Anita (FAMeulstee) reads on in 2017 (6)

The most notable statue in my city (Lelystad) is De zuil van Lely (= "Lely's pillar") a pillar of 30 meters high by Hans van Houwelingen, with a copy of the statue of Cornelis Lely by Mari Andriessen.
Located at the centre place of Lelystad, beause of the hight you can see it from far.

Left the pillar in Lelystad, right the original statue of Cornelis Lely, located at the Afsluitdijk.
 

Reading plans in 2017

I have a large collection of mostly awarded childrens & YA books. At the moment I am reading the books I haven't read since joining LT, 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 727 books (on 30 April: 76 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 mostly from our Russian Library editions.

total books read in 2017: 174
own 115 / 59 library

total pages read in 2017: 43.485
--

Books read in May 2017 (38 books, 10.225 pages)
book 174: Problemski Hotel by Dimitri Verhulst, TIOLI #11, 110 pages, , msg 242
book 173: Frank, of hoe je vrienden vindt by Klaus Kordon, 384 pages, , msg 238
book 172: En de zwakken ondergaan wat ze moeten ondergaan? (And the Weak Suffer What They Must?) by Yanis Varoufakis, 350 pages, , msg 235
book 171: The Chessmen by Peter May, 400 pages, , msg 233
book 170: Nacht (Dancing in the Dark; My struggle 4) by Karl Ove Knausgård, 477 pages, , msg 227
book 169: Kaas (Cheese) by Willem Elsschot, 69 pages, , msg 215
book 168: Alles op één kaart (Seventeen Against the Dealer) by Cynthia Voigt, 220 pages, , msg 207
book 167: De verloren vader (Sons from Afar) by Cynthia Voigt, 272 pages, , msg 207
book 166: Flame, de hengst van het eiland Azul (The Island Stallion) by Walter Farley, 190 pages, , msg 206
book 165: Wilhemina Smits (Come a stranger) by Cynthia Voigt, 234 pages, , msg 207
book 164: The Lewis Man by Peter May, 448 pages, , msg 205
book 163: De hardloper (The Runner) by Cynthia Voigt, 211 pages, , msg 207
book 162: Het verhaal van Dicey (Dicey's Song) by Cynthia Voigt, 238 pages, , msg 177
book 161: Samen onder dak (2nd part of Homecoming) by Cynthia Voigt, 200 pages, , msg 177
book 160: Onder de blote hemel (1st part of Homecoming) by Cynthia Voigt, 216 pages, , msg 177
book 159: Niemand anders dan ik (A Solitary Blue) by Cynthia Voigt, TIOLI #1, 222 pages, , msg 171
book 158: Het Midden Oosten (The Middle East) by Bernard Lewis, TIOLI #10, 422 pages, , msg 168
book 157: De Rode Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel) by Barones Emma Orczy, TIOLI #7, 205 pages, , msg 162
book 156: Toen de wereld nog jong was Jürg Schubiger, 90 pages, , msg 158
book 155: Cybele's geheim (Cybele's Secret) by Juliet Marillier, 350 pages, , msg 152
book 154: Bijna jarig by Imme Dros, TIOLI #16, 32 pages, , msg 136
book 153: Dwaalsporen (Sidetracked) by Henning Mankell, 539 pages, , msg 130
book 152: De jongen met de gele ogen (The Haunting) by Margaret Mahy, TIOLI #13, 120 pages, , msg 128
book 151: De trimbaan by Imme Dros, TIOLI #17, 121 pages, , msg 125
book 150: Overvloed en onbehagen (The Embarrassment of Riches) by Simon Schama, 682 pages, , msg 124
book 149: Het laatste bevel by Peter Aspe, TIOLI #12, 308 pages, , msg 117
book 148: Na het baden bij Baxter en de ontluizing bij Miss Grace by J.M.H. Berckmans, TIOLI #15, 160 pages, , msg 115
book 147: Die stad komt nooit af by J.A. Deelder, TIOLI #14, 128 pages, , msg 106
book 146: De vertrapte pioenroos by Bertus Aafjes, TIOLI #7, 168 pages, , msg 105
book 145: Oorlog op Kreta '41-'44 (The Ariadne Objective) by Wes Davis, TIOLI #1, 291 pages, , msg 104
book 144: De tolbrug (The Toll Bridge) by Aidan Chambers, TIOLI #8, 256 pages, , msg 100
book 143: Orkaan en Mayra by Sonia Garmers, TIOLI #3, 116 pages, , msg 99
book 142: Het jaar dat de zigeuners kwamen (The Year the Gypsies Came) by Linzi Glass, TIOLI #5, 287 pages, , msg 95
book 141: two editions of De Blauwe Boekanier by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #2, 64 and 96 pages , , msg 94
book 140: Djingo Django (Jingo Django) by Sid Fleischman, TIOLI #4, 167 pages, , msg 93
book 139: Een huis met een poort en een park by Henri van Daele, TIOLI #11, 239 pages, , msg 80
book 138: De ontdekking van de hemel (The Discovery of Heaven) by Harry Mulisch, TIOLI #6, 905 pages, , msg 71
book 137: De vuurtoren by Jan & Sanne Terlouw, TIOLI #9, 238 pages, , msg 59

Books read in April 2017 (36 books, 7.825 pages)
book 136: Koude berg : onthechting als weg by Han Shan, 245 pages, , msg 50
book 135: De stad van goud (The city of gold) by Peter Dickinson, TIOLI #5, 216 pages, , msg 47
book 134: Een stinkdier is een prachtig beest by Daniil Charms, 39 pages, , msg 40
book 133: Wildewoud (Wildwood Dancing) by Juliet Marillier, TIOLI #20, 302 pages, , msg 38
book 132: ... en de zon werd koud by Jean Coué, 125 pages, , msg 29
book 131: Just kids by Patti Smith, TIOLI #3, 349 pages, , msg 28
book 130: Tirannen (The present takers) by Aidan Chambers, 141 pages,
book 129: Het geheim van de grot (Seal secret) by Aidan Chambers, 100 pages,
book 128: Leven en lot (Life and Fate) by Vasily Grossman, 959 pages,
book 127: De rode kous (Offbeat Friends) by Elfie Donnelly, TIOLI #12, 118 pages,
book 126: Fantoom in Foe-lai (The Chinese Gold Murders) by Robert van Gulik, TIOLI #7, 185 pages,
book 125: Aurelio en de wilde hengst (Stallion of the sands) by Helen Griffiths, TIOLI #19, 164 pages,
book 124: Dichtbij ver van hier by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #14, 34 pages,
book 123: De plaats van de ster (La Place de l'Étoile) by Patrick Modiano, TIOLI #14, 155 pages,
book 122: Je moet dansen op mijn graf (Dance on my grave) by Aidan Chambers, TIOLI #17, 239 pages,
book 121: Tot aan het bittere eind by Werner J. Egli, TIOLI #22, 133 pages,
book 120: M-train (M Train) by Patti Smith, TIOLI #3, 254 pages,
book 119: De weg naar Little Dribbling (The Road to Little Dribbling) by Bill Bryson, TIOLI #12, 348 pages,
book 118: Begin een torentje van niks by Ted van Lieshout, TIOLI #15, 30 pages,
book 117: Dan ben je nergens meer by Miep Diekman, TIOLI #9, 160 pages,
book 116: Tobbe by Mikael Engström, TIOLI #16, 260 pages,
book 115: De robot van de rommelmarkt ; Route Z by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #2, 74 pages,
book 114: Federico (Federico) by Helen Griffiths, TIOLI #7, 124 pages,
book 113: Jij zegt het by Connie Palmen, TIOLI #21, 268 pages,
book 112: Het einde van de rode mens (Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets) by Svetlana Alexijevitsj, TIOLI #8, 478 pages,
book 111: Het spookklooster (The haunted monastery) by Robert van Gulik, 181 pages,
book 110: Matilda (Matilda) by Roald Dahl, TIOLI #3, 220 pages,
book 109: Abels eiland (Abel's island) by William Steig, TIOLI #12, 113 pages,
book 108: Een grapje van God (A jest of God) by Margaret Laurence, TIOLI #5, 218 pages,
book 107: Lieveling, boterbloem by Margriet Heymans, TIOLI #6, 40 pages,
book 106: Een heel lief konijn by Imme Dros, TIOLI #1, 63 pages,
book 105: De poorten van Anubis (The Anubis Gates) by Tim Powers, TIOLI #10, 447 pages,
book 104: Boris (The ice road) by Jaap ter Haar, TIOLI #11, 158 pages,
book 103: De levende doden (Barefoot Gen, Vol. 2: The Day After) by Keiji Nakazawa, TIOLI #18, 261 pages,
book 102: De boten van Brakkeput (The haunted island) by Miep Diekmann, TIOLI #4, 156 pages,
book 101: Oorlog en terpentijn (War and turpentine) by Stefan Hertmans, TIOLI #20, 334 pages,
book 100: De Cock en de dood van een profeet (De Cock 39) by A.C. Baantjer, TIOLI #13, 134 pages,

Books read in March 2017 (32 books, 7.901 pages)
book 99: De Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, 287 pages,
book 98: De laatste wildernis by Robert Macfarlane, 351 pages,
book 97: Klokken van Kao-yang (Judge Dee 3) by Robert van Gulik, 239 pages,
book 96: Het zwaard van de Islam by Peter Carter, 252 pages,
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: 19

May 2017
Ravenzwart Shetland book 1 by Ann Cleeves, e-book
Witte nachten Shetland book 2 by Ann Cleeves, e-book
Blauw licht Shetland book 4 by Ann Cleeves, e-book
Mijn naam is Bud by Christopher Paul Curtis

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: 42

Reading plans in May 2017

all done

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 39/70

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 6/12
prequel De jonge Wallander; 1 Moordenaar zonder gezicht; 2 Honden van Riga; 3 De witte leeuwin; 4 De man die glimlachte; 5 Dwaalsporen
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
5 Schrijver (e-book, library); 6 Vrouw (e-book, library)

Nic Costa by David Hewson 10/10

Rechter Tie by Robert van Gulik 4/18
1 De vergiftigde bruid; 3 Klokken van Kao-yang; 4 Fantoom in Foe-Lai; 10 Het spookklooster
2 Labyrinth in Lan-Fang; 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 5/6
1 De charmeur; 2 Venijn; 3 De apotheker; 4 De blauwe tweeling; 5 Vuurtoren
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

Mine!!! Happy new thread. : )

happy new thread, Anita, dear. xx

Happy new thread. I have been following your reads and looked up a good number but so many of them are not available on Kindle (or often at all), sadly.

>10 Berly: First in, Kim, nice to see you :-)

>11 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>12 sirfurboy: Thanks, sorry you can't find the books I recommended.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Congrats on your shiny new thread, Anita. Impressive topper.
Gosh the rain turned to snow and everything is white here.
Happy Wednesday.

Happy New Thread, Anita!

A statue of an engineer and statesman. How great to see that, in our times of Marching for Science.

Checking in on the new thread, Anita!

Happy New Thread Anita :)
What an impressive pillar! Lely seems a bit lost, but he sure has a great view from up there!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new one, Anita.

>14 scaifea: Thanks Amber!

>15 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley!

>16 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, it isn't so bad here, rain is gone, but still chilly outside.

>17 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, he made the plan put a dam into the Zuiderzee (a sea), so it became a lake. In this lake our province was created.

>18 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia!

>19 Deern: Thanks Nathalie. I always feel it is a bit over the top, gladly the original statue is closer to the ground ;-)

>20 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry!

>21 DianaNL: Thanks Diana!

Happy new thread Anita.

It's getting quite impressive, your list of books read. And good luck with De ontdekking van de hemel!

I'm sorry for Lelystad, but I do prefer the statue at the afsluitdijk. He seems much more at home there, near the water and the winds.

>24 EllaTim: Thanks Els, I wanted to read De ontdekking van de hemel and one of the TIOLI challenges for May is to read a book with more than 900 pages...
You are right, it is good it is just a copy of the statue way up there ;-)

Happy new thread Anita my dear.

>26 johnsimpson: Thanks John.

book 131: Just kids Patti Smith
from the library, e-book, non-fiction, translated, original title Just Kids, 349 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 writes about the 20 years she was friends with Robert Mapplethorpe. They met in New York in the 60s, both searching their paths in life. At first they struggle to survive in the city, sharing their appartment, work space and friends. Eventually Robert becomes an artist an photographer and Patti a poet and singer. They grow apart, but keep their friendship through the years, until Robert dies from AIDS.

I liked this book better than M train, as it was more an on going story, written out of love and respect for Mapplethorpe.

book 132: ... en de zon werd koud by Jean Coué
own, translated French, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1980, no English translation, 125 pages

Marie-Lou looks back on her life. She lived in an orphanage until she was 14, then she went to Mamma Laïde, who came from the same orphanage. One day she meets Mouloud, an Algerian boy. They fall in love, are the sun in eachothers life. Marie-Lou gets pregnant, they marry and their son Gérard is born. Mouloud wants to give them a better life and robs a bank, kills a bank employee and is sentenced to death...

A gripping story of love and discrimination, as Mouhoud can't find a good job because he is Algerian, is traumatised by the brutal murder of this family by Frenach soldiers, and is scentenced to death because he is Algerian. We read the story through Marie-Lou's eyes, at the day Moumoud is killed, she rememebers all the good times they had together, and what she could have done to prevent what has happened.

>28 FAMeulstee: I gave this book, and M Train 5-stars! Loved them both :)
Patti Smith way playing in Sydney last week (or the week before) and even though I probably wouldn't have gone overseas to see her, I would have loved to have seen it as apparently she played the whole Horses album. Wow.

>30 LovingLit: I do love some of Patti Smiths songs, Megan, she played the whole "Horses" album last year in Utrecht. I was tempted, but didn't go.

Happy New Thread, Anita! Sweet Thursday. And hooray for Just Kids! I loved that memoir.

Thanks Mark, it is a special holiday today: Kings Day.
Most people are out somewhere at the free-markets or other activities, I spend the day on LT and reading :-)

Happy new thread and Happy Kings Day, Anita!

Reading and LT are a wonderful way to spend the day.

A long time since I visited. I've enjoyed all the books by Aidan Chambers that I've read.

You mentioned on my thread about reading Tirza, I'm hopeful on getting to it in May, just looking for a slot in the TIOLI challenge.

Happy new thread, Anita! I particularly liked your review of Life and Fate from your old thread. I'd like to read it, but I suspect that it will be quite a while before I do so.

>34 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, it was a very good day. I just finished diner and in an hour Frank leaves for work. So there will be more reading this evening :-)

>35 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry, I own one more that I will read in may The Toll Bridge. I think that is a re-read, but I am not sure.
If you can't find a TIOLI challenge for Tirza, you can create a challenge where it fits ;-)

>36 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, Life and Fate is an incredible book, I hope you get to it someday...

book 133: Wildewoud by Juliet Marillier
found on Ambers thread (scaifea), from the library, translated, fantasy, original title Wildwood Dancing, 302 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #20: Read a book that almost qualified for another challenge this month. Almost #16 One-Word title that is unusual, this is a usual one word title.

Juliet Marillier is at her best with this fantasy story with interwoven fairy tales.
Five sisters, a frog, a portal to the other kingdom, fairies, a witch... With these ingredients a wonderfull story is written, that I couldn't put down until I had finished it.

Thank you Amber for recommending this book to me! It is as good as Daughter of the Forest, that I read last year.

>38 FAMeulstee: I'm *so* glad that you enjoyed it!!

book 134: Een stinkdier is een prachtig beest by Daniil Charms
own, translated Russian, poetry, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 2000, no English translation, 39 pages

Poetry for children, a collection from Daniil Charms works, choosen by the translator.
Some poetic poems, some funny poems, all with fitting illustrations by Gerda Dendooven.

Lovely new thread, Anita!!

Happy new thread, Anita. You have read an amazing number of books!

Happy Saturday, Anita.

Happy weekend, Anita!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend, Anita!

>41 ronincats: Thanks Roni!

>42 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg, I barely can believe it myself ;-)

>43 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, happy weekend to you.

>44 scaifea: Thanks Amber, the same to you!

>45 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia, the weather is good, sunny and not too warm. Did some work in the garden & some reading, so all is good here!

book 135: De stad van goud by Peter Dickinson
own, translated English, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1988, original title The city of gold, 216 pages
April TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book that has much to do with religion

Some stories from the Old Testament retold.
Every story is told by someone else to some others, like old oral traditions. Starting with Adam and Eve, ending with the destruction of Jerusalem.

Happy new thread!

>48 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda!

book 136: Koude berg : onthechting als weg by Han Shan
own, translated Chinese, poetry, 245 pages

Last year Joe (jnwelch) read an other collection of Han Shan poetry The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain and wrote a wonderful review. So I bought a Dutch translation.
I started to read this edition in January, it contains 225 poems, so I read a few nearly every day.
The poems tell about Buddhism, his lonely place at the mountain, the greed and unwillingness of most people to live a good life and the ones who find their way in modesty and spirituality.
A lot to think about, still true in modern times.

April 2017 stats

37 books read (7.825 pages)

22/15 own/library
9/28 Dutch/translated
33/4 fiction/non-fiction

21 childrens/YA
4 e-books
31 TIOLI books

--

First 4 months of 2017 stats:

136 books read (33.260 pages)

87/49 own/library
53/83 Dutch/translated
116/20 fiction/non-fiction

73 childrens/YA
16 e-books
99 TIOLI books

Hi Anita! Fantastic stats. Congratulations on such a good reading year so far.

>52 karenmarie: Thanks Karen.
My reading spurt started in July last year, so it is great reading for almost a year :-)

Great stats Anita, more than my yearly totals are going to be, lol.

Happy New Thread, Anita. So many fabulous books that you've read!

>54 johnsimpson: Thanks John, probably ;-)
Happy start of the week to you and Karen.

>55 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah. I am lucky, not only many books read, also many GOOD books!

Happy May, Anita. Hope you had a good weekend.

Hello Anita. No chance I can catch up with everything but I hope you are doing well currently.

book 137: De vuurtoren by Jan & Sanne Terlouw
from the library, e-book, Dutch, mystery, 5th book of Reders & Reders, no translations, 238 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book where the first word on p40 starts with a capital letter

The fifth book with Job Reders and his daughter Leonie, who solve mysteries.
Leonie gets married, then her husband, Lars, disappears. Everyone who might know something gets killed...

No their best one, but still a decent read.

>57 msf59: Thanks Mark, yes we had a good weekend. Frank had an extra work night last night, he usually works Tuesday & Wednesday nights.

>58 lunacat: Thanks Jenny, I don't expect you to catch up on all ;-)
A bit nervous, tomorrow Ari has to go to the vet for cleaning his teeth. It has been done before and all went well then, but ever since we lost Eoos after her spay I am more nervous about anesthetics...

>60 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, I can imagine you being nervous. It isn't easier with our small critters, we worry just as much, or even more.
So wishing him and you the best.

Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Thread, Anita? I also want to throw in a stunned "Good Lord!" for your 36 reads in one month. You're amazing!

>61 EllaTim: Thanks Els, presumably all will be well tomorrow... I will be glad when Ari is home again tomorrow afternoon.

>62 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer, it is never too late!
Last year in November I read 51 books, don't think I will ever be able to better that ;-)

Ari is back home, only missing two more back teeth (last time all his front teeth were pulled).

Meanwhile I am reading two very long books, I am halfway The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture In the Golden Age (682 pages) and at 2/3 The Discovery of Heaven (905 pages).

I'm glad Ari is back home, Anita. How old is he?

And two chunksters! Good for you.

It's always such a worry when our fur kids are having procedures done. Glad to hear he's home and well. Sounds like the tooth fairy will be leaving him a treat! 🙂

>65 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, in nine days Ari will be 7 years old.
I hope to finish one of them tomorrow.

>66 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne, yes we worry, especially after loosing Eoos 6 years ago after her spay. She got anaphylaxis, most likely from aniti-biotics... She was only a few days from her 2nd birthday. So we all, including the vet (the same), were nervous and very glad when all went well.
Ari got some extra goodies :-)

I'm glad that Ari is home and only lost two more teeth. Hopefully he isn't feeling too sore after the procedure. I'm sure he will appreciate the extra TLC and treats though!

Glad it went well at the vet, and Ari is home safe.

Are you enjoying the very long Mulisch? I would like to read more of his work.

>68 lunacat: Thanks Jenny, he got painkillers for today and the next two days if needed. He eats like he always does, and the extra's are appriciated. So Ari is back to his old self, we are nearly back there ;-)

>69 charl08: Thanks Charlotte.
I just finished The discovery of heaven and LOVED it, review will follow shorly.

book 138: De ontdekking van de hemel by Harry Mulisch
own, Dutch, awarded, Multatuliprijs 1993, English translation The discovery of heaven, 905 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #6 Read a mega chunkster of at least 900 pages, cite the number of pages

This book is about two friends, Onno and Max. Max is an astronomer (with many characterisics of the writer), Onno is philologist (Dutch readers recognise Mulisch friend Jan Hein Donner in ths character). In the 1960s they both have a relationship with Ada, a cellist. Onno marries Ada and their son (or is it Max son?), named Quinten, has to fullfill a devine mission later in life.
Apart from the basic story, the book is full of science, language, religion, art, music, architecture, (Dutch) politics, (Dutch) history, and much more. All written fluently and a joy to read.

>71 FAMeulstee: Sounds fascinating. I'll see if it's available here, and add it to the wishlist. Do you think much was autobiographical, or did he never say?

>72 charl08: Some is autobiographical, not all as it is a novel. Max parents are similair to Mulisch parents (German father, Jewish mother). I think Mulisch did put a bit of himself in al his novels.
The politicans in the novel were easy to recognise for me.

Hi Anita. Happy to hear Ari is back home and OK. And can still eat a treat:)

>71 FAMeulstee: I've never read De ontdekking van de hemel, but glad that you liked it. You are making me curious, but the number of pages is keeping my curiosity in check:)

Glad Ari is doing well, still master of all he surveys!

Oh, hugs to you and Ari over the teeth procedure. I'm always anxious too. When Poppy was spayed, I called the vet's at least once during the procedure to make sure she was alright! :) I even checked into what the drugs they used for anesthesia and made sure that they had an oxygen monitor and heart monitor as well as an IV in her , to make sure everything was a safe as possible . She will need a scaling in the next year or so. Poppy is 3 1/2 and so far the vet says her teeth look fine. Cross my fingers. I hope Ari is feeling better. Healing gums are tender! I'm glad he has pain killers and he is eating well.

>74 EllaTim: Thanks Els, Ari loves his treats :-)
It is a long book, but not very difficult to read. I will probably read it again in a few years.

>75 ronincats: Thanks Roni, a master with shiny white teeth ;-)

>76 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, Ari always had bad teeth. He lost one of his front teeth when he was three years old and all other front teeth when he was at the vet for cleaning his teeth the first time. Sadly many Pekingese have problems with their teeth.
But in the end all what matters is that, with or without teeth, he has no problems eating and is a happy doggy :-)

You are reading up a storm, as always! I have been off fiction lately, after Ravelstein fell flat for me I have stuck to non fiction for the last while. I need a good gripping novel!

>78 LovingLit: Thanks Megan, looking at your library here at LT you might try A whole life by Seethaler or The assault by Mulisch to get back into fiction.

book 139: Een huis met een poort en een park by Henri van Daele
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1989, no translations, 239 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #11 "This Must be the Place": Read a book whose title refers to a place or a location

Henri, nine years old, is placed temporarely in a childrens home. At first it isn't easy to be in a strange place with other boys and girls. When he gets to spend two weeks back home, he doesn't feel at home either.

Autobiographic story about his youth in the 1950s in Flandres, near Ghent.

Just catching up after a long tax season! I didn't realize you were a Flavia de Luce fan as well. I've read them all and am patiently waiting and watching for the next. That's the worst part of reading a series, I think, especially when the author is a little older. By the time the new book comes out, I've almost forgotten what happened in the last one. I'm a big fan of Martha Grimes Richard Jury series, but she hasn't had a new one in several years, and I think the last one is probably just that - the last one.

>81 rretzler: Thanks Robin, the 4th of May is a special day here in the Netherlands, as we have Remembrance Day. With 2 minutes of silence at 20:00 hour we remember all victims of war since the start of WW II.
Tomorrow we celebrate Liberation Day, the day WW II ended for our country. This day has evolved into a day to celebrate freedom in every possible way.

>82 rretzler: It can be worse, Robin, not just waiting for the next book, but also waiting if there is going to be a translation. With the Gamache books by Louise Penny the first two were translated and then book 8 and 9... The last three Flavia de Luce books aren't translated yet either.

Hi Anita, hope all is well with you and Frank my dear, hope you have had a good week so far and send love and hugs to you both dear friend.

>83 FAMeulstee: That's wonderful that you have 2 minutes of silence. In the US, we have Memorial Day the last Monday in May and also Veteran's Day in November. Unfortunately, other than the day being designated a holiday, there is no official remembrance. Some communities have organized events, but it would be great if there could be something nationally like a moment of silence. Most people treat Memorial Day as a long weekend/start to the summer and Veteran's Day as just a day off of work - those days have lost their meaning for many, unfortunately.

Ah, yes. I think I would go crazy if I had to wait for the translations too! I've been reading a couple of series by Elly Griffiths recently - the Ruth Galloway series and the Magic Men series. The Ruth Galloway is fairly available, but I've had to find ways to import the Magic Men from the UK as they aren't in print here yet. Having to wait for translations would not be fun.

>71 FAMeulstee: Into the BlackHole it goes!

>84 johnsimpson: Thanks John, all is well in Lelystad.

>85 rretzler: Most people keep the silence, Robin, although there are always some who ignore it. When we were younger we did forget about it once ar twice. Until the late 1960s even all public transportation stood still for those two minutes.
The things we do to get our books ;-)

>86 alcottacre: I hope it doesn't stay there, Stasia ;-)

Wednesday Frank and I visited my mother in the nursing home. She is still angry when my father, who visits her every day, wants to leave. Some days are better, some days are worse. According to the staff she is doing fine when my father is not around. Because we were there, my father left a little before us, so the drama was avoided for that day.
My mother is admitted to the nursing home temporary, for three months, that is until 7 July. I think it would be better if she stayed there, as my father does much better only taking care of himself. But it is difficult for him to decide, as he misses her too.

My brother called last night, turned out he had an extra VIP ticket for Feyenoord next Sunday. Not the game itself, but in the Kuip (their home stadium) to see the game on giant screens. If they win they become Dutch Champion this season, so many fans will be there to watch the game together. And have a party if the game is won. So Frank will be there next Sunday :-)

Hi Anita! I'm glad you dodged a 'drama' bullet on Wednesday. The stress and strain of family issues can be so upsetting. I've got a bit going on and it colors everything, unfortunately.

Glad Ari is doing well and congrats as always on the books read.

Happy Friday, Anita.

Ah, families. It's so difficult when people can't cope on their own. Of course he misses her, but her anger must be making a tricky situation even worse. What a pity that she is more distressed when he is there. It's so hard to know what the right thing to do is.

>89 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, I was happy to help my father. Sunday will be spend with the nice part of my family: my brother, his wife and their two children. I hope it will help to brighten everyting.

>90 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, are you going to the Schwartzwald tomorrow?

>91 lunacat: She is mostly happy when my father is there, Jenny, although she can be very nasty to him. But that has always been the way she treated him. It is when he leaves the drama occurs.
The problem is you never KNOW for sure what the right thing is...

book 140: Djingo Django by Sid Fleischman
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1975, original title Jingo Django, 167 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #4 Read a book with 2 or more title words which all begin with the same letter

Mid 19th century USA, Djingo lives in an orphanage, but one day he is sold as chimney sweep. His boss is a nasty man, so he runs away ending up in many adventures.

A nice and fun adventure story, with good guys with a twist and evil ones. Django learns a lot about the world and about himself.

 
book 141: De Blauwe Boekanier by Tonke Dragt
own, Dutch, YA, historical fiction/fantasy, Kinderboekenweekgeschenk 1964, no translations, 64 & 96 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #2 Read a book with a title that mentions or describes the main character

I own two editions of this book, the cover on the left is the original published in 1964 as free book in the Week of Childrens Books. The cover on the right is an expanded edition, published in 1985. I must have read the first edition numerous times in my youth, that copy completely fell apart. Later I got my own copy, in better condition. This time I have read them both.

In English the title would be "The Blue Buccaneer".
The Blue Buccaneer is a pirate captain, who writes poems, puts them in a bottle and throws the bottles into the sea. He also stole the ship of Joris' uncle. Joris signs up as cabin boy to find his uncle's stolen ship and The Blue Buccaneer. He does find them, but he now owes his life to The Blue Buccaneer...

Still a good read, in both versions

book 142: Het jaar dat de zigeuners kwamen by Linzi Glass
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Zoen 2008, original title The Year the Gypsies Came, 287 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #5 Read a book whose title starts with the letters MAYFLOWER in rolling fashion

Set in South-Africa the 1960s, Apartheid times. Emily is a white 12 year old girl, living with her parents and her 15 year old sister and some black servants in Johannesburg. Her parents don't go along, only when there are visitors they behave a bit. Emily's main comfort comes from the old black Zulu, who is nightwatch at their place. He tells her ancient Zulu tales.
One day an Australian family camps in the woods nearby, Emily's father invites them to stay at their place. The father of this family is a photographer of wildlife and has two sons. The sons have never been to school, as their parents are always on the way to the next place to take photo's. One of the sons is brain damaged, Emily's sister reaches out to him. This is the start of a chain of events that will change forever the lives of the people left behind.

A surpising wonderfull read. I didn't expect to be so completely drawn into this story.
Recommended, the story as a whole is a positive one, but be warned there are some disturbing scenesincluding rape and mistreatment of black people.

Wow it was four days ago that I visited here Anita and you've read five books in that time! I thought it was myself that never slept.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear lady.

I'm too far behind to catch up, but I wanted to stop by and wish you a good weekend!

>96 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I just finished one more... And luckely no insomnia, I sleep 7 or 8 hours every night ;-)
Weekend will be wonderfull, maybe Feyenoord will be Champion tomorrow (or else next week).

>97 tymfos: Thanks Terri, good to see you around.

book 143: Orkaan en Mayra by Sonia Garmers
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Nienke van Hichtum prijs 1981, no translations, 116 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #3 Read a book with a title that might convey some kind of warning as does the word “Mayday”

Mario Melands, lives on Curaçao, his friends call him "Orkaan" (=Hurricane). He loves to hang out at his uncle Chitu's place, where his niece Mayra works. Mayra wants to be a carpenter, like her father. Chitu sends his daughter to The Netherlands, to complete her education. He didn't tell her he is dying. Mario and a neighbor take care of Chitu in his last months.

A good story, with lots of topics included, like discrimination, emancipation, growing up, death and mourning. But it never becomes heavy or dull. I had a good time reading this book.

book 144: De tolbrug by Aidan Chambers
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1994, original title The Toll Bridge, 256 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #8 Read a book where the author's name is also a (common) word

To escape the pressures of parents, school and a possessive girlfriend, a depressed seventeen year old boy takes a job as a keeper of a toll bridge. There he meets Tess, the daughter of his boss. She gives him the nickname Jan, after Janus the two faced god. One day Adam shows up and refuses to leave. Jan knows there is something wrong with Adam, allthough he can't figure out what the problem is. Tess is attracted to both Adam and Jan.

An intriguing read. Most of the book is written trough the eyes of Jan, with a few parts written by Tess. They write to deal with all that happend.

Hi Anita! I'm finally getting around a few threads today. I'm sorry to hear about family dramas (don't we all have those, from time to time?) and happy to hear Ari is doing well even without the two back teeth. Our Jasper is now 8 months old; he looks almost fully grown but still behaves like a puppy.

I may drop by sometime to ask you about Dutch books; I've managed to catalogue all the fiction books for the bilingual library I volunteer at, but I don't know Dutch - I have to get by with what little I remember of my German from school.

I hope you've been having a wonderful weekend, Anita!

>101 humouress: Thanks Nina, probably we all get our part of family drama, not sure if they are equaly distributed ;-)
How is Jasper doing, besides acting like a puppy, is he in the "it looks like he is all legs" stage, when they are grown in height, but not yet in width?
I would be glad to help, so don't hesistate asking. Be careful German and Dutch have some similair words with completely other meaning.

>102 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry, we had an unexpected gathering with the nice half of my family. It was fun!

book 145: Oorlog op Kreta '41-'44 by Wes Davis
from the library, e-book, translated, non-fiction, original title The Ariadne Objective, 291 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #1 Read a book which has on page 113 a mode of transportation used by people

This book draw my attention when I was browsing the e-library, as one of the main characters is Patrick Leigh Fermor, who's travel books I read last year.

De book starts with a summary of Patrick Leigh Fermors European travels in the 1930s. When WW II started he returned to England and was recruted for the SOE (Special Operations Executive). For their missions on Nazi occupied Crete, they recruted men who knew Old-Greek, as they would easyer learn new Greek to communicate with the locals. Before they were send to Crete, they were trained in intelligence gathering, espionage and clandestine warfare. Then dropped into Crete from the air or by boat, they tried to do harm to the German troops, together with the local resistance.

book 146: De vertrapte pioenroos by Bertus Aafjes
own, Dutch, mystery, Judge Ooka, no translations, 168 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #7 Read a book that names a specific plant in the title (no trees)

Alike what Robert van Gulik did with his Judge Dee in China, Bertus Aafjes wrote some books about the 18th century Japanese Judge Ooka.

A fun read, following how Judge Ooka solves some mysteries. Larded with some (famous) haiku's, that help Judge Ooka to see the case clearly.

book 147: Die stad komt nooit af writings by J.A. Deelder, Jan Koonings, Dick Kornet and Bob den Uyl; photos by 9 different photographers
own, Dutch, urban renewal in Rotterdam, no translations, 128 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #14 Read a book that has a cover with big text or a creative typographic style

This book was published to mark 10 years of urban renewal in Rotterdam. Four writers from Rotterdam and 9 photographers show what urban renewal did with the city. The title would translate "That city will never be finished".

Both Jules Deelder and Bob den Uyl can make you laugh with their writings about all that went wrong the last 10 year (and years and years before...) in Rotterdam. Jan Koonings visits the houses of his youth, some are gone and some are renovated. And the 4th writer Dick Kornet does his best to be funny in extremely long sentences, but sadly I think his attempts fail.
The photographers show both the good and bad of large scale urban renewal.

>103 FAMeulstee: Jasper is doing well, thanks - chewing everything in sight, unfortunately, whether it be plastic, stones, people or edible. Fortunately, he's learning to be more gentle with us. He likes to hug, whether with his paws or his jaws. As for the "all legs" phase, he actually looks quite proportional - until we give him a bath and we can see that some of his "bulk" is actually fur (he's a golden retriever). But he's less scrawny than when we first brought him home.

As for the words, I doubt even my German is that good. I learned it at school so many years ago that I've forgotten more than I remember. :0)

>107 humouress: Glad to hear Jasper is learning to be more gentle. Some dogs have to learn that, others like our Ari are natural born gentle. Hair can cover al lot, when Ari gets a bath he is less than half his size ;-)

My French is like that.

Hi Anita, You have been reading a lot in a couple of days. Some good stuff, I like the Bertus Aafjes as well.

Did you see the winner of the Libris price? what do you think, will you be reading it?

>109 EllaTim: I just saw it, I will sure read De tolk van Java someday, but I am not in a hurry. Looking at reviews it will be a difficult read.

>110 FAMeulstee: Yes, that's my impression as well. Not an easy subject at all. It will probably be available in the library sometime, and then I would like to look through it, read a bit, makes deciding to read it easier.

Lot's of reading as usual, Anita! I hope that your week is going well!

>111 EllaTim: At least it was not the usual white man who got the prize. Looking at the past winners only 3 women and 2 non-white men have won since the prize started in 1994.

>112 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, I hope all is well in your part of the world. Hugs to Poppy!

>110 FAMeulstee: Sounds intriguing. I wonder if it will be translated?

book 148: Na het baden bij Baxter en de ontluizing bij Miss Grace by J.M.H. Berckmans
from the library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 160 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book that has a word from the song 'Amazing grace' in the title in rolling fashion

This book was a random pick from the e-library for a TIOLI challenge.
The writer describes his marginal life on the seamy side of Antwerp, where the ring of the doorbell means a bailiff at the door, so his friends ring at least twice... Lost parents, lost life, only to escape in substantial alcohol. Nasty jokes, repulsive descriptions of his corporal decline, but also dark humor and a few beautiful pieces of poetic language.

Living in Rotterdam I have seen men like him, if not you could think this is only fiction. Life at the bottom of society isn't nice, it is harsh and often hopeless. Berckmans suffered his whole life from servere bi-polar disorder and battled drug and alcohol addiction. He died in 2008, only 54 years old. This book was not an easy read, but I am glad I did read it.

>114 charl08: I think it might be translated, Charlotte, now it has won this prize.
It is about our colonial past in Indonesia, how that has consequences for their descendants.

book 149: Het laatste bevel by Peter Aspe
from the library, Dutch, mystery, Pieter Van In book 32, no translations, 308 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #12 Read a book where the action takes place in, on, under or over the Mediterranean Sea

This book was a random pick from the library for a TIOLI challenge.
Book 32 of a police series, Pieter van In is a police officer in Bruges, Belgium. Earlier books are available in English translation.

Pieter Van In, his wife Hannelore Martens and his collegue Guido Versavel are in Southampton. They go aboard on the "Queen Elizabeth", a giantic cruiseship to enjoy a cruise that will take them to Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Alicante, Gibraltar and Lisbon. On the ship they meet a Belgian businessman, Bart Vernieuwe, and his mistress Cleo. When the ship is in Livorno, Bart Vernieuwe is missing in the morning, after a long night with his mistress and Pieter Van In. Reluctantly the captain allows a low profile investigation by Pieter and Guido. Through their contacts back home they find out that Barts FIL died a few months before under suspicious circumstances. Back home they continue their investigations.

A nice mystery, well written, good story, with a somewhat satisfactory ending. I hadn't read any books from this series before, but will add it to mount TBR :-)

Delurking to say Hi!!

Nice review of The Discovery of Heaven, Anita. I loved The Assault, as you know, so I plan to read that book as well.

Happy Wednesday, Anita.

>98 FAMeulstee: Sorry to see Feyenoord very much like my own club Leeds managed to so badly fumble on Sunday. 3-0 loss is a bit of a shocker and the crowd trouble cannot help. Will have my fingers crossed for you against Heracles.

>116 FAMeulstee: Fingers crossed. Have just read what to me was a very Odd book that was translated from Spanish - if that one could be, there is hope for the most diverse, I think!

>118 Berly: Hi Kim!

>119 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, it was a very good read, I hope you'll enjoy it too!

>120 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, Wednesday is almost over, so I wish you a happy Thursday ;-)

>121 PaulCranswick: It was sad, Paul...
They played on the other side of the river against Excelsior (also from Rotterdam). Feyenoord should have won, but the team was completely lost, probably because of the pressure. The Kuip (home stadium of Feyenoord) was sold out to watch the match on big screens. Frank was there with my brother and his family. They weren't happy when they came back.
Now Feyenoord has to win Sundays match, or else Ajax will be champion :-(

>122 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, we need all the help we can get.
There are so many factors involved in translations, I have never been able to see any logic in which book gets translated and which book doesn't... I think winning a prize make chances better.

book 150: Overvloed en onbehagen by Simon Schama
own, non-fiction, translated, history, original title The Embarrassment of Riches, 682 pages

Simon Schama's extensive book about culture in the Dutch Golden Age (17th century). How culture and identity developed onward from the formation of the Dutch Republic (end of 16th century). The 80 year war against Spain was the start of our country, freedom of religion was the main reason for the rebellion, so from religion came the thought of a by God chosen country. But to keep Him satisfied moral highgrounds should be walked. Every disaster was seen as Gods punishment. But along the churches (that never got complete reign over the country) the patricians, who governed the cities, had substancial influence and kept freedom of religion intact.
Schama takes us from war and trade to city government and households, using paintings and woodcuts from the 17th century to illustrate his arguments.

I enjoyed the view of an Englishman on the cultural history of my country. Sometimes too many details, wich makes it difficult to keep the main line in sight. When it was first published in 1988 it was a sensation, but now nearly 30 years later a lot of Schama's views have become mainstream thoughts.

I was pleasantly surprised to see my city (Lelystad) mentioned in the very last chapter. Both the cities of Lelystad and Almere didn't exist in the 17th century and were very new when Schama wrote this book. The land where they are build came dry in the 1960s and both cities are less than 50 years old. Schama saw in Lelystad and Almere the continuation of a diverse culture founded in the Dutch Golden Age.

book 151: De trimbaan by Imme Dros
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1988, no English translation, 121 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book that has tags of "racism" or "feminism" or could

Filip grows up in a nice family. Sometimes he has some problems with his older brother, but nothing problematic. When he takes his first girlfriend Diana, a girl from Suriname, home on his birthday, he gets a lot of racist comments from his grandma and aunts. When he meets Rogier, Diana's cousin, they start to renovate the training circuit behind Filip's home. When Rogier tells him he is gay, Filip gets mad at him. But slowly Filip realises he is gay too and madly in love with Rogier...

A good read that deals naturally with some issues. It made me laugh out loud a few times.

>124 FAMeulstee: Hurray for book 150!
And it sounds good too, I will go looking for it.

So sunday will be the final match between Feyenoord and Ajax. Will Frank be watching that as well?
Lots of pressure, for both teams.
I can now follow every match, just by listening, football cafe down the street, lots of people watching the match right now, shouting when something special happens:)

>126 EllaTim: Thanks Els.
No, I think Frank will listen to the radio, or check Teletekst when he thinks someone scored. This time my brother has no tickets for the match.
It is Feyenoord-Herlacles in Rotterdam and Willem II-Ajax in Tilburg, played at the same time 14:30.

book 152: De jongen met de gele ogen by Margaret Mahy
own, translated, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1984, original title The Haunting, 120 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #13 Read a book with a title that could describe a child or children

Barney is the youngest in his family of two sisters, a dad and a stepmother. One day he starts getting strange dreams and experiences, it turns out his great-uncle Barnaby died that day. And what is going on with his other great-uncle Cole, who is supposed to be dead?
Barney doesn't dare to talk about his experiences, but his sister Tabithia knows there is something going on and is determent to find out.
The story reads like a fantasy mystery, it is spooky, but not very frightning.

>124 FAMeulstee: That book sounds interesting. No Kindle version, and as it is long and originally in English I think I will hunt it out in the library in English. My knowledge of the 80 year war is sketchy at best, but I did at least know it had happened!

>128 FAMeulstee: Mildly interesting that I just read a book (by a different author) called "the boy with the golden eyes" and you read one that translates as "the boy with the yellow eyes".

book 153: Dwaalsporen by Henning Mankell
from the library, e-book, translated, mystery, Kurt Wallander book 5, English title Sidetracked, 539 pages

A girl sets herself into fire in the middle of a rape field in front of Wallanders eyes. Then a former minister is killed in a gruesome way. While Wallander and his collegues are investigating, there is a second gruesome murder. Everyone is searching for connections betweeen the murders, it looks like a serial killer, and they all want to prevent more murders will occur.
The reader knows more, as we see what the serial killer is planning and doing. But Wallander and his team, don't know and inside I was rooting for the police, hoping they would make the connection... But they were checking other leads and tracks. That is what makes the Wallander books so life like, everyone is doing their job and many leads don't go anywhere. They work together, have regular meetings and everyone goes on with the part of the investigation that is theirs.

Again, like the Wallanders I have read before, a very good read, hard to put down, as I was eager to find out how it ended.

Happy Friday, Anita. I hope your week went well. I have not read Mankell in a few years. I should get back to him.

>129 sirfurboy: I had Overvloed en onbehagen it on the shelf for a very long time, and am glad I finally got to it. I hoped to get some clues for present time discontent in society, but didn't find.
The English title of "De jongen met de gele ogen" is The haunting and it won the Carnegy Medal in 1982.

>131 msf59: Thanks Mark, yes go back to Mankell, I think he is one of the best in this genre.

Happy Friday, Anita.

Happy Friday, Anita. Hope you're setting up for a good weekend.

>133 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara.

>134 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, nothing planned, quiet weekend at home I hope.

book 154: Bijna jarig by Imme Dros
own, Dutch, picturebook, awarded, Woutertje Pieterse prijs 2006, no translations, 32 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book that has an odd number of letters in every word of the title

Ella's birthday is next week, that is a long time for a little girl. She nows her present is at the attic and she has promished not to look. When a working man leaves his stepladder, Ella and her friend climb onto the roof and Ella looks through the window of the attic by accident. She feels guilty and doesn't dare to tell her parents. Together with her friend she makes a drawing of what happened. Her mother isn't mad when she understands, but Ella has to promise she'll never climb a stepladder again.
With beautiful pictures by Harrie Geelen.

Hi Anita, congrats on reaching 150 books for the year my dear, hope you have had a good week and wish you a really nice weekend dear friend, sending love and hugs.

Also congratulations from me for making it beyond 2x75 already.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Anita and I shall be thinking of Feyenoord tomorrow.

>137 johnsimpson: Thanks John, love and hugs back to you and Karen.

>138 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, I just keep on reading.
If Feyenoord wins, the weekend will be great, within 24 hours we will know the outcome.

Completely forgot to mention here (I did on FB): Ari had his 7th birthday yesterday!

Time flies. Left Ari at 5 months, right Ari last month.
 

Yesterday we went to Bunschoten-Spakenburg, one of the places where there are still people wearing traditional costumes every day. Bunschoten was originally a small town, with farmland around, Spakenburg a village with mainly fishermen. They grew together and became one community.
We visited the small museum of Spakenburg and walked along the harbor whith many old boats.

From left to right: woman in traditional costume; the Spakenburg museum; the harbor with old fishing boats.
  

Wonderful photos, Anita and happy birthday Ari.

>141 FAMeulstee: Do they wear those costumes just for the tourists? or is there some other reason they still do so?

The harbour looks lovely.

>140 FAMeulstee: What a lovely picture of Ari at 5 months. Totally fluffy like a young duckling, adorable;)

And nice pictures of Spakenburg, that dress looks really uncomfortable!

>142 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, it was a nice afternoon & Ari says thanks :-)

>143 sirfurboy: It is mostly older people who still wear them, in earlier times everyone did wear those, nowadays it is a small group. I think some do it for the tourists.

>144 EllaTim: Yes, Ari was totally adorable when he was a fluffy puppy and it was terrible to brush him. He still is adorable, but not that fluffy anymore, brushing is a lot easier ;-)
I don't know, if you grew up and everyone was wearing those, you wouldn't know if it was uncomfortable... But the numbers are declining fast. According to Wikipedia in the early 1950s nearly all women were in traditional costumes, that went down to 175 in 2015.

Cute puppy!

I would never have the patience to get dressed if I had to wear clothes like that. Jeans and a t-shirt, that's for me!

It is wonderful to see how people used to dress, but I wouldn't want to have to wear it!! Happy birthday Ari! What a puff ball he was. LOL

Nice photos from Bunschoten-Spakenburg, Anita!

Happy Birthday to Ari!

>124 FAMeulstee: : Your book #150 sounds very interesting, but probably too extensive in detail for me, so I enjoyed reading the gist of it through your review.

>141 FAMeulstee: : Love the pictures of your day trip!

>141 FAMeulstee: Looks like fun Anita. They have a couple of places in the UK - my dad got into trouble in a local one which had a 'real' historical teacher. He was writing with his left hand. Apparently not the thing in the Victorian schoolroom. Beamish in the north east even has trams, which is fun!

We waited 18 years and today Feyenoord is Dutch Champion!!!!!

 

>146 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda, I never wear jeans mostly sweatpants and if I have to dress corduroys or a dress.

>147 Berly: Thanks Kim, Ari was a very cute puppy :-)

>148 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, Bunschoten-Spakenburg was nice to spend an afternoon :-)

>149 countrylife: Thanks Cindy, The Embarrassment of Riches has many pictures of paintings, now you can find them easy online, back then (published in 1987) it could be the reason to read it.

>150 charl08: Yes it was, Charlotte. For a long time left handed was very bad, and left handed kids were forced to write with their right hand. Glad the times have changed!

book 155: Cybele's geheim by Juliet Marillier
from the library, translated, fantasy, original title Cybele's Secret, 350 pages

Sequel to Wildwood dancing, the events take place 6 years later. We are following the 4th sister, Paula, who goes on a trading mission to Istanbul with her father. Her father is after a rare antique item, Cybele's gift. As a woman, Paula is very restricted in Istanbul, to be able to go around her father hires a bodyguard. Then there is a pirate who wants to get his hands Cybele's gift too...

I liked the previous book better. Still a very good read.

>140 FAMeulstee: Happy birthday to Ari! I hope you've been having a great weekend, Anita!

>153 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry, having a splended weekend sice our soccer team has won :-)

Hooray, Anita, I'm glad to hear your team won :). And happy birthday to Ari!

Three cheers for Dirk Kuyt and three more for Feyenoord!!

Well done and congratulations, Anita. xx

>155 lunacat: Thanks and thanks Jenny, both happy occasions :-)

>156 PaulCranswick: Hooray, hooray, hooray!
Frank, I and many, many others are very happy today, Paul.

book 156: Toen de wereld nog jong was Jürg Schubiger
own, translated, stories, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1997, original title Als die Welt noch jung war, English translation When the World Was New, 90 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book that has a word from the song 'Amazing grace' in the title in rolling fashion

Short stories for children (9+), with absurd humor and unrestrained imagination, like traveling cities and a car that behaves like a pet. I liked some of the stories, but disliked most of them. The illustrations (by Rotraut Susanne Berner) were very good.

>157 FAMeulstee: Congratulations, with the win, and well deserved for Feyenoord!

Congratulations to Feyenoord!

>159 EllaTim: Thanks Els, finally a Dutch Championship in this century :-)

>160 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, this afternoon the team was honored at the city hall in Rotterdam.

book 157: De Rode Pimpernel by Barones Emma Orczy
from the library, translated, original title The Scarlet Pimpernel, 205 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #7 Read a book that names a specific plant in the title (no trees)

Predictable adventure/romance, with some faults in the historical setting.
Noble English nobleman rescues French noblemen from the guillotine, using disguises to outwit the (dumb) French. Meanwhile he is estranged from his (French) wife, who desperately wants to win his heart back.

I have nothing with noblemen, I don't believe that being someone depends on being born in the right family.

Congratulations to Feyenoord on winning their first championship for 18 years, I have no doubt Frank enjoyed his weekend.

>163 johnsimpson: Thanks John, yes Frank had a marvelous weekend, and so did I :-)
Today we are watching all kind of Feyenoord programs all day on TV.

Congratulations on your country's soccer win, Anita! So glad that you had a wonderful weekend!

Yay for the win!!! Bask in your glory.

>165 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, it kept me away for being nervous about our trip to London next Friday ;-)

>166 Berly: Thanks Kim, still glowing a bit :-)

book 158: Het Midden Oosten by Bernard Lewis
from the library, translated, original title The Middle East, 422 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #10 The "Stuck in the Middle with You Challenge:" Read a book whose middle word is the word "middle"

This book was published in 1995, so misses the more recent developments in the Middle East.

Extentive history of the Middle East, starting at the Hellenistic, Roman, Persian and Egyptian civilisations. The break in the Roman empire, leaving the Byzantine Empire as a factor in the Middle East.
The Islamic history in the region (and beyond) from Mohammed, the divide of Sunni and Shia factions, the influences of the Mongols and the long reign of the Ottoman Empire.
Finally the last century, when after the decline of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 Brittain and France divide their influences in the Middle East, finally leading to independent states.. The writer claims the western influence has benefited the region, I am not sure he is right.

Happy Tuesday, Anita! Hope the week is going well. And hooray for your soccer win! Yah!!

>169 msf59: Thanks Mark, winning after a 18 year wait is great :-)
I am slowly sinking in pre-travel stress only 3 more nights before we go to London...

book 159: Niemand anders dan ik by Cynthia Voigt
own, translated, YA, Tillerman Cycle book 3, original title A Solitary Blue, 222 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #1 Read a book which has on page 113 a mode of transportation used by people

Jeffs mother abandoned him when he was young, leaving him with his father. Jeff is a quiet boy, afraid that his father is going to leave him too, he tries to be as invisible as possible. Years later his mother invites him to spend the summer with her, he has a good time. When he goes again the year after, his mother doesn't seem interested in her son anymore, breaking Jeffs heart. After that his relationship with his father improves, they move to Maryland, and Jeff gets aquainted with the Tillemans.

I love Cinthia Voights Tillerman books, I read this one for a TIOLI Challenge, and now I want to re-read the whole series!

Thanks for your lovely message Anita. Fingers crossed the flight is smooth for you.

A belated Happy Birthday to Ari, Anita!!

>172 charl08: You are welcome, Charlotte.
And thanks, I can barely believe that if all goes well I'll be in London within 48 hours.

>173 ronincats: Thank you Roni!

Just catching up on your thread...

Ari is beautiful (or should I say "handsome"--he's a male, right?).

I read The Discovery of Heaven several years ago and loved it, even though I didn't realize it was partly autobiographical, and even though I'm not especially knowledgeable about Dutch politics.

>175 arubabookwoman: Hi Deborah, yes Ari is male, but he doesn't mind how you express his good looks ;-)

I don't think this knowledge really matters. It is just a bonus for readers who do know, as it doesn't change the story.

  
book 160: Onder de blote hemel
own, translated, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel, 1986, Tillerman Cycle book 1a, 1st part of Homecoming, 216 pages


book 161: Samen onder dak
own, translated, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel, 1986, Tillerman Cycle book 1b, 2nd part of Homecoming, 200 pages


book 162: Het verhaal van Dicey by Cynthia Voigt
own, translated, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel, 1987, Tillerman Cycle book 2, original title Dicey's Song, 238 pages


I love Cinthia Voights Tillerman books, after reading A Solitary Blue I went on from the start.
The story of 4 abandoned children, finding a way to stay together.

Hi Anita, Now I'm curious about Cynthia Voight

Have a happy trip to London. I envy you, such a lot of things to see and do! Have you made plans yet?

>178 EllaTim: Thanks Els, she is a good writer of YA.

We will visit the Giacometti exhibition at the Tate Modern on Sunday, that is why we planned to go to London :-)

Safely arrived in London, survived my first flight ;-)

Hurrah, well done. I hope the flight was OK, and you have a wonderful time in London. Fingers crossed the rain eases off for a while!

