what Anita (FAMeulstee) is reading in 2015

hi everyone, Happy new Year!!!!

I still can't read much, but will review the few I do read here ;-)

link to my 2014 thread

Happy New Year, Anita!

read in 2014:

1 - Black, de zwarte hengst (The Black Stallion) by Walter Farley
2 - De terugkeer van Black, de zwarte hengst (The Black Stallion Returns) by Walter Farley
3 - De zoon van Black, de zwarte hengst (Son of the Black Stallion) by Walter Farley
4 - Black, de zwarte hengst en Satan (The Black Stallion and Satan) by Walter Farley
5 - Black Minx, het veulen van Black, de zwarte hengst (The Black Stallion's filly) by Walter Farley
6 - Black, de zwarte hengst komt in opstand (The Black Stallion Revolts) by Walter Farley
7 - Bonfire, Black's tweede zoon in de drafsport (The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt) by Walter Farley
8 - Black, de zwarte hengst terug op de renbaan (The Black Stallions Courage) by Walter Farley
9 - Het mysterie van Black's vader (The Black Stallions mystery) by Walter Farley
10 - Black, de zwarte hengst en Flame (The Black Stallion and Flame) by Walter Farley
11 - De wateren van Finn by Alet Schouten
12 - Het teken van Wichart by Alet Schouten
13 - De mare van de Witte Toren by Alet Schouten
14 - Het pad van de Wildeman by Alet Schouten
15 - De stilte van de nachtegalen (Across the nightingale floor) by Lian Hearn
16 - Het gefluister van de raven (Grass for his pillow) by Lian Hearn
17 - Heaven's net is wide by Lian Hearn

currently reading Het schijnsel van de maan (Brilliance of the moon) by Lian Hearn

Happy New year to you and yours too Amber!

Happy New Year Anita!

The same right back to you Manuel!

Happy New Year! Here's to nothing but excellent reading in 2015!!!

thank you Laura, to exellent readings!

Happy New Year, Anita!

Welcome back!

Happy New Year to you and Frank! Great to see you here again.
Hope the doggies got panic-free through the Silvester night?

Anita lovely to see you back in the group from the beginning of the year. Trust that you and Frank have the best possible year health and happiness wise. xx

I found you! :) Happy New Year's and happy new thread!

Happy reading in 2015, Anita!

See you on the farm :)

> 9: thank you Terri, the same to you

> 10: thank you Roni, I guess it was a picture with Happy New Year or so... sadly it did not load for me :-(

> 11: thank you Jim for all you do for this group!

> 12: thanks Nathalie, the same to you.
Chimay was her own stoïc self, as always she ignored all the noise. Ari is a bit afraid, the occasional bangs in December were bearable, but when all went loose around twelve he had a hard time. We were very happy Frank was at home this time, after 7 years working at New Years Eve :-D
After the overdose of noise Ari was for the 2 next days a bit skittish, but today he returned to his selfconfident self, Chimay is happy with that too, as she was a bit annoyed with his strange behavior.

> 13: thank you Paul, I hope your wish to us comes true.
I can't keep up with your threads here, but following you on Facebook makes me feel I'm still a bit in touch :-)

> 14: hi Sara, glad to see you here!!

> 15: thanks & yes Stasia, I read more from you at the message board there than I do here...

Hi Anita, and Ari and Chimay of course (oh, and Frank :) ). I hope all is well with all of you.

> 17: hi Jenny!
Except for my reading inability and Franks ongoing fatigue we are doing very well ;-)
Chimay turned 10 in October and is still going very well, Ari is now 4 years old and has grown into a great little dog, he is incredible smart and keeps our minds busy to keep him from controling the household. Now I really can understand how some Pekingese can turn into little terrors if they get the freedom to do as they like...

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar, Anita! Alle goeds voor 2015.

> 19: dank je wel Connie en het zelfde voor jou!

book 1 Het schijnsel van de maan by Lian Hearn

own, translation of Brilliance of the moon, historical fiction/fantasy, Japan, reread, finished January 11th, 4 1/2 stars

Love these books about the Otori. This was the last book of the original trilogy and I enjoyed it so much again.
I started the next one The harsh cry of the heron, again in English, so it wil take a while ;-)

I don't know if this is a series for me, but I just ordered the Kindle sample of part one, Across the Nightingale Floor, because I'm in the mood for Japanese literature after having finished An Artist of the Floating World and then simply because the cover and title above are so inviting.
Wishing you and Frank a wonderful Sunday!

> 22: hi Nathalie
It isn't exactly high literature like An Artist of the Floating World, but a well knit adventure story in Middle Age Japan.
I loved it, so much that I even read the untranslated prequel in English (took me 3 months!) and started yesterday with book 4 in English as well, so I am covered for the next months ;-)

Anita, I 've held off on that series because it looks like there is a lot of violence. would you say that's true and if so, does the story make it worth it?

> 24: Yes Roni, there is a lot of violence, but it was in no way annoying for me. It is within the time, the Middle Ages in Europe were violent times too... The book creates a plauseble intrige about where Ninja's came from, I liked that very much.
Swords and samurai.. well you can imagine what samurai do with their swords in a war and there are vivid descriptions of war.

I don't know what you can handle, in the first chapter there is already a lot of violence, try it, if you can handle the first chapter I think you can handle the rest ;-)

Is it true, that someone here is having a birthday?

I wish you the very best of Birthdays, Anita!!

