Barbara (Ameise1)'s world (2)

Welcome to my second thread.

I would like to introduce you to the Museum Strauhof (Zürich). The present character of the baroque townhouse dates back to the year 1727 and has remained essentially the same. Since the 1950s the property has been used by the Presidential Department of the City of Zürich for cultural events.
After extensive repairs, the Strauhof was transformed from the municipal art chamber to the Museum of Cultural History Exhibitions in 1989.
In 2002, Roman Hess, Head of Literature for the Department of Culture of the City of Zürich, took over the management of the Strauhof and positioned the house as a museum for literary exhibitions. The program took into account primarily the canon of the German and European literature (Balzac, Rimbaud, Pasolini, Tolstoy, Dickens) as well as presentations about surviving authors (Hohler, Merz, Loetscher). The Museum Strauhof has successfully established itself in the entire German-speaking world through the well-established and elaborately produced exhibitions in the professional world, the media and the public.
I have visited various exhibitions and it was a highlight every time.

    

January
# 1 the Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
# 2 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (5 stars)
# 3 The Collected Short Stories of Elizabeth Bowen by Elizabeth Bowen (4½ stars)
# 4 Geraubte Liebe by Dacia Maraini (4½ stars)
# 5 Fragrant harbour by John Lanchester (4½ stars)
# 6 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill (4 stars)
# 7 The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels (3½ stars)

February
# 8 The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (5 stars)
# 9 Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl (4 stars)
#10 Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine thien (4 stars)
#11 Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan (4 stars)
#12 I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett (3½ stars)
#13 Place de l'Étoile by Patrick Modiano (4½ stars)
#14 I Will Have Vengeance by Maurizio de Giovanni 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
#15 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré (4 stars)

American Author Challenge 2017

January: skipped
February (Stewart O'Nan): Last Night at the Lobster (2017-02-11)

British Author Challenge 2017

January
The Collected Stort Stories of Elizabeth Bowen by Elizabeth Bowen read in German (2017-01-06)
February
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett Listen in German (2017-02-15)
March
#15 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré Listen in German (2017-02-21)
October
Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl (2017-02-05)
December
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill read in German (2017-01-18)

Canadian Author Challenge 2017

January
The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels (2017-01-29)
February
Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine Thien (2017-02-07)

Take It or Leave It Challenge


January
2.: Read a book with a compound word in the title
The collected Short Stories of Elizabeth Bowen (German title: Sommernacht) 2017-01-06
3.: Read a book from a best of or notable books of 2016, name the list
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead 2017-01-04
6.: Read a book whose title includes at least two of the same number
The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy 2017-01-02

February
17.:Read a book by an author whose full name is at least 5 syllables long
Place de l'Étoile by Patrick Modiano 2017-02-15
18.: Read a book with a title word beginning with "L"
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan 2017-02-11
19.: Read a memoir by a living author of a different gender from yours
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Wall 2017-02-04
20.: Read a book whose title only contains one noun
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett 2017-02-15

currently reading

 The Reluctant Hero

currently listening

 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Happy new thread Barbara! I love the museum pictures in the topper - wish I could just jump on a plane and go tomorrow!

That looks like an interesting museum up in the topper.

>8 charl08: Would pick you up at the airport and take you there :-). Later we could have lunch and a good chat. Hi Charlotte, it's nice to see you first. Something special from Zürich for being first. Champagne Truffles from Teuscher

>9 thornton37814: It is a fabulous museum, Lori.

That museum looks and sounds like somewhere I'd definitely love to visit if I ever make it to Zurich.

Happy New Thread!

>12 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. I suppose you would love it.

Ooh! Chocolate! Maybe we could stop and get some after we'd been to the museum :-)

Happy new thread, Barbara! I saw in the paper earlier in the week that a Giacometti exhibition is coming to London! It is probably the one you saw.

>14 charl08: No problem, Charlotte. Teuscher is just a five minute walk away from the museum.

>15 susanj67: Thanks so much, Susan, I suppose it could be the same. In which musuem will it be? If you find time to go then I can strongly recommend it.

>17 Ameise1: Barbara, it's at the Tate Modern: http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/alberto-giacometti

>18 susanj67: I hope there will be not only the skinny figures. As I can see there are also his paintings. In Zürich the focus was on his wide range of sculptures. I hope you'll enjoy it when going.

Happy new thread, Barbara!
I like the Zürich tour you give us at the top of your threads, that Literary Museum is one I hope to visit some day :-)

>20 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. I hope to give you a tour through Zürich one day.

>18 susanj67: Thanks for sharing Susan, now lets see if a London trip for Frank & me can be planned between May and September :-)

Hi Barbara, happy new thread my dear and great thread topper photos. Hope the week has been good to you my dear and that you have a lovely, restfull weekend after the last three weeks you have had. Karen sends her love to you and the family as do I.

>23 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. It was a very busy week. Leaving home at 6.45am and coming home at 9pm. My colleague is only part-time back to work. I try to take the weekend a bit solwer than the last one. Love and hugs at both of you xx

Happy New Thread, Barbara. That museum looks like a natural for book readers. I'd love to see that Giacometti exhibit. We love the Tate Modern.

Whoa, you've been having some very long days. I hope you have a chance to relax and rest this weekend.

>25 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. I suppose that museum would be a perfect meet-up place for LTers.
Everybody who is in London during May to September should go to this exhibition.
The last three weeks were very long. I really hope that's getting better.

Happy new thread! I'd love to be in London to visit that exhibition, but alas, I don't think I'll make it. :(

Hmm, I don't think I'd be interested enough in the exhibition to pay the £30 train ticket and the £18.50 tickets. But I hope someone from LT can get to it, and report back on what they think :).

Hi Barbara! Happy new thread.

