOLI #12, 95 pages,
book 35: Krik by Miep Diekman, TIOLI #1, 174 pages,
book 34: De twaalf rovers by Paul Biegel, TIOLI #3, 94 pages,

Books read in January 2017 (33 books, 9.756 pages)
book 33: In de ban van de ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1242 pages,
book 32: Fiona : In koelen bloede by Harry Bingham, 448 pages,
book 31: Fiona by Harry Bingham, 448 pages,
book 30: Het olifantenfeest by Paul Biegel, 112 pages,
book 29: Stille blik (DCI Banks 1) by Peter Robinson, 299 pages,
book 28: Het eiland daarginds by Paul Biegel, 95 pages,
book 27: De mens is een grote fazant by Herta Müller, 126 pages,
book 26: Swing by Paul Biegel, 92 pages,
book 25: Haas by Paul Biegel, 192 pages,
book 24: Liefde (My struggle 2) by Karl Ove Knausgård, 602 pages,
book 23: Anderland by Paul Biegel, 90 pages,
book 22: Het gen: een intieme geschiedenis by Siddharta Mukerjee, TIOLI #3, 666 pages,
book 21: Tussen de wereld en mij by Ta-Nehisi Coates, TIOLI #14, 148 pages,
book 20: 7 jaren van een wielrenner by Herbert Friedrich, TIOLI #17, 366 pages,
book 19: De inspirerende wijsheid van de Dalai Lama by Dalai Lama, TIOLI #12, 191 pages,
book 18: Zout op mijn huid by Benoîte Groult, TIOLI #15, 243 pages,
book 17: Padden verhuizen niet graag by Gerard Brands, TIOLI #13, 120 pages,
book 16: Francesco by Jean Dulieu, TIOLI #7, 167 pages,
book 15: Het knoopjeskabinet by Edmund de Waal, TIOLI #2, 320 pages,
book 14: De aanslag by Harry Mulisch, 256 pages,
book 13: We moeten allemaal feminist zijn by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, TIOLI #1, 64 pages,
book 12: Dokter Zjivago by Boris Pasternak, TIOLI #5, 685 pages,
book 11: Kikker in de kou by Max Velthuijs, TIOLI #9, 28 pages,
book 10: Ik maak nooit iets mee by Guus Middag, TIOLI #8, 132 pages,
book 9: Een goudvis van tweeduizend pond by Betsy Byars, TIOLI #6, 107 pages,
book 8: Hidden Doe : Wij zijn Mesquakie, wij zijn één by Hadley Irwin, TIOLI #18, 122 pages,
book 7: De donkere kamer van Damocles by Willem Frederik Hermans, 335 pages,
book 6: Het veterdiploma by Wiel Kusters, TIOLI #19, 47 pages,
book 5: Onvoltooide geschiedenis by Boualem Sansal, TIOLI #4, 251 pages,
book 4: De wervelstorm by Ivan Southall, TIOLI #16, 178 pages,
book 3: Nachtverhaal by Paul Biegel, TIOLI #11, 159 pages,
book 2: Oorlog en vrede 2/2 by Leo Tolstoj, TIOLI #10, 769 pages,
book 1: Oorlog en vrede 1/2 by Leo Tostoj, 756 pages,

Books aquired in 2017: 15

April 2017:
Verontwaardiging by Philip Roth
De boerderij der dieren by George Orwell

March 2017:
Verzamelde werken 2 : Gedichten by Boris Pasternak
Het nieuwe vogels kijken by Kester Freriks
Makkelijk leven by Herman Koch
De moeder van Nicolien by J.J. Voskuil
De klokkenluider van de Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo

February 2017:
Bajaar by Martha Heesen (e-book, Gouden Lijst 2012)
Kwaad gesternte by Hannah van Binsbergen (VSB Poëzieprijs 2017)
Tussen de wereld en mij by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Walden ; Burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid by Henry David Thoreau
Tegen verkiezingen by David van Reybrouck
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
Binnen de huid by J.J. Voskuil
Terloops : Voettochten 1957-1973 by J.J. Voskuil

Books culled in 2017: 19

Reading plans in April 2017

Series I read, mostly mysteries, a list to keep track

Armand Gamache by Louise Penny 4/4 (others not translated)

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 3/11
1 Een Berlijnse kwestie; 2 Het handwerk van de beul; 3 Een Duits requiem
4 De een van de ander (library); 5 Een stille vlam door (library); 6 Als de doden niet herrijzen (library); 7 Grijs verleden (library);
8 Praag fataal (library); 9 De man zonder adem (library); 10 De vrouw van Zagreb (library); 11 De schaduw van de stilte (library)

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

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 38/70

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 3/3

DCI Banks by Peter Robinson 3/22
1 Stille blik; 2 Nachtlicht; 3 Tegenstroom
4 Zondeval (e-book, library); 5 Schijnbeeld (library); 6 Woensdagkind (library); 7 Zwanenzang (library);
8 Innocent Graves not translated; 9 Dead Right not translated; 10 Verdronken verleden (e-book, library);
11 Kil als het graf (library); 12 Nasleep (library); 13 Onvoltooide zomer (library); 14 Vuurspel (library);
15 Drijfzand (e-book, library); 16 Hartzeer (library); 17 Duivelsgebroed (library); 18 Overmacht (library);
19 Uitschot (library); 20 Dwaalspoor (library); 21 Dankbare dood (library); 22 Slachthuisblues (library)

Erlendur Sveinsson by Arnaldur Indriðason 14/14

Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham 2/2

Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley 2/5
1 De smaak van venijn; 2 Het stroeve touw
3 De kunst van het liegen (library); 4 De show van je leven (library); 5 Slotakkoord voor een moord (e-book, library)

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 3/12
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest
4 De duivel draagt het licht (library); 5 De Indiase bruid (library); 6 Zwarte seconden (library); 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn (library);
8 Een andere voorkeur (library); 9 Kwade wil (e-book, library); 10 De waarschuwer (e-book, library); 11 Carmen Zita og døden (no Dutch translation);
12 Veenbrand (library)

Kurt Wallander by Henning Mankell 5/12
prequel De jonge Wallander; 1 Moordenaar zonder gezicht; 2 Honden van Riga; 3 De witte leeuwin; 4 De man die glimlachte
5 Dwaalsporen (e-book, library); 6 De vijfde vrouw (e-book, library); 7 Midzomermoord (e-book, library); 8 De blinde muur (e-book, library);
9 Voor de vorst (e-book, library); 10 De gekwelde man (e-book, library); 11 Wallanders wereld (e-book, library)

Mijn strijd (My Struggle) by Karl Ove Knausgård 3/6
1 Vader; 2 Liefde; 3 Zoon;
4 Nacht (e-book, library); 5 Schrijver (e-book, library); 6 Vrouw (e-book, library)

Nic Costa by David Hewson 10/10

Rechter Tie by Robert van Gulik 3/18
1 De vergiftigde bruid; 3 Klokken van Kao-yang; 10 Het spookklooster
2 Labyrinth in Lan-Fang; 4 Fantoom in Foe-Lai (library); 5 Meer van Mien-yuan (library); 6 Nagels in Ning-Tsjo (library);
7 Zes zaken voor Rechter Tie (library); 8 Vijf gelukbrengende wolken (library); 9 Het rode paviljoen;
11 De parel van de keizer (library); 12 De nacht van de tijger; 13 Het Chinese lakscherm (library); 14 Het wilgenpatroon;
15 Moord in Canton (library); 16 Het spook in de tempel (library); 17 Halssnoer en kalebas (library); 18 Moord op het maanfeest (library)

Reders & Reders by Jan Terlouw 4/6
1 De charmeur; 2 Venijn; 3 De apotheker; 4 De blauwe tweeling
5 Vuurtoren (e-book, library); 6 Hellehonden (e-book, library)

Sir Balwin by Michael Jecks 3/8
1 De laatste tempelridder; 2 De heks van Wefford; 3 De gehangene van Dartmoor
4 Het mooie lijk (e-book, library); 5 Het lijk zonder hoofd (e-book, library); 6 Het zevende gebod (e-book, library);
7 De dood van de erfgenaam (e-book, library); 8 Moord in het klooster (e-book, library)

Yashim Togalu by Jason Goodwin 4/4

next one is yours

Happy new thread, Anita. Wonderful to see you continuing to race through the books again.

Happy new thread. I'm intrigued by the sculpture. How can it stay upright? It looks like it's floating... magic.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Anita. I love the topper. You remind me of reading another of the Flavia de Luce series.

That sculpture does look amazing.

Happy new thread Anita.

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Anita. Cool toppers!

Happy new thread!

Hi, Anita! Seems you're having joy in reading! Hooray! I'll be watching to see what you read for Take It or Leave It this month!

Karen O.

>9 lunacat: Thanks Jenny, I enjoy the fast reading as long as it lasts.

>10 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, there is a small pillar beneath, barely visible. I think it is beautiful.

>11 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry!

