Connie's challenge 2013

I love joining this challengegroup again for the third year. I will increase my amount of books again.

20 books (reads and rereads) from my own shelves that were there before 31-12-11. ( books that i bought in 2012 are not counted as a ROOT book)










Books on the TBR pile on 31-12-2012: 612

The place for my list of ROOTs:

01. Wim Gijsen - Keerkringen (Deidre #1); on the shelf since before 2005 -
02. Wim Gijsen - Bidahinne (Deirdre #2); on the shelf since before 2005 -
03. Wim Gijsen - Lure (Deidre #3); on the shelf since before 2005 -
04. Raymond E. Feist - De terugkeer van de banneling (Conclaaf der schaduwen #3); on the shelf since 2005 or 2006
05. Michael Scott - De tovenares (Nicolas Flamel #3); on the shelf since 24-09-2009 -
06. Michael Scott - De necromancer (Nicolas Flamel #4; on the shelf since 24-02-2011
07. Stephen King - De donkere toren (The dark tower #7); on the shelf since 20-10-2010
08. Terry Pratchett - De plaagzusters (Discworld #6); on the shelf since 2008 or 2009
09. Santa Montefiore - De affaire; on the shelf since 23-09-2010
10. Patricia A. McKillip - De raadselmeester van Hed on the shelf since 30-06-2010
11. Patricia A. McKillip - Erfgenaam van zee en vuur on the shelf since 30-06-2010
12. Jonathan Kellerman - Sluitend bewijs on the shelf since 01-03-2011
13. Patricia McKillip - Harpspeler in de wind on the shelf since 30-06-2012
14. Leonie Swann - De schapen van Glennkill on the shelf since before 2009
15. S.J. Bolton - Offerande on the shelf since 02-09-2010 *

* Now reading

Congrats on being extra brave and excluding the 2012's!

Thanks, I thought long and hard about including them. But that would be to easy for me and it would keep me from reading the older ones that have been patiently waiting for my attention.

We're all ROOTing for you!

thanks!

Welcome back connie! I saw I made the mistake and wrote, that I also exclude the 2012's, but I won't. It would be to hard a challenge for me... Instead I set up a list of books I definitely want to read.

To all:

I will be reading more than 20 books in 2013. I'm currently reading book number 66 in 2012, so my ROOT-challenge leaves space and time enough to read books newly bought in 2013 and bought in 2012.

Well, since I do not think I will buy any new books this year, I officially declare my TBR pile to contain 612 books (including the ones that were bought in 2012. They will not count as ROOT books).

The last one sneaked into the house this morning was Het laatste rijk by Brandon Sanderson. I hád to buy a comfortbook when i got back from the dentist. And I have been waiting forever for this book to get translated. Its part one in the Mistborn series and it's supposed to be awsome.

I really liked the first Mistborn novel. While the second book wasn't as good, the third book more than made up for it. Hope you enjoy it!

I'm sure I will enjoy it.

Good luck on your challenge, Connie. I'm anxiously awaiting your first read.

hi Connie

Good luck with your challenge in 2013, happy readings!

Thanks Anita!

Good luck, Connie - 612 is quite a pile of TBRs! The Brandon Sanderson book looks really good. Oh dear, a book bullet on day 1 of the New Year!!

Thanks Susan.

Well, I decided on my first book for 2013 ROOT books.
And it will be a really old one because of another challenge on my bookforum; The ff-leesclub.
In januari we (as a forum) are challenged to read 13 books that are written before 1988.

And I found one that had been on my shelfs since forever. I have no idea when I bought the book, but it must be from before I started listing everything about books. It's a book by a Dutch writer : Wim Gijsen and it's called Keerkringen Part one in the trilogie called: Deidre.
259 pages

I really admire your bravery in not including last year's books. Good luck with both challenges and I hope you enjoy the first part of the trilogy.

A challenge is only a challenge when it is a challenge!

I decided to add another ticker to my first post.

Now I can keep track of:

1. ROOT books I've read in 2013
2. Books that have found their way into my house in 2013
3. All books read in 2013

I've finished my first ROOT for this year. Keerkringen by Wim Gijsen and this book was a really nice read *** 1/2. A bit old fashioned since the book was written in 1985, but the story was a nice one with such an open end that part 2 of the series is allready next to me on the table. That will be my second ROOT of the year
225 pages.

TBR 612 - 2=610
ROOTs = 1
Others = 1
Totally Read 2013 = 2
Books into the house = 0



Bidahinne by Wim Gijsen Duh.

Thanks for dropping by to say hello. I am going to have to learn how to translate so I can tell what you are reading.

When the books are in original English, I will give the english version as well as the Dutch one. So you don't have to take a speedcourse in the Dutch language ;-))

But Bidahinne is a fantasybook and you can not translate it. It a nonexistent word. In the book,Deirdre, who is a priestess, gets that title. Which freely translates into: The Send One.

The first book is called Keerkingen which means tropics (Tropic of Cancer /tropic of Capricorn) but it's used losely to indicate the changes Deirdre has to pass through to become the Bidahinne.

The third book is called Lure The name of a enemy country where Deirdre is travelling to to try and make some kind of peace.

Well done on your first finish! And no books acquired so far...

Thanks Susan. Number 2 is almost finished.

TBR 612 - 3=609
ROOTs = 2
Others = 1
Totally Read 2013 = 3
Books into the house = 0

Bidahinne was a very nice read *** 1/2. So to finish the trilogie I started in Lure which of course was written by the same writer.
Lure is the country where Deirdre and her companions are now. Trying to talk some sense into the inhabitants to prevent a magic war breaking out.
322 pages

Buying an e-reader does not make it any easier! Today my husband gave me a Kobo Glo and now I'm completely flabbergasted by how it works and getting it to work. But I've downloaded my first ebook. And I am so happy.

A Kobo Glo was my Christmas present to myself. I'm having a great time with it.

Yes, me too, Robert. I keep finding new things in my Kobo.

I have been wondering about an expression used a lot by my fellow ROOTers. But I can't quite figure out what it means, so if someone could tell me, please do so.

Book bullet: what does it mean?

Connie, it's a book you add to your TBR list because someone else made it sound so good! It's like they shot you with a book bullet...and then you...died? OK, the metaphor isn't perfect, but it's a convenient shorthand. :)

Thanks for explaining, Christina!

TBR 612 - 4=608 + 0=608
Read ROOTs = 3
Read Others = 1
Totally Read 2013 = 4
Books into the house = 0

Lure is finished, my third ROOT so I'm ahead of schedule. Lure was a nice finish of the trilogy written by Wim Gijsen. The end was bit unexpected and strangly far fetched. But the story was nicely told and entertaining, but for the end! **** for this one.

I'm reading two books right now, both noROOTers because one book was bought in 2012 Wij waren hier by Karen Thompson Walker and one that just came into the house in 2013 to read on my Kobo Een goede raad by J. K. Rowling

You are doing very good with the ratio of books read to books brought into the house! I was doing well but I just went on a little book ordering spree, so I think I just going to break even. I'll try and be strong for the rest of the month, though :)

Well, i'm a member of this online bookclub and I'm obliged to place an order very soon. But I will try to constrain myself to one book, maybe two ;)

>9 connie53: I know exactly what you mean by a "comfort book". Isn't it amazing how a new book lifts the spirits - even if it languishes on the tbr shelf.

I've just ordered 5 new books (hangs head in shame)

Don't be ashamed. It's cold outside. You need books :)

Thank you!! That's true! It's bitter cold here for Dutch weather!

TBR 612 - 5=607 + 0=607
Read ROOTs = 3
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 5
Books into the house = 0

I just finished Wij waren hier by Karen Thompson Walker The translation of 'The Age of Miracles' .



Very intriguing concept. The world starts spinning out of control. The days are growing longer, first by minutes at a time, but later on by hours. Julia (11) tells the story of how the world around her starts to fall apart. The society is separated in to two parts. People who keep living by a 24 hour rhythm and people who live by the day and the night patern of the elongating periods. The story has lots of possibilities, but because of the limitations of Julia's age and the way she looks at the world, they do not quite reach their potential. for me and an non ROOT.

254 pages.

The idea sounds very enticing, too bad it didn't live up to its promise. Although at 3.5 stars, it sounds like you got something out of it.