Hi there, Barbara!! More fun museum pieces. Thanks for sharing!!

Lovely new thread, Barbara! Congratulations!
I hope that this weekend gives you time to unwind and regroup. I'd be a basket case.

>27 drneutron: Thanks so much, Jim. I won't be in London, too but saw lots of his oeuvres here in Zürich.
Happy weekend.

>28 lunacat: Wouldn't it be marvellous if some LTers could post photos of thas exhibition, Jenny? ~50£ is a lot of money, so I can understand you very well.
Happy weekend

>29 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen and happy weekend. Have you any plans for the weekend?

>30 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. Well, the Strauhof is a very special museum and its visitors are all addicted readers.

Happy weekend.

>31 LizzieD: Thanks so much, Peggy. Today's plans are doing the grocery, preparing for the upcoming week at school and hopefully some reading.
After weeks of fog we finally got some sun yesterday. It's like xmas and birthday together a most welcomed present and the mood starts improving.
Happy weekend.

My kind of visitors!!

>37 Berly: LOL
I would like to do it more but during the last three busy weeks this was more a wish then a doing.

Happy new one, Barbara and have a restful weekend!

I hope you have a peaceful, relaxing and restorative weekend and can recharge some batteries ready for the week ahead. How is your colleague doing now?

>39 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana.

>40 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenhy. Today I'll do lots for the upcoming school week but hope to get some reading done as well. My colleague still isn't 100% fit. Therefore she'll be working the upcoming week 50%. It's better than nothing for me. The parents meetings I've to do on my own.

I went to the library and came home with

• Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan AAC February
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson BAC July (Audio)

Happy new thread, Barbara! Love the museum tour up top!

>43 Ameise1: I enjoyed the O'Nan book when I read it a few years back. I wasn't sure what I'd think about it at the time. Someone raved about it on one of the TV morning shows so I decided to give it a try. You can't go wrong with a Stevenson classic. I didn't schedule that one this year, but I do have another Stevenson to read this year. I may need to move it to July if I scheduled it for another month so it coincides with BAC.

>44 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. Probably all readers would love it.

>45 thornton37814: Lori, I read O'Nan's Song for the Missing five years ago and had mixed feelings during that reading. I can't say I disliked it but I didn't really like it. So, I give him another try. This will be my first R. L. Stevenson and the only one I could find at the library.

Happy new thread, Barbara! Lovely photos in the topper. And hooray for Last Night at the Lobster - I love that one, and it was my very first O'Nan. Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

>48 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. Glad to know that you loved it. So, I'm looking forward to that reading.

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a good Saturday my dear and hope Sunday is a relaxing day for you, sending love and hugs.

>50 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I did some work for school, some reading and enjoyed a sunny day. Love and hugs

Happy new thread, Barbara. I do hope the pressures of work ease off soon.

What a lovely topper for your thread. Belated good wishes for a wonderful 2017, filled with interesting books!

Hope you got enough done today that you can also have some relaxation time tomorrow, Barbara. When are parent meetings finally over?

Amen to what Roni said!
My friend scribulous recommended *Lobster* to me some time ago, and I never got to it. I'll be interested to see whether you're also a fan.

>52 ffortsa: Thanks so much, Judy. I hope that after the upcoming week everything will be back to normal. Fingers crossed.
Happy Sunday.

>53 Whisper1: So true, Linda. Thanks so much for this beautiful quote. Wishing you happy Sunday.

>54 ronincats: Roni, after the sun came out in the afternoon, I stopped working in my home office and went outside (even though it was still very cold) because we didn't see the sun for almost three weeks. So there is still a little but work left to do today but I don't mind after some sunny hours I got yesterday.
At the end of the upcoming week all parent meetings are over. Yeh.
Happy Sunday

>55 LizzieD: I will report on the *Lobster*, Peggy, but I suppose you have to wait until I'll have finished three other books. I hooe to finish The Winter Vault today.
Happy Sunday.

Finally caught up on your thread Barbara! I hope you can have some rest and relaxation today. On your last thread, really pleased you enjoyed The Underground Railroad so much as I just picked that up from the library.

>60 souloftherose: Thanks so much, Heather. The Underground Railroad is a great reading. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Happy Sunday. I will finisah now my currently reading.

Ah, I forgot to report that I was at the educational college last week to get to know 'my' future students. There are two young women who will teach at my class from late March to late May. My job is to accompany them, to promote them and to help with advice and action. In addition, I also have to assess whether they are suitable for the profession as teachers. Since I was working as an instructor, I had to veto one student. She was simply not suitable as a teacher. But I also had fantastic young female students with whom I would even send my own children into the classroom. As is the case everywhere, the difference between the different students is great.

>53 Whisper1: I like it!

>63 eclecticdodo: Me too, Jo.

Happy Sunday, Barb. Happy New Thread. Hope you are enjoying the weekend.

>65 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It's a lovely Sunday so far.

book 7 Read in German

 The Winter Vault
CAC January

I have very mixed feelings about this book and it was not so easy to read at times. On the one hand, the simple basis of this story is the resettlement of people - be it the Numbians in the construction of the dam lake, the people of St. Lawrence Seaway or the people who helped Warsaw build WWII. A topic that is worth thinking about. On the other hand, the story is based on the feelings of these people. These feelings are portrayed so detailed, that I often hurt when I read and I only had the desire that this would be easier to tell. Anne Michaels ' writing style seems to be inexhaustible. She can give an importance from an inconspicuous thing, with her opinion described in the last detail, which sometimes banned me as a reader to the brink of the impossible. Often I thought less is more. On the other hand, it was precisely this detail infidelity, which kept me reading, in the hope of learning more about the situations.

Next reading:
 The Hare With Amber Eyes

Hi, Barbara!

