I have chosen my nine categories. It wasn't as easy as I expected! I will read most books in Dutch. If you have recommendations, please let me know. :-)
1. Classical fiction
2. Historical fiction
3. Scandinavian literature
4. Novels
5. Dutch writers
6. Authors never read before
7. Fantasy
8. Children's books
9. Non-fiction
Message edited by its author, Apr 11, 2009, 12:20pm.
Scandinavian literature:
1.
Sjöwall & Wahlöö - The Man Who Went Up In Smoke (read)
2.
Sjöwall & Wahlöö - The Man On The Balcony (read)
3.
Roy Jacobsen - The New Water (read)
4.
Árni Thórarinsson - The Season of the Witch (read)
5.
Herbjørg Wassmo - Het boek Karna (read)
6.
Sjöwall & Wahlöö - The Fire Engine That Disappeared (read)
7.
8.
9.
Message edited by its author, May 20, 2009, 8:04am.
Children’s Books:
1.
Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem & Pat van Beirs - Jonkvrouw (read)
2.
Joanne Harris - Runemarks (read)
3.
Diana Wynne Jones - Charmed Life (read)
4. Diana Wynne Jones - The Magicians of Caprona
5. Diana Wynne Jones - Conrad's Fate
6. Simone van der Vlugt - De bastaard van Brussel
7.
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (read)
8.
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (read)
9.
Stephenie Meyer - Twilight (read)
Message edited by its author, Sep 30, 2009, 4:15pm.
Non-fiction:
1.
Frederiekje de Jongh & Annemarie Lavèn - Toverrecepten uit de Middeleeuwen (read)
2.
Elaine N. Aron - The Highly Sensitive Person (read)
3.
Henk Brugman - Een leven in Noorwegen (read)
4.
Mireille Guiliano - French Women Don't Get Fat (read)
5.
Veerle Beel - Dag vreemde man (read)
6.
Daniel Tammet - Born On a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant (read)
7.
censored (read)
8.
9.
Message edited by its author, Jun 9, 2009, 1:51pm.
Hey! It's me, Monique. I've created an account after all, and am currently picking my categories. I'll probably fill them up as I read, though I've got some ideas of what I want to put in each one. :)
Hello! :P I knew you would like this challenge!
I already checked your categories: nice ones. It's funny, 'cause today I was thinking about changing my categorie 'other' to 're-reads' and then I read the same thing in your list.
Have fun!
I think I'll keep it as 'other', because that way I can chuck in books that I want to read but which don't fit into any of my categories. I've chosen 'children's', 'fantasy' and 'mythological/historical' because I tend to read lots of books that go in either of these categories. That'll make it easier for me to shuffle books around towards the end of the year, so I won't end up having to read books in a certain category while I'd prefer something else at that time.
I don't think I'll make it, and I've given myself permission to start early, but I'll definitely enjoy giving it a go. :D
You've got some good categories, I considered classics but generally they take me a long time to read, so they'll be too time-consuming. If I read any, I'll just file them in somewhere else.
I can't seem to make up my mind. Now I decided to change 'award winning books' for 'authors never read'.
You already started the challenge? I also feel like starting now, I am way too impatient. But at the same time I really would like to follow the rules.
I have a lot of library books at home that 'accidentally' fit in my categories. So now I'm reading other books so I can start with my library books in January :P
I'm gonna read the classics in Dutch, so that will help me. And maybe I will change some of the titles.
The list is more like a reminder. :)
Yeah, I started already, since I won't be able to finish it if I don't. 81 books in 13 months is a huge challenge for me, 81 books in 12 months is undoable - and I do want it to be doable, else there's no point in starting at all. ;) It's not completely following the rules, but the rules aren't all that strict anyway. If it's all right to put on magazines or really short books, I figured that taking a month extra isn't that big a deal.
I'm definitely gonna change my lists as well, I've just made an inventory of books that I've been meaning to read, but throughout the year I'll probably come across other titles or decide that some of the books on the list aren't my thing after all.
