The Bookseller Käthe's Reading Log in 2021 (5)

Welcome to part 5 of my reading log for 2021. My name is Käthe and I am 35 years old. I have been working as a bookseller for almost ten years and have been a book lover since forever. I live with a dog and eleven rats in Austria.

I have recently started to help out in our local shelter on Sunday mornings, so this reduces my reading time. But I still try to meet my 75 goal.

One of my favourite reading spaces:


Two of my sleepy heads:

READING STATISTICS:











READ in DECEMBER:
114. Ein Toter zu wenig by Dorothy L Sayers *****
115. Dieskrete Zeugen by Dorothy L Sayers *****
116. Kirihito 2 by Osamu Tezuka ***

--






READ in NOVEMBER:
109. Quiet girl in a noisy world by Debbie Tung ***
110. Nat enough by Maria Scrivan ***
111. Sechzehn Wege, eine befestigte Stadt zu verteidigen by KJ Parker ****
112. Playlist by Sebastian Fitzek ***1/2
113. Frost by Ragnar Jonasson ***

----






READ in OCTOBER:
101. Häsin in der Grube by Mireille Gagné **
102. Reise durch Ruinen by George Orwell ****1/2
103. Soulless 01 by Gail Carriger ****
104. Exit - Das Buch by Giorgos Kiafas ****
105. Escape Adventures Von Basaren und Meisterdieben by Zimpfer / Frenzel / Gehrmann ****
106. Escape Adventures Von Königen und Alchemisten by Zimpfer / Frenzel / Gehrmann ****
107. Einmal noch schlafen, dann ist morgen by Manuel Rubey ****
108. Kirihito 01 by Osamu Tezuka ***1/2

-------




READ in SEPTEMBER:

92. Blumen für Algernon by Daniel Keyes *****
93. Girl in the Walls by A. J. Gnuse **1/2
94. Undinge by Byun-Chul Han *****
95. Natur und Technik. Eine Komplikation by Birgit Recki **
96. Identität im Zwielicht by Jörg Scheller *****
97. Von der Pflicht by Richard David Precht ****
98. Fiese Viecher? by Vero Mischitz & Claudia Gotthardt *****
99. Die Wurzeln faschisten und nationalsozialistischem Handelns by Fritz Bauer *****
100. Radikalisierter Konservatismus by Natascha Strobl *****

--------

Read in August:

85. The Witch Queen by Verena Bachmann *****
86. Summerwater by Sarah Moss **
87. The Dark and the Darker by J. L. Hicks ****
88. Träume und Kulissen by Alida Bremer ****
89. 88 names by Matt Ruff ***
90. Let's pretend this never happened by Jenny Lawson ***
91. Matou by Michael Köhlmeier (unfinished, 350 pages) ***

------




Read in July:

72 -77. Death Note Vol. 7-12 by Tsugumi Ohba ****1/2
78. Inmitten der Nacht by Rumaan Alam ***1/2
79. Die Winterkönigin und andere Träume by Jackie Morris ****
80. Was geht, Österreich? by Eva Reisinger ***
81. Wo auch immer ihr seid by Khue Pham *****
82. Verqueres Denken by Andreas Speit ****
83. Die Leuchtturmwärter by Emma Stonex ****
84. Mr Parnassus Heim für magisch Begabte by TJ Klune *****

--------

----



Read in June:

63. The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams ****
64. Mr Stink by David Walliams ***1/2
65. Billionaire Boy by David Walliams ***1/2
66. Ratburger by David Walliams ****
67. Gangsta Granny by David Walliams ****
68. Death Note Vol. 5 by Tsugumi Ohba *****
69. Death Note Vol. 6 by Tsugumi Ohba *****
70. Demon Dentist by David Walliams ****
71. Flucht über die Alpen by Hans-Joachim Löwer *****

--------

Read in 2021:

January (14 books, 3,404 pages)
1. Take a girl like you by Kingsley Amis **1/2
2. Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo *****
3. Der Tod in ihren Händen by Ottessa Moshfegh **1/2
4. Die Anderen by Laila Lalami ***1/2
5. Das Baby ist meins by Oyinkan Braithwaite ***
6. Kindheit by Tove Ditlevsen ****
7. Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo *****
8. Jugend by Tove Ditlevsen ****
9. Der Atem einer anderen Welt by Seanan McGuire **1/2
10. Emilio und das Meer by Elisa Sabatinelli ***
11. Camel Travel by Volha Hapeyeva ****
12. Einspruch! by Ingrid Brodnig ****
13. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson *****
14. Eine Seuche in der Stadt by Ljudmila Ulitzkaja **