Assessing student teachers is rough sometimes, I bet. When I was still teaching, I served as an assessor for the college-bound Latin programs in some of the surrounding high schools. I would go observe the classes and write up reports on how the teachers were doing, if they were properly preparing the students to skip Beginning Latin when they arrived at college. It was hard to write up a couple of those teachers who were clearly not doing what they should be doing. So I don't envy you that part of it.

>69 scaifea: Amber, it always has two sides of a medal. On the one hand, it is not easy to observe, promote and evaluate the students closely. On the other hand, I already had such great students, that one of them on my recommendation now works with us as a teacher. I am still very proud of her work.
If everything runs normally, then it is only the reports I have to write, which sometimes give me headaches. But if it is bad, it is not always easy to make it clear to a student that she is not suitable for the profession and therefore she will not pass the internship. Together with her mentor, we have to help her separate herself from her professional concept 'teacher'.

Hi Barbara! Happy Sunday and Happy 18th for Roger, eh?

I hope your coming week at work goes well.

>71 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I'm happy he won. It was a kind if Hitchkock final in the end.
Me too, I keep my fingers crossed that the last if the busy weeks will pass quickly.

>1 Ameise1: Wonderful looking place. Thanks for sharing.

Happy reasonably new thread, Barbara.

Sorry I was a little late to the party but I was travelling as you know. xx

>73 Oberon: Thanks so much, Erik. It is indeed a wonderful place for literature. Also the building is fantastic.
I wish you a great week ahead.

>74 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul. No pressure and excuse, I know you've other things going on than visiting threads. For how long will you stay in UK?
Wishing you a great week ahead.

Barbara--I am glad you got to enjoy some sunshine and that there is an end in sight at work! Hang in there. So glad Roger won and love your assessment of the final game: "It was a kind if Hitchkock final in the end." LOL Happy Monday.

>77 Berly: Spelling mistakes can be funny, isn't it?
Yep, we've been very happy to see Roger win. Sunshine was the best medicine since ages.
Happy new week, Kim.

>78 Ameise1: I wasn't making fun of the spelling. Honest! I knew what you meant and I thought Hitchcock captured the weirdness of the last game with all the call challenges and waiting. Happy new week to you too!

Happy New Thread! I need to get The Dogs at The Perimeter going as a read, since I enjoyed Do Not Say We Have Nothing by the same author.

>79 Berly: I know that you weren't making fun. I make often spelling, grammar and typo (on my tablet especially) mistakes. I'm mostly sure that everybody knows what I mean.
Happy Tuesday, Kim. It's the first day since weeks that I've the feeling that it's getting warmer.

>80 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed another book by this autor. I've never read something by her.

Hi, Barbara!

Hi, Barb! I hope your week goes well.

>83 scaifea: Hi Amber :-)

>84 msf59: Hi Mark, so far I have a good week, thanks so much. :-)

Hi Barbara! Happy Tuesday, glad your week is going well so far.

>86 karenmarie: Karen, there is no comparison to the past weeks. I even have time to be on LT again. Life can be so beautiful. :-)

I truly enjoyed Hare With Amber Eyes. Looking forward to your comments.

>88 michigantrumpet: I'm not far into it yet, but I like it so far, Marianne.

>87 Ameise1: Simple pleasures, right? We appreciate them more after we've been denied them a while.

>90 karenmarie: Absolutely, it's like xmas and birthday together. :-D

Hi Barbara, from the looks of the recent posts it seems like this week is a lot better than the last few, I am so glad as I feared you would be drained and you would be off work with a combination of tiredness and stress. Hope the rest of the week is as good as the first two days my dear, sending love and hugs.

>92 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Indeed, this week is going much better than the last few weeks. Fingers crossed that it will stay that way. Love and hugs

So happy to see you have some time to spend here, Barbara!

Happy newish thread, Barbara. As always, I love your photos.

>94 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. Life seems to be much better this week because I have more time for myself and work isn't anymore so stressful.
Happy Wednesday.

>95 BLBera: Thanks so much, Beth. Happy Wednesday.

Having been absent due to work, I'm happy to find you here with less stress than the last time I visited. Enjoy the weekend, Barbara!

Hi Barbara, hope your week has gone ok and hope you have a lovely relaxing weekend my dear, sending love and hugs.

>98 Trifolia: Thanks so much, Monica. It looks like the most stressful time is over. I hope you'll get a relaxing weekend, too.

>99 johnsimpson: Hi John, the week went better than I thought it would. No plans for the weekend next to lots of reading. I hope you'll have a lovely weekend, too.

>101 Ameise1: Your weekend plans sound perfect! Much better than mine which involves standing in the rain for a soccer match. LOL

>102 Berly: Thinking of you, Kim when I'm reading on the sofa with a mug of tea.
Happy weekend. Stay warm and dry.

Wish you enough tea and books for the weekend - and no disturbances :)

I'm glad your week was less stressful, Barbara. Have a lovely weekend!

>104 paulstalder: Thanks so much, Paul. It's the first weekend since xmas holiday that I don't have other plans than reading. The upcoming week is partying due to Marina's age of consent on the 9th. We have 'full' house of lots of young people during the whole week (mostly they stay also overnight).
I went to the library and came back with Modiano's Place de l'Étoile. I need to read other library books first before I can start that one.

>105 DianaNL: Me too, Diana. Life us much better that way. Happy weekend to you too and thanks so much for stopping by.

Happy Saturday, Barb. Enjoy your weekend.

>108 msf59: Thanks so much, will do so, Mark.

I'm so glad to see your week has been much better. Long may it continue! Having been working so hard, it must make going back to normal feel almost like a holiday to you.

>110 lunacat: Asolutely, Jenny. It's freedom. Happy weekend to you.