It was a book we read with a Dutch bookforum and the first people who finished warned us. So I was prepared and did not expect to much. But is was a comfortable read. One you can easilly put aside, but it kept my mind busy. So it did do something for me.

TBR 612 - 5=607 + 5=612
Read ROOTs = 3
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 5
Books into the house = 5

Five more books have reached the shelves (not counting the 10.000 e-books my brother send me)

Harlan Coben - Dood spel (Play Dead)
Harlan Coben - Genezing (Miracle Cure)
Stephen King - De wind door het sleutelgat (The Wind Through the Keyhole)
Michael Scott - De warlock (The Warlock) (Nicolas Flamel 5)
Michael Scott - De zieneres (The Enchantress) (Nicolas Flamel 6)

Hi Connie, thought i would pay your thread a visit.

Nice John! Happy to see you here!

TBR 612 - 5=607 + 5=612
Read ROOTs = 3
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 5
Books into the house = 5
Currently reading = 3

I finally decided what my next ROOT will be.

De terugkeer van de banneling by Raymond E. Feist (Exile's Return)

It has been on my shelves since before I joined LT, probably since 2004 or 2005. So it qualifies as a ROOT



288 pages

I've found an ebook too so I can switch from book to reader, depending on what is more practical. In bed or in a train the reader comes in handy and when i'm working (at a school) i can sneak some minutes in and i do not have to transport a book in my bag.

>35 connie53: I sure you only did it to make the rest of us feel better about our indulgences ;)

>45 Tanglewood:. Although that was not my first reason to go and buy those books, i am glad to have made everbody feel better.

Hi Connie. I was confused when I saw the three tickers up top but I think I have it figured out. You are a popular girl. I use my threads to keep up with my reading and other than that there is not much activity. I spend most of my yakking time on the Virago Group as that seems to be where I hang all of the time.
Nice thread. I like it and you are doing really well. In the next couple of days I plan to go through some of my books and arrange the older ones that I wish to read and give the boot to this year.
Cheers!

Thanks, rainpebble.

TBR 612 - 6=606 + 5=611
Read ROOTs = 4
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 6
Books into the house = 5
Currently reading = 2

I pulled out my fourth ROOT. Last night I closed De terugkeer van de banneling by Raymond E. Feist with a sigh.

I'm very happy with this book. It made me want to read all his other books that are on my TBR-pile. I know that Feist is not the most poetic writer but his books are just entertaining, effortless readable and it feels like wearing an old sweater, warm and cosy when you are reading them

This was my last ROOT for januari.

Well done, Connie!

Hi Connie, I'm trying out ROOT for the first time this year so I am stopping by the various threads. I listened to The Age Of Miracles in 2012. I enjoyed it, thought it was a little sad, but not incredible. Not bad, though. I'm sure it is only one of the first of its kind in that particular theme. My ROOT Challenge is to make every book that I read this year in my 75 Book Challenge be a Book Off The Shelves. So I am encompassing all the challenges into one big challenge. Is that making sense? I need to clear out my older books and I have so many good books to read and they just keep getting neglected because I keep bringing more home. If I succeed I will really feel good about my reading this year. Good luck to you and Good Reading!

Of course that makes sense! I'm doing the same. I've joined some Dutch online bookgroups in the past and they have challenges too and i try to combine them. My first Root was a challenge on FF-leesclub. For januari we had to read a book that was published before 1988. Now I am waiting for tomorrow what the februari challenge is. Perhaps I can make a ROOT again!

And the february challenge is Norse Mythologie. Thanks to LT's tag mash I found one TBR book that qualifies and is a ROOT book because i bought it before 2005. So my fifth book will be

Timekeepers by Catherine webb



This is part 2 in the Lucifer/satan series, 309 pages.

Sam Linnifer returns to continue what he started in Waywalkers and rid the world of the deadly plots and schemes of the elder gods. But with Seth, Jehovah and Thor now in control of the dread Pandora Spirits Sam knows Earth's only hope may rest in his unleashing the Light. But the power bestowed upon him at birth by his father Time could have deadly consequences for Sam himself. For in unleashing the Light, Sam must touch the minds of every human on Earth. To save the world, Sam may have to destroy himself...

Timekeepers is the stunning follow up to the acclaimed Waywalkers. You'll meet Firedancers in London on a rainy summer night, walk the Ways between Earth and Heaven with Bhudda, hole up in a sleazy German bar with Adam, and find yourself trusting the one person you never dreamed you would. In a war between Gods, where Earth is the battle ground and humans are expendable, you'll need to have more than just sympathy for the Devil.

It's a an experiment because reading an entire book in English is a long time ago for me. Perhaps before 2005 as well.

I'm seriously considering to put this book back on the shelve or giving them away. It's taking a lot of time reading it in English. I may give it one more try tonight, but....

This is not going to work. So i'm putting this book aside and all 6 books by this writer will leave the house in May when there is a meet of my bookclub in my house. It's not because the books are no good. It's because my English is not sufficient.

It was a brave try, though, Connie. I have some books in Indonesian in my TBR pile, and although I have read books in Indonesian before I always approach them with some trepidation.

Thanks Robert.

As a unilingual person (apart from some pitiful French) it's hard for me to understand why you would have difficulty reading in English when you are able to write in English perfectly. As I said, I'm sure my inability to understand is because I have no experience. I admire your proficiency.

>58 VivienneR:. I think its because reading fantasy with its specific expressions and sayings is more of a challenge. Maybe a thriller or detective will be easier, because the laguage used in those kind of books is more daily English. And while writing english I use google translate a lot. And when reading becomes a struggle it's enough for me to put the book aside

Ah, I see. I still admire your ability even with google translation :-)

TBR 612 - 10 =602 + 5=607
Read ROOTs = 4
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 6
Books into the house = 5
Books leaving the house unread = 4
Currently reading = 3

Thanks Vivienne. I really like this group a lot and I love getting to know you all.



Root number 5 is Michael Scott - De tovenares ( The Sorceress) part 3 in the series about the Secrets of The Immortal Nicolas Flamel.
409 pages. In my possession since december 24 2009.

I have this book as an e-book also so I can switch between the real book and the digital one.

Part 1 en part 2 were very nice and this fits in my challenge op the ff-leesclub.

I may not understand the titles of the books you're reading, but the cover art is fabulous!

Nice progress so far!

Thanks for your encouraging words.

If there is a English title availble I will give this title or try to translate it when it's orginally a Dutch book as was the case with the first three ROOTs i've read.

Hi Connie. Your thread is so interesting. I had no idea that English was not your first language until my first pop over here. I think you are very brave to attempt what you do.
And you are doing so well with your ROOTs.
I was over peeking at your photos. You have a lovely home and family. But Connie, seriously, I would kill to have your bookcases! I have 12 in my home and thought that was a lot but some of them are only 2 or 3 shelves high and I stack them. Our home is quite small. Your bookcases are beautiful and LARGE. Also your 'soon to be read' shelf of books is displayed very nicely.
Gee, now I feel like we know each other. lol!~!
hugs,

Yes, a peek in someone's house will do that for you. lol! Thank you for your kind words about bookcases, familiy, home and my English!

TBR 612 - 11 =601 + 5=606
Read ROOTs = 5
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 7
Books into the house = 5
Books leaving the house unread = 4
Currently reading = 2

This afternoon I finished ROOT # 5. I really liked this book. It's a Young Adult Fantasy book (we call it YAFfie) but I think the story is very entertaining and I had a relaxing time reading this one.
De tovenares by Michael Scott

Now I'm going to try and finish the other 2 books I'm currently reading. Both non ROOTs. And I have an new book scheduled which we are going to read with my dutch bookgroup in march. So no more ROOTs for me the next couple of weeks.

Good progress, Connie! I had a few weeks with no ROOT books - it is so hard to get away from shiny new things :-)

hoi Connie

Well done 5 ROOTs down already!
Anita

My husband and I went down town to buy presents for valentine's day. Of course we went into two bookstores and I DID NOT BUY ANY BOOKS!

We just bought two door plates, one with our names and one with the number of our house. That was on our to-do-list for several years. So we gave that to each other, really romantic (not).

I loved the SORCERESS and am looking forward to reading Enchantress next month!

