Barbara (Ameise1)'s world (5)

Welcom on my fifth thread.

Zürich is a fountain town

I intend to show some of the beautiful fountains as an entry point during the warm season.

Wells contribute a lot to the quality of life in the city. This was formerly the case and has not changed to this day.

The fountain was a place of conviviality in the small streets of old times. The maids and the women found themselves several times a day with jugs and buckets at the wells. A chat was part of everyday life.
In the design of fountain jewels and fountain figures, the imagination of architects, craftsmen or sculptors was and still is almost unlimited. To be sure, ideas have changed over the centuries, as evidenced by the diversity of fountain motifs.
More than 1,200 wells enrich the city of Zurich, and the first-class drinking water from all of them. A total of 400 wells are connected to the separate Zurich spring water network.

   

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)
#16 The Reluctant Hero by Michael Dobbs 2017 ROOT Challenge (4 stars)
#17 The Sacred Cut by David Hewson 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
#18 Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson (4 stars)
#19 Julia by Otto de Kat (4 stars)

March
#20 The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker (4½ stars)
#21 Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hide by Robert Louis Stevenson (4 stars)
#22 Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (4½ stars)
#23 Benegas by Francisco José Jurado (4 stars)
#24 Töte deinen Nächsten by Michael Herzig (4½ stars)
#25 Every Day Is For the Thief by Teju Cole (5 stars)
#26 Mord unterm Nordlicht (3½ stars)
#27 Beyond Reach by Graham Hurley 2017 ROOT Challenge (4 stars)

April
#28 Oil On Water by Helon Habila (4 stars)
#29 The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman (4 stars)
#30 The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayle (4½ stars)
#31 Red Mandarin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
#32 Whisky für drei alte Damen by Minna Lindgren (4 Stars)
#33 The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks (4½ stars)
#34 Rom, Rom by Pier Paolo Pasolini (4½ stars)
#35 A Room Full Of Bones by Elly Griffiths (4½ stars)
#36 Nutshell by Ian MacEwan (3½ stars)
#37 Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman (4½ stars)
#38 Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry by Harry Kemelman (4½ 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
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré Listen in German (2017-02-21)
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (2017-03-02)
July
Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson (2017-02-27)
Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hide by Robert Louis Stevenson (2017-03-02)
September
Nutshell by Ian MacEwan (2017-04-22)
October
Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl (2017-02-05)
December
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill read in German (2017-01-18)
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman read in German (2017-04-02)

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
5.: Read a book where both “humor” and “romance” are words listed in the tags for that book
Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson 2017-02-27
12.: Read a book where the title starts with the last letter of the previous title
The Reluctant Hero by Michael Dobbs 2017-02-23
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

March
2.: Read a book set in a real country other than the US, Great Britain, France or Germany. Name the country.
Töte deinen Nächsten by Michael Herzig (Switzerland) 2017-03-08
4.: Read a book by a female author with a female main character
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 2017-03-02
5.: Read a book by an author who publishes under three names
Benegas by Francisco José Jurado (4 stars) 2017-03-05
6.: Read a book with "day" or "light" in the title or author's name
Mord unterm Nordlicht 2017-03-12
7.: Read a book where the author's first or last name has exactly five letters
Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hide by Robert Louis Stevenson 2017-03-02
11.: Read a book written by an author who has won a Windham Campbell Prize
Every Day Is For the Thief by Teju Cole 2017-03-11
14.: Read a book with a title which has the last letter of the previous title in the middle
Beyond Reach by Graham Hurley 2017-03-26
15.: Read a book that holds an odd-numbered position in a series
The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker 2017-03-01

April
1.: Read a book whose title has two words sharing one adjacent letter across those two words
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman read in German (2017-04-02)
4.: In honor of the 4th month, read a book with a 4 word title
Der Coup von Marseille by Peter Mayle (2017-04-05)
5.: Read a book that has much to do with religion
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks 2017-04-16
7.: Going on a Picnic: read a book with a title starting with the first letter of your LT username
A Room Full Of Bones by Elly Griffiths 2017-04-16
8.: Read a book by an author who has worked at a newspaper
Rom, Rom by Pier Paolo Pasolini 2017-04-16
11.: Read a book where the author shares a first name with a member of your family
Whisky für drei alte Damen by Minna Lindgren 2017-04-13
12.: Read a book whose title begins with the letters of APRILGRAP (Aprils fool in Dutch) in rolling fashion
Red Mandadrin Dress by Qiu Xiaolong 2017-04-10
13.: Easter Egg Hunt: Read a book with the word egg or eggs in the title or text
Nutshell by Ian MacEwan (2017-04-22)

currently reading

 The Bookshop

currently listening

 The Lewis Man

Happy new thread, Barbara.
I love the fountain pictures, as I love all the pictures you share of Zürich :-)

Happy new thread from me, too, Barbara!