Hi Barbara and congratulations on a book-infused weekend with no other plans. I hope it gives you a chance to re-group and re-charge - especially with the house full of company it sounds like will be descending upon you next week.

>112 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. The upcoming week will be wonderful with lots of fun.

book 8 Read in German

 The Hare with Amber Eyes

This is a great family biography. The author takes a look at the story behind the netsuks of his uncle, discovering a lot about his family. On the one hand, it shows the joy of the arts which his family has been cultivating and gathering since the middle of the nineteenth century. On the other hand, it is also the great suffering of his Jewish origin.
The Paris part, which plays in the middle of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century, shows Charles' collection. He was a great patron who knew and promoted various Impressionist artists. He was also the one who bought the Netsuk collection. I am fascinated by the relationship between Charles and Rodin, Degas, etc. It is about pictures I have already seen, how they originated and which figures who represent whom. Also in the Viennese part is told about arts, the collection family of the family goes on, especially the books of his great-grandfather.
The ambivalent relationship between the countries and the Jews also plays a large part. On the one hand, they have always been used as money-makers and financiers for hundreds of years, and they were also highly esteemed on the other hand, they were the first to suffer when the nationalistic thinking of the nations tipped. This will be visible in the Paris part, but much more drastic in the Viennese part. What concerned me the most was not the expropriation itself, I have already read a lot about this, but rather not to return the stolen property or to receive it only at a ridicule price. With this kind of stolen property has not yet been made up to today pure table.
The Tokyo section tells how the netsuks came into being and what they mean. It is a culture that is alien to me but fascinates.

Good review of The Hare with Amber Eyes, Barbara. I've been thinking about reading this one. Adding it to the WL.

>115 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. I can highly recommend it.

Currently reading:
 Dogs at the Perimeter

Happy Sunday, Barb. Great review of The Hare with Amber Eyes. I will have to read that one.

>118 msf59: Happy Sunday to you too, Mark. It is a very good book. Go for it.

book 9 ♫

 Kiss Kiss
BAC October

This was a fantastic listening. There are ten short stories, each beginning very harmless and ending with something macabre each time. His writing style is great and British black humor comes with every story. As a listener, you wait curiously for the end, even if you can usually guess what will happen. The nape of the hairs begin to pose and it makes great pleasure when the solution comes.

Next listening:
 I Shall Wear Midnight

Happy Sunday, Barbara! A very nice review of The Hare With the Amber Eyes. I had that one out from the library last year, but I had to return it before I had finished reading it. You are reminding me that I need to get it back.

>122 Crazymamie: Happy Sunday, Mamie and thanks so much. Try to get it back and finish it. It's a strong story.

Just about to start my first Terry Pratchett: The Globe: The Science of Discworld!

>124 Berly: It is my first Terry Pratchett too, Kim, wich I'm going to listen.

The Hare with Amber Eyes seems wonderful, Barbara. Your review convinced me I want to read it asap.
I have a book of short stories by Roald Dahl, but never managed to read more than two in a row, because I find them so eerie. And the stories always stick... But isn't he a great writer!

>126 Trifolia: This biography is very strong. I hope you'l like it as much as I did, Monica.
Dahl is a great writer. I love his black humour very much.

Hi Barbara, hope you had a good Sunday my dear.

Brabara, forgive me for being absent, please.

Great review of Hare with the Amber Eyes! Very complete and informative.

I just read Last Night at the Lobster and like it quite a bit. The ending was a bit flat, I thought. I'll be very interested in your take on it.

I love the Tiffany Aching books, so I'll be looking forward to your review of that one, too.

Glad that the work issues are clearing up. I hope things continue to get better.

Great comments on THe Hare with Amber Eyes, Barbara. I loved that one as well.

>128 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Next to see a doctor with Marina because she's got the flu and needed an attest for school that she won't be there for a few days, I was able to finish an audio book and and read a lot in Dogs at the Perimeter.

>129 Matke: Never mind, Gail. I know that RL can be so b6sy that visiting threads isn't possible.
Thanks so much for the compliment. With such a great story it isn't difficult to write down my thoughts.
I'm looking forward to the O'Nan book and hope that I'll like it.
It's my first Pratchett book but it seems that lots of people like it.

>130 BLBera: Thanks so much, Kim. In my opinion it's a must-read.

>114 Ameise1: I was less enthousiast about The hare with the amber eyes, I had some trouble with the way too rich family doing almost nothing for less fortunates...

>131 Ameise1: I am sorry Marina got the flu, Barbara, I hope she recovers soon.

Is your collegue full-time back this week, or still half the time?

>134 FAMeulstee: Anita, your point of view is correct but I saw this story only of the view of this family and not as a whole of all Jewish families. If I would have had that in my mind than it wouldn't be a good book of what happend to Jews during history.

I hope Marina gets better soon, too. It's her great birthday next Tuesaday.

My colleague started today full time. I hope it will stay so.

book 10


CAC February

Janie recalls her childhood while she is looking for a good friend. It is the childhood at the end of the war in Cambodia as families were torn apart as brainwashing took place as one could only survive with an illusory spark to see his loved ones again. For those concerned it was about the naked survival, even if one for others has betrayed.
The language is strong and nevertheless the feelings are very sensitive. Even if it is a fiction, many people have experienced this and have great difficulties that this sad destiny does not hinder them in today's everyday life.

As a very young teacher, I had Cambodian refugee children in my class. They were enormously traumatized and for me it was not easy to find a good access to them, because I could not understand their experiences. My main task was to give them security. This book opened my eyes to the sad fate that they suffered.

