Barbara (Ameise1)'s reading tour (3)

Welcome on my second thread.

Today, I would like to introduce Predigerkirche which was from 1234 until 1524 a monastery of the Dominican Order. Its church is one of the four main churches in Zürich, and was first built in 1231 as a Romanesque church of the then Dominican monastery. In the first half of the 14th century it was converted, the choir between 1308 and 1350 rebuilt, and an for that time unusual high bell tower built, regarded as most high Gothic edifice in Zürich.
The convent was distablished on 3 December 1524, worship in the church was discontinued, and the buildings and income of the monastery were assigned to the adjoining Heilig-Geist-Spital (hospital). After the construction of the new hospital in 1842, they became the so-called "Versorgungsanstalt" where chronically ill, old, incurable mental patients were housed.
On 28 June 1914, the citizens of Zürich agreed to the establishment of the Central Library (German: Zentralbibliothek), that was completed according to the plans by Hermann Fietz in 1917. So the cantonal library was outsourced, however in 1919 moved back and again moved, to make room for the as of today Staatsarchiv (State Archives) Zürich; therefore since 1982, the premise is used for the library, in particular for the so-called Musikabteilung.

       

January
# 1 The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill (4 stars)
# 2 The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (4 stars)
# 3 The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton (4½ stars)
# 4 Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth (3 stars)
# 5 The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler (4 stars)

February
# 6 The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (4½ stars)
# 7 The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkinton 2016 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
# 8 Nine Lives by William Dalrymple (5 stars)
# 9 The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie 2016 ROOT Challenge (3½ stars)

American Author Challenge 2016

January (Anne Tyler): The Beginner's Goodbye (2016-01-29)

British Author Challenge 2016

January
The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill read in German (2016-01-03)
Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth (2016-01-19)
February
Nine Lives by William Dalrymple (2016-02-14)
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (2016-02-15)

Take It or Leave It Challenge


January
1.:Read a book whose ISBN has at least one number in its correct numeric position
Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth (2016-01-19)
8.Read a book where a word in its title refers to something which is starting/beginning
The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler (2016-01-29)
9.: Read a book you already owned on 1 January 2015, but haven't yet read/finished
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (2016-01-07)
17.: Read a book in which the first line answers the question: 'When did it happen?'
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton (2016-01-16)
21.: Read a book that mentions tea somewhere in the text
The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill (2016-01-03)

February
8.: Read a book that has an animal, bird or reptile in the title
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (2016-02-04)
12.: Read a book written at least 50 years ago
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (2016-02-15)
19.: Read a nonfiction book that's about a people/religion/history/politics/country of the Asian continent
Nine Lives by William Dalrymple (2016-02-14)

currently reading

 That Old Cape Magic    

currently listening

Happy New Thread, Barb! Happy Friday.

Hope you like Cuckoo!

Happy new thread, Barbara! LOVE your toppers - thanks for sharing!

>7 msf59: Congrats, Mark, for being first. Therefore a typical seasonal pastry which is called Fasnachtschüechli (carnival pastry). The dough consists essentially of eggs, cream and flour and has the consistency of soft dough. A plum big piece is thin circular rolled out and then pulled out paper thin on the (covered with a kitchen towel) knee. The dough is then much bigger than the pot. It is placed in the hot fat and compressed with two wooden spoons on pot size, so it throws waves. It is turned once and crispy baked and still warm with powdered sugar dusted.

Lovely historic (and current) pictures at the top, Barbara!

>8 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. I love to introduce a bit of my hometown.

>10 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni. My grandparents house is very close to it. As a child I was very often around Predigerkirche.

I especially love the fourth one because I adore maps and blueprints. And I am sure that Mark would be willing to share that pastry with me. After all, I did share my chicken dinner from Katie's thread with him.

>13 Crazymamie: Mamie, I really hope that Mark is sharing a bite of it but if not, here you have your own one. I love plans and blueprints, too.

Arrrrgh. I just recognised that my topic title number is wrong. It should be number 2. Shame on me.

Oh, thank you!

Congrats on your new thread, whatever the number!

>16 Crazymamie: You're welcome.

>17 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer.

Happy New Thread, Barbara! Number, schmumber. Actually, I've done that, too - I wish LT let us edit the topic titles.

>19 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. I remember when it happend to you. I was so sure that I put a two but had to learn it wasn't so.

I missed the pastry? Oh I must pay closer attention.
Love the topper - especially the historic map. Good stuff. Wishing you a great thread of reading.

>21 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. As a student I was a frequently visitor at the Central library due to no computers at that time.

Hi Barbara, happy new thread my dear, hope you have a lovely weekend.

>23 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I hope to get some reading done. On Sunday morning Thomas and I'll see an exhibition at the Kunsthaus which us called 'Me/Not Me'.

Happy new thread, Barbara. Your thread topper is beautiful.

Beautiful new thread Barbara.

Happy New Thread, Barbara! Gorgeous topper pictures!

Great opening to your new thread, Barbara! Thanks for your photos of and information about Predigerkirche and Fasnachtschüechli (yum!).

Happy new thread, Barbara! What a lovely and fascinating thread topper! I love beautiful old buildings and learning their history.

Love your thread topper and the history and I really love the Fasnachtschüechli (carnival pastry)!! Yum! Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

>25 BLBera: >26 Oberon: >27 vancouverdeb: Beth, Erik and Deb, thanks so much for dropping in. I'm glad you like the photos and history of Predigerkirche.

>28 kidzdoc: >29 tymfos: >30 Berly: Darryl, Terri and Kim, thanks so much for stopping by. Zürich has a very long and rich history. It was founded during the Roman time and was called then Turicum. Since then, the city has always played an important role within Europe. My grandparent's house is very close to Predigerkirche. It is around 750 years old. When my grandparents died the ownership went over to my mother and her sisters. After my mother's death my siblings and I own a quarter of that place. There are two flats and two business which are rented. It's a fantastic building, too. (it's the green house on the left side of the photo)

Some history about Fasnachtschüechli:
Fasnacht refers to Mardi gras when after that date began fasting in the Christian religion. It's always seven weeks before Eastern. During this time it wasn't allowed to eat eggs, meat etc.. That's why a lot of sweets and greasy was eaten in the previous period. The funny thing is that Thomas and I found a cookbook (30 years earlier) on a flea market which is dated from 1871. This cookbook is a gem to find out what people were eating earlier. There is also a chapter for meals at a monastery. So we learned that the monks the rules of the renunciation of eggs and meat bypassed during Lent by ado for example, included the beaver to the species of fish.

Thanks for the carnival pastry, Barb. It was tasty.