I love the photos from your previous thread. In particular, your family looks so happy sharing food round a table!

>9 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. Being first some bottles of Zürich's sparkling water from a well in the historic centre.

>10 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen.

>11 Whisper1: Thanks so much, Linda. We had a fabulous evening. For the spring photos, I suppose there will be following some more. ;-)

Happy New Thread, Barbara.

I love fountains. Very cool to see that Zurich has so many, and so many wells.

>15 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. In Zürich nobody has to walk long dinstances to get to another fountain and the water quality is excellent.

Lovely pictures of fountains at the top of your new thread.

I sometimes think the advances in convenience have cost us a feeling of community. In the vast American suburbs, for instance, most homes have no front porches, and family life takes place in the back of the house. Small towns, on the other hand, tend to have front porches, which are an intermediate place between public and private and foster a lot more community conversation.
Many people talk about the loneliness of the suburbs, and I really think it is in part due to the choice of architecture and orientation.

>17 ffortsa: Thanks so much, Judy.

I absolutely agree. Our gardens are going to the small street we're living. As soon the temps aloud everybody is outside chatting etc. We are missing all these quick social contacts during the cold season.

Gorgeous photos, Barbara! Happy New Thread! While I do not have a front porch, walking my dog each day brings me into contact with many of the same people each day. It is amazing how walking a dog brings out the friendliness in people. My brother says in his neighbourhood, everyone opens up there garage in the summer and visits back and forth in the neighbourhood as they socialize in the garages and watch the kids. It is amazing what people think of to have community.

Happy new thread, Barbara! Those fountains really are gorgeous, so no wonder you want to show them off.

Hi Barbara, fascinating information, so many fountains, oke, but are there really so many wells? That's really special.

Fountains are a great point for socializing. No more need for getting water of course, but in the summer, in hot weather the fountain in my neighborhood is a hot spot for mothers with small children who love to play in the water.

Happy new thread, Barbara. xx

Happy New Thread, Barbara! Love your pictures.

Happy New Thread, Barb. Love the fountain toppers.

>19 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. By waliking a dog you meet lots of people and can have a chat, that's for sure and on a daily base.
That's a good idea opening the garage for a gathering. Here it would't work because in our little street there is no garage and to be frank I love the front garden.

>20 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer. We have lots of very different fountains and I thought I could share them with you on each new thread.

>21 EllaTim: Ella, Switzerland is the water castle of fresh water. We can drink water from every tap. Here in Zürich water from high quality. We never buy bottled water and I always have to remind me to do so when I'm abroad.
There are lots of fountains where you can see many people of all ages sitting around during the summer months.

>22 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul. Your moving date back to good old Europe is coming closer, isn't it?

>23 ronincats: Thanks, so much, Roni. I'm glad you like them.

Happy new thread! I love the frog on top of the ball. We have great tap water here in Portland. I am so spoiled! I think the water tastes funny in so many other places. : P

>24 msf59: It's good to see you, Mark and thanks so much.

>30 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. I suppose you know the fairy tale Frog King by the Brothers Grimm. This fountain refers to it.
Yep, one can be happy when having access to water of high quality.

Love the water prize- v. healthy. Of course, I thought it was vodka at first ;)

>34 Ameise1: LOL we are not famous for producing vodka but I know that many people are drinking it and unfortunately to much of it. :-(

Happy new thread, Barbara!

>35 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber.

Happy Tuesday, Barbara! Your work day is probably almost over by now, so I hope it was a good one.

>37 karenmarie: It was indeed a good one, Karen. The next two days are going to be busy. Our school is giving a chorus concert on Tuesday night (~ 400 kids from kindergarten to 6th grade). So lots of rehearsals, the concert itself and excitement.

I hope the concert goes smoothly :).

>39 lunacat: Me too, Jenny. Some kids are also playing instruments for the orchestra.

Hi Barbara, happy new thread my dear, I hope you have had a couple of good days at work dear friend, sending love and hugs.

>41 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. So far everything is going well. Love and hugs right back at you.

We have great tap water here in Vancouver too! Ours is from rainwater and melting mountain glaciers and it is really tasty, I think. Best wished on the concert!

>43 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. Well, melting mountain glaciers water we have in Switzerland, too, but not in Zürich. There are houses in Zürich which have a tank outside for rainwater which are used for toilets and washing machines.

Happy new thread! The tulips near the end of the last one were lovely!

>45 thornton37814: Thanks so much, Lori. I'll post more tulip photos because we have lots of different kind.

Hi Barbara! I hope the concert goes well. It sounds like things are calmer at school for you, even if they are very busy.

