Trifolia's reading in 2022

Read in 2022

December
43. Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie - 3 stars
42. The Years by Annie Ernaux - 4,5 stars
41. Madame le Commissaire und die späte Rache by Pierre Martin - 2,5 stars
40. Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer - 3,5 stars

November
39. Villa des Roses by Willem Elsschot - 3,5 stars
38. La Porte du voyage sans retour ou les cahiers secrets de Michel Adanson by David Diop - 3,5 stars

October
-

September
37. The death of Murat Idrissi by Tommy Wieringa - 3 stars
36. The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion - 4 stars

August
35. The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen - 4 stars
34. The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier - 3,5 stars
33. Empire Falls by Richard Russo - 4 stars
32. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr - 4,5 stars
31. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin - 2,5 stars

July
-

June
-

May
30. A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa - 2 stars
29. Jamilia by Tsjingiz Ajtmatov - 3 stars

April
28. Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo - 4 stars
27. Het geluk van de wolf by Paolo Cognetti - 2 stars
26. The Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas - 2,5 stars
25. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine - 4 stars

March
24. The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - 4,5 stars
23. De eenzaamheid in het leven van Lydia Erneman by Rune Christiansen - 3,5 stars
22. De mysterieuze gast by Valentina Morelli - 3 stars
21. De dode aan de rivier by Valentina Morelli - 3,5 stars
20. Een soort van liefde by Alicja Gescinska - 2,5 stars
19. The Wild Boy: A Memoir by Paolo Cognetti - 3 stars
18. Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park by Jan Slimming - 3 stars
17. West by Carys Davies - 3 stars

February
16. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli - 3 stars
15. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie - 2 stars
14. Madame le Commissaire en de verdwenen Engelsman by Pierre Martin - 4 stars
13. De moord in het klooster by Valentina Morelli - 3 stars
12. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling - 4 stars
11. Moord op de moestuin by Nicolien Mizee - 2 stars
10. The Perfect Murder by Peter James - 1,5 stars
9. The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman - 4 stars

January
8. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - 3,5 stars
7. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - 3,5 stars
6. The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati - 4 stars
5. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - 4 stars
4. Foster by Claire Keegan - 4 stars
3. Klein digitaal verdriet (Petits spleens numériques) by Antoine Compagnon - 3 stars
2. The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam - 4 stars
1. De parachutemoord de zaak Clottemans by Faroek Özgünes - 4 stars

Hi, I am Monica, a 50+ year old historian who works full time as an archivist. I live in the Flemish part of Belgium.
I've been a member of LT since 2010, but under a different name (JustJoey4 and monicagovers). I've only been a member of CR since late 2021, although I've been following the group for years.
You can find my 2021 thread here.

My reading preferences are international literature from all corners of the world, modern literature and classics. In stressful times, I reach for detectives and thrillers. I am hopeless with challenges and group readings. They're the best way to immobilize me, so I'm officially not going to do that anymore. I do plan to read more non-fiction in 2022.
I am looking forward to a brand new reading year!

Look forward to your reading in 2022, Monica. I've been increasing my non-fiction reading too over the years, which I'm really enjoying. I look forward to seeing where your reading takes you.

Hooray! You are official here in Club Read. I hope we both continue to have positive reading mojo in 2022. Maybe we can even find another shared read to do. Hopefully one we both enjoy more than the last!

Looking forward to your reading!

Hi Monica. I'll be following. Nice to have you here, in January even.

Hi Monica, I'm looking forward to your reading.

Hi Monica, I too enjoyed Kate Kitamura's Intimacies from your reading this year.

I hope 2022 will be a good year for you.

Hi Monica, Happy New Year!

You asked me on my 2021 thread what I define as literary fiction and I'm going to ask an try to answer that question on my thread here.

>3 AlisonY: Thanks for stopping by, Alison. I'm also looking forward to next year's reading (only two more hours, here). I don't have any fixed plans, so I'm also curious how that will work out.

>4 labfs39: Hi Lisa, yes, I guess my internship went well and both parties agreed :-)
I'd love to do a shared read next year. Any suggestions?

>5 DieFledermaus: Hi Stephanie, thank you, so am I :-)

>6 dchaikin: Hi Dan, thank you and yes, I'm a bit earlier than last year ... no, it's still this year:-)

>7 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, I had noticed that you've joined CR but was not able to post. I'm so happy to see that you're here because I missed you on LT for the larger part of 2021. I hope we can rekindle our mutual reading mojo.

>8 Caroline_McElwee: Hi Caroline, thank you for stopping by. I look forward to 2022!

>9 markon: And a happy New Year to you too, Ardene. I'll take a look at your thread asap!

As most of you probably know, I've been busy with the tribute for Rebecca-thread so I have not been able to stop by your threads yet.
I want to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year. Stay Safe, Happy and Healthy!

Happy Reading 2022 :-)

I’m looking forward to following your thread, Monica.

>11 Ameise1: And a Very Happy New Year to you too, Barbara!

>12 NanaCC: Thank you, Colleen. It seems we have a lot of books in common. I always like to see which ones I'm sharing and which ones I "should borrow" as they sometimes give an indication of the common ground. I like your choice of books.

Looking forward to following your reading this year

>14 Nickelini: Thank you, Joyce. I've been following your thread too and will continue to do so.

Oh my, my contribution on the Hope to read soon thread, being back to work after the holidays and also spending time on the other threads (usually reading/lurking) are making things very quiet here at the moment. I am also reading three books that I hope to finish soon. Don't ask me why I'm suddenly reading three books at once. It's something different, I think. Thanks for being patient!

I'll look forward to your reviews when you get to them, Monica. No rush. I read a graphic novel in the midst of reading my first book of the year. Something I rarely do either. Usually I plod along with one at a time. New year, new rhythms, I guess. Thanks again for all your hard work on the Hope to Read Soon thread. The interest and participation has been amazing.

Happy new year, Monica!

1. De parachutemoord de zaak Clottemans by Faroek Özgünes - 4 stars

Non fiction: crime / E-book / read in Dutch / 298 p.

My first book of 2022 is non-fiction: in 2006 an experienced skydiver was killed. It soon became clear that her parachute had been sabotaged and that there was malicious intent. Suspicion soon fell on her friend and love rival (they shared a lover), although the police never found concrete evidence and there were also other suspects who did not have a solid alibi. The suspect was eventually convicted in 2010. The trial caused a lot of controversy at the time because the conviction was based purely on motive and opportunity with no material evidence.

When this trial recently resurfaced in the media and I found this book in the E-library, I was eager to read the full story, especially since the convict still vehemently denies that she committed the murder.

The book was written by a respected crime journalist who has investigated the whole case closely, conducted his own research, interviewed dozens of experts, friends, relatives and others involved, studied similar cases, in short, has reviewed the whole case from start to finish. The book is very enlightening and objectively written, as you would expect from a journalist.

Recommended for those who want to gain a better understanding of one of the most mediatized trials in Belgium.

2. The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam - 4 stars

Fiction: literary / E-book / read in Dutch / 299 p.

I've read Jane Gardam's Old Filth trilogy before and I like her style: a touch of humor in combination with a touch of tragedy and deep humanity.
Eliza is a married, childless, middle-aged lady who fills her days with charity work in a hospice (albeit in the laundry department because she has no medical qualifications) and bombards her neighbors with well-intentioned advice that barely masks the void in her life. But when Joan, one of her neighbors, suddenly disappears and reappears a little later in Asia, she begins to write her letters that gradually grow into half-diary fragments, confessions and accounts of all kinds of ordinary and less ordinary experiences that become more and more strange, which eventually lead to an unexpected but perhaps logical conclusion.

The book reminded me of Desperate Housewives at times, but it is much more subtle. A must for those who have already enjoyed Jane Gardam's books and who love delicate literature.

I was somewhat very annoyed when I noticed this book was tagged as "women's literature" in the library catalog. What does that mean, especially since apparently there is no label for "men's literature". I'm just saying, I don't mean to open a can of worms here and I think I know why they label it this way (although I'd love to hear the official explanation). But this is so belittling and does so much injustice to the intrinsic quality of this book (and the others that fall under that category). I was happy to see that the Old Filth trilogy didn't get this label.

>18 Trifolia: I had not heard of this incident. Interesting. Did the author think she was innocent?

>19 Trifolia: I've enjoyed the two Gardam books I've read, Old Filth and Crusoe's Daughter, and have three more on my shelves, but not this one. Sounds good. I'll keep an eye out for it.

I wonder if Old Filth didn't get the label because it's about a man. I dislike the term women's literature because it seems to imply that it would only be of interest to women.

Enjoyed these posts. Pretty awful what was done to that skydiver. I'm not sure if Gardam is an author I would like or not, but she gets a lot of praise. The classification "women's literature" seems a fundamentally awkward to me.