Thank you Roni,
and indeed I had the very best birthday ever :-)

>21 FAMeulstee: My daughter Beth has that entire series of books. I really need to give them a go.

Happy Belated Birthday from me :)

Happy belated Birthday from me, too! :) Sorry I missed it, Anita.

thanks Stasia and Sara, I had a great birthday :-D

and I hope you like the Otori books too, Stasia.

Happy belated birthday, Anita!! :)

thank you Nathalie!

Fijne Verjaardag, Anita. Een beetje te laat, maar beter laat dan nooit!

Hi Anita, belated birthday wishes and also belated hello from me, I only now noticed you had a thread in this group.
I loved the Otori trilogy but still haven't read the later one or two books. The author, Lian Hearn, is a pen name of Australian writer Gillian Rubinstein.

Last year I enjoyed reading a few Dutch children's classics including: Tonke Dragt's The Letter for the King which had a new English translation and also a couple by Jan Terlouw, How to become king and Winter in Wartime, both have been made into films in the past few years.

> 33: dank je wel Connie, ik heb een heel prettige, rustige verjaardag gehad :-D

> 34: hi Kerry, glad to see a note from you!
Ahh I hope you enjoyed The Letter for the King as it is one of my childhood favorites and own all books by Tonke Dragt...

I loved Jan Terlouw and his books too, in the film of How to become king there was a lot changed, I am still not sure if I liked it. I did like the book.
Winter in Wartime has a special place as the major in the original Dutch book was named after my father, Jan Terlouw asked my father if he could use his name, sadly he spelled it wrong "van Beusekom" but my maiden name is "van Beuzekom". ;-)

I'm happy that I've read some of your special childhood books. I loved The Letter for the King, a great read for children. It was the first to be retranslated and published under Pushkin Press' new children's imprint. I think they are going to publish the sequel which will be great as I'm not sure if any of her other work is available in English.

I agree about the Koning van Katoren film, it was quite different from the book which I loved, though I think it was ok as a film for its target audience. My husband watched it a couple of nights ago and said the storyline reminded him a little of King Matt the First by Janusz Korczak, so that's another book for me to read. I'd heard of Janusz Korczak before because of how he is said to have died in the Holocaust, but I didn't know he wrote children's books.

How wonderful to have had your father's name used in Winter in Wartime. Wow.

I know, I have been away way too long!

Thanks Kerry, I think I did read King Matt the first long ago, but not completely sure...

I did finish my second book in March :-D

book 2 The harsh cry of the heron by Lian Hearn

own, English, historical fiction/fantasy, Japan, finished March 5th
4 1/2 stars

This is really the last book, sigh, a few tears when I read the last chapter, recommended for everyone who loves the Otori books, but hasn't read this one.

To make up with you all a few pictures:

Chimay in the snow (we spend a week in Germany):


Ari and Chimay:


Me today with my new hairdo:

My goodness, you are going super Mod with the hairdo! Way to go!

I'm appreciating what a good neighbor you are on Farmville II.

And love the pictures of Chimay (what a beauty!) and Ari.

Hi, Anita! Love the photos of Chimay and Ari - and your hair looks fabulous!

>39 ronincats: thanks Roni, I am happy with this hair too & try to be a good neighbor in FV2 :-D

>40 scaifea: thank you too Amber!

The reading isn't much at the moment....

I'm a little belated, but "Hi, Anita!" :) I love the detail on your hair. And, of course, I love the dog pictures. Did Ari like the snow?

>42 saraslibrary: hi Sara!
Thank you, the detail is now slowly fading while my hair grows...
And yes, Ari loved the snow so much that he was nearly all the time walking and running in front of us. A joy to see, but not the best perspective to take pictures ;-)

This is aready the second good picture of Chimay this year! :-D
Not taken by me, but by a friend, when we did a long walk in the woods with Easter. Chimay peeking from behind a tree:

and a picture of Ari on this birthday (he turned 5 on May 12th)

I love the photos, especially Chimay peeking round the tree! So sweet!

> 46: thank you Amber, I was very happy with that one, as Chimay is hard to picture, she really dislikes the "big eye" of the camera....

Those are great photos of both dogs, Anita!

>43 FAMeulstee: Hair tends to do that. Grow, that is. ;) No worries. You can get it cut again. I liked it! :)

And I'm glad to hear Ari loved the snow, too. :)

>44 FAMeulstee: I love that shot! Perfect. :)

>45 FAMeulstee: Belated Happy 5th Birthday, Ari! :) You don't look a day over 4. ;)

I am 6 weeks late to comment on those wonderful pics - sorry for the delay and thank you for sharing them. Your doggies are SO super cute, you just want to cuddle them! And your hairstyle is fantastic!

> 48: thank you Roni :-)

> 49: LOL Sara, yes hair does grow and seems to grow faster when you have short hair... ;-) Think I'll go to the hairdresser next week, or the week after that.
I was very pleased with that picture of Chimay too and Ari said THANK YOU!!!

> 50: well Nathalie, I am not very quick either ;-)
Thank you & thank you :-)
As I said to Sara, my hair needs to be cut again, I am very pleased with it, short hair is soooo much easier! Although with the more sunny weather I have to protect my ears, forgot to do so and have burned ears now....

and a message about BOOKS :-D

Thank you Kerry (avatiakh) for mentioning The letter to the king, I started it mid April and finished it early May. A reread, so no review, only that it is still one of my all time favorites :-)

After that I read the sequel Geheimen van het Wilde Woud, I hope this one will be translated soon for all you English readers!