>47 karenmarie: The rehearsal today was a nerver ending story. A great bravo to all kids who behaved excellent.
Katen, I still have to support the student teachers very closely. I told them that after Eastern they have to do more on their own.

book 30 German

 The Marseille Caper

Again an amusing crime thriller from the Sam Levitt caper series. It plays again in Marseille. This time he has to represent the financier Francis 'Sissou' Reboul, who wants to win in an architectural competition, but does not want to appear in person. Sam travels to Marseille with his girlfriend Elena. There he is soon entangled in various intrigues. He receives help from his friend the journalist Phillipe and his friend Mimi.
It was a very amusing reading and besides the criminal background the book is filled with excellent food and drink.

Next reading:

 Red Mandarin Dress

We have many different types of tulips in our garden. Here are photos of a kind.

 

>51 Ameise1: That is a beautiful bright red tulip, Barbara, thanks for sharing!
Is it a parrot-tulip?

>51 Ameise1: That's really lovely. And are those blue Lupine in the background?

>52 FAMeulstee: You're welcome, Anita. Yes, it is a parrot-tulip. We haven't had them before in our garden, but I love them very much. so I planted some bulbs.

>53 mstrust: This are grape hyacinth, Jennifer.

Hi Barbara! Beautiful flowers. Happy Thursday a bit late in your day!

It sounds like you're giving the student teachers plenty of advance notice about taking on more of their own.

Sweet Thursday, Barb! Hope the week is going well. Hooray for tulips & hyacinth!! Lovely!

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a good week so far my dear and wishing you a lovely Friday, sending love and hugs.

>1 Ameise1: Love the fountains too.

>56 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. The garden is getting more beautiful every day.
I think the student teachers aren't used to plan in advance instead of the next lesson. But I have to say that they improved and it's much better then in the beginning.

>57 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Our chorous concert yesterday evening was a success.
Are there any spring flowers in your garden?

>58 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John.
Yesterday morning started with a shock. I just came out of the shower when I heard Marina yell at the spit. I ran half-dressed down and found her together with our cat Piccola, who seemed seriously injured. She could no longer move her hind legs. Somehow she dragged herself out into the house. There was no injury on the outside and I thought that she had broken something on the back. Marina brought the transport box for the cat and at 6.40am we were already in the animal clinic of the university. There Piccola was first supplied with oxygen and infusion. In the meantime, I woke my husband by phone. He has a good sleep and has not noticed anything from all the excitements. I asked him to come to the animal clinic to relieve me, as I had to work earlier than he and Marina needed someone around. After Thomas arrived I left the clinic, drove home to get dressed properly and then drove (late) to school. The students made the beginning self-sufficient, thank God.
Over the day I got various news from the animal clinic: after the X-ray it was found that nothing was broken. So they wondered if she has a trauma due to a very strong blow. They kept her over the night. Thomas and Marina visited her last night at the clinic.



At noon today Marina got a call to get Piccola. She had to keep the cat in the same room during the weekend, so Piccola would not be exposed to many 'dangers'. At the beginning of next week she has to go back to the clinic for follow-up and a possible neurological clarification. We hope now that she will recover so far and only the post-control needs.

>59 Oberon: I'm glad you like them, Erik.

>62 Ameise1: Poor Piccola, I hope they can figure out what the problem is.

>64 FAMeulstee: Me too, Anita. I'm now at home and saw her a bit wabbly walking.

Have a lovely weekend, Barbara.

66 Thanks so much, Paul. What a beautiful blue bell photo.

Gosh what a dramatic day with your visit to the vet! Hope the weekend is much calmer.

I'm hoping Piccola recovers quickly! Poor thing!

>68 charl08: That's the perfec expression, Charlotte. After that early morning start and the chorus concert with our school in the evening I was exhausted when I came home.

>69 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer. She is laying on towels in Marina's bedroom.

What Jennifer said, Barbara. Poor Piccola. I hope she bounces back, and that you have a much calmer weekend.

>66 PaulCranswick: Wow, is that gorgeous.

>72 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. She loves being cuddled - who wouldn't be - and the calm after the stressful hours she had.

I will definitely enjoy a wonderful weekend. On Sunday evening we're going to the theatre seeing Zündels Abgang. I'm looking forward to it.

Poor Piccola, hope she is ok and has no long term damage my dear.

>74 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. We hope too that she will recover soon.

O Barbara, poor Piccola. How is she doing today?

>76 DianaNL: Diana, she starts walking in Marina's bedroom, not so much limping anymore. I really hope it's only a trauma and nothing else.

I came home from the library with the following:

• Whisky für drei alte Damen by Minna Lindgren
• The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
• A Room Full Of Bones by Elly Griffiths
• Rom, Rom by Pier Paolo Pasolini

>77 Ameise1: It sounds like she's doing a little better, Barbara, that's good.

Oh, Barbara, I'm sorry to hear about Piccola's trauma. It's encouraging that she's walking.

Your weekend sounds lovely.

