Anita (FAMeulstee) goes where the books take her in 2019 (4)

Welcome to my fourth 2019 thread!

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

Spring has arrived in my garden! First tulips, the Japanes maple and the plum tree:
  

Books read since 2008: 1,930

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total books read in 2019: 166
83 own / 88 library / 1 other

total pages read in 2019: 45,443 pages

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currently reading:

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books read in May 2019 (17 books, 4,099 pages, 7 own / 10 library
book 166: Tinus-in-de-war by Jacques Vriens, 64 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 287)
book 165: Kantjil : dwerghert bij het Tobameer by Alet Schouten, 92 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 287)
book 164: De pijnboomeilanden (The Pine Islands) by Marion Poschman, 172 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 286)
book 163: Een waanzinnig begin (Nightmare in Berlin) by Hans Fallada, 267 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 283)
book 162: *De zevenslaper (7 x 7 Tales of Sevensleeper) by Hanna Muschg, 96 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 283)
book 161: *Bombaaj! by Els Pelgrom, 93 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 283)
book 160: Reizigster op een been (Traveling on One Leg) by Herta Müller, 143 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 283)
book 159: Het meten van de wereld (Measuring the World) by Daniel Kehlmann, 289 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 283)
book 158: Steenhouwer (The Stonecutter) by Camilla Läckberg, 463 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 282)
book 157: Emiel en zijn detectives (Emil and the Detectives) by Erich Kästner, 144 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 282)
book 156: Top 10 : Berlijn (DK Eyewitness Top Ten Travel Guide : Berlin) by Jürgen Scheunemann, 192 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 282)
book 155: Berlijn (Berlin Now: The City After the Wall) by Peter Schneider 382 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 282)
book 154: Wilhelm Meisters leerjaren (Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship) by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, 702 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 282)
book 153: Gezworen woorden by Akky van der Veer, 187 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 198)
book 152: Berlijn 1989-2009 by Cees Nooteboom, 413 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 197)
book 151: Lincoln in de bardo (Lincoln in the Bardo) by George Saunders, 352 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 196)
book 150: Langzaam, zo snel als zij konden by Toon Tellegen, 48 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 161)

* these books are to be culled

books read in April 2019 (35 books, 10,266 pages, 19 own / 16 library
book 149: De boodschap van Winnetou by Karl May, 347 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 154)
book 148: Geen ochtend ter wereld (All the World's Mornings) by Pascal Quignard, 78 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 153)
book 147: De dood van de erfgenaam (Squire Throwleigh's Heir) by Michael Jecks, 320 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 152)
book 146: Minoes (The Cat Who Came in Off the Roof) by Annie M.G. Schmidt, 154 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 151)
book 145: De rode belofte (Red plenty) by Francis Spufford, 480 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 150)
book 144: Grand Hotel Europa by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer, 547 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 140)
book 143: Slotakkoord voor een moord (Speaking From Among the Bones) by Alan Bradley, 349 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 139)
book 142: De wraakgodin (Nemesis) by Agatha Christie, 240 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 138)
book 141: Nemesis by Philp Roth, 263 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 137)
book 140: Thomas en de veer van de griffioen (The Griffin's Feather) by Cornelia Funke, 376 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 120)
book 139: De weg terug (The road back) by Erich Maria Remarque, 289 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 119)
book 138: Weg met Eddy Bellegueule (The end of Eddy) by Édouard Louis, 202 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 118)
book 137: Waterschapsheuvel (Watership Down) by Richard Adams, 495 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 117)
book 136: Blauwe demonen (The Blue Demon) by David Hewson, 448 pages, TIOLI #10 (msg 116)
book 135: De kristallen grot (The Crystal Cave) by Mary Stewart, 446 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 114)
book 134: De beulse (The Hangwoman) by Pavel Kohout, 394 pages, TIOLI #8 (msg 101)
book 133: Tera by Marten Toonder, 89 pages (msg 100)
book 132: Onder het kollende meer Doo by Marten Toonder, 337 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 99)
book 131: *Milena by Jan Prochazka, 95 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 98)
book 130: Het geluid van bloemen by Marten Toonder, 463 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 97)
book 129: Zeezicht by Simone Schell, 118 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 96)
book 128: Zeezicht by Linda van Rijn, 277 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 95)
book 127: Vriendendienst (Friends in High Places) by Donna Leon, 317 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 76)
book 126: Colometa (In Diamond Square) by Mercè Rodoreda, 223 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 75)
book 125: De vrouw met de hondekar by Alet Schouten, 97 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 74)
book 124: De reis van Yarim by Hans Hagen, 431 pages, TIOLI #6 (msg 73)
book 123: Daar komt de bruid by Lévi Weemoedt, 86 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 72)
book 122: *Het drama van het begaafde kind (The Drama of the Gifted Child) by Alice Miller, 113 pages, TIOLI #17 (msg 71)
book 121: De Weense sigarenboer (The Tobacconist) by Robert Seethaler, 255 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 70)
book 120: Langs velden en oevers (Over Strand and Field) by Gustave Flaubert, 239 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 69)
book 119: Het masker van Dante (Dante's numbers) by David Hewson, 431 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 68)
book 118: De Cock en een deal met de duivel by A.C. Baantjer, 140 pages, TIOLI #4 (msg 47)
book 117: De herrezen draak (The Dragon Reborn, Wheel of Time 3) by Robert Jordan, 671 pages, TIOLI #11 (msg 46)
book 116: Thomas en de laatste draken (Dragon Rider) by Cornelia Funke, 432 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 45)
book 115: De ontsnapping by Theun de Vries, 95 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 44)

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books read in March 2019 (34 books, 10,829 pages, 13 own / 20 library / 1 other)
book 114: *Waar je bang voor bent (The Places That Scare You) by Pema Chödrön
book 113: Vroeger was de aarde plat by Marten Toonder
book 112: Doofpot (Decider) by Dick Francis
book 111: Het roze huis by Pierre Bergounioux
book 110: Middlemarch (Middlemarch) by George Eliot
book 109: Het schrift van Perle (The Book of Pearl) by Timothée de Fombelle
book 108: Mijn haat krijgen jullie niet (You Will Not Have My Hate) by Antoine Leiris
book 107: Ik Jan Cremer (I, Jan Cremer) by Jan Cremer
book 106: De ridderslag (Knight's Fee) by Rosemary Sutcliff
book 105: Tweede persoon enkelvoud (Second Person Singular) by Sayed Kashua
book 104: Het zevende gebod (The Leper's Return) by Michael Jecks
book 103: Een onberispelijke man (Old Filth) by Jane Gardam
book 102: Een overtollig mens by J.M.A. Biesheuvel
book 101: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
book 100: Het eind van het verhaal (The End of the Story) by Lydia Davis
book 99: Stormnacht (Storm Front) by Jim Butcher
book 98: Dolende ridders op Verda by Hermann Molenkamp
book 97: In de greep van de citroenzucht by Alet Schouten
book 96: De gekwelde man (The Troubled Man) by Henning Mankell
book 95: M. by Shira Keller
book 94: *Laura's gedichten (Laura's Poems) by Laura Ranger
book 93: De ijzeren engel (Clockwork angel) by Cassandra Clare
book 92: Het teken van Wichart (Flight into Danger) by Alet Schouten
book 91: De dood van Winnetou by Karl May
book 90: Ademnood (Forfeit) by Dick Francis
book 89: Het vuur (Under Fire) by Henri Barbusse
book 88: Papillon by Henri Charrière
book 87: Predikant (The Preacher) by Camilla Lackberg
book 86: Radetzkymars (The Radetzky March) by Joseph Roth
book 85: *Hoe gaat het met jou? Met mij gaat het goed by Liesbeth van Lennep
book 84: Winnetou bij de bedoeïenen by Karl May
book 83: Alles stroomt (Everything flows) by Vasili Grossman
book 82: De grote jacht (The Great Hunt, Wheel of time 2) by Robert Jordan
book 81: Moordvrienden by Nele Neuhaus

* these books are to be culled

books read in February 2019 (42 books, 10,836 pages, 21 own / 21 library)
book 80: Een vlucht regenwulpen (Flight of Curlews) by Maarten 't Hart
book 79: Wij zeggen hier niet halfbroer by Henk van Straten
book 78: Ik ben een held by Ted van Lieshout
book 77: Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann
book 76: Tonkie in de wildernis by Alet Schouten
book 75: Verhaal van een leven 2 by Konstantin Paustovski
book 74: Wallanders wereld by Henning Mankell
book 73: *Dicht langs de huizen by Willem Wilmink
book 72: De rotsvesting in Sonora by Karl May
book 71: Fatalità (Fatal Remedies) by Donna Leon
book 70: *Kikker is een held (Frog is a hero) by Max Velthuijs
book 69: Nobilità (A Noble Radiance) by Donna Leon
book 68: Een stille dood (Quietly in Their Sleep) by Donna Leon
book 67: *Verhalen uit de godenwereld van de Edda by Henk van Kerkwijk
book 66: De dragers van het Eikenblad (The Battle for Skandia, Ranger's Apprentice 4) by John Flanagan
book 65: Het ijzige land (The Icebound Land, Ranger's Apprentice 3) by John Flanagan
book 64: De brandende brug (The Burning Bridge, Ranger's Apprentice 2) by John Flanagan
book 63: Beenderhuis (A Room Full of Bones) by Elly Griffiths
book 62: Sterren en strepen (Notes from a Big Country) by Bill Bryson
book 61: *Mij 'n zorg (Adam and Eve and Pinch-me) by Julie Johnston
book 60: Springvloed (The House at Sea's End, Ruth Galloway 3) by Elly Griffiths
book 59: Parijs is een feest (A Moveable Feast) by Ernest Hemingway
book 58: *De sprookjes van Moeder de Gans (The Tales of Mother Goose) by Charles Perrault
book 57: De leeuw van Vlaanderen (The Lion of Flanders) by Hendrik Conscience
book 56: De wet van staal (The Alloy of Law) by Brandon Sanderson
book 55: *Zaterdagmorgen, Zondagmorgen by Jacques Vriens
book 54: Offersteen (The Janus Stone, Ruth Galloway 2) by Elly Griffiths
book 53: *Zip en andere verhalen by Wim Hofman
book 52: Voor de vorst (Before the Frost, Wallander 9) by Henning Mankell
book 51: Een onbeminde vrouw by Nele Neuhaus
book 50: Jacques de fatalist en zijn meester (Jacques the fatalist) by Denis Diderot
book 49: De Cock en de dood in antiek by A.C. Baantjer, 140 pages, TIOLI #5
book 48: Het oog van de wereld (The Eye of the World, Wheel of Time 1) by Robert Jordan
book 47: De gouden ezel (The Golden Ass) by Apuleius
book 46: Het geheim van de keel van de nachtegaal by Peter Verhelst
book 45: *Een leeuw met lange tanden by Dolf Verroen
book 44: Een nieuw begin (New Spring, Wheel of Time prequel) by Robert Jordan
book 43: De ogen van Elisha (Toby and the Secrets of the Tree) by Timotheé de Fombelle
book 42: Briefgeheim by Jan Terlouw
book 41: Mijn botjes zijn bekleed met deftig vel by Ted van Lieshout
book 40: Waar is de taart? (Where Is the Cake?) by Thé Tjong-Khing
book 39: Het Achterhuis (The Diary of a Young Girl) by Anne Frank

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books read in January 2018 (38 books, 9,413 pages, 20 own / 18 library)
book 38: De ondergrondse spoorweg (The underground railroad) by Colson Whitehead
book 37: *Zenuwmoord (Nerve) by Dick Francis
book 36: Een stap en dan de volgende by Pierre Bergounioux
book 35: Een mond vol dons (A Mouthful of Feathers) by Lydia Rood
book 34: *Het verhaal van Bobbel (The Story of Bobble Who Wanted to Be Rich) by Joke van Leeuwen
book 33: De smokkelaars van de Tigris by Karl May
book 32: Een schrijver in oorlog (A Writer at War) by Vasili Grossman
book 31: De ruïnes van Gorlan (The Ruins of Gorlan, Ranger's Apprentice 1) by John Flanagan
book 30: Er zijn nog 17 miljoen wachtenden voor u by Sander Heijne
book 29: Op de vlucht (Toby Alone) by Timotheé de Fombelle
book 28: *Het Oerlanderboek (Legacy of Magic) by Leonie Kooiker
book 27: Een muur van schilden (The Shield Ring) by Rosemary Sutcliff
book 26: *Barst by Boris Dittrich
book 25: IJsprinses (The Ice Princess) by Camilla Läckberg
book 24: Ik ben Polleke hoor! (I am Polleke) by Guus Kuijer
book 23: *Tin Toeval en de kunst van Madelief by Guus Kuijer
book 22: De erfenis van de Tempeliers (The Templar Legacy) by Steve Berry
book 21: Zomer van de vriendschap (Ostend: Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth, and the Summer Before the Dark) by Volker Weidermann
book 20: Het wonderlijke verhaal van Angelino Brown (The Tale of Angelino Brown) by David Almond
book 19: De toverberg (The Magic Mountain) by Thomas Mann
book 18: *De tijdkring (Mr Was) by Pete Hautman
book 17: Het rechte pad (The Heretic's Apprentice, Cadfael 16) by Ellis Peters
book 16: Broere (Brothers) by Bart Moeyaert
book 15: De onbekende ridder (The Mystery Knight, Dunk & Egg 3) by George R.R. Martin
book 14: Ongebaande paden by Sylvain Tesson
book 13: *En straks komt Emilio by Gudrun Pausewang
book 12: *Ik ben Joshua en mijn vader is een held (Piggy in the middle) by Jan Michael
book 11: De slag op de Heckingse Heide (The Battle of Hackham Heath, Ranger's Apprentice prequel 2) by John Flanagan
book 10: Muren van alle tijden by Fik Meijer
book 9: Het toernooi van Gorlan (The Tournament at Gorlan, Ranger's Apprentice prequel 1) by John Flanagan
book 8: Een dodelijk venijn (Adamsberg 9) by Fred Vargas
book 7: De show van je leven (I Am Half-Sick of Shadows) by Alan Bradley
book 6: Deesje by Joke van Leeuwen
book 5: Twee ons liefde by Ted van Lieshout
book 4: Afscheid van een koning (The Road to Camlann) by Rosemary Sutcliff
book 3: Schild en kruis (The Light Beyond the Forest) by Rosemary Sutcliff
book 2: Zwaard en kroon (The Sword and the Circle) by Rosemary Sutcliff
book 1: IJsmoord (A Climate of Fear, Adamsberg 8) by Fred Vargas

* these books are to be culled

TIOLI April 2019: 34 books read, sweep
#1: Read a book whose first sentence contains a phrase with a word that rhymes with the word "all" (List the phrase)
Thomas en de laatste draken (Dragon Rider) - Cornelia Funke
Thomas en de veer van de griffioen (The Griffin's Feather) - Cornelia Funke
#2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more
De rode belofte (Red plenty) by Francis Spufford
De weg terug (The Road Back) - Erich Maria Remarque
Geen ochtend ter wereld (All the World's Mornings) - Pascal Quignard
Grand Hotel Europa - Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
Langs velden en oevers (Over Strand and Field) - Gustave Flaubert
Milena - Jan Procházka
#3: Either read 2 books with the same title or list a book with one title and get someone to read another book with the same title within 3 days. Date your listing
De wraakgodin (Nemesis) - Agatha Christie
Nemesis (Nemesis) - Philip Roth
Zeezicht - Linda van Rijn
Zeezicht - Simone Schell
#4: Read a book with a description of the weather in the first paragraph
De Cock en een deal met de duivel - A.C. Baantjer
De Weense sigarenboer (The Tobacconist) - Robert Seethaler
#5: Read a book relating to parents' 60th wedding anniversary
Colometa (In Diamond Square) - Mercè Rodoreda
Daar komt de bruid - Lévi Weemoedt
Slotakkoord voor een moord (Speaking From Among the Bones) - Alan Bradley
#6: Read a book where the author's last name has 2 vowels or less
De boodschap van Winnetou - Karl May
De dood van de erfgenaam (Squire Throwleigh's Heir) - Michael Jecks
De reis van Yarim Hans Hagen
Waterschapsheuvel (Watership Down) - Richard Adams
#7: Read a book by a woman about a woman
De vrouw met de hondekar - Alet Schouten
Minoes (The Cat Who Came in Off the Roof) - Annie M.G. Schmidt
#8: Read a book with a feminized noun in the title or the author's name
De beulse (The Hangwoman) - Pavel Kohout
#9: Read a book you meant to read during Jan-March 2019
De kristallen grot (The Crystal Cave) - Mary Stewart
#10: Read a book with a three word title - "The" (adjective) (noun)
Blauwe demonen (The Blue Demon) - David Hewson
#11: Read a book with a fictional setting
De herrezen draak (The Dragon Reborn) - Robert Jordan
#12 - read a book with flowers, water or a temple in the title or on the cover
Het geluid van bloemen - Marten Toonder
Vriendendienst (Friends in High Places) - Donna Leon
#13: Read a book where the title and the author's name share at least three consecutive letters - started by susanna.fraser
Onder het kollende meer Doo - Marten Toonder
#14: Read a book from, or related to, the Tournament of Books - started by raidergirl3
Weg met Eddy Bellegueule (The End of Eddy) - Édouard Louis
#15: Read a book in which the final paragraph is one sentence - started by Carmenere
Het masker van Dante (Dante's numbers) - David Hewson
#16: Read a book published by a four-digit-publisher - started by paulstalder
De ontsnapping - Theun de Vries
#17: Read a book where the author's first name starts with the same letter as your first name and whose last name starts with the same letter as your last name or middle name (if you have one)
Het drama van het begaafde kind (The Drama of the Gifted Child) - Alice Miller

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TIOLI books read since 2010: 1,119

Reading plans in 2019

I have a large collection of mostly awarded childrens & YA books. At the moment I am reading the books I haven't read since joining LT, mostly alphabeticly, to decide which to keep.
I start in 2019 with 579 childrens/YA books on the shelves, of those 111 are TBR.

End of January update own childrens/YA books project:
16 books read, 2 books added, 6 books culled, new total 575 books on the shelves, 97 TBR

End of February update own childrens/YA books project:
15 books read, 8 books culled, new total 567 books on the shelves, 82 TBR

End of March update own childrens/YA books project:
6 books read, 3 books culled, new total 564 books on the shelves, 76 TBR

End of April update own childrens/YA books project:
5 books read, 1 books culled, new total 563 books on the shelves, 71 TBR

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I keep trying to read more of my own books, of the 534 books I have read in 2018 365 (67%) were my own.
This year I try to read at least 50% books of my own.

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

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Monthly statistics
My readings in January 2019 in numbers
My readings in February 2019 in numbers
My readings in March 2019 in numbers
My readings in April 2019 in numbers

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Previous threads in 2019
book 1 - 25: thread 1
book 26 - 74: thread 2
book 75 - 114: thread 3

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My readings in previous years
534 books (111,906 pages) read in 2018/1, 2018/2, 2018/3, 2018/4, 2018/5, 2018/6, 2018/7, 2018/8, 2018/9, 2018/10, 2018/11, 2018/12, 2018/13
453 books (110,222 pages) read in 2017/1, 2017/2, 2017/3, 2017/4, 2017/5, 2017/6, 2017/7, 2017/8, 2017/9, 2017/10, 2017/11, 2017/12, 2017/13
252 books   (72,474 pages) read in 2016/1, 2016/2, 2016/3, 2016/4, 2016/5, 2016/6
  29 books   (10,079 pages) read in 2015
  17 books     (3,700 pages) read in 2014
  13 books     (3,692 pages) read in ROOT 2013
  53 books   (18,779 pages) read in 2012/1, 2012/2, 2012/3
  84 books   (29,387 pages) read in 2011/1, 2011/2
121 books   (37,668 pages) read in 2010/1, 2010/2, 2010/3, 2010/4
  78 books   (22,698 pages) read in 2009/1, 2009/2
130 books   (39,901 pages) read in 2008

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Other lists
My best of lists on the WikiThing

Series I read, a list to keep track

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 4/12
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

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 7/20
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 52/70

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 3/4
1 Koekoeksjong; 2 Zijderups; 3 Het slechte pad; 4 Witte dood

Erica Falck & Patrik Hedström by Camilla Läckberg 2/10
1 IJsprinses; 2 Predikant; 3 Steenhouwer; 4 Zusje; 5 Oorlogskind; 6 Zeemeermin; 7 Vuurtorenwachter; 8 Engeleneiland; 9 Leeuwentemmer; 10 Heks

Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley 5/5

De Grijze Jager (Ranger's Apprentice) by John Flanagan 8/15
0.1 Het toernooi van Gorlan; 0.2 De slag op de Heckingse heide; 1 De ruïnes van Gorlan; 2 De brandende brug; 3 Het ijzige land; 4 De dragers van het Eikenblad; 5 De magier van Macindaw; 6 Het beleg van Macindaw; 7 Losgeld voor Erak; 8 De koning van Clonmel; 9 Halt in gevaar; 10 De keizer van Nihon-Ja; 11 De verloren verhalen; 12 De koninklijke leerling; 12.5 De jacht op het schaduwdier 13 De clan van de Rode Vos

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 9/25
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

Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg by Fred Vargas 9/9

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 2/18
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;

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 4/12
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 Carmen Zita og døden (not translated); 12 Veenbrand; 13 De fluisteraar

Kurt Wallander by Henning Mankell 12/12

Martin Beck by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö 3/10
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

Nic Costa by David Hewson 8/11
1 De Vaticaanmoorden; 2 Het Bacchus offer; 3 De Pantheon getuige; 4 De engelen des doods; 5 Het zevende sacrament; 6 De Romeinse lusthof; 7 Het masker van Dante; 8 Blauwe demonen; 9 Gevallen engel; 10 Dans van de doden; 11 De binnenste cirkel

Oliver von Bodenstein & Pia Kirchhoff by Nele Neuhaus 2/8
1 Een onbeminde vrouw; 2 Moordvrienden; 3 Diepe wonden; 4 Sneeuwwitje moet sterven; 5 Wie wind zaait; 6 Boze wolf; 7 De levenden en de doden; 8 Het woud

Het rad des tijds (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson) 4/15
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

Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffiths 4/4

Sir Baldwin by Michael Jecks 7/8
1 De laatste tempelridder; 2 De heks van Wefford; 3 De gehangene van Dartmoor; 4 Het mooie lijk; 5 Het lijk zonder hoofd; 6 Het zevende gebod; 7 De dood van de erfgenaam; 8 Moord in het klooster

Books acquired in 2019: 55
(11 e-book replacements for paper books)

May 2019 (17)
Brieven by Boris Pasternak (Russische Bibliotheek)
Werken by Daniil Charms (Russische Bibliotheek)
Kenau by Theun de Vries
Dit zijn de namen by Tommy Wieringa
I Will Never See the World Again by Ahmet Altan (gift from Charlotte)
Marx Collection: 40 Works by Nina Schallenberg
Het spel der tronen by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
De strijd der koningen by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
Een storm van zwaarden : Staal en sneeuw by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
Een storm van zwaarden : Bloed en goud by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
Een feestmaal voor kraaien by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
Een dans met draken : Oude vetes, nieuwe strijd by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
Een dans met draken : Zwaarden tegen draken by George R.R. Martin (e-book replacement for paper book)
Vuur en bloed by George R.R. Martin (e-book)
Top 10 : Berlijn by Jürgen Scheunemann, 192 pages
Berlijn Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin
Als de graankorrel niet sterft by André Gide
and City Map Berlin 1 : 15 000 topographic map of Berlin

April 2019 (3)
Vrijheid : De vijftig Nederlandse kernkunstwerken vanaf 1968 by Hans den Hartog Jager
De heilige Rita by Tommy Wieringa
Weg met Eddy Bellegueule by Édouard Louis
and Stadsplattegrond Lelystad, topographic map of Lelystad

March 2019 (20)
Vuur van Brigid en andere wintermythen by Pierre Michon
De blauwe jurk van Camille by Michèle Desbordes
Jas van belofte by Jan Siebelink (bookweek gift)
Mijn moeders strijd by Murat Isik (bookweek)
Vonkt by Marije Langelaar
Niemandslandnacht by Annemarie Estor
Exit geest by Philp Roth
Serotonine by Michel Houellebecq
Vriendendienst by Donna Leon (e-book)
Onrustig tij by Donna Leon (e-book)
Bedrieglijke zaken by Donna Leon (e-book)
Doem en dorst by Albert Besnard
Nog pas gisteren by Maria Dermoût
Klein t(er)reurspel by Jan Elburg
Zonder dansmeester by Jozef Eyckmans
Het innerlijk behang en andere gedichten by Hans Lodeizen
Going my way by Michiel van der Plas
Ik was getrouwd met een communist by Philip Roth
Werelden by Nes Tergast
Met het oog op morgen by Bert Voeten

February 2019 (4)
De Vaticaanmoorden - David Hewson (e-book replacement for paper book)
Het Bacchus offer - David Hewson (e-book replacement for paper book)
De Pantheon getuige - David Hewson (e-book replacement for paper book)
De engelen des doods - David Hewson (e-book replacement for paper book)

January 2019 (11)
De vrouw van Toulmond - Wim van Til
Grand Hotel Europa - Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
De vernedering - Philip Roth
Hoe Tortot zijn vissenhart verloor - Benny Lindelauf
Nieuwe maan - Sarah Crossan
Zenuwmoord - Dick Francis
Inbreuk - Dick Francis
Op hol - Dick Francis
Een stille dood (Guido Brunetti 6) - Donna Leon
Nobiltà (Guido Brunetti 7) - Donna Leon
Fatalità (Guido Brunetti 8) - Donna Leon

--
Books culled in 2019: 0 (really gone) + 34 (ready to go) = 34
(11 paper books replaced by e-books)

last msg to be sure

Well if it's safe to come in ...Happy new thread!

Lucky you are already seeing trees bloom. I thought that spring was on the way for us however, yesterday we ended up getting 10 cm snow!

Happy New Thread, Anita! The trees are in full bloom in Atlanta, and yesterday the pollen count in the city was 4666, the highest level since last April. I live less than two blocks from the city's largest park, and I and my neighbors' cars and SUVs are covered with "yellow snow". The trees are beautiful to look at, but the pollen plays havoc with those of us who have allergic rhinitis and asthma.

>10 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!
That is a lot of snow! Is it unusual for this time of year at your place?
We have an early spring, the first tulip usually doesn't flower at the end of March.

>11 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl!
We also have the "yellow snow", alhough on rare occasions it can be Sahara sand instead of pollen.
Pollen are problematic to some, including my dear husband :-(
Other years we have more rain, wich gives some relief, as the pollen are washed away.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Do you get Sahara sand as far away as that? We used to live just south of the Sahara and suffered through the harmattan every year - it didn't do my mum's health or mine any favours.

