Anita (FAMeulstee) still goes where the books take her in 2022 (3)

Welcome to my third thread in 2022!

I am Anita Meulstee (59), married with Frank (60) since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art, books and walking.

I have been hanging around in this group a few months after finding LibraryThing in March 2008. I skipped one year (2013), when my reading dropped to almost nothing. This was a side effect of taking Paxil. In 2015 I was able to wean off Paxil, and a year later my reading skyrocketed. The last two years it is slowing down, my initial "reading hunger" has waned a bit.

I read (almost) everything, from childrens and YA books to more serious literature, mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy and I try not to forget to throw some non-fiction into the mix.


Franz Marc - The creation of the horses (1913)
At Museum "De Fundatie" in Zwolle

total books read in 2022: 87
19 own / 68 library

total pages read in 2022: 24.663

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currently reading:
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één-nacht 3 translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 1047 pages

Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard, 1077 pages, TIOLI #6

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books read in March 2022 (31 books, 7.429 pages, 10 own / 21 library)
book 57: De gouden bril (The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles; Ferrara 2) by Giorgio Bassani, 104 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 60)
book 58: Opgewekt naar de eindstreep by Hendrik Groen, 209 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 61)
book 59: De harde kern boek 2 by Frida Vogels, 761 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 62)
book 60: De troonopvolger (Unto Us a Son Is Given; Brunetti 28) by Donna Leon, 319 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 63)
book 61: Vijftien namen by Levie de Lange, 175 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 103)
book 62: Het uur u by Martinus Nijhoff, 51 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 104)
book 63: De naderende storm (The Gathering Storm; Wheel of Time 12) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson, 878 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 105)
book 64: Van steen en been by Bérengère Cournut, 216 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 106)
book 65: Verduistering (Don't turn out the lights; Martin Servaz 3) by Bernard Minier, 576 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 125)
book 66: De groef by Maartje Wortel, 70 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 126)
book 67: Tovenaarsgambiet (Magician's Gambit; Belgariad 3) by David Eddings, 297 pages, TIOLI #17 (msg 127)
book 68: De grootsheid van het al by Raoul de Jong, 286 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 128)
book 69: Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens, 208 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 129)
book 70: Wat er werkelijk is by Nelleke Noordervliet, 61 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 130)
book 71: De dood van Achilles (The Death of Achilles; Fandorin 4) by Boris Akoenin, 319 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 148)
book 72: De Bommellegende by Marten Toonder, 68 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 149)
book 73: Generaal zonder leger by Özcan Akyol, 64 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 150)
book 74: De vergelder by Marten Toonder, 80 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 151)
book 75: De laatste rituelen (Burial Rites) by Hannah Kent, 366 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 153)
book 76: Een verhaal met een angel (A sting in the tale) by Dave Goulson, 315 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 186)
book 77: Herfst (Autumn) by Karl Ove Knausgård, 277 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 187)
book 78: Misverstand in Moskou by Simone de Beauvoir, 123 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 188)
book 79: Een vlucht zwanen (A Flight of Swans; Mantlemass 6) by Barbara Willard, 200 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 189)
book 80: Gods wegen by Marijke Schermer, 63 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 190)
book 81: Dodelijk web (Under Orders) by Dick Francis, 312 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 231)
book 82: Surrogaten voor Murk Tuinstra by Simon Vestdijk, 195 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 232)
book 83: De om by Willem Jan Otten, 75 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 233)
book 84: Wedervaring by Bodo Kirchhoff, 173 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 234)
book 85: Lezen als geschenk (The Gifts of Reading) by Robert Macfarlane, 30 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 235)
book 86: De droogte (The Dry) by Jane Harper, 334 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 236)
book 87: Zaaien en oogsten (Harrow and Harvest; Mantlemass 7) by Barbara Willard, 224 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 237)

March 2022 reading plans

TIOLI March 2022 SWEEP
#1: Read a book with a three-word title, BUT one of the words (in rolling order!) must have six letters
- Generaal zonder leger - Özcan Akyol, 64 pages
#2: Read a book with at least a 4.00 LT average rating
- De naderende storm (The Gathering Storm; Wheel of Time 12) - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson, 878 pages (library)
#3: Read a book whose plot/story revolves around family relationships
- Een vlucht zwanen (A Flight of Swans; Mantlemass 6) - Barbara Willard, 200 pages
- Zaaien en oogsten (Harrow and Harvest; Mantlemass 7) - Barbara Willard, 224 pages
#4: read a book with the numbers 0314 in the ISBN
- De gouden bril (The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles; Ferrara 2) - Giorgio Bassani, 104 pages (library)
- De troonopvolger (Unto Us a Son Is Given; Brunetti 28) - Donna Leon, 319 pages (e-library)
#5: Read a book originally published in the 1760s, 1860s or 1960s
- Vijftien namen - Levie de Lange, 175 pages (e-library)
#6: Read a book in which a character's name (first or last) is in the title
- Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) - Roger Martin du Gard, 1077 pages (library 12/4) moved to TIOLI next month
- Surrogaten voor Murk Tuinstra - Simon Vestdijk, 195 pages
#7: Read a book with the word Tale or Tales in the title
- Een verhaal met een angel (A sting in the tale) - Dave Goulson, 315 pages (e-library)
#8: Read a book by an author whose biography or autobiography you've read
- De Bommellegende - Marten Toonder, 68 pages
#9: Read a book that is the third novel by an author that was first published this century
- Verduistering (Don't turn out the lights; Martin Servaz 3) - Bernard Minier, 576 pages (e-library)
#10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country
- De gesloten kamer (The Locked Room; Martin Beck 8) - May Sjöwall & Per Walöö, 296 pages (library 12/4) moved to TIOLI next month
- Gods wegen - Marijke Schermer, 63 pages (e-library)
- De groef - Maartje Wortel, 70 pages (e-library)
- De harde kern boek 2 - Frida Vogels, 761 pages (e-library)
- De om - Willem Jan Otten, 75 pages (e-library)
- Wat er werkelijk is - Nelleke Noordervliet, 61 pages (e-library)
- Wedervaring - Bodo Kirchhoff, 173 pages (library)
#11: Read a book where the author's name includes a plant or plant product
- Van steen en been - Bérengère Cournut, 216 pages (library)
#12: Read a book with a five letter word in the title you might find in Wordle
- De laatste rituelen (Burial Rites) - Hannah Kent, 366 pages (library)
- Dodelijk web (Under Orders) - Dick Francis, 312 pages (e-library)
- Lezen als geschenk (The Gifts of Reading) by Robert Macfarlane, 30 pages
#13: Read a book with something on the cover related to time
- Het uur u - Martinus Nijhoff, 51 pages
#14: Read a book that is part of a tetralogy
- Herfst (Autumn) - Karl Ove Knausgård, 277 pages (e-library)
#15: Read a book where the author's name OR the book title contains all 5 English vowels (a e i o u)
- Misverstand in Moskou - Simone de Beauvoir, 123 pages
#16: Read a book where all the letters of the word PEACE in the correct order in any language are in the title and/or author's name
- De dood van Achilles (The Death of Achilles; Fandorin 4) - Boris Akoenin, 319 pages (library)
- De droogte (The Dry) - Jane Harper, 334 pages (library)
- De grootsheid van het al - Raoul de Jong, 286 pages (e-library)
- Opgewekt naar de eindstreep - Hendrik Groen, 209 pages (library)
- Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens, 208 pages
- De vergelder - Marten Toonder, 80 pages
- Zeldzame aarden - Sandro Veronesi, 367 pages (library 12/4) moved to TIOLI next month
#17: read a book for a group read
- Tovenaarsgambiet (Magician's Gambit; Belgariad 3) - David Eddings, 297 pages (library)

books read in January 2022
book 1: Pippi Langkous gaat aan boord (Pippi Goes on Board) by Astrid Lindgren
book 2: De onderstroom (The Offing) by Benjamin Myers
book 3: Pippi Langkous in Taka-Tukaland (Pippi in the South Seas) by Astrid Lindgren
book 4: Het vierde offer (Borkmann's Point; Van Veeteren 2) by Håkan Nesser
book 5: De terugkeer (The Return; Van Veeteren 3) by Håkan Nesser
book 6: Drie sterke vrouwen (Three Strong Women) by Marie NDiaye
book 7: De grote angst in de bergen (Terror on the Mountain) by Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz
book 8: 10 minuten 38 seconden in deze vreemde wereld (10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World) by Elif Shafak
book 9: Sjakie en de grote glazen lift (Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator) by Roald Dahl
book 10: De lijst van dingen die niet zullen veranderen (The List of Things That Will Not Change) by Rebecca Stead
book 11: Dochters van een nieuwe tijd by Carmen Korn
book 12: Tijd om opnieuw te beginnen by Carmen Korn
book 13: De tijden veranderen by Carmen Korn
book 14: De lange weg naar huis (The Book of Eels) by Patrick Svensson
book 15: Dankzij de dingen by Rutger Kopland
book 16: De Godden broers (The great Godden) by Meg Rosoff
book 17: Hotel New Hampshire (The Hotel New Hampshire) by John Irving
book 18: Laurier en leeuwerik (The Lark and the Laurel; Mantlemass 1) by Barbara Willard
book 19: De Cock en de dood van de Helende Meesters (De Cock 58) by A.C. Baantjer
book 20: De loot van de brem (The Sprig of Broom; Mantlemass 2) by Barbara Willard
book 21: De witte vesting (The White Castle) by Orhan Pamuk
book 22: De moeder van Nicolien by J.J. Voskuil
book 23: Avontuur Amerika by Cees Nooteboom
book 24: Teleurstellen vergt lef (Dare to Disappoint) by Özge Samanci
book 25: De overlevenden (The Survivors) by Alex Schulman
book 26: Witte onschuld (White Innocence) by Gloria Wekker
book 27: Viersprong van de schemer (Crossroads of twilight; Wheel of Time 10) by Robert Jordan
book 28: De onzichtbaren (The Unseen) by Roy Jacobsen
book 29: Petersburg (Petersburg) by Andrej Bely
book 30: De voorspelling (Pawn of Prophecy; Belgariad 1) by David Eddings
book 31: Benedenwereld (Underland: A Deep Time Journey) by Robert Macfarlane
book 32: Een koude wind (A Cold Wind Blowing; Mantlemass 3) by Barbara Willard
book 33: De oudste zoon (The Eldest Son; Mantlemass 4) by Barbara Willard

books read in February 2022
book 34: Ilyas by Ernest van der Kwast
book 35: Inham (Cove) by Cynan Jones
book 36: De rode prins (The Red Prince) by Timothy Snyder
book 37: Gekraakt (Come to Grief) by Dick Francis
book 38: De harde kern boek 1 by Frida Vogels
book 39: Mes van dromen (Knife of Dreams; Wheel of Time 11) by Robert Jordan
book 40: Over het doppen van bonen (A Treatise on Shelling Beans) by Wiesław Myśliwski
book 41: De Sparsholt-affaire (The Sparsholt Affair) by Alan Hollinghurst
book 42: De rode anjer (The Red Carnation) by Elio Vittorini
book 43:De laatste eer (The Confession of Brother Haluin; Cadfael 15) by Ellis Peters
book 44: Het rode korenveld (Red Sorghum) by Mo Yan
book 45: De jongen, de mol, de vos en het paard (The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse) by Charlie Mackesy
book 46: Als Beale Street kon praten (If Beale Street Could Talk) by James Baldwin
book 47: Hoe ik nu leef (How I live now) by Meg Rosoff
book 48: Selma by Carolijn Visser
book 49: De magische koningin (Queen of Sorcery; Belgariad 2) by David Eddings
book 50: Binnen de muren (Within the Walls) by Giorgio Bassani
book 51: Het woud der verwachting (In a Dark Wood Wandering) by Hella Haasse
book 52: Langs de IJssel by Kester Freriks
book 53: Maangloed (Moonglow) by Michael Chabon
book 54: De preek over de val van Rome (The Sermon on the Fall of Rome) by Jérôme Ferrari
book 55: Hersenschimmen (Out of Mind) by J. Bernlef
book 56: De ijzeren lelie (The Iron Lily; Mantlemass 5) by Barbara Willard

Reading plans in 2022
Reading books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list
Read some big tomes (1000+ pages)
Read books by Nobel Prize for Literature winners

I join the TIOLI (Take It Or Leave It) challenges each month.