I'm glad to hear that Piccola is doing a little better. Poor love. Hopefully she continues to recover well and is back to normal soon.

>80 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. It was a shock to us all early Thursday morning. I'm glad she tries to walk.

>81 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. Since she started to walk my hope is increasing that she will recover fully.

Happy Sunday, Barbara. I hope you're having a wonderful day and that Piccola keeps improving.

Happy new thread, Barbara! I hope that Piccola is doing better today.

>84 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I had indeed a lovely Sunday. Lots of reading out in the garden and in the evening we went to the theatre. I will report later.

>85 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. Piccola is much better today. Tomorrow Marina is bringing her to the vet clinic for a check-up. I hope they'll release her as recoverd.

book 31

 Red Mandarin Dress
ROOT 2017

This is the fifth volume of the Inspector Chen series. As so often, I started in the middle of a series. A couple of years ago, I've already read volume six. It will probably be time to read the next time band one.
The story takes place in Shanghai. Chief Inspector Chen devotes himself to the time of Chinese literature and leaves his crew in charge, but without him, it does not go. As with the last book I read, I learned a lot about Chinese history before, during and after the revolution. Prostitution is forbidden, but under the cover of a kind of escort service everything is possible for paying guests. Weekly, murdered women are found wearing a traditional red mandarin dress. For Shanghai the first serial killer case. While Chen's team is determined in all directions, Chen is more likely to hit the right track by chance.
Of course the tradition of Chinese food is of great importance. Great dishes are served according to old tradition, which we would not eat in part.
I like this kind of crime in a foreign culture.

Next reading:

 Whisky für drei alte Damen

Happy Monday, Barbara! I hope your day went well at school.

>90 karenmarie: Thanks so much; Karen. I had a good day.

Yesterday evening we were at Schauspiehaus Zürich and saw Zündels Abgang. It was a fantastic performance. That you get a clue what the story is about, here some thoughts:

Konrad Zündel is in a relationship crisis. He feels betrayed by his wife and abandoned by the world. A trip to Italy in the port city of Genoa, to the place where he was born, is meant to provide a remedy and to forget the impulses of everyday life. For "life is a question of the choice of words. - Oh shit". In cheap hotels and shady bars, Zündel blows into a whirlpool of humorous situations and strange encounters. In the winding streets of Genoa, he meets sailors, gangsters and light women, where the underworld lures with its own laws and lets itself drift, seduce and deceive. He observes the world as it shows itself to itself and as it is not. He writes down what he sees. In doing so, world and human beings do not move nearer to it, but rather continue until it no longer resembles it, loses itself, and its departure becomes inevitable.

    

>92 Ameise1: I hadn't heard of Marcus Werner before you mentioned him, Barbara.
It looks like two of his books are available in Dutch Festland and Am Hang.
Thanks for sharing the pictures and the story of your theater evening.

>93 FAMeulstee: We have all books of him at home. Thomas is ahuge fan of him. I like his stories, too. Not always easy but deep in the meaning. He died last year.

So glad Piccola is showing improvement, Barbara.

>95 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni. I suppose that this afternoon. the doctor will tell that she is fully recovered.

Hi Barbara. Glad that Piccola is recovering well. What a scare!! The flowers look so beautiful and I am happy that you got to enjoy a night out and see the play. Hang in there and I hope your student teachers continue to step up.

>97 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. The student teachers have definitely started to make a good job. It just need a huge amount of time to get them there.
The play was fabulous. I enjoyed it very much.

Good morning everybody. I just report tha Piccola has fully recovered.

Good morning, Barbara. That's excellent news!

>100 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. We're happy and Piccola too. She already went outside yesterday late afternoon but only in our garden. Fortunately, she is still cautious.

>99 Ameise1: That is good news about Piccola, Barbara!
Wish you a lovely start of your long Easter weekend.

Excellent news about Piccola. I'm glad to hear she's made such a quick recovery. I'm heading to the vet with one of our cats today as well, as he's been fighting and now has a puffy face because of a puncture wound. Let's hope he bounces back as quickly as she did.

Hope you're having a good week.

Hi Barbara!

Good news about Piccola. My sister's dog Dorey was lethargic and shivery for a few days last week, but recovered nicely like Piccola. It's very upsetting when our fur kids aren't well.

I hope your week is going well.

Yea for Piccola!

>102 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. This afternoon I went to another branch of my library and picked up: Friday Rabbi Slept Late and Saturday The Rabbi Went Hungry. These books are from the Rabbi Small series and I saw this author on Paul Stalder's thread.

>103 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. I hope your cat is doing well soon, too.

>104 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. Yes, it's true, the fur kids are like family members and one can be anxious when they aren't doing well.

My work week is over. I'm back to it next Tuesday.

>105 mstrust: Yeh, Jennifer. We are so happy. Thanks so much for thinking of us.

