Anita (FAMeulstee) keeps on going where the books take her in 2020 (4)

Welcome to my fourth 2020 thread!

I am Anita Meulstee, 57, married with Frank since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art and books.
I read (almost) everything, from childrens and YA books to more serious literature, mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy and I try not to forget to throw some non-fiction into the mix.

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May is the month of the roses in my garden.

Left: Rosa "Schneewittchen" (or "Iceberg") is always the first and the last rose with flowers in my garden. This year there were only a few weeks between the last rose of previous season and the first new rose opening up. Right: Rosa "Isabel Renaissance", a sweet smelling dark red rose
 

My two David Austen roses, left: "Graham Thomas", right "The Prince".
 

And the easiest growing and best smelling of them all, the Rosa "Westerland", starts bright orange and fades to pink.
People walking by on the street can even smell this rose.
 

total books read in 2020: 126
24 own / 102 library

total pages read in 2020: 46,217

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books read in June 2020 (15 books, 7,716 pages, 3 own / 12 library)
book 126: Van de koele meren des doods (The Deeps of Deliverance) by Frederik van Eeden, 264 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 185)
book 125: Een stralende toekomst (The Great Believers) by Rebecca Makkai, 479 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 184)
book 124: De Midaksteeg (Midaq Alley) by Nagieb Mahfoez, 347 pages (msg 182)
book 123: Vrouwen in gevecht (Fearless Females) by Marta Breen and Jenny Jordahl, 123 pages (msg 181)
book 122: Menselijke voorwaarden (Human condition) by Junpei Gomikawa, 1511 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 180)
book 121: De genialiteit van vogels (The Genius of Birds) by Jennifer Ackerman, 384 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 179)
book 120: Wij (We) by Jevgeni Zamjatin, 222 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 178)
book 119: Station Elf (Station Eleven) by Emily St John Mandel, 384 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 158)
book 118: Geheimen van het Wilde Woud (The Secrets of the Wild Wood) by Tonke Dragt, 358 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 157)
book 117: De brief voor de koning (The Letter for the King) by Tonke Dragt, 340 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 157)
book 116: Heer van de vliegen (Lord of the flies) by Willliam Golding, 239 pages, TIOLI #18 (msg 156)
book 115: Heer van chaos (Lord of Chaos) by Robert Jordan, 1054 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 150)
book 114: Zonder paniek geen paradijs by Joachim Meyerhoff, 368 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 149)
book 113: Engeleneiland (Buried Angels) by Camilla Läckberg, 414 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 148)
book 112: Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief by Johan Harstad, 1229 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 146)

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books read in May 2020 (20 books, 7,735 pages, 4 own / 16 library)
book 111: De acht bergen (The Eight Mountains) by Paolo Cognetti, 240 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 106)
book 110: Wanneer wordt het eindelijk weer zoals het nooit is geweest by Joachim Meyerhoff, 311 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 105)
book 109: De mystieke masseur (The Mystic Masseur) by V.S. Naipaul, 240 pages, TIOLI #17 (msg 104)
book 108: Kleine brandjes overal (Little fires everywhere) by Celeste Ng, 352 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 103)
book 107: Aarde, lucht, water en vuur by Empedokles, 143 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 102)
book 106: Ik, Robot (I, Robot + extra story) by Isaac Asimov, 271 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 101)
book 105: Candide, of Het optimisme (Candide) by Voltaire, 132 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 100)
book 104: Het gevaar (The Danger) by Dick Francis, 312 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 99)
book 103: Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion (Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy) by John Le Carré, 367 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 98)
book 102: Djinn patrouille op de paarse lijn (Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line) by Deepa Anappara, 382 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 97)
book 101: Niels Holgerssons wonderbare reis (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils) by Selma Lagerlöf, 363 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 96)
book 100: Ik zal de wereld nooit meer zien (I Will Never See the World Again) by Ahmet Altan, 204 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 73)
book 99: 1793 (The Wolf and the Watchman) by Niklas Natt och Dag, 400 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 72)
book 98: Sil de strandjutter by Cor Bruijn, 336 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 71)
book 97: Droommeisje (Girl of His Dreams) by Donna Leon, 317 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 70)
book 96: Duyvels End (World's End) by T.C. Boyle, 511 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 15)
book 95: Jozef en zijn broers (Joseph and his Brothers) by Thomas Mann, 1343 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 14)
book 94: Eline Vere (Eline Vere) by Louis Couperus, 568 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 13)
book 93: Oude wegen (The Old Ways) by Robert Macfarlane, 464 pages, TIOLI #18 (msg 12)
book 92: Het Haagse stadhuis by Adri Duivesteijn, 479 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 11)

June 2020 reading plans
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één nacht translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 3215 pages (118/3215)
Ideeën by Mutatuli, 3846 pages (805/3846)

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TIOLI June 2020
#1: Read a book tagged "food writing"
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#2: Read a book written in the first two decades (+1) of any century
- Van de koele meren des doods (The Deeps of Deliverance) - Frederik van Eeden, 264 pages
#3: Read a book about disability rights
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#4: Read a book whose title contains a word that you would use to name a puppy
- Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief - Johan Harstad, 1229 pages (e-library)
- Engeleneiland (Buried Angels) - Camilla Läckberg, 414 pages (e-library)
#5: Read a book by a woman that was given, bought or recommended to you by a woman
- Vrouwen in gevecht (Fearless Females) - Marta Breen and Jenny Jordahl, 123 pages (library)
#6: Read a book that takes place in the summer or has the word summer in the title
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#7: Read a book with a connection to Russia
- Menselijke voorwaarden (Human condition) Junpei Gomikawa, 1511 pages (e-library)
- Wij (We) - Jevgeni Zamjatin, 222 pages (e-library)
#8: Read a book about something you've missed during stay at home order
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#9: Read a book relating to my 55th birthday
- Station Elf (Station Eleven) - Emily St John Mandel, 384 pages (library)
#10: June birthstone challenge - read a book with a predominantly teal and/or purple cover
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#11: Read a book about Aliens
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#12: Read a book with three words or more in the title
- De brief voor de koning (The Letter for the King) - Tonke Dragt, 340 pages
- Geheimen van het Wilde Woud (The Secrets of the Wild Wood) - Tonke Dragt, 358 pages
- De genialiteit van vogels (The Genius of Birds) - Jennifer Ackerman, 384 pages (library)
- Heer van chaos (Lord of Chaos) - Robert Jordan, 1054 pages (e-library)
- Een stralende toekomst (The Great Believers) - Rebecca Makkai, 479 pages (library)
- Zonder paniek geen paradijs - Joachim Meyerhoff, 368 pages (library)
# 13: Read a book with a word which suggests color in the title
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#14: Read a book with an activity you can do inside in the title
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#15: Read a debut book by an author over the age of 50
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#16: Read a book with a connection to pentecost/shavuot
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#17: Read a book that you keep putting off reading
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#18: Read a book with the word 'Fly' in the title
- Heer van de vliegen (Lord of the flies) - Willliam Golding, 239 pages (e-library)

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TIOLI May 2020
#1: Read a book whose author’s name contains a food or drink
- Het Haagse stadhuis - Adri Duivesteijn, 479 pages (library)
#2: Read a book written by a foreigner
- 1793 (The Wolf and the Watchman) - Niklas Natt och Dag, 400 pages (library)
- Duyvels End (World's End) - T.C. Boyle, 511 pages (e-library)
- Het gevaar (The Danger) - Dick Francis, 312 pages (e-library)
- Ik zal de wereld nooit meer zien (I Will Never See the World Again) - Ahmet Altan, 204 pages (library)
- Jozef en zijn broers (Joseph and his brothers) by Thomas Mann, 1343 pages, (library)
- Wanneer wordt het eindelijk weer zoals het nooit is geweest - Joachim Meyerhoff, 311 pages (library)
#3: Read a book by a woman from a very different cultural tradition to your own
- Djinn patrouille op de paarse lijn (Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line) - Deepa Anappara, 382 pages (e-library)
#4: Read a book which finishes the sentence "Mother, MAY I......"
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#5: Read a book for the MAY rolling challenge
- Candide, of Het optimisme (Candide) - Voltaire, 132 pages
- Droommeisje (Girl of His Dreams) by Donna Leon, 317 pages (e-library)
#6: The 4 Elements. Read a book that has Fire, Earth, Air or Water as one of the title words
- Aarde, lucht, water en vuur - Empedokles, 143 pages
- Kleine brandjes overal (Little fires everywhere) - Celeste Ng, 352 pages (e-library)
#7: Read a book with a number in the title
- De acht bergen (The Eight Mountains) - Paolo Cognetti, 240 pages (library)
#8: Read a science fiction or speculative fiction book that was made into a movie
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#9: Read a book with a sentient thing or about AI
- Ik Robot (I, Robot + extra story) - Isaac Asimov, 271 pages
#10: Read an espionage novel published in the 1970s
- Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion (Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy) - John Le Carré, 367 pages (library)
#11: Re-Read a book you haven't read in 10* years
- Eline Vere (Eline Vere) - Louis Couperus, 568 pages (e-library)
- Niels Holgerssons wonderbare reis (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils) - Selma Lagerlöf, 363 pages (e-library)
#12: Read a book from your TBR with a colour in the title
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#13: Read a book with J, K, Q, X, or Z in the title
- Sil de strandjutter - Cor Bruijn, 336 pages (library)
#14: Read or re-read a sci/fi or fantasy book by an author you have read before
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#15: Read a book with an ampersand & in the title, or written by two authors
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#16: May birthstone challenge - read a book with a predominantly emerald green cover
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#17: Read a book with mystery / mysteries / mysterious in the title
- De mystieke masseur (The Mystic Masseur) - V.S. Naipaul, 240 pages
#18: Read a book that you won't be keeping
- Oude wegen (The Old Ways) - Robert Macfarlane, 464 pages (library)
#19: Read a book using the vocabulary of an Horologist in the title or author
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#20: Read a Book with Dead or Death or any Cause of Death in the Title
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Reading plans in 2020
My childrens/YA project was finished in 2019.
- This year I want to tackle some big tomes (1,000+ pages). My goal is to read 12 big tomes.
- Reading my own books is not top priority this year, ROOT goal set at 24.