>180 FAMeulstee: Enjoy your trip, Anita!

>180 FAMeulstee: Woo hoo! Have a lovely time.

>181 lunacat: Thanks Jenny, with a bit of valium I was relaxed enough. So all went smooth. The flight itself was good, sat at the window and could see the Dutch coastline. It is dry now, we had a meal in the hotel and walked a bit around.

>182 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry!

>183 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, we surely will have a lovely time.

Hope you are having fun!

>185 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda, today we will go to the Gagosian Gallery at Grosvenor Hill.

I really wish I was back in the UK so that we could meet up. Guess I am going to have to come and look for you!
Have a wonderful time. xx

Have a great time, Anita.

>hope you are having a good time Anita!

And looking forward to some pictures, when you're back?

Wishing you a most wonderful Sunday,Anita.

>187 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, I am sure it will happen one day, here or there doesn't matter.

>188 DianaNL: Thanks Diana, it has been a wonderfull weekend.

>189 EllaTim: Thanks Els, yes we have. We'll be flying back tomorrow morning.

>190 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, sadly it was not allowed at the Tate Modern to take pictures :'(

When I am home tomorrow I hope to share some pictures of our trip.
Yesterday we went to the Gagosian Gallery at Grosvenor Hill, we thought there was a Giacometti/Yves Klein exhibition, but there was a Picasso exhibition now: Minotaurs and Matadors. In the other Gagosian Gallery, at Britannia Street there was Giacometti with photo's by Lindbergh, so we went there too.

Today we went up the Orbit Tower and then to the Tate Modern to see the Giacometti exhibit there, together with Claire (Sakerfalcon). It was wonderfull to see how Giacometti developed throught the years. Then we walked a bit along the Thames and had diner in a lovely Turkish/Mediteranean restaurant. Then it was goodbye to Claire and we went back to our hotel. Going to sleep early, as we have to be at the airport early tomorrow.

Wow, sounds like you have had a really busy day! Sounds like you have really made the most of your time in London.

Oh, it sounds like you had a wonderful time in London, Anita. Safe travels home.

Safely home, picked up a very happy Ari, more later...

I'm so jealous of all of your gallery visits. It looks like there are some great exhibits at the Tate Modern right now. The Gagosian Gallery must have been a treat as well - I love the photo of Picasso in the bull's head. His work is just amazing to me, as are so many "abstract" (for lack of a better unifying term) artists from the earlier part of the last century - Kandinsky, Klee, Rothko, Matisse, Miro, etc.

>192 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, we had a great time, indeed very busy. Both Frank and I were exhausted when we arrived at home today!

>193 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, taveling home went smoothly. We are happy we went to London and happy to be home again and reunited with Ari.

>194 FAMeulstee: Yes, Robin, the Gagosian was even more impressive. They only had a few Giacometti statues, but they were placed so thoughtfully, the light was perfect, very few other visitors and the rooms felt serene. At the Tate Modern there were many more people, so it was more tiring.
We only recently started to like and understand Picasso. We saw a TV series on Dutch television about his work and appriciate him more now.
Rothko we saw last year, my husband loves him. I like some of his work, but most feels a bit depressing to me.

The Gagosian Gallery on Britannia Street, Giacometti:
 

Photo of Giacometti's work by Peter Lindbergh:


All pictures can be seen at my Facebook page, link to Gagosian Gallery album

It wasn't allowed to take pictures at the Tate modern, but I found some on the web. In the first room of the exhibition there was a selection of human heads, a very nice way to show his development as an artist through the years:


Some bronze statues in the style that made him famous, left Man Pointing, 1947, right L'homme qui chavire, 1950:
 

And then The Dog, 1951, we saw this one also at the Fondation Maeght in the south of France in 2009, so I bought the t-shirt ;-)
 

Ooh! Nice shirt Anita (and the art too, of course :-)
Thanks for the lovely pictures.

Thanks Charlotte, I am wearing it right now :-)

I'm jealous of your London trip! Belated happy birthday to Ari. What a cute furball he was as a pup.

Glad you had such a great trip and good flights, AND that you are safely home again, Anita! {{{{Anita}}}}

Hi Anita, nice to see you safely back in Holland. And that you had such a good time.

The Dog is striking!
But I'm glad Ari is not as skinny as that;)

>201 humouress: Thanks Nina, Ari was very fluffy as a pup :-)
I am still a bit exhausted from the trip.

>202 ronincats: Thanks Roni, I only had a few difficult moments while traveling. But I am glad to be home again with Ari at my feet.

>203 EllaTim: Thanks Els, it is good be home.
The picture of "The Dog" above was taken in the south of France, Giacometti mostly made sculptures of people, and tried some abstract/surrealist works at the start of his carreer.
Beneath all the fur Ari is more skinny than you might think ;-)

Time to update my readings:


book 164: The Lewis Man by Peter May
own, e-book, English, mystery, Lewis Trilogy book 2, 448 pages

After reading the Dutch translation of book 1 of the Lewis Trilogy, I wanted to read the next books. Sadly not available in Dutch, so I bought them in English. Last year I tried to start this one, but only read a few pages and gave up.
I tried again, and being in London made it easier to read English, I have good hope to read the last boook as well.

After his devorce and quitting his job at the police in Edinburgh, Fin McLeod returns to the Isle of Lewis, his childhood home. When he arrives there has just been found a murdered bog body, at first it is thought is an ancient body, but then there is found a tattoo of Elvis, indicating the body must have been there since the 1950s.
DNA reveals the victim was related to Tormod MacDonald, the father of Fin's childhood girlfriend. Tormod is suffering from dementia, and partly the books is writting from his perspective.
Can it be done, solving a murder that happend so long ago?

Again a great book by Peter May, I love how he uses the (sometimes very sad) history of the islands in his story. He draws lifelike characters and a believable plot to the mystery.

book 166: Flame, de hengst van het eiland Azul by Walter Farley
own, translated, YA, horses, Black Stallion book 4, original title The Island Stallion, 190 pages
May TIOLI Challenge #2 Read a book with a title that mentions or describes the main character

In 2014 I re-read the first 10 Black Stallion books. Some other 75 group members are reading them together, and I join them for the books I didn't re-read back then. The sequence of the original books is not the same as the Dutch editions, so the English book 4 is the Dutch book 11.

Steve Duncan has had a dream since childhood, about a red stallion on a cliff. When he visits his friend Pitch in the Caribbean, he finds his horse, Flame, wild and untamed....

I prefer the Black and Alex books. Somehow this one feels more dated.

   

book 163: De hardloper by Cynthia Voigt
own, translated, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel, 1988, Tillerman Cycle book 4, original title The Runner, 211 pages

The story of Samuel Tillerman, alias Bullet, uncle of the Tillermans.


book 165: Wilhemina Smits by Cynthia Voigt
own, translated, YA, Tillerman Cycle book 5, original title Come a stranger, 234 pages

The story of Wilhemina Smiths, classmate and friend of Dicey Tillerman.


book 167: De verloren vader by Cynthia Voigt
own, translated, YA, Tillerman Cycle book 6, original title Sons from Afar, 272 pages

James and Samuel Tillerman want to find their father.


book 168: Alles op één kaart by Cynthia Voigt
own, translated, YA, Tillerman Cycle book 7, original title Seventeen Against the Dealer, 220 pages

Dicey Tillerman gives up university to go after her dream: building boats.


The last 4 Tillerman books, feeling sorry I already finished the series. Will read them again someday!

>197 FAMeulstee: well the Gagasonian is new to me Anita, I shall certainly be checking it out. Glad you had such a good time. I've starred your thread.

Hi Anita, hope you had a good trip to London my dear.

>208 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline, I accidentely stumbled upon the Gagosian website when I was searching for the (then) upcoming Giacometti exhibition. We had a nice conversation with one of the employees at Grosvenor Hill about Picasso and Giacometti, when we were asking for directions to the other Gagosian Gallery at Britannia Street.

>210 FAMeulstee: Thanks John, we had a very good time in London. And it is good to be home again :-)

London sounds fun- I love the Tate :P

More pictures of our trip to London, left the Orbit Tower, we visited on Sunday morning, right view from the Orbit Tower.
 

I liked this marking in the street in Stratford of the Greenwich Meridian, right Frank and Claire (Sakerfalcon) at the restaurant.
 

>211 LovingLit: Yes it was fun, Megan, have you ever been on this side of the world?

Glad you enjoyed your London trip.

 
book 169: Kaas by Willem Elsschot
own/library, Dutch, classic, English translation Cheese, 69 pages

We own the Complete Works by Willem Elsschot, that includes this work, but I actually read the e-book from the library.

After the death of his mother, Frans Laarmans tries to change his life. He works as a shipping cleck. In hope to get respect of his better to do friends, he becomes the representative of a Dutch cheese factory. He signs a contract and 20 tons of Edam cheese is transported to Antwerp to be sold by Laarmans. With no clue HOW to sell the cheese, Laarmans keeps his days busy with the interior of his office... When all goes wrong he goes back to his job as shipping clerck.

Sad and funny little story, makes you feel for everyone who ever wanted to reach beyond their capabilities, but sadly could not make their dream come true...

It looks like you and Frank had a great time in London, Anita! I'm glad that Claire was able to join you, and I look forward to seeing her again next month. Thanks for mentioning the Picasso exhibition at the Gagosian; I'll plan to see it while I'm there, along with the Giacometti exhibition at Tate Modern, of course.