Hi Barbara. I hope you're having a good week :)

>136 Ameise1: Thanks so much, Jenny. So far it's a very good week.
Yesterday our oldest daughter came home. She received the evaluation of her bachelor thesis, which was awarded the highest rating. Of course we are very proud of her. Her work is: poverty-stricken single-parent families in Switzerland - how the sociocultural animation promotes the participation of single-parents.
The Bachelor's diploma will take place on Friday 17 February.

>138 Ameise1: Oh gosh, congrats to your amazing daughter! That's wonderful!

Next reading:
 Last Night at the Lobster

>139 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. We are overjoyed.

Congratulations to your daughter for getting highest rating for her bachelor thesis!

>142 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. She is so happy that she passed so good.

Sweet Thursday, Barb! Yah, for Last Night at the Lobster! That is an LT favorite!

>144 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. I'll report on it when I've finished the reading.

>114 Ameise1: Wonderful review of Hare With Amber Eyes. your thoughts mirror my won, particularly admiration for the family's commitment to Art, and sadness of the fate of the Jewish family. Nicely done!

>146 michigantrumpet: Thanks so much for your kind words, Marianne. It's lovely to see you here.

>136 Ameise1: I have that one on the reading desk planned for this month and the Canadian Author Challenge - Barbara. Your review has whetted my appetite.

Have a lovely weekend.

>148 PaulCranswick: You will like it, Paul. It's a very good reading.
Happy weekend to you too.

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a good week my dear and congratulations to Isabelle for her bachelor thesis. I hope you have a great relaxing weekend my dear as we hope to, sending love and hugs.

>150 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Will tell Isabelle so. We are packing for the ski holiday. Thomas and Marina are leaving tomorrow for Davos. I have another week of work before I can join them. Love and hugs right back to you and Karen.

I can't believe I haven't visited in almost a week, Barbara! Sorry about that.

Congratulations on your daughter's thesis. How exciting for all of you. And a holiday to look forward to too, after such a stressful beginning to the year!

I wish you a lovely weekend and an easy week before your holiday.

Barbara--Congratulations to your daughter on her thesis (nice job, Mom!). Hope this next week goes quickly and then you are off to the mountains!!

Wonderful news that your daughter did so well on her thesis, Barbara. It sounds like you have been extra busy and will really enjoy your break (and so will we when you post the pictures.)

>152 karenmarie: Never mind, Karen. In know that everybody's week is running and RL is busy.
Yep, we're very excited about Isabelle. The graduation ceremony is next Friday in Lucerne and after that will have a nice dinner.

>153 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. There is also a dad. Once upon a time my hubster studied the same.
My work colleague doesn't feel too well so she'll be working next week part time. I suppose I have really to earn my ski holiday.

>156 Ameise1: My bad. Good job Dad!! Make sure you tell him I said so. : ) And best of luck to you next week covering for two. You will definitely have earned your vacation!

>154 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. She had the big work for the thesis (~100 pages) between August and December. After she had submitted it to the dean she had to wait a bit more than a month to get the results.
Yep, I'm looking forward to my ski holiday and will post photos.

>157 Berly: Will tell him so and thanks for the well wishes for the upcoming week.

Happy Saturday, Barb! Congratulations with your daughter's thesis. That is wonderful!

>160 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. We are very proud of her. Soon, Thomas and Marina are leaving for Davos.

book 11 Read in German

 Last Night at the Lobster
AAC February

Here the feelings and memory of Manny are told. He is the manager of the Lobster. It is the last day the restaurant is open. Some employees have a new job others are looking. Manny has hired his employees for various reasons. The harmony among themselves is not always the best and animosities escalate on this last day.
I liked the story. It is subtly written and easy to read.

Congratulations to your daughter on her academic success!

You've given me a lot of books to think about. I didn't know the subject matter of The Hare With Amber Eyes, so your review was very welcome. The same with Dogs at the Perimeter, which sounds fascinating to me. And Last Night at the Lobster sounds very appealing.

Now my only problem is when to fit them in!

I hope next week's work isn't too stressful, since your fellow teacher will be there only half-time. Best wishes for her full recovery and your relief!

Barbara, congratulations to your daughter! What a great achievement.

I started The Hare With Amber Eyes a few years ago (in fact, I think it was my first Kindle purchase) but didn't finish it. I'm glad you had a better experience!

>163 ffortsa: Thanks so much, Judy. I'll give the congrats to her. She has done a very good job.

Yep, for good books. I have the same problem finding lots of interesting books all over the threads and don't know when to read them.
All three books were good ones. I hope you'll find time to read one of them.

It's only one week to go that way. Next Saturday I'm heading to Davos for my ski holiday.

>164 susanj67: Thanks so much, Susan. I'll tell Isabelle about your congratulations.

Sorry to hear that you didn't like that book.

Hope you have a good time at the graduation ceremony. I love seeing them when I work on campus. The parents all look so proud - and rightly so.

>167 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. We don't have the costumes like in the English spoken countries but nevertheless it's an important ceremony.

Congratulations on your daughter's successful thesis. You and your husband must be very proud.

Enjoy your vacation! Your extra-tough work weeks since January mean you really deserve some time off.

>169 arubabookwoman: Thanks so much, Deborah. We are very proud.
My hubster and younger daughter left for Davos yesterday. I have to work another week before my holiday starts.

>158 Ameise1: A month is a long time to wait for marks, Barbara. But 100 pages is a lot of marking! She must have been anxious while waiting to find out.

>171 Familyhistorian: She was sure that she passed. The only question was which level. She never thought it is the highest one.

>172 Ameise1: That's always a nice surprise, Barbara!

>173 Familyhistorian: Yes, it's gorgeous.

Hey Barbara. What does graduation look like where you are? As you say, we have academic gowns plus speeches and buffet lunches. And photos. Lots of photos.