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

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Big tomes I might read in 2020:
Dutch translation of the complete Tales from the thousand and one nights, 3215 pages
Ideeën (1-7) by Multatuli, 3846 pages
Man zonder eigenschappen (The man without qualities) by Robert Musil, 1785 pages
De razende Roeland (Orlando furioso) by Ludovico Ariosto, 1783 pages
De essays (The complete essays) by Michel de Montaigne, 1557 pages
✔ Menselijke voorwaarden (Human condition) by Junpei Gomikawa, 1511 pages
✔ De hunnen by Jan Cremer, 1419 pages
De kracht van Atlantis (Atlas shrugged) by Ayn Rand, 1373 pages
✔ De geschikte jongen (A suitable boy) by Vikram Seth, 1366 pages
✔ Jozef en zijn broers (Joseph and his brothers) by Thomas Mann, 1343 pages
✔ Het achtste leven (voor Brilka) (The eighth life (for Brilka)) by Nino Haratischwili, 1275 pages
✔ Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief by Johan Harstad, 1229 pages
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort by Roger Martin du Gard, 1077 pages
✔ Heer van chaos (Lord of Chaos), Robert Jordan, 1054 pages
Baron by Theun de Vries, 1016 pages

Totals since 2008:

books read in January 2020
book 1: Saga's van de Westfjorden en omstreken translated by Marcel Otten (thread 1, msg 64)
book 2: De Cock en dood door hamerslag by A.C. Baantjer (thread 1, msg 65)
book 3: Huishouden (Visitation) by Jenny Erpenbeck (thread 1, msg 80)
book 4: De legende van Swanhilde (The Half-Drowned King) by Linnea Hartsuyker (thread 1, msg 81)
book 5: Ziggy by Bram Hulzebos (thread 1, msg 82)
book 6: Tirza by Arnon Grunberg (thread 1, msg 132)
book 7: Stenen voor een ransuil by Maarten 't Hart (thread 1, msg 133)
book 8: Stommelen stampen slaan (Spill simmer falter wither) by Sara Baume (thread 1, msg 134)
book 9: Pompeii het dagelijks leven in een Romeinse stad (Pompeii: The Life of A Roman Town) by Mary Beard (thread 1, msg 136)
book 10: Het achtste leven (voor Brilka) (The Eighth Life (for Brilka) ) by Nino Haratischwili (thread 1, msg 137)
book 11: Waarom vuilnismannen meer verdienen dan bankiers by Rutger Bregman (thread 1, msg 155)
book 12: Een stille vlam (A quiet flame, Bernie Gunther 5) by Philip Kerr (thread 1, msg 156)
book 13: De verrader (The sellout) by Paul Beatty (thread 1, msg 158)
book 14: Grensgangers by Aline Sax (thread 1, msg 164)
book 15: De jongens van Nickel (The Nickel Boys) by Colson Whitehead (thread 1, msg 165)
book 16: Ochtendwind (Dawn wind) by Rosemary Sutcliff (thread 1, msg 178)
book 17: Erik, of het klein insectenboek (Eric in the Land of the Insects) by Godfried Bomans (thread 1, msg 179)
book 18: Anne van het Groene Huis (Anne of Green Gables) by L.M. Montgomery (thread 1, msg 180)
book 19: Buurtsupermens (Convenience Store Woman) by Sayaka Murata (thread 1, msg 181)
book 20: Sovjetistan (Sovietistan) by Erika Fatland (thread 1, msg 182)
book 21: Moederdag by Nele Neuhaus (thread 1, msg 183)
book 22: Vrouwen & macht (Women & Power: A Manifesto) by Mary Beard (thread 1, msg 184)
book 23: Het nieuwe land by Eva Vriend (thread 1, msg 219)
book 24: Het moerasmeisje (Where the Crawdads Sing) by Delia Owens (thread 1, msg 221)
book 25: Zoon van het Noorden (Odinn's child, Viking 1) by Tim Severin (thread 1, msg 222)
book 26: Eskimoland by Niko Tinbergen (thread 1, msg 223)

books read in February 2020
book 27: Oorlogsvlieger (Flight to Arras) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (thread 2, msg 28)
book 28: De beer en de nachtegaal (The bear and the nightingale) by Katherine Arden (thread 2, msg 29)
book 29: Het meisje in de toren (The girl in the tower) by Katherine Arden (thread 2, msg 31)
book 30: Spaar de spotvogel (To kill a mockingbird) by Harper Lee (thread 2, msg 32)
book 31: Schaduw van de vos (Shadow of the Fox) by Julie Kagawa (thread 2, msg 49)
book 32: De buitenjongen (The Wild Boy) by Paolo Cognetti (thread 2, msg 50)
book 33: De dood van Murat Idrissi (The death of Murat Idrissi) by Tommy Wieringa (thread 2, msg 51)
book 34: De zeven gehangenen (The Seven Who Were Hanged) by Leonid Andrejev (thread 2, msg 52)
book 35: Doodgeverfd (In the Frame) by Dick Francis (thread 2, msg 53)
book 36: De Engelse patiënt (The English Patient) by Michael Ondaatje (thread 2, msg 54)
book 37: Tot in de hemel (The overstory) by Richard Powers (thread 2, msg 84)
book 38: Buzz Aldrin, waar ben je gebleven? (Buzz Aldrin, what happened to you in all the confusion?) by Johan Harstad (thread 2, msg 85)
book 39: Ondergeschikt (Inferior) by Angela Saini (thread 2, msg 86)
book 40: Duister glas (Through a Glass, Darkly) by Donna Leon (thread 2, msg 87)
book 41: De wind in de wilgen (The Wind in the Willows) by Kenneth Grahame (thread 2, msg 88)
book 42: De geschikte jongen (A Suitable Boy) by Vikram Seth (thread 2, msg 90)
book 43: De laatste der Mohikanen (The Last of the Mohicans) by James Fenimore Cooper (thread 2, msg 100)
book 44: Er is geen daar daar (There There) by Tommy Orange (thread 2, msg 101)
book 45: Grand Guignol by Louis Ferron (thread 2, msg 102)
book 46: De laatste betovering (The last enchantment) by Mary Stewart (thread 2, msg 103)

books read in March 2020
book 47: De jungleboeken (The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book) by Rudyard Kipling (thread 2, msg 134)
book 48: De tuin (The Weather Detective: Rediscovering Nature's Secret Signs) by Peter Wohlleben (thread 2, msg 135)
book 49: De ontsnapping van de natuur by Thomas Oudman & Theunis Piersma (thread 2, msg 136)
book 50: Een jihad van liefde by Mohamed el Bachiri (thread 2, msg 138)
book 51: Italiaanse schoenen (Italian Shoes) by Henning Mankell (thread 2, msg 140)
book 52: Het water komt by Rutger Bregman (thread 2, msg 146)
book 53: De H is van havik (H is for hawk) by Helen Macdonald (thread 2, msg 147)
book 54: Zweedse laarzen (After the Fire) by Henning Mankell (thread 2, msg 148)
book 55: Vuurtorenwachter (The Lost Boy) by Camilla Läckberg (thread 2, msg 150)
book 56: Spinoza by Theun de Vries (thread 2, msg 210)
book 57: Reis door Armenië (An Armenian sketchbook) by Vasili Grossman (thread 2, msg 211)
book 58: Het lijden van de jonge Werther (The Sorrows of Young Werther) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (thread 2, msg 212)
book 59: De Hunnen by Jan Cremer (thread 2, msg 213)
book 60: Klopjacht (Blood sport) by Dick Francis (thread 2, msg 214)
book 61: Muizen en mensen (Of Mice and Men) by John Steinbeck (thread 2, msg 215)
book 62: Geef me de ruimte! by Thea Beckman (thread 2, msg 216)
book 63: Triomf van de verschroeide aarde by Thea Beckman (thread 2, msg 216)
book 64: Het rad van fortuin by Thea Beckman (thread 2, msg 216)
book 65: Wie wat vindt heeft slecht gezocht by Rutger Kopland (thread 2, msg 231)
book 66: Moord op de moestuin by Nicolien Mizee (thread 2, msg 232)
book 67: De avond is ongemak (The Discomfort of Evening) by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (thread 2, msg 233)
book 68: Platero en ik (Platero and I) by Juan Ramón Jiménez (thread 2, msg 234)

books read in April 2020
book 69: De bekeerlinge (The Convert) by Stefan Hertmans (thread 3, msg 59)
book 70: De asielzoeker by Arnon Grunberg (thread 3, msg 60)
book 71: Het fantoom van Alexander Wolf (The Spectre of Alexander Wolf) by Gajto Gazdanov (thread 3, msg 61)
book 72: Wanderlust (Wanderlust) by Rebecca Solnit (thread 3, msg 63)
book 73: Dit alles zal ik je geven (All This I Will Give to You) by Dolores Redondo (thread 3, msg 64)
book 74: Blauwe maandag (Blue Monday) by Nicci French (thread 3, msg 65)
book 75: Wij slaven van Suriname by Anton de Kom (thread 3, msg 71)
book 76: Anton de Kom by Alice Boots and Rob Woortman (thread 3, msg 127)
book 77: Dichter in de jungle by Roelof van Gelder (thread 3, msg 128)
book 78: De offerplaats (In the Woods) by Tana French (thread 3, msg 129)
book 79: Mama's laatste omhelzing (Mama's Last Hug) by Frans de Waal (thread 3, msg 130)
book 80: De pest (The Plague) by Albert Camus (thread 3, msg 131)
book 81: Tijl (Tyll) by Daniel Kehlmann (thread 3, msg 132)
book 82: Het probleem met bokken en schapen (The Trouble with Goats and Sheep) by Joanna Cannon (thread 3, msg 133)
book 83: De voorlezer (The Reader) by Bernhard Schlink (thread 3, msg 148)
book 84: Telefoon voor de dode (Call for the Dead) by John le Carré (thread 3, msg 149)
book 85: Dinsdag is voorbij (Tuesday's Gone) by Nicci French (thread 3, msg 150)
book 86: Cheops by J.H. Leopold (thread 3, msg 151)
book 87: Zwarte winter (Doomsday book) by Connie Willis (thread 3, msg 152)
book 88: Kinderspel (Suffer the Little Children) by Donna Leon (thread 3, msg 154)
book 89: Smeltend ijs by Arnaldur Indriðason (thread 3, msg 157)
book 90: Alle doden vliegen hoog : Amerika by Joachim Meyerhoff (thread 3, msg 160)
book 91: Ideeën van Multatuli. Eerste bundel by Mutatuli (thread 3, msg 162)

Monthly statistics
26 books / 8,690 pages in January 2020 in numbers
20 books / 7,299 pages in February 2020 in numbers
22 books / 6,686 pages in March 2020 in numbers
23 books / 8,168 pages in April 2020 in numbers
20 books / 7,735 pages in May 2020 in numbers
15 books / 7,716 pages in June 2020 in numbers