The Queen of the Tambourine was the first book by Jane Gardham I read, back around the time it was published and well before the Old Filth books. Like you I really liked it. A couple of years ago I bought it as a cheap Kindle deal to have for a reread, but I haven't got to it yet.
Maybe it's tagged "women's literature" because it raises issues women are interested in (feminist issues?). I don't remember a lot of the specifics of the book, but my recollection is that it was about a woman slowly losing her mind. Maybe my memory of it is way off base.
I haven't labeled anything "women's literature" though I have a few I've labeled "chick lit." The term brings to mind the sort of bodice ripper romance novels with the lurid covers. Would a man read one of those?

>22 arubabookwoman: The term brings to mind the sort of bodice ripper romance novels with the lurid covers. Would a man read one of those?

Believe it or not, my (male) math teacher in high school read those. He would collect our homework, ask us if we had questions, assign a new lesson, then sit and read them at his desk. Needless to say, it was not an award-winning high school.

>23 labfs39: oye!

>23 labfs39: LOL. I guess that answers that question.

>20 labfs39: - Did the author think she was innocent?
The author emphasized that it was not up to him to take a stand, but that he only wanted to list all the facts so that the reader could form his own opinion. But I get the impression that he had doubts about the police investigation and the trial, but that he was not sure whether the outcome would have been different.

Re women's literature. I dislike the term women's literature because it seems to imply that it would only be of interest to women. Exactly, men can miss out on such a beautiful book because of a label. But on the other hand, everyone has to decide for themselves whether to be influenced by these kinds of labels.

>21 dchaikin: I wonder if you let your choice be influenced by this sort (or any sort) of labels?

>22 arubabookwoman: Yes, you are right, Deborah. That more or less sums it up. I think there are many ways to interpret this book: who is sane, who's hypocrite, who is the victim, who is to blame,... I don't want to give away too much, but this book raises a few interesting issues.
Chick lit is indeed a very different category.

>23 labfs39: LOL. Maybe the poor man was trying to fathom women that way.

>26 Trifolia: It's actually a good question, and one that's hard to know if I'm answering truly, or if I have some unconscious bias. But I think I would be mostly indifferent to a book classified "woman's literature". I'm sure labels do influence whether I read a book, but no real idea how much, or in what way, or which labels have stronger triggers.

>26 Trifolia: and >27 dchaikin: I think I would have difficulties picking a book labelled "woman's literature". I don't like romance, I don't like chick lit, which what I identify as "woman's literature".
I guess a significant proportion of my reading could be labelled that way; as it tackles feminine or feminist issues. But why should only women read about those issues?

There are some awful statistics out there about how few men read novels written by women, whatever the subject.

>29 wandering_star: Yes, I've heard that as well. I feel it difficult to imagine someone deliberatly disregarding a book just because of the author's gender (I can't picture it, but do not dispute the data accuracy).
Though labelling some books "women's literature", whatever that means, does not seem the right way to try to change such behaviours.

>29 wandering_star: There are some awful statistics out there about how few men read novels written by women, whatever the subject.

Ooh, statistics... Let's take a look. In an article she wrote for The Guardian in July 2021, MA Sieghart (who uses her initials so men will read the article) quotes some Nielson stats:

For the top 10 bestselling female authors (who include Jane Austen and Margaret Atwood, as well as Danielle Steel and Jojo Moyes), only 19% of their readers are men and 81%, women. But for the top 10 bestselling male authors (who include Charles Dickens and JRR Tolkien, as well as Lee Child and Stephen King), the split is much more even: 55% men and 45% women.

In other words, women are prepared to read books by men, but many fewer men are prepared to read books by women. And the female author in the top 10 who had the biggest male readership – the thriller writer LJ Ross – uses her initials, so it’s possible the guys thought she was one of them.

and yet

And it’s not as if men don’t enjoy reading books by women when they do open them; in fact, they marginally prefer them. The average rating men give to books by women on Goodreads is 3.9 out of 5; for books by men, it’s 3.8.

What came to mind when reading this was confirmation bias, something we read about in the news a lot. People tend to read things that confirm their worldview. Is that what's happening with men readers? Anecdotally, the situation was different in Denmark. Those daring Scandinavian men reading books by women!

>31 labfs39: I wonder if it's the author gender that is important, or the main character's gender.
Jane Austen, Margaret Atwood (at least for A Handmaid's tale, I don't know well her other works), Danielle Steel and Jojo Moyes all heavily feature women as the main character.
I wonder if the issue is that it's difficult for some men to identify to a female character or put themselves in a woman's place, while the reverse (a woman identifying to a man) is easier. This could have something to do with the fact that there are in general more men models around us, so as women we are used to cross this border to find role models, while men being used to men models would have a harder time doing the same.
Is a book written by a woman but with a male main character would be more likely to be read (and enjoyed) by men?

>32 raton-liseur: a woman identifying to a man is easier
Yes indeed - it's taken me some time to realise how many of my views of things came from reading things by men and absorbing that way of looking at the world.

>31 labfs39: It's interesting Lisa. I suspect it excludes professional/literary male readers, who do seem to read books by women and highly rate them. Men are also often quoted as 'only read non-fiction'.

Personally, I generally read roughly 50/50 of both male/female, and fiction/NF, though for some reason read more women writers and fiction last year.

I'm a woman who shies away from books labeled "women's fiction"... not that I won't read, them, but the tag gives me pause. I'm not a big fan of chick lit or romance, or a certain kind of indefinable "book club" book, all of which publishers tend to lump in the women's fiction bucket. I get that it sells to a certain sector, but I wonder what the decision point is to market it like that at the expense of (many) male readers. Yet one more reason I'm glad I'm not a publicist.

If a book is listed as 'women's fiction' I'll avoid it like the plague (altho granted avoiding the current plague is not all that easy).

I have thought a lot about author gender over the last several years when I realized I was reading almost solely male authors. I’ve tried to balance more, but i find it hard unless reading mainly contemporary authors. Go back 15 years an almost everything nonfiction is men. Go back 50 and most high end female authors were overshadowed. Go back 400 years and there are practically no female authors. One year I managed to read more female than male authors but my selection was iffy at times as i sort of forced the issue. (I now use CR to get a sense of better quality women authors - like Muriel Spark and Penelope Lively - who I read for the first time last year)

However I find contemporary fiction authors who are minorities of some kind, and I include female authors, tend to have more draw for me than contemporary white male fiction authors.

The discussion about "women's literature" is very interesting.

My husband didn't really read any books written by women until we met, but now does from time to time. Last week we talked about the Ruth Galloway novels (I love those) and I said something like: "Yes, they are great, but I'm not sure if you would enjoy them because they are rather women's novels" (the main character is a single mom dealing with her weight, expectations, working and being a mother,...) - and he said: "What? Of course I'll read it! Why not?"
I realized that I was much more prejudiced in this instance than he was.

Well, just an anecdote that came to my mind while reading the posts above.

I'm another one who runs when the label "women's literature" appears. It doesn't mean I don't read books by women authors, it's just that if I feel the publisher is trying to appeal to female readers, the book will usually have themes or a story line that are disappointing and often unrealistic.

Interesting about Denmark. In Canada, anyone who has ever taken a Can Lit course has read a preponderance of female writers: Margaret Atwood, Marion Engel, Margaret Laurence, Miriam Toews, Jane Urquhart, Alice Munro, just to name the heavy hitters, and then a host of other more current ones along the way.

>39 SassyLassy: I read a lot of female writers but I'm a genre reader, where, thankfully, the whole, 'women's literature' shtick hasn't penetrated. yet...

>38 MissBrangwen: Nice anecdote showing that fighting against prejudices has to target both men and women…
Reading your post, I wondered what I would answer to someone telling me "Yes, it’s a great novel, but I'm not sure if you would enjoy them because the main character is a dad dealing with social expectations, personal aspirations, working and being a dad…)"
Honestly, I’m not sure that I would read it. I would be more inclined to read a great book where the main character is a single mom dealing with her weight, expectations, working and being a mother,... (although not describing it as women’s literature).

Interesting. I tend to run if something is labeled chick lit, the label women's fiction - it depends. If it's dealing with themes of interest to women I may read it, but I don't know that labeling somethingn women's fiction is a good marketing ploy for male readers. And after all, we don't lable things "mens' books," do we?

Well, falling behind on my own thread in January... not good.

It seems that the women's literature topic has raised more questions than answers. But your posts have made me more aware of some of the choices I make consciously or not about books (thanks for that!). I continue to find the label of women's literature very unfortunate because it seems to damage the book's intrinsic value. If people admit that they may not read the book because of this label, something is not right. But it is my choice as a reader to interpret such labels a bit more critically.