>175 charl08: It'll take place at the best hotel in Lucerne at 5pm. There will be speeches too and later an apero buffet. After that we'll have dinner 'en famille' (Isa, hubster, younger daughter, MIL Isabelle's boyfriend and me). My hubster, MIL and me will heading home around 11pm whereas the others will join a big party.

Sounds lovely Barbara. Hope you have a wonderful time.

>177 charl08: I'm sure we will have it.

Hooray for Last Night at the Lobster! A nice slice of American life.

Happy Sunday, Barb!

>138 Ameise1: Wonderful new about your daughter's Bachelor's Thesis, Barbara! How excited and proud you and your husband must be. Congratulations to all of you!

Many congratulations to your daughter! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating her achievement.

>179 msf59: Happy Sunday to you too, Mark. It was indeed a nice reading.

>180 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. We are proud and very happy for her.

>181 DianaNL: Thanks so much for this great photo, Diana. Beat Feuz won the gold medal in the man' downhill. I feel like this cat.

>186 Ameise1: Thanks so much, Jenny. We'll definitely have a great time next Friday.

Hi Barbara! I wish you the best this coming week with your colleague still half-time and I hope you enjoy the anticipation of your ski holiday!

>187 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I think the week will pass quickly.

Happy Sunday, Barbara. I'm glad that Last Night at the Lobster worked for you. I liked that one, too.

>189 jnwelch: Hapoy Sunday to you too, Joe. I'm glad I read it.

Happy Sunday to you too!

I'm glad you enjoyed Last Night at the Lobster! I really liked the main character, Manny.

I hope the week flies by while you're waiting to join your family in Davos!

Hope the special day went well!! Photos?

>191 drneutron: Thanks so much, Jim. It's nice to see you here.

>192 cbl_tn: Thanks so much, Carrie. Yep, I liked his character and thoughts, too.

>196 Ameise1: Kim, the celebration will be next Friday. You have to be patient until later.
I hope you feel a bit better.

>196 Ameise1: LOL. Sorry. Okay, I'll wait. It's GOING to be great!! Feeling much better. I think another day and I'll be whole.

Catching up before thread 3 starts. Happy Monday!

>197 Berly: I'll keep you informed. Great to hear that you feel much better, Kim.

>198 BBGirl55: Happy Monday to you too, Bryony. It's lovely to see you here.

Big Tuesday Waves to Barb!

>201 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. BIG waves right back to you.

Hi Barbara! Happy Tuesday.

I have picked up James Ellroy's My Dark Places, about the murder of his mother. It's fascinating. Here's what Amazon and the back cover of the book say:

In 1958 Jean Ellroy was murdered, her body dumped on a roadway in a seedy L.A. suburb. Her killer was never found, and the police dismissed her as a casualty of a cheap Saturday night. James Ellroy was ten when his mother died, and he spent the next thirty-six years running from her ghost and attempting to exorcize it through crime fiction. In 1994, Ellroy quit running. He went back to L.A., to find out the truth about his mother--and himself.

In My Dark Places, our most uncompromising crime writer tells what happened when he teamed up with a brilliant homicide cop to investigate a murder that everyone else had forgotten--and reclaim the mother he had despised, desired, but never dared to love. What ensues is a epic of loss, fixation, and redemption, a memoir that is also a history of the American way of violence.

I have you to thank for my interest in James Ellroy - I have The Cold Six Thousand on my shelves, too, waiting for the right time!

>203 karenmarie: Oh thanks so much for that one, Karen. I have a look out if I'm able to get a copy of it. I'm glad that you like Ellroy. He is a gorgeous writer.

That sounds really intriguing: Look forward to hearing what you make of it. Hope your week is going well Barbara.

>205 charl08: So far the week goes well, Charlotte. Another three work days and one meeting tomorrow night before my ski holiday starts.

Hurrah for holidays coming up. I'm glad to see you're counting down the days. I hope they go quickly for you.

Hello, Barbara! Happy Wednesday!

>207 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. Only two days of work left. Happy Wednesday to you.

>208 scaifea: Nice to see you, Amber. Wishing you a lovely Wednesday, too.

book 12 ♫ Listen in German

 I Shall Wear Midnight
BAC February

It is not the kind of story I would first choose, so I needed a while to dive into the story. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining story and I can well imagine the eigious witches and fantasy fans coming to their bills. Tiffany had all hands to do, to defeat the evil and to unite the good. The story is funny, even if you can usually guess the next step in advance.

Next listening:

 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

I've read the book years ago and as a 're-read' I have the audio now.

book 13 Read in German

 Place de l'Étoile

What a fulminant first work. Patrick Modiano is so speech-wielding. Raphaël Schlemilovitch is a kind of masquerader who wants to please everyone and wants to enjoy his own life, but in the end he fails and ends up in a mental hospital. The stories are jumping around in the historical time, one is before WWII, then during the war and then again after the war, but never in the correct order. Raphël slips into various roles, compares himself with well-known writers, imitates them and writes himself.

The blurb says:

A young man, Raphël Schlemilovitch, recounts his phantasmagoric autobiography, in various life drafts of a French Jew, before, in and after the WWII - kaleidoscope-like. Sometimes he is a "collaborative Jew" and a lover of Eva Braun, sometimes a 'field Jew' in the deep French province. He soon wants to become an 'Ecole-Normal Jew', soon emigrating with false papers. He is alternately 'snob-Jew', gigolo, pimp and will not miss the pursuit nevertheless. Until this hallucinating hero is at the end with Doctor Freud on the couch, who attests to him a concrete 'Jewish neurosis'.

It was a great reading, one which I can strongly recommend.

Next reading:

 I Will Have Vengeance

>213 Ameise1: Good review, Barbara, I have added it to my library list.

Oh, I'll look forward to your reactions to I Will Have Vengeance, Barbara. That's one of my next ones, too.

