FAMeulstee (Anita) tries to read those books waiting for soooo long
Talk (BOMBS) Books Off My Book Shelves 2012 Challenge
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1FAMeulstee
40 BOMBS is the goal I am going for.
I never recorded my readings before LT, so there are books in my library waiting for me probable since the eighties... :-(
I am going to estimate the date added of each YA book (I collect awarded childrens and YA books) and will read the ones that reside on my shelves the longest...
I never recorded my readings before LT, so there are books in my library waiting for me probable since the eighties... :-(
I am going to estimate the date added of each YA book (I collect awarded childrens and YA books) and will read the ones that reside on my shelves the longest...
2LauraBrook
Starred! Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll kick some TBR butt!
3FAMeulstee
First step done: checking my books on LT tells me that I have 555 YA/Childrens books that were read before 2008 or never read at all... so that is a huge TBR pile ;-)
Next step is estimate when they entered my house.
This month is not going to be a good one for this challenge, I have managed to find TWO epic fantasy series at the library: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams. Knowing myself I know I want to finish them both before I am up to an other book.
Next step is estimate when they entered my house.
This month is not going to be a good one for this challenge, I have managed to find TWO epic fantasy series at the library: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams. Knowing myself I know I want to finish them both before I am up to an other book.
4tloeffler
You'll be fine, Anita! The YA/Childrens books should go by pretty quickly. Although I've seen the George R. R. Martin book in my son's bathroom, and it's quite a chunkster. Just read a YA between each 100 pages!
5cyderry
Anita, I've seen that George R.R.Martin series (I have a son of a friend who advises me on the best YA series) but I"m fighting the urge to read it. I have 4 other YA series with 7 books (Nicolas Flamel series, Keys to the Kingdom series, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus) between them that I want to finish this year before I start any others. But they are calling my name!
6FAMeulstee
> 4: hi Terri
Not all will go quickly, there are some chunksters among them ;-)
And I am not very good at reading different books at the same time, so between each 100 pages won't do, but I could try btween the books....
> 5: hi Chèli
Thanks for visiting and more thanks for this group!
I know, I know, I was stupid enough to look up those series and now I have the Nicolas Flamel series added too, luckely the others were already on my TBR list ;-)
But I have to tell you that A Song of Ice and Fire is incredible!!!
Not all will go quickly, there are some chunksters among them ;-)
And I am not very good at reading different books at the same time, so between each 100 pages won't do, but I could try btween the books....
> 5: hi Chèli
Thanks for visiting and more thanks for this group!
I know, I know, I was stupid enough to look up those series and now I have the Nicolas Flamel series added too, luckely the others were already on my TBR list ;-)
But I have to tell you that A Song of Ice and Fire is incredible!!!
7mrsrochester
I wouldn't consider A Song of Ice and Fire a YA series. I can see why it appeals to young adults but there is TONS of violence, gore, death, and sex. They are however, AMAZINGLY well written, enjoy :)
8FAMeulstee
First Book Off My Book Shelves down :-)
De val van de Vredeborch by Thea Beckman
Dutch, YA, on the shelf since: before 1996
Thea Beckman was a popular writer of YA in the Netherlands, mostly well researched historical fiction.
Description In 1548 Jan Jacobs van Leemputte, 20 years old, is banned out of Antwerp, as he is accused of heresy. But as a brewer he can find work anywhere, he ends up in Utrecht. He married a brewers daughter and end as owner of the brewery and an important citizen of Utrecht.
Meanwhile the the Eighty Years' War (or Dutch War of Independence) breaks out.
ReviewThea Beckman wrote many great historic Young Adult books. The main characters in this book were real. On the Bakkersbrug in Utrecht is a statue of Catharina (Trijn) van Leemputte.
This is not Beckmans strongest book, but a good read anyhow. Maybe writing about real persons gave her not enough space to write a more gripping story.
3,5 stars
BOMBS 1 down, 39 to go
De val van de Vredeborch by Thea Beckman
Dutch, YA, on the shelf since: before 1996
Thea Beckman was a popular writer of YA in the Netherlands, mostly well researched historical fiction.