>34 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Dina. I feel like this lovely puppy.

>35 msf59: I'm glad you liked it, Mark.

Hi Barbara - sorry you didn't really like Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth. I'm fascinated with archaeology and the tensions among the people and the discoveries all made for a great reading experience.

Happy weekend!

>37 karenmarie: We can't enjoy every book, can't we? I hope you have a lovely weekend, too.

>32 Ameise1: It is a fantastic building! And how great that it's remained in your family, that's something to be proud of.

>39 mstrust: Jennifer, it is indeed wonderful zhat we can keep it in the family. There is such a lot of family history in it.

Good morning from snowy Baltimore. There is about 20 or so inches right now and it is still snowing. Thanks for the photos and the history of your city. That is a nice looking building that you and you siblings own.

>41 catarina1: Thanks so much, Catarina. We had a sunny not so cold day. Most of the snow could melt. I hope it won't get too worse at your place.

Happy new thread, Barbara!
Nice to read & see some of Zürich and that family house of yours is so awesome!
We moved a lot when I was young, so I am a little envious of those who have deep roots somewhere....

>43 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita.

Great to see your new thread up Barbara although it is rather confusingly called (3)? Jim had you having three threads already and I was astonished at your progress in the couple of days I had not been keeping up!

Have a lovely weekend. xx

>45 PaulCranswick: I made a wrong number (>15 Ameise1:). I was so sure that I've written a 2. In the threadbook there is a two. Sorry, when I've made you confused, Paul. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

>32 Ameise1: >33 Ameise1: Thanks for sharing the photo of your family building. How cool is that?! And I loved the history lesson. :)

Happy Sunday!

>47 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. I hope there isn't too much snow at your place. Here in Zürich snow melted almost away yesterday.

Today, we didn't have time to visit Kunsthaus. We'll go on Wednesday late afternoon.

Yesterday evening, I booked tickets for the play Der Besuch der alten Dame (The Visit) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt at the Schauspielhaus Zürich for the 11th of February. I do not know how many performances I've seen of this piece. There must be many and any I liked.

Hi Barbara. Happy new thread!

>9 Ameise1: That looks yummy. It rings a bell about pancake day, before Lent, in England.

>32 Ameise1: How wonderful to have something so historic in the family!

>50 humouress: Thanks so much for stopping by, Nina. I'm glad you like Fasnachtschüechli and the house.

>1 Ameise1: What a beautiful monastery!

Happy new thread, and I hope you have a great new week!

>52 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel. The next 2 weeks will be busy again. I hope you have a great week, too.

Aw, Duerrenmatt on stage, lovely! I saw Die Physiker once in Wiesbaden. Dürrenmatt was one of the few authors the German lit class couldn't put me off. Hm... should reread the mysteries some day.

The Fasnachtschüechli look delicious, much like the Italian fritelle. I have to keep a safe distance from those things, can't stop once I start eating them. :)

Have a nice week!

Hi, Barb! Hope you had a good weekend. We will have milder temps this week. I am happy.

Happy Second thread! Hope your Monday is going well.

>54 Deern: Nathalie, the latest performance of The Physicists I saw two years ago at the Schauspielhaus. It was an amazing performance. I love Dürrenmatt's plays very much.

Indeed, once started eating Fasnachtschüechli there is no way to stop. ;-).

>55 msf59: Thanks, Mark. We've got much milder temps, too. There is no snow in Zürich at this moment.

>56 BBGirl55: Thanks so much, Bryony. I brought all skis for a control into the sport shop. Once there I decided that I could buy some new ski trousers for me. Luky girl I am. I found a perfect pair which was also reduced 50%.

Spending the day getting caught up with some threads and stopping by with Happy New Thread wishes, Barbara. I love all of the interesting points about Zurich and the pastry looks yummy!

>58 lkernagh: Thanks so much, Lori. I hope you have a lovely week.

Happy new thread #2! I fully understand how that mistake gets made!! I just made a similar mistake myself!

>60 michigantrumpet: Thanks, Marianne. It's easily made.

Hi, Barbara!

>62 scaifea: Hi Amber, wishing you a great day.

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a good day my dear, sending love and hugs.

>65 Ameise1: Thanks John, we had a wonderful sunny day. Isabelle stays here overnight because she is flying to Myanmar this morning. She'll be there for one month.

Hello from rainy Wednesday in NZ :|
My feet are wet but I can't be bothered changing my shoes and socks as its nearly bedtime, so.... Yud nev guess it was 30+ deg c earlier in the week!

>57 Ameise1: half price ski pants? No problems there :)

Happy Wednesday, Barb! Hope the week is going well.

>66 LovingLit: It's sunny here, Megan and temps like early spring. Well, the last 10 months the weather was crazy. Nothing like it should be.
I'm very happy with my half price ski pants. :-)

>67 msf59: Hi Mark, so far it's a great week. Sonn we are going to the Kunsthause. *happy dance*

Dropping in to catch up with you, Barbara, and to wish you a Happy Wednesday!

Thanks for your lovely welcome Barbara. I wish you a wonderful week.

>69 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. Thomas and I saw a fabulous exhibition at the Kunsthaus. I'll post the photos later this week.

>70 drachenbraut23: Thanks so much, Bianca. I'm very happy to see you posting. After the exhibition we had a fantastic dinner with scallops on black (squid) risotto. It was delicious.

>65 Ameise1: A month to Myanmar, for vacation?

>72 FAMeulstee: Isabelle safely arrived in Myanmar 7 hours ago, Anita. She is there with two friends just for vacation. They are travelling around.

>73 Ameise1: A friend of mine just returned last night from there after a 3 weeks vacation - she absolutely loved it and sent pictures whenever her phone worked. I hope Isabelle will enjoy it just as much!

Isabelle's vacation sounds great, Barbara. I hope that she and her friends have a great time in Myanmar.

>74 Deern: Great to hear, Nathalie. I hope we'll see some photos on WhatsApp during her travel through Myanmar.

>75 kidzdoc: It's really wonderful that she's able to make this travel, Darryl. There are a lot of restrictions traveling in Myanmar. You can't go everywhere so easily. I'm sure they'll manage it.

Yesterday evening, Thomas and I went to the Kunsthaus Zürich to see a special exhibition. We were luckily because we had an art tour with the curator of this exhibition. Therefore we got a lot of background information.

Here is the blurb from the Kunsthause:

The Kunsthaus Zürich presents an exhibition of self-portraits entitled ‘Me/Not Me’. The approximately 40 paintings, three-dimensional and graphic works, photos and videos from the Kunsthaus collection include pieces by Chuck Close, Urs Fischer, Giovanni and Alberto Giacometti, Urs Lüthi, Pipilotti Rist, Dieter Roth, Egon Schiele, Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing and many others.

