Carsten's (ctpress) 2016 - Take and Read - part 3

Just time enough for a new thread, I think. Painting: Danish artist Anne Ancher - Interior with three persons. Lamp light. 1917.

Books read in 2016

December
60. State of Wonder by Anne Patchett (2011) 4/5 (audiobook)
59. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick (2016) 4/5
58. Unnatural death by Dorothy L. Sayers (1927) 3/5
57. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear (2005) 4/5

November
56. The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham (1924) 5/5
55. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (1983) 4/5
54. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell (1865) 4,5/5 (audiobook)
53. A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros (2011) 5/5
52. Food Rules by Michael Pollan (2009) 4/5
51. Det sker når du hviler by Tomas Sjödin (2013) 4,5/5
50. Staggerford Flood by Jon Hassler (2002) 2,5/5
49. Writers to read by Douglas Wilson (2013) 3,5/5

July
48. Dear James by Jon Hassler (1993) 4/5
47. Jane Austen (Christian Encounters Series) by Peter Leithart (2010) 4/5
46. The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses by C. S. Lewis (1949) 4/5

June
45. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886) 5/5 (audiobook)
44. Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber (2013) 3,5/5
43. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (2004) 4/5
42. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (1952) 4/5
41. The Pleasures of Reading in an age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs (2011) 4,5/5
40. Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis (1951) 4/5 (audiobook) - reread
39. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers (1945) 3,5/5

May
38. J.R.R. Tolkien (Christian Encounters Series) by Mark Horne (2011) 3,5/5
37. The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis 4/5 (1954) - reread
36. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (1917) 4/5
35. Summer Lightning by P. G. Wodehouse 3,5/5 (1929)
34. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole 2/5
33. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey (2010) 4,5/5
32. Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers (1923) 3/5 (audiobook)
31. Emma by Jane Austen (1815) 5/5 - reread
30. The Eternal Husband by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1895) 4/5
29. Still - notes on a mid-life crisis by Lauren F. Winner (2012) 4/5

April
28. The Last Juror by John Grisham (2004) 3,5/5 (audiobook)
27. The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith (1983) 3/5 (audiobook)
26. Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (1596) 4/5
25. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (2007) 5/5 (audiobook)
24. Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (1922) 4/5 (audiobook)
23. Leave it to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse (1923) 4,5/5
22. The Seagull by Anton Chekhov (1895) 2/5
21. The Cossacks by Leo Tolstoy (1833) 4/5

March
20. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (2012) 4/5
19. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell (1960) 4/5
18. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (1998) 3,5/5
17. The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (1923) 4,5/5
16. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater (1939) (audiobook)
15. Caleb’s Story by Patricia Maclachlan (2001) 4,5/5 (audiobook)
14. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (2015) 2,5/5 (audiobook)
13. Maisie Dobbs by Jaqueline Winspear (2003) 4/5

February
12. Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (2015) 4/5 (audiobook)
11. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (1932) 4/5 (audiobook)
10. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1966) 5/5 (audiobook)
9. Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen (1991) 4/5
8. Shane by Jack Schaefer (1949) 4,5/5 (audiobook)
7. Eugenie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac (1833) 3,5/5
6. She by H. Rider Haggard (1887) 2,5/5
5. More About Paddington by Michael Bond (1959) 4/5 (audiobook)
4. I am David by Anne Holm (1963) 5/5 (audiobook)

January
3. Something Fresh by P. G. Wodehouse (1915) 3/5
2. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911) 4,5/5 (reread) (audiobook)
1. A Green Journey by Jon Hassler (1996) 3/5

53. A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros (2011) 5/5



the Danish cover GÅ! (Walk)

This was just the book on walking I had hoped for - and so much more. Gros looks at several great thinkers and artists who were also great walkers - and points to the inspiration they each found in walking.

