EllaTim's Reading in 2023, part 2

Kerstmis

Hi Everybody. I'm Ella, living in Amsterdam, with Marc.
We have an allotment garden together. Love to go out in nature.
I'm the reader, he's the movie lover. We like listening to music together.

I read all kinds of everything, but I love fantasy.

My first thread was becoming too long. This second one will be a lot shorter... but there's still more than a month to go. This will make it easier for any visitors to just pop in. I hope;-)

The image is from a book for children. See the moon is shining through the trees. It's a Sinterklaas song. Lots of countries have already started Christmas and Santa Claus, but here Sinterklaas has just arrived. I think this cover is just adorable.

Reading list for 2023:

January
1. De Mooie Voedselmachine by Giulia Enders ****1/2
2. The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff (UK, historical fiction) ****1/2
3. De Goudsmit en de Meesterdief
or Verhalen van de Tweelingbroers by Tonke Dragt (dutch, audio and ebook) ***1/2
4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (USA) ****
5. The Little House in the big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (USA) ****
6. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (USA) SF ****1/2
7. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (USA, fantasy) ****

February
8. Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien (UK) ***1/2
9. Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten (Sweden) ***
10. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (USA) ****1/2
11. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker (Fr, UK)***1/2

April
12. ‘t Hooge Nest by Roxane van Iperen (dutch, historical) ****
13. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (sf) **
14. The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis (UK) ****
15. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (UK, SF) ****1/2

May
16. De Liefde van Jabba by Catalijn Claes (Dutch) ***
17. To serve them all my days by R.F. Delderfield (UK) ***1/2
18. Long Bright River by Liz Moore (USA) ****1/2

June
19. Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher (fantasy, USA) ***
20. In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden (UK) ***
21. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (UK)***1/2

July
22. All the Light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr (USA) ****1/2
23. Het Geheim van de Klokkenmaker by Tonke Dragt (Dutch, children) ***1/2
24. Doorzakken bij Jamin by Hanneke Groenteman (Dutch, ***1/2)
25. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (USA) ****1/2
26. Bitter Herbs by Marga Minco, read by the author (Dutch) *****
27. Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett (UK) ***1/2

August
28. Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper (USA) ***1/2
29. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (USA) ****1/2
30. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (UK) ***1/2 (reread)
31. Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (UK) **** (reread)
32. Haar Naam was Sarah by Tatiana de Rosnay (Fr) ***
33. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (USA) ****
34. The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik (USA) ****

September
35. Knielen op een bed violen by Jan Siebelink (dutch)****1/2
36. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (USA) ****1/2
37. Mensen zonder Geld (Dutch) by Jan Mens ****
38. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith ***1/2
39. Illuminations by T. Kingfisher (USA, fantasy) ****
40. Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult (USA) ***

Oktober
41. Reizen zonder John by Geert Mak (dutch) ****
42. Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls (USA) ***1/2
43. Salt Houses by Hala Alyan (Palestine)****
44. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (UK) ****
45. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (USA)***
46. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (Ireland) *****

November
47. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (reread)
48. De Camino by Anya Niewierra (dutch, audio) ****
49. Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon (It/USA) ****
50. The Anonymous Venetian by Donna Leon (reread)****
51. Something Fresh by P. G. Wodehouse (UK)(reread)****
52. Het Leven is Vurrukkulluk by Remco Campert (Dutch) ***

December
53. A Study in Scarlett by Arthur Conan Doyle (UK, audio) ***1/2
54. Orpheus in de Dessa by Augusta de Wit (dutch, 1901) ****1/2
55. Het Kaartspel by Theodor Holman (dutch, story) ****
56. Geef me de ruimte by Thea Beckman (dutch, youth) ****
57. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (reread)
58. Het Dwaallicht by Willem Elsschot (dutch) ****1/2
59. A Venetian Reckoning by Donna Leon (reread) ****
60. Glucose Revolution: the life-changing power of balancing your Blood Sugar by Jessie Inchauspe ****1/2
61. Howards End by E.M. Forster (UK) ****1/2
62. Anekdotes uit een zijstraat by J. Bernlef ( dutch, short stories) ***1/2
63. Heer Bommel en de liefdadiger by Marten Toonder (dutch, comic strip). ****
64. Het Sleutelkruid by Paul Biegel (dutch, audio) *****

Group reads I want to take part in:

The Bac:
- January, Rosemary Sutcliff: The Eagle of the Ninth

The AAC:
- January, a book for children: Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House in the Big Woods

The Nonfiction Challenge, January Prizewinners and Nominees. https://www.librarything.com/topic/347191
Found two prizewinners I would like to read:
Wolven op het Ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
And The Gene by Siddharta Mukherjee

Well, as you can see I didn't do so well in those Group Reads.

