Anita (FAMeulstee) goes on wherever the books take her in 2024 (5)

Welcome to my fifth thread in 2024!

I am Anita Meulstee (61), married with Frank (62) since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art, books and walking.

Last month I added the beautiful Kösen Grizzly bear, that I mentioned in my March thread, to my collection of stuffed companions.
The first picture at the Kösen website made me want it. The second and third are taken here at home.
 

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I have been hanging around in this group a few months after finding LibraryThing in March 2008.
I read (almost) everything, from childrens and YA books to more serious literature, mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, and I try not to forget to throw some non-fiction into the mix.

total books read in 2024: 69
17 own / 52 library

total pages read in 2024: 18,972

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currently reading:
e-book: Ideen : vierde bundel by Mutatuli, 469 pages
e-book: Van Veeteren en de zaak-G. (The G File; Van Veeteren 10) by Håkan Nesser, 533 pages

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books read in May 2024: 15 books, 4,678 pages, 2 own / 13 library)
book 55: Valstrik (The Falls; John Rebus 12) by Ian Rankin, 448 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 78)
book 56: Razende storm (Konráð 5) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 285 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 79)
book 57: Rivieren (Rivers) by Martin Michael Driessen, 139 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 80)
book 58: Paarden stelen (Out Stealing Horses) by Per Petterson, 251 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 101)
book 59: Gelukkig tegen de wereld by Enrico Galiano, 478 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 102)
book 60: Het huis aan het einde by Irwan Droog, 224 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 103)
book 61: De maagd Marino by Yves Petry, 284 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 104)
book 62: Clariël (Clariel) by Garth Nix, 388 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 125)
book 63: De laatste duivel die sterft (The last devil to die) by Richard Osman, 420 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 126)
book 64: Het verdwenen leven van Esme Lennox (The vanishing act of Esme Lennox) by Maggie O'Farrell, 232 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 150)
book 65: De overlevenden (The Survivors) by Jane Harper, 416 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 151)
book 66: Ik ben niet bang (I'm Not Scared) by Niccolò Ammaniti, 206 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 152)
book 67: Allerzielen (All Souls Day) by Cees Nooteboom, 400 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 164)
book 68: Het Bernini mysterie (Angels & Demons) by Dan Brown, 462 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 165)
book 69: Asterix en de koperen ketel (Asterix and the Cauldron; Asterix 13) by Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 166)

May 2024 reading plans

TIOLI May 2024
#1: Read a book whose title, subtitle, or author's full name begins or end in the letter "Y"
- Asterix en de koperen ketel (Asterix and the Cauldron; Asterix 13) by Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages
- De maagd Marino - Yves Petry, 284 pages (Libris 2011, e-library)
#2: Read a book where a 4-legged animal is mentioned in the title
- Paarden stelen (Out Stealing Horses) - Per Petterson, 251 pages (e-library)
#3: Read a book with a girl's name in the title
- Clariël (Clariel) - Garth Nix, 388 pages (library)
#4: MOTHER rolling challenge
- Het huis aan het einde - Irwan Droog, 224 pages (e-library)
#5: Read a book that you acquired in 2024
- Gelukkig tegen de wereld - Enrico Galiano, 478 pages (e-library)
- Valstrik (The Falls; John Rebus 12) - Ian Rankin, 448 pages (e-library)
- Het verdwenen leven van Esme Lennox (The vanishing act of Esme Lennox) - Maggie O'Farrell, 232 pages (e-library)
#6: Read a book that poses a new question or answers a question already posed
- Het Bernini mysterie (Angels & Demons) - Dan Brown, 462 pages (library)
- Rivieren (Rivers) - Martin Michael Driessen, 139 pages (e-library)
#7: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Taurus - pending final check)
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#8: Read a book from the list that shows what other LT members have read so far in 2024
- De laatste duivel die sterft (The last devil to die) - Richard Osman, 420 pages (library)
#9: Read a book whose title suggests something a person would like to achieve
- De overlevenden (The Survivors) - Jane Harper, 416 pages (e-library)
#10: Read a book with first person narration or a title featuring the word "I", "me" or "my"
- Ik ben niet bang (I'm Not Scared) - Niccolò Ammaniti, 206 pages (e-library)
#11: Read a book mentioned in one of the Five Books Lists (fivebooks.com)
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#12: Read a collection of religious or spiritual texts
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#13: Read a paper book
- Allerzielen (All Souls Day) - Cees Nooteboom, 400 pages
- Razende storm - Arnaldur Indriðason, 285 pages (library)

June 2024 reading plans

Dora G. : een weggegooid leven - Greet Jacobs, 189 pages
De jongen die van de wereld hield - Tjibbe Veldkamp, 173 pages
Kleine Bijou (Little Jewel) - Patrick Modiano, 150 pages (e-library 9/6)
De kinderen van Barrøy (Just a Mother) - Roy Jacobsen, 285 pages (library 13/6)
De man die de taal van de slangen sprak (The Man Who Spoke Snakish) - Andrus Kivirähk, 383 pages (library)
Moeder, na vader - Gerbrand Bakker, 336 pages (e-library 11/6)
Het motet voor de kardinaal - Theun de Vries, 268 pages (library 19/6)
Het pad van de Roverkoning - Tom Rijpert, 256 pages (e-library 19/6)
Pelgrim : leven en reizen van Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - Philip Dröge, 355 pages (e-library 15/6)
Soldaten van Salamis (Soldiers of Salamis) - Javier Cercas, 252 pages (e-library 7/6)
Van Veeteren en de zaak-G. (The G File; Van Veeteren 10) - Håkan Nesser, 533 pages (e-library 5/6)
Veen, dras, moeras (Fen, Bog & Swamp) - E. Annie Proulx, 262 pages (e-library 9/6)
Zomer (Summer) - Ali Smith, 366 pages (library 13/6)

books read in January 2024
book 1: De wereldwandelaars by Wim Willems
book 2: In het vervloekte hart by Rima Orie
book 3: De mierenmaatschappij (Empire of Ants) by Susanne Foitzik
book 4: Nicolas en de verdwijning van de wereld by Anne Eekhout
book 5: Zolang de citroenbomen bloeien (As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow) by Zoulfa Katouh
book 6: Biljarten om half tien (Billiards at Half Past Nine) by Heinrich Böll
book 7: Wen er maar aan by Maike Meijer
book 8: Het verhaal van een leven (The Story of a Life) by Aharon Appelfeld
book 9: Iets ter grootte van het universum (About the Size of the Universe) by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
book 10: Echte Amerikaanse jeans by Jan Guillou
book 11: Opwaaiende zomerjurken by Oek de Jong
book 12: De kunst van het veldspel (The Art of Fielding) by Chad Harbach
book 13: Madame le Commissaire en de dode non by Pierre Martin
book 14: Lily by Tom De Cock, 396 pages
book 15: In het duister (Set in Darkness; John Rebus 11) by Ian Rankin
book 16: Zeg maar Agaath by Margôt Ros

books read in February 2024
book 17: North woods (North Woods) by Daniel Mason
book 18: Een dramatische liefde (Correspondence: Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan) by Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan
book 19: Spitsroeden (For kicks) by Dick Francis
book 20: De geschiedenis van de liefde (The History of Love) by Nicole Krauss
book 21: De verloren zoon (Brother Cadfael's Penance) by Ellis Peters
book 22: Een soort Engeland by Robert Anker, 280 pages
book 23: Carambole (Hour of the Wolf) by Håkan Nesser
book 24: Voetsporen (Footsteps) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
book 25: De leesclub by Renate Dorrestein
book 26: Ik ben de sterkste by Christian Frascella