So that makes 4 books this year in 5 months....

And now the good news: I am weaning of the Paroxetine (Paxil), it will take a long time, but I want to try to get completely off.
Since there have been a lot of changes in my physical & psychical health in the last years (my Thyroid, vitamin B12 shortage etc) I hope to get of the psych meds completely and never have to return to a non reading state....
But if depression kicks in again I'll go back to the Effexor and will at least be able to read the next 4 years ;-)

That would be great, Anita, but even if you can't get off the meds completely, at least you'll be able to read! {{{{{Anita}}}}}

Oh, yes, hugs for Frank, Chimay, and Ari too. Please pass them on for me. ;-)

> 54: thank you Roni, I am looking forward to it too! :-D
And hugs given to all, thanks

>44 FAMeulstee: I love, love photos of your animals. They always make me smile.

>51 FAMeulstee: Ari is most welcome. :)

>53 FAMeulstee: Was the Paxil causing the thryoid and vitamin deficiencies? I've been on pretty much all the SSRIs and beyond and haven't had any good results (no bad side effects either, thankfully, other than a lower sex drive). I'm on Effexor right now (have been for about a year now), and I don't feel any less depressed. Is that the one you prefer? Or works for you the best? Anyway, best of luck with your choice! I wish the best for you. :) Hugs!

> 56: I am happy to make you smile, Linda :-)

> 57: Well... I am not sure Sara, it could be the other way around, as none of the SSRI's I took ever had any effect on my anxiety and phobia's. And these can come from thyroid problems, so.... I know they tested my blood 20 years ago (when the phobia's started and I had my worst depresssive time ever). It could be that my T4/TSH were at that time in a low normal range but already causing problems.

I took many different SSRI's too, only Paxil and Effexor worked well for me, but both for a limited time: 4 or 5 years and then I have to switch to the other. Lucky there ARE two that do work well! All others had no effect, made the depression worse or made me into a zombie.

BIG disadvantage of Paxil is that I can't read much and with both I have no sexdrive at all, I am past meno-pause and my greatest fear is that taking the Thyrax will reverse that and I have to go trough the whole ordeal of meno-pause again, as lately I feel a bit off again 4 days a month...

>58 FAMeulstee: Yeah, I've heard some people say sometimes their depression is confused with thyroid problems, but I don't know enough about it. I've had my thyroid levels tested several times, and they're all in the normal range.

I'm glad you at least have Paxil and Effexor to switch between! :) And you are lucky to have both last for so many years each. I've heard of SSRI poop-out, where they just stop working, period. But I would think if your doctor is balancing the two rx's, then you should be fine. Or at least I hope you are fine. :)

Yes, a lot of people don't like antidepressants because of the sex drive issue. You would think that something that's supposed to "make you happy" would make your sex drive increase, but it's quite the opposite. I can relate to that. Oh, bummer on having the chance of going through menopause all over again. :/ I would think once would be enough.

>52 FAMeulstee: Pleased to see you re-enjoying Letter for the King. I'm about to pick up Dragt's The Towers of February from the library, I've had to pay for an interloan as copies in English are rare.

You should visit Darryl's thread (kidzdoc) as he's about to visit The Netherlands for the first time.

I don't know much about all these medications, just happy that you are looking to limit your need for them....and that you can keep reading.

> 59: Thyroid values normal does not say it all, Sara, I have to be in the high range of normal to feel right. Some vitamin defencies can cause depression too, so if the Effexor and other SSRI's don't work I would look into that...

> 60: Thank you so much Kerry for mentioning Darryls visit to the Netherlands, we have a date Friday! :-)
I was wondering what I would read next and decided to follow you again, I haven't read De torens van Februari for years.

And finished a book (#5 this year) Pjotr by Jan Terlouw

YA, Dutch, historial fiction, own

Pjotr is a Russian boy, living in Russia at the start of the 20th century. His father is send to Siberia because he killed a man who attacked his son.
Pjotr decides to follow his father and travels to Siberia, it takes him more than 2 years and meanwhile he lives through many adventeres.

4 stars

So pleased that you've arranged a meetup with Darryl and that we'll share a read. I picked up the book yesterday so will read it asap.

Today was the big day, I met Darryl in Amsterdam, and Tad and his wife and daughter :-D

I will tell more tomorrow, because I am very tiered, but here a picture of Darryl, Tad & me:

Hi Anita, I enjoy all your meetup photos on FB. What a great gathering you had. I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Thursday Frank and I went, by train, to Amsterdam. A big event, as the last time I travelled by train was when it was allowed to smoke in trains ;-)
In Amsterdam we met Darryl, Tad, Julie & the girls near the entrance of the Stedelijk Museum. I looked forward to meeting LT friends!

At the Stedelijk Museum was the Matisse exhibit "De oase van Matisse". Matisse is not one a my favourite artists, but I saw some nice paintings and sculptures.