And two nominees for the wishlist:
Het Lied van de Spreeuw by Octavie Wolters
Nu ga ik er eens op uit nature diaries by Jac. P. Thijsse

Reading now:

Howards End by E. M. Forster
Network Effect by Martha Wells

I've got a problem finishing books. Maybe a list of what I started reading will help?

Series I'm reading:
Bruno Courrèges by Martin Walker
Bruno, Chief of Police
The Dark Vineyard

Commissario Brunetti by Donna Leon
Death at La Fenice
Death in a Strange Country
The Anonymous Venetian
A Venetian Reckoning

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
Network Effect by Martha Wells
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
System Collapse by Martha Wells

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith
The Cuckoo's Calling
The Silkworm
Career of Evil
Lethal White

Blandings Castle by P. G. Wodehouse
Next up: Leave it to Psmith

50. The Anonymous Venetian by Donna Leon (reread)****

51. Something Fresh by P. G. Wodehouse (UK)(reread)****
The first entry in P. G. Wodehouse's beloved Blandings Castle Saga, Something New (also published under the alternate title Something Fresh) introduces two young writers, Joan Valentine and Ashe Marson, who find themselves flung together by an increasingly unusual set of circumstances. Forced to pose as servants for a fabulously wealthy family, the two scribes gradually soften toward one another. Can their burgeoning romance survive even as everything else around them appears to be going awry?

I found this on Paul's thread. Really funny. Has there ever been a movie made from this? I could imagine it.

52. Het Leven is Vurrukkulluk by Remco Campert (Dutch) ***



A summer-day in Amsterdam. We follow what happens to three young people. The day ends with a party.

This is part of the Dutch literary canon. Anita wrote about it in her thread. I happened upon it in my bookcase and looking through the booklet I realized I hadn’t read it. I thought I had. It was a gift from the library.

Anway. I found it a strange book. In parts of it I could see that Campert can really write, he doesn’t need a lot of words to give an impression, describe a situation. But reading on I also started to feel bored. A kaleidoscope, absurdistic, and boring.

And now I can clear a book from my bookcase!

Happy new thread, Ella!

>6 EllaTim: So pleased to see you reading Something Fresh. I will finish it today too. It is great fun, right?

Happy new thread, Ella!

Happy new thread, Ella. I agree about your topper, very sweet pic!

Happy new thread, Ella!

Happy new thread, Ella!

>7 EllaTim: I might go and read some of Camperts poetry. If I remember well, I liked that better.

>8 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Yes, it was fun. I think I’ll read some more of this series, a writer who can make you laugh out loud is worth it.

>9 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! >10 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! >11 SirThomas: Hi Thomas! Thanks everybody.

>12 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Thanks. And yes, could be a good idea.

We had a day at the allotment, or actually an afternoon. Nice and sunny, cold. Tomorrow it’s back to rain, rain, rain.
I’ve decided to start culling books, the ones I am not going to reread. Nr 1 will be Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. A paperback with small font, and not as good as The Joy Luck Club. Hope there’s room for it in one of the Little Free Libraries around here.

Happy new thread, Ella!

Hi Ella my dear, Happy New Thread, dear friend.

Hi Jim, Hi John! Nice to see you both, and thanks!

I bought a new book, it’s a cross between a book and a gratitude diary. I started reading it, but it has this awful small font. It makes me skip lines, and my attention wanders. Why do editors do this? I bought it online so I didn’t notice it. I have two other books, about decluttering, that also have this. I am tempted to start decluttering those first. It looks nice yes, but I really can’t read them! Maybe buy a large magnifying glass?