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Previous threads in 2020
book 1 - 26: thread 1
book 27 - 68: thread 2
book 69 - 91: thread 3

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My readings in previous years
413 books (110,873 pages) read in 2019/1, 2019/2, 2019/3, 2019/4, 2019/5, 2019/6, 2019/7, 2019/8, 2019/9, 2019/10
534 books (111,906 pages) read in 2018/1, 2018/2, 2018/3, 2018/4, 2018/5, 2018/6, 2018/7, 2018/8, 2018/9, 2018/10, 2018/11, 2018/12, 2018/13
453 books (110,248 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
253 books   (72,474 pages) read in 2016/1, 2016/2, 2016/3, 2016/4, 2016/5, 2016/6
  29 books   (10,080 pages) read in 2015
  17 books     (3,700 pages) read in 2014
  13 books     (3,692 pages) read in ROOT 2013
  53 books   (18,779 pages) read in 2012/1, 2012/2, 2012/3
  84 books   (30,256 pages) read in 2011/1, 2011/2
121 books   (38,119 pages) read in 2010/1, 2010/2, 2010/3, 2010/4
  78 books   (21,470 pages) read in 2009/1, 2009/2
130 books   (35,152 pages) read in 2008

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Lists on my WikiThing
My best books by year list on the WikiThing
Working on: Five star reads; Nobel prize winners; Booker prize winners; Dutch prize winners

Series I read, a list to keep track

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

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 8/20
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 53/70

Erica Falck & Patrik Hedström by Camilla Läckberg 9/11
1 IJsprinses; 2 Predikant; 3 Steenhouwer; 4 Zusje; 4.1 Sneeuwstorm en amandelgeur; 5 Oorlogskind; 6 Zeemeermin; 7 Vuurtorenwachter; 8 Engeleneiland; 9 Leeuwentemmer; 10 Heks

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

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

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

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 4/12
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; 13 De fluisteraar

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

Oliver von Bodenstein & Pia Kirchhoff by Nele Neuhaus 9/9
1 Een onbeminde vrouw; 2 Moordvrienden; 3 Diepe wonden; 4 Sneeuwwitje moet sterven; 5 Wie wind zaait; 6 Boze wolf; 7 De levenden en de doden; 8 Het woud; 9 Moederdag

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

Sister Fidelma by Peter Tremayne 1/18
1 Absolutie voor moord; 2 Lijkwade voor een aartsbisschop; 3 Moord in de abdij; 4 De listige slang; 5 Het web van Araglin; 6 De vallei van het kwaad; 7 De verdwenen monnik; 8 Dood van een pelgrim; 9 Vrouwe van het duister; 10 Het klooster van de dode zielen; 11 De gekwelde abt; 12 De nacht van de das; 13 De leprozenbel; 14 Moord uit de golven; 15 Een gebed voor de verdoemden; 16 Dansen met demonen; 17 Het valse concilie; 18 De duif des doods

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

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

Books acquired in 2020: 32

June (1)
Menselijke voorwaarden - Junpei Gomikawa

May (5)
Middaguur - Dörte Hansen
Inventaris van enkele verliezen - Judith Schalansky
Ten oosten van Eden - John Steinbeck
Jaag je ploeg over de botten van de doden - Olga Tokarczuk
Uit elkaar - Bette Westera

April (8)
Dit alles zal ik je geven - Dolores Redondo
Pieterpad deel I: Pieterburen-Vorden - Toos Goorhuis
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht - Toos Goorhuis
De eenzaamheid van de priemgetallen - Paolo Giordano
Nachtwegen - Gajto Gazdanov
De straat en het struikgewas - Armando
Telefoon voor de dode - John le Carré
Het verhaal van Aeneas - Vergilius

March (11)
CRUX by Ralph Keuning
Werner Tübke by Ralph Keuning
Wolfgang Mattheuer by Ralph Keuning
Seizoensroddel by Jan Baeke
Habitus by Radna Fabias
Boeddhisme in alle eenvoud by Steve Hagen
Generaal zonder leger by Özcan Akyol
Onze verslaggever in de leegte by Dimitri Verhulst
Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit (e-book)
Leon & Juliette by Annejet van der Zijl
Het water komt - Rutger Bregman

January (7)
Essay over de geslaagde dag - Peter Handke
Misverstand in Moskou - Simone de Beauvoir
Wandeling - Thomas Bernhard
Kali : een voorwinterverhaal - Peter Handke
De pensionering van meneer Bougran - Joris-Karl Huysmans
De Thibaults. Deel 1 - Roger Martin de Gard
De Thibaults. Deel 2 - Roger Martin de Gard

book 92: Het Haagse stadhuis by Adri Duivesteijn
library, non-fiction, Dutch, no English translation, 479 pages

started 2020-05-01
finished 2020-05-02
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose author’s name contains a food or drink

Memoir of Adri Duivesteijn about his years as social-democrat alderman in The Hague.
He had big plans to revive the city and a new city hall. The new city hall (by Richard Meier) was build, but because of internal struggle in the social-democrat party Adri had to resign as alderman. Later he was alderman in Almere for some years.
In those years I was a member of the social-democrat party and my father was the city manager of The Hague, so I heard stories from all sides.
Interesting to read the story from Adri Duivesteijns side.

Title translated: The city hall of The Hague

book 93: De oude wegen by Robert Macfarlane
library, non-fiction, translated, original title The Old Ways, 464 pages

started 2020-05-04
finished 2020-05-05
TIOLI Challenge #18: Read a book that you won't be keeping

Walking with Robert Macfarlane over ancient pathways in England, Scotland, Palestine and the Himalaya, a stark contrast with the paths we walk every day on rather new land.
He quotes others (writers), some I never heard about before reading this book.
Sadly there was no map to follow his trails.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 94: Eline Vere by Louis Couperus
1001 books, library, Dutch, Dutch Canon, English translation Eline Vere, 568 pages

started 2020-05-02
finished 2020-05-09
TIOLI Challenge #11: Re-Read a book you haven't read in 10* years

The sad story of a young upper-class woman in The Hague, late 19th century. Her days are filled with visits and the evenings with balls and theatre. She is mentaly unstable and longs for more in her life.
This was Couperus first book, I liked this one well, but loved his The Book of the Small Souls.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 95: Jozef en zijn broers by Thomas Mann
1001 books, library and e-library, translated from German, English translation Joseph and his Brothers, 1343 pages

started 2020-04-18
finished 2020-05-11
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written by a foreigner

Thomas Mann considered the four Joseph books his magnus opus.
It is a voluminous, literary retelling of the biblic story of Joseph and his brothers.
At times brilliant, at times a slog to get through, so I have mixed feelings.

I started reading it on my laptop, as there was no epub available at the e-library. This e-copy had no pagenumbering, so I got the paper copy from the library in Almere. I read about half of it on paper, the other half online.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 96: Duyvels End by T.C. Boyle
1001 books, e-library, translated, original title World's End, 511 pages

started 2020-05-10
finished 2020-05-13
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written by a foreigner

Two linked stories about Dutch colonists in 17th century New York, the Van Wart and Van Brunt families, and their 20th century descendants.
I found most characters not very likable, and some links between 17th and 20th century a bit far fetched.

Dutch title translated: Devil's End (Devil in old spelling)

That is it for now, welcome!

>1 FAMeulstee: What beautiful roses Anita, thanks for sharing them.

>13 FAMeulstee: Glad to see Couperus got another hit, I think that was the first of his novels I read.

Happy new thread, Anita. Wow, those roses are beautiful! I love the fragrance of roses but can't seem to grow them. When I moved into this house, 19 years ago, the previous owners had 2 hostas in the back yard and a pathetic, sickly looking rose bush in the front. Nothing else. The edges of the petals were brown and nothing I did seemed to help so I just took it out. Could be the lousy soil (very clay-like). I have since amended the soil and managed to create a nice little garden but I haven't tried roses again. It looks like your garden would be stunning.

Happy new thread, Anita.

Some fairly hefty tomes you have just finished off there!

Happy new thread Anita! Lovely pictures of flowers!

Happy new thread!

Beautiful roses.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Your roses are simply gorgeous!

>17 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, the roses are my favorites in the garden. I have been lucky, only had one rose through the years that didn't take.
There is more Couperus on my list, but not straight away.

>18 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley. As I said to Caroline I have always been lucky with my roses. Two were already in the garden when we came her, sadly both have no fragrance at all. The others I planted myself, all more or less fragrant. I always digged a BIG hole, put special rose-soil in, and water it well in the first weeks. They also need some fertiliser to flower well.
Some roses are easier than others, the varieties "Westerland", "Iceberg" and "Mein München" will almost grow everywhere.

>19 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
Yes, I finished three big tomes in a row. Went on with some easier books :-)

>20 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel, the garden is at its best this time of year.

>21 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, roses are my favorite flowers.

>22 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, the roses are a treat to eye and nose :-)

Happy new thread, Anita!

Beautiful roses, thank you for sharing.

I see you've read 99 books so far - that's one short of the goal I have set for the entire year. I'm so glad your reading is going well.

The Westerland rose looks so lovely, and that wall of rose-smell is a genuinely pleasing gift to your neighbors.

Much very pleasing reading going on! TC Boyle's book has a much better Dutch title, more à propos than the English one.

Have a beautiful week ahead.

>25 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen!
You are welcome, I love my roses.
After a slight dip in March my reading mojo is back. And still on track with one 1,000+ pages book a month. With all libraries open again tomorrow I am a very happy woman :-)

>26 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
The Westerland only flowers once a year, I love to walk to the bin outside when it flowers, as the smell is divine. And after flowering it gets lovely orange rosehips that are decorative as well.
Indeed, the Duyvel's End is mentioned in the book. Have you read World's End?
Thanks, the same to you!

Happy new thread, Anita! Lovely roses.

Happy Sunday, Anita. Happy New Thread! Love the colorful toppers! Seeing any good birds? The Old Ways sounds like something I would like. I will add it to the list.

>27 FAMeulstee: Spuyten Duyvil is a stop on the Hudson Line where some old friends used to live. I always got a kick out of the name! I read the Boyle in the 80s. I don't remember much except the slight disappointment that there seemed to me not to be enough of the 17th century narrative.

Do you ever make preserves with the rosehips? Are they abundant/big enough to do that with?

>28 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry, I love my roses.

>29 msf59: Thank you, Mark.
Besides seeing the black redstart again, I have seen a lot of swallows this week.