The Kunsthaus collection contains portraits from the late Middle Ages to the present day. With the changing conceptions of the role and social status of the artist that follow the Renaissance, the self-portrait becomes an important medium for exploring one’s own psychological state and reflecting on oneself as human being and artist. Guest curator Daniela Hardmeier begins her selection for the ‘Picture Ballot!’ exhibition at the end of the 19th century, a time of accelerating social and technological change. Psychological insights transformed our view of human beings and their inner life. ‘Me/Not Me’ examines artists’ views of the self, the acuities and depths of their own existence. Beginning with the external appearance as it presents itself, the self-portrait plays with the possibilities of an identity constructed first in one’s own mind and then in the mind of the viewer. Inner states are turned outwards, gestures and accessories are deployed symbolically in order, by placing oneself in the picture, to convey an image of the self.

And here are some photos:

Papblo Picasso (1901)


Alberto Giacometti (1921)


Ferdinand Hodler (1916)


Lovis Corinth (1925 & 1903)
 

Helen Dahm (1953)


Giovanni Giacometti (1913/14)


Anna Waser (1691)


Ottilie Roederstein (1913)


Urs Lüthi (1976)

Hi Barbara, I hope Isabelle has a lovely time in Myanmar and the photos of your visit to the Kunsthaus look really lovely.

Johann Conrad Seekatz (1758)


Manon (1980)


Johannes Itten (1917)


Gino Severini (1913)


Hans Richter (1916)


Hans Reichel (1935)

>79 Ameise1: thanks so much, John. I hope she'll have a splendid time.

I hope Isabelle has a great time in Myanmar. My parents are planning a holiday there in a couple of months, too.

Fascinating pictures - the one labelled 1621 reminds me of How to be Both which included an Italian painter and also a modern girl writing about her.

Thanks for sharing the photos from the exhibition, Barbara! The second one by Urs Lüthi is chilling.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wow! Loads of photos - thanks for sharing, Barbara! Hoping that your Friday is full of fabulous!

Have a great weekend, Barbara.

book 5


AAC January

This was a lovely reading about Aaron who lost his wife, about his grief and starting a new life. Aaron is a loner and and also people who care for him can not approach him easily. During the mourning of his late wife she appears to him from time to time. This gives him the chance to reflect his marriage and making peace with their past. He also learns to see people who love him with a different kind of view. This makes him much more approachable to them.

>81 humouress: Nina, so far she is happy there. It must be a feast around Buddha's birthday and they were taken in in these festivities also with food etc.

>82 charl08: Charlotte, I've to apology because I've forgotten to write the name and correct year of this young lady. It's a self-portrait of Anna Waser (1691) She was twelve years old when she painted it. It's an application painting because she liked to studying with a famous painter in Berne. When she first applied with a letter he refused to take her because it was very uncommon at that time that women would learn to be a painter. Therefore she made a second application with this painting and than he took her as an apprentice.

>83 kidzdoc: Darryl, this is one picture (a triptych). It's indeed a bit scary. Lüthi is a very special artist. I've seen other photos of him which are offbeat too.

>84 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. I liove this big smile.

>85 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. I always love Fridays after work. :-)

>86 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. I hope you have a great one too.

Hi Barbara! Happy weekend and good reading!

Hi Barbara - Have a great weekend. Thanks for sharing the photos. Nice comments on The Beginner's Goodbye; it sounds like one I would like.

>88 Ameise1: No apology needed. I like the painting even more now - thank you.

Whisking by to wish you a lovely weekend, dear Barbara.

What a great exhibit. Lucky you! Wishing you a great weekend.

>90 karenmarie: Thanks so much Karen. Lucky you, you get enough reading time since yesterday. Enjoy it.

>91 BLBera: You're welcome and thanks so much Beth. It was a short reading with only 200 pp and I enjoyed it. I hope you'll like it too.

>92 charl08: Isn't it fascinating, Charlotte. I was happy that the curator was leading us through the exhibit. We got such a lot of fab informations.

>93 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul. I hope you have a great one too.

>94 Berly: Hi Kim, it was indeed a wonderful art tour on Wednesday night. Wishing you a fabulous weekend, too.

Beautiful art from the gallery! I love the 1980 b&w photos.

>97 LovingLit: Thanks so much Megan. Manon is a great artist. The Kunsthause has 35 photos of that serie. On each is Manon sitting on the same sofa on either the left or the right side. Her pose or clothing is different every time. It provides so always represent another type of woman.

Thank you for the art and thus adding some culture to my weekend! Wanted to go to our little museum last Sunday, but like almost everything now, it was closed. Should I ever do that Zuerich trip I'll go to the Kunsthaus.

Have a lovely weekend.

>99 Deern: Thanks so much, Nathalie. Sorry to hear that your museum was closed.

Hi Barbara, hope you had a good Saturday my dear and hope you have a lovely Sunday.

thanks for sharing your visit to the Kunsthaus :-)

>77 Ameise1: Giovanni Giacometti? I only knew Alberto... family?

>79 Ameise1: I like the one by Gino Severini!

Barbara, I'm glad this isn't your official 3rd thread because that would mean I'm missed an entire thread. I know I can't keep up around here but it would be sad to be that far behind. Thank you for that lovely art tour. How fortunate that you had the curator as your guide. I also appreciated your thoughts on The Beginner's Goodbye. That is one of several books by Anne Tyler that I haven't read yet.

>101 johnsimpson: We were at friends place for dinner, John. We had a fab evening. It's pouring so driving home was bad.

>102 FAMeulstee: Giovanni is Alberto's father, Anita. He was a famous painter wheras his son is famous for his sculptures even though he was a great painter, too.
I love Gino Severini's colours.

>103 Donna828: Donna, it was my fault with the numbering. I don't know why I did mess it up.
The art tour was indeed very interesting. We got insights we wouldn't have gotten them in another way.
The Beginner's Goodbye is a very lovely reading. I hope you'll get a copy one day.

Your thread is always a delight to visit, with your beautiful pictures! I'm glad you enjoyed The Beginner's Goodbye. I have not read that particular book by Anne Tyler but I do love many of her books. So insightful to the human condition. You are very brave to let your daughter travel to Myanmar! My two have traveled quite a bit, perhaps especially my younger son, but it is only now that they are well -established into their twenties ( and lets admit it, one of my son's is 31 ). I've gotten used my younger son trotting to Hong Kong , Hawaii, California etc now. He and his new wife are off to the UK, France and Germany in July , this summer. Airbnb is what they have planned. I suppose it is best to travel before you have young children.