Description In 1548 Jan Jacobs van Leemputte, 20 years old, is banned out of Antwerp, as he is accused of heresy. But as a brewer he can find work anywhere, he ends up in Utrecht. He married a brewers daughter and end as owner of the brewery and an important citizen of Utrecht.
Meanwhile the the Eighty Years' War (or Dutch War of Independence) breaks out.
ReviewThea Beckman wrote many great historic Young Adult books. The main characters in this book were real. On the Bakkersbrug in Utrecht is a statue of Catharina (Trijn) van Leemputte.
This is not Beckmans strongest book, but a good read anyhow. Maybe writing about real persons gave her not enough space to write a more gripping story.
3,5 stars
BOMBS 1 down, 39 to go
9staffordcastle
Anita, sound like I would like this book; has it been translated into English?
10FAMeulstee
I am sorry, the only one of Thea Beckman that is translated into English is Crusade in Jeans about a boy who get transferred from modern age into the middle ages and joins the Childrens Crusade.
11staffordcastle
Thanks for checking!
12FAMeulstee
> 12: you are welcome :-)
13FAMeulstee
Second Book Off My Book Shelves down :-)
De jongen in de gestreepte pyjama by John Boyne
YA, on the shelf since: 2010, translation of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
This book came from the inheritance of my mother in law.
Description Bruno is nine years old and lives in Berlin with his parents and his sister. Then his father gets a new job and they move. Next to the house is a long wire fence, he can see people in striped pyjamas there, but they never come near the fence. One day he meets Shmuel, a boy in striped pyamas. They become friends.
Review John Boyne took an unusual perpective to tell about WW II and the concentration camps, a nine year old boy who does not understand what is going on in the world and meets a jewish boy of the same age, who knows too much of what is going on at that moment in time. A compelling read, but somehow missing a bit to make it a great read. The ending was not expected...
4 stars
BOMBS 2 down, 38 to go
De jongen in de gestreepte pyjama by John Boyne
YA, on the shelf since: 2010, translation of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
This book came from the inheritance of my mother in law.
Description Bruno is nine years old and lives in Berlin with his parents and his sister. Then his father gets a new job and they move. Next to the house is a long wire fence, he can see people in striped pyjamas there, but they never come near the fence. One day he meets Shmuel, a boy in striped pyamas. They become friends.
Review John Boyne took an unusual perpective to tell about WW II and the concentration camps, a nine year old boy who does not understand what is going on in the world and meets a jewish boy of the same age, who knows too much of what is going on at that moment in time. A compelling read, but somehow missing a bit to make it a great read. The ending was not expected...
4 stars
BOMBS 2 down, 38 to go
14FAMeulstee
Three childrens books today, sadly they don't have a cover yet, but the new scanner is on its way ;-)
bombs 3: De kleine brultijger by Reiner Zimnik
Sweet book with beautiful illustrations of the author.
The little roaring tiger likes to roar, but he is little, so the sound does not impress the other animals around. But the echo in the wood makes the sound larger and others, further away get afraid. Little roaring tiger wants to explore the world and is found by mean men, who sell him to a zoo, steal him again and sell him to the next zoo (and so on), finally he escapes and the mean man are locked up.
There seems to be an English edition named The Little Roaring Tiger.
3,5 stars
bombs 4: De beer en de mensen by Reiner Zimnik
Illustrated by the author.
This book is a bit more dated then the previous one.
A bear and a man travel along the roads, the man can juggle with 7 balls, the bear can dance. Each evening the man tells a story to the bear and blows his horn. The horn has only one tone, but it is incredible beautifull. After many years and adventures, the man dies and the bear is sold to bad people, luckely he escapes and goes to the wild bears. They don't want him around, because he has a ring through his nose and a horn at his neck, so he could be a spy of humans...
He gets rid of the ring, but keeps the horn and eventually finds a boy to travel the roads again.
