Anita (FAMeulstee) reads on in December 2017 (13)

The last of the seven landscape art from Flevoland: Pier + Horizon (2016) by Paul de Kort.

Pier + Horizon, the latest addition, was opened last year. A small pier leading into the water, with small artificial islands on both sides.
 

total books read in 2017: 452
238 own / 161 library / 53 BolKobo+

total pages read in 2017: 110.222
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Books read in December 2017 (40 books, 8.500 pages; 24 own / 9 library / 7 BolKobo+)
book 452: Reis om de wereld in 80 dagen (Around the World in 80 Days) by Michael Palin, 300 pages, (msg 303)
book 451: Leon (Leon) by Helen Griffiths, 185 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 288)
book 450: Het raadsel van de Wadden (The riddle of the Sands) by Erskine Childers, 304 pages, (msg 287)
book 449: Vlek, de zwerfhond (Patch) by Helen Griffiths, 105 pages, TIOLI #12 , (msg 266)
book 448: Zuiderzee by Lef Last, 268 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 265)
book 447: Misjo (Moshie Cat) by Helen Griffiths, 124 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 264)
book 446: Silver (The Greyhound) by Helen Griffiths, 171 pages, TIOLI #6, (msg 242)
book 445: Eén (One) by Sarah Crossan, 240 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 240)
book 444: De hond achter het raam (The dog at the window) by Helen Griffiths, 132 pages, TIOLI #1, (msg 225)
book 443: Moord in Canton (Murder in Canton, Judge Dee) by Robert van Gulik, 196 pages, (msg 224)
book 442: Mariken by Peter van Gestel, 192 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 214)
book 441: Het wilgenpatroon (The Willow Pattern, Judge Dee) by Robert van Gulik, 162 pages, (msg 213)
book 440: Ik mis je, ik mis je! (I Miss You, I Miss You!) by Peter Pohl, 215 pages, TIOLI #2, (msg 212)
book 439: Een hoofd vol macaroni by Guus Kuijer, 105 pages, (msg 195)
book 438: Krassen in het tafelblad by Guus Kuijer, 101 pages, (msg 195)
book 437: Grote mensen, daar kan je beter soep van koken by Guus Kuijer, 116 pages, (msg 195)
book 436: Met de poppen gooien by Guus Kuijer, 111 pages, (msg 195)
book 435: De Wadden een geschiedenis by Mathijs Deen, 336 pages, TIOLI #14, (msg 182)
book 434: Big (Piggy) by Mireille Geus, 116 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 180)
book 433: De wildernis in (Into the wild) by Jon Krakauer, 284 pages, TIOLI #5, (msg 174)
book 432: Lieve Claire by Peter van Gestel, 172 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 173)
book 431: In de hemel zoals op aarde by Jean Rouaud, 171 pages, TIOLI #3, (msg 159)
book 430: Oog in oog by Jef Last, 58 pages, TIOLI #10, (msg 138)
book 429: The velveteen rabbit by Margery Williams, 33 pages, TIOLI #14, (msg 137)
book 428: De veteraan by Johan Faber, 349 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 136)
book 427: Joost, of de domme avonturen van een slim jongetje by Peter van Gestel, 148 pages, TIOLI #14, (msg 132)
book 426: Spinder by Simon van der Geest, 231 pages, TIOLI #13, (msg 131)
book 425: De gezongen aarde (The songlines) by Bruce Chatwin, 319 pages, TIOLI #5, (msg 122)
book 424: De Cock en moord bij maanlicht (de Cock 45) by A. C. Baantjer, 132 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 121)
book 423: Weg naar huis (Homegoing) by Yaa Gyasi, 399 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 106)
book 422: Sprookjes en verhalen (Complete fairytales and stories) by Hans Christian Andersen, 795 pages, TIOLI #8, (msg 105)
book 421: Dissus by Simon van der Geest, 120 pages, TIOLI #9, (msg 96)
book 420: Slachthuisblues (Abbatoir Blues, DCI Banks 22) by Peter Robinson, 448 pages, TIOLI #2, (msg 95)
book 419: Sinterklaas en de struikrovers by Harriet Laurey, 64 pages, TIOLI #4, (msg 94)
book 418: De weg van de wind by Hans Hagen, 167 pages, TIOLI #1, (msg 92)
book 417: Komt een paard de kroeg binnen (A horse walks into a bar) by David Grossman, 250 pages, TIOLI #7, (msg 90)
book 416: Red ons, Maria Montanelli by Herman Koch, 142 pages, TIOLI #11, (msg 89)
book 415: Dankbare dood (Children of the revolution, DCI Banks 21) by Peter Robinson, 416 pages, TIOLI #12, (msg 88)
book 414: De Cock en het roodzijden nachthemd (De Cock 44) by A. C. Baantjer, 135 pages, (msg 25)
book 413: Slangen in de kinderkamer (The golden shadow) by Leon Garfield, 188 pages, TIOLI #6, (msg 23)

Reading plans in December 2017:

TIOLI December 2017 sweep done, 31 TIOLI books read.

Reading plans in 2017

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 wich to keep. The ones not to keep are donated to a library in Rotterdam (where we lived until 2005).
I started in 2016 with 803 books, now down to 703 books (on 30 November: 102 culled, 2 added).

I will try to read more of my own books, of the 244 books I have read in 2016 83 were own and 161 from the library.

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

And I try to read a Russian classic each month mostly from our Russian Library editions.

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Previous threads in 2017
2017/1, 2017/2, 2017/3, 2017/4, 2017/5, 2017/6, 2017/7, 2017/8, 2017/9, 2017/10, 2017/11, 2017/12

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My readings in previous years

252 books (72.452 pages) read in 2016/1, 2016/2, 2016/3, 2016/4, 2016/5, 2016/6
  28 books (9.407 pages) read in 2015
  17 books (3.700 pages) read in 2014
  12 books (3.320 pages) read in ROOT 2013
  50 books (18.779 pages) read in 2012/1, 2012/2, 2012/3
  81 books (29.021 pages) read in 2011/1, 2011/2
120 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, mostly mysteries, a list to keep track

Armand Gamache by Louise Penny 4/4 (others not translated)

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 4/11
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

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 6/20
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 44/70

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 3/3

DCI Banks by Peter Robinson 21/21 waiting for next books in translation
1 Stille blik; 2 Nachtlicht; 3 Tegenstroom; 4 Zondeval; 5 Schijnbeeld; 6 Woensdagkind; 7 Zwanenzang; (8 Innocent Graves and 9 Dead Right not translated); 10 Verdronken verleden; 11 Kil als het graf; 12 Nasleep; 13 Onvoltooide zomer; 14 Vuurspel; 15 Drijfzand; 16 Hartzeer; 17 Duivelsgebroed; 18 Overmacht; 18.5 Vermoorde onschuld (short story) 19 Uitschot; 20 Dwaalspoor; 21 Dankbare dood; 22 Slachthuisblues

Erlendur Sveinsson by Arnaldur Indriðason 14/14

Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham 2/2

Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley 2/5
1 De smaak van venijn; 2 Het stroeve touw; 3 De kunst van het liegen; 4 De show van je leven; 5 Slotakkoord voor een moord

Floris V by Renée Vink 2/3
1 Floris V en de Schotse troon; 2 De laatste dagen van Floris V; 3 De wreker van Floris V

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 3/12
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

Kurt Wallander by Henning Mankell 7/12
prequel De jonge Wallander; 1 Moordenaar zonder gezicht; 2 Honden van Riga; 3 De witte leeuwin; 4 De man die glimlachte; 5 Dwaalsporen; 6 De vijfde vrouw; 7 Midzomermoord; 8 De blinde muur; 9 Voor de vorst; 10 De gekwelde man; 11 Wallanders wereld

Mijn strijd (My Struggle) by Karl Ove Knausgård 6/6

Nic Costa by David Hewson 10/10

Pieter Vos by David Hewson 1/4
1 Poppenhuis; 2 Het verkeerde meisje; 3 Het derde zusje; 4 De stenen engel

Rechter Tie by Robert van Gulik 17/17
0 De vergiftigde bruid; 1 Fantoom in Foe-Lai; 2 Het Chinese lakscherm; 3 Meer van Mien-yuan; 4 Het spookklooster; 5 Klokken van Kao-yang; 6 Halssnoer en kalebas; 7 De parel van de keizer; 8 Het rode paviljoen; 9 Moord op het maanfeest; 10 Labyrint in Lan-fang; 11 Het spook in de tempel; 12 Zes zaken voor rechter Tie (short stories); 13 Nagels in Ning-tsjo; 14 Vijf gelukbrengende wolken (short stories); 15 Het wilgenpatroon; 16 Moord in Canton

Reders & Reders by Jan & Sanne Terlouw 6/6

Sir Balwin by Michael Jecks 4/8
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

Yashim Togalu by Jason Goodwin 4/4

Books read in November 2017 (40 books, 10.165 pages)
book 412: Zes zaken voor rechter Tie (Judge Dee at work, short stories) by Robert van Gulik,
book 411: Nagels in Ning-tsjo (The Chinese Nail Murders, Judge Dee) by Robert van Gulik,
book 410: Satyricon by Petronius,
book 409: Ready player one (Ready player one) by Ernest Cline,
book 408: Vijf gelukbrengende wolken (Judge Dee short stories) by Robert van Gulik,
book 407: The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give) by Angie Thomas,
book 406: Dwaalspoor (Watching the dark, DCI Banks 20) by Peter Robinson,
book 405: Tussen galg en gekkenhuis (Black Jack) by Leon Garfield,
book 404: Prinses Roosje by Peter van Gestel,
book 403: Reis om de wereld in tachtig dagen (Around the World in Eighty Days) by Jules Verne,
book 402: Het spook in de tempel (The Phantom of the Temple, Judge Dee) by Robert van Gulik,
book 401: Nou hoor je het eens van een ander by Kees Fens,
book 400: Uitschot (Bad boy, DCI Banks 19) by Peter Robinson,
book 399: Vermoorde onschuld (Like a virgin, DCI Banks short story) by Peter Robinson,
book 398: De avonturen van Jack Holborn (Jack Holborn) by Leon Garfield,
book 397: Oliver by Edward van de Vendel,
book 396: Labyrint in Lan-fang (The Chinese Maze Murders, Judge Dee) by Robert van Gulik,
book 395: Overmacht (All the Colours of Darkness, DCI Banks 18) by Peter Robinson,
book 394: De kinderen van de nacht : over wolven en mensen by Dik van der Meulen,
book 393: Het meisje met alle gaven (The girl with all the gifts) by M.R. Carey,
book 392: Duivelsgebroed (Friend of the devil, DCI Banks 17) by Peter Robinson,
book 391: Testosteron Rex (Testosterone Rex) by Cordelia Fine,
book 390: Midzomermoord (One Step Behind, Wallander 7) by Henning Mankell,
book 389: Krokodil en het meesterwerk (Crocodile's masterpiece) by Max Velthuijs,
book 388: Nooit hier, altijd daar : reis door Alaska, de Aleoeten, Newfoundland, Québec en Labrador by Gerrit Jan Zwier,
book 387: Op een blauwe dag geboren (Born on a Blue Day) by Daniel Tammet,
book 386: Het wilde paard van Santander (The wild horse of Santander) by Helen Griffiths,
book 385: Vlinder voor Marianne (The magic moth) by Virginia Lee,
book 384: Ik heet Kim by Liesbeth van Lennep,
book 383: Zeven korte beschouwingen over natuurkunde (Seven brief lessons on physics) by Carlo Rovelli,
book 382: Schateiland (Treasure Island) by Robert Louis Stevenson,
book 381: De hut van Oom Tom (Uncle Tom's cabin) by Harriet Beecher Stowe,
book 380: Hond Vrijdag (Dog Friday) by Hilary McKay,
book 379: Sonny Boy by Annejet van der Zijl,
book 378: Liefs uit Bagdad (From Baghdad, with love) by Jay Kopelman,
book 377: Moord op het maanfeest (Poets and murder, Judge Dee) by Robert van Gulik
book 376: En elke ochtend wordt de weg naar huis steeds langer (And every morning the way home gets longer and longer) by Fredrik Backman,
book 375: Voor wie de klok luidt (For whom the bell tolls) by Ernest Hemingway,
book 374: Het innerlijke leven van dieren (The Inner Life of Animals) by Peter Wohlleben,
book 373: Terug uit Irkoetsk by Theun de Vries,

Books read in October 2017 (35 books, 8.626 pages)
book 372: Duvelstoejager op een slavenschip (The slave dancer) by Paula Fox,
book 371: Liefdewerk oud papier by Karel Eykman,
book 370: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley,
book 369: Oma heeft me gestuurd om te zeggen dat het haar spijt (My grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry) by Fredrik Backman,
book 368: Het fort van Sjako by Karel Eykman,
book 367: Liefdesverdriet by Karel Eykman,
book 366: Schildpadden tot in het oneindige (Turtles All the Way Down) by John Green,
book 365: Het joodse koninkrijk van Himyar en de christelijke martelaars van Nadjrân by Pieter W. van der Horst,
book 364: Kleine Sofie en Lange Wapper by Els Pelgrom,
book 363: Alles voor het moederland by Michel Krielaars,
book 362: Saluut aan Catalonië (Hommage to Catalonia) by George Orwell,
book 361: Het gouden suikerriet (Village of outcasts) by Siny van Itterson,
book 360: Hartzeer (Piece of My Heart, DCI Banks 16) by Peter Robinson,
book 359: De hele Bibelebontse berg by Harry Bekkering et al.,
book 358: Het eiland in de Vogelstraat (The Island on Bird Street) by Uri Orlev,
book 357: Sint-Petersburg by Theun de Vries,
book 356: Het ijshuis (Ice House) by Minette Walters,
book 355: Honderd uur nacht (A hundred hours of night) by Anna Woltz,
book 354: Wij waren er ook bij by Gertie Evenhuis,
book 353: Drijfzand (Strange affair, DCI Banks 15) by Peter Robinson,
book 352: Het rode paviljoen (The Red Pavilion, Judge Dee 9) by Robert van Gulik,
book 351: Willem van Oranje by Jaap ter Haar,
book 350: Bij uil thuis (Owl at home) by Arnold Lobel,
book 349: Jan, mijn vriend (Johnny, my friend) by Peter Pohl,
book 348: In Patagonië (In Patagonia) by Bruce Chatwin,
book 347: Veren by Veronica Hazelhoff,
book 346: Schuilen onder je schooltas by Peter van Gestel,
book 345: Stefan en Stefan by Gertie Evenhuis,
book 344: Een vreemde vogel in het tuinhuis (The Summer House Loon) by Anne Fine,
book 343: Jenny en de rode storm by Stig Ericson,
book 342: Naar de overkant van de nacht by Jan van Mersbergen,
book 341: De zaak Styles (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) by Agatha Christie,
book 340: Vrouw (My Struggle: Book Six) by Karl Ove Knausgård,
book 339: Oosterschelde windkracht 10 by Jan Terlouw,
book 338: Kikker en Pad zijn altijd samen (Frog and Toad together) by Arnold Lobel,