From Nietzsche who thought out his philosophy ever ascending mountains, to the frantic never ending walking of Rimbeau, the “wildman” Thoreau immersed in the beauty of nature, the slow city-stroll of Kierkegaard in order to feel connected to people, Kants obsessive daily one-hour walk, and Gandhis walk as protest and as means to a simple lifestyle.

So many aspects of walking are presented - and a lot resonated with me. I loved the brief portraits - but also the interspersed brief essays where Gros reflects on different aspects of walking.

The emphasis here is not the physical benefits of walking - or walking ("trekking") as “sport” - although it’s touched upon, but more the mental, psychological and spiritul aspects of walking - in chapters like “slowness”, “silences”, “eternities”, “heaviness” and “repititions” Gros really display his own philosophy of walking - one where body, mind and spirit melt together with nature and being - being in the present, unburdened, attentive to the small things, the simple life, the unhurried existence.

It’s simply a beautiful book, and so many sentences and passages are now underlined and needs further reflection.

>3 ctpress: I love that cover. Mine is much more pedestrian.



And happy new thread!

Happy new thread Carsten!
>3 ctpress: Nice review of A Philosophy of Walking.

Happy new thread!

Hope all's well in your neck of the woods! Happy new thread Carsten.

Happy New Thread, Carsten! Love the beautiful topper! Excellent review of A Philosophy of Walking.

I'm afraid that when I walk my dog, it is not that peaceful of a journey, though I am glad to have her along. Fight with the raincoat, Poppy pulls on her leash, we meet other dogs and people ( which is nice ), Poppy sometimes growls at other dogs and often pierces my ears with her barking as she is so excited. End of walk - remove raincoat from dog, wrestle with her and dry off her paws and she licks the water off my jacket and face, which is a nice gesture on her part, but not always appreciated. Not quite a zen experience!:)

Five stars! Wow!

Charlotte - I wasn't too fond of the cover either, so I thought I would change it to the Danish version I was reading.

Anita - Thanks!

Jim - Thanks!

Mary - All is well here - having a few days off work now hopefully will do some reading the rest of the week.

Deborah - Thanks. LOL - no, it doesn't sound like a zen moment :)

The author doesn't dwell on dog-walking although come to think of it - it is a large part of many peoples daily walks. I do sometimes take long walks outside Copenhagen in forests or near the sea, but usually most of my walking is different routes to work, or church or friends. I try to plan them so I can avoid the heavy car-traffic and instead find walks through green areas or quieter areas. And some of the time is spend listening to audiobooks - another area the author doesn't reflect on - but it's in fact an important part of reading - the best times for me listening to a book is when I just walk - that combination I just love.

>1 ctpress: Plenty of time for a new thread, mate and here's hoping it turns out to be a happy one.

Thanks, Paul - I think it will be a happy one as I'm in my reading-mode again and it feels great :)

Great new thread, Carsten! Love yet another Danish painting of readers as your topper ... beautiful. And thumb-up for an excellent review of A Philosophy of Walking.

Thanks, Nancy. Yes, I can't get enough of that "golden" time period for art in Denmark :)

54. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell (1865) 4,5/5 (audiobook - Nadia May)



It’s always difficult to portray genuinly good characters - they can easily come out flat and uninteresting - but I didn’t feel that with the heroine of this story.

Molly Gibson has a good heart, truthful and sincere. But she’s confronted with secrets, mysteries, love entanglementss and gossip directed at her that put her into many moral difficulties, loyalty-issues and it will test her character to the utmost. (Not unlikely that Gaskell has drawn some inspiration from Austen’s Fanny Price here).

Molly is the daughter of a widowed country doctor. When he decides to marry the conceited and selfish Hyacinth Kirkpatrick Mollys life will change dramatically. Mrs. Gibson is not the wicked stepmother from the fairytales, but close. Although she’s not without a heart, she makes life really insufferable for everyone with her formality and many schemes to enter higher society - and get her daughter and stepdaughter married well. She’s one of Gaskells great inventions - as is her daughter Cynthia - the opposite of Molly - in all her beauty, folly and vanity she stirs up the Gibson household.