Happy new thread Anita! I hope April brings good reading for you.

Happy new thread, Anita.

Happy new one, Anita! Your thread toppers are full of beauty! Like Darryl, I live in Georgia, so we also deal with the pollen coating everything. We have to clean our screened-in porch daily to keep it under control this time of year.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita. I am jealous of your topper!! Please send some spring to Toronto! Mind you, it's a bright sunny day here, blue skies, but there is still snow on the ground from yesterday that hasn't melted yet. As I type it is 0 degrees C, and windy. My only blooming is taking place indoors, in pots!

>13 humouress: Thank you, Nina!
It is very rare, maybe once in 10 years or so. It happens when Sahara sand is blown into the upper layers of air, combined with a very strong wind from the South. Last time was in 2017. Must be awfull to have that every year...

>14 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire! I am looking mostly forward to the books by Robert Seethaler and Édouard Louis, in >5 FAMeulstee: are all my plans for this month.

>15 sirfurboy: Thank you, Stephen.

>16 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie, it is good to see the flowers all around.
I wait with cleaning my windows until the worst is over, I can't clean every day without reducing my reading time even more. Reading is already going down with increased gardening to keep the weeds in line ;-)

>17 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>18 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley, I would love to be able to send Spring somewhere. I am afraid these abilities are limited to Gandalf, Harry Potter and some other wizards ;-) Today it is sunny, 15 C with a chilly wind from the east.

Happy new thread, Anita. What beautiful spring photos.

>12 FAMeulstee: Sahara sand?! Wow!

>19 FAMeulstee: Ah; something similar happened to my parents in Sydney once. They came back from holiday to find that, despite the house being locked up, the wind had blown red desert sand under the door and all over the floors. It would have had to have crossed the Blue Mountains to get there.

>20 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. Spring is all around her.

>21 kidzdoc: Yes, Darryl, although it is very rare.

>22 humouress: That must have been quite a surprise. I would not be happy if that would happen here...

>10 figsfromthistle: hahaha!

Happy new thread Anita. Looking forward to more youth/children books from you.

Happy new thread Anita my dear, sending love and hugs to you and Frank from both of us dear friend.

>1 FAMeulstee: Love your blooming garden Anita.

>11 kidzdoc: >12 FAMeulstee: The only yellow snow we get here in Minnesota is from dogs. :D

Never eat yellow snow.

>24 fuzzi: Thank you, Fuzzi.
Childrens and YA books will always be a large part of my readings. After finishing my own collection (only 76 left to go), I will look into more recent awarded books at the library.

>25 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, hugs back to you and Karen.

>26 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. Soon there will be a lot of color when the various tulips bloom in white, pink, red and purple.

>27 Morphidae: LOL, Morphy, I always kind of liked it when it got visualised where the dogs were sniffing. Human noses miss a lot ;-)

Happy New Thread, Anita!

Woo, you're way out ahead of us on Spring. Love seeing those toppers.

Happy new thread, Anita. xx

114 books = wow!

Happy new thread, Anita and ahoy spring!
Our trees in Ohio are still bare. Any buds we do have probably won't open till mid April. Sigh, in the meantime, I will enjoy your pictures .

Happy new thread!

>29 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, I hope Sring will arrive at your place soon!

>30 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!
I just keep on reading ;-)

>31 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, so glad with all the flowers around.
Mid April is only two weeks away.

>32 foggidawn: Thank you, Foggi!

Two more books arrived today. Both Frank and me regretted not buying a specific book in the Bookweek, so we ordered them both ;-)

For Frank De heilige Rita by Tommy Wieringa and my choice was Weg met Eddy Bellegueule (The end of Eddy) by Édouard Louis.

Happy new one Anita. I envy you the book delivery: after feeling guilt at the dentist I ordered floss, which arrived today. Just not as exciting as a book!

>35 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
That is understandable, I always prefer books over floss ;-)

>36 FAMeulstee: 😂

Happy New Thread, Anita! Glad spring is springing there!

Happy new thread Anita! Love those toppers. That Japanese maple, wow! But our plum tree is looking lovely as well.

You have been reading lots, I am curious for those French authors, must check out the library.

Hi Anita! Happy new thread, and congrats on a wonderful first quarter's reading.

I love the photos of your garden, thanks for sharing.

>38 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, it is good to see some color around after a mild winter.

>39 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. The Japanese Maple is one of my favourites, it is red in spring, then the leaves turn into green and white and in autumn it turns red again.
Good luck finding the French autors at the library.

>40 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, it was a great first quarter for reading.
From now on we have some months with much color in the garden, starting with tulips, then peonies and then the roses bloom all through summer.

Still waiting for any sign of green/Spring here in MinneSNOWta!

>42 Morphidae: Sorry, Morphy, I am sure Spring will eventually find it's way to Minnesota!

book 115: De ontsnapping by Theun de Vries
from the library, Dutch, no translations, 95 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book published by a four-digit-publisher

The Netherlands, World War II, a young man joins the resistance and is caught. He ends up in Camp Amersfoort, the only thing that keeps him going is thinking about escape.

Written in 1966, 25 years after the Germans created Camp Amersfoort, a concentrationcamp in the Netherlands.

book 116: Thomas en de laatste draken by Cornelia Funke
from the library, e-book, YA, translated from German, English translation Dragon Rider, 432 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose first sentence contains a phrase with a word that rhymes with the word "all"

Young dragon Firedrake goes on a quest to find the Rim of Heaven, accompanied by his friend Sorrel, a Brownie. On their way they pick up Ben, a human boy, and Twigleg, a homunculus. A golden drake is chasing them.

A nice fanatasy, set in current time.

book 117: De herrezen draak by Robert Jordan
from the library, translated, Wheel of Time book 3, original title The Dragon Reborn, 671 pages
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book with a fictional setting

Wheel of Time, book 3, the continued adventures of Rhand, Perrin, Matt, Egwene, Nyaeve and Elayne.

I start to like the series more and more, in the first book I didn't really connect to the characters. Maybe because there are so many, now I feel like I get to know them.

book 118: De Cock en een deal met de duivel by A.C. Baantjer
from the library, e-book, Dutch no translations, 140 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book with a description of the weather in the first paragraph

Book 52 in the "De Cock" series, police procedurals set in Amsterdam.

A man is held at the police station, he is a suspect of murder. As there is not much proof, he is released and gets murdered the same day. De Cock and Vledder soon find more murder victims, they all seem to be connected to a former drug cartel.

As always, some mindless diversion.

>47 FAMeulstee: I think you need to change the author on that one. :D

>48 Morphidae: Thank you, Morphy, changed. That happens when I write to many reviews in a short time ;-)

Yesterday evening we went to the "Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ" in Amsterdam to hear the "Noord Nederlands Orkest" and Ralf van Raat (piano).
They played The Light That Fills the World (1999/2000) composer John Luther Adams, Music for 18 Musicans (1974/1976) composer Steve Reich, Pastiche (2019, world premier) composer Vladimir Martynov, and Mysteriën (2013) composer Louis Andriessen.

It was good to hear some modern classical music, and for the first time this season it was nearly sold out. There are not many lovers of this genre. The pianist had been on TV this week, so I think that helped to sell some extra tickets.

We went there by bus and train. Back we took the train and walked home from the station.

>47 FAMeulstee: Mindless diversion appeals, Anita!

Have a lovely weekend.

>51 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, sometimes some mindless reading in between makes me better enjoy my more demanding reads.

--
 
Left: hedge sparrow; right: female house sparrow (Not my pictures, source Wikipedia)

Probably a lifer today, a hedge sparrow was sitting next to my kitchen window.
I always assumed all sparrows in my garden were house sparrows, but I noticed this one was just a little different with a more greyish head than the female house sparrow. So I might have seen a hedge sparrow before, without noticing.

I do love those little brown birds. Happy weekend Anita. Completely agree re the mix of reading: variety works best for me too.

>52 FAMeulstee: You have a life list? I have one but haven't added to it in years and years.

>50 FAMeulstee: Nice! They are having a minimal music festival. My husband loves the Steve Reich piece. We never seem to get around to visiting, but I want to change that.

>52 FAMeulstee: Good catch, subtle difference, but once you've noticed you will see it more often. There is a big difference in song, as the hedge sparrows can sing, while the house sparrows only tsjirp and tsjirp.

There's a new book, poems and drawings of house sparrows, Mussenlust .



I love those drawings by Peter Vos.

Hi Anita my dear, hope all is well with you and that you and Frank are having a good weekend, sending love and hugs dear friend.

>53 charl08: Happy weekend to you, Charlotte. Reading nearly every genre makes a good mix for me ;-)

>54 Morphidae: The list is in my head, Morphy. I have seen most common birds of our country. I used to go through my birding book to look up which birds I hadn't seen, but that was a long time ago.

>55 EllaTim: Yes it was part of the festival, Ella. The last years we try to visit 3 or 4 concerts in the Muziekgebouw each year.
I haven't heard the hedge sparrow sing, or I have and didn't recognize. When the flock of house sparrows is in my garden they make a lot of noise.
The book looks lovely, his sparrows could almost jump from the paper and fly away. I have some books with lovely illustrations by Peter Vos.

>56 johnsimpson: Thank you, John. Frank is working now, so his weekend starts tomorrow morning. We are looking forward to a night away in Wijk aan Zee next Thursday.
Happy weekend to you and Karen, sending love and hugs to both of you.

>55 EllaTim: ooooh...love those drawings.

Gorgeous sparrows, Anita! It's just lately that I've realized we too have a big variety of sparrows. I thought sparrows were just all sparrows, but no, there is quite a large variety. Book 118! Wow, Anita, you are doing really well. Congratulations!

>55 EllaTim: They are charming drawings indeed.

>55 EllaTim: >60 PaulCranswick: Charming indeed. I’d love to be able to draw like that.

>59 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, the most common sparrow over here is the house sparrow. They are all over our neighborhood.
Reading still goes very well, happy reading times for me :-)

>58 fuzzi: >60 PaulCranswick: >61 Morphidae:
Peter Vos was a well known Dutch illustrator, I hadn't seen this sparrow book before.

It is very nice Anita to have a visit to your busy thread. I'm just about to finish up The Library Book and so have visited LA. in my reading.

>63 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, nice to see you here!
Most of my travels are with books, sitting at my comfy couch :-) Next month we will travel for real, to Berlin.

I had some fun with finding all treasures the National Library Week Treasure Hunt. The banner didn't appear for me, but I saw it mentioned at the start page and on FB.
Link to the talk tread, with hints.

Your garden looks wonderful! So jealous. Nothing blooming in mine yet....

>45 FAMeulstee: I haven't read Funke in years. I used to love that stuff! Fond memories.

>66 Berly: Thank you, Kim. Still winter at you place?
I liked Dragon Rider well enough to go on to the sequel The Griffin's Feather.

book 119: Het masker van Dante by David Hewson
own, e-book, translated, Nic Costa 7, original title Dante's numbers, 431 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book in which the final paragraph is one sentence

Not the best book in the Nic Costa series, the plot is a bit far fetched. Still an enjoyable read, because I love the characters.

book 120: Langs velden en oevers by Gustave Flaubert
from the library, non-fiction, translated from French, English translation Over Strand and Field, 239 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

In 1847 Gustave Flaubert traveled with his friend Maxime du Camp along the Loire and through Brittany. They decided to write about it together. Flaubert did write his part, but Maxime didn't. The manuscript was found after Flaubert died. The parts that Maxime should have written are replaced by the notes he took on his way.

Lovely, but sometimes longwinding, descriptions of the land and the history of the regions they traveled. Most people were living in harsh conditions. I didn't know that at that time nearly everyone in Brittany still spoke the Breton language. Flaubert is sometime annoyed when he can't find anyone who speaks French.

book 121: De Weense sigarenboer by Robert Seethaler
from the library, translated from German, English translation The Tobacconist, 255 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Read a book with a description of the weather in the first paragraph

In 1937 17 year old Franz goes to Vienna to work in a tobacconists shop. These are turbulent times, just before the Anschluss. Franz makes some friends (Sigmund Freud is one of them), falls in love, but soon their lives will be put upside down, when the Nazi's take power.

book 122: Het drama van het begaafde kind by Alice Miller
own, non-fiction, translated from German, English translation The Drama of the Gifted Child, 113 pages
TIOLI Challenge #17: Read a book where the author's first name starts with the same letter as your first name and whose last name starts with the same letter as your last name or middle name

How empathic children try to please their mentally challenged parents, and thus creating their own mental problems because of their childhood. Treatment trough living through again those trauma's.

