EllaTim's Reading Worlds in 2022

Hi everyone. Welcome to my thread of 2022.

I am Ella, living in Amsterdam with Marc. I am a fond allotment gardener, and nature lover.
I like reading fantasy, but also lots of other books.

For this year I want to read more dutch books, more children's books, and find new and interesting worlds to explore.

The picture above is the cover of the new book by my favourite writer for children: Tonke Dragt, written with Rindert Kromhout. The title translates to: "who gets lost behind this door", and it's what I wish for the new year for everybody: lots of interesting, beautiful and exciting worlds to lose ourselves in! Happy reading.

Books read:
Finished:
January

1. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (USA, fantasy, 2020) ****
2. De Herinnerde Soldaat by Anjet Daanje ( dutch, 2019, 538 pp) *****
3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (UK, 2020) ***1/2
4. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA) ***1/2
5. Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, 2015) ***1/2
6. One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)
7. Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)
8. Sweep with Me by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)
9. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)
10. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)

February

11. De Cock en het Roodzijden Nachthemd by A.C. Baantjer (Dutch, audio, 1995, 135pp) ***
12. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (fantasy, USA, ****)
13. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (fantasy, YA, USA, 1984) ***
14. Mijn Wilde Tuin by Meir Shalev (Israel, non-fiction) ****
15. My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) ****
16. Sarah, plain and tall by Patricia MacLachlan (USA, children’s fiction) ***1/2

March

17. Crispin: The cross of lead by Avi (USA, children’s, historical novel) ***
18. Knot of Shadows by Lois McMaster Bujold (fantasy, USA, novella) ****1/2
And nearly all the rest of this series.
19. The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin *** (USA, historical fiction, 2021)
20. Lenin en Stalin by Maarten van Rossem (Dutch, audio) ***1/2

Reading:
Jip en Janneke by Annie M.G. Schmidt
Kastanjehove by Tommie Niessen
Droomkoninkje by Herman Heijermans
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
De 100 jarige man die uit het raam klom en verdween by Jonas Jonasson
Immune by Philipp Dettmer
Samarkand by Amin Maalouf

Finished and not reviewed yet:
21. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
22. Magician’s Gambit by David Eddings
23. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings
24. The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Here’s my overview of last year’s reading:

I didn’t manage 75 books this year. But I might have started 75! A lot just didn’t get finished.

I read a lot of fantasy, and enjoyed it. Two discoveries for me: Suzette Haden Elgin, and Diana Wynne Jones!
For some reason mysteries and detectives didn’t do it for me this year.

I read some new to me dutch authors. Simone van der Vlugt.

I read and liked some books for children or youth. Might do some more of this.

Best two:
Non-fiction:
A paradise built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit ****1/2



Fiction:
Winterijs by Peter van Gestel *****

Reading plans:

There are some interesting reading challenges going on in the group.
I will be joining Paul's new ABC challenge.

And I'm still exploring other challenges.

Then there is the list of 1001 books.
And I am looking to explore dutch books, the dutch canon, and childrens books!

ABC Challenge:

OVERALL PLAN

These will be the monthly jaunts for the ABC challenge.

JANUARY - Europe of Asia - Turkish Authors
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

FEBRUARY - The Holy Land - Israeli & Palestinian Authors
Mijn Wilde Tuin by Meir Shalev.
Maybe a second book, by him, I liked nr 1. Or one of the books of Yuval Noah Harari?

MARCH - The Arab World - Writers from the Arab world
Started Samarkand by Amin Maalouf

APRIL - Persia - Iranian writers

MAY - The Stans - There are 7 states all in the same region all ending in "Stan"

JUNE - The Indian Sub-Continent - Essentially authors from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

JULY - The Asian Superpower - Chinese Authors

AUGUST - Nippon - Japanese Authors

SEPTEMBER - Kimchi - Korean Authors

OCTOBER - INDO CHINE - Authors from Indo-China

NOVEMBER - The Malay Archipelago - Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian Authors

DECEMBER - The Asian Diaspora - Ethnic Asian writers from elsewhere
This shouldn’t be too difficult. Lots of writers from for instance Turkish or Iranian descent in Holland.

Other challenges:

Nonfiction Reading Challenge

Prizewinners/Nominees in January: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338089

American Authors Challenge

General Discussion: https://www.librarything.com/topic/337915

JANUARY: Graphic novels and/or non-fiction: https://www.librarything.com/topic/337926

FEBRUARY: Tess Gallagher

MARCH: Bernard Malamud

APRIL: Jennifer Finney Boylan

MAY: 19th Century American Author of your choice

JUNE: John Dos Passos

JULY: Gish Jen

AUGUST: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

SEPTEMBER: Pulitzer Prize Winners

OCTOBER: John McPhee

NOVEMBER: Native American authors, themes and history

DECEMBER: Martha Gellhorn

British Author Challenge

General Thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/337720

Wildcard I: Read the movies

Wildcard II: Rereads

January: Children's Classics (before 1997): https://www.librarything.com/topic/337716

February: Mary Renault & Timothy Mo

March: The Interwar Period (11 November 1918-1 September 1939)

April: Kamila Shamsie & Clive Barker

May: Comic Books/Graphic Novels & Audiobooks

June: Jackie Kay & E. F. Benson

July: The Georgian Era (1714-1837)

August: Espionage

September: Retellings, Continuations, and Non-Series Prequels & Sequels

October: Aminatta Forna & Lawrence Durrell

November: Arthurian Legend

December: Books about books

Dutch and children's books.

For now I'm thinking of reading Publieke werken.
And a bit of Jip en Janneke. The last one is a classic that I didn't get to read as a child as my village (church-held) library didn't hold any books by Annie M.G. Schmidt, who was considered too rebellious and controversial by the catholic church. So a bit of a forbidden book! While actually it is soooo not naughty (but sweet).

This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Ella. x

Happy new year!

Ella, you’re here! Happy new year!

I like the title of the book in >1 EllaTim:.

Happy reading in 2022, Ella!

>1 EllaTim: That one is also on my list :-)

Enjoy your 2022 reads!

Happy new thread and new year, Ella. Wishing you a good reading year!
I do like your topper!

>8 PaulCranswick: >9 drneutron: >10 PawsforThought: >11 FAMeulstee: >12 thornton37814: Hi Paul, hi Jim, hi Paws, Anita and Lori! Nice to see you here. And a happy new year to you too.

>11 FAMeulstee: Of course it’s on your list as well, Anita. Tonke Dragt, and Rindert Kromhout. I have seen you reading a number of his books, and liking them. So a book from the two of them should be on your list. It’s firmly on my wishlist.

First day of the year I didn’t finish a book but watched a movie from a book: Publieke Werken. I loved the movie, set partly in Amsterdam, and partly in Drenthe. A moving story and beautiful images.

Hi Ella. Happy New Year and happy first thread of 2022!

>1 EllaTim: I love that you have specific reading goals for the new year. Yes, let’s all get lost in interesting, beautiful, and exciting worlds!

>5 EllaTim: I’ll be reading My Name is Red for the Asian Authors January challenge. I've already ordered it and am waiting for it to show up sometime this week.

>16 karenmarie: Hi Karen, nice to see you here!

Great that you are reading My Name is Red as well. I’ll be interested in your impressions.

Dear Ella, gelukkig nieuwjaar! I hope you'll enjoy a lovely year with many great, new books!

>18 PersephonesLibrary: Hi Käthe. Hartelijk dank!

Reading now:
De Herinnerde Soldaat by Anjet Daanje
I'm around halfway through, it's very good.

My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk
I'm putting it aside for a moment, until I have finished the first book.

Jip en Janneke 1 by Annie M.G. Schmidt
Short stories for children. Really nice, funny and relaxing to read.

Happy New Year and you are starred! I will be reading My Name Is Red later on this month. : )

>21 Berly: Hi Kim! Great, I have started the book, but it will be so nice to exchange thoughts about it!

Happy New Year, Ella!

Hi Ella my dear, just dropped my star off, dear friend.

Happy New Year, Ella. Looking forward to following you along for another year. I will have to get to A Paradise built in Hell. I am a Solnit fan.

>23 jnwelch: Hi Joe, and thanks!

>24 johnsimpson: Hi John. I have starred your thread, and will be visiting.

>25 msf59: Hi Marc. Thank you. This was my first book by her,
What other book would you recommend?

Happy new year, Ella! I hope you enjoy My Name Is Red. I read it quite some time ago and I was very impressed with it.

>27 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie. Thanks! I keep hearing positive reviews.

1. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (USA, fantasy, 2020) ****



Fourteen-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance.

But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor.

This young adult fantasy was a lot of fun. Mona is an endearing person, but there are a lot of interesting people and magic in this book. A good story, interesting world building and a fast read. Very nice.

2. De Herinnerde Soldaat by Anjet Daanje ( dutch, 2019, 538 pp) *****



This wonderful story kept me reading almost breathlessly.
It’s about a soldier who has lost his memory of who he is at the battlefield. The first world war is over, and he is still living at an institution for war wounded soldiers, but then his wife comes to pick him up. He doesn’t remember her at all, but he agrees to go home with her willingly. At first this feels very strange, but then he falls in love with her, and she with him. Living with her changes things and after some time he starts having to deal with flashbacks.

I thought it was told very well, from the viewpoint of the soldier. Anjet Daanje takes her time in telling the story, but that means you start feeling for the two protagonists, understanding what this all means to them.

There is this constant feeling of something threatening, she writes in long sentences, giving the story this kind of breathless suspension. It did mean I had to put it aside from time to time.

And now that I’ve finished it leaves me with things to think about, relationships, love, memory, identity. I loved it.

>30 EllaTim: It was an intense read to me too last year, Ella, I gave it a star less. To me this book has a perfect cover, completely matching the story

>31 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. I hesitated about it. I think there are things that one can say about it, but I was so taken with it, I let that count for more. Yes, the cover is good.

Reading now: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Audiobook.

3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (UK, 2020) ***1/2



In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves The Thursday Murder Club"

A really light read, a mystery, but more a humorous story. A number of subplots, some serious, but all written with a light touch.

Read in dutch, as audiobook. Reader Dieuwertje Blok, nice voice.

Anyone feel like browsing through pictures of the most beautiful libraries in the world?

https://twitter.com/joaquimcampa/status/1294522730021367808?s=12

A fascinating view. Interesting, beautiful, bewildering sometimes.

I had a stressful afternoon. My mom was admitted into the hospital yesterday evening after a fall. They took her to the ER, for a head scan. That turned out OK, but then she had very low body temperature, low blood pressure and low blood salinity. All three are not good, and might indicate some kind of contagion. Turns out elderly people can sometimes not develop a fever, but low body temperature. She was admitted to a closed ward. This afternoon I visited her, but they were just taking her for a CT-scan of the lungs, and afterwards she was so exhausted she fell asleep. We have to wait to see how she will do, the scan was not clear.
Not much reading done, we listened to music after we got home.

Oh, Ella, that is scary. A fall is never good with the elderly but nowadays, with omicron, just going to the hospital is scary, for whatever reason..

Wishing her (and you) a restful night and a better outcome tomorrow.

>37 jessibud2: Oh, Ella, I'm so sorry. That must be so scary for you - I hope your mother recovers soon.

>36 EllaTim: Sorry to read about your mother in hospital, Ella, I hope she feels better soon.
(((hugs)))

>37 jessibud2: >38 PawsforThought: >39 FAMeulstee: Thanks everyone. Going to the hospital to talk with her doctor. My mum isn’t doing very well right now. Scary, yes.

I hope she's better soon! We went through this with my mother-in-law late 2020 and early 2021. It's scary and stressful, especially with all the burden covid is putting on hospitals.

>41 drneutron: Hi Jim! Yes, indeed, I remember. My mum was doing a bit better today. She was awake and alert, but very confused. It was difficult to see her like that, even knowing that she was doing a bit better, as she has never been like this before.
As to Covid: the hospital is filled up with elderly patients at the moment. My mum is 95 and belongs in the geriatric ward, but there was no bed left for her there, so she is in nephrology. They are taking really good care of her there, really sweet people, but as elderly patient she needs a lot of care. Well praying that she will do a bit better tomorrow again.

Hi Ella my dear, so sorry to hear about your mum and hope that everything goes well with her recovery. Sending special Yorkshire healing love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>43 johnsimpson: Thank you John! So nice to hear you say that. Warm hugs right back at you.

Hi Ella! I was sorry to read about your mother’s pneumonia and subsequent confusion and eating problems on the second Here’s To Our Health 2022 thread.

>34 EllaTim: This first one is good, but the second one, IMO, is better.

>42 EllaTim: I’m glad your mum is getting good care, even if it’s in nephrology! She and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

>45 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Thank you! My mum has now been moved to the geriatric ward, so a bit closer to the doctor who is treating her. She is getting a bit better. A bit clearer, though still a bit confused. She’s 95, and we now realize how vulnerable she is.

The second one is better? That’s good to know.

>36 EllaTim: Oh No! I hope she feels better soon.

>46 EllaTim: Good to hear your mum has been moved to the right ward and closer to the doctor treating her. And very good to hear she's getting a bit better.

>47 figsfromthistle: >48 PawsforThought: Hi Anita, hi Paws, thanks both!

Good news today, I found my mum in a wheelchair in the day room. She was having lunch with other patients, eating on her own. She recognised me, and was overall really a lot better! Such a relief. She is not going home yet, but this improvement is really great.

Such good news about your mum being in the geriatric ward, close to her doctor, AND in the day room eating and socializing with other patients. And she recognized you! All wonderful to hear.

>50 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Yes, she is doing a lot better.
After the visit I took a walk in the small town where her hospital is, there was a bit of sun, and walking clears the mind. 5800 steps, for me that’s good.

>49 EllaTim: Glad to read your mother was doing better today, Ella, that is a relief!

Good news, Ella. I'm sure it puts your mind to rest

>46 EllaTim: Glad to hear that your mum is doing relatively ok, Ella. 95 is an impressive age and she obviously needs plenty of care.

>51 EllaTim: Well done with the steps - a nice walk can help clear the mind. x

Oh, Ella, how glad I am to read that you’re mums up and in the day room. Must be such a relief to you.

Hi, Ella. Good news about your Mom. You were asking about a favorite Solnit- A Field Guide to Getting Lost is excellent. Joe is a huge fan of it too.

Visiting today. On tuesday she'll be going to a nursing home. It's meant to be temporary.

Hi everybody. Thanks for your support. It really helps.

>57 EllaTim: Good luck with your mothers transfer on Tuesday, Ella, it won't be easy on you and her.

Wishing you a great weekend, Ella.

>59 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! I hope she settles in there.

>60 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul.

Finished two books from the Innkeeper series by Ilona Andrews

4. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA) ***1/2



On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is...different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself.
The genre is urban fantasy, light and easy reading. A bit of fun, and I loved the Shih Tzu.

5. Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, 2015) ***1/2



In this part Dinah’s inn is hosting a peace conference, an arbitration between three very hostile partners. And she has to find a cook…

Inspired by Paul I started the Belgariad series by David. Eddings. It’s a nice read so far, nothing too demanding, as I am feeling tired.

Working on physical condition. I have chronic backpain, meaning I can’t walk or ride a bike for long distances.
I am aiming for a steady daily walk right now. It’s just 2800 steps, but I am hoping to be able to build up from there. And I did a first day of Yoga with Adriene. Too difficult for me, but it stills seems like the right thing to do.

Well done, Ella! Start with what you can do and then (if possible) expand a little bit by bit. Even if that is ten more steps than the day before.

Good to hear you’re trying Yoga with Adriene. She has plenty of beginners and easy routines if you want to try that. And as she always says: listen to your body and adjust accordingly.

Hi Ella!

>51 EllaTim: 5800 steps would probably cripple me… I admire people who are getting so much good physical exercise. I don’t count my steps on the treadmill, but 3x a week, 30 minutes each time, is definitely helping.

>64 EllaTim: I’m so sorry about the chronic back pain, and can definitely relate. My back’s been bad since 1974, when I was in a bad car accident. Pain off and on ever since, although now with knee and hip pain it’s taking a back seat.

I hope the walking and yoga help.

>65 PawsforThought: Hi Paws! Trying to do too much is a temptation, and has been my downfall before. I tried yoga with Adriene because you mentioned it, thanks for that. I think it will be very good for me, but I really have to start with her beginners classes. I was a bit shocked at how out of it I have become. Still feels good to start again, and it helps, sharing it here.