Available in English: The Bear and the People
3 stars
bombs 5: Het verboden bootje by Boris Zhitkov
Illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky
Based on a fond memory of his youth, Boris Zhitkov tells about a stay with his grandmother in Russia. She has a miniature ship in her living room and little Boris is intrigued by it. But his grandmother tells him he is not allowed to touch it. Boris starts to believe ther MUST be little men in the real-like ship and thinks of ways to get them out, so he can see them...
The story was good, but the illustrations were great!
English edition available (I hope with the illustrations!) How I Hunted the Little Fellows
4 stars
BOMBS 5 down, 35 to go
bombs 3: De kleine brultijger by Reiner Zimnik
Sweet book with beautiful illustrations of the author.
The little roaring tiger likes to roar, but he is little, so the sound does not impress the other animals around. But the echo in the wood makes the sound larger and others, further away get afraid. Little roaring tiger wants to explore the world and is found by mean men, who sell him to a zoo, steal him again and sell him to the next zoo (and so on), finally he escapes and the mean man are locked up.
There seems to be an English edition named The Little Roaring Tiger.
3,5 stars
bombs 4: De beer en de mensen by Reiner Zimnik
Illustrated by the author.
This book is a bit more dated then the previous one.
A bear and a man travel along the roads, the man can juggle with 7 balls, the bear can dance. Each evening the man tells a story to the bear and blows his horn. The horn has only one tone, but it is incredible beautifull. After many years and adventures, the man dies and the bear is sold to bad people, luckely he escapes and goes to the wild bears. They don't want him around, because he has a ring through his nose and a horn at his neck, so he could be a spy of humans...
He gets rid of the ring, but keeps the horn and eventually finds a boy to travel the roads again.
Available in English: The Bear and the People
3 stars
bombs 5: Het verboden bootje by Boris Zhitkov
Illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky
Based on a fond memory of his youth, Boris Zhitkov tells about a stay with his grandmother in Russia. She has a miniature ship in her living room and little Boris is intrigued by it. But his grandmother tells him he is not allowed to touch it. Boris starts to believe ther MUST be little men in the real-like ship and thinks of ways to get them out, so he can see them...
The story was good, but the illustrations were great!
English edition available (I hope with the illustrations!) How I Hunted the Little Fellows
4 stars
BOMBS 5 down, 35 to go
15FAMeulstee
bombs 6: De kippige, de dikke en ik by Kazumi Yumoto
Three japanese boys are curious abouth death. The grandmother of one of them has died recently and although he was at the funeral, he did not see the body. How does death look like?
They decide to watch an old man in the neighborhood, as they are sure he will die soon. But instead the become befriended with the old man and spend nearly all summer at his place.
Batchelder Award Winner 1997, English title The Friends
4,5 stars
BOMBS 6 down, 34 to go
Three japanese boys are curious abouth death. The grandmother of one of them has died recently and although he was at the funeral, he did not see the body. How does death look like?
They decide to watch an old man in the neighborhood, as they are sure he will die soon. But instead the become befriended with the old man and spend nearly all summer at his place.
Batchelder Award Winner 1997, English title The Friends
4,5 stars
BOMBS 6 down, 34 to go
16FAMeulstee
bombs 7: Vleugels voor de draak by Laurence Yep
1903, Moonshadow lives in China with his mother and grandmother. His father is in the Land of the Golden Mountain (USA). Then a letter from his father arrives, asking Moon Shadow to come to the Land of the Golden Mountain too.
Newbery Honor 1976, English title Dragonwings
4,5 stars
BOMBS 7 down, 33 to go
1903, Moonshadow lives in China with his mother and grandmother. His father is in the Land of the Golden Mountain (USA). Then a letter from his father arrives, asking Moon Shadow to come to the Land of the Golden Mountain too.
Newbery Honor 1976, English title Dragonwings
4,5 stars
BOMBS 7 down, 33 to go
17FAMeulstee
bombs 8: De kluizenaar en de beer by John Yeoman, illustrations Quentin Blake
translation of The Hermit and the Bear
A bear is walking in the woods. He wants to help everyone, but he is very clumsy, so all other animals dislike him. Then he meets a hermit who wants someone to teach to. So the bear stays with the hermit and causes a lot of trouble. But anyway, they are happy together.