I bought this book long ago, when I was just diagnosed with mental illness. The book was originally written in 1973, and this is the updated version. I could relate to some of the contents, but much is outdated, as anti-depressants weren't available back then and not much was known about neurotransmitters and the influence of hormones.

book 123: Daar komt de bruid by Lévi Weemoedt
own, Dutch, no translations, 86 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book relating to parents' 60th wedding anniversary

Short, funny book about marriage and fairytales, from a male point of view.

book 124: De reis van Yarim by Hans Hagen
from the library, Dutch, YA, no translations, 431 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book where the authors last name has 2 vowels or less

Historical fiction, 2500 BC, the adventures of Yarim, a farmer boy who is sold as slave and ends up in the city of Kish (south of Irak).

book 125: De vrouw met de hondekar by Alet Schouten
own, Dutch, YA, no translations, 97 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book by a woman about a woman

Historical fiction, 19th century, Kees is staying some months near the dunes with the former nanny of his father. He meets a woman with a dog-cart. The woman falls ill and Kees takes care of her dog.
Based on real events, the woman is Amalie Dietrich, a German naturalist, who visited the Netherlands in 1861 and got very ill then.

book 126: Colometa by Mercè Rodoreda
from the library, translated from Spanish, English translation In Diamond Square, 223 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book relating to parents' 60th wedding anniversary

Barcelona, 1930s, Natàlia works in a shop, when she meets Quimet. They marry and get two children, Quimet forces her to do everything his way. When he gets two pigeons and starts to breed them, it seems a nice hobby, but soon the whole house is full with pigeons. Then the Spanish Civil War starts, and Quimet goes to war and never returns. Natàlia barely survives when food gets very scarse in the city. Finally she meets a much nicer man and marries him.

book 127: Vriendendienst by Donna Leon
own, e-book, translated, Guido Brunetti 9, original title Friends in High Places, 246 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12 Read a book with flowers, water or a temple in the title or on the cover

Commisario Guido Brunetti has to deal with corruption, drug abuse and loan sharks.
Nice detail the characters read: his daughter is reading an Aubrey/Maturin book by Patrick O'Brian, and his wife Paola did also read the whole series. Guido is reading Xenophon.

Some of the Dutch works you list sound so intriguing...but alas! So many don't have English translations. ::sad::

>77 fuzzi: I know, Fuzzi, it happens to me the other way around on your thread. However I am able to read in English if I really want to read the book.

>75 FAMeulstee: I remember this one. One of those books like a step into a different world.

>79 charl08: It was more different than I expected.

Last Tuesday we went to museum "De Fundatie" in Zwolle, to see the exposition "Freedom – The Fifty Key Dutch Artworks Since 1968".

It was an interesting, ambitious and of course subjective exhibition. We liked some works, we loved some, some we felt indifferent, some didn't speak to us. Here a few pictures (more pictures on FB). Two artists I want to mention, no pictures of their works, as I didn't manage to make good photos:
- Gerrit van Bakel who made moving machines, driven by sunlight, rain, or wind
- The work "K.M. Wiegand, life and work" by Marcel van Eeden, 150 drawings based on pictures before 1965 (his birthyear) about the fictional K.M. Wiegand.

 
left: Robert Zandvliet - Stage of Being IV (painting, 2017); right: Seymour Likely - The unexpected return of Blinky Palermo from the Tropics (installment, 1992)

 
left: Guido van der Werve - Nummer acht, everything is going to be alright (video, 2007), Carel Visser - Folded cube (sculpture, 1970)

And on Thursday we went to Wijk aan Zee, to have diner at Puur Zee, a fish restaurant owned by the famous chef Imko Binnerts and stayed the night over at the hotel.
Very near was "A Sea of Steel", a steel sculpture park created in 1999. A beautiful location in the dunes, with the Tata Steel Works right behind.

 
Left: Entrance to the sculpture park by Rudi van de Wint - The Gate (2009); right: Robert S. Erskine - White Rhythm (1999)


Frank

Thanks for reviewing The Tobacconist, Anita. I loved A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler, and kept forgetting to look for this other book. The Kindle edition is on sale for $7.99 US, so I just purchased a copy of it.

>83 kidzdoc: You are welcome, Darryl. The Tobacconist was a very good read, but not as good as A Whole Life, that was a truly great read.

Looks like a great outing Anita.

Happy Sunday, Anita. It seems like I had lost your thread, along the way, so Happy New Thread too! Love the Hedge Sparrow up there. Great eyes. It looks like they are mostly found in Europe and Asia, so I would have to venture far to see one.

>82 FAMeulstee: A nice outing Anita! We have visited Wijk aan Zee as well, for the beach. And admired the sculptures, such an unexpected treat. And in June, when we saw it first that little valley was scattered with orchids!

Ps like the third sculpture too;-)

>82 FAMeulstee: Sculpture looks really striking Anita.

And the photo of the boat: wow!

>85 Caroline_McElwee: Yes it was, Caroline :-)

>86 msf59: Thank you, Mark!
Maybe one day you can cross the Atlantic to do some birdwatching over here...

>87 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, we never went there before. Ohh orchids, they are beautiful. Over here I have spotted some in the Zuigerplasbos. I also saw pictures with Highland cattle between the sculptures.

>88 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
There is a man walking on the ice in front of the boat (icebreaker). It was a very impressive image, it was used as frontcover for the exhibition-catalogus, of course we bought the book :-)

>84 FAMeulstee: I shouldn't try to buy things when I'm extremely sleepy, as I was on Saturday afternoon. The Kindle version of The Tobacconist isn't available in the US, and I bought the electronic version of A Whole Life by mistake. Hopefully I can "return" it to Amazon.

Great photos Anita! I agree with you about the exhibition - I can't imagine anyone "liking" all the works in it because they were so diverse, but for me it was fascinating to see the range of Dutch art from the 50 year period. I didn't buy the catalogue because I couldn't fit it in my bag but I wish I had!
And the steel sculpture park looks great too. You are lucky to live so near all this great art, and of course I'm very glad you are well enough to get out and see it.

>90 kidzdoc: Been there, done that ;-)
I hope you find a copy of The Tobacconist, Darryl. I assume you managed to return A Whole Life.

>91 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire. Maybe you could order the catalogue online, if you still want it?
The sculpture park was accidental, we went to Wijk aan Zee for the food. When I searched the hotel on a map, I saw the sculpture park was very near.
Yes I am improving the last weeks, phobia's are vanishing. It was a bit much for a start. So now I am recuperating from all the outings, nothing planned until our trip to Berlin in May.

Berlin? Ooh! Sounds marvellous. Which galleries are you foing to?

Not sure yet, Charlotte, on our list are the Hamburger Bahnhof, the Martin-Gropius-Bau, the Berlinische Galerie and the Neue Nationalgalerie. We would also like to see the Sammlung Boros, but as far as I can see it is sold out for the days we are in Berlin.

book 128: Zeezicht by Linda van Rijn
from the library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 277 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Either read 2 books with the same title or list a book with one title and get someone to read another book with the same title within 3 days.

Murder mystery mixed with romance, failes in both genres.

book 129: Zeezicht by Simone Schell
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1980, no translations, 118 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Either read 2 books with the same title or list a book with one title and get someone to read another book with the same title within 3 days.

Lousa lives in "Zeezicht", a large house in the dunes, with her grandmother, mother, and little brother. Once it was the luxury home of her grandfather, but the family lost almost everything in World War II. Now they have to take in summer guests, and that is still not enough to pay for the needed renovations.
Lousa feels neglected by her mother, there is a lot of tension this summer, and not only because of German tourists are staying at their place.

book 130: Het geluid van bloemen by Marten Toonder
own, Dutch, no translations, 463 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12 Read a book with flowers, water or a temple in the title or on the cover

Autobiograpy of Marten Toonder, who got famous with his Tom Poes & Bommel stories.
His life during World War II.

book 131: Milena by Jan Procházka
own, translated from Czech, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1977, no English translation, 95 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

Sixteen year old Milena lives with her father near the mine. She has a crush on the most notorious womaniser of all the men around. But he doesn't notice her, she is still a child in his eyes.

book 132: Onder het kollende meer Doo by Marten Toonder
own, Dutch, no translations, 337 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book where the title and the author's name share at least three consecutive letters

Autobiograpy of Marten Toonder, who got famous with his Tom Poes & Bommel stories.
His life after World War II, until 1965, when he moved to Ireland.

book 133: Tera by Marten Toonder
own, Dutch, no translations, 89 pages

Autobiograpy of Marten Toonder, who got famous with his Tom Poes & Bommel stories.
His life with his second wifen in the 1990s.

book 134: De beulse by Pavel Kohout
own, translated from Czech, English translation The Hangwoman, 394 pages
TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book with a feminised noun in the title or the author's name

Satirical story about worlds first school for hangman, where the first female hangman is educated. Beautiful, innocent Lizinka is loved by the men around her, students and teachers alike, and some loose their head...

With a lot of historical facts about executions through the centuries, some descriptions are very graphic... But somehow it is also a very funny read, if you like dark humor.

Hi, Anita.

Like you and Darryl, I loved A Whole Life. I didn't know about The Tobacconist. Thanks for the review. Adding it to the WL.

>94 FAMeulstee: Ooh, I love the look of the Emil Nolde exhibit.
And this photography exhibit about Iranian history popped up https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/exhibitions/capturing-the-past/ when I got distracted by the general museum site.

I think I "need" a holiday!

>101 FAMeulstee: looks good, but looking at that cover would disturb me.

>102 jnwelch: You are welcome, Joe.

>103 charl08: Yes, Charlotte, there are a lot of interesting exhibits. It will be hard to choose.
Maybe a trip to Berlin for you in the near future?

>104 The_Hibernator: Yes it was good, Rachel. That is only the Dutch cover, maybe this one is better for you?

Just dropping by to wish you a Happy Easter :)

A peaceful and restful Easter to you and yours, Anita.
I hope you will have a wonderful time in Berlin.

>98 FAMeulstee: How many scrabble points exactly, Anita?

Have fun planning your Berlin outing!

>106 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, the same to you!

>106 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Thomas, wishing you and yours a happy Easter.
I am sure we will have a good time in Berlin.

>108 EllaTim: Jan Prochazka was 39 points, Ella, only Ilja Leonard Pfeiffer was more with 45 points. I hope to read his Grand Hotel Europa later this week. (nb English scrabble points)

Happy Easter weekend, Anita.

How is the garden blooming Anita? We've had lovely weather this Easter.

>110 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, the same to you!
When are you leaving for your vacation?

>111 Caroline_McElwee: The tulips (white, red, yellow and purple) were beautiful, Caroline, but gone in within two weeks because of the warm weather. Now the German iris, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) and sea thrift (Armeria maritima) have taken over.

--
Got my latest blood counts last week. Strangely the TSH and free-T4 values are both low, while normally when the TSH is low, the free-T4 is high. But with changing GP last year, the blood results come from an other lab, with different "normal values" then I used to see. These values might have to be interpreted else, and might not be comparable with the values of the last 8 years. Sadly my GP is on vacation now, and when she returns we are in Berlin. So we made an appointment the day after our return.

Saturday we went to The Hague to visit my parents. First we went to my mother in the nursing home. She is getting less communicative, this makes my father very sad. Then we went to the Mauritshuis, a museum with many paintings from the Dutch Golden Age (17th century). From the museum we walked to my fathers place, where we had dinner with him. He asked help to sort out my mothers belongings, as he finally has accepted the fact that she will not return. So that I will do after our vacation in Berlin.

>112 FAMeulstee: Will the clearing out for your mum be a big job, Anita, or have they previously downsized? I don't want to think too much about having to clear out for my parents: the books alone will be a challenge.

Looking forward to travelling along with you "in spirit". I am still trying to decide when to take a holiday, school holiday times would make more sense with my schedule at work, but will cost 2× more!

book 135: De kristallen grot by Mary Stewart
own, translated from English, original title The Crystal Cave, 446 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book you meant to read during Jan-March 2019

First book of Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy, where old Merlin tells about his youth and the years until Arthur was born. A bit of magic, but mostly a very human portrait of Merlin.

>113 charl08: They moved to this appartment 7 years ago, Charlotte, so the largest part was done back then.
Now it is mainly clothes, bedlinen and mabe some other things. My father recently wanted to make his bed, and found all other bedlinen unusable. My mother never was able to throw things away, so he found all other sheets (except the one he was using all the time) were made out of 2 or more parts from old sheets...

I always prefer to avoid school holidays. Not only twice the cost, but also more people in musea and other tourist attractions.

book 136: Blauwe demonen by David Hewson
own, e-book, translated from English, original title The Blue Demon, 448 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book with a three word title - "The" (adjective) (noun)

Nic Costa series, book 8. Terrorists attack in Rome, during the preparations for the G8 top. The carabinieri and the secret services take the case out of the hands of the police, but Leo Falcone finds a way to keep his team involved.

book 137: Waterschapsheuvel by Richard Adams
from the library, YA, translated from English, original title Watership Down, 495 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book where the authors last name has 2 vowels or less

This was a favourite in my youth and read it mant times. I used to own the book but it was culled in the great cull of 2005.
The epic story of a group of rabbits, in search for a new home.

I loved to read it again after many years :-)

book 138: Weg met Eddy Bellegueule by Édouard Louis
own, translated from French, English translation The end of Eddy, 202 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book from, or related to, the Tournament of Books

Eddy grows up in a poor family in the North of France. Being gay in this village means being bullied and not accepted, although Eddy has no knowlegde of what being gay really is. He knows he is different, but he wants to fit in. So he tries to copy the brutal and violent behaviour of his father and other males in the village. In the end he manages to escape through education.

Disturbing story, that this still happens in Europe in the 21th century...

book 139: De weg terug by Erich Maria Remarque
from the library, translated from German, English translation The road back, 289 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

This book is a sequel to "All Quiet on the Western Front", although only a few characters are the same, as most soldiers died in World War I. The remains of the company march back to Germany after the war, looking forward to see their loved ones back. When they arrive, they are faced with the nearly impossible task of adjusting to life as civilians after spending years in the trenches. Some do find their way in a new civilian life, but most can't cope as they are not able to leave their routines of the battlefield behind.

book 140: Thomas en de veer van de griffioen by Cornelia Funke
from the library, e-book, YA, translated from German, English translation The Griffin's Feather, 376 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose first sentence contains a phrase with a word that rhymes with the word "all"

Sequel to "Dragon Rider", that I read earlier this month (>45 FAMeulstee:)
Ben and Firedrake on a quest to save the last Pegasi, they need to find a golden feather from a griffin.