>66 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Well, I felt those steps too, but it wasn’t all in one go. I did a bit of walking in the hospital, getting a cup of coffee etc. And then I walked in town, taking a rest halfway on a bench. Those 30 minutes would be a lot for me too. Good for you for sticking to them.

A car accident, I understand. I am sorry about the knee and hip problems. I hope you can get on top of them.

I already started reading a book for the Asia challenge, february, Isreal.
Mijn Wilde Tuin or My Wild Garden by Meir Shalev. It’s just my cup of tea, and I am really enjoying it. I have never been to Israel, but I have been to the Mediterranean, so I can visualize the landscape that he is writing about. I look up the plants he mentions. It’s fun (to me). Even enjoying the names of the plants, the Jacaranda tree. He mentions a Paternoster tree, and “Mannentrouw” but of course these are dutch names.

Sorry to hear about your mom, but glad she is doing better. Now you just have to fix your back! Slow and steady -- the steps and yoga sound great. I thoroughly enjoy Ilona Andrews fun reads. I'll have to check and see if I am all caught up on her series...

ETA: Dang. I've read them all.

>69 Berly: Hi Kim! Slow and steady will win the race for sure.

I am sorry you have read them all! Is she still writing?

I had a bad week when it comes to walking, as my back is still really painful. Visited my mum yesterday in the nursing home. She is really disoriented, and kept asking where she is, and why she can’t go home. Protesting.

And in the early morning the smoke alarm here woke me up. No nothing serious, it starts beeping when the battery is low. For some reason this always happens in the middle of the night. You then have to climb a ladder, unscrew the blasted thing, somehow. Take out the battery. This is connected to the electric net, so you first have to turn off the electricity. Leaving you in the dark, cause this always happens in the middle of the night. Who has managed to invent a product like this should be punished by having it mounted in their home! I managed to end the bleeping temporarily, but have to change the battery fast. Yuck. Marc is pretty ill, and can’t help.

(I finished a book in the Cleansweep series, will add that later). Needed to vent first.

Update: I managed to unscrew the device from the ceiling. A real challenge, you have to press a pin, holding it in place, while at the same time turning the cover. But of course the screwdriver you need to keep the pin down, is firmly in the way when you try to turn it. Managed it anyway. I’ll be looking for a different model.

>71 EllaTim: Oh, Ella, I know! Those devices are meant to be for our own good and protection but they sure do fall into the Murphy's Law category of when is the most inconvenient time to need a battery change! Could you mount it on the wall, up near the ceiling, so that at least the angle you have to reach is not as awkward?

I am sorry to hear about your mother and Marc! No wonder your back is complaining - it is holding all your stress! Hot bath, gentle stretches...

Edited to add that I have a model that has the battery release as a little door that pops open to slide the battery in and out. No unscrewing required.

>71 EllaTim: I've never had a fire alarm that was connected to the electricity net, I wonder what the reason for doing that is?
Our fire alarm does a different beep tone when the battery is low - just a single beep about a minute or so apart until you change it. Annoying, but easy enough on the hearing that you can sleep through it most of the time.
The biggest issue I have with fire alarm is that they require a different type of battery than almost everything else - and of course that's not one I normally keep at home so have to go to the shop whenever it happens.
The official recommendation here is that you change the batteries in your fire alarm once a year, on the same day - the recommendation being the first of advent since that's the start of the candle-lighting period. The old battery can be used in another product until it dies completely.

>72 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, hi Paws! Glad you both understand the frustration. Yes, Paws, I read the recommendation, but that means I have to change the battery every year. When I was finding that so difficult to do! A friend of mine told me she has one that doesn’t need a replacement battery at all, seems ideal.

>74 EllaTim: Oh, really? I didn’t know that existed. Must be connected to an electrical outlet, then?

>74 EllaTim: I really don’t know Paws. I guess that you just throw the whole thing out when the battery is depleted. Seems kind of wasteful, doesn’t it? I think Shelley has the better idea, easy replacing. The weird thing with the one I have now is that it has to be connected to the electric net, and it has a battery, that still has to be changed, but it doesn’t work anymore when the electricity is down. Seems like the worst of both worlds.

January sum-up:
Finished:
January

1. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (USA, fantasy, 2020) ****

2. De Herinnerde Soldaat by Anjet Daanje ( dutch, 2019, 538 pp) *****

3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (UK, 2020) ***1/2

4. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA) ***1/2
5. Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, 2015) ***1/2
6. One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)
7. Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)
8. Sweep with Me by Ilona Andrews (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)

9. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)

10. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings (fantasy, USA, ***1/2)

I didn’t review the last books because of fatigue, but I had fun reading them.

Reading:
Jip en Janneke by Annie M.G. Schmidt
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (73% read)
Mijn Wilde Tuin by Meir Shalev (38% read)
Kastanjehove by Tommie Niessen
De Cock en het Roodzijden Nachthemd by A.C. Baantjer (audiobook)
Droomkoninkje by Herman Heijermans

>71 EllaTim: Sorry to read your mother is disoriented at the new place, Ella, and wants to go home. I have seen the same with my mother and Frank's aunt, it is so heartbreaking.

>78 FAMeulstee: Yes, it really is difficult to see. She was quite upset, and couldn’t let the issue go. I tried to divert her a bit, but she kept coming back to it. But today when my brother visited her, she did a bit better, playing a game of cards on the iPad. We are hoping she will improve, it can be a result of the pneumonia she had.

I’m sorry to hear your mother’s disoriented and upset, Ella. It could perhaps also be the stress of being ill and then moving that’s making her disoriented- it’s not unusual. Hopefully it’ll get better as she settles a bit. And recovers.

>80 PawsforThought: Hi Paws. Yes, it seems illness can bring it on, and the stress of moving is not helpful. Going home would be so much better, but it isn’t possible right now. She needs help in getting moving again, and walking without too much danger of falling.

Reading Droomkoninkje and enjoying it. It’s an old book, in a cheap publishing series, salamander. The pages have turned brown, and the font is awfully small. Still it was a good series, good quality reading for people who couldn’t pay a lot of money. I read my first Christies in a similar English series, Everyman’s Library?

The book was published in 1924, the year that Heijermans died. He was a socialist, and the book fits in with the time. In the subject, of a family with money problems. But also in style, with a very free and creative use of language. Not translated, unfortunately.

11. De Cock en het roodzijden nachthemd by A.C. Baantjer (Dutch, audio, 1995, 135pp) ***



Nr. 44 in this long series. Fun because of the setting in Amsterdam. The plot was very improbable this time, so I hesitated to give it even three stars. I wanted an audiobook to listen to, but this was disappointing.

>82 EllaTim: The further you get in the series, the worse they get, Ella. I am currently at #58, but am determined to read them all, as mindless divertion. That is the ones written by Baantjer, I won't go on with the continuation of the series by Peter Römer.

>83 FAMeulstee: Oh my, really? You want to read them all? Well, I really was in need of something easy and mindless. And something to listen to. So I might do another one. Kudos to you.

Feeling a bit too scattered for serious reading. Twitter is just the thing for moments like that. Short. Sometimes nasty but lots of fun things as well.

Like this seriously beautiful short clip for bird lovers:
https://twitter.com/worldbirds32/status/1487831726806249474?s=21

Check it out, it’s a treat.

>85 EllaTim: I'm not much of a bird lover, Ella, but that is cute!

Hope your stress levels settle down after a relaxing weekend.

>86 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. No, unfortunately, as my mother isn’t doing any better. It’s not an easy time right now.

>87 EllaTim: So sad your mother doesn't do any better, Ella. Must be hard for both of you.
(((hugs)))

Oh, Ella, I’m sorry your mother’s not doing better. It’s so hard when the people we love are suffering and there little or nothing we can do.

Hi Anita and Paws. We are trying to do what we can do, but she is very confused. Not recognizing where she is. She has to be fed again, by us. Thanks for the hugs Anita.

Following the wordle craze here, I started the dutch one. My first one was a failure, yuck. But now I got the word in two guesses, so I’m sharing my score here.

Woordle 234 2/6

⬛⬛⬛🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I won’t manage this again soon, I think!

>91 EllaTim: That is a great score, Ella!

ETA: I needed 5 tries today.

>92 FAMeulstee: Just a good guess, Anita. I used ‘adieu’ ad my first word. Giving me the E. So next word right in one go is just very lucky.