Henri Matisse sculpture "La Serpentine" (1909)


Raymond Duchamp-Villon sculpture "Le cheval" (1914)


A wall full of Malevich paintings (I love Malevich)


Kazimir Malevich "Suprematist Painting (with Black Trapezium and Red Square)" (1915) and "Yellow Plane in Dissolution" (1917)

(click on picture to read more about it)

Of course the readers, Darryl and I , started talking about this panting: Bill Copley "Read my Picture" (1994)


And Darryl was wondering why some States were missing at Peter Saul "Pop art III" (1993)


Meanwhile Frank got a little tired and sat down to enjoy his favourite painting: Barnett Newman "Cathedra" (1951)


and two paintings of Elsworth Kelly "White curve I" (1972)


and "Blue curve VI" (1982)


We all left the museum and I took some pictures at the Museumplein, Darryl:


Tad


And both using their mobile ;-)
 

Everyone back together waiting for the tram


to go to cafe "In de Wildeman", 18 draught beers!


we found a place to sit together


Frank


Frank and Darryl


Then I was getting tired, spending the afternoon in the big city, so I decided it was time to go home again. Back home we were greeted bij Chimay and Ari, I was very proud of Ari, he has some issues being left alone at home, but we have been working on that and he did very well!

Wonderful pictures, Anita, and I am so glad you had a lovely day.

So glad the day went well for you and Frank (and Darryl, Tad and family of course)

Oh, thanks for sharing all the pictures! It looks like you all had a great time meeting up.

Thanks Roni, Connie and Mary

I had a wonderful time, but I needed a few days to recover... this girl isn't used anymore to crowded city-life ;-)

Today I felt better, but now a heat-wave is on its way, forecast up to 38 C in the next days :-(
Ari and I will keep quiet, as we both handle heat not very well, only short walks for us and try to keep the house as cool as possible.

These are some great pics! Aren't meetups fun?

>70 drneutron: Thank you Jim, yes it was fun!
We have a great group here :-)

How lovely you had a meet-up in Amsterdam!!
Last entry was over 3 weeks ago I se, so I hope you're through the heat wave by now (as are my parents in Germany). Here is hasn't really ended yet, right now sitting in my dark and stil hot appartment, sweating... but outside it is worse. I can only imagine how is must have been for your 2 doggies...

Wishing you all the best re. the medical issues and sending support and hugs your way!
Happy weekend to you, Frank, Ari and Chimai!

I did mention somewhere, probably on FB, that you seemed to have had an excellent meetup with Darryl & Tad.
I finished Dragt's The towers of February which I found to be quite intriguing. This morning I came across writer Ida Vos and have requested a couple of her books from the library.

> 72: thank you Nathalie,
Yes we had a hard week with the heatwave, but we have screens now for all the windows, so we kept it relative "cool", it has not been above 25C in the livingroom. And for the nights I have my couch in the gardenhouse with small airco, so most nights I could get it around 20C and sleep enough. Ari loves to sleep there!
Today we had stormy weather, so the bricks are cooling off a bit, thus finaly cooling down the house....
I really can't stand warm and hot weather, so I was happy we had our meetup BEFORE the terrible weather started.

The weaning off the Seroxat still goes well, previous times it was terrible, but up untill now it all goes very smoothly :-)

I wish you a happy weekend too!

> 73: Yes Kerry, you did mention it at FB and I am still happy about the meetup, big smile when I think of it!

I finished The towers of Februari too, one of very few by Tonke Dragt I had not read before. It was one of Franks favorite books in his youth, so I was always a bit wary... what if I did not like it?

But I am glad I finally did read it, I'll write down my thoughts about it next week.

Meanwhile I finished another Tonke Dragt: Torenhoog en mijlen breed and am almost done with the sequel Ogen van tijgers, so it looks that my reading ability is already improving!!! :-D

Good to hear your reading is getting better, Anita.

I'm smiling too when I think of my meet up with Darryl, Tad and family.

>63 FAMeulstee: Anita, the Tad/Darryl combination is wonderful. I met both of them at them at the Philadelphia, PA meet up a few years ago. Both were delightful. I'm sure you had a great time.

I'm so happy they got to meet you and you were able to spend time with them. I am envious. I so hope to meet you one day.

Glad to know the medication withdrawal is going smoothly this time, Anita!

Hi Anita! For some reason I didn't realize that you had a thread up this year, so I apologize for my absence. I'll keep up with you from now on.

Sorry I haven't been here much, the weaning off the Paxil goes relatively smoothly, but writing is a bit more difficult at the moment.
In almost every line I have to add or switch some letters, I hope I have corrected them all in this message ;-)

>76 connie53:: I am very happy with that Connie!
After De torens van februari i finished 3 more books!!!

>77 Whisper1:: you are right Linda, it was an afternoon VERY well spend :-D
I hope the same, that one day one of us is able to cross the Atlantic for a meet-up.... well maybe it can happen..!
How are you doing?

>78 ronincats:: Thanks Roni, not completely without problems, but it is nothing compared to pervious times...

>79 kidzdoc:: welcome to my thread Darryl!

The last day of July Frank an I went to Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle, there was an exibition of the works of Jan Cremer.

This was such a beautiful painting, alled "Aurora", we would not mind to have it at home ;-)


Of course we bought the catalogue...

and then books:


book 6 De torens van februari by Tonke Dragt
own, YA, translated :-)


book 7 Torenhoog en mijlen breed by Tonke Dragt
own, YA, fantasy, not translated


book 8 Ogen van tijgers by Tonke Dragt
own, YA, fantasy, not translated, sequel of previous book


book 9 Een zeer geheime reiskist by Simone Schell
own, childrens, awarded, not translated


book 10 Ridder van de zeven koninkrijken by George R.R. Martin
own, fantasy Three stories from the land of the Song of Ice and Fire: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight


book 11 Marie Pouceline, of de nicht van de Generaal by Simone Schell
own, childrens, awarded, not translated

Reading is going so well that I started the Dutch translation of Skippy dies by Paul Murray... 663 pages to go, the start is promising!