Another point is that I also want to avoid generalizing. It is all too easy to claim from statistics that "men don't read women's books", when the reality of the individual is much more nuanced. As I said in my initial post: a can of worms.
But I'm very happy with all your responses because it has allowed me to look at this topic from more perspectives.

In the meantime, I've also done some reading, so I'll report briefly below.

3. Klein digitaal verdriet (Petits spleens numériques) by Antoine Compagnon - 3 stars


A collection of newspaper articles by a middle-aged French literature professor about the joys of the digital world. Due to the format there is sometimes some overlap, the articles are also somewhat dated and due to the French context, not everything is equally relevant or even understandable. I even wonder why it was translated into Dutch. But it's a short book with funny, surprising insights about digital gadgets and how they can enrich our lives. As an inveterate eReader user, I could appreciate this.

4. Foster by Claire Keegan - 4 stars


I found this little book, rather a novella, through a post on Linda92007's thread where she talked about another book by this author (Small Things Like These). Only this booklet was available and I read it in one sitting.
It is about a girl who is placed for a short time with people unknown to her who take good care of her. Not much actually happens, but a lot of things are alluded to: emotional neglect, poverty, mourning, guilt,... Add to that the beautiful atmospheric use of language and then you have a winner for me. This novella certainly made me curious to look for other books by this author.

5. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - 4 stars


What more can be said about this classic about which so much has been written already. It's been on my "must-read classic" list for a long time but was a bit hesitant because I really didn't feel the need for another "women's novel" (how ironic, in light of previous discussions around my thread :-)) from a yearning woman to be rescued.
But look, I decided to bite the bullet and have once again found that classics are not called classics for nothing. Regardless of all the qualities of the book, it made me stop and think about the characters of Emma and Charles Bovary, both prisoners of their time. And after reading this book, I wonder what Emma's life would have been like if she'd had the chance to develop instead of being pushed into a role she didn't like. Somewhere in the book she says, apparently rather thoughtlessly, that she would have liked to become a nurse. And indeed, earlier in the book it had already been described how she had come to the aid of her husband in a prompt and skilful manner during a medical procedure. But for someone like Emma, ​​this may not have been possible. The subtitle of this book (Mœurs de province) therefore seems very relevant to me. This book was a very pleasant surprise for me.

I’m glad you’ve been enjoying your reading of late. Three very different books, but all good ones. I read Madame Bovary roughly thirty years ago. I liked it then, but I think i would appreciate it even more if I read it today.

>46 Trifolia: Yes, Madame Bovary is a great book.
Your take on it is interesting as, in a certain way, it is opposite to mine: I'm thankful to my high school professors not to have made me read this when I was a teen. I read it in my early 40's and actually, I related to my own experience despite the change in the social context. Madame Bovary is also about a woman who has to understand that life is not what she was promised (or what she imagined while reading). She did not accept this reality, hence the endless series of disillusion and the tragic end. I think I came to terms with this same reality, hence choosing another path.
So actually, my main feeling about this book is that it is still very modern on what it had to say.

>46 Trifolia: yay for classics! I haven’t read this yet, but someday. So I appreciated your review and the hint of trepidation in your review you might have felt before opening. It’s a little intimidating to me.

>45 Trifolia: You are the second person I noticed talk of this book this weekend, so added it to the list Lisa.

>48 raton-liseur: Hmm, I'm not sure your view is really opposite to mine. There were many passages where I was annoyed by Emma's unrealistic, selfish, immature attitude and thought: grow up! But afterwards, rightly or wrongly, I did feel some pity for her.
As 21st century readers, we may also read and interpret this story differently than Flaubert's contemporaries. And a twenty-year-old reader will probably look at Emma differently than a forty-year-old, etc. That makes classical literature so fascinating to me. We reflect ourselves in the interpretation of the story and in a way we get something out of it that makes us a richer person. Love that!

>49 dchaikin: Yay for classics indeed. There was really no need to be intimidated. I had a similar feeling about Anna Karenina at the time and that turned out to be a hit as well. Maybe I should make a list of all the books I fear. These may be the ones I'll end up liking the most.
Fyi, Edith Wharton and George Eliot's Middlemarch would definitely make the list.

>50 Caroline_McElwee: Ah yes, I guess it's Linda we have to thank for this. If it wouldn't have been for her review, I probably would never have found this book.

>46 Trifolia: if she'd had the chance to develop instead of being pushed into a role she didn't like I never felt that Emma was likely to develop in any meaningful way, no matter what her circumstances. If she had fulfilled her dreams I think she'd be as selfish and shallow as she remains in the book.

>51 Trifolia: Agreed. When I said "opposite", I was thinking about how we approached the review: you were wondering how Madame Bovary was conditionned by her time and context, while I was wondering to which extend her experience was universal. Probably two faces of the same coin.

>52 SandDune: That's harsh!

And on a side note, Middlemarch would also be on my "I should read but am a bit afraid" book list. I really would like to take the opportunity of the Victorian theme this year to tackle it, though.

>45 Trifolia: I'm so glad you liked Foster, my favorite of Keegan's works. She's such a skilled short story/novella writer - it's unfortunate that she doesn't publish much or often. I would not hesitate to read anything she writes.

Well, I guess I'm not the only one who's been in a slump for the past few weeks and has put activities on LT on the back burner. So it's high time to give an update here. Turns out I've read quite a bit (by my standards anyway), but I have to admit that most of it was escapism, the kind of books I needed at the time. But there were also some interesting books with added value. I'll go over them briefly over the next few days. Happy to be back.

>52 SandDune: - That's why I find it so interesting to discuss books because it shows that there are different opinions. We may read the same books, but we're all reading them against a different, personal background which makes it a different book altogether.

>53 raton-liseur: - Yes indeed, there are so many ways to look at books, and discussing them broadens the horizon. I wonder if a discussion here on LT made me change my (or your) mind about a book because of a different perspective by a different reader. I'll have to think about this.

Btw, Middlemarch is still on my list.

>54 Linda92007: - I have only read this one book so far, but I made a reservation of Small Things Like These because I also like her style.

6. The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati - 4 stars


A wonderful, slightly kafka-esque book about a young soldier who is sent to a fortress on the outside border to prepare for an invasion of the barbarians. From day one he wants to leave but even though he gets multiple chances to do so, he eventually stays his whole life. It's an allegory of life, but I'm not sure if it's comforting or daunting. Maybe it's both.

7. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - 3,5 stars

One of those books that I had wanted to read for a long time but never got to until now. The premise is simple: a man fiddles with drugs to split his good and bad self, but in the end his evil self takes over. It's an interesting thought, but I found that the story was too long and too cerebral, maybe because of the specific point of view. A bit disappointing but I'm glad I read it.

Welcome back, Monica. I'm trying to read lighter things myself these days, so I'm going to hold off on the Tartar Steppes. I read J&H in high school but have never gone back to it.

>55 Trifolia: Did a discussion on Lt make me change my mind about a book?
Interesting question, especially in light of the time we (I) spend on LT... I think the answer is no, I would not change my feelings about a book that easily. But I can give me other perspective and can make me realise that a book did not work for me but might nonetheless be a good or an interesting book. If LT changed my relationship with books, that's one of the changes: I differentiate better my feeling/reaction to a particular book from the overall quality or literary worthiness (if this is something) of a book. In a nutshell, I think it made me realise and take into consideration my position as a reader.

>56 Trifolia: I loved The Tartar Steppe when I read it decades ago. But I agree with >58 labfs39:, it's not a light read!

>56 Trifolia: You’ve reminded me that I own The Tartar Steppe but haven’t got around to it yet. I also own Dino Buzzati’s The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily, but that is in Italian, and it turned out to be slightly more difficult Italian than I was expecting, so I’ve never got beyond the first chapter with that one!

>58 labfs39: - I prefectly understand your reluctance to read The Tartar Steppe. Now may not be the right book at the right time.

>59 raton-liseur: - Yes, that is how I experience it also. LT may not change my opinion on a book but it makes me see books from a different perspective and makes me understand why some people like the books I don't and vice versa. I guess it's an added bonus to the reading experience in itself.

I agree The Tartar Steppe is not a light read, but I loved the atmosphere.

>60 SandDune: - The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily looks like fun. I did not know you know Italian well enough to even try to read a book.

>61 Trifolia: To be honest The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily is too difficult for me. I can get the gist of a fair bit of it, but there would need to be a lot of help from the dictionary for me to read the whole thing and it would be hard work.

>62 SandDune: - It gives me great satisfaction when I can read a book, or even a chapter, in another language. I once studied Italian and was able to read the newspaper at one point (and more importantly, understand Italian love songs), but that was a long time ago.

8. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - 3,5 stars


I don't really know why I keep reading books like this, because I don't really like the genre that much. But I read it anyway and thought it was quite nice. It is about a kind of robot who has to assist a sick girl. But it soon becomes apparent that there is more to it.
The book is told from the perspective of the robot and that gave it a special twist. I thought it was a nice, warm story but maybe just a bit too long-winded and far-fetched for me. Or maybe just not my cup of tea.

>63 Trifolia: (and more importantly, understand Italian love songs)

I had to chuckle at this, but seriously, I think music is a great way to learn a language.

>64 Trifolia: I think I liked Klara more than you (I really liked her voice), but I'm glad you did enjoy it a bit. The cover of your edition is so much nicer than mine.

>57 Trifolia: I read The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at university. Mostly my knowledge of it is from popular culture, particularly Bugs Bunny. I didn't much like it either and was very happy it is short. However, my prof put us through some different readings of it . . . first, as a story of alcoholism. That worked for me and made it more interesting. Then as a story of a late-19th c closeted gay man. My entire class of 20 year olds balked, and I was in my late 30s and thought it was a stretch at first, but she brought me around and now that's how I look at that novella. So that was all quite fun.

>65 labfs39: Well yes, I also liked Klara. She's so likeable. It's the others that bothered me more. But it becomes a bit scary if you prefer a robot over a real person, isn't it.
I agree about the cover.

>66 Nickelini: Your prof's method to see the book from different angles is fascinating. I had not thought of it that way and it enhances the story.
It's interesting to see that there a so many layers when you read: there's the layer of the book, there's the layer of the reader, the layer of place and time both of the book and of the reader and then there's also the layer of interpretation. So in the end, everyone reads something different, I guess. Fascinating!

In February I had a serious reading slump. After so many years I recognize the signs and I know how it will go: a reading slump always announces itself first with a lack of concentration to read literature and a feeling of "been there, read that". I then switch to detectives and thrillers that don't demand too much of me. Often that is enough to get me back on the right track. But sometimes it takes a little longer and in the worst case I have to read some chicklit first to eventually get back to literature. The upcoming comments are therefore mainly a story of an evolving reading slump of which I recovered by the end of the month.
This might give the impression that I'm an unstable reader :-) Truth is that it usually coincides with very busy periods at work and/or home. That's really all there is to it.

So here goes:

9. The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman - 4 stars


This is a lovely book, the second in a series about a few elderly people who try to solve old crimes but end up solving new ones. I read the first in the series last year and really liked it. I know that second books can be a huge disappointment but not in this case. This is a very funny, clever, amusing detective story with well developed characters with their hearts in the right place. I can highly recommend this book if you like cozy mysteries with a modern(ish) twist.

10. The Perfect Murder by Peter James - 1,5 stars


I really don't want to spend too much time on this book. Luckily it was short (a novella), but I found the language vulgar and the plot too simple and quite predictable. A book to quickly forget.

11. Moord op de moestuin by Nicolien Mizee - 2 stars


I'm a gardening fan, so I couldn't pass up a detective set in an allotment garden. I had read good comments when it came out a few years ago, but in the end it was a letdown and reminded me a bit of the simple stories I had to read as a child. Too simple, too little mystery, too little tension, too little atmosphere.

12. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling - 4 stars


A non-fiction book about the fact that the world is much better than it used to be, but that we don't see this properly. In light of the current state of affairs in the world this sounds a bit wry. Involuntarily it reminded me of Voltaire's Candide: "tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes", but that is probably a bit crude. The world has indeed improved, but what this book taught me most of all is that in many ways we have an outdated worldview in our heads that no longer corresponds to reality. All in all, interesting insights. For more info: see https://www.gapminder.org/

13. De moord in het klooster by Valentina Morelli - 3 stars
22. De mysterieuze gast by Valentina Morelli - 3 stars
21. De dode aan de rivier by Valentina Morelli - 3,5 stars



I listened to these books with a few weeks in between. They are the first three parts of a detective series with a nun in the lead role and an amusing young policeman as a sidekick. The monastery is idyllically situated in Tuscany and the nun is a smart, enterprising lady who regularly flouts the rules of the monastery. But quite regularly there is a murder. Not great literature, but very relaxing. Pure escapism.

14. Madame le Commissaire en de verdwenen Engelsman by Pierre Martin - 4 stars


And another detective in the cozy genre. A highly trained policewoman has to recover after a terrorist attack and returns to her native region in the Provence in France. But she is not allowed much rest because a murder takes place and a mysterious Englishman disappears. Because apparently there are no capable police officers in the Provence, she is asked to help.
All in all an entertaining detective with a lot of couleur locale and atmosphere. Especially her sidekick Apolinnaire is unforgettable. Recommended if you like the lighter genre.

15. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie - 2 stars


Agatha Christie is always a safe choice when I want to relax. But not in this case. I think this has to be one of her worst books. But I can still appreciate even a less good A.C.

16. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli - 3 stars


I was really looking forward to reading this book. After all the good comments, it seemed like a book that I would really appreciate. And indeed, initially I was completely mesmerized by the story, enjoyed the different angles. But somewhere in the middle I lost it. I lost connection with the characters, couldn't empathize anymore and lost touch with the story. It may be a case of the right book at the wrong time, but it just didn't appeal to me. However, I can imagine that I will pick it up again at a later date. Because somehow it did touch me.

So that was February. As you can see, not much quality, but March will be better :-).

17. West by Carys Davies - 3 stars


This book caught my attention because of its original story and the positive comments about it: in the 19th century, a widower leaves his daughter to search for the tracks of large animals in Kentucky a perilous undertaking but one that he wants to undertake at all costs. But the daughter also tells her story and how her father's quest affects her life.
Beautifully and delicately written with a great sense of atmosphere, but somehow I missed the connection with the main character. But maybe this was also a matter of getting the right book at the wrong time and I'll read it again.

18. Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park by Jan Slimming - 3 stars


The biography of the author's mother who was one of several anonymous employees who worked at Bletchley Park during WWII to help decipher the secret codes.
Interesting well documented personal story, but perhaps that's why it's slightly less exciting and a bit more long-winded than is allowed in fiction.

>71 Trifolia: Gapminder.com is interesting. I seem to be even more pessimistic than warranted. I bookmarked the site and will go back to it.

I too had an off February. I read Maisie Dobbs and Sherlock Holmes mysteries, lol.

>77 Trifolia: Although I like reading about WWII codebreakers, your review makes me think I can safely pass on CodeBreaker Girls

Waving hello as I pass by . . .

>78 labfs39: - Yes, I noticed you read out of your comfort zone. I found A Study in Scarlet enterataining but it did not leave a lasting impression. Although I do remember I found the plot a bit strange (i.e. incredible).

>79 markon: - Hi Ardene (waving back at you)

19. The Wild Boy: A Memoir by Paolo Cognetti - 3 stars

Although I always intend to objectify my opinion, I rarely seem to succeed. It may be hopeless since the choice of whether or not to read a book already is a value judgment or at the very least indicates a certain interest in something. And this book is no different.
I chose this book because it is set in the Alps where I have spent many summer vacations (though not in Italy which is where this book is set). It is about a man who wants to find his inspiration in peace and quiet and rents a house high in the mountains.
It fascinates me to know what drives people to do something like this. I understand that some people have a desire to leave everything behind, temporarily or permanently, but I always wonder to what extent such a thing is possible. Because in the end you always take yourself with you. But I digress.
Paolo tells the story of that summer and part of the autumn that he spends in solitude. He chronologically writes about the simple life up there, his impressions, his attempts to live even closer to nature, his struggles with the weather, his friendships with fellow mountain inhabitants.
His language is visual, atmospheric and also poetic. And I really enjoyed that part. But after reading this book, I'm still left with the question of what all this escapism yields, except perhaps a well-deserved rest (aka vacation?) before the hectic strikes again?

20. Een soort van liefde by Alicja Gescinska - 2,5 stars


Alicja Gescinska is a Belgian-Polish philosopher who is venturing into literature for the first time with this novel. It recounts the events of a few months in the life of a young Flemish student who, during her stay in the US, falls head over heels in love with an older, married professor and begins an affair with him. This episode will have a lasting impact on both their lives and that of the professor's daughter.
I think I can understand what the author was trying to do with this story. There are some nice elements in it, but the story itself is a bit thin and feels quite unbelievable. The book feels too artificial to really stick with me.

>81 Trifolia: the question of what all this escapism yields, except perhaps a well-deserved rest (aka vacation?) before the hectic strikes again?

