Anita (FAMeulstee) reads on in 2018 (3)

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Discussão75 Books Challenge for 2018

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Anita (FAMeulstee) reads on in 2018 (3)

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1FAMeulstee
Editado: Dez 29, 2018, 9:01 am

Welcome to thread three. I planned to show some of my books as thread toppers this year, but completely forgot about it. Last week (on Charlotte's thread), we were chatting about a big rearrangement I have to do, as the bookshelves in our livingroom are overflowing. That reminded me of my original plans.

Left: The bookshelves in the livingroom in 2005, just after we moved here. Right: These bookshelves now.
 

The one shelf with books lying is where I keep my present TBR stack and library books (on the right) and books who need to be stacked (on the left). Upstairs I have some empty shelves from culling childrens books. So now the idea is to split translated and Dutch from these bookcases, keeping translated books in the livingroom and adding the books from the "Russian library", "French library" and the classics, who reside upstairs now.

2FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 20, 2018, 6:31 am

total books read in 2018: 92
58 own / 24 library / 10 BolKobo+

total pages read in 2018: 20,615

--
currently reading:
classic: Het Gilgamesj-epos, 151 pages, TIOLI #13
YA: Stralend kruid - Roberto Piumi, 90 pages, TIOLI #11

--
books read in March 2018 (30 books, 5,494 pages, 22 own / 8 library)
book 92: Vaderland (Fatherland) by Robert Harris, 396 pages , TIOLI #8, (msg 255)
book 91: Vos en haas by Sylvia Vanden Heede, 140 pages, TIOLI #7, (msg 247)
book 90: Metamorphosen by Ovidius, 459 pages TIOLI #8, (msg 239)
book 89: De Cock en de geur van rottend hout by A.C. Baantjer, 137 pages, TIOLI #10, (msg 238)
book 88: Iolo komt niet spelen by Alet Schouten, 135 pages, TIOLI #4, (msg 237)
book 87: Het betoverde land achter de kleerkast (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) by C.S. Lewis, 157 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 231)
book 86: De prinses van Clèves (The Princesse de Cleves) by Madame de Lafayette, 237 pages, TIOLI #13, (msg 224)
book 85: De zomer van 1927 (One Summer: America, 1927) by Bill Bryson, 542 pages, TIOLI #15, (msg 220)
book 84: Elfenmiddag (Afternoon of the Elves) by Janet Taylor Lisle, 128 pages, TIOLI #2, (msg 219)
book 83: Toen Faas niet thuiskwam by Martha Heesen, 84 pages, TIOLI #1, (msg 218)
book 82: De kat in de gordijnen by Dolf Verroen, 72 pages, TIOLI #17, (msg 186)
book 81: Roofvogels & uilen in Europa by Jaap Schelvis, 156 pages, TIOLI #3, (msg 185)
book 80: De storm (Against the storm) by Gaye Hiçyilmaz, 167 pages, TIOLI #16, (msg 184)
book 79: Waarom kwamen de walvissen? (Why the Whales came) by Michael Morpurgo, 127 pages, TIOLI #5, (msg 174)
book 78: De encyclopedie van de grote woorden by Mark Boog, 79 pages, TIOLI #6, (msg 173)
book 77: Lieve Tracey... Lieve Mandy... (Letters from the Inside) by John Marsden, 142 pages, TIOLI #18, (msg 170)
book 76: Van Hector die een kater was by Alet Schouten, 98 pages, TIOLI #17, (msg 169)
book 75: Twtti Rhys Hec : een meisje van zestien (What About Grandma?) by Hadley Irwin, 168 pages, TIOLI #18, (msg 158)
book 74: Het schnitzelparadijs by Khalid Boudou, 303 pages, TIOLI #15, (msg 157)
book 73: Donderslag (Thunderwith) by Libby Hathorn, 236 pages, TIOLI #7, (msg 150)
book 72: Zoals de wind om het huis by Johanna Kruit, 39 pages, TIOLI #16, (msg 149)
book 71: Alptraum : Stanley's laatste gems by Koos van Zomeren, 190 pages, TIOLI #10, (msg 148)
book 70: Birk (You Have Me to Love) by Jaap Robben, 255 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 147)
book 69: Piraten aan de Stille Oceaan by Karl May, 286 pages, TIOLI #14, (msg 146)
book 68: Heksen en zo... by Annie M.G. Schmidt, 112 pages, TIOLI #3, (msg 115)
book 67: Your future! hét trendwatchers handboek by Lieke Lamb & Richard Lamb, 191 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 110)
book 66: Wat dacht je van mij? by Corrie Hafkamp, 124 pages, TIOLI #4, (msg 109)
book 65: De vloek van Cornelia by Martha Heesen, 98 pages, TIOLI #1, (msg 108)
book 64: Noodweer (Dangerous Skies) by Suzanne Fisher Staples, 204 pages, TIOLI #2, (msg 107)
book 63: Luna van de boom by Bart Moeyaert, 32 pages, TIOLI 11, (msg 89)

3FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 20, 2018, 6:19 am

books read in February 2018 (30 books, 6,987 pages, 21 own / 9 library )
book 62: Josja Pruis by Harm de Jonge, 135 pages, TIOLI #19, (msg 75)
book 61: Laat me nooit alleen (Never let me go) by Kazuo Ishiguro, 303 pages, TIOLI #1, (msg 74)
book 60: De wreker van Floris V by Renée Vink, 240 pages, TIOLI #18, (msg 69)
book 59: Godje by Daan Remmerts de Vries, 87 pages, TIOLI #16, (msg 68)
book 58: La Bruja, de merrie (The wild heart) by Helen Griffiths, 170 pages, TIOLI #17, (msg 61)
book 57: Zwart op wit by Akky van der Veer, 150 pages, TIOLI #16, (msg 60)
book 56: Het huis tussen de bomen (Up a road slowly) by Irene Hunt, 150 pages, TIOLI #16, (msg 59)
book 55: Geschiedenis van de Lage Landen deel 1 by Jaap ter Haar, 432 pages, TIOLI #16, (msg 49)
book 54: Britt-Marie was hier (Britt-Marie was here) by Fredrik Backman, 347 pages, TIOLI #17, (msg 48)
book 53: Sneeuw (Snow) by Orhan Pamuk, 471 pages, TIOLI #8, (msg 47)
book 52: Het boek van alle dingen (The Book of Everything) by Guus Kuijer, 103 pages, TIOLI #3, (thread 2)
book 51: Jonathan, wat zag je in die zomernacht? (A Midsummer Night's Death) by K.M. Peyton, 146 pages, TIOLI #11, (thread 2)
book 50: Edda translated by Marcel Otten, 429 pages, TIOLI #5, (thread 2)
book 49: Morgen is de toekomst by An Rutgers van der Loeff, 118 pages, TIOLI #14, (thread 2)
book 48: Zwart als inkt by Wim Hofman, 180 pages, TIOLI #15, (thread 2)
book 47: De adjudant van de vrachtwagen (Pulga) by S.R. van Itterson, 196 pages, TIOLI #4, (thread 2)
book 46: Een midzomernachtdroom (A Midsummer Night's Dream) by William Shakespeare, 82 pages, TIOLI #10, (thread 2)
book 45: Anansi de spin weeft zich een web om de wereld by Noni Lichtveld, 80 pages, TIOLI #7, (thread 2)
book 44: De verdwenen menora by Jan & Sanne Terlouw, 319 pages, TIOLI #16, (thread 2)
book 43: De havik (The Goshawk) by T.H. White, 235 pages, TIOLI #3, (thread 2)
book 42: Schorshuiden (Barkskins) by Annie Proulx, 795 pages, TIOLI #9, (thread 2)
book 41: Maliff en de wolf by Hans Hagen, 64 pages, TIOLI #18, (thread 2)
book 40: Meneer Ratti by Mensje van Keulen, 86 pages, TIOLI #19, (thread 2)
book 39: Pablo by Helen Griffiths, 166 pages, TIOLI #17, (thread 2)
book 38: Tommie Station by Mensje van Keulen, 158 pages, TIOLI #1, (thread 2)
book 37: Aardzee 2 (Earthsea omnibus 4-6) by Ursula Le Guin, 623 pages, TIOLI #2, (thread 2)
book 36: Mijn hersens draaien rondjes by Rita Verschuur, 123 pages, TIOLI #6, (thread 2)
book 35: Het is nacht, we gaan op jacht by Hans Hagen, 27 pages, TIOLI #12, (thread 2)
book 34: Muizensoep (Mouse Soup) by Arnold Lobel, 64 pages, TIOLI #13, (thread 2)
book 33: Zwaarden, paarden en ziektekiemen (Guns, Germs, and Steel) by Jared Diamond, 508 pages, (thread 2)

--
books read in January 2018 (32 books, 8,134 pages, 15 own / 7 library / 10 BolKobo+)
book 32: Stijfkop, de vechthond (The Kershaw dogs) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 2)
book 31: De hobbit (The Hobbit) by J.R.R. Tolkien, (thread 2)
book 30: Het reality-essay by Dirk Vis, (thread 2)
book 29: Het is maar een straathond (Just a dog) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 2)
book 28: De man van de blauwe cirkels (The Chalk Circle Man) by Fred Vargas, (thread 2)
book 27: Zes maanden in de Siberische wouden (The Consolations of the Forest) by Sylvain Tesson, (thread 2)
book 26: Francisco, olé ! (Dancing horses) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 2)
book 25: De laatste zomer (The last summer) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 1)
book 24: Een studie in rood (A study in scarlet) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, (thread 1)
book 23: Naar Moskou! Naar Moskou! by Willem Oosterbeek, (thread 1)
book 22: Lof der zotheid (In Praise of Folly) by Desiderius Erasmus, (thread 1)
book 21: Wolvensaga by Käthe Recheis, (thread 1)
book 20: Doldwazen en druiloren (Fruitloops and dipsticks) by Ulf Stark, (thread 1)
book 19: Het heksenkind (Witch fear) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 1)
book 18: Woutertje Pieterse by Multatuli, (thread 1)
book 17: Majesteit, Uw ontbijt by Sjoerd Kuyper, (thread 1)
book 16: De rode hengst op de renbaan (The Island Stallion Races) by Walter Farley, (thread 1)
book 15: Sacha, de russische blauwe kat (Russian blue) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 1)
book 14: Kaas en de evolutietheorie by Bas Haring, (thread 1)
book 13: Waarom ik lees (Where I'm Reading From) by Tim Parks, (thread 1)
book 12: De vergeten geschiedenis van mijn grootvader Sulayman Hadj Ali by Meltem Halaceli, (thread 1)
book 11: De reizen van Gulliver (Gulliver's Travels) by Jonathan Swift, (thread 1)
book 10: Een handvol sneeuw (The End of Days) by Jenny Erpenbeck, (thread 1)
book 9: A van alibi (A Is for Alibi) by Sue Grafton, (thread 1)
book 8: De oorlog heeft geen vrouwengezicht (The Unwomanly Face of War) by Svetlana Alexievich, (thread 1)
book 7: Het vierkant van de wraak (The Square of Revenge) by Pieter Aspe, (thread 1)
book 6: De abdij van Northanger (Northanger Abbey) by Jane Austen, (thread 1)
book 5: Twilight (Twilight) by Stephenie Meyer, (thread 1)
book 4: Reizen zonder John (In America: Travels With John Steinbeck) by Geert Mak, (thread 1)
book 3: De hond van Rafa (Rafa's dog) by Helen Griffiths, (thread 1)
book 2: Onafhankelijke mensen (Independent people) by Haldór Laxness,
book 1: Het gouden oog by Hans Hagen, (thread 1)

4FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 20, 2018, 6:34 am

Reading plans:
TIOLI February 2018: February SWEEP done; 29 TIOLI books read

TIOLI March 2018 sweep done, going for double sweep
#1: Read a book in which the last letter of the author's first name plus the last letter of the author's last name spells a word
- De vloek van Cornelia - Martha Heesen, 98 pages
- Toen Faas niet thuiskwam - Martha Heesen, 84 pages
- Dood in den vreemde (Death in a Strange Country) - Donna Leon, 334 pages
#2: Read a book where the author's middle or maiden name is included on the cover
- Noodweer (Dangerous Skies) - Suzanne Fisher Staples, 204 pages
- Elfenmiddag (Afternoon of the Elves) - Janet Taylor Lisle, 128 pages
#3: Rolling challenge: Read a book with a plural noun in the title, going up in alphabetical order
- Heksen en zo... - Annie M.G. Schmidt, 112 pages
- Roofvogels & uilen in Europa - Jaap Schelvis, 156 pages
#4: Pangram rolling challenge: "How vexingly quick daft zebras jump!"
- Wat dacht je van mij? - Corrie Hafkamp, 124 pages
- Iolo komt niet spelen - Alet Schouten, 135 pages
- Uk en Bur - Wim Hofman, 79 pages
#5: Read a book where the title includes at least two different words beginning with the same letter
- Geschiedenis van de Lage Landen deel 2 - Jaap ter Haar, 400 pages
- Verhalen voor een Afrikaanse koning (Tales Told to an African King) - Humphrey Harman, 149 pages
- Waarom kwamen de walvissen? (Why the Whales came) - Michael Morpurgo, 127 pages
#6: Read a book where the author's first name is also the name of a city or village in your state, province or the like
- De encyclopedie van de grote woorden - Mark Boog (Marknesse, Flevoland), 79 pages
- Vrienden van de maan - Mensje van Keulen (Ens, Flevoland), 140 pages
- Wachten op Doggo - Mark B. Mills (Marknesse, Flevoland), 224 pages
#7: Read a book by a female author who has had at least 3 books published
- Donderslag (Thunderwith) - Libby Hathorn, 236 pages
- Vos en haas - Sylvia Vanden Heede, 140 pages
#8: Read a book for a project
- Metamorphosen - Ovidius, 459 pages
- Vaderland (Fatherland) - Robert Harris, 396 pages
- De koperen tuin - Simon Vestdijk, 288 pages
#9: Read a book first published in the last 10 years
- Birk - Jaap Robben, 255 pages
- Verder alles goed - Nico Dijkshoorn, 61 pages
#10: Read a book that isn't a "book"
- Alptraum : Stanley's laatste gems - Koos van Zomeren, 190 pages
- De Cock en de geur van rottend hout - A.C. Baantjer, 137 pages
#11: Read a book with something that grows from (or under) the ground in the title
- Luna van de boom - Bart Moeyaert, 32 pages
- Stralend kruid - Roberto Piumi, 90 pages
#12: Read a book whose title includes the word “lion” OR a book written by an author with the name of “Lamb”
- Your future! hét trendwatchers handboek - Lieke Lamb & Richard Lamb, 191 pages
- Het betoverde land achter de kleerkast (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) - C.S. Lewis, 157 pages
#13: Read a classic originally published in a languange not your own
- De prinses van Clèves - Madame de Lafayette, 237 pages
- Het Gilgamesj-epos, 151 pages
#14: Read a book with water on the cover
- Piraten aan de Stille Oceaan - Karl May, 286 pages
- De molen en de Boeseknor - Alet Schouten, 110 pages
#15: Read a book that starts with a fire
- De zomer van 1927 - Bill Bryson, 542 pages
- Het schnitzelparadijs - Khalid Boudou, 303 pages (e-library)
#16: Read a book with a word related to air in the title
- Zoals de wind om het huis - Johanna Kruit, 39 pages
- De storm - Gaye Hiçyilmaz, 167 pages
#17: Read a book that features a cat
- Van Hector die een kater was - Alet Schouten, 98 pages
- De kat in de gordijnen - Dolf Verroen, 74 pages
- De kat en de adelaar - Hans Hagen, 65 pages
#18 : Read a book celebrating the special women in your life
- Twtti Rhys Hec : een meisje van zestien - Hadley Irwin, 168 pages
- Lieve Tracey... Lieve Mandy... (Letters from the Inside) - John Marsden, 142 pages

5FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 20, 2018, 6:51 pm

Reading plans in 2018

I have a large collection of mostly awarded childrens & YA books. At the moment I am reading the books I haven't read since joining LT, mostly alphabeticly, to decide which to keep. The ones not to keep are donated to a library in Rotterdam (where we lived until 2005).
I started in 2018 with 702 childrens/YA books, of those 352 are tbr.

End of February update:
- 32 childrens/YA books read; 352 tbr - 32 = 320 + 1 book acquired = 321 tbr
- 686 childrens/YA books on the shelves: 702 + 1 book acquired = 703 - 2 culled - 15 ready to go = 686

I keep trying to read more of my own books, of the 452 books I have read in 2017 238 (53%) were my own.
This year I try again to read at least 50% books of my own.

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

--
February month summary: February in numbers
January month summary: January in numbers

--
Previous threads in 2018
Book 1 - 25: thread 1; book 26 - 52: thread 2

My readings in previous years

452 books (110,222 pages) read in 2017/1, 2017/2, 2017/3, 2017/4, 2017/5, 2017/6, 2017/7, 2017/8, 2017/9, 2017/10, 2017/11, 2017/12, 2017/13
252 books   (72,474 pages) read in 2016/1, 2016/2, 2016/3, 2016/4, 2016/5, 2016/6
  29 books   (10,079 pages) read in 2015
  17 books     (3,700 pages) read in 2014
  13 books     (3,692 pages) read in ROOT 2013
  50 books   (18,779 pages) read in 2012/1, 2012/2, 2012/3
  82 books   (29,387 pages) read in 2011/1, 2011/2
120 books   (37,668 pages) read in 2010/1, 2010/2, 2010/3, 2010/4
  78 books   (22,698 pages) read in 2009/1, 2009/2
130 books   (39,901 pages) read in 2008

--

Other lists

My best of lists on the WikiThing

6FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 20, 2018, 6:39 am

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

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 4/11
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

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 6/20
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 46/70

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

Floris V by Renée Vink 3/3
1 Floris V en de Schotse troon; 2 De laatste dagen van Floris V; 3 De wreker van Floris V

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 2/18
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;

Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg by Fred Vargas 1/9
1 De man van de blauwe cirkels; 2 De omgekeerde man; 3 Maak dat je wegkomt; 4 De terugkeer van Neptunus; 5 De eeuwige jacht; 6 Vervloekt; 7 De verdwijningen; 8 IJsmoord

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 3/12
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest; 4 De duivel draagt het licht; 5 De Indiase bruid; 6 Zwarte seconden; 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn; 8 Een andere voorkeur; 9 Kwade wil; 10 De waarschuwer; 11 Carmen Zita og døden (not translated); 12 Veenbrand

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

Pieter Vos by David Hewson 1/4
1 Poppenhuis; 2 Het verkeerde meisje; 3 Het derde zusje; 4 De stenen engel

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

7FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 13, 2018, 7:43 am

Books acquired in 2018: 26

March 2018 (9)
Binnenplaats by Joost Baars
Aardzee 2 (omnibus 4-6) by Ursula Le Guin
Gezien de feiten by Griet Op de Beeck (boekenweekgeschenk)
Natuurlijk by Jan Terlouw (boekenweek essay)
Het slechte pad by Robert Galbraith (e-book)
Poppenhuis by David Hewson (e-book)
Het verkeerde meisje by David Hewson (e-book)
Het derde zusje by David Hewson (e-book)
De stenen engel by David Hewson (e-book)

February 2018 (6)
Neo Rauch - Dromos - Schilderijen 1993-2017 by Ralph Keuning
*De holle heuvels by Mary Stewart
*De kristallen grot by Mary Stewart
*De laatste betovering by Mary Stewart
*Arthur, koning voor eens en altijd, gevolgd door Het boek Merlijn by T.H. White
Aardzee (omnibus 1-3) by Ursula Le Guin

* secondhand replacements for books culled in 2005

January 2018 (11)
2314 by Philip Akkerman
Doodgewoon by Bette Westera
De Bosatlas van het Nederlandse voetbal
Amerikaanse pastorale by Philip Roth
Liefdesliederen by Hadewijch
Middlemarch by George Eliot
De avonturen van Alice in Wonderland & Achter de spiegel en wat Alice daar aantrof by Lewis Caroll
Het Gilgamesj-epos
**Bekentenissen van Zeno by Italo Svevo
Het rood en het zwart by Stendhal
Anton Heyboer : het goede moment by Doede Hardeman ea

**replacment for damaged book

--

Books culled in 2018: 2 (really gone) + 25 (ready to go) = 27

8FAMeulstee
Editado: Fev 22, 2018, 4:12 pm

That was it, thread is open :-)

9Ameise1
Fev 22, 2018, 4:01 pm

Happy new thread, Anita. I hope your meds dose is soon ajusted.

10LovingLit
Fev 22, 2018, 4:10 pm

Hi- popping in to stake my claim on the newest thread :)

11FAMeulstee
Editado: Fev 22, 2018, 4:15 pm

>9 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara, it is good to see you around a bit more during your Davos vacation.
Adjusting the meds takes time, I hope to be there when our vacation starts.

>10 LovingLit: Claim staked, Megan :-)

12Crazymamie
Fev 22, 2018, 4:22 pm

Happy new thread, Anita! Gorgeous bookshelves - I have bookshelf envy. *Grin*

13johnsimpson
Fev 22, 2018, 4:30 pm

Happy new thread Anita my dear and I just love your book shelves.

14harrygbutler
Fev 22, 2018, 4:38 pm

Happy new thread, Anita! Definitely some changes in the books on your shelves over the years.

15FAMeulstee
Fev 22, 2018, 4:44 pm

>12 Crazymamie: And this is only about 1/3rd of our present bookshelves, Mamie, there is more to come in the next threads ;-)

>13 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, I like to keep them organised (alphabeticly) and tidy.

>14 harrygbutler: Thanks, Harry, we culled a lot before we moved in 2005. But the collection has grown again since then. I am sure hey breed on the shelves ;-)

16jessibud2
Fev 22, 2018, 4:50 pm

Happy new thread, Anita. You know, the black shelves really make the colour of the book spines stand out - I like that! :-)

17johnsimpson
Fev 22, 2018, 4:50 pm

>15 FAMeulstee:, I am like you my dear having books alphabetically but not quite as tidy and at the moment it is Karen that is doing the book buying and the Billy bookcase in our bedroom is double filled and two large piles in front of it which Karen has been adding to over the last year or so. I had been reading some of them but with my challenge for this year I cannot help out so what it will be like by Jan 19 when I get back to reasonable length books I dread to think. To be honest I think I could do with your 450 book year to make a dent in it, lol.

18charl08
Fev 22, 2018, 4:55 pm

Love the bookshelf pictures Anita. I really need to get mine sorted out!

19Caroline_McElwee
Fev 22, 2018, 5:05 pm

Adding to the bookshelf love, Anita.

Glad Frank is doing better than expected.

20figsfromthistle
Fev 22, 2018, 5:48 pm

Happy new thread! Love the picture of your library

21FAMeulstee
Fev 22, 2018, 5:53 pm

>16 jessibud2: You and me, Shelley. Our other bookcases are oak colored, colors there don't come out as good. On the other hand you see every little dust on black.

>17 johnsimpson: They are alphabetical by category, John. Literature (soon translated literature and Dutch literature), poetry, childrens & YA, and a few non-fiction categories. I am making good progress now, back in the days I barely read a book a month, I never expected to make any dent ;-)

>18 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, and now the big task ofsplitting these up is coming up....

>19 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, I am glad I finally remembered to make the toppers of my shelves.
Makes us also glad :-)

>20 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita. It feels a bit odd to use my name for someone else, I have only met a few others in my life with the same name. Do you feel the same?

22PaulCranswick
Fev 22, 2018, 5:55 pm

Happy new thread, Anita. xx

23EllaTim
Fev 22, 2018, 6:12 pm

Happy new thread Anita, love your bookshelves! Very neat and organised.

Fun to compare ways to organise books. I have mostly non-fiction, and mine are sorted first by subject, then by sizes. The biggest books get their own shelf. I don't care about alphabetical order:-)

24jolerie
Fev 22, 2018, 6:36 pm

Happy new thread Anita.

Love the bookshelves!
There was once a time in my life where I had all the books in the house organized. I think it lasted for maybe a month before more books came into the house. Now I have one whole bookcase that are new purchases that are not organized. It will be a labour of love one day. :)

25jnwelch
Fev 22, 2018, 6:52 pm

Happy New Thread, Anita.

I love the bookshelf photos, too. We've put bookshelves in just about every room in the house. Thank goodness we put some in the attic, which helps with overflow (particularly my collection of graphic novels!)

26ffortsa
Fev 22, 2018, 7:09 pm

Hi, Anita. Just stopping by (finally) to say hello.

27ChelleBearss
Fev 22, 2018, 7:51 pm

Happy new thread, Anita!

28The_Hibernator
Fev 22, 2018, 8:35 pm

Happy new thread!

29jessibud2
Fev 22, 2018, 9:38 pm

>23 EllaTim:, >25 jnwelch: - I also organize by subject (mostly). I don't bother with alphabetical order, either. Enough that I know which shelf to look on for which subject. Unfortunately, in spite of having bookcases in almost every room (except the bathroom). I often run out of shelf space and then the piles on the floor begin. Sadly, those are not organized at all. In a perfect world, I would have only enough books to fit in the bookcases and the floors would be clear. I'd be able to find everything and would therefore not find duplicate books (as I still sometimes do. Like yesterday!). Ah yes, a perfect world.... (we won't discuss the 3 storage bins in the basement crawlspace although I am proud to say there used to be more than 3 and now there aren't.)

30Ameise1
Fev 23, 2018, 3:22 am

Happy Friday, Anita.

31FAMeulstee
Editado: Fev 23, 2018, 4:12 am

>22 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>23 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, I went alphabetical when Frank & me started to live together. His books were rather randomly organised, and I could never find a book in his shelves.
The non-fiction categories that take less than a shelf are ordered by size.