I had an exhausting day today, visited my mum, but she slept all afternoon, and we couldn’t wake her. Her sister, my now youngest aunt (89) had arrived for a visit, but she didn’t get to talk to her, because she slept. So unfortunate.

And after dinner I had to take the train home, just missed it, waited at the train station for 20 minute for the next one, which just ran past without stopping. Then we got a message, sorry, wait for next train. Another half hour, and this small station doesn’t even have a waiting room, and hardly any protection against cold and wind.

Now I’m home and eating chocolate.

12. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (USA, 2012, fantasy, YA) ****



Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.

This YA novel was a nice read. An interesting sort of Russian country, with magic of course. The friendship between Alina and Mal is convincing. Leigh Bardugo has read Russian fairy tales for her background, this is clear in the part about the white stag, very nicely done.
I will definitely go on and read book 2.

My mother is doing a bit better. No more confusion. I saw her yesterday, and she even remembered that she wanted to call her sister. Now she needs to start eating more.

Wordle today:
Wordle 237 4/6

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>95 EllaTim: Oh, Ella, that's great news about your mum! What a relief. Elderly and eating - always an issue.

13. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (fantasy, YA, USA, 1984) ***



"Aerin is the only child of the king of Damar, and should be his rightful heir. But she is also the daughter of a witch woman of the North, who died when she was born, and the Damarians cannot trust her. But Aerin's destiny is greater than her father's people know, for it leads her to battle with Maur, the Black Dragon, and into the wilder Damarian."

This was a Newbury Medal book. Published in 1984. It’s a variation on the Ugly Duckling story, a princess who is scorned by the people around her, not beautiful enough, gangly, not gifted etc. But by hard work and courage she gets ahead, and turns out to be more than she seemed to be. A good female protagonist. A good story.

>95 EllaTim: Glad to read your mother is perking up, Ella.
I got the (Dutch) Woordle also in 4 today.

>96 PawsforThought: Hi Paws. We are very glad, but she lost 5 kg’s so that’s a lot. Yes, eating, drinking, and eating enough is a real issue for elderly people.

>98 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Woordle is a nice addiction, isn’t it?

>91 EllaTim: Oh Wow! Two tries only! Here I was proud of my three guesses.

>100 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! Actually it’s a pity, how can I beat myself now?

I am trying to finish My Name is Red. Not finding it easy. I feel like I don’t connect to it much. Especially the miniaturists seem boring. Lots of detail, that feels unnecessary. Finding the chapters that feature the women (Esther, Shekune) and the children a lot livelier. But they are in the minority.
And then that horrible ado about miniaturists having to go blind, and the old master blinding himself. What is that all about? I really don’t understand.
Has there ever been a group discussion about this book? Maybe I am missing things because of the different cultural background? Or maybe Orhan Pamuk is just not for me?

>102 EllaTim: I read it some years ago, Ella, but as I recall the miniaturists could go blind from the ingredients of the colors used?
And there is the problem of the Sultan's book illustrated in Western way, blasphemy in Islamic eyes. So it is against faith seeing the illustrations.

>103 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Did you find it as confusing as I do now? Yes, faith (Islam) is probably important. The miniaturists are not supposed to follow Western influences, I get that.
But it was a disturbing scene where the old man blinded himself. Also all the violence and beatings that the young students had to endure from him. All the while talking about how much they loved him.

>104 EllaTim: I loved My name is Red, Ella.
I think it is in the Old Testament, and probably also in the Koran, that if a part of your body is leading you to sin, you should get rid of it.
Violence was part of life, just like it was here. Beating was part of school, upbringing etc. and probably still is at many places.

Happy Sunday, Ella. I am back and slowly trying to catch up with the threads. Always a monumental task, after being away. I hope all is well.

>105 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Oh yes. What was the text exactly?
I found it in the New Testament:

Matthëus 5:29-30

“ Indien dan uw rechteroog u ergert, trekt het uit, en werpt het van u; want het is u nut, dat een uwer leden verga, en niet uw gehele lichaam in de hel geworpen worde. En indien uw rechterhand u ergert, houwt ze af, en werpt ze van u; want het is u nut, dat een uwer leden verga, en niet uw gehele lichaam in de hel geworpen worde."
Or in English:
“ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

I never read the Koran, but it’s very possible it has a similar text.

Yes, different times, hard to imagine sometimes. Well, i understand a bit more now!

>106 msf59: Hi Marc, I saw you were back, with lots of photos and lifers, great! We slowly are seeing a bit more sun, while you have been basking in it. But never mind, I’m not jealous at all..

Wordle
Wordle 239 5/6

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>107 EllaTim: Ah, you found it, Ella.

I only realised after reading De tolk van Java that a violent upbring had a goal. To be better prepared for life, the thougher you are, the better chance on surviving in times of war and uproar.

>110 FAMeulstee: Yes, there is logic in that. When this is what people do you have to be prepared for it. Still, reading My Name is Red I couldn’t help thinking of Stockholm syndrome. This is an authoritarian society.

Wordle today:
Wordle 240 6/6

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Just in time.

And the next
Wordle 241 6/6

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14. Mijn Wilde Tuin by Meir Shalev (Israel, non-fiction) ****



Meir Shalev writes about his wild garden. Short chapters, describing the garden, telling small stories, about flowers and trees, his own habits, the people who visit him, his background, language, and more.
Interesting, funny, endearing. A pleasant read, his love for his garden is very obvious, and then there are the stories of what he will do for it. I’m a gardener as well, so I recognized a lot. But his habit of talking to things, and having them talk back was a new one, there the writer was at work I think.
I’ve never been to Israel but this was a pleasant way to get a feel for what the country (the natural world of it) is like.

Woordle 242 5/6

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A tough one.

15. My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) ****



Historical novel, set in Istanbul. A man is murdered, and found at the bottom of a well. He was one of a group of miniaturists, working on a book for the Sultan, based on the western style of painting.
Pamuk tells the story from the viewpoint of different characters in the novel, sometimes even abstract ones like the colour red. Important protagonists are the miniaturists, but also Shekune, daughter of one of them, and Black, who wants to marry her.

I must confess that I sometimes had to struggle to finish this book. The parts where the different miniaturists featured felt dull and too wordy. I liked the women’s roles a lot better. The violence and cruelty of the times seemed shocking. But I think I miss part of the necessary cultural background, and so parts felt meaningless to me.

What I understand is that there is a struggle going on in the book between East and West, or modernists and traditionalists (religious fanatics have a place as well). Old and new values? In a basically authoritarian society.
I guess these are things that Turkey still is dealing with.

It is a special and colourful book, but not one that I would be tempted to reread.

Woordle 243 3/6.

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Wordle 243 6/6

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>114 EllaTim: Good you persisted, Ella, and finished My name is Red.

>115 EllaTim: Wow, you had it in 3!
I needed 5 today.

>114 EllaTim: What Anita said, Ella.

I found it ultimately rewarding but over long and I could have done without some of the miniaturist stuff to be quite honest.

Pleased and relieved to see that there has been some improvement in your mum's condition.

>116 FAMeulstee: I was glad that I finished it, and that I read it! Our discussion about it was interesting as well.

I got it right in three tries now, but the day before I didn’t get it at all. It can be really tough.

>117 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Yes, I felt the same, ultimately rewarding. He did have me thinking about it, and I find that usually a good thing.

Yes, we’re all very glad!

Reading now: Perdido Street Station by China Miéville

>112 EllaTim: Ooh that looks very interesting. BB for me!

>120 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! It’s a nice one. Hope you like it.

>119 EllaTim: Oh, I've been meaning to read that one. I've liked others by China Miéville so I look forward to your thoughts on Perdido Street Station.

Hi Paws. I really like it right now. What books have you read by him (or her?)

Woordle 244 5/6

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There were several options for the first letter.

For this afternoon stormy weather predicted. I should try and get some steps done before the worst weather starts.
Went to the library but it was closed because of the weather. So I picked a book from the Little Free Library around the corner:
De 100 jarige man die uit het raam klom en verdween

>123 EllaTim: Mine looks allike, tried the 4th to define the first letter.

Woordle 244 5/6

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>123 EllaTim: I've read The City & the City and Iron Council by him. It took me a while to get into them, because he really creates his own type of universe, but it was definitely worth it. I really liked both, but I think The City & the City was my favourite.

>123 EllaTim: Yes, exactly!