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Some big tomes I might read in 2022:
Ideeën (1-7) by Multatuli, 3846 pages
De droom van de rode kamer (Dream of the Red Chamber) by Cao Xueqin, 2160 pages
Man zonder eigenschappen (The man without qualities) by Robert Musil, 1785 pages
De razende Roeland (Orlando furioso) by Ludovico Ariosto, 1783 pages
De kracht van Atlantis (Atlas shrugged) by Ayn Rand, 1373 pages
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard, 1077 pages
De vertellingen van duizend-en-één-nacht deel 3 translated by Richard van Leeuwen, 1047 pages
Baron by Theun de Vries, 1016 pages

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Some other books I want to read in 2022:
De goddelijke komedie (The Divine Comedy) - Dante Alighieri, 599 pages
✔ Binnen de muren (Within the Walls) - Giorgio Bassani, 207 pages
✔ Petersburg (Petersburg) - Andrei Bely, 429 pages
Anatomie van een moment (The Anatomy of a Moment) - Javier Cercas, 539 pages
Jean-Paul Sartre : zijn biografie (Sartre: A Life) - Annie Cohen-Solal, 610 pages
Het ijzig hart (The Frozen Heart) - Almudena Grandes, 854 pages
Sapiens : Een kleine geschiedenis van de mensheid (Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind) - Yuval Noah Harari, 461 pages
Duitse les (The German Lesson) - Siegfried Lenz, 511 pages
Een beloofd land (A promised land) - Barack Obama, 896 pages
Het eiland van het tweede gezicht (The Island of Second Sight) - Albert Vigoleis Thelen, 960 pages
Aarde der mensen (This Earth of Mankind) - Pramoedya Ananta Toer, 457 pages
De wilde stilte (The wild silence) - Raynor Winn, 318 pages

Tickers

2022 totals





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Totals since 2008:

The new "Charts and Graphs" is fun to use, my readings since 2008:


My reading in previous years in text
2008: 130 books -   35.152 pages   (96,0 ppd)
2009:   78 books -   21.470 pages   (58,8 ppd)
2010: 121 books -   38.209 pages (104,7 ppd)
2011:   84 books -   30.256 pages   (82,9 ppd)
2012:   53 books -   18.779 pages   (51,3 ppd)
2013:   13 books -     3.692 pages   (10,1 ppd)
2014:   17 books -     3.700 pages   (10,1 ppd)
2015:   29 books -   10.080 pages   (27,6 ppd)
2016: 253 books -   72.391 pages (197,8 ppd)
2017: 453 books - 110.222 pages (302,0 ppd)
2018: 534 books - 111.906 pages (306,6 ppd)
2019: 413 books - 110.873 pages (303,8 ppd)
2020: 226 books -   79.216 pages (216,4 ppd)
2021: 288 books -   94.339 pages (258,5 ppd)

Lists on my WikiThing

The best books I have read, by year first published
My Five star reads
The best 50 books I have read (fiction)
The books by Nobel prize winners I have read
The Booker prize winners I have read
The Pulitzer prize winners (fiction) I have read
The winners of some Dutch literary prizes

Series I read, a list to keep track

Alan Banks by Peter Robinson (re-read 4/20)
1 Stille blik; 2 Nachtlicht; 3 Tegenstroom; 4 Zondeval; 5 Schijnbeeld; 6 Woensdagkind; 7 Zwanenzang; 8 Innocent Graves (not translated); 9 Dead Right (not translated); 10 Verdronken verleden; 11 Kil als het graf; 12 Nasleep; 13 Onvoltooide zomer; 14 Vuurspel; 15 Drijfzand; 16 Hartzeer; 17 Duivelsgebroed; 18 Overmacht; 19 Uitschot; 20 Dwaalspoor; 21 Dankbare dood; 22 Slachthuisblues

Ari Thór Arason by Ragnar Jónasson 1/3
1 Sneeuwblind; 2 Inktzwart; 3 Poolnacht

The Belgariad by David Eddings 3/5
1 De voorspelling; 2 De magische koningin; 3 Tovenaarsgambiet; 4 Het lied van de Orbus; 5 Eindspel

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 7/12
1 Een Berlijnse kwestie; 2 Het handwerk van de beul; 3 Een Duits requiem; 4 De een van de ander; 5 Een stille vlam; 6 Als de doden niet herrijzen; 7 Grijs verleden; 8 Praag fataal; 9 De man zonder adem; 10 De vrouw van Zagreb; 11 De schaduw van de stilte; 12 Pruisisch blauw; 13 Vergeven en vergeten; 14 Metropolis

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 16/20
1 Het heilige vuur; 2 Het laatste lijk; 3 Het gemene gewas; 4 De kwade knecht; 5 De eenzame bruid; 6 De kille maagd; 7 Het vege lijf; 8 De duivelse droom; 9 De gouden speld; 10 Een wisse dood; 11 Een hard gelag; 12 De ware aard; 13 Een witte roos; 14 Het stille woud; 15 De laatste eer; 16 Het rechte pad; 17 Een zijden haar; 18 Een lieve lust; 19 De heilige dief; 20 De verloren zoon

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 58/71

Erast Fandorin by Boris Akoenin 4/7
1 Fandorin; 2 Turks gambiet; 3 Leviathan; 4 De dood van Achilles; 5 Bijzondere opdrachten; 6 Staatsraad; 7 De kroning

Ferrara by Giorgio Bassani 3/6
1 Binnen de muren; 2 De gouden bril; 3 De tuin van de Finzi-Contini's; 4 Achter de deur; 5 De reiger; 6 De geur van hooi

George Smiley by John Le Carré 4/9
1 Telefoon voor de dode; 2 Voetsporen in de sneeuw; 3 Spion aan de muur; 4 Spion verspeeld; 5 Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion; 6 Spion van nobel bloed; 7 Smiley's prooi; 8 De laatste spion; 9 Een erfenis van spionnen

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 27/29
1 Dood van een maestro; 2 Dood in den vreemde; 3 De dood draagt rode schoenen; 4 Salto mortale; 5 Acqua alta; 6 Een stille dood; 7 Nobiltà; 8 Fatalità; 9 Vriendendienst; 10 Onrustig tij; 11 Bedrieglijke zaken; 12 De stille elite; 13 Verborgen bewijs; 14 Vertrouwelijke zaken; 15 Duister glas; 16 Kinderspel; 17 Droommeisje; 18 Gezichtsverlies; 19 Een kwestie van vertrouwen; 20 Dodelijke conclusies; 21 Beestachtige zaken; 22 Het onbekende kind; 23 Tussen de regels; 24 Ik aanbid je; 25 Eeuwige jeugd; 26 Wat niet verdwijnt; 27 Vergiffenis; 28 De troonopvolger; 29 Duister water

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 3/18
1 Kat & muis; 2 Blindeman; 3 Hand & Tand; 4 Ontmaskering; 5 Zwartboek; 6 Vuurwerk; 7 Laat maar bloeden; 8 Gerechtigheid; 9 Door het lint; 10 Dode zielen; 11 In het duister; 12 Valstrik; 13 Lazarus; 14 Een kwestie van bloed; 15 De rechtelozen; 16 Gedenk de doden; 17 Laatste ronde; 18 Cold case;

Konráð by Arnaldur Indridason 3/3
1 Smeltend ijs; 2 Boven water; 3 Smeulend vuur; 4 Þagnarmúr (not yet translated)

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 5/14
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest; 4 De duivel draagt het licht; 5 De Indiase bruid; 6 Zwarte seconden; 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn; 8 Een andere voorkeur; 9 Kwade wil; 10 De waarschuwer; 11 Veenbrand; 12 De fluisteraar; 13 De verduistering; 14 Zwanenzang

Martin Beck by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö 7/10
1 De vrouw in het Götakanaal; 2 De man die in rook opging; 3 De man op het balkon; 4 De lachende politieman; 5 De brandweerauto die verdween; 6 De man die even wilde afrekenen; 7 De verschrikkelijke man uit Säffle; 8 De gesloten kamer; 9 De politiemoordenaar; 10 De terroristen

Martin Servaz by Bernard Minier 3/5
1 Een kille rilling; 2 Huivering; 3 Verduistering; 4 Schemering; 5 Weerzin; 6 Afdaling; 7 Afrekening

Het rad des tijds (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson) 13/15
0 Een nieuw begin; 1 Het oog van de wereld; 2 De grote jacht; 3 De herrezen draak; 4 De komst van de schaduw; 5 Vuur uit de hemel; 6 Heer van chaos; 7 Een kroon van zwaarden; 8 Het pad der dolken; 9 Hart van de Winter; 10 Viersprong van de schemer; 11 Mes van Dromen; 12 De naderende storm; 13 De torens van middernacht; 14 Het licht van weleer

Van Veeteren by Håkan Nesser 3/11
1 Het grofmazige net; 2 Het vierde offer; 3 De terugkeer; 4 De vrouw met de moedervlek; 5 De commissaris en het zwijgen; 6 De zaak van Münster; 7 Carambole; 8 De dode op het strand; 9 De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood; 10 Van Veeteren en de zaak-G; 11 De vereniging van linkshandigen

Books acquired in 2022: 8

January
Verdriet is het ding met veren - Max Porter
Morgen - Walter Kappacher
De droom van de rode kamer - Cao Xueqin (e-book)
Lezen als geschenk - Robert Macfarlane (e-book)

February
De wand - Marlen Haushofer
Terug naar Reims - Didier Eribon
De Sparsholt-affaire - Alan Hollinghurst
Kind van een vreemde - Alan Hollinghurst

One more than intended.

Welcome!

Happy new thread, Anita.

>13 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.

Happy new thread!

Hi Anita! 23 reads in February was a good plenty, and you hit me with a book-bullet for The Sermon on the Fall of Rome.

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Anita

>15 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>16 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear. I hope you will enjoy The Sermon on the Fall of Rome as much as I did.

>17 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba.

>1 FAMeulstee: I do like Marc, Anita.

I must explore WikiThing.