>112 FAMeulstee: Next Sunday. I just booked the hotels.

>112 FAMeulstee: I have not been to that museum Anita, but on a tour of it at the cinema a few years back, when they showed a documentary on the big screen.

I've not been to Berlin either, I hope you have a good time.

Glad you have an appointment to unravel the test results, you need to be able to trust those.

It's good your dad has realised that your mum won't be returning home to him, it will help in the long run. I hope helping him sort her things won't be too stressful for you.

Hi Anita!

Your trip to Berlin sounds wonderful.

I hope that when you get to see your GP the strange both-low numbers will be explained, and that going through your mother's things with your father won't be too stressful.

Good to know things are improving for you, Anita.

>121 Ameise1: I hope you have a good time, Barbara.

>122 Caroline_McElwee: More than lifelike on a big screen, that is almost like visiting the Mauritshuis. It was renovated five years ago, and we had not been there since.
Helping my father might be a bit stressful, but there is no one else to do it. My brother does more than his share, he visits every week (when he isn't abroad on vacation or business trip) and when his wife isn't home he has diner with my father. My sisters helped when my parents moved to the appartment, but with one dead and the other estranged that is no option anymore. So I feel obliged to help him out.

>123 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, we are looking forward to our stay in Berlin :-)
The explaination has to wait until after our trip. I do feel a bit rushed and overly energetic, so I lowered my dose of Thyrax, as these are signs of overdosing. My GP always tells me I should listen to my body, and gives some space to play with my daily dosage.

>124 humouress: Thank you, Nina, I am glad the phobias are gone.

>119 FAMeulstee: I didn't know he had written a sequel, sounds like something I should look out for.

Oh you have read an interesting selection recently.

>114 FAMeulstee: De kristallen grot - I read these many years ago and loved them. I live near Carmarthen, (Caer Myrddin), so there was a local interest in that part. These are an excellent take on the Arthurian legends.

>117 FAMeulstee: Waterschapsheuvel - I too loved this as a child.

>118 FAMeulstee: Weg met Eddy Bellegueule - I was in London last week and went to Foyles. This was one of the books I bought (among a rather sizeable haul!)

>120 FAMeulstee: Thomas en de veer van de griffioen - I have these on a bookshelf, unread. What do you think of Dragon Rider? I read some previous work by Cornelia Funke and enjoyed it. I was somewhat hoping to read a book by her in German - but her books are long, and my German reading is slow, so I haven't taken the plunge yet. Maybe I should read it in English as I have it!

Sweet Thursday, Anita. Hooray for Watership Down. I also really enjoyed that one. I also loved Fathers & Sons, so keep that one in mind.

>126 charl08: I didn't know either, Charlotte, I was just browsing the online library catalogue when I found it.
I think "All Quiet on the Western Front" was better, but "The road back" has also an important message.

>127 sirfurboy: Thank you, Stephen, I enjoyed most of them.
- I have the next two books waiting on the shelf. I have read them before, over 25 years ago.
- So did I, read it many times in my teens. And saw the movie, glad I revisited Watership Down.
- I liked these better than the Inkheart books, the second Inkheart book was one of very few I could not finish.

>128 msf59: Thank you, Mark, I loved Watership Down again :-)
Fathers & Sons has made it to my "to be read soon" pile, probably next month.

>119 FAMeulstee: Yay for The Road Back! I read it last year and found it very moving in a way very different from All Quiet on the Western Front.

>130 swynn: Indeed, and both books were banned and burned in Nazi-Germany...
I also recommend Remarque's The Night in Lisbon. I hope to read Arch of Triumph later this year.

>117 FAMeulstee: I've read that several times, couldn't warm up to the movie.

>132 fuzzi: The book is much better, but ever since the movie Garfunkel's song pops up in my head when I think Watership Down ;-)

Ten more reads before the magic double-75!

Have a terrific weekend, Anita.

Hi Anita,

>119 FAMeulstee: I did not know there was a followup to All Quiet on the Western Front! I loved that book, it made such an impact but in an understated way...

>134 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, we are having fun preparing our trip to Berlin. Looking up places near the hotel (on Alexanderplatz!, I should read Döblin's book), places we want to visit etc. Frank has only 2 nights left to work, Sunday and Monday, and then he is off until the end of May :-D
Only 6 books to go for 2x75, I just finished #144, reviews to come.

>135 LovingLit: Erich Maria Remarque was a great writer, have you read other books by him?

book 141: Nemesis by Philp Roth
1001 books, own, translated, original title Nemesis, 263 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Either read 2 books with the same title or list a book with one title and get someone to read another book with the same title within 3 days

Compelling read about polio outbreak in New Jersey in 1944. The main character isn't fighting in Europe, like his friends, due to his bad eyes he has to stay home. When polio strucks, he fights his own battle with feelings of guilt.

book 142: De wraakgodin by Agatha Christie
from the library, e-book, translated, original title Nemesis, 240 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Either read 2 books with the same title or list a book with one title and get someone to read another book with the same title within 3 days

Old and declining Miss Marple unravels a cold case.
It took some time to get into the story, the request to dive into this case comes from a recently deceased very wealthy man. Miss Marple is sent out at first without any clues. About halfway the story got interesting, leading to satisfactory end.

book 143: Slotakkoord voor een moord by Alan Bradley
from the library, e-book, translated, original title Speaking From Among the Bones, 349 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book relating to parents' 60th wedding anniversary

Fifth Flavia de Luce book, the eleven year old amateur sleuth and chemist.
Sadly this book ends with a cliffhanger, and this is also the last book available in Dutch translation... Well I liked the first three books best, so it is not a great loss.

book 144: Grand Hotel Europa by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
own, Dutch, no translations (it should be available in the US soon), 547 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

A great read! A book about Venice and masstourism, about European identity and history, about refugees, art and literature and much more. The old continent, so much stuck in the past, there is no future left. Told in rich prose, with some humor and selfreflection. His description of the Damien Hirst exposition in Venice (2017) will stay with me for a long time.

And with the last book I passed reading 500,000 pages since joining LT in 2008 :-)

Hi Anita!

I love that you've read two books in a row with the title Nemesis.

Congrats on 500,000 pages. That is an amazing accomplishment.

>141 FAMeulstee: Nice. Congrats Anita.

>141 FAMeulstee: WOW. That is a major milestone and quite an achievement! Congratulations, and I'm thrilled you're so near the double-75 mark.

>137 FAMeulstee: Agreeing Anita.

500.000 pages. Wow. Congratulations, Anita.

>136 FAMeulstee: A hotel on Alexanderplatz, yes, a good occasion to read the book.

How confusing that different labs give different lab results, and annoying, shouldn't happen, you'd think. I hope you can get it sorted!

>142 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen!
I know you can appriciate this: the total page count (2 books further) is now a beautiful number 501,105
Yes, the same title in a row, 2nd time this month as >95 FAMeulstee: & >96 FAMeulstee: are both Zeezicht. The things you do for TIOLI challenges :-)

>143 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.

>144 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, two more down toward 2x75.
Next milestone is 2,000 books (I am at 1,910), and I hope to get to a million pages someday...

>145 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I looked up your review and thumbed it.

>146 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
Now I hope the copy of Berlin Alexanderplatz that I ordered from boekwinkeltjes.nl arrives in time. If it doesn't, I have an other Alfred Döblin book to take.
I hope my GP can give some explanation about the lab results, as it is very confusing.

>140 FAMeulstee: This book was prominently displayed in Waanders in de Broeren when I was there in January. It intrigued me, and your review makes me want to read it even more. I hope it will be translated into English.

Congratulations on your reading milestone! That's pretty amazing!

I hope you and Frank have a great time in Berlin. I've only been once but really want to go back.

>148 Sakerfalcon: According to the writers website the English rights are sold, Claire, so I think there is a good chance it will become available.
His book La Superba is available in English translation. I hope to read it soon.

Thank you, up to the next milestone :-)

I am sure we will have a good time, tonight Frank has his last shift, so tomorrow his vacation starts. We were looking up places we want to go, and found way to many, so we already want to go again ;-)

book 145: De rode belofte by Francis Spufford
from the library, e-book, translated, original title Red plenty, 480 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

A look at the USSR in the small time frame during the 1950s and 1960s, when it looked like the socialist dream could be reached through mathematical planning. In a combination of fiction and non-fiction we look through the eyes of different key characters of this time.

Parts of the book were very good, others a bit disjointed.

book 146: Minoes by Annie M.G. Schmidt
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1971, English translation The Cat Who Came in Off the Roof, 154 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book by a woman about a woman

Mister Tibble is about to loose his job as a reporter, as he tends to write about cats instead of real news. He is saved by Miss Minou, a strange young woman with many catlike characteristics. He finds Miss Minou in a tree, where she fled, chased by a dog. He offers her a home, she helps him to gather news.

Lovely fanatasy story with a lot of cats.

book 147: De dood van de erfgenaam by Michael Jecks
from the library, e-book, translated, original title Squire Throwleigh's Heir, 320 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book where the authors last name has 2 vowels or less

Seventh book in the Sir Baldwin and Simon Puttock series (Medieval West Country Mysteries), set in 14th century England.
The Hatherleigh family is hit hard. First Sir Roger dies, then is only heir is found dead. Sir Baldwin, who just got married, isn't convinced that the sons death is an accident and starts to investigate.

The plot had some nice twists.

book 148: Geen ochtend ter wereld by Pascal Quignard
own, translated from French, Franse Bibliotheek, English translation All the World's Mornings, 78 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book in which the author's name has a Scrabble point value of 22 or more

Short novella about the life of De Sainte-Colombe, a composer who played the viola da gamba. He is mostly known as teacher of Marin Marais and lived in the 17th century.

Beautiful written.

book 149: De boodschap van Winnetou by Karl May
own, translated from German, no English translation, 347 pages
TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book where the authors last name has 2 vowels or less

The last adventures of Old Shatterhand in the USA. With many characters from the previous books, and a very happy ending.

April 2019 in numbers

35 books read (10,266 pages, 342.2 pages a day)

own 19 (54 %) / library 16

24 male author / 11 female author
12 originally written in Dutch / 23 translated into Dutch
30 fiction / 5 non-fiction

34 books in TIOLI Challenges
11 e-books
  1 1001 book (total 120)
  0 Dutch Literary Canon (total 23/125)
  9 childrens/YA
  8 mystery/police prodedural

longest book 671 pages
shortest book 78 pages
average book 293 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 11
2008: 1
2014: 1
2018: 3
2019: 3

--
date first published:

19th century: 1

20th century
1910s: 1
1930s: 1
1960s: 2
1970s: 8
1980s: 2
1990s: 8

21st century
2000s: 3
2010s: 9

--
ratings:
  1 x
  3 x
16 x
11 x
  3 x
  1 x

--
Best books in April


Grand Hotel Europa by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer


De weg terug (The road back) by Erich Maria Remarque
Waterschapsheuvel (Watership Down) by Richard Adams
De beulse (The Hangwoman) by Pavel Kohout

2019 totals to date:

149 books read (41,344 pages, 344.5 pages a day)

own 73 (49 %) / library 75 / other 1

101 male author / 48 female author
48 originally written in Dutch / 101 translated into Dutch
132 fiction / 17 non-fiction

142 books in TIOLI Challenges
49 e-books
13 1001 books (total 120)
  3 Dutch Literary Canon (total 23/125)
57 childrens/YA
33 mystery/police prodedural

longest book 1019 pages
shortest book 32 pages
average book 277 pages

--
own books read were on the shelf since:
before 2008: 50
2008: 5
2009: 1
2014: 1
2017: 2
2018: 7
2019: 7

--
date first published:
2nd century: 1
17th century: 1
18th century: 1
19th century: 7

20th century
1910s: 2
1920s: 1
1930s: 2
1940s: 2
1950s: 2
1960s: 9
1970s: 16
1980s: 18
1990s: 27

21st century:
2000s: 27
2010s: 33

--
ratings:
  5 x
15 x
56 x
51 x
20 x
  1 x
  1 x

You are such a meanie! You're deliberately making me sit on a bed of nails waiting for book #150 for your double-75!!

Cruel, cruel I say, just cruel.

>157 richardderus: I tried, Richard, I really tried! I could not read any faster... my reading is slowly going back to more normal amounts.
Tomorrow, as I have some short books lined up for May.

Love you anyway :-)

>158 FAMeulstee: *grumble*

weeeeeeellllllllll

oh okay but really!

*smooch*

>159 richardderus: And I promise to write the review right after I finish the book, so you don't have to scroll all the way up to see which book I have read.

Smooches right back at you, Richard dear!

book 150: Langzaam, zo snel als zij konden by Toon Tellegen
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1990, no translations, 48 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book with a non-human mammal on the cover

Toon Telligen has written many books about the animals in the wood. In this universe there is only one of every animal, so their names are "Squirrel", "Ant", "Cricket" "Elephant". In this book 15 stories about Squirrel, Ant, Elephant and many others. Elephant tries to fly, Hippo and Cricket change places and Mole wants to put on his coat while running.
The title would be in English: "Slowly, as fast as they could".

Toon Tellegen has a wonderful way with words and I love his humor.

Hi, Anita!

I certainly wasn't expecting a shared read for Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, what a nice surprise! I hope you enjoy it. :)

DOUBLE 75!!


YAY!!

>162 lyzard: I found a copy at the e-library, so I thought I could give it a try :-)

>163 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear!

Wow! 150! Congrats!