>124 FAMeulstee: same for me, it took some time to get into it. And it all felt very baroque, like reading a cross between Blade Runner and Star Wars. But he’s got me hooked now. I will put those others on the reading list.

We’ve upset LT, all posting at the same time.

>123 EllaTim: Funny, as I did the same. Went to walk early, and took a book from a Little Free Library: Obsessie by A.S. Byatt. On this round I pass two LFL's, and the book is on one of my lists.
Yesterday I went to the library to pick up Wheel of Time 12.

>127 FAMeulstee: Great idea, eh? I love those Little Free Libraries. When I take a different round, there’s another one.
I’ll be interested in what you think about Obsessie.

Wordle 244 5/6

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Storm has subsided a lot. I’ve got to zoom meetings today, one of them is heavy duty. A walk during the day is really necessary.
I’m still reading from Perdido Street Station. It’s very good, but so many details, in descriptions of the world, that I can only take in a bit at a time. Chapter by chapter for now.

Woordle 250 6/6

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Last of all the options available was the right one!

>131 EllaTim: You are doing the Dutch version of the game, Ella? I have tried the Malay version of the game and can do it relatively easily I don't adore the language as I do English so I really can't get excited enough about it.

>131 EllaTim: I had more luck today

Woordle 250 3/6

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>132 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. I try both, the Dutch and the English version. I’ve lost the Dutch one more often than the English one! Weird, because my vocabulary in Dutch is significantly larger. Malay sounds like a challenge to me. Would be fun to know how many versions of this game, we, here, are playing together.

>133 FAMeulstee: Well done, Anita. Not a single yellow square.

I’ve been watching/listening to the news today, shocked.

>134 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, part is always luck.

Thomas is playing the German wordle, you and I do the Dutch, and Paul tried the Malayan. Maybe zuzaer does the Polish, that is all I can think of now.

Not shocked, I was afraid it might happen, but I am very sad about the war in Ukrain.

>135 FAMeulstee: And lots of people doing the English one of course. Less diversity than I thought.

I was afraid something like this would happen as well, but the scale is shocking, and Russia attacking people’s homes, hospitals, civilians. Utterly wrong.

Woordle 251 3/6

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Having trouble sleeping.

Wordle 252 4/6

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Did a lot of scrolling today. Following twitter. No focus for reading.

16. Sarah, plain and tall by Patricia MacLachlan (USA, children’s fiction) ***1/2



“ When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay.”

Definitely a feel-good story. Sara knows her own mind very well, she’s plain, independent-minded, and special. Caleb loves her at once, and you start rooting for him, that all will work out for the best.

One of the list of 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read before you grow up. Nice to read some of them.

>138 EllaTim: I have the opposite reaction, dive deeper into the books and limit my news intake.

And I can finally share Wordle!

Wordle 252 5/6

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>140 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Then we’ve got opposite reactions to stress. Yours will help you read more! I find I just can’t concentrate.

Wordle: well done!

Today:
Wordle 254 4/6

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I got splendid! But I’m stuck in the dutch one.

Woordle 255 4/6

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A very simple word in the end.

My mum got to go home from the nursing home yesterday. She did very well in physical therapy, even managing to throw and catch a ball, standing up. Go, mum! At 96 years old, I’m proud of her.

She’ll get daily home help, a new one for her. And we need to keep her moving.

>96 PawsforThought: That’s great news, Ella! You’re right to be proud of her, that’s really great to do at her age, especially after being unwell.

>144 PawsforThought: Hi Paws! Yes, we’re very glad she has been doing so well. And she needs more of our attention. Last two years we’ve been so careful, not visiting too much for fear of infecting her. And then she gets so ill. Better to visit anyway.

>143 EllaTim: So happy to read your mother is back home, Ella! Indeed reason to be proud of her.

>143 EllaTim: 96 is a great age, Ella - no wonder you are proud of her.

>146 FAMeulstee: >147 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, hi Anita. She’s amazed herself, about her age. But she’s picked herself up very well!

I did two wordles. Not getting ahead with the English one, but here’s the Dutch result:
Woordle 257 3/6

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A very nice day today, sunny, we went out to look at the first flowers. Daffodils, crocusses. Singing birds. Bumblebees. Early spring.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Ella.

>149 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! Wishing you the same.

Woordle 260 5/6

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Wordle 260 3/6

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>151 EllaTim: Funny, mine were exactly the other way around:

Woordle 260 3/6

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Wordle 260 5/6

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>143 EllaTim: What wonderful news!

Hi Ella!

>93 EllaTim: I’d be home eating chocolate after such a distressing and exhausting day, too.

>114 EllaTim: I tried to read this book for the January Asian Authors challenge, but just couldn’t get into it. Good for you for being persistent.

>130 EllaTim: I have this one on my shelves, but haven’t been tempted to read it yet.

>143 EllaTim: Such good news about your mum. What a relief for you.

>152 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! A pity we can’t see how we reached our solutions. You did well.

>153 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. Yes, it was.

>154 karenmarie: Hi Karen. Nice to see you here! I appreciate that.

17. Crispin: The cross of lead by Avi (USA, children’s, historical novel) ***



Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.

I’m a bit overwhelmed by everything happening in real life, and wanted to read something not too demanding. This is a good story. Talking about the plight of serfs. Crispin is taken in by Bear, who is a wonderful character. Nicest thing about the book is their relationship, and how Bear gains Crispin’s trust. Still, the book felt a bit thin somehow.

Wordle 264 4/6

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18. Knot of Shadows by Lois McMaster Bujold (fantasy, USA, novella) ****1/2



Novella in the series of Penric and Desdemona.
Penric has to solve a murder, a very unusual one.

It’s nr 11 in this wonderful series, and I finished it in nearly one go. Lois McMaster Bujold is a real master, she draws you in the story, and keeps you involved. She nearly made me cry, as well. Very satisfactory.

>158 EllaTim: I have never heard of this series before. I will check th library and see if they have the first in the series.

>159 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. They really are a lot of fun, if you are into fantasy! And all novellas which is very nice, after all those large fantasy tomes.

Reading now: Immune by Philipp Dettmer
Up till now this book is a pleasant surprise. The immune system is notoriously complicated. But this book tries very hard to make the body and it’s mechanisms clear and easy to understand. It’s fascinating. How the cell works, and the proteins in it. He gives an analogy of the cell as a world where you can throw the ingredients of a sandwich up in the air, and it will fall down neatly stacked the way it should be. A lasting image for me;-)

Happy Friday, Ella! Our red-winged blackbirds are beginning to arrive in large numbers. All males, per usual. Have you been seeing any spring arrivals?

Wordle 266 5/6

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This was a fun one.

>161 msf59: Hi Marc. That’s a beautiful blackbird!
Ours stay the winter over. But spring is arriving here, and I saw a number of migrant birds are arriving.

We saw a couple of Northern Pintail ducks. Not a lifer for me, but pretty unusual, so nice to see.
And some really familiar birds, but I am always glad to see them: lapwings, black-tailed godwits.

I was having trouble posting a picture, but I found a YouTube video where you can see the kind of birds I saw today. In the same kind of landscape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asE2uMBJ-Fw

Wordle 267 6/6

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Wordle 268 5/6

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Wordle 272 5/6

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I found it. Through trial and elimination. But what does it mean?

>166 EllaTim: It has to do with cooking, Ella, in Dutch almost the same word is used, with "-ren" behind the English word.

>167 FAMeulstee: So confusing, Anita! I know the word in Dutch, but not in English.

It's so impressive that you are doing Wordle in English!

I got today's word in three - but I had to use trial and error, too, substituting in one letter at a time.

>169 streamsong: Hi Janet! Trial and error, and then getting it in three, well done!

I needed something nice, and fun to read, so I decided to do a reread of the series about Penric and Desdemona, by Lois McMaster Bujold. Lots of fun, and all novella’s, so fast reading.

1. Penric’s Demon read
2. Penric and the Shaman read
3. Penric’s Mission read
4. Mira’s Last Dance read
5. Penric’s Fox read
6. The Prisoner of Limnos read
7. The Orphans of Raspay read
8. The Physicians of Vilnoc read
9. Masquerade in Lodi read
10. The assassins of Thasalon
11. Knot of Shadows read

Wordle 277 6/6

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Flunked the dutch one. never thought of using an English word! Shock.

Woordle 278 6/6

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Wow, I found it.

Wordle 278 4/6

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Wordle 280 5/6

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I’ll be doing the dutch Woordle later today. The English one was quite a challenge!

Wordle 281 5/6

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And I even knew that word, but it was a real puzzle.

Happy Sunday, Ella. I miss seeing you around. I hope you are doing well. I see you are playing lots of Wordle. I hope you are also making time for those books.

>175 EllaTim: Yes, that was a difficult word, Ella. I needed all 6 to get it.
I had the Dutch woordle in four today.

>176 msf59: Hi Marc! I am reading, but I have been wanting comfort reads, so I did a reread, and didn’t bother reviewing them. My mother is back in hospital, my energy is low.

And we did some birding today! A wonderful sunny, chilly, spring day. We visited a protected piece of wetland and saw and heard lapwings, and oystercatchers, and black-tailed godwits. Oh, and Ruffs. FOY, those.

>177 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita
I did todays Woordle in 4 as well. Fast, for me, I tend to find the dutch ones often more difficult than the English one.

Woordle 281 4/6

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Again, no reading, just a Woordle today:

Woordle 283 5/6

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Maybe tomorrow.
But I also have a meeting to attend.
Some work to do, excel sheets etc.
Have to do back exercises
Have to make a phone call.
Some shopping and cooking to do.
Pff.

>179 EllaTim: Sounds like you have a lot to do, and lacking the energy.
I hope you feel better soon, Ella.

>179 EllaTim: Sounds like your life is a lot like mine right now, Ella. Much to do so little energy left to read. I hope it gets better.

Hi Ella! I hope things get a bit better soon for you.

>178 EllaTim: Oh no, I’m sorry your mother is back in the hospital.

>179 EllaTim: Low energy and errands. Pff indeed.

>180 FAMeulstee: >181 PawsforThought: >182 karenmarie: Hi Anita, Paws and Karen!
Thanks for visiting. Low energy indeed. Tomorrow my mother is getting a gastro-intestinal procedure (don’t know what it’s called). I am a bit scared for her. More than a bit actually. Have to be there for her, waiting for her afterwards.

I did finish a book:
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

A girl takes on a job in a bookshop, at the start of WWII. She wasn’t a reader, but she starts rearranging the shop. Making friends with the owner. She also starts reading and loving reading. All while dealing with the war, and London being bombed.
It was a nice story, a way of reading a bit about what it’s like to live in a country at war, but because of the time laps it feels less hard to handle. Thinking of Ukraine while reading it.

Wordle said impressive.
Wordle 286 3/6

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Reading now:
Lolly Willowes

Sorry to hear about your mother. Hopefully she has a speedy recovery!

>183 EllaTim: I read the last bookshop in London a while back. I enjoyed all the book descriptions and how she was able to bring new life to the shop. I could picture myself browsing the stacks of books in there.

>183 EllaTim: I hope all is well with your mother, Ella, after the procedure yesterday.

Oh, Ella, I'm sorry to hear your mother needs surgery. Holding my thumbs it all goes well and she recovers quickly.

((((HUGS)))))
to you and your mother, Ella.

Hi Ella my dear, i hope that your mother's operation went well and we send best wishes for her recovery. Sending love and hugs to you and Marc from both of us dear friend.

>185 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! Glad you enjoyed the book, and the imaginary browsing. I confess to liking the unorganized kind of bookshops..

>186 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. The whole procedure was done very fast. Worst thing was, my mother was nervous for it, I had to explain what was going to happen and why, like every ten minutes, as she kept forgetting, but at the same time, she didn’t relax, so it was there in her awareness all the time. Nothing bad was found, so that was a relief.

>187 PawsforThought: Hi Paws, thanks for the well-wishes!

>187 PawsforThought: Hi Paul. Hugs back, you know what it’s like to be worried for loved ones.

>188 PaulCranswick: Hi John. Both much appreciated John!

My mum could leave the hospital, and go home. We’re still worried, of course, as we fear something will go wrong again. There’s a long waiting list for a place at a nursing home. She will be getting home care, but still, she is fragile, and forgets (important) things.

I’m really tired at the moment. Not reading much, but nearly finished Lolly Willowes. Liked it.

Wordle 294 3/6

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Best of two.

20. Lenin en Stalin by Maarten van Rossem (Dutch, audio) ***1/2



A series of four audio lectures by Maarten van Rossem about the two great Russian leaders, Lenin and Stalin. Two dictators, and their history, the way they gained power, and what their actions meant.

Russian history is not Van Rossem’s own field, and I thought I could hear that, but it was still an interesting series. Especially in times like now.

Good news, mum is home from the hospital! I visited her the other day, and found her peeling potatoes sitting on the couch. She got up to walk to the kitchen unaided. A bit unsteady on her feet though, and her memory is impaired. Got to be so strange for her, she knows she has been in hospital, but for how long? Must be like some long strange dream. Anyway, we are glad and hoping she will stay well.
The weather was too cold and wet to go out, but it has improved the last days, so she will be able to get out of the house and sit in our small greenhouse in the backyard.

Unfortunately I can’t visit again, at the moment, I did a job with someone at the allotment, and yesterday she called and told me she has Covid. Everyone seems to get it right now, I called a friend who is just getting better. And keep hearing about other people. Oh yes, it is really safe to get together right now, and we really don’t need to wear masks anymore, says our government. Well, not true, none of it. I’ll still be wearing a mask in the near future, even though it seems I’m the only one.

>193 EllaTim: I'm so pleased that your mum is home safely, Ella.
The culture here in Malaysia is quite different from in Europe. I don't see masking rules being relaxed any time soon and even without them I think most people would still wear them.

Good news, Ella. But is there a community nurse or someone to check on her each day and make sure she can stay in her home safely? If she is unsteady on her feet, does she have a walker to offer her stability and security? Can you hire someone to help out?

Yes, our government is the same. We have an election coming up in June so our premier has lifted all restrictions including masks. I guess he thinks that will buy him some votes. Despite most doctors saying publicly that it is too soon for this. But case numbers continue to rise, rapidly. And many people are still wearing masks, though many are also not. I will not be abandoning my masks any time soon, that's for sure.

>193 EllaTim: Excellent news, Ella! So good to hear your mum is doing well enough to be home, even if her memory is affected.

Yeah, everyone seems to be getting Covid now, a work colleague just called to say they're infected.

Hi Ella my dear, such good news that your mum is out of hospital and now at home, not good that she has Covid though. Sending love and hugs to you and Marc from both of us dear friend.

>194 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! We’re happy as well.
Yes, Asia has been much more careful. Continuing to wear masks seems very wise right now. We wonder sometimes at what seems rigid and too strict from Western perspectives. But right now I’m thinking doesn’t it show respect for human life in the end?

>195 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! Yes, she gets a community nurse to help her wash and dress each day. And she lives with my brother, so she isn’t alone. She has a walker. I’m lucky, I don’t have to worry too much about those kind of things.

Your government sounds the same as ours, yuck.

>196 PawsforThought: Hi Paws. covid is everywhere at the moment. Stay safe when you can. After I heard I might have been infected I decided to skip a meeting at the allotment. Turns out the president of the meeting was infected, I’m glad I didn’t go.

>197 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thanks John, but no, fortunately you misunderstood. It’s someone else I was talking about. Hugs back.

Wordle 297 6/6

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Phew! A toughie for me. But maybe not for you. Couldn’t think of a word it could be after line 4, so tried a combination of unused letters in 5.

>198 EllaTim: I'm not sure that evidentially they are particularly effective but many people feel safer which is also no bad thing.

>199 EllaTim: But you did it!! It took me 5. ; ) And I am glad to hear your mum is doing better.

>200 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Feeling safe is nice, but I did read up on them, and find the evidence convincing.

>201 Berly: Hi Kim! Nice to see you here. Five is good!

We went to the allotment yesterday. I was feeling very tired, had a bad night, so I spent the day just resting. Very nice, listened to the birds, lots of them, all singing and calling. It really is april, so they are courting and even fighting. On the way there we saw a couple of Egyptian geese with their eight chicks. They are really ugly birds, with bad habits, but of course the chicks are adorable.
Take a look here: https://roeselien.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/99-if-it-walks-like-a-goose-and-talks...

>202 EllaTim: Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well yesterday - I hope you're better today. There are tons of birds here, too, singing and chirping all day. We had a late snowstorm on Friday which somewhat chocked the seasonal birds that had just arrived from the south so we've put out extra bird feed and been inundated! Loads of finches and sparrows - at least 60 at a time (which is more than ten times the normal amount) and to my great joy no fewer than five blackbirds.

And awww, cute little goslings...

>202 EllaTim: Sorry you had a bad night, Ella, some quiet time at the allotment sounds like a good way to recuperate.
I wouldn't call Egyptian geese ugly, they are colorful around the wings, and somehow always draw my attention. The little ones are indeed irresistable, thanks for the link.

>203 PawsforThought: Hi Paws! Spring has arrived at your place as well, in spite of a snow storm. Birds will be very glad of extra food, in the cold. We see finches as well. And blackbirds are singing.

>204 FAMeulstee: Little birds are always irresistible. Another month and we will see more of them. For now I’ve started following the webcams of the Vogelbescherming.
https://www.vogelbescherming.nl/beleefdelente

Lots of activity there, so a lot of fun to watch.

21. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (UK) ****

22. Magician’s Gambit by David Eddings (fantasy, USA) ***



Part three of the Belgariad series. Mainly a lot of travelling, some fighting. Not the high point of this series I think. They are easy to read, not too heavy, and I like that at the moment.

Wordle 299 6/6

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Now what to order tomorrow?
Uitgewoond by Cody Hochstenbach
Or Wie achter deze deur verdwaalt by Rindert Kromhout
Or Ottolenghi Test Kitchen
The last one will not win me a boekenweekgeschenk. So it’s on my wish list, but I won’t be buying it yet. The first one is a serious one, about the housing crisis. Have only read good reviews, until now. The second is of course because I love Tonke Dragt.

>208 EllaTim: Uitgewoond sounds good and of course I would go for Wie achter deze deur verdwaalt :-)
Maybe both?

Visiting the real bookshop this afternoon. Hiep hoi.

>202 EllaTim: Ooh, I love the Nile geese, (ducks). They are adorable.

Sweet Thursday, Ella. Our spring is slow arriving. Still waiting on a long stretch of nice weather.

>211 msf59: Hi Marc. they are very good family birds, very protective. But very aggressive to other birds.

I hope your weather will improve! We’re really enjoying the sunshine after what feels like months and months of rain.

>209 FAMeulstee: I bought both. And two others. It's like visiting a candy store. Sweet and dangerous.
Het Warmtefort by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
And a book about bird song.
Picked my neighbourhood book store, it has a good collection, and a nice and friendly ambiance.

Woordle 300 4/6

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Lease…dat is Engels, sorry hoor, nogal vreemd

>213 EllaTim: I skipped the bookweekessay, as I didn't like Rijnevelds earlier book.

>214 EllaTim: I thought the same, although it is a much used word these days.

Hi Ella!

>193 EllaTim: I’m glad your mother is up and about, even if a bit unsteady. I can’t imagine the strange dream world she’s living with her memory impaired. Fingers crossed that she stays well.

I’m sorry you were exposed. Can you get tested for Covid easily? We have some home test kits that the government issued earlier this year but fortunately haven’t had to use yet.

I’m still wearing a mask when out. I’m surprised that so many people are wearing masks in my county. My county is split politically, which seems to still be the gold standard for those who’ve gotten vaccinated/boostered and those who haven’t. I’m wearing a mask to all public places, including when I work out on the treadmill.

Stay safe!

>215 FAMeulstee: I haven’t read any of her official books, but I loved the few poems I read of hers. And of course I was curious, and liked the cover ;-)

It’s a pity that it’s a bit of a shoddy booklet. The official gift, free, a hardcover. And this essay a paperback, margins too small, so you have to crack the back to read it. And still costing 5 euros. Why the difference?

>216 karenmarie: It is hard to imagine. I sometimes have these dreams where I start to become conscious in the dream, that something is wrong, things can’t be like that. Usually when I am nearly waking up.

Very good for your county! And wise. Can you work out wearing a mask? Sounds awkward, but it’s really for the best, I think.

Started Het Warmtefort by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld.

First sentence: In het rijk der liefde - de basisschool De Regenboog aan de Hasselmanstraat in Nieuwendijk, die aan ouderdomskwalen leed en valgevaarlijkheid, en tot op het bot gesloopt zou worden - werd op 5 september een vleermuizenplaag geconstateerd.

Rough translation: in the kingdom of love - elementary school De Regenboog… which suffered from old age and fall dangers, and which was to be drawn down to the bones - on the 5th of september a plague of bats was noted.

And the essay is prefaced by this quote:
“ When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world — no matter how imperfect — becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love.”
― Søren Kierkegaard

I must say, I rather enjoyed this start! Fully five species of bats,…

Wordle 300 5/6

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In five. Not bad. I could reuse the solution for todays Woordle. Wasn’t it, though.

Dropping in to wish you a wonderful Easter weekend.

>220 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. Thanks, and same to you!

We spent two beautiful spring days at the allotment. There’s a lot of work to be done. I planted my first batch of potatoes. But there’s also time to enjoy. First fresh leaves on the trees, still looking young and tender, and not as green yet (green often means young, but young tree leaves often are not really green at all, but yellowish, or read).
Today we’re visiting my mum. Tomorrow a family funeral, unfortunately. My mother’s only remaining sibling.

So sorry for your loss.

We spent the weekend gardening and cleaning up our yard too. Planted a tree to replace one hit by lightning a few years ago, plus started the long process of weeding flower beds. It was so nice to get out and play in the dirt!

Hi Jim! Play in the dirt, that’s how I feel it too. Glad you had fun, this weekend. And what’s better than planting a tree.

23. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings (fantasy, USA) ***1/2



The next part in the series of the Belgariad. Here Garion very reluctantly takes up the sword, while Ce’Nedra, who has now become his official fiancé, shows she is worth more than we thought.

It’s a light read, clearly not for adults. Interactions between Garion and Ce’Nedra were fun. The story moves on, and things are heading for some dramatic climax, in the next book of course.

Wordle 307 5/6

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Yeah! After the first two misses I worried.

Wordle 308 6/6

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Unexpectedly difficult.

Well, it’s late and I can’t sleep again.

>227 EllaTim: Sorry you suffer from insomnia, Ella.
Seems to happen rather often. Can you consult your GP about it?

>227 EllaTim: Ella, I have survived for years on an average of four hours a day sleep time, which I am sure is not healthy but I will have probably a day a month where I will sleep double that.

Have a good and restful weekend.

>228 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! Thanks for caring. It’s a result of all the stress lately, and the start of the new pub season. There’s noise and vibrations in my house, due to installations in their kitchen. Trying to get it sorted. But it takes time.

>229 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Four hours isn’t much. But some people can thrive on so little sleep! I hope you are one of them. For me, I need more.

Wordle 309 4/6

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Another tough one, this could also be a dutch word, so I doubted if it was a good English one.

Hi Ella!

>217 EllaTim: Re the mask while using the treadmill: I’ve been wearing a mask for so long now, and wore one at cardio rehab for 13 weeks, 3x a week, that it seems strange to NOT wear one. I don’t have to wear one but after one time, with nobody else in the room, I ‘remembered’ that aerosols could still be floating around if someone had just been in there, so now always use the mask again. I’m using an N95 mask which is actually better than just a medical/surgical mask because the rigid structure keeps the mask from flopping back and forth as I breathe strenuously.

>222 EllaTim: I’m sorry to hear about your mum’s only remaining sibling passing away.

>231 EllaTim: I got it in 4 today, too.

>232 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Yes, I think you are doing the right thing there. Even remembering the aerosols!

Thanks, it’s hard for my mum. No-one of her own generation left. I asked my cousins to please give her a call from time to time, as she misses her siblings terribly.

Yeah, in four, well done.

Woordle 310 5/6

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Another tough one i en j samen zijn natuurlijk ij. Maar dat is eigenlijk één letter! Was het dan wel een vijfletter woord?

>235 EllaTim: First time I encountered it, I was annoyed too. This time I knew it was possible.
Even the Koninklijke Blibliotheek doesn't use the "ij" anymore, but writes it with two letters. And as a result the IJ is sorted under "I" now.

>236 FAMeulstee: Ah! Good to know. My brain still has to update that change though.

>234 EllaTim: I'm in the train right now, for a visit to my mum. Noone is wearing a mask. Just me. I feel silly, but it helped me that Karen was so clear about the need. I have a friend in the USA who supports me. Good thought.

>238 EllaTim: - I am with you, Ella. On one level, I understand why people are eager to ditch their masks, but I just don't agree with it. Especially in higher congregate settings, such as all public transportation, masks still need to be mandatory. This is just one more reason why covid will never disappear. When I go visit my mum, it's a 6-hour train ride. At the beginning, before vaccines, they limited capacity so each person had a double seat to themselves. But once vaccines came in, they increased capacity so you were always sitting next to someone but no one was allowed on the train without proof of full vaccination. Better, for sure, but still, I am not entirely comfortable with that because the omicron variant has managed to break through and infect even people who have been triple vaxxed. I know many such people, my mother being one of them!

Keeping you in my thoughts and hope you have a good visit. I was just having this conversation the other day with my cousin and also with a friend, about how the elderly are so lonely because they have no contemporaries left. I sure hope I am not the last one standing in my family or group of friends.

>239 jessibud2: A six hour train ride! And masks are not mandatory anymore? I agree with you, proof of full vaccination is not enough. Very uncomfortable!

I had a good visit, for me it’s just a half hour by train, and I have to use a bus. Going home I now had a busier time, I had found an empty compartment, but after me another passenger got in, who started coughing and sneezing, and sneezing and coughing. No mask. I got up and went out.

No, it isn’t an attractive prospect. People need other people to thrive. In the hospital the geriatrics division had a special midday program where patients could get together, have lunch together, and chat. Lots of lonely people there, and lonely people get ill easily.

>240 EllaTim: - Masks are still mandatory on trains, at least so far. If they remove that requirement, I am not sure what I will do. I will still wear mine but I don't like the idea of that particular requirement being removed.

>241 jessibud2: I’m glad to hear it, Shelley. Everyone wearing a mask does provide safety. The only alternative is to start driving a car.

Started an audiobook from the library
Jonge vrouw in blauw bij avondlicht by Alena Schröder

It’s a family history, a young woman, and her grandmother, in Germany.
Unfortunately I found the writing style rather boring. I think this is going to be a DNF, at about 20% read.

Wordle 312 4/6

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In four. Great.

Reading now:
Enchanter’s End Game by David Eddings
Samarkand by Amin Maalouf
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Less is More by Jason Hickel
La Gloire de mon Père by Marcel Pagnol

Too many books at the same time?

Just started Bleak House because the Eddings is now full of war stories, that I am not fond of.

Ella, do you read in French as well? Wow, to be that fluent, to read for pleasure, in so many languages! Impressive

Hi Shelley. Reading in French is a project. I took French in school, but found myself very tongue tied during holidays. So I'm trying to get a bit more fluent. Slowly...

Hi Ella!

>238 EllaTim: I’m glad you are ignoring the ignorant and keeping yourself AND them safe.

>245 EllaTim: 5 isn’t too many if it’s what makes you feel happy. I used to only keep one fiction and one nonfiction going, but seem to be able to successfully juggle more in recent years. I officially have 7 books going, but realistically I have 5 going, so, I just changed My Name is Red and An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good back to to-be-read status.

Bleak House is my favorite Dickens. I’ve only read 5 books by Dickens, but still. Bleak House is marvelous.

>248 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Good idea, back to the to-be-read shelf. I’m reading most of my books on my e-reader, and can make a shelf like that there…

Bleak House has started off marvelous. Dickens really has a way with words here. It isn’t easy though, I have to look words up, and reread sentences. But I love it. Glad you do too!

Flunked the English Wordle. Yuck.

But the dutch one in three, hurray for second chances.

Woordle 315 3/6

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adieu, luide, urine

>250 EllaTim: Sorry you didn't get the Wordle today, Ella. Next chance in 6 minutes.
You did better with Woordle, I needed four guesses to get there.

>251 FAMeulstee: Always a next chance, Anita.

Hi Ella my dear, i hope that you and Marc had a good weekend dear friend.

>253 johnsimpson: Hi John! Nice to see you. We’ve been working at the allotment, preparing for planting. Weather will be getting better now, we’re enjoying spring time.

A beautiful day working at the allotment. A lot to do, last year I didn’t have time and energy enough. I hope this year will be better.
Lots of flowers blooming now. My garden is pretty wild, and I love those wild plants. But you have to keep some of them in check!

Reading Less is More by Jason Hickel. Interesting stuff, why does capitalism need to grow all the time? And what does it do to keep growing? I saw examples all around me, today. The bike courier with two carriers, one in front of, one behind his bike. (More, more, more!)

>255 EllaTim: Have a wonderful day in your garden!

Happy Wednesday, Ella. Did you get work done in your garden? Ooh, Bleak House. It might be my favorite Dickens.

>256 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!
>257 msf59: Hi Marc. Yes, lots of preparation got done. Next time we'll be planting potatoes.

I'm really enjoying Bleak House. A Big Book, and it's taking all of my reading time, but it's worth it.

Hi Ella!

I'm glad you're enjoying Bleak House, and yay for lots of good prep for the allotment.

>259 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Yay indeed! With some much needed help, ouch my back.

No reading, and no allotment today, but a visit to m mother and my brother. A nice day again, it’s Liberation Day today, but all was very quiet in the train. Spent some time thinking about a memorial talk of yesterday. A story about Abel Herzberg, a Dutch Jewish lawyer, who was interned in Bergen-Belzen during the war. The prisoners started their own court of law, they try and keep some civilization. Very interesting.

Another batch of rescued books.
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman
The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff

And a number of detective books.

All rescued from the garbage container, in very good condition. Amsterdam used to have a second-hand store for English books. Will have a look, when it is still there, it’s a good moment for a visit. Update:Yes, still there!
I have to make some space in my bookcases for books I want to keep, so I have to let some books go.

>261 EllaTim: Good you were around to rescue them, Ella. Some famous books between them!

>261 EllaTim: Thought so too, Anita! And some on my TBR, like Angela’s Ashes.

Wordle 322 6/6

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Woordle 324 6/6

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This was a tough one! drie dezelfde klinkers, elpee

Wordle 324 4/6

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24. The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman (USA, historical fiction) ***1/2



In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.

This was a Newberry Medal winner. A good read, but after a couple of days I had forgotten all about it.

25. Geschiedenis in het Groot by Maarten van Rossem (audio, dutch) ***

Easy to listen to as always, a joke here and there, history from the Big Bang. Yes, it's interesting. Still, this is not Van Rossem's specialty, and it shows. He's more interesting when he really knows his field. And of course, with a subject like this you are bound to keep feeling there's so much more to be told.
But he's a good lecturer, I will listen to something more of his.

A good news day. Marc gets a scan every 12 weeks now. Today we had the results in, all clear. It’s still a big relief, especially because his doctor had asked him in to the hospital this time.
Anyway, we visited the exhibition he had wanted to see, and had unexpected good luck, as the artist (Sam Drukker) was giving a tour around his work.

https://youtu.be/Dm7VHlJ4Yk8

Marc bought a catalogue, and we had dinner together at a local restaurant.

>268 EllaTim: Glad to read Marc's latest scan was all clear, Ella.
Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate.

>268 EllaTim: Oh, Ella, that’s great news! What a relief for you both!
And the exhibition tour sounds great, the perfect ending to the day.

What a great day for you both, Ella! Congrats! You will both sleep well tonight!

>268 EllaTim: What a relief!

All clear! Great!

Ella, I'm sorry to have been away for so long. Thank you for coming by my thread. I have only scanned this thread but I am thrilled that Marc's scan was clean, especially since you had mentioned that he had been ill earlier this year. I'm also glad your mom is home now and doing somewhat better, but sad her last sibling has died. My mom is 91 and in senior living, where she is able to be fairly independent, but I can see the day coming when she will be like your mom.

>269 FAMeulstee: >270 PawsforThought: >271 jessibud2: >272 figsfromthistle: >273 drneutron: >274 ronincats: Hi Anita, Paws, Shelley, Anita, Jim and Roni. Thanks, yes, such a relief.

>274 ronincats: Thanks for visiting Roni. I read how you are helping your mom, at the moment as well. For me, it feels good to be able to support her, and be there for her. It brings us together as a family as well.

Still reading Bleak House. We’re at the stage where we can see the dark clouds gathering for the protagonists.
Esther is so good that she is annoying, but Richard has a weak part in his character, and is starting on the road to destruction, I’m afraid.