4 stars
translation of The Hermit and the Bear
A bear is walking in the woods. He wants to help everyone, but he is very clumsy, so all other animals dislike him. Then he meets a hermit who wants someone to teach to. So the bear stays with the hermit and causes a lot of trouble. But anyway, they are happy together.
4 stars
18FAMeulstee
bombs 9: The Chow Chow by Lady Dunbar
A reprint of the famous book on Chow Chows (original published in 1914) with Lady Dunbars thoughts on this breed. A lot of the information is outdated, but I found some interesting facts out of the old days.
The pictures are great and show how much most modern Chow Chow have gone away from their ancestors.
3 stars
A reprint of the famous book on Chow Chows (original published in 1914) with Lady Dunbars thoughts on this breed. A lot of the information is outdated, but I found some interesting facts out of the old days.
The pictures are great and show how much most modern Chow Chow have gone away from their ancestors.
3 stars
19FAMeulstee
I have decided to bend the rules a little per April 1st.
Books I aquired in 2012, but were on my wishlist before this year, will be counted too.
Books I aquired in 2012, but were on my wishlist before this year, will be counted too.
20FAMeulstee
bombs 10: Negen Open Armen by Benny Lindelauf
Three sisters, four brothers, Dad and Grandma live together in Sittard, in the South of the Netherlands. It is 1937 and again they move to an other house. Dad always has great plans for the future, and now he has again. But they are still barely surviving.
The new house, outside the city, is strange with the front door in the back and the back door in the front. What has happend here? The truth is more unbelievable than the stories one of the sisters can make up!
5 stars
Sadly I can't find an English translation of this one :-(
Three sisters, four brothers, Dad and Grandma live together in Sittard, in the South of the Netherlands. It is 1937 and again they move to an other house. Dad always has great plans for the future, and now he has again. But they are still barely surviving.
The new house, outside the city, is strange with the front door in the back and the back door in the front. What has happend here? The truth is more unbelievable than the stories one of the sisters can make up!
5 stars
Sadly I can't find an English translation of this one :-(
21FAMeulstee
bombs 11: De hemel van Heivisj by Benny Lindelauf
Sequel to Negen Open Armen
The three sisters, four brothers, Dad and Grandma still live together in Sittard, in the South of the Netherlands, near to the German border. It is 1939 and Germany started the war. Dad is convinced that the Netherlands will saty neutral again, like in WW I. But alas, the Germans occupy the Netherlands too.
Dad and the brothers behave foolishly against the Germans and are sended to a work camp. Grandma and the girls stay behind...
5 stars
Sequel to Negen Open Armen
The three sisters, four brothers, Dad and Grandma still live together in Sittard, in the South of the Netherlands, near to the German border. It is 1939 and Germany started the war. Dad is convinced that the Netherlands will saty neutral again, like in WW I. But alas, the Germans occupy the Netherlands too.
Dad and the brothers behave foolishly against the Germans and are sended to a work camp. Grandma and the girls stay behind...
5 stars
22FAMeulstee
bombs 12: Dag van de Koningsakker by Erik Christiaan Haugaard
English title The untold tale
1611 war in Danmark/Norway, the Kalmar War, a young boy has lost his parents and travels through the country. Happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time... The sad story of war.
3,5 stars
English title The untold tale
1611 war in Danmark/Norway, the Kalmar War, a young boy has lost his parents and travels through the country. Happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time... The sad story of war.
3,5 stars
23FAMeulstee
bombs 13 Meneer Beerta by J.J. Voskuil
Dutch literature, first book of Het Bureau, not translated, on the shelf since 1996
1957, Maarten Koning starts to work at the institute for Ethnology, after a short carreer as teacher.
The book ends at the day his boss, Mr Beerta the director of the institute, retires (1965).
4,5 stars
Dutch literature, first book of Het Bureau, not translated, on the shelf since 1996
1957, Maarten Koning starts to work at the institute for Ethnology, after a short carreer as teacher.