Books read in September 2017 (35 books, 9.498 pages)
book 337: Het meisje met het rode haar by Theun de Vries,
book 336: Mannen leggen me altijd alles uit (Men explain things to me) by Rebecca Solnit,
book 335: Graaf in Moskou (A gentleman in Moscow) by Amor Towles,
book 334: Paulus de hulpsinterklaas by Jean Dulieu,
book 333: Vuurspel (Playing with Fire, DCI Banks 14) by Peter Robinson,
book 332: De tolk van Java by Alfred Birney,
book 331: De parel van de keizer (The Emperor's Pearl, Judge Dee 8) by Robert van Gulik,
book 330: Poppenhuis (The House of Dolls) by David Hewson,
book 329: De Cock en 't wassend kwaad (De Cock 43) by A.C. Baantjer,
book 328: Mee met Aeneas by Imme Dros,
book 327: Reizen met Charley (Travels with Charley) by John Steinbeck,
book 326: En een tijd van vrede by Imme Dros,
book 325: Het oneindige verhaal (The Neverending Story) by Michael Ende,
book 324: De vier geschriften van de Gele Keizer (The Yellow Emperor's four canons) by the Yellow Emperor,
book 323: Termietenheuvels in de savanne (Anthills of the Savanna) by Chinua Achebe,
book 322: Religie voor athei¨sten (Religion for Atheists) by Alain de Botton,
book 321: Ik heet Karmozijn (My name is Red) by Orhan Pamuk,
book 320: De huiveringwekkende mythe van Perseus by Imme Dros,
book 319: Woeste hoogten (Wuthering Heights) by Emily Brontë,
book 318: De Oostakkerse gedichten by Hugo Claus,
book 317: De laatste dagen van Floris V by Renée Vink,
book 316: Hee meneer Eland by Eva Gerlach,
book 315: Een koning voor de Dalriaden (The Mark of the Horse Lord) by Rosemary Sutcliff,
book 314: Aardzee (The Earthsea Trilogy) by Ursula LeGuin,
book 313: Het koningsboek (Codex Regius) by Arnaldur Indriðason,
book 312: Warenar by P.C. Hooft,
book 311: Montalbano en het verdwenen kind by Andrea Camileri,
book 310: Onvoltooide zomer (The summer that never was, DCI Banks 13) by Peter Robinson,
book 309: Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë,
book 308: Het dovemansorendieet by Maarten 't Hart,
book 307: Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio,
book 306: Hamlet by William Shakespeare,
book 305: Jesse 'ballewal-tsjí' by Harm de Jonge,
book 304: De eerste zaak van Montalbano (Montalbano's First Case) by Andrea Camileri,
book 303: De reizen van de slimme man by Imme Dros,

Books read in August 2017 (56 books, 11.871 pages)
book 302: Water is gevaarlijk by Tonke Dragt,
book 301: Een halve gele zon (Half of a Yellow Sun) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,
book 300: De moeder (Mother) by Maxim Gorky,
book 299: Dood van een maestro (Death in La Fenice) by Donna Leon,
book 298: Tilt by Michiel Stroink,
book 297: Morgen ga ik naar China by Imme Dros,
book 296: Dit is het huis bij de kromme boom by Imme Dros,
book 295: Roosje kreeg een ballon by Imme Dros,
book 294: De o van opa by Imme Dros,
book 293: Wat niemand weet by Tonke Dragt,
book 292: Annetje Lie in het holst van de nacht (Annelie in the depths of the night) by Imme Dros,
book 291: Het gevaarlijke venster, twee verhalen uit het rijk van Unauwen by Tonke Dragt,
book 290: De kleine Brief voor de koning by Tonke Dragt,
book 289: Nasleep (Aftermath, DCI Banks 12) by Peter Robinson,
book 288: De aankomst (The Arrival) by Shaun Tan,
book 287: Het verborgen leven van bomen (The Hidden Life of Trees) by Peter Wohlleben,
book 286: De Cock en de sluimerende dood (De Cock 42) by A.C. Baantjer,
book 285: Regels van de zomer (Rules of Summer) by Shaun Tan, (1000 unique books read since 2008)
book 284: Terug (Return) by Aaron Becker,
book 283: Zoektocht (Quest) by Aaron Becker,
book 282: Aan de andere kant van de deur by Tonke Dragt,
book 281: Het geheim van de klokkenmaker by Tonke Dragt,
book 280: De ijsmakers (The Ice-Cream Makers) by Ernest van der Kwast,
book 279: Dolfijn en zeemeermin by Robert Lowell,
book 278: Trash by Andy Mulligan,
book 277: Halssnoer en kalebas (Necklace and Calabash, Judge Dee 7) by Robert van Gulik,
book 276: Verhalen van de tweelingbroers by Tonke Dragt,
book 275: De geheime tuin (The Secret Garden) by Frances Hodgson Burnett,
book 274: Het transgalactisch liftershandboek (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) by Douglas Adams,
book 273: Het vuur van de zon (To Spoil the Sun) by Joyce Rockwood,
book 272: Oblomow by I.A. Gontsjarow,
book 271: De bergreis by Theun de Vries,
book 270: Het gemene gewas (Monk's Hood, Cadfael 3) by Ellis Peters,
book 269: De rechter en zijn beul (The Judge and His Hangman) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt,
book 268: De diddakoi (The Diddakoi) by Rumer Godden,
book 267: Judas by Amos Oz,
book 266: Kil als het graf (Cold is the Grave, DCI Banks 11) by Peter Robinson,
book 265: Blauw licht (Blue Lightning, Sheltand 4) by Ann Cleeves,
book 264: De Cock en de dode meesters (De Cock 41) by A.C. Baantjer,
book 263: De vrolijke revolutie by Fons Strijbosch,
book 262: De adelaar van het negende (The Eagle of the Ninth) by Rosemary Sutcliff,
book 261: Op reis (Journey) by Aaron Becker,
book 260: De smalle weg naar het verre noorden (The Narrow Road to the Deep North) by Matsuo Basho,
book 259: De smalle weg naar het verre noorden (The Narrow Road to the Deep North) by Richard Flanagan,
book 258: De wraak van Flame, de hengst van Azul (The Island Stallion's Fury) by Walter Farley,
book 257: De Soul Brothers en Sister Lou (The Soul Brothers and Sister Lou) by Kristin Hunter,
book 256: De vuurbewoners (The fire-dwellers) by Margaret Laurence,
book 255: James Brown : op zoek naar de Godfather of Soul (Kill 'Em and Leave) by James McBride,
book 254: De gelukkige krijgers (The Happy Warriors) by Halldór Laxness,
book 253: De blauwe maansteen by Tonke Dragt,
book 252: Verdronken verleden (In a Dry Season, DCI Banks 10) by Peter Robinson,
book 251: Haat die kat (Hate that cat) by Sharon Creech,
book 250: Waar het licht is (All the Bright Places) by Jennifer Niven,
book 249: Blindeman (Hide & Seek, John Rebus 2) by Ian Rankin,
book 248: Kat & muis (Knots and Crosses, John Rebus 1) by Ian Rankin,
book 247: Wij houden van Tsjernobyl (Voices from Chernobyl) by Svetlana Alexievich,

Books read in July 2017 (46 books, 11.485 pages)
book 246: Verdriet is het ding met veren (Grief is the Thing with Feathers) by Max Porter,
book 245: De Finklerkwestie (The Finkler Question) by Howard Jacobson,
book 244: Hou van die hond (Love that dog) by Sharon Creech,
book 243: Meer van Mien-yuan (The Chinese Lake Murders, Judge Dee 3) by Robert van Gulik,
book 242: Tijgereiland by Daan Remmerts de Vries,
book 241: Het complete Rekelboek by Koos van Zomeren,
book 240: Lange maanden by Imme Dros,
book 239: De zonderlinge geschiedenis van Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) by R.L. Stevenson,
book 238: Het Chinese lakscherm (The Lacquer Screen, Judge Dee 3) by Robert van Gulik,
book 237: Zwanenzang (Dry Bones that Dream, DCI Banks 7) by Peter Robinson,
book 236: Het mes dat niet wijkt (The Knife of Never Letting Go) by Patrick Ness,
book 235: Grootvaders reisdoel (When grandfather journeys into winter) by Craig Strete,
book 234: Engelse rozen (David Austin's English Roses) by David Austin,
book 233: Max Havelaar by Multatuli, (1000 books read since 2008, including re-reads)
book 232: Het herdersleven (The Shepherd's Life) by James Rebanks,
book 231: De een van de ander (The One from the Other, Bernie Gunther 4) by Philip Kerr,
book 230: De Aran-eilanden (Stones of Aran: Pilgrimage) by Tim Robinson,
book 229: Kind van sneeuw (The Snow Child) by Eowyn Ivey,
book 228: De Cock en kogels voor een bruid (De Cock 40) by A.C. Baantjer,
book 227: Tot de honden komen (Dog Boy) by Eva Hornung,
book 226: Uitgestoten (Outcast) by Rosemary Sutcliff,
book 225: Lengtegraad (Longitude) by Dava Sobel,
book 224: De 100-jarige man die uit het raam klom en verdween (The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared) by Jonas Jonasson,
book 223: Kleurenblind (Born a Crime) by Trevor Noah,
book 222: Woensdagkind by (Wednesday's child, DCI Banks 6) Peter Robinson,
book 221: De heksen (The witches) by Roald Dahl,
book 220: 1984 by George Orwell,
book 219: Witte nachten (White Nights, Shetland 2) by Ann Cleeves,
book 218: De jonge prinsen by Guus Kuijer,
book 217: Rashomon en andere verhalen (Rashomon and Other Stories) by Ryûnosoke Akutagwa,
book 216: Schijnbeeld (Past reason hated, DCI Banks 5) by Peter Robinson,
book 215: Moenli en de moeder van de wolven by Klaus Kordon,
book 214: Jeugdherinneringen by J.J. Voskuil,
book 213: De derde man (The Third Man) by Graham Greene,
book 212: Geen bloemen by Lévi Weemoedt,
book 211: De honden (The Dogs) by Allan Stratton,
book 210: De vijfde vrouw (The Fifth Woman, Wallander 6) by Henning Mankell,
book 209: Soldaat Peaceful (Private Peaceful) by Michael Morpurgo,
book 208: Hij heette Jan (A Night in Distant Motion) by Irina Korschunow,
book 207: Bonfire, zoon van de Zwarte Hengst (The Black Stallion's blood bay colt, The Black Stallion 6) by Walter Farley,
book 206: Zout van de zee (Salt to the Sea) by Ruta Sepetys,
book 205: Reis met een ezel door de Cevennen (Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes) by Robert Louis Stevenson,
book 204: Het wonderlijke verhaal van Hendrik Meier (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) by Roald Dahl,
book 203: Haringen in sneeuw by Remco Ekkers,
book 202: Waar is onze moeder (Please Look After Mom) by Kyung-Sook Shin,
book 201: Anna Karenina by L.N. Tolstoj,

Books read in June 2017 (26 books, 6.592 pages)
book 200: Zondeval (The Hanging Valley, DCI Banks 4) by Peter Robinson,
book 199: De rommelkist van grootvader by Elfie Donnelly,
book 198: Wiele wiele stap by Miep Diekmann,
book 197: De griezels (The Twits) by Roald Dahl,
book 196: De GVR (The BFG) by Roald Dahl,
book 195: Schrijver (Some Rain Must Fall, My Struggle 5) by Karl Ove Knausgård,
book 194: Spoo Pee Doo by Dimitri Verhulst,
book 193: Mijn naam is Bud (Bud not Buddy) by Christopher Paul Curtis,
book 192: De brug van San Luis Rey (The bridge of San Luis Rey) by Thornton Wilder,
book 191: In plaats van een vader by Kerstin Thorvall,
book 190: De blikken trommel (The Tin Drum) by Günter Grass,
book 189: Het mooie lijk (The Crediton Killings, Sir Baldwin 4) by Michael Jecks,
book 188: Kroniek van een aangekondigde dood (Chronicle of a death foretold) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez,
book 187: Arenden vliegen alleen by Tonny Vos-Dahmen von Buchholz,
book 186: Aan de verkeerde kant van de aarde (Homesick : my own story) by Jean Fritz,
book 185: Candy, kom terug (Hurry home, Candy) by Meindert DeJong,
book 184: Het grauwe huis (Bleak house) by Charles Dickens,
book 183: De verloren brief aan Thomas Mann (Inside the head of Bruno Schulz) by Maxim Biller,
book 182: Hellehonden by Jan & Sanne Terlouw,
book 181: Steeds verder weg : de verzamelaar op reis by Boudewijn Büch,
book 180: Ravenzwart (Raven Black) by Ann Cleeves,
book 179: En Appels aan de overkant by Henri van Daele,
book 178: De verschrikkelijke man uit Säffle (The Abominable Man) by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö,
book 177: De Wilg aan het Begin van de wereld by Alet Schouten,
book 176: De langschepen (The Long Ships) by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson,
book 175: Blauwzuur by Arnaldur Indriðason,