And then there’s the squire at Hamley Hall and his two sons (one of wich Molly come to care deep about), the sweet sisters Sally and Phoebe Browning and the gossiping Miss Hornblower and Mrs. Goodenough - and all the exciting life at Cumnor Hall. (Hollingford resembles Cranford a lot).

Great narration by Nadia May - she’s beginning to be one of my favorites - at 27 hours Gaskell’s masterpiece is a doorstopper, but the reader is rewarded with some memorable and nuanced characters.

Such wonderful review, Carsten! I wish I could love Elizabeth Gaskell the way you and Nancy do! 27 hours! Yes, that is a doorstopper! Glad you enjoyed it so much!Thumb!

Woohoo! What a wonderful review of Wives and Daughters, Carsten. Well said!: But she’s confronted with secrets, mysteries, love entanglementss and gossip directed at her that put her into many moral difficulties, loyalty-issues and it will test her character to the utmost. Thumb-up, my friend. I think I've already said, but if not -- you must watch the DVD production too. It's superbly done!

*forgot to add*: I love Nadia May, too. Have listened to her narrate at least one classic (which escapes me at the moment). Agree she is wonderful!

Thanks, Deborah - I think Gaskell have been underrated, yes almost forgotten for many years, but luckily the tv-series of North and South really changed that for many. You can enjoy the tv-series as a substitute - not a bad thing at all :)

Thanks, Nancy. I look forward to watching the tv-production of Wives and Daughters sometime this winter. An added bonus :) I was walking home listening to the last chapter, and I had to make a detour to last it to the end - the novel starts slowly, but then it just kept getting better and better.

55. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (1983) 4/5



A profoundly simple and real story about a lonely and isolated boy who starts to write to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw - he writes back and an unusual friendship by letters is established.

Leigh Botts faces several problems - the big one is understanding his parents divorce and coping with an absent dad who seems more interested driving around the country in his truck than in him - another one is how to become a writer - an author - and yet another one is to understand how his lunch is stolen every day. Some funny episodes here.

I loved this little gem. With the limited vocabulary and understated style it’s easy to imagine this being the writings of a young boy.

A Newbery Medal book

I loved Beverly Clearly when I was young, Carsten. I don't think I read Dear Mr Henshaw though and your review makes it sound wonderful . I'm glad you are back in to enjoying reading!

Hi Deborah - As you may know I try to read through the Newbery medal books, and this one was good although not exceptionel as others of the medal-books. Generally the quality of the Medal books are very high and I can't remember being disappointed about any of them yet.

56. The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham (1924) 5/5



One of this years best readings. We follow the downfall of the flighty and frivolous Kitty as she marries a dull bacteriologist whom she doesn’t love - just to get away from home. The couple move to the Crown Colony Hong Kong, where Kitty very soon falls in love with Charlie Townsend, a british government official.

She misread her situation totally - Townsend is not willing to divorce his wife - and Kitty have no other choice than to follow her husband (whom she hates) as he travels to a remote village to help with a colera epidemic. A deathly mission.

Here she’s indeed lost. Until she befriends some nuns in a monestary and begin to have a new outlook on her life and her former ways.

In a way it reminded me of Remains of the Day that is also about a very lonely, trapped person - not that the plot is the same at all - but in the way the story is told - by a single character - and as I followed her thoughts, her observations, her arguments I went from disliking her a lot, to disbelief in her folly, to sympathy and hope for her renewal, to liking her and rooting for her.

Kitty is indeed a flawed character - but a real character who radically alters her outlook on life - and we come to sympathise with her in her “coming-of-age” journey to self-understanding, to spiritual awakening, to her final attemps of carving out a new life for herself - it’s a suspenseful, chilling and profound novel.

I saw the movie-adaptation several years ago but as I remember it it was much more romantic and sentimental than Somerset Maughams novel. Hmm..have to see it again, I guess :)

I loved the film but haven't read the book - I should do that. Love that you chose an orange penguin, too.