Congratulations on 150, Anita! And with what sounds like such a fun book, too!

>156 FAMeulstee: It was interesting to see the bell curve for your ratings. Yours peaks at 7 to 8, mine peaks at 6 to 7. You are much more generous!

When are you headed off to Berlin?

>165 drneutron: Thank you, Jim.

>166 swynn: Thanks, Steve, indeed a fun book and not just for youngsters. I think Richard read one of Toon Tellegen's books last year and raved about it.

>167 Morphidae: Indeed there is a significant difference between mine and yours, Morphy. I like to think I select better books ;-)
We leave next Monday, and will return the Sunday after. That makes 5 full days in Berlin.

2x75 already and we are just out of April. On _target for 450 books again this year.

>169 PaulCranswick: I will probably end up around that number again, Paul. Or a bit less, as I have some chuncksters I want to read this year.

>168 FAMeulstee: I loved Letters to Anyone and Everyone, and hope lots and lots of folks'll get that sweet little thing for their little people.

Ooh, congratulations on 150!!

>164 FAMeulstee:

I presume you are reading it in German? I had to go through the process of picking a translator.

>172 lyzard: Thank you, Liz.

No, my German isn't that good... I read it in Dutch translation. There are two Dutch translations, I just picked the one that was available. I downloaded it today.

Congratulations on 75 x 2, Anita!

Congratulations on double 75, Anita!
Seeing your reading list lets me feel like a hen in that old joke when the farmer comes in the henhouse with an ostrich egg ans says:
"Not that I want to criticise you, but see what is done elsewhere".

Have fun in Berlin.

>137 FAMeulstee: I hadn't heard of that one! I guess he was a prolific writer though....I just re-read his one called Indignation. Very good, once again :) Have you heard of the Lisa Halliday book which fictionalises the relationship she had with him as a young woman (while he was an older man)? I am currently reading that.

>164 FAMeulstee: I saw Mr Hiddlestone on stage recently.

Hi Anita!

>147 FAMeulstee: Yes indeed. Numerical poetry and even saying 501 105 out loud I a pleasure.

>151 FAMeulstee: And on to the wish list it goes. You know me and cats… *smile*

>156 FAMeulstee: Stunning as always. Congratulations.

>161 FAMeulstee: Double the fun. More congrats.

>174 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl!

>175 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.
The ostrich won't last, as I still think my exuberant reading of the last years will not last forever. But I am certainly enjoying it as long as it lasts. :-)
I am sure Berlin will be fun.

>176 LovingLit: Philip Roth wrote a lot, Megan. We own 15 of his books in Dutch translation, Indignation is one of them, as my husband is a fan.
No, I hadn't heard of of the Lisa Halliday book (Asymmetry), it isn't translated yet.

>177 Caroline_McElwee: You lucky woman!
I thought Richard would like to receive a handkiss of a handsome man ;-)

>178 karenmarie: Thak you, Karen.
I love symmetrical and otherways "poetic" numbers as well, for some time haven't had any as beautiful as this one.
Reading numbers are still stellar, I know. The trip to Berlin will probably downsize the numbers in May.

--
Yesterday we went to our last concert in the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam for this season. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra played "Accordion Concert" (Willem Jeths, 2019), parts from "Carmen" (Bizet, arr. Rodion Shchedrin, 1967) and "Bandoneón Concert Aconcagua" (Astor Piazzola, 1987) with Vincent van Amsterdam on the Accordion.

>179 FAMeulstee: Bizarrely, I fell in love with Astor Piazzola's accordion music back in the 1980s with that very piece!

*smooch* for a weekend of delightful reads

Bought three books and a map this week.
Books: Top 10 : Berlijn by Jürgen Scheunemann, a tourist guide for Berlin; Berlijn Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin, to read while in Berlin; Als de graankorrel niet sterft by André Gide.
Map: City Map Berlin 1 : 15 000 topographic map of Berlin, to find our way in Berlin

And I forgot to mention we acquired in April Stadsplattegrond Lelystad, a topographic map of Lelystad so I can easier plan our walks in the city. We attempt to walk all bicycle/walking bridges and tunnels in Lelystad. Traffic was stricktly separated when the city was build. At the moment we have walked 47 of 64 bridges/tunnels, next 16 could be done in 5 daily walks.
Here a picture of some bicycle/walking bridges in Lelystad (not my picture, probably taken in the early years of Lelystad end of 1970s / early 1980s). The bridge on the right is not there anymore.

>180 richardderus: That is a weird coincidence, Richard. This was the first time we heard a piece of Piazzola in a concert hall.

*smooches* back to you.
I won't read much this weekend, busy with the preparations to travel on Monday: cleaning the house and packing.

How are you traveling to Berlin? Where are you staying (not specifically, just in general - hotel? home share?)

>182 FAMeulstee: We travel by train, Morphy, as it has no use to take the car for a short city trip. Last year we went to Munich by car, we parked it near the hotel and never used it during our stay, as we did everything by public transportation. We stay in the H2 hotel near Alexanderplatz.

I looked at the hotel website and it looks like a lot of fun. Pasta bar, yummy! I also looked at the places to see in Berlin (that is what 40+ Top-Sehenswürdigkeiten von Berlin kennenlernen means, yes?) The Berliner Dom and Schloß Charlottenburg look beautiful.

But what are those big fluffy pillow-like things covering the beds? Do you sleep on those? If so, how do you cuddle with a partner without someone falling in the crack between?

>185 Morphidae: Yes, English translation is 40+ Top Sights to learn about in Berlin. Our main _target is the museum Hamburger Bahnhof, we love modern art and that seems to be the place for contemporary art in Berlin. Furthermore the Holocaust Memorial, the Marx-Engels Forum and maybe the Berliner Dom. And anything else we might run into. That will be enough to keep us busy for 5 days!
Furthermore a visit to acquaintances in Berlin. Over twenty years ago they bought a pup from our first litter. Through the years we kept in touch, every few years they stayed a week in our counrty (at the coast in Noordwijk) and we would visit them there. Now they are to old to drive all the way to the Netherlands, and they were very happy when we called to plan a visit.
And maybe we will meet Miriam (BerlinBibliophile), a member of this group who lives in Berlin.

The big fluffy things on the bed are two folded duvets (I think you call it duvet, fluffy thing to sleep under), unfolded they cover one side of the bed. We prefer two seperate duvets. If there is only one big duvet, I roll into it, leaving Frank without any cover at the end of the night ;-)
Last year we also stayed at a H2 hotel in Munich. A fairy low-priced hotel chain. The room was small, but very clever and efficient furnished. So when we saw a H2 hotel in Berlin, we booked it.

>186 FAMeulstee: Ah! Duvets make a lot more sense. In the USA, we typically use one per bed but as you say, it’s common for one person to get wrapped up in it and the other person to be left out in the cold! The German (European?) way seems more logical.

Have a wonderful trip to Berlin. You will have plenty to see and do in the short time you are there :)

Have a lovely trip to Berlin, Anita.

>173 FAMeulstee:

Ah, of course! All the talk about Berlin confused me. :)

I hope you have a great time!

Happy Saturday, Anita. Enjoy your weekend and congrats on hitting 150 books. That is impressive.

>187 Morphidae: European I think, most hotels we stayed over the last years had two. Keeps us happy.

>188 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, we are already thinking about a next visit to Berlin.

>189 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, we will.

>190 lyzard: That is understandable, Liz, Berlin is for cetain in Germany. My German is good enough for some small talk, my English a bit better, for reading I prefer Dutch. And thank you, we will, so much to see in Berlin!

>191 msf59: Thank you, Mark, happy weekend to you.

>149 FAMeulstee: It must be good if you want to go again before you've even been.

>160 FAMeulstee: Hmm; Richard seems to have you wrapped around his little finger.

>161 FAMeulstee: CONGRATULATIONS!!

>175 SirThomas: Yep; I recognise that feeling too.

>193 humouress: *hmph* That got it, flaunt it, concept is challenging you, eh?

>193 humouress: Thank you, Nina, we both expect our Berlin trip is going to be good. Only 15 hours to go and then we leave :-)

>194 richardderus: Not sure if I understand that, Richard, but doesn't matter I think...

book 151: Lincoln in de bardo by George Saunders
from the library, e-book, translated, Booker Prize 2017, original title Lincoln in the Bardo, 352 pages
TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a book, record the LT "Will you like it?" prediction and your resulting rating

I was looking forward to read this book, but sadly didn't enjoy it. The format irritated and I never felt anything for the characters.

book 152: Berlijn 1989-2009 by Cees Nooteboom
from the library, e-book, Dutch, no English translation of the whole book, 413 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer

Cees Nooteboom happened to live in Berlin in 1989, when the Wall came down. He wrote about his stay during these turbulent times in Dutch magazines. These articles were published together in Roads to Berlin.
He regular visited Berlin, and other German cities, in the years after, these are added in this edition.
Besides current affairs he writes about German literature, art and history.

book 153: Gezworen woorden by Akky van der Veer
own, YA, Dutch, awarded, Eervolle Vermelding 1997, no translations, 187 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) set before the year 1000

A Frisian village, 1st century, lost their leader after an attack by the Chauci. The Romans came and defeated the Chauci, so the villagers are gratefull to the Romans. When a new Roman ruler is very unfair to the Frisians, they revolt.

Hi Anita, enjoy Berlin my dear.

Have a great trip!

I think we might (briefly) overlap Anita: I arrive Friday. Hope you have a great break.

Enjoy Berlin, Anita!

>197 FAMeulstee: Interesting, I liked my first Noteboom Roads to Santiago.

Have a good time in Berlin, Anita.

>203 EllaTim: I need to get back to Roads to Santiago; thanks for the reminder, Ella.

Have a great vacation in Berlin, Anita!

We went by train to Berlin, and just arrived in our hotel.
Off for a little walk & have diner somewhere near.

--
>199 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, we will.

>200 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda.

>201 charl08: Where do you stay, Charlotte?

>202 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, we will.

>203 EllaTim: It was a nice preparation for Berlin, Ella, he is rather popular in Germany.
Thanks, I am sure we will.

>204 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl, first impressions are good.

>205 FAMeulstee: have a lovely time Anita.

Have you read Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck, Anita? It's set in contemporary Berlin, in the former eastern half. I absolutely loved it.

>206 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline!
We visited the museum Hamburger Bahnhof today and walked along the river Spree.
Pictures will follow when we are back home.

>207 kidzdoc: Yes I did, Darryl, and I also loved it. Frank just finished it a day before we went to Berlin.
I am reading Goethe's Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship hope to finish it tomorrow. My next book is Berlin Alexanderplatz by Döblin.

Hi, Anita.

Sounds like you’re having a good trip. Have fun in Berlin!

>209 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, we are having a very good time!

>198 FAMeulstee: Gezworen woorden looks interesting, but like so many of your best books, sadly not available for kindle :(

Hope you have a lovely holiday in Berlin, Anita. I've never been but lots of people have told me it's a very interesting place to visit.

>211 sirfurboy: Most of my own YA books were published before 2000, so if they didn't get popular they were not published as e-book. I hope to get to more recent published YA books later this year.

>212 souloftherose: Thank you, Heather, today was already our last full day in Berlin. Tomorrow we go back home, time flies when you are having fun!
We had a wonderful time, and I will write some about it when we are back home, as the internet connection at the hotel is not secure and a bit slow.

Happy Berlin holidays, Anita and Frank! And belated happy double-75! :)

>214 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie, we had a very good time in Berlin :-)

--

Back home, we loved Berlin, but it is also good to be back home.

We met group members Miriam (BerlinBibliophile) and Charlotte (charl08).
We visited a lot of museums: Hamburger Bahnhof twice, Gemäldegalerie, Nikolaskirche, PalaisPopulaire.
We saw the comic opera The Fair at Sorochyntsi (based on a novel by Gogol) by Modest Mussorgsky at the Komische Oper.
We saw the Holocaust Memorial, the Neue Wache, the Brandenburg Gate, the World Clock on Alexanderplatz, Checkpoint Charlie, the statue of Marx and Engels at the Marx-Engels Forum, the Rotes Rathaus, the statue of Alexander von Humboldt in front of the Humboldt University.
We had some very good lunches & diners.
We bought some clothes at Galeria Kaufhof.
We bought a very adorable, lifelike stuffed little hare from Kösen.
We visited a Berlin couple who bought a pup from our first litter back in 1998, in that year we went to Berlin to deliver the pedigree and visited the city for a few hours. We kept in touch through the years, when they came to the Dutch coast on vacation.

So that was a lot in five days :-)

I updated >2 FAMeulstee: with the boooks I finished in Berlin.
Now I have to sort out the pictures I took, and hope to show some highlights & tell some more tomorrow.

>215 FAMeulstee: I'm glad you had a good trip. Of course you had to come back; you have to go back again.

>216 humouress: Thank you, Nina.
Yes, you are right, else we had to stay, which we could not afford ;-)

Some pictures of Berlin

Left: We could see the Fernsehturm next to Alexanderplatz wherever we were in the city. Our hotel was located near the Fernsehturm, so it was a sign for us when we walked back to the hotel.
Middle: this power station(?) had shelves with books on it, so I had to take a picture.
Right: Statue of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels on the Marx-Engels Forum.
  

Left: The Neue Wache (Memorial for the Victims of War and Dictatorship) with the statue Mother with her Dead Son by Käthe Kollwitz
Right: For bird lovers a hooded crow on Alexanderplatz (in our country we only have black crows). In Berlin we saw mainly sparrows and hooded crows.
 