There were less birds in the garden since we don't have a dog anymore. Then I realised I removed the waterbowl after Ari died, so I have put a big plastic waterbowl in the garden, with some rocks in it. The birds love it, sparrows, great tits, hedge sparrows, blackbirds and the doves come to drink every day. Some even use it to take a bath :-)

>30 richardderus: That is a Dutch name, I would translate "squirting devil".
Agreed on not enough 17th century in the book, as those were the most interesting parts. Although is was a bit strange he used a fantasy name for the Dutch village the Van Brunt family came from, as all other Dutch cities were real.

No, these rosehips are not suitable for eating, even the birds don't eat them ;-)
Between the road and the sidewalk in front of our house are Japanese roses (Rosa rugosa), they can be used to make preserves.

Happy new thread, Anita. The roses are beautiful!

Happy new thread!

Hi Anita my dear, happy new thread and great pictures of your Roses. Hope you and Frank have had a good weekend and we send love and hugs to both of you dear friend.

Happy new thread!

>1 FAMeulstee: Wow, just wow. There are advantages to living somewhere plants were meant to grow. I do envy you the scents.

Happy new thread. I am admiring your lovely rose pictures, Anita.

I have been reading about Bruegel and thinking about visiting museums again at some point! The author went all over the world to find the paintings and it is very much taken for granted as "normal". (Of course)

>31 FAMeulstee: We translate it as "spitting devil," after an eddy in the Hudson River that in the past was apparently more, um, active? Centuries of dredging for river traffic must've dislodged something that caused the devil to spit.

The Hansa variety of Rosa rugosa is prevalent along beaches in this part of the US.

It's also naturalized in my part of Texas, as there the "winters" get cold enough (2C or so) for the plants to stratify and set seed.

Happy New Thread, Anita! Beautiful roses up top.

Happy New Thread, Anita!
>1 FAMeulstee: Beautiful pictures! I love smelling roses. Especially the last one on your list.
The name of the rose is our favourite holiday destination!
We are looking forward to the next holiday in spring (hopefully - this year we only had 2 days, then we had to leave again).
I wish you and Frank a wonderful week, Anita.

Happy new thread Anita.

You did some good reading again. I'm putting Boeken der Kleine Zielen on my TBR list. Why did Eline Vere become his most read book? I loved Van Oude Mensen.

Lovely roses. And I agree with Richard, a nice rose at the street is a gift to passers-by.

>32 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba.
The roses are my joy and pride in the garden.

>33 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>34 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.
I love my roses, and they flower abundantly in return.
We had a nice and quiet weekend, love and hugs to you and Karen in return.

>35 quondame: Thank you, Susan!
Long before I had a garden I did grow roses (and passionflowers) in pots on my balcony.
I know I am lucky to live in a place where roses like to grow. There were two old roses in the garden when we moved here 15 years ago, both without scent. I planted only scented roses. The David Austen rose "The Prince" has a different scent than the others, not sweet but a spicy scent. It is the most demanding of all, but the reward is great.

>36 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, the roses are obviously a hit :-)
Brueghel was a great painter in his time, I have seen only a few in real. I wouldn't be traveling the world to see art, I am grateful most can be seen online these days.

>37 richardderus: Those are goodlooking rosehips, Richard, ready to use.
According to wikipedia the river was canalised, that probably stopped the devil from spitting ;-)

>38 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe. I love my roses :-)

>39 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!
The Rosa "Westerland" was a lucky find some years back, easy to grow, resistant to most rose plagues. Good to know it is also a nice place to stay.
Yes, I remember you had to go home early this spring, hoping for better luck on you next holiday. Whenever that will be possible again.

>40 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
I don't know why Eline Vere is most read, it was his debut. I have Van oude mensen, de dingen die voorbijgaan on the shelf to read someday. I loved Psyche & Fidessa when I read those for my Dutch list at school.
I am always pleasantly surprised when I smell roses somewhere.

>40 EllaTim:, >42 FAMeulstee: The smell of flowers is a pleasant surprise on any street-walk. The gardeners plan the plantings with others in mind, and that's always a nice feeling.

>44 richardderus: Sorry, Richard dear, I didn't plant the "Westerland" with others in mind. It was the only place where I could plant it, and only the next season I found out I had done others a favour ;-)
But many in the neighborhood do enjoy this rose. When it is in full bloom I am often approached by people passing to tell me how they enjoy it.

Beautiful roses, Anita! Thank you for sharing!

Thank you, Claire, my pleasure to share them. So may nice comments about my roses :-)

>12 FAMeulstee: >13 FAMeulstee: I already have those in the BlackHole or I would add them again.

I love the roses up top! Beautiful!

Just cruising by to say hi, and happy reading!

Hi Anita!

>42 FAMeulstee: I’m glad that you only plant scented roses. When my mother had emergency detached-retina surgery in 1988 and wasn’t supposed to lift her head up for a week I got her a bouquet of flowers with beautiful scents – she couldn’t see them but she could certainly smell them. And I only had scented flowers in my wedding bouquet in 1991. The florist thought it a fun challenge.

Thank you for sharing your lovely roses, Anita. I love the strongly fragrant roses the best as well!

>50 karenmarie: What a kind gift to your mother. When I had my second nose surgery my mom brought in a bouquet that drew in every passing nurse - but I couldn't smell a thing. Well, she enjoyed them.

Happy weekend Anita!

>48 alcottacre: I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did, Stasia :-)
Thank you!

>49 LovingLit: Thank you, Megan!
I am always happy when I am reading ;-)

>50 karenmarie: I find roses without scent such a deception, Karen. They miss someting essential.
How thoughtful that you got your mother a scented bouquet after her eye surgery. And a wonderful thought to do the same with your wedding bouquet.

>51 ronincats: You are very welcome, Roni, I know you also love your roses.

>52 quondame: Aww, so sad you could not smell the bouquet at the time, Susan.

>53 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel, the same to you!

Happy new thread! Hope you are doing well

At this time of the end of Ramadan I want to give thanks for your friendship in this wonderful group, Anita.

Wishing you and Frank a lovely Sunday.

Hi Anita my dear, hope that you and Frank have had a good weekend and hope you have a good week ahead and send love and hugs to both of you from both of us dear friend.

>55 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle!
All is well, we went to the library today! :-D

>56 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, what would this group be without you?
Wishing you a good week, probably easier without fasting.

>57 johnsimpson: Thank you, dear John.
All is well, trhe library reopened last week and today we went there. That made me very happy :-)
Love and hugs to you and Karen.

--
Last week our library reopened. Only for taking and returning books, all other activities are still on hold. I waited a week, as I feared many would come in the first days. Today only a few other visitors were there. You had to walk the preset route through the library, so everyone could easily keep the distance.

I had 7 books on my list and took 9 books home:
De genialiteit van vogels (The Genius of Birds) - Jennifer Ackerman
De acht bergen (The Eight Mountains) - Paolo Cognetti
De tweede slaap (The Second Sleep) - Robert Harris
De Midaksteeg (Midaq Alley) - Nagieb Mahfoez
Een stralende toekomst (The Great Believers) - Rebecca Makkai
Station Elf (Station Eleven) - Emily St John Mandel
Wanneer wordt het eindelijk weer zoals het nooit is geweest - Joachim Meyerhoff
Zonder paniek geen paradijs - Joachim Meyerhoff
Het beste wat we hebben - Griet Op de Beeck

>58 FAMeulstee: I've got Station Eleven out from the library now - were you thinking of May or June?

>59 Dejah_Thoris: I have already too much for May, but I could squeeze it in and move my 1000+ tome Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief to the end of May / start of June.
Station Eleven in Challenge #7?

>59 Dejah_Thoris: June would be fine! Actually, I was hoping for June.

>60 FAMeulstee: Then we wait and see where we can put it in June :-)

>58 FAMeulstee: Good haul Anita.

>58 FAMeulstee: Nice! And nice haul as well.

I requested a CD from the music library, can probably pick it up next week. Not in my local branch, though, it is still closed. So I'm still relying on e-books. Waiting how it goes, if they wait long enough to reopen, they might never open again as the lease was only renewed till September. At the same time we received a mail that our neighbourhood can pick a project to spend a 100.000 euro on. Well, please, let's spend it on keeping our library open, I'm thinking.

Hi Anita! That's great that your library is back open,,, and you got some good books. I loved The Great Believers. And also Station Eleven, but it might be too real for me right now.

I loved The Great Believers. A great list of books for a first visit back.
Hope your roses continue to bloom: I've got two flowering now (!!!) I think I need to read something on growing them, and get a bit better at it.

>63 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, I was pleased.

>64 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. I checked on-line what books were available and made a list. All books were there (there is always a slight chance someone just before you picks up one of the books), and even two more :-)
I hope there is a way to keep your library open. What CD did you request?

>65 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda, it is a big relief.
I have been reading about epidemics and pandemics lately, like The plague and Doomsday book), that is how I came to Station Eleven.

>66 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, I had seen many raving reviews about The great believers. I had been looking for it at the library for a while, and was pleasantly surprised when I found it.
My roses are thriving, I left some rose comments on your thread.

>67 FAMeulstee: Well done. Was there time to browse a bit, or did you have to stick to that route? It does take getting used to, I guess. Very nice to find them all, and your library is well organised. Here in Amsterdam books you look for are often missing.

Yes, there should be a way to keep it open!

i like old classical music, so this is a CD by Maarten Engeltjes, singing music by Purcell and Byrd.

>68 EllaTim: You can only browse if someone isn't right behind you, as you have to stick to the route. Near the last turning point you could browse a bit, as you could turn earlier on. I had my list so I could quickly get the books I wanted when passing. I haven't noticed any missing book in the last years, a few books I could not find, but always located with some help.

book 97: Droommeisje by Donna Leon
e-library, translated, original title Girl of His Dreams, 317 pages

started 2020-05-13
finished 2020-05-14
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book for the MAY rolling challenge

Commissario Brunetti book 17.
A drowned girl in a canal and a religious man who might be a scam keep Brunetti busy.

Dutch title translated: Dreamgirl

book 98: Sil de strandjutter by Cor Bruijn
library, Dutch, no English translation, 336 pages

started 2020-05-14
finished 2020-05-15
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book with J, K, Q, X, or Z in the title

Sil and his wife Jaakje lives on the island Terschelling. They have a small farm and two sons. Sil always wanted a daughter, but after the second son Jaakje had a miscarriage and could not have children anymore. One night in a heavy storm, Sil rescues a very young girl from the sea. He takes her home. As no one comes for the girl, according to the shipping company there was no child on the ship, the girl stays and is called Lobke.

I have read this book before, when I was a teen. Back then I never noticed the rather heavy christian message. In the 1970s it was made into a TV-series.