If I can take a stab at your rhetorical question, I'll offer an idea of what it would mean to me. It seems like the author only went for a few months, and knew that ahead of time, so it doesn't seem like he was trying to escape permanently. I can relate to the desire to be alone, and alone with one's thoughts, for a period of time. I have not been alone for more than a few hours in years. It's my life and I'm okay with it, but the thought of going to a mountain retreat for a few months to be alone, sounds lovely. I'm not sure I would think of it as a vacation, to me that implies going somewhere to have fun. For me, I would be going to recharge and to think in blissful quiet. It's amazing how different a house feels when no one else is in it. Even if I'm alone in a room, it is different than being alone in the house. To be alone without any expectations placed on me, well, that sounds pretty idyllic. I'm not sure that people who live alone, can appreciate how precious solitude can be to someone who doesn't have any.

>81 Trifolia:, >83 labfs39: Solitude is tricky. It can be very good, and it can turn into isolation. I like weekend retreats (hmm, haven't done one recently), but I think long periods of solitude would be difficult for me.

Lisa, while I can identify with a yearning, and a need to be alone, after a certain period of charging my batteries, I start feeling lonesome, and can run up against some hard questions in my mind. That's fine for a few days, it can lead to new insights. But a Thomas Merton I am not.
And, of course, I'm living with my dog and no other people.

Did Cognetti talk about what he gained from the experience? I've read about two people who went through this process and changed their lives. But they went through some chaos time as part of the process.

>84 markon: Good point. While solitude sounds pretty attractive to me at the moment, for how long would it continue to be a positive? Not having tried it, perhaps I would sour on the idea after several days. Or maybe it's grass being greener...if you live alone, solitude is less attractive, if you live communally, solitude appears idyllic.

>71 Trifolia: "in many ways we have an outdated worldview in our heads that no longer corresponds to reality."

I'm intrigued by this comment. Catching up. Glad you worked through your slump. I have my own going (ever since I finished The Decameron). I'm reading, but that same drive isn't there, and it takes some work to find the flow.

>81 Trifolia:, etc, solitude - I'm one that can be all too happy in solitude...as long as it doesn't require any DYI stuff. :)

>83 labfs39: I'm not sure that people who live alone, can appreciate how precious solitude can be to someone who doesn't have any.. Believe me, I do, every time I close the door behind me after a busy day at the office or with friends and/or family. But I'm not sure if people who don't live alone can understand that living alone is not always so idyllic, that it also comes at a price that not everyone is willing to pay if push comes to shove.
Maybe my biggest problem (too heavy a word though) with this book was that I still do not know if the protagonist looked back on his summer in the Alps as a success or not, whether his expectations were met or not. Ah well, it's probably not even relevant.

>84 markon: I agree there's a thin line between solitude and isolation. As long as solitude comes from choice and not from necessity, I think it's a positive thing.

Did Cognetti talk about what he gained from the experience?. Well, no or else I did not understand. I also know a few people who did something similar and came back a changed and happier person. But I also know a few people who did this and came back feeling as miserable as when they left. That's why I'm not sure if it's the retreat or the mindset that's more important. Or maybe the retreat is the prerequisite for changing the mindset. Because in the end, you always take yourself with you.

>86 dchaikin: I'm intrigued by this comment. Oh, I suggest you take the gapminder test then to see what this is all about. You might be suprised. I was, although I consider myself to be a fairly well informed and educated person :-).

Reading slumps are the worst. But patience is a good medicine.

I'm one that can be all too happy in solitude...as long as it doesn't require any DYI stuff. :) LOL

The gapminder test was entertaining.

I'm still catching up with commenting on the books I read in March and earlier this month. I tend to have a lot to think or talk about during and after I read them, but if I wait too long, the details fade and I lose the flow of the book.
For the sake of completeness, I'll add some lines about the books I read a few weeks ago.

23. De eenzaamheid in het leven van Lydia Erneman by Rune Christiansen - 3,5 stars

"The Loneliness in the Life of Lydia Erneman" won the Norwegian Brage Prize in 2014, which according to Wikipedia is a Norwegian literature prize that is awarded annually by the Norwegian Book Prize foundation. The prize recognizes recently published Norwegian literature.
In the reviews I read, this book was mentioned as a book about a woman who loves solitude. In the end the story turned out slightly differently than I had expected, but I enjoyed the special atmosphere that the book radiated, a certain calm and melancholy, little action. However the plotline, if you can call it that, was a bit too flat for me to give this a higher rating. All in all I enjoyed this quiet, little book but did not love it.
I'd recommend it to those who enjoy atmospheric literature, as I do, every so often.

>89 Trifolia: Pretty cover

>89 Trifolia: I agree with >90 labfs39:, the cover is really nice. I like your summary, but I'm not into atmospheric literature at the moment, so I'll pass.

24. The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - 4,5 stars


I have put off reviewing this book for too long. I thought it was a great book that really resonated with me. Perhaps there is something about Shafak's style that I really like, because I also enjoyed reading her previous books. Her emphasis is on storytelling rather than plot. Although you can certainly not claim in this book that nothing happens. On the contrary.
Set against the backdrop of the war in Cyprus in the 1970s, it stars a Greek Cypriot boy and a Turkish Cypriot girl, a love story that casts its shadows to the present day and features a fig tree as one of the main characters. (yes, I know, it sounds absurd, but it fits the story wonderfully). But there is so much more than the classic love story: ecology, fauna, flora, friendship, homosexuality, traditions, depression,... themes that somehow all intertwine into a cohesive story that never feels contrived.
I can imagine that not everyone will feel attracted to Elfi Shafak's style. But I am a fan and plan to read her other books as well. Highly recommended.

>92 Trifolia: That's it, you've put me over the edge. I need to buy a copy of this book!

ETA: it's on it's way!

>92 Trifolia: I did not like reading Black milk, the only from Elif Shafak that I read, so I am not over the edge yet, as >93 labfs39: is. But I have read so many good reviews for this book and I am so intrigued by this fig tree that I think I'll borrow it from the library at some point.

>94 raton-liseur: I wonder if you might like her fiction, even if you didn't like her memoir. I sometimes find that I like certain genres for certain authors.

>95 labfs39: You're right, changing genre might be what I need. I tend to think about an author as a whole, but that's a mistake. I've already seen this for the format (novel versus short stories), but I should check if genre makes a difference.
I'm about to join you over the edge...

>93 labfs39: I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did, Lisa. It was my favourite read of 2022, so far. I feel humbled by the fact that you ordered a book because of my review. I hope it works out well.

>94 raton-liseur: The fig tree is indeed a strange thing but I found it worked well. It might not work for everyone though so I'll certainly understand if you don't like it. But it would be great discuss our thoughts on this book (as it is on any book we read).

25. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine - 4 stars

What superlatives can I add about a book that was brought to my attention by Lisa (labfs39) but that was already on my TBR because of a review by annavangelderen, a (former?) Dutch member of LT who has her own blog in the Dutch.
It takes place in Beirut. Since she was rejected by her now deceased husband shortly after she got married, Aaliya lives alone and translates world classics into Arabic. Literature and music give her life meaning. Only, nobody knows about her activities and it is not the intention that anyone ever sees those translations. She withstands the pressure of her family, her neighbors, the war, the loss of the few friends she has and feels safe in her home. Until something happens that throws her off balance.
Aaliya in a character I won't forget. The layering of her character, the combination of tragedy and humor and the way she deals with her environment and situations are beautifully developed. For a moment I feared it would end with a cliché, but luckily the author just didn't fall into the trap.
Highly recommended and definitely one of the better books of 2022.

>98 Trifolia: I'm glad you liked An Unnecessary Woman. Aaliya ranks up there with Baba Dunja in my mind. Both unforgettable and unusual female characters.

Catching up and enjoyed your reviews. I didn't get to the library quickly enough a couple of weeks ago and the copy of The Island of Missing Trees they were holding got sent back again, so I'll have to try again sometime.

I also enjoyed Factfulness - I still think about it sometimes when I'm seeing statistics about COVID and the Ukraine war.

Also another reminder to put An Unnecessary Woman onto my wish list (if I hadn't added it already after Lisa's review - I think I might have).

>99 labfs39: - Baba Dunja's on my TBR-list because of your review. She must be quite a character.

>100 AlisonY: - Hi Alison, it seems I'm not the only one who liked both The Island of Missing Trees and An Unnecessary Woman. I hope you'll join us, if you get a chance to read them.

I can't believe it's almost been three months since I last updated this thread. And I find it even more unbelievable that I have only read 1 book since. I have been busy with other things, but maybe it's a signal warning if you cannot find the time to read more often and to take a step back or better yet a step forward in a more book-related direction.
I'll start by adding my comments on the books I read in April.

26. The Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas - 2,5 stars


The story is set in the 19th century and tells the story of some women who ended up in the asylum for the insane La Salpétrière in Paris. Most of the women in this asylum did not belong there but were victims of the zeitgeist that was not exactly kind to women. And then there's the medical and nursing staff who also have to fight their own demons.
The La Salpétrière and Dr Charcot are important in the history of psychiatry and I had high expectations about this book. Unfortunately, the book failed to convince me as the storylines got stuck in predictability, sentimentality and cliché.