>12 foggidawn: Thanks Misti!

>13 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, it is a beautiful statue. Yes, I should get to my next Flavia de Luce too.

>14 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry, it is not very far from us. We used to walk the dogs near the statue.

>15 johnsimpson: Thanks John!

>16 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

>17 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, glad you like the toppers :-)

>18 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda!

>19 klobrien2: Thanks Karen, yes reading still goes well :-)
I just added my planned reads in msg 6, now I have to find a book for challenge #9 and decide on my own challenge this month.

Back to your last thread (your threads move almost as fast as you read), I loved The Stone Angel when I read it many years ago, so I'm glad you liked it. I haven't read the next book Jest of God, but the movie "Rachel, Rachel" starring Joanne Woodward and directed by Paul Newman (I think) is based on that book. Many years ago (1968), my husband and I went to that movie on one of our first dates!

>1 FAMeulstee: Wow. I have not seen pictures of that before. Amazing.

Happy New Thread, Anita!

Another one linking back to your last thread - if you are able to get hold of Life and Fate, do let me know, and I'll go back to that one. I've put it to one side to try and catch up with library books!

Checking in on the new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita. That topper - does strong wind ever make it wobble? And how tall is it, actually?

The sculpture is amazing Anita. I've been to the Knardijk really often, but I've never seen it. But from the picture the landscape is still very open, making the sculpture stand out, like it should.

>21 arubabookwoman: Thanks Deborah, reading fast makes threads go fast. I have A Jest of God ready to read. I didn't know Margaret Laurence before, found her on vancouverdeb's thread and am glad I found a copy.
That is a nice memory that goes with that movie :-)

>22 Oberon: Thank you Erik, it is a remarkable statue.

>23 ronincats: Thanks Roni!

>24 charl08: I looked for Life and fate at the library yesterday, Charlotte. The library system said there should be a copy, but it wasn't at the shelf where it should be. I will look for it again next time, but if it somewhere else in the library it could take a while before I find it...

>25 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia!

>26 scaifea: Thanks Amber!

>27 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. No the winds don't matter to the statue, the pillar is deep into the ground. The statue is 9 meters tall and 4 meters wide. It is made from copper cable that is wired around the inner construction.
Some years ago it was vandalised, might have been copper thieves. After restauration there was put a fence around the statue. I have used older pictures, as the fence makes the statue less attractive...

>28 EllaTim: It is where the A6 crosses the Knardijk, Els. It is not easy to come near the statue, only by foot or bike.

book 96: Het zwaard van de Islam by Peter Carter
own, translated, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1986, original title Children of the book, 252 pages

This book describes the siege of Vienna (1683), following 3 main characters during this time. Timur Ven marches with the Janissaries towards Vienna. Anna Vogel, daughter of a baker, lives in Vienna. Stefan Zabruski is the son of a Polish landlord, who marches with his king to free Vienna.
The writing isn't very good, but is one of very few books that write about the 1683 siege of Vienna.

Hi Anita! Happy new thread and happy Wednesday!

Ninety-six books so far this year is absolutely stunning. I'm very happy for you.

Thank you, Karen!
I still amaze myself with these numbers ;-)

>29 FAMeulstee: No problem. I'd send my copy along but I've got to finish it first!

>33 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, I keep looking for the Dutch translation ;-)

Wow! 96 books already! You are amazing, Anita! I love your thread topper - so intriguing!

book 97: Klokken van Kao-yang by Robert van Gulik
from the libray, translated (by the writer!), mystery, Rechter Tie (= Judge Dee), original title The chinese bell murders, 239 pages

Robert van Gulik translated the original Chinese first Judge Dee book Celebrated cases of Judge Dee and wrote the next books himself. I don't know if it is the same for his other books, but this one he wrote in English and after that he translated the book in the Dutch.

Three more mysteries are solved by Judge Dee, who is just transferred to a new town. The start is a bit strange, centuries later a chinese man, who is a collector of artefacts of Judge Dee, finds something that belonged to Judge Dee. When he touches it, he "dreams" the story.

>35 vancouverdeb: Thank you Deborah, it is fun to show some art in my province as thread toppers.

>1 FAMeulstee: Lucifer's Tongue? Well I just can't lick that!

Happy new thread, Anita. xx

>36 FAMeulstee: I'm glad you liked The Chinese Bell Murders, Anita! I'm rereading the books in order of Judge Dee's career this time around, so the next one for me is The Lacquer Screen. I don't know whether all the books in the series were first written in English, but I think that may be the case.

Happy new thread. : ) I love the toppers--I had no idea it was a sculpture at first; I thought they were three separate paintings. Amazing! How tall is it?

9 meters--I looked.

^ me too! It is a fascinating piece. I like art that makes you think or look twice :)

>38 PaulCranswick: LOL! I can't beat that ;-)
Thank you Paul!

>39 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry. I try to read in order, but can't always get the one I want from the library.
I hope to get The Chinese Gold Murders from the library next week.

>40 Berly: Thanks Kim, good to see you around :-)
It is an amazing artwork, looking different with different weather.

>41 LovingLit: Thanks Megan, so do I. I looked at this one many times.

book 98: De laatste wildernis by Robert Macfarlane
from the libray, non-fiction, translated, original title The Wild Places, 351 pages

I think I found this book last year on Charlottes thread.

Macfarlane travels to wild places in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Some untouched for centuries, some more recently abandoned and taken back by nature. Aside the beautiful descriptions of nature, there are bits of geology, history, literature and science.

I needed a few chapters to get into the flow of Macfarlane's writing style. He goes far to get the "feel" of the places he visits. Through bad weather, sleeping outside and walking in snowy weather he tries to get to the heart of the place he is visiting. Facinating book!

Happy Friday, Anita.

>43 FAMeulstee: I need to find a copy of that one. Thanks for the recommendation!

>43 FAMeulstee: Loved this one. Glad it worked in translation too.

>44 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, happy weekend to you.

>45 alcottacre: You are welcome, Stasia, always happy to add to the Black Hole ;-)

>46 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, glad I found it in translation.

book 99: De Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
from the libray, YA, translated, original title The Penderwicks, 287 pages

I found this book some time ago on Lori's thread (thornton37814).

The Penderwick family, father, four daughters and a dog, spend their vacation in a guesthouse at at a country estate. Adventures with the boy who lives at the estate, who has problems with his mother.

Sweet and cozy story.

March 2017 stats

32 books read (7.901 pages)

20/12 own/library
11/21 Dutch/translated
28/4 fiction/non-fiction

19 childrens/YA
4 e-books
26 TIOLI books

--

1st quarter 2017 stats

99 books read (25.435 pages)

65/34 own/library
44/55 Dutch/translated
83/16 fiction/non-fiction

52 childrens/YA
12 e-books
68 TIOLI books

Happy Weekend, Anita! Impressive March reads! wow!

book 100: De Cock en de dood van een profeet by A.C. Baantjer
from the library, e-book, police mystery, 39th book of 70 De Cock, TIOLI #13, 134 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #13: Easter Egg Hunt: Read a book with the word egg or eggs in the title or text. p. 92 "als ik er om vroeg... eieren, gebakken met bacon" (eieren=eggs)

A young man, called "the Prophet" is murdered, he is found at home with a stiletto in his back. A large sum of money is missing. De Cock and Vledder try to find out what happend. A few days later the girlfriend of the young man is killed the same way.

Happy Saturday Anita and congratulations on reaching 100 books read my dear.

>50 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, I wish you a happy weekend too!

>52 johnsimpson: Thanks John, I hope all is well with you and Karen. Happy weekend.

Great stats Anita, you're reading up a storm. Hope you have nicer weather than us - it's pouring here. No gardening for me!

>54 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, we have the same weather. No gardening, but reading :-)

>55 DianaNL: Thanks Diana!

book 101: Oorlog en terpentijn by Stefan Hertmans
from the library, Dutch, awarded, AKO literatuurprijs 2014, English translation War and turpentine, TIOLI #20, 334 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #20: Read a book that almost qualified for another challenge this month. almost #21 Read a book by a woman which has been listed for a book award since 2015, this book is by a man who is listed for a bookaward.

Book about the grandfather of the writer, who lived from 1891 until 1981. A mix of memories of the writer and notes of his grandfather. A large part is about WW I, when his grandfather was a Belgian soldier, amidst a terrifying war.

Hi Anita and best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

>57 FAMeulstee: - Enjoy your weekend, Anita!
I notice you've read and enjoyed one of my favourite books by a Flemish author. I read it before the hype and I have recommended it to some of my friends who also loved it. So now it feels a bit like I created the hype :-) :-)
I wish I could read and take in as many books as you do!

Hi, Anita. Have a great weekend.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Anita.

>58 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, the same to you!

>59 Trifolia: Thanks Monica, to you the same!
I would like to give you the honor (I did read & thumb your review), but War and Turpentine is popping up in this group as it is longlisted for The Man Booker International Prize. I had it on my TBR list, as it won the AKO.
It still feels like a miracle, as I have had times I could barely read. So I enjoy it as long as it lasts ;-)

>60 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, happy weekend!