Books read in May 2017 (38 books, 10.225 pages)
book 174: Problemski Hotel by Dimitri Verhulst,
book 173: Frank, of hoe je vrienden vindt by Klaus Kordon,
book 172: En de zwakken ondergaan wat ze moeten ondergaan? (And the Weak Suffer What They Must?) by Yanis Varoufakis,
book 171: The Chessmen by Peter May,
book 170: Nacht (Dancing in the Dark, My struggle 4) by Karl Ove Knausgård,
book 169: Kaas (Cheese) by Willem Elsschot,
book 168: Alles op één kaart (Seventeen Against the Dealer) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 167: De verloren vader (Sons from Afar) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 166: Flame, de hengst van het eiland Azul (The Island Stallion) by Walter Farley,
book 165: Wilhemina Smits (Come a stranger) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 164: The Lewis Man by Peter May,
book 163: De hardloper (The Runner) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 162: Het verhaal van Dicey (Dicey's Song) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 161: Samen onder dak (2nd part of Homecoming) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 160: Onder de blote hemel (1st part of Homecoming) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 159: Niemand anders dan ik (A Solitary Blue) by Cynthia Voigt,
book 158: Het Midden Oosten (The Middle East) by Bernard Lewis,
book 157: De Rode Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel) by Barones Emma Orczy,
book 156: Toen de wereld nog jong was Jürg Schubiger,
book 155: Cybele's geheim (Cybele's Secret) by Juliet Marillier,
book 154: Bijna jarig by Imme Dros,
book 153: Dwaalsporen (Sidetracked, Wallander 5) by Henning Mankell,
book 152: De jongen met de gele ogen (The Haunting) by Margaret Mahy,
book 151: De trimbaan by Imme Dros,
book 150: Overvloed en onbehagen (The Embarrassment of Riches) by Simon Schama,
book 149: Het laatste bevel by Peter Aspe,
book 148: Na het baden bij Baxter en de ontluizing bij Miss Grace by J.M.H. Berckmans,
book 147: Die stad komt nooit af by J.A. Deelder,
book 146: De vertrapte pioenroos by Bertus Aafjes,
book 145: Oorlog op Kreta '41-'44 (The Ariadne Objective) by Wes Davis,
book 144: De tolbrug (The Toll Bridge) by Aidan Chambers,
book 143: Orkaan en Mayra by Sonia Garmers,
book 142: Het jaar dat de zigeuners kwamen (The Year the Gypsies Came) by Linzi Glass,
book 141: two editions of De Blauwe Boekanier by Tonke Dragt,
book 140: Djingo Django (Jingo Django) by Sid Fleischman,
book 139: Een huis met een poort en een park by Henri van Daele,
book 138: De ontdekking van de hemel (The Discovery of Heaven) by Harry Mulisch,
book 137: De vuurtoren by Jan & Sanne Terlouw,

Books read in April 2017 (37 books, 7.825 pages)
book 136: Koude berg : onthechting als weg by Han Shan,
book 135: De stad van goud (The city of gold) by Peter Dickinson,
book 134: Een stinkdier is een prachtig beest by Daniil Charms,
book 133: Wildewoud (Wildwood Dancing) by Juliet Marillier,
book 132: ... en de zon werd koud by Jean Coué,
book 131: Just kids by Patti Smith,
book 130: Tirannen (The present takers) by Aidan Chambers,
book 129: Het geheim van de grot (Seal secret) by Aidan Chambers,
book 128: Leven en lot (Life and Fate) by Vasily Grossman,
book 127: De rode kous (Offbeat Friends) by Elfie Donnelly,
book 126: Fantoom in Foe-lai (The Chinese Gold Murders, Judge Dee 1) by Robert van Gulik,
book 125: Aurelio en de wilde hengst (Stallion of the sands) by Helen Griffiths,
book 124: Dichtbij ver van hier by Tonke Dragt,
book 123: De plaats van de ster (La Place de l'Étoile) by Patrick Modiano,
book 122: Je moet dansen op mijn graf (Dance on my grave) by Aidan Chambers,
book 121: Tot aan het bittere eind by Werner J. Egli,
book 120: M-train by Patti Smith,
book 119: De weg naar Little Dribbling (The Road to Little Dribbling) by Bill Bryson,
book 118: Begin een torentje van niks by Ted van Lieshout,
book 117: Dan ben je nergens meer by Miep Diekman,
book 116: Tobbe by Mikael Engström,
book 115: De robot van de rommelmarkt ; Route Z by Tonke Dragt,
book 114: Federico by Helen Griffiths,
book 113: Jij zegt het by Connie Palmen,
book 112: Het einde van de rode mens (Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets) by Svetlana Alexijevitsj,
book 111: Het spookklooster (The haunted monastery, Judge Dee 5) by Robert van Gulik,
book 110: Matilda by Roald Dahl,
book 109: Abels eiland (Abel's island) by William Steig,
book 108: Een grapje van God (A jest of God) by Margaret Laurence,
book 107: Lieveling, boterbloem by Margriet Heymans,
book 106: Een heel lief konijn by Imme Dros,
book 105: De poorten van Anubis (The Anubis Gates) by Tim Powers,
book 104: Boris (The ice road) by Jaap ter Haar,
book 103: De levende doden (Barefoot Gen, Vol. 2: The Day After) by Keiji Nakazawa,
book 102: De boten van Brakkeput (The haunted island) by Miep Diekmann,
book 101: Oorlog en terpentijn (War and turpentine) by Stefan Hertmans,
book 100: De Cock en de dood van een profeet (De Cock 39) by A.C. Baantjer,

Books read in March 2017 (32 books, 7.901 pages)
book 99: De Penderwicks (The Penderwicks) by Jeanne Birdsall,
book 98: De laatste wildernis (The Wild Places) by Robert Macfarlane,
book 97: Klokken van Kao-yang (The chinese bell murders, Judge Dee 3) by Robert van Gulik,
book 96: Het zwaard van de Islam (Children of the book) by Peter Carter,
book 95: De stenen engel (The Stone Angel) by Margaret Laurence,
book 94: De weglopers (The runaways) by Victor Canning,
book 93: De dag van de geitenman (After the goat man) by Betsy Byars,
book 92: De gebroeders Karamazow (The brothers Karamazov) by F.M. Dostojewski,
book 91: Stilte (Silence) by Shusaku Endo,
book 90: De blauwe tweeling (Reders & Reders 4) by Jan & Sanne Terlouw,
book 89: Tegenstroom (A necessary end, DCI Banks 3) by Peter Robinson,
book 88: De gehangene van Dartmoor (A Moorland Hanging, Sir Baldwin 3) by Michael Jecks,
book 87: Hoe schilder hoe wilder : Haarlem by Miep Diekmann,
book 86: Hoe schilder hoe wilder : Leiden by Miep Diekmann,
book 85: Het laatste lijk (One corpse too many, Cadfael 2) by Ellis Peters,
book 84: Blote handen (Bare hands) by Bart Moeyaert,
book 83: De geest op de rotswand (Spirit on the Wall) by Ann O'Neil Garcia,
book 82: De Boeddha in de wereld (An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World) by Pankaj Mishra,
book 81: Winterdieren by Bibi Dumon Tak,
book 80: Zoon (Boyhood Island, My Struggle 3) by Karl Ove Knausgård,
book 79: Chocolade oorlog (The chocolate war) by Robert Cormier,
book 78: Boris Beer by Dick Bruna,
book 77: Lieve oma Pluis (Goodbye Grandma) by Dick Bruna,
book 76: Het dansende licht by Tonke Dragt,
book 75: Tegenvoeters (In a sunburned country) Bill Bryson,
book 74: Aan de rivier (By the river) by Steven Herrick,
book 73: Balthasar by Henri van Daele,
book 72: De man in het bruine pak (The man in the brown suit) by Agatha Christie,
book 71: Rokus en het Tiende Leven by Alet Schouten,
book 70: Heraios en de beker by Sacha Burger,
book 69: De zwerfkatten (The pinballs) by Betsy Byars,
book 68: Celia Garth by Gwen Bristow,

Books read in February 2017 (34 books, 7.778 pages)
book 67: Kinderverhalen by Mies Bouhuys,
book 66: De Cock en het duel in de nacht (De Cock 38) by A.C. Baantjer,
book 65: Het bittere kruid (Bitter herbs) by Marga Minco,
book 64: De vloek van Woestewolf (The curse of the werewolf) by Paul Biegel,
book 63: Lang zul je leven : bakerrijmpjes by Ienne Biemans,
book 62: De kleine kapiteinThe (Little Captain) by Paul Biegel,
book 61: Nachtlicht (A dedicated man, DCI Banks 2) by Peter Robinson,
book 60: Bij nader inzien by J.J. Voskuil,
book 59: The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan,
book 58: Kwaad bloed by Marita de Sterck,
book 57: Laatste verhalen van de eeuw by Paul Biegel,
book 56: Heerlijke nieuwe wereld (Brave new world) by Aldous Huxley,
book 55: Dief van de duivel by Mikael Engström,
book 54: Wie is Julia (Finding Grace) by Alyssa Brugman,
book 53: Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín,
book 52: Ver heen by P.C. Kuiper,
book 51: Misdaad en straf (Crime and punishment) by F.M. Dostojewski,
book 50: Van den vos Reynaerde (Of Reynaert the Fox) by Willem, transl H. Adema,
book 49: Lasse Länta by Cor Bruijn,
book 48: Man zonder land (A man without a country) by Kurt Vonnegut,
book 47: Dromen van mijn vader (Dreams from my father) by Barack Obama,
book 46: Lawines razen (Avalanche!) by An Rutgers van der Loeff,
book 45: Walden ; Burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid (Walden & On the duty of Civil Disobedience) by Henry David Thoreau,
book 44: De rode prinses by Paul Biegel,
book 43: De verjaardag van de eekhoorn (The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties) by Toon Tellegen,
book 42: De verjaardag van alle anderen by Toon Tellegen,
book 41: Bajaar by Martha Heesen,
book 40: De eeuwigheid verzameld : Helene Kröller-Müller (1869-1939) by Eva Rovers,
book 39: Overal en nergens (Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe) by Bill Bryson,
book 38: De Cock en de ontluisterende dood (De Cock 37) by A.C. Baantjer,
book 37: Zand erover by Laura Broekhuysen,
book 36: Sjanetje by Thea Dubelaar,
book 35: Krik by Miep Diekman,
book 34: De twaalf rovers (The twelve robbers) by Paul Biegel,

Books read in January 2017 (33 books, 9.756 pages)
book 33: In de ban van de ring (The Lord of the Rings) by J.R.R. Tolkien,
book 32: Fiona : In koelen bloede (Love story, with murders) by Harry Bingham,
book 31: Fiona (Talking to the dead) by Harry Bingham,
book 30: Het olifantenfeest (The elephant party) by Paul Biegel,
book 29: Stille blik (Gallows view, DCI Banks 1) by Peter Robinson,
book 28: Het eiland daarginds by Paul Biegel,
book 27: De mens is een grote fazant (The passport) by Herta Müller,
book 26: Swing by Paul Biegel,
book 25: Haas by Paul Biegel,
book 24: Liefde (A man in love, My struggle 2) by Karl Ove Knausgård,
book 23: Anderland by Paul Biegel,
book 22: Het gen: een intieme geschiedenis (The Gene: an intimate history) by Siddharta Mukerjee,
book 21: Tussen de wereld en mij (Between the world and me) by Ta-Nehisi Coates,
book 20: 7 jaren van een wielrenner by Herbert Friedrich,
book 19: De inspirerende wijsheid van de Dalai Lama by Dalai Lama,
book 18: Zout op mijn huid (Salt on our skin) by Benoîte Groult,
book 17: Padden verhuizen niet graag by Gerard Brands,
book 16: Francesco by Jean Dulieu,
book 15: Het knoopjeskabinet (The Hare with Amber Eyes) by Edmund de Waal,
book 14: De aanslag (The assault) by Harry Mulisch,
book 13: We moeten allemaal feminist zijn (We should all be feminists) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,
book 12: Dokter Zjivago (Doctor Zhivago) by Boris Pasternak,
book 11: Kikker in de kou (Frog in Winter) by Max Velthuijs,
book 10: Ik maak nooit iets mee by Guus Middag,
book 9: Een goudvis van tweeduizend pond (The two-thousand-pound goldfish) by Betsy Byars,
book 8: Hidden Doe : Wij zijn Mesquakie, wij zijn één (We are Mesquakie, we are one) by Hadley Irwin,
book 7: De donkere kamer van Damocles (The Darkroom of Damocles) by Willem Frederik Hermans,
book 6: Het veterdiploma by Wiel Kusters,
book 5: Onvoltooide geschiedenis ((The German Mujahid in US, An Unfinished Business in UK) by Boualem Sansal,
book 4: De wervelstorm (Hills End) by Ivan Southall,
book 3: Nachtverhaal by Paul Biegel,
book 2: Oorlog en vrede 2/2 (War and Peace 2/2) by Leo Tolstoj,
book 1: Oorlog en vrede 1/2 (War and Peace 1/2) by Leo Tolstoj,

Books aquired in 2017: 33

November 2017
Fontamara by Ignazio Silone
Een erfenis van spionnen by John LeCarré
Schorshuiden by Annie Proulx
Ik, robot by Iaac Asimov (Nederland Leest)

October 2017
De tolk van Java by Alfred Birney (Libris Literatuur prijs 2017)
Saluut aan Catalonië by George Orwell
Leven en lot by Vasily Grossman

August 2017
Wolfijzers en schietgeweren by Richard Minne (Nederlandse canon)
De Oostakkerse gedichten by Hugo Claus (Nederlandse canon)
Een muur van schilden by Rosemary Sutcliff
Vincent in Den Haag by Theun de Vries
De geschikte jongen by Vikram Seth

July 2017
De Indische reis van H. P. Berlage editor Joris Molenaar
The sketchbook of Jan van Goyen from the Bredius-Kronig collection by Edwin Buijsen

May 2017
Ravenzwart, Shetland book 1 by Ann Cleeves (e-book)
Witte nachten, Shetland book 2 by Ann Cleeves (e-book)
Blauw licht, Shetland book 4 by Ann Cleeves (e-book)
Mijn naam is Bud by Christopher Paul Curtis

April 2017:
Verontwaardiging by Philip Roth
De boerderij der dieren by George Orwell

March 2017:
Verzamelde werken 2 : Gedichten by Boris Pasternak
Het nieuwe vogels kijken by Kester Freriks
Makkelijk leven by Herman Koch (Boekenweekgeschenk)
De moeder van Nicolien by J.J. Voskuil
De klokkenluider van de Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo

February 2017:
Bajaar by Martha Heesen (e-book, Gouden Lijst 2012)
Kwaad gesternte by Hannah van Binsbergen (VSB Poëzieprijs 2017)
Tussen de wereld en mij by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Walden ; Burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid by Henry David Thoreau
Tegen verkiezingen by David van Reybrouck
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
Binnen de huid by J.J. Voskuil
Terloops : Voettochten 1957-1973 by J.J. Voskuil

Books culled in 2017: 65

That is all I need, so next one is yours.