>103 Trifolia: That's exactly how I felt about this book... Welcome back by the way!

Hi Monica! I was thinking that I needed to email you, and here you are. Good to hear from you.

Yes. Sorry about the Mas, but nice to see you posting

>103 Trifolia: From another tardy updater - welcome back.
What a fascinating subject that could have been - sorry it didn't make it.

>104 Dilara86: - Thank you for stopping by.
I went to look for your review because I value your opinion and noticed you hadn't finished it. Needless to say that imo you made the right choice.

>105 labfs39: - Like minds :-).

>106 dchaikin: - Thanks, Dan. I hope to become more active again.

>107 SassyLassy: - Thank you, too. And yes, it was the subject that interested me, but unfortunately, the right ingredients don't automatically make a good book.

I'm still looking for the holy grail of a good book that has it all: lifelike characters, a good storyline, beautiful language and a surprising plot are just a few of the things that come to my mind. And of course a writer who can tie it all together. I keep looking.

Right now, I'm immensely enjoying not one but even two books: Empire Falls by Richard Russo and Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, a book I was determined to dislike, but happen to love so far. And from what I hear, the latter part is even better than the first one.

>108 Trifolia: Interesting that you weren't expecting to like Cloud Cuckoo Land but are. I thought All the Light You Cannot See was vastly overhyped, and so was ignoring CCL. Perhaps your review will change my mind!

>108 Trifolia:, >109 labfs39: I started CCL and loved it, then got bogged down in all the nested stories and it is such a chunkster that I dropped it. Hope you keep loving it.

>108 Trifolia: I'm flattered! I didn't write a review (I rarely do) but I did mention the book in this post, which is less articulate than yours but makes the same points, more or less.

>109 labfs39: - Yes, one of the reasons why I didn't expect to like CCL is that I also disliked All the Light You Cannot See. You can find my comments from 2016 here. The other reason is that it contains sci-fi. But I'm at chapter 20 out of 24 and I'm still enjoying this one tremendously. There's really no comparison between the two and I think you would like it, if not love it too. But maybe chapter 24 will be a huge disappointment.
I also really enjoy Empire Falls which is situated in Maine and I wonder if you have read it?

>110 markon: - Yes, I can understand that not everyone likes this, but I find all those nested stories just awesome and challenging. And there's so much in it to think about... Maybe not the greatest literature ever, but very entertaining and riveting, just what I needed right now. But if a book does not work for you, there's no need to torment yourself. There are plenty of other books to read.
Thank you for stopping by!

>111 Dilara86: - Well yes, I looked up your post and that's how I found out you did not finish it. But really, I can't blame you :-)

>112 Trifolia: Are the nested stories similar in structure to Cloud Atlas? That was a difficult but worthwhile read. I'll stay tuned to see if Doerr nails the ending. No, I haven't read Empire Falls either. I read so little American fiction, but should seek out those about my home state. Thanks!

>113 labfs39: - I don't recall Cloud Atlas very well, except that I was not blown away by it. But CCL is different. I finished it today, so you can expect my review soon. I'll first post my comments on the few other books I read in between.
It would be interesting to know what you, as a resident of Maine, think of Empire Falls. No pressure, though.

>114 Trifolia: Cloud Atlas was structured like a matryoshka, nested stories within stories. I remember that part very well, though the plot is rather foggy.

Ha, good incentive to get to both Empire Falls and a new book called Night of the Living Rez. I'm currently swamped reading Japanese books for the Asian Book Challenge, but maybe this winter when I have more reading time.

27. Het geluk van de wolf (The Luck of the Wolf) by Paolo Cognetti - 2 stars


Intimistic stories of inhabitants of the high mountains seem to be the trademark of Paolo Cognetti. The summaries of his books always appeal to me and every time I'm slightly disappointed. It's all a bit too sentimental for me. Let me just say that I find little connection with Paolo Cognetti's oeuvre, but that is a purely personal choice. I know that others enjoy his books very much so don't let my review hold you back if you like this sort of books.

28. Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo - 4 stars


A surprisingly beautiful novel about the quest of a middle-aged woman who, after the death of her British mother, finds the diaries her African father left with her mother before she was even born. She decides to look for him, but that search turns out slightly differently than expected.
Chibundu Onuzo has written a beautiful and nuanced story that makes you think about identity, about what it means to grow up without a father in a loving and at the same time hostile environment, about how to deal with the different layers and the evolution of an individual and about what it means to be genetically defined by two cultures, even if one culture is completely foreign to you.
There is so much in this book and yet it never feels contrived. The characters and setting are authentic and believable, the story flows and surprises and remains captivating until the end.
The only downside is perhaps that some themes are not developed enough, but in a way this emphasizes the experiences of the main character. The title is particularly well chosen, btw. Recommended!

>117 Trifolia: This sounds fantastic!

29. Jamilia by Tsjingiz Ajtmatov - 3 stars

This book was brought to my attention and recommended in several ways, so when I finally got my hands on it, I didn't hesitate. But maybe the recommendations made my expectations too high. Certainly, the story is beautifully written: when her husband goes to war, young Jamilia is left behind with her in-laws. Her brother-in-law falls in love with her, but when a stranger comes to the village, the situation changes. I can understand why this story will appeal to readers, but somehow this book just didn't appeal to me. I certainly didn't think it was bad, just not great.

30. A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa - 2 stars


Many readers raved about this non fiction book, but honestly, I didn't like it.
A young mother, who has just given birth to a new baby, is mesmerized by a woman who wrote an Irish lament in the 18th century for her husband who died young. She decides to do research about this woman and combines this with the already difficult motherhood, a new pregnancy, a complicated birth and having to deal wth the dire financial situation of the family.

I can understand that many women will love this book because it glorifies motherhood in all its beautiful and raw aspects. The author is really obsessed by maternity and raves about it explicitly.
But the combination with her research didn't work for me. It has nothing to do with her intuitive way in which she conducts her research. This even has something beautiful and dreamy that I somehow could appreciate. But the combination of both felt strange. Or maybe I was bothered by the stress that weighs heavily on this book. So this book was not my cup of tea, but don't let my opinion stop you from reading it anyway.

Nice review of Sankofa. I have the Kindle version of it, so I'll probably read it before the end of the year.

I have Sankofa and A Ghost in the Throat, and am interested in both of them (even with your reservations about the latter).

>119 Trifolia: i’ve had a copy this Jamilla, a little book, staring at me for over ten years now. Bummer. But I’ll still plan to get to it.

>117 Trifolia: Sankofa sounds interesting. Noted.

>119 Trifolia: Sorry Jamilia didn't live up to expectations. I liked the descriptions of the steppes and the way nature and the characters' emotions intertwined. It was also an introduction for me to a very different part of the world. Not Nobel Prize worthy, but I gave it 4 stars. At least for your sake it was short! Hope you land on something stellar next.

>92 Trifolia: >117 Trifolia: I liked both of these too. I need to track down my copy of An Unnecessary Woman Monica.

I just caught up with the last 90 or so posts on your thread. Thanks for the interesting reviews, and to all for the great conversations. I'll try to keep better track going forward.

>121 kidzdoc: - I'm already looking forward to your comments, Darryl.

>122 lisapeet: - Most people are very enthusiastic about A Ghost in the Throat, so don't worry about my personal comments. Some books work for me, some don't but that does not mean that there is something wrong with the book. And I always enjoy reading the opinion of someone I respect who sheds another light on a book I read, whether I liked it or not.

>123 dchaikin: - Same comment as above: please don't let my comments keep you away from reading Jamilia. Some people I admire and have excellent taste (yes, you, Lisa :-)) liked it very much. I'll also be looking forward to your thoughts on it.

>124 labfs39: - I think you'd like Sankofa, Lisa.
And yes, Jamilia did not turn out the way I had hoped it would, but maybe my expectations were too high. It happens. But fortunately, it happens the other way round too, as you'll notice below.

>125 Caroline_McElwee: - They were great, weren't they Caroline. I think you'll enjoy An unnecessary Woman too then.

>126 rocketjk: - Wow, 90 posts. Thanks for the effort. I still need to want to catch up with other Club members threads after my recent mini-break.

31. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin - 2,5 stars

This book was recommended to me by several friends who had read it and were impressed by it. I read it about three weeks ago and I still don't know if I liked it or not.
It is mainly the story of a woman who grieves quietly but that changes when a man comes into her life who opens old wounds and knows how to heal them, but not in the way you would expect.
On the one hand, I found the story rather weak and sentimental and there were too many coincidences to be believable. I also struggled to empathize with most of the characters because I couldn't picture them properly. It wasn't because they were so complex, but rather because they just didn't come to life.
On the other hand, the book also had a kind of gentle, sensitive atmosphere that attracted me. The unique feature of the main character as a train guard resp. cemetery manager certainly contributed to this. I also liked the way the author peeled off the story layer by layer without revealing too much right away.
Overall I somehow liked the book, but in the end I wasn't that impressed. A bit too much of a chicklit.

