Barbara (Ameise1)'s world (5)

Welcome to my fifth thread.

On time with the beginning of autumn, the infinitely long summer time is over in my hometown Zürich (Switzerland). Short pants were announced last week and now it's time to bring back long trousers, long t-shirts, closed shoes and jackets.
Autumn is my favourite season. I love all the colours and there are so many different products on the market.

Here are some impressions of Zurich.

   

January
# 1 The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)
# 2 The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton BAC January (4½ stars)
# 3 The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien IAC January (4 stars)
# 4 Blue Nights by Joan Didion AAC January (4 stars)

February
# 5 The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (4 stars)
# 6 Mercier and Camier by Samuel Beckett (4½ stars)
# 7 Der König, die Sonne, der Tod by Yuri Herrera (4 stars)
# 8 Love and Summer by William Trevor IAC February (4½ stars)
# 9 Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King AAC October (4 stars)
#10 Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead AAC February (3 stars)

March
#11 The Modigliani Scandal by Ken Follett BAC February (3½ stars)
#12 Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carré BAC March (4 stars)
#13 The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West BAC November (4 stars)
#14 Still Life by Louise Penny ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)
#15 The Gathering by Anne Enright IAC June (4½ stars)
#16 Turnstone by Graham Hurley BAC December (4½ stars)
#17 The Color Purple by Alice Walker AAC April (4½ stars)
#18 The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan AAC July (4½ stars)
#19 The Diamond As big As The Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald AAC December (3½ stars)
#20 Glasgow Kiss (DCI Lorimer) by Alex Gray BAC May (4½ stars)

April
#21 The Long Fall by Walter Mosley AAC June (4½ stars)
#22 The Deportees by Roddy Doyle IAC September (4½ stars)
#23 Opferzahl by Arne Dahl (4 stars)
#24 The Chimney Sweeper's Boy by Barbara Vine (4 stars)
#25 Sons of Dust by Arnaldur Indriðason (4½ stars)
#26 Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)

May
#27 Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue IAC November (4 stars)
#28 A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black aka John Banville IAC December (4 stars)
#29 A World Gone Mad by Astrid Lindgren (5 stars)
#31 The Keepers of the Library by Glenn Cooper ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)
#32 The Danger by Dick Francis ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)
#33 Fingersmith by Sarah Waters ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)
#34 Das Dorf der Mörder by Elisabeth Herrmann (4 stars)

June
#35 Faithful Place by Tana French IAC May (4 stars)
#36 The Crow Trap by Anne Cleeves ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)
#37 Winterkartoffelknödel by Rita Falk (4 stars)
#38 Das Päckchen by Franz Hohler ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)
#39 The Seventh Sacrament by David Hewson ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)
#40 Thanks for telling me, Emily by Deirdre Madden IAC March (4½ stars)
#41 You think it, I'll say it by Curtis Sittenfeld (4 stars)

July
#42 Blue Monday by Nicci French (4½ stars)
#43 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (4 stars)
#44 Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French (4½ stars)
#45 In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (4½ stars)
#46 Dissolution by C. J. Sansom ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)
#47 Town Haunts by Cathy Spencer ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)

August
#48 Der Schneegänger by Elisabeth Herrmann (4½ stars)
#49 Treasure of Saint-Lazare by John Pearce ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)
#50 Mind Demons by Mike Jastrzebski ROOT Challenge 2018 (3½ stars)
#51 Dead Beat by Val Mc Dermid (4½ stars)
#52 Dark Tides by Elizabeth L. Jones ROOT Challenge 2018 (3½ stars)
#53 Lenin Lives Next Door by Jennifer Eremeeva ROOT Challenge 2018 (4½ stars)
#54 Kick Back by Val McDermid (4 stars)
#55 Waiting for Wednesday by Nicci French (4½ stars)
#56 Keyserlings Geheimnis by Klaus Modick (4½ stars)
#57 The Girl On the Train by Paula Hawkins ROOT Challenge 2018 (4 stars)

September
#58 Zu blaue Augen by Mira Magén (4 stars)
#59 Bretonischer Stolz by Jean-Luc Bannalec (4½ stars)
#60 NordNordWest by Sylvain Coher (4 stars)
#61 Pestalozzis Berg by Lukas Hartmann (4 stars)
#62 Mein Kampf in der Fremde by Sandra Riel (3 stars)
#63 Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben (4½ stars)
#64 Oxford 7 by Pablo Tusset (3½ stars)
#65 The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths (4½ stars)
#66 A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles (4 stars)
#67 Thursday's Children by Nicci French (4½ stars)
#68 Abscheu by Esther Verhoef (4 stars)
#69 Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick (3½ stars)
#70 Home to McCarron's Corner: Lily's Story by Sharon K. Middleton EarlyReview (2 stars)
#71 The Resistance Man by Martin Walker (4½ stars)
#72 The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths (4 stars)

October
#73 The Messenger by Daniel Silva (4½ stars)
#74 Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths (4 stars)
#75 Chess Story by Stefan Zweig (5 stars)
#76 Alles muss ans Licht: Das geheime Dossier über den Kreuzweg des Papstes by Gianluigi Nuzzi (3½ stars)
#77 Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red by Harry Kemelman (4 stars)
#78 Resurrection by Wolf Haas (4 stars)
#79 Wednesday Rabbi Got Wet by Harry Kemelman (4 stars)
#80 The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths (4½ stars)
#81 Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (4 stars)
#82 Children of War by Martin Walker (4½ stars)
#83 The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths (4 stars)
#84 The Bone Man by Wolf Haas (4 stars)
#85 Come Sweet Death! by Wolf Haas (4 stars)
#86 Broken Harbour by Tana French (4 stars)
#87 Break Down by Sara Paretsky (4½ stars)
#88 Bussestunde by Arne Dahl (4 stars)

November
#89 Der letzte Harem by Peter Prange (4½ stars)
#90 Outrage by Arnaldur Indriðason (4 stars)
#91 The Bone bed by Patricia Cronwell (4½ stars)
#92 Cause of Death by Patricia Cronwell (4½ stars)
#93 Istanbul Tango by Esmahan Aykol (4 stars)
#94 Black Skies by Arnaldur Indriðason (4 stars)
#95 The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter (4½ stars)

December
#96 Hanging Hill by Mo Hayder (4 stars)
#97 Fallen by Karin Slaughter (4 stars)
#98 Die Anatomie des Teufels by Jordi Llobregat (4½ stars)
#99 Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell (4½ stars)
#100 A Talent For Murder by Andrew Wilson (3½ stars)
#101 Strandgut by Benjamin Cors (4½ stars)
#102 Küstenstrich by Benjamin cors (4½ stars)

American Author Challenge 2018

January
Blue Nights by Joan Didion (2018-01-28)

February
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (2018-02-27)

April
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (2018-03-25)

June
The Long Fall by Walter Mosley (2018-04-02)

July
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (2018-03-28)

October
Mr Mercedes by Stephen King (2018-02-22)

December
The Diamond As big As The Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald (2018-03-28)

British Author Challenge 2018

January
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (2018-01-05)

February
The Modigliani Scandal by Ken Follett (2018-03-03)

March
Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carré (2018-03-03)

May
Glasgow Kiss (DCI Lorimer) by Alex Gray (2018-03-31)

September
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2018-05-27)

November
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West (2018-03-04)

December
Turnstone by Graham Hurley (2018-03-20)

Irish Author Challenge 2018

January
The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien (2018-01-20)

February
Love and Summer by William Trevor (2018-02-20)

March
Thanks for telling me, Emily by Deirdre Madden (2018-06-18)

April
Mercier and Camier by Samuel Beckett (2018-02-07)

May
Faithful Place by Tana French (2018-06-09)

June
The Gathering by Anne Enright (2018-03-17)

September
The Deportees by Roddy Doyle (2018-04-07)

November
Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue (2018-05-01)

December
A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black aka John Banville (2018-05-05)