>81 FAMeulstee: Nice painting!

>83 FAMeulstee: I look forward to your comments about Skippy Dies, Anita; I hope to get to it later this year.

Happy Weekend, Anita.

> 84: It was a beautiful exhibition, Darryl, we had thought about taking you there, but the Stedelijk was easier for us all.

It will take a while to finish Skippy dies, reading is getting better, but I am not at full speed yet ;-)

> 85: Thank you Barbara, the same to you!

Happy Sunday, Anita.

>87 Ameise1: Ooh...what type of flower is that, Barbara?

Hi, Anita!

>88 kidzdoc: Darryl, this is an African Daisy.

Hi Anita, I hope everything is fine at your place.

Thanks, Anita!

> 87 & 89: beautiful flower, Brbara, I have those in my front garden, in white, yellow and purple :-)
We call them Spanish Daisy LOL

Meanwhile I enjoy reading Skippy dies, I finshed the first 1/3 yesterday.

Hi Anita. I am glad that the Paxil weaning is going well. I gained a lot of weight when I was on this medication.

I'm doing pretty well going back to work. In fact, even though I have tremendous pain levels, I am able to work a full day most of the time. I had a lot of pain last night and this morning, so my body needed to rest. I was able to get to the university in the early part of the afternoon.

I love the post of the painting! How special.

Hi Linda
I had the same when I first started to take Paxil, luckely the next times not again.
Oh, I must have missed that, are you sure that is the right thing to do, working again? I hope you don't take too much on....

Oh, yes that was my favourite at the exposition :-D

Hugs to you!

I picked up The secrets of the wild wood this week from the library, finally available in English.

Oh you lucky woman, Kerry, enjoy!!!! :-D

Happy weekend, Anita.

Enjoying my weekend, Barbara, a few weeks later ;-)

I took my last Seroxat 5 days agao YAY!

Meanwhile reading has deminished again :-(
Skippy dies is a funny and serious book, I like it, but I am struggling through it....

Now hoping my mind hasn't changed that much, really hoping reading will come back in my life....

>94 avatiakh:: Kerry, I saw you finished The secrets of the wild wood and how did you like it?

I loved it, possibly even more than The letter for the king.
Now I have an older book, The Kingdom and the cave, by Joan Aiken out from the library. I read that a new Virago edition is due out in November.
Also eagerly awaiting Railhead by Philip Reeve to arrive in the library.

>97 FAMeulstee: I'm glad that you are off the medication and sorry to see that you are struggling with the reading.

I am sorry that reading is difficult. And, I do hope that soon you will be able to return to all the excellent books you want to read. All the best to you dear friend.

Here is hope that the joy of reading comes back soon. Hugs xx and thinking of you.

Here's hoping that as the medication effects wear off, your reading capacity will return.

Hi, Anita! It's good to see you back here again. Congratulations on weaning off of Seroxat. I hope that you're able to read again soon, and I'd love to get your thoughts on Skippy Dies when you finish it.

thanks all, a short msg from me, as I am typing with my left hand.
tried to help out yesterday when 4 white shepherds broke loose chasing my neighbors cat, took 2 of them, fell and was pulled further a few metres, did not let go.
right arm hurted much, to gp today, send to hospital for x-rays. top of right upperarm broken, no cast but absolute rest for right arm at least 2 weeks... good for reading, can't do much else ;-) 100 pages last 24 hours!

So sorry to hear about the arm, Anita. I'm just coming off restrictions for breaking a bone in my hand catching myself during a fall--had a cast for three weeks which severely restricted my keyboarding! Enjoy your reading. I assume you are right-handed? Mine, fortunately, was my left hand which meant I could still play Farmville 2 with the mouse in my right hand.

Oh dear, so sorry to read about your accident. Get well soon. hugs xx

Oh, no! I'm sorry to hear about your broken arm, Anita. I hope that it heals soon.

got some better painkillers yesterday, so life is more bearable now after a good night sleep!
typing with my left hand (yes Roni, I am VERY right handed) goes incredible slow and is tyering. So no games on facebook :-( a friend helps with FV2, he will play until I can do it myself again.

I finished Skippy dies, liked it very much, writing a review woul take hours now (these few sentences almost took half an hour..)

>104 FAMeulstee: Sorry to see your news Anita. Healing vibes sent from tropical climes for you. I fell down a storm drain here two days ago crossing rotted timber which I didn't see. Badly knocked my right leg and it is bruised badly but, I think, no broken bones.

Have a good weekend. xx

Happy weekend, Anita. I hope there is lesser pain.

thanks Paul, I was happy to see a msg from you, hope your leg isn't too painful...
Yes there is less pain Barbara and that is soooo good!

the painkiller I got wednesday wore out too quick :-( after one night of good sleep the tramadol only worked for 2 - 3 hours, so friday I was exhausted again...
back to gp and now on morfine and that does work, although it makes my head feel clouded.

did read some dutch ya a trilogy by Thea Beckman
book 12 Kinderen van Moeder Aarde
book 13 Het helse paradijs
book 14 Het Gulden Vlies van Thule

Thea Beckman wrote mainly historical fiction.
These are in the future a few centuries after WW III destroyed most of the Earth. Greenland got a nice climate and there has developed a sociëty ruled by woman, they call their land Thule.
But from Baden, the main country in Europe, ships are send to conquer and explore the rest of the world....

Oh dear, I'm so sorry about your accident and I hope the pain will subside quickly. Sending some more (gentle) {{{hugs}}}.