Happy New Thread, Anita!!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita!

I love your book stats, especially seeing how high your reading numbers have become after those tough years when you were having trouble reading.

So much to see over here Anita. Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy New Thread!!!

>19 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, so do I. Marc made so many beautiful paintings, watercolors and gouaches, in a short time. So sad he died in WW I.
The WikiThing is a good place to keep lists.

>20 ronincats: Thank you, Roni!

>21 quondame: Thank you, Susan!

>22 bell7: Thank you, Mary.
In a way those book stats are a reminder to me, being so lucky to be able to read this much now!

>23 mdoris: Thank you, Mary.
I like to share my monthly reading plans, and keep track of various bookish things.

>24 zuzaer: Thank you, Zuzaer!

>25 hredwards: Thank you, Harold!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Anita. I love the Franz Marc topper. Sorry, you didn't like Moonglow as much as I did.

Happy new thread, Anita. I almost missed your thread as your other one was still chugging away nicely!

>28 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

>29 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori!

>30 msf59: Thank you, Mark. Franz Marc was a great artist.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay will stay my favorite by Michael Chabon.

>31 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. And I just added a last msg to my previous thread. Now heading to your new thread, before catching up becomes impossible ;-)

I haven't read Moonglow, not having had much success with Chabon in the past. I feel I should like his books, but can't seem to actually connect with him. Cest la vie.

>33 LovingLit: Some books just don't appeal, Megan, although other may like them much more.
I started years back with The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and loved it, other books by Chabon I have liked, but never found the feel of the first one again. I won't actively search for his books anymore.

Happy new thread! I love Franz Marc's paintings. I don't think that one was on display when I visited the museum in Zwolle so it's nice to see it here!

>35 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, so we are both Franz Marc fans.
This one is a mixed watercolor/gouache, originally ment for an illustrated bible. I have seen it once on display.

Happy New Thread Anita my dear.

>37 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, give my regards to Karen.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#57: De gouden bril (The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles; Ferrara 2) by Giorgio Bassani
#58: Opgewekt naar de eindstreep by Hendrik Groen
#59: De harde kern boek 2 by Frida Vogels

Reading now:
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
De naderende storm (The Gathering Storm; Wheel of Time 12) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
De troonopvolger (Unto Us a Son Is Given; Brunetti 28) by Donna Leon

>39 FAMeulstee: I do need to get book 1 in the cycle of novels, Anita because I have that on the shelves and its more famous successor but not the opener.

>40 PaulCranswick: I hope you can find a copy of Within the Walls, Paul. To me The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles was even a better read than the famous The Garden Of The Finzi-Continis.

>41 FAMeulstee: I'm sure that I can track it down, Anita.

>42 PaulCranswick: Then I look forward to your thoughts, Paul.
I hope to read the next three books (Behind the Door, The Heron, and The Smell of Hay) later this year.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#57: De gouden bril (The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles; Ferrara 2) by Giorgio Bassani
#58: Opgewekt naar de eindstreep by Hendrik Groen
#59: De harde kern boek 2 by Frida Vogels
#60: De troonopvolger (Unto Us a Son Is Given; Brunetti 28) by Donna Leon

Reading now:
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
De naderende storm (The Gathering Storm; Wheel of Time 12) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Vijftien namen by Levie de Lange

I read an English translation of Willem Frederik Hermans's Het behouden huis in 2017...an amazing, bitter document of the emptiness of conventionality...so I thought, since the Russians are stomping Ukraine the way the Germans did Holland I should try to read this in Dutch! I already know the story, it's a short one, and...
...
...
ouch. I'm not ready yet.

>45 richardderus: Even short, and indeed appropriate, it would be over ambitious, Richard dear. Hermans doesn't use the easiest of Dutch language. Maybe a re-read in translation?

>46 FAMeulstee: I will indeed re-read it, and write a review this time. But wowee toledo this writer knew the entire dictionary!

>47 richardderus: Hermans isn't the only one, his generation knew the entire dictionary by heart.

That's an interesting comment :) could you illustrate it with a quote or two?

>49 zuzaer: "Je zou een tweede hoofd moeten hebben om te begrijpen wat dat éne hoofd is, maar ik heb er maar een, hier is het in mijn handen, ik houd het vast op een manier waarop een mens nooit iets anders vasthoudt."

...ummm...

...a second head to understand the first? what is it he holds in his hands? "ik houd het vast op een manier waarop een mens nooit iets anders vasthoudt" I hold it in the way that nothing else can be held is kind of where I got. But that isn't what it means.

I... somehow forgot we're taking about a book written in Dutch. Which I don't know. Sorry for asking. I understand that Hermans probably uses some unpopular or semi-forgotten words?

>51 zuzaer: Sometimes, and when he isn't he's using some constructions that aren't immediately obvious to the dimmer bulbs in the fixture (me).

>52 richardderus: Ooh, language constructions. Can be a serious obstacle if your native language uses different syntax. (And that works both ways)

>53 zuzaer: English is...well, I'm deeply grateful it's my native language, not one I need to acquire. Pretty much all others are easier compared to it.

>50 richardderus: Your literally translation is good, Richard dear, almost there.
I would translate like: "You would need a second head to understand what the one head is, but I only have one, here in my hands, I hold it in a way a human never holds anything else."

>51 zuzaer: Dutch, Richard is learning Dutch, all by himself. And Willem Frederik Hermans (1921–1995) was a rather famous Dutch writer. I wonder if any of his works were translated to Polish.

>54 richardderus:: It may be because I've learned English since I was in preschool, and definitely by the time I started primary, but I found learning Latin as a part of university curriculum quite difficult. Even if I have constant problems with prepositions, not only in English, they're a few times easier than inflections everywhere. And that's coming from a native speaker of a language full of inflections. (Or maybe that's why? After all, I didn't learn it actively when I was a baby, I just know what is what.) Since then, every person trying to learn Polish has my deepest admiration.
That doesn't mean English doesn't have its problems ;) take pronunciation, for example. I sometimes feel like there are no rules here.

>55 FAMeulstee: All by himself! That is a feat. Chapeau bas, Richard.

I've checked, and Hermans is almost nonexistent. "De blinde iotogiaai" in a collection of short stories in 1983, then "De donkere kamer van Damokles" in 1994 and two short stories that I can translate as "The last cigarette" and "A warrior without a flaw" along with an interview published in 1995's issue of Polish monthly journal discussing the world literature, often providing the first translations of some authors.

(Also, I'm sorry, it must be the time---I typed "Dutch", then started wondering whether it's a correct term, since in Polish it would be "holenderski" (at least I think so. There were some changes in the official name of your country not long ago, weren't there? And I guess Polish language council could've made some statement.) I think it's time for me to finish for today.)

>57 zuzaer:, >56 zuzaer: Inflected languages are always challenging...but I suspect more challenging than anything is moving between different inflected languages! I tried to learn Albanian (long family story) and was helplessly sobbing in a dark corner begging to be rescued after learning all the feminine endings for the demonstrative pronouns to find that the masculine ones were...not closely resembling them.

Dutch is darn near easy compared to that.

>55 FAMeulstee: I had a suspicion it was headed (!) in that direction, but I'm glad I wasn't ridiculously far off.

>57 zuzaer: Thank you, "De donkere kamer van Damokles" is his best known work.

No recent changes in our country's official name: Kingdom of the Netherlands it is, and has been since 1815.
For a long time Holland was the most influencial part of the country, and that name is still used to refer to the whole country. And there is a third name, in French they still call it "Pays-Bas", The Low Countries, which refers to the geograpical place of our country.
I am not sure why in English our language is called "Dutch".

>58 richardderus: Yes, you were defenitly headed in the right direction, Richard dear. And in this case it wasn't a problem in difficult language, but in the difficult construction of the sentence.

book 57: De gouden bril by Giorgio Bassani
1001 books, library, translated from Italian, English translation The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles, 104 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: read a book with the numbers 0314 in the ISBN

Second (of six) book with stories about Ferrara, a city in Italy, in the first half of the 20th century. Best known is the third book "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis", that I read last year.
Doctor Fadagati is well known and respected in Ferrara. After some years most inhabitants think it is time for him to marry. When he resists, and it comes out he is gay, you already feel this story won't have a happy ending.
The story is told years later, and in the slow but certain turn the inhabitants make against Fadagati, you can feel the foreshadow of what will come for the Jews of Ferrara...

A heart rendering story, short, and very impressive.
This book is in the Swedish "1001 books" list.

Dutch title translated: The golden glasses/spectacles

book 58: Opgewekt naar de eindstreep : Het laatste geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, 90 jaar by Hendrik Groen
library, Dutch, no translations (yet), 209 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

After a hiatus, Hendrik Groen starts to keep his diary again. He has noticed his memory isn't like it was, and he hopes writing will help him. He now lives near the beach, as the place in Amsterdam was closed. Luckely Leonie also went to this place, so there is still a familiar face around. The dog Evert left him, has to be walked, so Hendrik keeps in shape. Then Covid stikes, and the elderly home goes in lockdown. We follow Hendrik through this difficult time, while dementia slowly makes his memory fade.

Like the previous Hendrik Groen books, it was a funny and also sad read. Getting old isn't easy.

Title translated: Cheerful towards the finish : The last secret dairy of Hendrik Groen, 90 years old

book 59: De harde kern boek 2 by Frida Vogels
library, e-book, Dutch, Libris Literatuur prijs 1994, no translations, 761 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

Autobigraphical, Frida tells the story of her life. Not as her alter Berta, like in the previous book. The chapters are named after the places she lived. Her complex family relations (her parents divorced, that was very unusual in the 1930s), the very complex feelings towards her brother, the few friends she found on her way, school, university, her stay in Paris, and ending with marriage in Italy.

Frida Vogels analises her behaviour, intents, and feelings rigorous. This makes the book a more difficult read than the previous (De harde kern boek 1; see msg 162 in my previous thread), that I read last month. There are few vivid moments of happiness, the main feel is the endless struggle to understand others, and the question does she want to fit in (and give in), or stay true to herself.

Title translated: The hard core book 2

book 60: De troonopvolger by Donna Leon
library, e-book, translated, original title Unto Us a Son Is Given, 319 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: read a book with the numbers 0314 in the ISBN

Commissario Brunetti book 28
Brunetti’s father in law, Count Falier, comes with an unusual request. He worries about an old gay friend, who wants to adopt a younger man, to avoid his family will inherit his fortune. His friend has broken with his family long ago. Count Falier wants to know more about the man his friend is about to adopt. Brunetti does dig a little into the young man's past, but it doesn't feel right. Soon after his friend dies, while visiting his sister in Spain. All seems well, and the young man will be rich now. But then a murder occurs, and might be connected to this all.

Dutch title translated: The throneheir

>59 FAMeulstee: I've checked; in January 2020 lots of news were about your country ceasing the official use of "Holland", so that is why I remembered something went changed. So which one do you use (now and before 2020) when referring to your own country?
I'm curious because in Poland it's always been "Holandia", with "Niderlandy" referring more to the historical context (e.g., I personally connect it strongly to the early modernity). The interesting thing is that, as I've learned, it's actually reverse---"Holland" is the name of the historically influential part of the country.