2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge
Read:
1. A book made into a movie you've already seen 
The Crow Trap by Anne Cleeves (4½ stars)
2. True crime 
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (4½ stars)
3. The next book in a series you started 
The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry (4½ stars)
4. A book involving a heist 
The Resistance Man by Martin Walker (4½ stars)
5. Nordic noir 
Opferzahl by Arne Dahl (4 stars)
6. A novel based on a real person 
Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue (4 stars)
7. A book set in a country that fascinates you 
Children of War by Martin Walker (4½ stars)
8. A book with a time of day in the title 
Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd (4½ stars)
9. A book about a villain or antihero 
The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brein (4 stars)
10. A book about death or grief 
The Gathering by Anne Enright (4½ stars)
11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym 
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (4 stars)
12. A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist 
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (4½ stars)
13. A book that is also a stage play or musical 
Das Phantom der Oper by Christophe Gaultier (3½stars)
14. A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you 
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (3 stars)
15. A book about feminism 
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (4½ stars)
16. A book about mental health 
Blue Nights by Joan Didion (4 stars)
17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift 
Cat And Mouse by James Patterson (4 Stars) (got it from my SIL coku)
18. A book by two authors 
Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French (4½ stars)
19. A book about or involving a sport 
The Danger by Dick Francis (4½ stars)
20. A book by a local author 
Das Päckchen by Franz Hohler (4½ stars) Franz Hohler is ten minutes walking from my door.
21. A book with your favorite color in the title 
Zu blaue Augen by Mira Magén (4 stars)
22. A book with alliteration in the titlee 
The Seventh Sacrament by David Hewson (4 stars)
23. A book about time travel 
Home to McCarron's Corner: Lily's Story by Sharon K. Middleton EarlyReview (2 stars)
24. A book with a weather element in the titlenbsp;
Der Schneegänger by Elisabeth Herrmann (4½ stars) Schnee=snow
25. A book set at sea 
NordNordWest by Sylvain Coher (4 stars)
26. A book with an animal in the title 
Turnstone by Graham Hurley (4½ stars)
27. A book set on a different planet 
Oxford 7 by Pablo Tusset (3½ stars)
28. A book with song lyrics in the title 
Still Life by Louise Penny (4 stars)
29. A book about or set on Halloween 
Town Haunts by Cathy Spencer (4 stars)
30. A book with characters who are twins 
Blue Monday by Nicci French (4½ stars)
32. A book from a celebrity book club 
You think it, I'll say it by Curtis Sittenfeld (4 stars) recommended by Reece Witherspoon for her bookclub
31. A book mentioned in another book 
Wie gut, daß es Weihnachtsferien gibt, sagte Madita by Astrid Lindgren (4 stars)
33. A childhood classic you've never read 
Der Maulwurf Grabowski by Luis Murschetz (4 stars)
34. A book that's published in 2018 
Keyserlings Geheimnis by Klaus Modick (4½ stars)
35. A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner 
The Girl On the Train by Paula Hawkins (4 stars)
36. A book set in the decade you were born 
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (4 stars)
37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to 
Glasgow Kiss (DCI Lorimer) by Alex Gray (4½ stars)
38. A book with an ugly cover 
Mind Demons by Mike Jastrzebski (3½ stars)
39. A book that involves a bookstore or library 
The Keepers of the Library by Glenn Cooper (4stars)
40. Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges (you can easily Google these) 2016: A book set in Europe 
Lenin Lives Next Door by Jennifer Eremeeva (4½ stars)

Advanced Reading Challenge - Read:
1. A bestseller from the year you graduated high school 
Pestalozzis Berg by Lukas Hartmann (4 stars)
2. A cyberpunk book
Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick (3½ stars)
3. A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place 
Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben (4½ stars)
4. A book tied to your ancestrynbsp;
Treasure of Saint-Lazare by John Pearce (4 stars)
5. A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title 
Winterkartoffelknödel (kartoffel=potato) by Rita Falk (4 stars)
6. An allegory 
Dark Tides by Elizabeth L. Jones (3½ stars)
7. A book by an author with the same first or last name as you 
The Chimney Sweeper's Boy by Barbara Vine (4 stars)
8. A microhistory 
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
9. A book about a problem facing society today 
Mein Kampf in der Fremde by Sandra Riel (3 stars)
10. A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 
A World Gone Mad by Astrid Lindgren (5 stars) (Charlotte)

currently reading

 Strandgut

currently listening

Next listening:

 Bretonische Flut

Yesterday in my library I was at a great event that will last for several weeks. It's called 'shared reading', originally from England and is now being introduced to us as a pilot project. The leader is a publisher from Germany. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend all events as I usually work on Monday morning. Only thanks to my plaster I can now participate (sometimes a plaster can also bring benefits LOL). The occasion is always structured so that we read and discuss a piece of prose and in the second part a poem.

The prose piece yesterday was the chapter 'Powder' from the book The Night in Question by Tobias Wolff.

The poem is by Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Happy new thread, Barbara!

Happy new thread, Barbara!

>1 Ameise1: Love those pictures. But what's in the last one?

>11 Ameise1: This shared reading sounds interesting. Does it mean you read together at the library?

>12 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. Being first, take a piece of my favourite cake 'Tarte Tatin'.

>13 EllaTim: Thanks so much, Ella.

This picture is the framework (shape) of a machine factory very close to me (10 min on foot). Trains were made in this hall. After the production ceased, this 'building' was converted into a multi-level park. In the meantime, everything has grown very well and you can enjoy the seasons perfectly.

That's the nice thing about shared reading, you do not have to prepare yourself. The facilitator brings along a prose text and a poem that are read and discussed together. It is very much about the own feelings that trigger these texts. The discussion was very lively with people completely unknown to me. It's a great occasion.

Happy new thread! I think everyone is on a mission to make me hungry this morning. I keep running across threads with desserts!

Happy new thread! It certainly looks like fall has set in- wonderful photos!

book 71 Read in German

 the Resistance Man

Even the sixth case of Bruno Courrèges is hugely exciting from the first to the last page. During the WWII there was a big railway robbery in southeastern France. In the book, this is the background of Bruno's investigation. It is on the one hand, where have these millions of iron bucket gone, on the other hand, it is also about antique theft. As always, Bruno has his hands full. His private life is not spared, he worries about Pamela, but also Isabelle crosses his way again. Also the fine food and drink finds as always its prominent place. One should never read this book with an empty stomach.

>16 thornton37814: LOL, thanks so much for stopping by, Lori. So, in this case don't start reading >18 Ameise1: ;-)

>17 figsfromthistle: Thanks so much, Anita. Today it is sunny but very stormy. Typical autumn :-)

Next reading:

 The Zig Zag Girl

Happy new thread!

>22 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel.

Happy new thread!

>24 drneutron: Thanks so much, Jim.

>1 Ameise1: The Zurich tourism board should be sending you checks. Great photos of your hometown.

>26 Oberon: LOL thanks so much, Erik.

Happy new thread, Barbara!
You have again some beautiful pictures of your hometown at the top. Like you I love autumn, although we are back to more summer-like weather in the next two days...

>11 Ameise1: I am glad the plaster has some benefits ;-)

>28 FAMeulstee: Lucky you, here it's getting colder every day. This shared-reading is really good.

Beautiful full moon night. 😍

Happy new thread, Barbara! I love the fall images of Zurich you posted. I love fall/autumn... I am very much a boots and sweater kind of girl. ;-).

Your photos are gorgeous, Barbara! Thank you for sharing.

The Resistance Man was the last Bruno Book I read. I need to get back to that series. He’s a little rough on his animal characters and that turned me off for a bit. I love all the food references though. I’ll be interested in your thoughts on The Zig Zag Girl. I love Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series.

Happy new thread, Barbara! Hope you are healing well.

>31 lkernagh: Thanks so much, Lori. Isn't it lovely to have cool temps after a hot summer and such beautiful colours?

>32 Copperskye: Thanks so much, Joanne.
Well, he discribes only life and that isn't always on the bright side. BTW he took care of the horse that it hadn't to suffer.
So far I like The Zig Zag Girl. You can't compare it with the Ruth Galloway series. It's a different time.

>33 ronincats: Me too, Roni. Thanks so much.

>15 Ameise1: Fascinating reclamation project Barbara. Love it. Happy new thread.

>37 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. Did you know that shared-reading was invented 15 years ago in Liverpool?

Happy new thread Barbara my dear.

>39 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John.

Happy New Thread, Barbara! I had not realized that your fracture had become so complex and long lasting. So sorry to hear it and best wishes for a quick recovery. I fracture my wrist ( and foot ) about 8 or 9 years ago, and boy , the cast on my wrist drove me quite mad. My foot was not so bad, as I only had to wear a boot cast and I could take off at night. What a bother with the cast on for 6 weeks , that you can't get wet. Bags over my hands for a bath and my husband having to help me wash my hair. And then it took my about 2 months to twice a week physiotherapy to get full movement back in my wrist. Let's hope your hand comes out it nice and flexible.