Left: Neptunbrunnen (by Reinhold Begas, 1891) and the Rotes Rathaus (by Hermann Friedrich Wäsemann, 1869)
Middle: The Ampelmännchen, these traffic light men originated in East-Berlin. After the reunification the city started to remove them. People of the city called to save them, and now every traffic light that has to be replaced (both in former West and East) is replaced by Ampelmännchen. We we visited Berlin briefly in 1998 Frank took a red Ampelmännchen key ring home as a souvenir. This time I took a green Ampelmännchen key ring home. Back then there was one tiny shop with Ampelmännchen souvenirs, now there are 8 big shops!
Right: The Berlin bear on top of the Gründungsbrunnen (by Gerhard Thieme, 1987). What looks old isn't always old in Berlin, it could be a rebuild or rather new.
  

>215 FAMeulstee: You have seen a lot in just a few days!

>218 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the pictures!

How interesting those statues of Marx and Engels. I have never been to Berlin, but in Budapest lots of things that reminded of communist past have been removed, names of streets changed etc. Not in Berlin?

Museum Hamburger Bahnhof

We went to this museum twice, as there was so much to see. We skipped the rather crowded Emil Nolde exposition and visited "The Elephant in the Room": Sculptures of the Marx Collection and of the Collection of the Nationalgalerie, "Local Histories": Works from the Friedrich Christian Flick Collection at Hamburger Bahnhof, the Nationalgalerie Collection and loans and "How to talk with birds, trees, fish, shells, snakes, bulls and lions": An exhibition by Antje Majewski with Agnieszka Brzeżańska & Ewa Ciepielewska, Carolina Caycedo, Paweł Freisler, Olivier Guesselé-Garai, Tamás Kaszás, Paulo Nazareth, Guarani-Kaiowa & Luciana de Oliveira, Issa Samb, Xu Tan, Hervé Yamguen

Left: Museum Hamburger Bahnhof
Right: exposition "The Elephant in the Room" - Lilith by the Red Sea by Anselm Kiefer (1990)
 

Left: exposition "The Elephant in the Room" - Untitled by Donald Judd (1966/1977)
Right: exposition "The Elephant in the Room" - Two Ball 50/50 Tank by Jeff Koons (1985)
 

Left: exposition "Local Histories" - Untitled by Lee Bontecou (1960)
Right: exposition "How to talk with birds, trees, fish, shells, snakes, bulls and lions" - Fair energy transition by Carolina Caycedo (2017/2018)
 

Left, middle and right: having fun taking pictures of "Sience Fiction / Here and now being content" by Isa Genzken and Wolfgang Tillmans (2001) an installation with mirrors.
  

>219 EllaTim: We have seen an awful lot, Ella!
Very tired, but content, when we came home. More pictures to come :-)

They tried to remove a lot in Berlin, but some was saved.

Gemäldegalerie

At the Gemäldegalerie was, besides their famous collection of paintings from the 13th to 18th century including masterpieces by artists from every age of art history such as van Eyck, Bruegel, Dürer, Raphael, Tizian, Caravaggio, Rubens, Vermeer and Rembrandt, an exhilbition featuring Mantegna and Bellini, Masters of the Renaissance.

Left: Venus by Sandro Botticelli
Middle: Amor Victorious by Caravaggio (ca 1602)
Right: Portrait of Catharina Hooft with her nurse, Frans Hals (1620), look at the incredible rich fabric of the dress of little Catharina!
  

Palais Polulair

On Friday we met Miriam (BerlinBibliophile), she took us to the Palais Polulair, a new museum at Unter den Linden. There was the exhibition "Objects of Wonder": Brittish Sculpture from the Tate Collection 1950-Present. After the museum we had lunch together in an Italian restaurant nearby.
Thank you, Miriam, it was so nice to meet you!

Left: Untitled by Anish Kapoor (2012)
Right: Miriam and Frank in front of Palais Populair
 

Holocaust Monument

On Friday we met Charlotte (charl08), who happened to be in Berlin too. We went to the impressive Holocaust Monument (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe), had lunch together and walked a bit through the city. After I took the picture with Charlotte and Frank the battery of my camera was empty, so that was the last picture.
Thank you, Charlotte, for a lovely afternoon. We hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Berlin.

Left: Holocaust Memorial
Right: Charlotte and Frank
 

We are away the rest of the day, visiting Guido and Endo (son of Chimay).

Meanwhile there is a lot of trouble in my family again. My fathers lawyer tried to reason with my sister, resulting in challenging the judge by my sisters lawyer in the next legal restraint court case...

What lovely pictures, and I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip, Anita. Sorry to hear about the family legal troubles :(

>218 FAMeulstee: The traffic lights are adorable!

>222 FAMeulstee: Renaissance painters are some of my favorites. They are lovely.

>225 FAMeulstee: I’m so sorry about the legal troubles. I’m sure you’ve gone over it before but I may not have been around. Would you mind giving me a quick synopsis of what is going on?

Meetups in Berlin! How great, Anita. So nice to see Charlotte there with Frank.

Thanks for posting the photos. It is always fun to see your travels.

>226 bell7: Thank you, Mary, it was a great trip. I don't think we ever did this much in 5 days.
The legal troubles are ongoing for nearly a year now...

>227 Morphidae: Thank you, Morphy, the traffic lights are special. Since a few years some German cities have a female version.

We prefer modern art, but in the last years we learned to appriciate older art. Later today I will put some more pictures on my Facebook account.

Quick synopsis... well... that isn't easy. Last year my sister started a court case to get custody over my mother, she lost the case in August 2018. When the term for appeal was almost over and we (my father, my brother and I) thought she would not take further action, she did appeal. Meanwhile my father and brother asked the court to give custody to them both. This case should have been in court today, but my sisters lawyer disagreed the same judge would handle it. So now it is postponed. The appeal from the previous case will be in July.
I haven't seen my sister over 15 years, as she (of course) disagreed with my use of anti-depressants. She stalked me about it almost daily by phone and mail, so finally I cut all contact.

>228 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, it is always a treat to meet other group members! :-)
As I said to Morphy ^, more pictures on FB later today.

ETA: the pictures are on Facebook now

>229 FAMeulstee: If you don’t mind my saying, your sister sounds like a bit of a whack job. I’m so sorry you have to deal with her and her shenanigans. It’s terrible. *hugs*

>215 FAMeulstee: Wow you certainly packed a lot into your visit!
Glad you had a great meetup as well.
Sorry to hear that your sister is still not cooperating or understanding. Family dynamics can be tiring and stressful!

Your Berlin visit and meetups are delightful to see! The ongoing sister-drama is not delightful at all, and I am sorry to hear about it since that means you are having to endure it.

{{{Anita}}}

But how wonderful it was to see Chimay's sons!

>230 Morphidae: I don't mind, Morphy, it runs in the family... I have some of it, but got over most issues with some help. Sadly she met some very bad therapists along the way and tried to resolve her problems on her own, with this as the result :-(

>231 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, looking back we managed to do a lot in Berlin. And enjoyed it all!
My family has always been trouble, but the last few years have been very bad, even to my standards...

>232 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, the meetups were the topping of the cake (did I say that right?).
There are times I think I should be used to the drama by now, enduring my family for over 56 years, somehow it keeps hurting.

Yes, it is always a delight to see Endo, as he lives with a friend we still see him regular. He turned 10 years in March, but still looks much younger. Yesterday I walked him, as Guido was preparing a wonderful diner for us and Endo was not content, as it was TIME to WALK!! He doesn't like changes in daily routines...

>233 FAMeulstee: I am sorry that you still have to deal with the problem with your sister. So sad for all of you.

Endo is quite right, walking is very important! Next to eating, maybe?

>234 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, sadly we can't change the present situation.

Yes, but walking AT the RIGHT TIME is absolutely #1, eating is 2nd ;-)

>235 FAMeulstee: Ah, my experience is with cats, there walking is less important;-)

>233 FAMeulstee: "Topping ON the cake" sounds better, though "of" isn't wrong. It's just not the idiom, which is usually said "ICING on the cake," a slightly ironic way of saying "if you think everything I said before was bad/annoying/irritating, listen to THIS!" and so implies you're not happy with whatever you're applying the idiom to.

To say something was a treat or an extra-good thing, you could say, "the meet-ups were the cherry on my sundae." That has a happier connotation for some reason.

>236 EllaTim: Cats can walk themselves ;-)

>237 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, for explaining. I will keep it in mind for next times. These kind of sayings are the hardest to pick up from a foreign language.

Anita, it looks like you had a lovely time with Frank in Berlin. I am glad you both enjoyed it and thank you for sharing the photos! And I'm so sorry to hear that your sister is stirring up trouble again. I hope your father is coping well. Hugs for all of you!

Lovely, full trip Anita. I would have loved the Emil Nolde exhibition, but not the crowds. I love Anselm Kiefer's work. And meeting up with Charlotte too.

Grrr re the family problems. Adding to the hugs.

>239 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, we had a great trip. Now we are recuperating.
My father was disappoited again, sadly he isn't able to give up hope.

>240 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. Luckely there were enough other interesting exhibitions besides the Emil Nolde exhibit. Besides Anselm Kiefer, we were this time impressed by some of Donald Judd and Joseph Beuys works.
Sadly the family trouble is an ongoing nuisance...

Great photos, Anita!

>242 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl!

--
Tomorrow I am going to help my father to sort out clothes from my mother and other things he might not need/want anymore.
Originally we would go straight to his place and skip visiting my mother, but my mother fell today (nothing broken) and my father feels the end might be near... So we will visit her tomorrow and then go help my father.

Hi Anita

I return to slowly visit some threads and I see that your mom fell today. I hope your visits with you mother and father are well.

Thinking of you and sending a gentle hug. Your opening images are lovely!

Spring arrived a few weeks ago. The flowers in the garden are beginning their opening journey. The flower gardens in our neighborhood are lovely. I'm back to taking Lilly for short walks. I swear I see a smile on her face as she is walking.

I love the photos Anita - sorry I didn't say so earlier, but I had a lovely time meeting you and Frank too. My phone disappeared the next day (the area around the photography museum turned out not to be very nice: there were a lot of very sad looking people around, and stopping to get some groceries on the way to the u-bahn turned out to be a mistake, as my phone was gone by the time I opened my handbag to pay).

So sorry to hear things are troubling again with your sister and your mum's health. Sending my best wishes to you both.

>244 Whisper1: So good to se a message of you, Linda!
Glad you and Lily are taking walks, good for both of you.
Today in my garden the first rose opened up: Rosa "Marselisborg", a yellow rose with a light fragrance.

>245 charl08: Sorry your phone was stolen, Charlotte, that is upsetting :'(
It looks like my sisters troubling us with court cases will be over soon, my mothers decline is going fast. It might be a matter of days...

--
We visited my mother today, there isn't much left of her, both physical and mentally.
She was laying in her bed, most of her muscles are gone. We had no eye contact at all. Holding her hand she did give a little squeeze, but that was it. We left when she fell back into sleep.
With my father I looked at some of my mothers clothes, but he wasn't in the mood to sort out. So we looked at possible dresses my mother could wear when she is gone... Glad to be back home again.

>246 FAMeulstee: - So sorry, Anita. Such a difficult time of life this is, dealing with declining parents. Wishing you strength

>246 FAMeulstee: Sorry to hear it. I’m thinking of you.

R.I.P.

What a beautiful picture of your mother Anita! I'm so sorry, rest in peace indeed. Wishing you and your family strength.

And hugs to you and Frank.

Sympathies and hugs Anita. At least she is at rest now. That little hand squeeze was her goodbye. Keeping you in my thoughts. I agree, a lovely photo, and I can see her in you.

My deepest condolences, Anita, you and your father, and Frank. May your mother rest in peace.

What a beautiful picture of you mother, Anita. My deepest condolences and sympathy. Hugs to you and Frank.

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother, Anita. Lovely photo. Gentle hug to you, my friend.

My deepest condolences, Anita. Seems as if she waited for your return to squeeze your hand and say goodbye the best way she could. Indeed, a lovely picture.

Oh, Anita, I'm so sorry. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and in my heart, friend.

We are too, Anita. Our condolences over your mother passing. Debbi and I send sympathy and hugs.

Hi Anita!

>196 FAMeulstee: I’m sorry you didn’t like LitB – it seems to be a one-way-or-the-other book of liking it a lot or disliking it a lot.

>218 FAMeulstee: Lovely photos, and this bird lover is appreciative of the hooded crow!

>220 FAMeulstee: Nice! A mirror selfie. You both look great.

>220 FAMeulstee: It doesn’t sound like reasoning works with your sister. I’m so sorry for this trouble again for you and your family.

>243 FAMeulstee: So sorry to hear that your mother fell.

>246 FAMeulstee: A sad visit, Anita, for you and your father. That little hand squeeze had to have been goodbye.

>249 FAMeulstee: Beautiful photo.

My condolences to you. Hugs to you, Frank, and your father.

So sorry to see about your mother. Hope you are doing ok!

Anita, so sorry to hear about your mother. Thinking of you & Frank & family.

Condolences to you both, Anita - will be thinking of you.

I am so sorry to hear about your mother's passing, but I am glad she is now at peace. Thank you for sharing her beautiful photo.

Thanks Ella, Caroline, Shelley, Deborah, Mark, Lynda, Amber, Joe, Karen, Chelle, Mary, Charlotte and Janet.

--
We are just back home.

We went to my father to give him some support and comfort.
My mother died this morning at 8.45, so yesterday we were the last of the family who had seen her.
The funeral will be Monday next week (May 27), as the cemetery was full booked for Friday and Saturday.