Things I learned today: in terms of language the adjectives "holenderski" and "niderlandzki" aren't the same thing---the former refers to a dialect and the latter signifies Dutch language. It wasn't obvious since in Poland there's this slight disambiguation with the name of your country.

>64 zuzaer: No such thing happened as far as I know, Holland was never an official name, although the use is widespread. Two provinces still have Holland in their name. As I live in an other province (Flevoland) I never use Holland to refer to my country. Although I did when I lived there.

Yes, Holland and Zeeland are on the west coast, and were historically the most influential (and richest) part of the country.

Funny this use of "holenderski" and "niderlandzki", as there is no real Holland dialect, the big cities in that part of the country (Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam) do have their own distinguised tongue, but wouldn't want be lumped up together.

There is a second language, Frisian, spoken in the province Friesland. And Low Saxon was recenty recognised, a language of the eastern border that is between Dutch and German.

>65 FAMeulstee: I'm... amazed at how many not-really-true statements one can find in a text about other country's language. Written by a certified translator from said language.

Zeeland! Is that the region after which New Zealand was named? (It's still baffling to me sometimes---all these cities etc. with "New" in their name were named after some places in Europe...)

>66 zuzaer: Well knowing a language, and being able to translate, doesn't make an expert on history ;-)

Indeed, New Zealand was named after Zeeland. Some traveled very far in the 17th century, our Golden Age. At that time most of our present country was called "The Seven Provinces" (or "Dutch Republic"). Each province was independent, working together in foreign affairs (mostly war and trade).
Napoleon made us a kingdom, by appointing his brother Louis Napolion as "King of Holland". After Napoleon's defeat the allies thought it would be safer to keep the kingdom (then including Belgium and Luxembourg), and that was the start of our present "Kingdom of the Netherlands".

>56 zuzaer: Since then, every person trying to learn Polish has my deepest admiration.

Here's how I know Polish is difficult: I am learning Turkish, which is melting my brain. I know a Turkish guy online that I talk to about language things and he we often talk about the things that make Turkish difficult. Anyway, he lives in Poland, and learning Polish is melting his brain! The things he talks about make me glad I'm only learning Turkish.

Every language has its difficulties, definitely. Dutch was my first introduction to a language that had masculine, feminine and neuter nouns, because just masculine and feminine wasn't enough, apparently.

>67 FAMeulstee: Interesting! I forgot about Napoleon appointing his family members as rulers.

So what were the relations between the Seven Provinces and Southern Netherlands? It was one of the provinces? (I'm asking because the paper that inspired and influenced my Bachelor's thesis was about title pages published in the Southern Netherlands in 16th/17th century and hence I'm most familiar with this particular name.)

Do you know, it's the fourth conversation about languages I've had this week. In three different languages. But it's fascinating and always leaves me amazed by what has developed throughout the centuries.

>68 ursula: Well, I'd say having neuter nouns is perfectly normal :D

I once was in Slovenia, since my school's choir was working with Ljubljana 's diocesian school and we had a great exchange programme with them and Trencin in Slovakia, and our peers there introduced us to dual nouns. That, by the way, were standard for every slavic language that was dropped in the last thousand years (sooner rather than later, really, although I could find relicts in the 16th century Polish), but I didn't know it back then. Dual nouns! The concept was both peculiar and inspiring. But I can't imagine it in everyday use.

I agree that every language has its difficulties, and they even vary depending on the learner's native language and knowledge of others*. In a way, it's beautiful; I'd say that it would be dull to have the same obstacles in every foreign language. In how many directions can one Latin language evolve! (And then there are non-indoeuropean.)

*I've heard that if you know enough languages, every additional one isn't a problem. Kind of like with instruments. Also, my basic knowledge of German helped me understand the concept of past tenses in Italian (as they're quite the same), and then Italian saved my life during the year-and-a-half Latin course that I probably wouldn't have passed otherwise.

>70 zuzaer: Turkish doesn't have any gender at all. Not only are the nouns not gendered, pronouns aren't either! "O" can mean he, she, or it.

I remember when I was doing a language exchange in Italy and the guy we were talking with was flummoxed by the fact that if someone said "my friend" in English, you had to ask further questions to find out if the friend was male or female.

>69 zuzaer: During and after the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), the Southern Netherlands stayed under Spanish rule (Philips II), and after 1714 under Austrian rule. Napoleon brought these back together. So besides the name, there was no connection anymore.
When the 80 Years War started, many Protestants fled from the Southern Netherlands to the North (Seven Provinces) most to Amsterdam.

>71 ursula: At all! How come?! So how do you differentiate between the genders, like saying, as above, "my friend"?

I checked to be sure and Turkish isn't from the Indo-European family; that may be the cause, in both yours and your acquaintance's case, of having troubles learning.

Also, sorry, Anita, for getting into heavy language discussion in your topic! What can a discussion about books turn into...

>73 FAMeulstee: Thank you, now I remember reading about Spanish rule and religion conflict.

>74 zuzaer: I like the language talk, although I am not very good with languages. The differences in grammar, genders etc. are interesting.

>75 zuzaer: You are welcome.

Great to see your thread buzzing and the books getting done with your usual aplomb!

Have a lovely weekend, Anita.

>76 FAMeulstee: although I am not very good with languages
...she typed in English...

My oldest sister gets the credit for my interest in languages. Her love of Spanish meant that, if I wanted to get her attention, the best way was to have Spanish lessons! Then the second sister got schooled in French, and my father tried to teach me German....

>63 FAMeulstee: I wasn't able to get going in that one, for some reason. Made no sense to me why, given my personal connection to the subject. Maybe it will return to the top of the pile before I die.

>77 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, my reading life is good :-)
Wishing you the same.

>78 richardderus: LOL, that is because of all the time I spend here and on other sites during the last twenty years ;-)
Many Dutch can write both Dutch and English, it gets more unique when German and French are added. Real polyglots have mastered even more languages.
I expected to get you with The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles in >60 FAMeulstee: . The Donna Leon wasn't her best, but a worthwile read.

Hi Anita. Belated happy new thread.

From your previous thread, your February statistics were impressive.

>1 FAMeulstee: the creation of the horses is marvelous. Thanks for posting it.

I’m having a hard time keeping up with threads right now for some reason. I need to dedicate some time soon to really catching up.

>71 ursula: I much prefer languages that don't require information about a person's gender in order to mention them grammatically.

In order from bad to good:

French - I cannot say "I am happy" without announcing what's between my legs (or in modern times, what gender I identify with). I also can't say "my friend" without identifying their gender.

German - Predicate adjectives don't have to agree with the subject. I can say "I am happy" without labelling myself. But not "I am an engineer" - I'm either an engineer or an engineeress. OTOH, it's easy to confuse "my female boss" with "my male boss' wife".

English - I can say "I am happy" whether I'm male or female, and I don't have to distinguish between male and female members of most occupations. (There are some vestigial pairs like actor/actress.) But I can't discuss someone else without first finding out their gender. (She/He, His/Her etc.)

Both the vestigial profession names and the gendered 3rd person singular are currently being challenged, and may become obsolete even in my lifetime, which pleases me a lot.

Icelandic - 3 genders, but the gramatically correct word for a person of unknown gender is neuter.

Turkish - as I just discovered above there's no gender at all. Let's all speak Turkish.

HI Anita, so good to have a good reading life.

>81 ArlieS: Arlie, we're back to "they/them/their" for normal speech, and a lot of us are relieved. Which, considering "theirself" preceded "him/herself" by almost 200 years in the grammar derby, is actually just returning to sensible usage from mimicking the French and their gendered everything.

>80 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen.
Reading started well this year, as the statistics show.
Franz Marc was a great artist, sad he died too early in WWI.
Take it easy with catching up, the threads go fast, and your first priority is now your health!

>81 ArlieS: Dutch is related to German, Arlie. In the last years it has become more usual to use the male form for occupations for both male and female.

>82 RebaRelishesReading: I would say the same about English, Reba ;-)

>83 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, I am very happy about it!

>84 richardderus: Is English really evolving that way?

>84 richardderus: So everything "their" that is becoming more and more popular isn't exactly new? Interesting.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#61: Vijftien namen by Levie de Lange
#62: Het uur u by Martinus Nijhoff

Reading now:
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
De naderende storm (The Gathering Storm; Wheel of Time 12) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Verduistering (Don't turn out the lights; Martin Servaz 3) by Bernard Minier

>81 ArlieS: Turkish also borrowed aktör/aktriz. But other professions are not gendered. Mühendis is an engineer no matter who you are, and funnily enough, if you serve food in a restaurant you are a garson, no matter your gender. :)

>84 richardderus: Yes, glad to have that stupid "they" is plural argument beaten into submission with facts.

>90 ursula:, >87 zuzaer: Like all linguistic developments, the voice of Norma Loquendi speaks the loudest and the longest. Shouting isn't going to drown her out.

>88 FAMeulstee: Het Uur u? Hm.

>91 richardderus: Poetry, Richard dear, a long poem.
If you want to use a capital it should be Het uur U, "u" is like "vous" in French and "Sie" in German, a more formal second person pronoun. It used to be written with a capital. The whole phrase is a saying about something important is going to happen at a certain time or date, like D-Day, like H-Hour in English.

ETA: because I found out I was wrong at first.

>92 FAMeulstee: OIC!

That makes sense, then, all of the...not-usualness.

Happy new thread, Anita. It’s going along nicely, I see.

I found a small excerpt from Het Uur u on dbnl. Made me keep my breath, reading it. My library only has two copies though, both in depot.

Have a nice week!

>85 FAMeulstee: Guess you read that before I took it out lol. I can not roll my "r's" even lightly as in Dutch or fully as in Spanish. My mouth just won't do it. Also, my "g" and "sch" sound is SO guttural that I was once thought to be from Groningen (by a Rotterdamer who perhaps didn't really know what someone from Groningen sounds like but just knew I sounded strange). Then there's the "a" vs "aa", etc. But, I do know what you mean about English although I think it's more a question of sounds being spelled more than one way and one spelling having more than one pronunciation than that the actual sounds are hard to make. All of which is what makes language interesting, right?

>93 richardderus: I had to look up OIC ;-)
Hope I remember if it pops up again.
Happy Monday, Richard dear!

>94 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, wishing you a nice week too.
I found Het uur U in both versions at dbnl, the first version from 1936 (it is complete, not an exerpt, the pagenumbers from 303 to 318 are from the magazine where it was publihed). And the published version from 1941 (Het uur U gevolgd door een idylle), downloadable as pdf.
My copy is illustrated, with text on the left pages, and a drawing at the right pages.

>95 RebaRelishesReading: Usually I first look at my own thread, Reba, and keep it open in a tab, while going further reading the threads in next tabs. Then I go back to answer, so yours was still on my screen, when you removed it ;-)
Some sounds you have to learn to pronounce when young, later in life it is almost impossible to get it right. The "sch" is best known in Dutch, like the "th" in English. And indeed in English the same letters can be pronounced in many ways.
Guessing you being from Groningen: I think that was the furthest place from Rotterdam he could think of :-)

Hi, Anita. I hope you had a nice book-filled weekend. We have more winter weather here, with cold, snow and ice. Hopefully we will move into spring soon.