>41 vancouverdeb: Oh dear, that was quit an accident you had. I'm fed up with my cast too. It's now 7 weeks and goes on for another 3½ weeks. I hope too that I'll be able to move ma wrist. Luckily, I don't need help taking a shower. It only takes four times as long as usually (including dress up).

Happy New Thread, Barb. Love the Zurich toppers.

Happy new one!! (Phew, I said the before your thread hit 200...LOL)

>11 Ameise1: Happy the plaster comes with SOME benefits!!

>43 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It is a lovely town.

>44 Berly: LOL, my threads aren't so fast, you would have enough time. Thanks so much, K1im.
>11 Ameise1: Isn't it?

Happy New Thread, Barbara!

On the last one I saw you liked A Gentleman in Moscow. Me, too. It seems to be one of those rare books that appeals to a wide variety of readers. I've yet to see a negative reaction, although I'm sure there must have been some.

>38 Ameise1: I did not know that Barbara! Thank you.

>47 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe.

It was indeed a nice reading. I suppose lots of people like it due to its humoristic style.

>48 charl08: Charlotte, here is the link to it.

http://www.thereader.org.uk/about/history/

Yesterday morning when opening the front door. Oh, I love autmnal colours :-)

Morning Barbara! Love >51 Ameise1: - our trees are turning too.

And thank you for the link >50 Ameise1: - I think I am going to become a 'Friend'.

>52 charl08: >53 charl08: Isn't autumn beautiful? Right now it presents windy and cool.
I think this is a wonderful thing. I'm looking forward to Monday which text and poem we'll be reading.

Happy Saturday, Barb. Hooray for autumn! Have a great weekend, my friend.

>55 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It will be a weekend with a lot of food. I think that I have to have a diet on Monday ;-)

^Now, I know why there will be a lot of food. Enjoy! Smiles...

>57 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Tonight I will have dinner with Thomas and Marina for game dish. Tomorrow we will have a brunch with my dad, siblings and all the offspring and their partners.

book 72

 The Zig Zag Girl
BB from Juli (SuziQoregon)

Great introduction to the Stephens and Mephisto series by Elly Griffiths. It is not comparable to her Ruth Galloway series, for one it plays in Brighton and the other in the 50s. Nevertheless, here, too, the murderer is being sought through tortuous paths. Stephens and Mephisto know each other from the WWII. Both served in a secret thing. While Stephens enters the police service after the war, Mephisto travels the country as a magician. In Brighton, their paths intersect, as a member of their troupe from the WWII is murdered.
Griffiths introduces all the main protagonists in this first volume. As always, this series is exciting to read from the first moment. I will also read the remaining books in this series.

Next reading:

 Smoke and Mirrors

>59 Ameise1: You liked that one a bit more than I did. I used it for the "Z" in the AlphaKIT a couple months ago.

Best wishes for a very happy birthday, Barbara! May your day be extraordinary!
Happy belated new thread as well! Lovely images of Zurich!

>61 thornton37814: It was a thrilling read and the second one is so far very good, too.

>62 Carmenere: Thanks so much, Lynda. It will be a fabulous weekend.

Happy new thread and happy birthday, Barbara. I had a feeling you would be off work for longer when they put the plaster back on. It sounds like the reading on Mondays is quite an event and it is good that you get to take advantage.

Good review of The Zig Zag Girl. I have that one on the shelves and am looking forward to it after reading what you said about it.

>65 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. We had a lovely birthday dinner. Yep, still more then two weeks with the plaster. I'll get a new one next Monday afternoon.
This reading event is wonderful. I'm curious what we'll be reading next.

I'm sure you'll like The Zig Zag Girl.

Happy birthday weekend, Barbara!

>67 EllaTim: Thanks so much, Ella.

Pictorially your thread is always a delight, Barbara.

It is great to be back.

Have a lovely weekend.

>69 PaulCranswick: It's nice to see you, Paul. Have a wonderful Sunday.

>51 Ameise1: - What a beautiful view! I hope you have been having a lovely weekend, Barbara.

>71 lkernagh: It was a wonderful weekend, Lori. Thanks so much.

>14 Ameise1: yum! That looks delicious :)

>73 LovingLit: Take a piece, we have it often during autumn.

Today I attended the second 'shared-reading' event. The prose text was the chapter The Man on the Stairs from the book No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July. It was a lively discussion during ninety minutes.

Then we read the poem How long did you sleep by Olaf H. Haugen
Unfortunately, I did not find a translation, but translated freely by me is the poem:

You dare,
open your eyes
and look around?
Yes, you are here, here
in this world,
you do not dream,
it is the way you see it,
the things here are like that.
So? Yes, just like that,
not otherwise.
How long have you been sleeping?

Hi Barbara!

Happy new thread, happy belated birthday.

I'm so sorry to hear that your wrist isn't healing well and hope the nasal spray gets some action going.

>51 Ameise1: Beautiful photo. Here it's still in the high 80Fs, almost 32C. The only consolation is that the mornings are starting to be cool.

As you said, you're getting a great opportunity for lots of good reading.

>76 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen for the birthday wishes. I have really a wonderful reading time.

We have lovely autumn weather, sunny and cool.

book 73 ♫ Read in German

 The Messenger

Even though I do not read the series Gabriel Allon in a row, I really like this exciting spy series. This time Gabriel has to prevent an assassination attempt in the Vatican. At first there was some damage in St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, but the Pope survived. Gabriel was convinced that this was not the actual goal of the terrorist attack. The journey of his investigations led to a rich Arab, who has a very dark group around him. An American spy was smuggled in and nearly died. The actual goal of the attacks was surprising.
It was exciting from the beginning.

Next Listening:

 Career of Evil

Sweet Thursday, Barb. I really enjoyed Career of Evil. All 3 of these were very good on audio and I recently picked up Lethal White too.

>80 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Wishing you the same. I have to wait for Lethal White until my library will buy it. In the meantime I enjoy Career of Evil very much.

book 74

 Smoke and Mirrors

Also the second volume from the Stephens and Mephisto series was very exciting. Two children have disappeared. Stephens and his team know that the first few hours are the most important ones to find the missing children. Unfortunately, it started to snow, so the police had trouble getting motorized to move forward. Mephisto is nearing the perms of Alladin. He is worried about his friend, but does not have much time to help him. Stephen and his team soon realize that the disappearance of the children has something to do with a play that they wrote themselves. There are many suspects, but the real culprit was a big surprise.
Also this book is written again very gripping.

Next reading

 Chess Story

Happy belated birthday. Mine is today. :) Turning the dreaded 39. (Yes, for real, not the always-39-never-40 sort of way.)

>84 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel. Happy birthda to you too. I can tell you getting older is gorgeous.

Today I got my new glasses. 😍😎😀

>86 Ameise1: Looks good, Barbara!

>87 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita.

Nice glasses Barbara! Wishing you a lovely weekend. >75 Ameise1: sounds like a great meeting - hope they can organise some you can make when you are back at work.

>89 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. I've ordered four pair of glasses. Yesterday I coul fech the one above (bifocal eveday glasses) than reading glasses (it's much more comfy to read books than with the bifocal ones) than one for the far-sightedness (watching TV). Now I'm only waiting for the bifocal sunglasses. I'm very happy that I can see better now.

I hope too that it will go on and at a time for working people.

>86 Ameise1: happy you :)

>91 paulstalder: Thank you, Paul. I did not forget the laughter despite plaster. I have arranged with it, because I do not know at the moment if it will continue like this. On the 15th I have to get an MRI again. If it still has not grown together, I will continue to have to wear a solid plaster. I'll definitely be back at teaching from the 22nd for twelve lessons.

So the news from the medics are not too good. Wish you a lot of patience and perseverance.

>93 paulstalder: Thanks so much, Paul. Patience for myself is something I had to learn.

>86 Ameise1: Love the glasses, Barb!

Happy Saturday! I think Chess Story was my first Zweig. I loved it. Enjoy!

>95 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark.