TBR 612 - 12=600 + 5=605
Read ROOTs = 5
Read Others = 2
Totally Read 2013 = 7
Books into the house = 5
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 2

I just rearranged and dusted my bookcases and I found one book I will not be reading because it's completly unappealing to me. So it's of the shelves, but not read, so it doesn't qualify as a ROOT

Wow, I am very impressed with your organization! I am afraid to try and figure out how many books have been here since before 2012 :)

Congrats on finishing 5 ROOTS.

Thanks, doglover!

I've been to my best friend's house and spend the night there. We always have a very good time. we went for dinner and this time her daugther accompanied us. It was a really nice weekend. And it gave me some reading time since I travelled by train to get there!

But no ROOTs and no books finished.

TBR 612 - 13=599 + 5=604
Read ROOTs = 5
Read Others = 3
Totally Read 2013 = 8
Books into the house = 5
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 2



I have just finished another non ROOT book. Dood spel by Harlan Coben, the translation of Play Dead.
Harlan lets us know up front that this was his first book ever and he is not really happy about it now, but I loved it. Okay, there are some improbabilities, but it was a good read. This translation was just published this year in the Netherlands. But I am a hardcore Harlan fan, so I have to have every book that is translated even if its 'old'.

I finally chose a ROOT book to read next. This one has been on my shelves since 24-02-2011. It's part four in the series about Nicolas Flamel and its called De necromancer and written by Michael Scott. The English title is The Necromancer. 333 pages

Well done, Connie! I'm as impressed by your ability to throw books out as by your ability to read them :)

>75 connie53: - I was interested in that book only because the cover looked interesting. Maybe it will make my list next year.

I have that book, Connie. I am interested to see how you feel about it. I pass it over now and then for another book, so maybe I won't pass it over if you like it. I just finished another ROOT book myself. YAY!

Hi Connie! I finally found your thread! Your reading so far this year sounds wonderful. Too bad about the mythology book, but I join the others in admiring you for trying. Hope today is a good reading day for you.

>> 79. Thanks. I hope to get some reading done this afternoon. I just got home from work and did not read a letter (at least not in a book for fun).

>> 78: Do you mean: The necromancer? I like these books a lot, although they are Young Adult books. It's rather relaxed to read one of those once in a while. Especially when I'm more in the mood for light reading.

TBR 612 - 15=597 + 5=602
Read ROOTs = 6
Read Others = 4
Totally Read 2013 = 10
Books into the house = 5
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 1

Ebooks are not included in the TBR pile, but when i've read them they will count as a book read.

Yesterday evening I stayed up later then usual, just to finish my 6th ROOT of this year. De Necromancer (Flamel #4) by Michael Scott. I liked the book almost just as much as # 3. It looked a bit slow and dull in places. There was a lot of explaining done. Very welcome when there is time in between books, but it is a bit to much when reading them one after another . # 5 & 6 will have to wait a few months.

I'v read another little book in these series also The death of Joan of Arc (only available as e-book), but that was aquired in 2013 and has only a few pages (25 or so)


I will have to chose a new paper book, but I'm not really sure which one to choose

Tada, tada: the new p-book is Het laatste rijk by Brandon Sanderson The English Title is 'Mistborn, The final empire'.



A non-ROOT

#80-yes that is the one I meant . I didn't realize there were several books in the series, though.

Yes, mmignano, there are 6 books and two smaller ebooks in the series. And best read in sequence because the story starts on a certain day and spans over about 1 week. (okay, this sounds like a ridiculous sentence, could anybody tell me how to say this?)

Just finished Een goede raad by J.K. Rowling waiting for my appointment with my fysiotherapist. I liked it! The English title is 'A Casual Vacancy'.

Now reading: Kwijt by Karin Slaughter. This is a novelle in the Will trent serie, only available as an ebook in The Netherlands. And a non -ROOT. The English title is 'Snatched'

The Rowling book is one of the titles on my TBR list-- glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

Connie, where the Dutch title of a book is not a direct translation of the English title, could you tell us what the Dutch title means?

Of course. I will go and put the english titles in the previous posts.

Thank you, but what I meant was, to take the J. K. Rowling book as an example, does "Een goede raad" mean "A Casual Vacancy"? If it doesn't, what does it mean? (my guess would be something like "Good Advice")

No, a 'Raad' is the Dutch word for City Council and indeed also voor Advice. So it can be interpreted in two ways.

'Kwijt' means 'missing' or 'lost'

Either way, it doesn't mean "A Casual Vacancy" ;-) That's what made me curious.

I think 'A Casual Vacancy' is an official term used when there is a sudden unexpected death or other occasion and a seat on the council gets free. I do not think there is an official dutch term for such an occasion.

So the translaters may have tried to come up with a title that has a link with the council. But I admit it's not the best translation.

When I was at school I had a year of German, and we also read Chaucer. There was a Dutch film on TV (I forget what it was called now) and to my amazement I could understand some of it. There were subtitles of course, but listening I could work out why what they said had the meaning in the subtitles. Not all of it, just bits here and there. There was also a progamme about the Frisians, and with a bit of concentration, I could understand what they were saying as much as I could people from England with a thick regional accent. So, I'm always interested to see what Dutch words mean.

Ohhh, that's cool! Just ask all you want to know. I'm really fascinated with languages. I watched the Swedish versions of the Millenium films Stieg Larsson and I could understand some of the Swedish words too. Really interesting stuff. But perhaps we, readers, have an advantage because we love words!

TBR 612 - 15=597 + 5=602
Read ROOTs = 6
Read Others =
4 p-books
2 e-books = 6
Totally Read 2013 = 12
Books into the house = 5
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 3

I finished Kwijt by Karin Slaughter at the hairdressers. Not a good place to read the end. I had to hide some tears. Although it is a novella (about 71 pages in a ebook) it was very well written, with Will Trent and his colleagues it felt like coming home. I gave it ****

And, still waiting for the hair dye to do it's job, I started another ebook by Karin Slaughter . This time Doorn in mijn vlees That is the translation of 'Thorn in My Side'.
And that one is a strange and freaky one.



I have also started a new ROOT, perhaps the only one for march, because it is a TOME. My version has 789 pages!



De donkere toren by Stephen King, part 7 in The Dark Tower series.

I choose this book for 3 reasons:
1. It fits in the March category for the FF-leesclub: Read a book and finish a serie you have been reading since forever.
2. It is on my shelf since 20-10-2010, so it's a ROOT
3. It was on my SoonToBeRead shelf

@ Robert. See if you can figure out the translation thing :-)

The 'Vlees' and 'Side' thing!!!

Is 'vlees' more like 'flesh'? Both expressions exist in English, 'a thorn in my side' and 'a thorn in my flesh', though I think the flesh version is more common. It's a biblical allusion.

> Robert; Yes 'vlees' is flesh. Very good!

Today there was an 'Open door day' at the school that I work at. Parents and young children, who are thinking of coming to our school next year, come to visit and learn all about the building, the rules, the teachers and the subjects. They can go to a classroom and do all kinds of experiments and attend classes. I am obliged to be there but I never have a lot to do, because the things I do at school are for the elder students and nobody is interested yet. I put my Kobo in my handbag for those times that are quiet and now Doorn in mijn vlees is finished. Very strange little story. ***

So now I can concentrate on my ROOT book. I've read some pages this morning. I have problems getting back into the story, but I'm certain I will start to remember what happened in the previous 6 books once I can read for a while longer.

Hi Connie, thanks for visiting my (very boring) ROOTS thread. My main thread is over in the 75 group where I actually describe what books I'm reading; the ROOTs one is just for tracking the numbers.

I'm interested in your conversation with Robert about translated titles. Many titles are probably hard to translate directly if they involve special idioms or sometimes puns, so I can see that sometimes the Dutch equivalent would be something very different from the English one (and vice versa). I grew up as a child watching British TV programmes subtitled in Dutch during the 70s when we lived in Holland, and it was a great way to learn Dutch because of the simultaneous translation - but also we got to notice where the translation in the subtitles was something very different from what was said in English, especially in the case of humour which is particularly difficult to translate.

Hi Genny, thank you for visiting my thread!
And you are right about the humour that is lost in translation. And you've lived in Holland! Do you still understand some of the dutch language? Or has that withered with the years.
And when I'm watching a movie or an other English/American program I notice the differences too. Sometimes is very annoying. And I told my husband: "Maar dat zeggen ze niet"

Go translate;-)))))))

Do you still understand some of the dutch language? Een beetje!