books read in March 2024
book 27: 1968 by Jan Guillou
book 28: Asterix en de Gothen (Asterix and the Goths) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 29: Asterix en de gladiatoren (Asterix the Gladiator) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 30: Asterix en de ronde van Gallia (Asterix and the Banquet) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 31: Wildwest in Siberië by Karl May
book 32: Asterix en Cleopatra (Asterix and Cleopatra) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 33: Asterix en de kampioen (Asterix and the Big Fight) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 34: De dode op het strand (The Weeping Girl) by Håkan Nesser
book 35: Asterix en de Britten (Asterix in Britain) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 36: Dodo by Mohana van den Kroonenberg
book 37: Asterix en de Noormannen (Asterix and the Normans) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 38: De elandparadox (The Moose Paradox) by Antti Tuomainen
book 39: Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis and Bertje Jens
book 40: Mus & kapitein Kwaadbaard en de 5 slangen by Kevin Hassing

books read in April 2024
book 41: De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood (The Strangler's Honeymoon) by Håkan Nesser
book 42: Het glazen huis (House of Glass) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
book 43: Gesprekken met opa by Raoul de Jong
book 44: Revolte is leven : biografie van Theun de Vries by Jos Perry
book 45: De allergrootste by Davide Morosinotto
book 46: Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit by Jan Guillou
book 47: We moeten je iets vertellen by Marlies Slegers
book 48: Asterix en het 1ste legioen (Asterix the Legionary) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 49: Asterix en het ijzeren schild (Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 50: Het zondagsbed by Theun de Vries
book 51: Asterix en de olympische spelen (Asterix at the Olympic Games) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 52: Chaos in Indonesië by Willem Oltmans, 58 pages
book 53: Waar ik liever niet aan denk (What I'd Rather Not Think About) by Jente Posthuma
book 54: Een tamme gazelle (Some tame gazelle) by Barbara Pym

Reading plans in 2024
Reading books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die lists
Read some big tomes (1000+ pages)
Read books by Nobel Prize for Literature winners

I join the TIOLI (Take It Or Leave It) challenges each month.

Trying to read an author from every country in the world

Afghanistan: Khaled Hosseini
Albania: Ismail Kadare
Algeria: Kamel Daoud
Angola: José Eduardo Agualusa
Argentina: Alberto Manguel
Armenia: Nairi Zaryan
Aruba: Denis Henriquez
Australia: John Marsden
Austria: Marlen Haushofer
Azerbaijan: Kurban Said
Belarus: Svetlana Alexievich
Belgium: Els Beerten
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Saša Stanišic
Brazil: Malba Tahan
Bulgaria: Elias Canetti
Cameroon: Ferdinand Oyono
Canada: Naomi Klein
Chile: Isabel Allende
China: Cao Xueqin
Colombia: Gabriel García Márquez
Croatia: Slobodan Šnajder
Curaçao: Frank Martinus Arion
Czechia: Pavel Kohout
Danmark: Tove Ditlevsen
Dominican Republic: Junot Díaz
Egypt: Nagieb Mahfoez
Finland: Väinö Linna
France: Annie Ernaux
Georgia: Nino Haratischwili
Germany: Uwe Johnson
Ghana: Yaa Gyasi
Greece: Yanis Varoufakis
Hungary: Miklós Bánffy
Iceland: Hallgrimur Helgason
India: Vikram Seth
Indonesia: Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Iran: Hushang Moradi Kermani
Iraq: Rodaan Al Galidi
Ireland: Paul Murray
Israel: David Grossman
Italy: Elena Ferrante
Japan: Junpei Gomikawa
Lebanon: Hoda Barakat
Lithuania: Romain Gary
Malaysia: Tan Twan Eng
Mexico: Mariano Azuela
Morocco: Fayza Oum'Hamed
Netherlands: Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
New Zealand: Margaret Mahy
Nigeria: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Norway: Marta Breen
Palestine: Sayed Kashua
Peru: Mario Vargas Llosa
Poland: Olga Tokarczuk
Portugal: António Lobo Antunes
Romania: Herta Müller
Russia: Konstantin Paustovski
Senegal: Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
Slovakia: Sándor Márai
South Africa: Trevor Noah
South Korea: An Na
Spain: Almudena Grandes
Suriname: Anton de Kom
Sweden: Henning Mankell
Switzerland: Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz
Syria: Khālid Khalīfah
Tanzania: Abdulrazak Gurnah
Tibet: Tenzin Gyatso
Trinidad and Tobago: V.S. Naipaul
Turkey: Orhan Pamuk
Ukraine: Isaac Babel
Venezuela: Miguel Bonnefoy
United Kingdom: Robert Macfarlane
United States: John Steinbeck
Vietnam: Viet Thanh Nguyen

Map of countries:

Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

74 countries done.

Tickers

Totals since 2008:

My reading in previous years
2008: 130 books -   35,224 pages   (96.2 ppd)
2009:   78 books -   21,470 pages   (58.8 ppd)
2010: 121 books -   38,209 pages (104.7 ppd)
2011:   84 books -   30,256 pages   (82.9 ppd)
2012:   53 books -   18,779 pages   (51.3 ppd)
2013:   13 books -     3,692 pages   (10.1 ppd)
2014:   17 books -     3,700 pages   (10.1 ppd)
2015:   29 books -   10,080 pages   (27.6 ppd)
2016: 253 books -   72,547 pages (198.2 ppd)
2017: 453 books - 110,222 pages (302.0 ppd)
2018: 534 books - 111,906 pages (306.6 ppd)
2019: 413 books - 110,873 pages (303.8 ppd)
2020: 226 books -   79,216 pages (216.4 ppd)
2021: 288 books -   94,339 pages (258.5 ppd)
2022: 323 books - 102,275 pages (280.2 ppd)
2023: 278 books -   92,617 pages (253.8 ppd)

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Previous threads in 2024
book 1 - 16: thread 1
book 17 - 26: thread 2
book 27 - 40: thread 3
book 41 - 54: thread 4

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Monthly statistics
January: 16 books / 5,378 pages
February: 10 books / 3,060 pages
March: 14 books / 2,275 pages
April: 14 books / 3,629 pages

Lists on my WikiThing

The best books I have read, by year first published
My Five star reads
The best 50 books I have read (fiction)
The books by Nobel prize winners I have read
The Booker prize winners I have read
The Pulitzer prize winners (fiction) I have read
The winners of some Dutch literary prizes
Countries I have visited while reading around the world

Series I read, a list to keep track

Alan Banks by Peter Robinson (re-read 4/20)
1 Stille blik; 2 Nachtlicht; 3 Tegenstroom; 4 Zondeval; 5 Schijnbeeld; 6 Woensdagkind; 7 Zwanenzang; 8 Innocent Graves (not translated); 9 Dead Right (not translated); 10 Verdronken verleden; 11 Kil als het graf; 12 Nasleep; 13 Onvoltooide zomer; 14 Vuurspel; 15 Drijfzand; 16 Hartzeer; 17 Duivelsgebroed; 18 Overmacht; 19 Uitschot; 20 Dwaalspoor; 21 Dankbare dood; 22 Slachthuisblues

Ari Thór Arason (Dark Iceland) by Ragnar Jónasson 4/4
1 Sneeuwblind; 2 Inktzwart; 3 Poolnacht; 4 Ademloos

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 8/14
1 Een Berlijnse kwestie; 2 Het handwerk van de beul; 3 Een Duits requiem; 4 De een van de ander; 5 Een stille vlam; 6 Als de doden niet herrijzen; 7 Grijs verleden; 8 Praag fataal; 9 De man zonder adem; 10 De vrouw van Zagreb; 11 De schaduw van de stilte; 12 Pruisisch blauw; 13 Vergeven en vergeten; 14 Metropolis

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 20/20
1 Het heilige vuur; 2 Het laatste lijk; 3 Het gemene gewas; 4 De kwade knecht; 5 De eenzame bruid; 6 De kille maagd; 7 Het vege lijf; 8 De duivelse droom; 9 De gouden speld; 10 Een wisse dood; 11 Een hard gelag; 12 De ware aard; 13 Een witte roos; 14 Het stille woud; 15 De laatste eer; 16 Het rechte pad; 17 Een zijden haar; 18 Een lieve lust; 19 De heilige dief; 20 De verloren zoon