Hope your arm heals quickly, Anita! More reading time sounds excellent, though.

thank you Nathalie, hugs are good, as long as my right arm is not touched ;-)

More reading time is good, Connie, but with a cloudy head it goes slow again. I do enjoy Een dans met draken, deel een (A dance with dragons, part one)!

>114 FAMeulstee: I can believe that you are enjoying that book, Anita. It's very good.

Happy 11th Birthaday Chimay!!!

Happy Birthday to Chimay! What a cute picture! :)

Fijne verjaardag, Chimay!

Happy Birthday, Chimay.

Hi Anita. I hope your pain goes awsy. I'm sorry that in helping another. You were hurt.

thanks Nathalie, Connie and Barbara!

>120 Whisper1: it made me think of you, Linda, if a broken upperarm hurts so much, how bad it would be in your neck after surgeries....
I am improving and it probably won't keep me from helping others in the future ;-)

You are indeed such a very special lady!! I hope your pain is manageable today. Love to you.

>122 Whisper1: love you too Linda, pain isn't too bad, a few muscles protesting now and then ;-)

book 11 Skippy tussen de sterren, translation of Skippy dies
own, fiction, translated, awarded (Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur Prijs, 2012)

This was an awsome read, I'll never forget the boys from Seabrook catholic boy's school.
Although the story starts with Skippy's death, the first two books are funny and relatively light, the life of teenage boys ain't easy.
Meandering through literature, string-theory, WWI and Irish history we go through the months before Skippy dies... in a way you almost forget that first chapter... it can't be true that dear Skippy will die.
But it happens and in the last part of the book paradise falls apart and the ugly thruth comes clear, but there is some hope in the end.

I laughed, I cried, Skippy dies is a great read

5 stars

OH dear. BULLET! Thanks, Anita.

>125 LizzieD: you are very welcome Peggy :-)

BB for me, too! :)

Just finished book 15: Een dans met draken deel een : Oude vetes, nieuwe strijd translation of A Dance With Dragons: Part 1 Dreams and Dust by George R.R. Martin, more later...

>127 Deern: I hope you like Skippy dies too Nathalie :-)

Started with Een dans met draken deel twee : Zwaarden tegen draken (A dance with dragons part 2), but like in part 1 the "Reek/Theon Greyjoy"-chapters were hard to gasp...

My arm isn't hurting much anymore, could stop the morphine, but now I've catched a flue or something and am feeling a bit sorry for myself... never had any talent for being ill, and being ill AND only able to use my left arm is no fun at all :-(

So now I'll try if good old Karl May does the trick, I started to read Het masker van de blanke radja.

Oh dang, Anita - I'm sorry about the flu-ish symptoms on top of everything else! Here's hoping you're on the mend in no time!

thanks Amber, today is a bit better... I know I need patience with the broken arm a few more weeks to go :-(

book 16: Het masker van de blanke radja
own, translated (original German title Der Fremde aus Indien), reread

Lovely typical Karl May story 20 years ago Gerhard Burg was wrongfully convicted for a double murder, he returns disguised as "Radja van Zoom", a Dutchman who got rich on Borneo. He unraffles the mystery, the real murderer gets punished and meanwhile a few romances come to bloom ;-)

Just the light read that I needed!

4 stars

Sorry to read about your broken arm. I'm impressed you're typing with your left hand though. I've never heard of Karl May, off to see if I can get hold of them...

Oh no, you are in pain. I hope your arm heals soon.

I loved your description of Skippy Dies. I've added it to the huge tbr pile.

Thinking of you and wishing all good things in your life.

Glad to hear your arm is less painful, but sorry to hear about the flu, my dear!

>134 charl08: Left hand typing takes a lot more time, Charlotte, althoug it is a bit faster than the first week ;-)
I read a lot of Karl May in my youth, he was a German writer in the 19th century. His most famous books are the adventures of Winnnetou (Apache)and Old Shatterhand (German) in the Wild West.
In this group I learned he is not so well known in the English speaking part of the world.

I wrote about those in my 2008 thread: Winnetou.
In my 2010 thread some books with the adventures of Kara Ben Nemsi and Hadji Halef Omar in the Orient.

>135 Whisper1: the arm is slowly getting better, a bit too slow for my patience...
Glad to be able to contribute to your HUGE TBR pile ;-)

>136 ronincats: thanks Roni, I am sure it will pass too...
Today seems to be a better day :-)

Still shocked by the news from Paris... and Beirut... and other places in the world. How can people do this to other people?

It's great to catch up with you!

Chimi and Ari look wonderful - great photos.

I'm sorry to hear about the arm. I think I had a similar break when I was thrown by a horse many years ago. It was too near the shoulder to cast - I wore a sling which at first was strapped to my body with an elastic bandage. I think not having it totally immobilized in a cast makes it more painful. Hope it heals quickly! And flu on top of it! That's awful.

The news from Paris is shocking. The news last night said that France had now bombed a training camp in Syria.

>140 streamsong: likewise Janet :-)

The arm is healing, this week I am allowed to use it a bit more, so that makes life a bit easier! Can type with two hands again :-D

book 17: De valse derwisj
own, translated from German, reread

The first book (of 4) about the Adlerhorst family, the family got scattered around the earth after their father was murdered and his wife and children were sold as slaves.
This book starts in Istanbul whe the eldest son locates his sister, but before he can free her she is taken to Tunis.
After many adventures brother and sister are reunited.