I last visited NL 3 years ago to stay with an old school friend, and I found I had not forgotten as much as I feared. My knowledge was always more passive than active - I can understand written Dutch reasonably well and cope with shopping and using public transport, but if engaging in conversation I would struggle to express more complex ideas. But I went for a social evening with my school friend (English), her husband (German) and her work colleagues (many nationalities) where Dutch was the main language being spoken, and I managed to get through the evening ok!

Good for you, Genny and of course een beetje is perfect Dutch.

And if you could get trough the evening ok, your Dutch is good!
I'm very happy to have you on the Translation Train Thread ;-)))

>100 gennyt: I read the Indonesian subtitles on English-language films. I'm afraid the quality is not very good sometimes. My favourite blunder was when in a very tender moment, our hero said "And then I saw my father's eyes." The Indonesian meant "And then I sawed my father's eyes". NOT the image we wanted at that moment.

If only I could read Dutch lol.

een beetje means 'a bit'

@ Robert: that's really a big mistake! You could think you were watching a horror movie.

Hi connie53, what an interesting thread you have! I love the fact that you note the number of books that come into the house as well as those that are off your TBR pile. I really feel that I should make a note of the books that come in -but fear that it might be rather scary!

Thanks BB, nice to see you here.

TBR 612 - 15=597 + 6=603
Read ROOTs = 6
Read others:
------- p-books = 4
------- e-books = 2
Total = 6
Totally Read 2013 = 12
Books into the house = 6
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 3

One of my pre-ordered books sneaked into the house. It was send to my workplace (a school) and found its way to the shelves in my bicycle bags.

Excuse: I must have all books written by Juliet Marillier and I must have them as soon as they are translated.

So now I'm the proud owner of

Vlam van Zeven Wateren by Juliet Marillier



The translation of Flame of Sevenwaters

My ROOT book is almost halfway (778 pages is a lot of reading)

Today I gave myself a day of. It's really cold here with loads of snow. Last night the temperatures dropped to -13 Celcius and I could not see myself driving to school on my bike. As this was forcasted yesterday I told my colleagues I was not coming in today. They thought that was a good idea since I have been working overtime for a few weeks now.

So I spend the day reading and surfing the net and doing nothing in the house at all. Just one lazy day. And I made good progress in De donkere toren by Stephen King. Exactly 150 pages. Still 102 pages to go!

Sounds like a good day to me!

What a great day you had! -13 and biking do not go together.

The Dark Tower is one of the few King books I have not been able to get into.

Hi Connie, I guess I shouldn't tell you this but I will anyway. Here is Phoenix, Arizona, USA it is 32 Celcius. It's amazing to me that two ladies from such different places can talk to one another. Hope you had a great day off. :-)

Wouldn't mind a bit of 32 Celsius over here! We had a mild weekend and now winter is back for a few days, so it will be back to the warm boots and heavier coat. It's not actually all that cold, but there is a significant windchill factor expected so it will *feel* a lot colder than it is.

TBR 612 - 15=597 + 6=603
Read ROOTs = 7
Read others:
------- p-books = 3
------- e-books = 4
Total = 7
Totally Read 2013 = 14
Books into the house = 6
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 2

Wow, that took some time. I had to do a lot of calculating before my resume above made any sense. But now its correct. Pvieuw!

I finished ROOT # 7 and that took me a little over 2 weeks to do.
De donkere toren by Stephen King was a real Tome with 789 pages, but was a really nice read. The last book in the Dark Tower series and the end was unexpected but very beautifull and, in retrospect, a very plausible end.

Now I can concentrate on my 2 other books that have been neglected for this ROOTbook.

One is a real book and with 634 pages a tome but not a ROOT

het laatste rijk by Brandon Sanderson



This is the translation of The Final empire Mistborn #1

The other is an e-book with 301 pages and not a ROOT

Voor mijn zusje by Heather Gudenkauf



The translation of These things hidden but the dutch title means: For my (little)sister

I was planning some shopping this afternoon and that included a stop at the bookstore. It's 'Boekenweek' *1 in the Netherlands and that means that when you buy a book (s) for more than € 12,50 you get a free copy of 'Het boekenweekgeschenk' *2. I have bought a book in this special week each year and I have to have the free book to complete the collection.
But the weather is terrible over here. Snow and wind and cold. Not a good moment to cycle down town. So out of frustration I went online and ordered some books.

Translation:
*1 = Bookweek
*2 = Bookweek gift

I think this is a tradition that you should export to the United States immediately!

(Sorry the weather prevented you from taking proper advantage of it, though.)

Today the ordered books arrived at school and now they are on my TBR pile.

Opstand by Veronica Roth ; The translation of Insurgent



On the cover you see also: Haar keuze kan alles vernietigen wich translates into: Her choice can destroy everything

and:

De verrekijker by Kees van Kooten Verrekijker means: binoculars.
Ver(re) = far
Kijker = seer, thing to see/look with

Did you still get the book gift for buying on-line?
A book that is part of a series as a gift for buying a book would totally suck me in.

You get the giftbook (the second one) for every book or books you buy in this 'Boekenweek' that last for 10 days. So if you go to the bookstore or order at an online store (dutch) every day and spend more than € 12,50 each time you can get 10 free books (the same one). That's not really what i want. Just one book is enough (or 3 and give 2 away).

And this bookweek has a long tradition. I think maybe 30 years or so. Every year a writer is asked to write this novella and they consider it an honor to be asked for the occasion. It's not really a series bit people like to collect them.

+ there is a free ride ticket on the train next sunday if you have the giftbook in your bag

Hmm, this is not going very well. No ROOTs read in march and 2 more new and shining books sneaked into my house.

De Opkomst van Nyphron by Michael J. Sullivan



This is the translation of Nyphron Rising
And I am so glad I had this book pre-ordered and just getting is sent to me on the day of publication. This is the third book in the Riyria series and I loved the first two books.

The English blurb:
War has come to Melengar. To save her kingdom, Princess Arista runs a desperate gamble when she defies her brother and hires Royce and Hadrian for a dangerous mission. As the power of the Nyphron Empire grows, so does Royce's suspicion that the wizard Esrahaddon is using the thieves as pawns in his own game. To find the truth, he must unravel the secret of Hadrian's past--what he discovers may end their friendship and break Riyria in two.

So this book will be on My VERY VERY soon to read pile.

The other book is called de kunst van het rijden in de regen by Garth Stein

This is the translation of The art of racing in the rain



I think this will be a nice book for a sunny weekend in the garden (whenever spring decides to arrive in Holland)

The English Blurb:
The novel follows the story of Denny Swift, a race car driver living in Seattle, and his dog Enzo, who believes in the Mongolian legend that a dog who is prepared will be reincarnated in his next life as a human. Enzo sets out to prepare, with The Seattle Times calling his journey "a struggle to hone his humanness, to make sense of the good, the bad and the unthinkable."

Enzo spends his days watching and learning from television, gleaning what he can about his owner's greatest passion, race car driving — and relating it to life. Enzo eventually plays a key role in Denny's child-custody battle with his in-laws, and distills his observations of the human condition in the mantra "that which you manifest is before you."

Hi, Connie! Thanks for visiting my ROOTs thread. You seem very, very organized and reading very interesting and varied books.

I read The Art of Racing in the Rain a while back, and really liked it. Yes, a sunny weekend in the garden would probably work for that book.

Thanks, Terri!

I try to look organized! My books and book related stuff is organized, because I love to do that. Making lists and cross reference and things like that.

Oh, Connie, read The Art of Racing in the Rain as soon as you can! One of my favorite books ever!

Okay!!!

Today I celebrated my 60th (is that how you write it?) birthday with my husband, kids and my family and friends. It was a great day with flowers and balloons and laughter and hugs, kisses and presents and tears for joy! But no reading time at all. I'm just getting in a relaxed mood now. All chairs and tables are back in their places, the dishwasher has finally finished. Hubbie has fallen asleep on the couch. All is quiet, so I'm going to read a few pages before going to bed.

Happy birthday my dear, glad you have had a good day, i will write more tomorrow.

Looking forward to that, John!!

Happy Birthday, Connie. Sounds like a lovely way to spend your birthday as well.

Happy Birthday, Connie! A day with friends and family sounds like a perfect birthday to me.

Happy Birthday Connie. Sounds like you had a lovely time. My husband and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary but with just us two it was a much quieter celebration than yours. Have a great year.