I've read my first two books for the challenge,
The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease and the story
The turn of the screw by Henry James!
I really liked
The Illuminator; interesting and sometimes harsh story. It made me feel glad I live in this century. Hopefully Vantrease's other book is already translated in Dutch. Would love to read it.
The turn of the screw wasn't really my 'thing'. I don't understand the fuss about this book. I didn't find it creepy at all, but more or less boring. While reading the book you never really know what to believe. It really irritated me that the whole storyline is based on the assumptions of that governess. She never says or asks anything straight ahead. But I guess that's the intention of the writer.
The last few weeks I've read the following books:
-
Jonkvrouw by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem & Pat van Beirs. The book is written in Dutch (don't think it's already translated in other languages) and is about a young girl who is heir to the throne of Flanders. I didn't really enjoy the book. Some aspects of the story were quite amusing, but not really convincing. The book lacks speed and suspense. That's why it wasn't that easy to keep on reading.
-
Begeerte by Manon Uphoff. Again a Dutch book and a collection of stories to be precise. It's not really my cup of tea. Stories don't seem to interest me that much, I miss the depth and often I wonder what the message of the writer is. The same goes for the stories of Uphoff, though she is a good writer and a master in putting down weird and sinister atmospheres.
- The Man That Went Up In Smoke and
The Man On The Balcony both by Sjöwall & Wahlöö were nice books, nicely written, not that much tempo and suspense, but they get your attention so you will keep on reading. Two years ago I went on vacation to Stockholm, so it's real funny to recognise streetnames and subway stops. I'm not so happy with the translator and editors of the book; so many stupid mistakes really annoy me.
(Pffew, it's not that easy to write reviews in English.)
I've started in
Runemarks by Joanne Harris two days ago. I really, really enjoy it until now!
Looking forward to your thoughts on
Runemarks. I have a Joanne Harris category but Runemarks isn't in it (yet). Depending on how I feel, I may swap it out for another book later.
Finished Runemarks a while ago. Have been ill so haven't had time to write reviews. But I'm working on it!
Also finished The New Water by
Roy Jacobsen and
Blood and Memory by Fiona McIntosh.
I'd heard a lot of positive things about 'Jonkvrouw', I'm still intending to give it a try one day. However, I've only found it in places where it costs over 15 euros and that was just a bit too much for a book I don't really know all that much about.
I'm curious what you'll think of Diana Wynne-Jones's books. I quite like her work, Chrestomanci is great fun, but I've only read one of the Dalemark books. I do intend to read the rest someday.
I wouldn't buy the book for 15 euro if I were you. It's not that good and not worth re-reading at all (so no need to have it lying around in your bookcase). Don't you have a membership at the library?
I'm also curious about Diana Wynne-Jones. I wonder if it's necessary to start from the beginning; Magicians from Caprona, the book I own, is number 4 from the series.
Still didn't find the time to write and post my reviews.
Currently I'm reading
Walter Moers's
The City of Dreaming Books. Weird book, I do like it, but I'm not that overwhelmed by it, as I expected at first hand. And I have a problem bonding with the main character. Because of that, it's a challenge to keep on reading.
Maybe my opinion will change when I have finished the book.
I used to be a member of Utrecht library, but I hardly ever go to Utrecht anymore. There are some libraries not too far from where I live, but they're quite small. Since I preferably read books in English and their English section is quite small, it was never really worth it.
Still, I'm gonna get a membership soon, since I started reading quite a bit of non-fiction lately. With non-fiction, I don't really mind if it's a translation or the original, so I can easily get those from the library.
Finished my 22th book: The Secret of Lost Things by
Sheridan Hay. I really hated the book and I wonder why the publisher decided to publish it. The characters were very plain and annoying, the dialogues to cryptic and unlikely, and the book lacked speed overall.
I'm glad I can start with another book tonight.
Message edited by its author, Apr 19, 2009, 3:54pm.
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