Anita (FAMeulstee) goes there where the books take her in 2021 (9)

Questo è il seguito della conversazione Anita (FAMeulstee) goes there where the books take her in 2021 (8).

Questa conversazione è stata continuata da Anita (FAMeulstee) goes there where the books take her in 2021 (10).

Conversazioni75 Books Challenge for 2021

Iscriviti a LibraryThing per pubblicare un messaggio.

Anita (FAMeulstee) goes there where the books take her in 2021 (9)

1FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:32 am

Welcome to my ninth 2021 thread!

I am Anita Meulstee (58), married with Frank (59) since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art, books and walking.

I have been hanging around in this group a few months after finding LibraryThing in March 2008. I skipped one year (2013), when my reading dropped to almost nothing. This was a side effect of taking Paxil. In 2015 I was able to wean off Paxil, and a year later my reading skyrocketed. The last year it is slowing down, my initial "reading hunger" has waned a bit.

I read (almost) everything, from childrens and YA books to more serious literature, mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy and I try not to forget to throw some non-fiction into the mix.

--

Walking
Our local walking project is finished! Last month we walked the last part of the dikes that surround the Flevopolder, the largest artificial island of the world.

Left: the province Flevoland (red) is in the middle of our country.
Right: Map of the Flevopolder, the red line is the part that we have walked until now.
 

--
Pets in my life: Nemo, a smooth Chow Chow

Nemo was our first smooth Chow Chow, his pedigree name was Ca-Caliban's New Captain Nemo. When Youri, our Belgian Shepherd died in february 1995, we looked around for an other dog. Frank always liked Chow Chows, but I hesitated because of the long hair. Then I found out there was a variety with shorter hair. The next week we located a litter in Germany born on Christmas day, went for a look, and two weeks later we took Nemo home.

Nemo was a special Chow. He loved people, especially women, he could even flirt with women. Als a puppy he already could look at someone until there was a look back, people felt his eyes. Our last walk each day took us along some sex clubs. We used to chat a little with the doorkeepers. Shortly after Nemo joined us, the women started to come out (some topless, in March!) to cuddle with Nemo and picked him up to hold him close. He even went inside one evening, I stayed outside with Dorka ;-)

  

Nemo made his own friends, independently from us. When he was young he often went with us to café's and pubs. Once in a while he got a few drops of beer, he liked that, often refusing pilsner and having a taste for special beer. When he got older the drops of beer became small coffee-cups with beer. Nemo is the only dog I have ever known who understood what alcohol does, one time he got nearly drunk and after that time you could put lots of beer in front of him, but he would never take too much ever again.

Nemo was with me the last time I tried to end my life because of servere depression.
In the following months he would stick beside me, whenever Frank was not home.

Nemo loved agility, especially the dogwalk, the A-frame and the tunnels. He was less charmed about the jumps and after a while he found out that he could run right through them, and make the bars fall down. We finally agreed on no more than two jumps in a row, he would run right through a next one ;-)

  

Nemo was the only Chow we ever had, who could walk loose almost anywhere. He would never leave the sidewalk on his own. After he had figured out the rules of traffic, he didn't like it when a car came on the sidewalk, cars are supposed to be at the street, the sidewalk is for pedestrians. The same in our local pub: welcoming everyone until 12pm, after that only allowing regulars to come in, as they would close an hour later. He also said hello to the motorgang that visited this pub. These men were clearly looking for trouble, and everyone felt a bit uncomfortable when they came in. Nemo walked up to the leader, was petted, and drank a beer with him. All agression was gone instantly.

Nemo loved cars, when he came to live with us we had no car. Our house was in the centre of Rotterdam, so public transportation brought us anywhere we needed to be. So one day Nemo saw a taxi standing with the passengers door wide open. Nemo had been in a taxi a few times, so he stepped into the taxi, at the floor of the passengers seat, and refused to come out. Finally the taxidriver drove one block round with Nemo, and then he was willing to leave the taxi. Some time later he did the same trick with a police car...

  

I could tell many, many more anecdotes about Nemo: how he managed to conquer our bedroom, how he went camping with friends, so many precious moments we had. He was so clever and wise.

Nemo died in September 2006, dearly missed by us and his friends.

2FAMeulstee
Modificato: Ott 1, 2021, 11:01 am

total books read in 2021: 218
58 own / 160 library

total pages read in 2021: 69.610

--
currently reading:
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één nacht deel 2 (2/3) translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 1112 pages, started 01-01-2021
Ideeën van Multatuli. Derde bundel by Multatuli, 782 pages, started 2021-02-01

--
books read in September 2021 (25 books, 7.822 pages, 7 own / 18 library)
book 194: De grote ronde : een wandeling by Thomas Rosenboom, 74 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 65)
book 195: Lotte in Weimar (The Beloved Returns) by Thomas Mann, 383 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 66)
book 196: Ons soort mensen by Juli Zeh, 669 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 67)
book 197: Strijd om de kathedraal by Jacques Vriens, 190 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 68)
book 198: Beschadigd (Damage) by Felix Francis, 310 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 86)
book 199: De verborgen geschiedenis (The Secret History) by Donna Tartt, 621 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 87)
book 200: Een wisse dood (The Pilgrim of Hate; Cadfael 10) by Ellis Peters, 192 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 88)
book 201: Turks gambiet (The Turkish Gambit; Fandorin 2) by Boris Akoenin, 220 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 89)
book 202: Kameraad Baron (Comrade Baron) by Jaap Scholten, 421 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 90)
book 203: Alles op de fiets by Rutger Kopland, 43 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 114)
book 204: Effi Briest (Effi Briest) by Theodor Fontaine, 336 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 115)
book 205: Wat niet verdwijnt (Earthly Remains; Brunetti 26) by Donna Leon, 333 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 116)
book 206: Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald, 319 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 130)
book 207: Het boek van de lach en de vergetelheid (The Book of Laughter and Forgetting) by Milan Kundera, 291 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 131)
book 208: Dit zijn de namen (These Are The Names) by Tommy Wieringa, 302 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 132)
book 209: Dagboek van een oude dwaas (Diary of a Mad Old Man) by Junichirô Tanizaki, 185 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 151)
book 210: Je keek te ver : een wandeling by Marjoleine de Vos, 72 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 152)
book 211: Kindernovelle en andere verhalen by Klaus Mann, 203 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 153)
book 212: Pastorale (English pastoral) by James Rebanks, 269 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 168)
book 213: De herinnerde soldaat by Anjet Daanje, 538 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 169)
book 214: De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive; In Search of Lost Time 6) by Marcel Proust, 368 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 170)
book 215: Verheven koninkrijk (Transcendent Kingdom) by Yaa Gyasi, 319 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 171)
book 216: Zilvergaren (Spinning Silver) by Naomi Novik, 492 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 183)
book 217: Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm (Why Nations Fail) by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson, 512 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 184)
book 218: Illustere voorgangers (Of Illustrious Men) by Jean Rouaud, 160 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 185)

3FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 30, 2021, 3:56 am

September 2021 reading plans
Ideeën by Mutatuli, 3846 pages (1252/3846)
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één nacht deel 2 translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 1112 pages

TIOLI September 2021 Sweep!
#1: Read a book, in which the last three letters of the author's first name or last name, spelled backwards, form a real word which can be found in dictionary.com
- Turks gambiet (The Turkish Gambit; Fandorin 2) - Boris Akoenin, 220 pages (library)
- Effi Briest (Effi Briest) - Theodor Fontaine, 336 pages (library)
- Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm (Why Nations Fail) - Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson, 512 pages (library)
#2: Read a book with the word "all" or "nothing" in the title or author's name
- Alles op de fiets - Rutger Kopland, 43 pages
#3: Read a book where the author’s first and last name start with the same letter
- Beschadigd (Damage) - Felix Francis, 310 pages (e-library)
- Zilvergaren (Spinning Silver) - Naomi Novik, 492 pages (e-library)
#4: Read a book where “bestselling author” is included somewhere on the cover
- Wat niet verdwijnt (Earthly Remains; Brunetti 26) - Donna Leon, 333 pages (library)
- Verheven koninkrijk (Transcendent Kingdom) - Yaa Gyasi, 319 pages (library)
#5: Read a book written by a relative of a famous person, state the relationship
- Kindernovelle en andere verhalen - Klaus Mann, 203 pages
#6: Read a book with school, or equivalent in the title or which starts or has significant action in an educational establishment
- De verborgen geschiedenis (The Secret History) - Donna Tartt, 621 pages (library)
#7: Read a book with the word "BOOK" in the title
- Het boek van de lach en de vergetelheid (The Book of Laughter and Forgetting) - Milan Kundera, 291 pages
#8: Read a book where the authors last name has 7 characters or less
- De herinnerde soldaat - Anjet Daanje, 538 pages (e-library)
- Lotte in Weimar (The Beloved Returns) - Thomas Mann, 383 pages
- Ons soort mensen - Juli Zeh, 669 pages (e-library)
- Pastorale (English pastoral) - James Rebanks, 269 pages (library)
- De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive; In Search of Lost Time 6) - Marcel Proust, 368 pages (e-library)
- Illustere voorgangers (Of Illustrious Men) - Jean Rouaud, 160 pages
#9: Read a book with something in the title referring to religious worship
- Strijd om de kathedraal - Jacques Vriens, 190 pages (e-library)
#10: Read a book where the title of the first chapter is a noun (and nothing else)
- Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) - Helen Macdonald, 319 pages (library)
#11: Read a book whose protagonist is in high school, has something to do with the number 12 or 17, or has a character or author named Alex or Alexander
- Kameraad Baron (Comrade Baron) - Jaap Scholten, 421 pages (e-library)
#12: Read a book where the title implies a journey of some kind
- De grote ronde : een wandeling - Thomas Rosenboom, 74 pages (e-library)
- Je keek te ver : een wandeling - Marjoleine de Vos, 72 pages (e-library)
#13: Read a book for the Readers Imbibing Peril challenge
- Een wisse dood (The Pilgrim of Hate; Cadfael 10) - Ellis Peters, 192 pages (library)
#14: Read a book with a shade of red or orange among the First words
- Dit zijn de namen (These Are The Names) - Tommy Wieringa, 302 pages
#15: Read a book with a title that has a preposition plus "a"
- Dagboek van een oude dwaas (Diary of a Mad Old Man) - Junichirô Tanizaki, 185 pages

4FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:09 am

Reading plans in 2021
Reading books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list
Read some big tomes (1000+ pages)
Read books by Nobel Prize for Literature winners

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

--
Some big tomes I might read in 2021:
Ideeën (1-7) by Multatuli, 3846 pages
Man zonder eigenschappen (The man without qualities) by Robert Musil, 1785 pages
De razende Roeland (Orlando furioso) by Ludovico Ariosto, 1783 pages
✔ Een jaar uit het leven van Gesine Cresspahl (Anniversaries: From a Year in the Life of Gesine Cresspahl) by Uwe Johnson, 1596 pages
✔ De essays (The complete essays) by Michel de Montaigne, 1557 pages
De kracht van Atlantis (Atlas shrugged) by Ayn Rand, 1373 pages
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één-nacht deel 2 translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 1112 pages
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort by Roger Martin du Gard, 1077 pages
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één-nacht deel 3 translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 1047 pages
Baron by Theun de Vries, 1016 pages

5FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:09 am

Totals since 2008:



6FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:09 am

Books read in Januari
book 1: Bankier (Banker) by Dick Francis
book 2: Ik kom terug by Adriaan van Dis
book 3: De kille maagd (The Virgin in the Ice; Cadfael 6) by Ellis Peters
book 4: 1177 v.Chr. : het einde van de beschaving (1177 BCE: The Year Civilization Collapsed) by Eric H. Cline
book 5: De dood in Rome (Death in Rome) by Wolfgang Koeppen
book 6: De laatste dag by Beppe Fenoglio
book 7: Wie vlucht en wie blijft (Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay; Neapolitan Novels 3) by Elelna Ferrante
book 8: Het onbekende kind (The golden egg; Brunetti 22) by Donna Leon
book 9: Treindromen (Train Dreams) by Denis Johnson
book 10: Angstige mensen (Anxious people) by Fredrik Backman
book 11: Boven water (Konráð 2) by Arnaldur Indriðason
book 12: De tocht van de tienduizend (The Anabasis) by Xenofon
book 13: De levende berg (The Living Mountain) by Nan Shepherd
book 14: Het Rosie resultaat (The Rosie result) by Graeme Simsion
book 15: De nachtstemmer by Maarten 't Hart
book 16: Reis door de Oriënt by Gustave Flaubert
book 17: Gewaagd leven by Astrid Roemer, 239 pages
book 18: Ideeën van Multatuli. Tweede bundel by Mutatuli