Happy birthday Connie. It's a great date. My daughter celebrated her 21ht in Amsterdam and got stucked there because the train was leaving earlier then it was supposed to. Today she is on her way back.

Thanks everybody. It was a perfect day.

@ Vivienne: Congratulations on 48 years!

@ Ameise: Hope your daughter gets home safe!

TBR 612 - 16=596 + 10=606
Read ROOTs = 7
Read others:
------- p-books = 4
------- e-books = 4
Total = 8
Totally Read 2013 = 15
Books into the house = 10
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 2

Last evening I finally finished Het laatste rijk by Brandon Sanderson. I gave it just because it was a very nice and readable book. The magic used in the book was new to me and very entertaining. The main characters are very likeable and I miss them already.

Last night I woke up smelling fire. That's not a very nice thought when you are living in a house full of books. Luckily it was not in my house or any house nearby. But I had trouble getting back to sleep again and I found myself reading a very new and shiny book: De opkomst van Nyphron by Michael J. Sullivan This is part 3 in the Riyria series and I loved part 1 and 2 enormously.

De opkomst van Nyphron = The rise of Nyphron / Nyphron rising

So NO ROOT book started in April just yet.

Thanks Connie! She just called me from Basel, so another hour and she'll be back home.

That good to hear, Ameise.

My ROOT number 8 will be a book bij Terry Pratchett called De Plaagzusters which is the tranlation of 'Wyrd Sisters' , # 6 of the Discworld series.

I have this book as part of a '3 in 1 book' (omnibus?)



I decided on this book since on my FantasyForum the April challenge was announced. We have to read a book about a throne changing. Some of you may know that our dutch Queen Beatrix is abdicating in favour of her eldest son Willem-Alexander at the end of this month.
And so that became the challenge. This book seems to be about a changing of the throne.

King Verence I of Lancre is murdered by his cousin, Duke Felmet, after his ambitious wife persuades him to do so. The King's crown and child are given by an escaping servant to the three witches. The witches hand the child to a troupe of travelling actors, and hide the crown in the props-box. They acknowledge that destiny will eventually take its course and that the child, Tomjon, will grow up to defeat Duke Felmet and take his rightful place as king.

Have you read any/many other of Pratchett's discworld books? I enjoy the ones with the witches.

TBR 612 - 16=596 + 11=607
Read ROOTs = 7
Read others:
------- p-books = 4
------- e-books = 4
Total = 8
Totally Read 2013 = 15
Books into the house = 11
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 3

Yes Genny, I've read the first three and number 28, but I own almost all of his books. I like them a lot but never seem te get down to reading them. So this challenge is a change to read number 6 in the series (As far as the Netherlands is concerned)

I've bought another book today :-/

De Weg naar de Hemel by Tad Williams. The first book in the Bobby Dollar series. This is the translation of The Dirty Streets of Heaven



BOBBY DOLLAR ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE ANGEL. Sure, he takes the occasional trip to Heaven, but his job as an advocate - arguing the fate of the recently deceased - keeps him pretty busy on Earth, and he's more than happy to spend the rest of his time propping up the bar with his fellow immortals. Until the day a soul goes missing, presumed stolen by 'the other side'. A new chapter in the war between heaven and hell is about to open. And Bobby is right in the middle of it, with only a desirable but deadly demon to aid him.

TBR 612 - 17=595 + 13=608
Read ROOTs = 7
Read others:
------- p-books = 5
------- e-books = 4
Total = 9
Totally Read 2013 = 16
Books into the house = 13
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 2

Yesterday I had a meet with some members of my bookclub. Some of those people are LT members aswel. We had a marvelous time, just chatting and having coffee and eating together. We visited bookstores and talked a lot about books, e-readers and other bookrelated stuff.

This is a picture of our comparison of the e-readers:



In the past we took pictures of the books we bought that day, but there were just a few books bought yesterday and it was a pitiful stack so we replaced it with the ereaders available! (7 people, 7 readers).

And now you may guess who bought the books!

Well you guessed right: It was me. I really tried and tried, but I had to have these 2 books because a have to complete my collection of translated books by these writers.

1. De vertrouweling by Kate Morton.This is the translation of The Secret Keeper

Altough the translation is not to the letter: De vertrouweling means 'the Confidant'



1959: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.

2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

Shifting between the 1930s, the 1950s and the present, The Secret Keeper is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, theatre and thievery, murder and enduring love.

2. De verloren dochter by Lucretia Grindle This is the translation of The Lost Daughter



In Florence, a young American student goes missing. At first neither Alessandro Pallioti, one of the city's most senior policemen, nor Enzo Saenz, his deputy, are too concerned. But soon the men are horrified to discover that the older man Kristen has been spending time with is Antonio Tomaselli, a member of the notorious Red Brigades.
Then, before the police can get a handle on the case, Kristen's step-mother, Anna, also vanishes. Before long Enzo finds himself enmeshed in a web of false identities, betrayed loyalties, and revenge. At its centre is Anna, a woman he is increasingly drawn to, but knows he should not trust; and at stake is the life of an eighteen year old girl. With the horrors of the past rising behind him and the women's futures hanging in the balance, Enzo Saenz is on unfamiliar ground and playing the most deadly game of his life ...

Set against the stunning backdrop of Ferrara, Rome and Florence, in the 1970's and the modern day, The Lost Daughter is at once a gripping thriller and the heartbreaking story of a desperate love affair, the consequences of which will resound for decades.

I loved the Secret Keeper.

Happy Belated Birthday!

Thanks, Chèli. I loved her other books (there are 3 of her books translated and this is number 4) so this one I had to have.
When I saw it on the shelves of the bookstore I got a rather greedy feeling bubbling up.

I finished another Non ROOT book early this morning.

De opkomst van Nyphron by Michael J. Sullivan. And i really loved it. A good and exciting story. Really good and endearing characters. And Humor! I think a bit of humor in a book is a very nice thing.

Hi, Connie! Belated happy birthday wishes to you.

Belated birthday wishes from Batavia as well.

Thanks you all!

Finally finished ROOT number 8: De plaagzusters by Terry Pratchett.

This was an entertaining story with a couple of the witches as the leading ladies. King Verinus gets murdered and his son is wisked away and the witches take care of him. When Duke (in dutch: Hertog) Omlut takes the throne as successor, the land (not the people) gets very upset, because Omlut does not care about the things of nature. So the witches try to get the legitimate king on the throne.

Now waiting in front of my bookshelves for a book that's calling me.

TBR 612 - 18=594 + 13=607
Read ROOTs = 8
Read others:
------- p-books = 5
------- e-books = 4
Total = 9
Totally Read 2013 = 16
Books into the house = 13
Books leaving the house unread = 5
Currently reading = 2

There were a few books shouting at me, but I ignored them. I wanted a ROOT book to be my next p-book. So I looked at my LT lists and decided to read De affaire by Santa Montefiore



This book has been on my shelves since 23-09-2010 so it is defenitly a ROOT. 350 pages.

Would you risk everything for love? Bestselling children's book writer Angelica is amused and flattered at the attention of Jack, the owner of a vineyard in South Africa, whom she meets at a dinner party. With his easy charm and reputation as a ladies' man, Jack makes her feel good about herself - surely it can't do any harm to indulge in a mild email flirtation? After all, she wouldn't risk her stable marriage and the happiness of her children. But things don't stop there, and when Angelica is sent to Cape Town for a book tour, the affair begins in earnest. On their last day together, Jack confesses that he has an incurable disease: being with Angelica has enabled him to forget his mortality. Shocked and heartbroken, she returns to London determined to save her marriage and put to good use all the emotional lessons she learnt during their brief time together.

Do all Pratchett's Macbeth references come through in the Dutch?

#149 I wondered about that too.

Hi Connie and a belated Happpy 60th. i loved the pictures of your reading group's e-readers, my how things have changed in a few short years! Good luck on pulling those roots.

Thanks DeltaQueen.

TBR 612 - 22=590 + 15=605
Read ROOTs = 8
Read others:
------- p-books = 5
------- e-books = 4
Total = 9
Totally Read 2013 = 17
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

------------------------------------------------------------

On Friday I cleaned the living room and dusted of the bookshelves. I decided to get rid of 4 books that I don't plan on reading any year soon. I had to do this because I had to make space for 2 newly bought books.