I'll write soonish my thoughts. It was a fab reading.

book 75 Read in German

 Chess Story

The psychological game between the inhuman chess automaton Czentovic and the fragile Dr. B., who was imprisoned by the Gestapo for months in solitary confinement and still feels the psychological effects of torture and suffers from it, makes it clear how important human consciousness is for our lives and what dangers it poses is. The main themes of the chess novella are: "Chess as a war", "Hitler and the Nazi period", "Dr. B.'s fate "," Dr. B. against Czentovic "," The Psychological Game "and" Isolation and Chess Poisoning ".
Even though the book does not have many pages, there is a linguistic variety of sentence structure and vocabulary in which one can not find his own again so quickly. Stefan Zweig was a virtuoso in terms of language.
This is a must-read for me.

book 76 Read in German

 Alles muss ans Licht: Das geheime Dossier über den Kreuzweg des Papstes

This is a very interesting non-fiction book, which aufzwigt the power struggles behind the Vatican walls. Nuzzio is a journalist who chronicles the period after Pope Francis's election until 2015. Specifically, it shows how shortly after the election the pope orders insight into finances and states that the Vatican financial system is corrupt, dilapidated and over-indebted. There are werder budgets nopch settlements.The donated money, which should come to the needy, disappears in the pockets of the curia and their proteges. It shows how difficult it is for the Pope to reform the Curia, which is definitely his goal.
Nuzzi has many original documents and sound recordings available. This book reads like a thriller, even if it sadly corresponds to the facts.

Next reading:

 Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red

Yay for new glasses! Looking good, Barbara!

>100 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe.

>97 Ameise1: Congratulations on reaching 75, Barbara!

And with a great read, I was also impressed by Chess Story.

>102 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. A fiver for the 75th is really a great thing. We've lots of his books at home. I suppose I need to go to the basement to have a look.

Congrats on 75!

>104 drneutron: Thanks so much, Jim.

Hi Barbara! Wow, four new pair of glasses. I like the pic of you in >86 Ameise1: very much.

Congrats on reaching 75 books.

Thanks so much, Karen. :-)

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Barbara.

You look good in your new glasses, your eyes come out really well in them!

>108 EllaTim: Thanks so much, Ella. :-)

Yay for new glasses and for hitting the big 75!!

>110 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. :-)

Anytime. : )

Congrats on reaching 75 books. The glasses suit you well :)

>113 figsfromthistle: Thanks so much, Anita. :-)

Today was another shared-reading event. From Sylvia Plath's book Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams we read the chapter Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit. A very profound story. The discussion was so vivid that we could only read the poem, but could not talk about it, since the time was already up.

Poem by Hilde Domin - Es gibt dich/You exist

Love the glasses, Barbara, and congrats on blowing past the 75 book mark! Sorry to hear the arm/wrist is not doing what it should.

>116 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni :-).

Wow, Barbara, you are already at 75 books!! And as usual your photos of Zurich are gorgeous and take me back to our time in Basel. I loved Schachnovelle too. Have you read any of his other works? The Pope Francis book looks really interesting too.

The Bruno mysteries are the series I manage to keep up with the best - I am shocking on so many others. I find them formulaic in a really good way and I love all the food and drink.

How is Career of Evil going? At least you don't have to wait several years for the next instalment.

>118 cushlareads: Thank you, Cushla. We have wonderfully beautiful autumn weather and not only Zurich shines in colourful beauty.
No, I have not read any other books from him, even if some of him are on the shelves in our basement. If I do not have too many BBs to read, my own books on the tbr pile, or started series, I'll certainly use his books.
I like the Bruno series. First, I love this region of France and the food there, so I can empathize well. First, I love this region of France and the food there, so I can empathize well.
Career of Evil is great. Anyway, I always have the habit of only reading to the second to last volume of a series, so I can read the 'last' volume when the new one is released, as we often have to wait here for such books to a) get into the library and b) the waiting list for the loan is dismantled.

book 77 Read in German

 Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red

I love Rabbi Small's little world. This time he represents a colleague at the college. As always, he feels offended that students are not interested in Fridays for his seminar, but rather already goes to the weekend. But Rabbi Small would not be himself, if he could interest the students in the longer term for his seminar with tricks. Of course, this time is also an investigation, because a teacher was found dead in college.
As always, it was an amusing read.

^Hooray, Barb! And Chess Story is the perfect book for that landmark. Glad you loved it.

Next reading:

 Resurrection

>121 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It was indeed a gorgeous reading.

Nice new glasses!

>124 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel. After lunch with my MIL I could fetch the sunglasses today. Now, I've got all.

Congratulations, Barbara!

>126 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl.

book 78 Read in German

 Resurrection
BB from SirThomas

This is the first volume of the Simon Brenner series. Brenner is a former police officer who now works as a detective. The story takes place in Zell (Austria), where over Christmas two Americans were found dead in the morning on the chairlift. At that time, Brenner was still investigating the case as a police officer from Vienna. It could not be cleared up, another reason why Brenner left the police and now continues to investigate for insurance as a detective on this case. He lives in a hotel in Zell and makes contact with all persons. He is not the fastest investigator, but he has the talent to record everything important as unimportant.
What I particularly like about this book is that as a reader you have the feeling that you are directly listening to a narrator. It's kind of like a regulars' table talk, which keeps wandering from the main story and continues on secondary squares, before returning to the actual reason. And yet these digressions are important to the whole.
Brenner is an amiable quirky person, I will definitely read his other cases as well.

book 79 Read in German

 Wednesday Rabbi Got Wet

Even in the sixth case, Rabbi Small disagrees with his community. The new president of the synagogue wants to introduce more meditation - back to the original. He is convinced that this requires a place outside the synagogue - a so-called cloister. To buy land, the community would have to sell land elsewhere. That's just right for a speculator. He 'goes over dead bodies' and is not ready to let a pharmacist extend the contract for its business by the community. But fortunately, there is Rabbi Small, who with the help of the Talmud and his friend the police chief, convicted of the culprit.

Next reading:

 The Blood Card

Happy Sunday and totally belated Happy Birthday and Happy 75, Barbara! :)

>86 Ameise1: Lovely glasses!

>97 Ameise1: Stefan Zweig's Schachnovelle and many of his short stories are great no matter when you read them. I read Schachnovelle aged 15 and then again every 5-10 years and it hasn't lost a bit of its punch. A perfect #75!

>131 Deern: Thanks so much, Nathalie.
You're right, it was a perfect book for the magical number 75 and it wasn't planned.

Happy Sunday, Barb. I hope you have a fine day. This was my weekend off, so I have been enjoying each day. Birds, books and American football today.

>133 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Glad to hear that you spend a gorgeous weekend.

book 80

 The Blood Card

This is the third volume of the Stephens and Mephisto series and it was once again a great reading experience.
Stephens and Mephisto are once again caught up in their past (WWII). Their senior officer from this period is found dead. But it is not Scottland Yard, who ask the two for clarification, but a former friend from the time. While solving the case, more people are killed. Until almost the end of the book, it was not clear that all the victims had something in common.
I like all the characters that appear in this series. With each volume, they become more important to me.

Next reading:

 Children Of War

Hi Barbara, and happy Sunday to you!

Your reading the second to the last novel by an active author is so disciplined! You have valid reasons, for sure. I have no discipline and although there are very few authors I pre-order books for, Robert Galbraith is one of them for sure.

Hi Barbara my dear, hope you had a really nice weekend. Sending love and hugs to you all dear friend.

>137 karenmarie: Karen, I hope I did not make a mistake this time, because I have just finished the fourth book of Stephen & Mephisto and I'm not sure if it will go on.

>138 johnsimpson: Thank you, John. I feel terrific because I no longer need to wear plaster. I have to be careful and wear an orthopedic rail. Now the pain is back when I need the right hand excessively, so on Monday I start working reduced for the next three weeks.

book 81 ♫

 Career of Evil

Also the third book of the Cormoran Strike series was convincing. While Robin doubts whether she should marry Matthew, Cormoran is still not sure of his feelings towards her.
Robin receives a package with a woman's leg. Too many people are suspected of being behind it. As Comoran investigates, Robin makes her own research, nearly killing her. During the investigation, there are more and more dead women and the police believe Cormoran not a word.
It was exciting to last.

Next listening:

 Broken Harbour

book 82 Read in German

 Children of War

I'm impressed how Walker can pack different religions, wars, their victims, and current religious wars into a book so that it is coherent and a whole emerges.
The whole thing begins with a dead investigator infiltrated into a mosque to reveal how young men are sent to jihad. At the same time, a lost young man comes back from Afghanistan. Bruno has his hands full. But that's not all, a Jewish old lady is looking for the place where she was hidden as a child in WWII.
Of course, Bruno's love life is thoroughly shaken and his friend Fabiola also fights old demons.

book 83

 The Vanishing Box

In this book, the danger comes closer and closer to Stephen and Mephisto. A young woman is found dead in her rented room. It looks like she was draped like a famous painting. At the same time, in the theater 'living tableaux' is performed, where also Mephisto and his daughter Rubi perform their magical powers. Does the death of the young woman have something to do with the performance? Soon there will be more deaths from the production 'living tableaux' and Emma will be in mortal danger.
I like this series. I hope it will continue.

Next reading:

The Bone Man

>86 Ameise1: Ooooo, sharp glasses, Barbara! Wishing you many happy hours of reading with them and also...........have a wonderful weekend!

>146 Carmenere: Thanks so much, Lynda.

Hi Barbara! I'm glad to hear the plaster is gone. My daughter had to wear what you call a rail (we call it a splint) for a long time after she broke the scaphoid bone in her right wrist.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and can ease back into work without damaging your wrist.

>143 Ameise1: Sounds good. This is a series I've only 'dippped my toe into, perhaps should try and read more of them.

Hope your arm continues to improve: take it gently!

Happy Saturday, Barb. Hooray for Career of Evil! I hope to get to Lethal White before year's end.

Happy weekend, Barbara.
Good to read your plaster is gone, I hope going back to work part time works out well.

Have a nice Sunday, Barbara.

So back to work? I'm glad the plaster is gone. Wishing you speedy healing, and take care.

>148 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. At home, I only wear the splint when my hand needs a release. That happened in the past few days when I was preparing for school. Also, I can not work on the computer for so long. Typing with the tenfinger principle hurts pretty quick.

>149 charl08: Charlotte, I think you'll like this series. I do not read them in one piece either. Sometimes I read only one book a year, in other years more. It depends on my mood.

>150 msf59: Mark, it was a pleasure to read the third volume. I do not think I will have the chance to get the fourth band later this year. This must be kept until the coming year. Postponed is not abandoned, right?

>151 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. Yep, I'm really looking forward to go back to work.

>152 EllaTim: Thanks so much, Ella. I'll never work on a full day, three hours in the morning or two in the afternoon. This should help that I do not overload my hand.

book 84 Read in German

 The Bone Man

The second volume with the quirky detective Simon Brenner was a pleasurable read. This time, Brenner has to investigate in a restaurant where roast chicken are served. The junior boss called him, but she was not there when he arrived. Brenner learns many protagonists know and knows quickly that in the bone machine in the basement not only chicken bones, but also human bones were processed.
Brenner is required to find the culprit, which is not so easy.

Next reading:

 Come Sweet Death

Happy Sunday, Barbara and best wishes for a good day tomorrow.

I'm so pleased to read that you are rid of you cast or plaster. Hear, we would say " cast." I hope your hands and fingers are soon back to their usual strength. It can take a while after being in plaster, as I know from fracturing my wrist. Take care and take it easy.

Hi Barbara! I hope your week went well.

>160 karenmarie: >162 karenmarie: Thanks so much, karen. I'm glad that I'm back to work even it's only 43%. I'm grateful that I've only to work the mornings or afternoons. A whole day would be still too much.

>161 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb. After half a day working my hand hurts pretty much. I'm not allowed to weight much yet, just two kilograms. But you know what it's like when you're in the middle of work, you forget that and do not realize it until the pain comes.

book 85 Read in German

 Come Sweet Death!

Also the third volume of the Simon Brenner series was thrilling. Brenner is currently working in Vienna as a paramedic driver. When there are murders within the troop, the boss requested that Brenner try to uncover this. Brenner discovers that colleagues are trading drugs. It will be difficult for Brenner who he still can trust.

book 86 ♫ Read in German

 Broken Harbour

It seems to me that the fourth volume of the Dublin Murder Squad series is more of a quiet psychological tune, though the murders are very brutal. This book shows how strong love can be, not only with the sacrificial family but also with Kennedy and his sister. Uncovering the case is very subtle with a lot of psychology.

Currently listening:

 Bussestunde

Hey Barbara, hope you're having a lovely Sunday. Your crime reading sounds great.

>168 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. I've read some exciting books.

book 87

 Breakdown

An exciting story that fits the American Midturn election. Two candidates fight with different machinations for the election. While some use the media to defile the other party, the patriarch of the other party tries to protect the family. It turns out that everyone has something to hide from their past. V. I. Warshawski has her hands full discovering the ghosts of the past.

Next Reading:

 The Bone Bed

book 88 ♫ Read in German

 Bussestunde

This is the last episode of the A-group. Unfortunately, I have not read this series from the beginning and at the moment I am not getting the first volumes in my library. Nevertheless, every episode was exciting and somehow I am sad that this series is over.
In this book, the A team has to find the killer of women looking for weight loss drugs in the darkroom. Time is short, because it does not look like all the victims will survive. On the contrary, the case turns out to be a serial killer crime. Paul Hjelm, on the other hand, is for the most part involved in another adventure. He follows the trail of an old friend and together they try to kill their worst enemy.

Next listening:

 Der Letzte Harem

>170 Ameise1: Have a nice Sunday, Barbara!

It's been a long time since I last read a Sara Paretzky. This sounds like a good one, and what you say, very fitting to the times.

Happy Sunday, Barb. I hope you are doing well. I am glad to see plenty of books being read. I loved Broken Harbor.

Just dropping by to say hello. I hope your hand is healing well

I'm also just dropping by to say hello. I'm impressed with your success with the PopSugar challenge.

>171 Ameise1: Just popping in to say Hi!! I love Cornwell and haven't read that one yet--let me know what you think!

>174 EllaTim: Dear Ella, I also read the last Paretsky years ago. But I'm glad that I found the way to her books again.

>175 msf59: Happy new week, Mark. Yes, I actually got enough to read. I would not have done that much if I had worked full time. I like that series very much.

>176 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita. I've worked just 43% for the last two weeks and this week, and that was just right. Starting next week I will work 64% for three weeks. The pain is still there and unfortunately I also got pain in the shoulder. For the past two weeks I have been attending my medical training twice a week. Thankfully they put together a program for me where I do not need my hand.

>177 EBT1002: Thank you, Ellen. It was indeed a challenge and I had subordinated my reading completely to this challenge. But it was also a lot of fun and I got to know many new authors.

>178 Berly: Kim, as always, I do not read this series in turn. I had already read several books from this series earlier. Now it has me again. Today I was in the library and got three audiobooks from this series. Of course, they are all earlier than I'm currently reading.
I think that you will love The Bone Bed. It's very exciting.

Hi Barbara my dear, hope all is well with you and that you and the family had a good weekend. I hope the hand is responding well and that work is not causing you any pain dear friend. Sending love and hugs to you and the family from both of us dear friend.

Hi Barbara, good to hear that going back to work is proceeding well. Too bad about missing the Monday sessions.

Hi Barbara! I hope things are going well with you!

Just checking in to say Hi! I hope you're well and your hand and finger muscles recover soon.

Hi, Barbara.

I haven’t read Sara Paretsky in a while, but I started her new one, Shell Game. I’m glad you liked her Breakdown so much.

>184 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. We had a lovely weekend. Yesterday my siblings with their partners were for dinner at our place. It was a wonderful evening. Love and hugs to you and Karen xx

>185 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. It's getting slowly but steadily better.

>186 The_Hibernator: Thanks so much, Rachel. I'm glad to be back to work, even if it is only part time.

>187 Deern: Nathalie, I feel better but I'm still not able to work full time. After half a day of work my hand hurts.

>188 jnwelch: Joe, after I finished Breakdown I knew that I should read more of her books. I reaelly like her writing.

book 89 ♫ 

 Der letzte Harem

Although this story is a historical fiction, I am very impressed by how Peter Prange has processed the historical facts in this novel. The story begins in the harem of the last sultan. The author shows how the intrusions and power games were going on and how courtiers are beginning to confront the sultan. The focus is on two harem ladies. One is Armenian and the other is Muslim. Both grew up in the same village before being taken to the harem.
After the overthrow of the sultan, the situation of the harem changed. While Fatima became the mistress of a brutal general, Elisa had to find her way in her unknown freedom. When the WWI broke out, the general turned into a butcher. Prange describes the genocide of the Armenians, while Elisa had to fight for her survival.
This story got under my skin. I can highly recommend it.