Books read in Februari
book 19: Morgen toen de oorlog begon (Tomorrow, when the war began; Tomorrow 1) by John Marsden
book 20: Het verhaal van het verloren kind (The Story of the Lost Child; Neapolitan Novels 4) by Elelna Ferrante
book 21: Over paden : een ontdekkingstocht (On trails : an exploration) by Robert Moor
book 22: Tegenstroom (A Necessary End, Inspector Banks 3) by Peter Robinson
book 23: Ik, Claudius (I, Claudius) by Robert Graves
book 24: Veranderingen (Change) by Mo Yan
book 25: Het holst van de nacht (The Dead of the Night) by John Marsden
book 26: Nachtvlucht (Night Flight) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
book 27: Kindertijd (Childhood) by Tove Ditlevsen
book 28: Denken aan vrijdag (Friday on my mind) by Nicci French
book 29: Sodom en Gomorra (Sodom and Gomorrah; In search of lost time 4) by Marcel Proust
book 30: Rinkeldekink by Martine Bijl
book 31: Beminde (Beloved) by Tony Morrison
book 32: Lijken op liefde by Astrid Roemer
book 33: Alleen : de Pacific Crest Trail by Tim Voors
book 34: Het nut van de wereld by J.M.A. Biesheuvel
book 35: Het enige verhaal (The Only Story) by Julian Barnes
book 36: Jeugd (Youth) by Tove Ditlevsen
book 37: Huis van volmaakte eenzaamheid (House of Splendid Isolation) by Edna O'Brien
book 38: Afhankelijkheid (Dependency) by Tove Ditlevsen

7FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 13, 2021, 5:24 pm

books read in March
book 39: Een kroon van zwaarden (A Crown of Swords, Wheel of Time 7) by Robert Jordan
book 40: Een kille dageraad (A Killing Frost, Tomorrow 3) by John Marsden
book 41: De avond valt (Darkness, Be My Friend, Tomorrow 4) by John Marsden
book 42: Butcher's Crossing (Butcher's Crossing) by John Williams
book 43: Ik ben er even niet (I'm Off Then) by Hape Kerkeling
book 44: Bergje by Bregje Hofstede
book 45: Bezoek van de knokploeg (A Visit from the Goon Squad) by Jennifer Egan
book 46: Confrontaties by Simone Atangana Bekono
book 47: Het uur van de wraak (Burning for Revenge, Tomorrow 5) by John Marsden
book 48: Wandelparadijs Nederland: te voet door alle provincies by John Jansen van Galen
book 49: Tussen de regels (By its cover, Brunetti 23) by Donna Leon
book 50: Christus kwam niet verder dan Eboli (Christ Stopped at Eboli) by Carlo Levi
book 51: De omweg naar Santiago (Roads to Santiago) by Cees Nooteboom
book 52: Camino (Two steps forward) by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist
book 53: Kameleon, ahoy! by H. de Roos
book 54: Groene Heinrich by Gottfried Keller

books read in April
book 55: De Cock en de dwaze maagden by A.C. Baantjer
book 56: Wachten op het donker (The Night is for Hunting, Tomorrow 6) by John Marsden
book 57: Een andere kant van vrijheid (The Other side of Dawn, Tomorrow 7) by John Marsden
book 58: Oeroeg (The Black Lake) by Hella Haasse, 79 pages
book 59: De duivelse droom (The Devil's novice) by Ellis Peters
book 60: De man die kon rekenen (The Man Who Counted) by Malba Tahan
book 61: Zondeval (The Hanging Valley, Inspector Banks 4) by Peter Robinson
book 62: Meisje, vrouw, anders (Girl, woman, other) by Bernardine Evaristo
book 63: Van oude mensen, de dingen die voorbijgaan (Old People and The Things That Pass) by Louis Couperus
book 64: Over liefde en over niets anders by Toon Tellegen
book 65: Jheronimus Bosch: Visioenen van een genie (Hieronymus Bosch: Visions of Genius) by Matthijs Ilsink
book 66: Drie dingen over Elsie (Three Things About Elsie) by Joanna Cannon
book 67: De waarheid over honden (The Truth about Dogs) by Stephen Budiansky
book 68: De naam van mijn vader by Rindert Kromhout
book 69: De vriend (The friend) by Sigrid Nunez
book 70: De vergelding (The dark vineyard) by Martin Walker
book 71: De drie musketiers (The Three Musketeers) by Alexandre Dumas
book 72: Leon & Juliette by Annejet van der Zijl
book 73: Alles tegen (Odds Against) by Dick Francis
book 74: Het jaar van de tuinier (The Gardener's Year) by Karel Čapek
book 75: Winnetou (Winnetou) by Karl May
book 76: Verloren woorden (The lost words) by Robert Macfarlane
book 77: Smalle paden (Thin Paths) by Julia Blackburn
book 78: Foon by Marente de Moor
book 79: Archief van verloren kinderen (Lost Children Archive) by Valeria Luiselli
book 80: De drieëntwintig dagen van de stad Alba (The Twenty-three Days of the City of Alba) by Beppe Fenoglio
book 81: Tussen Orinoco en Amazone (In Trouble Again) by Redmond O'Hanlon
book 82: Afscheid van Berlijn (Goodbye to Berlin) by Christopher Isherwood
book 83: Volwassenen onder elkaar (Adults In The Room) by Yanis Varoufakis
book 84: De Schotse marsen (The Marches) by Rory Stewart
book 85: De heilige Rita (The Blessed Rita) by Tommy Wieringa
book 86: De jaren (The Years) by Annie Ernaux

8FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:10 am

books read in May
book 87: De 3 bestaat niet by Gerbrand Bakker
book 88: De vermiste prins (The Missing Prince, Rangers Apprentice 15) by John Flanagan
book 89: Een vrouw in de poolnacht (A Woman in the Polar Night) by Christiane Ritter
book 90: De eerste wandelaar by Flip van Doorn
book 91: Grijs verleden (Field Grey, Bernie Gunther 7) by Philip Kerr
book 92: Het geheime netwerk van de natuur (The Secret Network of Nature) by Peter Wohlleben
book 93: Een paleis voor de doden by Herman Clerinx
book 94: Overtuiging (Persuation) by Jane Austen
book 95: Ik aanbid je (Falling in Love, Brunetti 24) by Donna Leon
book 96: Het zout der aarde (Salt of the Earth) by Józef Wittlin
book 97: De hengelaars van Castelnau (The origin of the world) by Pierre Michon
book 98: Het pad der dolken (The Path of Daggers, Wheel of time 8) by Robert Jordan
book 99: De Cock en de dode tempeliers by A.C. Baantjer
book 100: Brekebeen (Bonecrack) by Dick Francis
book 101: Wit konijn, rode wolf (White Rabbit, Red Wolf) by Tom Pollock
book 102: Asterix en het gouden snoeimes (Asterix and the Golden Sickle) by René Goscinny
book 103: Vlucht van de havik (Celtic bride) by Margo Maguire
book 104: Als het zaterdag wordt (Saturday Requiem, Frieda Klein 6) by Nicci French
book 105: Een lied voor Achilles (The Song of Achilles) by Madeline Miller
book 106: De betovering van lijsten (The infinity of lists: from Homer to Joyce) by Umberto Eco
book 107: Piranesi (Piranesi) by Susanna Clarke
book 108: Portnoy's klacht (Portnoy's Complaint) by Philip Roth
book 109: In het licht van de vuurtoren (The lightkeeper's daughters) by Jean E. Pendziwol
book 110: De onbeduidende Jude (Jude the Obscure) by Thomas Hardy
book 111: De passievrucht (A Father's Affair) by Karel Glastra van Loon
book 112: De vergaderzaal by A. Alberts
book 113: De zwarte heuvel (On the black hill) by Bruce Chatwin
book 114: Rituelen (Rituals) by Cees Nooteboom
book 115: De bibliotheek bij nacht (The library at night) by Alberto Manguel
book 116: Getemde schoonheid (Briana) by Ruth Langan
book 117: Ik wou (I Wish) by Toon Tellegen
book 118: Quarantaine by Ilja Leonard Pfeiffer
book 119: Claudius de God (Claudius the God) by Robert Graves
book 120: De Cock en de blijde Bacchus by A.C. Baantjer
book 121: Zondagochtend breekt aan (Sunday Silence) by Nicci French

books read in June
book 122: De dag van de doden (The Day of the Dead, Frieda Klein 8) by Nicci French
book 123: De essays (The Complete Essays) by Michel de Montaigne
book 124: Connemara: Luisterend naar de wind (Connemara. Listening to the Wind) by Tim Robinson
book 125: Vrijwilliger in Spanje (Volunteer in Spain) by John Sommerfield
book 126: De zwarte diamant (Black Diamond) by Martin Walker
book 127: Circe (Circe) by Madeline Miller
book 128: In Siberië (In Siberia) by Colin Thubron
book 129: БAM : een reis van niets naar niets by Jelle Brandt Corstius
book 130: Sneeuwblind (Snowblind) by Ragnar Jónasson
book 131: Robinson Crusoe (Robinson Crusoë) by Daniel Defoe
book 132: Het geluid van de berg (The Sound of the Mountain) by Yasunari Kawabata
book 133: Wat wij zagen by Hanna Bervoets
book 134: Geachte Muizenpoot en achttien andere gedichten by F. ten Harmsen van der Beek
book 135: De tijgerkat. Herinneringen aan mijn kindertijd en andere verhalen by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
book 136: Cliënt E. Busken by Jeroen Brouwers
book 137: Wraak en andere novellen (Legends of the Fall) by Jim Harrison
book 138: De gierzwaluw by Remco Daalder
book 139: Een roos van vlees (A Rose of Flesh) by Jan Wolkers
book 140: Het veelkleurig land (The Many-Colored Land) by Julian May
book 141: De 90ste verjaardag van Louis van Roosgaarde by Jan Terlouw
book 142: De gouden halsring (The Golden Torc) by Julian May
book 143: De druiven der gramschap (The Grapes of Wrath) by John Steinbeck
book 144: Johannes Viator by Frederik van Eeden
book 145: De troonveroveraar (The Nonborn King) by Julian May

9FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 13, 2021, 5:23 pm

books read in July
book 146: De tegenstrever (The Adversary) by Julian May
book 147: Kapitein Corelli's mandoline (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) by Louis de Bernieres
book 148: Aristoteles & Dante ontdekken de geheimen van het universum (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
book 149: Bij gaslicht by F. Bordewijk
book 150: Een jaar uit het leven van Gesine Cresspahl (Anniversaries: From a Year in the Life of Gesine Cresspahl) by Uwe Johnson
book 151: Bonjour tristesse (Bonjour tristesse) by Françoise Sagan
book 152: De ziener by Simon Vestdijk
book 153: Tokio mon amour (A Tokyo romance) by Ian Buruma
book 154: Eeuwige jeugd (The Waters of Eternal Youth; ; Brunetti 25) by Donna Leon
book 155: De Peloponnesische oorlog (The History of the Peloponnesian War) by Thucydides
book 156: De N.V. Mateor by Havank
book 157: De Patrick Melrose-romans (The Complete Patrick Melrose Novels) by Edward St Aubyn
book 158: Pluk de dag (Seize the Day) by Saul Bellow
book 159: Heidi: kind van de bergen (Heidi) by Johanna Spyri
book 160: De rekening (The invoice) by Jonas Karlsson
book 161: Het behouden huis (An Untouched House) by Willem Frederik Hermans
book 162: Shuggie Bain (Shuggie Bain) by Douglas Stuart
book 163: Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat by Benny Lindelauf
book 164: De gouden speld (Dead Man's Ransom; Cadfael 9) by Ellis Peters
book 165: De outdoorwaanzin by Are Kalvø
book 166: Het stille huis (The House in the Forest) by Michèle Desbordes
book 167: De trein naar Pavlovsk en Oostvoorne by Toon Tellegen
book 168: Huivering (A Song for Drowned Souls; Martin Servaz 2) by Bernard Minier
book 169: De gevangene (The Captive; In search of lost time 5) by Marcel Proust

books read in August 2021
book 170: Een bijna volmaakte vriendschap (I Called Him Necktie) by Milena Michiko Flašar
book 171: De wilde vrouwen van Pella by Theun de Vries
book 172: Hart van de winter (Winter's Heart; Wheel of Time 9) by Robert Jordan
book 173: In tijden van afnemend licht (In Times of Fading Light) by Eugen Ruge
book 174: 't Hooge Nest (The Sisters of Auschwitz) by Roxane van Iperen
book 175: Fandorin (The Winter Queen; Erast Fandorin 1) by Boris Akoenin
book 176: De wetten van water (Stillicide) by Cynan Jones
book 177: De klokkenluider van de Notre Dame (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) by Victor Hugo
book 178: De zusterklokken (The Bell in the Lake) by Lars Mytting
book 179: De Indiase bruid (Calling Out for You; Konrad Sejer 5) by Karin Fossum
book 180: De Cock en moord op bestelling by A.C. Baantjer
book 181: Gösta Berling (The Saga of Gösta Berling) by Selma Lagerlöf
book 182: De lachende politieman (The Laughing Policeman; Martin Beck 4) by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
book 183: Het wonder dat niet omvalt by Ernest van der Kwast
book 184: Witte tanden (White Teeth) by Zadie Smith
book 185: Thomas Mann en de zijnen (Thomas Mann and His Family) by Marcel Reich-Ranicki
book 186: Een klein leven (A Little Life) by Hanya Yanagihara
book 187: Bloedgeld (Hot money) by Dick Francis
book 188: De goede oude man en het mooie jonge meisje (The Nice Old Man and the Pretty Girl) by Italo Svevo
book 189: 1794 by Niklas Natt och Dag
book 190: Zwemmen in het donker (Swimming in the dark) by Tomasz Jedrowski
book 191: Reis naar het einde van de nacht (Journey to the End of the Night) by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
book 192: Vermoedens omtrent Jakob (Speculations about Jakob) by Uwe Johnson
book 193: De tuin van de familie Finzi-Contini (The Garden of the Finzi-Continis) by Giorgio Bassani

10FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:12 am

Monthly statistics
January: 18 books / 5.137 pages / 165,7 ppd
February: 20 books / 5.689 pages / 203,2 ppd
March: 16 books / 5.805 pages / 187,3 ppd
April: 32 books / 9.247 pages / 308,2 ppd
May: 35 books / 9.682 pages / 312,3 ppd
June: 24 books / 8.547 pages / 284,9 ppd
July: 24 books / 9.501 pages / 306,95 ppd
August: 24 books / 8.180 pages / 263,87 ppd

--
Previous threads in 2021
book 1 - 18: thread 1
book 19 - 38: thread 2
book 39 - 54: thread 3
book 55 - 86: thread 4
book 87 - 121: thread 5
book 122 - 145: thread 6
book 146 - 169: thread 7
book 170 - 193: thread 8

--
My reading in previous years
2008: 130 books - 35.152 pages (96,0 ppd)
2009:   78 books - 21.470 pages (58,8 ppd)
2010: 121 books - 38.209 pages (104,7 ppd)
2011:   84 books - 30.256 pages (82,9 ppd)
2012:   53 books - 18.779 pages (51,3 ppd)
2013:   13 books - 3.692 pages (10,1 ppd)
2014:   17 books - 3.700 pages (10,1 ppd)
2015:   29 books - 10.080 pages (27,6 ppd)
2016: 253 books - 72.391 pages (197,8 ppd)
2017: 453 books - 110.222 pages (302,0 ppd)
2018: 534 books - 111.906 pages (306,6 ppd)
2019: 413 books - 110.873 pages (303,8 ppd)
2020: 226 books - 79.216 pages (216,4 ppd)

--
Lists on my WikiThing
My best books by year list.
My Five star reads.
The books by Nobel prize winners I have read

Working on: Booker prize winners; Dutch prize winners

11FAMeulstee
Modificato: Ott 2, 2021, 2:20 am

Series I read, a list to keep track

Alan Banks by Peter Robinson (re-read 4/20)
1 Stille blik; 2 Nachtlicht; 3 Tegenstroom; 4 Zondeval; 5 Schijnbeeld; 6 Woensdagkind; 7 Zwanenzang; 8 Innocent Graves (not translated); 9 Dead Right (not translated); 10 Verdronken verleden; 11 Kil als het graf; 12 Nasleep; 13 Onvoltooide zomer; 14 Vuurspel; 15 Drijfzand; 16 Hartzeer; 17 Duivelsgebroed; 18 Overmacht; 19 Uitschot; 20 Dwaalspoor; 21 Dankbare dood; 22 Slachthuisblues; 23 When the Music's Over (not translated); 24 Sleeping in the Ground (not translated); 25 Careless Love (not translated); 26 Many Rivers to Cross (not translated)

Ari Thór Arason by Ragnar Jónasson 1/3
1 Sneeuwblind; 2 Inktzwart; 3 Poolnacht

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

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

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 57/70

Erast Fandorin by Boris Akoenin 2/7
1 Fandorin; 2 Turks gambiet; 3 Leviathan; 4 De dood van Achilles; 5 Bijzondere opdrachten; 6 Staatsraad; 7 De kroning

Frieda Klein by Nicci French 8/8
1 Blauwe maandag; 2 Dinsdag is voorbij; 3 Wachten op woensdag; 4 Donderdagskinderen; 5 Denken aan vrijdag; 6 Als het zaterdag wordt; 7 Zondagochtend breekt aan; 8 De dag van de doden

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

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 25/29
1 Dood van een maestro; 2 Dood in den vreemde; 3 De dood draagt rode schoenen; 4 Salto mortale; 5 Acqua alta; 6 Een stille dood; 7 Nobiltà; 8 Fatalità; 9 Vriendendienst; 10 Onrustig tij; 11 Bedrieglijke zaken; 12 De stille elite; 13 Verborgen bewijs; 14 Vertrouwelijke zaken; 15 Duister glas; 16 Kinderspel; 17 Droommeisje; 18 Gezichtsverlies; 19 Een kwestie van vertrouwen; 20 Dodelijke conclusies; 21 Beestachtige zaken; 22 Het onbekende kind; 23 Tussen de regels; 24 Ik aanbid je; 25 Eeuwige jeugd; 26 Wat niet verdwijnt; 27 Vergiffenis; 28 De troonopvolger; 29 Duister water

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

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 5/14
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest; 4 De duivel draagt het licht; 5 De Indiase bruid; 6 Zwarte seconden; 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn; 8 Een andere voorkeur; 9 Kwade wil; 10 De waarschuwer; 11 Veenbrand; 12 De fluisteraar; 13 De verduistering; 14 Zwanenzang

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

Martin Servaz by Bernard Minier 2/5
1 Een kille rilling; 2 Huivering; 3 Verduistering; 4 Schemering; 5 Weerzin; 6 Afdaling

Op zoek naar de verloren tijd (In Search of Lost Time) by Marcel Proust 6/7
1 De kant van Swann; 2 In de schaduw van meisjes in bloei; 3 De kant van Guermantes; 4 Sodom en Gomorra; 5 De gevangene; 6 De voortvluchtige; 7 De tijd hervonden

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

12FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:14 am

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

1901 Sully Prudhomme
1902 Theodor Mommsen
1903 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
1904 Frédéric Mistral
1904 José Echegaray y Eizaguirre
1905 Henryk Sienkiewicz
1906 Giosuè Carducci
1907 Rudyard Kipling
1908 Rudolf Christoph Eucken
1909 Selma Lagerlöf
1910 Paul Heyse
1911 Maurice Maeterlinck
1912 Gerhart Hauptmann
1913 Rabindranath Tagore
1915 Romain Rolland
1916 Verner von Heidenstam
1917 Karl Adolph Gjellerup
1917 Henrik Pontoppidan
1919 Carl Spitteler
1920 Knut Hamsun
1921 Anatole France
1922 Jacinto Benavente
1923 William Butler Yeats
1924 Władysław Reymont
1925 George Bernard Shaw
1926 Grazia Deledda
1927 Henri Bergson
1928 Sigrid Undset
1929 Thomas Mann
1930 Sinclair Lewis
1931 Erik Axel Karlfeldt
1932 John Galsworthy
1933 Ivan Boenin
1934 Luigi Pirandello
1936 Eugene O'Neill
1937 Roger Martin du Gard
1938 Pearl S. Buck
1939 Frans Eemil Sillanpää
1944 Johannes Vilhelm Jensen
1945 Gabriela Mistral
1946 Hermann Hesse
1947 André Gide
1948 T.S. Elliot
1949 William Faulkner
1950 Bertrand Russell
1951 Pär Lagerkvist
1952 François Mauriac
1953 Sir Winston Churchill
1954 Ernest Hemingway
1955 Halldór Laxness
1956 Juan Ramón Jiménez
1957 Albert Camus
1958 Boris Pasternak
1959 Salvatore Quasimodo
1960 Saint-John Perse
1961 Ivo Andrić
1962 John Steinbeck
1963 Giorgos Seferis
1964 Jean-Paul Sartre
1965 Michail Sjolochov
1966 Sjmoeël Joseef Agnon
1966 Nelly Sachs
1967 Miguel Ángel Asturias
1968 Yasunari Kawabata
1969 Samuel Beckett
1970 Aleksandr Solzjenitsyn
1971 Pablo Neruda
1972 Heinrich Böll
1973 Patrick White
1974 Eyvind Johnson
1974 Harry Martinson
1975 Eugenio Montale
1976 Saul Bellow
1977 Vincente Aleixandre
1978 Isaac Bashevis Singer
1979 Odysseas Elytis
1980 Czesław Miłosz
1981 Elias Canetti
1982 Gabriel Garciá Márquez
1983 William Golding
1984 Jaroslav Seifert
1985 Claude Simon
1986 Wole Soyinka
1987 Joseph Brodsky
1988 Nagieb Mahfoez
1989 Camilo José Cela
1990 Octavio Paz
1991 Nadine Gordimer
1992 Derek Walcott
1993 Toni Morrison
1994 Kenzaburo Oë
1995 Seamus Heaney
1996 Wisława Szymborska
1997 Dario Fo
1998 José Saramago
1999 Günter Grass
2000 Gao Xingjian
2001 V.S. Naipaul
2002 Imre Kertész
2003 John Maxwell Coetzee
2004 Elfriede Jelinek
2005 Harold Pinter
2006 Orhan Pamuk
2007 Doris Lessing
2008 J.M.G. Le Clézio
2009 Herta Müller
2010 Mario Vargas Llosa
2011 Tomas Tranströmer
2012 Mo Yan
2013 Alice Munro
2014 Patrick Modiano
2015 Svetlana Alexievich
2016 Bob Dylan
2017 Kazuo Ishiguro
2018 Olga Tokarczuk
2019 Peter Handke
2020 Louise Glück

13FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 23, 2021, 6:55 am

Books acquired in 2021: 31

January (2)
De dood in Rome - Wolfgang Koeppen
Veerman - Emile Verhaeren

February (5)
In weerwil van de woorden - Dimitri Verhulst
Ik wou - Toon Tellegen
Gebroken wit - Astrid Roemer
De melancholie van het verzet - Lásló Krasznahorkai
De reparatie van de wereld - Slobodan Šnajder

March (2)
Olga en haar driekwartsmaten - Astrid Roemer
Alles tegen - Dick Francis

April (4)
Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat - Benny Lindelauf
Winnetou - Karl May
Bloedgeld - Dick Francis
Brekebeen - Dick Francis

May (13)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 1 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 2 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 3 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 4 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 5 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 6 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood. Deel 7 - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Nieuwe wandelingen door Nederland met pen en potlood - J. Craandijk (e-book)
Radetzkymars - Joseph Roth
De wereld van gisteren - Stefan Zweig
Het zout der aarde - Józef Wittlin
Cliënt E. Busken - Jeroen Brouwers
Wat wij zagen - Hanna Bervoets

August (4)
Strijd en metamorfose van een vrouw - Édouard Louis
Een bijna volmaakte vriendschap - Milena Michiko Flašar
Tonio Kröger en andere verhalen - Thomas Mann
Een beter milieu begint niet bij jezelf - Jaap Tielbeke (e-book)

September (1)
Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera - Nicholas Chambers

14FAMeulstee
Set 1, 2021, 8:58 am

Welcome!

15scaifea
Set 1, 2021, 9:29 am

Happy new thread, Anita!

I *love* Nemo - thanks for sharing those stories!

16FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 1, 2021, 9:37 am

>15 scaifea: Thank you, Amber!
Nemo was loved by everyone he met, the best dog we ever had.

17Crazymamie
Set 1, 2021, 9:45 am

Happy new one, Anita! Your moving tribute to Nemo made me smile. You made him come alive for me, and I could picture him jumping into that taxi and refusing to come out until he had gotten a ride. Clever boy!

18FAMeulstee
Set 1, 2021, 10:34 am

>17 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie, Nemo was a very special dog. He really knew how things worked, and how to get things done his way, in a very charming way. I remember one of the first times he sat in a car, looking what Frank did behind the wheel. It started to rain, so Frank turned on the whipers. He did get that the whipers started after Frank did something, but clearly wondered why they kept whiping the windshield, without Frank doing anything. ;-)

19Crazymamie
Set 1, 2021, 10:46 am

Too funny!

20Caroline_McElwee
Set 1, 2021, 11:47 am

>1 FAMeulstee: Loved reading about Nemo, Anita. We had a dog when I was a kid that when off the lead would get on buses we weren't intending to get, and were lucky to notice and get on to fetch him. We kept him on a lead near bus routes after that.

21drneutron
Set 1, 2021, 1:06 pm

Happy new thread!

22Familyhistorian
Set 1, 2021, 1:53 pm

Happy new thread, Anita!

23jnwelch
Set 1, 2021, 2:26 pm

Happy New Thread, Anita.

What a great tribute you wrote to Nemo. I loved all the stories, including his ride in the cab - and a police car. He must have had great charm.

24FAMeulstee
Set 1, 2021, 3:01 pm

>19 Crazymamie: I often smile when I think of Nemo, Mamie.