De eerste biechtmoeder by Terry Goodkind. This is the translation of The First Confessor



In the time before the Confessors, when the world is a dark and dangerous place, where treason and treachery are the rule of the day, comes one heroic woman, Magda Searus, who has just lost her husband and her way in life.

and

Aan niemand vertellen by Simone van der Vlugt

This is a book by a Dutch writer and the title means something like Tell no one



This is a thriller by one of my favorite Dutch writers

To 149 and 150: I really do not know. I have not read anything by Shakespeare (or Dickens for that matter).

TBR 612 - 22=590 + 15=605
Read ROOTs = 8
Read others:
------- p-books = 5
------- e-books = 5
Total = 9
Totally Read 2013 = 18
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

-------------------------------------

This morning I finished Voor mijn zusje by Heather Gudenkauf. The translation of These things hidden
But when translated to the letter it is For my sister



It took a while for this book to come first and get my full attention. But last friday something clicked and all I wanted to do was read. Sometimes things like ironing and groceries got in the way as live always does.
I liked the way this book was built up. The story is told by 4 girls/women and the chapters are really short and get intertwined near the end. I shed some tears too.

Then I started reading in another e-book. I was snuggled up in bed with pillows, tea and my Kobo and I just wanted to stay there so I choose:

Kind van sneeuw by Eowyn Ivey The translation of The Snow Child



A bewitching tale of heartbreak and hope set in 1920s Alaska. Jack and Mabel have staked everything on making a fresh start for themselves in a homestead 'at the world's edge' in the raw Alaskan wilderness. But as the days grow shorter, Jack is losing his battle to clear the land, and Mabel can no longer contain her grief for the baby she lost many years before. The evening the first snow falls, their mood unaccountably changes. In a moment of tenderness, the pair are surprised to find themselves building a snowman - or rather a snow girl - together. The next morning, all trace of her has disappeared, and Jack can't quite shake the notion that he glimpsed a small figure - a child? - running through the spruce trees in the dawn light. And how to explain the little but very human tracks Mabel finds at the edge of their property?

Both books are Non ROOTS since they are e-books.

TBR 612 - 23=589 + 15=604
Read ROOTs = 9
Read others:
------- p-books = 5
------- e-books = 5
Total = 10
Totally Read 2013 = 19
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

--------------------

Yesterday evening I finished my 9th ROOT
De affaire by Santa Montefiore
I was not very impressed by this book. Santa Montefiore normally writes this light, romantic and easy readable books. I call them ZZZ books.
Zwoele Zomer Zwijmel boeken. I will try to translate this one.
Sultry Summer Swooning books or something like that!
And this one could qualify for this title but I became very irritated by the mentioning of all kinds of Brands: Gucci, Stella McCartney and others. Every time some of the ladies in the book changed clothes the designers were mentioned of every pieces of clothing they put on (including shoes). It could have been a but now it's a

Another book sneaked into the house and since this is a Robin Hobb I started reading it immediately. It's called De eigenzinnige prinses en de bonte prins. The translation of The Willful princess and the Piebald Prince.



This book is a prequel to all the other books.

One of the darkest legends in the Realm of the Elderlings recounts the tale of the so-called Piebald Prince, a Witted pretender to the throne unseated by the actions of brave nobles so that the Farseer line could continue untainted. Now the truth behind the story is revealed through the account of Felicity, a low-born companion of the Princess Caution at Buckkeep.

With Felicity by her side, Caution grows into a headstrong Queen-in-Waiting. But when Caution gives birth to a bastard son who shares the piebald markings of his father’s horse, Felicity is the one who raises him. And as the prince comes to power, political intrigue sparks dangerous whispers about the Wit that will change the kingdom forever…

Technically this book belongs to my brother. He ownes all the Hobbs, I buy them, he pays for them, I read them and he puts them on his shelves.

TBR 612 - 24=588 + 15=603
Read ROOTs = 9
Read others:
------- p-books = 6
------- e-books = 5
Total = 10
Totally Read 2013 = 20
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

--------------------------------------------

Yesterday I took a day off. The day promised to be a really sunny one and I had some overtime to spend. I had promised myself to do some household chores, but the sun, the garden and my book were calling loudly. The sun took some time to fight the clouds and I did some laundry and folding clothes, but then there was the sun and I immediately left all chores alone and took my coffee, book and glasses outside. It was really nice.

I finished De eigenzinnige prinses en de bonte prins by Robin Hobb (I don't know why the touchstone is not working). I was looking forward to that one, but it was a bit disappointing. I love Robin Hobbs writing skills. She can build the most beautiful sentences, but I missed 'something' enchanting in this novella. I missed the emotions, but liked to hear about the early days of the Zieners

The next book I chose was one in my SoonTBR list. I stood in front of the line of books and I listened! And the one screaming the loudest was De mysterieuze vrouw by Jonathan Kellerman. And it was not a ROOT. I tought it was, but I bought this one in december 2012 and I excluded 2012 from ROOTing.



The closing of their favorite romantic rendezvous, the Fauborg Hotel in Beverly Hills, is a sad occasion for longtime patrons Alex Delaware and Robin Castagna. And gathering one last time with their fellow faithful habitués for cocktails in the gracious old venue makes for a bittersweet evening. But even more poignant is a striking young woman—alone and enigmatic among the revelers—waiting in vain in elegant attire and dark glasses that do nothing to conceal her melancholy. Alex can’t help wondering what her story is, and whether she’s connected to the silent, black-suited bodyguard lingering outside the hotel.

Two days later, Alex has even more to contemplate when police detective Milo Sturgis comes seeking his psychologist comrade’s insights about a grisly homicide. To Alex’s shock, the brutalized victim is the same beautiful woman whose lonely hours sipping champagne at the Fauborg may have been her last.

But with a mutilated body and no DNA match, she remains as mysterious in death as she seemed in life. And even when a tipster’s sordid revelation finally cracks the case open, the dark secrets that spill out could make Alex and Milo’s best efforts to close this horrific crime not just impossible but fatal.

And i read more than half of it, just enjoying the sun.

That sounds like a lovely way to spend a day off!

Enjoy your day my dear, just taken some freshly baked bread out of the oven done by my own fair hands and now for some reading.

Hey John! Nice to see you here. A man who makes his own bread! I'm impressed.

TBR 612 - 25=587 + 15=602
Read ROOTs = 9
Read others:
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 5
Total = 10
Totally Read 2013 = 21
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

------------------------------------

Today was another day with lots of sunshine, but a chilling wind. So I waited for the sun to reach a spot in the garden were there was liitle wind. And I finished the book by Jonathan Kellerman. That was a really a very nice read. I have always loved Alex Delaware and I have a soft spot for Milo Sturgis. The crime they solve (they always do) is complicated and I had no idea who was the killer.



So I had to choose another p-book and I decided the next one would really be a ROOT. On my bookclub we were talking about the books of Patricia McKillip and that triggered my curiosity. I have three of her books (the only ones translated into Dutch) on my shelves. Since that is a trilogy I picked part one and it certainly is a ROOT. It's been on my shelves since 30-06-2010 but it was written in 1976 and first published in the Netherlands in 1986. 189 pages.

In Dutch it is called: De raadselmeester van Hed and the original title is The riddle-master of Hed



Long ago, the wizards had vanished from the world, and all knowledge was left hidden in riddles. Morgon, prince of the simple farmers of Hed, proved himself a master of such riddles when he staked his life to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aum.
But now ancient, evil forces were threatening him. Shape changers began replacing friends until no man could be trusted. So Morgon was forced to flee to hostile kingdoms, seeking the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain.
Beside him went Deth, the High One's Harper. Ahead lay strange encounters and terrifying adventures. And with him always was the greatest of unsolved riddles -- the nature of the three stars on his forehead that seemed to drive him toward his ultimate destiny.

Finished ROOT number 10

Update will follow tonight.

TBR 612 - 26=586 + 15=601
Read ROOTs = 10
Read others:
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 5
Total others = 12
Totally Read 2013 = 22
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

-----------------------------------

Yesterday evening I finished ROOT number 10 De raadselmeester van Hed by Patricia A. McKillip. It is a good story but the way it was written made it difficult for me. There were lots of undefined leaps in the story. One should expect a blank line, but there was no indication, the story just continued. Once I was familiar with this phenomenon, reading got better.