I liked the movie too, Charlotte. I think I 'll see it again soon.

Glad you enjoyed Dear Mr Henshaw, Carsten. I remember Beverly Cleary being a popular author in my elementary school years ... won't go into how long ago that was, LOL!

Wonderful review of The Painted Veil. I remember seeing the movie and loving it, but your comments on the novel make me want to drop everything and read it right this minute. Love the observation you make here: In a way it reminded me of Remains of the Day that is also about a very lonely, trapped person - not that the plot is the same at all - but in the way the story is told - by a single character. The Remains of the Day was a 5* read for me ... I think this one might be, too. Thumb up, my friend.

Oh you have got me with The Painted Veil. I've not seen the movie, but it sounds like an interesting read. Great review, Carsten! As far as Newbery Medal books go, I recall purposely choosing out Newberry Medal winning books back in elementary school. What a dutiful child I was. I guess I was always fated to be list reader as in the Giller Prize, Booker Prize , Orange Prize etc.

Hmm , I sure that Nancy read her Newbery Medal books that much longer ago than I did! :) Thumb :)

Nancy - Although they are very different stories I do think that if you liked Remains of the Day this one will also be a good read - and a great read if you can find a good narrator on audiobook. I listened to it in Danish and it was tolerable although not up to the standards I've come to expect from the best on Audible.

Three hours into Pardonable Lies I agree - Orlagh Cassidy is wonderful - there's a narrator.

Deborah - Oh, so how long back are we going with the Newbery Books :) They started giving out those medals in 1922! LOL - I hope you're sure about Nancy in this regard :)

I'm also on a trip with Arthur Pepper - like it a lot.

Cough, cough sputter, well, Carsten, I think it was back in the 1940's that I started reading the Newbery Books! ;) As for Nancy, I think it might have been the 1920's but don't hold me to that, or tell Nancy that I let you know! ;)

I thought as well, Deborah :) I'll keep tight on the intel on Nancy, LOL.

Well, I never! 1920s, she says! The intel is out of the bag, Deb ...


... it's a darn good thing this old-bat-mobile has a horn on it, that's all I have to say, LOL!

Ha, ha. Making another trip to the library, eh, Nancy? LOL.

Great horn. Chuckle of the day!

Old- bat - mobile! What a perfect name! :) I'll be needing one soon enough. Well - this is it I think. Cross your fingers that the new computer installation goes well.

Sorry for leaking the " intel" Nancy! :)

Yes, Deborah - I hope that you'll get an easy and smooth transition to your new computer - and perhaps also Netflix soon :)

>21 ctpress: So pleased that the Somerset Maugham was to your liking mate as he has always been a particular favourite writer of mine.

Have a great weekend.

Paul - Read some short stories years ago by Maugham and liked them, and I'm sure that I will try another novel by him. Great insight into the human nature.

Yes, one thing at a time, Carsten! Finally I got the new computer, perhaps the Net flix cannot be far behind :)

>27 vancouverdeb:, >28 ctpress:, >29 lit_chick: You guys are too funny. Great laughs, old bat mobile indeed!

A great laugh, Mary - that old bat mobile :)

57. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear (2005) 4/5



Book description: In the third novel of this bestselling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot’s death.

Winspear cleverly spins a tale of several hidden identities and cover-ups that Maisie Dobbs have to unravel. I wonder if Maisie really can lay the past behind her - seems like a long journey for her.

Interesting to follow the growth of maturity and independence in Maisie Dobbs - also as she has to confront her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and find a new way to relate to him.

Orlagh Cassidys reading was great and I enjoyed the characters in a new way listening for the first time to a Maisie Dobbs novel. Not the last time.

Great review of Pardonable Lies, Carsten. So glad you are also enjoying Maisie Dobbs. It really is a great series, and I agree that Orlagh Cassidy rocks!

Yes, great review of Pardonable Lies, Carsten. I particularly liked that book in the series, though I suppose I could say that about most every book in the series. :)

Thanks for recommending Orlagh, Nancy Luckily the library have several audio-versions of the series.