>106 vancouverdeb: Deb, The Beginner's Goodbye was my first Tyler book. My local library has got some other Tyler books so probably I will read another one by her.
How could I not let my daughters traveling around when I've done it on my own. When I was 19 years old I was on my first long trip (3 months) just before I started university. My last long trip (6 months) was when I was 27/28 years old. I knew then that I've to wait until retirement due to having kids. But I'm looking forward to it.
I'm glad that Isabelle enjoys her trip in Myanmar. It's the perfect time to see this country in an autentic way before all tourists start going there.

Happy Sunday, Barb. I love the artwork from Kunsthause. Thanks for sharing.

I am also a fan of The Beginner's Goodbye. Glad you liked your first Tyler.

>108 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It was a loveky reading.

Happy Sunday my dear, sending love and hugs.

*just lurking*

Hi Barbara! Wishing you a pleasant Sunday and good reading in the week to come.

>110 johnsimpson: >111 humouress: >112 karenmarie: Thanks so much, John, Nina and Karen. I got some nice reading time today. The upcoming two weeks will be busy but after that we'll be in Davos for our skiing holiday.

>77 Ameise1: and >79 Ameise1: Lovely photos! Did you take those yourself? They look professional with the shadowing and angle.

Hi Barbara and Happy New Week.
I am also going to read That Old Cape Magic for Mark's AAC (I admit, it was the shortest book available by the author).

Wishing you a lovely week!

>114 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel. I took them myself. We're aloud to take photos in Kunsthaus and mostly I've got only a very short time to take them due to other visitors.

>115 EBT1002: Thanks so much for the lovely sheep, Ellen. In my opinion there are lots of chunksters in AAC &BAC this year. Well, I know there ate lots of LTers they've got more time to read.

>113 Ameise1: Hooray for good reading time. I don't know when I'll have a good chunk of time for that next. I'll have to go with the "slow and steady wins the race" approach this month, I think.

>117 thornton37814: Ah, thanks so much Lori. Still another 8 work days and a busy weekend ahead before going to Davos.

>87 Ameise1: Nice review on your Anne Tyler choice! This is not one of her's I'd heard much about. Happy Tuesday!

>119 michigantrumpet: Thanks so much, Marianne. It is a lovely story.

Hooray!!! I've finished all reports. Life is getting better.
BIG SMILE

That image made me laugh out loud, Barbara! Good work getting all the reports done!

>121 Ameise1: Goodness! :0)

>122 Crazymamie: That's just how I feel at the moment. Gee, I'm so happy that life is getting back to normal. Now, I 'try' to catch up with threads. Oh my god, I'm soooooo far behind.

>123 humouress: Big smile, Nina.

>121 Ameise1: Congratulations!

Happy Wednesday, Barb. I hope the week is going well.

Hooray for the Big Smile!

>125 EBT1002: Thanks so much, Ellen. I feel so relieved.

>126 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. From now on everything is going well.

>124 Ameise1: I can see it, thank you Barbara!

:-D

>121 Ameise1: That's quite a smile, Barbara. Love it!

Congratulations on finishing the reports. I hope you now get some time to relax a bit and goof around on LT.

>130 jnwelch: That's my plan now, Joe. I missed LT and the reading.

>121 Ameise1: Yes! What a smile, Barbara. :-)

>121 Ameise1: Sounds good.

>132 DianaNL: Ha, thanks so much, Diana. *happy dance*

>133 charl08: Yep, it sounds and is terrific, Charlotte.

>131 Ameise1: That sounds like a great plan to me!

book 6  ♫

 The Cuckoo's Calling

What a great listening. What a terrific start into a new serie. I felt very quickly captivated by the action. I loved the character Cormoran Strike from the very beginning and also Robin, his part-time secretary, I quickly took to my heart. The action was very exciting although I soon felt who could be the villain. The way how Cormoran uncovered the case and the threads and backgrounds brought together, kept the tension high.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book of this series.

>135 michigantrumpet: Isn't it? Nice to see you here, Marianne. Thanks for stopping by.

The sequel of The Cuckoo's Calling has to wait. I'm listening to Some Luck by Jane Smiley for Mark's AAC challenge in March. There are twelve CDs to listen to which will take some time.

Hi Barbara--I enjoyed the second in the series a lot, not quite as much as the first, but still great. Have fun with Some Luck!

I need to get to The Cuckoo's Calling. I have it. I just need to read it!

>139 Berly: Thanks so much for the info, Kim. Will be March/April when I'll come around the second one.

>140 EBT1002: Ellen, after everybody was so keen about this series last year. I took the first two as audios from my local library. I love the first one but not so much that I've to go straight through the next one. No problem for waiting a bit.

Have a lovely one, Barbara. xx

Happy Friday, Barb! Glad you loved The Cuckoo's Calling. I liked it too. I will be joining you on Some Luck. I should also start it early, so I can get to Book 2, by the end of March.

Hi Barbara! I'm glad you liked The Cuckoo's Calling. I love this series and even though the third book just came out and I devoured it quickly, can't wait til there's a fourth book. J.K. is such a brilliant writer - even The Casual Vacancy which I tried but put down yet listened to it and enjoyed it.

Anticipation is half the pleasure, and I wish you well on your trip to Davos.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. This was taken near Schladming 6 years ago

Happy Friday, Barbara! glad you enjoyed The Cuckoo's Calling - I really love those books, The third entry is my favorite so far.

>142 DianaNL: How cute, Diana. Thanks so much.

>143 msf59: Mark, so far I like the listening. I hope you'll like it too.

>144 karenmarie: Karen, I've to admit that I never read a Rowling book earlier. My kids have read all Harry Potter books but not me. I've seen the film with them that's all.

>145 eclecticdodo: Beautiful, Jo. Thanks so much for sharing it. I love lots of places in the Alpes.

>146 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, I definitely will go on with this series. I love Cormoran's character.

Stopping through to wish you a relaxing weekend full of good reading!

>149 michigantrumpet: Thanks so much, Marianne. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.

Hi Barbara,

Some snowdrops (mine haven't come out yet, I live in hope). Happy weekend.

>151 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. In Zürich there are already some snowdrops and crocuses. Four workdays to go. Next Friday packing everything for the ski holiday and next Saturday we or on the way. Yeeeeeh.

#148 - Hi Barbara - daughter was 8 when the first Harry Potter movie came out and she wanted to see it. I insisted on reading the book first, so read it out loud. We both instantly fell in love with the books, got caught up through book 4 (just out that fall) and avidly acquired and read 5-7 as soon as they came out. The movies, as most movies are, were missing loads of the wonderful stuff. I re-read (or re-listen) to the books every year or two just because they're so well written, fun, and cohesive. Daughter has re-read them several times too.