Happy Sunday, Barbara!

You're fortunate to have your siblings close by. I'm glad you had a wonderful evening.

I guess slow and steady does it for your recovery, right? I'm sorry to hear about your shoulder problems, too.

book 90 ♫ Read in German

 Outrage

The theme of this story is interesting. The killer makes with the party drug Rohypnol women docile, rapes them and kills them. Commissioner Elinborg goes into every little detail, as it is difficult to find out how the killer gets the drugs, how does he choose his victims and have there been unexplained cases that can also be attributed to him? Likewise, she encounters one of his victims and realizes that the number of unreported dead/victimes could be even greater than assumed, since the victims remember nothing and are ashamed to go to the police.
This thriller is written very exciting.

>195 karenmarie: thanks so much, Karen. Yep, it's wonderful to have my siblings so close to our place.

Happy Sunday, Barb. I hope you are enjoying the weekend. I have the next 2 days off, with a national holiday tomorrow. I am not complaining.

book 91 Read in German

 The Bone Bed

Exciting from the beginning, I realize that I have neglected Patricia Cornwell 's books.
First, Scarpetta realizes that she has a message on her mobile phone from someone with dangerous thoughts. Shortly thereafter, she is sent to a crime scene in the harbor bay. She is filmed by unknown. Too late, she comes to a court hearing and the footage is shown there. Identifying the dead from the bay is difficult. Scarpetta discovers that there are even more deaths. It turns out that this must be a serial killer. Who is behind it? Scarpetta puts herself in danger.

>198 msf59: Great to hear that you have two days off. You deserve it. Enjoy it.

Next listening:

 Cause of Death

Next reading:

 Istanbul Tango

Happy belated birthday, Barbara. Dinner with your siblings sounds nice. Mine live in the middle and on the other side of this country so getting together happens on very rare occasions. You're doing well with your reading.

Dropping by to wish you a wonderful weekend! Hopefully, your hand is healing well and you are no longer in pain.

Happy weekend, Barbara, now that I've finally found your thread. Let's share an almond-chocolate-pear cake, shall we?

Hope you're having a good weekend Barbara. Richard's cake looks amazing!

>203 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. It's indeed wonderful to have my siblings so close around. I hope you have a great weekend too.

>204 figsfromthistle: Thanks so much, Anita. This evening we have a family gathering due to my BIL's birthday.
I still have lots of pain in my hand.

>205 richardderus: Ah Rdear, you are a treasure. Thanks so much for this lovely cake. I like this kind of cake.

Sorry to read your hand isn't pain free yet, Barbara.
Have the doctors any clue why it takes so long?

>206 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. The weekend is off to a good one. After a week full of fog, we got some sun today.

>210 FAMeulstee: Anita, I'll see the doctor next Monday. I suspect the pain has increased as I try to work without a splint and a few more hours a week.

book 92 ♫ Read in German

 Cause of Death

Also this Scarpetta case was again very captivating. On New Year's Eve, Scarpetta is called to an unusual case. A reporter dove on a 'ship cemetery' and drowned. It soon becomes clear that nothing is as it seems. Scarpetta is prevented from clarifying the case in several ways. Even a police officer threatens her and tries to interfere with the investigation. Then her employee is murdered.
Who has something to cover up? Who threatens Scarpetta and her friends? Why does the FBI have so much interest in this case? A race begins with time.

Happy Saturday, Barb. Sorry, to hear, that you are still having discomfort with your hand. I hope this improves. Enjoy your weekend.

Hi Barbara! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your BiL's birthday.

Sorry to hear that you still have so much pain in your hand. I hope you and your doctor can find an explanation or at least some plan of action to reduce it.

book 93 Read in German

 Istanbul Tango

Kati Hirschel owns a bookshop in Istanbul specializing in thrillers. After reading, I felt like you could compare them to Miss Marple just in our time. Kati has two employees. Pelin does not appear to work because she went to hospital because her friend Nile is in mortal danger. As it turns out, Nile was poisoned. Kati can not let it and identified as a hobby detector in this case. At the same time, she strains the patience of all her friends, because they are automatically involved and have to pursue further tracks. By the way, the bookshop keeps going and there is even an extension of it.
This story is amusing, varied and exciting. I will certainly read more of it.

>214 msf59: thanks so much, Mark. With a blue sky the mood improves. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, too.

>215 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. We will eat venison in a good restaurant. We all look forward to that.

Next reading:

 Die Anatomie des Teufels A very good historical crime fiction witch plays in Barcelona.

book 94 ♫ Read in German

 Black Skies

What fascinates me again and again in Arnaldur Indriðason is that he can pack an Icelandic topicality into an exciting thriller. Also this time he succeeded. It's about dubious money laundering. but you realize this only over time, since everything begins with a blackmail attempt that ends in a murder. Sigurdur Óli tries to help a friend and unfortunately has to realize that he does not tell him the whole truth.
The story is fast paced and told exciting. It also shows the problem of the Icelandic financial market, which was in trouble for a long time.

Sounds like you're in for a lovely evening with delicious food. Wishing you a great weekend!

>221 Deern: thanks so much, Nathalie. I hope you'll have a wonderful weekend, too.

Looks like you will hit 100 books soon, Barbara. So your reading is going well and so are the family celebrations, hope that the pain from your hand starts to ease soon.

I am partial to venison, Barbara - enjoy!

Partial also to your thread - have a lovely weekend. xx

>206 charl08:, >209 Ameise1: What do you say, Barbara, shall we share our cake with Charlotte as well? Two pear-halves apiece isn't too little, I guess....

>219 Ameise1: I don't see an English translation yet, drat it all, and I don't speak or read Catalan! *pouts*

Barbara--sorry to hear your hand is still not healed. Patience can be so hard to come by!! I see you've read a couple Patricia Cornwells in a row--I do love her. I am overdue reading one I think. Hope the week goes well for you. Hugs.

Hope your dinner was as good as it sounded, Barbara!

Hope you had a good start into this new week and that the healing of you hand is progressing.

It's too bad your hand's pain is getting worse. :( Good luck with that.

Hi, Barbara.

I've enjoyed reading Arnaldur Indriðason, too. He sure makes Iceland come alive.

>230 jnwelch: He sure makes Iceland come alive.



Bad, bad, bad pun to make about the MURDER MYSTERY WRITER.

Hi Barbara!

Thinking about you. We're both at 94 books for the year (unless you've read more and just haven't written reviews!)

>205 richardderus: I couldn't figure out if they were giant almonds or scored pears. Then I focussed. YUM

Hi B- happy reading :)

Hi Barbara! I am taking advantage of a quiet Sunday to finally get caught up with various threads. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

Hi Barbara, I am getting back around the threads again, albeit slowly. Hope you and the family have had a really good weekend my dear and that life is treating you good. I see that you are getting near to the magic 100 books read mark which is fantastic.

We are both well although this week has been a bit traumatic one way or another but hopefully this coming week will be a good one especially as we are going to Salisbury for a few days from Thursday.

Sending love and hugs to you and the family from both of us dear friend.

I found 3 Törli this morning at work, just when I had remembered I'd forgotten to open #3 on my RL calendar. Thank you so much!! :D
A Very Happy Advent to you and your family!

Thank you for the Adventskalender, Barbara

Hi Barbara, wishing you a good week ahead. Hope that hand will start doing better!

>231 richardderus: Bad Puns is my middle name, Richard. An okapi can't change his striped legs.

Dear friends, thank you very much for keeping my thread warm. I was absent for a long time, I know. I did not read much, heard two audio books.

>223 Familyhistorian: Meg, I'm not sure I'll make 100. Since I still do not drive a car (because of my hand), I can hear more audiobooks for that. Professionally, I have it at the time of strict, so I can hardly read. But will soon dedicate to my book today.

>224 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul for visiting my thread. I know that you are very busy.

>225 richardderus: Ah Rdear, I can not speak Catalan, but I have this book in German translation. It is very exciting. Unfortunately, I have not had much time to read in the past.

>226 Berly: Many thanks, Kim. The pain is always better. I hardly need any more medication. For many years I have neglected Particia Cornwell's books, and I'm glad I rediscovered them. I downloaded a few audiobooks.

>227 charl08: The food was great, Charlotte. Unfortunately, the restaurant was very busy, since now all company Christmas meals take place. It was a little too loud, especially for my MIL, who does not hear well anymore (not even with a hearing aid).

>228 paulstalder: >237 paulstalder: Dear Paul, I am glad if you like the advent calendar again this year. It's always a lot of fun to put it together and I'm glad to hear it, if the recipients enjoy it too.
I feel like I'm slowly but surely controlling the pain in my hand. I can do more and more and that's good.

>229 The_Hibernator: Thank you so much, Rachel. I am glad that I am making progress every day.

>230 jnwelch: Hi Joe, I love Arnaldur Indriðason books. They are exciting and captivating. especially in the dark season, it gives you a pleasant shudder. ;-)

>231 richardderus: Rdear, he is a great author and always manages to incorporate news in his thrillers. I think that's great.

>232 karenmarie: Karen, I think that you have overtaken me in the meantime. I'll be reviewing two audios soon, but I can not deliver more at the moment.

>233 LovingLit: Happy reading to you, too.

>234 lkernagh: Thank you very much, Lori. I hope to find time again to visit other threads. I feel terrible that I neglect all, but certainly do not do this on purpose, but just have too little time.

>235 johnsimpson: Dear John, thank you for your dear Christmas card. We were very pleased. It is nice that you remain faithful to this tradition. Every year we make a virtual advent calendar, which we send instead of cards. Unfortunately I can not send it to you as it is in German.
I hope you and Karen are well and the time of Christmas is not so hectic.
Love and hugs xx

>236 Deern: It's great that we can give you pleasure again this year, Nathalie. I hope your pre-Christmas time is not too hectic.

>238 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. I'm already feeling better. I wish you a nice weekend.

book 95 ♫ Read in German

 The Good Daughter

I have not read any books by Karin Slaughter for a long time, completely forgetting how excited I am of her books. Also this book has grabbed me from the beginning.
It is about a family of lawyers whose daughters had to watch in childhood, how their mother was brutally murdered, how one daughter was seriously injured during the incident while the other was raped. After all these years, everything comes up again. Who was the culprit? What must revenge look like? Are familiar persons the perpetrators?

book 96 ♫ Read in German

 Hanging Hill

This is a story that captivated me from the beginning. A teenage girl is found dead. On the one hand, the police are detecting on the other hand, a mother interferes, which, as luck would have it, is the sister of a policewoman. The fact that the two get in each other's way does not always help solve the case. Each tries to protect the other and they become entangled more and more and no one has the overview.
Mo Hayder can always expose her thrillers so that you can see all traces, but is still caught in the interpersonal relationships of the protagonists and therefore advises at the end, who is now the villain.

Barbara! I'm so glad that you're slowly getting the hand pain under control. I mean, the control part! Not the slow part. That kinda rots on ice.

Sending big Advent hugs Swissward!

Next listening:

 Fallen

>246 richardderus: Thanks so much, Rdear. Sending Advent smooches over the pond.

Happy Second Advent to you and your family!

>249 Deern: Thanks so much, Nathalie. Enjoy your Sunday too. Any snow at your place?

Happy Sunday, Barbara! I'm glad that your hand is doing better. Is it your dominant hand?

>251 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. Of cause it is. How could it be otherwise. I suppose it's always the dominate one and that makes life not easier.

>252 Ameise1: I've been fortunate that my significant upper extremity injuries have been limited to my non-dominant limb. I suffered a partial tear of my left rotator cuff after a fall several years ago, and when I was a medical student I developed de Quervain's tenosynovitis in my left wrist, after I served as a human retractor for several surgeries during my OB/GYN rotation. Those were far more manageable injuries to manage than they would have been if my RUE was involved.

>253 kidzdoc: Not funny but really better then it would have been the right one. Well, I was never as lucky as you were. It was always the dominate side.

>254 Ameise1: I'm sorry that it was your dominant hand that was affected, Barbara.

I nearly forgot about my other upper extremity injury; I suffered a mallet finger on the middle finger of my left hand several years ago, after I tore the extensor tendon of my distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, along with a small piece of bone from my intermediate phalanx, as I put a piece of luggage on an conveyor belt at Security in an airport. Oddly enough it didn't hurt after I sustained the injury, but I noticed almost immediately that my finger was bent at the farthest joint and I couldn't straighten it. I wore a finger splint for 6-8 weeks, but it's still permanently bent at the DIP joint, although I can use my finger just fine.

>255 kidzdoc: Welcome to the club. I had a similar injury while playing volleyball. I also had a finger splint that did not help either. I believe that this form of therapy is just a medical alibi practice, because nobody knows who it helped. The only measure would be an operation that one does not like in a closed system. Ergo, you do not live badly with a crooked finger.



Whenever I had broken bones or ligament injuries, they were always on the right side. Once I broke the radius head at the elbow, the healing process dragged on forever. Of course, the overused ligaments and tendons were also on the right knee. Only, when I broke five vertebrae, it was of course in the middle.
Right now I have had enough of broken bones. I hope it does not happen to me again soon.

Happy Sunday, Barbara!

We're in the middle of a snow-freezing rain event here in NC. Lots of reasons to just stay inside and read.

>257 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. Sorry to hear about your weather condition. Yep, staying inside and read will be the best way to spend such a Sunday.

Ich wünsche Dir einen schönen 2. Advent.

>259 figsfromthistle: Liebe Anita, das wünsche ich dir von Herzen auch:

Hi Barbara! All my bone war stories are pretty much the same, hairline fractures from falls. Tendon stories I got. Gout (Gicht) related...nasty, unfun, and long-lasting problems. Whee! Ain't it great getting old.

>261 richardderus: Oh yes, I can remember well when I was with my grandparents when I was a kid and they keep saying "it tweaks here and there". I could still smile. When my parents turned 50, they meant the same thing, and now I'm experiencing it myself. Life is simply predictable in certain ways.

>256 Ameise1: Exactly. My finger looks about the same as yours, and I'm not living badly with a crooked finger at all.

>263 kidzdoc: I think that's the way it is for everyone. I have friends who have recently noticed my crooked finger and they have known me for years. Funny, isn't it?

Hi there, Barbara! Just trying to catch up around here which is nearly impossible. Still, I wanted to stop by an say "Hi!"
Speaking of ligaments and bones and such, I hope you are mending well if not completely mended!
About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder, the left one. Orthopedic guy wanted to perform surgery, Ha! No way, buddy. just prescribe therapy. He agreed to that with a cortisone injection. So in about 6 months time I was fine and dandy.
Jokes on me, no the right arm is frozen. Ugh! I remember the exercises so I hope to recover on my own, but I know it will take time.

>265 Carmenere: Oh dear, I once had the same problem and had to go to emergency, because I could not even lift my arm anymore. There, an older doctor laughed out loud and said 'Welcome to the club'. This is something normal in the elderly. He gave me exercises on the way. Since I train regularly in a medical weight room, they have assigned me a special machine. Since then, when it starts to tweak, I do my exercises on this machine.
I hope you feel better soon. The most important thing is to move the joint and not spare it.

>265 Carmenere: You are absolutely correct, Barbara. Use it or lose it is my mantra! Although it hurts it must be exercised. :0)

You must be doing a bit better if you are able to visit the threads, Barbara. Have a great week.

>250 Ameise1: No, it looked like snow yesterday, but after an hour of snowy rain the sun came out and the temps went up.

Continuing good wishes for your hand. I can echo what you said in >262 Ameise1:. Part of me still thinks whatever is tweaking will go away because it always did. Knee and right shoulder (the latter often exposed to a draft from the window in my office) causing light problems, as are some finger and foot joints. I’m grandma age now, after all :(

Painless Tuesday wishes, dear Barbara.

Find the Light—Reflect the Light—Be the Light

Happy Yule 2018!

>256 Ameise1: I have a similiar right hand ring finger, Barbara, it was dislocated many years ago. The other is my left elbow, also dislocated once long ago. I feel the joints when the weather is wet.
The right arm I broke a few years back has never bothered after it was healed.

Thank you for the advent mails, they make me smile at the start of each day :-)

Wishing you a happy weekend!