Happy new thread Anita.

Happy new thread Anita. I am hoping that you make it to at least 450 books this year. Wonderful achievement.

Wow, lovely toppers! Happy new thread, Anita. Your stats are astronomical this year!

Lovely topper again, Anita.

>3 FAMeulstee: Your reading plans for December are looking good. I had to laugh at those TIOLI challenges.

Happy new thread!

Hi Anita and happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread!

Happy December thread!

>12 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline.

>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, that should be doable, maybe a few more.

>14 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, I am still a bit surprised I am able to read this much.

>15 EllaTim: Thanks Ella, I participate in the TIOLI challenges each month this year. I am trying to do all challenges each month, only one month to go. They help me to read a bit out of my comfort zone.

>16 karenmarie: Thanks Karen.

>17 scaifea: Thanks Amber.

>18 drneutron: Thanks Jim, can't add the new thread to the wiki now :-(

>19 richardderus: Thanks Richard, I like the pace of one thread a month.

>21 FAMeulstee: Yup, i’ve been keeping a list of new threads to add once the wiki is turned back on. Word has it, the new system will be in place on Monday.

book 413: Slangen in de kinderkamer by Leon Garfield & Edward Blishen
own, YA, translated, awarded, Eervolle Vermelding 1998, original title The golden shadow, 188 pages
TIOLI challenge # 6: Read a book that features 12 something

Retelling of Greek Myths, with tales of many ancient greek hero's. The largest part is about Heracles and the twelve labors he had to do after killing his sons.

Good read, although I prefer the retellings by the Dutch author Imme Dros.

>22 drneutron: Yes, Jim, I saw Monday was mentioned as return date. I hope they have found a good solution for the wiki-spam.

book 414: De Cock en het roodzijden nachthemd by A.C. Baantjer
from the library, e-book, police mystery, 44rd book of 70 De Cock, no translations, 135 pages

A suicide turns out to be murder, the cause lays many years ago.

Happy New Thread, Anita!

I love the environmental art you've been showing us. What fun it must be to work on that scale. Pier + Horizon is a pretty one.

I envy you having more Fiona Griffiths books ahead of you. I'm waiting for the new one to come out. If I read it right, you're probably waiting for a new translation of the third one?

Happy new thread, Anita!

>25 FAMeulstee: I have five of this series Anita, I really should pick one up and try it.

>26 jnwelch: Thanks Joe!
We haven't visited Pier + Horizon yet, but I like how the maker used the water.
Yes, I am waiting for book 3 in Dutch translation. I am afraid the publisher dropped the Fiona series, book 2 was published in 2014 and no sign of a next translation. So I might give book 3 a try in English...

>27 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry!

LT ate my previous reply, anyone else having problems?

>28 Caroline_McElwee: They are not the greatest mysteries, Caroline. I think the earlier ones are better than the later ones.

Happy New Thread, Anita!

I forgot to mention how lovely Pier + Horizon is to me, and I hope you and Frank can visit and post your own photos of it.

Happy New Thread Anita my dear.

>31 ronincats: Thanks Roni!

>32 richardderus: We will get there, Richard, we have been now to 5 of the 7 landscape artworks in our province.

>33 johnsimpson: Thanks John, probably the last thread for this year.

Happy new thread, Anita. I'd encourage you to keep up the great reading, but I know my encouragement isn't needed!

More good wishes from me. I'd like to visit the art in your topper - reminds me of the English Lake district. Very peaceful.

Happy new thread, Anita. Best of luck getting to 450 books read. At the rate you are going it looks very doable.

Happy New December thread, Anita! Wow! I hope you make it to 450 books.

Ari's back took a turn to the worst last night. He could not walk anymore, this morning he was at the exact same spot as he was when I went to sleep. He cried when he tried to move.
We went to the vet, I had to use the stroller to get him to to the car. Lifting him caused also much pain. He was a small bundle of misery. Together we decided it has been enough :'(

Vale dear Ari....

OH, Anita, I'm so sorry about Ari!

>39 FAMeulstee: I am so so sad with you and Frank, Anita. I know how heartbreaking the decision to let go is. Thank you on Ari's behalf for your kindness and strength.

{{{Ari}}}

{{{Anita}}}

{{{Frank}}}

Oh Anita, I am so sorry for your loss. It is never easy. Please know that Ari surely knew how much he was loved. You made the right decision for him.

{{gentle hugs}}

Ah, too bad, Anita. That had to be hard with Ari. Debbi and I send our sympathy. You of course did the right thing - his quality of life had disappeared, poor little guy.

Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss of little Ari. I wish a Gentle Journey to his spirit and peace to your heart. Hugs

Mine too. I’m so sorry for your loss.

Oh, Anita - I am so very sorry for your loss. It's never an easy decision to make, and I know many tears were involved, but you did the right thing for your beloved Ari. Hugs from someone in America who has gone through it too.

Frank and I are both still a bit in shock. Ari was having troubles with his back for some time. But we didn't expect it would go so fast. Seeing him in so much pain, while on strong (nerve-)painkillers was heartbreaking. Thankfully our most trusted vet was on call today.
It is quiet in the house, ever since Frank and me have been together we have had one or more dogs.

>40 tymfos: Thank you, Terri

>41 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, it was heartbreaking. But we could not let Ari go on, while in so much pain. He nearly never complained or cried. Doing so ment it must have been unbearable.

>42 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley, he surely knew he was loved. He loved us back whith all his heart.

>43 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, it is very hard. It feels like a big hole in my heart.

>44 mckait: Thank you, Kath, it will take a while to recover. Too many losses there last 18 months.

>45 drneutron: Thank you, Jim, we miss our dear little doggie.

>46 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary, we have been here many times before. Only this time there is no other dog who needs the daily care and routine.

Hi Anita, so sorry for the loss of your beloved Ari, it is one of the hardest decisions to make but as you have said he was in tremendous pain and it must have been heartbreaking to see him in that condition. We have had only two cats during our married life and I was heartbroken when I had to take Patch to the vets for the last time and then we got Leo. Even though he has lost his sight, his other senses have picked up and he is still the lovable Leo we have always known and loved.

The thoughts and prayers of both Karen and I are with you at this sad time my dear and know that it will take time for you and Frank to get over this, but we are all here for you if you need a long distance cuddle dear friend. Sending heartfelt love and hugs to you both my dear.

Oh, Anita, I'm so sorry for you having to say goodbye to Ari. That's so difficult. Big hugs to you both, and I'm keeping you in my thoughts.

Happy New Thread, Anita. I am so sorry to hear about Ari. It is so sad to put down a dog. Hugs to all of you.

I hope you are forgetting with some fine books.

Anita and Frank, I'm so sad about your loss of Ari. My heart goes out to you both. Dave and I have had to make the decision twice for our previous dogs. It is never easy at all, but I think that perhaps we let our second dog linger too long and maybe even our first dog. Like John and Karen, I'm here for an internet cuddle. Love and hugs, Anita and Frank.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about Ari. I'll be thinking of you.

Oh, Anita, what a shock. I'm very sorry for you, and Frank.

But I agree that it's for the best for Ari, to not let hem be in too much pain.

Hugs to you and Frank.

I'm so very sorry, Anita. You made a very brave and compassionate choice on Ari's behalf.

You and Frank will be in my thoughts.

Oh, Anita! I have tears in my eyes for you, Frank, and Ari. You and Frank were so brave to do the best thing for him.

*hugs*

Waking up this morning in an empty house: no wagging tail, no dog to carry down the stairs, Frank still sleeping.

>48 johnsimpson: Thank you, John and Karen, he was the first small dog we ever had. He made us see there is as much dog in a small size. In 35 years we have had 10 dogs, most years we had 2 or 3.
When Frank moved in I had one dog and three cats.
Give Leo a cuddle from me, your cuddles are very much appriciated.

>49 scaifea: Thank you, Amber, it is devastating. I miss my little shadow.

>50 msf59: Thank you, Mark, it is very sad. He went down way to fast....
Reading is a bit difficult at the moment, with thoughts wandering off the pages.

>51 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, it is always a difficult decision, each time again. Give Poppy a hug.

>52 bell7: Thank you, Mary, he was a great little dog.

>53 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, it went so fast. I still see him wanting to stand up and not able to do so. I hope the good memories come back soon...

>54 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, it was a heartbreaking choice.

>55 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, I can't stop crying. It has been a terrible year and a half, loosing two dogs and two siblings.

Trust that life will get a little easier.

Your description of the empty house made me sniffle a little, Anita.

Hugs a plenty from your friend in the tropics.

>57 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, I know it will get easier, but it seems very far away now.
The tears keep on flowing, both Frank and me, it will take a while to come to terms.

So sorry to read this Anita. Will be thinking of you and Frank.

I'm very sorry to hear about Ari's passing, Anita. As I mentioned on your Facebook timeline yesterday I saw how much he meant to you and Frank, and I'm glad that I was able to meet that sweet boy in Rotterdam last year. The two of you will be in my prayers and thoughts.

So sorry to hear about dear Ari, Anita. Our furry companions are so precious and it is always hard to part. Thinking of you and Frank, and hoping that the sweet memories will bring smiles.

Losing a dear pet is very painful, I know but take comfort in the fact that he's no longer in pain and you certainly did the right thing in letting him go. Hugs to you both.

>59 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, we miss him dearly.

>60 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl, it was a hard decision to let him go. Our day in Rotterdam is part of the good memories, I am glad you had the chance to meet Ari there.

>61 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, he was a great and dearly loved companion in our journey through life.

>62 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba, knowing he is no longer in pain is a comfort. Most missed is like Ari was before his back problems, the happy and tailwagging furry friend.

Oh, Anita, I'm so sorry! It's so hard to lose a loved pet, but one does know when it is time, I guess. Wishing you good memories and peace.

Karen O.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anita! Wishing comfort to you and to Frank in this difficult time.

I'm crying for you now, reading this. I've had to make this decision for two cats in the last few years, Jasper in 2012, and Tigger in 2015. And now Cassie is emaciated and not well, if holding her own, feisty and eating once more, while Molly-cat is 15 years old (if healthy...) It's the horrible tradeoff we face for all the joy that our furry companions bring to our lives.

But as you said, you knew when you saw Ari that this was the moment, and that there wasn't really any doubt about what the right thing was for him. You were a caring, loving companion to him to the last second of his life, and his trust and love for you was amply repaid in that final decision. He wasn't able to ask in a way you could understand, but I suspect if he had, he would have said, "let this end, please..." You didn't need him to say that. Now comes the very hardest part, for you and Frank -- the silence and emptiness. Thank heavens you have each other to help. I hope that you can focus on the joyful times you had with Ari over the years, and let time do its work, one day at a time -- first acceptance, and then the ability to move on, closing this wound. Hugs.... and the resident felines (Molly-cat, Cassie and Sir Fergus the Fat) send purrs.

>64 klobrien2: Thank you, Karen, it this case there was no doubt it was time as Ari was is way to much pain. As we are without a dog now, many memories come up of all the dogs we have owned in nearly 35 years.

>65 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry, we miss him so much.

>66 Chatterbox: Thank you, Suzanne, for your hartwarming and thoughtfull response.
We have had 10 dogs in the last 35 years, most of the time more than one. So if we had to let one go, there was always a dog still around. And now the house is empty.
Frank has to go to work tonight, this is going to be my first night alone since May 1983...

Hi, Anita. Just checking in. I hope life is getting a bit easier, with time passing. Any plans on getting another addition?

>68 msf59: Thanks Mark, it is still hard...

No plans yet, we have been thinking what we would do after Ari, expecting that would be years away. We decided to go without a dog for a while, as we would like to travel a bit more, especially to places that are not easy to go with a dog.
I used to need my dogs to survive, that is no longer the case. But first I have to get though my first night alone own since many years tonight.

I know we all are there with you in our hearts, Anita. I hope you will feel a little less alone knowing how many people across the globe will be thinking of you and caring so much that you're in pain.

And I forgot to wish you a happy St. Nicholas Day, Anita.

>70 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, it is a comfort to know there are many here who do care.
The dogs have been my lifeline for so many years, before them (and Frank) I was in a very bad shape.

>71 richardderus: LOL, thanks Richard, we don't really celebrate St Nicolaas. Without kids and sweets it is not the same ;-)
But you managed to make me smile!

ETA: I did read a book yesterday with Sinterklaas as a main character.

I went for a brief time without cats, after Clea died in 2002. (She was my first cat; adopted shortly after I moved into my first permanent independent home, in early 1986.) It was very odd. It was in a very difficult point in my life anyway, and when I found myself talking to myself AND responding, I went out and adopted Jasper and Molly. Molly is still with me, and has become the most purring-est cat imaginable, from being a fraidy-cat. After Jasper's death five years ago, I think she decided that (a) it was her job to look after me and (b) she would just decide that I was really just a Very Large Cat, so as not to be afraid of me any longer.

But one of the reasons I really adopted Fergus last year was so that when Cassie and Molly (13 and 15) aren't here any longer, I don't feel suicidal. I'm quite serious. Although we have a way to go before he and I are as closely bonded as I am to the girls...

It's tough not to have that presence in one's home. Not having an animal companion does give you more freedom and flexibility, but --

I hope you have spend as peaceful a night as possible. Just wanted to check in on you.

Oh Anita, just caught up with your thread and saw the news about poor Ari. So sorry for your loss, it's never easy especially when your home has been left empty this time.

Anita, I am heart-broken with you about Ari. Like you, I can't believe that it went downhill so fast. He was a wonderful little dog and you and Frank gave him a marvelous life. Not that that helps much right now. I know. At my age, I've lost a lot of cats and a few dogs along the way. Molly is 10 now and starting to slow down, and Zoe, my oldest cat, is 15 and just came through a bout with pancreatitis that we feared might take her down. We love our fur people so much. Hugs for you and Frank.

>74 Chatterbox: Thank you so much, Suzanne, I did finally sleep with the help of half a valium twice. In half an hour Frank wil be back from his work.

Some of my dogs did the same as your cat Molly does for you, and if Frank wasn't here I am sure I would be looking for a dog right now. In the years I really needed to have a dog around, because of depression, suicidal thoughts and agoraphobia, we always had at least two dogs. So there would always be at least one dog around.
I have not been depressed for some years now, I even could stop taking anti-depressants. That is why I dare to try without a dog at this time. The freedom and flexibility without a furry companion is worth nothing if depression would come back again.