>98 msf59: Thank you, Mark, I saw you had a Jackson filled weekend :-)
Spring has arrived here, although the nights are still cold.

I just finished the 12th Wheel of Time book, 2nd big tome of the month, one more to go.

>97 FAMeulstee: I was just thrilled to have been guessed to be from within the borders :)

>100 RebaRelishesReading: Most Dutch don't assume a foreigner can speak Dutch ;-)

Read, not yet reviewed:
#61: Vijftien namen by Levie de Lange
#62: Het uur u by Martinus Nijhoff
#63: De naderende storm (The Gathering Storm; Wheel of Time 12) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
#64: Van steen en been by Bérengère Cournut

Reading now:
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
Verduistering (Don't turn out the lights; Martin Servaz 3) by Bernard Minier
Tovenaarsgambiet (Magician's Gambit; Belgariad 3) by David Eddings

book 61: Vijftien namen by Levie de Lange
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 175 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book originally published in the 1760s, 1860s or 1960s

The life of Levie de Lange, a poor Jew from Amsterdam, born in 1904. He married in 1923 with Jetje Turfreijer, they had 15 children. The crisis in the 1930s hit them hard, it was a struggle to feed all the children. Then WWII came... In 1942 the whole family, except the eldest son Israel, was deported to Auschwitz. Levie was kept alive to work in the mines near Auschwitz. He knew what probably happened to his wife and children, but the hope his eldest might still be alive kept him going. Because he was already used to hard labor on only a little food, he survived. At difficult moments he recited the fifteen names of his his children: Israel, Mina & Rachel (twins), Esther, Simon, Judith, Samuel, Naatje, Abraham, Dora, Reina, Greta, Jacob, and Philip & Leendert (twins).
When he came back to Amsterdam after the war, he learned that his eldest son had been so lonely without his family, he gave up and went also to Auschwitz. They were all dead.
He married again, with a woman who survived the experiment camp.

Heartbreaking memoir.

Dutch title translated: Fifteen names

book 62: Het uur u by Martinus Nijhoff
own, poetry, Dutch, Dutch Canon, no translations, 51 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book with something on the cover related to time

Long poem, with illustrations.
It feels like a threat is in the air, something is going to happen. The city is quiet, only a few children play in the street. A stranger is walking through the streets, and when he has passed feeling has gone.

Dutch title translated literally: The hour you, meaning: The h-hour

book 63: De naderende storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
library, translated, original tetel The Gathering Storm, 878 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book with at least a 4.00 LT average rating

Wheel of Time 12
The last battle is coming near. We follow the adventures of Rhand, Matt, Perrin, Egwene, Elayne, and others.
Brandon Sanderson did a good job, writing the last Wheel of Time books. In the previous book (the last by Robert Jordan) the characters already became less annoying, and now they become even more likable. I am looking forward to the next book.

Dutch title translated: the approaching storm

book 64: Van steen en been by Bérengère Cournut
library, translated from French, no English translation, 216 pages
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book where the author's name includes a plant or plant product

Fictional memoir of Uqsuralik, an Inuit woman.
Uqsuralik is only in her teens when she gets separated from her family. A part of the ice, where they were staying, breaks off and drifts away. She is alone with five dogs. She can hunt, so she survives, and eventually finds an other family, where she can stay. They live a nomadic life, where magic, gohsts, and taboo is important. Later in life she meets a sjaman, who shares his knowledge with her.

It reads like non-fiction, a life in the harsh land near the northpole.

Title translated: Of stone and bone

Oh, really really good...if not cheery...reading! I'm glad that I'm more alert and oriented to be able to enjoy them with you.

Het uur u sounds less depressing than Vijftien namen, which I think might just break my heart forever. And it's poetry, so I can skip it without guilt!

>107 richardderus: I was lucky to read four very good books in a row, Richard dear. None of them very cheery.
Feeling more alert now might indicate your thyroid levels were a bit too high.
I am lowering my dose of thyroid pills since January, when I started a new batch. After a week I noticed some symptoms, like reading too many pages a day, sleeping less hours, and having trouble to fall asleep. It feels like I am nearly back where I should be.

Well poetry isn't your thing, and I don't want your heart broken, so both books are not for you. I have hope Van steen en been will be translated in English, it won a French prize. That one might be a read for you.

A good book run is such a treat! :)

>109 LovingLit: Yes it is, Megan, and it makes me happy.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#65: Verduistering (Don't turn out the lights; Martin Servaz 3) by Bernard Minier
#66: De groef by Maartje Wortel
#67: Tovenaarsgambiet (Magician's Gambit; Belgariad 3) by David Eddings

Reading now:
Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
De grootsheid van het al by Raoul de Jong
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard

>111 FAMeulstee: I thought "groove" would take "het" not "de"....

>103 FAMeulstee: Oh that is heartbreaking, Anita.

>104 FAMeulstee: Thanks, the page numbers were misleading then. The start of the poem made me think of a painting by Willink. That feeling of something just happened, or is going to happen, something threatening.

>106 FAMeulstee: Interesting!

Have a good weekend, Anita.

>112 richardderus: Much easier if you grow up with the language, Richard dear. It isn't always what you think it is. And there are regional differences, with some words both "de" and "het" is correct, like "het idee" (what I use) and "de idee".
Funniest is a paper, now called NRC. In 1970 "De Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant" and "Het Handelsblad" (from Amsterdam) merged into "NRC Handelsblad". Still people from the Rotterdam region speak of "De NRC", and people from the Amsterdam region say "Het NRC". :-)

>113 EllaTim: Yes, it was heartbreaking, Ella. Still an imporant read.
Didn't think of that, but I completely understand what you mean. Willink could capture that feeling in his paintings, and so did Nijhoff in this poem.

Our gardener had some time, so he has cut back the cedar tree. Today he will start with raising the ground in the front garden. Our garden is 15 cm lower next to the new sidewalk, so it needs to be done.

>106 FAMeulstee: That sounds like one I would really like. Too bad that there is no English translation available for it!

>116 alcottacre: It might get an English translation, Stasia. It won an important French literary award, so I expect there will be publishers interested to do so.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#65: Verduistering (Don't turn out the lights; Martin Servaz 3) by Bernard Minier
#66: De groef by Maartje Wortel
#67: Tovenaarsgambiet (Magician's Gambit; Belgariad 3) by David Eddings
#68: De grootsheid van het al by Raoul de Jong
#69: Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
#70: Wat er werkelijk is by Nelleke Noordervliet

Reading now:
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard
De dood van Achilles (The Death of Achilles; Fandorin 4) by Boris Akoenin
Een verhaal met een angel (A sting in the tale) by Dave Goulson

>118 FAMeulstee: Really picking up speed over here, Anita!

I had a look at your top 50 books and there will be 2 of those on my own list! A further 3 came very close to making my cut also.

My 100 books by 100 Authors only included fiction and I may do poetry and non-fiction lists (but not 100) at a later date.

>119 PaulCranswick: The list is a mix of everything I have read, Paul, including fiction, poetry, YA, and non-fiction.
As this list was already on Hebban, it wasn't much work to make it into a wiki-page. I might think it all over and turn it into a fiction Top 50.

Now back to my book. I am reading Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort, 250 pages in (of 1077) and hope to finish it Thursday morning, so it can be returned to the library before our vacation.

Inspired by Paul, I have made a list of my favorite 50 fiction books.
https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/User:FAMeulstee/Top-50

>121 FAMeulstee: Life and Fate! I truly can not say I'm surprised that's at the top of your five bests.

Happy week-ahead's reads!

>122 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, I am enjoying my present reads. And we are looking forward to our vacation next Friday.
Today we early voted for our local government.

Life and Fate was such a great read, I hope to re-read it this year.

I got the Dutch Woordle in two today!

Woordle 269 2/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

--
And Wordle in four

Wordle 269 4/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟨
🟨🟩🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

book 65: Verduistering by Bernard Minier
library, e-book, translated from French, English translation Don't turn out the lights, 576 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book that is the third novel by an author that was first published this century

Martin Servaz, book 3
Police procedural, set around Toulouse in the south of France, near the Pyrenees.
Christine Steinmeyer is a radio presentor. She is stalked and manipulated by an unknown, who drives her away from everyone around her. When Martin Servas gets involved, although he is still on sick leave, he finds out this has happened before. The victims were so desperate they committed suicide.

A violent and scary story, on the edge of what I can take. So after the first chapters I went to the last chapters first. Knowing how it ends makes it easier to read the story in between.
I read this series very slow, one book a year is enough.

Dutch title translated: Blackout (getting dark)

book 66: De groef by Maartje Wortel
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 70 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

Maartje Wortel lives near the Oosterpark in Amsterdam. For a long time she walked there every day together with Dutch author Niña Weijers. She describes the walks, and freely associates her memories with certain places in the park. When Niña moved to Almere, Maartje missed her very much. Walking alone is not the same.

Part of a series of short books about walking/hiking, written by Dutch writers.

Title translated: The groove

book 67: Tovenaarsgambiet by David Eddings
library, YA, translated, original title Magician's Gambit, 297 pages
TIOLI Challenge #17: read a book for a group read

Belgariad book 3
And the adventures of Garion, his aunt Polgara and grandfather Belgarath, on their quest to find the Orbus, go on.

Dutch title translated: The magic queen

book 68: De grootsheid van het al by Raoul de Jong
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 286 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book where all the letters of the word PEACE in the correct order in any language are in the title and/or author's name

When his dog Puck dies of old age, Raoul decides to walk from Rotterdam, where he lives, to Marseille, where his mother lives. The walk he wished he had done with Puck, his friend and companion of his youth and early adulthood. Some parts he walks together with a friend, some parts he walks alone. On his way he meets many nice people, and some encounters are not nice at all.
On his way he wrote about his travels for a paper, and turned these into this book.

I always like to read about travel by foot.

Title translated: The grandeur of the all

book 69: Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma & Bertje Jens
own, Dutch, non-fiction, no translations, 208 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book where all the letters of the word PEACE in the correct order in any language are in the title and/or author's name

The Pieterpad is the best known long distance walking trail in the Netherlands, it starts in the village Pieterburen in the north and ends at the Sint Pietersberg in the south, totaling 499 km in length.
This book contains the route of the second half of the trail, with detailed maps, historic places, and tourist information.

Preparing for the last half of the Pieterpad. Between March 2020 and October 2021 we walked the first half, and ended in Vorden. Next Saturday we will walk the Pieterpad for six days again.

Title translated: Pieterpad part II: Vorden-Maastricht

book 70: Wat er werkelijk is by Nelleke Noordervliet
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 61 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

Nelleke Noordervliet spends part of the year in the little village Tuosist in the South-West of Ireland.
She regular walks the same route, with small variations to extend or shorten the distance. She describs the landscape, and tells some of the history of the place. Part of her walk goes along the Beara Way, an Irish long distance walking trail.

Part of a series of short books about walking/hiking, written by Dutch writers.

Title translated: What is really there

>121 FAMeulstee: 4 books shared across the two lists, Anita. More that we have read different books rather than don't agree on what is good. A few there for me to research and add!