Title translated: Sil the beachcomber

book 99: 1793 by Niklas Natt och Dag
library, translated from Swedish, English translation The Wolf and the Watchman, 400 pages

started 2020-05-12
finished 2020-05-16
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written by a foreigner

Stockholm 1793, a gruesome mutilated body is found. Prosecutor Cecil Wingeil wants to find out what happened, but he is dying of tuberculosis, so he hasn't much time to solve the case. Watchman Mickel Cardell, a one-armed war veteran is helping him.

Near the edge of what gruesome I can handle, because the book starts with the mutilated body, finding out later how it happened wasn't as bad as I feared it would be.
Ver well written historical mystery, looking forward to the next one 1794.

The Dutch title is the same as the original Swedish title

book 100: Ik zal de wereld nooit meer zien by Ahmet Altan
library, translated from Turkish, English translation I Will Never See the World Again, 204 pages

started 2020-05-18
finished 2020-05-20
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written by a foreigner

Ahmet Altan political prisoner, writer and journalist, got life sentence in 2016.
In this book his notes that were smuggled from prison.
Impressive how he tries to keep himself sane in these depressing circumstances. His brother was also arrested, and in the 1970s his father was a political prisoner too.
Since writing this book he was released, but arrested again some days later :'(

The Dutch and the English title are the same

>73 FAMeulstee: Sounds like a necessary read, Anita.

Congratulations on reaching 100 books Anita!
I wish you a wonderful weekend.

A lovely, round number, Anita - congratulations on 100!

>74 EllaTim: Yes, Ella, it is.

>75 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, the same to you!

>76 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, 9 reviews still to be done... and two books I want to finish in the next two days.
Did you find a spot for Station Eleven at the TIOLI challenges in June?

>77 FAMeulstee: I haven't found a spot yet - I'll go take a look.

>73 FAMeulstee: Glad you found a Dutch translation of this one, Anita. I have meant to send the author a postcard and haven't. Must try harder.

>78 Dejah_Thoris: We have a few choices that are immediately available:

1. We can find a woman to recommend it to us for #5.

2. I can add it to #8, saying I miss live theatre (truth), and then you could add in as a shared read.

3. We can use John in the author's name for Mophy's challenge #9.

Any preference?

Hello Anita, and congratulations on reaching 100 reads!

Spend a lovely weekend.

Adding my congrats in reaching 100 books. Have a wonderful weekend

>80 Dejah_Thoris: I totally recommend Station Eleven if that helps...

>78 Dejah_Thoris: I couldn't find a spot...

>79 charl08: I was very pleased I found it at the library, Charlotte, it was an important and impressive read.
The English translation that you gave me is on the shelves, glad to know what is inside now.

>80 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah!
I don't have a preference, put it wherever you like and I will add mine.
All three are possible, as Charlotte recommends >83 charl08:

>81 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
I wish you a happy and painfree weekend.

>82 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, just finished #110.
Happy weekend to you.

>83 charl08: *Big smile* thank you, Charlotte, it might help.

In May we always get some extra vacation pay. Of course we spend some of the extra money on books:
Middaguur - Dörte Hansen
Inventaris van enkele verliezen - Judith Schalansky
Ten oosten van Eden (East of Eden) - John Steinbeck a new, much praised translation)
Jaag je ploeg over de botten van de doden (Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead) - Olga Tokarczuk
Uit elkaar - Bette Westera (Woutertje Pieterseprijs Winner 2020)

AND I bought an e-bike!
The last months we have been using the bikes once or twice a week, instead of walking. Frank has a twelve year old e-bike and I had a regular bike. So it was a bit uneven. We have been looking around since early May, I tested some models and last Wednesday I diceded for this one, a Cortina E-U4 N8:

>85 FAMeulstee: That's cute, Anita.

I am struggling to wear my pants so I need to get a bike and preferably a relocation to the UK to slowly pedal my way to a better condition. I had an idea to go swimming but it is presently not allowed because of COVID.

Happy Saturday, Anita! Hooray for the new bike! Have fun with it. The Wolf and the Watchman sounds like something I would like.

>83 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! Since Anita and I are late reading Station Eleven, I felt certain someone would be happy to recommend it!

>84 FAMeulstee: I still can't decide which challenge it should go in - I'm trying to figure out which one will be the most difficult / will have the fewest total books, but it's a little early to tell.

>85 FAMeulstee: Great bike, Anita! Congratulations on your purchase.

>86 PaulCranswick: Snort. The dreaded COVID-15 is no joke. Er...do you know that expression? Freshman 15 I mean?

>85 FAMeulstee: How nice! It will make those rides a bit less uneven indeed.

>85 FAMeulstee: Happy cycling Anita.

And enjoy your new book haul too.

I've never got past 50 pages of East of Eden, and I'm a Steinbeck fan. It felt too misogynistic. None of the women have anything good about them in those pages. I'll have to have another go.

>1 FAMeulstee: I have been having a great year with my roses, too. Beautiful photos! I like them both for their color beauty, but also for the lovely scents. We could garden together! LOL

>73 FAMeulstee: Congrats on the big 100!

>85 FAMeulstee: Awesome. I know that bike is gonna get a lot of use. How fun. : )

Nice bike, Anita! use it in good health! :-)

>85 FAMeulstee: Have fun riding your new bike Anita. An e-bike is an experience, and you can outride Frank now;-)

>86 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, I am very happy with it. Yesterday we did nearly 25 km by bike :-)
It isn't easy to change your ways, a change of scenery might make it easier. Maybe just start with a little walk each day?

>87 msf59: Thank you, Mark, it is my first e-bike. Makes going up the dike a bit easier. I hope you can find a copy of The Wolf and the Watchman.

>88 Dejah_Thoris: I will check the wiki and see where you put it, Dejah.
There are so many different models, it took me some time to decide. Very happy with my choice :-)

>89 richardderus: Yes it did, Richard. We went for a ride yeasterday, and with a little electric help I didn't get far behind when Frank went up the dike.

>90 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, we will.
Steinbeck was Franks choice, I hope to read it too. I liked/loved three books by Steinbeck, so I have good hope.

>91 Berly: Thank you, Berly, I have always loved roses. Before I had a garden I grew them in pots on my balcony. It would be lovely to garden together, if only we lived closer.
Yes, we will. I picked it up on Wednesday and already at 55 km!

>92 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley! We still mainly walk, and can get a little further once in a while with the bike.

>93 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. I tried with max. electric help and Frank still kept up with me ;-)
His e-bike is from the early generation, he doesn'have the max. speed of 25 km with help as all present models have.

book 101: Niels Holgerssons wonderbare reis by Selma Lagerlöf
e-library, translated from Swedish, English translation The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, 363 pages

started 2020-05-15
finished 2020-05-20
TIOLI Challenge #11: Re-Read a book you haven't read in 10* years

Nils has offended an elf and is magically shrunk into dwarf size. The only plus is that he now can talk to animals. Together with a white goose from his parents farm, he flies with a flock of geese over Sweden. They live through many adventures on their way.

The Dutch title translated: Nils Holgerssons wonderful journey

book 102: Djinn patrouille op de paarse lijn by Deepa Anappara
e-library, translated, original title Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, 382 pages

started 2020-05-19
finished 2020-05-21
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book by a woman from a very different cultural tradition to your own

Nine year old Jai lives in the slumps of a city in India. One day one of his classmates disappears, and he imagines he is a detective who solves the case. His friends Pari and Faiz do help. They find out about the dangers of the city, and when more children disappear Hindu and Muslim are set up against eachother.

The writing style is a bit distant, so I didn't feel as much for the main characters as I would have liked, as it is a compelling story.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 103: Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion by John Le Carré
1001 books, library, translated, original title Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy, 367 pages

started 2020-05-21
finished 2020-05-22
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read an espionage novel published in the 1970s

George Smiley comes back to the circus from retirement to find a mole.
Good and statisfying read.

Dutch title translated: Noble man, beggar man, shooter, spy

book 104: Het gevaar by Dick Francis
e-library, translated, original title The Danger, 312 pages

started 2020-05-21
finished 2020-05-23
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written by a foreigner

Andrew Douglas work is to prevent kidnappings, or when someone is kidnapped he negotiates the release of the victim. His work brought him to Italy, where female jockey is kidnapped. Later he gets similair cases in the UK and the USA. He tries to find the connection between these cases, and gets in danger himself.

As always Dick Francis writes a good and exiting story.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 105: Candide, of Het optimisme by Voltaire
1001 books, own, translated from French, English translation Candide, or Optimism, 132 pages

started 2020-05-23
finished 2020-05-24
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book for the MAY rolling challenge

A very accesable philosopic, social critical and satiric work, against the theories of Leibniz.
The adventures of Candide traveling the world in the 18th century, the theories of Leibniz are personificated in the teacher Pangloss.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 106: Ik, Robot by Isaac Asimov
1001 books, own, translated, original title I, Robot, 271 pages

started 2020-05-25
finished 2020-05-25
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book with a sentient thing or about AI

This copy of I, Robot was published as free book for everyone in the yearly "The Netherlands Read" in 2017. It contains one extra story written by a robot "Asibot" and the Dutch writer Ronald Giphart.

Connected stories about the development of robots in the future and the problems encountered.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 107: Aarde, lucht, water en vuur by Empedokles
own, translated from Ancient-Greek, no English translation including exactly the same content, 143 pages

started 2020-05-24
finished 2020-05-25
TIOLI Challenge #6: The 4 Elements. Read a book that has Fire, Earth, Air or Water as one of the title words

The works of Empedocles are traditionally published in two books. The translator studied the fragments of Empedocles work that are known, and came with a new translation of all fragments in a new order.
Empedocles was a doctor and philosopher, his beliefs are near Buddhism. This edition contains the original Greek texts with translation and comments. It was way more academic than I anticipated.

Dutch title translated: Earth, air, water and fire

book 108: Kleine brandjes overal by Celeste Ng
e-library, translated, original title Little fires everywhere, 352 pages

started 2020-05-26
finished 2020-05-27
TIOLI Challenge #6: The 4 Elements. Read a book that has Fire, Earth, Air or Water as one of the title words

The life of a perfect upper middle class family is eventually turned upside down after the arrival of a single mother and her daughter.
Some heavy themes in this work: like motherhood, (illegal) adoption, abortion, and good writing, yet it didn't really grab me.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 109: De mystieke masseur by V.S. Naipaul
own, translated, Nobelprize winner, original title The Mystic Masseur, 240 pages

started 2020-05-28
finished 2020-05-29
TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book with mystery / mysteries / mysterious in the title

The carreer of Ganesh in colonial Trinidad after WWII.
After finishing school, Ganesh becomes a teacher. Teaching is not his aim, so he tries as a masseur, becomes a mystic masseur and eventually a politican. The story is larded with some humor.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 110: Wanneer wordt het eindelijk weer zoals het nooit is geweest by Joachim Meyerhoff
library, translated from German, no English translation, 311 pages

started 2020-05-27
finished 2020-05-30
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written by a foreigner

The second book of four autobiographical books by German actor Joachim Meyerhoff.
How Joachim grew up at the grounds of psychiatric clinic in North Germany. His father was director of the clinic.
He writes with self-irony and humor about his strange youth between his fathers patients.