>75 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry, the roughest edges of sorrow are fading a bit. Ari was a great little dog.

>76 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, it went way to fast. The hardest has been to find new routines without the walks three times a day. Not only the walks, but also the brief meetings with other dog owners. The last three days Frank and me have walked eachother in the afternoon, I hope we can keep up with that.

>74 Chatterbox: Funny Suz, I had a beautiful grey cat called Jasper. I’ve been without cats for years now, mostly because I am out so much. Maybe one day I will have more. I think pets are so intuitive.

Sorry to hear about your problems through the years.

>77 FAMeulstee: >78 FAMeulstee: I’m glad the depression has subsided Anita. It is so debilitating.

Hi Anita! I never had a dog, but when my cat died I missed her a lot. I still decided to not have a new one, mainly because of the holidays when I could not take her along. When I came home after, she always was upset and had been too much alone. I felt so bad about leaving her.

>76 ronincats: Having a dog is such a good way to meet people! I hope you can find some way to deal with this. A friend of mine has just decided to start some volunteer work at the animal shelter. Her cat has died recently, and she can't get a new one because she travels a great deal. So, this is her alternative.

Hi Anita!

I got tears in my eyes again at >67 FAMeulstee: Frank has to go to work tonight, this is going to be my first night alone since May 1983...

*hugs*

>79 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, those were the hardest years of my life. The dogs saved me many times.

>80 EllaTim: Thank you Ella, we reason the same way. For many years I could not travel at all, because of terrible homesickness, so it was no issue at all. Since 2009 the homesickness faded away and now we do travel a bit, but we always took the dog(s) with us, except for the short trip to London in May.
LT and walking the dog are my main sources of social contacts. For now Frank and I try to walk together every afternoon. In this time of the year most dog owners take shorter walks, so the chances on meeting someone are smaller. But if we can keep up, I am sure it will be a good replacement, as long as we take the designated dog-walking path.

>81 karenmarie: Sorry to make you cry again, Karen.

The good news it that I survived the night and even got some sleep, thanks to the valium. It wasn't easy on Frank either, he is safely back home and sleeping right now. Tonight he will work again and then he is 5 nights off.

Yay for getting through the night and even getting some sleep, Anita!

I don't like to travel because of homesickness, too. I love the idea of seeing new places, but once I get there, I just get so sad that I'm so far away from home (even if it's not really that far).

Anita, I'm just sad for you and crying is not a bad thing when in empathy for someone who is hurting. I'm glad you survived the night and that Frank is safe back home and sleeping.

>84 scaifea: Thanks Amber, I was pretty proud of myself :-)

So sorry you suffer from homesickness, too. I vividly remember that Frank and I tried a few times in our first years together. Complete disasters, as we were back home in 3 or 4 days, instead of the planned 7 days or more. We then decided to settle for short trips, max 4 days away, and Frank kept on telling me only 3 more nights, only two more nights etc. I am not sure how I got rid of it, but I am very happy it is gone.

That is probably true, Karen. I am going to prepare coffee, as Frank will wake up soon :-)

book 415: Dankbare dood by Peter Robinson
BolKobo+, e-book, translated, mystery, DCI Banks 21, original title Children of the revolution, 416 pages
TIOLI challenge #12: Read a book where the author's name contains at least two consecutive alphabetical letters

This time a mystery with roots in the 1970s. A bit much wandering thoughts and Alan Banks attracks woman half his age. Not the best book in the series, but still enjoyable enough.

book 416: Red ons, Maria Montanelli by Herman Koch
own, Dutch, no translations, 142 pages
TIOLI challenge #11: Read a book with a figure present at Jesus' birth in the title

Highschool memories, I think ment to be a bit dark and funny. Not my kind of humor. Happy to cull this one.

book 417: Komt een paard de kroeg binnen by David Grossman
from the library, e-book, translated from Hebrew, Eglish translation A horse walks into a bar, 250 pages
TIOLI challenge #7: Read a book on the 2017 New York Times Notable Book list

A night with a stand-up comedian in an Israeli village. He is telling the story his tragic life, larded with enough humor trying to keep his audience from leaving. Facinating and in some ways uncomfortable read.

>90 FAMeulstee: I have this on the kindle, must pick it up again.

Hope you had a good day Anita. Pouring rain and wind here. Glad to be inside in the warm.

book 418: De weg van de wind by Hans Hagen
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1993, no translations, 167 pages
TIOLI challenge #1: Read a book that has the word "the" ("de" in Dutch) at least twice in the title

Historical fiction, 2500 BC in the city Kish (south of Irak), Yarim is a messenger for the Queen of the city. When the Queen's death is foretold, he is send south across the South Sea (Red Sea) to be sure the right building materials are bought for her grave. When he returns after a long journey the Queen has just died.

>91 charl08: The same weather here, Charlotte, we skipped our afternoon walk. Instead we did some excersise going up and down the stairs ;-)

book 419: Sinterklaas en de struikrovers by Harriet Laurey
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Beste Kinderboek 1958, no translations, 64 pages
TIOLI challenge #4: Read a book you planned to read last December but didn't read or complete

When Sinterklaas wants to visit the mother of his youngest helper, he ends up in the hiding place of five highwaymen. They want to rob Sinterklaas, but that doesn't work out.

Funny, but slightly dated story.

book 420: Slachthuisblues by Peter Robinson
BolKobo+, e-book, translated, mystery, DCI Banks 22, original title Abbatoir Blues alternative title In the Dark Places, 448 pages
TIOLI challenge #2: Read a book that has a word in the title that describes how you feel when the wiki is not working

An expensive tractor is stolen from a "hobby farmer", while the owner was on vacation. Some human blood is found on an abandoned former airfield. DCI Banks and his team work hard to find out what has happened.

Peter Robinson is right back on track with this book, after a slightly disappointing one before this one.

book 421: Dissus by Simon van der Geest
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 2011, no translations, 120 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

Ten schoolboys get lost and go through similair adventures as Odysseus, trying to get home. The main character is called Dissus, short for Odysseus.

A bit boring adaption in rhyme of The Odyssea, the ending is different. The illustrations are great.

>94 FAMeulstee: Oh what fun! Santa Claus and the Highwaymen sounds like a good old-fashioned morality tale about not being greedy. For my tastes, that never goes out of style.

>97 richardderus: The morality isn't the problem, Richard, Black Peter is.
These days the fights between pro and con Black Peter are hideous. The way Black Peter is/was presented has some racist tendancies, and some feel offended. I am in favour of change in that aspect. But the discussion and demonstrations have gone way out of hand.

I did catch up with the threads & wrote all overdue reviews today, that didn't leave much time for reading ;-)

Frank has left for work again, and I am way more confident to get through the night now. I will take a valium again, just to be sure.
Meanwhile I am reading and enjoying Homegoing.

I loved Homegoing Anita. So good for a debut novelist too.

Hooe you will get some good sleep through the night too.

>100 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, I hadn't realized it was her debut novel.
I did have a good sleep last night, so I expect next week will be easier :-)

>101 FAMeulstee: Good to hear Anita. (Homegoing is one of those books of my own that sits on my bookshelf asking 'when do I get read?')

Hi Anita. Hope you have a good day, the weather will at least be better than yesterday.

You have been posting a lot of reviews. I liked the look of the Sinterklaas book.

>102 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte, I just finished Homegoing it was very good!

>103 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella, despite the bad weather we did an afternoon walk, despite the rain and snow.
Neglected my reviews a few days, and didn't stop reading. Now there are again two to go ;-)

book 422: Sprookjes en verhalen by Hans Christian Andersen
own, translated from Danish, English title Complete fairytales and stories, 795 pages
TIOLI challenge #8: Finish a book which you started in October 2017 or earlier

So glad I fainally finished this one, I started it last year September...
Some of the 156 fairytales & stories are great, the ones that are well known. Others are good and many are not worth reading. Lots of morality and christianity, goes with the time they were written. I learned a bit about Danish history.

book 423: Weg naar huis by Yaa Gyasi
from the library, translated, original title Homegoing, 399 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

Epic family tale, starteing in the 18th century in what is called now Ghana. Two sisters, one stays and one is sold as a slave to America. We follow their offspring in 7 generations. The ending of slavery has consequences on both sides of the ocean.
I am a bit more familiar with American history, so I learned the most from the stories from Ghana.

Hi Anita - I just read about your loss and I am so sorry. Ari had such a great doggy grin! I couldn't look at the photos you would post and not smile back at him. He was obviously so very happy and knew how loved and lucky he was.

>104 FAMeulstee: Good for you, I managed to miss the snow completely, but tomorrow I have to go out right in the middle of a snow period :-(

>105 FAMeulstee: I have the book of complete fairy tales on my shelves as well. But it's as you say, the well known ones are also the best.

>107 streamsong: Thank you, Janet, Ari was a very happy and loving dog.
It was a week ago today...

>108 EllaTim: Thanks Ella, I have some hope we can avoid the snow at our walk today.
I am glad I finished Andersen, and will cull the book now.

I'm glad that you enjoyed Homegoing. I have yet to read that. Only a week since you lost Ari. Not long at all. Are you thinking of another dog - or will you wait and see , or do you think you may just stay as you are? Of course it's likely too early to say. After our first dog passed away, I think we waited a month or two and we were't sure what we wanted to do. When we lost our second dog, I was so sad, we began looking into another dog within a few days, which surprised me. Everyone is different when it comes to that. And now Dave is 61 and I am nearly 57, so I think Poppy will be our last dog. She is just 4, so all being well, we should have her for a while yet.

>110 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, Homegoing was a very good read.

Yes, it is only a week ago... Some time before Ari died, we had been considering what to do after Ari, thinking that would be in some years, not weeks. At the moment we want a while without a dog. We have some dreams/plans about traveling, that would be easier to do without a dog. Of course we could change our minds if we run into a suitable dog in a few months time...
For years I needed a dog, so we always had two. Only a few years ago my agoraphobia vanished, I wasn't depending on the dogs anymore. That is why we didn't take a second dog after Chimay died last year.

>111 FAMeulstee: I think that a little healing is in order first Anita but the joys a puppy brings are something to look forward to too.

Have a restful weekend my dear.

Happy Sunday, Anita. Hooray for Homegoing. One of my favorite reads of last year. I am looking forward to starting A Farewell to Arms today.

Happy Sunday, Anita. I hope you're feeling improved.

I'm glad you liked Homegoing so much. Me, too.

>112 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, it will take a while we loved that little furball so much. Not sure yet if there is going to be a next dog in the Meulstee houshold. And if we do not sure it will be a puppy.
Enjpying a nice and quiet weekend, sitting warm inside, looking at the snow falling down :-)

>113 msf59: Thanks Mark, happy Sunday to you. Good luck withe the Hemmingway, I hope to read more Hemmingway next year.

>114 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, it is going with ups and downs and slowly there are more ups.
Homegoing was a very good story.

>39 FAMeulstee: OMG, I am so sorry, only just read it now - so out of the blue despite the problems lately, my heart breaks for you! Sending lots of {{{hugs}}} to you and Frank

Homegoing was an extraordinary read, one of the year's nice surprises. Glad it struck you as it did.

>116 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie, it went way to fast...
I am sorry you won't have the chance to meet him in April.

>117 richardderus: Without this group I probably would have missed this great read :-)

Oh, Anita, like Nathalie I am just now reading about Ari, and I am so very sorry. How heartbreaking. Today is the five month anniversary of saying goodbye to our sweet Barnum and Bailey, both of whom had been with us for 14 years, and I am having a hard time of it. You are in my thoughts as you adjust to life without Ari.

>119 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie, it was heartbreaking to see Ari in so much pain, without any solutions left, as we tried all kinds of painkillers available. It was also heartbreaking to let him go. He was way to young, only 7½.
We are slowly adjusting our life: to compensate the lack of excersise (we always walked our dogs 3 times a day), Frank and I now walk eachother in the afternoon.

book 424: De Cock en moord bij maanlicht by A.C. Baantjer
from the library, e-book, police mystery, 45th book of 70 De Cock, no translations, 132 pages
TIOLI challenge #12: Read a book where the author's name contains at least two consecutive alphabetical letters

De Cock and Vledder have to sort out some murders, there seems to be a link to an Osiris cult.

book 425: De gezongen aarde by Bruce Chatwin
from the library, translated, original title The songlines, 319 pages
TIOLI challenge #5: Read a Book That Appears on LibraryThings List of New York Times Bestsellers

After reading In Patagonia last October, Caroline (Caroline_McElwee) recommended other books by Chatwin, including this one.

Bruce Chatwin goes to Australia to learn about the Songlines, or Dreaming Tracks of the Aborigines. I loved this part of the book, the descriptions of the landscape and the inhibitants.
About half way he starts with pages of quotes from his notebooks. Many are relevant to his ideas about human evolution and nomadic life, but with others I could not find any relevance at all. Still a very good read.

>120 FAMeulstee: That is so difficult, Anita, seeing a relatively young dog in pain and not having a solution. You really did your very best by him . I hope gradually things are healing in you and Franks' hearts. I'm glad that you and Frank are walking with each other . Hugs, Anita.

>122 FAMeulstee: Oh good, Anita. I loved The Songlines, too. The descriptions of the landscapes and the inhabitants were my favorites, too. Such a different and beautiful way of looking at the world.

>123 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, we are healing with ups and downs. Today somehow we both had a hard time, with all kind of memories (not only Ari) popping up.

>124 jnwelch: Yes, Joe, such a completely different way of seeing the world, so facinating!

Hi Anita--I lost track of you somehow. I am so sorry to hear about Ari. I know he was a dear and will be sorely missed. Thinking of you guys.

>122 FAMeulstee: De gezongen aarde sounds interesting.

I hope you are having a better day today.

Hi, Anita. Just checking in. The Songlines sounds really good. I will add it to the list.

>121 FAMeulstee: An Osiris cult! That sounds very intriguing.

Happy day, Anita!

>126 Berly: Thank you, Kim, slowly the sharpest edges of grief are wearing down...

>127 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, today was a bit better. I even managed to do a walk alone! Frank was working last night and has to work tonight, that leaves little time between his waking up and leaving to work, so no time to walk together.

>128 msf59: Thank you, Mark, have you read any other books by Chatwin?