------

------



February (13 books, 3,397 pages)
15. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson ****
16. Fallout by Fred Pearce ****
17. Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier *****
18. PESTS by Emer Stamp ****1/2
19. Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch *****
20. Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernardine Evaristo *****
21. Die Filmerzählerin by Hernán Rivera Letelier 1/2
22. Ein Tag im Leben des Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn *****
23. And then there were none by Agatha Christie ****
24. Irre glücklichby Jenny Lawson ****
25. Der Quasselkasper by Janosch **
26. Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett ****
27. Eine ganze Welt by Goldie Goldblum ***

-----

-----



March (11 books, 3,271 pages)

28. Niemand hat Angst vor Leuten, die lächeln by Véronique Ovaldé ****
29. Die Mitternachtsbibliothek by Matt Haig ****
30. La science des cauchemars by Véronique Ovaldé and Véronique Dorey ***
31. A Portable Paradise by Roger Robinson ***
32. Something is killing the children Vol. I and II by Tynion/Dell'edera/Muerto ****1/2
33. Water Rising by London Shah **
34. Der Junge, der Maulwurf, der Fuchs und das Pferd by Charlie Mackesy ***
35. The Missing American by Kwei Quartey ****
36. Wranglestone by Darren Charlton ****
37. The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue ****
38. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

--------

--

READ IN APRIL (11 books, 1,863 pages)

39. Peter Hase und seine Freunde by Beatrix Potter ****
40. Tote Bauern melken nicht by Benjamin Tomkins **1/2
41. Jahrhundert einer Ratte by Marcus Herrenberger ****
42. Franz Ratte räumt auf by Mario Giordano ***
43. Der Donnerstagsmordclub by Richard Osman ***1/2
44. In Aufruhr by Inga Vesper ****
45. The Wideawake Mice by Sheila McCullagh ****
46. The Wideawake Mice go to the Market by Sheila McCullagh ****
47. Mensen, mensen wat een mensen! by Peter Spier ****
48. Les Aventures de Tintin. Les Bijoux de la Castafiore by Hergé ****1/2
49. O du coole Weihnachtszeit! by Thomas Jeier **



-----

----




READ IN MAY (13 books, 3,192 pages)

50. Prinzessin Sara by Frances Hodgson Burnett *****
51. Eine ganz dumme Idee by Fredrik Backman ***
52. Das Wörterbuch der bösen Mädchen by Nina Merian ***
53. Zombie 100 Band 1 by Haro/Kotaro ***1/2
54. Geisterwand by Sarah Moss *****
55. Death Note Vol. 1 by Tsugumi Obha *****
56. Death Note Vol. 2 by Tsugumi Obha *****
57. Parasite in Love 01 by Sugaru Miaki ***
58. The Promised Neverland 1 by Kaiu Shirai ****1/2
59. SHY 1 by Bukimi Miki **1/2
60. Der Tod und das dunkle Meer by Stuart Turton ****
61. Death Note Vol. 3 by Tsugumi Obha *****
62. Death Note Vol. 4 by Tsugumi Obha ****