>131 PaulCranswick: Four books is not that much, Paul, but 100% more than in my first draft. Some of your listed books didn't make it to my list. Others are not available (or hard to find) in Dutch translation. Looking forward to the next books on your list!

The whole route of the Pieterpad.


The part we will walk from Saturday to Thursday, from Vorden to halfway between Millingen and Groesbeek. First time the path leads across the border (the black line at the map), a small part between Braamt and Millingen is in Germany.
We will stay in a holliday cottage in Braamt.

Saw the name Groesbeek and it rang a bell. I recently finished reading A Bridge Too Far.

>121 FAMeulstee: Love your list! It's a nice mix of things I want to read, things I've not heard of and now want to read, and things I agree are terrific and wouldn't mind reading again.

Buddenbrooks and Jeder stirbt für sich allein are aspirational reads: someday I hope my German will be good enough ... Retirement projects, probably.

The thought of putting together one for myself is both appealing and intimidating ...

Hi, Anita! Sorry that I haven't visited or been active for a while; LibraryThing is a bit...overwhelming right now, especially given my new reality and responsibilities. I wanted to let you know that I picked up my copy of Herinneringen van een engelbewaarder (A Guardian Angel Recalls) earlier this month when I drove back to Atlanta, and I can read it with you in April if you're still interested.

>134 hredwards: Wow! What a walk that is. I'm amazed you'll be doing it, and not a little jealous that you can.

>128 FAMeulstee: ...speaking of awe-inspiring walks....

>134 hredwards: Thank you, Harold.
Groesbeek was one of the places in the Battle of Arnhem. I have never read that book, but did read some about the battle in other (most Dutch) books.

>135 swynn: Thank you, Steve, I loved to make the list.
I read them all in Dutch translation. If your German isn't good enough, they are both available in English translation. Although reading in the original language is always best.

It wasn't very much work for me, I have a list with 5* reads on my wiki. And a mixed top 50 on a Dutch book site. Taking all fiction titles from that list, I had a fair start of 30 titles. Combined that with my 5* read list... and done :-)

>133 FAMeulstee: I am still hoping to do part of the Pieterpad -- maybe next year. Can't wait to hear your report :)

>136 kidzdoc: Don't feel sorry, Darryl, I know how much your life has changed. Of course LT isn't a priority right now, and if you don't have time to look at the threads regular, it gets overwhelming.
Thanks for letting me know. Yes I am still interested, and April is fine.
I will reserve the book after our vacation, and hope it is available, then I have it in 4 or 5 days, as it has to come from an other branch. If it is lend out it will take a few weeks. I will notice you when I have it, or is on its way to me.

>137 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
I assume you refer to >133 FAMeulstee: our walking plans for next week?
I never thought we would come this far, when we started two years back. Thanks to our dear friend Guido, who comes with us, and drives us to our starting point each day, and picks us up when we are done. Completely understand you are a bit jealous, I wish you could walk that far, too...
Indeed De grootsheid van het al was a very inspiring book. Meanwhile he was also looking for meaning / spirituality / God, there my connection was a bit less. But I loved the thought of walking as a tribute to a lost pet.

>139 RebaRelishesReading: I hope with you, Reba, I would love to meet you IRL! :-)

>141 FAMeulstee: ditto Anita :)

>140 FAMeulstee: Sounds good.

>142 RebaRelishesReading: :-D

>143 kidzdoc: Then we go for April, Darryl.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#71: De dood van Achilles (The Death of Achilles; Fandorin 4) by Boris Akoenin
#72: De Bommellegende by Marten Toonder

Reading now:
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard
Een verhaal met een angel (A sting in the tale) by Dave Goulson
De laatste rituelen (Burial Rites) by Hannah Kent

>140 FAMeulstee: I don't feel any lack of a god, so seeking her seems like a waste of energy to me.

Guido's been a super-extra good friend, and a terrific influence!

>146 richardderus: Yes he has been, Richard dear. I met him and Frank on the same day, back in August 1982, when Guido and I started at university. You just made me realise that it will be 40 years next August.

book 71: De dood van Achilles by Boris Akoenin
library, translated from Russian, English translation The Death of Achilles, 319 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book where all the letters of the word PEACE in the correct order in any language are in the title and/or author's name

Erast Fandorin book 4
Erast Fandorin has returned to Moscow, after years abroad, accompanied by his Japanese servant Masa. The beloved general Sobolev is found dead in the hotel where they stay. It looks like a natural death, but a large sum of money has vanished. Fandorin takes part in the investigation.
Halfway Fandorin's story comes almost to an end, and we continue with the story of the murderer. In the last part these two stories come together.

As always I enjoyed my time with Fandorin

Dutch and English title are the same

book 72: De Bommellegende by Marten Toonder
own, Dutch, no translations, 69 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book by an author whose biography or autobiography you've read

Marten Toonders Bommel strips are well known in the Netherlands. They were published as daily strip in a paper, three or two drawings with a lot of text. Later they were published as books. Toonder invented words that are still used in Dutch.

Oliver B. Bommel finds a strange note, that appears to be very old. It says he must be rescued soon, else the Bommel lineage will end. He meets a scientist who works on slowing down and fastening time, ending up in strange adventures. His loyal friend Tom Poes comes to the rescue in the end.
As always the adventure ends with diner at the Bommel castle.

Title translated: The Bommellegend

book 73: Generaal zonder leger by Özcan Akyol
own, Dutch, Bookweek essay 2020, no translations, 64 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book with a three-word title, BUT one of the words (in rolling order!) must have six letters

Özcan Akyol, better known as Eus, is a Dutch writer from Turkish decent. He critises the Dutch literary world, mainly being involved with eachother, complaining their books don't sell, reading in general is in decline, and the books that are read are not "litrary" books. Eus states that if better books are written, they will be sold and read.

Fun read, and I think Eus has a point.

Title translated: General without army

book 74: De vergelder by Marten Toonder
own, Dutch, no translations, 80 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book where all the letters of the word PEACE in the correct order in any language are in the title and/or author's name

Oliver B. Bommel wants to be a buisiness man. Recently he lost a lot of money, so now he no longer wants to lean on his families fortune. He travels abroad with Tom Poes, and gets his hands on a machine that pays for what you put in it. Of course all goes wrong and as always Tom Poes has to solve all problems.

Title translated: The revenger

>133 FAMeulstee: Have a lovely break Anita. It is like a spring day here today, I hope you have similar weather.

book 75: De laatste rituelen by Hannah Kent
library, translated, original title Burial Rites, 366 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with a five letter word in the title you might find in Wordle

Historical fiction, set on Iceland, early 19th century.
The story of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last person on Iceland being executed, after being convicted for murder. Awaiting her death, Agnes is brought to a small farm. The family isn't happy with her, but gradually gets to know her. A young priest is assigned to help her to come to terms with faith and God. Agnes tells them what has happened.

The book is based on a real event. The writer tried to sketch a likable portrait of Agnes. Despite knowing where the story would end, the last chapters were touching.

Dutch title translated: The last rituals

>152 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. Today is a bit chilly, tomorrow and the days after tomorrow will be perfect, sunny and dry weather on all our walking days.

Sweet Thursday, Anita. I remember loving Burial Rites, when I read it, a few years ago. We have been enjoying a some very nice weather.

I like the sound of the walking books you've been reading, Anita eg >128 FAMeulstee:. Are there many more in the series?

>128 FAMeulstee: That looks like an exciting adventure! I look forward to hearing about your walk and maybe seeing photos.

>155 msf59: Thank you, Mark, Burial Rites was a very good read. We are expecting some nice weather, perfect for a week away.

>156 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, these reads are good to get in the mood.
Assuming you mean >126 FAMeulstee: and >130 FAMeulstee: There are 8 books in the Terloopsseries now. Four were published in 2020, and four in 2021. I expect four more this year.

>157 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, we are looking forward to our week away. I have put the photocamera in my backpack, so hope to take some pictures along the way.

Congrats on reading 75 books! Your book # 75 was an excellent one. I still have that one in my memory even if it was a few years ago that I had read it. Glad you enjoyed it!

>153 FAMeulstee: Congratulations!

Congratulations on reaching 75 books! Burial Rites' atmospheric background has stayed with me after reading. I didn't like her follow up book anywhere near as much.

>158 FAMeulstee: I thought the book about the walk with the author's dog was part of the series too, but no, just a coincidence of theme? They all sound like something I'd enjoy though. I listen to a podcast where the presenter goes on a walk with a different person each time, somewhere around the UK. They have such interesting conversations. Although sometimes the weather sounds like I would have gone home *long* before. I'm off to Scotland this weekend and hoping to get to see the sea for the first time on a walk in ages.

>159 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita. I had Burial Rites on my list for a long time, and I am glad I finally read it.

>160 quondame: Thank you, Susan.

>161 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte. This is the only book by Hannah Kent that is translated, so I won't be able to compare.

The theme is no coincidence, the books are. I like to read about walking and hiking to prepare for our vacation :-)
We had a similair TV-show some years back, conversation during a walk is somehow different than in a studio. Bad weather doesn't keep us from walking, we have good rain suits. We the bad storms a few weeks ago we did shorten our daily walks.
Enjoy your weekend in Scotland, and the sea!

Closing my laptop now, as we are leaving soon. We will stay in a holiday cottage in Braamt (see >133 FAMeulstee: ), almost in the middle, and next to our route. Our friend Guido comes with us again, to drive us to the start and pick us up at the end of our walks.

I won't be much around the next 7 days, not sure how reliable the internet connection will be at the holiday park. At least I will try to keep my reading in >2 FAMeulstee: updated. See you!

Hi Anita!

>153 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on 75!

>164 FAMeulstee: Have a wonderful holiday.

Congratulations!!! on 75!
Have a great holiday!!

>153 FAMeulstee: Yay!

Have a lovely time on your perambulations.

Have a wonderful walk and congratulations on 75 -- already -- wow!

>153 FAMeulstee: Grats on reaching 75!

Congrats!

Congrats on reaching 75, Anita!
I wish you and Frank a wonderful time.

Congratulations on 75 Anita!

Enjoy your holiday.

Congratulations on making it to 75 already, Anita.

Have a lovely Sunday.

I'm sure you're both very tired by now. Recover well.

Hi Anita my dear, congrats on reaching 75 books read for the year so far, i am 80% behind you, lol.

I hope that you and Frank have had a good weekend my dear and we both send love and hugs to both of you dear friend.

>165 karenmarie: - >175 johnsimpson: Thanks, Karen, Harold, Richard (nice picture!), Reba, Arlie, Jim, Thomas, Nina, Paul, and John!

>174 richardderus: Not very tired yet, Richard dear :-)

--
We walked the first wo days 13,4 km each day, well 13,7 on the first day, as we went a little wrong.
Beautiful landscapes, fairly flat, tomorrow our first hills.
Yesterday the weather was sunny and cool. Today we had some rain (forcast said dry all week), not very much, but enough to give Frank some air, as he is very allergic for pollen, and rain gets those out of the air.

Ww went out for dinner tonight, found a lovely restaurant near, with great food. We will go there again next Wednesday.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#76: Een verhaal met een angel (A sting in the tale) by Dave Goulson
#77: Herfst (Autumn) by Karl Ove Knausgård

Reading now:
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard
Misverstand in Moskou by Simone de Beauvoir
Dodelijk web (Under Orders) by Dick Francis

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Anita.