>129 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, that was the most intresting part of the book. At least he had the Osiris myths right ;-)
Happy day to you, enjoy your coffee!!!!

book 426: Spinder by Simon van der Geest
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 2013, Jan Wolkersprijs 2013, no English translation, 231 pages
TIOLI challenge #13: Read a book with an invertebrate animal on the cover

This is Hidde's notebook. Hidde has a collection of insects in the basement, that he collected in three years. Now suddenly his elder brother Jeppe wants the basement, to have a place where he can practice playing drums. Hidde has no chance against his brother, but he will go far to protect his collection. Even if it means he has to tell the big secret...

The story is good, and along the way you get to know a lot of facts about the insects Hidde keeps.

book 427: Joost, of de domme avonturen van een slim jongetje by Peter van Gestel
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1982, no translations, 148 pages
TIOLI challenge #14: The DECEMBER SOLSTICE rolling challenge

Joost is what you would call a nerd now, great grades at school, except for physical exercise. He really tried to go for a B for geography, but it was an A again. His father is deeply disappointed with the D for physical exercise...
Funny and sometimes sad scenes from Joost's life: at school, staying a few days with an aunt and uncle, and the terrible time at summercamp.

>130 FAMeulstee: Oh, I sympathize with you having to walk alone, Anita! Dave works 11 hour days , 4 on and then 4 off , so I am often out walking by myself - or rather with Poppy. I'm happy that the days are slowly feeling better. There will be ups and downs. Here hoping for more ups than downs, Anita.

>132 FAMeulstee: Oh dear. Not a cheery story, even if it's told in a funny way.

How unusual to get an ancient Egyptian myth right! And in a mystery story!

>133 vancouverdeb: The morning walks were always mine, Deborah, as Frank needs a lot of sleep with his Chronic Fatigue. With more dogs in the house, we often did the afternoon walks together, except between work nights. And Frank always does the cooking, that is worth a few walks alone ;-)
We are slowly adjusting being without a dog. I survived again two nights without Frank ;-)

>134 richardderus: No it wasn't, Richard. Somehow most books I choose to read this month aren't cheery.
Maybe I should do some lighter rereads after my planned books.

book 428: De veteraan by Johan Faber
BolKobo+. e-book, Dutch, YA, awarded, Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur Prijs 2015, no translations, 349 pages
TIOLI challenge #12: Read a book where the author's name contains at least two consecutive alphabetical letters

In a small village in the North-East of The Netherlands a girl is missing. Soon everyone thinks Meindert has killed her, as he is a decorated veteran from war in Afghanistan and suffers from PTSS. Almost the whole village turns against him. Through the story we read what happened in Afghanistan.

This story deserved a better writer. The story itself was good, but the writing annoyed me.

book 429: The velveteen rabbit by Margery Williams
1001 children's books, own, English, childrens/picturebook, from Linda in 2009, 33 pages
TIOLI challenge #14: The DECEMBER SOLSTICE rolling challenge

Sweet story of a stuffed rabbit that becomes real. Beautiful illustrations by Robyn Officer.
In my youth I had a stuffed elephant like that, it lives now at the top of my childrens/YA bookcases :-)

Thank you Linda (Whisper1) for sending me this book back in 2009.

book 430: Oog in oog by Jef Last
own, Dutch, poetry, no translations, 58 pages
TIOLI challenge #10: Read a book that mentions at least two body party or one body part more than once

Published in 1945, a few months after WWII ended.
Two destinctive parts, the first half are poems written before the war and in the first year of the war. I liked, not loved, those. The second half is written during the years Jeff Last spend in hiding, the last 4 poems are from after the war. Here are some real gems, as he is trying not to hate the Germans, as love is the only way to real freedom.

>122 FAMeulstee: glad you enjoyed Songlines Anita. Maybe you will get to On The Black Hill next year. I’ve reread most of his books, and OBH more than twice. I’ve got a volume of his essays What Am I Doing Here in my Christmas reading pile, for a reread.

Hi Anita!

I love The Velveteen Rabbit.

Hi, Anita.

Just adding my vote to Caroline's for On the Black Hill. Great book.

>122 FAMeulstee: I read this one years and years ago, and would love to have another go at it. I remember little about it other than that it moved me

I am very confident that you'll make it to 6x75 books this year, Anita and I am so, so impressed.

Have a restful weekend, dear lady.

Wishing you a lovely 3rd advent weekend and sending {{{hugs}}}}

>137 FAMeulstee: Ah, the wonderful Velveteen Rabbit. I loved that book as a child and pretended to myself that my stuffed animals came alive at night and visited with one another.

>139 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, I will look for more Bruce Chatwin books.

>140 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen, it was a sweet book.

>141 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe, there is a Dutch translation of On the Black Hill available at my library.

>142 LovingLit: Read it again, Magan, it was good :-)

>138 FAMeulstee: I think that would translate as "An Eye for an Eye," wouldn't it? Sounds like a likely one, anyway, given the subject matter. Another uncheery read.

Happy weekend, dear Anita, and a good week to come.

>143 PaulCranswick: Glad you are confident, Paul, as I am not completely sure I will make it to 450...
We went to the Noord-Oost polder today, the oldest part of our province. That part came dry in 1942. I will post some pictures later.

>144 Deern: Thank you, dear Nathalie, wishing you a great weekend.

>145 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah, it was a lovely book. My stuffed animals used to read a lot ;-)

>147 richardderus: It isn't, Richard, it would translate "Eye to eye", as he disliked thoughts of hatred and revenge. He was part of the resistance, but tried not to hate the Germans.

Thanks, the same to you, dear.

>138 FAMeulstee: Sounds like a powerful read, Anita.

>149 FAMeulstee: I don't know how people managed to move past such awful experiences.

Wow on 450 books -- 430 is amazing whether you make 450 or not!

For the first time in years, I don't think I'll make it to 100 books. I'll try to reread The Velveteen Rabbit this year. It will be a quick read and the sort of feel good book that I am in the mood to read right now.

You read VR in English? Hooray for you!

Today we went to the land art "Pier + Horizon", I showed at the top of this thread. It was a cold and windy day, but it didn't rain during the time we were outside. Then we went to the village Nagele, where we visited the museum.

On our way to "Pier + Horizon" we saw a (part of a) rainbow.
 

Left Frank, right me (yes cold and windy) on the pier
 

The whole arwork, including the parts in the water; entrance to the museum in Nagele.
 

>150 charl08: Yes it was, Charlotte.
Jef Last was a remarkable man. Before the war he had been fighting in Spain, lost his Dutch citenship because of that. He had just returned when WWII began. After the war he went to Indonesia (he had been in favor of independence since the 1930s) where he was an advisor of Sukarno.

>151 streamsong: Thanks Janet, it has been decades since I read this much. Back then I didn't keep lists, so I am not completely sure this is an all time high.
Yes, I read The Velveteen Rabbit in English, childrens books in English are easy enough ;-)

>147 richardderus: Eye to Eye sounds so much better. It also sounds like it's more in keeping with his character.

>152 FAMeulstee: That's a beautiful artwork indeed...and the partial rainbow makes the whole trip worth the cold!

>153 FAMeulstee: What a fascinating man Jef Last was! There's nothing about him in English, I'm sad to note. His book The Spanish Tragedy was published in English but by an academic press that charges $44 for a paperback copy.

>154 richardderus: The link in my previous post, in my answer to Charlotte, leads to the wikipedia page of Jef Last. I am tempted to get more of his writing, as we only have two poetry books by him.

The rainbow felt a bit like a final goodbye to Ari, later in the car we saw a full rainbow.

>152 FAMeulstee: wonderful pictures Anita, water, horizon and sky. But both of you looking pretty cold!

I didn't know about Jef Last, interesting character.

>155 FAMeulstee: A seriously interesting man, which is why I'm disgruntled that he has no biography available in English. *grumble*

>156 EllaTim: Yes, it was cold, Ella, but seeing Pier + Horizon was worth it ;-)
I didn't either, we added two poetry books by him to our collection in 2008. One fitted a TIOLI challenge this month, so I read it, then I searched the internet to find out more. I hope to find some more works by him next year.

>157 richardderus: Sometimes it would be so much easier if we all spoke the same language, Richard. On the other hand a lot of culture would be destroyed if we did...

book 431: In de hemel zoals op aarde by Jean Rouaud
own, translated from French, can't find an English translation, 171 pages
TIOLI challenge #3: Read a book with a title that is a quotation or a play on a quotation

Sometimes the TIOLI challenges lead my to small gems in my own library. This one turns out to be the 5th and last book of a family history, starting with the writers grandfather in WWI, English translation: Fields of Glory.

After publishing his previous books, with only his mother still alive, the writer wants to conclude his family history with some things he didn't want to write when his mother was alive. He also adds some to the other stories, about his father and grandfathers, as some old friends of his father had a lot to say about his books.

I really liked this book. I will read the previous books next year and probably read this one again.

With the book above I finished my December TIOLI sweep and made it a full year of TIOLI sweeps (reading a book for each TIOLI challenge). There were 209 TIOLI challenges this year and I read 310 TIOLI books, with a few more planned reads for this month.

>158 FAMeulstee: I looked him up in the library catalogue, and noticed I have read something by him Zuiderzee, and liked it. But I didn't associate this book with a man who fought in the Spanish civil war, it seemed so much older.

>161 EllaTim: I found Zuiderzee at the e-library :-)
It was first published in 1934, before the Spanish civil war started.

There is a long biograpy in Dutch at his LT writer page.

>160 FAMeulstee: More impressive stats Anita!

>160 FAMeulstee: Thanks Charlotte, more stats at the end of the month with the complete 2017 recap.

Congratulations on a full year of TIOLI sweeps, Anita. That is pretty amazing!

>160 FAMeulstee: whoopee! That is a satisfying feeling :)

With the book above I finished my December TIOLI sweep and made it a full year of TIOLI sweeps :O
I think I made two or three sweeps back in my TIOLI years (my brain keeps refusing challenges, grrrrr). A full year?!?!?! I'm lost for words, except for CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Hi, Anita. Hooray for completing your TIOLI challenges! Very impressive.

>160 FAMeulstee: Congratulations on the year of TIOLI sweeps, Anita!

Hi Anita, just catching up on all your recent reads, interesting as ever. I was very sorry to hear about Ari.

>165 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, I am glad it is done.

>166 LovingLit: Yes, it is highly satisfying, Megan.

>167 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie, around May I started to think it might be possible. And it turned out I could do it ;-)
A few books were hard to finish, but at my present reading speed even hard books are done fairly fast.

>168 msf59: Thank you, Mark, it was fun to do and I am glad I am done.

>169 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry, missing you at the TIOLI challenges...

>170 sirfurboy: Thanks, Sir F, we still miss Ari, but not ready for a new furry friend yet.

book 432: Lieve Claire by Peter van Gestel
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1995, no translations, 172 pages
TIOLI challenge #12: Read a book where the author's name contains at least two consecutive alphabetical letters

Just before he went on vacation with his parents, Bo gets a short note from Claire. He hoped she would be his his girlfriend, but her note is clear, no chance... During the two weeks of the vacation he writes a long letter to Claire, with everything that happens to him, his parents and his steph-aunt Theodora.

book 433: De wildernis in by Jon Krakauer
from the library, translated from English, non-fiction, original title Into the wild, 284 pages
TIOLI challenge #5: Read a Book That Appears on LibraryThings List of New York Times Bestsellers

After finishing his degree at the university, Chris McCandless goes for the life he always wanted to live. Giving up all his belongings, he starts to travel through the USA. He takes only some books of favourite writers with him: Tolstoy, London and Thoreau, writers who favor ascetic life, like Chris does. His final travel was into the wild of Alaska. Probably because of some miscalculations his life ended there in starvation.

I liked this book, the writer knows what it is: longing for a life far away from human civilisation. He only had better luck than Chris had. The description of the end of Chris was hard to read, as my sister also died earlier this year from starvation. At the end Chris weighed 34 kilo, my sister 33 kilo... she had people around who didn't prevent her death, Chis had no one around.

Hi Anita my dear, hope you had a good weekend and wishing you a good week ahead dear friend, I am in awe of your reading stats, sending love and hugs to you both.

>175 johnsimpson: Thanks, John, we had a good weekend with our trip on Saturday. Like you and Karen we like to do small trips together.
Wishing you and Karen a good week.

>174 FAMeulstee: I couldn't face this one Anita, it sounded like a very hard read, even without the personal experience you had to the events described. Something lighter to follow?

>174 FAMeulstee: I had to bull my way through the ending of Into the Wild but I wouldn't have done it at all had I had your close association to the subject. Kudos. I think.

>177 charl08: The rest of the story was not hard at all, Charlotte, Chris McCandless was a facinating young man.

>178 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, it triggered more than I expected.
I had not had any contact with my two sisters for years, they lived together with two others. It was very hard on my parents, who blame my other sister for letting her die. I think my eldest sister starved herself on purpose, she suffered from major depression for years, but refused any treatment.
So my sadness was redirected to the mourning about the loss of Ari, shed a few tears for him last night.

book 434: Big by Mireille Geus
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 2006, English translation Piggy, 116 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

Lizzy is different from other kids, she attents a special school. She often looks at the other children in the neighborhood, when they play. Lizzy never plays, she only watches them. One day a new girl arrives, Abigail befriends Lizzy, but is manipulative and takes Lizzy in directions she would never take on her own. Can Lizzy stand up to Abigail?

Sorry to hear about Ari, Anita. I hope you have a much better year next year. I am in awe of all the books you have read.

book 435: De Wadden een geschiedenis by Mathijs Deen
from the library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 336 pages
TIOLI challenge #14: The DECEMBER SOLSTICE rolling challenge

History of the islands in the north of The Netherlands, that are between the North Sea and the Waddensea. From prehistoric times, when sealevels were so low there were no islands, to modern times. These islands used to move, it was easiest to see on the smallest one, where buildings had to be rebuild a bit more eastward. At times there have been more islands then there are now.

>181 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg, it has been a hard year and a half. I do hope 2018 will be kinder to us.
I never thought I could read this much ;-)

>183 FAMeulstee: I didn't realize that the bad stuff stretched back a year and a half, Anita. It is about time that it is over, I would say!

>184 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg, I would love a nice and quiet year :-)

Anita, you just got a mention in the LT email for your TIOLI achievement. Congrats!

Anita! Congrats on being featured in the State of the Thing newsletter!! You're amazing!