>24 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie, all organising is a labour of love. But I like organising books more than organising other items :-)

>25 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe, it if fun to compare our shelves.
We used to keep books from the livingroom, as Frank has dust-mite allergy. Our present house was too small to keep the books out of there, so we put them as a "wall" between the living room and the kitchen. We have a small room upstairs with eight bookcases (more is impossible) and two comfortable chairs, our libray room. Three small bookcases in the sleeping room and two in the small corridor upstairs.

32FAMeulstee
Fev 23, 2018, 4:11 am

>26 ffortsa: Thanks, Judy, glad to see you here.

>27 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle!

>28 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel!

>29 jessibud2: I have that touch of OCD that is needed to keep the shelves organised, Shelley ;-)
As I mentioned to Ella (>31 FAMeulstee:), it started when I moved in with Frank. I could not find anything on his shelves. A year later we merged our books and I started to organise them alphabeticly by type. It is a lot of work when a writer with a name starting with "A" has to be added, but I use that opportunity mostly to remove all the dust. Twenty years back, when we had a very big house, we had two library rooms and a a study with books. At that time we owned over 4,000 books. Now we have about half of that.

>30 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, the same to you!

33avatiakh
Fev 23, 2018, 4:25 am

Your bookshelves look wonderful. I wish I had some like that.

34FAMeulstee
Fev 23, 2018, 4:34 am

>33 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry, they are all Billy bookcases from IKEA. These five are attched to a large beam that is connected to the wall, so they don't fall.

35Sakerfalcon
Fev 23, 2018, 6:56 am

Your bookshelves are beautiful! It is my ambition to one day live in a place where there is enough space to have all my books out on shelves, instead of some being in boxes under the bed, in the loft, in piles on the floor .....

36msf59
Fev 23, 2018, 7:03 am

Happy Friday, Anita. Happy New Thread! Love the bookshelf toppers! Hope you had a good week.

37FAMeulstee
Fev 23, 2018, 7:11 am

>35 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, I have always loved to organise the books.
I try to cull enough books, to keep them limited to shelf space.

>36 msf59: Happy Friday to you, Mark!
We had a bit stressful week, with Frank's teeth extractions, but he is fine now, and I am nearing towards fine ;-)

38scaifea
Fev 23, 2018, 7:49 am

Happy new thread, Anita!

39foggidawn
Fev 23, 2018, 8:41 am

Happy new thread! I like your bookshelf pictures -- I'd love for all of mine to match, but currently they are a hodgepodge.

40karenmarie
Fev 23, 2018, 8:45 am

Hi Anita and happy new thread.

Isn't reorganizing books fun? And I loved reading about you and Frank merging libraries and how where you put what has evolved. (My daughter does not know it yet, but she is going to help me reorganize some books when she comes home for spring break on the 3rd of March! I can't wait!)

41jnwelch
Fev 23, 2018, 9:04 am

After we'd said such-and-such book is great, and then had trouble finding our copy too many times, our son convinced us to alphabetize our books, and it's been well worth the effort. We just put all the A's, etc., together, and don't alphabetize within the letter, but that makes all the difference.

42figsfromthistle
Fev 23, 2018, 10:01 am

>21 FAMeulstee: Indeed. It does feel strange sometimes. Since I've lived in Canada, I've only met one other Anita. She was a patient at the hospital where I worked. I think she was shocked to see that my name was also Anita because she accused me of stealing her name ( she was quite the feisty lady!).

43FAMeulstee
Fev 23, 2018, 10:30 am

>38 scaifea: Thank you, Amber!

>39 foggidawn: Thanks, Misty, I had a few other book cases when Frank & me started living together. Through the years they were replaced by Billy bookcases (IKEA), they are low priced and last long. The oldest ones in our house were bought in the 1980s!

>40 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Yes I love reorganising the books. In my head and on the computer I have been working for weeks now, to prepare the new arrangement. Counting the shelves, making estimates etc. I presume your daughter shares the love for reorganising?

>41 jnwelch: If only I could do it that way, Joe, but whatever works is good. It is very rare, but sometime I put a book out of order, when the a very large book doesn't fit. Then I am glad when a new book arrives, so it can be corrected.

>42 figsfromthistle: Glad I am not the only one, Anita. My husband is more used to sharing his name, Frank is a common name. He had always others with the same name around.

44humouress
Fev 23, 2018, 10:47 am

>1 FAMeulstee: not jealous not jealous not jealous not jealous

Hi Anita. Happy new thread!

45Berly
Fev 23, 2018, 10:58 am

Happy new thread! Love our bookshelves up top. Mine are alphabetical, although a separate bookcase for TBRs and another one for children's books. Happy reading!

46FAMeulstee
Fev 23, 2018, 11:10 am

>44 humouress: Thanks, Nina, so glad you are not jealous ;-)

>45 Berly: Thanks, Kim, my children's and YA collection is upstairs in 5 bookcases, alphabetical, of course. Poetry has an own place and non-fiction is shattered all over the house by category. I don't keep my TBRs seperate, I have a small stack in the bookcases in the topper, with books from upstairs & library books.

47FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:34 am


book 53: Sneeuw by Orhan Pamuk
own, translated Turkish, 1001 books, nobelprizewinnner, English translation Snow, 471 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book by an author you have previously struggled with (shared read)

Ka is a poet, who came back from Germany to Istanbul for his mothers funeral. On a friends request he travels to Kars, a city in eastern Turkey, to write about the local elections and the suicide of some girls, that seems to turn epidemic. On his way to Kars, it starts to snow, when Ka arrives in the city it is isolated from the outside world by the heavy snowfall. He hasn't written any poems recently, but in Kars the poems find him. He finds back the beautiful Ipek, he adored her when he was younger. Since she was recently divorced, his hopes are high they finally can get together. Kars turns out to be filed with secret government agents, islamic fanatics, Kurdish nationalists who all have their own agenda.

Turkey is a country between the West and the East, this novel is set in the time Turkey was more faced towards the West. In present time, under president Erdogan, Turkey has been turning more East. For the writer, and many others, it doesn't really matter. Freedom of speech is not appriciated anyway and oppression their fate.

The book impressed me with beautiful descriptions and language. Filled with suspence, even when the author already revealed what was going to happen. It gave me more insight in modern Turkey. It sadly doesn't make me optimistic about the future.

48FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:33 am


book 54: Britt-Marie was hier by Fredrik Backman
from the library, e-book, translated Swedish, English translation Britt-Marie was here, 347 pages
TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book with an animal on the cover (shared read)

Britt-Marie, one of the characters in My grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry, has left her husband and is desperately searching for a job. She finds a temporary job in the village Borg, where almost everybody has left, and the remaining unemployed villagers would like to leave. Blunt and opinionated Britt-Marie interferes in almost everyones life in the village.

Sad, funny and feelgood, like Backman's other books.

49FAMeulstee
Editado: Fev 23, 2018, 3:51 pm


book 55: Geschiedenis van de Lage Landen deel 1 by Jaap ter Haar
own, Dutch, awarded, Nienke van Hichtumprijs 1972, no translations, 432 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with title word or author name starting with GOLDSILVERBRONZE in rolling order

History of the Low Lands (the Netherlands and Flandres), from Prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, written for young readers, first book in a series of four.

Early parts are a bit outdated, but still very readable history book. Combining non-fiction with short fictional stories set in that time.

50drneutron
Fev 23, 2018, 7:00 pm

Happy new thread a bit late!

51EllaTim
Fev 23, 2018, 8:53 pm

>47 FAMeulstee: Interesting, I have a vague recollection of trying to read this one, and not finishing it. Maybe i should try again.

>48 FAMeulstee: Seems a nice book, but where is the animal? Oh wait, is that a squirrel on the fence?

52Caroline_McElwee
Fev 24, 2018, 5:13 am

>47 FAMeulstee: somehow I got stuck in Snow about a third through. Not sure why. I'll give it another go sometime. Glad you liked it Anita.

53Carmenere
Fev 24, 2018, 8:31 am

Hi Anita! I finally made it over here to wish you a happy third thread! I love and admire your organized book shelves. Funny how the knick knacks have disappeared and have been replace by books!
I'm very happy that I have Snow to look forward to as it is on my 2018 TBR shelf. My Name is Red is one of my all time favorite books and I excited to know you've thought so highly of Snow.

54Ameise1
Fev 24, 2018, 8:49 am

Happy weekend, Anita.

55FAMeulstee
Fev 24, 2018, 3:36 pm

>50 drneutron: Thanks, Jim, never too late in my opinion ;-)

>51 EllaTim: It was no easy read, Ella, some reviews compare it to Russian writers.
No not a squirrel, but a rat on the fence.

>52 Caroline_McElwee: It really picked up about half way, Caroline, from there I could not stop reading.

>53 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda, despite our culling efforts our library keeps growing, so all shelves are now taken over by the books. The only knick knacks left are up on the bookcases.
I hope you will love Snow as much as I did.

>54 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, same to you.

56Caroline_McElwee
Fev 24, 2018, 7:44 pm

>55 FAMeulstee: That's useful to know Anita, thanks.

57Ameise1
Fev 25, 2018, 2:28 am

Happy Sunday, Anita. It's freezing cold here with a strong chilly wind. We have to walk to a restaurant because we'll have lunch with my MIL and BIL.

58FAMeulstee
Fev 25, 2018, 3:07 am

>57 Ameise1: Happy Sunday to you, Barbara, enjoy your lunch.
According to the forcast it will be freezing day and night for the next six days.

59FAMeulstee
Editado: Abr 7, 2018, 9:57 am


book 56: Het huis tussen de bomen by Irene Hunt
own, translated English, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1972, Newbery Medal 1967, original title Up a road slowly, 150 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with title word or author name starting with GOLDSILVERBRONZE in rolling order

When Julie's mother dies, her life changes completely. She and her brother Chris are going to live with their unmarried aunt Cornelia. Soon her brother leaves to attent a boarding school. Julie doesn't like her new life at first, but slowly adapts. We follow her through the years until she goes to college.

Coming of age novel, fairly predictable, sometimes a bit boring.

60FAMeulstee
Fev 25, 2018, 1:39 pm


book 57: Zwart op wit by Akky van der Veer
own, translated Frisian, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1989, original title Swart op wyt, 150 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with title word or author name starting with GOLDSILVERBRONZE in rolling order

Femke lives with her grandmother, Omastien, and the three boarders in the house, who came after her grandfather died. Her mother Ida was only seventeen when she got Femke and got married a few years back. Femke spends her vacations with her mother and stephfather. All Femke knows about her real father is that he has died. On her 16th birthday her paternal grandfather suddenly contacts her.
We get to know Femke and the people around her through her diary, that she started after her 16th birthday.

61FAMeulstee
Editado: Abr 7, 2018, 9:57 am


book 58: La Bruja, de merrie by Helen Griffiths
own, translated English, original title The wild heart, 170 pages
TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book with an animal on the cover

After loosing her mother only a few months after birth, the mare La Bruja (the Witch) had to depend on herself. Despite being an ugly horse, gaucho's try to catch her, because she could run faster than any other wild horse. When she is caught, she learns to know the cruel side of captivity and escapes, after killing the man who caught her. She becomes a legend, and a rich man puts a prize on her. In the end a miracle is needed to keep her from being caught again.

I loved this book when I was a child, and still love it now. There is some cruelty, harsh men who are slaughtering and breaking horses for a living. The story is written from the perspective of the horse, without humanizing her.

62Dejah_Thoris
Fev 25, 2018, 10:47 pm

Hi Anita! You almost tempt me to try Snow - but not this month.

I hope your weekend was lovely!

63Ameise1
Fev 26, 2018, 5:32 am

Wishing you a good start into the new week, Anita.

64Deern
Fev 26, 2018, 12:02 pm

Happy newish thread and happy new week, Anita! Thank you for the info on Shostakovich and the reminder that I should finally get to the Barnes book! And I should read Snow! *little panic* :)

65FAMeulstee
Fev 26, 2018, 1:24 pm

>62 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dajah, I hope you get to Snow someday.

>63 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, I hope you enjoy your 2nd vacation week at home.

>64 Deern: Thanks, Nathalie, no panic needed! You are well ahead reading the 1001 books list ;-)
I love Shostakovich, that led me to the Barnes book.

66Whisper1
Fev 26, 2018, 1:44 pm

What wonderful book cases! It would be wonderful to have the majority of books in one area!

67FAMeulstee
Fev 26, 2018, 3:17 pm

>66 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda!
I always preferred to have all books together. In most houses we lived before the largest bedroom became library room. In our present house the books (neatly stacked in bookcases) reside all over the place. The only book-free areas are the hall, toilet & bathroom ;-)

68FAMeulstee
Editado: Fev 26, 2018, 4:38 pm


book 59: Godje by Daan Remmerts de Vries
own, Dutch, awarded, Gouden Griffel 2003, no translations, 87 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with title word or author name starting with GOLDSILVERBRONZE in rolling order

Five boys spend much time together, as they are at home during the summer vacation. Robbie, tells the story. He bosses the other kids around, makes them do things (like digging up a grave), they would never do on their own. On his own Robbie fantasises how things could be more exiting in the world.
Not sure what this book wants to tell. I really wonder why it got the Golden Pencil.