Wishing you wonderful walking. It sure feels like spring right now, so enjoy.

Congratulations on 75 Anita!

Yay for 75 Reads Anita.

Hi, Anita. I hope you had a lovely weekend and congrats on hitting our magic number! Yah!! I love hearing about your walks and those beautiful landscapes.

Your thread always reminds me of the many books in other languages that may never see English translation that would be excellent reads.

>178 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
We are having a good time in Gelderland :-)

>179 swynn: Thank you, Steve!

>180 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline.

>181 msf59: Thank you, Mark!
We are having a good time walking. Pictures and more will come when we are back home.

>182 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori. So many books, so few translated. That goes both ways, even less books available in Dutch translation. Still too many to read them all ;-)

Yesterday we came back home twice, as my e-reader had been fogotten at the holiday house. It had fallen next to my bed, in a very dark corner. I only missed it when we got home. Frank called and it had been found, so after lunch we returned, adding 250 km to our driving.

We had a very good time. Rather tired today after the unexpected long drive yesterday.
I hope to update my reviews tomorrow. Pictures will come later.

book 76: Een verhaal met een angel by Dave Goulson
library, e-book, non-fiction, translated, original title A sting in the tale, 315 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book with the word Tale or Tales in the title

All about bumblebees. A mix of recent research, memoir (the writers facination with insects in his youth, his present home in France, where he is rewilding his land), the importance of bumblebees for pollination, the present threats, how an extinct species of bumblebees survived in New Zealand, and more.

The translation wasn't great, in the Dutch word for bumblebee there is no "bee" in the word. Yet bumblebee (hommel) and bee (bij) were alternately used, wich made it sometimes a bit confusing.

Dutch title translated: A tale with a sting

book 77: Herfst by Karl Ove Knausgård
library, e-book, non-fiction, translated, original title Autumn, 277 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book that is part of a tetralogy

Collection of essays on random topics, in three parts. Each part starts with a letter to his unborn daughter.

As with any collection, some parts were better than others.

English and Dutch title are the same

book 78: Misverstand in Moskou by Simone de Beauvoir
own, translated from French, no English translation, 123 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book where the author's name OR the book title contains all 5 English vowels (a e i o u)

An older couple travel to Moscow in the 1960s, to visit his daughter. Despite being together for a long time, small misunderstandings still can cause feelings of insecurity on both. Some trouble with memory doesn't help either. We get to know the thoughts of both woman and man from their perspective.
Meanwhile we also get a small peak into the USSR at the time.

Originally this story was intented to be included in The Woman Destroyed. At the last moment it was replaced. In 1992 it was published in a magazine.

My first Simone de Beauvoir, makes me want to read more of her books.

Dutch title translated: Misunderstanding in Moscow

book 79: Een vlucht zwanen by Barbara Willard
own, YA, translated, original title A Flight of Swans, 200 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book whose plot/story revolves around family relationships

Mantlemass book 6
Ursula, the daughter of Lilias. lives at Matlemass. Two cousins from London stay there for a while. When the Spanish Armada arrives before the coast, one of the cousins disappears. His brother returns to Mantlemass, after a brief stay in London. He starts to work at the iron place, and becomes an iron master.

Dutch title translated: A flight swans

book 80: Gods wegen by Marijke Schermer
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 63 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

Marijke Schermer walks parts of the Brabant Monastries path, which leads along monasties in the Dutch province North Brabant. One part she walks and talks with a nun, and other part with her mother.

Part of a series of short books about walking/hiking, written by Dutch writers.

Title translated: God's ways

>190 FAMeulstee: Does it sound like a worthwhile walk, Anita? I wondered how much of the historical places are left. Some of the UK religious ruins I've come across are more ruined than others. We have a (former) abbey nearest me and all that is left is a bit of wall, a bit underwhelming.

Sun shining here, hope it is pleasant where you are too.

>191 charl08: The provinces North Brabant and Limburg traditional stayed mostly catholic. There is still more left, compared with the northern (protestant) part of our country. Still nuns and monks there, altough their numbers are declining.
The "Brabantse Kloosterpad" is rather new, created last year. It is 330 km long, in 15 stages you visit 15 monastries. I haven't seen any information in English yet.

Yes, sunny here, and not much wind. I think we will take the e-bike today.

Left top: the mill in Linde; middle top: tower at the Hulzenberg (Hulzenmountain, 84 meters), looking down at the Rhine valley, almost cloudless weather, castle Slangenburg (no picture, as it rained that day); right top: at the top of Hettenheuvel (Hettenhill, 86 meters).
Left bottom: looking toward the Hettenhill from the low land; middle bottom: the holiday house where we stayed; right bottom: view in Germany with wood and grassland.

Left top: Frank; middle top: two pictures of a resting place, recently created by the people of Spijk, a few km before the village of Spijk, flowering magnolia, river Rhine is broadened, to minimise chances on flooding in the future; right top: two storks.
Left bottom: river Rhine seen from the small ferry for pedestrians and bikes; middle bottom: on the border "Let friendship heal what borders separate"; right bottom: Anita.

We walked 75,5 km in six days, making a total of 314,3 km since March 2020.

First day we walked 13,4 km, from Vorden to a few km before Zelhem. The route went through wood and farmland, mostly flat.
Second day again 13,4 km, mostly flat. Some very large pig- and goatfarms, not nice for the nose!
Third day 11,9 km from Gaanderen past Braamt. First flat land again, in last two km the Hettenhill, straigh up into the wood!
Fourth day 13,6 km, through woodland with many hills (small part through Germany), ending in Tolkamer in the Rhine valley.
Fifth day we walked 13 km, crossing the Rhine with a small ferry. The ferry only went every two hours, so we had to plan our walk carefully that day. Mostly flat again, with a part of the route next to the German border. We ended in Leuth, a Dutch village, which was Prussian until 1816.
Sixth day we did 10,2 km from Leuth to the border again, through Germany and all flat until the Duivelsberg (Devilshill, 76 m), straight up again followed by hilly woods and some farmersland. We ended 3km before Groesbeek.

>193 FAMeulstee: >194 FAMeulstee: Lovely photos Anita. I love the little cottage.

>196 FAMeulstee: Sounds like you had an enjoyable time (except the extra trip to reclaim the Kindle).

Rest up with a good book.

>188 FAMeulstee: I hope it will eventually be translated into English Anita. Last year we got The Inseparables which was in English for the first time.

Lovely photos, Anita and wow, good for you two for all the walking! And it looks like you had good weather for walking, too.

75 already? Amazing. And great pictures!

>117 FAMeulstee: I hope so!

I am not even going to try and catch up on the 80+ messages I am behind, Anita. I will try and keep better pace. This is what being sick and going out of town gets me - hopelessly behind everywhere!

>197 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, the house was good again. As it always is at Landal parks (it was the third time at a Landal park).
The extra trip was exhausting. They offered to send it as package. As Frak knows me well, he declined that offer, I would be nervous until it arrived. So going back was the best option.

No rest yet, first I tried to catch up with the threads...

>198 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley, we had very good weather. All days sunny and dry, except Sunday, when there was some rain. It is fun to walk this Long Distance Trail in small pieces.

What lovely vacation pictures!

In A Sting in the Tale there were some sections where Bees in general and other where honey bees were discussed. It was a well put together read.

>199 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda, we walked through beautiful parts of our country again.

>200 alcottacre: The threads go fast, Stasia. I spend today catching up with the threads. Must admit I skimmed some... A week away makes a lot of messages waiting to be read ;-)

Like two years ago the holliday cottage was a perfect spot for birdwatching. I have seen many species of small birds around. A few pictures (not mine):

We had a red squirrel passing by each morning, looked like this one:


Left Common Chaffinch, right European Robin
 

Left Eurasian Blue Tit, right Great Tit
 

(Pictures from Wikipedia)

And on our way we saw all species of corvids that live in our country, except the hooded crow.

Top row left: Eurasian magpie or common magpie (Pica pica), we see those every day at home.
Top row right: Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), there are some in the woods near our home
Middle row left: Eurasian jackdaw (Coloeus monedula), also a common bird.
Middle row right: carrion crow (Corvus corone), common bird, a favorite of mine
Bottom row left: rook (Corvus frugilegus), large groups live on the country side. I have never seen them in a city.
Bottom row right: common raven (Corvus corax), that was a lucky sighting, saw it from the car when we were driving back to get the Kobo back. They are rare, reintroduced in the 1970s.


(not my pictures, all from Wikipedia)

Wow! You got more reading done than I would have. Happy that you both had such a lovely time.

I'm not much of a bird watcher, Anita but your pictures are impressive. Very impressed with your walking stats!

Glad you got some good walking and bird watching in! Belated congrats on reaching 75 books already this year!

>202 quondame: Sorry, I nearly missed you, Susan.
Thanks for explaining. The usage of bees for both honey bees and bumblebees isn't common in Dutch. I wish the translator had found an other way to make the distinction. I did learn a lot from this book.

>206 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear. I still had a few hours in the morning and most of the evenings to read :-)
We had a very good time, and I completely forgot to mention we also had diner twice in a lovely restaurant near by.

>207 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, I grew up with bird watchers around. Both my brothers and my mother loved to look at birds. They were much more persistent, like Mark is, to get a chance to see an uncommon bird.
Last autum we walked a little more, about 16km a day. But that was too much, it took a few weeks back home to recover. So we tried to be wise, and not make the same mistake twice.

>208 bell7: Thank you and thank you, Mary.
The birds are mostly accidental spottings on the way, and some we could see from inside the holiday house.

>204 FAMeulstee: We have robins, blue tits and great tits in our garden on a daily basis I live to watch them

>205 FAMeulstee: We also have several magpies on a daily basis - I think they were nesting in one of our trees last year. There are a lot of jackdaws, crows and rooms around but they rarely visit the garden. I don’t recall ever seeing a raven (apart from at the Tower of London) although I think I must have seen one once as they are not that rare in the U.K. as a whole. They are only rarely seen as far east as us though.

>193 FAMeulstee: >194 FAMeulstee: Love the getaway photos, Anita. What type off storks are these? Good looking birds.

>204 FAMeulstee: These are awesome. I love the chaffinch, robin and of course the tits. I hope to see all of these some day.

>205 FAMeulstee: I love the corvids too. Yah, for magpies, jays and crows. We only get common American crows in our area. Ravens are further west and north.

>211 SandDune: It is always fun to watch those small birds, Rhian.
Our kitchen window looks at the back garden, and during the brief time I spend there, I always see some birds. In winter there is a robin, probably the same returning each year. Tits and sparrows whole year round, occasionally a finch.

The magpies have a nest in a tree next to the road, just outside our garden. I have never seen rooks in our province, only at the "old" land.
The crows and jackdaws regular fly over, or sit on the top of a roof, just like the seagulls.

>212 msf59: Thank you, Mark.
These are white storks (Ciconia ciconia), migrating birds. They go to Africa in winter and return in spring. Although some do stay, a fairly recent change.