It might be too early for me to rank them, Deborah - but yes - this one was great. Looking forward to follow Maisie Dobbs for a long time. So many books in the series...

58. Unnatural death by Dorothy L. Sayers (1927) 3/5



“Greatly as I dislike that modern invention, the telephone, I think it might be advisable to ring him up.”

Read this with mixed feelings. There’s quite a bit of complicated explanations of family inheritance law and family connections that went over my head - and it drags along in places - on the other hand the final third of the book proved a very suspenseful and a satisfying end. The question is the old one: Natural death or murder to obtain an inheritance?

In this third novel in the Lord Peter Wimsey series the manservant Bunter doesn’t play a big role - instead it’s a new Wimsey-sidekick, the spinster Miss Climpson, who is sent to a village to befriend the suspect and investigate on behalf of Lord Peter Wimsey.

I love Miss Climpson. Life really sucked for many educated women in this period in terms of job opportunities, and Sayers gives a (fictional) group of them a really good job. Not accidental!

Thanks for that bonus info on Sayers, Charlotte. I loved Miss Climpson and her letters reporting back to Wimsey. Some of the highlights of the novel. Hope she'll return in series.

Great review of Unnatural Death, Carsten, even if it wasn't as strong as others in the series. Sounds like a lot of lawyer-speak in terms of inheritance laws, which I imagine was very dry. I do love the quote!

Yes, Nancy - got lost in all the relatives and inheritance-speculation. But I like Lord Peter Wimsey and will read on - I haven't yet come to the novel she's more known for like Strong Poison and The Nine Taylors.

59. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick (2016) 4/5




Book description: Having been married for over 40 years, 69-year-old Arthur Pepper is mourning the loss of his wife, Miriam. One day he finds a charm bracelet that belonged to Miriam. What follows is an adventure that takes Arthur on an quest to find out the truth about the charms - and the truth about his wife’s life before they married. It will be a life changing quest.

This is a funny, cosy and uplifting read - made me chuckle a lot. Arthur Pepper is not as wry and cynic as Ove A Man Called Ove, nor as weird and strange as Harold Fry The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, but somewhere in between those characters we find Arthur Pepper. Bleak but goodhearted fellow who not only help himself but others along the way. I liked him a lot.

Oh, the perfect time to read The Charms of Arthur Pepper, Carsten. As you say, an uplifting book! I grabbed it off the shelves as soon as it was out here and I was not disappointed. Ah, sorry about Unnatural Death Carsten. I do like the name " Mrs Climpson" If I had a cat, I might name her that.

Thanks for pointing me to "Arthur Pepper". Excellent recommendation, Deborah. Mrs. Climpson would be a refined name for a cat :)

This is a funny, cosy and uplifting read - made me chuckle a lot. Sounds perfect, Carsen! Lovely review. Must put this one on my neverending list : ).

Just do that, Nancy. When you need some cheering up after a dark tragedy :)

I enjoy my visits here, Carsten. The walking book sounds very good. I do some of my best thinking when I am on solitary walks. It's almost a zen feeling for me. I think I first heard about Arthur Pepper from Deborah. As you suggest, I will save it for a light, cheerful read.

Hi Donna - Arthur Pepper will cheer you up, I'm sure, when you need it :) I got so much inspiration out of A Philosophy of Walking - the connection between thinking and walking is one of biggest themes of the book.

60. State of Wonder by Anne Patchett (2011) 4/5 (audiobook)




Summary: Scientists discover a drug in the Amazon, which appears to extend female fertility into old age. The research is lead by the mysterious and eccentric Dr. Swenson. When an employee of the drug company dies on a trip to the jungle research center in Brazil, the pharmacologist Marina is sent down there to to find out what happened - and to find out how Dr. Swensons research is going.