>61 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, tomorrow we will visit the Rodin exposition in Grongingen :-)

>62 FAMeulstee: - Yes, I know my impact is very small, but it was a nice thought though (and not one I actually took seriously). I know about the MBIP and all the other awards and appraisal (NYT) the book received. Makes me feel proud to be a Belgian :-)
So how are the tulips doing in your corner of the world. We are thinking of visiting Keukenhof and de bollenstreek next weekend. Would it be too early?

>48 FAMeulstee: >57 FAMeulstee: Dodging book bullets here! I have already read one and the other is already in the BlackHole.

>63 Trifolia: You should be proud having such a great writer (and some others) from your country, Monica!
We have had some warm days, so I think the tulips are already in bloom at the Keukenhof.

>64 alcottacre: I'll hit you some other time, Stasia ;-)

>62 FAMeulstee: That sounds gorgeous. Have fun.

Have a nice day tomorrow Anita!
Oorlog en terpentijn sounds like one for the wishlist.

I am glad that you liked War and Turpentine!

I have War and Turpentine waiting for me at the library and hope to get to it soon, Anita. I love the pictures of the sculpture at the top.

Have a lovely weekend.

Congratulations for already passing 100 books with only a quarter of the year done. I am rooting for you to average more than a book a day for the whole year.

Anita, have a splendid weekend. xx

Congratulations on blowing past the 100 book mark, Anita!

>66 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, it will be fun. In an hour we bring Ari to our neighbors and then on our way :-)

>67 EllaTim: Thanks Els, we will see how many booklovers are in the trains ;-)
Yes, Oorlog en terpentijn was a good read.

>68 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda, I learned a lot. The Netherlands were not involved in WW I, so I didn't know very much about the battles in Belgium.

>69 BLBera: Thanks Beth, I hope you will also like War and turpentine.
Happy weekend to you.

>70 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, indeed I have read a little over one book a day. My best month was November last year with 51 books, don't think I will ever get past that number in a month.
Happy Sunday!

>71 ronincats: Thanks Roni, I have never made 100 books so early in a year.

book 102: De boten van Brakkeput by Miep Diekmann
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Beste Kinderboek 1956, English translation The haunted island, TIOLI #4, 156 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #4: In honor of the 4th month, read a book with a 4 word title

Curaçao, 1950s, Matthijs gets a small sailing boat for his birthday. On the other side of the bay is a small island. The fishermen say Matthijs should stay away from it, as it is a dangerous island, but Matthijs goes with his boat to the island and spends his afternoons there. One day he finds a stranger on the island.

Happy Sunday, Anita. Happy New Thread! It looks like I NEED to find a copy of War and Turpentine. My LT pals really seem to love that one.

Happy Sunday, Anita!

I hope we get to see a picture from Keukenhof! My tulips I bought from there last year are poking up green but not blooming yet.

Wishing you a wonderful start int8 the new week, Anita. I hope the Rodin exhibition was a success.

Congrats on 100!! And how was the Rodin exhibit? Happy Monday.

>74 msf59: Thanks Mark, yes you need to read War and turpentine :-)

>75 scaifea: Thanks Amber, happy Monday to you!

>76 countrylife: Sorry Cindy, we went to Groningen yesterday. Monica (JustJoey4) might go to the Keukenhof next weekend.
My garden is slowly changing into a multi colored tulip feast.

>77 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, the same to you. Rodin was good, and we enjoyed Maarten Baas. I have put the pictures at Facebook. I will put up some pictures here.

>78 Berly: Thanks Kim. The Rodin exhibition was good, but some of the modern art at the museum was even better. We had a very good day.

Rodin: The thinker, Cathedral, She who was the helmet makers once-beautiful wife
  

Erwin Olaf: After Rodin III The Thinker, After Rodin VI Cathedral
 

Maarten Baas: Frank & Anita in Baas is in Town, Frank in Baas is in Town, Close Parity
  

Ruloff Manuputty: Tjap Gomè, The Stone Beast
 

In the train I started to read the Dutch translation of Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, facinating!

After the visit to the museum, we walked a bit through the city of Groningen. We found a nice 2nd hand bookshop where we bought two books in Dutch translation: Animal farm by George Orwell and Indignation by Philip Roth, both hardbacks.
The trains were very crowded when we went back home, many booklovers took the chance to travel free by train with their Bookweek book!

And Ari had a good time at our neighbours, their daughter Fianna (nearly 4 years) was very proud to walk Ari.

Lovely photos, Anita - thanks for sharing them!

>82 FAMeulstee: So cute. Glad you had a good time too.

I love the sculpture in your opening photo. Thanks for sharing it.

>82 FAMeulstee: Great photo! I want to hug them both!

And in the middle between the two eye candy posts, all the marvelous reading you've been doing. I love your statistics! So interesting and congrats on reading over a book a day!

>83 scaifea: Thanks Amber, we had a very good day :-)

>84 sirfurboy: Thank you Furboy, my neighbor shared the picture of her daughter and Ari on Facebook. I couldn't help to share it here ;-)

>85 streamsong: Thank you Janet, I would love to show it in real to all of you.
Yes, both looking very huggable, although Ari is easier to approach, as Fianna is a bit shy to strangers ;-)

Not much reading done today, as we had some workers who re-newed the gas-pipes. In some houses in the neighborhood the gas-pipes got rusty, so the city ordered all gas-pipes should be renewed this year. I am glad the job is done and we have the house back to ourselves again!

Hi, Anita.

>81 FAMeulstee: I like this art. Looks like you and Frank had a good time.

>82 FAMeulstee: I like this Book Week idea! Does it mean that, if you show up with a book to read on the train ride, you ride for free?

>88 jnwelch: That was the best part of the museum for us, Joe. The artist at the first row of pictures has even a Wiki page: Maarten Baas.

No, not any book. If you buy books in the Bookweek (last week), you get the Bookweek Book for free. With the Bookweek Book (of THIS year) you can ride the trains for free at the Bookweek Sunday.

>89 FAMeulstee: This is such a great scheme. Glad you had fun.

Thanks so much for posting the photos. I saw some on FB too. It's great that you had such a good day.

Such lovely photos!Thanks for posting them, Anita! And congratulations on 100 books!

>90 charl08: Yes it is, Charlotte. Great fun, even in overcrowded trains ;-)

>91 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, seeing some art always gives me an energy boost.

>92 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, I am still flying throught the books this year. Although this is an odd day, I didn't finish a book ;-)

Nice pictures Anita. I like the Rodins, but the Ruloff Manuputty would be my first choice. I'm going to suggest a visit to Groningen to my hubby.
And what a lovely picture of Ari and your neighbour in the sunshine!

>94 EllaTim: It was the first exhibition of Manuputty after his death, Els. I hope his work gets a bit more recognition, as the paintings were beautiful.
We were glad Ari had a good time, makes it easier to leave him there in May, when we go to London.

book 103: De levende doden by Keiji Nakazawa
from the library, graphic novel, 2nd book of Barefoot Gen, English translation Barefoot Gen, Vol. 2: The Day After, TIOLI #18, 261 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #18: Read a Graphic Novel that is autobiography or biography

The haunting story of Gen and his mother, who survived the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

book 104: Boris by Jaap ter Haar
own, Dutch, YA, English translation The ice road, TIOLI #11, 158 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book where the author shares a first name with a member of your family (uncle Jaap)

World War II, Leningrad, 1942, the city is under fire and surrounded by the Germans.
Boris has lost his father, who tried to get food into the city. Now he and his mother try to survive. Everywhere around him people die, soldiers die fighting the Germans, civilians die of hunger. Boris' mother wants to get Boris out of the city, but Boris wants to stay.

Nice story situated at the Siege of Leningrad (8 September 1941 - 27 January 1944).
The book ends on 18 January 1943, when the Soviets managed to open a narrow land corridor to the city.

Hi, Anita! Thank you again for stopping by my thread and for your kind wishes on my imminent move!

Congratulations on reading over 100 books so far this year!

I love the Rodins, but the modern art based on them is fascinating! I also like the Manaputty, an artist with whom I am not familiar but about whom I am going to find out more. Thanks so much for posting the pics!

>98 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, I follow your thread, but have seldom something to say ;-)
Yes, Erwin Olaf made beautiful matching photos. I couldn't find much about Manaputty, not even a Wiki article. Most can be found on the site of the Groninger Museum.

>81 FAMeulstee: I love those mirrors that warp your body shape, they really make you look twice and wonder what it must feel like to be so differently shaped!

>97 FAMeulstee: wow, there must be so many sad stories out of Leningrad. That one certainly sounds tough to read.