>127 Trifolia: C'est la vie. Not all books work for all people at all times. Your response to Jamilia, and mine, has made me think about whether I have different standards for books from areas with different publishing histories than the US/UK. What I mean by that is, I wonder if I would have thought as highly of the book if it had been written by an American author? I wonder if part of the appeal for me was that it was about a part of the world of which I am ignorant, and that the author is from a minority group (within the former Soviet Union). So did I hold his book up to less scrutiny than I might have done otherwise? I'm not sure...

>129 labfs39: Interesting question that I sometimes ponder. However, I think that for some ridiculous (unknown) reason, my standard for books in translation is higher than for contemporary books written in English. I suspect perhaps I don't expect as much from North American writers, but have no idea how that arose.

Hi Monica, I am just catching up on your thread! I added Sankofa to my WL.

>128 Trifolia: I've had that book out from the library twice and started it twice (read a chapter or two), but I've had no success getting into it. Your review doesn't make me want to try again.

>129 labfs39: - Yes, I understand what you mean.
I also wonder if it's because I've read too much similar books that make me less impressed by this one. Can one read too much?

>130 SassyLassy: - I also look differently at books from my part of the world, but unlike you, I'm stricter for Flemish authors than for others.

>131 MissBrangwen: - Good choice :-)

>132 arubabookwoman: - You're right, if this book did not touch you from the start, it probably won't later. There are plenty of others to read.

32. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr - 4,5 stars


I never expected to like Anthony Doerr's new book as much as I did. I didn't really like All the light we can't see, but I really enjoyed this one. While the storylines seem quite complicated, the stories themselves are not. Each chapter begins with a chapter of an ancient Greek story and is followed by the story of one of the main characters from different eras. All these stories are more or less woven into one bigger story, but it is really an ode to reading, empathy, compassion, love, friendship, nature, selflessness. It's a lot less sentimental than All the light we can't see, but it touched me a lot more. And Doerr is a very good storyteller who can really bring his characters to life. Unlike other books, I didn't favor one character or era over another. They all had their stories to tell and I could empathize with them all. Highly recommended.

>134 Trifolia: Hmm, I might have to give Doerr another chance. Like you, I didn't care for All the Light. I'm glad to hear that this one is less sentimental. Perhaps I'll try it.

Life doesn't always go the way you planned it. That was certainly the case in recent months. My mother has been seriously ill. With full-time care and all the worry and stress that came with it, I barely got around to reading.
She is doing better now and I have started reading again. So far I've limited myself to some light reading, but I'm gradually looking forward to more challenging literature.
I should comment on a few more books I read before that scary period, but honestly I want to get to the present as soon as possible and reconnect with this group. I will therefore limit myself to a few notes in my next few posts. I hope this gives enough attention to a few book gems. By the way, I'm glad to be back. I secretly hope someone is still reading this thread.

So sorry about your mum, although it's good that she is doing better. Looking forward to your future posts :-)

33. Empire Falls by Richard Russo - 4 stars

This book has been on my wishlist for a long time and I only regret that I haven't read it any sooner.

This is a rather classic story set in a small town in Maine about a man you couldn't possibly find unlikable. Although his whole life is falling apart bit by bit and everyone pretty much benefits from his goodness, he takes it all with a certain equanimity, kindness and yet a slight rebellion. I don't want to divulge anything about the story because you really should read it. It reminded me of some of John Irving's books and if you know that Irving is one of my favorite authors, you also know that I just really liked Empire Falls.

>137 Dilara86: - Thank you. I went to your profile page to find out your name and noticed you also read La Porte du voyage sans retour ou les cahiers secrets de Michel Adanson by David Diop. You'll see this one pass by as I continue to post. I read it a few weeks ago and believe it or not, I also rated it with 3,5 stars.

34. The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier - 3,5 stars


A story about the implications when a plane from Paris lands in New York a few months after the same plane from Paris landed in New York. Nothing unusual except for the fact that exactly the same people are on the plane and they don't know they have already landed. We follow some of the passengers and the reaction of the authorities who want to find out what happened.
I found this book a bit confusing, not so much because of the story but because of the author's style.
The way he referred to actual persons and situations was rather simplistic and at times I thought he was ridiculing his readers. But I don't know enough about Le Tellier to be able to properly interpret this book. It won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2020 so I probably missed the point.

>140 Trifolia: I missed the point of a few Goncourt winner as well, so you're not the only one! And I won't miss the point of this one as I don't plan to read it!
Glad your mother is better.

35. The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen - 4 stars


A wonderful novel about the early years of Ingrid Barroy who grows up in a small family, living on a remote island off the coast of Norway in the 1920s.

I loved the way the author depicts the beautiful but harsh setting, the challenges the family faces and the subtle way in which a lot is said without actually writing it out. It's the first book in a series and I'm lookng forward to reading the next one, although not too soon because it's a series to be savoured in small doses.

>141 raton-liseur: - I have read few books that won the Prix Goncourt, but I really thought that this prize would still be a nice sample of what France has to offer in terms of literature. I had not actually thought that such a mediocre book would be selected. But obviously I'm not an expert and there are more things I don't understand in the literary world. It's nice to know I'm not the only one though.

36. The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion - 4 stars


Third in a series about Don Tilman, a high-functioning genetics professor with autism. After the first book in which he tries to find a wife in his own peculiar way and the second in which he embraces pregnancy and parenthood, in this third book Don must guide his son through the slippery road of puberty. In addition, he experiences (and creates) his own problems related to his autism and tries to solve them adequately.

I think this is a wonderful series. On the one hand, the books are very funny and the characters are quirky but sympathetic, but on the other hand, the author succeeds wonderfully in looking at autism from a different perspective. While most books are told from the perspective of the non-autistic person describing the idiosyncrasies of the person with autism, these books are different because they are told from the perspective of someone with autism. And that is a real eye-opener. I discussed this book with a friend who has a brother with autism and she recognizes many situations. After reading this book, I wished the world would embrace the value of the autistic way of looking at the world. I thought this one was the best in the series, but it's best to start with the first one because otherwise you'd miss a lot of finesse.

Welcome back, and I'm sorry your mom was so sick. Glad she's on the mend!

>142 Trifolia: This book seems to be sailing through CR -- I think this is the third or fourth review I've seen of it here. If I hadn't already added it to my TBR, this review would have compelled me to do so.

>138 Trifolia: A book about Maine that I'm embarrassed to say I haven't read. Probably should!

>142 Trifolia: Yet this one sounds more interesting. Deborah/arubabookwoman also loved this book. She just finished the trilogy, and as is often the case, liked the first one best.

>144 Trifolia: I read The Rosie Project when it first came out and didn't realize he had written more. Good to know.

Nice to see you back. Hope your mom continues to improve.

>140 Trifolia: I think I liked this a bit more than you did, though there were things about it that bothered me. I didn't think it was prize-worthy though.
>142 Trifolia: As Lisa says at >147 labfs39: I loved this when I read it earlier this year, and I liked the second in the trilogy a lot too. I didn't care for the third one as much, perhaps because it takes place mostly off the island, but it does complete the story.
I hope your mom continues to improve, and glad to see you back.

>140 Trifolia: I read L’Anomalie a week or two ago and was similarly puzzled about why it should be Goncourt-worthy. I’ve been reading a few recent winners for the current RG theme read (https://www.librarything.com/topic/344814#), and the quality seems very variable.

They do sometimes pick really good ones: I really liked Texaco, Pas pleurer, Boussole, and Pélagie-la-Charette, for instance, but there have been quite a few others that didn’t seem at all extraordinary.

>149 thorold: I would add Laurent Gaudé. He won the Goncourt Prize in 2004 with Le Soleil des Scorta/The House of Scorta. In my opinion, it's not his best book: I prefer La mort du Roi Tsongor/The Death of King Tsongor (that won the Goncourt des Lycéens/High School Students' Goncourt in 2022) or, more recently Salina.

>145 markon: Thank you, Ardene. She's still very frail but doing a lot better than a few months or even weeks ago.

>146 ELiz_M: Well, it was Deborah's (arubabookwoman) review that really made me want to read it. And it was well worth the read.

>147 labfs39: Well you should not feel compelled to read Empire Falls, but I can recommend it wholeheartedly, as well as The Unseen and The Rosie Result. Three very different books but I liked them all.

>148 arubabookwoman: My thoughts exactly, Deborah. And thank you for pointing me in the direction of The Unseen.
It's good to be back. Where else do I get all those excellent recommendations.