Something like this? https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/loeplamp-vergrootglas-loeplamp-met-led-verlichting-v...

A magnifier and lamp in one. Also useful for things like threading a needle etc. (Makes me feel old, needing this)

Am I the only one who is bothered by these pesky small fonts?

Happy New Thread, Ella. I hope all is well on your well. I am so glad that you loved Skippy Dies. We plan on reading The Bee Sting in January, if you want to join us.

>16 EllaTim: Hi Marc! Yes, all is well. I’ll have a look for The Bee Sting. So maybe I’ll join you, it’s nice sharing a read. You have been reading lots of books from Ireland, haven’t you? I’m also thinking of reading Prophet Song.

>16 EllaTim: You're not alone, Ella!
The small fonts bother me too. In situations like this, I'm happy to have my eBook reader where I can adjust the font size. Unfortunately, it's not suitable for pictures and books that play with the layout like House of Leaves.
I wear glasses and have varifocals - for screen work I have special glasses for close-up work, which are also very helpful when reading.
I wouldn't be able to cope with a magnifying glass and would probably abandon the book with a heavy heart.

>16 EllaTim: I am lucky, Ella, and still can read small fonts.
So they don't bother me yet. I am sure the time will come I get trouble too.
Publishers use small fonts to save on paper costs.

>19 SirThomas: Hi Thomas! I prefer ebooks to paperbacks too, now. But as you say, for some books the ereader just doesn’t work.
I don’t usually need glasses, just for reading. But even with reading glasses the small fonts are difficult. Are you using stronger glasses for reading?

>20 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! The great reading-glasses divide. Good for you, not needing them yet. They are a real bother. Still, I am glad they were invented, what would we do without?
Yes, for cheap paperbacks, but they also use them for making a layout look good, lots of white on the page. Unfortunately.

>21 EllaTim: The strength is the same, but my normal glasses cover 3 areas (far / medium / near), the work glasses only cover 2, so the area of sharp vision is higher and also wider.

>22 SirThomas: Hi Thomas! Three strengths! I can see how that can be useful. As long as it isn’t too confusing.

Started reading Orpheus in de Dessa by Augusta de Wit. Beautifully written descriptions.
I put it aside, halfway through. You just feel that from here things will be going wrong.

53. A Study in Scarlett by Arthur Conan Doyle (UK, audio) ***1/2



First Sherlock Holmes, where Watson and Holmes meet, and start living together. Lots of excitement and clues, the methods of Holmes and his reasoning are explained. The story contains the backstory of the murderer, which reads like an exciting and dramatic kind of Western. Romance, and adventure. And then back to the sleuth and his reasoning.

Yesterday the weather was not too bad. We went to the allotment, just to feed the birds. Still some leaf raking to do, a never ending task. We brought some stuff to the budget store, some vases and a nice children’s bike. It’s Sinterklaas today, and we hope we were still in time so some child can enjoy this. And we bought a Christmas tree for our elderly neighbor!

Today it’s a stay at home day. I’m cutting up a pumpkin, for the freezer. But the freezer is full, so I have to make jelly to make room in it.

54. Orpheus in de Dessa by Augusta de Wit (dutch, 1901)



This small novel is set in dutch colonial Indonesia.
Bake, a young dutchman, has come to work in the rice factory. He is trying to make production more efficient, trying to make his fortune in this way.
One evening he hears a sweet melody, while he is walking outside. It’s an Indonesian boy, a cripple, who is playing the flute.
Bake befriends him, and loves his music.
But then the rice harvest comes, and his attention goes to production. He forgets about his friend. There’s sabotage in the factory, and buffaloes are stolen.
A tragic ending.

The writing is wonderful, and the story was moving. Bake, accidentally, by his anger and greed, killing his gifted friend.

55. Het Kaartspel by Theodor Holman (dutch, story) ****

A miniature booklet. But a story with some impact. Theodor Holman about his mother. She has kept a game of cards, from her years in a Japanese internee camp. There are stories linked with it, as she used it to give fellow internees some (false) hope, and to provide some extra food for her small daughter.

I’m clearing out my cupboards. I’m not keeping this one, but it deserves a good place in a Little Free Library, as it is really very well written.