Dutch title translated: When will it finally be again like it never has been

book 111: De acht bergen by Paolo Cognetti
library, translated from Italian, English translation The Eight Mountains, 240 pages

started 2020-05-30
finished 2020-05-31
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book with a number in the title

A compelling story of two boys growing up in the Italian Alps. The main character, Piero, spends the summer vacations in the Alps, walking trails when his father comes from Milan. The other weeks he spend with Bruno, who is born and raised in the Alps and becomes his best friend.
The attraction of the mountains, the overwhelming nature, the small farmers who can't earn enough, traveling to the Himalaya, a difficult relation between father and son, this all made it a wonderful read.

Dutch and English title are the same

I am now at page 352 of 1229 of Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief, even I won't be able to finish it today. I will move this book to next months TIOLI challenges.

So now it is time for the monthly stats in the next message.

May 2020 in numbers

20 books read (7,735 pages, 249.5 pages a day)

own 4 (20 %) / library 16

16 male author / 4 female author
3 originally written in Dutch / 17 translated into Dutch
16 fiction / 4 non-fiction

20 books in TIOLI Challenges
7 e-books
6 1001 books
1 childrens/YA
5 mystery/police procedural
0 poetry

--
pages:
0 - 100 pages: 0
101 - 200 pages: 2
201 - 300 pages: 4
301 - 400 pages: 8
401 - 500 pages: 3
501 - 999 pages: 2
1000+ pages: 1

longest book 1343 pages
shortest book 132 pages
average book 387 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 3
2017: 1

--
date first published:

5th century BC: 1
18th century: 1
19th century: 1

20th century
1900s: 1
1940s: 2
1950s: 2
1970s: 1
1980s: 2
1990s: 1

21st century
2000s: 1
2010s: 7

--
ratings:
  2 x
  9 x
  5 x
  4 x

average rating: 3.72
--
Best books in May


Ik zal de wereld nooit meer zien (I Will Never See the World Again) by Ahmet Altan
De acht bergen (The Eight Mountains) by Paolo Cognetti

===

Walking in May: 182.6 km; average 5.89 km/a day

2020 totals to date:

111 books read (38,479 pages, 252.4 pages a day)

own 21 (19 %) / library 90

71 male author / 40 female author
30 originally written in Dutch / 81 translated into Dutch
86 fiction / 25 non-fiction

103 books in TIOLI Challenges
53 e-books
17 1001 books (total 163)
  3 Dutch Literary Canon (total 28/125)
10 childrens/YA
20 mystery/police procedural
  3 poetry

pages:
0 - 100 pages: 5
101 - 200 pages: 22
201 - 300 pages: 21
301 - 400 pages: 33
401 - 500 pages: 17
501 - 999 pages: 9
1000+ pages: 4

longest book 1419 pages
shortest book 32 pages
average book 346 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 11
2011: 1
2016: 1
2017: 2
2019: 4
2020: 2

--
date first published:
5th century BC: 1
13th century: 1
18th century: 2
19th century: 4

20th century
1900s: 4
1910s: 2
1930s: 3
1940s: 6
1950s: 2
1960s: 4
1970s: 10
1980s: 2
1990s: 7

21st century
2000s: 14
2010s: 49

--
ratings:
  5 x
10 x
50 x
29 x
15 x
  1 x
  1 x

average rating: 3.79
===

Walking in 2020: 939,4 km; average 6,18 km a day

>108 FAMeulstee: Twenty books this month! Brava, Anita, when I think about where you were a decade ago it makes me so happy to read this.

>110 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, I feel so fortunate that those days are behind me!
Although if the big black hole ever would appear again, I will gladly leave my books behind me again for a few years...

>85 FAMeulstee: When you said you had bought an e-bike, my first thought was a virtual bike (like an e-book is a virtual book)! But I finally realized it was an electric bike--looks lovely.
>96 FAMeulstee: My very small small-town library had a copy of this, amazing enough, and I loved, loved, loved it as a child, although I always sobbed heart-brokenly at the end.

>112 ronincats: LOL, Roni, it wasn't my intention to confuse you. Electric bikes are very populair around here, and are called e-bikes.
We had a copy at home, it wasn't my favorite but I read it more than once when I was young. As I never kept lists of my readings I now occasionally (re-)read childhood classics from the library, to put them done and rated in my LT library.

I love the idea of a virtual bike. Thanks for the smile folks.

Anita those are some amazing reads. >105 FAMeulstee: I am going to add to my wishlist in the hope that someone decides to translate them.

>90 Caroline_McElwee: I made it through East of Eden, but did not like it. It actually put me off reading Steinbeck for years, until LT had a Steinbeckathon and I read ones like Cannery Row that recaptured my enthusiasm for Steinbeck.

Hi Anita!

>71 FAMeulstee: Vaguely reminiscent of The Light Between Oceans in that a baby is taken in by a woman who has a need for a baby. Have you read it? The stories are probably very different, the Stedman book is outstanding, IMO.

>73 FAMeulstee: Congrats on #100.

Hi, Anita! Congrats on your 111 books! Also, congrats on your e-bike. It looks beautiful! I guess it's easier to ride than a regular bike. I may have to look into getting one, as my old knees aren't as limber (or strong) as they used to be and could never make it up even the easiest inclines to keep up with my daughter and son-in-law who enjoy bike riding in the summer months.

>115 jnwelch: I hope I like it better than you did, Joe ;-)

>116 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, the books still treat me well.
That book is on my list to be read someday, I think there will be some difference between an island in the north of my country and an Australian island.

>117 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary.
An e-bike gives electric support, and makes it easier to make some speed or go uphill. Mine has 9 levels of support, from barely noticeable to very strong. The battery is above the backwheel. Over here they are very popular, I hope they are widely available at your place.

Just stopping by to let you know that I found online an English language version of a book you reviewed over a year ago!

Flight Into Danger by Alet Schouten

I'll let you know what I think of it once it arrives and I read it.

So glad you are already getting good use out of your e-bike! Continue to have fun. Also congrats on #111!

>119 fuzzi: Thank you, Lor, for stopping by to let me know. I hope you like it.

>120 Berly: Thanks, Kim, I used to go by bike a lot when I was younger. This e-bike might bring that habit back.

>114 charl08: Oh, I just noticed I didn't answer you, Charlotte, sorry!
The thought of a virtiual bike made me smile too, I am glad mine is real :-)

I just started to read the last book by Joachim Meyerhoff. It would be nice if an English publisher picks them up.

>122 FAMeulstee: I didn't notice you didn't notice, Anita, so no worries :-)

I heard a UK publisher of translated fiction say on an online group discussion that they welcome suggestions for books from the public. They're going to get a recommendation from me...

>123 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, I nearly went back to check all my threads on missing answers ;-)
That is nice, I hope it works out.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Anita.

Enjoy your bicycle, Anita!

>125 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, I hope you had a good start of the week.

>126 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda. Today we took the bikes again, we biked 24 km (16 miles). Franks battery died 5 km before we were home, he still managed to go fairly fast, I needed my battery to keep up with him!

Glad you're having fun with your bicycle! I haven't done anything about looking for one for myself yet. Other needs (like getting rid of termites 😱) take priority.

Divinenanny posted this over in the Green Dragon group. In case you haven't seen this:

https://www.hebban.nl/artikelen/hebban-organiseert-de-harland-awards-schrijfweds...

>128 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary, the biking is fun (although my muscles did protest a little after the lastest ride)
What?? Termites... in your house? I hope you get rid of them soon!

>129 ronincats: Thank you, Roni. Yes, I saw it, last year I joined Hebban (a Dutch readers site).

Hi Anita. Wishing you a good week ahead.

Hi Anita, hope you are well.
It's been weirdly humid here, followed by lots of rain. I don't think the garden is complaining. I cut one beautiful rose yesterday and the scent is filling the living room.

>131 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, I hope your week is good as well.

>132 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, the rain was welcomed here too. It is amazing how a single rose can scent a room :-)

I didn't feel well for some days. I don't think it was the virus. I wasn't able to walk as far as usual, only 4 km instead of the normal 6 km. I might have trouble adjusting to the warm and humid weather. Frank had some medical appointments, the medical field is finally opening up again, after months of only emergency help.
I kept on reading: 10 books down in June. I will try to catch up with reviews soon.

Hi Anita! I'm sorry you weren't well for some days. Anything out of the ordinary now I wonder if it's the virus, but so far so good for us here.

Glad to hear that the medical field is opening up again.

I'm debating whether to go to my therapeutic masseuse in July - I haven't had a massage since March 15th. Still no haircut, though.

>133 FAMeulstee: Sorry you've been feeling out of sorts Anita. I hope that improves soon. Glad you had concentration enough for reading.

>134 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen.
The dentist didn't do double appointments, so Frank went alone. For next time we have special permit from the dentist to come together, even if the Covid-rules are still going.

>135 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, not completely there yet, but feeling much better than a week ago. I feel lucky that reading hasn't let me down :-)

>73 FAMeulstee: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Anita!

>96 FAMeulstee: Into the BlackHole that one goes too.

>97 FAMeulstee: That one has been in the BlackHole forever, but my local library still does not have a copy.

>104 FAMeulstee: The only book by Naipaul that I have read is The House of Mr. Biswas, which I very much enjoyed. My local library has a copy of The Mystic Masseur, so I will have to get my hands on it.

>106 FAMeulstee: That one looks right up my alley. Thanks for the recommendation!

Congratulations on blowing past 100 books read for the year already!

Sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well. Hopefully it passes soon :)

Hope you are feeling better now, Anita!

I also hope that you're feeling better, Anita.

God speed on feeling 100% very soon, Anita. xx

Hi Anita! Glad to see you, and sorry you haven't been feeling well. If it was due to the weather, I can understand, warm and so humid!

Happy Saturday, Anita. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I hope you are doing better this weekend.

>137 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia, I am glad to add up to the BlackHole :-)
The House of Mr, Biswas is on the shelves, so I will get to it someday.

>138 figsfromthistle: >139 ronincats: >140 kidzdoc: >141 PaulCranswick: >142 EllaTim: >143 msf59: Thanks Anita, Roni, Darryl, Paul, Ella and Mark.
We walked a little bit further today, but I was completely exhauseted after 6.5 km... Not ready for more yet. Not looking forward to the heatwave that is expected next week.

Hope you feel better soon, Anita!

book 112: Max, Mischa & het Tet-offensief by Johan Harstad
e-library, translated from Norwegian, no English translation, 1229 pages

started 2020-05-24
finished 2020-06-03
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book whose title contains a word that you would use to name a puppy

Max is born in Norway, at 13 his father gets a job as pilot in America, so the family moves to the USA. He has a difficult time at first, adjusting to American life. Later in life he gets an relationship with Mischa, a Canadian painter, who becomes very famous. His friend from highschool, Mordechai, becomes an actor.
Fact and fiction are tightly woven, the (fictional) paintings Mischa makes and the theatre plays directed by Max, are described in every detail. Even parts of a "catalogue" of Mischa's works is cited (part of the boring, but I admire the effort).

Some parts of the book are brilliant, others are boring. In my mind I kept switching between 3* and 5*, so I ended up giving it 4*.

Title translated: Max, Mischa nd the Tet Offensive

>145 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda.

book 113: Engeleneiland by Camilla Läckberg
e-library, translated from Swedish, English translation Buried Angels, 414 pages

started 2020-06-03
finished 2020-06-05
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book whose title contains a word that you would use to name a puppy

Fjällbacka series book 8.
An enjoyable read, I love how the writer links the present day to events in the past.

Dutch title translated: Angel island

book 114: Zonder paniek geen paradijs by Joachim Meyerhoff
library, translated from German, no English translation, 368 pages

started 2020-06-03
finished 2020-06-07
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with three words or more in the title

Last book of Joachim Meyerhoff's autobiography.
In this book he tells about his relations, it started with one girlfriend and he ended up with 3 girlfriends. That was a bit much to handle ;-)

Title translated: Without panic no paradise

book 115: Heer van chaos by Robert Jordan
library, translated, original title Lord of Chaos, 1054 pages

started 2020-06-05
finished 2020-06-11
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with three words or more in the title

Wheel of Time book 6.
Liked this book a bit better than the previous book. Only 8 left to go ;-)

Needed a break from "real life" so I returned to the fantasy world of Wheel of Time. And it was good for catching up my 1000+ pages books, as I fell a bit behind in April.

Dutch and English title are the same.

You're still putting the good in the reads, I'm glad to note. I hope your strength returns before the heat arrives.

Sending hugs

>151 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, what would I be without books to read...
I hope so too, but I still felt all my muscles aching when I woke up this morning.

>85 FAMeulstee: what a gorgeous bike!

It's a great way to get around, we are seeing more and more of them here now too.

>153 LovingLit: Thank you, Megan, it is a joy to ride. They are very populair around here, the sellers of e-bikes did well in the last months.

If is odd how different perspectives (walking, biking, driving) give a different feel of the places you go through.

Morning Anita, I am not looking forward to the heat wave either.
The rose I picked last week is still giving off scent. I keep getting a waft of it when I go in the back room. I can't quite believe it.

I am glad your e bike is such a success - it does look very stylish. They are still pretty expensive round here, but I love the thought of sailing up a hill on one!

book 116: Heer van de vliegen by Willliam Golding
1001 books, e-library, translated, original title Lord of the flies, 239 pages

started 2020-06-12
finished 2020-06-12
TIOLI Challenge #18: Read a book with the word 'Fly' in the title

What a sad and depressing story.

Dutch and English title are the same.

 
book 117: De brief voor de koning by Tonke Dragt
book 118: Geheimen van het Wilde Woud by Tonke Dragt
own, YA, Dutch, English translation The Letter for the King and The Secrets of the Wild Wood, 340 pages and 358 pages

started 2020-06-12, 2020-06-13
finished 2020-06-13, 2020-06-14
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with three words or more in the title

After the previous book I needed a comfort read. So I turned to childhood favorites.

- The last task before becoming a knight is to wake all night in a chapel, with the other knights to be. But Tiuri hears a voice outside asking for help, so he leaves the chapel to see what he can do. He finds a dying knight and is send to deliver an important letter to the king of the neighboring country. There are enemies around who will do anything to prevent the deliverance of this letter.

- After his previous adventures Tiuri finds enemies, danger and adventures in his own country

Dutch and English titles are the same.

both

book 119: Station Elf by Emily St John Mandel
library, translated, original title Station Eleven, 384 pages

started 2020-06-12
finished 2020-06-15
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book relating to my 55th birthday

Humanity is almost wiped out by pandemic. Follow some survivors, who travel around as actors. Slowly finding out what connects them, with help of flash backs to life just before the pandemic.

Good story, not completely convincing.

Dutch and English title are the same.

Hi Anita!

>156 FAMeulstee: I agree 100% I can’t imagine ever re-reading this one, don’t have a copy on my shelves, and that’s that.

>158 FAMeulstee: I liked it half-a-star more than you, was particularly impressed just by the concept of actors and musicians needing to act and play music for their emotional well-being even as the world almost comes to an end.

>158 FAMeulstee: I looked at the title and immediately dreamed up a Harry Potter-Universe story about a station elf instead of a house elf...of course was thumped back to Earth by the knowledge that "elf" is "eleven" in Dutch.

The real world is so dull sometimes.

>159 karenmarie: I was glad I took it from the library, Karen. Although I can imagine that the English boarding shool system can deform someone into this horrible state...
I liked that idea too, but somehow I wasn't completely statisfied with the story.

>160 richardderus: And "elf" is also "elf" in Dutch with plural "elfen", Richard.
A station elf... maybe someone could write that story :-)

Even imaginary worlds can be dull.

>161 FAMeulstee: Makes me think of Elfje Twaalfje;-)

>159 karenmarie: I read it once, from the library. The librarian warned me, she said she thought I was too young for it, and I might not like it. Of course I thought to prove her wrong. But she was right and I hated it. Not tempted to do a reread either.

>157 FAMeulstee: Glad you had those two to pick you up again.

>162 EllaTim: LOL, I used to own Elfje Twaalfje ;-)
Glad I am not alone in my dislike.

Reading got even better, after two others I just finished the Dutch translation of Human condition by Junpei Gomika. So good I want my own copy, ordered today, will arrive tomorrow. I think this is the best book I have read so far this year!

>163 FAMeulstee: The Gomika doesn't seem to be in English yet :-(

>164 Caroline_McElwee: Too bad, Caroline, I thought one of the copies on LT had an English title.
The Dutch translation was published 2 years ago.

There is a higly praised Japanese movie adaption The Human Condition Trilogy.

Hi Anita!

I hope you and Frank are having a good Friday.

>162 EllaTim: One of those 'should read' books that say important things but aren't pleasant to read. I read it at a young age too.

>163 FAMeulstee: That's high praise Anita. It's going on mount TBR.

>165 FAMeulstee: A trilogy! I haven't heard of it. Looked it up, it's already quite old.

>166 karenmarie: Yes, I still don't like books to be so relentlessly pessimistic. I have been accused of being too naive, and that was probably right. But I feel there is good and bad in human nature, and Golding seems to think the worst.

>166 karenmarie: Friday was the hottest day of a heatwave, Karen, but today we returned to more bearable temperatures.

>167 EllaTim: It was a great read, Ella. I found one copy of the movie trilogy in the national libirary system and reserved it. I don't expect Frank will ever get to the book, watching 10 hours is easier on him.

>168 EllaTim: I was glad I read De meeste mensen deugen before I got to The lord of flies!

Stopping by to say, Anita. I read about your new bike on your last thread. I'm glad you and Frank are enjoying cycling!

>170 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah. We try to take the bike once or twice a week.
Franks e-bike is old, 12 years, and there is some trouble with the battery. It probably needs replacement, but it works for about 25 km, so if we don't go much further he is fine.

>171 FAMeulstee: I am seriously missing the bike. I am hoping to eventually get back to the UK in October or November, Anita, and the purchase of a good (and sturdy) bike will be a priority to ride myself slowly back to fitness.

>172 PaulCranswick: I had my previous bike for over 25 years, Paul. I used it a lot in the first years, but since we moved here only once in a while. It is amazing how fast my muscles adapt to biking again. I think you used to bike a lot, so I guess you will get used to it again very fast. It is a great way to get (and stay) in shape.

>169 FAMeulstee: Do you reserve it from Filmweb then? And please tell me what you thought of it. Marc usually loves Japanese movies and I think he hasn't seen this one.

>171 FAMeulstee: There is a small company in Utrecht who do repairs of bike batteries. (Milton)

>174 EllaTim: No, not Filmweb, the national library system. Libraries have DVDs as well. I searched a bit more and found it is actually in the storage of the Amsterdam library (OBA).

The place where we bought my bike does battery replacement, they said the batteries for Franks bike are still available, so we will go there. But first we try some tips Frank found on the web, it seems like calibrating and resetting could help.

>175 FAMeulstee: Our second car, a Prius C, has been in the shop for battery replacement pretty much the entire time my daughter's been working from home - she and Mike just picked it up today. I guess well have to alternate taking it out for a spin every week.

>176 quondame: Batteries need to be used, Susan. The first 4 years with Franks bike, he used it at least twice a week to go to work. Then his work moved, and there was no place for the bike, so now he goes by car. The bike was only incidently used the last 8 years, so it is no surprise it doesn't work anymore like it should.

--
Just finished my last book of June.

book 120: Wij by Jevgeni Zamjatin
1001 books, e-library, translated from Russian, English translation We, 222 pages

started 2020-06-12
finished 2020-06-17
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book with a connection to Russia

Set in the far furture the inhabitants of One State are living in glass houses. They are controlled all the time. D-503 is a spacecraft engeneer and soon his spacecraft will fly for the first time. Then he meets I-330 and falls in love. She turns his life upside down.

Dutch and English title are the same.

book 121: De genialiteit van vogels by Jennifer Ackerman
library, non-fiction, translated, original title The Genius of Birds, 384 pages

started 2020-06-16
finished 2020-06-18
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with three words or more in the title

Like Frans de Waal wrote about intelligence in animals in Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, Jennifer Ackerman writes about the intelligence of birds. Of course some birds are smarter than others. The main factor seems to be the time a juvenile has before becoming an adult. Birds with long juvenile time seem a lot smarter than birds who have to grow up fast.

