(Sir)Thomas reads round retirement in 2025 Part 2

Welcome to my second thread in 2025.


Me, @EllaTim and my wife - we had a wonderful time with coffee and conversation in Amsterdam.
I am so glad that I was able to meet you in person, thank you so much!

Hi everybody, my Name is Thomas, I am 63 years young and I live in a small town in northern Baden Wuerttemberg, Germany.
I used to be a COBOL-programmer, project manager, user helpdesk,... - in short, I was responsible for everything in a small project with about 400 users and the variety made it a lot of fun, even if it was stressful.
My librarything name comes from my study time, a friend and I wrote short crime novels in which the other was the role model for the investigator. My friend called my alter ego Sir Thomas.
We would read them to the others in the dormitory, it was a great time, even though I wasn't very talented.
2024 was again a good reading year since I am part of this group - 166 finished books.
This is my 13th year in this awesome group, and every year is going better and better with books and friends.
My library grows and grows, as I can hardly bring myself to throw away a book - it's a good thing that eBooks hardly take up any space on the shelf...

My reading performance in this group:
2013: _84 books
2014: 109 books
2015: _78 books
2016: 107 books
2017: 130 books
2018: 127 books
2019: 151 books
2021: 177 books
2022: 182 books
2023: 188 books
2024: 166 books

Reading List for January
2. Kleine freie Männer / The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
1. Das Haus in dem Gudelia stirbt by Thomas Knüwer
3. Sing, wilder Vogel, sing / Sing, Wild Bird, Sing by Jacqueline O’Mahony
4. Fünf Winter / Five Decembers by James Kestrel
5. Weit über der smaragdgrünen See / Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
6. Invasion aus dem All by Clark Darlton
7. Emil und die Detektive by Erich Kästner
8. Black As F***. Die wahre Geschichte der USA / Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot
9. Yallah Mord! by Bülent Ceylan
10. Mad in Hollywood / A Mad Look at Old Movies by Mort Drucker
11. Miss Merkel: Mord auf dem Friedhof by David Safier
12. Das Parfum des Todes / 成為怪物以前 by Katniss Hsiao
13. Quanten. 100 Seiten by Robert Löw
14. Schöpferische Entwicklung / L'évolution créatrice by Henri Bergson
15. Sörensen macht Urlaub by Sven Stricker
16. Die Venusbasis by Kurt Mahr
17. Hilfe für die Erde by W. W. Shols
18. Schwarzes Echo / The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
19. Infinitia by Andreas Brandhorst
20. Mehr vom Leben: Wie mich die Begleitung Sterbender verändert by Johanna Klug
21. Täuschend echt by Charles Lewinsky

DNF. Wie die Welt weiterging: Geschichten für jeden Tag by Monika Helfer

Reading List for February
22. Meinungsfreiheit!: Demokratie für Fortgeschrittene by Volker Kitz
23. Von Mäusen und Menschen / Of mice and men by John Steinbeck
24. A Tempest of Tea / A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
25. Geisterfjord / Ég man þig by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
26. Verbrannte Gnade / Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy
27. Frau Morgenstern und der Abgrund by Marcel Huwyler
28. Lückenleben: Mein Mann, der Alzheimer, die Konventionen und ich by Katrin Seyfert
29. The Deeper Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams
30. Androidenträume / The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
31. 25 letzte Sommer by Stephan Schäfer
32. Der Dritte Planet / Third From the Sun by Richard Matheson
33. Die unglaubliche Geschichte des Mister C. / The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson
34. Die Brücke über die Drina / Na Drini ćuprija by Ivo Andrić
35. Ghost Station / Ghost Station by S. A. Barnes
36. Das Milliarden-Gehirn / To Marry Medusa by Theodore Sturgeon
37. Es werden schöne Tage kommen / Beautiful Days by Zach Williams

Reading List for March
38. Haunted Houses Creak by M. H. Altis
39. ONE OF US IS LYING / ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus
40. Ein Hut voller Sterne / A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
41. Ordnung nebenbei by Gunda Borgeest
42. Campion. Tödliches Erbe / Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham
43. Paradox Hotel / The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart
44. Schachnovelle by Stefan Zweig
45. Der letzte Mord am Ende der Welt / The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
46. Es ist nicht alles so scheiße, wie du denkst by Henning Schmidtke
47. Miss Merkel: Mord in der Uckermark by David Safier
48. Der Griesgram / Le Grincheux by André Gide
49. Vergessene Zukunft / Against the Fall of Night by Arthur C. Clarke
50. America Fantastica / America Fantastica by Tim O'Brien
51. Alles Liebe vom Tod / From doon with death by Ruth Rendell
52. Ein blitzsauberer Mord by Andreas Suchanek
53. Raumschlacht im Wega-Sektor by K. H. Scheer
54. Mutanten im Einsatz by Kurt Mahr
55. Das Geheimnis der Zeitgruft by Clark Darlton
56. Möchte die Witwe angesprochen werden, platziert sie auf dem Grab die Gießkanne mit dem Ausguss nach vorne by Saša Stanišić
57. Bezahlt wird nicht!: Eine Farce / Non Si Paga! Non Si Paga! by Dario Fo
58. Angry Birds: Operation Omelett / Angry Birds: Operation Omelette by Jeff Parker
59. Die Blaue Stunde / The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

Reading List for April
60. Das Kastell / The Keep by F. Paul Wilson
61. Die Hausboot-Detektei - Tödlicher Genuss by Amy Achterop
62. Die Festung der sechs Monde by K. H. Scheer
63. Sträters Gutenachtgeschichten by Torsten Sträter
64. This Book Kills / This Book Kills by Ravena Guron
65. Iowa: Ein Ausflug nach Amerika by Stefanie Sargnagel
66. Das galaktische Rätsel by Clark Darlton
67. Die Spur durch Zeit und Raum by Clark Darlton
68. Kleine Mordgeschichten für Tierfreunde / The animal loverʼs book of beastly murder by Patricia Highsmith
69. Prinz Kaspian von Narnia / Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
70. Hellas Channel / Νυχτερινό δελτίο by Petros Markaris
71. Frankie by Jochen Gutsch & Maxim Leo
72. Alles Boulevard: Wer seine Kultur verliert, verliert sich selbst / La civilización del espectáculo by Mario Vargas Llosa
73. Wackelkontakt by Wolf Haas
74. Nicht länger ein Mensch / 人間失格 by Osamu Dazai
75. Stärkende Stille by Margot Käßmann
76. Fremder in einer fremden Welt / Stranger in a Strange Land (Original Uncut) by Robert A. Heinlein
77. Die Geister von Gol by Kurt Mahr

Reading List for May
78. Planet der sterbenden Sonne by Kurt Mahr
79. Die Rebellen von Tuglan by Clark Darlton
80. Der Unsterbliche by K. H. Scheer
81. Der Winterschmied / Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
82. Modesty Blaise. Die Lady bittet ins Jenseits / Sabre Tooth by Peter O'Donnell
83. SHINING IN THE DARK / Shining in the Dark by Hans-Åke Lilja
84. Schlachthof 5 oder Der Kinderkreuzzug / Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
85. Zero Days / Zero Days by Ruth Ware
86. Hase und ich / Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
87. Lob des Müßiggangs / In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays by Bertrand Russel
88. X 7 antwortet nicht by Stefan Wolf
89. 42 Gründe, das Universum zu hassen / 42 Reasons to Hate the Universe by Chris Ferrie
90. Die Bibliothek der verlorenen Bücher by Alexander Pechmann
91. Der Holländer / De Hollanderby Mathijs Deen

Reading List for June
92. Jack aus den Schatten / Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny
93. Kein Zurück / Never Flinch by Stephen King
94. Freitag / Friday by Robert A. Heinlein
95. Owen Meany / A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
96. Ein Wort, um dich zu retten / La vie secrète des écrivains by Guillaume Musso
97. Der Gärtner und der Tod / Градинарят и смъртта by Georgi Gospodinov
98. Nachttod / Nattsångaren by Johanna Mo
99. Er lebe hoch! Loriot zum 100. Geburtstag by Dennis Metz and Steffen Gumpert
100. Die Brüder Löwenherz / Bröderna Lejonhjärta by Astrid Lindgren
101. Finsterhaus / Skuggliljan by Johanna Mo
102. Das Paradies meines Nachbarn by Nava Ebrahimi
103. Handbuch für den vorsichtigen Reisenden durch das Ödland / The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
104. Dunkelwald / Mittlandet by Johanna Mo
105. Und jeden Morgen das Meer by Karl-Heinz Ott

Reading List for July
106. Das Mitternachtskleid / I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
107. Vollidiot by Tommy Jaud
108. 19 doors by Rob Roy O'Keefe
109. Zone One / Zone One by Colson Whitehead
110. Feuer in Berlin / March Violets by Philip Kerr
111. Der Freund / The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
112. Gebrauchsanweisung für Nachbarn by Wladimir Kaminer and Martin Hyun
113. Die Gartenparty / Blow Hot, Blow Cold by Ellery Queen
114. Venus in Gefahr by Kurt Mahr
115. Nebelstunde / Darrgräset by Johanna Mo
116. Der Atomkrieg findet nicht statt by Kurt Mahr
117. Tod einer roten Heldin / Death of a red heroine by Qiu Xiaolong
118. Das Einhörnchen, das rückwärts leben wollte by Walter Moers
119. Pride began on Christopher Street by Christian Handel and Andreas Suchanek
120. Frankenstein : Complete & Unabridged with Illustrations by Mary Shelley
121. Jenseits des Ozeans / Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune
122. Wie man würdelos altert / How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

Reading List for August
123. Auf Leben und Tod by Eric Wrede
124. Ausgespielt by Theresa Prammer
125. Wie Faschismus funktioniert / How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley
126. Die Bauern / Chlopi by Wladislaw S. Reymont
127. Die Entdeckung des Himmels / De ontdekking van de hemel by Harry Mulisch
128. Das Buch der tausend Türen / The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
129. Yoko by Bernhard Aichner
130. Feeling Safe: Wie sicher bist du wirklich? / You Shouldn't Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose
131. Der Mordclub von Shaftesbury - Die Tote fällt nicht weit vom Stamm by Emily Winston
132. Aua!: Die Geschichte meines Körpers by Axel Hacke
133. Das gekaufte Leben by Tobias Sommer
134. Der Twyford-Code / The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
135. Der Fischer und der Sohn / Balıkçı ve Oğlu by Zülfü Livaneli
136. Fangboys Abenteuer / Fangboy by Jeff Strand
137. Das Mörderarchiv: Der Tod, der am Dienstag kommt / How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin
138. Benjamins Parasit / Benjamin's Parasite by Jeff Strand

Reading List for September
139. Der Taucher / De duiker by Mathijs Deen
140. Die Krone des Schäfers / The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett
141. Leichenschilf / Dotter saknad by Anna Jansson
142. Thoras Flucht by Clark Darlton
143. Lyneham by Nils Westerboer
144. Die Farbe der Rache by Cornelia Funke
145. Das Schwert in der Stille / Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
146. Geheimschaltung X by W. W. Shols
147. Darwin gefällt das: Wie Einsteins Gehirn in einer Lunchbox landete und andere abstruse Einfälle der Menschheit by Anna Bühler and Christian Alt
148. Àmbar / Àmbar by Nicolás Ferraro
149. Die Theologie des Wildschweins / La teologia del cinghiale by Gesuino Némus
150. The Destroyer of Worlds: A Return to Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
151. Ausgerechnet Sylt by Thomas Herzberg
152. Die Burg by Ursula Poznanski

Reading List for October
153. Böse: Die Psychologie unserer Abgründe / Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side by Julia Shaw
154. Willkommen auf Skios / Skios by Michael Frayn
155. Fahr zur Hölle, Mister B. / Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker
156. Alptraumland by by Ronald M. Hahn & Horst Pukallus
157. Wer Zwietracht sät / A Slowly Dying Cause by by Elizabeth George
158. Es währt für immer und dann ist es vorbei / It Lasts Forever and Then It's Over by by Anne de Marcken
159. Das Schicksal ist ein mieser Verräter / The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
160. Unheil / The Fog by James Herbert
161. Herscht 07769 / Herscht 07769 by László Krasznahorkai
162. Picknick der Friseure by Felicitas Hoppe
163. Hummelstich - Ein Mord kommt selten allein by Katharina Schendel
164. Schneewittchen-Party / Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
165. Der Clan der Magier / A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