4 stars

Nice review of Skippy Dies, Anita! You're right, I did miss your comments about it. I'll make it a point to read it early next year.

>143 kidzdoc: I hope you like it as much as I did Darryl!

Yesterday I went to the physiotherapist, and got some excersises for my broken arm. I am now allowed to use it some, so typing becomes much easier!!

That's great news before the weekend, wishing you a happy one! :)

Hi Anita, I finally find time to do some weekend greetings. Wishing you a most lovely weekend.

thanks Nathalie and Barbara!

book 18: De vorst der bleekgezichten
own, translated from German, reread

The second book (of 4) about the Adlerhorst family, the family got scattered around the earth after their father was murdered and his wife and children were sold as slaves.
Martin Adlerhorst lives in the USA, with his foster-father Mr Wilkins and foster-sister Almy. They loose everything, are falsely accused, so they fled away. Martin is separated from the other two. His brother Herman crosses the ocean to find his brother. He gets help from the famous Sam Hawkins and Old Firehand.

3 1/2 stars

book 19: In het dal van de dood
own, translated from German, reread

The third book (of 4) about the Adlerhorst family, the family got scattered around the earth after their father was murdered and his wife and children were sold as slaves.
With the help from Sam Hawkins, Old Firehand and some others Martin Adlerhorst is found and reunited with his brother Herman.
At the end of the book Herman decides to go to Russia to find his other brother, Sam Hawkins will go with him.

3 1/2 stars

book 20: Wildwest in Siberië
own, translated from German, reread

The last book (of 4) about the Adlerhorst family, the family got scattered around the earth after their father was murdered and his wife and children were sold as slaves.
Sam Hawkins, with Dick Stone and Will Parker, travels with Herman Adlerhorst to Siberia to find the last brother Godfried.
This has always been my favourite as all ends well :-D

4 1/2 stars

My appointment with the physiotherapist last Wednesday went all wrong. She hurted me badly & I went into panick :-(
Today the pain is finally bearable again.... won't go back there.

So sorry to hear about your therapy. Get well soon. xx

thank you Barbara, it will take time as some muscles around my shoulders were injured too. The broken bone seems to have healed well :-)

book 21: Ze noemen me Ganesh
own, YA, awarded, translated from English

Jeffrey Moore lived his whole life in India, his mom died when he was young and now his dad is not well. His dad makes him promise he will go to the USA when he dies...
Afther his father dies Jefrey goes to his aunt in the USA. It is a big change and he has trouble to adjust to American way of life.
When his new life is threathened he finds enough friends around who want to help him.

4 stars

>152 FAMeulstee: that sounds horrible!! Was it your first visit with her? I hope you'll feel better soon.
I remember from a broken arm in my childhood (8 weeks of cast they did back then) how long it took until I could finally move my wrist and elbow again normally and how much it hurt at the beginning. And those were 11year old bones and muscles, I can just guess how much worse it is when you're older.

>156 Deern: This was my third visit, Nathalie, first two were okayish... third one a disaster...

They still put broken arms in cast, but mine was broken near the top of the upperarm, so cast was not an option. The two parts were neat together, so it would heal well without cast.

Yes now it is mostly the muscles that hurt, but each day I can move my arm a little further, so there is progress. But mostly I am getting tired of not being able to do what I want to do. And feeling a bit guilty that Frank has to do so much, although he is coping better than I thought he would ;-)

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Anita.

What a terrible story, Anita! You are so right to not go back there!

> 158 thank you Barbara, we had a nice and quiet weekend :-)

> 159 thanks Connie, I have no plans for trying any physio in the near future... there is still a bit of progress every day, it just will take a lot of time before it is all well again.

book 22: Het examen de lange weg naar Beijing
own, YA, translated from English

China, 16th century, two brothers travel though China.
Chen is preparing for the exams, first in the district, then provincial and then the national in Beijing.
For the provincial exam he has to travel, so his younger brother Hong goes with him, as Chen, who is a brilliant student, is not very prepared for the challenges of traveling, his brother is way more practial.

I've lerned a lot about Confucianism through this book :-)

4 1/2 stars

book 23: De tuin van je leven
own, YA, awarded, translated from English

14 year old Eric has some bad friends, when he meets and old man who teaches him to closely observe the 79 squares he has marked in his garden.
The old man is let off from prison to live his last months with his daughter. Eric's family and friends don't understand this friendship and it all ends in a lot of violence...

better review here

3 stars

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Anita.

Weekend was well, thank you Barbara, lovely lights on the stairs :-)

Today I finally put our acquiered books of this year on LT... was not that much this year only 12 books entered our house ;-)
Not reading much helps in avoiding bookshops!

But it will be better next year.
I even have a library book in the house now, De theeroos (translation of The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, found on Barbara's (Ameise1) thread), first one since early 2013!

>164 FAMeulstee: I'm looking forward what you'll be thinking about The Tea Rose, Anita.

Yay Anita! It must be nice to be reading again.

>165 Ameise1: Brabara, I am currently reading Magnus a Dutch book by Arjan Lubach, as I don't do well reading more than one book a the time, I will finish that one first and then start The Tea Rose.

>166 streamsong: Oh Janet, I am sooooo happy!
I am not completely back on speed yet, but to hold a book, read and know it will be finished in days, not weeks, is so good :-D

Also delighted that you are reading again!