It was a slow start, but once Dr. Swenson appears and we are in the jungle the book is hard to put down (or rather stop listening too). All in all an exiting and brainy adventure with some surprising twists and turns that kept me fascinated - actually I was reluctant to leave Marina and wanted to know more about her fate - Both Marina and Dr. Swenson was complexed, nuanced and well-drawned characters.

Good narration by Hope Davis.

Glad you enjoyed State of Wonder, Carsten. I confess I don't think I've yet to read anything by Ann Patchett. Great review!

Deborah - It's also the first Ann Patchett I've read. Wouldn't mind trying one of her other novels. They seem to be very different in terms of plot and subject. The plot attracted me to this one - also when I found it at our e-library as an audiobook narrated by Hope Davis.

Woohoo! I've wondered whether I'd enjoy State of Wonder, Carsten. I think you've just answered my question: get the audio and listen to Hope Davis. Good story line.

Nancy - Hope Davis did a great job. It was an unusual story and I wondered where it would lead - but I think you will like it.

I am reading the most fantastic book The Nordic Theory of Everything, In Search of a Better Life. While the author is orginally from Finland she does group the Nordic countries together for comparative purposes to the U.S. and oh my you folks sure have things so well figured out for health care, family supports, education, independence, fair taxation. You have lots you can teach us!

Glad that you liked State of Wonder. I liked it too. I have Commonwealth waiting for me in my nearby "pressure pile"! I really liked her book This is the Story of a Happy Marriage (non fiction) I have seen some documentaries of recently discovered tribes living independently in the Amazon basin in an almost stone-age existence....very interesting. Well interesting but very tragic too as their numbers have been greatly reduced as they are hunted and killed by the powers that be in the area going after mining rights etc.

>54 ctpress: I recently bought that one Carsten so I am encouraged by your positive review.

Have a lovely weekend. What is the weather like in Denmark at the moment?

Hey there Carsten! Are you busy covering the British Royalty? :) What is the inside word? Is Prince Harry serious about Meghan Markle, or is it an ill advised romance?

Mary - Sounds like a great book The Nordic Theory of Everything, In Search of a Better Life - I'm tempted to read it myself to see what she writes - but the subjects you mention are areas that is close to our hearts here in Denmark - free heath care and education etc.

Ann Patchett is an interesting author - I didn't quite knew what to expect of State in Wonder but she raised some important issues and questions about tribes and the preservation of culture. Interesting that she's also writing essays and articles.

Paul - Hmm...weather is cloudy - forecast: Cloudy - (with no chance of meatballs). Have a great sunday :)

Deborah - Busy, busy....well, I wish I had some sleazy news on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle :) alas, I'm afraid it's all Trump and Aleppo (the bizarre and the tragic) news these days.

But I wonder - isn't it the full package for a prince? She's a beautiful actor and also (according to wikipedia) a humanitarian. (how do you become a humanitarian anyway?) what is the job description?

61. Greenmantle by John Buchan (1916) 4/5 (audiobook read by Robert Whitfield)




A good adventure story and espionage thriller. Again we find Richard Hannay from The Thirty-Nine Steps on the run - this time not in Scotland running from the police and central intelligence - but on the run as an undercover agent in Germany.

He and his three fellow spies set out to get behind the enemy lines and find out the truth about the mysterious Greenmantle - they eventually end up in Turkey where the Germans and their Turkish allies are plotting to create a Muslim uprising.

Written in 1916 in the thick of WWI it’s an interesting read from a literary and historical perspective. I liked the fresh tone of the book, and the very, very British all in the good sense of cheerful comeraderie, displaying fair play, honour and courage in the worst of situations. In a “I-say-steady-on-old-chap-jolly-good-fellows” kind of way.

I-say-steady-on-old-chap, that is a fabulous review of Greenmantle, Carsten. Not familiar with this series by Buchan, but I am thinking that may have to change.

As to the state of our world news, I couldn't agree more that it seems reduced to the bizarre and the tragic. And yes, I've also wondered exactly what is the job description which denotes one as a humanitarian.