>20 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caronline, he was our 'once in a lifetime' dog.
Ah, your clever dog loved a busride. Keeping him on a lead near bus stops was certainly the best solution.

>21 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

25FAMeulstee
Set 1, 2021, 3:04 pm

>22 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg!

>23 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe.
Nemo was able to melt an iceberg with his charm ;-)
We had nearly 12 wondeful years with him.

26quondame
Set 1, 2021, 3:59 pm

Happy new thread!

>1 FAMeulstee: What an amazing dog with such stories! It is no wonder that people with pets live longer and such pets as Nemo not only save us but give us reason to go on. I do believe in dog.

27johnsimpson
Set 1, 2021, 4:35 pm

Hi Anita my dear, Happy New Thread. Hope all is well with you and Frank and that you are having a good week so far.

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

28jessibud2
Set 1, 2021, 5:18 pm

Happy new thread, Anita. I loved the taxi and wipers stories! What a character!

29EllaTim
Set 1, 2021, 5:40 pm

Happy new thread, Anita. Wonderful stories of your dog Nemo. Having a beer with the motor gang, wise dog.

30PaulCranswick
Set 1, 2021, 8:51 pm

Happy new thread, Anita.

Your lovely anecdotes remind me of why I miss not having a dog.

31Whisper1
Set 1, 2021, 9:13 pm

WOW, Anita, You read quite a lot of books thus far this year. Nemo was a beautiful, and very intelligent dog!

It is amazing how our dogs, both past and current retain a special place in our heart!

32SirThomas
Set 2, 2021, 2:53 am

Happy New Thread, Anita!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful Nemo-stories - I get fond memories of our dog - long ago.
You have impressive statistics - in hiking and with books.
All the best.

33FAMeulstee
Set 2, 2021, 3:41 am

>26 quondame: Thank you, Susan.
We are without dog now, as my husband has a servere allergy and I don't need a dog as much as I used to. But I do cherish the memories of sharing our life with dogs for 35 years. Nemo, and his successors, gave me so much. Yes, I also believe in dog.

>27 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, we are fine.
Frank doesn't have to work this week, only a short meeting with his boss this afternoon. So we are enjoying some lovely lazy days, with lots of time for me to read.
Love and hugs to you and Karen.

34FAMeulstee
Set 2, 2021, 3:47 am

>28 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley, glad you enjoyed my stories. Nemo was one of a kind.

>29 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. Nemo was the first pup we raised. He was a wise dog, an old soul as my father in law used to call it.

>30 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
I sometimes miss them too, I hope someday you get the chance to have a dog again.

35FAMeulstee
Set 2, 2021, 3:57 am

>31 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda, Nemo was beautiful, intelligent, caring, and stubborn. He sure left is pawprints in our hearts. Dogs are wonderful companions, like Simon and now Lily to you.

>32 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, I love thinking back with a smile about past dogs.
The books keeep treating me well, and I can hardly remember there were times we didn't walk/hike this much. Two and a half kilometer with the dogs was a very long walk back then, now we go for five or more on most days.

36Sakerfalcon
Set 2, 2021, 5:26 am

Happy new thread Anita! Nemo sounds like a wonderful character.

37FAMeulstee
Set 2, 2021, 6:02 am

>36 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, Nemo was a great dog. Ari was a bit like him, in a smaller package.
I do visit your thread regular, but haven't had much to say over there lately.

38Whane1974
Modificato: Set 2, 2021, 6:21 am

Questo utente è stato eliminato perché considerato spam.

39richardderus
Set 2, 2021, 3:15 pm

I enjoyed the "Nemo in the Taxi" story! The idea he'd do it in a police car, too, is very funny.

I'm glad August was a good month for you, too, and here's to hoping we can end 2021 better than we started it.

40FAMeulstee
Set 2, 2021, 5:12 pm

>39 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear. You can imagine how pleased Nemo was when we moved elsewhere in the city three years later, and finally got a car of our own.

Some months were good, some months not so, I hope we are heading for better towards the end of the year. Although the pandemic will still be around...

41richardderus
Set 2, 2021, 7:28 pm

Normally I am a person who Knows My Own Mind. Startling, I realize, for you to hear this...as I've always been such a soft-spoken crowd-goer-alonger.

Stop laughing.

Anyway. I need help. The wisdom of the crowd is sought to help be decide between two equally strong contenders for Read of the Month. I am simply incapable to unparalyzing myself from the FOMO I get thinking about this problem.

Please vote on the poll or you will be directly responsible for my re-admission to the Goofy Garage this birthmonth.

42msf59
Modificato: Set 2, 2021, 10:09 pm

Happy New Thread, Anita. Wow! Nemo was a beauty. I am not sure I ever saw a black chow before or heard of a friendly one. Smiles...My cousins had chows many years ago and they were not very social.

43FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 3, 2021, 4:35 am

>41 richardderus: Thanks for making me smile in the morning, Mr Usually Knows His Mind ;-)
I voted, but I am afraid no help in it.

>42 msf59: Thank you Mark. I wish you could have met one of our Chow Chows, they were all friendly. Of course they were well socialised in their first 4 months. Nemo was the most social of them, the others were a bit more reserved towards strangers. But given some time, they all would make friends.

44FAMeulstee
Set 3, 2021, 4:54 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#194: De grote ronde : een wandeling by Thomas Rosenboom
#195: Lotte in Weimar (The Beloved Returns) by Thomas Mann

Reading now:
Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald
Ons soort mensen by Juli Zeh

45kidzdoc
Set 3, 2021, 9:58 pm

Hi, Anita! I enjoyed your review of A Little Life in your previous thread. This was the first review I've read that made me want to read it. I have it on my Kindle, and I'll try to get to it sometime next year.

46FAMeulstee
Set 4, 2021, 6:06 am

>45 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl. I was very impressed by A Little Life. I hope you find the time to read it, it is a big tome.

47charl08
Set 4, 2021, 6:41 pm

Hi Anita, loved the stories about Nemo. I have the Bassanio you read on my list, I read one of the related stories recently.

48LovingLit
Set 4, 2021, 9:28 pm

So impressed by your walking trips! (>1 FAMeulstee:)
Is Flevoland mostly agricultural land then? And, if so, is this because there is risk of flooding?

49figsfromthistle
Set 4, 2021, 10:33 pm

Happy new one!

50FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 5, 2021, 4:43 am

>47 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
How did you like Bassanio? After reading The Garden of the Finzi-Continis I have put the other five books about Ferrara on my list.

>48 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan, it was fun to walk around the Flevopolder.
The polder was made to get more agricultural land. The Netherlands is a small country with a large population. The last winter in WWII had been very bad for people in the west, many died of hunger. So right after WWII the government wanted to make sure to provide enough food for the whole population. That ment more land was needed for agriculture, so the Flevopolder was created.

Not much risk for flooding. The Afsluitdijk, build in the 1930s, is the main barrier against the sea. It was recently made higher, because of expected sea level rise, due to climate change. The Afsluitdijk is the yellow line on this map:


A polder like the Flevopolder is created by building a dike in the water, around the polder to be. When the water is closed in by the dike, the pumping starts, moving the water from the polder until it is dry. The pumps can work both ways, this way the groudwater level can be kept stable, making the polder a perfect agricurtural area.
Well that was probably more information than you expected ;-)

>49 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

51LovingLit
Set 5, 2021, 4:45 am

Thank you so much for explaining that to me! That is really interesting. It is such a novel concept for us in NZ where, generally, we resist modifying coastal areas too much. (We have however modified our rivers a lot in the pursuit of hydroelecticity...although this flooded a town, and a lot of productive land as well as beautiful natural areas and animal habitats, it has meant we can produce a lot of renewable electricity here.)
Isn't it fascinating the while insurance premiums rise and seal walls are built higher, there are still climate change deniers out there.

52FAMeulstee
Set 5, 2021, 5:05 am

>51 LovingLit: You are welcome, Megan. I love to talk about this. And to understand the differences in landscape, giving different posssiblilities in use. Keeping coastal areas in tact sounds good to me.
Over here hydroelectricity is no option, our country is mostly flat. So renewable energy comes mostly from windturbines and solar panels.

Luckely our civil engeneers go after science, not many climate deniers amongst them. They make the plans to keep our country safe in the future. We had recently floodings in the south-east, after very much rain in a short time small rivers became suddenly big rivers. This has happened before in the 1990s, and some had been done since, but not enough. Now the civil engeneers have make more plans to prevent it as much as possible in the future.

53karenmarie
Set 5, 2021, 10:01 am

Hi Anita, and belated Happy New Thread!

>1 FAMeulstee: Aw, Nemo. What a clever fellow and true friend, especially in your most desperate moments.

>50 FAMeulstee: Fascinating about the Afsluitdijk. Thanks for sharing.

You’re coming up on 200 books, too…

54richardderus
Set 5, 2021, 12:52 pm

I think the Dutch model is one we all need to look at very carefully to emulate as climate change and a rising ocean make coastlines more mutable.

Happy week-ahead's reads!

55witchyrichy
Set 5, 2021, 3:28 pm

What a noble dog! Thanks for sharing stories of Nemo. Happy new thread!

>54 richardderus: I think there is much about the Dutch model in many things that we should look at!

56FAMeulstee
Set 5, 2021, 5:37 pm

>53 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen!
It was a pleasure to have shared my life with Nemo, he was a very special dog.
For centuries the Dutch have made dikes to protect land against the water, later land was created. I love to tell about it all.

>54 richardderus: I think Dutch companies were involved in projects in New Orleans after Katrina, Richard, and that they did make a difference with Ida.

>55 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen!
There are more stories to tell about Nemo than I could ever write down, he was one of a kind.

57FAMeulstee
Set 5, 2021, 5:45 pm

Read, not yet reviewed:
#194: De grote ronde : een wandeling by Thomas Rosenboom
#195: 195: Lotte in Weimar (The Beloved Returns) by Thomas Mann
#196: Ons soort mensen by Juli Zeh
#197: Strijd om de kathedraal by Jacques Vriens

Reading now:
Alles op de fiets by Rutger Kopland
Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald
Beschadigd (Damage) by Felix Francis
De verborgen geschiedenis (The Secret History) by Donna Tartt

58richardderus
Set 5, 2021, 5:48 pm

>56 FAMeulstee:, >55 witchyrichy: The work done after Katrina was absolutely effective. More people died in New Jersey than in all of Louisiana!

That boggles my mind.

And now Hurricane Larry bids fair to do some serious damage to our beaches here on Long Island. It's all happening faster than I myownself had hoped it would.

59FAMeulstee
Set 5, 2021, 6:50 pm

>58 richardderus: I didn't expect either that the weather would change so fast, Richard dear.
But still most politicans choose to ignore it, as real necessary changes would affect the life of their voters.
A next hurricane on it's way? Scary!

60jessibud2
Set 5, 2021, 8:49 pm

>59 FAMeulstee: - Sadly, Anita, you are right. I think most politicians are more concerned with getting votes than they are about doing the hard work involved in real change. Real change involves hard work, collaboration and spending lots of money. Most politicians know this wouldn't be popular so they say words that are meaningless and then do nothing so the responsibility (and sometimes, the blame, when things go wrong) will fall to their successors. Human nature, I guess. Or, political nature, more likely. Imagine how much tragedy and hardship might be avoided (everywhere) if the leaders we elect actually behaved responsibly and made the tough decisions so that life would be safer and better for their citizens!

61The_Hibernator
Set 6, 2021, 11:45 am

Hi Anita!

>60 jessibud2: Well said.

I'm starting Ranger's Apprentice again! lol. I'll finish this baby!

62FAMeulstee
Set 6, 2021, 3:30 pm

>60 jessibud2: It is sad indeed, Shelley, how in all western democracies most politicans are seeking short term gain, instead of long term solutions. Covid has shown some CAN take measures when forced to do so.

>61 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel, so good to see a message from you!
One day you are going to read all the Ranger's Apprentice books. There are a few more now ;-)

63streamsong
Set 6, 2021, 3:36 pm

Happy newish thread, Anita!

I loved your stories of Nemo. What an amazing fellow!



>50 FAMeulstee: Thank you for the interesting post! It sounds like Dutch companies will have a lot of knowledge to share as climate change progresses.

64FAMeulstee
Set 6, 2021, 4:30 pm

>63 streamsong: Thanks, Janet, and thank you so much for sharing the cartoon. I can imagine Nemo there :-)

The Dutch have been working with water for more than 400 years. Half of our country is below sealevel, so yes, a lot of knowledge here. Today our King and Ban Ki-Moon opened the new floating office of the Global Center on Adaptation, a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions around the world.
https://gca.org/news/his-majesty-king-willem-alexander-of-the-netherlands-to-ina...

65FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 8, 2021, 2:55 am


book 194: De grote ronde : een wandeling by Thomas Rosenboom
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 74 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book where the title implies a journey of some kind

Thomas Rosenboom lives in the center of Amsterdam, and likes to start the day with a walk. He always walks the same route, with little variations. He describes this route through the city, larded with some memories about certain places.
With a map of the route through Amsterdam.

Part of a series of short books about hiking, written by Dutch writers.

Title translated: The large round : a hike

66FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 8, 2021, 3:40 am


book 195: Lotte in Weimar by Thomas Mann
own, translated from German, English translation The Beloved Returns, 383 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where the authors last name has 6 characters or less

In 1816 Charlotte Kestner (the famous original Lotte, from Goethe's book The Sorrows of Young Werther) visits Weimar. She claims that is only a family visit to her sister, but she also wants to meet Goethe one last time after 44 years.
As soon as the word is out, that Lotte returned to Weimar, people want to see her. Through the eyes of Adele Schopenhauer and Goethe's son, who visit her, we get to know the old man Goethe. In the end Charlotte does meet Goethe at a diner at his place.

Written while Thomas Mann was in exile in Switzerland, a refugee from the Nazi-regime. Goethe does criticize the German nation and the national character, "predicting" the rise of Hitler.

Dutch title translated: Lotte in Weimar

67FAMeulstee
Set 8, 2021, 3:52 am


book 196: Ons soort mensen by Juli Zeh
library, e-book, translated from German, no English translation, 669 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where the authors last name has 6 characters or less

The quiet life in a small vilage in Brandenburg (former East Germany) is gone, when plans are revealed to build some wind turbines. Conflicts arise, old grieves and mistrusts come back, life isn't quiet anymore. Through the eyes of several inhabitants, some who lived there their whole life, some recent "western" imports, we find out what happened during the communist and more recent years. Meanwhile the fight between some inhabitants escalates.

I had high hopes for this book, Juli Zeh is often highly praised. I might have liked the story a bit better, if I hadn't expectations. It was a good read, but not extra ordinary.

Title translated: Our kind of people

68FAMeulstee
Set 8, 2021, 4:05 am


book 197: Strijd om de kathedraal by Jacques Vriens
library, e-book, YA, Dutch, no translations, 190 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book with something in the title referring to religious worship

The Netherlands, 15th century. Thies is the son of the site manager of the new cathedral that is being build. His grandfather started the work, and he is supposed to follow up his father. But Thies has other dreams. One day he meets a blind girl, Mette, her father works as a porter at the site of new cathedral. They accidently get into the middle of conflicts, as some people think a large cathedral is, like the tower of Babylon, no good in the eyes of God.

A mildly amusing historical YA, mainly read to fill a TIOLI Challenge.

Title translated: Fight about the cathedral

69brewbooks
Set 8, 2021, 4:01 pm

>12 FAMeulstee: The idea to read Nobel winners in Literature is wonderful. I think I will adopt it. I am an engineer with little knowledge of literature so this we be a good way to expand my horizons. Thanks for the inspiration.

70FAMeulstee
Set 8, 2021, 4:11 pm

>69 brewbooks: You are very welcome. This list is found on various threads in the group, I also got it from somewhere else. Looking forward to your future Nobel winner reads!

71richardderus
Set 8, 2021, 6:17 pm

>67 FAMeulstee: I know only a few of Juli Zeh's books have been translated into English, but I've got the latest...New Year...on my Kindle. She strikes me as a very interesting writer and I want to get to know her work.

>66 FAMeulstee: You're more generous than I. It would barely squeak to a three from me. It felt as though Mann was scolding the badly behaved rich kid in the class, enjoying a little too much the freedom to be nasty, so abusing it.

72FAMeulstee
Set 9, 2021, 3:15 am

>71 richardderus: Juli Zeh is certainly an interesting writer, Richard dear, and I will read more. As I said, may expectations might have been to high. Let new know when you get to New Year, I might join you.

Not nasty, it didn't read like that at all. Mann loved Goethe. Some characters have problems with Goethe, and that shines through their conversations with Charlotte. There is some keeping up appearances at the diner. I had the raving essay of Reich-Ranecki (in Thomas Mann and His Family, that I read last month) still in mind, that made me pick up the book.

73FAMeulstee
Set 9, 2021, 5:51 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#198: Beschadigd (Damage) by Felix Francis
#199: De verborgen geschiedenis (The Secret History) by Donna Tartt

Reading now:
Alles op de fiets by Rutger Kopland
Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald
Kameraad Baron (Comrade Baron) by Jaap Scholten
Een wisse dood (The Pilgrim of Hate) by Ellis Peters

74PaulCranswick
Set 9, 2021, 11:03 pm

>69 brewbooks: & >70 FAMeulstee: Good luck John! I also have been keeping a track of my reading of all the Nobel Winners and I am over 70 laureates already. Some of the early fellows are extremely tough to track down in English.

Have a lovely weekend, Anita.

75FAMeulstee
Set 10, 2021, 9:03 am

>74 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, happy weekend to you.
It is fun to keep track this way, and to compare with others.
A complete list of all books by Nobel Prize Winners that I have read can be found on my LT-wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/User:FAMeulstee/Nobel_gelezen

76richardderus
Set 10, 2021, 10:17 am

Happy weekend whammys, Anita, and deep appreciation for your well of kindness to dead authors, which I do not possess I fear.

77charl08
Set 11, 2021, 4:17 am

I just read that Colm Toíbín has written a book about Mann, I think this might be the closest I come to actually reading him. >66 FAMeulstee:

78FAMeulstee
Set 11, 2021, 4:50 am

>76 richardderus: Happy weekend to you, Richard dear.
So many dead authors did write great books, I love many of the classics. Gladly we don't all have the same taste in reading.

>77 charl08: I have read al lot by and about Thomas Mann, Charlotte, he became one of my favorite writers.
I started with Bashan and I (also published as A Man and His Dog) in 2009, a fun read. I loved The Buddenbrooks and The Magic Mountain. The Dutch writer Rindert Kromhout wrote a YA trilogy about his son Klaus Mann, that gave me some insight in the family dynamics.

79Caroline_McElwee
Set 11, 2021, 6:35 pm

>78 FAMeulstee: Colm Tóibín has just written a novel about Thomas Mann, Anita. It's due out here next week, The Magician. Looking forward to it landing.

I preferred Couperus' quartet to Buddenbrooks, I still have The Magic Mountain on the tbr mountain.

80figsfromthistle
Set 11, 2021, 8:39 pm

I quite enjoy Thomas Mann. In my university days, I took a year long masterclass that covered many of his works. I will have to look out for Colm Tóibín's book about him.

Enjoy the rest of you weekend

81FAMeulstee
Set 12, 2021, 4:19 am

>79 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, I will be looking for the Tóibín book. It will take a while, first to be translated, and then to reach the library.
I loved both The Book of the Small Souls and Buddenbrooks, not sure wich one I prefer.

>80 figsfromthistle: Glad you also enjoy the books of Thomas Mann, Anita. How neat you took a masterclass about him.
Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

82msf59
Set 12, 2021, 7:07 am

Happy Sunday, Anita. I enjoyed Vesper Flights. I hope you do too. Speaking of Thomas Mann, I will be starting Colm Toibin's new historical novel, The Magician, which stars Mr. Mann.

83FAMeulstee
Set 12, 2021, 7:13 pm

>82 msf59: Thank you, Mark, I am enjoying Vesper Flights. I hope the Colm Tóibín book about Thomas Mann will be translated soon. I would love to read it. Looking forward to your thoughts about it.

84avatiakh
Set 12, 2021, 8:33 pm

Always interesting to visit your thread. I got halfway through The Magic Mountain a long while ago, pre-LT years, I put it to one side and never finished it. I feel like I could pick it up and just continue reading as it was quite memorable.
I also intended to read his brother's two books on Henri Quatre but only managed to get Young Henry of Navarre read. I must go back and read the second one, Henry, King of France.

Dog stories: My great aunt and her husband owned an Irish setter, Rafferty. They used to catch a ferry into the city for work. One day she had to leave work early and found Rafferty riding the ferry. On questioning, found out he rode the ferry all day, every day while they were at work. This would have been in the 1940s.

85FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 5:41 am

>84 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry, I hope you get to finishing Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain.
By his brother Heinrich I only have read The Blue Angel, and Man of Straw is patiently waiting on the shelves. I hope to read a book by his son Klaus this month: Kindernovelle en andere verhalen.

What a nice dog and family story. Rafferty found a nice way to pass the time, when his owners were at work :-)

86FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 5:52 am


book 198: Beschadigd by Felix Francis
library, e-book, translated, orginal title Damage, 310 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book where the author’s first and last name start with the same letter

Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the British Horseracing Authority. Before his eyes a trainer, who was banned from the racetracks, kills a bookmaker. Meanwhile the BHA is blackmailed. Jeff is put on the job to find out who the blackmailer is, and to stop him.
We also get some from Jeff's personal life, where his sister is battling cancer, and about his girfriend.

Enjoyable read.

Dutch title translated: Damaged

87FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 6:14 am


book 199: De verborgen geschiedenis by Donna Tartt
1001 books, library, translated, orginal title The Secret History, 621 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book with school, or equivalent in the title or which starts or has significant action in an educational establishment

Richard Papen comes from California and goes to a college in Vermont. He gets involved in a small group of students studying Greek. The book starts with the murder of one of these students: Bunny.
In the first part the events leading to this murder are told. In the second part what happened after.
None of the characters are likable. The students are all priviledged white boys (and one girl, twin of one of the boys), two of them overly wealthy. Out of boredom they get mixed up in their fantasies about ancient Greece.

I did like the first part, but the second part was not convincing at all. The story felt over constucted.

English and Dutch title are the same

88FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 6:27 am


book 200: Een wisse dood by Ellis Peters
library, translated, orginal title The Pilgrim of Hate, 192 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book for the Readers Imbibing Peril challenge

Brother Cadfael book 10
Everyone at the abby in Shrewsbury is working hard to prepare for the feast of St Winifred, many pelgrims are expected that day. Two young men come to the abby. One is walking barefoot by oath, the other follows him everywhere. Cadfael treats the wounded feet of the young man, who turns to be the main character in the upcoming mystery.
In the background King Stephen and Empress Maud are still fighting.

As always I liked to spend some time with Cadfael.

Dutch title translated: A certain death

89FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 6:37 am


book 201: Turks gambiet by Boris Akoenin
library, translated from Russian, English translation The Turkish Gambit, 220 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book, in which the last three letters of the author's first name or last name, spelled backwards, form a real word which can be found in dictionary.com

Erast Fandorin book 2
1877. We find Erast Fandorin in the midst of the war between the Russians and Ottomans on the Balkan. Varya also arrives there from Moscow, following her fiancé Petr, who works at the coding department. Erast tries to find a traitor, and Varya assists him.

After two books Erast Fandorin is growing on me, up to the next one!

English and Dutch title are the same, although there is no article in Dutch

90FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 13, 2021, 7:06 am


book 202: Kameraad Baron by Jaap Scholten
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, Libris Geschiedenis Prijs 2011, English translation Comrade Baron, 421 pages
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book whose protagonist is in high school, has something to do with the number 12 or 17, or has a character or author named Alex or Alexander

History of some aristocratic families from Transsylvania. With a main focus on their hardships in the communist era, and the present time, now some are getting their disowned properties back.
The writer studied in Budapest (the Soros university) and wrote about these families for his master in Cultural Anthropology. He came to know some descendants through his wife, who is a descendant of Transsylvanian aristocrats. He interviewed a lot of people, and the book is mainly a report of these interviews and his travels.

I learned a lot about the awful faith of aristocrats during the communist era in Hungary and Romenia. But the writing wasn't very captivating. And the writer has a annoying romantic view on the role of aristocrats before the communists took power.

English and Dutch title are the same

91SirThomas
Set 13, 2021, 7:16 am

200 books - Wow!
Congratulations, Anita.

92FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 7:35 am

>91 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!
I just finished book #203 :-)

93FAMeulstee
Set 13, 2021, 7:49 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#203: Alles op de fiets by Rutger Kopland

Reading now:
Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald
Effi Briest (Effi Briest) by Theodor Fontaine
De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive) by Marcel Proust

94richardderus
Set 13, 2021, 1:38 pm

>88 FAMeulstee:

>89 FAMeulstee: Would the article be "Het Turks gambiet"?

>90 FAMeulstee: That area of the world is fascinating. Transylvania was Hungarian forever...now Romanian...how soon before there's a "Transylvanian Liberation Front" do you think?

*pssst* even if they translate Inseparable into Dutch don't read it very very obsessive First Love story

95SandDune
Set 13, 2021, 2:06 pm

>83 FAMeulstee: Jacob bought me Vesper Flights for Christmas but I have yet to get around to it. Not sure why as I really enjoyed H is for Hawk.

96johnsimpson
Set 13, 2021, 5:02 pm

Hi Anita my dear, Congrats on reaching 200 books read for the year so far, dear friend.

97ronincats
Set 13, 2021, 5:04 pm

Sorry to be so late catching up here, Anita, but you have a lovely newish thread and I loved reading about Nemo. What a character and how much you must have missed him!