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 59/70

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 6/6
1 Koekoeksjong; 2 Zijderups; 3 Het slechte pad; 4 Witte dood; 5 Kwaad bloed; 6 Inktzwart hart; 7 Stromend graf

George Smiley by John Le Carré 6/9
1 Telefoon voor de dode; 2 Voetsporen in de sneeuw; 3 Spion aan de muur; 4 Spion verspeeld; 5 Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion; 6 Spion van nobel bloed; 7 Smiley's prooi; 8 De laatste spion; 9 Een erfenis van spionnen

De grote eeuw by Jan Guillou 8/10
1 Bruggenbouwers; 2 Dandy uit het noorden; 3 Tussen rood en zwart; 4 De kop in het zand; 5 Blauwe Ster; 6 Echte Amerikaanse jeans; 7 1968; 8 Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit; 9 De tweede doodzonde; 10 Het einde van het verhaal

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 30/31
1 Dood van een maestro; 2 Dood in den vreemde; 3 De dood draagt rode schoenen; 4 Salto mortale; 5 Acqua alta; 6 Een stille dood; 7 Nobiltà; 8 Fatalità; 9 Vriendendienst; 10 Onrustig tij; 11 Bedrieglijke zaken; 12 De stille elite; 13 Verborgen bewijs; 14 Vertrouwelijke zaken; 15 Duister glas; 16 Kinderspel; 17 Droommeisje; 18 Gezichtsverlies; 19 Een kwestie van vertrouwen; 20 Dodelijke conclusies; 21 Beestachtige zaken; 22 Het onbekende kind; 23 Tussen de regels; 24 Ik aanbid je; 25 Eeuwige jeugd; 26 Wat niet verdwijnt; 27 Vergiffenis; 28 De troonopvolger; 29 Duister water; 30 Vluchtig verlangen; 31 Liefdadigheid; 32 So Shall You Reap (not translated)

Gunnar Barbarotti by Håkan Nesser 0/7
1 De man zonder hond; 2 Een heel ander verhaal; 3 Het tweede leven van meneer Roos; 4 De eenzamen; 5 De slager van Klein Birma; 6 Herfst op Gotland; 7 Wie schrijft, verdwijnt

Isabelle Bonnet by Pierre Martin 5/6
1 Madame le Commissaire en de verdwenen Engelsman; 2 Madame le Commissaire en de uitgestelde wraak; 3 Madame le Commissaire en de dood van de politiechef; 4 Madame le Commissaire en het mysterieuze schilderij; 5 Madame le Commissaire en de dode non; 6 Madame le Commissaire en de dode minnaar; 7 Madame le Commissaire und die Frau ohne Gedächtnis (not translated); 8 Madame le Commissaire und die panische Diva (not translated); 9 Madame le Commissaire und die Villa der Frauen (not translated); 10 Madame le Commissaire und die Mauer des Schweigens (not translated)

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 12/20
1 Kat & muis; 2 Blindeman; 3 Hand & Tand; 4 Ontmaskering; 5 Zwartboek; 6 Vuurwerk; 7 Laat maar bloeden; 8 Gerechtigheid; 9 Door het lint; 10 Dode zielen; 11 In het duister; 12 Valstrik; 13 Lazarus; 14 Een kwestie van bloed; 15 De rechtelozen; 16 Gedenk de doden; 17 Laatste ronde; 18 Cold case; 19 Saints of the Shadow Bible (not translated); 20 Even Dogs in the Wild (not translated); 21 Rather Be the Devil (not translated); 22 Een web van leugens; 23 Een lied voor duistere tijden; 24 A Heart Full of Headstones (not translated)

Konráð by Arnaldur Indriðason 5/5
1 Smeltend ijs; 2 Boven water; 3 Smeulend vuur; 4 Vallende stenen; 5 Razende storm

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 6/14
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest; 4 De duivel draagt het licht; 5 De Indiase bruid; 6 Zwarte seconden; 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn; 8 Een andere voorkeur; 9 Kwade wil; 10 De waarschuwer; 11 Veenbrand; 12 De fluisteraar; 13 De verduistering; 14 Zwanenzang

Martin Servaz by Bernard Minier 5/7
1 Een kille rilling; 2 Huivering; 3 Verduistering; 4 Schemering; 5 Weerzin; 6 Afdaling; 7 Afrekening

Oliver von Bodenstein & Pia Kirchhoff by Nele Neuhaus 10/10
1 Een onbeminde vrouw; 2 Moordvrienden; 3 Diepe wonden; 4 Sneeuwwitje moet sterven; 5 Wie wind zaait; 6 Boze wolf; 7 De levenden en de doden; 8 Het woud; 9 Moederdag; 10 Eeuwige vriendschap

De Rougons-Macquarts (The Rougon-Macquarts) by Émile Zola 4/20
1 Het fortuin der Rougons; 2 De buit; 3 De buik van Parijs; 4 De verovering van Plassans; 5 De misstap van pastoor Mouret; 6 Zijne excellentie Eugène Rougon; 7 De nekslag; 8 Liefde; 9 Nana; 10 In troebel water; 11 In het paradijs voor de vrouw; 12 Levensvreugde; 13 De mijn; 14 Het werk; 15 Het land; 16 De droom; 17 Het beest in de mens; 18 Het geld; 19 De ondergang; 20 Dokter Pascal

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 4/8
1 Een studie in rood; 2 De vallei der verschrikking; 3 De hond van de Baskervilles; 4 Het teken van de vier; 5 Het laatste probleem; 6 Het avontuur van de duivelsklauw; 7 Zijn laatste buiging; 8 De onbekende avonturen van Sherlock Holmes

De tandeloze tijd by A.F.Th. van der Heijden 1/11
0 De slag om de Blauwbrug; 1 Vallende ouders; 2 De gevarendriehoek; 2.1 Weerborstels; 3.1 Het hof van barmhartigheid; 3.2 Onder het plaveisel het moeras; 3.4 Doodverf; 4 Advocaat van de hanen; 5 De helleveeg; 6 Kwaadschiks; 8 Stemvorken

Van Veeteren by Håkan Nesser 10/11
1 Het grofmazige net; 2 Het vierde offer; 3 De terugkeer; 4 De vrouw met de moedervlek; 5 De commissaris en het zwijgen; 6 De zaak van Münster; 7 Carambole; 8 De dode op het strand; 9 De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood; 10 Van Veeteren en de zaak-G; 11 De vereniging van linkshandigen

Books acquired in 2024: 20

February (6)
De zwarte heer Bazetub - Albert Vigoleis Thelen (e-book)
Notities van een theoreticus - Shi Tiesheng
Alkibiades - Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
Persoonsgegevens - Elfriede Jelinek
Pieterpad : Deel 1: Pieterburen-Vorden - Kees Volkers*
Pieterpad : Deel 2: Vorden-Maastricht - Kees Volkers*

* A new edition was published while we were walking

March (7)
Pierre Bourdieu : weerspannigheid als erfenis - Édouard Louis
Om een zin - Carel ter Linden
Eigen meester, niemands knecht - Cees Fasseur
Vanzelfsprekend maar niet normaal - Winfred and Annelies Haasse
Gezinsverpakking- De Chabotten (Bookweek gift)
Ooievaarsblues - Bart Chabot (Bookweek poetry)
Vissenschild - Liesbeth Lagemaat

April (7)
Sint-Petersburg - Theun de Vries (e-book)
Terug uit Irkoetsk - Theun de Vries (e-book)
Het spel van kat en adelaar - Craig Strete
Dagboek van een dader - Armando
De jongen die van de wereld hield - Tjibbe Veldkamp
Schuilplaats voor andere tijden - Georgi Gospodinov
Zabriskie: gedichten - Peter Verhelst

Welcome!

Happy new one!

>1 FAMeulstee: What a great addition. The bear certainly looks cuddly.

>15 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!
It is very cuddly, and a bit larger compared to the others.

>8 FAMeulstee: I think trying to read a book from an author in every country in the world is a great idea. I am going to try it one of these days!

Happy new thread, Anita!

I love your grizzly bear too. Happy new thread and I'm happy that your hospital visit went so well.

Happy new thread, Anita. I'm glad to read that everything went well. I wish you a lovely weekend.

>17 alcottacre: Thanks you, Satasia.
I got the idea from someone else.
There are groups on LT dedicated to reading worldwide: Reading Globally and The Global Challenge.

>18 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry, I am very pleased with my grizzle bear.
I fell in love with the first photo, and it is even more georgious in real.
The hospital visit was a big relief, I had not thought it would go so well.

>19 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, happy weekend
So am I, it was a long wait. Now I am on my way to feel good again in a few months time.

Happy new thread, Anita. And welcome to the family, Grizzly! :-)

>23 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley. And Grizzly sais 'Thank you!' :-)

Happy new thread, Anita! The bear is adorable.

>25 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori. The bear was irresistable, so I had to get it.

Merry, bear-y May's magic, Anita! *smooch*

>27 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, may May be merry for both of us ;-)

Happy new thread, dear Anita.

Happy New Thread, Anita!
>1 FAMeulstee: what a wonderful bear.
I am pleased that you have found a doctor you can trust and who trusts you.
All the best to you and Frank.

Your new bear is beautiful! Give him a hug from me! Happy new thread Anita!

Happy new thread Anita!

Grizzly is magnificent.

I am glad you found a Dr. you trust. I hope you will be feeling better soon.

Happy new thread Anita!

>1 FAMeulstee: Ohh, he's so cute! He looks so plush and cuddly.

>10 FAMeulstee: Hah; if I read 92 pages every day, I wouldn't have time for anything else.

>29 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.

>30 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!
It is a lovely bear, and it is perfect to have on my lap to cuddle.
It was a very good doctor, he listened well, and was truly sorry for me that all this had happened. I was happy with his solution.

>31 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, I am very happy with this bear.
The hug is given, my pleasure, can't hug his soft fur ever enough.

>32 quondame: Thank you, Susan!
Indeed Grizzly is, I fell for the picture on the website, and he is even better looking in real.
It was the first doctor in a long time I could really talk to, a few of my previous GPs were like that. It will take some time before I am completely back at track. At least I know for sure now it will get better from now on.

>33 humouress: Thank you, Nina!
He is way to cute, and soft, and even has presence.
Besides houskeeping and a bit of work in the garden, I mainly read through my days ;-)

Happy new thread, Anita!

From your last thread: I am so glad your visit to the endocrinologist went well. He sounds like a good doctor! But you are a good patient as well, having kept all records of your blood tests, and understanding your own condition so well! Kudos to you.

Happy reading!

Happy new thread, Anita!

I am so happy that your appointment with the endocrinologist went well and that you now can be proactive in managing your medication because it sounds to me that you "know" what you need. And "happy new thread" Anita!

Happy new one Anita!

Hope you will have a productive and restful weekend (the two are not incompatible). x

>37 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
The endocrinologist was a very good and nice doctor. And I probably know more about my condition than my GP does.
Keeping records is genetic, my father still has records how much petrol his cars used and the milage back from the 1950s until his last car, weekly costs of living going back even further, and way more like that. My record keeping is mediocre compared to him ;-)

>38 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>39 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel!
It was a big relief to talk to a doctor who understood my problems. I did manage my medication by myself between 2019 and 2022. It was supposted to be for a year, but then Covid came, and I wasn't allowed to take Frank with me to draw blood, so it lasted a bit longer. Doing it myself wasn't perfect, but way better than the past year...

>40 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte!

>41 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, the same to you!
Not incompatible, although not always easy to combine ;-)

Happy Sunday, Anita. Happy New Thread. I love the cuddly bear toppers. I hope you are enjoying those books this weekend.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!! Love the Grizzly!!

Happy New Thread, Anita! I'm glad your visit with the endocrinologist went well.

>45 msf59: Thank you, Mark!
Thebear is very cuddly, glad you like him. Weekend is over, I wasn't much arourd since Sunday afternoon. Happy Tuesday!

>46 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel!

>47 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda!

>48 hredwards: Thank you, Harold! I am very happy with my Grizzly :-)

>49 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah!
So are we, but now we are both a bit exhausted. It was a long wait until we could see the endocrinologist, and Frank's CFS is roaring its ugly head, as he had to do way to much in the last months. I started upping the meds, that makes me a bit unstable at first. So we try to keep things nice and quiet for a while.

Happy new thread! I am glad you had such a successful appointment with the endocrinologist, and the grizzly bear looks so cuddly!

Happy new thread, Anita! I love your new Grizzly!

>43 FAMeulstee: Again, I'm so glad you found a doctor who listens and understands your problem and was able to help you. What a relief! >51 FAMeulstee: I hope Frank can get plenty of rest now, and that he will be better soon.

>52 foggidawn: Thank you, Foggi.
The endocrinologist was well worth the long wait, and I am glad he came up with a good solution. The grizzly is very cuddly, and gives comfort when needed.

>53 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene! I love it too! :-)
A very big relief, my contacts with doctors had not been very helpful in the last years. It was so nice to find one who really listened and had enough knowledge to understand it all.
One more week and then Frank is officially unemployed :-)
He is getting more rest now, and I hope way more in the next months.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#55: Valstrik (The Falls; John Rebus 12) by Ian Rankin

Reading now:
Rivieren (Rivers) by Martin Michael Driessen
Razende storm (Konráð 5) by Arnaldur Indriðason
Paarden stelen (Out Stealing Horses) by Per Petterson

>20 FAMeulstee: Maybe after I finish my "Around the World in 80 Novels" Challenge. I appreciate the links to the groups!

>55 FAMeulstee: I hope you liked Out Stealing Horses more than I did :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

I love the idea of "Around the World in 80 Novels" -- is that a challenge you made up or a group thing?

Hi Anita! Does your Grizzly bear have a favorite author? I have a bear named Travis that I inherited from my grandmother. Travis has a couple of books of his own. He likes the one about Paddington best!

Perhaps he/she might like the books about Corduroy by Don Freeman! Corduroy is always getting into mischief of one type or another.

>1 FAMeulstee: I love this bear! What a great addition to your collection.

>56 alcottacre: You are welcome, Stasia, happy Thursday!
At the moment I am not reading widely, I do have some titles of next countries on my list. Waiting until my reading picks up again.
Not far into Out Stealing Horses, but I like it so far. I did search, but could not find your thoughts about this book.

>57 RebaRelishesReading: It looks like it is a book, Reba, Around the World in 80 Novels.

>58 cbl_tn: Not sure yet, Carrie, Grizzly watches sometimes a TV-quiz on my lap. I might get to Bolke de beer or Bamse in Lapland, favorites of my childhood. I am sure Paddington would be liked, and Winnie the Pooh of course :-)
How nice you inherited Travis!

>59 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, I never heard of Corduroy. He looks like a good bear!

>60 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda, I am very pleased with this addition. It is a very lovely bear.

As always increasing the Thyrax makes me unstable. It will take a while before I am back at the right dosage.

My brain is stil slow, after reading I still need more time to process what I have read.
I do have a bit more energy, some increase in my daily walks, and I even did some work in the garden that was much needed.

Sounds like some good news, Anita.
I hope you will get better and better and wish you both a wonderful long weekend!

>64 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. It is a bumpy road, but I will get there.
We will visit my father today, so we are off th The Hague in a few hours.
I hope you have a good early started weekend. Is it your last long weekend off before retirement?

>57 RebaRelishesReading: >61 FAMeulstee: David Damrosch, a Harvard lit prof, published Around the World in 80 Books in 2021.
I was given a copy, but must declare that I have not read it. From the table of contents, I see that Damrosch set an order of cities, nations, and regions, then populated his world order with representative books. For example, the opening chapter, "London: Inventing a City" cites Mrs. Dalloway, Great Expectations, The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Something Fresh, and Riceyman Steps. Seven pages are devoted to Virginia Woolf and Mrs. Dalloway, explaining why he picked that book and presenting an essay connecting that book to the locale.

So 16 chapters, 80 books. And thoughtful remarks about each book and its author, briefly outlining the plot and characters, and so on. Not necessarily a book is reading from start to finish. but one to refer to from time to time as your journey progresses.

>63 FAMeulstee: The good news is you know what is happening, why, and roughly how long it will last. That is a big, big help, I hope...nothing feels worse to me than the sensation of not being able to figure out the why of a problem.

*smooch* for better and better days!

Hi Anita. What a sweet-looking grizzly bear! Give him (or her?) a cuddle from me.

>22 FAMeulstee:: "Now I am on my way to feel good again in a few months time."
That is great news! I'm glad you found a doctor who listens to and understands you. How wonderful that you have more energy these days.

>58 cbl_tn: >62 FAMeulstee: Little Bear was one I remember being given to my little brother which I enjoyed too.

I'm glad you are enjoying Out Stealing Horses, Anita. I really liked it . The author has a very unique, spare way of writing. Here's to better days ahead!

>62 FAMeulstee: Slow and steady wins the race, Anita xx

>65 FAMeulstee: Enjoy your trip, Anita.
We've had a good start so far, I had the auditors visit on Wednesday, my accounts were in order - I'm treasurer of a small museum support organisation.
Yesterday we had a good friend over and we enjoyed my wife's good food and her company.
Today it's sunny and we want to go to the gourmet festival in the park.
The rest of the weekend is not yet planned, but we have lots of options...
There's one more long weekend coming up, 30 May is also a public holiday here and I've taken Friday off.

>66 weird_O: Thank you for the explanation, Bill.
I only found the title through a LT search. It sound like a good way to read worldwide. I am such a crazy person who would read it back to back, like I did with 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die ;-)
In my personal around the world challenge I try to read books by authors who are born in all countries around the world. I know it will be impossible to get to them all, if only because there are no Dutch translations of all. It is fun to try.

>67 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, that is true. It has happened a few times before, so I know what will follow.
*smooch*
The only positive of this episode is that I now understand how my phobia's start. Not with fear for something, it starts with the panick caused by thyroid hormone shortage, and everything that happens/occurs during the panick attack will trigger anxiety when I get in the same situation. This keeps on going, until the thyroid levels are right again. This even explains my first phobia, the agoraphobia that started back in 1995, and lasted for nearly 20 years.
So even this dark cloud has a silver lining :-)

>68 Donna828: Thank you, Donna. Cuddle given to her. On the Kösen site she is advertised as grizzly bear "Julia", so we kept that name.
It was a big relief to find the right doctor. And it is great to move into the right direction, with good hope this won't happen again in the future.

>69 quondame: Forgot that one above, Susan, I got Father Bear Comes Home when I was four years old.

>70 vancouverdeb: Glad to know you liked it, Deborah. I am reading it now because the movie after Out Stealing Horses was on TV a few weeks back. We recorded it, so I wanted to read the book before we watch the movie.
Thank you, it is feeling so good to get some of my energy back, and to know I am going up, not down.

>71 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, indeed it does. It have been tough months.

>72 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. We had a good visit with my father, and enjoyed the asparagus diner.
Our car got at 150,000 kilometer on our way back, we never made so many miles with one and the same car!

Good to read you are enjoying yourself this weekend with friends, good food, and nice weather.
Over here 30 May isn't a public holiday. The next is Monday after Pentecost, and then no other public holidays until Christmas.

>61 FAMeulstee:, >66 weird_O: Interesting --

book 55: Valstrik by Ian Rankin
library, e-book, translated from English, original title The Falls, 448 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book that you acquired in 2024

John Rebus book 12
Watson retires and John Rebus has a new boss, Gill Templer.
A student goes missing, daughter of a wealthy couple. At first is thought she just ran away, in time more serious causes come in sight.
Rebus is convinced a small coffin with a doll inside has something to do with the case. Turns out more of these kind of coffins incidently have been found through the years.
An other lead is worked out by Siobhan Clarke, the girl was playing some kind of game on the internet, that might have something to do with her disappearance.

Solid instalmanet that kept my interest all the way.

Dutch title translated: Trap

book 56: Razende storm by Arnaldur Indriðason
library, translated from Icelandic, no English translation, 285 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a paper book

Konráð book 5
A widow finds between her late husbands belongings an old gun. It turns out this gun was used in an unsolved murder years ago.
Retired police officer Konráð is interested because he remembers his father had a similair gun. Much to dismay of his former collegues, he starts digging in the case, and finds out more than he wanted to know.

Many loose ends from previous books come together, I fear this might be the last Konráð book.

Dutch title translated: Raging storm

book 57: Rivieren by Martin Michael Driessen
library, e-book, Dutch, ECI Literatuurprijs 2016, English translation Rivers, 139 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book that poses a new question or answers a question already posed

Three short stories set on and along rivers.

'Fleuve Sauvage: All Comes to Naught'
An older actor goes canoeing in France. His doctor told him to stop drinking, but on his way he realises he can't.

'Voyage to The Moon: Life is a Dream'
Following the life of one of the last rafters in Germany, rafting the logs downstream to the Rhine.

'Pierre and Adele: He Shall Be Purified by Fire, Water, Air, and Earth'
Set in France, where two families own the land in a valley, each a side of a small river. They fight and despise the other family for generations. Each time the river changes its course they start a new dispute, making a family of lawyers rich.

I only liked the second story, the other two were darker then I like.

Dutch and English title are the same

Hi, Anita. Just checking in. I hope you are both doing well and I hope those books are treating you just fine.

>80 FAMeulstee: That sounds a lot more like something for me to read, than for you. I'll be on the lookout for it.

Hoping you're getting your feet back under you steadily, Anita. *smooch*

>1 FAMeulstee: Love your new family member Anita.

>81 msf59: Thank you, Mark, glad to see you back from your birding trip.
We are doing well. This is the last week of Franks employment. From Friday until the end of the month he is unemployed without pay, June 1st his early retirement starts.

>82 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
Probably a better book for you, but it won one of the two yearly Dutch prizes for literature, and I want to read them all :-)
There is progress, both reading and walking are getting easier. No more anxiety while waking up, so the anxieties and panick attacks are slowly fading away, a big relief!

>83 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, so do we :-)

>85 FAMeulstee: Glad to read your health continues to improve Anita. Sending Frank my best for his first week of "official" retirement.

>87 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, it is so good to feel better.
It was tough knowing what was wrong, and my GP not co-operating.

Thanks from Frank. He could fill his two month notice with his vacation days and overtime, but somehow the last day of official employment feels like a milestone. We will celebrate next Friday in Haarlem. First a visit to museum Teylers, and we will attend a play about The Last Poets in the evening. It has been ages since we have been to a play on stage!

>85 FAMeulstee: I'm so happy to hear the panic and anxiety are letting go of you! That is a wonderful result of being empowered to take action. Such a relief to hear, and I know to experience as well. I don't think you've read Schemerleven yet, but I'll say the English translation's excellent. Dark little book, in many ways, but I thought Freida...so ironic, naming her "happy"...was a great character.

>89 richardderus: Glad my happiness makes you happy, Richard dear!
It isn't comparable with the first time I realised my troubles were gone, back in 2013. This time I knew it should be temporary, but I hadn't thought it would take this long.

I replied on your review of Afterlight on your thread.

>73 FAMeulstee: It would be nicer to have the silver lining without the dark cloud :0)

>85 FAMeulstee: It's good to hear that things are improving for you.

>88 FAMeulstee: That sounds like a lovely celebration. I hope Frank is enjoying his retirement - maybe he'll start reading more and we'll see him on here, too ;0)

>85 FAMeulstee: Anxiety and panic fading, that’s really good Anita!

>88 FAMeulstee: Enjoy your celebration! Nice plans. Teylers is my favorite museum, I really love it. And a play in the evening. Enjoy.

I am so glad that your anxiety and panic are fading, Anita! Congratulations to Frank on his upcoming retirement. Not long now at all! Enjoy your celebration next week.

>85 FAMeulstee: That's wonderful news! I am so glad that things are improving for you.

>78 FAMeulstee: One of these days I will get around to reading this series.

>79 FAMeulstee: And this one, too!

>85 FAMeulstee: Thank goodness Anita. That is very good news!

>85 FAMeulstee: Yay for the good news!
I don't think my reading lead will last much longer and I'm really looking forward to you overtaking me.
>88 FAMeulstee: I wish you both a wonderful day and weekend.

>91 humouress: Thank you, Nina!
That would be nice, but it would be hard to notice the silver without the dark ;-)
It feels good, going up instead of down.
I do record the books Frank reads, they are in the collection 'Gelezen door Frank'. He mainly reads when we are away on vacation.

>92 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, it feels very good. I hope to be in good shape next month, when my niece gets married.
Teylers is a lovely museum, always worth a visit. Leaving for Haarlem in a few hours :-)

>93 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, the past months were hard. The return of panick and anxiety messed up a lot. Now they are fading, and now I need to come to terms with the fact it all happened this way.

>94 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie. It feels good returning to my normal self again.
I hope you get to Rebus and Konráð, both enjoyable series.

>95 mdoris: Indeed, Mary, it is!
I only needed half a diazepam once in the past week.

>96 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.
Reading isn't at regular speed yet, but way more than it was. I will need a few more months before passing your numbers ;-)
Thanks again, we will be leaving in a few hours.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#58: Paarden stelen (Out Stealing Horses) by Per Petterson
#59: Gelukkig tegen de wereld by Enrico Galiano
#60: Het huis aan het einde by Irwan Droog

Reading now:
Clariël (Clariel) by Garth Nix
De maagd Marino by Yves Petry

book 58: Paarden stelen by Per Petterson
library, e-book, translated from Norwegian, English translation Out Stealing Horses, 251 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book where a 4-legged animal is mentioned in the title

In 1999, 67 year old Trond has moved to a small house in the woods. His only company is his dog Lyra. He went away from the city, grieving about the loss of his wife and sister he needs the quiet around. He thinks back to 1948, when he and his father spent one memorable summer together.

Dutch title translated: Stealing horses

book 59: Gelukkig tegen de wereld by Enrico Galiano
library, e-book, YA, translated from Italian, no English translation, 478 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book that you acquired in 2024

Gioia is disappointed in life, her boyfriend left, she is still an outcast at school, and her philosophy teacher disappoints her deeply. She throws away her notebook with special words (see the previous book De bijzondere woorden van Gioia), and quits school.

Dutch title translated: Happily against the world

book 60: Het huis aan het einde by Irwan Droog
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 224 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: MOTHER rolling challenge

The writer goes with his girfriend Kim and their dog Zorro to the small Norwegian island Selvær.
With an ageing population the people of Selvær are looking for new inhabitants. Irwan and Kim are not sure yet if they want to live on an island at the polar circle, so they have come to try. An other Dutch couple arrives about the same time, they have plans to start up agricultre again at the island.
Beautiful descriptions of nature in the islands, and other islands nearby. The stories of the present inhabitants, who are very nice and welcoming to them.
After six months Irwan and Kim return to the Netherlands.

Title translated: The house at the end

book 61: De maagd Marino by Yves Petry
library, e-book, Dutch, Libris Literatuurprijs 2011, no translations, 284 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose title, subtitle, or author's full name begins or end in the letter "Y"

The story was inspired by the case of the Rotenburg Cannibal.
Marino Mund is in prison, after butchering Bruno Klaus on his request. In the first chapter the murder takes place, then we go back with Marino and Bruno looking how they came to this.

The first chapter was hard to read, but then an interesting story follows. Both men come alive in their backstories, and it became an engaging read. Bruno teached literature at university, so a lot of writers and books are mentioned.
Winner of the Libris Literature Prize in 2011.

Title translated: The virgin Marino

Hello Anita!
I am reading All Souls Day by Dees Nooteboom. I am assuming you’ve read this one? It’s been slow going.

>105 Kristelh: No, Kristel, I haven't read All Souls Day. I will try to join you.
I have read other books by Cees Nooteboom, and this one is on my list.

>106 FAMeulstee:, That would be very nice, Anita. I am finally getting into the book, nearing half way point.

>107 Kristelh: I have a copy at hand, Kristel, and just started reading.

Friday we celebrated Franks first day as unemployed :-)

We went to Haarlem, parked the car at the free parking near station Spaarnwoude, and walked to Teylers Museum. This museum for science is over two centuries old, founded in 1778. They have a lovely collection of fossils, minerals, and scientific instruments, displayed in old showcases.

Fossil room (picture from Wikipedia by GJ Jansen)

We left just before closing time and walked a bit through the center of the city. The weather was nice and we admired the old buildings like the church, the meathall, and a few others. Forgot my camera, so no pictures.

We had diner at retaurant Specktakel, where they had a very good, affordable 3 course menu. The only rain that evening fell while we were dining :-)

On to our next event The Last Poet, a play based on the life of Umar Bin Hassan, one of The Last Poets.

The weather cooperated, so we walked back to our car and drove home.

>109 FAMeulstee: What a lovely way to start the next section of your lives!

Sounds like a nice start for the “unemployed”.

>109 FAMeulstee: A lovely day indeed, Anita. I'm glad for the new passage in y'all's lives to begin so auspiciously.

>104 FAMeulstee: I believe I heard about this case. A very interesting choice of a story to make into a novel. Weird, but interesting.

New-week *hugs*

>61 FAMeulstee: Sorry, Anita, I got Out Stealing Horses confused with another book of Petterson's, I Curse the River of Time.

Yes, you are correct, it is a book. I have the details over on my thread. Thanks for helping out.

>66 weird_O: As of this year, I am using the Damrosch book in addition to the book I started my "Around the World" challenge.

Skipping a ton. . .

>109 FAMeulstee: Yay for you and Frank!!

I hope you have a marvelous Monday and that they are finally getting your thyroid medicine dosage correct!

>109 FAMeulstee: That sounds like a perfect excursion.

>110 CDVicarage: Thank you, Kerry, it was a nice way to mark this special day.

>111 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel. His early retirement starts next month, unemployed the two weeks in between :-)

>109 FAMeulstee: Sounds lovely, Anita. Glad you both got to mark the day. It was my dad's 80th at the weekend. He didn't want anything fussy so we had cake and some fizz at home. Although I think the cake was more for me than for him!

>112 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear!
It was a lovely day out. Haarlem is a nice city and only an hour away by car.

Even I knew about the case of the Rotenburg Cannibal. It was a bit weird to write a novel inspired by that case, but somehow it worked out well. No translations, I think publishers didn't think a translation would pay off.

>113 alcottacre: That is okay, Stasia, I sometimes mix up books too. I'll aproach I Curse the River of Time with care, if I ever get to it ;-)

Thank you, we had a lovely day.
I am on my way to the correct dosage, it takes a while to get there. The effect of upping the dosage earlier this month is notable, I do have some more energy.

>114 quondame: Thank you, Susan, it was.

>116 charl08: Belated happy birthday to your Dad, Charlotte. I hope you enjoyed the cake!
We had a good day in Haarlem, it was a nice way to celebrate this special day.

>109 FAMeulstee: That sounds lie a wonderful day! I'm glad you were able to celebrate in such a good way.

Happy mid week!

I am glad you are beginning to feel better and that you and Frank had a great "first day" away from work.

Happy Wednesday, Anita. I hope you and Frank are doing well. We are back from our camping trip and leave for another one on Friday. Camping season is in full swing. Juno will also be joining us on this one.

I picked up my copy of Summer. Will you still be joining us in June?

>120 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene, it was a wonderful day. A celebration of the official end of Franks working days :-)

>121 figsfromthistle: Thak you, Anita, happy Wednesday tou you!
It is good to have some more energy, makes going out for a day easier too.

>122 msf59: Thank you, Mark, good you are enjoying the camping trips. Just back and on to the next!
Yes, I reserved a copy of Summer at the library. Frank will pick it up tomorrow.

book 62: Clariël by Garth Nix
library, YA, translated, original title Clariel, 388 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book with a girl's name in the title

Old Kingdom prequel
Set about 600 years before the first Old Kingdom book, we find Clariel with her parents on her way from Estwael to the city of Belisaere. She doesn't like the city, her heart is in the forests where she grew up. She gets entangled in city politics, where the King doesn't want to rule, the city governor tries to take over, and the Abhorsen is more interested in hunting.

Dutch and English title are the same

book 63: De laatste duivel die sterft by Richard Osman
library, translated, original title The last devil to die, 420 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book from the list that shows what other LT members have read so far in 2024

The Thursday Murder Club book 4
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are shocked when they hear Kuldesh Sharma, an antique dealer and old friend of Elizabeth's husband Stephen is murdered. Their trusted police officers, Chris and Donna, are pulled from the case, so they start their own investigation. Drug dealers, illegal antiqities, more murders, our team has a lot of work to find out. Meanwhile Stephen is sinking more and more away into dementia.

Dutch and English title are the same

>118 FAMeulstee: Yay for more energy!

>125 FAMeulstee: I am definitely going to have to return to The Old Kingdom. I did not even know that these books existed until the other day.

>126 FAMeulstee: Dodging that BB as I have already read it.

Have a great day!

>126 FAMeulstee: I think you're kinder than I would be to these books. Somehow this old-person sleuth fad is not hitting the right note in my readerly ear. No idea exactly why...maybe because I live among the people in the stories...?

Thursday *smooch*

>128 richardderus: I only live with one other person (we're both in the old-person category though) but the books didn't do much for me either.

>109 FAMeulstee: sounds like a perfect outing to celebrate having more free time!!

>127 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia!
I only knew about the first three Old Kingdom books, and learned about this one like you on Nina's thread.
Have a good time with your mother.

>128 richardderus: That might be, Richard dear. I like them well enough to continue, once a year as light escape.
I might like them less if I was in your situation.
Happy Friday *smooch*

>130 RebaRelishesReading: There are no books everyone likes, Reba.
It is not my favorite series, but likable enough to continue :-)

>131 LovingLit: Thank you, Megan, it certainly was!

>109 FAMeulstee: sounds like a lovely first day of unemployment!

>133 FAMeulstee: So right you are that no book gets universal love. This series does seem to get a lot around here though -- just not from me :)

>109 FAMeulstee: Sounds like a really nice day. A good start for Frank’s new life.

>135 RebaRelishesReading: Not so much for me either.

>134 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess, it was a memorable day.

>135 RebaRelishesReading: I found the series in this group, Reba, and I like them well enough to continue.

>136 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, Haarlem is a nice city to visit.
We are getting used to the new life :-)

Read, not yet reviewed:
#64: Het verdwenen leven van Esme Lennox (The vanishing act of Esme Lennox) by Maggie O'Farrell
#65: De overlevenden (The Survivors) by Jane Harper

Reading now:
Allerzielen (All Souls Day) by Cees Nooteboom
Ik ben niet bang (I'm Not Scared) by Niccolò Ammaniti

Your recent reading is a bit dark for me; I'll stick to lighter things.

>109 FAMeulstee: That's a lovely way to celebrate the start of retirement. Keep calm and carry on!

>132 FAMeulstee: >127 alcottacre: >125 FAMeulstee: I'll take the credit for the BB! That's more my reading style (even if it is about necromancers).

Hi Anita! Happy newest thread.

Thank you for visiting my threads regularly when I've been so remiss in not visiting yours.

I'm happy to read that the visit with the endocrinologist went well and that you’re back on track.

>9 FAMeulstee: Looks like you’ll hit one million pages this year or next. Amazing.

>73 FAMeulstee: Understanding how your phobias started is huge, and since it all goes back to your thyroid, your keeping excellent records, being aware of what you’re feeling, AND (finally) finding a good endocrinologist, all can now contribute to the start of permanent good thyroid management.

>109 FAMeulstee: Yay to Frank’s first day as unemployed.

>140 humouress: That is okay, Nina, just read what you need :-)
We are doing well, retirement is good for us both.
Take the credit. I totally forgot about this prequel, and was reminded about it on your thread. No active necromancers in Clariel though.

>141 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen. Glad to see you feel well enough to visit here.
The visit to the endocrinologist was a big relief. I am not completely there yet, it takes time, but I feelway better than a few months ago. Even reading is picking up a bit :-)

Yes, it is hard to gasp I really am getting near, a million pages sounds impossible.
Do you keep track of number of pages read? I guess you did read many pages in the last two years!

It was a big break through when I realised how the phobias started. I hope I will never get back there, and will be able to stay on just enough thyroid medicines by my own.

Thanks, it was a memorable day out. It is good for both of us. His early retirement starts on June 1st.

All-purpose *hug* and *smooch*

>144 richardderus: Thanks Richard dear!
We needed that, Frank spend half a day on the phone as something went wrong with his final paycheck.
They payed a full month, instead of 16 days. Turned out his boss forgot a checkmark in his digital dossier, so his resign was not processed at the salary administration. So now there will be a next paycheck next month, which should be the last one.

Hi Anita! Glad you're feeling better. A million pages?! I don't keep track, but that seems huge.

>146 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel, is is soooo good to feel better than I did a few months back!

Well, it looks like I will get to one million pages, this year or next, if my reading keeps on going :-)

Hi, Anita. It might be closer to mid-June by the time I start Summer. Just letting you know.

>148 msf59: That is okay, Mark, I am not sure yet when I will start. I probably can renew my library copy at least once.

book 64: Het verdwenen leven van Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
library, e-book, translated, original title The vanishing act of Esme Lennox, 232 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book that you acquired in 2024

An unexpected phone call tells Iris she is now the contact for her greataunt Esme, who has been institutionalised for most of her life. Esme and her sister Kitty were born in colonised India, and returned to Scotland in their teens.
Kitty is suffering from dementia now, we only read about her shattered thoughts. Combined with Esme's thoughts about the past and the present day with Iris, we slowly find out about the family drama back in the 1930s that ruined Esne's life.

Dutch title translated: The vanished life of Esme Lennox

book 65: De overlevenden by Jane Harper
library, e-book, translated, original title The Survivors, 232 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book whose title suggests something a person would like to achieve

Kieran Elliott reurns to the small town where he grew up, to help his mother pack her belongings, as his parents move because his fathers dementia. He hasn't been home for a long time, as he feels guilty about the accident where his brother died.
When a body is found at the shore, old secrets are to be revealed, and shine a new light on the past.

English and Dutch title are the same

book 66: Ik ben niet bang by Niccolò Ammaniti
1001 books, library, e-book, translated from Italian, English translation I'm Not Scared, 206 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book with first person narration or a title featuring the word "I", "me" or "my"

In a hot summer in the south of Italy in the 1970s, everyone suffers from the heat. A group of children wanders around, and nine year old Michele discovers something terrible, he doesn't dare to tell. He knows that something is going on, strangers in his own house, the adults behaving odd. But the truth is something he isn't able to gasp.

A though read and I didn't like the ending.

English and Dutch title are the same

It is June and I have three more May reviews to go... Tomorrow I hope.

.. and read three more, then you've caught up with me!
I'm so glad that your reading speed is picking up again.
All the best for June, Anita!

>154 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!
You will keep reading as well, so catching up needs a bit more time ;-)

We have a busy week ahead, my niece will marry next Saturday. A big party at the beach in The Hague. We booked a hotel for two nights, so we can combine it with a visit to my father.

You will catch up soon - I know ;-)
>155 FAMeulstee: This are wonderful news!

>155 FAMeulstee: Anita, that sounds great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather plays along for the wedding.

Welcome June, Anita.
I did finish All Souls Day and looking forward to your review. I've read I'm Not Scared, I remember it a little but probably have forgotten more than I remember. Enjoy the wedding.

>156 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, we will see when I get there ;-)

>157 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. The forecast looks good, a bit chilly at 16°C, but dry.

>158 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel, I will start my June thread in a few days.
I saw that you finished All Souls Day on the 1001 Books thread, didn't respond here yet, because I am still sorting out my own thoughts about it ;-)

The Wedding sounds lovely, Anita! A couple of days away for you and Frank and your nieces wedding to enjoy as well. I enjoyed The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. I'm glad you did too.

>160 FAMeulstee: Yes, Anita, I review books but I don't post my full review, just that cookie cutter form. I found much to ponder and I rated it 4 stars. I review the books on their pages.

>161 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, we are looking forward to the wedding.
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox was my first book by Maggie O'Farrell, will look for other books by her.

>162 Kristelh: I even rated it half a star more, Kristel. He does make you think, I like how you used many ciatations in your review.

book 67: Allerzielen by Cees Nooteboom
1001 books, own, Dutch, English translation All Souls Day, 400 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a paper book

Arthur Daane is a Dutch free lance cameraman, living in Berlin. His work brings him all over the world.
He lost his wife and child in a plane crash, and feels detached. He has some friends in Berlin, who do care about him. We walk through Berlin with him, vivid descriptions of the city that is reunited.
His life turns upside down, when he meets a Dutch girl, who studies the life of a Spanish Queen, who lived in the 12th century.

I have been to Berlin once, and recognised a few places. Arthur and his friends raise some philosophical questions, and have different views. I found a lot to think about.

English and Dutch title are the same

book 68: Het Bernini mysterie by Dan Brown
library, translated, original title Angels & Demons, 462 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book that poses a new question or answers a question already posed

Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor, travels to Geneve to identify a mysterious symbol branded into a body of a top researcher at CERN. He ends up in a big conspiracy against the Roman Catholic church by a mysterious, ancient brotherhood.

My first Dan Brown, as I wondered why his books are so popular.
The story was way over the top, rather unbelievable how Langdon survives it all.

Dutch title translated: The Bernini mystery

book 69: Asterix en de koperen ketel by Goscinny & Uderzo
own, comic, translated from French, English translation Asterix and the Cauldron, 48 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose title, subtitle, or author's full name begins or end in the letter "Y"

Asterix book 13
A chief from a village near asks help to hide a cauldron full with money, as the Romans have raised the taxes again. The cauldron disappears under Asterix watch, and he has to find a way to return the money. Of course Obleix and Idefix go with him.

English and Dutch title are thesame

May 2024 in numbers
  (Totals for the year between brackets)

15 books read, 4,678 pages, 150.9 pages a day
  (69 books read, 19,020 pages, 125.1 pages a day)

--
books:

• own books: 2 (17)
• from the library: 13 (52)

• male author: 13 (52)
• female author: 2 (17)

• originally written in Dutch: 4 (22)
• translated into Dutch: 11 (47)

• original language of translated books:
    • English: 6 (14)
    • Finnish: 0 (1)
    • French: 1 (11)
    • German: 0 (5)
    • Hebrew 0 (1)
    • Icelandic: 1 (2)
    • Indonesian: 0 (2)
    • Italian: 2 (4)
    • Norwegian: 1 (1)
    • Swedish 0 (6)

• fiction: 14 (61)
• non-fiction: 1 (8)

• paper books: 6 (34)
• e-books: 9 (35)

• mystery/police procedural: 5 (13)
• comic: 1 (11)
• childrens/YA: 2 (11)
• 1001 books: 2 (5)
    Total 1001 books since 2008: 329

--
pages:

0 - 100 pages: 1 (13)
101 - 200 pages: 1 (5)
201 - 300 pages: 6 (22)
301 - 400 pages: 2 (16)
401 - 500 pages: 5 (10)
501 - 999 pages: 2 (3)
1000+ pages: 0 (0)

• longest book 478 pages (598 pages)
• shortest book 48 pages (48 pages)
• average book 312 pages (276 pages)

--
date first published:
19th century: 0 (1)

20th century
1950s: 0 (2)
1960s: 1 (12)
1970s: 0 (2)
1980s: 0 (3)
1990s: 1 (5)

21st century
2000s: 5 (12)
2010s: 3 (13)
2020s: 5 (19)

--
ratings:

0 (0)
1 (6)
6 (26)
4 (22)
4 (11)
0 (2)
0 (2)

--
best book in May


Allerzielen (All Souls Day) by Cees Nooteboom

>109 FAMeulstee: I loved Teylers Museum Anita, I visited it a couple of times when I spent a week in Haarlem some years back. Is the little violin maker's shop still in the city. It was always closed when I passed it which was disappointing.

Happy retirement to Frank.

>168 Caroline_McElwee: Teylers is one of my facorite museums, Caroline, glad you loved it too.
I haven't noticed a violin maker's shop in Haarlem. I do know that most are only open a few hours a week, or only by appointment. I did a quick search, there used to be one in the center, it is closed now. Two others, still open, are further away.

A thanks from Frank.

>169 FAMeulstee: I think it was the one in the centre Anita. I loved pressing my nose to the window when I passed it. I love makers workshops, and seek them when travelling.

>153 FAMeulstee: Four more from this point and you'll have read twice as many as me for this year (which I suspect you have by now).

>167 FAMeulstee: High-quality reading for May, Anita! May the trend head ever upward.

Hi Anita - I've taken note of The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, I have yet to read anything by O'Farrell.
In my internet travels I came across The diary keepers : World War II in the Netherlands, as written by the people who lived through it which is written by Nina Siegal, an American journalist who lives in Amsterdam.
I looked up the other book she wrote, a novel, You'll Thank Me for This, described as 'A pulse-pounding psychological thriller based on the popular Dutch tradition of blindfolding and dropping teens and pre-teens in the middle of a forest.'
Does this really happen or did happen? I've never come across it. I might have to read both books.

>151 FAMeulstee: Before visiting your thread this evening, earlier today I took a trip to the library and brought home The Survivors by Jane Harper. I've read another of her books awhile back. I hope to start this book either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Today was a very busy day of cleaning and getting things in order, plus a quick trip to home Depot for furnace filters, white paint, and potting soil.

>170 Caroline_McElwee: Not many makers workshops left these days, Caroline.

>171 humouress: Only one yet, Nina ;-)
But I am sure I will get there, the reading is slowly getting back on track.

>172 richardderus: Thank you, Richard. June started well :-)

>174 Whisper1: You had a busy day, Linda.
I hope you enjoy The Survivors, my favorite by Jan Harper is The Lost Man.

>173 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry, it was my first book by Maggie O'Farrell and I will look for more.
The book by Nina Siegal sounds interesting. I found a Dutch translation, thanks for mentioning.

I am not sure dropping still happens, but it did indeed. Usually in groups of three.
I experienced it twice at a scouting summercamp, and in my first year at university when I joined a students association. With the scouting we were dropped in de woods, about 3 kilometer from the camp. All we had with us was a compass, and we were told in which direction the camp was. At the students association we were taken in the evening by car and dropped an hour away. We had to walk and hitchhike to get back to Rotterdam.