Today I took the day off to do some serious cleaning. My son is turning 30 tomorrow and his appartment is to small to party! So mum and dad said: "Okay son, ofcourse you can use our house on saturday. 40+ people? No problem". Today I took care of the living area and kitchen and tomorrow afternoon the sleeping area's (son, daughter, son in law, daughter in law are staying the night after) and bathroom (We only have one. We are not living in the US, here one bathroom is usual for a one family home). So reading was slow today. But I managed to get halfway ROOT 11:

Erfgenaam van zee en vuur by Patricia A. McKillip.
The translation of Heir of Sea and Fire . This has been on my shelves since 30-06-2010 (I bought the trilogy in one buy) and it's ROOT number 11. This is, of course, part 2. First published in 1977 en translated and published in Holland in 1986. 171 pages.



I'm not giving a discription of the book in case of spoilers.

TBR 612 - 26=586 + 15=601
Read ROOTs = 10
Read others:
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 6
Total others = 13
Totally Read 2013 = 23
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

---------------------------------------------

This morning i finished Kind van Sneeuw by Eowyn Ivey. An ebook and a recent one so no ROOT here. This is the translation of The Snow Child

I started reading another ebook Donker hart by Gillian Flynn and that one does not count either! This is the translation of Gone Girl

Thought you might like this my dear, how are you and the family doing, i will send a private message tomorrow after we have got back from Karen's dad's party, he is 90 today.



Hannah's first painting done at playgroup this week, not bad for a 26 month old little girl. The new heir to Jackson Pollock.

I would frame it, John!

TBR 612 - 26=586 + 15=601
Read ROOTs = 10
Read others:
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 6
Total others = 13
Totally Read 2013 = 23
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 3

---------------------------------------------

Suddenly I find myself reading another ROOT. I was cleaning up in the bedrooms after my childeren were supposed to stay the night (Other story) and this book was screaming out to me: Read me, read me.

So I took it downstairs and read a few pages in
Sluitend bewijs by Jonathan Kellerman. The translation of Evidence on the shelf since 01-03-2011. 351 pages.



Early one morning a foreman shows up at the building site of a mega-mansion. Proceeding up unfinished plank steps, he arrives at the master bedroom. There, lying on a blanket, are a man and a woman, stabbed and bludgeoned to death. Who are the lovers? Why have they chosen a construction site for their late-night tryst. Is the double murder simply a horrific example of wrong-place, wrong-time? Or were the victims stalked? And will the outrage be repeated? Alex and Milo are called in and as they struggle to make their way through the alternative universe that is the domain of the impossibly rich, they discover a scheme rooted in deception and evil beyond even their imagination.

hi Connnie

I finally made it to read your thread, I have been down with the flue for weeks since half March :-(

> 120: I could not resist to comment on your statement about the bookweek, as it is a VERY long tradition: the fist bookweek was in 1932!
On wikipedia there is a list of all bookweek publications.

And a very belated Happy Birthday to you!

Anita

Thanks Anita. Nice of you to visit my thread.

TBR 612 - 27=585 + 15=600
Read ROOTs = 11
Read others = 13
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 6

Totally Read 2013 = 24
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 3

-------------------------------------

And I finished ROOT number 11. Just in time to count for April. Going to update my personal ticker and the group tickers.

#11. Erfgenaam van zee en vuur by Patricia McKillip.
And I plan on starting the last part in the Morgon of Hed trilogy: Harpspeler in de wind the translation of Harpist in the wind and because of possible spoilers I'm not posting a blurb. This has been on my shelves since 30-06-2010. 234 pages.

TBR 612 - 28=584 + 15=599
Read ROOTs = 12
Read others = 13
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 6

Totally Read 2013 = 25
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 3

------------------------------------

Just finished ROOT number 12 Sluitend bewijs by Jonathan Kellerman.
That brings my TBR beneath 600 for the first time in ages.

This book by Kellerman gave me everything I expect from his books. Fast, thrilling and a nice read for lovely afternoons in the sun in the garden.

Started another book as well: De schapen van Glennkill by Leonie Swann. Not only a ROOT but also a Challenge book for May on the ff-leesclub.
The theme for May is 'Animals' and this book is certainly about animals.
It is the translation of a German book but it is also available in English as Three Bags full This has been on my shelves for a long time. 304 pages.



At the beginning of the novel, the sheep belonging to George Glenn awake to find their shepherd dead with a spade in his middle, and resolve to solve his murder. The story is set in the fictional Irish village of Glennkill. Horrified, Miss Maple, the cleverest sheep in the flock, suggests they find the murderer. The others agree, and Miss Maple volunteers to inspect the body.

A little later, a certain Tom O'Malley finds the body and, panicked, runs to fetch the people of Glennkill. This draws not only the townspeople, but several reporters.

Wow, that's a really interesting cover! The English version seems a lot more "cozy" -- this cover looks quite moody and almost Gothic!

Perhaps it tells more about the mood the sheep are in. '-)

That sounds like an unusual premise for a mystery, with sheep acting as the detectives!

Its really lovely and a bit absurd. The flock is not very big and the sheep (about 34 of them) are very different in character. There is Miss Maple, the smartest sheep. Sir Ritchfield the older male (a buck?), Othello who has lived in a circus and knows things, Cordelia who loves words and knows about them, Cloud and Bolly, the younger sheep who are a bit foolish and overconfident. Zora is rather philosophical. They have listened to George, their shepherd, reading out loud to them. Mostly romantic novels but sometimes a detictive and they know about clues and evidence. It's just delightful to read.

It's certainly a different approach to mystery writing! I'll have to look out for that one, it sounds fun.

I really hope you find it and let me know what you think eventually, Genny

Definitely an addition for my wishlist.

How nice, Robert. I hope you will find this book just as entertaining as I do.

TBR 612 - 29=583 + 15=598
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 13
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 6

Totally Read 2013 = 26
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

----------------------------------------------------------------
I just finished the sheepbook. And I was really surprised by the end of the book. This was a very nice read and when part 2 is ever translated I will love to read that one too.

You can't read German, then?

No, I could try it, but it will not be a relaxed read. More of a forced one. So I will wait patiently for the Dutch version.

I was just curious, because I thought it was typical to learn German in Dutch schools. :)

Yes, I have had 5 years English, 5 years French and 5 years German between ages 12 and 17. But that was 40 + years ago and I can speak and understand all these languages if necessary, but to say I'm fluent is a bit to much.

TBR 612 - 29=583 + 15=598
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 13
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 6

Totally Read 2013 = 26
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 3

--------------------------------------------------

Oeps, I did it again! Started a second p-book.
This is one we read for the http://www.librarything.nl/groups/ffleesclubforum
It's the May discussion book and I really look forward to reading it:
Farlander by Col Buchanan



The Heart of the World is a land in strife. For fifty years the Holy Empire of Mann, an empire and religion born from a nihilistic urban cult, has been conquering nation after nation. Their leader, Holy Matriarch Sasheen, ruthlessly maintains control through her Diplomats, priests trained as subtle predators. The Mercian Free Ports are the only confederacy yet to fall. Their only land link to the southern continent, a long and narrow isthmus, is protected by the city of Bar-Khos. For ten years now, the great southern walls of Bar-Khos have been besieged by the Imperial Fourth Army. Ash is a member of an elite group of assassins, the Rashun - who offer protection through the threat of vendetta. Forced by his ailing health to take on an apprentice, he chooses Nico, a young man living in the besieged city of Bar-Khos. At the time, Nico is hungry, desperate, and alone in a city that finds itself teetering on the brink. When the Holy Matriarch's son deliberately murders a woman under the protection of the Rashun; he forces the sect to seek his life in retribution. As Ash and his young apprentice set out to fulfil the Rashun orders - their journey takes them into the heart of the conflict between the Empire and the Free Ports . . . into bloodshed and death.

I think it's very brave, that you dare count your new books. I really fear the results if I did that. ;-)

Hey Henrik, you found me! Very good.

>183 connie53: Ah that makes sense if you didn't keep actively using it. My FIL is like that, he can understand most if you speak English to him but if he tries to speak himself he flounders for words a lot. My MIL reads in English along with Dutch though so she's more fluent, and I think maybe the same with German, but I'm not positive there. They have a bunch of old German books, though. heh.