>100 LovingLit: Indeed, Megan, there was another that made you thin or thick, depending on the point of view. Art and fun together, a good combination :-)
It was a real story, at the end the writer is together with Boris at the celebrations of 20 years after the war in 1965 in Leningrad. There are many sad stories about WW II all over Russia, at the moment I am slowly reading Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, can't take too much at a time, and many stories there include WW II...

book 105: De poorten van Anubis by Tim Powers
recommended by Jim (drneutron) when I asked for Steampunk, from the library, translated, original title The Anubis Gates, TIOLI #10, 447 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #10: I'm late, I'm late: Read a book you hoped to finish in 1st quarter or is overdue at library

A story with time travel, magic and adventure. Literary professor Brendan Doyle is offered a job, because of his knowledge of early 19th century poets. He travels back in time with paying travelers to visit a lecture by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1810. Doyle misses his way back to the 20th century, because he is kidnapped just before the group travels back. Stuck in 19th century London, Doyle finds villains, magic, a journey to Egypt and love among his adventures.

A decent and at times amusing read, but not outstanding.

>100 LovingLit: I think I read Boris as a child. And liked it. Ter Haar is a good writer, I didn't find the book too much to handle then. In spite of the difficult subject.

There must be such a lot of stories we still haven't heard of in Russia, things that happened during the war, but also before and after.

book 106: Een heel lief konijn - Imme Dros
own, Dutch, children 6+, awarded, Woutertje Pieterse prijs and Vlag & Wimpel 1993, no translation, 63 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose title has two words sharing one adjacent letter across those two words

Something weird is happening to Mrs. Klein. One day she discovers she got a small tail. It wasn't there before. It looks like a rabbits tail. It gets even worse, her ears are growing into rabbits ears! She consults a lot of doctors, but no one can help her. But her husband still loves her, as she is to him "A very sweet rabbit" (= the title).

book 107: Lieveling, boterbloem by Margriet Heymans
own, Dutch, children 8+, awarded, Woutertje Pieterse prijs and Zilveren Griffel 1989, no translations, 40 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book with a title that makes you think of spring

Berthe brings her doll with sweet words to bed. When she leaves the room a wicked witch comes in who harasses the doll. The stories is told in rhyme, Berthe is both her sweet self as the wicked witch. I don't think children would like this story, it is told in a too literary way and from a clearly adult view. The jury of two Childrens/YA book awards did like it.

I am very late to congratulate you for reaching 75, Anita. I can't believe how fast you are reading and posting. Have a great week!

>105 FAMeulstee: Love the title, soft and buttery when you say the words.

>106 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. When reading goes fast, the postings go fast too ;-)

>107 EllaTim: Yes it is, Els, the language within the book was the same way, poetical.

book 108: Een grapje van God by Margaret Laurence
from the library, e-book, translated, Canadian, original title A jest of God, 218 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book that has much to do with religion

Rachel is teacher in Manawaka. She came back to take care of her mother, when her father died. Her mother bosses her around, but Rachel keeps being nice and considerate, even if she feels completely different inside. That keeps being her problem through the book, not saying what she wants to say, not showing her real emotions.

I liked the previous book The stone angel better, it felt less aged than this one. In both books the female main character isn't very likable, but Rachel annoyed me more than Hagar did.

book 109: Abels eiland by William Steig
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1979, original title Abel's island, 113 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book whose title begins with the letters of APRILGRAP (Aprils fool in Dutch) in rolling fashion

The well to do city mouse Abel, is on a picknick with his wife Amanda, when a storm comes up. They hide with others in a cave. Abels gets swept by the storm when he tries to rescue his wife's scarf and ends up on an island. Stuck there he tries to find a way back home.

Sweet story with matching illustrations by the writer.

book 110: Matilda by Roald Dahl
own, translated, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1989, original title Matilda, 220 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book that was recommended as part of Virago's #BooksForChange project (30 - Books to give you hope)

Matilda is a very bright girl. Her parents don't care about her intelligence. So she learns herself to read and spend her afternoons at the library. When she starts at school, she meets her wonderfull teacher Ms Honey. The headmaster is very nasty woman called Mrs Trunchbull. Ms Honey is in awe of Matilda's abilities, but has her own problems. Working together Matilda takes care of Ms Honey's problems so all is well that ends well :-)

Wonderful story, a bright girl, books, lots of humor and a happy end, what more could you want?

book 111: Het spookklooster by Robert van Gulik
from the libray, translated (by the writer), mystery, Rechter Tie (= Judge Dee), original title The haunted monastery, 181 pages

Robert van Gulik translated the original Chinese first Judge Dee book Celebrated cases of Judge Dee and wrote the next books himself.

Three more mysteries are solved by Judge Dee, who stranded on his way home at a Daoist monastery. In the past year tree women died in this monastry and Judge Dee finds out what happened.

Judge Dee books are always statisfactory mysteries, well plotted and set in historical Chinese times.

>111 FAMeulstee: >112 FAMeulstee: Two good reads for you!

I still have to read Matilda and on the wishlist it goes.

And I have read one or two of the Judge Dee books, and liked them. Will be looking out for those as well.

It's going to be a gardening weekend for me, nice weather on the way. Wishing you a nice weekend.

Happy Friday, Anita. You did some decent reading during the last few days.

Happy weekend, Anita.

I hope to re-visit Amsterdam soon.

>111 FAMeulstee: What more indeed? I do like that Dahl wrote some great female characters. I was impressed at the museum's story session they got kids of both genders reading roles from Revolting Rhymes and completely ignored male/female (Red Riding Hood was a little boy who was super keen to be picked).

>113 EllaTim: Yes, do read Matilda :-)
I just started the Rechter Tie/Judge Dee series, 3 down, 15 to go.
Have a time at the volkstuin, do you stay overnight there?

>114 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, I had a lot of reading time and used it well.

>115 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, that would be nice, a chance for a meet up :-)

>116 charl08: Yes, Dahl was good at female characters too, Charlotte. How sweet when gender is no issue at all and a little boy can be Red Riding Hood. Maybe there is hope!

book 112: Het einde van de rode mens by Svetlana Alexijevitsj
from the library, non-fiction, translated, Nobel prize winner, English translation Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, 478 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book by an author who either works at, or as worked at, a newspaper

Svetlana Alexijevitsj won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2015.
For this book she interviewed ordinairy Russian (or better ex-USSR) people. The fist part of the book contain "Ten stories in a red interior, 1991-2001", the second half "Ten stories without interior, 2002-2011".
She has a special way, she writes down what the people tell her, no comment, no structure, the pain and often haunting stories of people living in Russia.

Almost everyone is dissappointed, many long to the USSR times. Grown up in Sovjet times, they can't cope with the changes. Don't understand why people don't care about eachother, want to make big money in whatever way they can.
Haunting stories about USSR citizens, who found themselves as unwanted foreigners in a new country (like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Chechnya, Tajikistan) and had to flee. Neighbors suddenly turning their backs, murder and ethnic cleansing...
They don't share the same ideals, but everyone had high hopes after 1991 and almost everyone is disappointent about what the new state has become.

A very intense read, in the first part a lot of USSR history: the Russian Revolution, the Great War (WW II), Stalins regime, Khrushchev, Gorbachev... hope for the future, shattered hope. The end of the Sovjets is people living in fear, suffering, cynicism and frustration. I am very happy I don't have to live there.

book 113: Jij zegt het by Connie Palmen
from the library, Dutch, awarded Libris Literatuurprijs 2016, no translations, 268 pages
Challenge #21: Read a book by a woman which has been listed for a book award since 2015

Fictional autobiography of Ted Hughes, the husband of Sylvia Plath. Starting when they met, it describes the seven years of their marriage. Sylvia suffered from depression and separation anxiety. She lost her father when she was young and had a mother who expected way too much. After Teds affair with an other woman, Sylvia wanted a divorce. Ted kept hope for a reconciliation, but she killed herself. While in deep mourning, people around him start publishing "their stories" about their marriage. It haunted him all of his life.

Connie Palmen is a very good writer, while reading you think you hear the voice of Ted Hughes.

>111 FAMeulstee: Matilda is one of my very favorites! I'm so glad that you loved it, too.

>120 scaifea: Yes, Amber, I think it is one of his best books. I must have read Matilda earlier, before LT times. I have some others unread on my shelves, hope to get to them soon.

book 114: Federico by Helen Griffiths
own, childrens/YA, translated, original title Federico, 124 pages
Challenge #7: Going on a Picnic: read a book with a title starting with the first letter of your LT username

Antonio Torres is 9 years old and lives on Mallorca. He is the eldest of 5 children of a poor family. Their donkey is about to give birth and Antonio's father said he can take care of the baby donkey. Antonio names the baby donkey Federico, and they have good times together. Then one day the family needs money badly and Federico is sold...

book 115: De robot van de rommelmarkt ; Route Z by Tonke Dragt
own, Dutch, YA, no translations, 74 pages
TIOLI April Challenge #2: Read a book with the letter 'Z' in the title

Two stories, related to the Afroi books.
In the first story Edu Jansen is young and still at school. He finds a second hand robot at a flea market. To teach his robot he learns to calculate and read on his own (a rare thing in this furure).
The second story was later turned into a chapter of Ogen van tijgers. Bart got his drivers licence and wants to drive the dangerous "route Z", but he got his licence illegal, as he is to young to drive. He takes "route Z", when he sees a cat he stops the car abruptly and is the cause of an accident...

Happy Sunday, Anita!

>117 FAMeulstee: I did stay overnight, for one night. But it was still a bit chilly, to say the least.

>118 FAMeulstee: Interesting review of Het einde van de rode mens. It sounds fascinating. A good book to understand a bit more of Russia now.

>115 PaulCranswick: Nice photo Paul!

Hi, Anita! Congratulations on blowing through the century mark. Thanks for the museum photos, and especially the photo of your neighbor's daughter with Ari!

Wow! You are doing quite well with your 2017 reading!

>124 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia, happy Monday to you :-)

>125 EllaTim: Yes, the nights are still cold. Today was chilly, out of the wind in the sun it was nice.
Het einde van de rode mens is a facinating and eye-opening book, it was very good to help understand Russia today.

>126 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, it has been decades that I could read like this, and I am very happy about it.
Ari had a good time at our neigbors, the next day I couldn't walk past their house as Ari went straight into their front garden to say hi :-)

>127 thornton37814: Thanks Lori, it is almost unbelievable it was only a few years back that I struggled to read one or two books a month!

>118 FAMeulstee: That one I have as an audio. I ope to get around it later this year.
Happy Tuesday, Anita.

>129 Ameise1: Happy Tuesday to you, Barbara.
I think Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets could work well on audio, as each chapter is someone telling her/his story.

book 116: Tobbe by Mikael Engström
own, translated Swedish, YA, awarded, Zilveren Zoen 2005, no English translation, 260 pages
TIOLI April Challenge #16: Read a Book With a One-Word Title That is Unusual

Tobbe lives in a poor neighborhood in Sweden. The boys from his street play soccer against those of the next street and Tobbe and his friends are not supposed to win the game, as the other boys are much stronger. But Tobbe makes a goal anyway and after that his opponents are after him...

This story is both funnny and sad. Sad how the strong boys bully the weaker ones, funny how Tobbe and his friends find ways to deceive their opponents.

book 117: Dan ben je nergens meer by Miep Diekman
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Nienke van Hichtumprijs 1975, no translations, 160 pages
TIOLI April Challenge #9: Read a book where the first sentence is speech ('Hier,' zei Vincent, 'hier beginnen we.')

The Netherlands, 1970s, Mickey finished highschool. She wanted to go to university, but she was not selected for the study she choose. Now she has a whole year ahead, without knowing what she will do with it. Her sister lives on a Caribbean island, with her English husband and two children. Mickey decides to take her sisters invitation and travel to the island.
There is a lot of trouble on the island, her sisters life isn't as nice as she described in her letters. Corruption, smuggling drugs, tension between black and white inhabitants, Mickey has a lot to deal with during her stay.

>118 FAMeulstee: Good review of Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets. I have this in both print and on audio. I hope to get to it soon. Have you read any of her other work?

Happy Tuesday, Anita. Hope the week is going well.

>133 msf59: It was a very good read, Mark, I hope you get to it soon.
I haven't read any other books by Alexievich yet, but hope to find more by her at the library.

--

The week hasn't been very easy. Last Friday my mother was (temporarely) admitted to a nursing home, as my father is in too bad shape to take care of her. There is some assistance available at the place they live, but my mother needs full care and my father hasn't been in shape lately.
As with everything in my family this lead to major drama, my sisters cursing my father for what they called betrayal and even worse name calling to my dad. I have no contact with my sisters, as they behaved likewise to me, so I stopped all contact over 10 years ago. Since last year there was an ongoing battle, when my sisters visited my parents with their two housemates and one of them threatened my dad with physical violence. My dad then refused them acces to my parents home and even the police was involved... I am so glad I am not in the middle of this.

Sorry to hear about your parents' health and your siblings' reactions. I hope your mum is better soon.

I'm so sorry to hear about the family drama, Anita. I hope things settle down soon and that your parents are OK.

I'm sorry, too, Anita, for all the family upset and drama. I hoe your mother is better soon.

>111 FAMeulstee: I have never read the book, but there is a delightful movie made from it.

I'm sorry to hear about your family situation Anita. I hope your mother will get better soon. It can't be easy for you, so I'm wishing you strength.

Sorry for your father, and glad that you are taking care of yourself and out of the majority of the drama. {{{{Anita}}}}

{{Anita}}. As the saying goes, we can't choose our family but it sounds like you have kept your sanity by distancing yourself when necessary and that is probably the wisest and healthiest thing. Wishing your parents the best.

Yikes, glad you've got some distance from the drama...

>134 FAMeulstee: I'm so sorry to hear about your family crises. It looks like it is all up to you to make sure that they get their help needed. I hope your mum feels better soon.

Thinking of you, Anita.

Thanks Charlotte, Jenny, Karen, Els, Roni, Shelley, Jim and Barbara.

My mother won't get better, she can't hardly move anymore. She needs help with everything: from her bed into the wheelchair, from her wheelchair to her comfy chair... and my father is completely worn out from this. But because of dementia, my mother still thinks she does all the household chores like she used to do.
This is hard on my dad and after a bad cold (and still mourning the death of my brother last summer) the family doctor and my remaining eldest brother interfered, resulting into admitting my mother to a full care home. So now if my father recuperates enough, my mother can return to him. They are well into their 80s and marrried over 60 years, so the separation is hard on them both.

Even without my sisters this is a difficult situation. My hope is that my sisters will only visit my mother, so my father isn't exposed to their nastyness anymore. They go along better with my mother.

Thinking about you and your mom, friend.

>144 scaifea: Much appriciated, Amber.

Delurking, Anita, to say I am sorry about the situation with your parents and all the family drama. Thinking about you and them. Hugs.

>146 Berly: Thanks Kim, we wil visit my father Friday, to see how he is doing.

book 118: Begin een torentje van niks by Ted van Lieshout
own, Dutch, poetry, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1995, no translations, 30 pages
TIOLI April Challenge #15: Read a book of poetry by a non-traditional poet: and YOU decide what makes them non-traditional (fist book with poetry for young adults to be awarded a Gouden Griffel)

In beautiful language the poems tell the story of a boy who lost his father and how life goes on after that.
With matching illustrations from the writer.

I completely forgot the garden pictures I took last week, when the plum tree and the tulips were in full bloom.

the tulips in close up:
  

tulip, the plumtree and the white narcis
  

the japanese maple, overview and Ari
  

Gorgeous photos, Anita! But are those red ones (top row, middle pic) tulups? They look like poppies to me.

Spring hasn't quite sprung around here yet

>149 FAMeulstee: Lovely photos, Anita! Our tulips are finally looking good.

Hoping for the best for your parents and for you!

>150 jessibud2: Yes, Shelley, red tulips seen from above, they have a black heart.
This is a side picture from the same tulips a few years back:

I hope spring comes soon to you!

>151 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry, glad spring has arrived at your place :-)
Thanks again, we will see tomorrow how they are doing...

Hi Anita, hope all is well with you my dear, sending love and hugs.

Fabulous photos of a fabulous garden, Anita :)

Tons of books and tons of fabulous photos!!! Ari always looks happy.

I thought I'd read Matilda and Mrs Trunchbull sounds familiar, but the rest doesn't??? I may have to grab my copy. And Anubis Gates is on my shelves too. I have a friend who loves Tim Powers, but I've never read him. May have to fix that. & love the Rodin/Rodin inspired photos. There's a little museum here on the Smith College campus that has lots of Rodin castings. Beautiful!

>149 FAMeulstee: Beautiful photis, Anita. Thanks so much for sharing them.
Happy Friday.

>152 FAMeulstee: - Warmer temperatures are finally settling in. I spent 2 hours outside cleaning up the winter debris from my tiny back garden. Some little buds are beginning to show themselves and I can hardly wait for the middle of May to begin planting again. In my growing zone, May 24 is the unofficial date given for it to be *safe* to plant, safe from frost at night. But I couldn't help myself yesterday and I bought a round pot of pansies to place outside my front door. Just to have some colour. I absolutely love tulips but don't plant those any more as the squirrels just eat them all. After a few years of waking up to find bulbs dug up, chewed and strewn across the garden, I gave up. But yours are a delight to see!

Hi Anita! Lovely photos of flowers and Ari!

I hope the family drama has settled down. Best wishes for a lovely Friday and weekend!

Hope you have a great Easter weekend!

Wishing you a very Happy Easter.

>153 johnsimpson: Thanks John, love and hugs back to you and Karen.

>154 lunacat: Thanks Jenny, I added lots of color in the past 10 years, I love a colorfull garden.

>155 cammykitty: Thanks Katie, yes Ari is (nearly) always happy, a delight to have around :-)
I had read Matilda before, but my memory was not the same as the book contents, so that might be the same with you.