>215 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. I will read more of his books. He is a fantastic author.

>216 jnwelch: Joe, I've alread the third book of this series and therefore I'm familiar with the main characters. I started that one this late afternoon and so far I enjoy it.

I really liked this one too. Waiting from the second one to come now...

>219 charl08: The second one is already on my shelf. The third one I've read was from my library. They already have all copies until number eight. I suppose there is enough to read for me.

>213 Ameise1: Wow, you're the first of our group that I've seen actually like a Modiano book. I wonder if the English translations are bad.

As for Ellroy, I read My Dark Places a few years ago and really liked it. Glad you did too.

Hi Barbara, hope your week has gone well so far and just two more days before your holidays begin, Karen says hello and we both send love and hugs.

>221 ffortsa: Judy, I can't speak for Modiano's books in English. The most important thing is that all his books are related to each other. Place de l'étoile is his first book and I think it makes sense to start with that one. I definitely will go on with his books. His laguage is like a firework.

My Dark Places I haven't read yet. I need to find a copy of it. I'm a huge Ellroy fan.

>222 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Yep, only two days but today will be a long one due to a not so easy meeting tonight.
I hope Karen feels better. Sending love and hugs xx

Happy Saturday, Barb. Gorgeous day here in the Midwest.

Have a great weekend.

Have a lovely weekend, Barbara. xx

Happy weekend, Barbara! When does, or when did your ski holiday start?

Hope you have fun on the slopes Barbara. I'd be sitting at the bottom drinking hot chocolate!

>225 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. We had a beautiful but chilly day too.
Happy weekend.

>227 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Paul. I hope you have a lovely too.

>227 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. Thomas and I just arrived at our home in Davos. We had a farawell party this afternoon at our neighbours house. They are moving to Berne. Therefore we left a bit later for Davos then planned.

>228 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. I would join you after some runs.
Yesterday we had a wonderful graduation ceremony and dinner in Lucerne. I'll post photos later.

Have a great time skiing Barbara :)

>234 Ameise1: Will have it, be sure Jenny. :-D

Hi Barbara, have a really great time skiing my dear, the photos you posted on Facebook of Isabelle's graduation were lovely and looks like you all had a great time, sending love and hugs.

>235 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I'll post photos from Isabelle's graduation later here, too. Love and hugs xx

>236 Ameise1:, looking forward to seeing more photo's my dear.

>237 johnsimpson: I suppose you'll see the same one.

We had a wonderful Bachelor diplom celebration on Friday in Lucerne. First, there were various speeches that were not so exciting. After that the diploma students received their well-earned diplomas. After an apéro buffet we went through the nightly Lucerne to a restaurant, where we enjoyed a fine dinner.
The photos are not so great, as the room was rather bleak.


from the left: My hubster, younger daughter, MIL, Isabelle's boyfriend, our VIP of the night Isabelle
     

Lovely photos Barbara. Thanks for sharing them with us. Looks like a happy night.

>239 Ameise1: We had a wonderful evening, Charlotte.
Within the next hour we are ready going on the slope. The weather is beautiful.

>239 Ameise1: Thanks for sharing the pictures of Isabelle's celebration, Barbara, you all looks happy :-)
I hope you had a good day on the slopes today.

>242 FAMeulstee: We had beautiful weather, deep blue sky and sun. That's how I love the mountains in winter.

Hi Barbara! My thanks, too, for sharing the photos.

And now I hope you are beginning to relax and enjoy your ski holiday!

>244 karenmarie: You're welcome, Karen.

Today was wonderful. I haven't done lots of slopes. Unfortunately, my ankle is a bit swollen. No idea what the heck I've done. I took an ibuprofen and hope that tomorrow it's better.

>245 Ameise1: Ouch, I am sorry, Barbara, I hope your ankle is better tomorrow!

>246 FAMeulstee: me too.

Belated congratulations on your daughter's outstanding achievement! The photos looked like you all had a good time at the banquet.

Had you read the previous three Tiffany Aching books prior to I Shall Wear Midnight? That is one sub-series of Pratchett's where it does pay to read them in order.

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday! (Or have had one, as the case may be.)

>248 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni. We had a fabulous time.

No, I haven't read any other Pratchett books. I think it was the only one I could find at the library.

Yep, had is correct. We just had dinner. We are in our ski holiday in Davos.

book 14

 I Will Have Vengeance
ROOT 2017

This is the first volume of the Commissario Ricciardi series. Since I have already read the third volume, some of the characters were known to me.
A famous tenor is found murdered in his wardrobe. Ricciardi has the talent to see the last moments of a dead, so it is important that he is always first at the scene alone. This gift not only gives him advantages, since he also sees the dead and their thoughts in everyday life at every corner and place. It seems that they never want to let go. Ricciardi meticulously solves this case together with his Brigadier Maione. He can not be disturbed by anything, even if Questore Garzo is constantly on his neck.
I like the figure of Commissario Ricciardi very much. He is a self-broker who likes to be alone and never give up. He has no friends but is terribly in love with Enrica, who lives vis à vis him. But he is too shy to reveal his feelings towards her.
I will definitvely read the remaining books of this series.

Next reading:
 The Reluctant Hero

The ski season is over for me. I broke a rib when tightening the ski boot . I was with the doctor today, who controlled the lungs. Besides pumping me with pain medication is nothing to do, which I already knew. It will take about 6 weeks to complete recovery.
I will spend the next days with good books on the sun terrace of Schatzalp.

book 15 ♫ Listen in German

 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
BAC March

This is a good spy story from the Cold War. As always, a person needs to be saved, one that can be sacrificed, and a marginal figure that is saved on the other hand, but it does not matter if they are eliminated. Only this time the 'love' to an insignificant character was more important to the spy than his own life.