Reading List for November
166. Der Tod in ihren Händen / Death In Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh
167. Der grüne Papst / El Papa Verde by Miguel Ángel Asturias
168. Maurice, der Kater / The Amazing Maurice And His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
169. Agent der Sterne / Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
170. Asterix in Lusitanien / Astérix en Lusitanie by Fabcaro and Conrad Didier
171. Das Wesen der Dinge und der Liebe / The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
172. Die Pest / La Peste by Albert Camus
173. Der illustrierte Mann / The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
174. Der Retter / De Redder by Mathijs Deen
175. Die kleine Hexe by Otfried Preussler
176. Die Kolonie / The Gathering by C. J. Tudor
177. Manche Schuld vergeht nie / Th Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
178. Die Mars-Chroniken / The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
179. Das Schweigen des Wassers by Susanne Tägder

Reading List for December
180. Dämmersee / Brottsjön by Johanna Mo
181. Auf dem Weg in den Ruhestand by Britta Laubvogel
182. DAS ENDE DER WELT WIE WIR SIE KENNEN / The End of the World as We Know It by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene
183. Kleine Morde erhalten die Nachbarschaft / A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder by Gay Marris
184. Die Praktikantin / The Intern by Gregg Hurwitz
185. DNA / DNA by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
186. Der Intrigant / The Disinformer by Peter Ustinov
187. Jahrestage I. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl by Uwe Johnson
188. Assistant to the Villain / Assistant to the Villainby Hannah Nicole Maehrer
189. Cold Eternity / Cold Eternity by S. A. Barnes
190. Hagakure / 葉隱 by Jocho Yamamoto
191. Escape Room. Das Hotel der tausend Augen by Eva Eich
192. Der lange Weg zu einem kleinen zornigen Planeten / The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
193. Hoch Oben by Joachim Zelter

A great idea from Paul Cranswick was A BOOK A YEAR FOR THE FIRST 64 YEARS OF MY LIFE
This is my updated list:
1961 Ein Mann in einer fremden Welt / Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
1962 Die Physiker / The Physicists: A Play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
1963 Platon im Stripteaselokal / Misreadings by Umberto Eco
1964 Am Freitag schlief der Rabbi lang / Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman
1965 Der Wüstenplanet / Dune by Frank Herbert
1966 Die phantastische Reise / Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov
1967 Die Vergangenheit der Zukunft (Future History) / The Past Through Tomorrow by Robert A. Heinlein
1968 2001 - Odyssee im Weltraum / 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
1969 Papillon / Papillon by Henri Charrière
1970 Und die Großen läßt man laufen / Murder at the Savoy by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö
1971 Der Exorzist / The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
1972 Sieh doch die Harlekins / Look at the Harlequins! by Vladimir Nabokov
1973 Momo oder die seltsame Geschichte von den Zeit-Dieben und von dem Kind, das den Menschen die gestohlene Zeit zurückbrachte / Momo by Michael Ende
1974 Carrie / Carrie by Stephen King
1975 Dhalgren / Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
1976 Interwiew mit einem Vampir / Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
1977 Sternentanz / Stardance by Jeanne Robinson & Spider Robinson
1978 Stadtgeschichten / Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
1979 Per Anhalter durch die Galaxis / The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
1980 Der Name der Rose / The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
1981 Cujo / Cujo by Stephen King
1982 Freitag / Friday by Robert A. Heinlein
1983 Christine / Christine by Stephen King
1984 Der Talisman / The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub
1985 Contact / Contact by Carl Sagan
1986 Es / It by Stephen King
1987 Der Elektrische Mönch: Dirk Gently's Holistische Detektei / Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
1988 Fool on the hill / Fool on the hill by Matt Ruff
1989 Hyperion / Hyperion by Dan Simmons
1990 The Stand / The Stand (unabridged) by Stephen King
1991 Sofies Welt / Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder
1992 Fräulein Smillas Gespür für Schnee / Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg
1993 Alpträume / Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King
1994 Asche zu Asche / Playing for the Ashes by Elizabeth George
1995 Dunkle Kammern / The Dark Room by Minette Walters
1996 The Green Mile / The Green Mile by Stephen King
1997 G.A.S. / Sewer, Gas and Electric: The Public Works Trilogy by Matt Ruff
1998 Wächter der Nacht / The Night Watch by Sergej Lukianenko
1999 Die 13 1/2 Leben des Käpt'n Blaubär / 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
2000 Das Haus = House of leaves / House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
2001 Jack Taylor fliegt raus / The Guards: A Novel by Ken Bruen
2002 Die Bibel nach Biff : die wilden Jugendjahre von Jesus, erzählt von seinem besten Freund / Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
2003 Ich und die anderen / Set This House in Order by Matt Ruff
2004 Der Turm / The Dark Tower by Stephen King
2005 Olympos / Olympos by Dan Simmons
2006 Am Ende war die Tat / What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George
2007 Der Tod und der Dicke / Death Comes for the Fat Man by Reginald Hill
2008 Das Spiel des Engels / The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
2009 1Q84 / 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
2010 Raum / Room by Emma Donoghue
2011 5 Dinge, die Sterbende am meisten bereuen / The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware
2012 Ein plötzlicher Todesfall / The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling
2013 Das Dickicht / The Thicket by Joe R. Lansdale
2014 Fiona: Als ich tot war 7 The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham
2015 Opferweg / Saint Odd by Dean Koontz
2016 Lovecraft Country / Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
2017 Und dann steht einer auf und öffnet das Fenster by Susann Pasztor
2018 Von der Kunst, schlechte Nachrichten gut zu überbringen by Jalid Sehouli
2019 Kurt by Sarah Kuttner
2020 Trauer: Der Reiseführer durch ein fremdes Land by Katrin Brunner
2021 Sörensen am Ende der Welt by Sven Stricker
2022 Was im Verborgenen ruht / Something to Hide by Elizabeth George
2023 Sörensen sieht Land by Sven Stricker
2024 Schwarze Gedanken by André Franquin
2025 ???

This was also a suggestion from the group: My Nobel Prize list:
1901 Sully Prudhomme - Intimes Tagebuch
1902 Theodor Mommsen - Römische Geschichte
1903 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson - Meisternovellen
1904 Frédéric Mistral - Mireille
1904 José Echegaray y Eizaquirre - Meisterdramen
1905 Henryk Sienkiewicz - Quo Vadis?
1906 Giosuè Carducci - Gedichte
1907 Rudyard Kipling - Dschungelbücher
1908 Rudolf Christoph Eucken - Sinn und Wert
1909 Selma Lagerlöf - Wunderbare Reise des kleinen Nils Holgerson mit den Wildgänsen
1910 Paul Heyse - Italienische Novellen
1911 Count Maurice Maeterlinck - Das Leben der Termiten
1912 Gerhart Hauptmann - Große Erzählungen
1913 Rabindranath Tagore - Gitanjali
1915 Romain Rolland - Meister Breugnon
1916 Verner von Heidenstam - Karl der Zwölfte und seine Krieger
1917 Karl Adolph Gjellerup - Seit ich zuerst sie sah
1917 Henrik Pontoppidan - Der Teufel am Herd
1919 Carl Spitteler - Prometheus der Dulder
1920 Knut Hamsun - Segen der Erde
1921 Anatole France - Die Schuld des Professors Bonnard
1922 Jacinto Benavente - Der tugendhafte Glücksritter
1923 William Butler Yeats Ausgewählte Werke
1924 Wladyslaw Reymont Die Bauern
1925 George Bernard Shaw - Pygmalion
1926 Grazia Deledda
1927 Henri Bergson Schöpferische Entwicklung
1928 Sigrid Undset
1929 Thomas Mann - Buddenbrooks
1930 Sinclair Lewis
1931 Erik Axel Karlfeldt
1932 John Galsworthy
1933 Ivan Alekseyevich Bunin
1934 Luigi Pirandello - Mattia Pascal
1936 Eugene O'Neill
1937 Roger Martin du Gard
1938 Pearl S. Buck - Die gute Erde
1939 Frans Eemil Sillanpää
1944 Johannes Vilhelm Jensen
1945 Gabriela Mistral
1946 Hermann Hesse - Knulp
1947 André Gide - Der Griesgram
1948 T.S. Elliot
1949 William Faulkner
1950 Bertrand Russell Lob des Müßiggangs
1951 Pär Lagerkvist
1952 François Mauriac
1953 Sir Winston Churchill Meine frühen Jahre
1954 Ernest Hemingway Der alte Mann und das Meer
1955 Halldór Laxness
1956 Juan Ramón Jiménez
1957 Albert Camus
1958 Boris Pasternak - Doktor Schiwago
1959 Salvatore Quasimodo
1960 Saint-John Perse
1961 Ivo Andric Die Brücke über die Drina
1962 John Steinbeck Von Mäusen und Menschen
1963 Giorgos Seferis
1964 Jean-Paul Sartre
1965 Michail Sholokhov
1966 Shmuel Yosef Agnon - Nur wie ein Gast zur Nacht
1966 Nelly Sachs
1967 Miguel Ángel Asturias
1968 Yasunari Kawabata
1969 Samuel Beckett - Warten auf Godot
1970 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
1971 Pablo Neruda
1972 Heinrich Böll - Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum
1973 Patrick White
1974 Eyvind Johnson
1974 Harry Martinson
1975 Eugenio Montale - Der Sturmwind und anderes
1976 Saul Bellow
1977 Vincente Aleixandre
1978 Isaac Bashevis Singer - Ein Bräutigam und zwei Bräute
1979 Odysseas Elytis
1980 Czeslaw Milosz
1981 Elias Canetti
1982 Gabriel Garciá Márquez
1983 William Golding
1984 Jaroslav Seifert
1985 Claude Simon
1986 Akinwande Ouwoe Soyinka - Aké, Jahre der Kindheit
1987 Joseph Brodsky
1988 Naguib Mahfouz
1989 Camilo José Cela
1990 Octavio Paz
1991 Nadine Gordimer July's Leute
1992 Derek Walcott
1993 Toni Morrison - Jazz
1994 Kenzaburo Oe Der stumme Schrei
1995 Seamus Heaney
1996 Wislawa Szymborska Auf Wiedersehen, Bis morgen : Gedichte
1997 Dario Fo - Bezahlt wird nicht!: Eine Farce
1998 José Saramago - Die Reise des Elefanten
1999 Günter Grass - Die Blechtrommel
2000 Gao Xingjian
2001 Vidiadhar Surjprasad Naipaul
2002 Imre Kertész
2003 John Maxwell Coetzee Sommer des Lebens
2004 Elfriede Jelinek Schwarzwasser. Am Königsweg - Zwei Theaterstücke
2005 Harold Pinter
2006 Orhan Pamuk Rot ist mein Name
2007 Doris Lessing - Das fünfte Kind
2008 J.M.G. Le Clézio
2009 Herta Müller
2010 Mario Vargas Llosa Alles Boulevard: Wer seine Kultur verliert, verliert sich selbst
2011 Tomas Tranströmer
2012 Mo Yan
2013 Alice Munro - Die Jupitermonde
2014 Patrick Modiano
2015 Svetlana Alexievich - Tschernobyl: Eine Chronik der Zukunft
2016 Bob Dylan - It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
2017 Kazuo Ishiguro - Der begrabene Riese
2018 Olga Tokarczuk - Ur und andere Zeiten
2019 Peter Handke - Die Angst des Tormanns beim Elfmeter
2020 Louise Gluck Winterrezepte aus dem Kollektiv
2021 Abdulrazak Gurnah Das verlorene Paradies
2022 Annie Ernaux - Der Platz
2023 Jon Fosse - Trilogie: Schlaflos / Olavs Träume / Abendmattigkeit
2024 Kang Han - Die Vegetarierin

Now I have read 66 award winners, 55 to go.

This project is scheduled to run for several years and will not be completed until long after 2025.