I would have liked to say goodbye to my mother, but my sister has occupied the mortuary since this morning... We go to my father again tomorrow, to help him writing the addresses on the mourning cards, so they can be posted next Monday. I hope to get a chance to say goodbye, as I hope my sister has left by then.

Not sure yet what I will do with the funeral. I haven't been to funerals over 20 years, I once had a bad anxiety attack on a funeral and have avoided them since. I don't look forward to be anywhere near my sister, but I know my father would appriciate my presence. So I promished my father I will try my best to come at least to the service at the church.

>249 FAMeulstee: I am so sad with you, Anita. Farewell to your mother, and my thanks to her for making us the gift of you.

>263 FAMeulstee: Your father will need your support as much, possibly more, after the funeral. If you can't go, remember this is far from the end of his life and supporting him will be much more important in the days to come than on just one day.

Hi Anita my dear, so sorry to hear your Mother has passed away, sending condolences to you and Frank and thinking of you both at this sad time. Sending love and hugs to both of you from both of us dear friend.

I’m very sorry for your loss

I'm very sorry to learn about your mother's death, Anita. I hope that you do get to spend time with her, in the absence of your sister, and that the funeral and grieving process doesn't lead to a bad anxiety attack. You'll be in my prayers.

Catching up.

Very sorry to read about your mother. We're keeping you and and your family in our thoughts.

Thanks for posting so many pics from Berlin-- looks like a wonderful trip.

Anita, I saw the photo on Facebook and knew immediately what it meant before even reading any of the text, and came straight here. That is a lovely photo and such a great way to remember her. There is no rush now--you will have a chance to say goodbye privately and even to celebrate her life on the 27th. Yes, I remember doing a whole lot of addressing of envelopes when my father died. Hugs for you and Frank and your dad.

Thanks Richard, John & Karen, Jenny, Darryl, Steve and Roni

>264 richardderus: I promished my father I would try my best. That left an opening for me to stay away.

---
Thanks again, all your lovely messages mean a lot to us.
We were glad to have a great week in Berlin, before my mothers decline went so fast.

Off to bed now...

Anita, I‘m so sorry about your mother.
It sounds like her passing was peaceful in the end. The picture is beautiful, she looks strong and so loving. Love and hugs to you, Frank and your dad.

Sending my love and sympathy, Anita, and best wishes for the days ahead.

So sorry to hear of your loss Anita, that is a lovely photo of your mother. Sending love and best wishes especially for the funeral.

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother. I know this is an especially difficult time for you. My thoughts are with you, hoping that the stress doesn’t become overwhelming.

Hugs and love to you, Anita.

Sorry to hear the bad news, Anita.
I wish you and yours all the best and a lot of strength.

So sorry for your loss. What a lovely photo of your mother.

Anita, I will add my condolences to all the others. It is so hard to lose your mother. She was a beautiful woman. I hope all goes well tomorrow and in the days and weeks ahead.

I am so sorry for your loss :(

Sending Hugs your way

So sorry to hear of your loss, Anita.

Also so sorry for your loss.

Thanks Nathalie, Kerry, Heather, Gail, Thomas. Rhonda, Donna, Anita, Stephen and Jim.

--
Sadly my mother and me were never a good match. I am glad I told my mother I forgave her everything when we visited her last Friday. I hope that eased her transition...
Yesterday we went to say goodbye to my mother. After that we went to my father and met the reverend who will lead the funeral service for my mother next week. She is a very nice woman, who knew my parents well. She went to an other congregation recently, but was willing to come back for my mothers funeral.

Back to the books, I am not in the mood to write reviews right now.


book 154: Wilhelm Meisters leerjaren by Johann Wolfgang Goethe
1001 books, from the library, e-book, translated from German, English translation Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, 702 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a coming of age story



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book 155: Berlijn : biografie van een nieuwe stad by Peter Schneider
from the library, e-book, non-fiction, translated from German, English translation Berlin Now: The City After the Wall, 382 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer



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book 156: Top 10 : Berlijn by Jürgen Scheunemann
own, non-fiction, travel guide, translated, original title DK Eyewitness Top Ten Travel Guide : Berlin, 192 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer



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book 157: Emiel en zijn detectives by Erich Kästner
from the library, e-book, YA, translated from German, English translation Emil and the Detectives, 144 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer



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book 158: Steenhouwer by Camilla Läckberg
from the library, e-book, translated from Swedish, English translation The Stonecutter, 463 pages
TIOLI Challenge #4: Title Contains at Least One 4 Letter or Longer Embedded Word

book 159: Het meten van de wereld by Daniel Kehlmann
1001 books, from the library, e-book, translated from German, English translation Measuring the World, 289 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer



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book 160: Reizigster op een been by Herta Müller
from the library, e-book, Nobel prize winner, translated from German, English translation Traveling on One Leg, 143 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer



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book 161: Bombaaj! by Els Pelgrom
own, Dutch, YA, Kinderboekenweekgeschent 1995, no translations, 93 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book with a non-human mammal on the cover



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book 162: De zevenslaper by Hanna Muschg
own, YA, translated from German, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1987, English translation 7 x 7 Tales of Sevensleeper, 96 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book with a non-human mammal on the cover



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book 163: Een waanzinnig begin by Hans Fallada
from the library, e-book, translated from German, English translation Nightmare in Berlin, 267 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer

Impressive read book about Germany right after the war. Based on the writers own experiences.

So sorry to hear about your mother, Anita. I hope you got a chance to visit with her as you wished.

>284 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg.
Yes, we went to the mortuary on Sunday, when we were sure my sister was not there.

book 164: De pijnboomeilanden by Marion Poschman
from the library, e-book, translated from German, English translation The Pine Islands, 172 pages
TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in Berlin, or by a German writer

When Gilbert Silvester suspects his wife is cheating on him, he books a flight to Tokyo. There he meets a suicidal student and decides to take the student on a trip north, following the footsteps of the Japanese writer Matsuo Basho.
West meets East, well written and even funny at times.

book 165: Kantjil : dwerghert bij het Tobameer by Alet Schouten
own, YA, Dutch, no translations, 92 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a book with a non-human mammal on the cover

The adventures of Kantjil (Indonesian mouse-deer), who outsmarts even Tiger and Rhino.



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book 166: Tinus-in-de-war by Jacques Vriens
own, YA, Dutch, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1991, no translations, 63 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book whose cover contains a hyphenated word

Anke is staying with her aging grandparents. They have an old cat called Tinus. Both grandfather and Tinus have early symptoms of memory loss. Managing the cat is easy...

My reading numbers are way down this month, I even had to remove some shared TIOLI reads from my list :-(

After two nights not sleeping much, I have decided to stay home next Monday. Frank will represent me at the funeral.
The service at the church will be broadcasted on-line, so I can watch if I want to do so.

>286 FAMeulstee: Oh, I've had my eye on that book. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

>289 richardderus: I hope you like it too, when you get to it.

>288 FAMeulstee: Hard decision to make Anita. Wishing you strength tomorrow.

Just dropping by to say I'm holding you in my thoughts Anita, as I know you have a tough week ahead. {{{hugs}}}.

{{hugs}}, Anita. I hope that, having made the decision, sleep will come more easily tonight, as your mind can rest now.

Thanks Ella, Caroline and Shelley, I needed some hugs.
I finally slept all night after I decided not to go. I feel very relieved, as I wrestled with decision all week. It also gave some space for feelings of grief and mourn.

Anita--I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your Mom and I am very glad you can watch the service tomorrow from at home. Frank will be a wonderful representative for you. I think you are right that this will take away the stress of interacting with your sister (or even seeing her) and will let you instead focus on your Mom. I am glad you got to see her one more time and that she gave your that special little hand squeeze. Sending lots and lots of hugs to you.

I'll be holding you in my thoughts on Monday.

How you choose to grieve is a personal decision, so I think whatever choice you make is a good one.

More (((hugs))) Anita, and glad that you are taking care of yourself.

>295 Berly: Thank you, Berly. I saw my sister through the internet (she did sing at the funeral) and that was more than enough... My brother did a lovely speach about my mother and the reverend also spoke very well. Frank came home very tired.

>296 streamsong: Thank you, Janet, I did make the right desicion. Grieving takes time to ease a bit. It is going to be though for my father, his days were all planned around the daily visit to my mother.

>297 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda, it isn't always easy to take care of yourself...

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It is done, the funeral went without incidents and my mother is buried.

I'm glad you were able to participate in the way that most suited you Anita. The grieving process takes a while though.

Does your dad have interests of his own that will help him fill his time?

>298 FAMeulstee: A relief I am sure. Your mother lives in memory now.

>299 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, we will all need time to grieve.
My father plays Jeu de Boules with some friends on Thursday afternoon and he recently started to interfere (together with an other resident) with the residents association, as there are some problems in the committee. He was asked to join the committe some years ago, but at the time he refused, because almost all his time was dedicated to my mother.
We intend to visit more often, and so does my brother.

>300 richardderus: Yes, Richard, a big relief. The memories... how did you deal with that?

>301 FAMeulstee: My bad memories are ever-present. My means of dealing with them is to control my experience: If it's a frequently visited memory, I speak it out loud...say what I *should* have said in that moment. Less common surfacers I write down in detail, structuring them as stories. I save them to a file on my computer, THEN delete the file. The relief of this simple exercise of MY control of MY memory, even if it's the computerized version, is enormous for me.

My way works for me. If you give these ideas a whirl, maybe they can help you as well.

>302 richardderus: I like the idea of deleting, Richard, that might work for me as well. I will give it a try.
I was coping rather well in the last years, since dementia took her ability to manipulate. But the whirlwind of emotions in the last week is bringing back memories that better should have stayed where they belong: deep down in inaccessable archives.

I know, I should start a next thread and I will do so in time.

I was here to try to catch up with all of you, but found myself re-reading my own threads of previous years. Since 2008 LT has not only been a place to list my readings, it is also a kind of dairy where the main events, high and low, are noted down. Births and deaths, and life that happens in between.

>304 FAMeulstee: I've been distracted that way before too Anita. It's interesting to remind yourself.

Hugs to you and Frank, Anita. Glad the funeral is over and you can concentrate on getting your life back on an even keel and supporting your dad. Sounds like he's moving on.

Hi Anita! Dropping off a hug.

Hi Anita! It does sound like the right decision to have Frank represent you at the funeral. It's wonderful that the reverend knew your parents and was willing to come and amazing to me that you could see the service from home.

I like Richard's ideas on how to control bad memories.

Hi Anita, thinking of you and Frank.

Hi Anita, thinking of you and Frank dear friend, sending love and hugs to both of you.

>305 Caroline_McElwee: Yes it is, Caroline, and a remider that memory isn't always right ;-)

>306 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, we visitid my father today and he was much better than last week.

>307 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, and a hug back to you!

>308 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, I was very relieved after deciding to skip the funeral. I didn't know either about services being broadcasted on the internet. It seems most Protestant churches have this these days. There was a whole list of churches on the website, you can even look services back (and download) for some months.
I have tried Richards advice, and it does help.

>309 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.

>310 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, hugs back to you and Karen.

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We visited my father today and he was in much better shape and spirit. We continued to sort out my mothers clothes, one wardrobe (of two) is nearly empty now. We are planning to go over every two weeks to help, until we have gone through all.

>223 FAMeulstee: >224 FAMeulstee: Wonderful meet-up photos with Miriam and Charlotte.

>225 FAMeulstee: How nice that you got to see Chimay’s son. Endo’s priorities are the other way around from our Jasper’s; he’ll go looking for food if anyone is in the kitchen, even if he’s just polished off his own dinner.

>229 FAMeulstee: I love the female version of the traffic lights. I suppose they’re Ampelmädchen?

>237 richardderus: Maybe it’s a British thing, but I would use ‘the icing on the cake’ to mean something was made even better. Or, rather, I probably wouldn’t use it personally but that is how I’ve come across it being used. (But then Richard is a cynical old so and so 😉.)

There’s also ‘to top it all off’ (which I would use either way).

>249 FAMeulstee: Dear Anita, that is a beautiful picture of your mother. Deepest condolences to you and your family.

My apologies for not visiting your thread earlier; I haven’t been very active on LT lately.

I love the photos from Berlin, Anita. I was there on holiday a few years ago and it might still be my favourite place I've visited. Such a wonderful city and so many amazing places to see. You hit some of the same places I did (though I think I spent more time in "old fashioned art" museums than you did!

So sorry to hear about your mother. I can't even imagine what it must feel like for you (and your father). All the best to you.

>312 humouress: Thank you, Nina, my visits to LT are not always frequent either.
>312 humouress: >223 FAMeulstee: I am always happy to share my LT meets here.
>312 humouress: >225 FAMeulstee: Endo is very easy with food, his owner refills his bowl when it is empty... I never could do that, I had some dogs that would keep eating. Chimay, Endo's mother, was the same. She was only allowed to eat what she could when she had puppies. When the pups were gone she had GAINED 2 kilo! Almost every dam will loose weight with a large litter...
>312 humouress: >229 FAMeulstee: Indeed those are called Ampelmädchen. When I searched Wikipedia for female traffic lights I saw there were also female traffic lights in our country. Going to look for them in one of our next trips.
>312 humouress: >249 FAMeulstee: Thank you, the sharpest edges are gone, but it is still an emotional roalercoaster.

>313 PawsforThought: Thank you, Paws, Berlin was great we will definitly visit again. We both liked the atmosphere in the city.
Thank you, it was expected, her decline (both mentally and phisically) went fast in the last months.