>206 FAMeulstee: I think I read the first book in the Black
Stallion series way back when, Anita. I didn't realise that there were more books in the series, nor that it was such a long series!

Looks like you had a great time in London, Anita. I envy you the meet ups. Now that you have flown there once, will you go back again?

>216 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl, yes we had a wonderful time and saw great exhibitions, I recommend all of them and hope you will enjoy them too next month!

>217 humouress: If you liked the first one, Nina, you'll probably like the next ones.

>218 Familyhistorian: Yes, Meg, I think we'll return one day. At least now I know I have no fear for flying, although all security before you can enter the plane wasn't my favourite part of it...

>219 FAMeulstee: Oh good, now that you have no fear of flying it can open up new travel doors for you. It used to be a lot freer but is probably a good thing that there is that security.

>220 Familyhistorian: Probably a good thing, yes Meg, but on the other hand the only part of the trip that almost caused a panick attack. Our next trip is to Kassel in Germany next month, by car, so Ari goes with us :-)

Happy Saturday, Anita. Love the London photos. It looks like you had a very nice time.

Have a great weekend. Seen any interesting birds lately?

>215 FAMeulstee: I think you are more sympathetic than me: I just felt the guy was foolish to go into something he didn't seem to even want to do...

>222 msf59: Thanks Mark, yes it was a good trip to London :-)
We are having a heatwave, most birds keep in the shade. So I did not see many birds on my walks. The only birds I recognised today were the greylag geese (so many here) and a Common or European kestrel like this one:


>223 charl08: Yes it was foolish, Charlotte, but I did feel for him and his high hopes that would be shattered...

Hi Anita! I hope you had a nice weekend!

I love the pics of puppy and grown up Ari. He looks so darn hug-able.

Thanks also for the photos of the Giacometti sculptures. Your museum visits are wonderful.

The Black Stallion books were favorites of mine as I was growing up. I need to see if I can find that group.

>225 streamsong: Thanks Janet, we had a heatwave, so we kept cool by staying mostly inside :-)
Ari loves to be hugged!
Next trip in June is to Kassel in Germany, to the Documenta, a modern art exhibit that is held every 5 years.

If you haven't found it here is the link The Black Stallion Series Relaxed Shared Read Thread

book 170: Nacht by Karl Ove Knausgård
from the library, e-book, autobiography, English translation Dancing in the Dark : My struggle book 4, 477 pages

In the fourth book of "My struggle", Karl Ove Knausgård describes his last years at school and the year he worked as a teacher in the northern part of Norway (he was only 18 year old; because of a shortage of teachers he could start as a teacher in the north right after finishing highschool). After his parents divorce, his adolesent years are filled with lots of alcohol and longing for sex. He has a hard time during the long dark winter in the north and is happy when he is accepted to a writers school, so he can leave there.

My ratings still go down 1/2 a * with each book, this one was overly filled with testosterone. I understand it comes with the age of adolescent boys... I hope the next one is back on track.

Bought 3 e-books today, as I got a coupon for 2.50 euro discount on e-books.
Ravenzwart Shetland book 1, Witte nachten Shetland book 2 and Blauw licht Shetland book 4 by Ann Cleeves.
Somehow Shetland book 3 was never translated...

And earlier this week this book finally arrived:
Mijn naam is Bud by Christopher Paul Curtis

>221 FAMeulstee: Ah, see you can easily get to other countries with ground transport. Here the only other country that it is easy to get to that way is the US. Even for me to get to other cities in my own country it is easier to fly. But, I don't mind flying, I have been doing it since I was two.

>227 FAMeulstee: I still haven't got to the Knausgård books Anita, though I have the first. Men seem to love them, but the few women I know who have read any, tend to have more reservations.

>228 FAMeulstee: it's always nice to get a discount.

>228 FAMeulstee: Nice buy Anita. But it does make me wonder about publishers, why skip one book in a series? Seems so senseless! Anyway, happy reading.

>229 Familyhistorian: We live in a small country, Meg, so many countries can be reached by car. Can't imagine being so use to flying as you are. I my youth flying sure was something more then it is now ;-)

>230 Caroline_McElwee: I loved the first book, Caroline, I gave it 5 stars and the rating of the next ones dropped half a star with each book. If that continues, the last one will get 2 1/2... On the other hand, his writing is very good, when I start I just keep reading to the end. I am curious enough to go on to the next book. I can imagine men would like his books more than women.

>231 EllaTim: It is senseless, I also noted that each book has an other translator. I think it is best for a series to have one dedicated translator... But I just finished an other book in English, so if I really want I could read the original.

book 171: The Chessmen by Peter May
own, e-book, English, mystery, Lewis Trilogy book 3, 400 pages

The last book of the Lewis trilogy. Fin Macleod is living with Marsaili, taking care of their grandchild together. He got a job as security chef on a large estate, to fight big poachers. While his childhood friend Whistler is only a minor poacher, he only catches some for his own use, Fins boss wants Fin to go after him. Whistler and Fin are together when after a big storm a lake drains and they find a small airplane that must have been there over 17 years. The body they find in the plane must be of Roddy, a local musican who was just getting succes with his band and then disappeared.
Many chapters are filled with childhood memories of Fin, how he and Whistler were friends and the years he worked as a roadie for the band.

Again a great book by Peter May, I love how he uses some history of the island in his story. He draws lifelike characters and a believable plot to the mystery. It is sad to say goodbye to Fin Macleod.

>232 FAMeulstee: Yes, I agree. Translation matters. Weird choices, strange people those publishers. But of course they could also let google translate;)

book 170: En de zwakken ondergaan wat ze moeten ondergaan? by Yanis Varoufakis
from the library, e-book, non-fiction, translated, original title And the Weak Suffer What They Must?, 350 pages

Yanis Varoufakis was Minister of Finance in Greece in the left-wing Syriza admnistration and tried to lower the Greek burden of debt. His mission was hopeless and after a few months he left Greek politics.
In this book he gives the historical context of the present day eurocrisis, what desisions led to the banking crisis and euro-problems. How broke banks were saved at the costs of the poor in the European Union and Greece was used as a scapegoat to warn other countries what their terrible faith would be if they ignored the financial restrictions. And how the euro, mend to be the glue of the European Union, became a burden for the less fortunate European countries.

He still believes there is a solution and wrote down an alternative way in cooperation with Stuart Holland and J.K. Galbraith.

I am glad there are still people out there who have the same views as I have and believe in a more equal sociëty.

>235 FAMeulstee: I'm going to have to give in and read this I think Anita, it's been tickling, and Paul thought highly of it too.

>236 Caroline_McElwee: I found it on Pauls thread, Caroline, I think he has an important message.

book 173: Frank, of hoe je vrienden vindt by Klaus Kordon
own, YA, translated from German, original title Frank, oder wie man Freunde findet, I am not sure if the English translation Brothers like Friends is the same book, or only the first part, 384 pages

This trilogy is set in East Berlin in the 1950s.
In the first book (Brüder wie Freunde) it is 1950 and Frank is 7 years old, he adores his older (half-)brother.
The second book (Tage wie Jahre) it is three years later and in the last book (Einer wie Frank) it is 1956.
The books are based on Klaus Kordons own youth.

>236 Caroline_McElwee: I'm not one for finance books, but maybe I should make an exception for this one, sounds powerful. Thanks for the review.

>235 FAMeulstee: It sounds really interesting. If it can help make more sense of the economical mess, it should be worth the effort.

I get what you mean, when you find people who can make sense of things, without losing sight of ideals and values. Worthwhile.

>239 charl08: You could try it, Chalotte, I think it is worth to be read.

>240 EllaTim: What he writes makes sense, of course others have different views on the matter.
I understood from the review in the NRC that he isn't very socially skilled, what was a big problem when he tried to negotiate on the Greek debts. He does a better job writing.

book 174: Problemski Hotel by Dimitri Verhulst
own, Dutch (Flemish), English translation with the same title, 110 pages
#11 "This Must be the Place": Read a book whose title refers to a place or a location

Dimitri Verhulst stayed some days in a Asylum Seekers Centre in Belgium for a magazine. After the article was published he realised he had much more to tell and wrote this book.
The main character, who is telling the story, is the Ethiopian photographer Bipul Masli. He winessed how many of his family members were massacred and fled to Belgium. He has come to realise his chances to gain asylum are very low. Like almost all others who live in the ASC and share their tragic stories and their daily life waiting for the answer on the request for asylum. All this is told with humor, so you nearly forget how terrible their stories really are.

Another book bullet. I've never read anything by Verhulst. But this sounds like a book I'd like to try.

>243 EllaTim: I think his best book is Mevrouw Verona daalt de heuvel af.

>244 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the recommendation, Anita.

May 2017 stats

38 books read (10.225 pages)

28/10 own/library
13/25 Dutch/translated
34/4 fiction/non-fiction

20 childrens/YA
9 e-books
22 TIOLI books

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First 5 months of 2017 stats:

174 books read (43.485 pages)

115/59 own/library
66/103/3 Dutch/translated/English
150/24 fiction/non-fiction

93 childrens/YA
25 e-books
121 TIOLI books

Nice review of Problemski Hotel, Anita. I'll keep my eyes open for it.