And some Series I want to mention - Thank you for the suggestion, Anita (FAMeulstee)
Thomas Andreasson
Tödlicher Mittsommer - Tod im Schärengarten - Die Toten von Sandhamn - Mörderische Schärennächte - Beim ersten Schärenlicht - Tod in stiller Nacht - Tödliche Nachbarschaft - Mörderisches Ufer - Flucht in die Schären - Das Grab in den Schären

Rönning & Stilton
Die Springflut - Die dritte Stimme - Die Strömung - Schlaflied - Wundbrand - Kaltes Gold - Der gute Samariter - Nattens öga

Isabelle Bonnet
Madame le Commissaire und der verschwundene Engländer - Madame le Commissaire und die späte Rache - Madame le Commissaire und der Tod des Polizeichefs - Madame le Commissaire und das geheimnisvolle Bild - Madame le Commissaire und die tote Nonne - Madame le Commissaire und der tote Liebhaber - Madame le Commissaire und die Frau ohne Gedächtnis - Madame le Commissaire und die panische Diva - Madame le Commissaire und die Villa der Frauen - Madame le Commissaire und die Mauer des Schweigens - Madame le Commissaire und das geheime Dossier

Borne
Borne - Tote Astronauten

Dalziel & Pascoe
A Clubbable Woman - An Advancement of Learning - Der Lüge schöner Schein - Ein nasses Grab - Der Calliope-Club - Der Würger von Yorkshire - Welke Rosen muss man schneiden - Exit Lines - Kein Kinderspiel - Unter Tage - Mord auf Widerruf - Ins Leben zurückgerufen - Der Schrei des Eisvogels - Der Wald des Vergessens - Das Dorf der verschwundenen Kinder - Asking for the Moon - Das Haus an der Klippe - Die rätselhaften Worte - Die Launen des Todes - Welch langen Weg die Toten gehen - Der Tod und der Dicke - Der Tod heilt alle Wunden - Die letzte Stunde naht

Whisky Business Mysteries
Whisky mit Mord - Whisky für den Mörder - Whisky mit Schuss - Ein Whisky auf den Tod

David Hunter
Die Chemie des Todes - Kalte Asche - Leichenblässe - Verwesung - Totenfang - Die ewigen Toten

Carl Mørck/Sonderdezernat Q
Erbarmen - Schändung - Erlösung - Verachtung - Erwartung - Verheißung - Selfies - Opfer 2117 - Natrium Chlorid - Verraten

Bobiverse
Ich bin viele - Wir sind Götter - Alle diese Welten - Himmelsfluss - Perverse Instantiations

Sörensen ermittelt
Sörensen hat Angst - Sörensen fängt Feuer - Sörensen am Ende der Welt - Sörensen sieht Land - Sörensen macht Urlaub

Lynley & Havers
Gott schütze dieses Haus - Keiner werfe den ersten Stein - Auf Ehre und Gewissen - Mein ist die Rache - Denn keiner ist ohne Schuld - Denn bitter ist der Tod - Asche zu Asche - Im Angesicht des Feindes - Denn sie betrügt man nicht - Undank ist der Väter Lohn - Nie sollst du vergessen - Wer die Wahrheit sucht - Wo kein Zeuge ist - Am Ende war die Tat - Doch die Sünde ist scharlachrot - Wer dem Tode geweiht - Glaube der Lüge - Nur eine böse Tat - Bedenke, was du tust - Wer Strafe verdient - Was im Verborgenen ruht

Dexter
Des Todes dunkler Bruder - Dunkler Dämon - Komm zurück, mein dunkler Bruder - Die schöne Kunst des Mordens - Dexter - Double Dexter - Dexter’s final cut - Dexter is dead

von Bodenstein und Kirchhoff
Eine unbeliebte Frau - Mordsfreunde - Tiefe Wunden - Schneewittchen muss sterben - Wer Wind sät - Böser Wolf - Die Lebenden und die Toten - Im Wald - Muttertag - In ewiger Freundschaft - Monster

I'm trying to read my way through the alphabet and have already got quite far.
The entries are not weighted according to my rating.

Titles:
A: Androidenträume
B: Black As F***. Die wahre Geschichte der USA
C: Campion. Tödliches Erbe
D: The Deeper Meaning of Liff
E: Emil und die Detektive
F: Fünf Winter
G: Geisterfjord
H: Das Haus in dem Gudelia stirbt
I: Invasion aus dem All
J:
K: Kleine freie Männer
L: Lückenleben: Mein Mann, der Alzheimer, die Konventionen und ich
M: Mad in Hollywood
N:
O: ONE OF US IS LYING
P: Das Parfum des Todes
Q: Quanten. 100 Seiten
R: Raumschlacht im Wega-Sektor
S: Sing, wilder Vogel, sing
T: Täuschend echt
U: Die unglaubliche Geschichte des Mister C.
V: Die Venusbasis
W: Weit über der smaragdgrünen See
X:
Y: Yallah Mord!
Z:

Authors:
A: Adams, Douglas
B: Bergson, Henri
C: Ceylan, Bülent
D: Darlton, Clark
E:
F: Faizal, Hafsah
G: Gide, André
H: Harriot, Michael
I:
J:
K: Knüwer, Thomas
L: Löw, Robert
M: Mahr, Kurt
N:
O: O’Mahony, Jacqueline
P: Pratchett, Terry
Q:
R: Rendell, Ruth
S: Sanderson, Brandon
T: Turton, Stuart
U:
V:
W: Williams, Zach
X:
Y:
Z: Zweig, Stefan

And my 75. book over the years - Thank you Jeff (mahsdad) for the idea:

2013: Shining by Stephen King
2014: Am Montag flog der Rabbi ab by Harry Kemelman
2015: Gesund in sieben Tagen Erfolge mit der Vitamin-D-Therapie; ein Leitfaden für die Praxis by Raimund von Helden
2016: Die nackte Sonne / The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov
2017: Die Mausefalle und andere Fallen / Three Blind Mice and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
2018: Von der Kunst, schlechte Nachrichten gut zu überbringen by Jalid Sehouli
2019: Die Geheime Geschichte / The Secret History by Donna Tartt
2020: Mürrische Monster / Demoneater by Royce Buckingham
2021: The Night Beat by Harry Bingham
2022: Eine kurze Geschichte der Menschheit / קיצור תולדות האנושות by Yuval Noah Harari
2023: Der heutige Tag: Ein Stundenbuch der Liebe by Helga Schubert
2024: Einstieg in Linux Mint 21 by Dirk Becker
2025: Stärkende Stille by Margot Käßmann

This weekend we came back from a river cruise.
It was wonderful, the ship, the cities and the weather.
And above all, I was able to meet EllaTim in person, which was a great pleasure.

And as promised some impressions:

Antwerp:

Antwerpen Kathedraal

Nello & Patrasche A Dog of Flanders / In a chocolate production / In the Frites Atelier / Sint Annatunnel, wooden escalators take you down into the depths

Rotterdam:

Erasmus Bridge / Cube house outside / Cube house inside / harbour

Amsterdam:
Food and culture:

Veal fillet tartare, roasted peppers and lovage / Risotto with green herbs, zucchini and grated Belper Knolle cheese /
Duck ravioli with gremolata / Sgroppino: lemon sorbet, vodka, prosecco / In the Public Library

Impressions from the city:

And our mode of transport:

The ship / our cabin / our cabin / Our table in the dining room

Ok, that's it for now...

Wow 😎 thanks so much for sharing these gorgeous photos. How wonderful you could meet Ella.
Happy new thread.

Happy new one!



Thanks for posting the meetup photo and your trip looks like it was FABOLOUS!!

>21 SirThomas: I don’t think I have seen a wooden elevator before neat!

Happy new thread

It was a pleasure to meet you and your wife, Thomas!

Nice pictures! And yes, Amsterdam public library good choice.

Happy new thread dear Thomas and what a great start to the new thread it is.

>1 SirThomas: I am a little bit jealous of not being able to join your meet-up!

>21 SirThomas: to >24 SirThomas: Looks like a great trip. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities.

>26 Ameise1: You are welcome, Barbara and thank you.
I am very glad that we were able to meet.

>27 Berly: Thank you Kim, we enjoyed the trip and the meetup a lot.

>28 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.
I didn't know it either, it rattles quite loudly, but we took the plunge anyway.

>29 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella - that was it for us too!

>30 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
I think the day will come...
And you are right, Amsterdam is worth a visit.

And of course there were books...

60. Das Kastell / The Keep by F. Paul Wilson

German Title translated: The fort
Genre: Horror
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Jim (drneutron))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1981
Pages: 540

When the Germans occupy an old fort in Romania during the Second World War, they awaken an ancient creature.
One by one they die. An exciting vampire story of a different kind.

61. Die Hausboot-Detektei - Tödlicher Genuss by Amy Achterop

German Title translated: The Houseboat Detective Agency - Deadly Delight
Genre: Crime Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2023
Pages: 352

Five notoriously unlucky people are investigating in Amsterdam.
Their newly founded detective agency is based on a house bot. When two rival chefs are after the same job, they are asked to spy on their competitor. But when she dies, they continue their investigation.
A nice cozy crime that I read while on vacation in Amsterdam.

62. Die Festung der sechs Monde by K. H. Scheer

English Title: Fortress of the Six Moons
German Title translated: The Fortress of the Six Moons
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 138

The Topsiders are gathering again and are a danger to the ferrons.
But Perry Rhodan finds a solution to end the conflict as bloodlessly as possible. Crest helps him in an unexpected way.

So fun to see some impressions of your trip! I really like seeing the inside of a cube house too, I've seen the outside many times and wondered what they were like inside. So nice that you were able to fit in a meetup too!

Happy new thread, Thomas!

>37 ursula: Thank you, Ursula, it was.
There is one house set up as a museum. It is narrow, winding, steep stairs and very impractical. But the look...

>38 drneutron: Thank you, Jim.

And it is time for the Friday Wins again:
Our wonderful river cruise ended on Saturday morning, and on the way home we visited my wife's cousin, she and her husband live almost half way home. We had a lovely day together and arrived home safely afterwards.
Our new mattresses were delivered on Tuesday and we are sleeping very well on them. I had a check-up at the dentist, my splint fits well - and it helps to suppress my snoring - my wife is delighted.
Yesterday I treated myself to my biannual facial, it was very pleasant and my skin is now ready for the summer.
And we went to the gym twice again this week.

Update time:

63. Sträters Gutenachtgeschichten by Torsten Sträter

German Title translated: Sträter's bedtime stories
Genre: Horror
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2021
Pages: 512

The author is a well-known comedian in Germany.
He has collected his horror stories here.
They are pleasant to read and often have a twist of black humor.

64. This Book Kills / This Book Kills by Ravena Guron

English Title: This Book Kills
German Title translated: This Book Kills 😂
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2023
Pages: 448

Jess is a scholarship student at an elite boarding school. When she writes a short story for a school assignment, a classmate is murdered exactly as described.
Now she starts to investigate herself, but as an outsider it's not so easy.
A really exciting YA book.
When finally the German title has something to do with the original, the original title doesn't really fit the book :-)

65. Iowa: Ein Ausflug nach Amerika by Stefanie Sargnagel

German Title translated: Iowa: A trip to America
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Review in Newspaper
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 297

The author flies to Iowa to teach creative writing as a guest teacher.
She describes rural America.
I didn't really warm to the book and found it a bit clichéd.

66. Das galaktische Rätsel by Clark Darlton

English Title: The Galactic Riddle
German Title translated: The Galactic Riddle
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 126

After the Topsiders are defeated, Perry Rhodan and his team pursue clues about a powerful intelligence and eternal life. In the process, they have to solve a few puzzles.

67. Die Spur durch Zeit und Raum by Clark Darlton

English Title: Quest Through Space and Time
German Title translated: The track Through Space and Time
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 124

Perry Rhodan and his team pursue clues about a powerful intelligence and eternal life. In the process, they have to solve a few puzzles and travel into the past.

68. Kleine Mordgeschichten für Tierfreunde / The animal loverʼs book of beastly murder by Patricia Highsmith

German Title translated: Little murder stories for animal lovers
Genre: Crime Fiction
Reading Reason: 2025 Category Challenge
Medium: eBook
First published: 1975
Pages: 336

Wonderful stories about pets and how they kill their owners.

69. Prinz Kaspian von Narnia / Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis

German Title translated: Prince Caspian of Narnia
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: 75 Books Challenge in honor of Anita (@FaMeulstee)
Medium: eBook
First published: 1951
Pages: 192

Once again, the children are drawn to Narnia and have to help save the inhabitants.
A wonderful story full of fantasy.

70. Hellas Channel / Νυχτερινό δελτίο by Petros Markaris

English Title: Late-Night News
Genre: Crime Fiction
Reading Reason: 75 Books Challenge in honor of Anita (@FaMeulstee) BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Barbara (Ameise1))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1951 1995
Pages: 192 464

Kostas Charitos investigates the murder of a journalist. In the process, he also uncovers other crimes and tries not to be hindered by influential suspects.
A disillusioned policeman in Greece who doesn't mince his words.
A pleasure to read.

Edit: Wrong data corrected.

Today may not be Friday, but it's still a win:

wördle.de #1190 - 3/6
🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩 Hilfe
🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩 Haube
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Härte

Wordle 16.04.2025 - 4/6
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩 Hilfe
🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ Autor
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Laute
wordle.at

wördle.de #1191 - 2/6
🟩🟨🟩⬜🟨 Hilfe
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Helix

Wordle 17.04.2025 - 4/6
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ Hilfe
🟩⬜🟨⬜⬜ Autor
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩 Asket
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Asiat
wordle.at

>48 SirThomas: Nice to hear that you enjoyed this book. What puzzles me is your page count. My book has 464 pages.

>1 SirThomas: Happy new thread!

>48 SirThomas: Sounds interesting, Thomas. It fits right into Paul’s Around Europe challenge.
Have a nice weekend ahead!

>15 SirThomas: Hi Tom, Paul had a great idea, which you are following through regarding reading a book a year published each year since birth. I'll need to go way back to 1952!

All good wishes!

>50 Ameise1: Thank you very much, Barbara.
Sorry for the confusion, that's what happens when you get mixed up with copy & paste.
I have a template for the book posts, which I forgot to adapt completely this time. The mistake has now been corrected - including the reason for reading - that was you!

>51 ocgreg34: Thank you, Greg.

>52 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
It fits and it is really worth reading!

>53 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda.
Have fun on your literary journey into the past, I enjoyed picking out the books.
It's only 9 years more than mine...

A little update to my reading in honor of Anita:
Last year Anita (FAMeulstee) died, at that time her WIKI with her favorites was copied and a group reading was organized.
Her list spans 11 decades, I have resolved to read one of her favorite books every month.

And it is friday again - time for the wins:
On Friday we had a delicious meal with our yoga friends.
On Saturday we bought new comforters and ate delicious sushi.
We had friends over on Sunday.
On Monday we got our first tick vaccination and rewarded ourselves with our first ice cream from the ice cream parlor on the way home.
Our neighbor came home on Tuesday, she was taken to the hospital by the emergency doctor on Saturday. Thank goodness she was only dehydrated - old people don't drink enough!
On Wednesday we both went to the pensioners' meeting, this time in the sun on the terrace, a very nice lunch with old friends.
And there's a new LibraryThing Hunt: The 2025 Spring Treasure Hunt

>59 SirThomas: I hadn't realized that the treasure hunt is underway. I will have to check it out. These are always fun to do!

>59 SirThomas: Congrats Thomas!

A tick vaccination? Really? I never heard of that option. Does it really work? I know several people who were bitten and had Lyme disease, so I would love to know more.

>48 SirThomas: & >50 Ameise1: Yes it does fit and it looks interesting too.

>58 SirThomas: Thank you for the reminder on our dear departed friend. I miss Anita's warm presence in the group every day.

>59 SirThomas: Ice cream is definitely a weakness of mine Thomas.
My favourite flavour will always involve coffee somewhere.

>59 SirThomas: I had my tick vaccinations last year and am now protected for the next ten years.
I wish you a happy Easter.

>60 figsfromthistle: I'm glad I could help, Anita - it is really fun!

>61 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. Unfortunately there is no vaccination for Lyme disease, but thankfully it can be treated well with antibiotics.
But our area is a risk area for TBE, which can lead to meningitis, which is also transmitted by ticks. And this is very difficult to treat, but the vaccination helps.

>62 PaulCranswick: It is, my friend.
Yes, Anita is missing, at our meeting in Amsterdam Ella and I also talked about our mutual friend and how nice it would have been if she had been there.
Coffee is a flavour I like to have hot in a cup. But there are a lot of other tasty varieties. My favourite is pistachio, but there are few ice cream parlors that do it well.

>63 Ameise1: I'm glad for you Barbara, we still have a few more injections to go, but so far there have been hardly any side effects.
Thank you very much and happy Easter to you and everyone.

71. Frankie by Jochen Gutsch & Maxim Leo

English Title: Frankie
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Bookstore
Medium: eBook
First published: 2023
Pages: 192

Frankie is a street cat who meets a man playing with a thread in an abandoned house.
Gold is suffering from severe depression after the death of his wife and is not happy when the cat watches his suicide attempt and tries to chase him away.
However, the two gradually become friends and help each other as best they can.
It helps that Frankie can talk, he also tells the story.
A wonderful little story about friendship.
A quote:
»Doch! Leben is’ einfach. Jeder Trottel kann leben.«
“Yes, life is simple. Any fool can live.”

The news just broke that Pope Francis passed away this morning on Easter Monday...

>64 SirThomas: Ah, I remember reading about it. Ticks carry all kinds of nasty bugs don’t they? Glad you have access to the vaccination, Thomas.

>67 SirThomas: This morning. He was a good man, and a credit to the church. He will be missed.

Wishing you a happy Easter!

>68 EllaTim: Yes, it is reassuring to be vaccinated, Ella.

He was full of kindness of heart, I am looking forward to the successor, there are many problems in the world.

Thank you, Ella, we had - have a wonderful week!

>69 SirThomas: I am not a Catholic, Thomas, although I still have some roots that are. I do feel that Pope Francis gave some relevance back to the Church. A good man of God, certainly.

>59 SirThomas: Have never heard of this! Is this, as the name implies, a preventative?

>70 PaulCranswick: These are true words my friend.

>71 Tess_W: Yes, it doesn't prevent you from being bitten, but it does prevent infection with TBE (TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS), a disease that is very difficult to treat.

It is friday again, time for the wins:
On Saturday, I played golf with my nephew on his home course. Apart from having a great time together, I found an Easter egg on the last hole and won a green fee voucher for 18 holes.
On Sunday, we had friends over for breakfast.
Monday started with some bad news, Pope Francis died, but in the evening we were all invited to the house for champagne, it was a very nice evening and another neighbor took the opportunity to tell us that she is pregnant, wonderful news.
On Wednesday, I played for the first time with a gof group who had invited me to have a go, I felt comfortable with them.
Yesterday we went to Tübingen and met up with friends from Bremen who were staying there for a few days.
This week I only made it to the gym once, but I was out in nature on the Gofplatz Golf course 3 times.

72. Alles Boulevard: Wer seine Kultur verliert, verliert sich selbst / La civilización del espectáculo by Mario Vargas Llosa

English Title: The Civilization of Entertainment
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Birthday / Death anniversary of the author
Medium: eBook
First published: 2012
Pages: 226

A wonderfully written polemic about the banalization of culture and its effects.
Worth reading.
A quote:
...in that tragic time when people began to confuse the price of a work of art with its value.
A quote from him from another book: Who am I when I'm online... and what does my brain do while I'm online? How the internet is changing the way we think.

73. Wackelkontakt by Wolf Haas

German Title translated: Loose connection
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Bookstore
Medium: eBook
First published: 2025
Pages: 240

Franz Escher is waiting for the electrician. His socket has a loose connection. To pass the time, he reads a book about the Mafia crown witness Elio Russo. Elio is in prison and waiting to be released. He has betrayed so many people that he fears for his life. Out of fear, he lies awake at night reading a book. It's about Franz Escher. He is waiting for the electrician. His socket has a loose connection.
A wonderfully twisted book that plays with reality.

74. Nicht länger ein Mensch / 人間失格 by Osamu Dazai

English Title: No Longer Human
German Title translated: No longer human
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 1948
Pages: 144

The story of the downfall of a deeply insecure man.
Worth thinking about.

The last books of April:

75. Stärkende Stille by Margot Käßmann

German Title translated: Strengthening silence
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2020
Pages: 96

Short essays on the different types of silence and their largely positive effects.
I found the book appropriate after learning that a good friend of mine had died at the age of 94.

76. Fremder in einer fremden Welt / Stranger in a Strange Land (Original Uncut) by Robert A. Heinlein

German Title translated: Stranger in a Strange World
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage on the shelf
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 1991
Pages: 668

A child is born on Mars and raised by Martians. When he is brought back to Earth, he first has to find his way around. But Michael has fantastic powers.
A wonderful and exciting book about American society that made me laugh and cry.
Some passages are a bit dated, the original was published in the 60s, but it is still relevant and a good read.

77. Die Geister von Gol by Kurt Mahr

English Title: The Ghosts of Gol
German Title translated: The Ghosts of Gol
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 136

Perry Rhodan and his team pursue clues about a powerful intelligence and eternal life. In the process, they have to solve new puzzles.

And the statistics of April:
Books read: 18
Pages read: 5,231 (longest 668 / shortest 96 / average 291)

Personal rating:
average rating
highest rating
lowest rating

Author nationalities:

Austria: 1 / 1 / 1
England: 2 / 2 / 2
Germany: 10 / 10 / 9
Greece: 1 / 1 / 1
Japan: 1 / 1 / 1
Peru: 1 / 1 / 1
USA: 3 / 3 / 3

Sum: 19 / 19 / 18

Counting mode: All authors of the books / Main Author(s) or Editor(s) per book / Only different authors

Gender:
female authors: 5 / 5 / 5
male authors: 14 / 14 / 13
n/a: - / - / -

alive authors: 10 / 10 / 10
dead authors: 9 / 9 / 8

date first published:

1940-1949: 1
1950-1959: 1
1960-1969: 4
1970-1979: 1
1980-1989: 1
1990-1999: 2
2010-2019: 1
2020-2029: 7

Media:
Ebooks: 17
Paperbooks: 1

Genre:
Crime fiction: 3
Fantasy: 1
Fiction: 4
Horror: 2
Non Fiction: 2
Science Fiction: 5
Thriller: 1

Reading Reason:
Birthday Book: 1
Recommendation real life: 1
In Memory of Anita: 1
Random / rummage: 8
This gorgeous group: 7

And it's Friday again, time for the wins:
I'm the honorary treasurer of an association and my accounts were audited on Friday - no complaints.
On Monday we got new water meters in the apartment - everything remained tight. They are now read via WLAN.
On Tuesday we had a wonderful art tour in the morning and a wonderful theater performance in the evening, a musical about Amy Winehouse's life.
Yesterday we had a visit from a friend, she is a dermatologist and examined us - everything was fine, afterwards we enjoyed delicious asparagus and the beautiful sunny day.
Today my wife went shopping and brought delicious sushi.
And we went to the gym twice again.

>77 SirThomas: I’m sorry for your loss, Thomas.

The book sounds interesting. Silence is becoming a rare thing, and much to be appreciated.

>81 SirThomas: Ooh, asparagus! Such a treat around this time of year.

Congrats on reading past 75 books,

Congrats on reaching and surpassing 75 books already, Thomas!

>82 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
We miss him, but he left with happiness. He said I've lived my life and now it's time. And he died peacefully.

The book makes you think.
The author was the regional bishop of the Protestant church in Hanover and she has written several books.

We love asparagus and we enjoy it very often.

>83 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.

>84 bell7: Thank you, Mary.

This year there were many shorter books...

Congrats on zipping past the goal!

Thank you, Jim!

And May had books too:

78. Planet der sterbenden Sonne by Kurt Mahr

English Title: The Planet of the Dying Sun
German Title translated: Planet of the Dying Sun
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 133

Perry Rhodan and his team pursue clues about a powerful intelligence and eternal life. Their spaceship has been transferred to a completely unknown area and they have to find their way back.

79. Die Rebellen von Tuglan by Clark Darlton

English Title: The Rebels of Tuglan
German Title translated: The Rebels of Tuglan
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 127

On the way back, Perry Rhodan and his crew ends up on a planet of the Arkonid Empire, which is rebelling against the Arkonids.
They end the revolution largely peacefully.

80. Der Unsterbliche by K. H. Scheer

English Title: The Immortal Unknown
German Title translated: The Immortal
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1961
Pages: 127

At last Perry Rhodan, Thora and Crest have solved all the riddles and found the planet of eternal life.
But the intelligence that created it has its own ideas about who should receive the life-prolonging cell shower...

81. Der Winterschmied / Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

German Title translated: The Wintersmith
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: 75 books challenge - Group read
Medium: eBook
First published: 2006
Pages: 384

During her apprenticeship, Tiffany dances even though she shouldn't. Winter notices her and falls in love with her.
Now she has to do everything she can to prevent the world from sinking into ice and snow. At the same time, she tries to help an overwhelmed young witch.
But she has help too.
Another exciting, funny, imaginative read.

Wow, you pulled it up your siencfiction sleeve. This is not for me, but it's nice to hear that you're enjoying it.

Indeed, Barbara.
I like SF since my youth and the Perry Rhodan series ist a very good vintage - mine 😉.

Catching up on your reading, and loving all the Perry Rhodans. Congratulations on 75!

Thank you, Steve ant thank you for the stimulus.

Habemus Papam.
We found his first appearance very promising
And it was interesting to see that there were many more people at his inaugural speech than at the inauguration of the fake pope.

And it is friday again - time for the Friday Wins:
On Friday we received the bill for the additional costs of the apartment, we will get a small refund.
On Saturday, my wife went to a cooking class at one of our favorite restaurants, after which I was allowed to join her and enjoy the results:

Sourdough bread with salted butter, accompanied by a delicious crémant (not on the pic)
Oxheart tomato / olive / pine /salt /lemon
Salmon trout / snake cucumber / linseed / Szechuan pepper
Pork / buckwheat / turnip / wild garlic
Oranges from the Peloponnese / dark chocolate / pumpkin-seed / arugula
As it was accompanied by wine, we had a friend pick us up
On Wednesday I went to the golf course, I played very badly, but everything else was wonderful.

It is Friday again, time for the Wins:

On Saturday I got my first training as a reading mentor in the elementary school, the other participants seem to be very nice and are like me unsure what to expect.
On Sunday I had a golf tournament, I played very badly, but it was still fun, nice people, sun, nature,...
On Monday we picked up some delicious sushi and enjoyed it with our neighbor, she had invited us because we help her so much.
On Tuesday we went to the funeral of our friend who had moved into a retirement home near his children last year. We realized that some of them knew us, we had never seen them before, but the deceased had said a lot of good things about us. It was a nice farewell.
On Wednesday I went to the dentist for a check-up, everything is fine.
Yesterday we were busy at work and cleaned all the windows in the apartment, it's much brighter now 😉.
And I went to the gym twice again

>75 SirThomas: I see this one in the displays at Thalia all the time as I pass. It's an eye-catcher for sure!

>99 SirThomas: I also cleaned (some, not all of the) apartment windows today. It's definitely much nicer already!

>98 SirThomas: All of it looks delicious, Thomas!

>99 SirThomas: A reading mentor? Seems like a wonderful idea. Tell us a bit about it once you know more, please.

>98 SirThomas: Those look delicious!

>100 ursula: Yes the cover is stunning, Wolf Haas has a special kind of humor, but I like it.
Congratulations - with clean windows you see the world clearer...
We have some roof windows, they are difficult to clean but it was worth it. Sahara dust and pollen have made their presence felt.

>101 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella - it was!
Yestarday we had our second lesson. A lot of theory and practical exercises on how to keep children interested.
We go to the elementary school and are assigned a small group of children (2-4) with reading problems. We are supposed to read to them, help them read for themselves and awaken their interest in books...

>102 ocgreg34: Thank you Greg, it was.
We had both a wonderful time.

And another win:
wördle.de #1221 - 2/6
🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩 Hilfe
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Halle

Wordle 16.05.2025 - 2/6
🟩⬜🟨⬜🟨 Hilfe
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Hebel
wordle.at

82. Modesty Blaise. Die Lady bittet ins Jenseits / Sabre Tooth by Peter O'Donnell

German Title translated: The Wintersmith
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Birthday / Death anniversary of the author
Medium: eBook
First published: 1966
Pages: 288

This time Modesty Blaise has to prevent a coup in Hindu Kush.
Excitingly written, but the heroes are a bit too superhuman for me.

83. SHINING IN THE DARK / Shining in the Dark by Hans-Åke Lilja

German Title translated: Shining in the Dark
Genre: Horror
Reading Reason: Author
Medium: eBook
First published: 2018
Pages: 264

A collection of short stories for the anniversary of a Stephen King fan site.
Some very good, some a little less so.

84. Schlachthof 5 oder Der Kinderkreuzzug / Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

German Title translated: Slaughterhouse-Five
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: 75 Books Challenge in honor of Anita (@FaMeulstee)
Medium: eBook
First published: 1969
Pages: 252

A wonderful book about the senselessness of war and what it does to people.
Worth reading!

85. Zero Days / Zero Days by Ruth Ware

German Title translated: Zero Days 🙂
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2023
Pages: 384

Jack is a pentester together with her husband. When she returns home after an assignment, she finds him murdered.
When she herself comes under suspicion of murder, she has to use her contacts and knowledge to convict the real killer.
Exciting and well written.

I received a medal today, I've been a Fifteener since the day before yesterday.
Since I get most of my books from the public library, I buy very few new books, but I have managed to buy 16 books since my last Thingaversary:
Ihr wollt es dunkler by Stephen King
Die Abwärtstreppe rauf by Bel Kaufman
Mitte des Lebens by Barbara Bleisch
Apollo 13 by Jim Lovell
Lückenbüßer by Volker Klüpfel
Fission #4 by Eugen Bacon
This Is How You Die by Ryan North
Five Minutes from a Meltdown by David Meyer
Ein Toter zur Bescherung by Eva Eich
Escape Room. Das Hotel der tausend Augen by Eva Eich
Das Mädchen aus Yorkshire by Lucinda Riley
Sörensen macht Urlaub by Sven Stricker
Verbrannte Gnade by Margot Douaihy
Das Mitternachtskleid by Terry Pratchett
Haunted Houses Creak by M.H. Altis
SHINING IN THE DARK by Hans-Åke Lilja

>111 SirThomas: Congrats on your Thingaversary!

I read Apollo 13 and really enjoyed the read.

Thank you, Anita!
It is a really good book - and a recommendation of this gorgeous group, Thank you, Linda!

I'm a bit pressed for time at the moment, but there has to be time for the friday wins...

On Monday we received our tax assessment notice, the tax office accepted my tax return and we don't have to pay anything extra.
On Wednesday I went to a public golf course with my wife, we had a wonderful morning and a good lunch in a restaurant. On the way back we bought some delicious green asparagus.
Yesterday we had a check-up at the gym, the trainer is very happy with us.
In the afternoon we had the owners' meeting for our apartment, which went very smoothly.

Now I have to write protocols and prepare for my training in the afternoon and tomorrow. There were also books, but I'll have to put you off with that, my visits to the other threads will also take some time.

Congrats, Thomas with your Fifteenth Thingaversary. I read the Terry Pratchett, and liked it.

Oh, green asparagus. We went to a restaurant on Friday and had a classic asparagus dinner, with eggs, salmon and mustard sauce. There’s a reason for this being a classic!

Thank you, Ella.
I'm looking forward to the book and will be reading it in July as part of the Discworld Books: Tiffany Aching group.

Your dinner sounds really yummy!

86. Hase und ich / Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

German Title translated: Hare and I
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Radio recommendation
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 304

The author describes how she finds an injured brown hare cub, nurses it back to health and builds up a relationship of trust.
In the process, she herself finds peace and learns about the beauties of life in the countryside.

87. Lob des Müßiggangs / In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays by Bertrand Russel

German Title translated: In Praise of Idleness
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Birthday / Death anniversary of the author
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 1935
Pages: 316

A wonderful collection of essays on various topics. Many are still highly topical today.
For example, Russel describes customs duties using the example of a butcher who is jealous of his competitors and therefore propagates vegatarism in order to harm them. At the end, he wonders why he no longer has any customers himself...
Another item on my Nobel Prize list is thus also done - win win!

88. X 7 antwortet nicht by Stefan Wolf

German Title translated: X 7 does not answer
Genre: Young Adult
Reading Reason: Alphabetlist
Medium: eBook
First published: 1981
Pages: 192

A group of children track down a robbery on an armored car and find the perpetrators.
It's reasonably exciting, but outdated.
The fact that girls go to bed while the boys keep an eye on criminals is just one example.
At least I've now read a title that begins with X.

Now only the J is missing from the titles and E, I, J, N, Q, X, Y from the authors.

Hi Thomas. I just finished a book that I really liked, set in the Waddensee area. I wondered if you know this series De Hollander by Mathijs Deen. I read the first book where a dead man is found in the Eems area, on the border of Holland and Germany. I thought you might like the books as well.

Thank you, Ella.
I didn't know the author before, but I trust your taste in books.
My library has it available, I'll read it soon.
I'm already looking forward to it!

There's been some bad news this week, but I want to focus on WINS, even though it's already Saturday...
On Sunday we went to the trade fair to look at infrared cabins and were quickly convinced.
On Monday we signed the order and now we're looking forward to the beginning of July when it will be delivered.
On Wednesday it finally rained after a long dry spell and we had a delicious lunch of tagliatelle with prawns and spicy garlic. Not very photogenic but very tasty!
Yesterday we went into town for a stroll, spent the afternoon on the terrace and had two nice visits from neighbors.

89. 42 Gründe, das Universum zu hassen / 42 Reasons to Hate the Universe by Chris Ferrie

German Title translated: 42 Reasons to Hate the Universe
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 240

A book with the number 42 in the title must be good, right?
Unfortunately not so special, 42 reasons are given that (could) cause humanity to die out.
An interesting topic, but the style is a bit too vulgar for me.

90. Die Bibliothek der verlorenen Bücher by Alexander Pechmann

German Title translated: The library of lost books
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2007
Pages: 240

A book about lost books.
Interesting stories about books and the reason why they are not available.

91. Der Holländer / De Hollanderby Mathijs Deen

German Title translated: The Dutchman
Genre: Crime Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Ella (EllaTim))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2022
Pages: 272

A body is found in the mudflats on the border between Holland and Germany. As the border is disputed, there are complications between the investigators from both countries.
The German police send a native Dutchman on an unofficial investigation.
A very atmospheric book that describes the landscape and the mood of the North Sea very well. It is also very well written and exciting.
I have already made a note of the next book in the series.

And the statistics of May:
Books read: 14
Pages read: 3,523 (longest 384 / shortest 127 / average 252)

Personal rating:
average rating
highest rating
lowest rating

Author nationalities:

Canada: 1 / 1 / 1
England: 5 / 5 / 5
Germany: 5 / 5 / 5
Netherlands: 1 / 1 / 1
Sweden: 1 / 1 / 1
USA: 1 / 1 / 1

Sum: 14 / 14 / 14

Counting mode: All authors of the books / Main Author(s) or Editor(s) per book / Only different authors

Gender:
female authors: 2 / 2 / 2
male authors: 12 / 12 / 12
n/a: - / - / -

alive authors: 6 / 6 / 6
dead authors: 8 / 8 / 8

date first published:
1930-1939: 1
1960-1969: 5
1980-1989: 1
2000-2009: 2
2010-2019: 1
2020-2029: 4

Media:
Ebooks: 13
Paperbooks: 1

Genre:
Crime fiction: 1
Fantasy: 1
Horror: 1
Non Fiction: 4
Science Fiction: 4
Thriller: 2
Young Adult: 1

Reading Reason:
Author: 1
Birthday Book: 2
Recommendation real life: 1
In Memory of Anita: 1
Random / rummage: 3
This gorgeous group: 6

So, I enjoyed reading your Friday wins.
>126 SirThomas: BB I've put it on my never-ending library wish list, but will be reading mostly Italian authors in June.
Have a great weekend.

>126 SirThomas: I’m glad you liked it, Thomas. I’ll be looking for part two, but first some Italian books. (It’s for Paul’s challenge).

>128 Ameise1: I’ll be interested in your choices, Barbara. I realised I am more familiar with Italian movies.

>128 Ameise1: You're welcome, Barbara.
Italian authors sound tempting.
So many books, so little time, sigh...

>129 EllaTim: I trust your taste very much, Ella - There are good reasons for that...
I'll probably read part 2 soon. If nothing comes in between.

And a nice quote I found, it's from Alexandre Dumas:

My father is a big child that I was given when I was very small.

92. Jack aus den Schatten / Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny

German Title translated: Jack of the Shadows
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: Alphabetlist
Medium: eBook
First published: 1971
Pages: 160

Jack is a master thief and can hide in shadows. His world is divided into two parts: the people in eternal day are mortal and have a soul, while those in eternal night are reborn in an inhospitable region after death. When he is betrayed on a mission and beheaded, he swears revenge. He strengthens his powers and upsets the fabric of the world.
Exciting and easy to read.

Now I have completed the first part of my alphabet challenge. A book for every 26 letters:

A: Androidenträume
B: Black As F***. Die wahre Geschichte der USA
C: Campion. Tödliches Erbe
D: The Deeper Meaning of Liff
E: Emil und die Detektive
F: Fünf Winter
G: Geisterfjord
H: Das Haus in dem Gudelia stirbt
I: Invasion aus dem All
J: Jack aus den Schatten
K: Kleine freie Männer
L: Lückenleben: Mein Mann, der Alzheimer, die Konventionen und ich
M: Mad in Hollywood
N: Nicht länger ein Mensch
O: ONE OF US IS LYING
P: Das Parfum des Todes
Q: Quanten. 100 Seiten
R: Raumschlacht im Wega-Sektor
S: Sing, wilder Vogel, sing
T: Täuschend echt
U: Die unglaubliche Geschichte des Mister C.
V: Die Venusbasis
W: Weit über der smaragdgrünen See
X: X 7 antwortet nicht
Y: Yallah Mord!
Z: Zero Days

I'm not ready for the authors yet, I'm still missing 8 here, but the year is still long...

>131 SirThomas: 😍what a wonderful quote.

I think so too.
If I had children, I would be happy to be described like that.

It is Friday, time for the WINS:
On Saturday, we met up with friends at a barn that is run by wineries. Rustic food, delicious wine, good conversation. We hardly noticed the thunderstorm...
Yesterday we met up with other friends for public golf, which was great fun for everyone. The meal afterwards was delicious.

Speaking of Wins:
Today we went on a short vacation to Freibug, visited lavender fields and had a delicious meal:
My wife had Surf & Turf - roast beef thinly sliced with gamba on homemade focaccia with baked tomatoes, aioli cream and salad bouquet / White & green asparagus with roasted salmon, new potatoes and hollandaise sauce / Marinated strawberries with homemade vanilla ice cream, caramelized puff pastry and whipped cream
I had Tartar of beef fillet in an eggplant roll with hummus, goat's cream cheese, tomato-chili salsa and salad bouquet / Veal saddle steak under a herb crust with jus, chanterelles, vegetables and homemade potato noodles / Crème caramel with strawberry and rhubarb ragout, vanilla espuma and pistachio ice cream
Before that there was goat's cream cheese with bread.







We are traveling until Sunday, so I am not very present in LT...

>137 SirThomas: Oh yummy, enjoy it 😃. The lavender fields in Provence are still on my bucket list. Maybe we'll manage to go there for 2-3 weeks next June.

>138 Ameise1: Thank you very much, yesterday we went out for sushi, also very tasty.
The lavender fields in Provence are also on our bucket list.
But as it's difficult for us in terms of time, we drove to Breisgau, where there are also a few lavender fields.
But one day we want to visit the original...

We share that item for our Bucket lists! When I see the picture above Thomas I can imagine I can smell the lavender. Would be great in reality.

>140 EllaTim: Lavender smells wonderful, we have a stick on the balcony, but it can't compete with a whole field.
But the original would be great...

The world seems to have gone mad, but there are still Friday Wins:
I played a golf tournament on Sunday, it was raining and storming, so I have an excuse for not playing so well. It was still a wonderful day.
We've been in Freiburg, my wife's hometown, since Tuesday. We're going on excursions, meeting up with old friends and having delicious food.

We are back from a wonderful journey and it is time for the books:

93. Kein Zurück / Never Flinch by Stephen King

German Title translated: No turning back
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Author
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 2025
Pages: 640

A new King is always a feast for me.
This time Holly Gibney has to deal with a serial killer who kills innocent people in order to punish the guilty.
At the same time, she is hired as a bodyguard for a feminist, while Jerome and Barbara support a famous singer.
Both cases end in a thrilling finale.
It's certainly not his best novel, but there are many worse, I enjoyed it.

94. Freitag / Friday by Robert A. Heinlein

German Title translated: Friday
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: Author
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 1982
Pages: 432

America in the future, on the one hand there is faster-than-light space travel, on the other hand people move around in horse-drawn carriages. The current situation reminds me a bit of that...
Freitag is a combat courier and the best at her job.
However, she is genetically manipulated, which makes her a leper.
An exciting, varied story with satirical touches. I love it!

95. Owen Meany / A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

German Title translated: Owen Meany
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Linda (Whisper1))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1989
Pages: 864

A wonderfully written story about friendship and growing up - or not.
Just read it for yourself. Thank you, Linda, for an exciting read.

96. Ein Wort, um dich zu retten / La vie secrète des écrivains by Guillaume Musso

English Title: The Secret Life of Writers
German Title translated: A word to save you
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Found in vacation apartment
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 2019
Pages: 336

An unsuccessful writer takes a job as a bookseller on a remote island so that he can be close to a successful author shrouded in mystery.
When a body is found, he is drawn into the case.
Stories within stories within stories. The reader is repeatedly led astray, but it is fun to read.

97. Der Gärtner und der Tod / Градинарят и смъртта by Georgi Gospodinov

German Title translated: The gardener and the death
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 240

A wonderfully told story about the life and death of the author's father.
The first sentence is poetry in itself: My father was a gardener.

98. Nachttod / Nattsångaren by Johanna Mo

English Title: The Night Singer
German Title translated: Night death
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Barbara (Ameise1))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2020
Pages: 496

Hanna Duncker is a policewoman who has been transferred to her home island.
She wants to find out what happened when her father murdered a woman and burned down her house.
No sooner has she arrived than she receives threatening phone calls and has to solve the murder of a teenager. He is the son of her former best friend.
Suspenseful and atmospheric, definitely not the last book in the series I will read.

99. Er lebe hoch! Loriot zum 100. Geburtstag by Dennis Metz and Steffen Gumpert

German Title translated: Long live him! Loriot for his 100th birthday
Genre: Cartoons
Reading Reason: Rummage at the bookstore
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 2023
Pages: 112

A collection of cartoons in honor of the great comedian.
Wonderful memories.

And it is time for the Friday WINS again:
On Saturday we had a last delicious meal in Freiburg, on Sunday we drove home again.
On Wednesday, my wife went to the eye clinic for a check-up and everything was fine.
As a “reward”, we went out for a delicious pizza in the evening. We were too lazy to cook it ourselves...
Yesterday I was on the golf course, wonderful weather and I played very well by my standards.

Books will follow later...

100. Die Brüder Löwenherz / Bröderna Lejonhjärta by Astrid Lindgren

English Title: The Brothers Lionheart
German Title translated: The Brothers Lionheart
Genre: Fairy Tale
Reading Reason: Reason: 75 Books Challenge in honor of Anita (@FaMeulstee)
Medium: eBook
First published: 1973
Pages: 240

Last year Anita (FAMeulstee) died, at that time her WIKI with her favorites was copied and a group reading was organized.
Her list spans 11 decades, I have resolved to read one of her favorite books every month.
This one is a wonderful story about about fear, trust and death.
Jonathan tells his sick brother about the magical land of Nangijala to comfort him.
When they both find themselves in this land, they must do everything they can to save it from a dark threat.

>151 SirThomas: A classic that I enjoyed reading aloud not only to my daughters.
It's so hot here that I've been reading indoors for the last hour instead of in the shade of the trees in our garden 🫣

>145 SirThomas: This is one of my favorite books of all time!

>152 Ameise1: Yes, it's unbearable outside, it's starting to get windy and the awning was automatically retracted.
And thanks again for bringing Johanna Mo to my attention, I love the series with Hanna Duncker.

>153 ursula: I feel the same way about this wonderful book.

101. Finsterhaus / Skuggliljan by Johanna Mo

English Title: The Shadow Lily
German Title translated: Finster house
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Barbara (Ameise1))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2021
Pages: 496

A man and his 14-month-old son have disappeared and Hanna Duncker and her team are doing everything they can to find them.
The residents also join in the search.
At the same time, Hanna tries to find out who is trying to prevent her from finding out what happened to her father.
Exciting and well written.

And there's a new LibraryThing Hunt: 2025 Pride Treasure Hunt.
It was a lot of fun again and especially in these times, it is important that it exist.

And it's Friday again, time for the wins:
At the beginning of the week, I finally managed to clean the blinds in front of the windows on the terrace.
LibraryThing had another treasure hunt, which I was able to solve successfully with the help of the community
Yesterday I was informed that I had won two EarlyReviewers prizes
And we went on a pasta cooking course, it was interesting and we had a lot of fun.

>157 SirThomas: A huge pasta fan here, Thomas. I pride myself on being a fairly good cook when it comes to pasta and various accompanying sauces.
Did you make your own pasta?

So do we.
The course was very interesting, first there was an introduction to the basics of dough making, then we were divided into 8 stations and had to cook ourselves. My wife and I made cannelloni with ricotta and spinach.
Others made spaghetti, gnocchi, tortelloni,...
Unfortunately, there was hardly any opportunity to visit the other stations.
At the end, we sat down at a large table and enjoyed the freshly prepared food with sparkling wine, wine and water.
It was a wonderful evening and we want to make our own pasta at home soon. But at the moment it's over 35°C (95°F) and it's supposed to get even hotter by the middle of the week. So we are postponing it a little.

Todays wordles:
wördle.de #1265 - 4/6
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨 Hilfe
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ Autor
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 Nudel
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pudel

Wordle 16.05.2025 - 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Hilfe
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟨 Autor
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 Durst
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Wurst
wordle.at

Interesting color distribution...

>159 SirThomas: Sounds marvellous. Hani and I would have been at war if we were cooking together!

As I concentrate on auxiliary work such as chopping vegetables and dough kneading, we don't have any problems in this regard.
There can only be one boss in the kitchen...

102. Das Paradies meines Nachbarn by Nava Ebrahimi

German Title translated: The paradise of my neighbor
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Reason: My wife
Medium: eBook
First published: 2020
Pages: 224

A product designer gets a tough new boss who, like him, comes from Iran.
He asks him to travel with him to Dubai to receive a letter from his deceased mother.
The beginning is a bit bumpy, but then I was drawn into the story about life crises and true strength.
You also learn a lot about the child soldiers in the Iran/Iraq war and what became of them.

103. Handbuch für den vorsichtigen Reisenden durch das Ödland / The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

German Title translated: Handbook for the cautious traveler through the wasteland
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: Reason: Rummageat the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 416

A train is traveling from China to Russia. As the area in between has changed eerily, it is sealed and not allowed to stop.
But there are passengers who have other interests and the “inhabitants” of the wasteland are also interested in the train.
An exciting story about the unknown and the courage to embrace it.

104. Dunkelwald / Mittlandet by Johanna Mo

German Title translated: Dark forest
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Barbara (Ameise1))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2022
Pages: 496

Hanna slowly gets closer to the real culprit, but she is still in danger. Her house is set on fire and she only just manages to escape.
At the same time, she investigates the case of a boy who went missing 15 years ago and whose remains were recently found in the forest.
Now I'm waiting until the next volume is available.

105. Und jeden Morgen das Meer by Karl-Heinz Ott

German Title translated: And every morning the sea
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Reason: Review in Newspaper
Medium: eBook
First published: 2018
Pages: 144

Sonja ran a hotel on Lake Constance together with her husband. He died soon after losing his Michelin star and the hotel was over-indebted.
His brother took over the debts, she hadto leave the hotel. She moves to Wales and takes over a lonely hotel there in order to free herself from the past.
A melancholy story about letting go.

Since I will not finish a book today, the statistics of June:
Books read: 14
Pages read: 5,296 (longest 864 / shortest 112 / average 378)

Personal rating:
average rating
highest rating
lowest rating

Author nationalities:

Bulgary: 1 / 1 / 1
England: 1 / 1 / 1
France: 1 / 1 / 1
Germany: 2 / 2 / 2
Iran: 1 / 1 / 1
Sweden: 4 / 4 / 2
USA: 4 / 4 / 4

Sum: 14 / 14 / 12

Counting mode: All authors of the books / Main Author(s) or Editor(s) per book / Only different authors

Gender:
female authors: 6 / 6 / 4
male authors: 8 / 8 / 8
n/a: - / - / -

alive authors: 11 / 11 / 9
dead authors: 3 / 3 / 3

date first published:
1970-1979: 2
1980-1989: 2
2010-2019: 2
2020-2029: 8

Media:
Ebooks: 10
Paperbooks: 4

Genre:
Comic: 1
Fairy Tale: 1
Fantasy: 2
Fiction: 5
Science Fiction: 1
Thriller: 4

Reading Reason:
Author: 2
Recommendation real life: 2
In Memory of Anita: 1
Random / rummage: 4
This gorgeous group: 5

And the first half of the year is gone too:
Books read: 105
Pages read: 31,389 (longest 864 / shortest 48 / average 299)

Personal rating:
average rating
highest rating
lowest rating

Author nationalities:

Austria: 1 / 1 / 1
Bosnia: 1 / 1 / 1
Bulgary: 1 / 1 / 1
Canada: 1 / 1 / 1
Greece: 1 / 1 / 1
England: 16 / 16 / 14
France: 3 / 3 / 3
Germany: 40 / 40 / 30
Iceland: 1 / 1 / 1
Iran: 1 / 1 / 1
Ireland: 1 / 1 / 1
Italy: 1 / 1 / 1
Japan: 1 / 1 / 1
Netherlands: 1 / 1 / 1
Peru: 1 / 1 / 1
Sweden: 5 / 5 / 3
Switzerland: 2 / 2 / 2
Taiwan: 1 / 1 / 1
USA: 26 / 26 / 24
n/a: 1 / 1 / 1

Sum: 106 / 106 / 90

Counting mode: All authors of the books / Main Author(s) or Editor(s) per book / Only different authors

Gender:
female authors: 27 / 27 / 25
male authors: 78 / 78 / 64
n/a: 1 / 1 / 1

alive authors: 63 / 63 / 60
dead authors: 43 / 43 / 30

date first published:
1900-1909: 1
1920-1929: 2
1930-1939: 3
1940-1949: 3
1950-1959: 5
1960-1969: 17
1970-1979: 4
1980-1989: 4
1990-1999: 4
2000-2009: 5
2010-2019: 8
2020-2029: 49

Media:
Ebooks: 95
Paperbooks: 10

Genre:
Comic: 3
Crime Fiction: 13
Fairy Tale: 1
Fantasy: 8
Fiction: 19
Horror: 5
Non Fiction: 15
Science Fiction: 25
Short Stories: 1
Theater: 1
Thriller: 13
Young Adult: 1

Reading Reason:
Author: 6
Birthday Book: 7
Early Reviewers: 1
Nobel Prize: 2
Recommendation real life: 3
In Memory of Anita: 6
Random / rummage: 35
This gorgeous group: 38

I'm glad to read that you like the Johanna Mo series.
It's so terrible hot here and I'm still working for the next two weeks 🥴.

The fourth ist available soon...
Here it is hot too and there are Moments I would like to go to work again.
The office was very cool.
But when we sit at breakfast at a time when I used to work some time then such impulses quickly pass...
Stay cool!

>170 SirThomas: The classrooms are not air-conditioned, and I am currently teaching under the roof. It is already sweltering when you enter the room in the morning. 🥴

>171 Ameise1: That doesn't sound very pleasant.
Thank goodness it's cooled down a bit here since yesterday, I hope it's got better for you too.

And it is friday again, time for the wins:
On Saturday morning we went to a short organ concert in the church, where the organist played pieces by Glen Miller and George Gershwin. It was very nice and the church was pleasantly cool.
In the evening we went to the theater and watched a wonderful boulevard comedy.
On Wednesday we had delicious tuna fillet, we marinated some in soy sauce and sesame oil and rubbed it with roasted sesame seeds. Then we fried it very briefly. We chopped the other part into small pieces and made a tartare from it.

With rice and a small glass of sparkling wine, we didn't find the heat quite so bad.
Yesterday, my old department had a meeting followed by a tour of VfB Stuttgart's Bundesliga stadium.
The pensioners were also invited to lunch and the tour and I had a wonderful afternoon.
In the evening, we were visited by the son of our former neighbor, who was passing through and visited his father's grave. We sat on the terrace and had a lovely evening together.

Wordles treated me well:

wördle.de #1271 - 1/6
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Hilfe

Wordle 06.07.2025 - 5/6
🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ Hilfe
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜ Autor
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 Nacht
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 Macht
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pacht
wordle.at

wördle.de #1272 - 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Hilfe
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜ Autor
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Autos

Wordle 07.07.2025 - 3/6
🟩⬜🟩⬜🟨 Hilfe
🟩🟨🟩⬜⬜ Autor
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Holen
wordle.at

>173 SirThomas: It looks delicious, Thomas.

For the moment the heat is over here, how is it at your place?

>174 SirThomas: Well done!

>175 EllaTim: Yes, that's how it tasted too.

At the moment it is well below 20°C and it has even rained a little, but unfortunately far too little.
I don't feel comfortable in temperatures above 30°C.

Thank you, but the first one was luck...

It is friday again - time for the wins:
On Saturday, we attended a literary breakfast with a very interesting lecture on the life of Antoine de Saint Exupery. In the evening, we met up with friends at the wine village in our town - the wine village takes place every year and is always a highlight.
Our infrared cabin was delivered on Monday and it fits better in the room than we had feared. It is very pleasantly warm and good for the muscles and immune system.
And I made it to the gym twice again.

And today wordles were a win too - even if close:

wördle.de #1276 - 6/6
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩 Hilfe
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩 Liebe
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 Linie
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 Linde
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 Linke
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Linse

Wordle 11.07.2025 - 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 Hilfe
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜ Autor
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Genom
wordle.at

106. Das Mitternachtskleid / I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

German Title translated: The midnight dress
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: 75 books challenge - Group read
Medium: eBook
First published: 2010
Pages: 416

And another highlight of the series.
Tiffany continues to grow with her tasks and gets help from friends.
But what can I say - read it for yourself.

107. Vollidiot by Tommy Jaud

German Title translated: Moron
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: 75 books challenge - Alphabet Challenge
Medium: eBook
First published: 2006
Pages: 288

Simon Peters is a salesman in a cell phone store and not very successful in other ways either.
His idiotic escapades scare away women and even good friends.
For me, it tried a little too hard to be funny...

>179 SirThomas: Hi Thomas. That’s a good one, isn’t it? I liked the whole series with Tiffany.

>181 EllaTim: Hi Ella, It was and I really like the series too.
I have to be very careful not to get ahead of the reading rhythm, The Shepherd's Crown isn't due in the group reading until September.
But so the anticipation lasts longer 😉.

108. 19 doors by Rob Roy O'Keefe

Genre: Short Stories
Reading Reason: Early Reviewers win
Medium: eBook
First published: 2025
Pages: 226

>137 SirThomas: Man! The lavender fields are beautiful. also the food looks delicious!

Happy weekend

>184 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, the same to you!

109. Zone One / Zone One by Colson Whitehead

German Title translated: Zone One 😎
Genre: Horror
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Jeff (mahsdad))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2011
Pages: 304

Mark Spitz is part of a team tasked with cleaning up New York.
A banal, monotonous job, except that it involves some kind of zombies that they have to eliminate.
The horror comes incidentally and not necessarily from the undead.
A well-told story about the time after the apocalypse - or is it still going on?

110. Feuer in Berlin / March Violets by Philip Kerr

German Title translated: Fire in Berlin
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: 75 Books Challenge in honor of Anita (@FaMeulstee)
Medium: eBook
First published: 1989
Pages: 336

Last year Anita (FAMeulstee) died, at that time her WIKI with her favorites was copied and a group reading was organized.
Her list spans 11 decades, I have resolved to read one of her favorite books every month.

Berlin 1936, Bernie Gunther is a former policeman who has resigned due to the political situation and now works as a private detective.
He is hired by an industrialist to investigate the death of his daughter.
In doing so, he stirs up a can of worms and finds himself in danger.
An exciting thriller and a very vivid portrayal of life in Nazi Germany.

It is friday again - time for the wins:
On Monday, I had a meeting with the principal of the school where I will be volunteering as a reading mentor.
It was a very pleasant conversation and they are looking forward to meeting me. I'm also looking forward to starting after the summer vacation, probably at the beginning of October.
Our car was inspected on Wednesday and everything is fine.
The summer festival started yesterday - 3 weeks of open-air music from Thursday to Saturday evening.
Local bands always play on Thursdays, this time with cover songs. We had a wonderful evening with good music and met lots of friends.

111. Der Freund / The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

German Title translated: The Friend
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Karen (klobrien2))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2018
Pages: 235

When a friend (also a writer) of the author dies, she asks the widow to take in his dog, a huge, gentle mastiff. Despite her reluctance, she does so. The book is a wonderful story about grief and coping with it. It is also a journey through literature. It's interesting that nobody is referred to by name apart from Apollo the dog. It was a bit bumpy at the beginning, but then it captivated me.

>187 SirThomas: Sounds good, Thomas. Lining it up for my TBR list.

>188 SirThomas: Very nice! Especially that Open Air Music festival.

Wishing you a good week ahead.

>190 EllaTim: Thank you Ella.
I hope you will enjoy the book.

Yesterday we had our second evening at the festival - "The Kai Podack Bigband", Podack was a singer with the Acapella group Füenf and came with 22 outstanding musicians.
They played songs by the BeeGees, Cool and the Gang, Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire.
The weather was great and they played from 19:30 to 22:00.
As the stage is in the middle of the city, there is a deadline for the musicians.

>191 SirThomas: Sounds great Thomas. There’s something about outside Open Air Concerts, atmosphere, I guess.
Until 22 hours, that is right that they keep to a time limit.
Here the weather is changing, more rain to come. I hope you can still enjoy your concerts.

>192 EllaTim: Thank you very much, Ella.
It rained a bit on Saturday, but nobody really minded.
It might rain a bit more this week. But as nature is very dry, everyone is actually happy about it.
Have a wonderful start to the week!

The weekend had a little bit rain, so there was more time for books:

112. Gebrauchsanweisung für Nachbarn by Wladimir Kaminer and Martin Hyun

German Title translated: Instruction manual for neighbors
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 224

A collection of stories about the authors' encounters with neighbors - at home, on the train or elsewhere.
The title is somewhat misleading, there is nothing to learn ;-).

113. Die Gartenparty / Blow Hot, Blow Cold by Ellery Queen

German Title translated: The Garden Party
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: 75 books challenge - Alphabet Challenge
Medium: eBook
First published: 1964
Pages: 154

A nice little crime story in which a couple dies after a garden party.
The investigating policeman is persistent and finally solves the case.
Interesting to read with a lot of alcohol (in the story).

114. Venus in Gefahr by Kurt Mahr

German Title translated: Venus in Danger
Enlish: Venus in Danger
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1962
Pages: 122

Perry Rhodan and his crew return to Earth after a successful mission.
But they have been away too long, the community has disintegrated and the Eastern Bloc attacks the base on Venus.
But he is able to avert the danger in tried and tested fashion.

Wordles had interesting colours today:

wördle.de #1289 - 4/6
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨 Hilfe
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ Autor
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 Teils
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Steil

Wordle 24.07.2025 - 4/6
⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩 Hilfe
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ Autor
🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 Lunge
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Luege
wordle.at

On Friday, my wife had a gastroscopy and some varicose veins were removed. She is feeling better now – Monday's win.
The belated Friday wins:
Last Friday, we went out for delicious sushi, and in the evening we met friends at the summer festival and enjoyed great music.
On Saturday, we had a members' meeting of the museum support association, and I was exonerated and re-elected without any dissenting votes (but who would be interested in becoming treasurer anyway...). Afterwards we were at the festival again.
On Thursday, my wife had an appointment for a bone density measurement, and everything is okay.

And there were books:

115. Nebelstunde / Darrgräset by Johanna Mo

German Title translated: fog hour
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Barbara (Ameise1))
Medium: eBook
First published: 2023
Pages: 496

The trial of the real perpetrators of the murder for which her father went to prison has begun.
Despite all the tension, Hanna Duncker must solve the murder of an acquaintance of her neighbor.
Another exciting story full of atmosphere.
Now I only need one more volume to complete the series...

116. Der Atomkrieg findet nicht statt by Kurt Mahr

German Title translated: There will be no nuclear war.
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Reason: Reason: BB 75 books Challenge (Thank you again, Steve (swynn))
Medium: eBook
First published: 1962
Pages: 126

Perry Rhodan is back on Earth and putting things right that went wrong in his absence.
A little outdated, but with a lot of nostalgia, the series is almost as old as I am and still running...

117. Tod einer roten Heldin / Death of a red heroine by Qiu Xiaolong

German Title translated: Death of a red heroine
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Reason: 75 books challenge - Alphabet Challenge
Medium: eBook
First published: 2000
Pages: 464

Inspector Chen Cao has to solve the murder of a woman. But in doing so, he gets too close to important figures in the Communist Party. He has to act very cautiously and puts his career at risk.
Very interesting insights into China in the 1990s and an exciting story.

117. Tod einer roten Heldin / Death of a red heroine by Qiu Xiaolong

German Title translated: Death of a red heroine
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Reason: 75 books challenge - Alphabet Challenge
Medium: eBook
First published: 2000
Pages: 464

Inspector Chen Cao has to solve the murder of a woman. But in doing so, he gets too close to important figures in the Communist Party. He has to act very cautiously and puts his career at risk.
Very interesting insights into China in the 1990s and an exciting story.

118. Das Einhörnchen, das rückwärts leben wollte by Walter Moers

German Title translated: The squirrel (unicorn) that wanted to live backwards
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 176

A collection of short stories from Zamonia with offbeat humor.
I love Zamonia, especially The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear, but the latest books in the series are nowhere near as good.

119. Pride began on Christopher Street by Christian Handel and Andreas Suchanek

German Title translated: Pride began on Christopher Street 😉
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 368

The story is told from the perspective of a police officer and a theater employee against the backdrop of the events at the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Street in 1969.
While reading, I felt as if I were there myself.
Recommended.

And a Thursday Win:

wördle.de #1296 - 3/6
⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ Hilfe
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ Autor
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Kolik

Wordle 31.07.2025 - 3/6
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ Hilfe
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ Autor
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Knick
wordle.at

120. Frankenstein : Complete & Unabridged with Illustrations by Mary Shelley

Genre: Horror
Reading Reason: Early Reviewers win
Medium: eBook
First published: 1818
Pages: 258

>198 SirThomas: I hope your wife is feeling better.

>199 SirThomas: It's nice to read that you like Johanna Mo's books.

>201 SirThomas: I love this series. You remind me that I still have three books waiting to be read on my Tolino.

Have a nice day.

>207 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. She feels better every day and no longer has any problems eating.

I hope the last volume of the series will soon be available at my local library, otherwise there are always bookshops...

I still have some books from the series in my collection, but my TBR pile is sooooo high...

Have a nice day too!

121. Jenseits des Ozeans / Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune

German Title translated: Beyond the ocean
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 496

Arthur Parnassus no longer wants to hide and goes public. The government sends an inspector, but she is playing a dirty game.
With the help of his friends and his special children, Arthur tries everything to protect them.
A heartwarming book about tolerance, compassion, and understanding, and well written too.
Almost all of the relationships in this book are same-sex, but since 99% of literature contains virtually none, that's probably okay...

122. Wie man würdelos altert / How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

German Title translated: How to Age Disgracefully
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 368

A dilapidated community center, which houses a daycare center and a senior citizens' club, among other things, is to be demolished, but the seniors are not as helpless as they appear.
Cheeky and funny.
Light reading, but good.

Since I will not finish a book today, the statistics of July:

Books read: 17
Pages read: 5,057 (longest 496 / shortest 122 / average 297)

Personal rating:
average rating
highest rating
lowest rating

Author nationalities:

China: 1 / 1 / 1
England: 3 / 3 / 3
Germany: 8 / 8 / 7
Ireland: 1 / 1 / 1
Scotland: 1 / 1 / 1
Sweden: 1 / 1 / 1
USA: 4 / 4 / 4

Sum: 19 / 19 / 18

Counting mode: All authors of the books / Main Author(s) or Editor(s) per book / Only different authors

Gender:
female authors: 4 / 4 / 4
male authors: 15 / 15 / 14
n/a: - / - / -

alive authors: 14 / 14 / 14
dead authors: 5 / 5 / 4

date first published:

>198 SirThomas: I’m glad to hear she’s feeling better!

>211 SirThomas: A good reading month, Thomas.

>212 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, me too!

This week I was at home a lot and had plenty of opportunity to read.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Friday Wins are short this time
This week was quiet. I had a bad cold, so we spent our time at home reading books.
Yesterday I felt a little better, so we were able to go to Julian Pfürtner's summer festival.
All it took was one man and an acoustic guitar to create a great atmosphere.
We left a little early and arrived home just before the thunderstorm.

>214 SirThomas: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that you've caught a cold. I hope you feel better soon. The nice thing about being retired is that you can recover from such annoying illnesses without stress and in peace.
I'm glad you were able to enjoy a concert after all.

I bought tickets for the upcoming theatre spectacle this week. We will attend three performances and immerse ourselves in the international hustle and bustle on a regular basis.

>215 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, it's getting better every day.
You're right about retirement and recovery, but when you're working, at least there's a theoretical chance that someone else will do your work when you're sick ;-)

The nice thing about the summer festival is that we only have to walk 1.5 km. I can manage that even with a cough, but we didn't want to endure the rain, so we left early yesterday.

I hope you will enjoy the theater spectacle. It sounds wonderful.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wishing both of you a nice weekend! A theatre spectacle and summer festival, it sounds great. Here it’s started to rain, and it already feels a bit like autumn.

Thank you, Ella, we had.
Here it is raining too and the temperatures are low. But midweek it should get better...

It's Friday again.
Not much has happened this week. I've been enjoying our infrared cabin to get back to health. It's been warmer outside for two days now and the sun is shining.

And of course there were books:

123. Auf Leben und Tod by Eric Wrede

German Title translated: For life and death
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 240

Eric Wrede was a music manager who became an undertaker and bereavement counselor.
In this book, he talks to various people about life and death and how to deal with them.
Highly recommended.

124. Ausgespielt by Theresa Prammer

German Title translated: Played out
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2025
Pages: 388

Detective Liv Dorn is a specialist in undercover investigations. When several female clients of a dating agency are murdered, she signs up herself to uncover the truth behind the killings.
When she develops feelings for a potential partner, things get complicated, and there is also foul play within her own ranks.
At first, I needed something to get me into the book, but then it became thrilling and exciting.

Dropping by early to wish you a great weekend, my friend and to admire your reading.

>221 SirThomas: I love Prammer's Edgar Brehm and Toni Lorenz series. I've read the first two volumes. It's nice to hear that you also like this author.

>219 SirThomas: Hm, an infrared cabin sounds just the thing for those rainy days.

Wishing you a nice weekend ahead.

>222 PaulCranswick: Thank you my friend, the same to you!

>223 Ameise1: I think this will be not the last one I read by this author, Barbara.

>224 EllaTim: Yes, it also helped me a lot with my cold. It's pleasant and useful too.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

It has become very warm in the meantime, and we had a beautiful sunset:

>226 SirThomas: Realy beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this photo. Yes, it looks like we're in for a hot week too. 35°C is becoming the norm.

Thank you, Barbara.
Yes, it's getting hotter and hotter...

125. Wie Faschismus funktioniert / How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley

German Title translated: How Fascism Works
Genre: Non Fiction
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2018
Pages: 216

In various chapters, it is explained how fascist politicians try to manipulate public opinion. Unfortunately, the book is becoming more and more important.

126. Die Bauern / Chlopi by Wladislaw S. Reymont

English Title: The Peasants
German Title translated: The Peasants
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: Nobel Prize
Medium: Paper Book
First published: 1902
Pages: 815

The book describes a year in the countryside in Poland. The book has over 800 pages and none of them are boring. I used a bookmark with a picture of Van Gogh for the book. That fits quite well, Reymont also paints, but with words.

>230 SirThomas: Sounds interesting, Thomas. In spite of the Nobel prize I’d never heard of this writer.
I looked him up in my library, and yes, they do have his books.
I can imagine how Van Gogh’s picture would fit with this theme.

>231 EllaTim: Without my Nobel Challenge, I wouldn't have known the author either.
But it was a very good read, his descriptions of the landscape made me feel like I was reading a picture.

The Friday Wins on Saturday:
On Sunday, we went to the museum to see a special exhibition on Emil Nolde. The guided tour was already sold out, but we enjoyed the paintings and a wonderful film about his life and work.
On Monday, we went shopping and enjoyed the day.
On Tuesday, we had delicious burgers from the grill at home.
On Thursday, we met up with friends for lunch. We wanted to go mini golfing afterwards, but it was too hot, so we just enjoyed the food and the company.
And despite the heat, we went to the gym twice this week.

A great Idea I copied from @PaulCranswick:
Which 8 books are the most important books to you?
Not necessarily your 8 favourites but impacted and influenced you the most as a reader.

This is my list:

Cujo - my first step into the Stephen King universe - I still haven't found my way out.

Der Ölprinz - My first Karl May book, his books accompanied me throughout my youth.

I don't remember the title - I read it in the mid-to-late 1970s, the first time I ever had tears in my eyes because of a book.
A child from a fishing family befriends a dolphin, an unusual friendship that is threatened.

Das neue Wilhelm Busch Album - one of my first books, which I also used to learn to read.

Fool on the Hill - My absolute favorite book.

Die Stripperinnen vom Burbank - A hero can also be broken.

Der Herr der Ringe - What a spectacle.

Dhalgren - Unusual, but impressive.

The list is not exhaustive, and the more I think about it, the more changes come to mind, so I'll leave it at that and share this version...

127. Die Entdeckung des Himmels / De ontdekking van de hemel by Harry Mulisch

German Title translated: The Discovery of Heaven
English Title: The Discovery of Heaven
Genre: Fiction
Reading Reason: 75 Books Challenge in honor of Anita (@FaMeulstee)
Medium: eBook
First published: 1992
Pages: 880

Last year Anita (FAMeulstee) died, at that time her WIKI with her favorites was copied and a group reading was organized.
Her list spans 11 decades, I have resolved to read one of her favorite books every month.

This is what she wrote about the book:
"This book is about two friends, Onno and Max. Max is an astronomer (with many characterisics of the writer), Onno is philologist (Dutch readers recognise Mulisch friend Jan Hein Donner in ths character). In the 1960s they both have a relationship with Ada, a cellist. Onno marries Ada and their son (or is it Max son?), named Quinten, has to fullfill a devine mission later in life.
Apart from the basic story, the book is full of science, language, religion, art, music, architecture, (Dutch) politics, (Dutch) history, and much more. All written fluently and a joy to read."

128. Das Buch der tausend Türen / The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

German Title translated: The Book of thousand Doors
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 529

Books have power, some even in real life.
Cassie is given a book that can transport her to any place and time she desires. But there are people who hunt for books like this, putting her life in danger. However, she also finds supporters and friends.
A wild hunt for books and their owners begins.
A good read.

129. Yoko by Bernhard Aichner

German Title translated: Yoko
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Radio recommendation
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 336

Yoko is a trained butcher who converted her business after her father's death and now bakes fortune cookies.
When she tries to stop two men from mistreating a dog, she herself is severely abused.
At first she hides in fear, but then she embarks on a bloody vendetta in which she can use her learned skills.
Sentences like knife stabs.

130. Feeling Safe: Wie sicher bist du wirklich? / You Shouldn't Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose

German Title translated: Feeling Safe: How save are you really?
Genre: Thriller
Reading Reason: Rummage at the Library
Medium: eBook
First published: 2024
Pages: 384

Grace is spending a vacation in the middle of Wyoming at Calvin Wells' Airbnb. There's no Wi-Fi and no cell service for her smartphone.
At first, she finds herself attracted to him, but when the police ring the doorbell looking for a missing woman, she becomes uneasy. She increasingly realizes that something is not right here.
But she is not defenseless.
The exciting story is told alternately by Grace and Calvin.

131. Der Mordclub von Shaftesbury - Die Tote fällt nicht weit vom Stamm by Emily Winston

German Title translated: The Shaftesbury Murder Club - The dead don't fall far from the tree
Genre: Crime Fiction
Reading Reason: Author
Medium: eBook
First published: 2025
Pages: 343

This is the fourth volume in the cozy crime series.
Penelope St. James has arrived in Shaftesbury and is married with the veterinarian.
When she is selected to be on the jury for a love letter contest, a woman dies while throwing a letter into the knothole of the designated oak tree.
So Emily puts her matchmaking business on hold and begins investigating the murder.
But then another murder occurs.
A nice little, quite funny story.

And here is a quote that also applies to me personally:

It's weird to be the same age as old people

>240 SirThomas: Ha, I like that. 🥳🥳🥳

But you know, you're only as old as you feel. 😉

>234 SirThomas: We have a writer in common then, Thomas! I discovered Karl May when I was in fourth grade (ten years old) and we had lots of time to read in school. I was in a mixed class (fourth and fifth grade together). When the teacher was busy with the other half we did school work, and when that was finished you could read! And there was Winnetou in our schoolroom library. I fell in love there and then.

>235 SirThomas: Congratulations on finishing this tome.

>240 SirThomas: Ah no, Thomas, you still have some time to go.

>241 Ameise1: I'm glad to hear that, Barbara.
My perceived age varies between 18 and 80, depending on how I feel. 😉

>242 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
I loved Karl May in my youth and received his books as birthday and Christmas presents from the whole family. That way, everyone benefited: I got a nice present and they didn't have to think too hard about what to get me...
In the end, I had 73 volumes. I didn't like his later works so much.

The book didn't feel like a tome at all...

People my age used to be ancient, but today...

And it is friday again - time for the wins:

On Sunday, we went back to the museum to see the Emil Nolde exhibition. This time, we got tickets for the guided tour. It was very interesting.
On Monday, we were able to install the new pump in our decorative fountain, and it works very well.
On Wednesday, I was able to improve my golf handicap a little.
This morning, I got a call from the car repair shop. They think they have found the fault in the navigation system and are ordering the replacement part. The warranty is still valid...

Dropping in to wish you a wonderful weekend :)

Thank you, Anita, the same to you!

You didn't know it, Thomas, but you've been lost for months. Found you!
Good to see so many Friday Wins. You continue to have delicious meals and attend some wonderful events.

>247 mstrust: Glad, you found me again, Jennifer!
I hope that I can continue to delight you with some events and meals in the future - and myself too.
All the best to you.

Now that I've been found, it's time to continue the journey—welcome to Part 3: