Going for 30.000 pages.

Last year I was very close to that amount of pages (29.178 pages), so I think it's a good goal for this year. And I like big books. Last year I only read 71 books.
My year runs from 13 september 2008 to 13 september 2009.

It is already 27 september and I just finished my fifth book this year.

1. Alanna The first adventure - Tamora Pierce 274 p.
2. In the Hand of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce 264 p.
3. The woman who rides like a man - Tamora Pierce 284 p.
4. Lioness Rampant - Tamora Pierce 384 p.

I think these books are perfect for teen girls who try to learn to read English. At least I think it would have been perfect for me. Now Terry Pratchett did the trick for me when I was twenty-one. (And I'm still learning to write English)
I have only one question for the author (watch out, spoiler!):

Why did the cat have to die in such a horrible way?

5. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte 410 p.

Loved it! And I only read it because I want some background information before I read The Eyre Affair.

6. Met fluwelen pootjes - Vicky Myron 269 p.

A wonderful book about a little cat, left in a container on a cold day in january. Vicky Myron finds him and he becomes Dewey, the librarycat of Spencer.

7. Het pauperparadijs - Suzanna Jansen 256 p.

Impressive book about poverty in the Netherlands, from Napoleon until just after the Second World War. It is about a workcamp, especially for the poor people, placed in the north of the Netherlands, called Veenhuizen. Some people stayed their whole live there, from cradle to grave. The writer uses her own family history to tell this story. Her family got away eventually, to face poverty again in Amsterdam.
Veenhuizen is nowadays a prison.

hi Tjarda, book #7 seems interesting. would u know if there is an English translation?

Hello deebee1,

I'm affraid that it doesn't exist yet. The book is a huge succes in the Netherlands. The first edition dates from january 2008 and it is nominated for several prices. I hope the publisher can sell it to some publishers in other countries. This is the website of the writer, but it is only in Dutch I'm affraid: http://www.suzannajansen.nl/index.php?id=25

8. The boy in the striped pyjamas - John Boyne 215 p.

Very dark novel about a nine year old boy during the second world war.

9. Het Rozeneiland - Sanne Terlouw 336 p.

Fiction combined with facts (historical figures and data) about jewish life in the Mediteranean area. From Middle ages until Modern time. Interesting and a nice introduction. The writer gives a good bibliography.

10. Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton 266 p.

Didn't like it at all. I couldn't get a connection with the characters. Characters were appearing and disappearing and I couldn't remember who was who.

11. Lord of the flies - William Golding 208 p.

Now I know where Stephen King got his inspiration.

12. The Eyre affair -Jasper Fforde 375 p.

Loved it! Fantasy, literature and a cool female protagonist. Do I have to say more? Oh wait! There are dodo's too!

13. Echte mannen eten geen kaas - Maria Mosterd 186 p.

Real men don't eat cheese, 4 years in the hands of a loverboy. And loverboys are not nice boys.

14. Nation - Terry Pratchett 410 p.
15. De Muzikant - Marjane Satrapi 86 p.

16. Shenzhen: a travelogue from China - Guy Delisle 152 p.

17. Brave new world -Aldous Huxley 288 p.
18. Water for elephants - Sara Gruen 430 p.

Well, I guess this is the year I'm reading all the classics I ever wanted to read. Brave new World was also on my list, because I heard from different people 'it was the best book they ever read'.

Water for Elephants was amazing and I know a couple of people who I will recommend this book.

19. The end of Mr. Y - Scarlett Thomas 506 p.

This was the story I expected to read when I read Calamiteitenleer voor gevorderden. I was very disappointed when I read that book.
This story was nice, it contains more formulas than A short history of nearly everything, which is a recommendation (I really like formulas). Some people do not like the end, I think it was perfect. I think the writer tries to make us think about so many subjects: Free will, theology, science and so many other subjects. The end does not give us the answer about what is right or wrong.

And kudos for the bookdesigner!

20. Strand dieven - Joanne Harris 480 p.

21. Lucifer - Connie Palmen 352 p.

22. Worlds' end - Neil Gaiman 168 p.
23. Nightwatch - Sergej Lukyanenko 455 p.

24. Daywatch - Sergei Luyanenko 453 p.

Second book in the better twilight series. The one that makes you think about what is right and wrong.

25. The kindly ones - Neil Gaiman 352 p.

What a strange story. Right now i really do not know if I liked it or not. I probably have to read the whole series again.

26. Poelie de verschrikkelijke - Frans Pointl 107 p.
27. The wake - Neil Gaiman 192 p.

28. Lost in a good book - Jasper Fforde 416 p.

29. The well of lost plots - Jasper Fforde 416 p.
30. Twilight watch - Sergei Lukyanenko 405 p.
31. Het roodleren dagboek - Lily Koppel 332 p.

Hi, Tjarda!
You've read lots of good books! :) What kind of books are those by Jasper Fforde? I have never read any of them, but I see that lots of people like them.
--BJ

Hello Billiejean,

The Jasper Fforde books are about a young woman, Thursday Next. She lives in a world that looks like our world, but books are really important in that world, in 1985 Wales is a Socialist Republic and there is still no solution for the Crimean War.
Thursday has a gift: She can jump into books. Because of that you will meet famous characters like Mrs. Haversham (Great expectations) and ofcourse Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre).
I think this books are really inventive and I really love them.

I almost forgot this:

32. Mobiel - Stepehen King 367 p.

Stephen King dedicated this book to Richard Matheson and George Romero.

Thanks for the info. They sound really interesting. So which one is the best one to start with?
--BJ

The Eyre affair, that's the first in the Thursday Next series, followed by Lost in a good book, The well of lost plots, Something rotten and First among sequels.

Thanks, again. :) I am wondering if my daughter has that first one. I will ask her.
--BJ

The Eyre Affair is delightful. I have the next one, but haven't gotten around to it for some reason.

Looks like you're having a great reading year Tjarda!