56. Geef me de ruimte by Thea Beckman (dutch, youth) ****



This book is set during the hundred years war between France and England.
Marije, later called Marie-Claire, daughter of a wealthy Flemish merchant decides to run away from home when her parents want her to marry against her will. She takes the horse and decides to go to Brittany, because the stories she has heard about that place have given her a romantic idea of it. But on the road she comes across a recent battlefield, wounded and dead soldiers. She rescues a wounded soldier and brings him to a safe place.
And then they fall in love, it turns out he is more of a singer, and they start traversing the country to sing and have adventures. The ongoing war plays a large part in this.
I thought this a well written account of a time and place that was really unfamiliar. What medieval wars were all about, how society worked, the importance of class differences, the writer shows it all without becoming preachy. Very interesting.

>29 EllaTim: Glad to see you liked Geef me de ruimte, Ella.
There are two sequels, both as good as this one imho.

>30 FAMeulstee: Yes, a really good one! I am saving the next books for next year. Taking part in Pauls war reading challenge. I’ll be looking forward to them.

57. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (reread)

Doing a reread of this series

A rainy day. I’m working on clearing out the overload of stuff in this house. Today I sorted some clothes. Two bags, one that could still go to the Budget Store (that’s the Salvation Army) and one for the clothes and textile bin.
Then I returned a book to a Little Free Library:
Kinderen van Brezjnev by Sana Valiulina. I’ve tried twice to read this, and got stuck twice, I’ve given up.

58. Het Dwaallicht by Willem Elsschot (dutch) ****1/2



Novella.
The protagonist, walking home on a miserable November evening, meets three dark men, sailors. They ask him for directions to an address, where a girl(Maria) is supposed to live. After some ado he decides to help them find her.

This small novella is beautifully written. Every word counts. Not always the nicest words though. It’s a meeting of cultures where the three men (reminding me of the three kings from the East) are definitely the better.

I read this book so I could cull it, but I think I’ll give it a place on my shelves instead.

Dropped one bag of old clothes for recycling.
Reading Network Effect

Covid numbers are going up again! I follow some experts on twitter, but here in Holland public media are keeping pretty silent about it. I canceled an invitation to a New Year’s reception, I was going to visit. After last years Covid in December I have had fatigue all year. I’m now starting to feel better, less tired. But I am still not 100% over it. So I don’t want a second round. It’s still hard to cancel everything. Just not really possible. You can’t live in permanent isolation. Sigh.

Yes, it's difficult, we also try try to minimise the risk as much as possible. But isolation is not a solution, even if there are good books there.
Speaking of good books >6 EllaTim: thanks for the hint, I enjoyed it a lot.

>36 SirThomas: Hi Thomas! I am glad you are at least aware of risks. Total isolation is not an option anymore, but one can still be careful.
I am glad you liked the book!

59. A Venetian Reckoning by Donna Leon (reread) ****



Commissario Brunetti nr 4. I think I am even enjoying them more on rereading!

60. Glucose Revolution: the life-changing power of balancing your Blood Sugar by Jessie Inchauspe ****1/2



Of course not all of this was revolutionary or totally new. But Jessie Inchauspe has done some new research, by using a continuous glucose meter. She describes what she has learned in a very easily accessible style. And gives a number of simple and easy ‘hacks’ for balancing your own blood sugar.
I’ve decided to try this approach. Every autumn I start eating more sweet goodies, the season, the cold outside just makes me crave, and once I start I can’t stop. This seems very practical and useful!

Example hack: fiber first. Start every meal with something containing a lot of fiber, even breakfast.

It’s clear I won’t make it to 75 this year. Fifteen days to go.

I put a hold on Glucose Revolution at my library, Ella, thanks to you. I also crave sweets - all year round. I hope you enjoy A History of Burning if you can find in the Netherlands. Sixty books so far is great, Ella. I'm only at 40 books.

>39 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb! I hope the glucose book will be useful to you. For me it’s clear that eating sugar and carbs makes me crave more sugar and carbs. But you just have to try out how this works for you.

I have searched for A History of Burning in my library, but they haven’t got it. I’m putting it on the TBR. Sometimes it just takes some time before a writer will be picked up here as well. Let’s hope so.

Yes, and the main thing is to enjoy reading, not to make it into some homework like duty!

Started an audiobook: Het Sleutelkruid by Paul Biegel.



It’s fun, a story a night. Like Sheherazade.

Such a cold day! Windy, chilly. My ears hurt.
I returned a book to a Little Free Library. There is space for more. Tomorrow.

Marc’s scan result was in, it’s good again. Yippee!
And our neighbor, who contracted Covid at the funeral of a good friend of hers, is feeling better already.

YAY for the good news!
Cold windy, chilly,... - reading weather!

Sweet Thursday, Ella. Just checking in. Good report on Marc's results. Happy news before the holidays. I hope those books are treating you fine.

Hi Ella my dear, good news on Marc's results.

>43 SirThomas: Hi Thomas >44 msf59: Hi Marc >45 johnsimpson: Hi John. Thanks, good news to be grateful for, isn’t it! Hope the books are treating you well too!

I started a book from the library
Een goed verhaal by Mensje van Keulen. Read the first story. No thanks. DNF.

Thinking about you during the festive season, Ella.

All the best wishes and a peaceful time to you, Ella!

>47 ronincats: Hi Roni! Santa looking quite at ease. Hope your home feels as snug as this one.
>48 johnsimpson: Hi John. Thank you!
>49 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I’ll be visiting soon.
>50 SirThomas: Hi Thomas. Quite lovely, thank you.

Everybody happy holidays, happy Christmas.

Listening to Benjamin Britten now. I have a Christmas playlist. Ceremony of Carols.

>51 EllaTim: Benjamin Britten is an interesting listen on Christmas Day, Ella.

Interesting as in?

I love him, say nothing against him.

>53 EllaTim: I wouldn't dare, Ella!

Rejoice in the Lamb?

A CD that has both Ceremony of Carols, and Rejoice in the Lamb. Listening to carols and classical music is part of Christmas for me. My mother used to love that as well, so it’s a memory of her as well.

"For the Mouse is a creature of great personal valour.
For–this is a true case–Cat takes female mouse, Male mouse will not depart, but stands threat’ning and
daring.
...If you will let her go, I will engage you, as prodigious a creature as you are.
For the Mouse is a creature of great personal valour.
For the Mouse is of an hospitable disposition."

Isn’t that great fun?

We’re having chicken (coq au vin), peas and carrots, and potatoes. The last two from the allotment. Carrots a bit damaged, but they will tast great anyway.

>55 EllaTim: That is nice, Ella. Although he is British my classical music tastes are more Russian - Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov mainly. Not very Christmasy though for sure.

What is your favourite Carol by the way? Mine would probably be Silent Night.

>56 PaulCranswick: Russian composers are great as well. Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov.
My favourite as well, Silent Night.

Hi Ella!

Hi Karen! Thanks!

Merry Christmas to all!

61. Howards End by E.M. Forster (UK) ****1/2



Howards End is a masterful discussion of changing social class-consciousness. Three families from different levels of society become intertwined: the rich capitalists, the intellectual bourgeoisie and the struggling poor. Forster does not suggest that relationships between the classes are easy, but he does think them vitally important. The social philosophy inherent in the novel is significant and beautifully written.

This was an interesting reading experience! At nearly a third I felt so annoyed that I put it aside for a while. Then I picked it up again, and changed my mind. And now coming to the conclusion, that yes I like it a lot, but there’s also a lot there that I don’t (fully) understand.

Shocking to see how important class was (is) in society. The sisters Schlegel, half German, as they are often described, are well-off intellectuals. They meet the Wilcox family, rich capitalists, and mrs. Wilcox invites them to the family home, Howards End. It’s a very attractive small country home, and mrs Wilcox is obviously very much at home there. This place plays a very important part in the book.

The relationships between the three families play an important part, but reading on it becomes more and more clear how people misunderstand each other. And things go wrong, ending in a manslaughter. But Forster does end the book in harmony, with the family living in Howards End.

The book was written in 1910. Things have changed of course, still I think there’s a lot in it that is relevant for today. This review doesn’t do it justice, I think.

Reading now:
Het Sleutelkruid
Anekdotes uit een zijstraat
Acqua alta by Donna Leon
And Rupert Sheldrake.

62. Anekdotes uit een zijstraat by J. Bernlef ( dutch, short stories) ***1/2



This is a series of short stories, that seem to circle roughly about a man’s life. The first two from his youth, and the later one’s mainly when he is older. In every story he goes through some kind of mental confusion. In an innocent way in the first story when he doesn’t know how to deal with his father on the stage playing a role. More painful in one of the last ones where he’s suffering from dementia.
Some stories better than others, but still worth reading.

63. Heer Bommel en de liefdadiger by Marten Toonder (dutch, comic strip). ****



Read in Omnibus Dat spreekt.
Story where sir Bommel tries to prove he is not afraid, and meets the awful Brekel. A kind of demon who says he wants to make people laugh. Unfortunately it is not very funny, but Bommel can’t get rid of him. His friend Tom Poes helps him out, of course.
Funny, and a bit of an allegory. For me, it’s the figures that make the story.

>64 EllaTim: Always enjoyable the Bommel comics, Ella. I grew up with him, reading it every day in the NRC.

>65 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! Oh, very nice of course. We didn't have NRC. We had one of those booklets that the strips were published in then. But with some of my favourites, like captain Walrus, Hocus Pas, and the goose, what was his name? I loved it then, and still enjoy it now.

Hopelessly behind but Happy Holidays, Ella!!

64. Het Sleutelkruid by Paul Biegel (dutch, audio) *****



I listened to this book for children around ten or twelve years old. It's a series of stories linked by a surrounding story. They can very well be used as a bedtime story, but I must have heard and enjoyed this book as read by our school teacher, when I was in sixth grade. He was a great story teller. I had forgotten all of it, though and just recognised a couple of sentences.
The king is going to die, he is a thousand years old and tired. His heart wants to stop beating, and he is feeling sad. The doctor knows of a remedy, but he has to travel to find it. In the meanwhile the king might be helped by listening to stories. The doctor will send the animals he meets on the road to tell them.
The stories are all kind of fun, sometimes scary, sometimes sweet, surprising and interesting. And the book as a whole is very nice to listen to. Recommended as an antidote to bad times, and bad news.

>67 Berly: Hi Kim! Oh, I'm so behind as well. But never mind. Thank you very much, and wishing you and yours the same.

>66 EllaTim: The goose was Wammes Waggel.

>68 EllaTim: Such a great story, it was Beste Kinderboek in 1965.

I think I am going to try to fit Howard's End into my reading in 2024, Ella. So many , including you, have given it a good review this year. Happy Holidays to you and Mark, and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year.

>70 FAMeulstee: Oh yes, of course! How could I forget.

>71 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb! I hope you’ll like it. I nearly quit.

Happy New Year to everybody. I’m off for now, but will be back later.

Best of 2023, this is so hard!

Fiction
Dutch:
Bitter Herbs by Marga Minco, read by the author (Dutch) *****
Het Sleutelkruid by Paul Biegel (dutch, audio) *****
Knielen op een bed violen by Jan Siebelink (dutch)****1/2
Orpheus in de Dessa by Augusta de Wit (dutch, 1901) ****1/2
Het Dwaallicht by Willem Elsschot (dutch/Belgium) ****1/2
De Camino by Anya Niewierra (dutch, audio) ****

Several classics here. I was surprised by how much I liked them.
De Camino is a prizewinner of 2023

English:
Best five:
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (Ireland) *****
The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff (UK, historical fiction) ****1/2
All the Light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr (USA) ****1/2
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (USA) ****1/2
Howards End by E.M. Forster (UK) ****1/2

Four ****1/2 star, but still a bit less memorable?
Long Bright River by Liz Moore (USA) ****1/2
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (USA) ****1/2
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (USA) ****1/2
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (USA) ****1/2

Non-Fiction
Glucose Revolution: the life-changing power of balancing your Blood Sugar by Jessie Inchauspe ****1/2
De Mooie Voedselmachine by Giulia Enders ****1/2
Reizen zonder John by Geert Mak (dutch) ****

Series:
A Venetian Reckoning by Donna Leon (reread) ****

>73 EllaTim: You had a great reading year, Ella!
Maybe I will get to Siebelink next year.