I don't consider them only children's books.

>153 karenmarie: Karen, I never thought of them as only children's book. Our elder daughtet read them all herself. Our younger daughter was too young to read them so she had the audiobooks. She had been listening them so often that she was able to tell the story word ba word. It was incredible. My elder daughter forced my husband to read the books so they were able to discuss them. Well, only me nobody could force into the reading of them.

Everyone at the Pecan Paradisio also loves Harry Potter - both in print and in audio and on film. I waited in line at midnight when the very last book came out.

Happy Saturday, Barbara! Hoping that your weekend is filled with fabulous!

>155 Crazymamie: Mamie, I know that there are LOTS of Harry Potter fans around the globe. Even afzer seeing the films with my daughters and they telling me that there is much more in the books I had the feelingof must read them.

I finally have time for reading and tomorrow we attend a concert of Marina's class.

Sometimes books are praised too much and by too many... at least that was what happend to me and Harry Potter ;-)
In the early days of the Harry Potter books some friends kept telling me I should read them and the more they insisted, the more I was drawn away from these books.
So my husband bought the Harry Potter books and read them. Years later (when I found LT and this group) I finally did read them in 2010.

>157 FAMeulstee: and, did you enjoy the reading?

There are such a lot of books I would like to read and I know a life is never enough to fulfill that task.

Happy Saturday, Barb. Hope you have a book in hand.

>159 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Just finished one and will comment it soon.

>158 Ameise1: I must admit my friends were right, I did enjoy them, rated them 4 1/2 to 5 stars ;-)
They are quick reads too, finished them all in 9 days.

>161 FAMeulstee: I'm glad to hear that you enjoed them but I would never ever read them so quickly.

book 7

 The Magnificent Amberson
Pulitzer Prize Challenge

That was a very interesting reading. It shows the rise and fall of American families who leave a footnote in history or nothing. In this particular story the fall of the Amberson family is shown. Whereas George Amberson Minafer's grandfather was a wealthy and respected man, his offspring show no incentive to manage or enhance the asset. On the contrary, they feel that they can continue to live on a large foot as this was the case earlier, without doing anything for the community and also to pursue any profession. But the world turned quickly. New inventions such as the car has been made, the city kept growing and new names were more important to the community than the Ambersons. George Amberson Minafer started to work only when the whole family fortune was lost and he had to support his aunt so she could spend a pleasant retirement.

Next reading Nine Lives.

Happy Weekend, Barbara.

We love the Harry Potter books, and my wife read every one of them out loud to me and the kids. Wonderful experience.

They're now starting to bring out beautifully illustrated ones, and I was given the first one over the holidays. So cool.

Hi Barbara, we have all the Harry Potter books and Amy read then first and then me and Karen read them, I have also read The Casual Vacancy and have the first two Cormoran Strike books to read. Hope you are having a good weekend Barbara, sending love and hugs.

>165 mstrust: Oh, what a beautiful rose bucket. Thanks so much, Jennifer.

>166 jnwelch: Joe, I knew that I sticked in a wasp nest when outing myownself as a not Harry Potter adicted person. I'm glad you love it and have gotten an illustrated one.

>167 johnsimpson: John, I loved the first book of the Cormoran series very much. I hope you can start it soon. Well, I know there are more Harry Potter fans amongst readers than the neutral ones. Glad to hear the whole family liked it.

>136 Ameise1: Interesting to see Cuckoo's Calling right now. About an hour ago I was discussing with my boyfriend about how when I worked at Barnes and Noble the information about J. K. Rowling being Robert Gailbraith was "accidentally leaked" RIGHT before the paperback release of Casual Vacancy, so people would walk into the store looking for Rowling's new book and would accidentally walk out with Casual Vacancy instead. Convenient that the leak happened when it did.

I was fortunate enough to read the first Harry Potter before the hype got so strong, as that often puts me off a book as well. I have always counted myself fortunate that I read The Lord of the Rings before the publicity hit the US!

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Unfortunately for me, I heard the hype first, so I actually tried to avoid the Harry Potter books, until my husband bought me the fourth one when I went into hospital overnight for a minor procedure. So I still find it hard to separate my honest reaction to the books from all the hype. On the other hand, I did read Lord of the Rings before the hype - several decades before. ;0)

>169 The_Hibernator: Rachel, thanks so much for sharing it. I listened to it not because of the author but of the story. I heard about the 'accidentally leak' and thought then: ha ha can she only sell books with such publicity. Then I forgot that book completely. Last year I heard and read from friends and LT about the Cormoran series without thinking about the author and thought the story interesting itself to give it a try.

>170 ronincats: Roni, I read The Lord of the Rings 45 years ago when I was for three months in Australia. I loved it from the very first page and before I have heard any reviews of it. Ok there was no internet etc. At that time I chose books by just reading the blurb on the cover.

>171 humouress: Nina, I probably didn't come around Harry Potter because I was never such a big fantasy fan. When the hype started even at my home I had the feeling that it isn't for me. When I read The Lord of the Rings I was much younger and it was then a perfect story for me.

BTW my elder daughter must have been between 10 and 12 when the first movie was in the theatres. She would like to have seen it imediately. I told her that she had to read the books first. Well, when she was 14 she read them all and then was aloud to see the films. Later she told me that she was glad that I made her reading the books first.

Happy Sunday Barbara!
I got to the HPs pre-German hype and am grateful for it. And I read them in English. Tried to read the 1st one in German later to my mum and it sounded so much more like a children's book (not in a "for all ages way") that we both gave up on it.

It's raining here, so it should snow like crazy in Davos. :D

HI Barbara, I'm a bit late to wish you a very happy new year. I've starred your thread (Ilove the pictures you are posting). Oh and I noticed you read Kate Morton's The Secret Keeper. Now that was a fabulous book, wasn't it!

>175 Deern: Thanks so much, Nathalie. We just came back from Marina's class concert. We ate very impressed how they played and sang.
Yeh, it should snow in Davos. Here it was raining, too.

>176 Trifolia: It's wonderful to have you here, Monica. Thanks so much for stopping by. Oh yes, I love Kate Morton's books. This one was a fabulous listening.

Hi Barbara. I so enjoy visiting here!
thanks once more for all the images you post throughout the threads!!!!

>178 Whisper1: I'm very happy that you're dropping in, Linda. I'm glad you enjoy the pics.