98quondame
Set 13, 2021, 5:21 pm

>88 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on 200 books!

99Oregonreader
Set 14, 2021, 12:00 am

Congratulations on reaching 200 books! I loved your story about Nemo. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

100FAMeulstee
Set 14, 2021, 2:36 am

>94 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear!
Yes, it would be "Het Turks gambiet", you are getting good in Dutch :-)
Not soon, I didn't get any hint in that direction from the book.
I have some other books by Simone de Beauvoir on mount TBR, so I will gladly skip Inseparable. Maybe there was a reason she didn't want to publish during her lifetime?

>95 SandDune: How nice Jacob gave Vesper Flights to you, Rhian. I am sure you will enjoy it, when you get to it.

>96 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.
I hope all is well with you and Karen, sending love and hugs to you both.

101FAMeulstee
Set 14, 2021, 2:42 am

>97 ronincats: Thank you, Roni. No need to be sorry, I am always happy to see you here.
Nemo was a great dog, and was indeed dearly missed by all his friends.

>98 quondame: Thank you, Susan, on to 3 x 75 :-)

>99 Oregonreader: Thank you, Jan.
We were lucky to have nearly 12 years with Nemo, and it was good to share some with all of you.

102Caroline_McElwee
Modificato: Set 14, 2021, 6:01 am

Congratulations on passing the 200 mark Anita.

It must time for a photo of your reading chair by now... it being such an asset to your reading numbers. And I love chairs.

103kidzdoc
Set 14, 2021, 8:10 am

This happened three years ago today.

104karenmarie
Set 14, 2021, 10:10 am

>88 FAMeulstee: Wow. Congrats on book 200.

105FAMeulstee
Set 14, 2021, 12:36 pm

>102 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caronline.
I have a couch/chaise longue by Harvink. I sit on it when I read, or use the laptop, and I use it as chaise longue when I watch TV. No promise, but I will try to take a picture soonish ;-)

>103 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl, is that three years back.?..?
It does feel longer ago, before the pandemic, when we all could sit together. Life sure has changed a lot since.

>104 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, personally I will celebrate 25 books further ;-)

106richardderus
Set 14, 2021, 2:20 pm

>100 FAMeulstee: In the Introduction, we are informed that Sartre didn't like the story, was dismissive of it as "slight." And de Beauvoir's acceptance of his judgment was portrayed as internalizing his misogyny.

I'm sure that was part of it. But it really isn't all that fascinating. I've only had one pretty mild rebuke for my review, so far at least. I'll take the good luck!

Thanks for the validation...I just thought it sounded right, and "de" didn't.

107FAMeulstee
Set 14, 2021, 4:54 pm

>106 richardderus: Well, Richard dear, maybe Sartre and de Beauvoir just respected eachothers opinion. But that doesn't sell these days, I am afraid. Glad your review didn't step on many toes...
Even I wasn't completely sure, and had to look up "gambiet" to be sure it was "het".

108kidzdoc
Modificato: Set 16, 2021, 10:12 am

>103 kidzdoc: Life certainly has changed since the pandemic, Anita, and it seems as if our meet ups in Amsterdam and Utrecht were longer than three years ago, but my Facebook Memories page says otherwise.

This photo comes from our very enjoyable dinner in the 'Graaf Floris' Café Restaurant in Utrecht three years ago today:



I got another chuckle when I saw the threesome sitting outside the restaurant, two of whom saluted us as I took that picture of you and Frank. I remember the man saying something, probably in Dutch, and laughing, and me smiling back and laughing with him, but not appreciating the humor of what they had done until I returned to my hotel room after dinner.

I look forward to more good meet ups with you, Frank and my/our other Dutch friends in 2022, God willing.

109FAMeulstee
Set 16, 2021, 3:51 am

>108 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl, the feel of time isn't linear, like a Facebook timeline ;-)
That was a lovely evening together we had in Utrecht. Hoping with you we can see you back next year.

110FAMeulstee
Set 16, 2021, 6:40 am

So the workmen are gone, all is quiet again at home :-)

Yesterday and today the old roof windows were replaced. After nearly fourty years (our house was build in 1982) you could look through the window frame here and there, and lately there was some damp in between the double glass windows.
We included darkening roller-blinds, so Frank can sleep more comfortably after his working nights.

Only bad was that Frank had to work last night unexpected, as a collegue was ill. Now he can finally get his much needed sleep, a few hours late.

111charl08
Set 16, 2021, 7:45 am

>108 kidzdoc: This is such a lovely photo! May international restaurant visits without worries be possible again in the future.

112msf59
Set 16, 2021, 7:54 am

Sweet Thursday, Anita! Congrats on #200. You got me by a century. I wish we could make it over to Europe, so I could visit a few friends over there. We talk about it but it might be awhile.

113FAMeulstee
Set 16, 2021, 9:46 am

>111 charl08: I also hope that will be possible again soon, Charlotte.

>112 msf59: Thank you, Mark, we both read a lot compared to average readers ;-)
I will probably never cross the Atlantic, so I am gratefull for the visits from those who do.

114FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 16, 2021, 9:55 am


book 203: Alles op de fiets by Rutger Kopland
own, poetry, Dutch, no translations, 43 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book with the word "all" or "nothing" in the title or author's name

Poetry, originally published in 1969, by well known Dutch poet, a psychatrist who wrote under pseudonym.
I always enjoy his poems. This book contains his most well known poem "Jonge sla" (=Young lettuce)

Title translated: All on the bike (or Everything by bike)

115FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 16, 2021, 10:15 am


book 204: Effi Briest by Theodor Fontaine
1001 books, library, translated from German, English translation Effi Briest, 336 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book, in which the last three letters of the author's first name or last name, spelled backwards, form a real word which can be found in dictionary.com

Germany, 19th century. Effi Briest is married off at 17, to Geert Baron von Innstetten, a former admirer of her mother. Back then he didn't have much money, and Effi's mother married a much older man. Effi is playing in the garden with her friends, when she is called inside to meet Geert. She could have said no, but being the first to marry between her friends feels attractive.
She moves in with her husband, who lives in a little village in the eastern part of Germany, near the Baltic sea. Her husband is a serious man, while Effi is young and sometimes rebelious.
When Geert moves up in his carrer, and they move to Berlin, it looks like Effi finally has found a good place for her. Sadly her husband then finds out about the adultry Effi committed 6 years before. He has no merci and sends her away. Effi dies not long after.

The book is often compared to Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina, both written a bit earlier. I liked Effi as much as Anna, and Emma Bovary comes just after these two in rating ;-)

Dutch and English title are the same

116FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 16, 2021, 10:27 am


book 205: Wat niet verdwijnt by Donna Leon
library, translated, original title Earthly Remains, 333 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book where “bestselling author” is included somewhere on the cover

Commissario Brunetti book 26
When a collegue almost attcks a suspect during an interrogation, Brunetti fakes an heartattack and can't stop the medical procedures that follows. It ends with 2 weeks of sick leave, that he will spend in the house of a relative of his wife, on an island near Venice.
There he meets an old friend of his father, and they spend much time together, mostly rowing to Davide's beehives in the laguna. After a hefty strm Davide is missing, and Brunetti finds his body. Although he is still on sick leave, Brunetti starts an investigation.

Not much for the fans of whodunnits in this Brunetti book, but I loved the atmospheric descriptions, the talk about climate change, and the corruption that is everywhere.

Dutch title tanslated: What doesn't disappear

117FAMeulstee
Set 16, 2021, 10:48 am

All books read are reviewed!

Reading now:
Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald
Het boek van de lach en de vergetelheid (The Book of Laughter and Forgetting) by Milan Kundera
De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive) by Marcel Proust

118richardderus
Set 16, 2021, 1:08 pm

>117 FAMeulstee: That's outstanding! I do not know what it would feel like to have all the books I've read with the purpose of reviewing them, completely reviewed.

Probably like I was dead.

>110 FAMeulstee: Happy happy happy that Frank will be able to sleep better with the new shades...when others don't have the misfortune to become ill, that is.

My Dutch practice book, Lord Lister No. 1: De Groote Onbekende by Theo von Blankensee and Kurt Matull, is coming along...I don't think I'm up to Couperus in the original. This froth and silliness is okay, and I'm about 10% in. I understand there are about 400 more if I end up liking this one!

119RebaRelishesReading
Set 16, 2021, 1:43 pm

>118 richardderus: Richard, where are you getting audio books in Dutch?

120FAMeulstee
Set 16, 2021, 3:09 pm

>118 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, it is a rare occurance that all books read are reviewed.
The last two reviews were library books, and those had to be back at the library next Monday. We planned to get our take-out Chinese by bike, and a small detour along the library was easy. So I had to review them before bringing them back to the library.

Frank had a few hours of good sleep, a little late, but just enough. He was very happy with the new shades!

LOL, I guess you went to the Gutenberg website :-)
Dutch spelling has changed three times since WWII, so you are reading old spelling. Now we would write the title "De Grote Onbekende". I downloaded it, so I can read along, and help if needed.

>119 RebaRelishesReading: I don't think it is audio, Reba. It is an old book downloaded from project Gutenberd, originally published in 1910.

121witchyrichy
Set 16, 2021, 3:34 pm

I wonder sometimes what I might do when I leave my current position next year and then I visit a thread like yours. How wonderful to have free time, I think, to just pursue an author like Thomas Mann. I also respect your commitment to reviewing all your books. Thanks!

122FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 16, 2021, 5:23 pm

>121 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen, it is wonderful to have a lot of time to read. And to be able to read a lot (only a few years back I was happy to read one or two books a month, a side effect of needing an anti-depressant).
Thanks again, my reviews are often short, as I have to translate my thoughts from the Dutch in my mind into written English.

123richardderus
Set 16, 2021, 6:25 pm

>119 RebaRelishesReading:, >120 FAMeulstee: Yep, it's good ol' Gutenberg! Thank you most kindly for offering to help...I will come and ask as I get to points of bewilderment.

The story is funny in many ways I don't think they meant to be funny....

124FAMeulstee
Set 17, 2021, 3:58 am

>123 richardderus: You are welcome, Richard dear, whenever it is needed.
Early 20th century pulp fiction can be funny in unintended ways.

125karenmarie
Set 17, 2021, 6:09 am

Hi Anita!

Yay for new windows and more important, room-darkening shades.

126FAMeulstee
Set 17, 2021, 11:26 am

>125 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, we both slept very well last night :-)

127FAMeulstee
Set 17, 2021, 6:26 pm

Read, not yet reviewed:
#206: Schemervluchten (Vesper Flights) by Helen Macdonald
#207: Het boek van de lach en de vergetelheid (The Book of Laughter and Forgetting) by Milan Kundera

Reading now:
De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive; In Search of Lost Time 6) by Marcel Proust
Pastorale (English pastoral) by James Rebanks
Dit zijn de namen (These Are The Names) by Tommy Wieringa

128swynn
Set 18, 2021, 12:48 pm

>115 FAMeulstee: Theodor Fontane is a gap I need to fill in my reading resume.

129FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 18, 2021, 6:05 pm

>128 swynn: I found Effi Briest very readable, Steve. I hope to read Stechlin later this year.
Funny was that a character near the end of Effi Briest was named Buddenbrook. I know Thomas Mann appriciated Theodor Fontane.

130FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 20, 2021, 4:53 am


book 206: Schemervluchten by Helen Macdonald
library, non-fiction, translated, original title Vesper Flights, 319 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book where the title of the first chapter is a noun (and nothing else)

Collection of essays about nature, animals, landscapes, humans, loss and mourning.

Lots to think about, new generations don't know what is lost, they only know the present. The migration of birds, how birds are ringed and get transponders on their back to find out more about their movements. "High" and "low" culture, and the diffent ways they look at nature and preserving nature. And much, much more.

Dutch title translated: Twilight flights (the English "Vesper" refers to twilight in the evening, in Dutch there is no equivalent)

131FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 20, 2021, 4:53 am


book 207: Het boek van de lach en de vergetelheid by Milan Kundera
1001 books, own, translated from Czech, English translation The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, 291 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book with the word "BOOK" in the title

Remembering laughs and forgetting some of the in between. In seven interconnected stories the memories of the lost home country where the communist party took over, the flight, and settling in a new country. Melancholia, black humor, hope, and despair. Sometimes touching, sometime boring, but always from a very male, borderline sexist, point of view.

Loved some of the book, disliked some more.

Dutch title translated: The book of the laughter and the forgetting

132FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 20, 2021, 4:54 am


book 208: Dit zijn de namen by Tommy Wieringa
own, Dutch, Libris Literatuur prijs 2013, English translation These Are The Names, 302 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book with a shade of red or orange among the First words

In Michailopol, a fictional town somewhere in Eastern Europe, police chief Pontus Beg wonders about his identity. He might have Jewish roots, but isn't sure. He visits the rabbi, the last Jew in town, to find out more.
Meanwhile a group of refugees wanders through the desert. At first they do care about eachother, but when thirst and hunger take over it becomes each for his own, and even further when reality is fading in their minds.
The story of Bag and the refugees is told in alternating chapters.

Very good read. Wieringa connects the Jewish story of the Exodus with the journey of the refugees. Searching the roots of religion, and the edges of humanity.

English and Dutch title are the same

133FAMeulstee
Set 20, 2021, 4:58 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#209: Dagboek van een oude dwaas (Diary of a Mad Old Man) by Junichirô Tanizaki
#210: Je keek te ver : een wandeling by Marjoleine de Vos

Reading now:
De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive; In Search of Lost Time 6) by Marcel Proust
Pastorale (English pastoral) by James Rebanks
Kindernovelle en andere verhalen by Klaus Mann

134msf59
Set 20, 2021, 7:22 am

I am glad you enjoyed Vesper Flights. Looking forward to seeing what she does next.

135FAMeulstee
Set 20, 2021, 9:58 am

>134 msf59: Thank you, Mark, I will certainly read any next book by Helen Macdonald.

136richardderus
Set 22, 2021, 7:01 pm

>133 FAMeulstee: "Dwaas"! What a funny-sounding word, like it's making fun of itself and its object at the same time.

137avatiakh
Set 22, 2021, 7:26 pm

>132 FAMeulstee: That Wieringa novel looks interesting. I'll see if my library has it.

138FAMeulstee
Set 23, 2021, 4:05 am

>136 richardderus: Exactly like the English equivalent "fool" :-)

>137 avatiakh: I hope your library has a copy, Kerry, I think you would like it.

139FAMeulstee
Set 23, 2021, 4:28 am

Yesterday we went to the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen to see the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera exhibition. We parked the car in the next village, where we would have diner on our return.
It was so good to go out again, athough I was very nevous about it the day before.

Diego on My Mind - Frida Kahlo; Calla Lily Vendor - Diego Rivera; Festival of the Birds - Carlos Mérida
  

On our walk back we saw a spoonbill. I even could take a good picture of it, and noticed it had a tracking device on the back:


We had a diner at the terrace of restaurant Paardenburg, next to the river Amstel. A perfect way to end this day out.

140CDVicarage
Set 23, 2021, 4:30 am

>139 FAMeulstee: I'm glad you enjoyed your outing, Anita. It's good to see some more of your art pictures again!

141FAMeulstee
Set 23, 2021, 4:42 am

>140 CDVicarage: Thank you, Kerry, it had been over a year ago.
At the museum I realised how much I had missed going to art exhibitions.

142Caroline_McElwee
Set 23, 2021, 5:09 am

>139 FAMeulstee: What a lovely day Anita.

143Sakerfalcon
Modificato: Set 23, 2021, 5:58 am

>139 FAMeulstee: I would love to have seen that exhibition Anita! Kahlo's work seems to get shown so rarely in Europe. I'm glad that you and Frank were able to go and enjoy it. Love the spoonbill picture too.

ETA I've just found this exhibition which is coming soon. I may try and come over to see it early next year!

144FAMeulstee
Set 23, 2021, 6:31 am

>142 Caroline_McElwee: It was, Caroline. Today I feel a bit worn out, but also refreshed.

>143 Sakerfalcon: I was just about to tell you there was a second Kahlo exhibition coming up, Claire, but I see you found it :-)
We might also go there, the Drents Museum is a museum we have not ever visited. And the Frida Kahlo paintings come from an other collection. This is the link about the Frida Kahlo exposition from the Drents Museum: https://drentsmuseum.nl/en/frida
The spoonbill was a treat, we see some flying over sometimes. This one was rather close.

145charl08
Set 23, 2021, 7:35 am

>144 FAMeulstee: Wow, that looks like a fabulous exhibition. I am tempted! I saw (I think) Diego Rivera murals as part of a tour of the centre of Mexico City, but I was 18 and it was all a bit wasted on me, sadly.

146msf59
Set 23, 2021, 7:44 am

Sweet Thursday, Anita. I love the artwork up there. The Rivera is gorgeous. I watched the film Frida just a few weeks ago. Of course, I love the spoonbill too.

147FAMeulstee
Set 23, 2021, 8:16 am

>145 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, it was fabulous. There were large photo's (wall sized) of Rivera murals at the exposition. This expostion is only until October 3rd. A next Kahlo exhibition in the Netherlands starts next month.

>146 msf59: Thank you, Mark. It was a great exhibition, and because of limited entry, it wasn't very crowded. I must admit Frank saw the spoonbill first.

148msf59
Set 23, 2021, 8:42 am

Go Frank! Go Frank!

149richardderus
Set 23, 2021, 1:09 pm

>139 FAMeulstee: All the way around, a very pleasing day indeed. Yay!

>138 FAMeulstee: "Fool", being tediously familiar to me, doesn't raise the ghost of a smile. "Nincompoop" makes me think of "dwaas" however, and it's always funny!

150FAMeulstee
Set 24, 2021, 3:06 am

>148 msf59: Thanks Mark :-)
Frank is getting better in recognising birds. He wasn't raised with nature, like me.

>149 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, it was so good to be out again.
Words can give very different feels. I think of music, like Frank Zappa's "Dancing Fool" or The Beatles, when I hear the word "fool". But then it was never used towards me. I never heard of "Nincompoop", so that word now makes me think of you :-)

151FAMeulstee
Set 24, 2021, 4:03 am


book 209: Dagboek van een oude dwaas by Junichirô Tanizaki
own, translated from Japanese, English translation Diary of a Mad Old Man, 185 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book with a title that has a preposition plus "a"

Fictional dairy of a 77 year old rich Japanese man. His health is declining after a stroke. Although the stroke left him impotent, he still has sexual desires, and his daughter in law plays along. In return she gets very expensive gifts. Some days he feels good, and writes lengthy entries in his diary, some days he has to give up after one or two sentences.

Enjoyable read.

Dutch title translated: Diary of an old fool

152FAMeulstee
Set 24, 2021, 4:16 am


book 210: Je keek te ver : een wandeling by Marjoleine de Vos
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 72 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book where the title implies a journey of some kind

Marjoleine de Vos describes the landscape in Groningen, in the North-East of the Netherlands. Thoughts about how intensive agriculture has changed the landscape. Poems that come up in her mind, while looking around.
With a map of the route around the village Eenum.

Part of a series of short books about hiking, written by Dutch writers.

Title translated: You looked to far : a hike

153FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 24, 2021, 4:47 am


book 211: Kindernovelle en andere verhalen by Klaus Mann
own, translated from German, no English translation, 203 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book written by a relative of a famous person, state the relationship

Collection of eight stories, most were written in the 1920s. Contains Kindernovelle and stories from Abenteuer des Brautpaars, a story collection published in 1976.
The stories are a bit overly written, with sometimes very long descriptions of the looks of a character (and those are often repeated). Most characters (manly children) feel different, lonely, and alienated from their surroundings.

Maybe not the right book at this time, or just not my kind of book. Only four days after finishing I remember very little of it.

Title translated: Childrensnovella and other stories

154EllaTim
Set 24, 2021, 8:39 am

Hi Anita. Great pictures of the Frieda Kahlo exhibition. Good for you, it sounds like a really nice day out. And thanks for the reminder that it ends on 3 october, have to plan a visit soon.

The spoonbill also has a label around the leg. Poor bird, but they are supposed to not be bothered by all this extra luggage.

Great reading again, the title of the Tommy Wieringa book reminded me of the new holocaust monument. Sounds like a interesting book.

Funny, how funny words can be, when you pay attention to their sound, and even how they feel when spoken. I like ‘Fool’ as well, not having been the victim of it. Fool on the Hill, comes to mind.

155FAMeulstee
Set 24, 2021, 8:56 am

>154 EllaTim: We crossposted :-)

The spoonbill has a label on one leg and a ring on the other. I have also mixed feelings about it. These tags and tracking devices do help to understand their behavior and migration routes, that is good. The individual bird might feel bothered, but I don't think much bother, comparing with the good. A book like Sinagote could not be written without all this information.

Yes, even words are individual, my mother often used "dwaas" or "dwaze". Usually not as a noun, but as an adjective, and not in a nice way.

156richardderus
Set 24, 2021, 3:05 pm

>151 FAMeulstee:, >150 FAMeulstee: Oooohhhh! I get it now. The title is absolutely spot-on...in English, if we were talking about the old man lusting after women who, erm, humor him for material gain, we'd say "there's no fool like an old fool." Usually accompanied by a smirk and a shake of the head, possibly a finger waggled around the temple to show how deluded and cuckoo he is.

I love solving a little puzzle. Have a delight of a weekend!

157richardderus
Modificato: Set 24, 2021, 3:06 pm

A double post! Wow. I've had two this week. I guess I really *am* special.

158FAMeulstee
Set 25, 2021, 3:08 am

>156 richardderus: Glad I can keep you happy with little puzzles, Richard dear :-)

>157 richardderus: Double posts are very rare these days, I remember it was much more common years ago.
Of course you are special, not only when you double post.

159FAMeulstee
Set 25, 2021, 3:10 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#212: Pastorale (English pastoral) by James Rebanks
#213: De herinnerde soldaat by Anjet Daanje

Reading now:
De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive; In Search of Lost Time 6) by Marcel Proust
Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm (Why Nations Fail) by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson
Verheven koninkrijk (Transcendent Kingdom) by Yaa Gyasi

160weird_O
Set 26, 2021, 4:14 pm

>75 FAMeulstee: Late in replying to this post with the link. I followed the link, and BEHOLD! A new realm opened to me. I can set up my own WikiPage, just like yours, Anita, for my Pulitzer lists, even a Nobelists list like yours.

Very nice. Thanks so much for the inspiration.


161FAMeulstee
Set 27, 2021, 6:32 am

>160 weird_O: You are very welcome, Bill, early or late doesn't matter.
Just ask if you need any help setting up your LT wiki pages.

162kidzdoc
Modificato: Set 27, 2021, 6:08 pm

I'm glad that you and Frank were able to see the Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera exhibition in Amstelveen, Anita. I'm a huge fan of Kahlo, especially after seeing a comprehensive exhibition of her work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2008.

I look forward to your thoughts about Transcendent Kingdom, as I haven't read it yet.

163EllaTim
Set 27, 2021, 4:56 pm

We just booked our tickets to the Frieda Kahlo exhibition, Anita. Just in time, thanks to your reminder. The museum is open in the evening as well, that helps. And I managed to download two paper corona passes, so we’re all set to go:-)

164FAMeulstee
Set 27, 2021, 6:07 pm

>162 kidzdoc: We were glad we visited the exhibition, Darryl. It was the first time we saw works of Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and we liked them both.
I hope to write some reviews tomorrow.

>163 EllaTim: Good you got tickets and the coronapasses printed, Ella! When are you going?

165FAMeulstee
Set 27, 2021, 6:10 pm

Read, not yet reviewed:
#212: Pastorale (English pastoral) by James Rebanks
#213: De herinnerde soldaat by Anjet Daanje
#214: De voortvluchtige (The Fugitive; In Search of Lost Time 6) by Marcel Proust
#215: Verheven koninkrijk (Transcendent Kingdom) by Yaa Gyasi
#216: Zilvergaren (Spinning Silver) by Naomi Novik

Reading now:
Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm (Why Nations Fail) by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson
Illustere voorgangers (Of Illustrious Men) by Jean Rouaud
Darius de Grote is niet oké (Darius the Great Is Not Okay) by Adib Khorram

166PaulCranswick
Set 28, 2021, 10:46 pm

>165 FAMeulstee: Wow that is a pretty impressive piece of recent reading, Anita. xx

167FAMeulstee
Set 29, 2021, 6:03 am

>166 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
I just finished the next one, time to write some reviews.

168FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 30, 2021, 6:17 pm


book 212: Pastorale : nalatenschap van een schaapherder by James Rebanks
library, non-fiction, translated, original title English pastoral : An Inheritance, 269 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where the authors last name has 7 characters or less

Rebanks grew up on a farm. He learned to farm the "old way" from his grandfather. On his fathers farm some modernisations were realised, but he didn't go all the way, like some other farmers. Other farmers turned their farms into factories, trying to get the most from their animals and soil. Resulting in todays nitrogen problems, and deformed animals bred to maximise their profit. This is not the farmers fault, driven by companies and banks (with loans) to get the latest/newest tractors, seeds, fertilisers, insectisides, herbicides etc. The loans means that they have to go on on this road, to avoid bankruptcy.
Rebanks decided to go the other way. Luckely his farm had no mortgages or other loans, so he went back (as much as possible) to the old ways of farming. The profits are not enough to make a living, but with help of some nature/landscape organisations, he can manage.

The problems that Rebanks describes are even worse here. We are a very small country, and still leading export of many agrarian products worldwide. Nitrogen is threathening the nature reserves, and farmers are demonstrating against any measures that will restrict them. So a lot what Rebanks wrote makes sense. A very good, informing read.

Dutch title translated: Pastoral : the inheritance of a shepherd

169FAMeulstee
Set 29, 2021, 6:38 am


book 213: De herinnerde soldaat by Anjet Daanje
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 538 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where the authors last name has 7 characters or less

A soldier, who has fought in WWI, is found back by his wife in a psychatric hospital in 1923. He has lost his memory, and was missing for eight years. She takes him back home, and slowly fills in the blanks, recreating their previous life. He is plagued by nightmares, that bring him back into the war. Slowly he thinks that some memories come back, from an whole other life before the war.

Very good story, a bit longwinding, with a very good twist towards the end.

Title translated: The remembered soldier

170FAMeulstee
Set 29, 2021, 6:45 am


book 214: De voortvluchtige by Marcel Proust
library, e-book, translated from French, English translation The Fugitive, 368 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where the authors last name has 7 characters or less

In Search of Lost Time book 6
After Albertine's departure in the previous book, the narrator wrestles with his feelings. He goes to Venice with his mother. When he returns there are two weddings to attend.

Looking forward to the last book.

English and Dutch title are the same

171FAMeulstee
Set 29, 2021, 7:11 am


book 215: Verheven koninkrijk by Yaa Gyasi
library, translated, original title Transcendent Kingdom, 319 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book where “bestselling author” is included somewhere on the cover

Gifty's parents came from Ghana. She had an older brother, and her mother is suffering from mental illness. Her father went back to Ghana.
Gifty is now a brilliant neurosciense researcher (trigger warning: she does awful things with mice at her laboratory), but struggles how to combine her scientific aspirations with her religion.

The story has much themes: immigration, mental illness, addiction, religion/faith, family ties. These were nicely woven together, but the book didn't keep my interest as much as her previous book Homegoing did.

English and Dutch title are the same

172FAMeulstee
Set 29, 2021, 7:13 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#216: Zilvergaren (Spinning Silver) by Naomi Novik
#217: Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm (Why Nations Fail) by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson

Reading now:
Illustere voorgangers (Of Illustrious Men) by Jean Rouaud
Darius de Grote is niet oké (Darius the Great Is Not Okay) by Adib Khorram

173msf59
Set 29, 2021, 7:37 am

Happy Wednesday, Anita. It looks like we had similar feelings with Transcendent Kingdom. I liked it well enough but did not love it, like Homegoing.

174karenmarie
Set 29, 2021, 8:17 am

Hi Anita!

>139 FAMeulstee: Sounds like a perfect day. Kahlo & Rivera were larger-than-life people and artists and have always fascinated me.

175FAMeulstee
Set 29, 2021, 1:47 pm

>173 msf59: Thank you, Mark.
Yes, I went back to your first thread, and our feelings about Transcentent Kingdom are very similair indeed.

>174 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen, we had a lovely day. It was the first time we saw works of Kahlo and Rivera, impressive.

--
We will be gone most of the day tomorrow, visiting my brother and his wife. They moved in December last year, and we haven't been to their new appartment. We did visit them twice in their holliday-house near us, that they bought last July.

176streamsong
Set 29, 2021, 5:00 pm

>86 FAMeulstee: How do you like Felix Francis's writing compared with his father's? I've planned to read one, but they haven't made it to the top of the list yet.

>130 FAMeulstee: I'm glad you enjoyed Vesper Flights. There's another shading to the word 'Vesper' as it often refers to evening prayers. You're absolutely right in translating it 'Evening Flights' but somehow I like the poetic image of birds being like prayers winging upward.

>139 FAMeulstee: That looks like a wonderful exhibition. And of course I had to click on the link to see more.

Great spoonbill photo, too!

I'm the flip of you and Mark. I liked Transcendent Kingdom more than Homegoing. LT ratings agree with you but just by a tiny bit 4.1 vs 4.2 starrs.

177figsfromthistle
Set 29, 2021, 5:52 pm

>170 FAMeulstee: I have not read that one yet. I don't think I have it on my shelf either. Sounds great! BB for me.

178FAMeulstee
Set 30, 2021, 3:11 am

>176 streamsong: Thank you, Janet.
I found Felix Francis' writing a little less thank his father, but still an enjoyable read.
That is indeed a lovely poetic image. I was aware of that meaning, but in translation that part is lost.
That is a very minor difference between the ratings of Homegoing and Transcendent Kingdom, my ratings were a full star apart.

>177 figsfromthistle: You are very welcome, Anita.

179FAMeulstee
Modificato: Set 30, 2021, 4:32 am

Read, not yet reviewed:
#216: Zilvergaren (Spinning Silver) by Naomi Novik
#217: Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm (Why Nations Fail) by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson
#218: Illustere voorgangers (Of Illustrious Men) by Jean Rouaud

--
Last three reviews and the September statistics have to wait until tomorrow, now we are off to visit my brother and his wife.

180richardderus
Set 30, 2021, 10:53 am

>171 FAMeulstee: Completely understand your feelings about this title...the triggering requiring a warning can be a bit much though I am not especially concerned about mice myownself.

>170 FAMeulstee: I'm not all the way sure why, but that's my second-favorite of the series after Swann's Way. The only thing I can come up with is Venice is an amazing place that I adore...?

>169 FAMeulstee: It's too bad that title's not translated, it sounds quite appealing. I expect the fact that WWI happened incredibly far away and for no time at all for the US renders it less obviously successful a seller here.

>168 FAMeulstee: There are so many, many problems in the world relating to food and its production...and there aren't a lot of good solutions. And worst of all, in my never-remotely-humble opinion, there doesn't appear to be much political muscle behind applying the solutions being proposed.

Hope it was a lovely visit with your family in their new place!

181quondame
Set 30, 2021, 8:04 pm

>169 FAMeulstee: >180 richardderus: Like my father, most to whom the Great War was an important part of their lives, have died before this one was published.

182FAMeulstee
Ott 1, 2021, 10:17 am

>180 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, we had a lovely time at my brothers place. They have a huge new appartment on the 14th floor, with a wide view. The weather was clear, and we could see the skyline of Rotterdam, The Hague and Leiden.

- I don't like humans using other creatures. I do understand it can be needed for research, but no... For me it is part of christian/islamic/jewish heritage of humans above all other creatures on earth, to be used as humans like.
- The Venice part isn't very long, but I found it an easier read than the two books before.
- It got a lot of praise and many 5* reviews, so maybe it will get translated some day. In The Netherlands WWI is almost completely ignored, as we were not involved in WWI.
- Agreed, and companies like Bayer (Monsanto) keep selling their products as long as they are not explicit forbidden, meanwhile the bees are dying...

>181 quondame: They are all gone now, Susan.
As I mentioned above to Richard, my country wasn't involved in the Great War. The writer is Flemish (from Belgium), her country was ruined by WWI.

183FAMeulstee
Ott 1, 2021, 10:37 am


book 216: Zilvergaren by Naomi Novik
library, e-book, translated, original title Spinning Silver, 492 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book where the author’s first and last name start with the same letter

A fairytale like fantasy, or maybe better said a fantasy based on fairytales.
Miryem is the daughter of a way to nice moneylender, he has a hard time to ask his money back. When she takes over her fathers work, the money comes in fast. So fast that is said she can change silver into gold...
Meanwhile Irina, a Duke's daughter, is courted by the Tsar.

A likable read, Novik makes good use of fairytales to create her own story.

Dutch title translated: Silveryarn

184FAMeulstee
Ott 1, 2021, 10:50 am


book 217: Waarom sommige landen rijk zijn en andere arm by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson
library, non-fiction, translated, original title Why Nations Fail, 512 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book, in which the last three letters of the author's first name or last name, spelled backwards, form a real word which can be found in dictionary.com

If you think economic growth is the only thing that matters, this might be the book for you.
The writers argue that economic growth is dependent on politics and institutions, they need to be "inclusive". Then they go through history and only take examples that match their ideas, without giving a solid definition of what they mean by "inclusive".

Dutch title translated: Why some nations are rich and others poor

185FAMeulstee
Ott 1, 2021, 10:59 am


book 218: Illustere voorgangers by Jean Rouaud
own, translated from French, Franse Bibliotheek, English translation Of Illustrious Men, 160 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where the authors last name has 7 characters or less

The life of the writers father, a salesman traveling through Bretagne. The family outings when he was home.
The second part of the book is about his time with the French resistance during WWII

Second book of five books the writer wrote about his family.

Dutch title translated: Illustrous ancestors

186FAMeulstee
Modificato: Ott 21, 2021, 3:31 am

September 2021 in numbers
  (Totals for this year between brackets)

25 books read, 7.822 pages, 260,7 pages a day
  (218 books read, 69.610 pages, 255,0 pages a day)

--
books:

own: 7 (58)
library: 18 (160)

male author: 16 (151)
female author: 9 (67)

originally written in Dutch: 7 (53)
translated into Dutch: 18 (165)

fiction: 20 (173)
non-fiction: 5 (45)

paper books: 16 (146)
e-books: 9 (72)

mystery/police procedural: 4 (38)
childrens/YA: 1 (18)

1001 books: 3 (32)
  Total 1001 books since 2008: 215
Dutch Canon: 0 (3)
  Total Dutch Canon since 2008: 35 of 125

--
pages:

0 - 100 pages: 3 (17)
101 - 200 pages: 4 (33)
201 - 300 pages: 4 (64)
301 - 400 pages: 9 (58)
401 - 500 pages: 1 (23)
501 - 999 pages: 4 (21)
1000+ pages: 0 (2)

longest book 669 pages (1596 pages)
shortest book 43 pages (42 pages)
average book 313 pages (319 pages)

--
own books read were on the shelf since:

before 2008: 6 (35)
2008: 0 (2)
2009: 0 (1)
2010: 0 (1)
2015: 0 (1)
2016: 0 (2)
2017: 0 (1)
2019: 1 (4)
2020: 0 (3)
2021: 0 (8)

--
date first published:

4th century BC: 0 (2)
16th century: 0 (1)
18th century: 0 (1)
19th century: 1 (11)

20th century
1900s: 0 (1)
1910s: 0 (1)
1920s: 1 (4)
1930s: 1 (12)
1940s: 0 (4)
1950s: 0 (9)
1960s: 2 (14)
1970s: 2 (8)
1980s: 1 (18)
1990s: 3 (25)

21st century
2000s: 0 (17)
2010s: 9 (72)
2020s: 5 (18)

--
ratings:

0 (6)
2 (22)
9 (76)
9 (73)
4 (34)
0 (4)
1 (3)

--
Best books in September


Effi Briest (Effie Briest) - Theodor Fontane
Pastorale (English pastoral : An Inheritance) - James Rebanks

===

walking in September: walked 20 days, 119,0 km; average 5,95 km/a day
(walking in 2021: walked 242 days 1426,0 km; average 5,89 km a day)

e-biking in September: biked 10 days, 215,5 km; average 21,55 km/a day
(e-biking in 2021: biked 31 days 672,5 km; average 21,69 km a day)

187richardderus
Ott 1, 2021, 12:18 pm

>186 FAMeulstee: I enjoy your stats, and this month's are impressive.

>184 FAMeulstee: Ew! I think people like those folks are a big part of the problem we have in the world today. Growth is NOT the solution, it's the problem.

Happy weekend's reads!

188FAMeulstee
Ott 1, 2021, 1:37 pm

>187 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear!
Yes, I read this book because my nephew named it as a favorite. The problem close to home is that my brother, sister in law, and their two children (and their partners) all studied Econometrics. All are rather brilliant in that field, but tend to forget there is more out there. We try to educate during each visit...

189humouress
Ott 2, 2021, 5:02 am

I love all the dog stories on this thread. Nemo sounds so intelligent.

>63 streamsong: That's lovely.

190FAMeulstee
Ott 2, 2021, 5:06 am

>189 humouress: Thank you, Nina.
Nemo was very intelligent for a dog, the way humans rate intelligence. But he lacked any sence of place, he would not know how to get home if he got lost. But he would have "asked" a stranger for help ;-)

191humouress
Ott 2, 2021, 5:14 am

>190 FAMeulstee: Thankfully, I think Jasper is less ditzy than he appears to be. A couple of years ago when we went on holiday and we had workmen in the house (upgrading the bathrooms, mainly, so it was easier when we weren't at home) he got out when they must have left the gates open. He was discovered later, barking outside the closed gates rather than inside, as had first been assumed. I'm so happy he came home, though I wasn't told about his escapade until a few months later. He has been tagged since soon after we first got him.

192FAMeulstee
Ott 2, 2021, 5:25 am

>191 humouress: Then Jasper beats Nemo in that aspect, Nina.
Good it happend when you were not around, you would have been so worried.

All our dogs (except the fist two) were chipped. So if ever lost, they could be identified.
Nemo was only dog for just over a year, after that he always had company. And all were less intelligent, but had a way better sence of place.
Questa conversazione è stata continuata da Anita (FAMeulstee) goes there where the books take her in 2021 (10).