The book ends at the day his boss, Mr Beerta the director of the institute, retires (1965).
4,5 stars
24FAMeulstee
bombs 14 Vuile handen by J.J. Voskuil
Dutch literature, second book of Het Bureau not translated, on the shelf since 1996
1965, after Mr Beerta's retirement Maarten is now head of the section. He still feels insecure about it and is not very good in office politics. He doesn't understand why he should hire an extra man if one of the other sections does. Despite his section grows. The Bureau moves to an other location, Maarten feels lost at first, as he does not like changes.
At a congress in Sweden he becomes the representatieve of his generation as he critisizes old habits in his speech. He is even invited to Germany for a lecture (1972).
4,5 stars
Dutch literature, second book of Het Bureau not translated, on the shelf since 1996
1965, after Mr Beerta's retirement Maarten is now head of the section. He still feels insecure about it and is not very good in office politics. He doesn't understand why he should hire an extra man if one of the other sections does. Despite his section grows. The Bureau moves to an other location, Maarten feels lost at first, as he does not like changes.
At a congress in Sweden he becomes the representatieve of his generation as he critisizes old habits in his speech. He is even invited to Germany for a lecture (1972).
4,5 stars
25FAMeulstee
bombs 15 Plankton by J.J. Voskuil
Dutch literature, third book of Het Bureau not translated, on the shelf since 1997
The years 1972-1975, office politics make Maarten still insecure. At the congress in Budapest Maarten continues his critisism. Just before changes can be made, the chairman falls ill. So nothing is changed at all.
And ongoing problems with the ethnologic magazine Ons Tijdschrift, in cooperation with the Flemish. The Flemish editors want easy to read articles, Maarten wants academic articles, a few times the Flemish seem to give in, but on the next meeting an even worse proposal is done...
4,5 stars
Dutch literature, third book of Het Bureau not translated, on the shelf since 1997
The years 1972-1975, office politics make Maarten still insecure. At the congress in Budapest Maarten continues his critisism. Just before changes can be made, the chairman falls ill. So nothing is changed at all.
And ongoing problems with the ethnologic magazine Ons Tijdschrift, in cooperation with the Flemish. The Flemish editors want easy to read articles, Maarten wants academic articles, a few times the Flemish seem to give in, but on the next meeting an even worse proposal is done...
4,5 stars
26FAMeulstee
bombs 16 Het A.P. Beerta-Instituut by J.J. Voskuil
Dutch literature, fourth book of Het Bureau not translated, on the shelf since 1998
In 987 pages the years 1975-1979 are described.
The former head of the section, Mr Beerta is transferred to a nursing home after a stay in hospital after his stroke. Maarten tries to visit him every week.
He is lured into more committees and boards, he spends a lot of his time outside the office.
4,5 stars
Dutch literature, fourth book of Het Bureau not translated, on the shelf since 1998
In 987 pages the years 1975-1979 are described.
The former head of the section, Mr Beerta is transferred to a nursing home after a stay in hospital after his stroke. Maarten tries to visit him every week.
He is lured into more committees and boards, he spends a lot of his time outside the office.
4,5 stars
27FAMeulstee
Well, here the Challenge ends for me, changing meds has taken away my reading ability :-(
Good luck everyone!
Good luck everyone!
28staffordcastle
Sorry to hear that, Anita; perhaps sometime soon they will change your meds again, so you can get back to reading.
Just a thought; can you do audio-books?
Just a thought; can you do audio-books?
29FAMeulstee
> 28: thanks staffordcastle, it will be a while... in my life I have tried over a dozen of antidepressants and only two do what they are supposted to do. Both have sideeffects I don't like and after 5 years or so, they are not effectieve anymore.
Others gave me the tip of audiobooks too, but I haven't been to the library yet, not up to look at many books I won't be able to read soon... but I do plan to go and check out if audio books are doable.
Others gave me the tip of audiobooks too, but I haven't been to the library yet, not up to look at many books I won't be able to read soon... but I do plan to go and check out if audio books are doable.