------

-----

Read the world - my challenge for 2021

I assume that next year travelling will still not be possible, so I spontaneously decided to make reading the world a challenge. I will try to read a book from every country in the world - which is basically a challenge I can't win as it I'd need to read almost 200 books. But it is always nice to look outside the own reading box.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia (Czech Republic), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini (fmr. "Swaziland"), Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany , Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine State, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. United Kingdom: Take a girl like you by Kingsley Amis, Fallout by Fred Pearce, PESTS by Emer Stamp, Mädchen, Frau, etc. by Bernadine Evaristo, And then there were none by Agatha Christie, Peter Hase und seine Freunde by Beatrix Potter, Der Donnerstagmordclub by Richard Osman, In Aufruhr by Inga Vesper; Prinzessin Sara by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Geisterwand by Sarah Moss; Der Tod und das dunkle Meer by Stuart Turton
2. South Korea: Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
3. USA: Der Tod in ihren Händen by Ottessa Moshfegh, Die Anderen by Leila Lalami, Der Atem einer anderen Welt by Seanan McGuire, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, Irre glücklich by Jenny Lawson, Die Welt ohne Fenster by Barbara Newhall Follett
4. New Zealand: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
5. Nigeria: Das Baby ist meins by Oyinkan Braithwaite
6. Denmark: Kindheit by Tove Ditlevsen, Jugend by Tove Ditlevsen
7. Hungary: Ferien am Waldsee by Carl Lazlo
8. Austria: Einspruch! by Ingrid Brodnig
9. Italy: Emilio und das Meer by Elisa Sabatinelli
10. Belarus: Camel Travel by Volha Hapeyeva, Tschernobyl by Swetlana Alexijewitsch
11. Russia: Eine Seuche in der Stadt by Ljudmila Ulitzkaja, Ein Tag im Leben von Iwan Denissowitsch by Alexander Solschenizyn
12. France: Die Bombe by Alcante, Bollee, Rodier
13. Chile: Die Filmerzählerinby Hernán Rivera Letelier
14. Germany: Der Quasselkasper by Janosch, Tote Bauern melken nicht by Benjamin Tomkins, Jahrhundert einer Ratte by Marcus Herrenberger, Franz Ratte räumt auf by Mario Giordano
15. Turkey: Rot ist mein Name by Orhan Pamuk
16. Netherlands: Mensen, mensen, wat een mensen! by Peter Spier
17. Belgium: Les Aventures de Tintin. Les Bijoux de la Castafiore by Hergé
18. Sweden: Eine ganz dumme Idee by Fredrik Backman
19. Japan: Zombie 100 by Haro/Kataro; Death Note Vol. 1 / Death Note Vol. 2 by Tsugumi Ohba; The Promised Neverland 1 by Kaiu Shirai; Parasite in Love 1 by Sugaru Miaki; SHY 1 by Bukimi Miki

Ideas:
Zimbabwe: This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga
Mexico: Das Flüstern der Bienen by Sofia Segovia
Japan: Der Klang der Wälder by Natsu Miyashita
Guinea: Kleiner Bruder by Ibrahima Balde
Mauritius: Black Spartacus by Sudhir Hazareesingh

ABC CHALLENGE

As I have finally finished the bingo card I have decided for a new challenge: Three months to fill in the alphabet with authors' last names. Only read books starting April count.

A
Burnett, Hodgson Frances: Prinzessin Sara; Backman, Fredrik: Eine ganz dumme Idee, Bukimi Miki SHY 1
C
D
E
F
Giordano, Mario: Franz Ratte räumt auf
Herrenberger, Marcus: Jahrhundert einer Ratte; Hergé: Les Aventures de Tintin. Les Bijoux de la Castafiore
I
Jeier, Thomas: O du coole Weihnachtszeit!
Kotaro Takata: Zombie 100, Kaiu Shiarai The Promised Neverland
Lambert, Kelly: Lehrmeister Ratte
McCullagh, Sheila: The Wideawake Mice, Moss, Sarah Geisterwand
N
Osman, Richard: Der Donnerstagmordclub
Pamuk, Orhan: Rot ist mein Name; Potter, Beatrix: Peter Hase und seine Freunde
Q
R
Spier, Peter: Mensen, mensen wat een mensen!; Sugaru Miaki "Parasite in Love"
Tomkins, Benjamin: Tote Bauern melken nicht, Tsugumi Ohba Death Note, Turton, Stuart Der Tod und das dunkle Meer
U
Vesper, Inga: In Aufruhr
Walliams, David - several ebooks
X
Y
Z

Happy new thread, Käthe!

>1 PersephonesLibrary: What a lovely place to sit and read in the garden!
The rats are cute, as always :-)

>8 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! It is lovely to sit there. Though you need quite some pillows if you want to sit there comfortably for a while. :)

Happy new thread, Käthe!
A wonderful reading place, books and pillows - what more could you want?

Happy new thread, Kathe and what a lovely colourful one it is!

Happy new thread, Käthe!!

Happy new one!

>10 SirThomas: Hm, maybe the weather to enjoy it? :) But sun will be back soon, I am sure. Thank you, Thomas!

>11 PaulCranswick: >12 scaifea: >13 drneutron: Thank you, Paul, Amber and Jim!

51. Eine ganz dumme Idee by Fredrik Backman **

I can not really talk about the book without spoilering it.

But I almost kicked it into a corner, because for the first hundred pages the author wrote about female characters - and every single one was incredibly annoying, spiteful, stupid, greedy... and every other negative characteristics you can think of. Only the mother/wife of two policemen is "nice".

I still decided to continue reading and it was meh. There is a particular twist which only works in Dutch or English. In German it's simply not working well. I am not going to read any other book by the author.

52. Das Wörterbuch der bösen Mädchen by Nina Merian ***

A collection of quotes by women about different topics. Nice read, not more not less. It was just a pity that some quotes were used twice, one even three times under different mottos. And there was a part of the book were the layout went crazy. Without those mistakes it would have made a lovely present.

53. Zombie 100 by Kotaro Takata ***1/2

A hard-working, exhausted young man finally feels freedom when a zombie apocalypse destroys the civilization. He starts writing a bucket list with stuff he wants to do before he himself becomes a zombie.

It's a fun little read - and I even might get the next volume when it will be published.

54. Geisterwand by Sarah Moss *****

This novel was very intense. And even if I don't know whom I could recommend it to, I do recommend it. A family of three takes part in a practical archelogy project which gets out of control.
Moss confronts harsh, archaic brutality with tender, lovely moments. It's gripping and atmospheric. One of my favourites this year.

-----


55. / 56. / 61. / 62. / 68. / 69. Death Note Volumes 1 - 6 *****

I have started this manga series and I love it. It's gripping, has great characters, humour, a cat and mouse play, moral questions and awesome twists. Ordered volumes 7 - 9 today.

-

57. Parasite in Love 01 by Sugaru Miaki ***
59. SHY by Bukumi Miki **1/2

Two mangas with actually interesting storylines. But I find the way how they are treating young girls just way to creepy.

58. The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai ****1/2

An orphanage keeping a dark secret and its residents having to learn that nothing is as it seems...
Dark, compelling adventure manga. Maybe I will continue this when I have finished Death Note.

60. Der Tod und das dunkle Meer by Stuart Turton ****

Just what I needed. A nice adventure, crime mystery novel taking place on a ship of the Dutch East India Company. There is a twist at the ending which slightly annoyed me - but I want to reread the book anyway at some point to see if it was actually far-fetched. Apart from that it was the right book at the right time.

Okay, so I have finally caught up with the reviews for May. June will follow soon and will include six children's books by David Walliams. We sell them very well in our bookstores and I love Little Britain, so I wanted to give them a try. (I can say so much: There is a reason why he isn't a "one-hit-wonder" in children's literature like so many other celebrities.)

Currently, I am reading something more heavy: Flucht über die Alpen by Hans-Joachim Löwer. A gripping non-fiction book about how Jews managed to (more or less) secretly emigrate to Palestine post-WW2. It is structured into different stations, mile stones and personalities - and not only deals with the main topic: As a reader you get a very good impression about the very first weeks and months after the War: the chaos, the people in movement, etc. I am only in the middle of the book but can already recommend it.



Nightnight.

Happy new thread!!

>16 PersephonesLibrary: Sorry this was not a winner for you. I have really enjoyed several of his books. Not this one though.
>24 PersephonesLibrary: Zzzzzzzzz.

Happy Sunday, Käthe. I love your reading place. Soooo beautiful.

>24 PersephonesLibrary: David Walliams does seem popular with the kids. Unfortunately, not even he could persuade my kids to read!

Just dropping in to say hi, Kathe :)

Hi Käthe, Just trying to visit all neglected threads. I've been busy with Peet's situation and with trying to stay positive and sane (some times I screamed in my head). And loosing myself in books.
Now we have a rainy day and we are just waiting for an email from the hospital with the date of the operation and NO appointments with whatever specialist (We have seen a few) for the rest of the week (probably, you never know)

I hope to visit again soon

>23 PersephonesLibrary:, that one is on my soon to read list! Good to hear it's a good one.

Käthe.....Käääääääääthe?!?!

I'm still here!

Despite not having been active the past weeks... Shame on me but there has been a lot going on. I have decided to skip all the challenges and just focus on reading. And on writing here a bit more often.

First of all, my grandma died past Wednesday. It's all good - she was over 100 years old and it was a relieve for her that she could finally go. I am truly happy that she didn't have to suffer and could die in her sleep. And she was met by her children: My uncle's death day is the 6th of July, my mom's day of death is the 8th of July. I am not religious but I am sure that's not a coincidence that grandma died on the 7th. Organising everything from preparing the funeral to emptying her room at the old peoples' home she has lived kept me quite busy.



Then there's the new job with new challenges. Though thanks to the team I feel quite well and work starts being fun again. During June we welcomed the publishers' representatives to buy the books for the second half of the year. Spending a lot of time at the computer during the day kept me from logging in on LT back then.
But let's say that "shopping phase" was very succesful if you consider my latest pile of aquisitions:




Apart from helping out at the shelter I took care of four foster ratties - they went to their forever home a week ago. My rat boys are all up and about and get spoiled every day.
--



My garden is growing rampant (is that the right term?): Just when I have mowed the lawn it's shooting up again. :)
--

Here are my June and July readings. I might skip reviewing them... so if you are interested in details let me know.

Currently, I am reading and (massively) enjoying another LT book bullett: Mr Parnassus' Heim für magisch Begabte by T. J. Klune. Thanks to whoever hit me with it. :-) It's great fun to read it.



I also tried the Early Reviewers for the first time. I was even chosen for an ARC but I haven't received it yet. Looking forward to it, though.




Read in June:

63. The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams ****
64. Mr Stink by David Walliams ***1/2
65. Billionaire Boy by David Walliams ***1/2
66. Ratburger by David Walliams ****
67. Gangsta Granny by David Walliams ****
68. Death Note Vol. 5 by Tsugumi Ohba *****
69. Death Note Vol. 6 by Tsugumi Ohba *****
70. Demon Dentist by David Walliams ****
71. Flucht über die Alpen by Hans-Joachim Löwer *****

--------




Read in July:

72 -77. Death Note Vol. 7-12 by Tsugumi Ohba ****1/2
78. Inmitten der Nacht by Rumaan Alam ***1/2
79. Die Winterkönigin und andere Träume by Jackie Morris ****
80. Was geht, Österreich? by Eva Reisinger ***
81. Wo auch immer ihr seid by Khue Pham *****
82. Verqueres Denken by Andreas Speit ****
83. Die Leuchtturmwärter by Emma Stonex ****

--------

---

>31 PersephonesLibrary: I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother, even though it was "her time", it's never easy.

Glad to see you back!

>31 PersephonesLibrary: Hi Käthe. So sorry to read about your grandmother's death. I think her dying on the 8th was not a coincidence. It was meant to be that way.

>32 PersephonesLibrary: I really loved that book. Every book by this writer is a good one.

I am sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I am glad to hear that work starts being fun again.
I am happy that you are doing well, Käthe.
I can well understand that after a day at the computer you don't want to spend any more time at the screen - I often feel the same way.
Thank you for the pictures, they are beautiful - with us it is also wet and green outside.

It's *so* good to see you here, Käthe! I'll add my sympathies about your grandmother, but I'm glad that it was peaceful and that she lived such a long life.

I'm also reading the Klune right now and loving it so far!

Sorry about your grandmother, Käthe. Glad it was a peaceful transition.

And congratulations on reaching and passing 75!

>33 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan. We are lucky we had enough time to prepare ourselves. Glad to be back!

>34 connie53: Thanks, Connie! Although she wasn't mentally "with us" past year when my mom died - she kind of felt what happend.

TJ Klune: It's my first novel by him and it's very entertaining - a fun read!

>35 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. It's been challenging times again. But I think it helped me to make some personal progress, too. We do what we can. :)

>36 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! It's great fun to read, isn't it?! In German they managed to kill the title again with "Mr Parnassus' Home for the Magically Talented" - which makes the book appear to be a ripoff of Ransom Rigg's Ms Peregrine. But I think Klune's book is written waaayyy better.

>37 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! Yes, it was almost like she was slowly disappearing...

Oh, yes - I managed this quite early. Though I read a lot of manga and children's books... so I basically cheated. :)

>32 PersephonesLibrary: Hello Käthe

Just dropping in after some time away from LT. I am sorry to hear about your grandmother. Your garden photos are lovely. Ours did well until we went away on vacation. We came back to some dry/eaten plants.
I am in the hold list for the Kline book. Hopefully, it will go quickly.

Love how you refer to your Grandmother - I'm currently trying to get to that place with my Granddad as I suspect I may not get to see him again.

Also re Walliams - they do have something don't they? I've read those ones - or listened to them in the car with the kids. We used to get the latest for the long holiday drive in the summer hols (only 3-4 hours but far longer than they are used to since our island is only 9 miles wide!). My son also made me read The Beast of Buckingham Palace last year as part of my book bingo (book recommended by son) - and it actually got a tear in my eye at the end.

>39 PersephonesLibrary: TJ Klune is always fun as is T. Kingfisher. It must be the T that does it.

>1 PersephonesLibrary: What a great reading space.

Happy new one!

Sorry about your grandmother, but I am glad that she had a peaceful transition.

>43 jayde1599: Jess, I hope you already managed to get the Klune book! I just saw he wil publish another one in September and I am definitely going to preorder it. Unfortunately, it was raining a lot during the past days and weeks. So, I couldn't do much in the garden.

>44 BekkaJo: Bekka, I hope you will have the chance to say goodbye to your granddad! It's never easy, but easier to say goodbye if you have time to prepare...

Walliams: I agree! His books are absurd, adventurous and fun and fantasical - but moreover completely hearfelt.

>45 connie53: Thanks for the (T)ip, Connie! I will check T. Kingfisher out, too! I just wiki'd her and she already caught me with "Hamster Princess". Which book would you recommend for a start?

>46 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. Now, only the rain has got to stop so I can use it! :D

>47 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda. We are all grateful she didn't have to suffer.

I finished my first month at the bookstore with a light plus, so those are very good news. Even better: I have been on holidays for a week now, and another week lies ahead.

I took my time and took it slowly: I used the mornings to clean out and the afternoons to read, sleep, play escape games or take care of my or the shelter's animals.

So far, I have finished this week:

85. The Witch Queen by Verena Bachmann *****
A fun and sexy young adult novel with lots of humor. I was surprised I enjoyed it so much. :) If you like Buffy or Charmed (original series) you might enjoy it, too.

86. Summerwater by Sarah Moss **
As much as I loved Ghostwall by Moss... this novel didn't convince me. It felt too forced, too constructed, with a pressured ending.

87. The Dark and the Darker by J. L. Hicks ****
This ARC is a nice horror novel of the gory kind. You can find my review on the book's page.

--

I don't go abroad but decided to visit places just for short trips. So, yesterday, I went to Bregenz to watch the opera Rigoletto on the stage on the lake:

The stage was exciting (maybe a bit confusing at the beginning), the music marvellous - and I was really lucky to catch the only two hours without rain during the performance.

-

My rat babies are thriving...

---

---

Oh, and I made a friend at the shelter...

-

>54 PersephonesLibrary: wow, that set is out o this world! I can't even imagine how strange an experience that must be to see a performance there.

>53 PersephonesLibrary: I am very happy for you, Käthe.
>54 PersephonesLibrary: Friends of ours are also on vacation there right now and were thrilled with the performance.

Thank you for the great photos of Bregenz and the animals.
I wish you a wonderful weekend - and an equally vacation.

>57 LovingLit: Hi Megan, Bregenz is known for its extravaganza when it comes to the stage.

This was "Andre Chenier"


This was "The Magic Flute"


A Mask Ball:


Carmen:


And this one was for "Turandot" - I worked as an extra for this production for one season. It was really fascinating to get a look "behind the curtain".

>58 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas! It's almost a bit overwhelming at the beginning, but they just have got the most creative ideas.

Have a lovely weekend! I will head over to your thread soon! :)

Oh, whoa, those sets are unbelievable! They look...huge! I think they might even make me a little uncomfortable if I were there, but I'm impressed with them nonetheless.

And yay for vacation and both getting things done *and* finding time to relax!

>61 scaifea: They are impressive, Amber! I am really curious what they are planning for next year - they are going to play "Madame Butterfly" in 2022. I am sure it will be marvellous again!

And YES, I am so proud: Depression got me when I was in my apartment and I neglected it fully. I have managed to do a thourough cleaning (even behind the washing machine) on Monday. Yesterday, I cleaned the whole bedroom. Fingers crossed for the kitchen/living room today. If I wasn't so embarrassed for the "before" status I'd post before/after pictures.

And I finally stopped forcing myself to think I had to to something "special" because I am on holidays. I had myself thinking that I need to e.g. do a day trip to another city or whatnot. But if I prefer to stay at home to read and play and puzzle, what's bad about that, right? :)

--



Look at that awesome Shakespeare puzzle - can you find all the scenes?

Finished Träume und Kulissen by Alida Bremer today. Next on my reading list: 88 names by Matt Ruff.

-

>62 PersephonesLibrary: Oh, I'm with you about staycations and not going anywhere - sometimes that's just the best thing.