>187 .Monkey.: It took me sometime to figure out what you meant with FIL and MIL. But I know now. Father and mother in law!! And yes it's speaking or reading those languages on a regular basis that is the thing to do. But I did not so. No German or French books for me. English might be doable, but I want to read for entertainment. So I just stick to Dutch books.;-)

TBR 612 - 29=583 + 15=598
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 14
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 7

Totally Read 2013 = 27
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 2

--------------------------

I just finished Donker hart by Gillian Flynn and WOW. I really have read a lot of thrillers, but this one is very different from your standard thriller. Just when you think you have seen it all, there is one more thing (or 3 things) that can happen in this story. I tought the end is a bit forced, but

TBR 612 - 29=583 + 15=598
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 14
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 7

Totally Read 2013 = 27
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 9
Currently reading = 3

---------------------------------------

I started another ebook by Gillian Flynn named Duisternis.
The translation of Dark Places although 'Duisternis' means 'Darkness'. The correct translation of Dark Places would be 'Donkere plaatsen'.



Libby Day was just seven years old when her older brother massacred her family while she hid in a cupboard. Her evidence helped put him away. Ever since then she has been drifting, surviving for over 20 years on the proceeds of the 'Libby Day fund'. But now the money is running out and Libby is desperate. When she is offered $500 to do a guest appearance, she feels she has to accept. But this is no ordinary gathering. The Kill Club is a group of true-crime obsessives who share information on notorious murders, and they think her brother Ben is innocent. Ben was a social misfit, ground down by the small-town farming community in which he lived. But he did have a girlfriend - a brooding heavy metal fan called Diondra. Through her, Ben became involved with drugs and the dark arts. When the town suddenly turned against him, his thoughts turned black. But was he capable of murder? Libby must delve into her family's past to uncover the truth - no matter how painful...

And of course this is no ROOT since it's an ebook and I just got it yesterday from a friend.

TBR 612 - 30=582 + 15=597
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 14
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 7

Totally Read 2013 = 27
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

---------------------------

Another one is going to leave the house unread. I decided I will never read or want to read it. I bought it because someone I vaguely knew wrote it. But that somebody has vanished and I really have no time to spend on this book.

So out it goes!

TBR 612 - 30=582 + 15=597
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 15
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 8

Totally Read 2013 = 28
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

----------------------------------

This morning I finished Duisternis by Gillian Flynn. I love her books, they have a lot of suspence in them and just when you think you have figured it out, something else happens and you have to rethink everything. I will give this book

This book does not count as a ROOT because I have it as an e-book.

And I started another e-book because I like ro read on my Kobo when I can't sleep and the reader is much more easy to handle in bed.

This time I choose In stilte gehuld by Heather Gudenkauf
This is the translation of The Weight of Silence but to the letter it would be someting like Wrapped in silence.



Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler. Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

TBR 612 - 30=582 + 15=597
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 15
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 9

Totally Read 2013 = 29
Books into the house = 15
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

--------------------------------------------

Just finished In stilte gehuld van Heather Gudenkauf. That was a very very exciting read from beginning to the end. Not a ROOT.

Next on my reader is a book by Charlotte Link - De toeschouwer. It's a translation of Der Beobachter which means : The Spectator. One who stands by and watches.



A man whose life has been a relative failure, enjoys watching the lives of others from a distance. He becomes attracted to a successful woman, until he realises that her life is a mere facade. At the same time, police are hunting for a serial killer who shows every appearance of hating women -- given the sadistic and vengeful nature of their deaths.

And I managed to order 2 more books that will arrive tomorrow :-(

TBR 612 - 30=582 + 16=598
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 15
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 9

Totally Read 2013 = 29
Books into the house = 16
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

----------------------------------------

Got a new book! I could not resist the newest book by Harlan Coben - Zes jaar. The translation of Six Years. That will not be on my TBR pile for very long. I always love his books.



Six years have passed since Jake Sanders watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six years of keeping his promise to leave Natalie alone, and six years of tortured dreams of her life with her new husband, Todd.

But six years haven't come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd's obituary, he can't keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd's wife he's hoping for.. but she is not Natalie. Whoever the mourning widow is, she's been married to Todd for more than a decade, and with that fact everything Jake thought he knew about the best time of his life - a time he has never gotten over - is turned completely inside out.

As Jake searches for the truth, his picture-perfect memories of Natalie begin to unravel. Mutual friends of the couple either can't be found or don't remember Jake. No one has seen Natalie in years. Jake's search for the woman who broke his heart - and who lied to him - soon puts his very life at risk as it dawns on him that the man he has become may be based on carefully constructed fiction.

TBR 612 - 30=582 + 17=599
Read ROOTs = 13
Read others = 15
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 9

Totally Read 2013 = 29
Books into the house = 17
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

------------------------------------------------------------

Another book into the house: Teerbemind by Gillian Flynn. This is the translation of Sharp Objects.
Altough that is not translated to the letter.
Sharp objects would be Scherpe voorwerpen
Teerbemind would be Dearly Beloved or something like that.



When two girls are abducted and killed in Missouri, journalist Camille Preaker is sent back to her home town to report on the crimes. Long-haunted by a childhood tragedy and estranged from her mother for years, Camille suddenly finds herself installed once again in her family's mansion, reacquainting herself with her distant mother and the half-sister she barely knows - a precocious 13-year-old who holds a disquieting grip on the town. As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims - a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

I love Coben's books too, but that one I haven't read so far.

It's rather new, Ameise.

TBR 612 - 31=581 + 17=598
Read ROOTs = 14
Read others = 16
------- p-books = 7
------- e-books = 9

Totally Read 2013 = 30
Books into the house = 17
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

----------------------------------------------------

Finally I finished ROOT number 14. Harpspeler in de wind by Patricia McKillip. That took the longest time and I'm glad this one is done.
It's not that it is bad, but it is just to vague for me. To much discriptions. I like a bit more action. But it was a ROOT and I have read part 1 and 2 in these series, so part 3 had to follow to finish the series.

Now I'm reading my new and shiny Harlan Coben - Zes jaar and enjoying that immensly. Just the pace of reading is like a breath of fresh air.

TBR 612 - 32 =581 + 17=598
Read ROOTs = 14
Read others = 16
------- p-books = 8
------- e-books = 9

Totally Read 2013 = 31
Books into the house = 17
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

----------------------------

I really am enjoying the nice warm weather we are having. Yesterday was nice in the late afternoon but today was really splendid all day long. Peet and I did some gardening. I filled a few pots with flowers to put on the terrace and Peet did some weeding and pruning.



And then there was time to enjoy the day with my book and a glass of rosé.



I finished the book I am reading on the picture. It was nice summer reading but I am used to a higher standard in Cobens books. Perhaps it was the perspective that put me off.
I really don't like an 'I- version' book and there was a bit to much "I am that kind of guy' or 'I know I am funny' commentary.

But I started another Coben, just because they are easy accessible, so now I am reading Genezing. The translation of Miracle Cure

Hi Connie! These are fantastic photos. Only yesterday I was able to read in the garden. Today we've got rain again :-(. I loved Miracle Cure and I hope you'll enjoy the reading, too.

Thanks, Ameise. I will let everybody know in my thread!

You've got a lovely garden, Connie, and what a civilised way to spend the day, with a glass of wine and a book.

Yes, my thought as well--how civilized!

TBR 612 - 32 =581 + 18=597
Read ROOTs = 14
Read others = 16
------- p-books = 8
------- e-books = 9

Totally Read 2013 = 31
Books into the house = 18
Books leaving the house unread = 10
Currently reading = 3

----------------------------------------

Today my husband and I went to Maastricht. That's half an hour by car. We just went there to be out of the house. Yesterday was such a nice day, but today it started out rainy and grey outside.
Maastricht is also the town where Eveline, my daughter, lives with her boyfriend Cyrille. And it is the town where the worlds most beautifull bookstore is based in an old church. (there really is a list of this bookstores)



Of course we had to go there. And of course I found a lot of books I wanted to own. But I decided to stay strong and just add books to my wishlist. But Peter, my husband wanted to give me one book and you can't say no to a gift, can you?

So book number 18 of the year: Je bent nu van mij by Hans Koppel is on my STBR pile.



There is no English version of this book to be found so no discription.

Beautiful!

My gosh, I think I just want to stare at that picture forever. :)

There are lots of pictures of this church, just google: Selexyz Dominicanen Maastricht