Jolly-good-fellow, Nancy :) There are five Richard Hannay novels (of course made more famous through Hitchcocks adaptation of "Thirty Nine Steps") - he's one of the "fathers" of the modern day spy-novel - I think they all are indebted to him - Fleming, Greene, Carré etc. The plot contains several unlikely coincidences - but hey, it's a great adventure.

BTW - Wikipedia: "In 1935 John Buchan was appointed Governor General of Canada by King George V" - "Buchan proved to be enthusiastic about literacy, as well as the evolution of Canadian culture, and he received a state funeral in Canada" :)

Greenmantle sounds fascinating, Carsten. Like Nancy, I may have to look into author.

I don't envy you having to cover Aleppo. There is a definite tragedy. Of course I watch and read about it daily, but that is not the same as having to deal with it in the depth that you likely do. Trump - bizarre. I'm over my "Trump Slump" where I look on the whole thing as out of this world. He's like his daughter Ivanka to serve in some capacity in the Whitehouse ? Meanwhile his robot- like wife will stay behind with young Baron to finish off the school year? And that is the least of it. I wonder if any Americans who voted for Trump are having second thoughts? Likely not.

As for Meghan Markle, I think she has some sort of charity in ( okay, I've gone to look it up ) " Global Ambassador for World Vision" and travelled to Rwanda etc - that sort of thing. I'm not sure about her at all, Casten, but you know Prince Harry.

>66 ctpress: Thanks, Carsten, I did not even know that Buchan was one of our early Governor Generals! Must read more about him. Did you know this, Deb? (probably not, being that I am so much older ... if I didn't know, how would you possibly remember, you spring chicken!)

Hi Deborah - It actually is difficult to report on Trump. Should you report on his many twitter-postings, or just give it a rest. It seems he will continue to do this as president, and diplomacy is not his strong suit. Going to be interesting.

Prince Harry and Markle spotted buying a Christmas tree - there's a full detail on the shopping - and on BBC :) Probably a good thing that she's used to the spotlight....

Hi Nancy - Yes, how could she possibly know? spring chicken LOL! I see you're having a fine time - with holiday and all :)

Merry Christmas, Carsten. I also have a copy of He Wants . Perhaps after Christmas we can try reading it more or less together.

Yes, it must be a challenge to know how much to report on Trump. His twitter posting are so crazy. That last one that I heard about was the up the Nukes post. You'd think " they' would take his twitter account away. Not really the way to make policy. It will be interesting to see if Harry and Megan get together for New Years. Just fling, or the real thing? You've had some difficult news in your are lately. My sister in law and their two kids are travelling to Berlin today. My sister - in - law's brother lives in Berlin and their parents travelled from their small town in Germany so the whole family could get together for Christmas. My brother has to work over Christmas, so my sister in law decided to visit her family in Germany over Christmas. I know that they are going to the Christmas Market in Berlin tomorrow.

It has been a difficult year.

Hyyge , Carsten and Merry Christmas to you, dear friend.

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

Merry Christmas, Carsten, from your bookie friend in Canada.

Deborah - Good idea. I look forward to reading a book together again - it's been a while. Hope you'll enjoy your family Christmas time.

Paul - Oh yes. Let's hope and pray for a more peaceful 2017. Sure would like to write about other things than war, terror and strife. Merry Christmas to you.

Nancy - And Merry Christmas to you my bookie friend :)

Merry Christmas Carsten! Have a great 2017.

HI Carsten, Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and lots of hygge and wonderful reading in 2017!

Thanks Rhian and Mary - hope you'll have some good family time around this Christmas and New Year.

OK, I'll have to wrap up things here. 61 books read. Not bad - a book flunk in august/september/october was a setback, but I'm reading again and it's great.

Here's my thread for 2017:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/244888

Wow, "good on ya! for a grand total of 61. I too had a book funk and see a pattern that in the summer I don't read much, just tend to stare at the sunshine and the ocean which is not a bad deal at all! Have starred you 2017 thread. Have a wonderful 2017, all the best!

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Carsten