And behind the washing machine?! I stand amazed. I did wipe down our kitchen cabinets the other day and I don't think I've done that in the three year we've lived here, beyond the obvious spills, of course. Yoicks. I'm not great at the cleaning thing.

I love the puzzle!!

I love staycations. A lot of times I find that staying home provides me with a much needed balance.

>54 PersephonesLibrary: Ah I am usually in Europe at this time of the year however, this year I was still unable to go. I always look forward to the Bregenz festival.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation

>50 PersephonesLibrary: About the kingfisher books



I really enjoyed this book a lot!

>59 PersephonesLibrary:. Those stages are amazing!! Glad things are looking up again and that you spent your vacation how YOU wanted to. : )

Dropping by to wish you a lovely weekend, Kathe.

>64 scaifea: Amber, it really was the right thing to do to stay at home. :)
I am not born to clean neither. Usually, I break something while doing chores.

>65 figsfromthistle: Indeed, I agree! Which productions have you visited? Maybe we have watched the same shows? :)

>66 connie53: Thank you! I haven't found it yet in my webshop but I will for sure!

>67 Berly: Yes! :)

>68 PaulCranswick: Thank you! I hope your weekends were lovely as well!

Sorry, guys. I have fallen ill with a fluish bug (no, definitely not Covid) and am currently recovering.
Haven't managed a lot of reading:

89. 88 names by Matt Ruff ***
90. Let's pretend this never happened by Jenny Lawson ***
91. Matou by Michael Köhlmeier (Unfinished, 350 pages) ***

Next on my list is a scifi classic: Blumen für Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

Get well soon, Käthe!
I am sorry that you could only read a little and that the books were not very good either.
I love Matt Ruff, especially Fool on the Hill, but the last one didn't convince me either.
The Keyes-book I liked a lot.
All the best wishes!

Aw dang, I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I hope you're better soon!

I hope you feel well soon!

Glad it wasn’t Covid. Get well soon!

>71 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas! I like Ruff's way of describing the online surroundings but the ending was quite meh. Will give him another chance: I still have got Lovecraft Country somewhere on my shelves.

I have been reading Algernon this afternoon and I like it a lot so far.

>72 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! I will get back to work tomorrow. Trying to take it slowly.

>73 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>74 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella! At the moment it's a very probable time to catch a bug. Hot/cold

>70 PersephonesLibrary: Sorry your were ill, Käthe.
Good luck returning to work, I hope all goes well.

>79 FAMeulstee: Thank you! I worked yesterday and today but I am feeling worse, so I will stay at home for the rest of the week. Hopefully I will get rid of it soon.

I still need to read and review book from the Early Reviewers batch. I hope they will understand that I'll be late...

92. Blumen für Algernon by Daniel Keyes *****

Oh my goodness, this book is amazing. Even though I knew what was going to happen I was heartbroken in the end. Science-fiction with so much empathy: As you are reading the protagonist's perspective you get a lot of insight and I felt and sympathized a lot with Charlie.

When he starts deteriorating I had to think of people getting old, aging, and in particular of dementia patients. You don't need to go far to realize Charlie's fear is experienced by many people every day.

>81 PersephonesLibrary: I'm so glad you enjoyed that one! I loved it when I read it, too.

>82 scaifea: It really hit a nerve, Amber.

>81 PersephonesLibrary: I loved that one when I read it, too. Hope you're doing well, Kathe!

>84 curioussquared: Natalie, it's one of my all-time favourites and Charlie has won a special spot in my heart...

Unfortunately, I am still feeling the aftermath of the bug but I hope that pleurisy will vanish soon. Next week I will take care of a big "bookstall" at a multi-day philosophical event. This will be quite straining so I hope to be up and about then.

And because of the event, my current reads are inspired by the selection. I noticed how much fun it is to read stuff like that again. So, I will slip in the one or another philosophy book in the future.

Hi Käthe, I hope you are fully recovered by now and you could take care of the 'bookstall'.

Missing you around the threads - especially here - Kathe. Hope all is well.

Have a lovely holiday, Kathe. Still missing you.

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain."
Zig Ziglar

With you and the group life is like a dance class - thank you.
I wish you and yours all the best in theese days and Merry Christmas!

>81 PersephonesLibrary: I loved that one too.

Happy Holidays, Kathe!

These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. I hope the same is true for your holiday and here's to next year!!

Happy Holidays, Kathe...what have you been up to!?

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Kathe.