69FAMeulstee
Editado: Fev 28, 2018, 11:19 am


book 60: De wreker van Floris V by Renée Vink
from the library, e-book, Dutch, historical fiction.mystery, no translations, 240 pages
TIOLI Challenge #18: Read a book where a number higher than 2 is written somewhere on the front or back cover

Last book of three historical mysteries, set at the end of the 13th century. The main (fictional) character, Folkert Crepel, was a servant of Count Floris V, who got murdered in 1296. After his death some loyal servants go after ther murders. Two years later Folkert Crepel and Gerard van Voorne are searching for the last man who was involved in the murder.

Not a great read, but a nice conclusion to the series.

70Ameise1
Fev 28, 2018, 2:07 am

Happy Wednesday, Anita. I you and Frank are doing well.

71FAMeulstee
Fev 28, 2018, 10:48 am

>70 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, it is very cold outside today.
So we spend most of the day inside, where it is warm and cozy :-)

72FAMeulstee
Fev 28, 2018, 10:57 am

Yesterday we visited Museum "De Fundatie" in Zwolle. There was an exhibition of paintings by Neo Rauch. He was born in East-Germany in 1960, his works are strange, different, sometimes disturbing. More pictures on my Facebookpage.

Left: Dromos (1997; the name of the exposition) - Middle: Fater (Father, 2007) - Right: Gewitterfront (Storm front, 2016)
  

73Caroline_McElwee
Fev 28, 2018, 11:03 am

Interesting pictures Anita.

74FAMeulstee
Editado: Abr 7, 2018, 9:58 am


book 61: Laat me nooit alleen by Kazuo Ishiguro
1001 books, from the library, e-book, translated, original title Never let me go, 303 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book tagged "friendship"

Kathy tells the story of her life, starting at the boardingschool, where she met her friends Ruth and Tommy. Slowly you feel there is something strange at the school. Kathy tells the story, like she is sitting beside you, giving glimpes of what she will tell later (annoying at times).
The story itself is terrible, as the kids turn out to be clones. Their reason of existing is to donate their organs when they become adults. "Normal" humans fear them, deny they can be human. The main characters are not likable, and I kept hoping someone would revolt or stand up against their inhuman fate.

I might try one of Ishiguro's other books, as this one was not my taste...

75FAMeulstee
Fev 28, 2018, 11:38 am


book 62: Josja Pruis by Harm de Jonge
own, Dutch, awarded, Woutertje Pieterse prijs 2007, no translations, 135 pages
TIOLI Challenge #19: Read a two-word-title without an article

Set in a small village in the north of the Netherlands, November 1956. Homme and Ada are reconstructing the events that started two months earlier, when Josja came to town. Now Josja is gone, no one knows where he went. Most people in the village try to ignore the fact that Josja was ever around. He was a strange boy, in class he was reading other books, but always knew the right answer when a teacher asked him a question. He liked to hang around in the harbor, or at the graveyard near the graves of two German soldiers.

In three layers the story slowly unfolds, Homme and Ada telling what happend back then, Homme and Ada now and the notes Josja wrote while he was in the village.

I loved this book, the characters are drawn with love. Despite some heavy subjects (abuse, death of a twin brother), the story itself never gets overly serious of difficult.

76FAMeulstee
Fev 28, 2018, 11:46 am

>73 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, it was something completely else. Some socialist realist influences, and a touch of magical realism / surrealism. We might go to see it again.

77jolerie
Editado: Fev 28, 2018, 5:39 pm

>74 FAMeulstee: Totally agree that the characters are not very likeable but it's so funny because your spoiler is partly why I liked the book. Unexpected twist for me. I like how different people will react to books differently. Hopefully your next Ishiguro will be more up your alley, Anita. :)

78FAMeulstee
Fev 28, 2018, 3:35 pm

>77 jolerie: It is good we are not all the same, Valerie. I kept hoping for a long time they would revolt somehow.
I will try Ishiguro again, if the next one also fails he is probably not the writer for me.

79FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 1, 2018, 3:09 am

February 2018 in numbers

30 books read (6,987 pages, 249.5 pages a day)

own 21 (70%) / library 9

17 male author / 14 female author (one book by 2 authors)
14 originally written in Dutch / 16 translated into Dutch
28 fiction / 2 non-fiction

29 books in TIOLI Challenges (sweep)
  5 e-books
  2 1001 books
  0 Dutch Literary Canon
19 childrens/YA
  2 mystery/police prodedural

longest book 795 pages
shortest book 27 pages
average book 232.9 pages

--
date first published:
13th century: 1
16th century: 1

20th century
1950s: 1
1960s: 3
1970s: 4
1980s: 4
1990s: 7

21st century
2000s: 6
2010s: 3

--
ratings:
  1 x
  6 x
11 x
  7 x
  5 x

Best books
Sneeuw (Snow) by Orham Pamuk,

Zwaarden, paarden en ziektekiemen (Guns, Germs, and Steel) by Jared Diamond,
Aardzee omnibus 4-6 (Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea and The Other Wind) by Ursula Le Guin,
Schorshuiden (Barkskins) by Annie Proulx,
Het boek van alle dingen (The Book of Everything) by Guus Kuijer,
La Bruja, de merrie (The wild heart) by Helen Grifffiths,
Josja Pruis by Harm de Jonge,

80FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 1, 2018, 3:07 am

2018 totals first two months:

62 books read (15,121 pages, 256.3 pages a day)

own 36 (58%) / library 16 / BolKobo+ 10

34 male author / 29 female author (* one book by 2 authors)
22 originally written in Dutch / 40 translated into Dutch
52 fiction / 10 non-fiction

60 books in TIOLI Challenges (sweep both months)
19 e-books
  6 1001 books
  2 Dutch Literary Canon
33 childrens/YA
  6 mystery/police prodedural

longest book in 2018: 795 pages
shortest book in 2018: 27 pages
average book: 243.9 pages

--
date first published:
13th century: 1
16th century: 2
18th century: 1
19th century: 3
20th century: 37
21st century: 18

--
ratings:
  4 x
10 x
21 x
18 x
  8 x
  1 x

81banjo123
Fev 28, 2018, 7:36 pm

Hi Anita! I think The Remains of the Day is still my favorite Ishiguro. But maybe he is not the author for you.

82FAMeulstee
Mar 1, 2018, 2:37 am

>81 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda, I will try him again. That would be An Artist of the Floating World or The Remains of the Day.

83Ameise1
Mar 1, 2018, 3:07 am

Sweet Thursday, Anita. We are back to snow and it doesn't look like it will stop soon.

84FAMeulstee
Mar 1, 2018, 3:16 am

>83 Ameise1: We had only a little bit of snow (less than 1 cm), Barbara, but it is freezing all day. It feels even colder with a stormy wind from the east.

85Ameise1
Mar 1, 2018, 3:21 am

>84 FAMeulstee: The wind is the trouble. Stay safe and warm.

86sirfurboy
Mar 1, 2018, 4:59 am

>84 FAMeulstee: We are having the same weather system here. Bitterly cold outside, and plenty of snow pretty much everywhere, although not much here at the moment.

87Deern
Mar 1, 2018, 5:55 am

>74 FAMeulstee:, >82 FAMeulstee: These two books are great, and basically the same story in different setting, I thought that was quiten an interesting experiment. I had issues with Never Let Me Go, as it's one of those dystopean stories where my logical brain continually asks stupid "but it would never work that way"/ "why wouldn't they simply.." organizational questions, probably to distract me from the sad bits. Ishiguro experiments quite a bit with style and genres, you might also like The Buried Giant (mixing in fantasy), while The Unconsoled and When We Were Orphans were quite a different story again and (for me) very challenging, also for my patience.

>72 FAMeulstee: Interesting paintings! I think they're great, but I might need chocolate after seeing an exhibition.

88FAMeulstee
Mar 1, 2018, 11:45 am

>85 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, we will :-)

>86 sirfurboy: The tiny bit of snow that fell on Tuesday is gone now, other parts of the country do have snow. We might get a bit on Sunday.

>87 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie, I had similair thoughts. I think what troubled me the most was the fascist way the society worked. I don't mind challenging books, as long as I have lighter reads in between.
LOL, we bought ourselves one chocolate bonbon after the expostion. I had one with coconut filling, Frank took one with champaign filling ;-)

89FAMeulstee
Mar 1, 2018, 11:54 am


book 63: Luna van de boom by Bart Moeyaert
own, Dutch, awarded, Gouden Uil 2001, no translations, 32 pages
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book with something that grows from (or under) the ground in the title

A very rich king has three sons. Next to his castle is a special tree, the king is curious abou the tree and calls all wise men, asking what they know about the tree. None of them knows, but one remembers that his grandfather told him the tree would flower at strike of midnight and the fruit would be ready at the last strike of twelve midnight.

It is a retelling of Slovakian fairytale "Berona". With beautiful illustrations by Gerda Dendooven. The illustrations are full page, with the text on the illustrations.

90karenmarie
Mar 2, 2018, 7:21 am

Hi Anita!

>43 FAMeulstee: Daughter likes helping her mom. I’m not sure how much she likes to reorganize and keep things organized, though. *smile*

Your February and YTD stats are, as always, impressive. Congrats.

I have Britt-Marie Was Here on my shelves - I didn't realize that she was a character in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. Can it be read without reading Grandmother first?

91FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 2, 2018, 11:49 am

>90 karenmarie: Hi Karen!
It is good that your daughter likes to help you :-)

My stats are down. Reading is a bit slower, because of the thyroid trouble.
I kept number of books almost the same, because I have read many short books. The number of pages read YTD is almost 2,500 less than it was last year! I know, it is still a lot ;-)

You can read Britt-Marie Was Here as stand alone. In My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry is some backstory about Britt-Marie, that could make the read more enjoyable.

92EllaTim
Mar 2, 2018, 5:00 pm

I've never read The Remains of the Day but I saw the movie (very good). I would like to read the book.

93Berly
Mar 2, 2018, 5:06 pm

Very nice book stats! Glad you like Brit Marie--I very much enjoy his books. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

94FAMeulstee
Mar 3, 2018, 3:11 am

>92 EllaTim: I haven't seen the movie, Ella, glad you liked it. I probably will read the book, as it seems to be the most liked one here.

>93 Berly: Thanks, Kim, I have loved all Fredrik Backman's books.
Happy weekend to you!

95vancouverdeb
Mar 3, 2018, 4:15 am

Wow, Anita, those are some serious book shelves! My books are spread out in 3 book shelves ( IKEA) around of place. I also have other shelves and floor space, table space etc devoted to my books. I loved A Man Called Ove and also enjoyed Britt-Marie Was Here. A great author.

Our weather had improved greatly. No more snow and the temps are not too bad. A little windy and rainy, bu that is normal for us.

I often do the same as you Anita. I'll read a dark , more challenging read and then a lighter read. Keeps me sane( most of the time )

96charl08
Mar 3, 2018, 4:18 am

Another fan of Remains of the Day here Anita. Look forward to hearing what you make of it (when you get to it). I loved Ove and the grandmother book, but tried to read his latest book about ice hockey and wasn't so convinced (although I think Mark liked it).

97FAMeulstee
Mar 3, 2018, 2:13 pm

>95 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah, they look good. Actually it is 5 black Billy bookcases (60cm width) next to eachother. We have a lot of oak finished Billy bookcases upstairs. No books outside bookcases, except when I am reading that book (smal pile on the livingroom table), or it is waiting to be reviewed. After review straight back to its place on the shelves ;-)
It is still freezing cold over here, but tomorrow the temp should go up.

>96 charl08: Someday I will get to it, Charlotte. The ice hockey book came only recently available in Dutch translation, so I haven't got a chance to read it yet. I will read it ;-)

98humouress
Editado: Mar 3, 2018, 5:28 pm

>97 FAMeulstee: It’s my ‘waiting to be reviewed’ pile that’s threatening to topple over.

99FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 3, 2018, 5:42 pm

>98 humouress: I usually don't wait long writing my reviews, Nina.
At this moment it is bad: 2 books and an e-book I am reading + 3 waiting to be reviewed ;-)

100humouress
Mar 3, 2018, 6:04 pm

>99 FAMeulstee: Probably a good thing, Anita, since you read so quickly. :0)

My comment on Robin’s thread should explain my review technique.

101rretzler
Mar 4, 2018, 12:56 am

Stopping by to catch up, Anita. I'll put in another vote for The Remains of the Day, but I am an Ishiguro fan and really enjoyed Never Let Me Go. One thing I like about Ishiguro is that all his books are very different in style. You may not like one, but another may be right down your alley. The two I mentioned are extremely different books. I also quite enjoyed When We Were Orphans and The Buried Giant (which I think might not be for everyone.) I haven't read The Unconsoled or An Artist of the Floating World yet but would like to get to them sooner rather than later. I think it is phenomenal that he can write such thought-provoking and successful works across such different genres and styles.