Soon we are' on the way to see an opera which our younger daughter is taking part. It was a long project with her class and the opera hous of Zürich.

This afternoon I took another picture from our garden.

Lovely garden picture Barbara. So colourful!

>111 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte.

>110 Ameise1: I hope you enjoyed the opera, Barbara.
Nice picture with all the different tulips. Which reminds me I took tulip pictures in my garden last week and I totally forgot to get them off my camera...

Glad to hear that Piccola is fully recovered, Barbara.

I've enjoyed the Inspector Chen series, too, including Red Mandarin Dress. What a different world from ours.

>92 Ameise1: That looks and sounds like quite an interesting play. I wonder whether it will make it to our part of the globe.

Congrats on being off until Tuesday! I hope you enjoy your long weekend. I love your garden, too!

What a beautiful garden!
How was the opera?

Hi Barbara, I am back in action after my short break due to being busy and a lack of meaningful time to visit the threads. Sending love and hugs to you my dear.

Happy Friday, Barbara, and a long weekend to come!! Have fun. : )

>113 FAMeulstee: >116 mstrust: Thanks so much, Anita and Jennifer. I enjoy our garden very much.

About the opera:
This was a project between the opera house Zürich and my daughter's grammer school, in particular her and another class, both of which have the profile of art & music. The project started in the autumn. The students visited various rehearsals in the opera house for the opera 'The Abduction from the Seraglio' by Mozart. These were singing, orchestral and dance performances. They were also in the workshops and masks. Then they could see a performance of this opera in the opera house.
The task for the students was then that they wrote their own opera based on Mozart's opera. They received support from the intentant, the musicians and the conductor. During a few months the students wrote the arias, libretti, the story and the dances. They had to write the music themselves. In the meantime, our house was the home of various rehearssal rooms like ain a opera houses.
We were able to marvel at the product on Wednesday. The students sang, played and danced their own opera. Musicians from the Opera House played the student composer's music, and the Intentant directed. The performance was great and I am extremely proud of these young people. I had the opportunity to talk to people from the opera house. They also give the young people great respect.

>114 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. I definitely have to read all books of the Inspecto Chen series.
I hope, that this book and play will bei trnslated into English. Zündels Abgang is worth reading it.

>115 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I definitely will enjoy my long weekend.

>117 johnsimpson: Glad to see you posting again, John. I was quite a bit anxious when it was so quiet around your place. Love and hugs right back to you xx

>118 Berly: Good Friday to you too, Kim. I've planned lots of reading. *big grins*

book 32 Read in German

 Whisky für drei alte Damen

This was a very amusing reading, even if certain aspects of the story are rather gloomy. It starts in a retirement home that is completely renovated. Residents must continue to pay the full amount of the rent, even if the water and the electricity are turned off, in the canteen no more meals are prepared, the walls are broken and the workers begin the noise at six o'clock in the morning.
Thereupon, five residents (four women and one man - all over the age of ninety years) temporarily set up an elderly flat share. What they all experienced was amusing. They found an apartment, which used to be a pleasure house. They had to deal with the changing people of the nursing service. They were talking about euthanasia, because the husband of a woman with dementia was on a nursing home. They had to cook themselves again and met two Nigerians in the market hall, who encouraged them to get acquainted with foreign dishes and recipes. They learned that the male roommate is a crook. He is involved in drug addicts, theft and fraud. He also owns the redevelopment company of the retirement home and the women now realized why the renovations were not going forward.

Next reading:

 The Secret Chord

>110 Ameise1: Love the garden!

Happy Friday, Barb. I recently read and enjoyed The Secret Chord. I hope you feel the same.

>126 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. I enjoy the reading very much.

Hi Barbara and Happy Friday to you!

>128 karenmarie: Hi Karen, thanks so much. Wishing you a fabulous Friday, too.

Wishing you a very Happy Easter.

>130 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Wishing you the same.

>119 Ameise1: What a wonderful collaboration Barbara. Thank you for sharing about it. Hope they plan to do it again :what a great idea.

Good news about Piccola. I had a cat once who we thought had been hit by a car. He came home with his head down close to the ground and his back arched way up. In about a week he was practically back to normal again. They can bounce back really quickly.

The student opera sounds wonderful, Barbara. Have a great Easter.

>132 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. It was indeed fabulous.

Next are the individual graduation projects. They have time until the late autumn to make their own chosen work. My daughter wants to write poems about summer. Her tutor, the philosopher and professor of German philology, said that this is a very extraordinary project for a young woman, who is only eighteen years old. Nevertheless, he is looking forward to supporting her.

>133 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. Indeed, cats have nine lives. We enjoyed a marvelous evening.
Happy Easter to you, too.

>136 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend, too.

Happy Easter Weekend, Barbara! Any special plans?

