boekenwijs' 75 (or more?) for 2010

In 2009 I made it, at the last day of the year, to read 75 books! With an excellent reading-sprint in December.

My topic of 2009

I'm planning to read at least the same amount of books in 2010. And I want to read more classics, like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide, Treasure island and The wizard of Oz. And I want to read more Don Quixote, as at this pace I will never finish it.




The books I've read:
1. Seeing by José Saramago (6/1) (#4)
2. Het wespennest by Agatha Christie (14/1) (#7)
3. In de ban van mijn vader by Sandro Veronesi (16/1) (#11)
4. Don Quixote (volume I) by Miguel de Cervantes (21/1) (#15)
5. Duizend schitterende zonnen by Khaled Hosseini (23/1) (#18)
6. De vrouw in het Götakanaal by Maj Sjöwall (30/1) (#21)
7. De Japanse tuin by Pieter Aspe (6/2) (#24)
8. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (7/2) (#26)
9. Rimpels by Paco Roca (14/2) (#29)
10. The raw shark texts by Steven Hall (20/2) (#32)
11. Mank by Herman Brusselmans (22/2) (#39)
12. Timoleon Vieta come home by Dan Rhodes (28/2) (#43)
13. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (13/3) (#45)
14. Quirkology by Richard Wiseman (14/3) (#47)
15. Duel by Joost Zwagerman (15/3) (#49)
16. Boven is het stil by Gerbrand Bakker (22/3) (#57)
17. Mijn eeuw by Günter Grass (24/3) (#57)
18. The ritual bath by Faye Kellerman (1/4) (#63)
19. De uitvreter / Titaantjes / Dichtertje by Nescio (4/4) (#67)
20. Een vreemde kostganger in mijn hoofd by Evert van Rossum (10/4) (#69)
21. Eerst grijs dan wit dan blauw by Margriet de Moor (11/4) (#71)
22. This is how by M.J. Hyland (18/4) (#76)
23. Duistere bestemming by Elisabeth Mollema) (21/4) (#79)
24. The time traveler's wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2/5) (#83)
25. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (3/5) (#86)
26. Intuïtie by Malcolm Gladwell (6/5) (#87)
27. Man zoekt vrouw om hem gelukkig te maken by Yusef el Halal (10/5) (#89)
28. De eerste steen by Dorinde van Oort (11/5) (#91)
29. The secret life of E. Robert Pendleton by Michael Collins (19/5) (#99)
30. The ice princess by Camilla Läckberg (25/5) (#103)
31. Paddy Clarke ha ha ha by doyleroddie::Roddy Doyle (30/5) (#109)
32. Bestsellers, a very short introduction by John Sutherland (7/6) (#113)
33. Dubliners by james James Joyce (11/6) (#122)
34. Onmacht by charlesdentex::Charles den Tex (26/6) (#128)
35. Code Rebecca by follettken::Ken Follett (29/6) (#132)
36. Food rules by Michael Pollan (30/6) (#138)
37. Excuses voor het ongemak by Kees Volkers (30/6) (#141)
38. Sneeuwstorm en amandelgeur by Camilla Läckberg (2/7) (#145)
39. High fidelity by Nick Hornby (9/7) (#154)
40. Wat te doen als iemand sterft by Nicci French (13/7) (#157)
41. De schapen van Glennkill by Leonie Swann (23/7) (#160)
42. Van den Vos Reynaerde (25/7) (#163)
43. Treasure island by Robert Louis Stevenson (28/7) (#169)
44. Het zingende gras by Doris Lessing (2/8) (#173)
45. Binde wereld by ellenheijmerikx::Ellen Heijmerikx (7/8) (#175)
46. Brief Lives: Leo Tolstoy by briggsanthony::Anthony Briggs (8/8) (#179)
47. Dress your family in corduroy and denim by sedarisdavidsedarisa::David Sedaris (10/8) (#181)
48. De man die in rook opging by Maj Sjöwall (12/8) (#184)
49. Sneeuw by Orhan Pamuk (22/8) (#190)
50. On what grounds by coylecleo::Cleo Coyle (28/8) (#192)
51. 1743535::De breiclub by Ann Hood (29/9) (#193)
52. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (5/9) (#194)
53. Kind 44 by Tom Rob Smith (12/9) (#196)
54. Mama Tandoori by Ernest van der Kwast (18/9) (#198)
55. Dorsvloer vol confetti by Franca Treur (21/9) (#200)
56. Godenslaap by erwinmortier::Erwin Mortier (10/10) (#206)
57. It had to be you by Jill Churchill (16/10) (#208)
58. De man op het balkon by Maj Sjöwall (24/10) (#208)
59. What we believe but cannot prove by John Brockman (30/10) (#210)

For the people liking Dutch reviews of the books I read, the link to my blog can be found in my profile.

Welcome back!

Glad to see you back with us for another year!

Thanks for your welcomes! The first book is read and if this will be the idea for rest of the year, I will have a good reading year!

1. Seeing by José Saramago
(orginal Portugese: Ensaio sobre a Lucidez (seems to be the only way to get a working touch stone).

Some years ago I read Blindness by the same author, which really got me. All the people go blind, how will a society survive?

Now I read the follow-up: Seeing. Again good. During elections for the municipality, the majority of people in the capital votes blank. The government doesn't know how to handle the situation and flees the city.

Again good, but not as gripping as the first one. Here were more options than a fleeing government, which might not be my option of course. But the story describes superbly the egoistic government and their extreme stupidness. Dialogues are brilliant and made me laugh out loud. Still the book is serious and highly recommended. Saramago is a stayer at my wishlist, Het verzuim van de dood is still laying around here.

Glad to see your reading year has gotten off to such a good start!

Anything that can make one laugh out loud is a keeper, and an author to cherish as well. Enjoyed your review, and thanks!

2. Het wespennest by Agatha Christie
Collection of twelve short stories

I will never become a fan of Agatha Christie. The long books mostly are too long and I somehow always seem to miss the clue. Short stories work better, although they are slightly boring in my opinion.

This book contains stories about Poirot and five about supernatural things. I really prefer Poirot, the other ones end to lovely or uncaring.

All and all I might sometimes read another book by he, but that'll be it.

Sounds like Agatha Christie is just not an author for you. Find someone you like, and leave Dame Agatha alone in future :)

>7 boekenwijs: I've never been a Poirot fan, either, and Miss Marple is more fun to watch on TV than to read.

But don't tell anyone else I said so!

Stasia, you might absolutely be right, but I guess I won't. If someone gives me one I might read it ;). Still have Death in the clouds lying around here. I bought it for a friend, but found out she already had it.. I might read it, give it to my mother to read (she likes them, I think, at least she always watched "Murder she wrote"). And then put them on Bookmooch ;)

3. In de ban van mijn vader by Sandro Veronesi
(originally Italian, translated in English as The force of the past.)

Wonderfull book, nicely written, good story which leaves you with the feeling: "What if the world is completely different than I think? What if the people I know are not what I think they are?"

Giannni loses his dad, wins a prize for the last book he wrote, gives that away and meets a strange man acting as if he's a taxi driver. And that man knows to much about him, which scares him and makes him flee with wife in child. Back in Rome, they meet again, where the man tells his fathers was a Russian spy. Is it possible to believe that if you didn't have clue your whole life?

The story contains a lot of different styles, suitable for the different situations. And you don't know what will happen on the next page. Recommended!

I might give book #3 a try, my library has a copy :-)

I've wishlisted the Veronesi, thanks for bringing it on to my radar.

#11: That one looks interesting. I will see if I can find a copy. Thanks for the review and recommendation!

Wow, nice to see that I made you all curious for In de ban van mijn vader!

4. Don Quixote (Volume 1) by Miguel de Cervantes
I started this book a year ago in a group read. In the beginning I tried to keep pace, but I got distracted by things happening around me and by easier to read books... But I had one New Year resolution: go on with Don Quixote, what I did succesfully this last month. I just finished part I.

The book might be a little too slow for me, I like the story of Don Quixote, so loving the knight tales and Dulcinea (does she exist?). And of 'squire' Sanzo Pancha, half believing it, but also down too earth.

I'm curious about volume II, where the people they meet know their story. It should be even more distracting than this part! I will start the second volume in a weeks, I guess.

Wow, nice to see that I made you all curious

You speak, we listen, O wise boekenwijs.

#15: I am glad to see that you stuck with Don Quixote. Congratulations on making it through Part 1!

Thanks Stasia. I'm glad myself as well :)

5. Duizend schitterende zonnen by Khaled Hosseini
(Dutch translation of A thousand splendid suns

Very impressive, maybe even more than The Kite runner. It becomes clear how hard it is to be a woman in Afghanistan at the end of last century. No choice in who to marry, no rights, no education, no freedom.

The lifes of Mariam and Laila are commpletely different, but they end up together, against one man. Stories that both are sad. When you think things cannot get worse, things will.

Recommended, makes me think about the luck I have to live in a free country.

#18: I have read The Kite Runner, but not that one. I will have to see if I can find a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!

A Thousand Splendid Suns was on my list of books to get read this year already, I'm glad to hear that so many people are enjoying it.

6. De vrouw in het Götakanaal by Maj Sjöwall
(originally Swedish, in English known as Roseanna)

A typical Swedish thriller, what I always like. Written around 1965, still very well readable. Apart from the lack of mobile phones and internet it could have been written today.

The story is about a girl who is dregged from the bottom of the canal. How, why, when and by whom was she killed? A job for Martin Beck.

This book has all I want in a thriller: a reasonable story, some actions, some moment you think everything goes wrong. A nice start of a series of which I expect to read more.

#21: That one sounds like one I would like. I will see if I can find the English translation. Thanks for the recommendation!

good to know that you enjoyed Seeing by Saramago. when that book was released here in Portugal it was just before the elections, so it created quite a stir. those blank votes could well become reality!

@23, I can imagine it's a scary story close to the elections!

7. De Japanse tuin by Pieter Aspe
(Dutch/Flemish, I guess not translated)

Pieter Aspe is one of the most famous Flemish (Belgian) crime writers. I had never read something by him before, and this seemed like a nice thin starter for me. And I imidiately noticed it was Flemish and not Dutch. Although we speak the same language, there are slight differences. The way people speak seem to be overly polite for a Dutchman.

It's not a very spectacular story, which might also be due to the thin size of the book. Some people are murdered, the connections have to be found as is the killer. Just a nice read for a very lazy Saturday morning.

#24: Just a nice read for a very lazy Saturday morning.

Sometimes those reads are exactly what we need!

8. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

One of those classics that has been waiting on my shelf for way too long. I really enjoyed this book. Although the story is not very special (Emma dreams of a more royal living, is adulterous and goed bankrupt, her husband Charles is too much in love to see what happens), but written beautifully. Normally I will state these kind of books quite easiliy as dull, but not this time. The story is exiting and tells about Emma, but also about the Charles is doing as doctor. A nice break in the hysterical love life of Emma. Recommended!

Received my first Early Reviewer today! Finally there are some books that will be shipped to the Netherlands! I won Timoleon Vieta come home by Dan Rhodes. The review will follow soon, as I'm curious. I only want to finish two other books first, so I guess it's up here at the end of the month or so.

Congratulations on getting your first ER book! I signed up last year and remember how excited I was about that first one.

9. Rimpels by Paco Roca
(graphic novel, original English title: Rides)

Since I last year discovered the graphic novel, I now and then read one. Rimpels is about a man getting Alzheimer and left in a old people's home. He sees himself getting worse and is afraid of ending up on the second floor, the location for the helpless...

The story itself is not too difficult and evenfull, but the drawings make it complete. It's so recognisable! Here pictures say more than a thousand words.

Gripping and funny. And way too thin. A book to skip through now and then.

The Olympics are really reducing the time I spend on books these weeks. Due to the time difference, only in the evening sports are broadcasted here, exactly the time when I'm home..... Luckily I'm not stupid enough to watch during night time. I'm only really interested in speed skating, as that's the only thing the Dutch have any chance. But skiing also is quite okay (and all the other things I zap into).

Well, at least I finish some magazines, as that goes well with watching television.

I enjoy the speed skating too.
Hup Sven ;-)

I work my laptop while watching TV. Reading the threads here combines well with TV.

10. The raw shark texts by Steven Hall

This book was a hype a few years ago, and I only made it to read it by now. And the book has a potential for being a cult hype. Magic realism, conceptual worlds that change into the real world, 'un-chapter' in special editions and on the internet.

The book is good, starting with a scene where Eric Sanderson wakes up and has no idea about who and where he is. A complete loss of memory. Luckily a note next to the phone sends him to the doctor. There he finds out that his girl friend died a few years ago. He might have gone crazy then. Now he receives letters from the first Eric Sanderson, which makes part of his history clear. But not all, what's all the fuss about conceptual fish? Eric is going to search for it.

At the end of the book it's not clear what's true. Did Eric live in a conceptual world? Recommended if you like strange stories that let you think and leave you confused.

#32: My thought at the end of reading that one was "Huh?"

May I quickly hijack your thread to give three cheers for Mark Tuitert! We were very sorry for Shani Davis, but a silver is nothing to cry about...

#34 thanks nittnut!

Such a pitty that both 1500 meters were far in the middle of the night (CET), as also the women race was sensational. I also feel sorry for Shani Davis, as he wanted this so much, but am (more) happy for Mark, who also earned it. And then yesterday Ireen Wüst also, I never expected that to happen after her last two seasons.

Well, tomorrow 10 km for men, we all expect Sven Kramer to win. Wednesday 5 km for women, I dont expect a Dutch champion. Sablikova (Czech Republic) most likely wins, which is only fair after 4 years on the top on the longest distance.

And Friday/Saturday the team pursuit (is that the English name?) where our men and women have chances and it's always sensational to watch!

Yes, I saw Ireen Wust's race after I posted last night's message. It was fantastic. We are also looking forward to team pursuit.

I know - I feel bad for Shani Davis, however, I cheer for all the competitors. They work so hard! I admire them for getting to the Olympics at all. So, with the exception of the Korean men of short track (and that's just fan bias, what can I say), we are pleased for all who compete and do well.

so sad for Sven Kramer....

Yes, indeed, unbelievable. I really wonder what happened. Seems to be Kempers error... Kramer was definitely the fastest. Well let's hope the best for the team pursuit.

11. Mank by Herman Brusselmans
(don't know if it is translated)

This book made me feel double about the author. I've seen a him on television a couple of times and he was quite interesting. Also the style of this book is good. Easy, funny, direct. It makes me curious after other works of him.

But the story itself is not really it. Maybe a little bit too much. How many people can you make mad at each other and stay clean yourself in one day. And such different people: among others, a badminton teacher, a car seller and a librarian. And in between constantly going to the shoemaker, as you shoe constantly breaks.

A story too laugh about and to worry about, a story that makes me want to read more of this writer.

#37
Yes, so sad. We didn't see the race until last night. Don't quite know why. We're just sick and can't really talk about it.

Mank sounds interesting. If you're laughing and worrying, then it must be quite a story. I will have to see if there is a translation. What would Mank translate to in English?
I'll have to ask my brother if he's read any. He reads/speaks Dutch - took a minor in Dutch in college. For some reason I'm thinking he may have read De kus in de nacht? So happy to see it's by the same author - maybe I'm not crazy?

#40 It's been replayed here the whole day. Now I see how they handle it together, that's almost unbelievable, but shows how good they are. Together on the ice rink this afternoon, as if nothing happened. Might give some extra power for the team pursuit.

The litteral translation of 'mank' is crippled. The way the story is told makes it funny, the story self, about nothing and a lot of things at the same time, makes it strange. And the things that happen are worrying, all those useless discussions and mad people.

Funny to hear that your brother speaks Dutch! What is the reason to learn such a language that can be used almost nowhere?

My brother served a mission for our church in Belgium. He lived in Antwerp and towns in that region for about 2 years. He speaks Dutch, Flemish, and some other local dialects. He loved it. He worked his way through college interpreting for American Express.
I think our family has a soft spot for learning languages that will be of very little use to us. I studied German. I have never met a German who didn't speak English much better than I spoke German.

12. Timoleon Vieta come home by Dan Rhodes

I got Timoleon Vieta come home as and Early Reviewer (and it was my first (except for one e-book)). It's a book that I normally wouldn't have chosen to read. The blurb makes clear that the main character is a dog, not something that attracts me.

But in the end it wasn't that bad. The first part of the book is slightly strange. An Englishman lives on his own in the Italian country side. Well alone... with his dog Timoleon Vieta. Then a Bosnian (well, that's what he says) guys comes buy. He has met Cockroft in Florence. Cockroft doesn't remember him. But he is not alone anymore, something is done about the house and he gets some sexual pleasure every week. The only problem is that the Bosnian hates Timoleaon Vieta. Cockroft has to decide who to keep...

The second part tells too much. Timoleon Vieta is kicked out and brought to Rome. And then the live stories of all the people that see the dog wandering are told. And that's the only thing the large number of people in this part of the book share: they have seen the dog. And they all have quite a story, which could have been all separate books: broken lovers, teased foreigners, mothers that die young, a child who never can do more than a baby, criminals, war victims. It's just too much. This part are more separate stories than a novel, even although you read about Cockroft as well.

And I will just leave the dramatic end as it is...

The story made me curious for the writer, as I liked the smooth style. Only I want to read less different things and dive deeper in the lives of different characters. But this is only his debute. Maybe his other books are more balanced.

This sounds like a good debut! Thanks for the heads-up, boekenwijs.

13. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Another classic and I again liked it! I read this book in Late Winter 2010 Group Read. I didn't dive into the questions there yet, but I like to review the book before doing that.

The story is a wonderfull composition of thoughts about only one day, the day that Clarissa Dalloway gives a party. Although the thoughts sometimes confused me, as I didn't immediately know who it was and sometimes they are chaotic, it gives a nice view on the difference between what people think and do.

#45: I am glad you found another classic that you liked.

14. Quirkology by Richard Wiseman

Popular science about psychology seems to work pretty well for me. And about every day life. Things you never wondered but want to know the answer of when you read the blurb of this book.

Why should women have men write their personal ads? How does your surname influence your life? Questions like that.

I had a lot of fun reading this book and often wondered (huh? really?) about the facts. A nice read, lots of humour and interesting (and maybe quite useless) facts.

I love useless facts!
My head seems full of them. Only usefull when playing Triviant ;-)

@48, Anita, useless facts seem to stick better than useful facts ;)

15. Duel by Joost Zwagerman

A gift when you buy Dutch books this week, as it is 'boekenweek'. Although this book is by an author I didn't like in the past and the quality of these books are always doubtful, because it's only 90 small pages, it's always worth a try. And I'm happy I did.

The story tells about an exposition of new and older Dutch artist in a museum that will close for some years, due to renovation. And of course something goes wrong, after the new artists have worked and been inspired by older works, one goes missing. This brings sensation in the book, which also tells a lot about art. A good combination, a nice read. Drama and facts that combine well.

Sounds like a great gift for 'boekenweek'. Is the gift during 'boekenweek' always a work by a Dutch author?

@50, Richard: yes normally it is, you also only get it when you buy Dutch books. Once it was written bu Salmon Rushie, I don't know what was the specific reason for that. It's a way to promote reading. And as you can travel the sunday in this week for free with this book through the whole country, a lot of people do that as well (220.000 on a population of 16/17 million).

In the autumn we have another week for book promotion, where members of the library get a book for free. That's an older Dutch literary work. Might be that that's more promoting literature than books, as members of the library seem have a tend to read ;)

And of course there is also such a week to promote childeren's books.

But are the Netherlands the only country doing things like this? I almost can't imagine....

In the UK we have World Book Day early in March each year, which seems to be mainly for schools - our local school does things like allowing children to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. But I'm not aware of anything particularly focussed on adults reading.

Boekenwijs, I wonder if you can recommend one or two good (but not too long or complicated) books by Dutch authors (in Dutch)? I used to live in the Netherlands as a child, and do speak some Dutch, though it is not very fluent as I went to the British School not a Dutch school - and it was a long time ago now! But I would like to try to keep it alive, so maybe trying to read something would be a good challenge. Any suggestions gratefully received!
Genny

>51 boekenwijs: But are the Netherlands the only country doing things like this? I almost can't imagine....

Well, if there is a comparably generous thing going on anywhere in the USA, I know nothing of it. Can anyone enlighten me, and assuage boekenwijs's appalled feelings? I know I'd be grateful, can't speak for him.

> 51
Well I suspect there are no other countries where "bookweek books" or "childrens book week books" are given away in those weeks. I think it is typical for our country :-)

> 52: Genny
You like YA and Sutcliff, you might like some books by Thea Beckman

@ 54: Anita, thanks for suggesting Thea Beckman, that's indeed a good choice! We gave Kruistocht in spijkerbroek to a Chinese colleague who is learning Dutch!

@ 52: Genny, that's a difficult question. One of my friends is Russian and although her Dutch is reasonable well and she can follow the normal converstations, reading still is difficult and at children/young teenage level. I bought her Dik Trom. Slightly old-fashioned and for when you're about ten, but I still like the adverntures of this little boy in the 50s (or earlier?).

I had a look into your library and so we don't really have a similar reading taste. Currently I'm reading Boven is het stil by Gerbrand Bakker, which I don't think is too difficult, but 250 pages. An option might be to read stories, like in Man zoekt vrouw om hem gelukkig te maken by Yusef el Halal, about a Maroccon guy living in the Netherlands. An interesting one also might be Echte mannen eten geen kaas by Maria Mosterd, about a young girl being used by a boy slightly older.

I hope this helps. I'm screening my book shelfs and notice that half of it is English and a large part of the Dutch books are not originally Dutch...

@ 54, 55 thank you Anita and Boekenwijs for your suggestions - I'll try to follow up one or two of those, and let you know how I get on one day!

So, I finally got some reading done the last couple of days. Somehow I didn't read many books lately (but I finished a number of magazines).

16. Boven is het stil by Gerbrand Bakker
(originally Dutch, translated into English as The twin).

Brilliant book. Very well written, the ambiance of the story can be felt all over. The story of a farmer who never wanted to be a farmer. Of a farmer and his bothered relation with his father. Situated some 20/30 kilometers from Amsterdam, but in an isolated environment. A tense feeling all over, of which the reason becomes more and more clear. Very much recommended.

17. Mijn eeuw by Günter Grass
(originally German, translated into English as My century).

This book was not meant for me. Stories about/in all the years from 1900 untill 1999. But they are quite boring. And I miss the clues. Maybe because they are located in Germany. Although it's a neighbouring country, the history is too different to understand all.

#57: I already have The Twin in the BlackHole. I just need to get my hands on a copy.

Stasia, I hope you will find it!

Thanks!

Stasia et al., Boven is het stil (The Twin) was published by Archipelago Books last year, and I also enjoyed reading it. Borders is starting to sell some Archipelago books in its stores, but this one isn't available.

#61: Thanks for the info, Darryl. I will start checking my local Borders for Archipelago books.

18. The ritual bath by Faye Kellerman

The first book of one of the Kellermans that I'm reading and I enjoyed it. Although the story is not very special (woman is raped in chapter one, the rest of the book they look for the one who did it), the fact it plays in a Jewish environments adds something. And you don't know who did it until the last chapter. I will read the rest of series as well I guess. And I want to read something by Jonathan Kellerman and/or Jesse Kellerman.

#63: I like the Peter Decker/Rita Lazarus series too. As with all series, some of the books are stronger than the others, but I have enjoyed them for the most part.

>55 boekenwijs: Thanks to your suggestion, I have now got hold of a copy of Man zoekt vrouw and have managed to read the first story, only needing to look up a few words, so I think I shall find this a good way to brush up my Dutch. It is also interesting to read stories from the perspective of a Moroccan immigrant - that was an aspect of Dutch society which I did not encounter much as a child growing up in Holland in an English ex-patriot community.

I am also going to visit friends in the Netherlands next week, so I will try to visit a bookshop while I am there, as well as having the chance to remember some of my spoken Dutch!

>65 gennyt: gennyt, I'm glad you like the book and are able to read it! Seems difficult to me if it's such a long time ago you lived in the Netherlands and as I guess from the fact that you lived in an English ex-patriot community that a lot of people around you then spoke English. Enjoy your visit to the Netherlands en I hope you will find some books you will enjoy!

19. De uitvreter / Titaantjes / Dichtertje by Nescio

This book consists of three novels, written between 1910 and 1920. They all are set up critically about society. The goal of the main characters is to be happy and do nothing, especially not becoming part of normal society. But that's when they say before they are twenty, of course it doesn't really work out.

The style is quite old-fashioned. Dutch has changes much more in the last century than English. This makes the book more difficult to read and already old.

>66 boekenwijs: Yes I was mostly surrounded by people speaking English, as I went to the British School in Den Haag, and of course we spoke English at home. But I went to some Dutch groups in my free time, eg Kabouters, though later to English Guides when I was older, and a Dutch gym class, and of course was used to speaking Dutch in the shops and public transport, and Dutch TV.

The good thing about television in the Netherlands was having subtitles, not dubbing, for foreign imported programmes. This meant that we could enjoy English programmes in the original language, but also see the Dutch translation, which I think helped improve my Dutch vocabulary; I'm sure it also helps Dutch people speak such good English generally.

Still, I think I will need a dictionary nearby to help me continue with reading these stories, in case I guess the wrong words!

20. Een vreemde kostganger in mijn hoofd by Evert van Rossum
(originally Dutch, not translated to English)

A book with columns written by a person who has Alzheimer. He understands it completely and can do less and less. Everything takes energy and drives him crazy. He tells how frustrating it is, for him and the people around him. Interesting to see it from his side.

#69: I bet it is interesting. Too bad it has not been translated.

21. Eerst grijs dan wit dan blauw by Margriet de Moor
(originally Dutch, translated to English as First grey then white then blue)

I bought this book four years, attracted to the writer by an description of another book of her. And then I put the book on the shelves. Last year richardderus recommended it. And it still took me a year to finally start it...

All and all I like the book. Written from the view points of five persons. Two families, sometimes friends, sometimes not. And a retarded son, Gaby.

The story is mysterious. Why did Robert kill Magda. Where was Magda in her time away of a couple of years (nicely told by letting her leave all the places she visits)? How is the relation between Magda & Robert en Erik & Nellie? Why is Robert so silent and absent?

Not all the questions are answered. But the story is told in a good style.

#71: I will look for that one! Thanks for the recommendation.

>71 boekenwijs: I am glad that you FINALLY read the book, and that you liked it! I like de Moor a lot.

#71 I had not heard of Margriet de Moor, until last week in the Netherlands, searching for another book in Dutch to buy from the local bookshop while staying with my friend (and discovering how expensive books are, even paperbacks, in NL). I found de Moor's De Verdronkene which sounded interesting, as the plot involves the terrible flood of 1953. I knew about this from growing up in Holland but I also recently discovered that it affected the east coast of England too, though not quite so badly.

So I look forward to discovering de Moor when I get around to reading this one - interesting to hear a review of another of hers too.

#74 > What a nice coincidense that you just discovered Margriet de Moor as well. I've heard the title of De verdronkene but I never thought about what it would be about. A while ago the 1953 flood was a hot topic here, as a movie and some books about it came out.

22. This is how by M.J. Hyland
Early Reviewer

Some months ago I read an enthousiastic review about this book and definitely wanted to read it. Two months ago it was an ER book and I won it! But maybe the promise was too much... The book was completely different from what I expected, but still good.

Patrick Oxtoby is a loner. He doesn't fit to his family and when his girlfriend breaks up, he decides to move to the sea, live in a boarding house. He already found a job as mechanic in the toen, something he likes and is good at. Unfortunately his house mates aren't that nice and Patrick himself is shy and is day dreaming too much. And at a fatal moment he kills one of the house mates. Unintentionally.

He ends up in prison. Where is told about a not so good lawyer, a subjective jury (I'm so happy we don't a jury in the Netherlands), corrupt guards. But also nice cell mates who help him get along.

A nice pschychological portrait. You feel sorry for Patrick, even after he killed someone. Brilliant written with eye for details.

#76: Sounds like I need to watch for that one. Thanks for the review and recommendation.

Unexpected subject matter alert! Sounds very intriguing, though, so I'll wishlist it.

23. Duistere bestemming by Elisabeth Mollema
(short story, not translated)

A thin one for just in between, partly read while waiting in a sportshal. A story about a woman who is deceived by a compulsory lying guy. Which almost ends dramatically for her, the point where the story starts and looks back on how it happened.

Nothing special, just a nice snack.

Snacks are good, right? Now you can tuck into a real meal :)

Indeed! Started this week in The time travelers wife, that's more like a star-meal. I'm on page 50 and really like it.

#81: I like that one too. I hope you enjoy the whole thing!

24. The time traveler's wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

What an adorable book! I really enjoyed it. Without the time travelling it would have been "just another chick lit book". But the way time travelling is woven in the life of Henry and Clare is amazing. Henry travels back and forth, and meets Clare when she is a child and he is forty. In real time they meet when they are both in their twenties. Living together, for better and for worse. Hiding the time travelling for most of the other people.

The story is brilliant and I enjoyed reading it.

#83 That does sound fun - I keep seeing that one but have not read anyone's reviews yet. Glad you liked it.

#83: Glad you liked that one!

25. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

This series I probably only started because I had the books digitally and I wanted to try the e-book function of my mobile phone. That function works quite ok, although at the moment I'm mostly reading the e-books when travelling by train.

Twilight is not really my kind of book, but it was an okay read for in betweens and spread over some months. A human girl and a vampire, nice idea and nice worked out. But the other characters are slightly flat and that there are two Jaspers in the story doesn't make it totally clear. Not too special, but okay.
I will read the other books of the serie as well on my phone.

26. Intuïtie by Malcolm Gladwell
(Dutch translation of Blink)

An interesting book about how the first thought often is the best one. And about how we make up arguments after our unconsius brain already decided. Theories are explained by interesting examples, which almost always make you wonder and get you amazed by the results.

Interesting and well written.

#87: I have not read anything by Gladwell yet, so I will give that one a try. Thanks for the recommendation!

27 Man zoekt vrouw om hem gelukkig te maken by Yusef el Halal
(not translated)

A book with stories written from a Moroccon point of view in the Dutch society. And it seems that all Yusef thinks about is girls (and sex with them) and becoming an writer. The last seems to be more succesful than the first.

The stories are quite stereotypical, but also made me smile about the stupid behaviour of Yusef and friends.

Just before I started reading this book, I found out it was written by a Dutch person and not by a Morrocan immigrant. Disapointing. Something I would have liked to find out afterwards...

>89 boekenwijs: I'd be really disappointed too! Like finding out your teacher in the subject of home and family life is a priest.

28. De eerste steen by Dorinde van Oort
(not translated)

A thin one, read while waiting to find out if my holiday would still go on, due to flight problem as the Icelandic volcano is still busy (and the holiday is cancelled).

Short story about a teacher who has sex with one of his students. You guess it from the beginning, but the story well told and brings the real facts slowly.

Sorry to hear your holiday was cancelled.

#91 Echoing Stasia's comment - sorry to hear about the flight problems. Will you be able go on the holiday later or have you lost it completely?

Thanks for your reactions! I luckily got a total refund, so I booked almost the same holoday for the middle of June... Annoying to see that the airport of Madeira was open again today :S.

I'm glad to hear that you received a full refund. Did you buy flight insurance or book your itinerary through a travel agent?

I had a complete holiday package, including flights, hotels and a guide for our hiking tours at an organisation where you can book for certain prescibed periods resulting in a travel group. After the flight company after 1,5 days decided to cancel the flight, the travel agency decided immediately that they will pay back. Something I didn't expect (at least not in total).

Otherwise I would have had a travel insurance and a cancellation insurance (having no travel insurance when going abroad is highly unlikely and even more unrecommended in the Netherlands), but I'm doubting if they would have paid back, as you mostly can't assure against natural causes...

But well, booking a holiday without the risk of a exploding Icelandic volcano doesn't seem to be possible this year, so I hope I will be more lucky in June. Then I will have an in-between stop in Portugal, where the airports are more closed than open the last couple of days. But you never know what the weather will do, last month North Europe (including Amsterdam) was closed and South Europe open.

Best of luck on the vacation in June!

#94,96 - Glad you got a refund and are able to try again - better luck in June and let's hope the volcano behaves this time.

29. The secret life of E. Robert Pendleton by Michael Collins

A book I maybe read at the wrong moment (too busy) or just not my style. A thriller, but also a large number of literary details. Details I was not waiting for.

The book tells about a murder and professor Pendleton who wrote a never distributed novel about almost the same murder. Only it was printed before the real murder was discovered. At that moment it was only a missing teenager.. But there are more suspects. And at the end of the book I don't know for sure who did it, as some other suspects also behave suspicious.

I hope you enjoy your next read more!

Sorry that was a disappointing read for you. Hope the next one is better.

>99 boekenwijs: Sounds like a good plot...perhaps it was just the wrong moment to read it, as you guessed. Better luck next time!

Your wishes worked! My next read definitely was better:

30. IJsprinses by Camilla Läckberg
(originally Swedish, translated in English as The ice princess)

The first in a series about writer Erica and policeman Patrick. And a typical Scandinavian thriller. Exciting, the need to puzzle yourself, unexpected moves and engagement. I enjoyed the story about Alex who was found dead. Was it really suicide? Never expected to get a whole family history.

The next two books of the series are already waiting on the shelves.

I am glad you liked that one better than your previous read!

I'm actually sort of heartened that not only English-speaking publishers have fallen under the Northmen's crime writing spell. I'll wishlist this one, thanks!

Good, glad the wishes worked for you - and how nice to have the next two lined up to read already. Hope the series continues well.

@105 Richard, June is here the "month of the thriller" and this year the theme is Scandinavian thrillers :). Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell already are popular here for a while. The last years a lot of Scandinvian thrillers are published in Dutch, while also the number of Dutch thrillers has grown a lot the last five years.

My understanding is that a lot of Scandinavian crime novels get translated into German long before they're available in English.

31. Paddy Clarke ha ha ha by Roddy Doyle

Thanks to a group read idea in Stasia's thread, I finally took this book from my shelves.

Good book. The story is told from the eyes of a 10-year old. Growing up in Ireland in the 1960s. In a growing village. Nice building locations to play after school.

Paddy sometimes annoyes his younger brother, but also protects him. Their parents have a growing fight. The ambiance is touchable.

Somehow the story brings me back to my childhood, the good parts of the story do. Recommended.

#109: I am glad you liked that one. I am still waiting for my copy to arrive from the local college library :(

Well, three of us will be trying to read it under the TIOLI challenge this month (as a borrowed or secondhand book).

@111, elkiedee, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

32. Bestsellers, a very short introduction by John Sutherland

With this book I found the series 'A very short introduction', which I like. They have some topics I would like to know some basics about, but not too much, a very short introduction seems to suit :)

This title was about bestsellers. Why do certain books become so wildly popular? Are old bestsellers books we still read? No! Are the now read classics bestsellers in their time? Mostly not. And when at the start of the 19th century Americans tend to read British books, hundred years laters it's the other way around.

A nice book that mentioned some titles that made me curious.

Hi Boekenwijs, now you made me curious. I thought old bestsellers were the classics we read now. According to your review, this isn't so. I must read this book :-)
It seems like we have a lot of books in common and we share a native language (though not the country). Leuk ook om op LT Nederlandstalige mensen te vinden die Nederlandstalige boeken lezen. Just wanted to let you know this and say hi (or "hallo").

#113: I will have to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation! (I am not even going to attempt translating anything into Dutch, lol)

My favorite classic-that-wasn't-a-bestseller story: Melville's Moby-Dick. Horrible, cruel, insulting reviews when it came out; most of a century neglected or unknown; then a renaissance when American readers caught up to where Melville was sixty years before.

NO ONE reads the big bestseller of that year, Uncle Tom's Cabin, unless it's for some course or class. Many people read Moby-Dick just for fun.

A few years ago I stumbled across a list of bestsellers dating back to the 1900s.

I sampled from the list for awhile, and for the most part thought that the fiction ones had held up pretty well: sure, they were mostly fluff, but readable fluff. And there were some real gems: I thought Winston Churchill's novels in particular were pretty good. (Not that Winston Churchill, but his American cousin.) So I'd say that if those old bestsellers aren't read much anymore, that fact has as much to do with whims of today as those of yesterday.

Of course some -- like the works of Thomas Dixon -- are jaw-droppingly horrid; and others -- like the works of Harold Bell Wright -- are unreadably saccharine; but then again you can find horrid or saccharine novels on the current bestseller lists as well.

Anyway, your review of Sutherland's book has piqued my curiosity, and I've added it to the Someday Swamp.

There is a group here on LT called 'Bestsellers Through the Years' if anyone is interested.

@114 Leuk, meer mensen die Nederlands spreken! Ik ben nog op zoek naar iets over Nederlandstalige bestsellers, want daar ben ik nu wel nieuwsgierig naar.

@115/118, Stastia, I hope you will enjoy it as well. I will look for that group!

@116, Richrard, I totally agree. I read Moby Dick and enjoyed it. Uncle Tom's cabin is still waiting on the shelf.

@117, yes, mostly bestsellers life up to a hype and not read anymore after a couple of years/months.

Het valt me op hoe weinig er over Nederlandstalige boeken wordt verteld op LT. Of zou het aan het (geringe?) aantal Nederlandstalige gebruikers liggen? Ik zal ook eens zoeken naar Nederlandstalige bestsellerlijstjes, al vrees ik het ergste, zowel wat de lijstjes als de inhoud betreft :-).

For non-Dutch speaking people: I'm just wondering how come so little is written about Dutch books on LT. And that I'll be looking for Dutch bestseller-lists, though I fear for the lists as well as the contents.

>117 swynn: Steven, that list is WONDERFUL and I never knew it existed, and I thank you so much for showing it to me!

ETA Hi boekenwijs! JJ4 makes a good point...

33. Dubliners by James Joyce

I don't think the fifteen separate stories in this book will stick in my mind, but the general feeling most likely will. The feeling of Ireland around 1900, seen from different positions in society. Teenagers skipping school, boys and girls in love, workers, politicians, religious disputes, elite dinners. An interesting book. Ulysses will be my next Joyce (once in the future...).

>122 boekenwijs: Those are rocky shores, boekenwijs, that surround Ulysses...beware!

#122 I'm glad you found Dubliners interesting. I read it many years ago and can't remember the details at all, but that list of your brings back the 'general feeling' too. I somehow never got round to Ulysses but I experienced in detail my boyfriend's reactions when he was reading it many moons ago. Does that count?!

The final story, The Dead, was made into a film.

That'll be a movie I would like to see. Thanks for the tip!

Just booked a weekend away to Dublin, so that I can see the city with my own eyes!

Dublin?! Take lots of pictures. I would love to go to Ireland one of these days.

Have a great time!

34. Onmacht by Charles den Tex
(not translated)

A gift book in the month of the thriller. A book written by an author I was already curious to read something from. That's because he won several prices for the best Dutch thriller.

I immediately liked the style of the book and the story is in some ways unexpected. From the beginning you know something will happen in the thight athmosphere of the family, but I didn't have an idea about what that would be. And at the end of the book you know exactly what happened, but do all the main characters really know what happened?

A nice thin book for a couple of hours in a sunny garden.

#128: OK, now you have to translate it so I can read it! lol

Stasia, I already was afraid you should ask for it....:)

Well, then you need to get busy!

When I've time left (after I read the 400+ unread books on my shelf, organized my photos, did something about my administration and read all the other books I bought in that period) I might start thinking about it... ;) Hopefully a real translater will start sooner on his books.

35. Code Rebecca by Ken Follett
(Dutch translation of The key to Rebecca)

I started this book because I liked The eye of the needle a couple of years ago. Code Rebecca I liked less. Most likely because it plays in Egypt, instead of Europe. The culture does less to me. But the story is still good. A German spy and an English major both use a beautiful woman to seduce the opponent. Who will succeed?

As I'm not to fond on spies and war books, I might try one of the other Folletts in the future (if there are any).

#132: I have not read The Eye of the Needle yet. I will have to give it a look.

>132 boekenwijs: I can't remember...do you read in German? If so, try Follett's Die Leopardin, English title "Jackdaws", which I thought was really very good. Also Der Dritte Zwilling, English "The Third Twin", was exciting.

That would be Codenaam Torenkraai and De derde tweeling in Dutch. I might give it a try also.

>135 Trifolia: W00t! Dutch translations even! I really think either of those books would be good reads. They were in English.

Richard, I think that all (at least most) of Folletts books are translated into Dutch. The two I read I did read in Dutch translation. Although I might be able to read a German translation, it will take a lot of energy. I prefer Dutch or English (and betweem those two I don't really care).

I will give Jackdaws and/or The third twin a try! Thanks for the idea!

36. Food rules by Michael Pollan

It might be because I recently saw the BBC-series The truth about food, but this book didn't bring anything new. The most easy food rule is the summary: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants". The only problem might be doing it.

The idea is to eat no processed food. Luckily I like the food I cook myself much better than something to put in the microwave. Only how to get rid of laziness? But mostly I follow the rules in the book. I would have liked some more scientific explanation. Does anybody know of his book The defence of food has that?

#138: If you would like something with a more scientific background, you might try The China Study by T. Colin Campbell. I read Pollan's In Defense of Food and do not think it is going to be what you are looking for.

Stasia, thanks for confirming what I already thought. I will have a look at The china study, although I'm not a vegetarion and don't think I ever will, as like meat to much...

37. Excuses voor het ongemak by Kees Volkers

This book is a diary of a train traveller, in the Netherlands, from July 2002 to July 2003. The time when it plays is the problem of the book, it is already old-fashioned. Public transport has improved over the last couple of years. There is more information, trains seem to be more on time.

Yes there is place for further improvements, and the departure platforms on large stations can be confusing. But just look on the large number of boards with information, and you will normally find your train. Sarcastically, the most confusing station I know here is Schiphol, just where all the foreigners arive by plane....

So the book was slightly interesting and has some good points, but mostly outdated and also not representative for the whole country.

Congratulations on hitting the halfway point of the challenge!

#141 I guess public transport can always be improved - but the standards in the Netherlands are already way ahead of those in Britain. At least, they were when I was growing up in Holland in the 1970s, and from my recent return visit things seemed as efficient and integrated as ever by comparison with here in the UK. I didn't try Schiphol station, but Amsterdam Centraal was no problem to negotiate. A new experience was riding on a double-decker train! In England we have double-decker buses but not trains...

Was the book part of a campaign for improvements? If so, maybe someone paid attention!

# 142, Thanks Stasia. It's a little bit scary how close to the middle of the year I reach the middle of the challenge. Makes me wonder if I could go for 100 a year that I would now have read 50 books....

#143, A few years ago, I did everything by public transport when I was a week in London and also visited some cities around. Then it there also went well. Don't think the book was part of a campaign, but they might have picked it up.

38. Sneeuwstorm en amandelgeur by Camilla Läckberg
(orginally Swedish, not translated into English yet)

A side step from the series about Erica and Patrick. A colleague of Patrick, Martin, is involved. He's going on a familiy weekend with his girl friend (but the relation might not be serious enough for that). On the weekend grandpa, a great business man, is complaining about the businesses of the children and grandchildren. Then he dies during the starting dinner...

Martin becomes the cop again and has to solve what happened. Nobody can leave, because they are stuck on a island in a snow storm.

The story is nice, unexpected and realistic. A nice short read.

#145: I hate when people read books that sound wonderful but are not translated yet! lol

I obviously need to become multilingual.

#146 Stasia, now that you've finished home schooling, its clearly time to start teaching yourself Dutch!

#147. I second Genny's idea. Think of all the wonderful books you could read that are originally written in Dutch or are translated in Dutch but not yet in English. What a world of books that would open for you :-)
And Boekenwijs wouldn't have to translate all those books LOL.
"Doen, zou ik zeggen"!

#147/148: If someone knows a decent Dutch-English textbook, let me know. I am in!

And than I'm doing my best not to read only Dutch! Half of the books I read are English and of the Dutch books I read a lot are originally English. And the others partly come from another language, chances are large an English translation will be there or follow soon (no, not by me).

I've heard that this is a decent method to learn Dutch (I have a Chinese and a Iranian colleague and know some Germans who used it): http://www.delftsemethode.nl/uk/home/index.shtml
But they developed it on the University of Delft, and as I studied there and the people I mentioned also have a connection to it, it might be just first choice.

But why Dutch? I can imagine there are languages that are more useful...

But why Dutch? I can imagine there are languages that are more useful...

More useful than a language that gets so many translations from other languages *before* English?! What could *possibly* be more useful than that?!

All this talk of reading Dutch is reminding me of the copy of Margriet de Moor's De Verdronkene which I bought in April and have not yet attempted to read.

#150 That Dutch course looks very good - they have some online resources too.

#150: Thanks for the link!

Stasia, so this means that I can type my blogs in Dutch now? ;)

39. High fidelity by Nick Hornby

I've no idea why this book had to wait for years on my shelves for so many years, as I liked this light read quite a lot. A humorous story about Rob, in relation problems with Laura. And a not to well running, but surviving, record shop. A book with a lot of music. A nice read in (too) hot summer days.

#154: Decidedly not :)

Well okay, then I will stick to English ;)

40. Wat te doen als iemand sterft by Nicci French
(Dutch translation of What to do when someone dies)

Just thriller you expect from Nicci French. Ellie gets the news that her husband Greg died in a car crash from the police. Next to him was another woman, an unknown one. Everybody seems to believe that Greg had a lover, except Ellie. She's wants to know what really happens, she doesn't believe in the car crash story. Friends thinks she goes crazy, but are there for her. Does she find out something?

A nice, relaxing read. Medeplichtig is already waiting on the shelves.

#156: Thank you for sticking to English! I am adding What to Do When Someone Dies to the BlackHole.

#145 Glad you enjoyed High Fidelity. Have you read other Nick Hornby? The only one I've read is How to be Good, which I quite enjoyed, but I've seen the film versions of High Fidelity and About a Boy.

I didn't read any other book by Nick Hornby yet, but I'm almost certain I will. I've seen the movie of High Fidelity a few days after I read the book and liked it. It matches the book quite well.

41. De schapen van Glennkill by Leonie Swann
(originally German, English translation: Three bags full

I read this book as an entertaining read during a weekend trip to Dublin, as the story plays in an imaginary part of Ireland. I guess it will fit in the genre of a cozy mystery. The shepherd of the sheep is found dead. The sheep are going to find out what happened. And they are smart, but misunderstand the people quite often. And they all have their own role, based on their chracteristics.
It's a funny read, and of course the mystery will be solved in the end.

And while in Dublin I found out there are a lot more famous Irish writers then I knew of. As I did a Literary Pub Crawl and visited the Dublin Writers Museum I learned about them. Of course I came home with some books, most importantly between them At swim-two-birds by Flann O'Brien, at which I'm very curious.

#160: Sounds like you had a nice trip! Welcome back.

It certainly was a nice trip! It's a nice city with some beautiful buildings, great Irish music (in great Irish pubs with great Irish beer) and great writers.
I tend to like north-western European cultures, like Ireland, Scotland and Wales and Scandinavia. Partly because of the rough nature, partly because of the people. All southern Europe is beaitiful as well (and the summer weather much better), the people are different. I feel more relaxed in the northern area...

42. Van den Vos Reynaerde
Dutch text written around 1150, translated into English

An Iranian colleague was wondering about the existence of old Dutch literature, as she didn't know any, and she knew some German. That made us tell her there certainly is. And the oldest and most famous is Van den Vos Reynaerde. I have a small booklet wit explanation and a modern translation into normal Dutch of the most important parts. I read it this weekend and will borrow it to her, as the story is funny. Making fun of the current society, but using animals in it.

Also included in this booklet: some animal stories written in 1270. A nice explaining read.

#162: I am glad you enjoyed your trip. Ireland is a country I would dearly love to visit.

I'm envious of the Dublin trip - it's many years since I had a brief visit there en route to the west coast of Ireland. And yes, there are loads of great Irish authors to explore. I haven't got round to At Swim Two Birds yet, but have a collection by O'Brien The best of Myles which I remember being weird, funny, some of it hard to understand.

And I didn't know there was an old Dutch story about Reynard the Fox - I'll look out for that version.

Well, the Irish coast is one of the things I would like to see more of. About then years ago I visited the Welsh coast and loved it, so I guess I will love the Irish one as well.

#166 It's beautiful - even in the rain (which happened most of the time during my cycling holiday round the Dingle Peninsula

Wow, that's really beautiful! And yes, the rain. We hiked one day a little outside the city and were completely soaked.

43. Treasure island by Robert Louis Stevenson

It's the well known story of Jim and pirate Long John Silver and all the other characters. Good ones, bad ones, ones that change their sides. Going on a hunt for a treasure, after the death of the pirate that died at the inn of Jim's parents. He left a map....

An exiting story about that that always is interesting: treasures and pirates. A very enjoyable classic.

Edit: trying to fix the touchstones

I went to the book market in Deventer yesterday, one of the largest in Europe and bought the rest of the series about Martin Beck by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (see post 21) for about 10 euros (8 books!). I never even thought about this serie and that I could buy it, but at one of the first stands I already found 5 books!

And I bought some other cheap books. I finished with 13 books for about 20 euros. Not bad!

Ooh, I read about this on literatuurplein (http://www.literatuurplein.nl/nieuwsdetail.jsp?nieuwsId=2535) and am soooo envious. I visited Deventer last year and loved it (although it was a pity I visited on monday-morning which seemed to be the time of the week most book-shops were closed). So visiting the book-market there is bliss!

Yes, it's really a great market and every year we find out new spots, as the previous years it was either to warm or to wet to see all. Now the weather was marvelous (just above 20 degrees Celsius, a little sun, some clouds, no rain) and we saw more (but still not all, but we knew we misted the not so good part).

Deventer is beautifull and it was really a pity to go be there on Monday morning, as almost all shops are closed in the Netherlands by then. So I still think Leeuwarden is extremely boring, because I visited it once at a Monday morning ;)

For future planning: this market is always on the first Sunday of August ;)

44. Het zingende gras by Doris Lessing
(Dutch translation of The grass is singing)

When I read The fifth child some years ago, I wasn't an immediate fan of Lessing. But when she won the Nobel Prize and I found out she writes about southern Africa a lot, I became more interested. And I'm glad I was :)

This book is wonderful, although that might be the wrong word for the terrible things happening. But I guess, and am afraid, it's so close to the true life there.

The murder of Mary Turner is announced in the first line of the book. The rest is about how it all could happen, why did the black man kill her? And when reading the story, it's not that strange he did, as Mary behaves terrible against the black people.

Very gripping, and I'm afraid a true story about apartheid (how should I feel about one of the only Dutch words in English with such a meaning...), which still goes on today.

#173: The only Doris Lessing book I have read thus far is Alfred and Emily. Looks like I need to bump The Grass Is Singing up the stack some.

45. Blinde wereld by Ellen Heijmerikx
(not translated)

This book is about the Brunstad Christian Church, an orthodox evangelical Christian group, founded in Norway. I was interested in this book, as a high school friend of mine is a member of this group. Although it doesn't influence our friendship, it always was (and still is) a mysterious group where we didn't speak about.

This book is written by an ex-member. Although it's a work of fiction, her experiences can be found in it. And it's scary. For every problem there is a text in the Bible that can solve it. And mostly the men are right and the women did it to themselves. Sexual abuse happens more than once.

Kieke, the main character of the book, leaves the group. She's barely welcome at her parents place and the only thing they say to her is that she should come back or she will end up in hell. A believe that is based of fear.

Gripping, because it comes close and because the things I read, about family live, I can imagine that happen.

#175: It is probably just as well that the book is not translated. I would be wanting to pick people up and throw them around :)

Sorry, pet peeve is people taking the Bible and perverting its teachings for their own ends.

#175 - Thanks for the great review. Blinde Wereld sounds interesting. I'm always looking for books where group-pressure and the power of the individual play a role. I've put it on my TR-list.

@176, Stasia, books about heavy orthodox Christian religion are quite popular here, mostly due to our Calvinistic history, I guess. Other books are Knielen op een bed violen (live with a very orthodox father) and Dorsvloer vol confetti (a young woman getting away from an orthodox environment). I've both on my soon to be read list.

@177, Monica, I hope you will enjoy it, for as far that is the correct word.

46. Brief Lives: Leo Tolstoy by Anthony Briggs
Early Reviewer

This book is part of a promissing new series about literary figures. In a little bit more than 100 pages Tolstoys live is told. Long enough to tell details and place his most important works. Short enough the read in a couple of evenings and not to be boring.

I now definitely should start War and peace and/or Anna Karenina.

#179: If you read either War and Peace and/or Anna Karenina, I would recommend using the Pevear/Volokhonsky translations. I used their translation of W&P last year and AK this one, and love them.

47. Dress your family in corduroy and denim by David Sedaris

Really funny, these stories. All about family and how they interact with each other and with david. The humour is subtile and good. I particullary liked the story about the Dutch habit of Sinterklaas, which can be found here:
http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1202-DEC_SEDARIS

I already ordered Me talk pretty one day.

#181 - Now that Santa-story is hilarious! In Belgium, we also know Sinterklaas, but he arrives on December 6th (after having visited the Dutch children, I guess) and is accompanied by only one "Zwarte Piet" (Black Pete) (the other ones probably stay behind to take care of all the children they'll transport to Spain?). I have very fond memories of Sinterklaas. Me being a good child (...), I always looked forward to his coming although I appreciated not to be confronted with him. One year, I had put a carrot in my shoe to welcome the donkey of "Zwarte Piet". Much to my surprise I found out the donkey must have entered our house as he had bitten a piece of the carrot. When I got excited about this and pointed it out to my parents they couldn't stop laughing. Little did I know ... Ah yes, lovely memories. Thanks for sharing this, boekenwijs!

Monica, I'm very pleased that you like it as well! I always wondered about the small diverences about the celebration in the Netherlands and Belgium. And the story about the carrot is so familiar. We also left one for the horse of Sinterklaas every year (and next day we would eat carrots ;).
I remember the mysterious feeling of knowing the real story, but my two younger brothers didn't. Very exciting.
Btw, I still celebrate it with my parents and brothers (all in our twenties) and make funny presents and long poems. Although moved to Christmas for practical reasons as we live spread over the country, we will still get a chocolate letter and my mother will have some 'pepernoten' left!

48. De man die in rook opging by Maj Sjöwall
(Originally Swedish, translated in English as The man who went up in smoke)

Part two of ten of the series about Martin Beck. In the beginning of the year I read part 1 (see msg. 21) and really liked it. Recently I bought the rest of the series.

This book is about a man gone missing in Budapest (remember, playing in the 1960s, on the Russian side of the Iron Curtain). Martin has to find out, in a week time, what happened. Without having a clue beforehand. So he strolls trough Budapest (a city I now also want to visit), comes in contact with some people (good and bad) and, of course, at the end the mystery will be solved.

A good, relaxing read, with good background information about time and place. I recommend this series!

#184: I would read it if it were available anywhere near me. *off to check and see if it is available on my Nook*

#185, Probably they are available in e-book format. Hope you will find and enjoy them!

#186: Well, I checked and there is exactly 1 of the books available for the Nook - and it is book #8! I cannot possibly read book 8 before I read the first seven! The roof would cave in or something :)

Quite ridiculous to only have the 8th book the serie available! Like you, I also like to start with part 1 of a series, even, as in this series, the previous books don't seem to be very important for the understanding of the later.

I agree, it is ridiculous!

49. Sneeuw by Orhan Pamuk
(Originally Turkish, translated in Enlish as Snow)

This is one of the books I already wanted to read for a while, but it's thickness combined with its topic also scared me. There is no good reason for that. The book is, in my opinion, too long, but well-written and okay to read.

The story plays in Kars, in the northeastern part of Turkey. Because of the snow, nobody can get in or out of the city. Ka, a Turkish poet, living in Germany for political reasons, comes here to write about the local ellections and the suicides among the young girls. But is that the real reason? Isn't that his love for Ipek, who lives there and recently got divorced?

During his three-day stay, a political coup takes place, during a live television broadcast from the theater. After that, Ka speaks with everyone and tries to get people together, as long as it will help him to get Ipek...
The political issue about head covering is the most dicussed issue. Logical from the point of view of the location and inhabitants. But it comes back again and again. It all could have been a little shorter.

#190: I checked some of the other reviews on that one and most of them seem to indicate the same as you did - it needs to be shorter or have more content. I think I will give it a pass for now.

50. On what grounds by Cleo Coyle

A much lighter read, needed after reading Snow. Another cozy mystery series, the coffehouse mysteries this time.

This book is exactly what you expect of a cozy mysery: a terrible accident (or is it no accident) happens, a befriended person of the victim helps solving the crime, the police just agrees with it, the main character has love problems and there is a lot of misunderstanding.
And in this book, nice fact about coffee and recipes are added. Recommended to the ones who like cozy mysteries. If you want real crime or a credible story, stay away from it.

Chicklit is not invented for me, my fluffy reading stuff exist of cozy mysteries. It shouldn't be a suprise that I alreay ordered the second book of this series.

51. De breiclub by Ann Hood
(Dutch translation of The knitting circle)

This is a book I normally wouldn't choose to read, but I borrowed it from my mum, a knitter herself (but not by the reasons mentioned in the book).

THe story is more about mourning and friendship than about knitting, it's more about getting on with life after a dramatic event. For main character Mary it's the death of her 5-year old daughter (as also happend with the author). She learns knitting do have something else on her mind and meets new people, all with their terrible story, at the knitting circle.

The number of sad and dramatic stories is too high, according to me. Almost all main characters have something extremely sad to tell. Although the book is well written and I read it in a day, it was just too much...

52. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

After all I read about this series I finally decided to read the first book. I guess the story about Botswana's lady detective Precious Ramotswe is pretty well known, so I won't give a short summary.

Although I enjoyed the read, it's not my series. Too slow, not that interesting cases and not too credible solutions. The nice thing is the African bit, as it's a continent I know almost nothing about.

I might read a couple of other books in the series, just as an easy read, but I have no intention to read the whole bunch.

#194: I have read the first couple in that series and given up on it. The series is just not for me. There are a lot of people who enjoy it though.

53. Kind 44 by Tom Rob Smith
(Dutch translation of Child 44)

What a brilliant book! Well written, very exciting and giving a bright view into the communistic Russian world. Is the death of the 5-year old Arkadi a train accident or murder? Even if the second could be logic, it can't happen in Russia in the 1950s.

This book is about child murder, surviving in the Russian society (even as special agent that ain't easy), supression, complot, justice. A brilliant book. I definitely want to read The secret speech.

#196: Oh, I loved Child 44. I am glad you did too!

Stasia, good to hear you also liked it! Did you read the sequel?

54. Mama Tandoori by Ernest van der Kwast
(Dutch, not translated)

This is a very, partly autobiographic, story about the Indian (as in from India) mother. A woman who never wants to spend a dime on anything and does everything to get reductions. Ernest's oldest brother is mentally ill, being a 4-year-old for all his life. But mother believes that one day he will graduate from university. The story is told in a very funny way and I hope with some exageration.

I have not read the sequel yet, although I do own it. One of these centuries I will get to it!

55. Dorsvloer vol confetti by Franca Treur
(Dutch, not translated)

This book is a very beautiful written story about family life in a heavy religious farmers family (in Zeeland). The story is told by the 10-year old daughter, Katelijne, of the family, having three older and three younger brothers.

The way it's written, you feel the ambiance, you see the farm in the empty, windy, land. Wonderful debut.

#181 Very funny Sinterklaas story. I loved growing up as an English family living in the Netherlands - we got presents twice, once from St Nicholas and once from Father Christmas!

Sorry you didn't enjoy No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency more - but I agree, the Botswana setting is one of the best things about it.

#200 - I keep hearing good things about Dorsvloer vol confetti, so I'll add it to my list. This religious upbringing is really in issue in the Netherlands, isn't it, unlike here in Belgium. I once suggested I wanted to move to a specific village in Zeeland (not seriously, but as a figure of speech), but I was strongly advised not to unless I wanted to adjust myself to a rigid religious way of life there. And even then, my friend doubted I would be welcome there. Is that really true?

#202 Hi Monica, I'm sorry to say so, but I'm afraid it would be the case. We have our own 'bible belt', running from Zeeland to Staphorst. Most villages locates in it have a very strictly religious (protestant, reformatorisch, gereformeerd). In this villages you are strictly watched by the community. Although not everyone is religious in these villages, I always feel set back in time when I walk through such a village. Religion can be seen in every step of life there, in Staphorst, for instance, is it quite rare to have women in the board of the municipality. Unfortunately, this are also the villages that score high on voting for Geert Wilders...

I think the image made in Dorsvloer vol confetti is very typical. I myself grew up in a small village north of Groningen (now living in the Randstad) and although the religion is less strict there, you still see a separation between Chrisians and non-Christians in some things (music, sport, schools). I guess that is less in from origing Catholic areas as we haven in Limburg and Brabant and I think also is the case in Belgium.

I read and enjoyed all of the Martin Beck series last year, as I took advantage of a special offer on a set of the books.

Finally I finished a book again. Somehow I've been way to busy the last couple of weeks. And than I was also reading a book that took some energy and effort.

56. Godenslaap by Erwin Mortier
This book is about the First World War in Belgium, told by an old woman. She tells about the split in her family, because her father stays in Belgium as the rest of the familiy flies to France. Her brother becomes a soldier. She finds a boy friend who is an English war photographer.
The story is well told, but doesn't seam to head anywhere and the style is somehow difficult. I might enjoy it more a moment when I have more time and patience.

#206: Too bad about that one! It sounds like one I might have enjoyed. My grandfather was born in Belgium. He and his family emigrated to the US between the world wars.

Back from a sunny hiking week in Spain, time to write to short reviews.

57. It had to be you by Jill Churchill (touch stones don't work correctly)

A book in the middle of the Grace and Favor Mysteries. A cozy mystery, playing in the 1930s (although that's only clear in a few things). An old man in a nursing home dies. It seems murder. But why? He would have died anyway that day... The neightbours, who are temporarely helping in the nursing home, help finding the murder (as they have done in earlier parts of this series). Not very brilliant, but a nice and easy read.

58. De man op het balkon by Maj Sjöwall
(orgininally Swedish, translated in English as The man on the Balcony)
Part three of the series about Martin Beck, of which I read the other two earlier this year (msg. 184 and 21). This book is about a serial raper and killer of young girls. Well written, interesting topic. On to the following book in this series.

#208: A sunny hiking week in Spain sounds wonderful! I hope you had a great time, but I am glad to see you back.

59. What we believe but cannot prove by John Brockman

This book consist of columns of well-known persons, mostly scientist, about something they believe in but cannot prove is true. Unfortunately, I didn't read something very new or fantastic. Most is about the future of the human race and about the cosmos. And the topics are sort of grouped, which makes the next text not too unpreditable.

I read the Martin Beck series (inc The Man on the Balcony last year.

Due to the number of post in this topic, I started a new one for the (already) last two months of this year:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/101526