>97 FAMeulstee: Love Billy bookcases - we have them in almost every room!

102Ameise1
Mar 4, 2018, 3:21 am

Happy Sunday, Anita.

103FAMeulstee
Mar 4, 2018, 4:16 pm

>100 humouress: And I don't like loose ends either, Nina. If the pile on the livingroom table gets too high, I can't watch TV ;-)

>101 rretzler: Good to see many do love Ishiguro, Robin. I will try at least one more. I admit Never let me go was thought provoking, but not in a way I like.
So do we, 6 Billy bookcases in the livingroom, upstairs there are 3 in the bedroom, 8 in the small library and 2 in the hallway.

>102 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, we are just back home. Visited my parents and went to Beelden aan Zee, a sculpture museum, to see the André Volten exhibition.

104humouress
Mar 4, 2018, 9:06 pm

>103 FAMeulstee: If I we’re to put any books in front of the TV, my precious books would get knocked to the floor by the kids.

Hmm - maybe I should get some of those bookcases for their books.

105LovingLit
Mar 5, 2018, 1:04 am

Sorry to hear Never Let me Go wasn't a hit for you. I have yet to read it.

106FAMeulstee
Mar 5, 2018, 2:56 am

>104 humouress: LOL, over here it is just Frank and me, Nina, so no chance of being knocked on the floor ;-)
I would get trouble if they got between Frank and the TV.

>105 LovingLit: Don't let me keep you from reading it, Megan, many do love it.
Without lower rated books, it would become difficult to distinguish the great reads.

107FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:27 am


book 64: Noodweer by Suzanne Fisher Staples
own, translated, awarded, Eervolle vermelding 1999, original title Dangerous Skies, 204 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book where the author's middle or maiden name is included on the cover

Buck and Tunes grow up together on the farm, owned by Bucks parents. Tunes is Afro-American and lost her mother when she was young. Her father always worked on the farm, so Buck and Tunes were almost always together. Buck never thought in terms of race and thought nothing could come between them. When someone is murdered and Tunes is a suspect, Buck learns there is a lot of racism and injustice around him.

108FAMeulstee
Mar 5, 2018, 3:19 am


book 65: De vloek van Cornelia by Martha Heesen
own, Dutch, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 2000, no translations, 98 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book in which the last letter of the author's first name plus the last letter of the author's last name spells a word

When Staf and his family move from Maastricht to big house in a village near The Hague, he immediately senses there is something wrong in the house. He thinks the house is haunted. But his parents and older sister don't believe him.

109FAMeulstee
Mar 5, 2018, 3:26 am


book 66: Wat dacht je van mij? by Corrie Hafkamp
own, Dutch, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1981, no translations, 124 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Pangram rolling challenge: "How vexingly quick daft zebras jump!"

Toms older brother Maxim is both mentally and physically handicapped. He goes to a special school. Although Tom loves his big brother, it is difficult sometimes. His parents often don't have time for him, as Maxime needs their attention.

110FAMeulstee
Editado: Set 5, 2018, 2:55 pm


book 67: Your future! hét trendwatchers handboek by Lieke Lamb & Richard Lamb
from the library, Dutch, no translations, 191 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book whose title includes the word “lion” OR a book written by an author with the name of “Lamb”

Sometimes it is hard to find a book that matches a TIOLI challenge. I ended up with this one ;-)
A course in trendwatching, seeking profit in future trends. Containing a lot of humbug and a few parts that made sence. Supported by some famous Dutch, who were allowed to fill a page or two.
Glad I am done with it!

111EllaTim
Mar 5, 2018, 7:31 am

>103 FAMeulstee: Another museum I had never heard of, Anita. I'm not really much for modern art but those sculptures I saw on the site I would like, I think, especially when they can be seen outdoors. Were they?

>110 FAMeulstee: Oops, trendwatchers, no thank you;-)

112FAMeulstee
Mar 5, 2018, 7:51 am

>110 FAMeulstee: The André Volten exhibition was inside, Ella, but a part of the permanent collection is outside. It is very special that it is possible to see the sea from the museum. The museum itself was an oasis of calm in crowded Scheveningen. At the first warmer day way too may people decided to go there. I don't want to think how it is in summer.

113EllaTim
Mar 5, 2018, 8:01 am

>112 FAMeulstee: Ah thanks for the warning about crowds on hot days. I had imagined those sculptures against a backdrop of sea and sky, would have been great I think.

114FAMeulstee
Mar 5, 2018, 9:24 am

>113 EllaTim: A few are placed like in your imagination, Ella. I will post some pictures later. Here is an aerophoto, the entrance is on the right, with the large exposition room. On the left the exhibition terrain outside. The green around are dunes with beachgrass.

115FAMeulstee
Mar 5, 2018, 9:47 am


book 68: Heksen en zo... by Annie M.G. Schmidt
own, Dutch, fairytales, no English translation (there is a German and a Spanish translation), 112 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Rolling challenge: Read a book with a plural noun in the title, going up in alphabetical order

This book has probably been with me the longest time, I got it as a Chrismas present in 1968.
Modern fairytales with funny twists. Witches on brooms flying away like a jet plane, elevators suddenly going deep under ground, the usual princes and princesses and in one tale even a dragon.

Always fun to read books by Annie M.G. Schmidt. I have read this one numerous times in my youth.

116FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 6, 2018, 2:28 am

Today it is my 10th Thingaversary :-)

I won't buy 11 books, we already added 17 books this year (see msg 7 in this thread). I will celebrate by reading most of the day.
Next Saturday the Dutch Boekenweek start, if you buy books in this week you get a book for free. In this week we will buy Binnenplaats by Joost Baars (awarded poetry, VSB Poëzie prijs 2018) and Aardzee 2 (Earthsea omnibus 4-6) by Ursula Le Guin and the Boekenweekessay written by Jan Terlouw.

117charl08
Mar 6, 2018, 3:20 am

>115 FAMeulstee: Sounds like fun Anita!

>114 FAMeulstee: Wow, looks really busy. Not my ideal visiting experience - I think I'd go in the winter.

118charl08
Mar 6, 2018, 3:20 am

And happy Thingaversary! I am jealous of boekenweek - children had world book day last week here, and got vouchers towards a (small) free book - but not for grown ups, sadly :-(

119FAMeulstee
Mar 6, 2018, 3:38 am

>117 charl08: Yes it was a fun read, Charlotte. Some of the books by Annie M.G. Schmidt are available in English translation. Sadly this one is not.
I won't plan any visits there neither in summertime ;-)

>118 charl08: Thanks!
We have some great traditions here. For the children there is the Kinderboekenweek (Children's book week) in October, with also a free book for them.

120sirfurboy
Mar 6, 2018, 5:11 am

>116 FAMeulstee: Happy/Fijne Thingaversary.

Gefeliciteerd.

121EllaTim
Mar 6, 2018, 5:11 am

Happy Thingaversary! Good plan for celebrating.

>114 FAMeulstee: Quite impressive!

Boeken week coming up, Good of you to mention it!

122harrygbutler
Mar 6, 2018, 6:26 am

Happy Thingaversary, Anita!

123ChelleBearss
Mar 6, 2018, 7:07 am

Happy Thingaversary, Anita!

124jessibud2
Mar 6, 2018, 8:11 am

Happy Thingaversary, Anita. My own is at the end of the month but that only crept into my consciousness recently. I have never *celebrated* it before and, truth be told, I hardly need an excuse to buy books, do I? I hadn't realized that was the thing to do here, though, clearly, I should have!

125SirThomas
Mar 6, 2018, 8:56 am

Happy Thingaversary, Anita!

126humouress
Mar 6, 2018, 9:58 am

>116 FAMeulstee: Happy Thingaversary!

Wow; you mean everyone in the country is entitled to a book?! Cool.

>124 jessibud2: No! No. You don’t understand; it’s mandatory ;0)

127jessibud2
Mar 6, 2018, 10:08 am

>126 humouress: - Ha! Ok, twist my arm.... :-)

128humouress
Editado: Mar 6, 2018, 12:08 pm

>127 jessibud2: Well, If everyone else does, it’s fine if I do, too :0)

ETA I mean, I get to buy books too.

129Crazymamie
Mar 6, 2018, 11:52 am

Happy Thingaversary, Anita!

130foggidawn
Mar 6, 2018, 12:51 pm

Happy Thingaversary!

131FAMeulstee
Mar 6, 2018, 12:59 pm

>120 sirfurboy: Thank you / Dank je wel, Stephen :-)

>121 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella!
The building also is beautiful, it was designed by Wim Quist.
Yes, don't forget to buy some books next week to get your Boekenweekgeschenk.

>122 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry!

>123 ChelleBearss: Thank you Chelle!

>124 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!
At the end of this month you will get your first helper-insigne, the Fiver. That is the medal for 5 years at LT. I got the Tenner today. I think it is worth a celebration that I found LT ten years ago.
Of course you should have bought books each year ;-)

132jessibud2
Mar 6, 2018, 1:05 pm

>131 FAMeulstee: - Of course you should have bought books each year ;-)

How about *each month*? lol!! I need very little encouragement...;-)

133FAMeulstee
Mar 6, 2018, 1:11 pm

>125 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!

>126 humouress: Thanks, Nina!
Yes, everyone who buys books in that week gets the free book. It is always a short book by a well known writer. This tradition started in 1932. The last five years there were between 650,000 and 750,000 copies of the free book. The largest number of copies was in 2008 with 960,000 copies.
Wikipedia has even a page in English about the Dutch Bookweek publications: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_publications_during_the_Boekenweek

>127 jessibud2: & >128 humouress: LOL, I think both Nina and me will remind you on the 31st of this month, Shelley ;-)
And I see your 10th Thingaversary is in a few months, Nina!

>129 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie!

>130 foggidawn: Thank you, Misti!

134FAMeulstee
Mar 6, 2018, 1:13 pm

>132 jessibud2: LOL, I am alway happy to encourage book buying ;-)
So at the end of this month you are 60 months on LT, would that lead you in the right direction??

135jolerie
Mar 6, 2018, 3:06 pm

Happy Thingaversary Anita! I think celebrating the occasion by reading sounds fitting. :D

136jnwelch
Mar 6, 2018, 3:10 pm

Happy Thingaversary, Anita. Enjoy your day of reading.

137johnsimpson
Mar 6, 2018, 3:35 pm

Hi Anita my dear, happy 10th Thingaversary enjoy your reading . Sending love and hugs dear friend.

138LovingLit
Mar 6, 2018, 4:31 pm

>110 FAMeulstee: funny that it is about the future, with such a retro cover!

Tenth Thingaversary! Congrats, that sounds a lot like a decade ;) Wow- we are all getting long in the tooth, us Library Thingers!!!

139FAMeulstee
Mar 6, 2018, 5:13 pm

>135 jolerie: Thank you, Valerie!
Thought that was the best way to celebrate, and checking my own thread a bit more toay ;-)

>136 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, I did finally have a day with reading a decent number of pages.

>137 johnsimpson: Thank you, John. I did finish a book, and read some in two others.
Usually I am reading one or two books at the same time. At the moment I have a classic and a poetry book going, they both are best read in small parts.

>138 LovingLit: Indeed funny, Megan, maybe they thought retro was going to be the trend?
A decade on LT, thanks to all of you of course. I see you have a Thingaversary too in March :-)

140Caroline_McElwee
Mar 6, 2018, 5:50 pm

Happy Thingaversary Anita.

141Copperskye
Mar 6, 2018, 8:35 pm

Happy Thingaversary, Anita! You joined just two months before I did. It really doesn’t seem that long!

142msf59
Mar 6, 2018, 8:49 pm

Happy Thingaversary, Anita. I will hit my 10th in June. I still can't believe it has been a decade. Wow. And we thought this would be just a passing fancy. Smiles...

143humouress
Mar 6, 2018, 9:18 pm

>133 FAMeulstee: So it is, Anita. I have a feeling I might have celebrated 10 a year too early. In which case, do I buy one less book this year or buy one extra every year from now on? Dilemmas, dilemmas ....

144vancouverdeb
Mar 7, 2018, 1:24 am

Happy thingAnniversary, Anita! Enjoy your purchases. I hope you have enjoyed your day of reading.

145FAMeulstee
Mar 7, 2018, 5:31 am

>140 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline.

>141 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Time flies when we are having fun :-)

>142 msf59: Thanks, Mark, it looks like 2008 was a good year to join. I never thought I would get this much involved here, when I stumbled upon LT.

>143 humouress: Always go for extra books, Nina, if you feel like it ;-)

>144 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah, I did read a lot yesterday. And hope to do the same today.

146FAMeulstee
Mar 7, 2018, 8:54 am


book 69: Piraten aan de Stille Oceaan by Karl May
own, translated German, 19th century adventure, no English translation, 286 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book with water on the cover

Following the adventures of Gebhard von Greifeklau, he chases villains from Ceylon to Sumatra, to Canton, to Tahiti and finally to San Francisco. Gebhard, the main character, features in some other Karl May books. Some other characters are also known from previous books.

As all Karl May books, an enjoyable read. Written in the 19th century, so there is a some racism and our German hero is stronger, more intelligent, capable and skilful that any other character in the book ;-)

147FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:28 am


book 70: Birk by Jaap Robben
own, Dutch, awarded, Publieksprijs Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur Prijs 2015, English translation You Have Me to Love, 255 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book first published in the last 10 years

One day the father of a young boy dsiappears. He has probably drowned. As they live on a very small island, there are now only three people left on the island: the boy Mikael, his mother Dora and their neighbour Karl. Through the years the relation between Mikael and his mother grows more and more bizarre.

Dark story, how people can get mad living too tight together and not accepting loss.

148FAMeulstee
Mar 8, 2018, 8:08 am


book 71: Alptraum : Stanley's laatste gems by Koos van Zomeren
from the library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 190 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book that isn't a "book"

On a walk in Grindelwald (Switserland) in July 2015 the writers nearly 14 year old borderterrier Stanley falls into a ravine and dies a few hours later. In this book the writer tries to reconstruct what exactly happened, writes down his fondest memories of Stanley and grieves about his loss.
Just like Het complete Rekelboek was a tribute to Rekel, his previous dog, is this book a tribute to Stanley.

I recognised a lot, how to cope when you suddenly have lost your dog. Missing daily routines that are connected to having a dog. Forgetting to lock the front door at night, because that was linked to the last walk with the dog in the evening...

149FAMeulstee
Mar 8, 2018, 8:13 am


book 72: Zoals de wind om het huis by Johanna Kruit
own, Dutch, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1996, no translations, 39 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with a word related to air in the title

Poetry for older children. Nice rhythm in most of the poems, about dreams, nature and family.

150FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:28 am


book 73: Donderslag by Libby Hathorn
1001 Children's Books, own, translated, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1992, original title Thunderwith, 236 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book by a female author who has had at least 3 books published

After her mother has died, Lara goes to live with her father and his new family on a small farm. She barely remembers her father, as her mother left him when Lara was very young. Her father is very happy to have found her, but his wife does not want to accept Lara. Wandering in the woods during a thunderstorm, she finds a dog. She names him Thunderwith, and he becomes her only friend at the farm, when her father is leaving some weeks for work.
At school Lara and her stepsister are bullied and at school her only refuge is in the library and an Aboriginal tale teller, who visits the school once a week.

A beautiful story of loss, mourning and hope.

151EllaTim
Mar 8, 2018, 10:36 am

>148 FAMeulstee: I can imagine this book a bit, he writes well about his dogs, and how they are a part of his life.
>150 FAMeulstee: Nice cover.

152streamsong
Mar 8, 2018, 11:24 am

Hi Anita - Hooray for reading your older books. And also for having your books so beautifully organized.

I also wasn't blown away by Never Let Me Go. Good enough, but not great. It's a scary view of the potentials of society. I'll join in saying that I enjoyed Remains of the Day.

153rretzler
Mar 8, 2018, 11:42 am

>116 FAMeulstee: Happy belated Thingaversary, Anita!

Hmmm - I wonder who I need to see to get a Book Week started here in the US (as if that would ever happen!) LOL!

154EllaTim
Mar 8, 2018, 1:08 pm

>153 rretzler: Hi Robin, interesting question. I looked up some of the history of the Book Week. It dates from 1932, but first there was a Book Day, in 1930. Organised by the collective Dutch publishers. They are still organising it, with the aid of the NS (Dutch railways) as a sponsor.

There is a Book Ball for writers and publishers at the same time. And as NS are sponsoring it everybody who has a book gift to prove they bought a book gets to travel for free in the trains on the last Sunday of the week. It's very popular.

But you have to buy a book, and it has to be in Dutch.

155FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 8, 2018, 4:36 pm

>151 EllaTim: I like how he writes, Ella. Luckely the e-library has many (23) of his books available.

>152 streamsong: Thanks, Janet, I love to look at my shelves. Somehow having books around has a calming effect on me.
This year I try to read mainly my own books again. But there are always library book slipping in, for TIOLI Challenges I can't match with one of my own books.
Then The Remains of the Day gets clearly the most support, that is going to be my next Ishiguro. It is in the picture at the top, the last book on the third shelf from above and left ;-)

>153 rretzler: Thank you, Robin.
Ella already anwered your question, the publishers started it to encourage book sales during the Great Depression.

>154 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella!

156EllaTim
Mar 8, 2018, 4:24 pm

>155 FAMeulstee: Must keep an eye out for them! I like his writing as well.

157FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 9, 2018, 3:29 pm


book 74: Het schnitzelparadijs by Khalid Boudou
from the library, e-book, Dutch, awarded, Gouden Ezelsoor 2002, no English translation, 303 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book that starts with a fire

After two years of doing nothing, Nordip decides to change his life. Thanks to his cousin Krimo, he finds a unpaind trainee job in the kitchen of a restaurant. He has to wash the dishes and because his place in the kitchen is a bit away from the cooking part, his collegues come to him to tak a bit or complain about everything.
Meanwhile we hear all about his family, how they came from Marocco to the Netherlands, and that his cousin Krimo once was an almost famous singer. One day the FIOD (Dutch Fiscal Anti-Fraud agency) invades the restaurant, as the owner didn't pay taxes. After this some of Nordips collegues leave their job, including his cousin, giving him a chance to finally get a paid job.

Funny and enjoyable read.

158FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:28 am


book 75: Twtti Rhys Hec : een meisje van zestien by Hadley Irwin
own, translated, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1983, original title What About Grandma?, 168 pages
TIOLI Challenge #18 : Read a book celebrating the special women in your life

Sixteen year old Rhys goes with her mother Eva to her grandmother Wyn, as her grandmother fell from the stairs and was placed in a nursery home. They will clean out and sell grandmothers house. But when they arrive grandmother has other plans, and returns to her home.
Soon Rhys and her mother find out that grandmother is very ill and came home to die. Instead of staying the month they planned, they will stay as long as needed. Mothers and daughters slowly find ways to better their relationships and Rhys fals in love for the first time.

A very good story of mothers and daughters, love, life and death.

159charl08
Mar 9, 2018, 4:59 pm

>157 FAMeulstee: Sounds like fun! I like the cover too.

160ronincats
Mar 9, 2018, 5:04 pm

A belated Happy Tenth Thingaversary, Anita!! Congratulations!

161FAMeulstee
Mar 9, 2018, 5:36 pm

>159 charl08: Yes it was fun, Charlotte, they even made a movie after the book.

>160 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, those ten years have flown. LT was my best find on the internet ever :-)

162ChelleBearss
Mar 9, 2018, 6:53 pm

Congrats on hitting 75 already!! Amazing

163Caroline_McElwee
Mar 9, 2018, 6:55 pm

That is impressive Anita, congratulations, reward yourself with a treat.

164jolerie
Editado: Mar 9, 2018, 7:32 pm

You hit 75 already!!! That's amazing and definitely worth congratulating Anita. Here's to another 75!

165vancouverdeb
Mar 9, 2018, 8:14 pm

Congratulations on already reading 75 books! Quite and accomplishment so early in the year. Interesting tale about your friend who bred just one litter of pups, owing to her anxiety about germs. I guess we all have our things that are difficult for us.

166rretzler
Mar 10, 2018, 1:17 am

>154 EllaTim: >155 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the info. Book week sounds like a wonderful thing from a very enlightened government - glad to hear that it has been going for so many years. I can only wish that the US would do something like it - in theory it sounds so wonderful and so easy, but in practice in this country it would become something so controversial that it would never get off the ground. *sigh*

Congrats on reaching 75, Anita! My reading this year is much slower than last, so it is going to take me several months to catch up.

167harrygbutler
Mar 10, 2018, 8:19 am

75 books already! Congratulations, Anita!

168FAMeulstee
Mar 10, 2018, 1:07 pm

>162 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle, it is 3 days later as last year.

>163 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, rewarded myself with a reading day again ;-)

>164 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie, last year I hit 75 on my thingaversary. There will be a next and a next 75 this year ;-)

>165 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah! A few days later and a few pages less, than last year.
We all have our habits and things to cope with. I think you are doing very well in anticipation of your grandchild!

>166 rretzler: Thanks, Robin, my reading also tad bit slower. But barely notable compared to others.
We love our Bookweek, I just ordered my books :-)

>167 harrygbutler: Thanks, Harry! This year I am not the first reaching 75 books, Suzanne (Chatterbox) was 5 days ahead.

169FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 10, 2018, 5:48 pm


book 76: Van Hector die een kater was by Alet Schouten
own, Dutch, no translations, 98 pages
TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book that features a cat

Robbie is telling the whole neighborhood that he will get a big dog for his birthday and he will name him Hector!
But instead a big dog, he gets a kitten at his birthday, he names it Hector anyway. We follow Hector growing up. Meeting the other cats in the neighborhood: the siamese Ming and the two male cats. He even befriends an Afghan hound named Soraya.

A sweet cat story.

170FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:29 am


book 77: Lieve Tracey... Lieve Mandy... by John Marsden
own, translated, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1995, original title Letters from the Inside, 142 pages
TIOLI Challenge #18 : Read a book celebrating the special women in your life (I had pen-pals in my teens)

Two teenagers start writing eachother, after one of them put an ad in a magazine. We read the letters they write to eachother. At first fairly superficial, both claiming to have a perfect life. Slowly they open up to the other and find out their lifes aren't perfect at all.

171drneutron
Mar 10, 2018, 8:22 pm

Congrats on blowing past 75!

172FAMeulstee
Mar 11, 2018, 7:57 am

>171 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

173FAMeulstee
Mar 11, 2018, 8:05 am


book 78: De encyclopedie van de grote woorden by Mark Boog
own, poetry, Dutch, awarded, VSB Poëzie Prijs 2006, no translations, 79 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book where the author's first name is also the name of a city or village in your state, province or the like (Marknesse Flevoland)

The title translates "Encyclopedia of big words"
In 64 poems, ordered by title from A - Z, the poet gives new thoughts to "big words" like Evil, Love, Peace, War.
Some subtile humor and unexpected insights.

174FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:29 am


book 79: Waarom kwamen de walvissen? by Michael Morpurgo
own, translated, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1988, original title Why the Whales came, 127 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book where the title includes at least two different words beginning with the same letter

Gracie and Daniel live at one of the Scilly Isles. It is the summer of 1914, when they befriend the Birdman. All locals think the Birdman is crazy and dangerous. He once lived on the next island, and that island is somehow cursed and all inhabitants left. Then WW I starts and Gracie's father joins the Navy.

175msf59
Mar 11, 2018, 8:55 am

"I never thought I would get this much involved here, when I stumbled upon LT." I am sure you are not alone there. I doubt anyone thought this place would take off, like this. Grins...

Happy Sunday, Anita. Still cool here, but we have a big warm-up coming later next week. I am looking forward to it.

176EllaTim
Mar 11, 2018, 9:11 am

Congratulations on your first 75 Anita!

I like the looks of your last books. De encyclopedie van de grote woorden is a good title.

Happy Sunday.

177Caroline_McElwee
Mar 11, 2018, 9:18 am

>170 FAMeulstee: I had penpals too Anita, from about aged 7. Our teacher's husband taught in another school, so they paired us up, my first penpal (and second) where oddly other Carolines. Later I answered ads in magazines, I've had penpals from Ireland, US and New Zealand.

I occasionally write to a few people I've only met online, but I do still hand write a few letters to old friends each year.

178charl08
Mar 11, 2018, 9:27 am

>170 FAMeulstee: Bit mind blowing thinking young people don't get letters or write them. I loved post when I was a kid! I read a book about leaving letters in books too, that had me leaving notes in books in my school library for what felt like ages (but was probably only a week!)

179jessibud2
Mar 11, 2018, 11:19 am

Congrats, Anita! You are in a class of your own! :-)

180humouress
Mar 11, 2018, 2:18 pm

Congratulations on 75 Anita!

181FAMeulstee
Mar 11, 2018, 5:29 pm

>175 msf59: Thanks, Mark, in this group we all love LT ;-)
I hope your Sunday was a good one. We have warmer weather now, spring is in the air, and for Frank allergy season has started.

>176 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella, I probably will read more times 75 again.
I am too late to wish you a happy Sunday back, there isn't much Sunday left ;-)

>177 Caroline_McElwee: I barely write anymore, Caroline, a few lines on a christmas card, that is it.
I think I found my pen-pals through an organisation, somehow linked to highschool, as I wrote in English to a Canadian girl and in German to two German girls. And wrote for nearly 30 years with a friend, after we moved away. Now we follow eachother on Facebook, not the same.

>178 charl08: That is odd to think about, Charlotte, how different things are now. The anticipation when the mailman came, who might bring you a letter... On the other hand, no LT in those days!

>179 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!
I am not the only one, we have some others in the group who read as much.

>180 humouress: Thanks, Nina!

182banjo123
Mar 11, 2018, 9:15 pm

Congrats on 75!

183FAMeulstee
Mar 12, 2018, 8:24 am

>182 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda!

184FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:29 am


book 80: De storm by by Gaye Hiçyilmaz
own, translated, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1992, original title Against the storm, 167 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with a word related to air in the title

Mehmet lives in a small village near the mountains in Turkey. One day his parents decide to move to Ankara, like his uncle did some years before. They think life will be easier there. They end up in the slum, Mehmets uncle uses the whole family as cheap laborers. All Mehmet can dream of is one day returning to his village.

Despite her name the writer is English, she married a Turkish man and lived in Turkey for 20 years.
Beautiful and sad story, about the hardship of rural people who try to find their way and fortune in a big city.

185FAMeulstee
Mar 12, 2018, 8:40 am


book 81: Roofvogels & uilen in Europa by Jaap Schelvis
from the library, Dutch, non-fiction, no translations, 156 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Rolling challenge: Read a book with a plural noun in the title, going up in alphabetical order

All birds of prey that live in Europe. Beautiful photo's of 51 species, with very short descriptions.

186FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 12, 2018, 8:49 am


book 82: De kat in de gordijnen by Dolf Verroen
own, Dutch, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1979, no translations, 72 pages
TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book that features a cat

36 short stories for children 4 to 5 year olds, featuring family, friends, pets in daily city life.

187Sakerfalcon
Mar 12, 2018, 10:15 am

Congratulations on reaching 75 books! I'm glad your health problems haven't had much of an impact on your reading.

>174 FAMeulstee: Why the whales came is a great book. There was an excellent movie made of it too, called When the whales came and starring Helen Mirren.

188sirfurboy
Mar 12, 2018, 11:04 am

>148 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on reading 75 books.

That one looks like it has a Welsh connection. Twtti would be a Welsh word for something small, and the names Wynn, Rhys and Eva are all Welsh although usually Wynn and Rhys would be boy's names. I wonder if that is significant at all.

189FAMeulstee
Mar 12, 2018, 12:18 pm

>187 Sakerfalcon: Thanks, Claire!
My reading was only minor affected. I read almost as many books as last year, but the number of pages is about 15% down. On average I am reading shorter books.
Thanks for mentioning the movie, I will look for it.

>188 sirfurboy: Thanks, Stephen.
It is a book from the US. The grandmother in the book, Wynn, is from Welsh descent. The title refers to a Welsh nursery rhyme/song.

190johnsimpson
Mar 12, 2018, 4:12 pm

Hi Anita, congrats on hitting 75 books for the year my dear, what an achievement again, sending love and hugs.

191FAMeulstee
Mar 13, 2018, 6:55 am

>190 johnsimpson: Thanks, John, I hope all is well with you and Karen.

--

I won't be much around for the next two days. Visting a friend today and family (aunt and uncle) tomorrow.

192FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 13, 2018, 7:04 am

Oh, and I nearly forgot my Bookweek buyings!

Binnenplaats by Joost Baars (poetry)
Aardzee 2 (omnibus 4-6) by Ursula Le Guin
Gezien de feiten by Griet Op de Beeck (Bookweek gift)
Natuurlijk by Jan Terlouw (Bookweek essay)

Het slechte pad (Career of Evil) by Robert Galbraith (e-book)
Poppenhuis (The House of Dolls, Pieter Vos 1) by David Hewson (e-book)
Het verkeerde meisje (The Wrong Girl, Pieter Vos 2) by David Hewson (e-book)
Het derde zusje (Little Sister, Pieter Vos 3) by David Hewson (e-book)
De stenen engel (Sleep Baby Sleep, Pieter Vos 4) by David Hewson (e-book)

193charl08
Mar 13, 2018, 5:18 pm

Nice work Anita! I think I'm going to declare book week here next year. Even if it's just a party of one!

194EllaTim
Mar 13, 2018, 8:40 pm

>192 FAMeulstee: Nice indeed!

I want those bookweek gifts as well. Griet Op de Beeck and Jan Terlouw both. But what to buy, difficult choices.

195sirfurboy
Mar 14, 2018, 6:04 am

Hi Anita,

Last year you read Het boek van alle dingen and I added it to my TBR at the time. I have just got round to reading it and loved it. Good choice :)

Also thanks for offering to perhaps run a group read of Lolita. I will join that if/when you do it.

196msf59
Mar 14, 2018, 6:43 am

Happy Wednesday, Anita. I hope your week is going fine. Nice book haul.

I suffer through early season allergies too. About 2 more months to go. Ugh!

197jolerie
Mar 14, 2018, 3:52 pm

Have a wonderful visit with friends and family, Anita!

198karenmarie
Mar 14, 2018, 4:20 pm

Hi Anita! I've been having a problem keeping caught up and am 107 messages behind here. I will draw a line in the sand, but do wish you a good time with your friend and aunt and uncle.

199jnwelch
Mar 14, 2018, 5:09 pm

Just checking in, Anita. I love J.K.'s Cormoran Strike and Robin series.

200ronincats
Mar 14, 2018, 10:43 pm

Very nice Book Week haul, Anita!

201rretzler
Mar 14, 2018, 11:20 pm

Hi, Anita. Just stopping by to see what's going on.

202FAMeulstee
Mar 15, 2018, 11:04 am

Just back home, had two good days with friend & family. More about that later.

>193 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! I will warn you in time next year, any excuse to buy books is good. A party of one is one of the best ;-)

>194 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella, I will look on your thread to see what you decided. The essay by Jan Terlouw went fast, it was already sold out at bol.com on Tuesday!

>195 sirfurboy: I am glad you loved Het boek van alle dingen, Stephen!
Let us see who wants to join us. If you want to read it too, I will set up a thread for a group read in September or October.

>196 msf59: Thanks, Mark, happy Thursday to you!
Sorry you have the same yearly problem :-(

203FAMeulstee
Mar 15, 2018, 11:16 am

>197 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie, we had a good time :-)

>198 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen, now I am 3 days behind at the threads ;-)
We had a good time, I will tell more about the last two days later.

>199 jnwelch: Hi Joe, good to see you here.
I loved them all, and this one came low price together with two others I wanted.

>200 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, I am very pleased.

>201 rretzler: Hi Robin, I am just catching up with my own thread.

204FAMeulstee
Mar 15, 2018, 4:51 pm

Yesterday we first went to the Glass museum in Leerdam.
The collection is mainly works made in the Royal Leerdam glass factory, where many famous glass designers worked. More pictures on my Facebook page.

Works by Andries Copier:
 

Left: bookends by L. Bloch (1934); right: F. Meydam - Abstract object 'Sofjet' A 1011 (1957)
 

205jessibud2
Mar 15, 2018, 5:04 pm

Those are gorgeous, Anita. I went to a glass museum in the United States 2 summers ago and I LOVED it. Isn't glass just so stunning, in all its different mutations?

206humouress
Mar 15, 2018, 5:48 pm

Love glass. I like Chihully’s work - have you seen it?

207FAMeulstee
Mar 15, 2018, 6:28 pm

>205 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelly, we enjoyed our visit to the Glass museum. It is incredible what can be made from glass.

>206 humouress: Thank you, Nina, I had to search for Dale Chihuly. I only vaguely knew his name and did see pictures before.
Good news, at the end of the year there is an exhibition of his work in the Netherlands (Groningen), we will certainly go to see his work.

208jessibud2
Mar 15, 2018, 6:46 pm

>207 FAMeulstee: - Oh I second that! Chihuly is the kind of talent that you have to see in person to truly appreciate. I have seen his work in a museum exhibit twice, once here in Toronto last year and once, a year or so before that, in Montreal when visiting my mother. Even photos of his work can't do it proper justice. You will love it, Anita! Something wonderful to look forward to!

209FAMeulstee
Mar 15, 2018, 6:48 pm

Yesterday afternoon we spend in Nieuwpoort, a very small city (got city rights in 1283). In the 17th century it was turned into a fortress. There my father was born and raised. We walked through the city, visited my grandmothers grave, and visited my aunt (youngest sister of my father) and uncle. We had dinner across the old townhall.

Nieuwpoort seen from above.


The old townhall, left the front, right the back
 

Left: We had diner in "Eetcafé De Dam"; right: and we saw a little free library near the church
 

210FAMeulstee
Mar 15, 2018, 6:51 pm

>208 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelly, the exhibition starts in December, so we have something to look forward.
Glass is sometimes difficult to catch in a picture, I took many photos in the Glasss museum and only a few came out right.

211EllaTim
Mar 15, 2018, 6:52 pm

>204 FAMeulstee: Isn't glass lovely, the Glass museum is on our to-do list. I love your first picture best.

I'm planning a book buying trip tomorrow. Hope the Terlouw essay is still to be found. I've been browsing the CPNB bestseller list for ideas on what to buy.
https://www.debestseller60.nl

But I'll be browsing the shops as well ;-) what better excuse is there?

212Caroline_McElwee
Editado: Mar 15, 2018, 10:46 pm

>199 jnwelch: I haven't read the books Joe, but I enjoyed the tv series they made.

>204 FAMeulstee: those pieces are very of their time Anita.

>209 FAMeulstee: sounds like a lovely day. I love those free libraries.

213humouress
Editado: Mar 16, 2018, 12:12 am

>209 FAMeulstee: I love the way the town is contained, rather than the urban sprawl you get everywhere. The green spaces and jungle in Singapore are slowly being eaten up.

>207 FAMeulstee: (I knew I must be spelling his name wrong.) Chihuly has a very organic style. I once went to see an exhibition of his in Chicago in a botanic garden, where they planted his sculptures amongst the flowers and trees. It worked really well. I hope they get the chance to do something similar when you go to see it, but either way, I think you'll enjoy it.

214Sakerfalcon
Mar 16, 2018, 5:25 am

I love the photos of the glass and of Nieuwpoort. I too love the work of Dale Chihuly and hope you enjoy the exhibition at Groningen.

215sirfurboy
Mar 16, 2018, 5:35 am

Nieuwpoort looks beautiful. I especially like that picture from the air. It looks like the whole city is laid out in the traditional layout of a church.

216FAMeulstee
Mar 16, 2018, 7:37 am

>211 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, that piece in the first picture was very beautiful. Like a glimps of under water world catched in glass.
I hope you find some good books tomorrow, of the bestseller list I like the Julian Barnes book. Some others I want to read but don't want to own. Have fun book hunting!

>212 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, we enjoyed both the visit to the glass museum and walking through Nieuwpoort. It always makes me happy when I see a free librsry somewhere.

>213 humouress: There is some later development on the south side of the town, just out of sight on the left side of the picture. but they try to keep the old part intact.
I am looking forward to the Chihuly exposition! :-)

>214 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, there is lots to see and love in our small country :-)

217FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 16, 2018, 7:43 am

>215 sirfurboy: Thanks Stephen, after the city became a fortress, you could only enter the city over land from the south (left side of the picture), or over the river in the north. Then entries from the west and east were created after 1815 when the city was no longer a part of the "waterlinie", the line of defence where the land was flooded in time of war.

218FAMeulstee
Mar 16, 2018, 7:48 am


book 83: Toen Faas niet thuiskwam by Martha Heesen
own, Dutch, awarded, Gouden Uil 2004, no English translation, 84 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book in which the last letter of the author's first name plus the last letter of the author's last name spells a word

Peter tells a bout a night, nearly two years ago, when Faas, his younger brother, ran away and stayed away all night. This was shortly after their mother died. Peter feels he was always responsible for his brother, and after the death of his mother his father leans on him too.

219FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:30 am


book 84: Elfenmiddag by Janet Taylor Lisle
own, translated, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1993, original title Afternoon of the Elves, 128 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book where the author's middle or maiden name is included on the cover

Hillary lives next door to Sara. At school Sara is an outcast, but one day she invites Hillary to come over. The girls come together in Sara's garden and slowly become friends. Hillary's mother does not encourage the friendship between her daughter and Sara, as Sara is so clearly different.

Good story about how those who are different are treated, and how social position and judgement works. And how some can look through prejudice and offer true friendship.

220FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:30 am


book 85: De zomer van 1927 by Bill Bryson
from the library, e-book, translated, original title One Summer: America, 1927, 542 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book that starts with a fire

A lengthy book about the year 1927 in the USA. From Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic by plane to Babe Ruth having great success in baseball and many other celebrities like Henry Ford, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Including the backstories of those, how they became the person of importance in 1927.
Some parts were frightning: like how many adored Musolini and how close the (much larger that I ever imagined) eugenetics movement was to the Nazi-movement in Germany.

I am a fan of Bill Bryson, but this one was not as engaging as his other books. Maybe I know not enough about American history and baseball to apriciate this book... And is it really necessary to explain extensively to an American audience what the "Kristallnacht" in Germany was?

221karenmarie
Mar 16, 2018, 8:52 am

Hi Anita! I'm glad that your visit with your Aunt and Uncle went well. Lovely pictures at the glass museum and of Nieuwpoort. Thank you for sharing.

>220 FAMeulstee: I loved One Summer: America, 1927, but I've always been a fan of reading history books. It has to be pretty dry to make me abandon a history book, and I don't find Bryson's books dry at all. Delving into the quirky American pastime of baseball is not for everyone, even including most Americans.