Getting caught up and making note of Isabelle's trip to Myanmar, your fast approaching ski trip and all the great book reviews in between. I keep seeing this love for the Robert Galbraith books.... one of these days I may finally cave and pick up a copy of The Cuckoo's Calling just to find out for myself what all the love for the book is. ;-)

>180 lkernagh: Lori, Isabelle sent some lovely photos by WhatsApp this morning. So far they have a good time in Myanmar. The last five days they were on a hike together with two Aussies and a guide. She wrote that the guy was most time on opium and therefore he was rather weird.

#166 jnwelch - my daughter gave me the first illustrated HP for Christmas and I love it.

Barbara - I love HP but absolutely loathe and despise Lord of the Rings in any way, shape or form. So, to each her/his own!

>182 karenmarie: Agreed, Karen. That's why I love LT.

I'm another one who loves Lord of the Rings, and read it multiple times. But our kids (the HP-loving ones) don't like Lord of the Rings at all. Their shared comment: "too much walking". For them, Frodo and Sam's efforts to get to Mordor dragged on too long. Not me. :-)

>185 Ameise1: LOL! Both my daughters loved the reading of Lord of the Rings as well as The Hobbits.

It's very stormy night here.

My daughter loved the LOTR movies, but was bored silly with the books. Any and all books relating to LOTR.

I love stormy nights, as long as we don't lose power.

>186 karenmarie: Our power wires are going all underground. So there shouldn't be a problem. Well, it's crazy. It's winter and we have thunder and lightening.

>186 karenmarie: Yes, our kids also loved the movies and were bored silly with the books.

Hope the storm is fun and nothing to worry about.

Love Harry Potter, books and movies! Our local independent book store always had a Harry Potter night of games and fun snacks on the release date and we went faithfully to every one, in full costume! It was very fun.

>188 jnwelch: Joe, our daughters had to read LOTR before they were aloud to see the films. That's probably why they liked the books more.

>189 Berly: Kim, during the night, snow came too. It's really crazy.
Here, there were lots of HP activities too when a book was released.

>182 karenmarie: - >186 karenmarie:
I loved the LoTR films, but mainly for the scenery, which was very local for us here in NZ. The orcs scared the ba-jingos out of me! I read The Hobbit in advance of part I of the film coming out a few years back and only went to see part II out of some kind of loyalty to the NZ director...

>191 LovingLit: I guess you liked the scenery. It's so beautiful and when you know this places it must be gorgeous.

So glad that your daughter is enjoying her trip to Myanmar. I suppose I am an anxious traveler and have been since I was a child, so probably I project my anxieties onto my sons. But happily, it does not seem to have affected my sons.

Happy Hump Day, Barb! I hope the week is going smoothly.

>136 Ameise1: I just noticed you also read The Cuckoo's Calling. I read it last year and liked it. Strangely enough I only rated it with 3 stars. Surely I must have been in a bad mood, because although it had its flaws, I remember I enjoyed the read.

>193 vancouverdeb: Deb, she likes it very much. Refering to (>106 vancouverdeb:) where in France and Germany are they going? Airbnb is a good thing. We do have our different platforms too for renting houses or flats when going on holiday. Indeed, it's easier to travel around on another continent without small children.

>194 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark it was a quiet day.

>195 Trifolia: Never mind how many stars you give, Monica. Sometimes it's the mood you're in and sometimes what you're reading else.

Hooray! Last work day. Tonight, we'll go to the theatre. Tomorrow, my holiday starts and on Saturday we are leaving for Davos.

Have a wonderful trip! I like that you encouraged reading the book before the film. The pictures are always better in my head. HP reading just reminds me of commuting and seeing lots of office workers with the books on the way to work. Seeing them hooked me into finding out more.

Oh, I got it wrong, Barbara, my son and his wife are going to England, Italy and France. In England they plan to stay in London, and in France, Paris. I am not certain what city they plan go to in Italy - Venice perhaps? They are off to Hong Kong in March, where my daughter - in law has family, her sister and brother - in -law, so they only have so much time to travel as far as time off from their work goes. I think they plan to spend about 3 - 4 nights in each European City - well, the UK is not considered to be Europe. I am sure that they will have a wonderful time.

>198 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. I made it home. In a bit more than an hour we're leaving for the Schauspielhaus to see Der Besuch der alten Dame.
I always made my daughters reading the book first before seeing the film. Zhey still do it so now without my saying.

>199 vancouverdeb: Ah, London, Paris and Venice arebeautiful cities. I love them all.

Have a great holiday!

>201 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni.

>200 Ameise1: Hope you have a great night at the Schauspielhaus & happy holiday :-)

Hi Barbara, Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. What a treat!

I'm so glad you enjoyed The Beginner's Goodbye. It's one of my Tyler favorites!

>204 Copperskye: You're welcome, Joanne.
It was a loveky reading. I've never read Tyler before.

Happy Friday, Barb! And Happy Holiday! Good luck carrying that suitcase of books and be careful on the slopes.

Have a happy holiday.

Wishing you wonderful holidays and happy skiing! And a great weekend of course! I just met a friend who's off to - guess where - Myanmar this weekend. After having been closed up for so many years this has now become quite a popular destination. I'm meeting the other friend (who's been there in January) next weekend and can't wait to see the pictures.

>206 msf59: Ha, we are going by car. No, problems therefore with the books. Promised, I take care on the slopes but please, keep your fingers crossed that the others are doing the same. The last heavy accident was because another skier bumped with highspeed into me. He was lucky whereas I broke five vertebras.

>207 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. Love it.

>208 Deern: Thanks so much, Nathalie. We have to wait another three weeks before we can see more photos of Myanmar. We got some by Whatsapp and they wete gorgeous. I've the feeling that she has a splendid time there.

Have a great time!

>211 mstrust: Yeh, I love these old posters. Thanks so much, Jennifer.

Hi Barbara, just passing by to wish you a very lovely and enjoyable weekend my dear, sending love and hugs.

>213 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Wishing you and Karen a lovely weekend, too. Most things are packed for our ski holiday. We're leaving Saturday around noon. Love and hugs xx

Have a really lovely holiday my dear and enjoy the skiing, love and hugs my dear.

>215 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I'm so hapoy going to Davos. xx

Lots of traveling going on! I didn't realize Myanmar was the "in" spot!

>208 Deern: & >217 michigantrumpet: Not too interested putting money into the coffers of the Junta there. Hateful but beautiful place.

Have a wonderful weekend dear Barbara. xx

>217 michigantrumpet: Marianne, it's only open to travel certain parts since January the first. There are still parts of the country where you can't travel on your own and need a guide. For one pf this part they had taken a guide together with two Aussies.

>218 PaulCranswick: It is a beautiful country, Paul and agreed that the juntas still have got too much power. But finally, it's a start into the direction of freedom.