>186 susanj67: & >187 norabelle414: Thanks Susan and Nora, you were fast!
I hadn't seen it yet, so I went straight to my e-mail to check it out :-)

Ha! Just came from my email tab to congratulate you, too! You're an LT celebrity!!

>189 scaifea: Thank you, Amber, I would not want to be a celebrity anywhere else :-)

I haven't received my LT email newsletter yet but it will be lovely to be able to say, Hey! I know this amazing woman!! :-)

Congrats, Anita

>191 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, *blushing*

I also read about your accomplishment in State of the Thing. Your TIOLI record is amazing. It reminds me how much I miss that subgroup. It was always fun scrambling to find fits for the challenges for a new month. Perhaps I’ll return in 2018.i had a pitiful year for challenges this year and won’t make my goal of 100. I am so ready for a new year.

Anita, I felt so bad for you when I read about Ari on FB. We are nearing that point with our dog. He came into our lives when we thought we had lost our last best friend and has been with us for over 13 years now. The house can feel so empty after we lose a fur baby. Books can be a great comfort but nothing beats the warmth of those puppy dog eyes and a wagging tail.

>193 Donna828: Thank you, Donna, the TIOLI challenges were fun to do. I have read so much this year, the challenges make me read books I wouldn't have read on my own. I hope your reading will improve next year and it would be nice to see you back at the TIOLI challenges.

It went fast with Ari, and I miss him terribly. We hadn't been without a dog in nearly 35 years. Now we are visiting our Pekingese loving friends more often They own Ari's litter-sister and over a dozen more Pekingese. So that is a good place to go and cuddle some dogs to get our wagging tail fix. We haven't decided if we want to have a dog again.

   
book 436: Met de poppen gooien (Madelief 1) by Guus Kuijer
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1976, no translations, 111 pages,
book 437: Grote mensen, daar kan je beter soep van koken (Madelief 2) by Guus Kuijer
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Zilveren Griffel 1977, no translations, 116 pages,
book 438: Krassen in het tafelblad (Madelief 4) by Guus Kuijer
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Griffel 1979, no English translation, 101 pages,
book 439: Een hoofd vol macaroni (Madelief 5) by Guus Kuijer
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Vlag en Wimpel 1980, no English translation, 105 pages,

Four "Madelief" books, with short chapters telling about her daily life with her mother and friends.
The best of these was book 4, Krassen in het tafelblad, when her grandmother dies. Madelief didn't know her grandmother well, as her mother and grandmother had a difficult relationship. While staying with grandfather, who tells her stories of his married life, Madelief slowly finds out who her grandmother was.

Wow! Congrats Anita on the LT acknowledgement. I would be printing that out and showing people! lol.

Hi Anita! Hopefully 2018 will be a better year! Sometimes it's nice just to put last year behind us.

>196 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, I am not good at bragging. Of course I do keep a copy of this State of the Thing on my extern harddrive.

>197 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel, sometimes it is. I hope your 2018 will be as good, or even better!

Happy Yule Book Flood!

Hi, Anita. Were you the one who recommended Buddhaland Brooklyn? I'm very much enjoying it so far.

>199 richardderus: Thanks, Richard dear, actually I did read that Hemmingway (without the jingle) last month.

>200 jnwelch: It wasn't me, Joe, but I am glad you are enjoying your read!

Hi Anita!

>160 FAMeulstee: Congratulations! 209 TIOLI challenges. I marvel at your reading year!

I can understand your reluctance to get another dog. In the meantime, good for you and Frank for getting your dog cuddles and wagging tail fix.

I haven't yet read my newsletter, but CONGRATULATIONS for the mention!!

**********

I was considering sending a Santa or Christkindl pic, but maybe a snow-covered family dog - Anton, my aunt Karin's Eurasian - serves better
as a neutral messenger for the joys of the year-end. :)



A Very Merry Christmas or Very Happy Holidays to all my dear LT friends and their loved ones.
May there be lots of great books under the tree or in the stockings, may there be your favorite foods on the table,
May there be joy and laughter and above all lots and lots of love around you and everywhere in the world.
AUGURI A TUTTI! FROHES FEST!

>202 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, it has been a great reading year. Only 10 books to go for my total of 450.
We are very glad we are always welcome at our friends place for a doggy fix.

>203 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie, it felt good to see my username in the newsletter :-)
Lovely picture of your aunt's Eurasian, at first look I thought he was a Wolfspitz. He does look like he is having fun in the snow, so a perfect picture for the occasion!

Happy Holidays to you, dear Nathalie!

>204 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, only ten to go, Wow!

Nice to see you have doggie friends around. A pack of Pekingese must be a lot of fun:-)

>205 EllaTim: Thank, Ella, it is only 9 now and I hope to finish the next one tonight.
Pekinges are small enough to be fun in large numbers ;-)

Wow! I just saw in the State of the Thing email that BIG CONGRATULATIONS are in order!

>207 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary, I am surprised how many of us read the State of the Thing.
I know I should not be, most of us read everything ;-)

Adding my congratulations to Mary's, Anita. Really fun to see you featured like that in State of the Thing!

I saw you mentioned in State of the Thing as well! Nice to see you recognized for that outstanding accomplishment.

>209 jnwelch: & >210 ronincats: Thanks Roni & Joe, so nice to get so many congratulatons here :-)

book 440: Ik mis je, ik mis je! by Peter Pohl and Kinna Gieth
own, YA, translated from Swedish, English translation I Miss You, I Miss You!, 215 pages
TIOLI challenge #2: Read a book that has a word in the title that describes how you feel when the wiki is not working

Cilla and Tina are 13 year old twins, they look exactly the same. However, they are not the same, Cilla is more serious, busy with a theater play at school. Tina is more easygoing, she is always looking for a boy to fall in love.
Then on a fatal morning, Cilla is hit by a car and dies. Tina doesn't know how to carry on as half a twin. She feels guilt, as she is alive. For others around her it is not easy either, as she and her sister looked so much alike, they were mixed up very often. We follow Tina one year after Cilla's death, going from shock, into mourning and finially finding her way back.

Peter Pohl, one of my favorite writers, wrote this book together with Kinna Gieth, who did loose her twin sister when she was 13 years old.

book 441: Het wilgenpatroon by Robert van Gulik
BolKobo+, e-book, translated (by the writer), mystery, Rechter Tie (= Judge Dee), original title The Willow Pattern, 162 pages

Robert van Gulik translated the original Chinese first Judge Dee book from Chinese into English, and wrote the next books himself.

Judge Dee has become Magistrate Dee in the capital, when the city is hit by the plague. The Emperor, most of his staff and many others have gone to the countryside to stay safe. Magistrate Dee is left in charge of the capital city. That is a lot of work, but then a nobleman is murdered...

Like all Judge Dee books: a statisfactory mystery, well plotted and set in historical Chinese times. Fun fact: the willow patern was not an original Chinese patern, but came from England in the 18th century and was very popular in the western world.

book 442: Mariken by Peter van Gestel
own, Dutch, YA, awarded, Gouden Uil and Zilveren Griffel 1998, no English translation, 192 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

Set in the Netherlands in the Middle Ages, a baby is found in the woods by an old hermit. Her name is written on her clothes: Mariken. She grows up in the wood with the hermit and a goat. When the goat dies, she decides to go into the world to find a new goat. On her way she meets many people, some nice, some not so nice. After many adventures she returns, with a goat and some friends, to the hermit in the wood.

The story is loosely based on Mariken van Nieumeghen a Dutch Middle Age play.

>212 FAMeulstee: That challenge (and your answer) made me laugh Anita - thank you.

Happy Saturday, Anita. Hooray for Into the Wild. It was my first Krakauer and I have been a fan ever since. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Anita, a belated congratulations on your mention in the State of the Thing! I read it a couple of days ago! Wow! Merry Christmas a wee bit early! :-)

Hi Anita, wishing you a good holiday weekend.

Your last three books all looking good.

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

>215 charl08: Glad I could give you a laugh, Charlotte :-)

>216 msf59: Happy weekend to you, Mark. My library has a copy of the Dutch translation of Krakauer's Into thin air, should I read it?

>217 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, early Chrismas greetings right back to you ;-)

>218 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella, I hope you feel a bit better by now.
Peter Pohl is a great YA writer, sadly only a few of his books are translated.

>219 Ameise1: Thanks for the sweet picture, Babrbara, the same to you and yours.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Anita.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and may 2018 be a good vintage for you and Frank, Anita.

>221 cameling: Thanks Caro, I'll have an almost duty free Christmas :-)

>222 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline, we do hope for a better 2018!

book 443: Moord in Canton by Robert van Gulik
BolKobo+, e-book, translated (by the writer), mystery, Rechter Tie (= Judge Dee), original title Murder in Canton, 196 pages

Robert van Gulik translated the original Chinese first Judge Dee book from Chinese into English, and wrote the next books himself.

Magistrate Dee has become State Council Dee in the imperial capital. He is send to Canton on a special mission, where the Imperial Censor went missing. Together with his two remaining loyal servants he almost gets tangled in an intrigue, where Arabs, Tanka (Chinese outcasts) and local Cantonese work together.

Sadly this was the last Judge Dee book, I will miss him.

book 444: De hond achter het raam by Helen Griffiths
own, YA, translated from English, original title The dog at the window, 132 pages
TIOLI challenge #1: Read a book that has the word "the" at least twice in the title

Walking from school to her home, Alison saw the dog every day. He looked a bit sad. After a lot of hesitation and some failing tries, she finally finds the owner of the dog. It turns out it isn't her dog, Wolf belongs to her grandson. Sadly her grandson was admitted to a mental institution and since that day Wolf is waiting for his master. Alison starts to take Wolf out for walks. She would love to own him, but her mother really dislikes dogs...

When I was young, I loved everything Helen Griffiths wrote. I loved every book about dogs and/or horses and she wrote about both. Through the years I collected every book by her that was available in Dutch translation. Reading them again, some still stand, others not so much. This one was a bit disappoiting, although I could perfectly relate to the main character, my parents never let me have a dog either.

Hi Anita, stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

Hi Anita. I can't add pictures but I wanted to add my best wishes for the holiday season to you and your family and wishing for a better 2018.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

Wishing you and Frank a very Merry Christmas my dear and sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

Knowing you lights my world!
Merry Christmas! Peace and Joy!

Hi Anita!



Stopping by to wish you and yours all good things this holiday season.

Hi Anita, here's to wishing you a happy christmas!

Happy holidays! I am thankful this holiday season for all the good friends I have made in this group. You are all so supportive. I don't know what I'd do without you!

>226 lkernagh: >227 jessibud2: >228 ronincats: >229 johnsimpson: >230 nittnut: >231 karenmarie: >232 EllaTim: >233 The_Hibernator:
Thanks Lori, Shelley, Roni, John & Karen, Jenn, Karen, Ella and Rachel for all your good wishes.

I have only one obligation this Chrismas on the 26th (2nd Chrismas day over here), and that is a nice one: having diner with my dad, aunt (my dad's youngest sister) and uncle (her husband), my brother and his wife, and Frank. I managed to skip the visit to my mother. So there is a lot of time to read :-)
Frank doesn't have to work this Christmas, the only holiday he has to work is New Years Eve :-)

Wishing you and Frank a merry Christmas, Anita!

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

Best wishes to you and yours at Christmas!

>235 harrygbutler: >236 rretzler: >237 PaulCranswick: >238 AMQS:
Thanks Harry, Robin, Paul and Anne, wishing you the same!

book 445: Eén by Sarah Crossan
BolKobo+, YA, translated from English, awarded, Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur Prijs 2017, original title One, 240 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

Tippi and Grace are conjoined twins. After their birth no one thought they would live long, but now they are 16 and still around. Grace is the narrator and she describes what troubles they meet in life. Most of the world outside looks at them as freaks and only very few look beyond and try to get to know them both.

This compelling book is written in free verse, which makes Grace's voice feel more real.

Anita, happy Christmas! And 445 books! My goodness, I'm in awe :-)

book 446: Silver by Helen Griffiths
own, YA, translated from English, original title The Greyhound, 171 pages
TIOLI challenge #6: Read a book that features 12 something

It was love at first sight, when Jamie saw the large greyhound walking with the old man. But he was to shy to say anything. After a few weeks he dares to approach them and soon he walks Silver every day. Jamie always dreamed to have a dog of his own, and now Silver is nearly that. When the old man has to move, Jamie wants to have Silver, but the old man wants money. A schoolmate helps out, but he wants something in return.

This one of the first books by Helen Griffiths that I read when I was young. I still love the story :-)

Thanks Susan, the same to you!

Now it is 446 books, only 4 more to go to complete the 450 I hoped for :-)

A very Merry Christmas from Philadelphia to you and Frank, Anita! I hope to see the two of you in London or the Netherlands in 2018.

Congratulations on your prodigious reading output this year!

Thank you, Darryl, the same to you and your parents.

Looking forward to meeting you next year somewhere on this side of the pond (or the year after, if it doesn't work out).

^Hope you are having a lovely holiday. Come on, Anita! 4 more!

>246 msf59: Thank you, Mark, the same to you and yours.
I am having a lovely and quiet day with just the two of us. Frank will make us some yummy Chrismas diner.

Yes, those 4 books (now down to 3) will be read this week, maybe even 1 or 2 more ;-)

I won't much around the next two days.
Tomorrow we go to my dad to have diner with him and some others. The day after that (27th) we leave for a short vacation in Rheezerveen. We went there last year for Ari to avoid the stress of the fireworks, and booked immediately again when we left last year. We could not cancel on such a short notice, so it is going to be a bittersweet week. Frank has to work on the 30th and 31st, so I will be all alone for about 36 hours, another first for me.

We do have a (very slow) internet connection over there, so I will check the threads now and then.

Merry Christmas Dear Anita

wishing a holiday and new year of peace for you and yours!

>249 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda, it is so good to see a post from you!

>250 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda, such a beautiful painting by Picasso!

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season, Anita!

>252 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you, Dejah, the same to you!

>234 FAMeulstee: Enjoy your dinner. It sounds fabulous. Glad to hear that Frank was off work over the x-mas days.
Congrats on your absolutely gorgous reading year. I'll never will do so but I'm impressed that you can do it.

Sorry I am so far behind here! Congrats on your TIOLI sweep this year!!

I am a little late on my holiday wises, but Happy Boxing Day!!