>138 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. Enjoying a quiet weekend full of reading. Our younger daughter left to a one week scout camp this morning.

I'm glad to hear that the opera went so well! That sounds like hard work for everyone involved, but what a great result.
And now I have to grumble that I was in a grocery store recently and a group of students were brought in for a field trip. What were they going to learn, I wondered? Who knows, but the teacher lined them up at the bakery, where they each received a cookie.

Have a Happy Easter, Barbara!

Happy Easter, Barbara. I love the pictures of your garden. It looks like spring has arrived.

Lovely garden picture, Barbara! Happy Easter Weekend!

>140 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer.
Oh dear, I would never go into a grocery store with my class. That's awful. When I'm on a field trip and decide to buy the an icecream than my colleague stays with them outside where they can't disturb anybody and I go inside to buy the items.
Beautiful vitage pic.

>141 BLBera: Thanks so much, Beth. Spring has definitely arrived. We ha a wonderful two week. Today it's rainig but that's goog for the garden.

>142 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. I'm very happy with our garden.

book 33

 The Secret Chord
BB from Mark

What a great story. King David has already been written a great deal, and much is known about him. Brooks is now packing his life in the form of memoirs of his seer Natan. It shows the life of David from the perspective of his mother, brothers, women, nephews and sons. Everyone puts a jigsaw puzzle to the whole. Depending on whoever thinks about David, he sees him as a great man without fault and blame, or his weaknesses, which have often led him and his family into misfortune.
The story is written with love. It captivated me from the beginning.

Next reading:

 Rom, Rom

Happy Easter, Barb! Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Hooray for The Secret Chord. Glad you loved it.

>147 Ameise1: Thanks so much, Mark. It's a relaxed one. Indeed, it was a wonderful reading.

Happy Sunday Barbara and wishing you a beautiful and book-filled day!

Happy Sunday, Barbara!

I think that The Secret Chord is already on my wishlist, but I'd better go make sure...

>150 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I just finished a second book today. :-)

>151 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. The Secret Chord is a fantastic book. One I can highly recommend.

book 34 Read in German

 Rom, Rom

Eloquently Pasolini describes the lives of the poorest of Rome during the 50-ies. He showed relentlessly the most intimate, the greatest fears, the daily struggle of survival outside the tourist streams. He gives these people, especially the teenagers, a voice so that the feelings come across genuinely. Pasolini describes everything in such detail that one has the feeling of being a part of it, yes, in the middle of it. It is a life that nobody wants and yet is everyday.
There are short stories from Trastevere and Testaccio. I highly recommend this book.

Next reading:

 A Room Full Of Bones

>156 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. What a beautiful photo.

Happy Easter, Barbara.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter, Barbara!

>158 jnwelch: >159 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Joe and Stasia. I had a great reading time today. I hope that I get as much of it as today.

>154 Ameise1: Good review, Barbara, I was looking for this book, but am not sure. Is the original Italian title Ragazzi di vita?

>161 FAMeulstee: No, Anita, it isn't that one.

>146 Ameise1: That one is already on my wish list. I hope I'll eventually get around to reading it.

>146 Ameise1: looks like that one was a hit for you! Always a good feeling. Of course I say that coming off the back of back to back 5-star reads, an all time high for me.

>163 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I hope you'll find the time to read it. It's very good written.

>164 LovingLit: Hi Megan, when I see a book prised at many threads than it must be a must-read. I never was disappointed.

>154 Ameise1: The author also wrote LA Dolce Vita? Impressive stuff.

>167 charl08: I'm sorry but La Dolce Vita is not written by him. Mamma Roma is by him and lots of others.
I suppose I have to find more of his books.

I guess someone has made a mistake with the author combining page! https://www.librarything.com/author/pasolinipierpaolo
Thanks for the correction Barbara.

>169 charl08: Must be. Here you have link to Wikipeadia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pier_Paolo_Pasolini

I saw on wikipedia: He also co-wrote the dialogues of Fellini's La dolce vita. But nowhere it's mention on the film. Strange.

Thanks Barbara. It is odd! I'll keep my eye out for English translations of his work.

I hope you'll get one.

>146 Ameise1: I am a fan of Brooks' books, so I am going to have to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Barbara!

>173 alcottacre: You're welcome, Stasia. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Happy Monday Barbara and I hope you're having a relaxing day.

>175 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I did some stuff on zhe computer this morning but now I'm reading. *big grins*

book 35 Read in German

 A Room Full Of Bones

As always, I was not disappointed by the Ruth Galloway's series. This time, old finds played only a subordinate role. Rather, the devil lay with the living. On the other hand, we learned more about the different relationships of the principal characters, which have finally reassembled.
Exciting it was from the first moment to the last and I look forward to the next band.