We are safely arrived in Davos. Unpacked everything, now holiday and reading can start.

Stopping in to wish you a weekend filled with fabulous, Barbara! Glad that you reached your destination safely. Enjoy!

>221 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. I'm way into Nine Lives. A great book. I can strongly recommend it.

I wish you have a great time in Davos. I was pretty near visiting it last year, but it was raining cats and dogs that week, so we changed our plans and went to the sunnier side of the Alps (Ascona).

>223 Trifolia: Thanks so much, Monica. It's definitely not funny in the Alps when it's raining cats and dogs. Ascona is beautiful. In Ticino there are several gorgeous places.

The forecast tells lots of snowing the next two days. Well, I have enough books :-)

Have a great holiday, Barbara.

>225 humouress: Thanks so much, Nina.

>226 Berly: Thanks very much, Kim. Wishing you a Happy Valentine, too.

Yesterday, when we arrived at Davos it looked like this (view from our patio)



This morning, it's like this (view to west with the grey heavy snow clouds in the background)

I hope your weekend is filled with love, laughter, and lots of books!

>229 Whisper1: Thanks so much, Linda. So far I have a fabulous time filled with lots of reading.

Happy Sunday, Barb! Davos looks beautiful. Hope you are having a great time.

>231 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It's snowing now. We did some grocery in the early afternoon and now, I'm reading :-)

book 8  read in German

 Nine Lives
BAC February

This book is one of the best I have ever read. I knew a lot about the religion of the subcontinent. But this book brought me many religious subgroups much closer. Without passing judgment if I can find these types of spirituality well or not, this book has broadened my horizons.
I recommend it highly.

The Nun
It is the story of a nun who as a young girl decided to go the way of Jainism. this meant to break away from the family, to live a life of wandering in a very ascetic form, all forms of life (humans and animals) to protect. She was not traveling alone but with an age-matched nun who became ill very early tuberculosis and therefore the path of Sallekhana chose to depart this earthly life. This is the gradual, voluntary and ritual renunciation of ingestion to death and is not considered by the Jains as suicide.

The Dancer from Kannur
This is the story of a Theyyam dancer who belongs to the lowest caste of Dalits. From December to February, he dances with the troops and the remaining nine months, he works as a prison guard and well diggers. His life as a prison guard is very dangerous because the occupants have more power than the director or the politicians. When digging wells, he shows how the Brahmans keep the distance to them, so that they are not contaminated, but kissed simultaneously during the dances are his feet by these same Brahmans because he is a deity. The social classes and circumstances are so clear - ambiguous that they almost bordering on schizophrenia, but this is lived religion.

Yellama's daughters
There are families who give their daughters to the goddess Yellama which already means even as toddlers they are dedicated to her. When these girls reach puberty, they are sold to the highest bidder for a night. From then on, these girls and young women have to work as prostitutes and so support the family income. Many have children and also those daughters are dedicated to the goddess Yellamma, even though this is now prohibited. Most of these women will die today early on AIDS. This story also explains how this deity was.

The Epic Singer
This is the story of Mohan Bhopa and his wife Batasi. Mohan was bard and village shaman. He and his wife, though illiterate, are among the last singers who know by heart the great medieval Pabuji epic that tells of the heroism and honor, struggle and defeat, and finally martyrdom and revenge. A complete presentation of the 4000 verses long courtly epic spans five full nights. The epic is recited always before a Phad, a long, painted cloth on which the highlights of the plot are depicted and which serves as a portable temple for the god Pabu simultaneously.
In this chapter, the storytelling is deepened described and illuminated from different viewpoints.

The mystic
This is the story of Lal Peri who came from more than twenty years to the Sufi shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalander in Sehwan and since then lives there as a watcher and follower of Sufism. But it is also the long history of the complex triangular relationship of Hinduism, Sufism and strictly religious Islam (Muslim fundamentalists have the tolerance of Sufis towards Hindu practices always rejected as dangerous and deviant). The Taliban have the origin in this region and destroy all cultural property.

The monk
This is the story of a Tibetan monk who soon after entry the monastery in Lhasa withdrew his monastic vows since he joined the resistance movement. While he helped Dalai Lama to his escape and arrived in India himself, he tried to remain faithful to the monastic life. So that he could survive, he joined the Indian army, which promised to fight against the Chinese. Unfortunately, this was not the case and he had to fight against the Pakistanis. When he was discharged from the army, he decided to re-enter the convent.
His story, which is true for many of his contemporary colleagues, has touched me very much.

The bronze caster
This is the story of Srikanda, whose family on twenty-three generations (over 700 years) goes back to the famouse bronze casters of the Chola dynasty, which had ruled until the 13th century in South India. His workshop is located in the temple town of Swamimalai, where he and his two brothers after old tradition manufactured gods and goddesses. It also tells the religion of Tamil Hinduism and how the bronze casting is produced according to an ancient tradition.

The Tantrik of Tarapith
It is the story of Manisha Ma and Tapan Saduh those who indulge in Tara cult of Tarapith. Tara Ma regard them as their mother even if it is presented everywhere as a demonic goddess, see the two in her a caring mother, and not one of the wildest and most stubborn goddess. She is the goddess of knowledge and understanding, but also the horrors figure who brutally slaughtering demons and evil yakshis.
Here also the traditional Tantrism is explained, which has nothing to do with the shape as it exerts the Western world.

The song of the blind Bauls
For centuries, the Bauls refuse the conventions of the box-conscious Bengali society. Defiant and seductive, wild and stubborn, they have maintained their esoteric mystical doctrines and a large treasure beautiful, melancholy, often enigmatic songs compiled, which are them spiritual guide. God, they say, does not dwell in a figure of stone or bronze, not in heaven or afterlife, but here and now, in every human being who seeks the truth. This is the story of the blind Kanai and Debdas.

Happy Valentine's Day, Barbara!

>234 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. Wishing you the same.

>233 Ameise1: Nine Lives sounds fascinating, Barbara. I have From the Holy Mountain on loan from the library at the moment but all of Dalrymple's books sound interesting.

>236 souloftherose: It was a fascinating reading, Heather. I'm so glad that I found this book. I hope you enjoy your reading, too.

>233 Ameise1: that is a BB for me, Barbara :-)

>238 FAMeulstee: It's a wonderful book. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did, Anita.

Great review of Nine Lives, Barbara! That's definitely one for my wish list.

>240 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. I hope you'll like it as much as I did.

Hi Barbara! Quick hello and wishing you a fantastic time skiing at Davos.

>242 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. It looks like that tomorrow the weather will be fine for skiing.

>233 Ameise1: Interesting. I might look it up.

>244 humouress: It's a fantastic book, Nina.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation, Barbara!

Happy Valentine's Day Barbara!

Hi Barbara. You posted wonderful fox fotos photos around the threads, Here are a few I took in Maine in 2014. We rented a first-floor apartment for a week in a house set back from the road and surrounded by shrubby forest, wherein lived a fox family. One morning, while Mom was hunting for breakfast, the kits played in the drive.

 

Barbara, your review of Nine Lives got my attention. It sounds wonderful. I wasn't planning to read any Dalrymple for the BAC this month but....

>248 weird_O: Bill's fox photos are delightful!

>246 lkernagh: Thanks so much, Lori. So far I've got lots of reading time due to the weather. I don't mind, I'm happy beiing in the Alpes even when I can't go skiing.

>247 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel. I love the photo. I hope you had a wonderful Valentine.

>248 weird_O: Yeeh, Bill is here. It's great to see you. Thanks so much for these gorgeouse fox photos and sharing your memories. We have fox familes in our neighbourhood since more than twenty years. They aren't shy and are walking around as they own the environment and not us humans. I was just thinking about your orange clogs which wouldn't last one night if you would leave them on the porch. At the moment we have one really curious fox. It visits our neighbour every day, jumps on the sill of the kitchen window and observes her cooking. She called the gamekeeper who put a cage in her garden for ten days. The fox was just walking around but didn't go in. It is much cleverer than us humans.

>249 EBT1002: Ellen, our library has only got this Dalrymple book, so I had no other choice. Frankly, I'm more than happy that I read it. It's a terrific book. I hope you can get a copy of it.

Glad you got such a great Dalrymple to read. Sounds fascinating. I need to get on with my White Mughals. Hope your weather has improved so that you can get out on the slopes.

Fabulous review of Nine Lives. What a complex and fascinating book that sounds like. I hope you enjoying your time in Davos. Enjoy!

>251 charl08: No skiing today, Charlotte. I don't mind, just enjoy LT and reading. :-)

>252 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. It was indeed a terrific reading. I enjoy being in Davos. I love being in the Alpes even when it's snowing.

book 9

 The Mysterious Affair at Styles
BAC February

Normally I love the ease of Christie's thrillers. This, however, was very long-winded. Somehow missing a fast-paced tension. Although I'm a fan of Poirot's little gray cells and I love his charming Belgian way to solve a murder mystery, he convinced me not in this book.

>254 Ameise1: Ah, too bad, Barbara. I liked that one, maybe because it was the first one of hers I read. I think it also was the first one she wrote, which may mean it doesn't have the polish of her subsequent ones.

I just re-read her The Moving Finger and had a good time with it. She was a master of misdirection.

>255 jnwelch: Indeed, she was and therefore I like her books, Joe. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite catch me.

I enjoyed that one and thought it very good for a debut mystery, though I was taken aback by how very energetic Poirot was with his jumping around. He was so different to what he evolved into later.

>257 mstrust: So true. I love the later one much more.

#248 Bill - we have foxes in our rural neighborhood. For a while, every spring, we'd watch mama fox move the kits, one by one, from the woods on the right side of our property to the woods just beyond our property. We were entranced.

#255 jnwelch - I agree with your assessment of the debut novel. I love them all, though.

There seems to be a Dame Christie read-fest going on around here..... lots of people and threads are mentioning her books.

Hi Barbara!

>259 karenmarie: Karen, Dame Christie is the female author for Paul's British Author Challenge in February. Therefore you're seeing such a lot of readings in this group.

>249 EBT1002: >250 Ameise1: >259 karenmarie: Glad you enjoyed the photos. I think we have foxes in our neighborhood, but we seldom see them. But in Maine, this family was quite blasé.

>261 weird_O: Bill, in Zürich the foxes aren't shy.

Good morning Barbara, hope the skiing is going well my dear.

>263 johnsimpson: Good morning, John. I haven't been skiing so far due to the weather. Also today we won't go skiing. It's very foggy. Marina and I will go to Kafi Klatsch and later doing some grocery before her friends arrive. They are stay until Friday here at our place.

I hope the weather doesn't stop you doing any skiing in the next few days my dear.

Morning, Barbara. It's a pity the weather is still not good enough to go skiing. Did you bring enough books? ;-)

>266 DianaNL:, Lol.

>265 johnsimpson: It should be better starting tomorrow, John.

>266 DianaNL: LOL, it looks very close to what I've taken with me, Diana. ;-)

>267 johnsimpson: :-)

It sounds like you are having a great time, Barb! And getting plenty of reading in. I love it.

>248 weird_O: Wow! I love this, Bill. Thanks for sharing.

Morning, Barbara!

>269 msf59: I have a fabulous time, Mark. :-) Post some photos of Kafi Klatsch, soon.

>270 scaifea: Morning, Amber. I hope you have a good day ahead. No skiing today. It's cloudy and foggy.

Instead of lunch, Marina and I went to Kafi Klatsch for some sweets and mocca coffee. On the way we saw an interesting sculpture which is called Dreams are Flying.

    

Oh, yum!

>273 scaifea: Isn't it? :-)

Marina is on the way to the railway station to pick up her friends who will stay with us until Friday.

>272 Ameise1: Oh yeah. I'm in, Barbara.

>272 Ameise1: Good thinking, Barbara! That looks delicious!

>272 Ameise1: That creme cake looks wonderful. I actually had a piece of an Italian lemon creme cake at a local restaurant for my birthday. It was very good.

>272 Ameise1: Nice sculpture and such a lovely heart on the coffee :-)

>275 jnwelch: >276 Crazymamie: Joe & Mamie, unfortunately I can't beam some over at your places. Would have done it right away. :-)

>277 thornton37814: Lori, I had the mille feuille and it was delicious. Oh, I love Italien lemon cream cake.

>278 FAMeulstee: Anita, I like this sculpture, too. The barista has made a nice job, hasn't he?

Your cakes and drinks look wonderful. Just the thing for bad weather.

>280 charl08: So true, Charlotte. I'm currently reading That Old Cape Magic and I love it.

Yummy yummy mochas and cake! It's the perfect cold weather breakfast.

>282 mstrust: Definitely, Jennifer.:-)

We just had raclette for dinner.

>272 Ameise1: >283 Ameise1: I'm happy to see you're having a very good time!

>284 Trifolia: I enjoy it very much, Monica.

>272 Ameise1: - That cake is calling to me....

>286 lkernagh: Lori, I think we would have a great time at Kafi Klatsch. Chatting, eating fabulous cakes and drinking good coffee or tea.

Please, join me on my new thread.