Connie's ROOTs in 2015

Of course I will join again in 2015

My goal is 24 Books of the shelves. That will leave room for new books (just bought) or books that have not been on my shelves long enough.

ROOTs that will count are books that have been on my shelves for more then 12 months. To make the challenge more of a challenge I will read an ABC by last name of the author.




ROOTs read in 2015:

01-A. Kelley Armstrong - Gebeten -
02-B. Luc Besson - Arthur en de Wraak van Malthazard -
03-C. Justin Cronin - De zomergast -
04-D. Lieneke Dijkzeul - Wat overblijft -
05-E. Moeder Everma - Vogeltje -
06-F. Lynn Flewelling - Koninklijk Orakel -
07-G. Nicci Gerrard - In het maanlicht -
08-H. Elizabeth Haynes - Waarheen je ook vlucht -
09-I.
10-J. Robert Jordan - Het pad der dolken - *
11-K. Stephen King - De wind door het sleutelgat -
12-L. Benny Lindelauf - Negen open armen -
13-M. George R.R. Martin - Een feestmaal voor kraaien -
14-N. Patrick Ness - Het mes dat niet wijkt -
15-O.
16-P.
17-Q.
18-R. Michèle van Rees - Nr. 19 -
19-S.
20-T.
21-U. Lisa Unger - Mooie leugens -
22-V.
23-W.
24-X.
25-Y.
26-Z. Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Het middernachtspaleis -

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Extra ROOT's read in 2015

27. Patrick Ness - Het donkere paradijs -
28. Patrick Ness - Lawaai dat nooit stopt -
29. Nicci Gerrard - Het voorbijgaan -
30. Benny Lindelauf - De hemel van Heivisj -
31. Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Septemberlichten -
32. Erin Kelly - De verdorde roos -
33. Julie Kibler - Kom naar huis -
34. G.R.R. Martin - Een dans met draken deel 1: oude vetes, nieuwe strijd - 673p. -
35. G.R.R. Martin - Een dans met draken deel 2: Zwaarden tegen draken - 664p. - *

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Total ROOTS in 2105 (the 26 for the ABC and some extra ones)

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Other books read in 2015:

01. Diana Gabaldon - Met het bloed van mijn hart (Deel 1) - 549p. -
02. Peter James - Doodsklok - 379p. -
03. Harlan Coben - Gevonden - 327p. -
04. Elizabeth George - Schaduwkant - 328p. -
05. Connie Willis - Experiment - 239p. -
06. Tess Gerritsen - Sterf twee keer -318p. -
07. Linwood Barclay - Geen veilige plek - 382p. -
08. Nicci Gerrard - Huis van herinneringen - 320p. -
09. Jessie Burton - Het huis aan de Gouden Bocht - 374p. -
10. Nicci French - Denken aan vrijdag - 334p. -
11. Diana Gabaldon - Met het bloed van mijn hart deel 2 - 626p. -
12. Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie project - 330p. -
13. Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie effect - 424p. -
14. Camilla Läckberg - Leeuwentemmer - 369p. -
15. SJ Watson - Tweede leven - 398p. -
16. Kate Mosse - De nacht van de vogels - 347p. -
17. Harlan Coben - De vreemde - 347p. -
18. Paula Hawkins - Het meisje in de trein - 357p. -
19. Deborah Harkness - Het boek des levens - 606p. -
20. Marco Kunst - Kroonsz - 337p. -
21. Claire North - De eerste vijftien levens van Harry August - 382p. -
22. S. K. Tremayne - IJstweeling - 318p. -
23. Samuel Bjørk - Ik reis alleen - 398p. -
24. Tess Gerritsen - Meisje vermist - 254p.
25. Karin Slaughter - Mooie meisjes - 476p. -
26. Elizabeth Haynes - Alles wat overblijft - 443p. -
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Ebooks read in 2015:
01. Rachel Joyce - De onwaarschijnlijke reis van Harold Fry - 268p. -
02. Elizabeth Haynes - Bij het vallen van de nacht - 303p. -
03. Alan Bradley - De smaak van venijn - 276p. - *

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Total number of books read in 2015




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Books into the house in 2015:
01. James Dashner - De schroeiproeven
02. David Hair - Water & Vuur
03. Charlaine Harris - Date met de dood
04. Michel Faber - Het boek van wonderlijke nieuwe dingen
05. Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie Project
06. Daniel O'Malley - De Dame
07. Peter James - Doodsklok
08. Jessie Burton - Het huis aan de Gouden Bocht
09. Harlan Coben - Gevonden
10. Elizabeth George - Schaduwkant
11. David Hair - Staal & Stormweer
12. John Boyne - De jongen die zijn vader zocht
13. Patrick Rothfuss - De muziek van de stilte
14. Camilla Läckberg - Leeuwentemmer
15. Dimitri Verhulst - De zomer hou je ook niet tegen
16. Nicci Gerrard - Huis van herinneringen
17. Linwood Barclay - Geen veilige plek
18. George R. R. Martin - De verborgen geschiedenis van Westeros
19. Nicci French - Denken aan vrijdag
20. Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie effect
21. SJ Watson - Tweede leven
22. Asa Larsson - Zonnestorm
23. Ida Jessen - Leugenaars
24. Kate Mosse - De nacht van de vogels
25. Harlan Coben - De vreemde
26. Cathy Kelly - Wat wil je nou?
27. Cathy Kelly - Wat ze wil!
28. Susan Oudot - Hartsvriendinnen voor altijd
29. Paula Hawkins - Het meisje in de trein
30. Elizabeth Haynes - In de schaduw van de maan
31. Elizabeth Haynes - Alles wat overblijft
32. David Hair - De scharlaken vloed
33. Andy Weir - Mars
34. James Dashner - De doodskuur
35. Marion Pauw -Grijs gebied
36. Tess Gerritsen - Meisje vermist
37. S. K. Tremayne - IJstweeling
38. Karin Slaughter - Mooie meisjes

means: Read

Welcome to all visitors!

Happy reading, Connie and wishing you good luck.

Nice to see you again! Good luck with your challenge.

Thanks, Barb en RP!

An extra challenge! You're very brave :D

>5 Samantha_kathy: I want to make it more difficult every year or give a twist to it! This is more of a twist ;))

Thanks Samantha_Kathy!

Just Samantha is fine. Shorter too ;)

Good luck with your challenge. I admire the extra twist.

>7 Samantha_kathy: And easier to type down, Sam ;-))

>8 LittleTaiko: Thank you Stacy. I'm just curious how it will work out.

Best wishes, Connie!

Thank you Tess!

Welcome back Connie! And good luck! I look forward to seeing your developing alphabet... especially the harder letters ;)

I'm covered for most of them, Ava.

An extra challenge...interesting!

>13 connie53: ahh, good planning!

I know, It's just a matter of wanting to read a book with that letter at the time. But I don't go from A to Z. I will pick them at random.

Ah... That would be more manageable for me ;)

Maybe in 2016! If it works out in 2015.

Yes I'll view your progress and then take a gander at my shelves and see if it's doable ;)

I like your extra challenge - good luck with that!

Connie, there is an alphabet group too. I've done once a title and an author challenge. At the moment I'm struggling with an alphabet location challenge. That one is pretty hard.

Connie, glad you are still with us! Enjoy your 2015 reading!

Looks like some of those letters will be harder to complete than others, Connie. Good luck in 2015.

Connie, my friend, it's so good to see you back! Happy New Year, and best of luck with your goals this year!

I love to see you all here!

So, what am I reading now:

Met het bloed van mijn hart (the first part) by Diana Gabaldon



This is the translation of In My Own Hearts Blood

This part (8) in the Outlander series is published in The Netherlands in two separate books.
book 1 has 549 pages
book 2 has 626 pages.

So it would be a very big book and not very easy to handle. I'm glad they did it this way. It's still a big one, but easier to hold and carry around in my handbag if need be.

For ROOT # 1
I'm reading Een feestmaal voor kraaien by G.R.R. Martin on my Kobo, but I prefer a real book and I can't seem to get into this one. I've been reading it since July last year. Other books seem to be getting in the way of ending it. Well, never mind.



This is the translation of A Feast for Crows
The last few days were both busy and quiet. We spend New Year's eve at a friends place. Real nice and cosy. And yesterday we celebrated Eveline's 29 birthday (coming Wednesday is the real date, but that is not a good day for a party).
In between Christmas and New Years eve I cleaned and did laundry and ironing.

Tomorrow I have to go back to work again. When I get there I'm sure I will love it, but right now I don't want to go back. I could use a few more days on my own. Peet has been home too. We both are working in a school and we have the same holidays. And though I love him I like some me-time too.

Those are some really heavy reads for the beginning of the year! But enjoyable from what I understand :) Good Luck! And w going back to work ;)

Hi, Connie, nice to see you!

Thanks Ava and Birgit!

Good luck with your 2015 challenge Connie. Happy New Year!

Thanks Belva! I will be visiting your thread soon!

Hi Connie! Happy New Year! My hubby is reading the Outlander series and really enjoying it, though he's only on the second book. I got him the third for Christmas. It's always interesting to me to see how different countries publish different books -- sounds like two editions for part eight is the way to go.

Enjoy this last Sunday before going back to work. And I know what you mean about me-time; I'm trying to get Judd to join a dart league for the same reason. :-)

Hahaha, Christina, I know the feeling.

Today was the first day of the year after the Christmas break. I really hate days like that. You have to wish everybody 'Happy New Year' and do you kiss or just shake hands. And who do you kiss? I'm a lucky girl this year. My workday starts at 9.00 a.m. and school days start at 8.30 a.m. So when I entered the building there were just a few people in the teachers room. I wished them a good new year, poured some coffee to take with me and buried myself in my office.
During the Christmas break the school switched to a completely new server and we are now part of a very large group ( 5 schools together). So my roommate Manon and I tried to find how thinks work now. Well, they don't! Is really a big mess and I'm having problems finding documents and getting on the internet.
So a big mess and frustration.

This afternoon I took all the Christmas decoration down and put them away in boxes in the attic. I always miss the tree for a couple of days.

I started reading another ROOT (# 2)today.

Het mes dat niet wijkt by Patrick Ness.



This is the translation of The Knife of Never Letting Go
Part 1 of the Chaos trilogy.

This is the blurb!

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him -- something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.

My Secret Santa on my book club 'gave' this book to me.
We don't exactly give books (to expensive for some) but just make some recommendations for one other person that is participating in the Secret Santa Thing.

And this book has been on my shelf since December 2013 so it's a ROOT!!

Congrats on your first ROOT!

>32 connie53: Back to school for me also, Connie and my school also changed servers and email providers. I can't open any attachments in emails now until I convert them and yesterday I found out that I can only save them in google.docs. We've had no training on google.docs so I can't find anything! However, I guess we will learn and survive. I feel that they have just thrown us in the pool with no swimming lessons! Anyway, enough complaining and congrats on your first root!

>35 Tess_W: Just what I was feeling, Tess. We were just thrown into a dark pool. Very well said.