>254 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara, diner on 2nd Chrismas day was great.
I never knew I could read this much in a year!

>255 Berly: Thanks, Kim. Over here Boxing day is called 2nd Christmas Day. All important Christan holidays (Chrismas, Easter and Pentecoast) do have a second free day.

--

We have safely arrived at our holiday home. It is strange, last year we originally booked for 2 humans and 2 dogs, but arrived with only one dog, as Chimay had died in August. Now we had booked for 2 humans and 1 dog and arrived with no dog at all...

I am trying to catch up with the 2017 threads and then go back to reading.

I am halfway Zuiderzee by Lef Last, only a few pages into Independent people by Haldór Laxness and want to finish two short childrens/YA books about dogs by Helen Griffiths (Leon and Patch) before the end of the year.

Hi Anita!

I do hope that you and frank have a good time on your holiday, even as it's bittersweet without Ari.

I loved Independent People when I read it in 2008 for my RL book club. It was the right book at the right time, as I recall.

Wishing you a relaxing break, Anita.

>257 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, it is bittersweet. But the place is great, spacious, very good equipped kitchen, and woods all around. Saturday evening until Monday morning another first: Frank has to work those two nights, so I will be alone and not at home. Frank will take the train to his work, so I have the car if I need to escape. But the nights alone at home went easier each night, so I am positive I can handle this.

>258 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, we will manage that, I think ;-)

I have catched up with the 2017 treads. Haven't left many posts, as the internet connection her is VERY slow.

Hope you had a good holiday with your family!

Happy Holidays, Anita!

I hope you're enjoying the holiday home. It's weird to make plans and then have them changed for you by circumstance, isn't it.

Here's to hoping your goal of 450 books this year is done!

>260 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle, we had a good time.

>261 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe :-)

>262 richardderus: We are making the best of it, Richard, and I only have one more book to go for 450. I hope to write the reviews for books 447-449 later tonight.

Today we went to Bourtange, a fortification originally build in the late 16th century and completely restored like it was in 1742.
Map of Bourtange:

book 447: Misjo by Helen Griffiths
own, YA, translated from English, original title Moshie Cat, 124 pages
TIOLI challenge #12: Read a book where the author's name contains at least two consecutive alphabetical letters

The adventures of a cat born at the island of Majorca. Meeting nice and not so nice people, finally ending up with an English family. When they have to return to England they do their best to find a good home for Moshie.

An other favourite by Helen Griffiths, she describes true to life what Moshie does and what he finds on his way.

book 448: Zuiderzee by Lef Last
from the library, e-book, Dutch, no English translation, 268 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

Originally published in 1934, this book tells the story of the Zuiderzee Works. From the gouvernment plan that was passed in parliament in 1918, we follow some main characters until the Afsluidijk is finished in 1932, turning the Zuiderzee into the IJsselmeer (a lake). Two boys from the island Urk loose their future, as the traditional fishing grounds at the Zuiderzee are going down and eventually completely vanish as the salt sea turns into a sweetwatered lake. One of the boys is (not outspoken) homosexual. They find work for a few years at the Afsluitdijk. An other character is an engeneer working there. Meanwhile the depression of the 1930s makes life very hard for many others.

book 449: Vlek, de zwerfhond by Helen Griffiths
own, YA, translated from English, original title Patch, 105 pages
TIOLI challenge #12: Read a book where the author's name contains at least two consecutive alphabetical letters

The adventures of a dog born at the island of Majorca. Meeting nice and not so nice people, finally ending up with an English family. When they have to return to England they do their best to find a good home for Patch.

A similair story as Moshie Cat, as always Helen Griffiths wrote a nice ordinary animal story.

Not sure yet which book is going to be #450.
It depends on what book will keep my attention tomorrow. I am currently reading Independent people by Haldór Laxness, 608 pages (only a few pages done since the 24th), The riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers, 304 pages (next e-book, started today) and the next Helen Griffiths book Leon, 190 pages.

Ooohhh, The Riddle of the Sands! I loved that book.

Good luck Anita. Only one book to go.

I would like to see Boertange. Hope you have a couple of nice days there in Groningen, even if bittersweet. Quieter than here, I guess?

>268 richardderus: Then I hope I am going to love it too :-)

>269 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella, Bourtange was nice. Glad we were there out of season, I think it can become very crowdy in the summer months. We are staying in the north of Overijssel, so Bourtange was only a little over an hour by car.

Enjoy your holiday, Anita.

Hi Anita,
Wishing you a wonderful 2018 and a year full of fantasic reading!

Glad you are enjoying your holiday Anita.

449.....

Bourtange sounds interesting. Did you take any photos while you were there?

I'm right with you in the numbers of books we've read this year, as long as I ignore the "4" in front of the "49"...

Happy belated Christmas greetings to you and yours, Anita and all the best for a happy 2018!

>271 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, I hope you enjoy your break from work.

>272 mdoris: Thanks, Doris, the same to you!

>273 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline, we had a nice walk in the wood today.

>274 Berly: Yes, Kim, I will finish the next today or tomorrow, Maybe one more after that.

>275 kidzdoc: Yes, I did take pictures in Bourtange, Darryl, I will show them in my first thread in the 2018 group.
No worder you had a slower reading year, you had a lot of other things going on!

>276 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, the same to you and yours!

I hope you're enjoying #450, whatever it is!

Now I really want to read The Riddle of the Sands. Perhaps a January book.

I hope you and Frank are doing well.

>279 Dejah_Thoris: I just finished #450 with two more reading days to go!

>280 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen, doing fine. We decided Frank won't stay in Lelystad the 31st, but is returning here. So he will only be gone for the two working nights. I go a bit nervous about being alone here for 36 hours...

I finished book #450: Het raadsel van de Wadden The riddle of the sands by Erskine Childers
review will follow tomorrow, as it is bedtime for me!

Congrats on the big 450, Anita. I'm impressed.

>281 FAMeulstee: 450!!!

450 books in a year.

An absolutely stunning accomplishment, Anita. You should be proud.

Congratulations on #450, Anita!

>282 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara, I never thought I could read this much in a year.

>283 richardderus: Thanks Richard, it feels good that it is done :-)

>284 karenmarie: Thanks Karen, I am proud and very glad I did make it.

>285 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry, 2017 has been a great reading year.

book 450: Het raadsel van de Wadden by Erskine Childers
BolKobo+, ebook, 1001 books, translated from English, original title The riddle of the Sands, 304 pages

I never heard of this book, until I recently read a Dutch book about the Wadden Islands, where it was mentioned. Then I saw it was listed in the 1001 books list, so I decided I wanted to read it.

Published in 1903, it is a very early spy-novel, set in the north of Germany.
Two friends are sailing around on the sea of northern Germany, in a small boat that is barely equipped for the rough sea. They discover something is going on near the coast and are determent to find out what it is.

A very statisfying read, larded with a lot of nautic details.

book 451: Leon by Helen Griffiths
own, YA, translated from English, original title Leon, 185 pages
TIOLI challenge #9: Read a book with a one word title

The life of a dog in the 1930s in Spain. After the death of his mother, Leon is rescued by Hilario. His parents don't understand his love for this dog, but they don't interfear. When Hilario has to go to Madrid to study medicine, he has to leave Leon with his brother in law, Nicolàs. When the Spanish Civil War starts, Nicolàs goes to war and never returns. His wife sells Leon to a traveling salesman. There Leon escapes and lives in the wild for some years. When he starts killing lifestock to survive, the local farmers want to kill him. But then Hilario returns and he rescues Leon once more.

Happy New Year & Congratulations on reading 451 books. Wow.
I just recent decided to look out The riddle of the sands and read it sometime next year. The author's bio is interesting.
I'll also have to look out for Leon, I like reading children's books set around the Spanish Civil War.

>240 FAMeulstee: I've read several of Sarah Crossan's books and enjoyed them all. Her latest, Moonrise is very good, though probably not available in Dutch as yet.

>289 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry, 2017 was a great reading year, but hard in real life...

There is an other book by Helen Griffiths The last summer that is more about the Spanish Civil War, I will probably read it next month. In Leon the war is only mentioned briefly, although the main character is affected badly by the war.

>287 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita! I have a copy of The Riddle of the Sands but have never gotten around to reading it. Sounds like I should!

Anita, congratulations on meeting and passing your goal of 450 books read! Just typing that boggles the mind. I stand in awe of you! And you got me with The Riddle of the Sands - adding it to The List.

An amazing achievement Anita.

Congratulations Anita my dear on reaching 450 books for the year, a six times 75er, what an achievement and a total hard to attain for many of us dear friend.

Congratulations on reaching the 450 books read, Anita. Quite an achievement!

And you're already past that number as well.

Wishing you and Frank a very good 2018!

>291 harrygbutler: Some reviewers think all the nautic details are boring, but I enjoyed them. I hope you get to it, Harry.

>292 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie, I surprised myself, as I never thought I could read this much in a year.
I hope you get to The Riddle of the Sands, not everyone likes it according to the reviews.

>293 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline.

>294 johnsimpson: Thanks, John, I know many will never be able to read this much. Only a few years back I struggled to read less than 20 books in a year. I will see how far I get next year.

>295 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, I hope to finish 1 or 2 more ;-)
Wishing you and yours all the best in 2018!

Congratulations Anita!

Absolutely amazing accomplishment, Anita!

Hmm...four words in a row that begin with the letter A. That wasn't intentional!

That's truly amazing, Anita! ((((Anita))))

Congratulations on reading 451, Anita. I hope you are enjoying your break.

>297 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte!

>298 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl, I like the sound of four words starting with "A" :-)

>299 ronincats: Thank you, Roni!

>300 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg, I survived my first night alone (Frank had to work last night & tonight) and it went much better than I feared.

>301 Berly: Thank you, Kim, I feel the same ;-)

With the slow internet here, I have some trouble loading my own thread!
So I am going to keep it short, one more review to go, a list of my best reads this year and then 2017 is done with 452 books read. I will set up my 2018 thread later today, when 2018 has started somewhere in the world ;-)

book 452: Reis om de wereld in 80 dagen by Michael Palin
from the library, e-book, non-fiction, translated from English, original title Around the World in 80 Days, 300 pages

Book companion to the BBC series, where Michael Palin replicates Phileas Fogg and Passepartout's journey around the world in eighty days in 1988. To keep it authentic, Palin only travels over land and over sea. A very enjoyable read, I will look out for more travel books by Michael Palin, as this is the first of many.

Wishing you a fabulous day, Anita.

best books in 2017

Het einde van de rode mens (Secondhand Time) by Svetlana Alexijevitsj
Tussen de wereld en mij (Between the World and Me) by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Hou van die hond (Love that dog) by Sharon Creech
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Morgen ga ik naar China by Imme Dros (picture book)
De blikken trommel (The Tin Drum) by Günter Grass
Schildpadden tot in het oneindige (Turtles all the way down) by John Green
Leven en lot (Life and Fate) by Vasily Grossman
Aardzee (The Earthsea Trilogy) by Ursula LeGuin
Soldaat Peaceful (Private Peaceful) by Michael Morpurgo
De ontdekking van de hemel (The Discovery of Heaven) by Harry Mulisch
Max Havelaar by Multatuli
Waar het licht is (All the Bright Places) by Jennifer Niven
1984 by George Orwell
Saluut aan Catalonië (Hommage to Catalonia) by George Orwell
Dokter Zjivago (Dr Zhivago) by Boris Pasternak
Jan, mijn vriend (Johnny, my friend) by Peter Pohl
De adelaar van het negende (The eagle of the Ninth) by Rosemary Sutcliff
Een koning voor de Dalriaden (The Mark of the Horse Lord) by Rosemary Sutcliff
De aankomst (The Arrival) by Shaun Tan
In de ban van de ring (Lord of the Rings) by J.R.R. Tolkien

>304 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, I hope your last day of 2017 is the same.

December 2017 stats

40 books read (8.500 pages, 274.2 pages/day)

24/9/7 own/library/Kobo+
19/21 Dutch/translated
37/3 fiction/non-fiction

1 1001 books
23 childrens/YA
13 e-books
31 TIOLI books

--

2017 totals:

total books read in 2017: 452
total pages read in 2017: 110,222 (=302 pages a day)

238/161/53 own/library/Kobo+
156/293/3 Dutch/translated/English
395/57 fiction/non-fiction

30 1001 books (total 52)
213 childrens&YA
126 e-books
323 TIOLI books

total ratings
  21 x
  91 x
176 x
105 x
  49 x
    7 x
    2 x

--

total books aquired in 2017: 33
total books culled in 2017: 65

>303 FAMeulstee: I have wanted to read the Palin, for many years now. Glad you liked it.

>305 FAMeulstee: Hooray for the Best of the Year list. Glad to see Secondhand Time on there. It will make my list too. I will post mine shortly.

I would like to do a companion read, with Hommage to Catalonia, along with a reread of 1984.

Happy Sunday, Anita!

>308 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark!

I have another Palin on my shelves Himalaya, I hope to get to it soon.
I will read her The Unwomanly Face of War in January.

Follow me to my first thread in 2018

Hi Anita, just stopping by to wish you and Frank a Very Happy New Year my dear and hope that 2018 is a really good year. Sending love and hugs to you both from both of us dear friend.

Hi Anita!

452 books in 2017. What a fantastic accomplishment.



Peace, Health, and Happiness in 2018

>310 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, wishing you and Karen all the best for 2018.
Frank is off to work, I will pass your greetings tomorrow morning, when he returns to our holliday home.

>311 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, it is amazing to me too.
Wishing you the same, and see you in the 2018 threads!


I have started my first 2018 thread, see you there!

Happy New Year, Anita! May 2018 be filled with health, joy, peace and prosperity. And lots more good reading!

Also, congratulations on your amazing 452-book count!

>314 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary, happy New Year to you!
I don't think I can do "lots more" of reading, so I'll go for "good reading" in 2018 ;-)

>315 rretzler: Thank you, Robin, happy New Year to you and yours!

by some standard or other. Lol

>317 nittnut: Thanks, Jenn, the same to you and yours!
As with everything each her own reasonable standard ;-)

Happy 2018, Anita.

Nice list of best books in '17 up there. Love that Dog and The Arrival are charmers, aren't they.

Happy 2018!!

>319 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, they both are.
I did add the list to my 2018 thread :-)

>320 Berly: Thanks, Kim, all the same to you and yours!

Follow me on my 2018 thread.