Hoping your holidays are filled with good friends and good books

Happy Holidays Barbara!

Dear Barbara, I wish you and your family Frohe Weihnachten, may you all be blessed with health and joy. I‘m looking forward to opening the last two Törli on the 31st.

Hi Barbara, we would like to wish you, Thomas, Isabelle and Marina a very Merry Christmas and festive season and send seasonal love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

Fröhliche Weihnachten!
the light is born

Frohe Weihnachten!

Thank you so much for the virtual Advent calendar. Quite delightful :)

Barbara, I haven't been by in a while, wanted to be sure to wish you....

Have a wonderful holiday with the family, Barb!

Dear friends

Thanks so much for your lovely holiday wishes.

Hi Barbara, hard to believe 2018 is almost coming to a close. Where did the year go?

Stopping by to wish you and your family peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and best wishes for 2019!

Thanks so much, Lori. I hope you're having a fabulous time with your family.

I hope that you have a Happy Holiday Season, Barbara!

Happy holidays, Barbara.

I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a peaceful time.

>284 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. We had two lovely parties. Today I should start writing some reviews.

>285 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul. I hope you have a splendid time with your family.

>286 SirThomas: Thanks so much, Thomas. What a beautiful photo. Where have you taken it?

Merry Christmas from Philadelphia, Barbara!

>288 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. I hope your Mom has a better day today. Thinking of you and yours.

Seasons Greetings from Singapore! Wishing you and your family joy, peace, good fortune and good health now and in the coming year.

Frohe Weihnachten, Barbara! I hope you're having a lovely Christmas Day.

>290 humouress: Beautiful, Nina. thanks so much.

>291 cushlareads: Vielen lieben Dank, Cushla. We had a fabulous evening with my daughters and their partners.

book 97 ♫ Read in German

 Fallen

A very exciting case from the Will Trent series. Faith, Will's former partner, tries to free her kidnapped mother. She gets support from the whole team as they are all somehow transacted with Evelyn Mitchell. The search goes in all directions (bribery, drugs etc.) but no one suspects the true background of the kidnapping and the bloody carnage.

book 98 Read in German

 Die Anatomie des Teufels

This book has captivated me from the beginning. It is set to take place in Barcelona shortly before the opening of the World's Fair in 1888. Daniel Amat, a Barcelona native who graduated from Oxford and has a promising future there, receives a letter that his father died in Barcelona. He returns to his hometown for the funeral, unaware that he will soon find himself in a turmoil that completely overhauls his knowledge of his past.
Jordi LLobregat takes up various themes of the time. He describes the everyday worries of the different social classes. I think that I did not like to live in the Barcelona of 1888. Much is happening in the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, as it is in the history of various medical issues. It also becomes clear that women could not be trained as doctors at the time. The latest innovation in electricity is also given high priority.
Daniel Amat and his 'friends' face many, almost impossible, problems. The end is indeed a big surprise.

book 99 ♫ Read in German

 Port Mortuary

Another Scarpetta case that grabs you from the beginning. Kay is brought back to her institute in Boston earlier than planned. Her deputy seems to have vanished and suspicious cases multiply. Kay, who gave her deputy a chance, has to realize that she is shamelessly deceiving her and her institute.
The medical and technical topics are complex, which gives the whole thing a certain spice.

book 100 Read in German

 A Talent For Murder

This story is about Agatha Christie and her mysterious disappearance in 1926, but somehow this story did not grab me right. The villain tries to create a Christie-style murder, but misses the lightness that comes with crimes. The story seems to me to be incongruous and in fact the handwriting of the great mystery writer is missing.

Next listening:

 Bretonische Flut

Next reading:

 Strandgut

Hi Barbara!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I assume you're on Christmas/winter break from school - when does it start back up again?

>299 karenmarie: Hi Karen, We had a great Christmas with our daughters and their partners. After a good dinner we had a game night. It was so funny that we only went to bed at 1.30am in the morning. The dinner with my MIL and my BIL was not that great, but it was predictable.
I will be back at school on the 7th of January.

>294 Ameise1: I'm so pleased! I found an affordable hardcover of the book in English. It was published by my old company, Riverrun, in England. Happy New Year a week early.

>301 richardderus: Ah, wonderful! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Enjoy your time off from work, Barbara. It looks like you have lots of time for reading.

I'm glad to hear you had a good Christmas, Barbara. Family game nights are the best!

>300 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! We had game night on Christmas Eve. Tenzer was a hit -- a dice game and you draw cards which tell you what you have to do to win. Fast paced and fun. Enjoy your time off. Hugs!

Congratulations Barbara, you've read a 100 books!

Wishing you happy holidays with your family. Game night sounds good;-)

Thanks so much ladies. I love game nights very much. I know we should take the time to do it more often.

book 101 Read in German

 Strandgut

This is a great debut of a new series that takes place in Normandy. Nicolas Guerlain is a bodyguard and this primarily for an ambitious French minister. But Nicolas also fights against a personal loss from the past. This makes him vulnerable and he is no longer acceptable as a bodyguard for the group. He is sent to Deauville to check the security measures for a summit meeting and to assist the local police. The police are not at all enthusiastic about him, especially since there are several murders in the area of Deauville and Nicolas gets back in the mix.
The story is very exciting from the beginning and let me guess who the villain is until the end. I look forward to the following books from the series.

You did it! Congratulations on reading over 100 books, Barbara. I fell a few short this year…and I don't have a teaching career anymore, nor did I suffer any broken bones. I hope 2019 is a better year for you on the health front. I look forward to following your books, travels, and anything else you care to share with us next year. ;-)

Congratulations, Barbara! What a good reading year you've had.

Hi Barbara, we would like to wish you and the family a very happy new year my dear and all the very best for 2019. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

>309 Donna828: Thanks so much, Donna. fingers crossed that 2019 will be a healthy year.

>310 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. It was indeed one of the best reading years I ever had.

>311 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I wish you and Karen a fabulous 2019 filled with health, happyness and lots of books. Love and hugs xx

book 102 Read in German

 Küstenstrich

Also the second volume of the Nicolas Guerlain series is thrilling from the first to the last page. This time, Nicolas has to protect an aristocrat who has received death threats. Soon it turns out that it is about child prostitution, but also about the refugee problem. Two years earlier, the minister cleared the 'jungle' near Calais, but child prostitution only gained momentum. Nicolas and his comrades are in a quarrel. On the one hand, they have to protect the bad guys, and on the other hand, they want to put them under lock and key. A difficult undertaking, which brings dead on the way with it.



So, this was the last book for this calendar year. I'm glad to see you all again in the New Year at my new thread 2019 Barbara (Ameise1)'s world (1)

Happy New Year.

>314 thornton37814: Thanks so much, Lori. Wishing you a healthy happy new year, too.

Hi Barbara!



Wishing you a new year filled with joy, happiness, laughter, and all the wonderful books you could wish for.

>316 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I wish you a wonderful 2019 too.

Happy New Year's Eve!!

Thanks so much, Kim. Since 11 minutes we are in 2019. Happy new year to you.

>313 Ameise1: Congratulations Barbara, passing the 100 books read. And it seems like a good one. I have spent a number of autumn holidays on the coast south of Calais, so I would love to read it. But my library doesn't have it.

And wishing you a very good and healthy 2019!

>320 EllaTim: Thanks so much, Ella. I'm sure you'll like this series. I hope your library will get copies one day.

Congratulations on your reading century Barbara!

>287 Ameise1: Hi Barbara!
Sorry for the delay, I've lost track a little bit.
I took the picture from the hotel balcony in Tannheim, Tirol, Austria.
We had a wonderful pre-Christmas time there. When we left on 23.12. well rested, the snow had already left again.
Happy New Year and a wonderful 2019!

>322 humouress: Thanks so much, Nina.

>323 SirThomas: Thomas, is this tha place where the hotel Jungbrunn (spa hotel) is? We've been there once years ago. It's a beautiful valley.

The small brown stripe in the foreground is the balcony balustrade of our room at Jungbrunn.
We are there frequently and we love the valley and the hotel.

>325 SirThomas: How wonderful. We've been there about 15 years ago for a long weekend. It's a bit too far away from our home. Since 9 years I'm going to the Vierjahreszeiten at Schluchsee. That takes only a bit more than an hour by car.

The Black Forest is really beautiful, we love the region as well.