>168 ronincats: thanks Roni, you can imagine how happy I am :-)

book 24: Magnus by Arjen Lubach
own, YA, awarded, Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur prijs (Publieksprijs)

His girlfriend just left him, when Merlijn is contacted by his creditcard company because there were unusual payments in Sweden. He tells he did these payments himself and travels to Stockholm to find whoever is misusing his creditcard.
Meanwhile he is supposed to write a new play...

Nice book, sometimes funny, sometimes surprising and sometimes a tiny bit boring...

3 1/2 stars

It's so wonderful that you are able to read again. Wishing you a lovely weekend, Anita.

>171 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara for this lovely cozy picture with dog :-)
Enjoying The Tea Rose this weekend!

book 25: De theeroos by Jennifer Donnelly
from the library, historic romance, translated (original title The Tea Rose)

19th century London, Fiona grows up in a poor neighborhood, where Jack the Ripper seeks his prey... Everyone in the family has to work long hours in the factory, wages are low. Fiona and her boyfried Joe dream together that one day they will open a teashop together.
But life ain't fair and Fiona looses her Dad, Mom and brother in a short time and her boyfriend marries someone else... in dispair she flees to New York to become a successful business woman.
Then finally comes the day she returns to London to confront the man who ruined her life.

Very nice romantic historical fiction, there are two more and I am eager to get those too from the library :-)

4 stars

Great to see that you liked it. I picked the 2nd one The Winter Rose from the library this morning. Now I have all three on my mp3. Just have to start listening to them.

A very Merry Christmas to you, Frank, Chimay and Ari!

For my Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Holiday image this year (we are so diverse!), I've chosen this photograph by local photographer Mark Lenoce of the pier at Pacific Beach to express my holiday wishes to you: Peace on Earth and Good Will toward All!

Thanks Barbara, Nathalie & Rhonda, the same to you & yours :-)

>174 Ameise1: I hope you enjoy it too, Barbara.
The Tea Rose made me eager to read... longing for the next few hours I would be able to read. Had not had that feeling for a long time!

I started in the 2016 group, here is the link to my first thread

Have a lovely holiday, Anita.

>181 PaulCranswick: That is beautiful Paul, thank you!
Your threads go most of the time too fast for me, but I do lurk now and then & try to follow your whereabouts on FB ;-)

And may you have a lovely New Yea, Anita, filled with books and all your favorite things! I'm glad we re-found each others' threads!

>183 streamsong: Thank you and the same to you Janet :-)

Returned to reading A dance with Dragons part 2 and this time it is easier to digest.

Feeling better, progress is still slow, but my right arm is getting better each day. Yesterday I was able to vacuum clean downstairs!!

book 26: Een dans met draken deel 2 by George R.R. Martin
own, fantasy, translated (original title A Dance with Dragons part 2)

Love this series... still do, and now the waiting for the next one starts. Well 4 years later than planned, as I bought these two just before the non-reading time started ;-)

Following Jon, Daenerys, Stannis, Arya, Tyrion and some others, how will this end?

4 1/2 stars

book 27: Maak een vuist als je geen hand hebt by K.M. Peyton
own, awarded, YA, translated (original title The Right-hand Man)

England, 1818, young Ned Rowlands becomes coachman to mortally ill Lord Ironminster, who has lost an arm but not his passion for racing. He wants Ned to do what he can't do without a right-arm, that he lost together with his father in a coach accident: winning a bet by breaking a record with the coach.

Like with book 25 The Tea Rose (msg 173) I went to 19th century London, but earlier in the century and a complete other setting. Fast and faster coaches, illegal boxing and the luxury living of the Lord and his friends.

4 stars

So this was the last book in 2015, I am pleased I was able to read 27 books!
Checked my library and somehow I read one book more, 28 books have the label "gelezen in 2015" (read in 2015). Not in the mood to look what I missed in this thread, but will list all books here, with the rating gave it.

5 stars:
Skippy dies by Paul Murray
De brief voor de koning by Tonke Dragt
Geheimen van het wilde woud by Tonke Dragt

4 1/2 stars:
Het examen, de lange weg naar Beijing by Malcom Bosse
De torens van februari by Tonke Dragt
Torenhoog en mijlen breed by Tonke Dragt
Het schijnsel van de maan by Lian Hearn
The harsh cry of the heron by Lian Hearn
Een dans met draken deel 2 by George R.R. Martin
Wildwest in Siberië by Karl May

4 stars:
Kinderen van Moeder Aarde by Thea Beckman
Het helse paradijs by Thea Beckman
Ze noemen me Ganesh by Malcolm Bosse
De Theeroos by Jennifer Donnelly
Ogen van tijgers by Tonke Dragt
Een dans met draken deel 1 by George R.R. Martin
Ridder van de zeven koninkrijken by George R.R. Martin
Het masker van de blanke radja by Karl May
De valse derwisj by Karl May
Maak een vuist als je geen hand hebt by K.M. Peyton
Pjotr by Jan Terlouw

3 1/2 stars
Het gulden vlies van Thule by Thea Beckman
Magnus by Arjen Lubach
De vorst der bleekgezichten by Karl May
In het dal van de dood by Karl May
Een zeer geheime reiskist by Simone Schell
Marie Pouceline, of de nicht van de generaal by Simone Schell

3 stars
De tuin van je leven by Malcolm Bosse

So that's it folks, see you all in my 2016 thread, Happy New Year!

Nice year end summary, Anita. I hope to get to Skippy Dies next year, especially after glowing comments from you and other LTers. Happy New Year to you and Frank, and I hope to see you both in 2016!