Next listening:

 Miss Buncle's Book

>252 Ameise1: Oh, no!! I'm so sorry that you've broken a rib! Here's hoping you get lots of reading done during your recovery time, though...

>255 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. Currently is hurting terribly. Still waiting that the painkillers are doing their trick.

Oh, I hope you like Miss Buncle's Book, Barbara. D.E. Stevenson has become a favorite author for me.

>257 jnwelch: So far I like it very much, Joe.

Oh no about the rib. Hope the painkillers are working, and that the reading is a good distraction.

Um, so breaking a rib, not cool. But you need a better story. Can't you say you were rocketing down a double black diamond run and had to avoid a bear or something? :)

>259 charl08: I suppose tomorrow the level of the painkiller should be adjusted. At the moment it is hurting devishly, Charlotte. Tomorrow it should be beautiful weather and I'm going up to Schatzalp enjoying the sun on zhe deck with a good book.

So sorry to hear it's that painful. I've done a couple of ribs before and it's no fun at all. I hope you can get some decent painkillers and therefore get some rest.

>260 drneutron: LOL, oh now that hurts but I like your excuse very much, Jim. I know that it is more than stupidly how I broke the rib but it's the way I did.

>262 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. Next to the painkiller there is nothing to do than waiting four to six weeks until it's healed. I don't have to work until the 6th of March due to my holiday. So enough time to rest.

>252 Ameise1: That's too bad, Barbara, breaking a rib when you have vacation. I hope you can get better painkillers soon.
(((hugs)))

>265 FAMeulstee: The painkillers are ok. It just needs time to ajust the ground level. The doctor told that even with the painkiller a rest of pain will last until it's healed.
Thanks so much for the hugs, Anita.

Oh my goodness, Barbara! I am so, so sorry. Sending gentle hugs and hopes that your pain will reduce soon to a more manageable level.

So sorry to hear about the broken rib and the pain, Barbara. And to have it happen at the very start of vacation! I'd send you hugs but I know they would hurt.

>267 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I had an interrupted nightsleep. I guess I woke up when turning in bed. The pain is still high but at the moment manageable.

>269 Ameise1: Thanks so much, Roni. Luckily virtuel hugs don't hurt. I have to be on the move otherwise it gets stiffen and that hurts much more.

I was going to ask how you slept, but I got my answer.

I really liked The Longest Night. Perfectly matched the kind of thing I was in the mood for. Hope you have some good reading to keep you busy.

>271 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. The Dobbs' book is fast-paced and gripping and the Stevenson audio is a typical cosy mystery which I like.
I have three other books with me and also lots of audios. On the other hand, Davos has also a book shop. So there won't be any excuses that I wasn't able to find a book. :-D

Hi, Barb! I am so sorry to hear about your injury. I hope the pain lessens as the days go by. Sending healing vibes.

>273 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Enjoying the sun at Schatzalp for a couple of hours. Now it looks like clouds are coming our way.

>272 Ameise1: I'm sorry you had a bad night with the pain, Barbara, but >274 Ameise1: it's a pleasure envisioning you enjoying the sun with a book in hand.

>275 karenmarie: The painkillers finaly kicked in. I knew that it would take almost 24 hours to ajust the level. It's not so that I'm painfree but it's manageable now.
Karen, I enjoyed the few hours at Schatzalp. I was listening on my audio book and read the newspaper.

I am so sorry to hear about the rib!! Ouch! Glad the pain killers are finally working. Hang in there. Guess you will be doing even more reading...!

>277 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. Yep, reading and listening to audios are my top favourites at the moment.

>252 Ameise1: Ouch! broken ribs are painful! Glad the painkillers are finally starting to do their job for you

>279 eclecticdodo: Thanks so much, Jo. Me too, I'm very happy that they work now and hopefully I'll have a better night.

>252 Ameise1: Very sorry to hear about your injury Barbara. I will point out, however, that you missed a golden opportunity to falsify the cause of your injury. I certainly would have believed that you broke it outrunning an avalanche in the Alps.

>281 Oberon: LOL it's more difficult to make things up then telling the truth, Erik. BTW currently the snow is so wet that there wouldn't be any chance outrunning an avalanche.

So sorry to hear about the broken rib and all of the pain! I agree with the others, you need a better story about how you broke your ribs :) Just say you did it " skiing' :) That always sounds good. About 8 years ago I slipped and fell in our foyer and broke my wrist and my foot. I ended up in a cast for my wrist and a cast boot. When I got out ( which was not that often :) strangers would ask - were you in a car accident or skiing accident. I'd usually say , no, I slipped in the foyer of my house , but a skiing accident sounded better. Take care, Barbara, and I hope you are feeling better soon.

>283 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. Well, around my family and friends it's already a big joke the way I broke my rib. It wouldn't be that interesting when I've done it through an accident.

All caught up with you, Barbara. Just in time to find out that you have broken a rib! No fun. I fell through our kitchen floor many years ago and broke several ribs, and I still remember the pain and how long it took them to heal. Sending you healing mojo and good wishes.

I was glad to see that you liked I Will Have Vengeance so much, as I have it coming up soonish - hoping to get ti it next month. And hooray for revisiting The Spy Who Came in From the Cold - I loved that one!

>285 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. To all misfortune I have now also got a strong cough. This also does not help a quick cure my rib. On the contrary, it hurts even more when coughing.

I love the Commissario Ricciardi series and Le Carré's books are always good.

Take care, Barbara. Very gentle hugs.

>287 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. :-)

Not good, Barbara, a cough on top of a broken rib. I hope the cough is controlled quickly so you can get back to the business of healing your rib!

Gentle hugs.

>289 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. Trying to do my best.

Please join me on my new thread.