>149 thorold: Oh, I hadn't noticed the RG theme read as I've been absent for a while. Quite a few interesting books and lists over there that I'm eager to explore. Thanks for reminding me!

>150 raton-liseur: Thanks for the additional recommendations.

Glad your mom is feeling better. Glad you can relax into some reading now.

>152 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline.

37. The death of Murat Idrissi by Tommy Wieringa - 3 stars


Tommy Wieringa is a Dutch writer of whom I have already read a number of books that I really liked. I like his writing style and the themes he tackles. This novella is about two Dutch girls of Moroccan descent who, due to a lack of money, have to make a drastic decision that gets them into big trouble and has far-reaching consequences.
Although the story seems a bit unbelievable (even if it seems to be based on true facts) and not all characters are equally well portrayed, I still found it very worthwhile: Wieringa knows how to create atmosphere and can keep a story interesting until the last moment. Actually, I think it's a shame that this was only a novella, because there was so much in this booklet that it would have been a great novel.

>154 Trifolia: Which of his books is your favorite?

>155 labfs39: - I liked both The Blessed Rita and Dit is mijn moeder (This is my mother), which probably has not been translated. I might try to read more of his book sin 2023.

I'm trying to wrap up 2022, do some housekeeping on my current threads and set up my new threads for 2023. I've also decided to particpate in a few challenges / projects or whatever it is called. Although they sometimes are related to other groups, I intend to keep my main thread in Club Read as a hub for all the rest.

>156 Trifolia: I'll look forward to hearing what you are doing for challenges/projects. I feel a little overextended, but I'm interested in a bunch of different things right now. We'll see how well I keep up! But I need to give myself permission to bow out too, if it stops being enjoyable.

>139 Trifolia: My name's Dilara!

About the Goncourt, I think the main problem is finding common ground among the jury. Sometimes, what happens is that something middling that nobody hates wins over individual members' favourites. There certainly have been instances of members going public with their disappointment! A case in point is this year's winner, Vivre vite by Brigitte Giraud, which was picked by the jury's president after 14 rounds and a stalemate (although internal and international politics seem to have played a role as well). There have been voices wondering how such a book could have won, and I must admit if it's as rubbish as Jour de courage, a novel I read a couple of years ago by the same author, they probably have a point...

>157 labfs39: I feel a little overextended... I know the feeling. At the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, I tend to think I'll be able to read a lot more than I actually do. And I'm not good at participating in challenges etc. So I'll probably participate without actually "Participating" in the African novel challenge and the Global Theme reads and try to read a few of the nobelists. Otherwise, I'll keep my plans rather modest.

>158 Dilara86: - Oh, that is interesting. I had never thought about it this way, but it makes sense. It makes me wonder how valuable it is to give an award to the "average" book. Maybe a shortlist might suffice? After all, des goûts et des couleurs on ne discute pas?

38. La Porte du voyage sans retour ou les cahiers secrets de Michel Adanson by David Diop - 3,5 stars

I had come across the name of David Diop a few times and instead of his more famous "At Night All Blood Is Black", I decided to read this novel because the subject appealed to me. Michel Adanson was a French botanist who traveled to Africa in the 18th century where he not only studied the local fauna and flora, but also learned the local language. This book is based on this 5 year trip.
The start of this book was promising and the story built up nicely, but in retrospect much of it was of little relevance and much too extensive in relation to the real story which ended up being rather disappointing for me. I liked the book in certain parts, but it was a bit too unbalanced. It was also not entirely clear to me what was fiction and what was not and such things always bother me a bit. That being said, I'll probably read other books by David Diop because I liked his style.

39. Villa des Roses by Willem Elsschot - 3,5 stars


A funny book set in a boarding house in Paris run by an elderly couple. The guests are all strange people who stay in the guesthouse for a short or longer period of time for various reasons. This book is especially interesting because of the beautiful way in which Elsschot portrays his characters. They really come to life and he shows all their small, cruel and oh-so-human traits. So I thought this book was definitely worth reading.

40. Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer - 3,5 stars

The first book in the William Warwick series. Jeffrey Archer's books always guarantee pure relaxation and that is no different here. Young police officer William Warwick gets the chance to delve into a case of art fraud. Lots of cliffhangers, plot twists and a police officer who is patrolling a village in England one minute and walking around Italy a few hours later. Should be possible in such books. Pure relaxation.

41. Madame le Commissaire und die späte Rache by Pierre Martin - 2,5 stars

The second part of a detective series set in Provence. And that setting is also the greatest merit of this book. A traumatized police officer is allowed to settle in Provence and deal with old, unsolved murders. Between good food, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, flirting with the mayor and enjoying life in Provence in general, she manages to solve several murders with the help of her quirky but clever sidekick. Wonderfully relaxing reading.

>163 Trifolia: Wonderfully relaxing reading.

And sometimes that's just what we need.

>161 Trifolia:

That and Cheese were to me so quietly hilarious. I wonder if he wrote more in the same vein.

>164 labfs39: Exactly :-)

>165 LolaWalser: The entire oeuvre of Willem Elsschot is characterized by the same kind of dark cynical humour. In addition to Cheese and Villa des Roses, he has also written a number of other works, some of which have apparently been translated into English and published in one book:
Soft Soap; The Leg; & Will-o'-the-Wisp.

42. The Years by Annie Ernaux - 4,5 stars


I had already downloaded the book on my e-reader, but it was the review by Deborah (arubabookwoman) that really convinced me.
If you want to summarize this book in one word, "time document" is perhaps the most accurate. Annie Ernaux has committed to documenting her time. Throughout the book she uses the same gimmick: she starts each chapter with a photo of herself in that period and describes it in detail. This is the prelude to a further exploration of the period she writes about. In this way we see her evolving parallel to the bigger picture, from a little girl to the mature woman she is now. The fact that she describes herself as a third person has an alienating effect, but on the other hand indicates that she (and we) are all part of the history of the time in which we live. Based on the family dinner conversations of her family that return in almost every chapter, you already notice that time does not stand still. That is just one of the many ways she uses to illustrate the political, social, economic, cultural and personal evolutions and shifts between 1940 and the early 2000s. Although she takes her own life as a guide, this is done in a detached way with few details and that austerity is in stark contrast to the abundance of details from history.
The story is peppered with countless facts, memories, reflections that evoked many memories for me. I'm a generation younger than Ernaux, but certainly from the years that I remember there were many recognition points. The years before were also recognizable for me due to the many conversations I have had with my parents and grandparents.
That recognition gave me a very pleasant feeling when reading. It is incredible how well Ernaux manages to capture the zeitgeist time and time again and succeeds in displaying the major currents and minor undercurrents in the right context.

It's been a long time since I was this excited about a book. This is definitely my winner of 2022. Highly recommended!

Glad you liked The Years. This book is very special to me too, for the reasons you give in your review :-)

>167 Trifolia: Ok, that does it. I must get this book. I think I'll buy a copy rather than download one, so that I can see the photos.

>168 Dilara86: Yes, I guess it'll stay with me for a while for various reasons. Can I see your review / comments on this book anywhere?

>169 labfs39: I think it's a good idea to find a copy. I'm not sure if the photos are actually included though. I listened to it but will buy a copy of the book too, to be included in my "library of favourites".
I'd love to hear what you think of it if you get to it eventually.

43. Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie - 3 stars

I previously read Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie and thought it was a great book, one of my favorites of 2018. So my expectations were high. Perhaps a bit too high, because after a strong start the book was a bit disappointing.
The story revolves around two best friends from Pakistan who grow up in Karachi. Although they are literally and figuratively opposites in just about everything, they are very devoted to each other. But in their teens something happens that will have a big impact on the rest of their lives. The second part is set a few decades later in London. The two are still best friends, the contradictions between them are even greater, but the event from the past now also threatens their friendship.
While I thoroughly enjoyed certain parts and aspects of the book, I struggled with the exaggerated contrasts between the two main characters and the rather caricatured way the other characters were portrayed. It was all a bit over the top and lost credibility. Certainly not a bad book, but I found Home Fire much more fascinating.

>170 Trifolia: Ah sorry, I read it back in 2013 and I didn't have a thread at the time. But what you wrote resonated with me.

With just over 7 hours to go before the end of 2022 I've commented on all the books I've read this year.
It was a year with some highs but also many lows and I am glad that 2022 is almost over. Let's hope for a better 2023.
I did read some nice books, of which The Years by Annie Ernaux, Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak were my favourites.
I look forward to 2023 and hope to discover many new, exciting books with you next year.
I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year!

Hooray, you finished! I hope your 2023 is a good one, both personally and on LT. I will be following along as always. Happy New Year!

>167 Trifolia: The Years has been hovering in my periphery for ages, and I think that review just pushed me over. I'll definitely be picking it up.