The chaffinch, robin, and tits can be seen in my garden. And many other places in Europe :-)

Glad I am not alone in my love for covids. Looked up the American crow, they look a lot like the common crows here. Beautiful black birds!

Hi Anita!

>196 FAMeulstee: Impressive. So wonderful that you and Frank have this kind of holiday.

>204 FAMeulstee: Gorgeous birds, thank you for finding the pics to post. We have gray squirrels here, so seeing a red squirrel here is a treat.

>205 FAMeulstee: I love Corvids! And we don’t have magpies here, but when I visited friend Karen in Montana in 2018 I saw many Black-Billed Magpies.

>210 FAMeulstee: I’m glad you returned less exhausted than previous trips. Less miles but less exhaustion is a good plan.

>216 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, the walking vacations are still enjoyed. We don't have to think where we go next, at least four more times to go.
No gray squirrels here, so the same for the other way around ;-)
It is amazing how the American magpie and American crow look the same as their European cousins. They are different species, evolved along similair lines, ending up looking alike.
Exhaustion isn't good, at the first hill we almost made the same mistake, we realised just in time to do it SLOW. And that worked way better :-)

Hi Anita! Still using the balky phone-hotspot for now, so I'll just run by waving.

>215 FAMeulstee: You have quite a topical typo here - "covids" for "corvids". My inner proofreader was unable to resist pointing it out, sorry.

>218 richardderus: Sorry for the continuing wifi woes, Richard dear. I hope the full service will return soon.

>219 ArlieS: LOL! That is a funny typo, Arlie, understandable looking at the last two years. Thanks for pointing out. You are always welcome to do so. My inner proofreader speaks Dutch, speaking of kraaiachtigen instead of corvids ;-)

Welcome back! I am enjoying all the wonderful pictures you took while on holiday.

>150 FAMeulstee: striking cover!

>193 FAMeulstee: I love that holiday house! We have a lot of 'A-frame' houses here too, not even always due to snowy locations, more of a style thing.

Love all the pictures, Anita. Thank you for sharing!

>221 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, it is good to be back home. Glad you like me pictures.

>222 LovingLit: Yes it is a striking cover, Megan. All empty white chairs, the nightmare of a writer booked for an evening somewhere, in a red background.
The "A-frame" house are good with a lot of rain too. Many holiday houses are like that, not sure why.

>223 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia, always fun to share over here :-)

Read, not yet reviewed:
#81: Dodelijk web (Under Orders) by Dick Francis
#82: Surrogaten voor Murk Tuinstra by Simon Vestdijk
#83: De om by Willem Jan Otten
#84: Wedervaring by Bodo Kirchhoff
#85: Lezen als geschenk (The Gifts of Reading) by Robert Macfarlane

Reading now:
Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard
De droogte (The Dry) by Jane Harper

Thanks for the pictures Anita, fun to see. And glad you enjoyed your walk!

When you love corvids, do you know that there are books about them?

Kauwen in de spiegel by Achilles Cools, for instance.



Stories about raising the birds, getting to know their habits, their love life, and more. They are smart birds, and there is a lot to learn from them. I really like this book, but there are others as well.

I read a book several years ago about a corvid. The book was called Corvus by Esther Woolfson and I really enjoyed it. Do you know this one, Anita (and Ella)?

>226 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, we had a lovely time at the Pieterpad again.
I didn't know this one, I will look for it. I did read Vogels in het zwart, an YA book about jackdaws.
And there is a whole series with bird monographies de Vogelserie, including some corvids. I want to read those, and a few others.

>227 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley. I didn't know that book, it sounds good. There are way more books about corvids than I imagined :-)

>228 FAMeulstee: - The author is a scientist, Anita and I loved her writing. Not so sure I could live with a wild bird as she did but she writes so beautifully, with clarity and insight and always the scientist's eye but it was a joy to read.

>229 jessibud2: Always glad to find books like that, Shelley.

book 81: Dodelijk web by Dick Francis
library, e-book, translated, original title Under Orders, 312 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with a five letter word in the title you might find in Wordle

Sid Halley book 4
Three deaths on an important racing day. The death of a horse is drawing all attention, but Sid Halley feels he should look further into the death of an ex-jockey. Someone seems to think Sid comes too close, and his new girlfriend is attacked. But Sis never gives in, and doesn't stop until he finds oiut who is the murderer.

Dutch title translated: Deadly web

book 82: Surrogaten voor Murk Tuinstra by Simon Vestdijk
own, Dutch, no translations, 195 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book in which a character's name (first or last) is in the title

Anton-Wachtercyclus book 2
Anton Wachter and Murk Tuinstra are best friends, when Murk and his family move from Lahringen to Amsterdam. Anton tries to find a new best friend, but each time the frienship ends, as no one can live up to his true best friend.

Title translated: Surrogates for Murk Tuinstra

book 83: De om by Willem Jan Otten
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 75 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

Willem Jan Otten walks around the Sloterplas in Amsterdam in times of Covid. He usually walks alone, if his partner wants to walk at the same time, she walks around the other way. He vividly describes his surroundings, including some history of the places. And wonders some about unrelated thoughts.

Part of a series of short books about walking/hiking, written by Dutch writers.

Title translated: The round

book 84: Wedervaring by Bodo Kirchhoff
library, translated from German, no English translation, 173 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book written by a citizen of one of the 27 member states of the European Union, list the country

The book started good, an older man and an older woman meet and decide to drive away from their home in South Germany, on a road trip to Italy. The both have their demons from the past, and tell a litte about it. In Italy they see more and more refugees along the road. They decide to rescue a refugee girl in Sicily, who is begging near their table, and treated badly by the police, never asking her if she wants to be rescued.

I saw some very positive reviews. The book had won an important German award, and was on the shortlist of the Dutch Europese Literatuurprijs, an award for translated European literature. The book lost me about halfway.

Not sure how to translate, not a "real" word. Like the German title a combination of weder and ervaring = experience again

book 85: Lezen als geschenk by Robert Macfarlane
own, e-book, translated, original title The Gifts of Reading, 30 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book with a five letter word in the title you might find in Wordle

Enjoyable essay about reading, and giving/receiving books. With some special attention to Partck Leigh Fermor and his book A time of gifts.

Dutch title translated: Reading as gift

book 86: De droogte by Jane Harper
library, translated, original title The Dry, 334 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book where all the letters of the word PEACE in the correct order in any language are in the title and/or author's name

Aaron Falk returns to the small village where he grew up, to attend the funeral of Luke. Luke was his best friend back then. It looks like Luke has killed his wife and son, and then killed himself, but his parents can't believe he did. Aaron is a federal officer, without jurisdiction in the village. Together with the local policeman he starts to investigate. But his past makes it difficult, he and his father left after the drowning of his girlfriend, Ellie, and many in town still think Aaron killed her, or had to do something with her death.

A good story, although not always convincing. The end was unexpected.

English and Dutch title are the same.

book 87: Zaaien en oogsten by Barbara Willard
own, YA, translated, original title Harrow and Harvest, 224 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book whose plot/story revolves around family relationships

Mantlemass book 7
Ursula's grandchildren (Nicholas, Cecilia, Mallory and James) now live at Mantlemass. The civil war has started, and people are taking sides. When a far cousin barely makes it to Mantlemass, Cecilia realises he might be the true heir of Mantlemass. She always liked to read in her grandmothers papers, and knows some about the family tree. In the midst of the civil war Mantlemass is struck by disaster again.

Dutch title translated: Sow and harvest

I won't finish Luitenant-kolonel de Maumort (Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort) by Roger Martin du Gard today, I am about halfway. So it is time to make the March stats.

March 2022 in numbers
  (Totals for the year between brackets)

31 books read, 7.429 pages, 239,7 pages a day
  (87 books read, 24.663 pages, 274,0 pages a day)

--
books:

own books: 10 (19)
from the library: 21 (68)

male author: 19 (54)
female author: 12 (33)

originally written in Dutch: 14 (24)
translated into Dutch: 17 (63)
- original language:
  Chinese 0 (1)
  English: 10 (37)
  French: 3 (6)
  German: 1 (4)
  Italian 1 (3)
  Norwegian: 1 (2)
  Polish 0 (1)
  Russian: 1 (2)
  Swedish: 0 (6)
  Turkish: 0 (1)

fiction: 20 (68)
non-fiction: 11 (19)

paper books: 18 (53)
e-books: 13 (34)

mystery/police procedural: 5 (10)
childrens/YA: 3 (18)
1001 books: 1 (2)
  Total 1001 books since 2008: 227
Dutch Canon: 1 (2)
  Total Dutch Canon since 2008: 37 of 125

--
pages:

0 - 100 pages: 9 (12)
101 - 200 pages: 6 (20)
201 - 300 pages: 7 (22)
301 - 400 pages: 6 (17)
401 - 500 pages: 0 (5)
501 - 999 pages: 3 (11)
1000+ pages: 0

longest book 878 pages
shortest book 30 pages
average book 240 pages

--
own books read are on the shelf since:

before 2008: 6 (14)
2017: 0 (1)
2020: 3 (3)
2022: 1 (1)

--
date first published:

20th century
1910s: 0 (1)
1920s: 0 (1)
1930s: 0 (1)
1940s: 2 (5)
1950s: 1 (2)
1960s: 2 (2)
1970s: 1 (8)
1980s: 4 (12)
1990s: 2 (7)

21st century
2000s: 1 (8)
2010s: 12 (30)
2020s: 6 (10)

--
ratings:

  0 (1)
  1 (7)
    11 (32)
    14 (34)
      5 (12)
      0 (1)

--
Best book in March


De gouden bril (The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles; Ferrara 2) by Giorgio Bassani
===

walking in March: walked 30 days, 191,9 km; average 6,40 km/day
  (86 days, 504,4 km; average 5,87 km/day)

e-biking in March: biked 1 day, 24,6 km; average 24,6 km/a day
  (4 days, 92,4 km; 23,10 km/day)

Sweet Thursday, Anita. I enjoyed The Dry but didn't care for the follow-up. Ooh, The Gifts of Reading sounds good. I am a Macfarlane fan.

>226 EllaTim: I love that cover, Ella.

>240 msf59: Thank you, Mark, happy Thursday!
I am not sure I want to read the follow up to The Dry. Maybe, maybe not, we will see.
The Gifts of Reading is very short, and very Macfarlane, so go for it! :-)

--
Off to the library to pick up two reserved books, and maybe a few more...

Nice library haul today :-)

The two reserved books
- Achter de deur (Behind the door; Ferrara 4) - Giorgio Bassani
- Herinneringen van een engelbewaarder (A Guardian Angel Recalls) - W.F. Hermans

And five more:
- Het geluk van de wolf - Paolo Cognetti
- Soms zou ik de wind willen zijn - Franco Faggiani
- Vrouw of vos (Lady into Fox) - David Garnett
- Witte zee (White Shadow) - Roy Jacobsen
- Dit soort kleinigheden (Small Things Like These) - Claire Keegan

>242 FAMeulstee: It's a great haul! I hope they're all better than >234 FAMeulstee: (which I would translate as "Do-over" from your précis).

*smooch*

>243 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, I hope so too!
Your translation is to the point, only "weder" is a bit archaic/formal in Dutch. So I wasn't sure how to handle.