It is frightening how quickly history gets lost, and explaining Kristallnacht to a younger generation is never a bad thing. I'll have to ask my 24-year old daughter if she knows what it was.

I hope you're having a wonderful Friday.

222Berly
Mar 16, 2018, 9:15 am

>94 FAMeulstee: I just picked up Bear Town by Backman.

>204 FAMeulstee: Love the glass work!! I have to go back to the studio--I want to cut my very large glass sheet down a tad and then get it framed for the wall.

Congrats on blowing past 75!

223FAMeulstee
Mar 16, 2018, 12:42 pm

>221 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen, it is always a pleasure to share pictures :-)
Brysons books are certainly not dry, this one could have been a bit shorter in some parts for me. So parts deserverd more stars than I gave, and other parts deserved less, finding eachother in an average of 3½ stars.
I do not think much of history is really lost, it is ignored. I am curious if your daughter knows.

>222 Berly: I haven't read Bear Town yet, Kim, looking forward to your thoughts about it.
Don't forget to take and share a picture when your glass sheet is framed!
Thanks :-)

224FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:30 am


book 86: De prinses van Clèves by Madame de Lafayette
1001 books, own, translated French, English title The Princesse de Cleves, 237 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a classic originally published in a languange not your own

Historical romance, written in the 17th century, the story takes place in the 16th century.
Mademoiselle de Chartres is introduced in the French court, supported by her mother. The Prince de Cleves falls in love with her, and soon they are married, making her the Princesse de Cleves. She doesn't love her husband, but promished her mother before she died, she would always do anything to keep her reputation. When the Princesse does fall in love for the first time of her life with an other man, who loves her dearly back, she tries to avoid him at all costs. Even after her husband dies she refuses to marry the love of her life.

Love, duty, honor, jealousy at the French court in the 16th century. It may sound as a thin romantic story, but it is not. It is the first psychological novel written, and I was lost into the story fairly quickly.

225EllaTim
Editado: Mar 16, 2018, 2:32 pm

>216 FAMeulstee: That was my impression as well, something under water! Like those fine textures.

No book buying, unfortunately, I felt too tired to go out. And tomorrow we already have an appointment. Well there's always next time, and those bookweek gifts have a way of turning up on King's Day.

Of the list I thought the Pieter Waterdrinker might be interesting.

>224 FAMeulstee: That's interesting, I would have thought it dull, but this sound very readable. Is this in the 1001 books list, I guess it would be?

226streamsong
Mar 16, 2018, 2:31 pm

Wow ! A late congrats for blowing by 75!

Thank you for posting the photos from the glass exhibit - they are wonderful.

I just bought a copy of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time to reread before the movie comes out. Cait's kindergarten (year before first grade) read it to them and she was so excited that we read the whole series together here at home. But (blushing) I'm not sure how much of the plot I remember.

Do you celebrate St Patick's Day tomorrow? Here, it's a very silly holiday where everyone suddenly is Irish. When I lived in Butte, MT, which was an old Irish copper mining town, it was a huge deal. Everyone drank green beer and even died their white dogs green.

227FAMeulstee
Mar 16, 2018, 7:18 pm

>225 EllaTim: Sorry you were too tired to go out, Ella, and of course there will be plenty of bookweek gifts being sold on Kings Day :-)
Yes, it is in the 1001 books list, all years. I found it very readable for a 17th century novel.

>226 streamsong: Thank you, Janet, glass sculptures are special, changing when the light changes.
I have never read A wrinkle in time, so I can help with remembering the plot ;-)
No St Patrick's Day festivities here. Although there might be a few Irish Pubs in the country that do celebrate...

228charl08
Mar 17, 2018, 5:26 am

>224 FAMeulstee: Sounds fascinating - and I don't think I've ever come across it. Will add it to the wishlist.

229Berly
Mar 17, 2018, 6:05 am

230FAMeulstee
Mar 17, 2018, 6:19 am

>228 charl08: We own a copy, Charlotte, as the translation was part of a publisher series of (new) translations of French literature we collected. Then I saw it listed here in the 1001 books list and thought I could give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised, partly because I didn't expect much.

>229 Berly: :-)

231FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:31 am


book 87: Het betoverde land achter de kleerkast by C.S. Lewis
from the library, translated, original title The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 157 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book whose title includes the word “lion” OR a book written by an author with the name of “Lamb”

Four siblings are sent to the countryside during the war. They find a magical wardrobe in a room, where they can travel to a magical land called Narnia. A witch has turned Narnia in endless winter and the children help Aslan the Lion to fight the witch.

This was a re-read, I read this book before in 2009. This time I liked the story less. The christian point of view and sexism (girls should not be in battle and boys are supposed to fight in battle, the girls immediately start helping in the kitchen) were more notable, and did annoy. I still liked the world building and the magical elements.


232msf59
Mar 17, 2018, 9:16 am

Happy Saturday, Anita. You are knocking out books, in your usual furious pace. Can you believe I have not read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Bad Mark?

233FAMeulstee
Mar 17, 2018, 9:33 am

>232 msf59: Yes, I believe you, Mark. Don't rush, it is not that good, but if you are looking for a fast read it qualifies ;-)

234Ameise1
Mar 17, 2018, 10:59 am

I saw all the beautiful photos from the exhibitions on your FB page, Anita. It's great that you had the opportunity to visit the exhibitions. I would also like to visit an exhibition once again, unfortunately I do not have the time to do so right now.
Congratulations on the magical number 75.
I wish you a great weekend. Snow has been announced here again and our meadow is full of crocuses.

235jnwelch
Mar 17, 2018, 11:05 am

Hi, Anita. I'm glad Frank is doing a bit better.

I loved the Narnia books when I was a kid. If you liked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, you'll probably like the others.

236FAMeulstee
Mar 17, 2018, 3:52 pm

>234 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara, we go out a lot now. It is easier now to go to expositions, since we don't have a dog anymore. You are busy with work and need to recuperate in the weekends.
No snow here, but it is cold. Outside it feels even colder with a hard wind blowing from the east.

>235 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe, we are very happy Franks health is improving.
I read the Narnia books before, this was a re-read for a TIOLI Challenge. I could not find an other book that fitted that challenge.

237FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 17, 2018, 5:24 pm


book 88: Iolo komt niet spelen by Alet Schouten
own, Dutch, awarded, Gouden Griffel & Gouden Penseel 1975, no translations, 135 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Pangram rolling challenge: "How vexingly quick daft zebras jump!"

Like every year Gerrit and his family go on vacation to the same house near the coast in Wales. This year everything is a bit different, not only because Gerrit got a little sister recently. He always played with Iolo, the boy who lives at a nearby farm, but this year Iolo chases Gerrit away when he comes looking for him. Slowly Gerrit finds out something odd, or maybe even scary, is going on. And he might be an important witness...

Good read, with typical Welsh stories and places woven into the story, like tales about Twm Siôn Cati and a ride with the train in Rheidol Valley.


238FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 18, 2018, 11:00 am


book 89: De Cock en de geur van rottend hout by A.C. Baantjer
from the library, e-book, Dutch, police mystery, 46th book of 70 De Cock series, no translations, 137 pages
TIOLI challenge #10: Read a book that isn't a "book"

When a woman reports her husband is missing De Cock and Vledder soon find his body in a remote area of Amsterdam. When a second victim is found at the same place, they try to put the pieces of information together.

239FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:31 am


book 90: Metamorphosen by Ovidius
1001 books, own, translated Latin, classic, English translation Metamorphoses, 459 pages
TIOLI challenge #8: Read a book for a project

It was a great read, I already knew most of the tales of the gods and heroes, but it is always good to read again.
I didn't know much about Pythagoras, so there I learned he believed in reincarnation and was a vegetarian.

I can't say much about the translation, as I know no other translations than the one I read. But it was very accesable and not difficult to read.



With this book I completed a March TIOLI sweep :-)

240Caroline_McElwee
Editado: Mar 18, 2018, 12:29 pm

I have the Ted Hughes translation >239 FAMeulstee: of that Anita. I've been meaning to take it off the shelf for a while.

Congrats on completing the sweep.

241streamsong
Mar 18, 2018, 12:33 pm

Congrats on the sweep and fingers and toes crossed for your double sweep.

242FAMeulstee
Mar 18, 2018, 2:19 pm

>240 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, I am aiming for a double sweep this month. My reading is back to "normal" level, I know my reading speed isn't normal to others ;-)
I hope you get to Metamorphoses, and love it as much as I did.

>241 streamsong: Thank you, Janet.
If nothing unexpected comes in my way, I should be able to finish the double in a week.

243LovingLit
Mar 18, 2018, 4:22 pm

>231 FAMeulstee: I wonder how the film adaption compares, with regard to the sexism? I wanted to read the book to the kids, but having not read them myself, now have second thoughts!

244FAMeulstee
Mar 18, 2018, 5:26 pm

>243 LovingLit: I have seen the film adaption, Megan, but don't remember it being bad in this way.
Part of me noticing the sexism is because I am more alert these days, after reading Testosterone Rex and others. The boys and the girls are very stereotype, like it was when it was written in 1950.

245EllaTim
Mar 18, 2018, 6:34 pm

>244 FAMeulstee: I loved the Narnia books when I read them first as a young teen, but they are really a product of their time. Stereotypical roles for boys and girls. I didn't mind so much then because it was after all Lucy who found Narnia, and not one of the boys;-)

246FAMeulstee
Mar 18, 2018, 6:52 pm

>245 EllaTim: I never read them when I was young, Ella, first time was 9 years ago in my early LT days.
I would not have noticed at all when I was young, and even in 2009 it bothered less than it does now. Yes, that was the good part, Lucy finding Narnia :-)

247FAMeulstee
Mar 18, 2018, 7:32 pm


book 91: Vos en haas by Sylvia Vanden Heede
own, Dutch, awarded, Jonge Gouden Uil & Vlag en Wimpel 1999, no English translation, 140 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book by a female author who has had at least 3 books published

Stories about Fox and Hare (on the left on the cover), who live together. Their neighbor is Owl, who hatches an egg and becomes the proud parent of Piep, the rooster. With lovely illustrations by Thé Tjong-Khing.

The stories start with easy words and sentences and gradually level up (levels in Dutch from AVI 1 to AVI 4).


248sirfurboy
Editado: Mar 19, 2018, 6:40 am

>237 FAMeulstee: The Vale of Rheidol railway departs from here. I would like to read that book, but sadly there is no Kindle version. Not even an Amazon paperback version.

I will add it to my "would like it if I can ever find it" list!

ETA: Dutch Wikipedia pointed me to an omnibus, 5 x bekroond jeugdboek van het jaar 1990 that has this book in it. Sadly that is not on UK Amazon either. Maybe I need a BOL account.

249FAMeulstee
Mar 19, 2018, 6:40 am

>248 sirfurboy: The book is easely available second hand over here, Stephen. If you want I can see if it is possible to send a copy to your place and would be happy to get it for you.

250sirfurboy
Mar 19, 2018, 6:42 am

>249 FAMeulstee: That is kind of you Anita. I will see if I can track it down before putting you to the trouble though. Thanks again :)

251FAMeulstee
Mar 19, 2018, 6:49 am

>250 sirfurboy: Not much trouble, Stephen, it can all be done online ;-)
If you want to look up yourself, the largest secondhand book site is https://www.boekwinkeltjes.nl/ at the bottom you can switch the language to English.

252The_Hibernator
Mar 19, 2018, 10:04 am

>237 FAMeulstee: I love that cover. Makes me wish I could read it. lol

253Ameise1
Mar 19, 2018, 2:02 pm

Happy new week, Anita. We're back to snow and it's chilly.

254FAMeulstee
Mar 19, 2018, 2:11 pm

>252 The_Hibernator: It is YA, Rachel, so after some Dutch lessons you might be able do do so ;-)

>253 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, we have cold and dry weather. We had very little snow this winter.

255FAMeulstee
Editado: Mar 31, 2018, 5:31 am


book 92: Vaderland by Robert Harris
from the library, translated, original title Fatherland, 396 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book for a project (shared read)

Alternate history and detective, set in Berlin, Germany, in 1964, where Hitler is still in power, and preparations are going on for a big celebration of Hitlers 75th birthday.
Xavier March is working for the Kripo (criminal police), when he is called as there is found a death man. He turns out to be a once mighty man in the Nazi-party, but other departments don't want his death fully investigated. That triggers Marchs curiosity, so he dives into the case.

Robert Harris is a gifted writer. Many characters in this book are based on actual Nazi's, most of them were convicted after WW II.


256Caroline_McElwee
Mar 20, 2018, 10:46 am

>255 FAMeulstee: it's years since I read it Anita. They did a pretty good film of it with Dutch actor Rutger Hauer in.

257FAMeulstee
Mar 20, 2018, 11:29 am

>256 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks for mentioning the film, Caroline, it might be worth watching, especially when Rutger Hauer is in it.
Este tópico foi continuado por Anita (FAMeulstee) reads on in 2018 (4).