Dutch and English title are the same.

book 122: Menselijke voorwaarden by Junpei Gomikawa
e-library, translated from Japanese, no English translation, 1511 pages

started 2020-06-17
finished 2020-06-23
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book with a connection to Russia

1943: Kaji works for a big Japanese company. He doesn't like the war, as he is a humanist and pacifist. He is transferred to a mining company in Manchuria, in exchange he won't be drafted by the army. He tries to good for the workers in the mine, and fights corruption. Fellow members of staff, who don't like his ways, bring him down, he ends up in the army after all.
The Japanese army feels like hell to Kaji. The older soldiers harass and mistreat the younger ones badly. It gets so bad that one of Kaji's fellow soldiers kills himself. Kaji keeps trying to do good, he eventually ends up as the teacher of a new group of soldiers, who he can train in his own way.
The war is lost, but most soldiers in Manchuria don't know. The USSR prepares the Red Army to go into Manchuria. Kaji and his crew are helpless with their rifles against the Sovjet tanks. Only 4 of 168 survive. They escape the battle and try to find their way home. It is a hard journey, on his way Kaji even kills for food. He finds less and less humanity in his actions...

What a great book, I immediately bought a paper copy.

Dutch title translated: Human condition

book 123: Vrouwen in gevecht by Marta Breen and Jenny Jordahl
library, translated from Norwegian, English translation Fearless Females, 123 pages

started 2020-06-24
finished 2020-06-24
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book by a woman that was given, bought or recommended to you by a woman

Graphic novel about important women who fought for womans rights.

Dutch title translated: Women in battle

book 124: De Midaksteeg by Nagieb Mahfoez
1001 books, library, Nobel Prize, translated from Arab, English translation Midaq Alley, 347 pages

started 2020-06-23
finished 2020-06-26

Following the mostly very poor inhabitants of a small alley in Caïro during WWII. Their daily life and their hopes and dreams.

Compelling read.

Dutch and English title are the same

I'm glad you enjoy your e-bike so much, Anita. A friend of mine travelled to The Netherlands last summer and loved the ebikes so much, when she got home she purchased an ebike herself. She lives in a very hilly city, Kamloops, B.C. , so an ebike is really needed there.

My nephew is working in the Netherlands and he tells me that he really loves the biking culture of the Netherlands. He does not even own a car. Here in Canada, everything is so far apart , for the most part, we all have cars. I used to enjoy biking, but after getting osteoporosis and compression fracture in my back, I stick to walking for exercise. Leaning forward on a bike is very hard on my back, plus I would not want to fall! The doctors do not recommend it for me.

book 125: Een stralende toekomst by Rebecca Makkai
library, translated, original title The Great Believers, 347 pages

started 2020-06-26
finished 2020-06-29
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with three words or more in the title

Heartwrenching story about the AIDS epidemic in Chicago in the 1980s, with alternated the story of a mother and her estranged daughter, both in Paris at the time of the Bataclan terrorist attack.

The 1980s part was very good, I cared less about the 2015 story.

Dutch title translated: A glowing future

book 126: Van de koele meren des doods by Frederik van Eeden
1001 books, own, Dutch, Dutch Canon, English translation The Deeps of Deliverance, 264 pages

started 2020-06-29
finished 2020-06-30
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book written in the first two decades (+1) of any century

Dutch classic, originally published in 1900.
Set in the 19th century. The life of Hedwig de Fontayne. She is born as 4th child in a well to do family. As a child she gets very ill, and at the same time her mother dies. This is kept from her until she is better. Her whole life she has troubles with her emotions. Depressions alter some better times. She gets married, but the marriage is a disaster. Eventually she runs away with a musican. This relationship doen't bring happiness either. She gives birth to a girl, but her child dies within a month. She ends up as a morphine addict in Paris, is saved, returns to The Netherlands and lives the rest of her life on a farm.

Dutch title translated: From the cool lakes of death

>183 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, many people ride a bike here. And e-bikes are getting very popular.
On my bike I sit straight up, as leaning forward would be too much for my arms (left ellbow was dislocated when I was 17, and I can't stretch that arm anymore, broke my right upperarm a few years ago). I hope I never fall ;-)
But I understand you avoid biking with your condition. We still walk most days, this month we walked on 22 days and took the bike on 8 days.

>182 FAMeulstee: I have wanted to read Naguib Mahfouz for ages! Four stars seems a pretty solid rating :)
(edited to direct my comment to the correct person!)

Reading the Makkai book and >185 FAMeulstee: together strikes me as hard emotionally. Hope you are not feeling too 'wrung out' by it all.

And >180 FAMeulstee: sounds amazing. Hope someone decides to translate it!

>184 FAMeulstee: Glad you liked it, and I felt the same about the two timelines, that the recent one was less compelling.

>185 FAMeulstee: One of the first psychological novels?

>175 FAMeulstee: Aha, just give my own system a spin!

So many good reads! I love that "future" is "toekomst"--literally translated as "to come", which is exactly what it is.

I really liked The Genius of Birds and am glad you did as well. Charlotte is right, >180 FAMeulstee: needs to be translated. Too good a tale to miss out on. I still don't want to learn Japanese, though, as the kanji make my eyes cross.

>187 LovingLit: It was a pretty solid read, Megan. After reading Midaq Alley I put his Cairo Trilogy a bit higher on my list.

>188 charl08: Indeed, Charlotte, and the Japanese book was rather heavy too. So now I started The Second Sleep by Robert Harris, probably a lighter read.
It was only translated into Dutch a few years ago. In Japan it was a bestseller when it came out.

>189 EllaTim: Agreed.
I am not sure it was the first. Frederik van Eeden was a psychatrist, this book is considered to be Naturalism.
Please wait until it is on the way to Lelystad ;-) It looks like it is still available at the OBA, so my request hasn't materialised yet.

>190 richardderus: It is always fun to look closely at words from other languages, Richard, and you are completely right with this one.
I would have been more impressed by The Genius of Birds if I hadn't read some books by Frans de Waal first. I hope someone feels up to translating this tome. I hope to watch the movie trilogy (The Human Condition trilogy) by Kobayashi soon and will report back. According to various sources the movie is very close to the book.

June 2020 in numbers

15 books read (7,716 pages, 257.2 pages a day)

own 3 (20 %) / library 12

8 male author / 7 female author
3 originally written in Dutch / 12 translated into Dutch
12 fiction / 3 non-fiction

14 books in TIOLI Challenges
6 e-books
4 1001 books
1 Dutch Literary Canon
3 childrens/YA
1 mystery/police procedural
0 poetry

--
number of pages:
0 - 100 pages: 0
101 - 200 pages: 1
201 - 300 pages: 3
301 - 400 pages: 6
401 - 500 pages: 2
501 - 999 pages: 0
1000+ pages: 3

longest book 1511 pages
shortest book 123 pages
average book 514 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 3

--
date first published:

20th century
1900s: 1
1920s: 1
1940s: 1
1950s: 2
1960s: 2
1990s: 1

21st century
2010s: 7

--
ratings:
  3 x
  1 x
  5 x
  4 x
  2 x

average rating: 3.97
--
Best books in June


Menselijke voorwaarden by Junpei Gomikawa
De brief voor de koning (The Letter for the King) by Tonke Dragt
Geheimen van het Wilde Woud (The Secrets of the Wild Wood) by Tonke Dragt


Vrouwen in gevecht (Fearless Females) by Marta Breen and Jenny Jordahl

===

Walking in June: walked 109.7 km in 22 days; average 4.99 km/a day
Biking in June: biked 167.4 km in 8 days; average 20.93 km/a day

2020 totals to date:

126 books read (46,077 pages, 253.2 pages a day)

own 24 (19 %) / library 102

79 male author / 47 female author
33 originally written in Dutch / 93 translated into Dutch
98 fiction / 28 non-fiction

117 books in TIOLI Challenges
59 e-books
21 1001 books (total 167)
  4 Dutch Literary Canon (total 29/125)
13 childrens/YA
21 mystery/police procedural
  3 poetry

pages:
0 - 100 pages: 5
101 - 200 pages: 23
201 - 300 pages: 24
301 - 400 pages: 39
401 - 500 pages: 19
501 - 999 pages: 9
1000+ pages: 7

longest book 1511 pages
shortest book 32 pages
average book 366 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 14
2011: 1
2016: 1
2017: 2
2019: 4
2020: 2

--
date first published:
5th century BC: 1
13th century: 1
18th century: 2
19th century: 4

20th century
1900s: 5
1910s: 2
1930s: 4
1940s: 7
1950s: 4
1960s: 6
1970s: 10
1980s: 2
1990s: 8

21st century
2000s: 14
2010s: 56

--
ratings:
  8 x
11 x
55 x
33 x
17 x
  1 x
  1 x

average rating: 3.81
===

Walking in 2020: walked 163 days 913.0 km; average 5.60 km a day
Biking in 2020: biked 19 days 303.5 km; average 15.97 km a day

Happy July, Anita! You read some fascinating looking books in June. I really admire that you manage a combination of light/dark, fiction/nonfiction - lately it's been all easy stuff for me.

I also admire your keeping of stats - something for me to aspire to!

>191 FAMeulstee: I emailed Tilted Axis Press, who translated Where the Wild Ladies Are from Japanese - maybe they'll think about it? Who knows. One of the translated fiction bookgroup sessions I've been to on zoom, the publisher said they took suggestions, so...

>194 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, happy July right back at you :-)
The previous years I read more childrens and YA, now I try to concentrate on more serious literature. But some light reading is needed in between.
Sometimes making the stats is a bit of a hassle, but I always feel good when I have put them on my thread.

>195 charl08: I love it that you try to make English translations happen of my favourite untranslated reads, Charlotte. I hope your efforts will pay off in time.

>191 FAMeulstee: They are just opening up from Corona shutdown. You will have to be patient, maybe. I received a DVD from filmweb that I had requested in January, I had already given up on it;-) But I will let you have first turn on this one.

>197 EllaTim: Thak you, Ella, I'll be patient. I hope it doesn't take 6 months like your DVD from filmweb ;-)

>197 EllaTim: I got the notice from my library yesterday, the DVDs arrived. So maybe they come from an other library, as the one at the OBA still seems there.

>173 FAMeulstee: My legs, I think, will be fine Anita but I am worried about whether I have the "puff".

>200 PaulCranswick: Start slow, Paul, only a few km a day. And then go a bit further. It will take time, and will get easier when you start to see results. At least it worked for me that way.

>201 FAMeulstee: Thank you for the encouragement Anita. I am a little depressed at the moment buying clothes that now don't fit me.

>202 PaulCranswick: (((hugs)))