Next reading:

 Friday The Rabbi Slept Late

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a really good Easter weekend my dear and indulged in a chocolate egg or two, sending love and hugs from the both of us dear friend.

>179 johnsimpson: Good morning, John. Thanks so much, I had a relaxed long weekend with lots of good reading but no chocolate eggs. Love and hugs right back at both of you.

Good morning, Barbara! I hope that you have a good first day back to work.

You are reading so much lately! Is this a personal record?

Trying desperately to catch up a little, Barbara.

A slightly belated Happy Easter wish from your pal resident in Malaysia but hiding out in Jacksonville, Florida. xx

>181 kidzdoc: Good morning, Darryl. Yep, I'm back to work but my student teachers are teaching so I got time to do other things.

My family is on holiday mood. Marina left Saturday for a scout camp, Isabelle flew on Sunday to Malaga and Thomas is waiting for some dry days to go on his bike trip. My holiday will start on Monday the 1st of May.

>182 LovingLit: Megan, you got it. I can't remember when I last read that much within 3½ months. It must have been definitely a time before I was a mother. Luckily my girls are adults and therefore I have more time for me.

>183 PaulCranswick: Good morning, Paul. thanks so much for visiting my thread. I suppose it's difficult to say a resident in Malaysia due to have more than one domicile by now. I hope you mobile phone issue is solved by now.

Hi Barbara, I hope your week has started smoothly!

Happy Tuesday, Barbara!

Hi, Barb! Hope the work week is off to a good start.

>187 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. I've done some decent work for the school's sports day which will be in June. It's me who is organizing it for the 1st to 3rd graders.

>188 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. So far it's a good one. Sunny but a bit chilly.

>189 msf59: Hi Mark, so far I had a good start and did some good progress in organizing the school's sport day.

Happy Tuesday, Barbara! I hope the work day has gone well and that you have a good, relaxing evening.

>193 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. It went well and there are no plans for the evening.

Sounds like your weather is similar to ours, Barbara - sunny, but a bit chilly. But ours is supposed to warm up to comfortable Spring weather.

Hope you're having a good one today.

>195 jnwelch: Joe, I don't complain about the weather. We had some very warm weeks lately and now we are back to normal April weather. It should warm up here from Saturday on too.

Today, we got everything: sunshine, rain, cloudy, snow. What will one like to have more within a few hours.

>196 Ameise1: We had the same here, Barbara, except for hail instead of snow, and a beautiful rainbow :-)

>197 FAMeulstee: Unfortunately no rainbow here. Well, somehow I like typical April weather.

Stopping by to say hello and thank you for your Easter-wishes. You read some good books while being busy with all sorts of other things.

>199 Trifolia: Thanks so much, Monica. I had indeed some wonderful reading. I hope it will continue like this.

Hi Barbara and happy Wednesday!

>201 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. It's soon time for dinner and reading :-)

Hope the dinner and reading went well. I have a couple of bean seedlings coming up - hurray!

Sweet Thursday, Barb! The work week is almost over for you. Yah!

Happy Thursday, Barbara!

I really need to get on with the Elly Griffiths series. Thanks for the reminder.

>203 charl08: Hooray for the been seeding. We are back to frost and this isn't good for all the plants. Farmers are worried that lots of their plants will freeze to death.

>204 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. I just came home after a very long day with lots of meetings.

>205 alcottacre: Isn't it a gorgeous series, Stasia? I'm glad that I'm still able to read a few of it and don't have to wait for the next sequal to be released.
I hope your Thursday is going well.

Happy weekend Barbara!

>209 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. I wish you a lovely one too. Thomas and I went out for dinner. It was delicious.

Sending Happy Friday greetings!

I accidentally posted this one Anita's thread, Barbara, so here it is . Awk! Barbara, I told you that my hair appointment was cancelled on Tuesday due to the stylist being sick. Well, this morning they called to say she is still sick and now I'm going to have to wait until May 11 th to get it cut. I usually get my hair trimmed every 6 - 8 weeks as my hair is fairly short, just about my shoulders. I wonder how crazy it will be looking by May 11.

Wishing a lovely weekend!

Happy weekend, Barbara!

book 36 ♫ Read in German

 Nutshell by Ian MacEwan
BAC September

This is rather an unusual crime that does not convince me completely. What is funny is that the whole story is told from the point of view of an unborn child. The lives of the adults as well as the crime itself are rather simple and do not grip so much and convince not.

Next Listening:

 The Lewis Man

>211 michigantrumpet: Thanks so much, Marianne. It's lovely to see you posting. I hope everything is fine at your place.

>212 vancouverdeb: I am sorry to hear that your hairdressing appointment has been postponed again, Deb. This is so disturbing. I know the problem when I wait a week longer, then my hair in the morning looks as if I were Struwwelpeter. Is there nobody else in this hairdressing salon to whom you trust your hair?