Today I called in sick. I felt exhausted when I woke up. In fact I was awake at 4.00 a.m. and did not sleep again. Got up, showered, dressed and had breakfast and got my bike out, put on my coat and, while I was standing on the drive, thought: "I'm not going to do this. I will fall asleep on my bike"
So I stood there for a while just feeling my eyes closing and very wobbly on my feet. I put the bike back in and closed every door, called in sick and went back to bed. Now I feel better, but it was a strange experience.

Oh, Connie -- take care of yourself!

And congratulations on your great start to another year of reading!

>37 karen_o: Thanks Karen, I sure will do that. It's just my not sleeping more then 5 hours max a night since three or four weeks. That will break one up in the end. I need to find a good solution to that problem. Maybe less coffee, or some vitamins.

I hope you're feeling better soon, Connie.

Keep up the great reading!

Oh dear, get well soon. xx

Hope you feel better after some sleep today!

Sorry to hear you are not sleeping. That will indeed cause stress to every part of your body. When I don't sleep, I feel shaky and trembling all over. I hope you are able to get some restorative sleep soon!

What a weird experience! Glad you're feelinng better :)

Yikes! Glad you took the day off to recover. Hope you continue to feel better!

Glad you're feeling better, Connie. This may sound strange, but it's been working for me. I'm finally on a quasi-regular schedule and sleeping about six to seven hours a night.

My doctor recommended it and although skeptical, it's worked. Basically, avoid electronic light as much as possible in the evening, especially television and computer screens. He said the wavelengths actually prohibit the sleep hormone from starting in your brain.

So, I avoid all electronic screens after 10 p.m. and draw all the blinds and curtains as soon as it's dark outside. I also light candles instead of turning on a room light, or, if I do turn on a light to read, he said place it about four or five feet away and make sure it has a shade.

Again, it sounds strange but it's worked wonders for me. I start to go to bed pretty naturally now around 11 p.m., which is crazy early for me.

Hi Connie, I hope things are better now?

>45 Shutzie27: There were news reports doing the rounds here recently about a study on the topic. It's the blue light, isn't it? What a great argument for sticking with the printed books!

>46 MissWatson: Well, yes and no. For some reason, it's nearly 3 a.m. here and I'm up from a dead sleep. *sigh....* So as you can see, I'm breaking the blue light rule, lol. :)

>45 Shutzie27: I've read a *lot* that supports your doctor's recommendation... Now if only my husband would try it... (He's a bit of an insomniac :))

I can certainly give it a try, Christina. I'm using candles already in combination with the lamps, but I always have my laptop turned on. So maybe I should turn that off about some 2 hours before I go to bed and just read. Only candle light might be not enough light to read by. I have a dimmer switch on the lamps above the table. I could tone them down a bit.
I know that it might not work immediately but I will try it! Thanks.

I slept okay last night. At least two hours more than the night before and I'm feeling better today and I went back to school. (And to the chaotic Internet situation we are in).

Thanks everybody!

I bought my first two books and they arrived by mail today.

David Hair - Water en vuur part one in the series De brug der getijden



This is the translation of Mage's Blood, part 1 in the Moontide Quartet

Most of the time the Moontide Bridge lies deep below the sea, but every 12 years the tides sink and the bridge is revealed, its gates open for trade. The Magi are hell-bent on ruling this new world, and for the last two Moontides they have led armies across the bridge on crusades of conquest. Now the third Moontide is almost here and, this time, the people of the East are ready for a fight -- but it is three seemingly ordinary people that will decide the fate of the world.

James Dashner - De schroeiproeven part two in De Labyrinthrenner series.



This is the translation of The Scorch Trials, part 2 in the Mazerunner series

After surviving horrific conditions in the Maze, Thomas is entrapped, along with nineteen other boys, in a scientific experiment designed to observe their responses and gather data believed to be essential for the survival of the human race.

>49 connie53: glad you're sleeping a little better! Good luck! I understand electronics are much more of a concern w/ brain waves than other lights, but anything that might help seems worth trying!

>50 connie53: Fun! I've been intrigued by the Maze Runner series... I thought I might just skip to the movie, but maybe the book is worth reading?

Hi Connie, the computer system at my work changed last year as well. We used to actually see people and the computer was just one of the tools that we used. Now we spend all day at the computer. The stress of a new system and constantly being at the computer has made getting to sleep at night harder but I try to put work out of my mind when I get home. I don't think that it helps that most of my volunteer work and my writing are done on the computer.

I think what I am trying to say is that the thing to do is to find a balance between computer time, stress and being able to sleep. Maybe we should all practice yoga poses or something!

>51 avanders: I don't know, Ava. I have to read them first. You know! It's one of the many on my TBR. A common problem, I guess.

>52 Familyhistorian:, Meg, you are so right. Even if I'm not working on the computer I sit at my desk and the pc is turned on of course.

Let's see if I can find a picture of my office!

>49 connie53: Glad you're already sleeping better. It took me about four days before I really felt myself growing tired regularly, so give it a bit of time. As you can see, I'm breaking the blue light rule to be on LT a bit before bed, but I'm so tired tonight I'm sure I'll still sleep before long.

What a lovely desk area!

I'll look forward to what you have to say about the Maze Runner series.

>53 connie53: ah I figured you'd read the 1st one ... well I look forward to whenever you are able to get to it! :)

And nice desk!

An office with a window! I am envious. :)

Oh, that's a lovely office. Connie, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Thanks!

Yesterday we had a meeting of our book club! It was very nice, good food, drinks and nice people to talk with, mostly about books.
We always have a book switch. People bring books to give away or swap. I got one book of the table.



Date met de dood by Charlaine Harris
This is the translation of Dead until dark

Dead Until Dark is the first book in Charlaine Harris's series The Southern Vampire Mysteries / Sookie Stackhouse novels. In this first installment, the author introduces the character of Sookie Stackhouse, a young telepathic waitress from the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and her world, an alternate history where vampires, shapeshifters and other supernatual beings coexist with humans. In Dead Until Dark Sookie begins a romantic entanglement with her vampire neighbor and is faced with a series of murders in town.

It sounded very interesting so it's mine now.

You know, I've been thinking about readig the Sookie Stackhouse novels. But I'm not sure yet if I'll like them enough. It's going to be interesting to see what you think about it.

>58 connie53: fun! I can't remember if I've read that one or not... I *feel* like I did (way before the tv series was a thing), but I can't really remember it.... maybe it warrants a re-read at some point ;)

>59 Samantha_kathy: I will let you know, Sam. As soon as I finished it. That could take a while ;-)
I'm now completely into the Chaos Trilogy by Patrick Ness. I just finished part one Het mes dat niet wijkt and I liked it a lot. Really a lot. And I started part two this afternoon!



Het donkere paradijs

This is the translation of The Ask and the Answer
The titles have nothing in common.
The ask and the answer translates into De vraag en het antwoord.
Het donkere paradijs would translate into The dark paradise.
I really don't know how they thought up this translation, but you know; Publishers are funny sometimes.

And Het mes dat niet wijkt is my first finished ROOT of the year. Reading another book by Patrick Ness (it is a ROOT also) will not fit in my ABC-ROOT list. But I like these books so much I can't see myself reading another book right now. I have to know where the story will end. So part two it is for now and then part 3! I will just have to read some additional ROOTs this year.

>60 avanders: It is part 1 in the series, so maybe the story slipped away from you, Ava.

>58 connie53: I'm a big fan of Harris' Southern Vampires series - I started reading it years ago long before the tv show "True Blood." I hope you enjoy Dead Until Dark - and the rest of the series.

>62 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks. I think it will be a summer book. So you will probably see it in my read-list later this year.

The Sookie Stackhouse books are definitely summer reads. Hope you enjoy it! I read the first few in the series and they were a lot of fun- very different from the Tv show.

>61 connie53: sounds great! I will have to look into it.... perhaps yet another TBR! :)

Edited: sigh, done. I've added it to my Amazon wishlist ;) I also added the free kindle prequel to my kindle already!

>65 avanders: O my, Now I'm guilty of persuasion to buy a book. I hope you like it, Ava. I definitely do!

>66 connie53: lol you are forgiven. Even if I hate it. Which I'm sure I won't! :)

Thanks. I've been a bit absent lately. Down with some kind of flue. I'm typing this on my ipad in my bed. I hope to get more avtive in the coming days.

Oh no! Get lots of rest and hope you feel better soon!

Take good care of yourself!

Sorry to hear that you are sick. Get well soon. Hugs xx

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Hi, Connie! I hope you are feeling better soon. This has been a year with lots of flu going around. And best of luck on your ABC ROOT challenge.

Hope you feel better soon, Connie. The Susie Stackhouse novels are just the thing when you're not feeling well.

Thanks for dropping by my thread! And feel better.

How miserable! I hope you're feeling much better soon.

Get well soon!

Hope you feel better soon Connie. Flu is no fun!

I'm feeling better now. And I must say I'm happy about that. There is a nasty flue going on over here. Lots of people end up with a pneumonia. So I'm a lucky girl.

Connie, take care please. I wish you a relaxed weekend.

I love that picture. So Christmassy and cosy!

On the book-thing:

Just finished Het donkere paradijs by Patrick Ness and loved it! A big . ROOT #3. Yeah!!

And starting ROOT #4

Lawaai dat nooit stopt by Patrick Ness.


This is the translation of Monsters of Men
Again an odd translation
Lawaai dat nooit stopt translates into Noise that never stops
Monsters of Men would make something like "Monsterlijke mannen" of "Monsters van mannen".

Just because you can't read anything else before you know what will happen to Todd and Viola. You need to go on reading.

Yay congrats! Now I'm looking forward to the series even more!

Glad you're feeling better!!

Just updating on the book things:

I'm reading Lawaai dat nooit stopt by Patrick Ness right now. This is the third part in the Chaos trilogy and I'm loving it.
The story continues with Todd and Viola and a third person in introduced to the plot. What's special about these books (among other things) is the layout of the text. Each person has his/her own font.
Now on page 211/527.

Wow, I've never seen a book where each character has their own font! Sounds like you are enjoying!

Yes, I truly am enjoying this whole trilogy a lot.

Ooh fun. Sounds like a great trilogy!

Hi Connie, how are you today? I hope you feel much better. xx

Thanks Barb. I will be of to work tomorrow. Last night I slept very little, only 5 hours or less. And I was totally wrecked when I got out of bed. So I stayed home one more day. The sneezing is almost gone so I'm good to go!

I keep my fingers crossed that you are ok tomorrow.

It's awful being sick. I hope you make a full recovery quickly!

A little update:

Tuesday I went back to work again. On Monday I got out of bed to get ready for school, but my stomach was acting up and I decided to stay in the vicinity of my own bathroom, much safer that way. So I had a lazy last day at home with lots of Lt-ing and reading.

At work it is still rather quiet. We had planned a round of testing and for that we needed a classroom with laptop or pc, but they are working on equipping just ONE room. We have a library with 36 pc's but they can't be claimed for teaching or testing. They are meant to give the students a chance to make homework or work on an essay or something else in a free hour.

So I did some overdue things. My letterbox ( a real one just outside my office) was filled with applications for days off to visit a open door day at an university or college. I had to enter those applications into the administration system and into my own spreadsheet.

On the books and ROOTs:
Almost finished another one. Just 50 pages to go or so.

I just finished ROOT number 3 but one that extra on top of the ABC challenge I mean to read.

Lawaai dat nooit stopt by Patrick Ness.

I thought this third part in the trilogy was just as strong as the other two books in the series.

This is a beautiful story for Young Adults but grown ups will enjoy it too. It's about faith and trust, love and hate, war and peace seen through the eyes of a boy (Todd) who is born on the New World but his parents came from the Old World, A girl (Viola)who has just arrived from the Old World and a young man (1017)that is one of the original people of the New World.
The story is not told by those three. The language is different for each of them.
Todd does not know how to read or write and you can see that (incorrect spelling). Viola language is clean and correct. 1017 speaks with the internal speech of his whole land. And all three have their own font in the books! Excellent.

>91 connie53: sorry your stomach is still bugging you :( But it sounds like you had a great, productive day!

>92 connie53: and congrats on finishing ROOT 4! Looking forward to (someday) reading that series :)

Thanks Ava. Don't wait to long!

I fact I was wrong about the number of ROOTs read. It's 3 done and 2 on the go!

I've started a new ROOT yesterday evening.
I wanted to start with my ABC-challenge and picked Gebeten by Kelley Armstrong from the shelves.


This is the translation of Bitten
355 pages. On the shelves since 2009

This is the blurb, NOT a review

Ever since her parents were killed in a car accident when she was five, Elena Michaels has longed for a normal family life. Smart, beautiful, and engaged to be married, Elena hopes to fulfill that dream when disaster strikes. Not only has her fiancé lied about his secret life as a werewolf, but he's made her one, too. She has no choice but to join him at Stonehaven, the upstate New York home of an elite pack of werewolves.

In an attempt to break away, she moves to Toronto to lead a normal life. Working as a journalist, Elena now lives with her new architect boyfriend, works out in the basement gym of their high-rise apartment, lunches with girlfriends from the office, and—once a week, at four in the morning—runs naked and furred through a downtown Toronto ravine, ripping out the throats of her animal prey. But when a band of outlaw werewolves threatens the Stonehaven pack, Elena's feral instincts drive her back there to join the defense. What follows is a war for territory, for pride, and ultimately for Elena herself.

I'm so sorry you're not feeling well! I hope you're having a peaceful weekend with plenty of time to read and recover.

I'm doing okay now. Thanks for the well wishes, Dejah!

LOL, oh my! I hadn't seen the vampire thing coming when I started to read the blurb!

>98 Tess_W: Hahaha, Tess. The cover gives it away, I think.

I'm enjoying the book very much. I'm on page 135 now. At first there is a lot of information about werewolfs (not vampires!) and about the Pack. That was a bit to much, but around page 50 the real story slowly begins to form. It's a seven going on to an 8 if the story evolves a bit more.

Going back to my book now!

Hope you're continuing to feel better Connie!

>99 connie53: sounds promising!
And glad you're feeling better!

Well, there has been a virus going round and some people are home sick for four weeks with the flue. I'm doing fine, relatively speaking. Just coughing a lot. But no fever.

Today was another day of testing some classes. But also some time to get the results sorted out. Tomorrow will be another 'calm' day. So I can make the sets of results ready to go to the class teacher. He or She will have them ready for the PTA evening next week.

And the weekend I off to visit my Best Girlfriend, Vera. Shopping, talking, nice dinner, wine!

Oh my gosh! That's terrible! It's a good thing you're only dealing with coughing! Hope it stays that way! (well, and then improves :))

Sounds like you have a lovely weekend planned! Enjoy!

>102 connie53: Have a nice weekend and don't let the weather spoil it!

I won't, MissW.

Thanks, Ava

Now I'm just hoping the weather won't get in the way of travelling by train. But I'm prepared: I'm taking a book with me to read while travelling. (And maybe my Kobo, because you never know)

>105 connie53: mmmmmmm reading on a train sounds perfect.

It usually is! But people tend to go and talk to me, regardless of the book in my hands.

>107 connie53: booooooo

;)

Here is the song "I'm Reading A Book" by Julian Smith

>107 connie53: Great picture!

Hi Connie, I was behind on the threads and just read of your sleeping, or maybe I should say waking problems. It is so miserable not to be able to sleep. I retired in Sept 2013 and worked under a lot of stress. A few weeks after I quit working I slept all night without waking until morning. I hadn't done that in so long that I was a little frightened when I first woke. I was telling a friend about it later that day and she reminded me that this is what people are supposed to do! I had totally forgotten sleeping all night was the norm.

I hope you have a great year reading those TBRs (and others!).

>108 avanders: I should take that picture with me on the train! Thanks Ava

>109 Robertgreaves: There is a song about it! So true but a bit terrifying. ;-))

>110 Shutzie27: That's Ava's picture, but I know what you meant, Christina LOL

>111 clue: I think everyone is behind on threads! It's sometimes a bit daunting to see the amount of posts one has to read to get caught up.

Sleeping is still an adventure. I am sure it has nothing to do with my job, but with my body. I have trouble laying on my sides. I wake up from the pain in my hips. So now I've decided I will go and see my MP and ask him what I can do about that. but that will have to wait a few weeks when it's vacation. (second half of February)

>112 connie53: lol good plan ;)

I'm sure you've already tried this, but just a suggestion on the off chance you haven't... you've put a pillow between your legs when lying on your side? Supposed to help w/ hip pain......

>112 connie53: I feel your pain, Connie! I have arthritis of the hips and they are giving me troubles. I did buy a pillow made especially to put between the legs when you sleep that takes the pressure off your hips, and it has helped more than a little. I also saw a chiropractor for several months, but I couldn't see anything come from his treatments, so I stopped going.

thanks for the tips! I will go and try the pillow!

>113 avanders: Well, don't be too sure about that! I did not know that might help

>114 Tess_W: Good to hear it has helped you, Tess.

For the February Challenge of my book-club I choose to read. The theme is Shapeshifters.

De wind door het sleutelgat - Stephen King The Dark Tower 4.5


This is the translation of The Wind Through the Keyhole
317 pages and a ROOT because it is on the shelves since January 2013

Sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape shifter, a "skin man," Roland Deschain takes charge of Bill Streeter, a brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast's most recent slaughter. Roland, himself only a teenager, calms the boy by reciting a story from the Magic Tales of the Eld that his mother used to read to him at bedtime, "The Wind through the Keyhole." (The novel can be placed between Dark Tower IV and Dark Tower V.)

>115 connie53: I'm glad I said something then! And I hope it helps :)
>116 connie53: oooh, that's in my list of TBRs.... sounds great!

>117 avanders: Have you read the other books in The Dark Tower series, Ava? In his foreword Stephen says that this book can be read before or after the whole series or between books 4 and 5. I think it's a real nice read so far. I love reading about Roland, Susannah, Eddie, Jake and Oy. Oy is a kind of animal. He can talk (a bit) and is really cute (at least I think so). Meeting them all again is like meeting old friends.

>118 connie53: yes! Great books! I've read through book 5 and then books 6 and 7 hadn't come out yet.... and unfortunately I haven't gone back to them now that they have! So, I think I need to just start all over.... :)

I think you will pick up easily, Ava. That's what happened to me.

Bought three new books today

Michel Faber - Het boek van wonderlijke nieuwe dingen
Translation of The Book of Strange New Things



The Blurb NOT my thoughts!!
It begins with Peter, a devoted man of faith, as he is called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him galaxies away from his wife, Bea. Peter becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment, overseen by an enigmatic corporation known only as USIC. His work introduces him to a seemingly friendly native population struggling with a dangerous illness and hungry for Peter’s teachings—his Bible is their “book of strange new things.” But Peter is rattled when Bea’s letters from home become increasingly desperate: typhoons and earthquakes are devastating whole countries, and governments are crumbling. Bea’s faith, once the guiding light of their lives, begins to falter.

Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie Project
Translation of The Rosie Project



The Blurb NOT my thoughts!!
Don Tillman is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet. But he has designed the Wife Project, using a sixteen-page questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver. Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent and beautiful. And on a quest of her own to find her biological father - a search that Don, a professor of genetics, might just be able to help her with. The Wife Project teaches Don some unexpected things. Why earlobe length is an inadequate predictor of sexual attraction. Why quick-dry clothes aren't appropriate attire in New York. Why he's never been on a second date. And why, despite your best scientific efforts, you don't find love: love finds you.

Daniel O'Malley - De Dame
Translation of The Rook



The Blurb NOT my thoughts!!
Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization and this person wants her dead.

As Myfanwy battles to save herself, she encounters a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and an unimaginably vast conspiracy. Suspenseful and hilarious, THE ROOK is an outrageously inventive debut for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime.

>121 connie53: Oh, I think you will love The Rosie Project. It's one I'd like to read again for the first time. I've read the sequel recently and I liked it too.

aaaaghhh book bullet (The Book of Strange New Things)

I really enjoyed The Rosie Project, but I'm part way into The Rosie Effect and I've got very mixed feelings about it.

The Rook keeps coming to my attention - I may have to give that one a try!

>120 connie53: good to know, thanks!
>121 connie53: looks like a great haul! I have the Faber one and am hoping to read it this year :) I've heard tons of good things about the Rosie Project, and now I RE-want to read the Rook.... ;)

Well, I aim to serve! ( and send BBs across the Atlantic)

Interesting to see your thoughts on The Book of Strange New Things. My mother-in-law gave it to me for Christmas with the warning that people either loved it or hated it. Haven't had a chance yet to see which camp I fall into.

>127 LittleTaiko: Stacy, these are NOT my thoughts on The book of Strange New Things. Just the text you can find on the backside of the book. I just bought it and I have not read it yet. I'm not that fast in reading ;-))

>128 connie53: - Oops, that's what I get for speed reading posts! Let me say then that I look forward to seeing what you do think about when you get a chance to read it. :)

>129 LittleTaiko:

I will let you know!

>102 connie53: I hope soon! But it usually gets better around the middle of March.

Yesterday I went to Den Bosch with 10 of my fellow members of my bookclub. We were asked to function as a panel to discuss fantasy books seen from the point of view of a reader. First there was a panel of Dutch writers and then it was our turn to sit up front. I was in the audience to support the five members on the panel. And to take pictures. This is one of them



Then there was time for drinks and food. The evening ended with a grand gala. I did not participate in the gala. I had to get home by train and I do not own a dress to fit the occasion and no desire to buy or rent one.

It was a very pleasant day and our panel did very well. Of course we discussed the forever growing TBR most fantasy readers have. A lot of the audience members recognized that problem and there were lots of "yes, yesses" from the room.

I finished ROOT number 6 today. De wind door het sleutelgat by Stephen King. This is a very nice book. It's a story in a story in a story but it's never complicated and very easy and entertaining to read. The story fits between part 4 and 5 of the Dark Tower series, but you can easily read it as a standalone.

>131 connie53: sounds like a very cool event! Thanks for sharing :)
>132 connie53: Looking forward to reading that one some day for sure... :)

6 ROOTs already, that's pretty good going! :)

>131 connie53: How fun! And it's so true about the ever growing TBR pile....

I finally got up the courage to start reading again in Een feestmaal voor kraaien by George R.R. Martin. I started reading in July 2014 but other books were shouting to be read and this poor book has been put to the side for too long. Now I've decided it's time to get this one read and off the TBR. 100 pages to go.

You can do it! Sometimes those books have to be put down for the intrigue to build again... that was Goldfinch for me :)

But five months is a bit long. But I'm getting there. I have been out reading in the garden. the sun was shining and out of the wind it was very nice. Maybe it was 8 C or so, but with a big vest is was good to be outside with a book again.

Good luck with A feast for crows!

>138 connie53: yeah, sometimes it gets long, but it's okay :) Reading in the garden again sounds lovely!

And today it was even warmer outside. So I read some more. 37 pages to go!

Ah, I look forward to the day when it's warm enough to read in the garden! Being a bit further north than you, I think it will take a while! :)

I hope it will be warm enough for you soon, Jackie.

Today another afternoon partly spend in the garden with a book.

I finished ROOT # 6 Een feestmaal voor kraaien by George R.R. Martin and started # 7 Arthur en de Wraak van Malthazard by Luc Besson.

The book by Martin gets

It took me 6 months to finish this book and although I was drawn into the book when I started reading in it again a few days ago, I think a book that takes this long to finish must miss something. Or be a bit overwhelming. I think the latter might be the case. Too many people, too many houses, too many intrigues. I got confused by the complexity of it all. Now I've finished it I was wondering if I should start in the fifth part in the series. (Divided over two books in The Netherlands) or just let it be for a while.

As you can see I decided to read another book for ROOTs.



This is the description of the IMDb site about the movie. NOT my review

Arthur did as a boy what only grandpa, a fellow nature buff, did as an adult: pass, as white man, the Bogo tribe's tests of harmony with the natural worlds of trees, minerals and animals. To answer a mysterious call fro help from the Mimimoy people, he enters their world miniaturized. By the time he works out with friends it was a trick, the mastermind has already escaped, ready to strike in our world.

Also reading De onwaarschijnlijke reis van Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce as an e-book.



This is the description of the book, NOT my review

Recently retired, Harold Fry lives in a small English village with a wife who seems irritated by everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next until a letter arrives in the mail from a woman he hasn't heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy, in hospice, is writing to say goodbye. Harold pens a quick reply, but a chance encounter at the corner mailbox convinces him that he must deliver it in person. So Harold sets off on a six-hundred mile journey because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie will live.

>143 connie53: woo hoo! Finally done! Such a great feeling of accomplishment :) I tend to agree... if it takes that long to read, then there's something ... uncompelling about the story or .. difficult about the writing. And of course we'll see a lot of that in classics because our language has changed so much, but in contemporary fiction? ...

Your current-reads look entertaining!

>144 avanders: Well, they are! The book by Luc Besson is a darling little book (little is good! only 173 pages and I'm half way so )

The Harold Fry one looks interesting and is a mere 268 pages! It's not a ROOT (I don't count ebooks as ROOTs if I don't own the real book.) But some one on my book club read it and was really taken by it. So I thought I give it a try.

>145 connie53: I read the Harold Fry last year and liked it, it is both humorous and serious. I'm currently reading another "walking" book. It is Etta and Otto and Russell and James. It is Etta walking in this case, she is 83 and off to see the ocean. I'm halfway through it and still not sure what my opinion of it will be.

Just stopping in to cheer you on, Connie! Have a great weekend!

Thanks for all the good wishes.

-----------------------------------------

Peet gave me a book for Valentine's day. From one of my favourite authors of a good thriller !!!

Doodsklok by Peter James

This is the description, NOT my review!!

Some will wait a lifetime to take their revenge..

A vicious robbery at a secluded Brighton mansion leaves its elderly occupant dying. And millions of pounds' worth of valuables have been taken. But, as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, heading the enquiry, rapidly learns, there is one priceless item of sentimental value that the old woman's powerful family cherish above all else. And they are fully prepared to take the law into their own hands, and will do anything, absolutely anything, to get it back.

Within days, Grace is racing against the clock, following a murderous trail that leads him from the shady antiques world of Brighton, across Europe, and all the way back to the New York waterfront gang struggles of 1922, chasing a killer driven by the force of one man’s greed and another man’s fury.

Congratulations on finishing! Woohoo!

Enjoy the weekend!

And another one down!

Luc Besson - Arthur en de Wraak van Malthazard -

I've started another one, but no ROOT.

>145 connie53: lol that's a good little dance ;)
And looking forward to your thoughts on the Harold Fry book! and >150 connie53: looks like you've enjoyed your little Arthur :)

>148 connie53: Yay! looks like you've got another new one! :)

I'm just collecting Smilies! Besides books, that is!

Hi Connie! I read Harold Fry when it first came out and really enjoyed it. I'll look forward to hearing what you have to say about it. I'm glad you're enjoying reading in your garden.

Here it is beautiful out today so I decided to take one of the dining room chairs and read in the backyard (we don't have any outdoor furniture yet).

A dining room chair is a good chair to take into the garden, Christina. Enjoy your reading!

Glad you can enjoy your garden, chairs or not! When we were first married we had no outdoor furniture and I used to take a blanket and lay in in the sun to read until it got to hot, then move my blanket to the shade tree. Fond memories!

>154 connie53: Thanks, but I ended up having to work so never got around to it.

> 155 That sounds like a lovely memory! I'm excited about looking back on this time. I keep meaning to start a blog about fixing up the house and such, but already neglect two.

>155 Tess_W: oh yes, blankets are nice... last year we sprung for these stationary hammock'esque "chairs" that we can put in the grass, or on the dirt, or whereever there's a little space ;) Those are great when the weather is just right too :)

I thought I needed some books for ROOT reading in 2016!

Yesterday we went to Maastricht and visited our daughter and son-in-law, had coffee and a chat and then went down town to do a bit of shopping.

Of course we had to visit the famous Book-church. And a few books ended in my hands. One cannot enter a bookshop without buying a book!

Jessie Burton - Het huis aan de Gouden Bocht



This is the text on the backside, NOT my review!!!

When 18 year old Nella Oortman travels to Amsterdam to meet her new husband, she finds her life will be very different than she could ever have imagined.
Nella’s new husband, Johannes Brandt, is a 39 year old merchant trader in the city of Amsterdam. His successful business has allowed Johannes to have a nice home, servants, and some of the finer things in life. Nella arrives to find Johannes’ sister, Marin, at home but not Johannes. In fact, Johannes deftly dodges his new bride for as long as he can, claiming his business keeps him away from home.
To make up for his absence, Johannes gives Nella a gift-a miniature replica of her new home. She is also given the means to furnish it as she wishes. As Nella orders pieces to complete the cabinet sized house, she receives more than she bargained, or paid, for. Somehow, the miniaturist she hires creates exact replicas of their real life counterparts as if he or she has been in the home before. Nella also receives pieces that she did not order, but still perfectly match items in her home. As her life in repressive Amsterdam starts to take dangerous twists and turns, Nella has to wonder whether the mysterious miniaturist is foretelling her future with each new reproduction or orchestrating her destruction.

Harlan Coben - Gevonden (Mickey Bolitar 3)



This is the text on the backside, NOT my review!!!

It’s been eight months since Mickey Bolitar witnessed the shocking, tragic death of his father. Eight months of lies, dark secrets, and unanswered questions. While he desperately wants answers, Mickey’s sophomore year of high school brings on a whole new set of troubles. Spoon is in the hospital, Rachel won’t tell him where he stands, his basketball teammates hate him . . . and then there’s Ema’s surprise announcement: She has an online boyfriend, and he’s vanished.

As he’s searching for Ema’s missing boyfriend (who may not even exist!), Mickey also gets roped into helping his nemesis, Troy Taylor, with a big problem. All the while, Mickey and his friends are pulled deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Abeona Shelter, risking their lives to find the answers until the shocking climax, where Mickey finally comes face-to-face with the truth about his father.

Connie, The Miniaturist is a BB for me which I saw on Charlotte's thread. Our local library has got a cpoy.

>159 Ameise1:. Ava gave me that BB. And it looks very interesting, so I had to buy it. I'm not a library-books kind of girl. I'm the I-want-to-own-that-book girl ;-))

Just finished my ninth book for the year Doodsklok by Peter James. An excellent thriller. I really enjoyed it.

I'm now starting to read a ROOT book for my ABC-Challenge.
I choose De zomergast by Justin Cronin



This is the text on the backside of the book, NOT my review

Set primarily in a rustic fishing camp on the northern tip of Maine, the first 50 pages of Justin Cronin's The Summer Guest read like a lazy fishing expedition--most of the time is simply spent waiting for something to happen. Thankfully, this expansive family saga goes on to explore countless intriguing topics, including love, war, disease, loss, betrayal, and redemption. The book revolves around the story of Harry Wainwright, a wealthy entrepreneur who falls in love with the camp as a young man and returns decades later for one last day of fishing before he succumbs to terminal cancer. With Harry as a centerpiece, Cronin artfully weaves the tales of Joe and Lucy Crosby, the camp's owners; their daughter Kate; and Jordan, the camp's guide; into a complex web of family drama. Using history as both a backdrop and a main character, Cronin guides readers from World War II to Vietnam, with the story reaching its climax on a late summer day in 1994.

>160 connie53: Me too, Connie! :-) And I totally agree about being unable to enter a bookstore without walking out with a book!

>162 Shutzie27: I guess there lots of people here that feel the same about bookstores and not being able to walk out without books.

I think The Miniaturist sounds good too. I'm not a big fiction fan, but I can see myself getting that one at some point.

>158 connie53: woo hoo! You got it! I sure do hope you enjoy it!!

>160 connie53: :D guilty. ;) And although I'm enamored with the concept of taking whatever you want from a book "store" (a/k/a the library), and then returning it when you're done reading it so as not to accrue a greater lack of space.......... I also enjoy owning books. A lot. ;)

>161 connie53: Sounds like you're picking up and reading a lot of great books! So nice when that happens :)
And Re The Summer Guest, very much looking forward to your thoughts.. I loved The Passage and was very curious about that non-sci fi book of his...

>165 avanders: I'm now on page 55 so according to the blurb the story should start about now. I admit Justin knows how to write. He composes the most beautiful sentences to describe the people, their feelings and the environment. I can't give an example because I would have to translate. And I'm afraid I won't do justice to his writing.

>166 connie53: Sounds very enticing!! No worries, I couldn't even begin to translate a novel in any language!

Another book bought!

I just can't help myself when Elizabeth George had a new book.
I had to have Schaduwkant



This is the blurb not a review!!

Late summer on Whidbey Island. After nine weeks of no rain the fire season has arrived ...along with a fire starter who soon begins tormenting the residents of this peaceful Pacific Northwest idyll with fires that escalate in intensity. Becca King and her friends Jenn and Derric are with her at the county fair when the third fire starts in a shed housing animals. The shed is destroyed, some of the animals are killed, and Becca hears from the nearby forest the 'whispers' of the fire starter who has remained to watch the havoc. More fires ensue and the situation escalates until someone dies. Becca thinks she knows who's behind it all, but only with the help of her friends and the development of her own incipient psychic talents can the perpetrator be brought to justice.

Connie, your touchstone leads to another book.

I fixed it!

>168 connie53: ooh, another shiny new book - fun!

I have not read that book, Connie, but Elizabeth George is one of my favorite heavy historical fiction writers.

>172 Tess_W: This in the third part in her Young Adult series, Tess. With a touch of paranormal in it. Becca 'hears' things. Thoughts that people have. I loved the first two parts in this series.

I finished De zomergast this morning and I was really surprised by it. It started as a slow read. Nothing much is happening. But when the story unfolds I got deeper into it and the last 75 pages are really great. I first thought about ***1/2 stars, but now I know this books deserves **** and maybe a bit more.

Now I'm reading a book from my youth. That is the challenge for March on my bookclub: childhood favorites. Its really old. It is written in 1955 and I bought it in 1964 or 1965.

Vogeltje by Moeder Everma

Moeder means Mother. And I think it's very strange that a writer will call herself 'mother'.



It is a Dutch book by origin. The story is about a 14 year old girl that had infantile paralysis and is now back home after 4 months in a hospital. Her legs are paralyzed and she has great difficulty getting to terms with the fact that she can no longer walk.

I've read this when I was 13 or 14 and was in tears all of the time. Even now it gets to me. The writing is very old-fashioned (duhhh.. 1955) and there is a lot of praying and going to church in it. But I don't care. I'm loving it!

I love it when re-reads from childhood are as good as we remembered!

>174 connie53: Childhood favorites are so comforting, I'm glad you had the chance to re-enjoy one of yours. It sounds like a wonderful story, too.

>174 connie53: Intriguing... I think I have The Summer Guest on my kindle.. maybe a vacation read.. :)

And that's so nice re Mother ... so nice that you are loving an old childhood favorite :) I agree w/ >175 Tess_W: I love it when re-reads from childhood are as good as we remembered!

Thanks, I did love it, but it is sooooooo dated. At the end Erna ('Vogeltje' = little bird) is going to Lourdes (France) on a pilgrimage and her brother wants to become a priest. So more religious things. And everyone is praying all the time. That did not bother me when I read it the first time and I was prepared for that. I just accepted it and once I did that I could enjoy this childhood favourite.

I'm now reading a New and Shiny one!

Harlan Coben - Gevonden



This is from Amazone!!

It’s been eight months since Mickey Bolitar witnessed the shocking, tragic death of his father. Eight months of lies, dark secrets, and unanswered questions. While he desperately wants answers, Mickey’s sophomore year of high school brings on a whole new set of troubles. Spoon is in the hospital, Rachel won’t tell him where he stands, his basketball teammates hate him . . . and then there’s Ema’s surprise announcement: She has an online boyfriend, and he’s vanished.

As he’s searching for Ema’s missing boyfriend (who may not even exist!), Mickey also gets roped into helping his nemesis, Troy Taylor, with a big problem. All the while, Mickey and his friends are pulled deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Abeona Shelter, risking their lives to find the answers—until the shocking climax, where Mickey finally comes face-to-face with the truth about his father.

>178 connie53: lol well, yes, that (being dated) will happen w/ old favorites ;)

Ooooh, another shiny new one, fun! Sounds like it will be a good read!

I sure hope so, Ava!

>174 connie53: I bought a couple of old childhood favourites last year, thinking they might be good for ROOTs this year. I might have to move one of them a bit further to the top of the pile!

Just do that, Jackie. It's real fun to read them again. But be careful. On my bookclub we use a term we call 'the suckfairy'. That is when you reread a book from way back when you loved it and the second time around it is just disappointing. That's when the suckfairy had been to visit you!

You just have to go back in to the mindset you were in at that time. And not read the book with the experience in reading you have now.

>182 connie53: lol! Yeah, it happens.... ;)

>182 connie53: I love the suckfairy idea! Luckily I'm usually so hopeless at reading anything that rereads of anything are pretty rare, so the suckfairy doesn't have too many chances to visit!

>184 Jackie_K: I don't reread that much either, Jackie. In fact this was the first time in ages. Too many new books are waiting for me.

LOL, the suckfairy has never visited me!

That's good to hear, Tess. She missed me this time too.

I haven't had the suckfairy visit me on books, but movies? All the time. Things that I thought were SO brilliant sometimes just don't hold up.

>158 connie53: I thought I needed some books for ROOT reading in 2016! That's my excuse too, Connie.

>158 connie53: and >189 Familyhistorian: lol I must have missed that the first time around.... sounds like a great reason to get new books ;)

Doesn't it! I think it is an excellent reason to buy books so I did it again!



Staal & Stormweer - David Hair Part 2 in the series 'The Moontide Quartet'

This is the text on the book, NOT my review!!

A scarlet tide of Rondian legions is flooding into the East, led by the Inquisition's windships flying the Sacred Heart, the bright banner of the Church's darkest sons. They are slaughtering and pillaging their way across Antiopia in the name of Emperor Constant. But the emperor's greatest treasure, the Scytale of Corineus, has slipped through his fingers and his ruthless Inquisitors must scour two continents for the artefact, the source of all magical power. Against them are the unlikeliest of heroes. Alaron, a failed mage, the gypsy Cymbellea and Ramita, once just a lowly market-girl, have pledged to end the cycle of war and restore peace to Urte. East and West have clashed before, but this time, as secret factions and cabals emerge from the shadows, the world is about to discover that love, loyalty and truth can be forged into weapons as strong as swords and magic.



De jongen die zijn vader zocht by John Boyne

This is the text on the book, NOT my review!

The day the First World War broke out, Alfie Summerfield's father promised he wouldn't go away to fight - but he broke that promise the following day. Four years later, Alfie doesn't know where his father might be, other than that he's away on a special, secret mission. Then, while shining shoes at King's Cross Station, Alfie unexpectedly sees his father's name - on a sheaf of papers belonging to a military doctor. Bewildered and confused, Alfie realises his father is in a hospital close by - a hospital treating soldiers with an unusual condition. Alfie is determined to rescue his father from this strange, unnerving place...

Just stopping in to say hello. And De jongen die zijn vader zocht by John Boyne sounds like a great book.

>193 connie53: I love the books by John Boyne, Christina. So I hope this is as good as it sounds.

Bought some books again.

De muziek van de stilte - Patrick Rothfuss



A companion novella to Patrick Rothfuss’ bestselling Kingkiller Chronicle novels

Renowned as a bastion of knowledge, the University draws the brightest minds to unravel the mysteries of enlightened sciences, such as artificing and alchemy. Yet deep below its bustling halls lies a complex web of abandoned rooms and ancient passageways. In the heart of this cavernous maze is a young woman named Auri, who calls this Underthing her home.

Formerly a student at the University, Auri now spends her days tending to the world around her. She knows that some mysteries are better settled and safe. No longer fooled by the sharp rationality so trusted by those above her, Auri sees beyond the surface of things, into subtle dangers and hidden names.

Leeuwentemmer - Camilla Läckberg

Leeuwentemmer = Lion Tamer



Camilla Läckberg is a Swedish writer and this is her 9th book about Erica Falck and Patrik Hedström. And there is no blurb available.

And because it is 'Boekenweek' (The week of books) in the Netherlands I got another book (a thin one).

De zomer hou je ook niet tegen - Dimitri Verhulst
Titel meanning: You can't hold back the summer also

Looks like you're going great guns so far, Connie!

Today there was a little package on the doormat. I forgot that I won a prize and had selected a book from the list of things to choose from. But there it was, on my doormat.



Huis van herinneringen by Nicci Gerrard

This is the Blurb, NOT my review

Eleanor Lee has lived a fiercely independent existence for over ninety years, but now it's time to tidy her life away - books, photographs, paintings, letters - a lifetime of possessions all neatly boxed up for the last time. But amongst them there are some things that must be kept hidden. And, nearing blindness, Eleanor needs help to uncover them before her children and grandchildren do.

Another ROOT for the years to come!

Serendipity!

It's always great when a book shows up at the door!

Connie, I wish you Happy Birthday

Ooh, is it your birthday? I hope you have a wonderful day! (and get lots of lovely bookish presents of course!)

Happy Birthday, Connie. Here's to another year of reading.

And a belated Happy Birthday from me, too, Connie! I hope you enjoyed a lovely day!

Thanks all! Peet and I went out for dinner. Which was very nice and delicious. The concept was Eat as much as you like. One could choose from 24 different dishes. One dish at a time, the portions were rather small so we each had 6 dishes.

Sunday my kids and their partners, my two sisters and their husbands, my brother and his girlfriend and her daughter, and a niece with her boyfriend are coming over for coffee, cake and drinks and snacks.
And then it will be time for presents. I have mailed a wish-list with just one book, besides other things like a purse and puzzles. I will let you know what they were.

Connie, I'm glad to hear that you had a wonderful evening and a gorgeous Sunday ahead.

Happy birthday, and have a great birthday weekend too!

Thanks RP!

Finished another ROOT. Koninklijk Orakel by Lynn Flewelling
Loved it!

Oh no, I'm late! But a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY all the same!!!



>203 connie53: sounds like it was lovely!

Also...

>191 connie53: lol! Well, a good reason remains one ;)
>191 connie53: >193 connie53: >195 connie53: Looks like you're rich with wonderful, exciting new books! Yay!

And >206 connie53: Congrats on finishing another ROOT!

Well Ava! When you visit a thread, you do it all out! LOL
Thanks!

Finished ROOT # 11

Waarheen je ook vlucht by Elizabeth Haynes



This is the blurb NOT a review

Catherine has been enjoying single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic and spontaneous, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. But there is a dark side to him and his erratic, controlling and sometimes frightening behaviour means that Catherine is increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, she plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, struggling to overcome her demons, Catherine dares to believe she might be safe from harm. Until one phone call changes everything.

Great progress, Connie!

Thanks MissW.

Today I started a new ROOT

Nicci Gerrard - In het maanlicht

>209 connie53: lol! well you're quite welcome ;)
>210 connie53: and another ROOT! Congrats again! That one looks really interesting!

I've been a busy girl with my books.

>212 connie53: Finished. Real good!

And I read anothet ROOT also by Nicci Gerrard - Het voorbijgaan, not as good but still a very nice read.



This is the blurb NOT a review!

Irene has a husband, Adrian, three small children and - though she doesn't know it - a marriage that is going wrong. When she discovers that Adrian is having an affair, the family is blown apart. While Adrian finds new love and excitement, Irene spirals into exhaustion, self-destruction and a kind of madness.

And currently I am reading Het huis aan de gouden bocht by Jessie Burton



The translation of the Miniaturist

Two new books on my shelves (sigh)

Nicci French - Denken aan vrijdag



Part 5 in the Frieda Klein series.

and

Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie effect



In spoiler font because not everybody has read part one

This is a blurb NOT my review

The Wife Project is complete, and Don and Rosie are happily married and living in New York. But they’re about to face a new challenge.

Rosie is pregnant.

Don sets about learning the protocols of becoming a father, but his unusual research style gets him into trouble with the law. Fortunately his best friend Gene is on hand to offer advice: he’s left Claudia and moved in with Don and Rosie.
As Don tries to schedule time for pregnancy research, getting Gene and Claudia back together, servicing the industrial refrigeration unit that occupies half his apartment, helping Dave the Baseball Fan save his business and staying on the right side of Lydia the social worker, he almost misses the biggest problem of all: he might lose Rosie when she needs him most.

>214 connie53: Congrats on more ROOTs read!! And I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the Miniaturist!!

>215 connie53: hee hee, well, it's just so much FUN getting new books! Who could blame you... ;)

Reading ROOT # 14. That means I have read 13 ROOT's!! Yeah!!

Currently reading Benny Lindelauf - Negen open armen
This is a book by a Dutch writer. In fact he was born in a city about 30 km from where I live.



The book is translated into English!



At the end of the world, near the border with Germany, stands a house as long as nine open arms. Half hidden behind trees and shrubs rises a wide brick wall, topped with two attic windows, each no bigger than a dishcloth. The walls have been whitewashed and the wooden floor is bare, as if the house is waiting. Waiting for someone to move in.

It is the summer of 1937, and it hasn't rained for seven weeks when Fing and her family of nine move into Nine Open Arms, along with their handcart of meagre belongings. 'The Dad' is a man who does all kinds of jobs and none of them well, while Oma Mei courageously holds everything together, including the family's history in her Crocodile bag full of pictures and stories. But as the year progresses, the family just gets poorer.

Meanwhile, Fing and her two sisters, wild Muulke and fearful Jess, begin to discover strange mysteries...a bed that looks like a tombstone, and an unmarked grave in the cemetery.

Wooo hooo! Congrats on 13 ROOTs!!

Thanks Ava!

You're doing great, Connie!

Thanks MissW!

And ROOT # 14 is nearly finished! Just a few more pages. 90 to be precise.

And finished! . It was a nice story, nice enough to start in the next book in this series.

ROOT # 15



De hemel van Heivisj - Benny Lindelauf

The title means The heaven from Heivisj.
Heivisj is a horse. In the old days before WO II there were coalmines in the region I live in and horses were used in the mines to pull the carts to get the coal out of the mines



Heivisj is also a word in the dialect that is used around here. It means: (naar) huis/ (going) home.

One of the sisters, the one who is telling the story in both books, is Fing (Josefina, Fine).
Fing is a serious girl and a good student. Her dream of being a teacher is broken in to pieces when it is decided that she has to go and work for a man that makes cigars. She has to take care of Liesl, a niece of this man. And then WOII starts. Liesl is in great danger. Fing has to help her to be safe. The minehorse Heivisj and a very old linden tree are there to help her.

This sound all very mysterious, especially the part about the horse and the tree.

>222 connie53: woot! ROOT 15 sounds interesting! Hope you enjoy it :)

And finished! I love this book. Very good writing and a very good story.

>222 connie53:, Wow, sounds like a great book!

>224 connie53: awesome... I love loving books :D

>226 avanders: I agree completely. It's so much fun to read a book that you really like.

I've startedROOT number 16! And a book for the May-challenge from my book club. The theme this month is: read a book in the original language. And since I read only in the Dutch language I choose a book by a Dutch writer.



Lieneke Dijkzeul - Wat overblijft.

Thriller in a series: Paul Vegter, part 5

It's about a black woman from Somalia, Asli, that has married a Dutch man, partly because she needed to stay in The Netherlands and partly because her husband to be was kind of fascinated by her looks and wanted to act against his father. Now Richard, the husband, is murdered and she is taking care of their handicapped son (deaf and autistic) with no help of her family in law at all.

Starting in book number 29 of the year:



Graeme Simsion - Het Rosie effect.

Spoiler alert!!

Until a year ago, forty-one-year-old geneticist Don Tillman had never had a second date. Until he met Rosie, 'the world's most incompatible woman'. Now, living in New York City, they have survived ten months and ten days of marriage.

But though Rosie has taught him the joys of unscheduled sex and spontaneous meal planning, life is still not plain sailing for Don. Not least with the sudden arrival of his best friend Gene, serial philanderer, who takes up residence on their sofa.

Then Rosie drops the mother of all bombshells. And soon Don must face her hormonally induced irrational behaviour as he prepares for the biggest challenge of his previously ordered life - at the same time as dodging deportation, prosecution and professional disgrace.

Is Don Tillman ready to become the man he always dreamed of being? Or will he revert to his old ways and risk losing Rosie forever?

>228 connie53: that sounds like an interesting book, although I wouldn't be able to manage it in the original language!

I'm really interested that you only read in Dutch, that actually surprised me a bit as your English here is so good. I find I can read in other languages (French, slowly, and Romanian, better) probably better (and certainly faster) than I speak them.

>230 Jackie_K: I know what you mean, Jackie. I probably could read books in English. It's just that my TBR is huge right now and it would explode if I added all books that are not translated and that interest me. This way I limit my choices!
And there is another reason. When I write my posts I use google translate (a lot) and rephrase my sentences because they look strange to me. I can use my own words and when I read an English book I have to deal with the words the writer uses.
I want a relaxed read and not a strained one.

Now reading a NON-ROOT again.



Camilla Läckberg - Leeuwentemmer (Lion tamer)

Camilla Läckberg is a Swedish writer and her books are all translated into Dutch. I lover the books written by her.

This is from her own side and is the Blurb, NOT my review.

It is January and Fjällbacka is bitterly cold. A half-naked girl is drifting through the snowy forest, out onto a road. The car appears out of nowhere and does not have time to swerve.

When Patrik Hedström and his team receive the alarm about the accident, the girl has already been identified. She disappeared four months earlier on her way home from the local riding school and has not been seen since. Her body bears the signs of unimaginable atrocities and there is a chance that she will not be the last and only victim.

At the same time, Erica Falck is investigating an old family tragedy that led to a man’s death. She pays countless visits to his wife, who was convicted of the murder, without being able to find out what really happened. What is she hiding? Erica suspects there is something wrong. And it appears that the past is casting a shadow over the present.

>228 connie53: that sounds very interesting!!

>231 connie53: wow, it's good to know that Google translate is that good! I agree w/ Jackie (>230 Jackie_K:) that your English is good! I've also wondered why you didn't read books in English; now I know! :)

Your English is very good...better than some native English/Americans!

>233 avanders: I just use google translate to find a word or check the spelling. Google isn't that great with sentences or a whole piece of text. Everything gets explained, Ava. Just ask! ;-))

>234 Tess_W: Thanks Tess

Reading another ROOT!!! Yeah!!

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Het middernachtspaleis



This is the blurb NOT a review


Set in Calcutta in the 1930s, The Midnight Palace begins on a dark night when an English lieutenant fights to save newborn twins Ben and Sheere from an unthinkable threat. Despite monsoon-force rains and terrible danger lurking around every street corner, the young lieutenant manages to get them to safety, but not without losing his own life. . . .

Years later, on the eve of Ben and Sheere's sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives. This time, it may be impossible to escape. With the help of their brave friends, the twins will have to take a stand against the terror that watches them in the shadows of the night--and face the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces.

>235 connie53: haha next time I'll be sure to just ask ;)

>236 connie53: yay! I've read that one; looking forward to your thoughts when you've finished!

>237 avanders:

And finished! I thought it was a very entertaining book. Though it is an Young Adult book as an Old Adult its an easy read but it has a message of love and loyalty. That's what interested me most.

On to the next ROOT: # 18

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Septemberlichten



This is the blurb NOT my Review!

When fourteen-year-old Irene Sauvelle moves with her family to Cape House on the coast of Normandy, she's immediately taken by the beauty of the place--its expansive cliffs, coasts, and harbors. There, she meets a local boy named Ishmael, and the two soon fall in love. But a dark mystery is about to unfold, involving a reclusive toymaker who lives in a gigantic mansion filled with mechanical beings and shadows of the past.

As strange lights shine through the fog surrounding a small, barren island, Irene's younger brother dreams of a dark creature hidden deep in the forest. And when a young girl is found murdered, her body at the end of a path torn through the woods by a monstrous, inhuman force, Irene and Ishmael wonder--has a demonic presence been unleashed on the inhabitants of Cape House? Together, they'll have to survive the most terrifying summer of their lives, as they try to piece together the many mysteries and secrets hidden in a town torn apart by tragedy, amidst a labyrinth of lights and shadows.

Hi Connie! Just saying hello and congrats on getting through some more ROOTs!

>238 connie53: Yes, I think that describes it well! :)
And re your ROOT 18.... that's one of Zafon's that I haven't read yet! I actually think I don't even own that one yet! But it's on the list... ;)

>240 avanders: Glad to help, Ava!

>239 Shutzie27: Thanks Christina!

finished ROOT #18.

Woot on another ROOT finished! What did you think of that one? Is that another of his YA ones or part of the Shadow of the Wind "series"?

>242 avanders: Another part of the YA ones, The Fog trilogy, Ava.

Another for that book. The book could have been shorter. In the end there was a lot of the same thing, but overall an entertaining story and again about loyalty and friendship.

Started another ROOT (# 19)

Erin Kelly - De verdorde roos



This is the Blub NOT my review

Paul was led into a life of crime by his boyhood protector. One night, a petty theft turned into murder. Now Paul must bear witness against his friend to avoid prison.

Louisa's dark secrets led her to flee a desperate infatuation gone wrong many years before. Now her days are spent renovating the grounds of a crumbling Elizabethan garden. Her fragile peace is shattered when she meets Paul, the spitting image of the person she never thought she'd see again.

And a e-book

Alan Bradley - De smaak van venijn (Flavia de Luce 1)



This is the Blub NOT my review

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce is an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison. In the summer of 1950, a series of inexplicable events strikes Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that her family calls home. A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp pinned to its beak. Later, Flavia finds a man dying in the cucumber patch. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw.

Connie, I loved the Bradley book very much. Enjoy it.

That sounds like it should be a good read. But how do you get from the English title to the Dutch, which I would guess to mean something like "The Taste of Poison"?

Connie, I love the Flavia character and wish I had paid more attention in chemistry class!

>245 Robertgreaves: You are almost right, Robert. Venijn is more like Venom. So not the thing you use to kill someone but more like being angry and evil inside.
I have no idea what they thought when they selected this title.

>244 Ameise1:, >246 clue: Thanks Barb and Luanne. I heard so much about these books that I had to try them.

>247 connie53: I am also a Flavia fan, but I think the titles are very hard to translate, since they are quotes from rather obscure books or poems. In German, it is an even more prosaic "Murder in the cucumber patch".

>248 MissWatson: Yes that is more prosaic, MissW.

>243 connie53: looking forward to reading it :)
& Looks like you're continuing to read interesting books! Flavia is also on my list of to-reads.. :)

Bought two new books today!

Kate Mosse - De nacht van de vogels



This is the blurb NOT my review

The clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wind and the remorseless tolling of the bell, no one can hear the scream . . .

1912. A Sussex churchyard. Villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will not survive the coming year are thought to walk. And in the shadows, a woman lies dead.

As the flood waters rise, Connie Gifford is marooned in a decaying house with her increasingly tormented father. He drinks to escape the past, but an accident has robbed her of her most significant childhood memories. Until the disturbance at the church awakens fragments of those vanished years . . .

Harlan Coben - De vreemde



This is the blurb NOT my review

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

Yay! They both sound great! Have you read anything else by Kate Mosse? I've heard good things about her....

>252 avanders: Let's see what I have read by Kate Mosse

The Languedoc trilogy containing:
Het verloren labyrint 4/5
De vergeten tombe 4/5
Citadel 4,5/5

A small book De wintergeest 3,5/5

and

De eskimokus 4/5

So you might say I'm a fan ;-))

Another ROOT down! Number 19 for the year.

And now I'm reading the brand new book by Kate Mosse - De nacht van de vogels. See >251 connie53:. That was the book that was really calling the loudest.

>253 connie53: wow! I guess you are a fan ;) I have read nothing yet.... which one would you recommend starting w/? Labyrinth? That was always my plan....

>254 connie53: congrats on 19 ROOTs!

That's number 1 in the series, so I would start there. Don't expect the books to be about one person or one family. The common theme is the location in the three books, the Languedoc in the south of France. We spend a lot of vacations there and I know some of the places that are used in the books, that makes it special for me. I hope the books work for you too, Ava.

>251 connie53: - Have you read other books by Harlan Coben before? I've read almost everything he's ever written and loved most of them. The Stranger was quite good - hope you enjoy it!

> 257 There are 27 books by Harlan Coben translated into Dutch. So far I have read 26,5 !

>256 connie53: k will do :) And thanks for the tip - good to know!

Sooooo, I've been a bad girl! 5 books into the house!

When I arrived at my brother's yesterday there was a pile of books waiting for me to choose from. The mother of his girlfriend had heard that I love to read and wanted me to have them.
They were not really my taste in books, so I choose three books that could be light reads for the summer.

2 by Cathy Kelly - Wat wil je nou? and Wat ze wil!
1 by Susan Oudot - Hartsvriendinnen voor altijd

And this morning I picked up 2 books that I had bought online.

Paula Hawkins - Het meisje in de trein



This is NOT my review!!

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.

Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.

Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train…

and

Elizabeth Haynes - In de schaduw van de maan



This is NOT my review!!

In the crisp, early hours of an autumn morning, the police are called to investigate two deaths. The first is a suspected murder at a farm on the outskirts of a small village. A beautiful young woman has been found dead, her cottage drenched with blood. The second is a reported suicide at a nearby quarry. A car with a woman's body inside was found at the bottom of the pit. As DI Louisa Smith and her team gather evidence, they discover a shocking link between the two cases and the two deaths--a bond that sealed their terrible fates one cold night, under a silent moon.

>260 connie53: 5 new books! yay! and oops! ;)
That was super sweet of your brother's girlfriend's mother! I know the feeling though... people find out you just "love books" and then they give you things that... aren't really your type ;) So you take some! And I'm sure you'll enjoy them :)

And Girl on the Train is a relatively new intake ("acquisitie") of mine too.... it's supposed to be so good!

Looks like a good haul overall!

>261 avanders: That's how I heard about Het meisje in de trein. There was an ad in the newspaper about it and it kept popping up on the internet. And I felt I just had to have it. Sometimes it works that way.

>260 connie53: We love bad girls here! LOL! I thought I might not like The Girl on the Train, that sometimes happens when a book gets a lot of hype, but I did.

>260 connie53: I guess I'm in good company, bringing 5 new books in (I did, too)! The Girl on the Train sounds interesting!

>263 clue: I usually feel the same about hypes, Luanne. But this really sounded good, so I had to buy it.

>264 readingtangent: LOL, Elizabeth. 5 is a nice number.

>262 connie53: yep, exactly ;)

>263 clue: so true.. hype sometimes really makes a difference! I try to keep my expectations managed, but it doesn't always work. And then I'm the one saying "Meh, it was alright..." ;)

I started reading the book Het meisje in de trein

HI Connie! Can't wait to hear what you think of The Girl on the Train, I haven't heard of it but then I'm quite behind on all my book news/websites/blogs.

Have a great weekend and happy reading!

>268 Shutzie27: (mee too :))

>269 avanders:, >268 Shutzie27: and all others that are interesred. I finished het meisje in de trein yesterday while travelling by train! I thought that was rather appropriate and fun. I gave this book . It is a good story but told by a person in an unusual situation. Rachel is a hardcore alcoholic, that makes it rather special to read, because, as a reader, you never know if what Rachel tells has really happened or is it something she has made up. I really liked it.

Now I'm reading Het boek des levens by Deborah Harkness, part 3 in the All Saints trilogy



This is the blurb, NOT my review

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness's enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew's ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches--with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency.

>270 connie53: while traveling by train! Fun :)
Sounds intriguing!

And, ah yes, Shadow of Night is another series I need to get on....

>270 connie53: Love that you read it on a train! Literary ambiance is important. And thanks for the review; the alcoholic perspective does sound like it would be interesting. Narrators you can't trust are the best.

>271 avanders: >272 Shutzie27: I thought it was very appropriate! And loved the book.

I started reading another ROOT but not from the ABC- list. Just one on the list of additional ROOTs.



Kom naar huis - Julie Kibler

This is the blurb NOT my review.

Eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a favor to ask her hairdresser, Dorrie Curtis. Isabelle wants Dorrie, a black single mother in her thirties, to drop everything and drive her from her home in Arlington, Texas, to a funeral in Cincinnati--with no clear explanation why--tomorrow. Over the years, Dorrie and Isabelle have developed more than just a business relationship: they are friends. But Dorrie, fretting over the new man in her life and her teenage son's irresponsible choices, still wonders why Isabelle chose her. Isabelle confesses that, as a willful teen in 1930s Kentucky, she fell deeply in love with Robert Prewitt, a would-be doctor and the black son of her family's housekeeper--in a town where blacks weren't allowed after dark. The tale of their forbidden relationship and its tragic consequences makes it clear Dorrie and Isabelle are headed for a gathering of the utmost importance and that the history of Isabelle's first and greatest love just might help Dorrie find her own way.

My bookclub read Calling Me Home last year and everyone rated it either a 4 or 5. It has a surprise ending and I always like those!

I like surprise endings too, Luanne. You are making me curious! today promises to be a beautiful day with time to read.
I have to work till half past one and I have an appointment for an ultrasound picture in the hospital. But the afternoon is mine!

>273 connie53: sounds interesting! I look forward to your thoughts :)

>275 connie53: an afternoon of reading sound lovely! And hope the ultrasound appt went well!

On the ultrasound: it went very well. This afternoon I could phone in for the results and it is very promising. I have a bursa inflammation (is that a good term?) in both my hips. That is very painful and very restricting to movement and lying down. On Monday I have an appointment with my GP for some injections that are supposed to work like a charm. So I hope my walking will be better when I meet up with Darryl in Utrecht.

On the book: I love it!

>235 connie53: Along with everyone else I'm surprised that you don't read in English. I know from experience how bad google translate can be at grammar and sentence structure; either you've got English pretty well figured out or Dutch grammar is very, very similar.

I try my hardest to speak Spanish but I know my sentence structure is awful!

Bursitis?

>277 connie53: good! Glad the ultrasound went well :) Sorry about the pain ... hope the results from the ultrasound lead to recovery! I don't know bursa inflammation or bursitis ... but either way, your description sounds painful... glad you have upcoming hopeful-relief in sight!

>279 Robertgreaves: That is an alternate tranlastion, Robert. So that might be the right term to use.

>278 karen_o: It's a way to limit my reading to the books I own, Karen. And those are all in Dutch. Thanks for the compliment.

>280 avanders: Thanks Ava.

>277 connie53: >279 Robertgreaves: yes, bursitis. I have had it before, also in my hips (the worst time was on a holiday when we went for a long hike and I didn't warm up properly first - the last two miles back to our accommodation were agony) but it generally went away by itself after a few days. It must be very bad to require injections, so I really hope they do the trick, it is not pain I would wish on anybody!

PS Well done on reaching half way! You're right on target!

Hi Connie, all the best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thanks Jackie and MissW

Today I bought a few more books

Elizabeth Haynes - Alles wat overblijft



This is the blurb NOT my review!

How well do you know your neighbours? Would you notice if they lived or died? Police analyst Annabel wouldn't describe herself as lonely. Her work keeps her busy and the needs of her ageing mother and her cat are more than enough to fill her time when she's on her own. But Annabel is shocked when she discovers her neighbour's decomposing body in the house next door, and appalled to think that no one, including herself, noticed her absence. Back at work she sets out to investigate, despite her police officer colleagues' lack of interest, and finds data showing that such cases are frighteningly common in her own home town.

David Hair - De scharlaken vloed



This is the blurb NOT my review!

The Moontide has come, and a scarlet tide of Rondian legions is flooding into the East, slaughtering and pillaging in the name of Emperor Constant. But the Scytale of Corineus, the source of ultimate magical power, has slipped through the emperor's fingers. His ruthless Inquisitors are desperately seeking the artefact, before it falls into the hands of those who would bring down the Empire.

But there are some who have pledged to end the cycle of war and restore peace to Urte. They are the unlikeliest of heroes: a failed mage, a gypsy and a lowly market-girl.

And I finished Julie Kibler - Kom naar huis in tears. A very beautiful story but lightly told. A very big 9 for me.

>284 connie53: must be that time of year! (I've also been ... buying. :)) Yours look very interesting! I didn't click the spoiler on the Hair one... but I like the cover & the title :)

>285 connie53: congrats on another ROOT read!

Thanks Ava! And I got another book coming in tomorrow!
I put the blurb of the Hair book in spoiler font because it is a part 3.

Hi Connie, I hope the shots help and you find some good reading time.

Thanks Christina. My reading is going far better than expected, so it's going great.

New book:



Tess Gerritsen - Meisje vermist

This is the blurb NOT my review

A beautiful young woman's corpse is found dumped in a garbage-strewn alley. Now laid out in the office of medical examiner Kat Novak is an unidentified body that betrays no secrets except for a matchbook clutched in one stiff hand, seven numbers scrawled inside. When a second victim is discovered, Kat begins to fear that a serial killer is stalking the streets, using a deadly drug to do his dirty work. The police are sceptical. The mayor won't listen. One of the town's most prominent citizens, with a missing daughter of his own, is also Kat's chief suspect. As the death toll rises, Kat races to expose a deadly predator who is close enough to touch her.

And because June is the 'Month of the exciting book' on the Netherlands, I got a novella. This happens when you buy books in Dutch for more than € 12,50.

Marion Pauw - Grijs gebied



Naomi rides home through Amsterdam in the middle of the night and is pulled from her bike. She gets assaulted but there is one witness. A guy standing on his balcony, doing nothing to help her. Why? Do you dare to act when seeing a crime?

>287 connie53: and that is appreciated... I hate reading blurbs for later books in a series and realizing I just learned what happened in earlier ones!
>290 connie53: yay fun new books! They sound intense!

>290 connie53: Connie, I've read this Gerritsen book years ago and enjoyed it very much. Wishing you the same.

Thanks Barb. This Gerritsen book was published some 20 years ago with another title Peggy Sue Got Murdered but never translated into Dutch as far as I know. I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Just stopping in to say hello & drop a reading octopus on your page :)

I wish I had that many hands. Thanks, Ava

>295 connie53: me too!! ;)

Hope you feel better, Connie. And congrats on being halfway through your ROOT goal!

Thanks Elizabeth. Another one is on the way Robert Jordan - Het pad der dolken but that is a real tomb and I kind of struggle through this one. It's part 8 in the series of the wheel of time and it has been a long time since I read the earlier parts so I have to get to know all the persons again. But I will get there, not this month though.

>298 connie53: Part 8! I don't know why, I always thought the Wheel of Time was a trilogy! That book was first recommended to met in 2003... it's on the shelves! good luck!

Hi Connie! *waves*

My hubby absolutely loves the Wheel of Time series, but I can't do fantasy no matter how hard I try. Hope you enjoy it!

Waves back, Hi Christina.

I think I am now reading the parts that are described by some people as very slow and not that interesting to read. I also heard from part 10 or 11 onward it gets better because Brandon Sanderson took over writing after the death of Robert Jordan.

Good luck with your reading, Connie!

Thank you Tess. It's tropical here. The only thing one can do is sit and read. Today promises to be a bit cooler and I'm planning on doing some house hold things that need to be done.

I'm now reading Claire North - De eerste vijftien levens van Harry August. I like it up till now, although there are lots of scientific things used that I don't understand, like quantum fysics.

>303 connie53: It's tropical here too, Connie and it has been for over a month now. I talked to a few people who are feeling worn out by the heat. (It is not something we are used to - we live in a temperate rain forest.)

Wow, we have just the opposite problem. Our usual June is 89-90 degrees and we are having 60 degree days--too cold for the pool!

>301 connie53: that's really interesting... usually people complain that when other writers take over from the original author who's died, the writing gets worse... here it's the opposite!

>303 connie53: oh that's another on my (very long) list of to-reads! Interesting that it employs quantum physics... I tend to enjoy those types of books, for some reason ;)

Good luck w/ that heat!

>304 Familyhistorian: yeah... the high high temperatures have been ... well, I'm not particularly a summer person anyway, so maybe I should just stay quiet ;)

>305 Tess_W: wow! super jealous! ;) Enjoy it!

Today is better. There were a few nasty bits of rain and thunderstorm today and now it has cooled down a lot. But yesterday was very extreme, about 38 -40 C. And it was the first day of the Tour de France starting with a time trial in the inner city of Utrecht. Those poor cyclists!!

Well I finished the book this afternoon. And I gave it ****. In the end I just read the quantum things and did not even try to understand that part but focused on the relationship between the two main characters, Harry and Vincent. That relationship is formed by having power, love/friendship, hatred and revenge.

>307 connie53: It is all relative, isn't it? We would be enjoying the heat if it was here for only a day or two but it has been hot here for a while. 35C today.

>307 connie53: glad the weather improved for you over the weekend :)
Sounds like a good plan! I've definitely had that reaction to books before -- understanding the science isn't necessary to appreciating the plot, so just read it and move on ;) Looks like it was a good read anyway, looking forward to reading it myself!

>301 connie53: The Hubby was really pleasantly surprised by the new author, who apparently used an entire outline provided by Jordon on his death bed. So once you get through slow parts (I hate it when that happens in a book) it sounds like you'll have something to look forward to.

I'd comment on the weather, but it's Arizona so you guessed it: Hot with a side of ridiculous, sprinkled with some lightening and rainless thunderstorms. Sigh.

>310 Shutzie27: Yes, the wife of Robert Jordan was always involved in his writing so she and Brandon Sanderson could talk about where Robert wanted to go with his characters. There is just one very confusing thing about the books. My nickname is Egwene on several fora and I kind of feel I'm her. I even react when some of my friends, when I meet them in real live, accidentally call me Egwene! And now I'm reading about her in a book!!! That's like reading about me.

I got two new books today:
S. K. Tremayne - IJstweeling



This is the blurb NOT my review

One of Sarah’s daughters died. But can she be sure which one? A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcraft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives. But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity – that she, in fact, is Lydia – their world comes crashing down once again. As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, Sarah finds herself tortured by the past – what really happened on that fateful day one of her daughters died?

and

Karin Slaughter - Mooie meisjes



This is the blurb NOT my review

Sisters Rae and Sam grew up in the long shadow of their father, a lawyer who devoted himself to defending the helpless and underserved. While for Sam, adult life has meant honoring his legacy—working in his law firm, and staying in their small, sleepy town—Rae is estranged from her family, with a high-flying, well-paid corporate law career in Atlanta. But when Rae sees an unsettling, explosive video of one of her hedge fund clients, she suddenly becomes a target for corrupt and sinister forces. Panicked, she retreats to the home she’d left behind…but someone is watching, and now Rae and Sam are both within his sights. In this gripping thriller—and keenly observant look at the bonds we test, sever, and rebuild

>311 connie53: both sound interesting... Esp The Ice Twins! Onto the wish list...

I just finished that book, Ava and gave it ****. I think I'm a bit spoiled reading thrillers and fantasy. I don get surprised by new things any more.

I have started another ROOT yesterday for a challenge on my book club. For the month July we have to read a book with a number in the title so now I'm reading Nr. 19 by Michèle van Rees. A Dutch writer and just a small book with just 192 pages.

And I just gave up on this book! Such a bad story.

Awww, I hate stinkers!

I do too!

Oh dear. At least it will give you something to talk about!!

>313 connie53: Nice! :) Yeah... I know, when I read too many thrillers in a row... or too many dystopians in a row, or too many whatevers in a row.... then I get tired of it. :P

>315 connie53: blech! I had TWO of those this week! At least you knew well enough to walk away :)

Lucky for me I just finished a very good book today. Ik reis alleen - by Samuel Bjørk So I'm happy again!

Good to know!

>320 connie53: A happy Connie is a good thing!

>320 connie53: yay! :)

And another very good book read! Even better than Ik reis alleen.



Mooie meisjes by Karin Slaughter

and some more.

And now I'm very confused. Because the description of the book in English is NOT at all like the story I've been reading in Dutch. It looks like two separate books.

>324 connie53: That is certainly weird!

I'm still wondering about that!!

I will try and translate the Dutch blurb and post/copy the English one.

Here it comes:

The English one

Sisters Rae and Sam grew up in the long shadow of their father, a lawyer who devoted himself to defending the helpless and underserved. While for Sam, adult life has meant honoring his legacy—working in his law firm, and staying in their small, sleepy town—Rae is estranged from her family, with a high-flying, well-paid corporate law career in Atlanta. But when Rae sees an unsettling, explosive video of one of her hedge fund clients, she suddenly becomes a target for corrupt and sinister forces. Panicked, she retreats to the home she’d left behind…but someone is watching, and now Rae and Sam are both within his sights.

The Dutch one

When there is a girl missing and it is told on the news Claire Scott must think back to where her own sister Julia disappeared 20 years ago and was never found. Claire and her husband get robbed and Paul (the husband) is killed when he tries to defend Claire and fight off the robber. Then she finds evidence that Paul was not the man she thought he was. She tries to figure out what kind of horrific things he did and gets help from her estranged sister Lydia.

Even the names of the sisters are different.

>326 connie53: I remember that in my youth in children's books the names of the characters were often changed in translation, but I find this very odd in a modern novel for adults. Who can have come up with such an idea?

>326 connie53: I could see where names might be changed due to cultural preferences, but you're right, Connie, the plots don't even sound the same!

Here is the Amazon blurb for Pretty Girls
With a missing girl in the news, Claire Scott can’t help but be reminded of her sister, who disappeared twenty years ago in a mystery that was never solved.

But when Claire begins to learn the truth about her sister, nothing will ever be the same.

And here is the Amazon blurb for the audio version of "Pretty Girls"

Sisters Rae and Sam grew up in the long shadow of their father, a lawyer who devoted himself to defending the helpless and under-served. While for Sam adult life has meant honoring his legacy -- working in his law firm and staying in their small, sleepy town -- Rae is estranged from her family, with a high-flying, well-paid corporate law career in Atlanta. But when Rae sees an unsettling, explosive video of one of her hedge fund clients, she suddenly becomes a target for corrupt and sinister forces. Panicked, she retreats to the home she'd left behind … but someone is watching, and now Rae and Sam are both within his sights.

So, yes, something strange is going on. Maybe you could write to Karin Slaughter via her website and ask her.

>324 connie53: et al. Bizarre! I wonder.. could it be referencing a different book w/ the same title (different author) and there was a mixup, or a different book by the same author... I am definitely curious!

Either way, sounds like you read a great book! :)

Good Idea, Robert. I will certainly do that when we return from our Weekend in Germany!

>327 MissWatson: >328 Tess_W: I could live with chancing the names for translation. (The dad in my version is called Sam, how odd is that).

Well, See you all in a few days!

Enjoy your weekend in Germany!!

>331 connie53: I hope the weather wasn't too bad? It's been very mixed here on the Baltic Sea.

We had some good weather and rain in the night. Lots of sitting outside!

Does anybody know if there is anything wrong with the Tickers? I can't update them any more.

Yes, everyone's having problems since Saturday, I think. Several people have notified the company, but so far nothing has happened.

O okay! Thanks. At least it is not stupid me!

There is a note on the main challenge progress thread to say that the tickers are now operational again.

PS I spoke too soon. My personal ticker is still out of action.

Mine just worked

>334 connie53: sounds lovely!!

>339 clue: mine too! So now I can get my tickers up to date again.

I'm glad the tickers are working again, although the only one I'm able to update currently is the 'new books acquired' one - which isn't quite the object of the thread!!

It seems like Summer is starting again! We had a week filled with Storm and Rain and Low Temps (all with capital letters) but now the sun is shining and the temps are climbing up. They say it could go up to 20C. So it's time for reading in the garden. I've been preparing for that by doing laundry and some ironing in the early hours of the day. I'm ready for some good reading in Een dans met draken part 1 by G.R.R. Martin.

And I finished the book by G.R.R. Martin yesterday, so that was my first August Root.

I read another one that I finished an hour or so ago.



Lisa Unger - Mooie leugens

This is the Blurb NOT my review.

If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect—with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.
But that’s not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door—a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.
Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who’s on her side and who has something to hide—even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.

I liked this story. I wanted to know what was going on so I read all day, but I don't really like books written in the first person and I hate it when the 'I' is talking to me and asking me questions. But the story was a good one.

Now I'm reading part 2 of part 5 Een dans met draken : Swords against Dragons by G.R.R. Martin

>343 connie53: mmmm storm and rain and low temps {contented sigh} :)
But glad *for you* that you're getting your summer back again!

>344 connie53: wow, that was fast?! I haven't read GRR Martin, but aren't his books rather .. involved? Must have been good!

>345 avanders: Yes, that was fast! But since I'm also watching the series I'm very enthusiastic about the books. And when we have a hot day I do nothing else but read. On page 257 now.

We are having a dip in the nice weather. It's raining now and the temps are lowering. I'm going to do some ironing and other house hold things, like cleaning the bathroom. This afternoon we should be having sun again.