>156 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, happy Easter weekend!

>157 jessibud2: Sorry your tulips are eaten, Shelley, the flowers don't last very long, but they make a colorful garden.
I have yellow pansies in containers outside. Over here half May the frost is gone, but usually I plant earlier. Yesterday I bought some Tagetes (Marygold?) to plant in pots, so I can get them in at night if there is frost at night.

>158 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, we visited my dad today. He is mostly confused, he has never lived on his own. I feel sorry for him. My sister visits my mother every day now, after my father leaves (he goes there every day too). It seems she hasn't sought confrontations anymore.

>159 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle, the same to you

>160 johnsimpson: Thanks John, the same to you and Karen.

Hi Anita, wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend.

Thanks Diana and Barbara, the same to you.

book 119: De weg naar Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
from the library, translated, non-fiction, original title The Road to Little Dribbling, 348 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book whose title begins with the letters of APRILGRAP (Aprils fool in Dutch) in rolling fashion

Twenty years after Notes from a small island Bill Bryson is traveling again through the UK.

As always a fun travel book, grumpy Bill Bryson travels mostly through England and a bit of Wales and Scotland.
He makes me want to visit the UK :-)

>101 FAMeulstee: There are many sad stories about WW II all over Russia
Indeed. When my father's family history came out, his Latvian family couldn't believe a book was being written about it, as their story was the same as so many other families post-WWII. What was a matter of course for them was for us an incredible and heart-breaking story.

>143 FAMeulstee: an of course, sad stories are not limited to war. Im sorry for you and your parents going through this tough time.

Oh, Anita, I am so sorry for all of your family difficulties. Wishing you happier days ahead. Such beautiful pictures of your tulips and Ari. Happy Easter Weekend and I wish you and Frank the best. Hugs, Anita!

Happy Sunday, Anita. After weeks of sunshine it's raining this morning. It's good so the garden needs some water.

>166 LovingLit: I didn't know you are from part Latvian descent, Megan, a lot sadness is in history of the three Baltic states... Was it your father who went to NZ, or did you go over there?
Thanks, no it is not limited to war, but personal or family drama in fairly good times is of a different level.

>167 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, in my family things have never been easy. I am glad to have Frank with me to counter all the drama in my family. The next few weeks should be more quiet. Despite being a farly late Easter this year, the weather is chilly and clouded, good for reading!

>168 Ameise1: Happy Easter Sunday to you, Barbara, we had also some, much needed, rain last night. It had been unusual dry in the past weeks.

book 120: M-train Patti Smith
found on Megans (@Ireadthereforeiam) thread, from the library, e-book, non-fiction, translated, original title M Train, 220 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book that was recommended as part of Virago's #BooksForChange project (14 - women who changed music)

Patti Smith takes us with her, in her actions, thoughts and dreams. The book meanders from present to past to present. Patti travels around the world, drinking coffee, searching for graves of writers and other places she wants or has to be.

Lots of interesting parts in this autobiography, but many times I felt I wanted to know more, but Patti already went ahead to the next subject.

Glad you've got good reading weather (!) Anita. Hope you have a good day. We're also enjoying some wet weather - glad I did the weeding yesterday.

Happy Easter, Anita! I loved Just Kids, Smith's first memoir and I have M-Train on the To-Read list.

>171 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, it sure isn't weather to be working outside. I have a few things that should be done in the garden, but that can wait until better weather arrives. Good plan to do the weeding yesterday, with better circumstances.
I am sitting on the couch catching up with the threads, next to Frank, who is watching the cyclists in the Gold race.

>172 msf59: Thanks Mark, I have Just kids from the library on my e-reader. I hope to like it better.

Hi Anita and Happy Easter to you, Frank, and Ari!

Bryson's books are the best. I'm glad you enjoyed The Road to Little Dribbling.

>173 FAMeulstee: That sounds good Anita. I am enjoying a short blast of sunshine (from indoors). I nipped out and stocked up the bird table but apart from that I will stick to the books. I've picked up Roads to Berlin again. I can see its very intelligent, but dare I also say long-winded?

Same here on the weather - it's been a crazily dry spring so far. We had the rain overnight on Friday/Saturday that I'm guessing you got during Saturday, and it was very much needed. Much as I hate having to do anything in the rain, it is certainly required.

I hope you are having a lovely, relaxing Easter Sunday.

I am sorry to hear about your family drama. I wish you the best of all possible Easters!

I have not read The Road to Little Dribbling yet, so I will have to get hold of that one.

Just stopped by to wish you a Happy Easter, Anita!

So sorry to read about your family drama. Many of us seem to go through it at one time or another. Glad you're able to put distance between it and yourself. {{{hugs}}}

>174 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, yes Bryson is always good, it is sad I only have one more of his traveling books left on mount TBR ;-)

>175 charl08: Cyclists are done, Charlotte, Feyenoord (football club from Rotterdam, we are fans) won the game today, so all is good.
I haven't read any Cees Nooteboom yet, I hope to get to Roads to Santiago this year. Wouldn't be surprised if he was long-winded ;-)

>176 lunacat: Yes, it's been very dry for spring. Normally spring is the wettest season.
Safe travels tomorrow!

>177 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia, we have a family free Easter, so that is perfect ;-)
The road to Little Dribbling is (one of) his latest, published in 2015.

>178 Berly: Thanks Kim

>179 Storeetllr: The same to you Mary!
Thank you, family can be difficult at times. My sister thinks everyone should do and think the same way she does, if anyone dares to disagree she gets very nasty... So I cut her out of my life in 2003, a few years later my eldest sister moved in with her, so I lost her too.

book 121: Tot aan het bittere eind by Werner J. Egli
own, YA, translated from German, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1986, original title Bis ans Ende der Fährte, 133 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #22: Read a book by an author which fit the word JERUSALEM in rolling order

Luke and his father are hunting in the north of Canada, to have meat for the winter. They find an elk and Luke is allowed for the first time to shoot it. Happy with the hunt they pack the meat, but some wolves arrive. They hang 2/3rd of the meat in a tree and take the rest back to the car. Halfway Lukes father hears something near the wolves and he returns. It is a grizzly that tries to get their meat. The father shoots the grizzly, but it isn't dead only wounded badly. The grizzly runs away, very angry and kills a man on his way.
The rest of the book we follow Luke and his dad, who try to find the grizzly to kill it and prevent further incidents, two other man from their village who try to help and the grizzly, that is followed by a pack of wolves. Meanwhile Luke, who grew up without a mother, finds out what happened to her.

Nice adventure story, a bit like Gary Paulsens books.

So sorry about your mother's condition, and all of the family drama. It is hard!

Sorry to hear about your family troubles, Anita.

I hope you've managed to have a good Easter weekend.

Good morning, Anita. I hope you had a lovely Sunday.

>183 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda, it is hard. But as long as I keep myself away from the center of the drama, I will be allright.

>184 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, no family this weekend, only Frank, so alll is good. I feel sorry for my father and that pops up in my mind now and then...

>185 Ameise1: Good afternoon, Barbara, I hope you enjoy your second Easter day.
Yesterday was good for reading, finished a book. Frank and I talked a lot about the situation with my parents, sadly there is not much we can do, besides moral support.

book 122: Je moet dansen op mijn graf by Aidan Chambers
own, YA, translated, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1986, original title Dance on my grave, 239 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book you're not sure you read before. Indicate if it is indeed a new or re read (I think I have read the first quarter of the book before, this time I finished it)

Sixteen year old Henry (Hal) Robinson is mourning the death of his friend (and lover) Barry. He was found by the police while dancing on Barry's grave and accused of demolishing graves. The court didn't convict him straight away, but put a social worker on his case, to find out what happened. At first Hal doesn't want to talk to the social worker (or anyone else), but he starts to write down what he remembers of the 7 weeks he and Barry were together.

This is a great story. Through newspaper articles, Hal's own memories and notes from the social worker, we slowly find out what has happened. Meanwhile Hal learns a lot about himself and learns to cope with his loss.

I'm sorry to hear about your parent's health, It's such a difficult time and your siblings are making it harder. I'm glad Frank is there to be your rock.

What gorgeous flower photos! Thanks so much for sharing.

>188 streamsong: Thanks Janet, it isn't easy with aging parents...
The tulips are declining, everything else is growing fast now we had some rain.

>Hi Anita, It is hard when you can't do much to help, but moral support is a real help, when people are down.

Your tulip pictures are nice! My tulips have given up, thanks to the rain, and wind of yesterday. But I bought some new plants, yesterday, yellow daffodils (narcissen), and snowdrops (sneeuwklokjes). So will have some fun planting.

>190 EllaTim: Thanks Els, your moral support is appriciated!
I have some marigolds (afrikaantjes) and lobelia waiting to be planted in pots. I put them on wait in the small house in our garden, wich was good because this evening we had a hailstorm... for half an hour half of the garden was white.

>190 EllaTim: Oops, can do lots of damage, hailstorms. I hope your garden is allright now.

Marigolds, lovely.

Happy Tuesday, Anita. Sorry to hear about the hailstorm. We are back to cooler and wetter weather too. The forecast says thaz we could even get some snow this week.

"The Tulips are declining" is possibly a good way to give metaphor to our ageing parents. I certainly see that in my mum right now, Anita. I was wonderfully touched on Sunday morning as I was leaving her house for the airport and Florida - she tried desperately to get me to accept £100 from her as she was worried about me going there without much money. I stifled a tear, kissed her and refused. Told her we would have dinner with it when I get back.

>192 EllaTim: No damage done by the hail, I didn't see any this morning.

>193 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, here they expect two nights with frost. April can be cold and/or nice, for now it is cold.
Is it very unusual for you to have snow in April?

>194 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!
Aw, how sweet of your mom, being worried that you went without enough money. A lovely idea to take her out for diner with it.
Yes it probably is a good metaphor. I went into the garden to visualise:

>187 FAMeulstee: That one sounds good! Into the Black Hole it goes!

Happy Tuesday, Anita!

book 123: De plaats van de ster by Patrick Modiano
found on Barbara's thread (Ameise1), from the library, translated from French, Nobelprize winner, original title La Place de l'Étoile, available in English as part of The Occupation trilogy, 155 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book where a title word starts with the same letter as the author's name (first or last)

Raphaël Schlemilovitch takes us on a surreal journey trough time and places, searching his jewish roots and anti-semitism alike. From Paris to Vienna, from French aristocrats, Nazi Germany to Sigmund Freud. Satirical and humor so very dark, it isn't funny anymore, so only confusion remains.

I probably would have liked this book better if I had been more familiair with French literature and had read some Celine, Proust and Sartre before this one.

>196 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia, happy Tuesday to you!
Yes, Dance on my grave was a very good read, it is part of a series, the Dance sequence. I own one other book from this series The Toll Bridge, I hope to get to that one soon. It is not a series you have to read in order, each story stands on its own.

>195 FAMeulstee: No, it isn't unusual to have some snow in April.

book 124: Dichtbij ver van hier by Tonke Dragt
own, Dutch, YA, no English translation, 34 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book where a title word starts with the same letter as the author's name (first or last)

In 15 chapters Tonke Dragt plays with time and doors. Every time you open a door, you think you know what is behind it. But as long as the door is closed you can't be sure. You might find something different behind a door, an other time, an other place... Each chapter is accompanied by a collage in full color.

Stopping by to say hi, my friend. My sympathies for your family-problems. It seems you've been quite busy reading, so that might have been comforting.

>201 Trifolia: Thanks Monica, reading is a comfortably way to escape for a while.

book 125: Aurelio en de wilde hengst by Helen Griffiths
own, translated, YA, original title Stallion of the sands, 164 pages
April TIOLI Challenge Challenge #19: Read a book in whose title the words "of" and "the" are adjacent to each other, this is the Dutch translation of Stallion of the Sands.

At the pampa an all white, albino foal is born. The first 6 years of his life he lives with the herd. Then the men come and kill most of the horses, they try to break the albino, but he escapes. He is utterly afraid of humans now.
The boy Aurelio lives in a small vilage with his aunt. When his aunt dies he wants to find his father, all he knows is that his father was a gaucho. He finds work with gaucho's and learns everthing a gaucho needs to know. Herding the cows, breaking horses and ride them, using the bola to catch a horse.
Eventually the paths of the albino horse and the boy cross.

Helen Griffiths was one of my favorite writers in my youth. Her books with horses, dogs or cats as main character, often mistreated by humans, find in the end a gentler young human. Most of her books are beautiful illustrated by Victor G. Ambrus.

I have made a thread for our London visit in May, to make plans and see who we can meet besides Chalotte and Claire: Meetup London, 20 & 21 May.

>200 FAMeulstee: What a lovely cover!

Happy Wednesday, Anita.

>205 foggidawn: Yes! And it is large, a bit more than A4 format.

>206 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, a very good day, as I finished the April TIOLI sweep :-)

>204 FAMeulstee: The time is flying! I'm looking forward to it.

book 126: Fantoom in Foe-lai by Robert van Gulik
from the libray, translated (by the writer), mystery, Rechter Tie (= Judge Dee), original title The Chinese Gold Murders, 185 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #7: Going on a Picnic: read a book with a title starting with the first letter of your LT username

Robert van Gulik translated the original Chinese first Judge Dee book Celebrated cases of Judge Dee and wrote the next books himself.

The start of Judge Dee's career, his first post in the province, near the Korean border. He has a lot on his plate, as his predecessor is killed, a woman is missing, a tiger kills people and the ghost of his predecessor is around. On his way to his post he finds two of his helpers in a strange way.

Judge Dee books are always statisfactory mysteries, well plotted and set in historical Chinese times.

>208 charl08: So do we, Charlotte!

Sweet Thursday, Anita. Hope you had a good week. I just finished Exit West. It was excellent. You might like it too.

>198 FAMeulstee: Thanks for letting me know about the series and that it does not have to be ready in order, Anita.

Hi Anita!

I sure wish I could just fly around the world and meet up with my dear LT friends! Your London meet up sounds fantastic.

I hope you're having a wonderful day filled with reading and whatever else takes your fancy.

>211 msf59: Thanks Mark, the Dutch translation of Exit West will come out in June, so I have to wait a bit.

>212 alcottacre: You are welcome, Stasia.

>213 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, it is going to be my first trip by plane... so I am a little nervous about it.
It is a good day, with a little working in the garden (pulling weeds) and reading. I started reading Life and fate, that will take some days to finish.

Hi Anita, hope you have had a good week my dear, thanks for your message.

Happy Friday, Anita.

>169 FAMeulstee: my father came to NZ as a 5 year old, with his mother.

>170 FAMeulstee: I loved M Train! I passed it straight to a friend who loved it too, which pleased me. Sorry it didn't work for you.

Awk! Barbara, I told you that my hair appointment was cancelled on Tuesday due to the stylist being sick. Well, this morning they called to say she is still sick and now I'm going to have to wait until May 11 th to get it cut. I usually get my hair trimmed every 6 - 8 weeks as my hair is fairly short, just about my shoulders. I wonder how crazy it will be looking by May 11.

Wishing you a lovely Friday and weekend.

Happy Friday, Anita!

>215 johnsimpson: Thanks John, happy weekend to you and Karen.

>216 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, enjoy your weekend.

>217 LovingLit: Doesn't matter, Megan, we don't all like the same books. I am reading her Just kids now, I am still intrigued by Patti Smith.

>218 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I think you intended to write this on Barbara's thread ;-)
I am sorry you have to wait so long to get an appointment, picture just before you go?

>219 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia, is it too early to wish you happy weekend?

When I called my father last night he sounded a bit better, my mother seems to adapt slowly in her new surroundings. My father visits her every day, it is still very difficult for her when when my father leaves.

Meanwhile I am reading the Dutch translation of Life and fate by Vasili Grossman. Very good book, I am almost at 1/3 and very impressed.

Getting caught up on threads. Oh dear, so very sorry for the crisis with your family. Dealing with aging parents is hard enough without the extra sibling drama. Wishing your parents healing and cessation from pain and confusion, and you strength and comfort. Hoping this weekend will be a calm one for you!

>222 michigantrumpet: Thank you Marianne, we have planned a family free weekend again, so it will be a calm and relaxed :-)

Yes , you are correct Anita, I must have incorrectly posted on my thread! I might as well warn you about my wild hair, though! :) So far it's not too bad, but just wait.....But wishing you a wonderful weekend Anita! You and Frank are meeting up with Charlotte and someone else fairly soon in London?

>221 FAMeulstee: I am glad your father sounded a bit better - I am sure it makes you feel better too.

Life and Fate is very good. I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Wishing you a smooth flight and know you'll have a wonderful meet-up, Anita. Warn Frank that he can't neglect his farm though; I am counting on him.

Oh you are racing ahead with Life and Fate. Are you past the siege yet? I found that description surprising.

Hi Anita, hope you are having a really nice weekend my dear and the weather is good with you, sending love and hugs.

>224 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I always forget to make an appointment at my hairdressser, so my hair really needs a cut when I finally get there. Yes, next month we will be a weekend in London.

>225 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. Yes, it did make me feel better. I was so happy when my father was joking a bit, as he hadn't done that for weeks!

>226 ronincats: Thanks Roni, four weeks to go before our trip to Lonodon.
Can't help you with the other Frank, you mix up my DH with our FarmVille2 friend ;-)

>227 charl08: I have finished the first part (of 3), Charlotte. I didn't know much about the battles and siege of Stalingrad. He describes the war very vividly, but then he was a war reporter. I found the last letter of Shtrum's jewish mother so compelling, heartbreaking how she writes in face of a certain death...

>228 johnsimpson: Thank you John. Frank is watching some football on TV, while I hang around on LT, life is good.
Happy weekend to you and Karen, and love and hugs to you both.

I took a break from Life and Fate after finishing the first part, to read something lighter.


book 127: De rode kous by Elfie Donnelly
own, translated from German, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1981, English translation Offbeat Friends, 118 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book whose title begins with the letters of APRILGRAP (Aprils fool in Dutch) in rolling fashion

One day Mari (short for Marianne) meets Maria in the park, Mari notices her because she wears one red and one black stocking. Maria lives in a nursing home. When Mari finds Maria some time later, Marie has run away from the nursing home, as she is afraid her son in law is after her. So Mari hides her in her room...

The idea behind the story is nice, but somehow it was lacking real emotion. Not sure if it was the book itself or the translation.



Now back to reading Life and Fate.

Hi Anita!

Frank is watching some football on TV, while I hang around on LT, life is good.

That's funny - my husband is watching the local news on TV and I am hanging around on LT. Life is indeed good. But for me, back to my book!

I hope the rest of your weekend is calm and happy.

Sorry to hear about the family drama, Anita, but good that things seem to be calmer now. I can't believe that it is almost time for your trip to London. I hope that you get to meet-up with lots of LTers when you are there.

Wow! 127 books - congrats Anita!

Your flower photos are beautiful!

Happy Sunday, Anita.

Have a wonderful Sunday, Anita.

Happy Sunday, Anita! Hope you are having a nice weekend and getting plenty of book time in.

Happy Sunday, Anita! Glad the family drama has calmed.

Confession: I have been distracted from. Life and Fate by Spaceman of Bohemia. I will try to get back to the Russian this week. I figure I'm getting there gradually - from the Netherlands (Cees Nooteboom), to the Czech Republic...

>231 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, football was nervewrecking today, it ended very good. With two games to go it looks like Feyenoord will win the national championship this year. The last time was in 1999.

>232 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg, I hope the calm continues. I can't believe it either, in less than a month we will be in London!

>233 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne, I am happy I can read so many books :-)

>234 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, happy (what is left of your) Sunday & enjoy your extra day off tomorrow :-)

>235 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, when are you leaving the USA?

:-)

>236 msf59: Thanks Mark, our soccer club is winning, I have read a good part of Life and Fate today, what more could I want?

>237 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, so am I. It were a rough few days, but we seem to go in the right direction.

>238 charl08: Doesn't matter Charlotte, you will get there.
I am totally absorbed by Life and Fate, it is an amzing, broad and well written story.

Hi Anita, you seem to have had a nice weekend. Not like you at all to need more than a day to read a book, but Life and Fate seems to be worth it :-)

You have a good rythm going, alternating a serious, heavy book, with the lighter ones. A Tonke Dragt that I've never heard of again! I loved her Torenhoog en Mijlenbreed

And good luck for Feyenoord, I'm not a sports fan, at all, i don't care who wins, even if it is a Rotterdam club :-)

Happy Week ahead, Anita! So exciting that you will be in London! I have a nephew who is going to school at Cambridge. He is my sister's son and such a nice guy and so much fun! I really quite miss him and I know my sister and her husband miss him that much more. Yesterday he posted a picture on Instagram of himself riding a bike to Granchester. I worry sometimes that he gets lonely in the UK on his own . My sister tells me he has mentioned a " girl" he has met, and she hopes maybe she will be something special. He does live in a small flat with another fellow, but I think he misses living in residence, with 10 other people.

My sister and her husband are travelling to Europe this summer and they will met him in Athens. He does come home to visit, but I think at times he is bored at home , now that he is 27.

Good morning, Anita. Wishing you a wonderful start into the new week.

Good morning, Anita! I hope that you had a good weekend, and I look forward to your comments about Life and Fate.

Happy Monday, Anita!

>241 EllaTim: Thanks Els, indeed Leven en lot was worth it, I just finished it and it was a 5* read for me.
If you loved Torenhoog en mijlen breed, have you read the sequel Ogen van tijgers?
We lived for more than 25 years in Rotterdam, before we went to Lelystad. My husband was born there, so we will always be Rotterdammers at heart, and Feyenoord fans :-)

>242 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, I am excited too :-)
Must be difficult to have family so far away when you are close. I would prefer living with one other person, instead of a residence with many people. How many years before his fisnishes his study?

>243 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, the same to you.

>244 kidzdoc: Good afternoon Darryl!
The weekend was filled with excellent reading, today I read the last pages of Life and Fate. It was a difficult, but very moving 5* read for me. My review will follow soon.

>245 scaifea: Thanks, Amber, happy Monday to you!

book 128: Leven en lot by Vasily Grossman
from the libray, translated from Russian, English translation Life and Fate, 959 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book whose title begins with the letters of APRILGRAP (Aprils fool in Dutch) in rolling fashion

Vasili Grossman was a renowed writer and journalist in the USSR. In World War II he covered major events, including the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Berlin. He was one of the first who wrote about the German extermination camps, as he was there when Treblinka was liberated.
When Khrushchev spoke openly about the Stalin terror in 1961, Grossman thought the time for his magnum opus "Life and Fate" had come. He was devastated when the manuscript (and all copies) was taken by the KGB. Fortunately for us, he did hide two copies at friends, one was smuggled out of the USSR and first published in Switserland in 1980, 16 years after Grossman died.

The story takes place around the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943), following the Shaposhnikova family and some their friends. Grossman paints a wide and very vivid portrait of Sovjet (and some German) citizens in World War II.
Most gripping were the last letter of a Jewish mother to her son, she writes from the German occupied Ukrain and will be killed (with 1.5 milion other Jews...) soon after writing this letter; the voyage of a Russian Jewish woman by freight train to the gaz chamber in Auschwitz; and the downfall of a loyal communist, victim of Stalins brutal reign.
All characters are very human, with human flaws, making mistakes, that sometimes are held harsh against them. Everyone tries to survive in his own tiny way, some do survive, others are crushed in the war, in the camps, in Stalinism...

I was blown away by this epic story. It is no easy read, both the content and the many characters can be overwhelming at times. I learned a lot, not only about Stalingrad and its significance in WW II, but also about Stalin, the great purge of 1937 and the early days of the USSR.
With a lot of footnotes and over 200 characters, I found it handy to keep two extra bookmarks at the footnotes and the list of character at the end of the book.

Hi Anita! Your thread is on fire! And look at all the books since I last visited. Whew! I starred your travel thread so I can read all about the meet-ups and check out the photos (which you will take, right?!). Hope your parents continue to do better.

Excellent review of Life and Fate - only I can't give it a thumbs-up because it's not on the book's page! Are your reviews only on your threads?

>247 FAMeulstee: Excellent review indeed.
The book sounds like a must-read, another book bullet for me.

>I have read Ogen van tijgers but liked it less. Torenhoog en Mijlenbreed I read when I was 12. just the right age, maybe?

I came to live in Amsterdam when I was 18, and loved it from day 1. But now I sometimes think I would like a bit more green stuff around me.

Happy Tuesday, Anita. We are on a field trip to the zoo today.

>248 Berly: Thanks Kim, pictures only if I don't forget to take my photo camera to London ;-)
I am not sure yeat if I take my laptop, we try to take only hand luggage, wich would reduce waiting time. If the laptop stays home, I will report when I am back.

>249 countrylife: Thanks Cindy, I rarely put my reviews on the book pages. Only if there are no (Dutch) reviews for that book.

>250 EllaTim: Thanks Els, it was a great read.
I liked Torenhoog en mijlenbreed better too, but was just wondering if you knew the other.
I came to Rotterdam at 19, loved it. But due to mental health problems I couldn't cope with the city anymore. When we stayed a few nights with friends who lived in Lelystad, I felt much better. It took a while to convince my husband, but a year later we moved to Lelystad and my mental health has improved a lot in the past 11 years. Even so much that I can enjoy a short stay in Rotterdam again.

>251 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, have fun at the zoo!

Happy Tuesday, Anita! Good review of Life and Fate. But nearly a thousand pages? Yikes!

>253 msf59: Thanks Mark, I think the English translation is only nearly 900 pages ;-)

book 129: Het geheim van de grot by Aidan Chambers
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1985, original title Seal secret, 100 pages

William isn't happy. His parents took him on vacation to a house in Wales, instead of the usual stay at the coast in a caravan. He is missing his holiday friends, he is missing the fun at the beach, and there seems nothing interesting at this place or miles around. He meets a local boy, named Gwyn, but their first encounter isn't very promishing. The Gwyn tells William a secret...

book 130: Tirannen by Aidan Chambers
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1986, original title The present takers, 141 pages

Suddenly Lucy became the victim of three bullies at school. Of course she had seen that the three girls bullied others, but she never thought they would take on her. Angus tries to help her, but she doesn't want help, she wants that the bullies stop harassing! The teachers seem to ignore it and when she tells her parents, her mother makes it all worse...