>213 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Stasia. I hope you'll have a wonderful one too.

Happy Saturday, Barb. I had a great time with Nutshell. Sorry, it didn't ring all your bells.

Happy weekend, Barbara!

>219 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Happy Saturday to you too. I like MacEwan's book bit that one I wouldn't count as a top one.

>220 scaifea: Happy weekend to you too, Amber.

Hi Barbara and I hope you're having a great weekend so far.

>223 karenmarie: So far it is wonderful. Yesterday, Thomas and I had a delicious dinner at a gorgeous restaurant. This morning I went at the farmer market and now I'm reading.

Hi, Barbara.

That does sound like a wonderful weekend.

>225 jnwelch: Hi Joe, it is a great long weekend. Due to a local frstival we have Monday off. Isn't that gorgeous?

Hope you enjoy your long weekend. I'm looking forward to the extra days off in May!

Hi Barbara, hope you are having a good weekend my dear and a nice long one by the looks of things, we have a long weekend next week with the May day holiday. Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>227 charl08: Will do so, Charlotte. When are you going to Stockholm?

>228 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. So far so good. Marina came home from her scout camp and Isabelle is back from Malaga. Only one week until my spring holiday starts. Happy weekend my friend. xx

book 37 Read in German

 Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
Author BB from Paul Stalder

This is the first book of the Rabbi Small series. I love this kind of cozy mystery, it is exactly to my taste and therefore I will continue with this series.
In this story, one will meet Rabbi Small. He is a young rabbi who is interested in the study and interpretation of the Talmud. The Jewish community has yet to get used to it. However, he gains their respect because he can settle disputes with the interpretations as well as save communal members from the prison.
He also has detective tendencies, which he can use fully as the handbag of a murdered woman is found in his car. He supports the chief of police Hugh Lanigan with his reflections, but also makes his own research.
The book is amusing for reading and captivating from the beginning.

Next reading:

 Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry

>231 Ameise1: & >232 Ameise1: I haven't heard of that series before, Barbara but it sounds like a good one.

Have a splendid Sunday.

>233 PaulCranswick: It is a good series, Paul. I like it.
Thanks so much, wishing you a lovely Sunday, too.

Hi Barbara! I'm glad you've found a new series you like. With 11 books in the series, you've got a lot of good reading ahead of you!

Happy Sunday, Barb. Hope you are enjoying a R & R weekend. It looks like it will be a beautiful day here.

>235 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I'm way into the second one and that is good as well.

>236 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. We have beautiful weather too.

book 38 Read in German

 Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry

This is the second book of the Rabbi Small series. It is the beginning of Yom Kippur as a murder happened. A non-practicing Jew is found dead. What first looks like a suicide turns out to be a murder with time. Rabbi Small has all hands full. On the one hand, he has to keep members of his church from being considered as murderers. On the other hand, there are disputes between the community board and his responsibilities. Some members want to turn things so that they can profit economically. Once again, Rabbi Small assists the chief of police Hugh Lanigan in his investigations and, last but not least, he becomes a father for the first time.
It was again an amusing reading. The protagonists have already grown to my heart.

Next reading

 The Bookshop

>232 Ameise1: >239 Ameise1: Oh, you like them. Great. It is really a light but fun reading

>92 Ameise1: I got Am Hang somewhere, Maybe should give it a try.

Wish you a good start into the week tomorrow.

>241 paulstalder: Thanks so much for introducing me into this series, Paul. I like Rabbi Small's world very much. I have to pick them from another branch of my library so I need another trip to go there.

Give Markus Werner a try. I like his books.

Wishing you great start into the new week, too.

Wishing you the best for the week ahead, Barbara . I've just started Snowblind and it's nice and creepy so far! I hope you enjoy The Bookshop. I read it several years ago and was not too keen on it . But you may love it! I hope so!

>243 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. Midmorning I'going to the hairdresser. Sorry that you have still wait for it. In the afternoon I'm reading. I only have szarted The Bookshop so I can't say if I like it or not. Will report later.

Hi, Barbara! It sounds ike you have an enjoyable day ahead. I hope that your week is a good one.

>214 Ameise1: I have been unsure about how I will take to this novel. I have read a couple of short reviews, and want to read it, but it does sound very unusual. Unusual and dark, I like, but just unusual? Im not sure ;)

I hope your week will be wonderful, Barbara.

>245 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. So far it is a wonderful sunny day. I hope you enjoy your last few days in London.

>246 LovingLit: Megan, it's difficult for me to tell you 'Read it' because I've read much better MacEwan books. Sorry that I can't help you with a decision.

>247 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana. I was at the hairdresser this morning. Now doing some LT and other things and in the afternoon I'm sitting in the garden and read. It is a beautiful warm day.

Happy Monday, Barbara!

Please join me on my new thread.

>251 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber.