Anita (FAMeulstee) goes on where the books take her in 2023 (1)

Welcome to my first thread in 2023!

I am Anita Meulstee (59), married with Frank (61) since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art, books and walking.

 

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

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

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Five stars in 2022:
Ademschommel (The Hunger Angel) by Herta Müller
De Jacobsboeken (The Books of Jacob) by Olga Tokarczuk
Het eiland van het tweede gezicht (The Island of Second Sight) by Albert Vigoleis Thelen
Fado Alexandrino (Fado Alexandrino) by António Lobo Antunes
Benedenwereld : reizen in de diepe tijd (Underland: A Deep Time Journey) by Robert Macfarlane
Baron by Theun de Vries

total books read in 2023: 23
5 own / 18 library

total pages read in 2023: 8.293

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currently reading:

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books read in January 2023: 23 books, 8.293 pages, 5 own / 18 library)
book 1: De fundamenten by Ramsey Nasr, 73 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 90)
book 2: Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) by Rudi Wester, 565 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 91)
book 3: Levensgevaar (Rivierdelta 2) by Arttu Tuominen, 302 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 92)
book 4: Broers (Brothers) by Bernice Rubens, 531 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 93)
book 5: Mijn dertigjarige oorlog (No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War) by Hiroo Onoda, 204 pages, TIOLI #3 (msg 94)
book 6: Het schemeren van de wereld (The Twilight World) by Werner Herzog, 111 pages, TIOLI #18 (msg 94)
book 7: Eigen welzijn eerst by Roxane van Iperen, 143 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 112)
book 8: Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt, 256 pages, TIOLI #12 (msg 113)
book 9: Rotterdam: ode aan de inefficiëntie by Arjen van Veelen, 368 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 114)
book 10: Doctor Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert, 412 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 115)
book 11: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert, 445 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 167)
book 12: Vlimmens tweede jeugd by Mr. A. Roothaert, 414 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 168)
book 13: Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune, 414 pages, TIOLI #7 (msg 169)
book 14: Job: roman over een eenvoudige man (Job: The Story of a Simple Man) by Joseph Roth, 206 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 170)
book 15: Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa by Philip J.K. Burton, 320 pages, TIOLI #5 (msg 181)
book 16: De raaf by Louis Beyens, 250 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 182)
book 17: Zwartboek (The Black Book; John Rebus 5) by Ian Rankin, 349 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 183)
book 18: Met lichte tred by Ton Lemaire, 249 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 184)
book 19: Onheilstijding (A Dying Fall; Ruth Galloway 5) by Elly Griffiths, 318 pages (msg 185)
book 20: Leven en lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman, 959 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 199)
book 21: Vallende stenen (Konráð 4) by Arnaldur Indriðason, 300 pages, TIOLI #16 (msg 203)
book 22: De opwindvogelkronieken (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) by Haruki Murakami, 890 pages, TIOLI #15 (msg 235)
book 23: De uitverkorene (The Elected Member) by Bernice Rubens, 214 pages (msg 236)

January 2023 reading plans

TIOLI January 2023
#1: Read a book (F or NF) set in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, or Numazu
- De opwindvogelkronieken (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) - Haruki Murakami, 890 pages (e-library)
#2: Read a book in the public domain
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#3: Read a book that came into your possession in 2022
- De fundamenten - Ramsey Nasr, 73 pages (e-library)
- Mijn dertigjarige oorlog (No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War) - Hiroo Onoda, 204 pages (library)
#4: Read a book with a character who gardens or loves plants
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#5: Read or Skim a reference book
- Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa - Philip J.K. Burton, 320 pages
#6: Read a book listed on the Millions "most anticipated" lists during the pandemic years (2020-2022)
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#7: Read a book where the author uses initials instead of a first and second name
- Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) - TJ Klune, 414 pages (e-library)
#8: Read a book with the name of a famous leader in the title or author's name
-
#9: A little R&R: Read a book where at least TWO title words and/or author names start with R
- Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) - Rudi Wester, 565 pages (library)
#10 Read a book for the Life Balance Wheel Semi-Rolling Challenge
-
#11: Read a book set in, or about, the 1920's
-
#12: Read a book on a best of 2022 list
- Wolven op het ruiterpad - Tijs Goldschmidt, 256 pages (e-library)
#13: Read a book of swashbuckling adventure
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#14: Read the first, second, and/or third book of a trilogy
- Doctor Vlimmen - Mr. A. Roothaert, 412 pages
- Vlimmen contra Vlimmen - Mr. A. Roothaert, 445 pages
- Vlimmens tweede jeugd - Mr. A. Roothaert, 414 pages
#15: Read a book by an author in 2023 who you read a book written by in 2022
- Job: roman over een eenvoudige man (Job: The Story of a Simple Man) - Joseph Roth, 206 pages (e-library)
- Levensgevaar (Rivierdelta 2) - Arttu Tuominen, 302 pages (library)
- Zwartboek (The Black Book; John Rebus 5) - Ian Rankin, 349 pages (e-library)
#16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name
- Broers (Brothers) - Bernice Rubens, 531 pages (library)
- Eigen welzijn eerst - Roxane van Iperen, 143 pages (library)
- Leven en lot (Life and Fate) - Vasili Grossman, 959 pages
- Met lichte tred - Ton Lemaire, 249 pages (e-library)
- De raaf - Louis Beyens, 250 pages (e-library)
- Rotterdam: ode aan de inefficiëntie - Arjen van Veelen, 368 pages (e-library)
- Vallende stenen - Arnaldur Indriðason, 300 pages (library)
#17: Read a work of fiction by an author born in North Africa
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#18: The last of the first: Read a book related to ending
- Het schemeren van de wereld (The Twilight World) - Werner Herzog, 111 pages (library)

Books not in TIOLI
Onheilstijding (A Dying Fall; Ruth Galloway 5) - Elly Griffiths, 318 pages (library)
De uitverkorene (The Elected Member) - Bernice Rubens, 214 pages (library)

Reserved for February 2023 reading plans

TIOLI February 2023
#1: Read a book with a body part in the title
- Het hart is een eenzame jager (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter) - Carson McCullers, 367 pages (e-library)
#2: Read a book whose first letter of it’s title fits into the following Rolling Challenge – based on “Be My Valentine”
- Verweven leven (Entangled life) - Merlin Sheldrake, 383 pages (e-library)
#3: Read a book whose title pays homage to Cole Porter's "Night and Day"
? De rest van de dag (The Remains of the Day) - Kazuo Ishiguro, 260 pages
#4: Read a book about twins, or told from 2 POV or has a word indicating 2 in the title
- Perenbomen bloeien wit - Gerbrand Bakker, 144 pages (e-library)
#5: Read a book for the Alphabetical Verbs rolling challenge
- Vissen hebben geen voeten (Fish Have No Feet) - Jón Kalman Stefánsson, 345 pages (e-library)
#6: Read a book with the numbers 6 and 0 in the ISBN
- De zaak van Münster (Münster's Case) - Håkan Nesser, 347 pages (library)
- Wat bomen ons vertellen (Tree Story) - Valerie Trouet, 296 pages (library)
#7: Read a book with either the word “Red” or “Black” in the title
- Zwarte seconden (Black Seconds; Konrad Sejer 6) - Karin Fossum, 292 pages (library)
#8: Read a classic whose adaptation into a movie or play you've seen
- Koning Lear (King Lear) - William Shakespeare, 215 pages (e-library)
#9: Read a book with an animal in its title AND that animal on its cover
- Uit de bek van de walvis (From the Mouth of the Whale) - Sjon, 251 pages (library)
#10: Read a book with something you'd find on Old MacDonald's Farm in the title or author's name
- Verwilderd (Bewilderment) - Richard Powers, 293 pages (e-library)
#11: Read a book in Portuguese or translated from Portuguese
? De stad der blinden (Blindness) - José Saramago, 303 pages
#12: Read a book where the first two words in the title begin with the same letter
? Vijf vadem diep - Simon Vestdijk, 233 pages
#13: Read a book with at least two one-syllable words in the title (excludes a, an, the, and & or)
- Zo begint het slechte (Thus Bad Begins) - Javier Marías, 548 pages (library)
#14: Read a book with a connection to a book you read in 2022
- Transit (Transit) - Anna Seghers, 294 pages (library)
- De veensoldaten - Wolfgang Langhoff, 251 pages (library)
#15: Read a book with a person's name on the page # matching the number of books you read last year
- De bijzondere woorden van Gioia - Enrico Galiano, 429 pages (e-library)
#16: Read a book written from a non-human perspective
- De memoires van Norton, filosoof en hond (Norton's Philosophical Memoirs) - Hakan Nesser, 94 pages (e-library)
#17: Read a short story (or a book of short stories, if you so desire)
- Wilde rozen en andere verhalen - Konstantin Paustovski, 128 pages (e-library)

Reading plans in 2023
Reading books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list
Read some big tomes (1000+ pages)
Read books by Nobel Prize for Literature winners

I selected 60 books with the oldest publication dates from the library-wishlist (with a total of 181 books) to read this year, hopefully in time before they are culled. Last year I noticed that some books from this list were removed from the collection.

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

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Some big tomes I might read in 2023:
Ideeën (1-7) by Multatuli, 3846 pages
De razende Roeland (Orlando furioso) by Ludovico Ariosto, 1783 pages
De kracht van Atlantis (Atlas shrugged) by Ayn Rand, 1373 pages
Inktzwart hart (The Ink Black Heart) - Robert Galbraith, 1190 pages
Vestdijk, een biografie - Wim Hazeu, 1057 pages

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Some other books I want to read in 2023:
Anatomie van een moment (The Anatomy of a Moment) - Javier Cercas, 539 pages
Jean-Paul Sartre : zijn biografie (Sartre: A Life) - Annie Cohen-Solal, 610 pages
Duitse les (The German Lesson) - Siegfried Lenz, 511 pages
Een beloofd land (A promised land) - Barack Obama, 896 pages
Aarde der mensen (This Earth of Mankind) - Pramoedya Ananta Toer, 457 pages
Landlijnen (Landlines) - Raynor Winn, 351 pages

Tickers

Totals since 2008:

My reading in previous years in text
2008: 130 books -   35.152 pages   (96,0 ppd)
2009:   78 books -   21.470 pages   (58,8 ppd)
2010: 121 books -   38.209 pages (104,7 ppd)
2011:   84 books -   30.256 pages   (82,9 ppd)
2012:   53 books -   18.779 pages   (51,3 ppd)
2013:   13 books -     3.692 pages   (10,1 ppd)
2014:   17 books -     3.700 pages   (10,1 ppd)
2015:   29 books -   10.080 pages   (27,6 ppd)
2016: 253 books -   72.391 pages (197,8 ppd)
2017: 453 books - 110.222 pages (302,0 ppd)
2018: 534 books - 111.906 pages (306,6 ppd)
2019: 413 books - 110.873 pages (303,8 ppd)
2020: 226 books -   79.216 pages (216,4 ppd)
2021: 288 books -   94.339 pages (258,5 ppd)
2022: 323 books - 102.275 pages (280,2 ppd)

Lists on my WikiThing

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

Series I read, a list to keep track

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

Ari Thór Arason (Dark Iceland) by Ragnar Jónasson 3/4
1 Sneeuwblind; 2 Inktzwart; 3 Poolnacht; 4 Ademloos

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

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

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 58/71

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 5/6
1 Koekoeksjong; 2 Zijderups; 3 Het slechte pad; 4 Witte dood; 5 Kwaad bloed; 6 Inktzwart hart

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

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 29/30
1 Dood van een maestro; 2 Dood in den vreemde; 3 De dood draagt rode schoenen; 4 Salto mortale; 5 Acqua alta; 6 Een stille dood; 7 Nobiltà; 8 Fatalità; 9 Vriendendienst; 10 Onrustig tij; 11 Bedrieglijke zaken; 12 De stille elite; 13 Verborgen bewijs; 14 Vertrouwelijke zaken; 15 Duister glas; 16 Kinderspel; 17 Droommeisje; 18 Gezichtsverlies; 19 Een kwestie van vertrouwen; 20 Dodelijke conclusies; 21 Beestachtige zaken; 22 Het onbekende kind; 23 Tussen de regels; 24 Ik aanbid je; 25 Eeuwige jeugd; 26 Wat niet verdwijnt; 27 Vergiffenis; 28 De troonopvolger; 29 Duister water; 30 Vluchtig verlangen

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 5/23
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; 19 Saints of the Shadow Bible (not translated); 20 Even Dogs in the Wild (not translated); 21 Rather Be the Devil (not translated); 22 Een web van leugens; 23 Een lied voor duistere tijden

Konráð by Arnaldur Indridason 4/4
1 Smeltend ijs; 2 Boven water; 3 Smeulend vuur; 4 Vallende stenen

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

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

Oliver von Bodenstein & Pia Kirchhoff by Nele Neuhaus 9/10
1 Een onbeminde vrouw; 2 Moordvrienden; 3 Diepe wonden; 4 Sneeuwwitje moet sterven; 5 Wie wind zaait; 6 Boze wolf; 7 De levenden en de doden; 8 Het woud; 9 Moederdag; 10 Eeuwige vriendschap

De Rougons-Macquarts (The Rougon-Macquarts) by Émile Zola 4/20
1 Het fortuin der Rougons; 2 De buit; 3 De buik van Parijs; 4 De verovering van Plassans; 5 De misstap van pastoor Mouret; 6 Zijne excellentie Eugène Rougon; 7 De nekslag; 8 Liefde; 9 Nana; 10 In troebel water; 11 In het paradijs voor de vrouw; 12 Levensvreugde; 13 De mijn; 14 Het werk; 15 Het land; 16 De droom; 17 Het beest in de mens; 18 Het geld; 19 De ondergang; 20 Dokter Pascal

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 4/8
1 Een studie in rood; 2 De vallei der verschrikking; 3 De hond van de Baskervilles; 4 Het teken van de vier; 5 Het laatste probleem; 6 Het avontuur van de duivelsklauw; 7 Zijn laatste buiging; 8 De onbekende avonturen van Sherlock Holmes

De tandeloze tijd by A.F.Th. van der Heijden 1/11
0 De slag om de Blauwbrug; 1 Vallende ouders; 2 De gevarendriehoek; 2.1 Weerborstels; 3.1 Het hof van barmhartigheid; 3.2 Onder het plaveisel het moeras; 3.4 Doodverf; 4 Advocaat van de hanen; 5 De helleveeg; 6 Kwaadschiks; 8 Stemvorken

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

Books acquired in 2023: 2

January (2)
Het gouden boek - Doris Lessing
Episoden uit het leven van Lulu - Almudena Grandes

Welcome!

--
Sorry to be late to the party. Before christmas I had a bad cold, that eventually infected my eyes. The cold is nearly over, but I still have trouble with my eyes. I had to limit my screentime, so stayed mostly away from LT.

Yesterday I allowed myself a bit more screentime, to set up some lists on my computer, and this morning my eyes were worse again. And after setting up this thread a headache came up. So for now I keep it at my own thread, I hope to visit others next week, Wish me luck restraining myself, as I miss you all!

I will try to visit my thread twice a day

Happy reading year, Anita.

I was getting a little worried there. Hope your eyes are back to normal as soon as possible.

It is nice to see your thread. I have you starred.

I hope your eyes get better soon!

Happy New Year and Happy New Thread, Anita!
We miss you too, but your health is more important - I hope you can restrain yourself and get better soon.
All the Best for 2023.

Dropped a star. I hope your eyes are getting better soon.

It's good to see you back - if only briefly - I hope your eyes continue to improve.

Happy new year and new thread, Anita, I have starred your thread.

Sorry to hear about the eye issues. Is it affecting your physical book reading or just screen time? I hope this passes soon!

Happy New Year to you and Frank! I hope that your eye troubles will get better as you limit your screen time. Things like this make us realise how much we rely on our devices and it's hard to do without them.

I look forward to following your reading and travels again this year!

Happy New Year Anita! Adding my wishes for improvement for your eye issues

Happy new year, Anita, and I hope reading and walking adventures are enjoyable for you this year. As always, I am looking forward to seeing what you are reading.

Happy New Year! Good to see your thread this morning, Anita!. Eyes take priority above all else. Take the time you need, we'll be here

Happy New Year, Anita. Sorry to hear about the eyes, but take care of them. I'm going to try to be around more this year. Please give Frank a hug for me.

Well hello girl; welcome over! Happy New Year and happy new thread Anita!



I hope your eyes are completely better soonest.

Happy New Thread and Happy New Year!!! So glad to see you here. i was getting worried!!
Take care of yourself!!

Welcome back for another year! By the wya, Frank has an *awesome* beard. 😀

Hi Anita -- got you starred. I hope your eyes continue to improve!

Greetings, Anita. I'm running to stand still just now but am delighted that you are here again...hopefully always.

>29 EllaTim: Happy New Year, Anita. Take good care of yourself! We’ll be there.

Happy New Year, Anita! Hoping your eyes continue to improve.

Hello Anita. Great to look at your reading plans. HOpe you are feeling much better very soon.

Happy new year Anita!

>12 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, may 2023 become a great reading year!

>13 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, I hope so too!

>14 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, hapy New Year!
It is not easy, but I stay away from other threads for now.

>15 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. Found your thread too.

>16 CDVicarage: Thank you, Kerry, glad to see you too.

>17 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley, happy new year!
The computer screen gives the problems. At first, before christmas, I had trouble with all. Now I can read physical books, and on the e-reader for half an hour. I have the backlight on the e-reader always at 10%, that is enough to be able to read. The laptop screen needs a bit more, I reduced it to 25%, and that triggers the eyes more.

>18 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, Claire, also from Frank.
I do spend a lot of time here on LT, the community of bookloving friends, and it isn't easy to break that habit, even if it is only temporary.
Our next travel will be at the end of March, continuing our Pieterpad walk.

>19 swynn: Thank you, Steve, it is really annoying that my eyes take so long to get better.

>20 sirfurboy: Thank you, Stephen, at the moment I am maily looking forwaard to participate fully again.
My daily walks are also affected, I even stayed home all day for a few days. Now I am slowly increasing the distance, to get back on track.

>22 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, glad to see you here.
Thanks, I try to take care of my eyes. There is still slow improvement.

>23 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, always good to see you here.
Hug given and appriciated.

>24 humouress: Thank you, Nina, happy New Year!
I am over, but keeping it at my own thread for now. I hope to be able to do the rounds soon.

>25 hredwards: Thank you, Harold, happy New Year!
Sorry I got you worried, I will visit your thread as soon as I can.

>26 drneutron: Thank you, Jim, for taking care of us in 2023 again.
Indeed, Frank thinks so too :-)

>27 curioussquared: Thank you, Natalie, I hope so too!

>28 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, I am glad to be here too!
Always won't be, as we all are mortal beings.

>29 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, happy New Year!
Trying my best to take care of my eyes, and hoping it will pass sooon.

>30 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie, happy New Year to you and yours.
Hoping the same, and very glad to see you here!

>31 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, I am always planning ahead :-)
I hope so too, it is over two weeks now and it feels like months.

>32 quondame: Thank you, Susan, same to you!

Read, not yet reviewed:
#1: De fundamenten by Ramsey Nasr
#2: Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) by Rudi Wester
#3: Levensgevaar (Rivierdelta 2) by Arttu Tuominen
#4: Broers (Brothers) by Bernice Rubens

Reading now:
Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
Mijn dertigjarige oorlog (No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War) by Hiroo Onoda

--
Again some junk (has this a proper name in English?) in my eyes this moring. Not as bad as it has been (for a week my eyelashes were glued together in the morning), but not clear either.

Well that was more than half an hour, answering all and updating my readings. That is it for today!

>36 FAMeulstee: it is really annoying that my eyes take so long to get better

Yes, very frustrating when things like that happen. I still haven't admitted that I need glasses to read; I'm always squinting at the screen or holding the menu at arms length or carrying the instructions over to brighter light from the window ...

Happy New Year Anita. I hope 2023 is a good year for you.

>43 FAMeulstee: "Eyesnot" is a common one, so is "oozy junk" but a medical name is not frequently bandied about apart from the catchall "discharge."

A better, clearer, less snotty weekend ahead, Anita!

Happy new year and happy new thread! I hope your eyes continue to improve.

As everyone says, I hope your eyes improve quickly. Any MD opinion? You may need some drops or ophthalmic ointment to finish things off.

I missed you in my first pass through, so I'm glad to find you now.

I say "sleep" Anita, (for the eye gunk) but from Richard's message perhaps that's a UK thing?

Hope your eyes continue to improve. I'm really glad to hear you can still read.

>1 FAMeulstee: Happy New Reading Year!!

>43 FAMeulstee: >49 charl08: I say 'sleep' as well!

Happy New Year, Anita. Happy New Year. Looking forward to sharing another year of books and banter with you and the occasional bird sighting, of course.

Happy new year and new thread Anita! Hope your eyes recover soon.

A belated Happy New Year, Anita!

>43 FAMeulstee: I am sorry to hear that your eyes are still problematic. I hope they clear up soon for you!

>44 humouress: My mother was the same, Nina. She finally gave in to reading glasses when her arms became to short ;-)

>45 BLBera: Thank you, Beth, I hope the same for you.

>46 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
Your wish worked, I woke up less snotty this morning. Although the eyes still complain about screentime.

>47 foggidawn: Thank you, Foggi, happy new year.
There is improvement, but very slow...

>48 ffortsa: Thank you, Judy, glad you found my thread.
What is MD? I went to my doctor just before christmas, when the eyes were worst (all red including the white of the eye). He said it would take up to three weeks to heal, yesterday that was two weeks ago.
I do have eyedrops, the kind you can buy without prescription, and use them. It sooths the eyes a bit, and helps to remove the oozy junk from the eye.

>49 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte, that is the same word as we call it in Dutch.
I would go mad if I couldn't read at all!

>50 ocgreg34: Thank you, Greg, happy reading year to you!

>51 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian, in Dutch it is called the same.

>52 msf59: Thank you, Mark, happy New Year.
Yesterday I saw the osprey was back. We had some freezing weather in December, and I hadn't seen it since.

>53 WhiteRaven.17: Thank you, Kro, I hope so too. I really want to look at the other threads to see what you all are doing, but I still have to wait a while :-(

>54 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia, happy New Year!
It is annoying to have to limit my screentime, but at least I can read.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#1: De fundamenten by Ramsey Nasr
#2: Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) by Rudi Wester
#3: Levensgevaar (Rivierdelta 2) by Arttu Tuominen
#4: Broers (Brothers) by Bernice Rubens
#5: Mijn dertigjarige oorlog (No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War) by Hiroo Onoda

Reading now:
Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
Het schemeren van de wereld (The Twilight World) by Werner Herzog

--
I still haven't Wordled this year, the Wordle, Woordle and Worldle also have to wait for better eye times.

Happy new thread and happy new year, Anita! Joining in with the others to say I hope your eyes continue to improve and you're back to full capacity soon.

>55 FAMeulstee: 🤦‍♀️

>49 charl08: >51 SandDune: I think it's a UK thing; I don't use it but I'm familiar with it.

... >58 FAMeulstee: but it looks like Anita is too.

I hope your eye-improvement is steady and good. I'm always more nervous about eye issues than anything else.

Happy weekend's eye health!

>2 FAMeulstee:: That's an interesting group of challenges you've set for yourself!

Happy new year, Anita!

Lest Charlotte and Rhian think it's simply a British term, here in the middle of the US I grew up with the term "sleep" as well for the eye gunk.

Glad the eyes are improving, Anita!

>57 FAMeulstee: MD is the shorthand for Medical Doctor, and you've already gotten a doctor's advice, so my suggestion was superfluous. Hope your eyes are improving.

Good to see you about Anita, and that there is some improvement to your eyesight.

Hi Anita my dear, i have finally got to your 2023 thread and have dropped my star off. I hope all is well with you and Frank, we are both fine and have had Elliott this week for his overnight stay. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Hi Anita, like those above, I send wishes that your vision will improve soon!!!

Happy reading in 2023. I vow to visit threads more often -- certainly including yours.

>49 charl08: >51 SandDune: >63 humouress: I've grew up using "sleep" to describe it, so it's is used in the U.S.

>62 bell7: Thank you, Mary, happy New Year.
More improvement this morning, the left eye was almost clear.

>63 humouress: My comment in >55 FAMeulstee: sounded familiar, Nina? ;-)
Yes, although the Dutch word for 'sleep' is more used for those tiny residues in the eyes.

>64 richardderus: Thanks, Richard dear, of course I worry about eye sight. I think that is a concern to each reader.
Happy Sunday!

>65 tiffin: Thank you, Tui.
Do you mean >3 FAMeulstee: ? Those are the TIOLI challenges for January.

That's good news, Anita, I'm very happy for you.
Have a great Sunday!

>66 DianaNL: Thank you, Diana, happy so see you around!
Not yet able yet to visit other threads, I will come soon.

>67 ronincats: Thank you, Roni, I hope it will be over in a few days. The left eye was almost clear this morning.
I would call the tiny residu in the eye corner in the morning 'sleep' in Dutch. For the more abundant discharge I would prefer Richard's descriptions (eyesnot/oozy junk).

>68 ffortsa: Thank you, Judy. I only knew 'GP' (general practitioner) as short for doctor. Always happy to learn.
He also said to keep my eyes clean, as I do every 2 to 3 hours.

>69 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. I was happy to see my left eye was almost clear this morning. Now the right eye has to come along.

>70 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.
I haven't been able to go the other threads yet. I have trouble with my eyes, they got infected when having a bad cold before christmas, and made me have trouble looking at the computer screen. There is slow improvement, so I hope to get to the 2023 threads later this week.
Frank got the same, but his eyes were not affected.
Sending love and hugs to you and Karen from both of us.

>71 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda. There was visible improvemnt this morning, my left eye was almost clear.
I hope to visit your thread in a few days.

>72 quondame: Thanks, Susan, so no difference between UK and US in the use of 'sleep'.
In Dutch we have the same word, but that is more used for the tiny residue in the corner of the eye after sleeping.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#1: De fundamenten by Ramsey Nasr
#2: Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) by Rudi Wester
#3: Levensgevaar (Rivierdelta 2) by Arttu Tuominen
#4: Broers (Brothers) by Bernice Rubens
#5: Mijn dertigjarige oorlog (No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War) by Hiroo Onoda
#6: Het schemeren van de wereld (The Twilight World) by Werner Herzog
#7: Eigen welzijn eerst by Roxane van Iperen

Reading now:
Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
Doctor Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert

--
As I said in my answers above, this morning my left eye was almost clear, only a little sleep in the corner!
The right eye had still some oozy junk, and needed cleaning right away. It is also the one still protesting to prolonging my screentime.

I'm another one who uses "sleep" as do Charlotte and Rhian etc.

Hope your eyes will be fully recovered soon.

I hope your eyes continue to improve, Anita. How much has this affected your reading?

Happy Sunday!

>73 FAMeulstee: Not quite (yet); I still have a little bit of flexibility with the arm.

Glad your eyes are improving! Whatever you're doing keep doing it!!

GP is an older term for what we now call a Primary Care Physician (PCP). Few medical school graduates want to take that on - it's more lucrative and easier to keep up with a specialty. I'm very grateful to have found my current PCP, but I suspect he might retire before I don't need him anymore, and I will have to search for another, probably a gerontologist, by then.

Happy new thread and new year!!

>81 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, I am nearly there. I hope to write my first reviews today.

>82 msf59: Thank you, Mark. My reading was a bit less in the first week, but has returned to nearly normal now. I can read paper books, and e-books for a limited time.

>83 humouress: Then you have some time left, Nina, before you really need glasses ;-)

>84 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, I will.

>85 ffortsa: Thanks for your explanation, Judy.
I have had way to many different PCP's in the last 10 years. So each time I have to explain my situation again. Last visit was again a new to me doctor. I hope this one will stay a bit longer.

>86 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda, happy new year!

book 1: De fundamenten by Ramsey Nasr
library, e-book, Dutch, no English translation, 73 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book that came into your possession in 2022

Three essays and an epilogue about how the COVID pandemic and climate change are connected.

Title translated: The foundations.

book 2: Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) by Rudi Wester
library, Dutch, no English translation, 565 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: A little R&R: Read a book where at least TWO title words and/or author names start with R

Biography of Jef Last, writer, poet, translator, reporter, painter, polyglot. Last started as a member of the social democrats, but left the party because they didn't want to give up colonialism. The Dutch Indies were important for economics, while Last was in favor of the right of self-determination for all nations. Then he joined the communist party, but after a visit to the USSR he critised the government there. He went on the fight in Spain, but as a opponent of the USSR he was taken from the actual fights, and slandered. He went back to the Netherlands to find out he had lost his Dutch nationality because of his actions in Spain. He joined the resistance in WWII, lived through the war with a lot of luck, and got his nationality back after the war. He was one of few who kept saying they were not fighting the Germans, but fighting fascism. During the war he studied Chinese, and went to Hapmburg to get his PhD. He visited Indonesia, and had good relations with Soekarno and Hatta. He tried to mediate between the Indonesian and Dutch government about Irian Jaya, but failed.
He was also gay, and got often in trouble because of that, as at that time sex between the same sex was prohibited. One year before his death this was changed.

Jeff Last led a full and facinating life. It was a very interestng read, I knew some in advance, but hadn't realised all he did in those years.

Title translated: Does a stranger life than mine exist? Jef Last (1898-1972)

book 3: Levensgevaar by Arttu Tuominen
library, translated from Finnish, no English translation, 302 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book by an author in 2023 who you read a book written by in 2022

Second book in the Rivierdelta series of Finnish police procedurals.
Jari Paloviita didn't get the job as head of his department. His new boss is Susanna Manner.
His collegue Henrik Oksman, a gay in secret, goes out to a club one night, dressed as a woman. He finds a man, with whom he leaves. Half an hour later a bomb goes off, some deaths and many wounded. Susanna and her team are put aside in favour of a national team, but they do work on the case. Henrik is on the surveillance camera's, and soon everyone is looking out for that woman who might have to do with the attack. Henrik keeps quiet, as he doesn't want to come out.

Title translated: Lifedanger

book 4: Broers by Bernice Rubens
library, translated, original title Brothers, 531 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

Following the Jewish Bindel family from Odessa (Russia) in the 19th century, where the few left after the pogrom of 1871 go to Wales and Leipzig. After WWII their descentants end up in Russia and Israel.
From each generation two brothers are the main characters. Reuben and Benjamin are nephew and uncle, born on the same day and breast feeded together: milkbrothers. They have to serve 25 years in the army of the Tsar, and are lucky, as they live to return home. Benjamin's sons Aaron and Leon and their mother survive the 1871 pogrom. When the time nears they will have to join the army, they decide to leave Russia. They want to go to Wales, as they have a contact there. Their mother ends up with a new husband in Leipzig. After the death of Leon's (non Jewish) wife and son, Leon joins his mother in Leipzig. There he mariies again, and only his grandchildren will survive the war.

Very good story, only two complaints. At the family tree of the Binden family at the start of the book some of the years of birth and death are wrong. And Stalin is called the "president" of the USSR, instead of "general secretary". Both could be the fault of the Dutch publisher/translator, but I am not sure.

English and Dutch title are the same.

When I saw the book by Werner Herzog last year, I decided to read the original story by Hiroo Onoda first.


book 5: Mijn dertigjarige oorlog by Hiroo Onoda
library, translated from English translation of the original Japanese edition, English translation No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War,204 pages
TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book that came into your possession in 2022

In No Surrender Onoda writes down his life story. How he came into the army, like his brothers before him. He ended up in a special training to be a guerilla fighter. Not an honorable fight, like other soldiers, but necessary to the army near the end of the war. He is send with a mission to the island Lubang, a small island in the Philippines. He will have to destroy the harbor and airport, so the enemy won't be able to acces the island easly. Eventually he ends up with three others. His mission failes, but he tries to keep the island under control. They completely miss the end of the war and keep on fighting until Onoda is the last man standing. His family and others have tried to convince him that the war is over. But in Onoda's mind this is all a set up of the enemy. Finally a Japanese adventurer steps in, he arranges a meeting between Onoda and his former commander, who gives him orders to surrender. Onodo goes back to Japan and becomes a public figure.

Dutch title translated: My thirthy year war



--

book 6: Het schemeren van de wereld by Werner Herzog
library, translated from German, English translation The Twilight World, 111 pages
TIOLI Challenge #18: The last of the first: Read a book related to ending

Werner Herzog met Onoda in 1997. He wrote the same story, fictionalised, sometimes dreamlike. At the first page he tells us that some details are true, others are not. It is his artist impression of Onoda's tale. So much is the same, but with emphasis on other details the story becomes more vivid than the original.

Dutch title translated: The darkening of the world

Read, not yet reviewed:
#7: Eigen welzijn eerst by Roxane van Iperen
#8: Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt

Reading now:
Doctor Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
Rotterdam: ode aan de inefficiëntie by Arjen van Veelen

--
Both eyes almost clear this morning!
And nearly three hours at the laptop, and only now the eyes start to complain a bit.

I hope to start visiting the threads tomorow, and finally catch up with all of you :-)

>93 FAMeulstee: Brothers sounds interesting Anita. I'll add it to my wish list. I've read A Five Year Sentence by Bernice Rubens but nothing else.

>96 SandDune: How did you like A Five Year Sentence, Rhian?
I have her Booker Prize winner The Elected Member on my list to read someday.

>97 FAMeulstee: I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it. I seem to remember it was a little 'odd'. Unfortunately I didn't post a review so I can't tell you in more detail.

I'm glad you're feeling better again.
>95 FAMeulstee: You quickly turned my short-term reading advantage into the opposite ;-)
All the best!

>98 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian.

>99 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.
Yes, I keep on reading, as always.
By the way, the book by Arttu Tuominen is available in German, as is the first. The first book is Was wir verschweigen and the second is Was wir verbergen. The third was just published in Dutch translation last month.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#7: Eigen welzijn eerst by Roxane van Iperen
#8: Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
#9: Rotterdam: ode aan de inefficiëntie by Arjen van Veelen

Reading now:
Doctor Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune

--
Did my first round at the threads today, returning all visitors here.
It was to much to read everything, sorry, but I will try my best to keep up from now.

This afternoon to the GP's office to draw blood to check my thyroid levels. Due to COVID that wasn't possible for a long time, last time was over 3 years ago in 2019. I think I am on the low side, as usual in winter, but it will be good to know for sure, and adjust the dose.

>101 FAMeulstee: I hope you and your blood levels are found to be doing just fine. It's good to have reassurance that the current meds are adequate.

>102 quondame: Thank you, Susan.
I was wrong, it is the opposite, lowering my dosage now.

>60 FAMeulstee: I know all about having to limit screen time as I was having problems with my eyes a couple of years back. I hope they continue to improve!

>91 FAMeulstee: Too bad that there is no English translation of that one and that I do not read Dutch! It sounds like a book I would enjoy.

>101 FAMeulstee: Yay for being able to get your thyroid levels checked.

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday, Anita!

>104 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia. My eyes are a lot better now. No unlimited screentime yet, but soon I hope.
Somehow I read a lot of untranslated Dutch books this month, sorry.

Today I got the results, I have to lower my Thyrax dose. I didn't expect that, so it is good it was checked.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#7: Eigen welzijn eerst by Roxane van Iperen
#8: Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
#9: Rotterdam: ode aan de inefficiëntie by Arjen van Veelen
#10: Doctor Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert

Reading now:
Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune
Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert

Added two books to my TIOLI plans this month:
De opwindvogelkronieken (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) by Haruki Murakami
Zwartboek (The Black Book; John Rebus 5) by Ian Rankin

I really liked The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle when I read it, Anita.

I'm so glad to read that your eyes are doing much better.

>107 Crazymamie: The first Murakami I read four years ago was Norwegian Wood, Mamie. I liked it, but it didn't make me long for more. Then I last year I did read Kafka on the Shore, liked that much better, so now I am going to try The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle :-)

So am I!

>91 FAMeulstee: Sounds really interesting!

As do a number of the other books you reviewed. I can only pick one for now! Also interested in Eigen Welzijn eerst en the Rotterdam book!

Glad your eyes have improved.

>91 FAMeulstee: This one sounds fascinating. What a life!

Hope that the visit to the doctor went well. It must feel a little odd after such a big gap in visits.

>109 EllaTim: It is, Ella, it was interesting to read about Jef Last. I searched a bit about him after I had read his book Zuiderzee. Then I saw this book at the library.
The book about Rotterdam is sad, all what went wrong in the last 40 years cumulated there. Most I knew already, but it isn't uplifting to read it all together.

>110 charl08: Indeed, Charlotte, and he mostly forgotten now. I hope this biography brings him back for some.
I am not able to go there on my own, and when COVID started it wasn't allowed to come together. I am sure that in an emergancy there would have been a way. Now it was possible again to send Frank in, with me waiting in the car, so he could get me when it was my turn. Blood was drawn and I got the result, I have to lower my Thyrax dose and draw blood again in 3 months.

book 7: Eigen welzijn eerst by Roxane van Iperen
library, Dutch, no translations, 143 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

Roxane van Iperen explains how fear of falling has driven parts the middle class towards extreme right wing. When social climbing is no longer possible for large groups, especially white women want to make sure their offspring will have a good future. Combined with the rabbit holes in social media they are easely driven towards extreme right wing ideas.

Title translated: Own welfare first

book 8: Wolven op het ruiterpad by Tijs Goldschmidt
library, e-book, Dutch, Jan Wolkers Prijs 2022, no translations, 256 pages
TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a book on a best of 2022 list

Twenty essays about nature and culture. Ranging from wolves returning in our country, and all upheaval around it, to culture in Papua New Guinea and two young men from there visiting Amsterdam. And a lot more, enjoyable read.

This book won the Jan Wolkers Prize last year, a prize for books about nature. This year the writer will get the P.C. Hooft Prize, an important Dutch literary lifetime-achievement award.

Title translated: Wolves on the bridle path

book 9: Rotterdam: ode aan de inefficiëntie by Arjen van Veelen
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 368 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

After twenty years the writer returns to Rotterdam, the city where he was born. He is glad he is back, and at first he admires the multi cultural envoronment. Until he starts to look closer and finds out how 40 years of neo-liberalism destroyed large parts of Rotterdam, and how efficiency and just in time management made most workman unemployed. Like Roxane van Iperen in >112 FAMeulstee: he finds the roots of extreme right wing ideas in the fear of falling. Rotterdam was the first city where an extreme right-wing patry got into the government.
He unraffles the myth that the center of the city was completely bombed away by the Germans. A large part was destroyed after the war, because the big industrials had great plans for a new and modern city.
He works in the harbor, goes out west to the new harbors, where the large containerships load and unload their cargo.

Most of it I knew, a few details were new to me. It was depressing to read it all in a row. But still Rotterdam is the city I love, despite the politics of the last 40 years.

Title translated: Rotterdam : ode to the inefficiency

book 10: Doctor Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
own, Dutch, English translation Dutch Vet, 412 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read the first, second, and/or third book of a trilogy

The life of a veterinarian in the 1930s in the Dutch province Noord-Brabant. This part of the country was very roman-catholic at the time. Many small farms with large, poor families. Vlimmen is nearly always on his way to sick cows and pigs.
Vlimmen is married, but the marriage was never consumed. He tries to get it anulled, but his wife's brother hopes for a career in the roman-catholic church, and a divorced sister would be bad. So all his tries are denied in Rome.

First of a trilogy I found in a Little Free Library.

Title translated: Doctor Vlimmen

Hi Anita, I do understand about the eye problem as I have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration which terrified me, although my ophthalmologist assures me it is the slow variety and I have years of reading ahead of me. I have tried to work a few audiobooks into my reading time. It's harder for me to concentrate on listening rather than reading so most of my books are read with tired eyes. LOL.

By the way, I have read the same Murakami books that you have (and a few others) and consider him an acquired taste. I read and liked one of his older books, Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World last summer. Aren't his titles fun?

Your reading is moving right along! Great pictures of you and your husband. Happy new year!

>1 FAMeulstee: Coming by to check out your thread and wish you a happy 2023 of reading! Nice to see you around these parts again!

Sweet Thursday, Anita. So glad to see you back reading, posting and reviewing. You have a lot of good reading ahead of you with Murakami.

Hi, Anita! Finally getting around the threads on my "new" (used and updated) laptop. It is so much harder to do that on my smart phone, what with my own elderly eyes. Glad yours are better. Nothing worse for a reader than not being able to, you know, read. I'm resigned to doing most of my reading by audiobook as my own eyes aren't working as well as I'd like anymore. Getting old can be trying.

Anyway, though I'm late, I want to wish you a wonderful 2023 filled with lots of great books!

Hi Anita! It looks like you've had several great reads already this year! I am glad that your eyes are improving and that you're able to go back to doing things you enjoy.

>116 Donna828: Thank you, Donna, I have the same problem with audiobooks. So I hope our eyes stay well enough to read for a very long time. I am glad mine are all better now.
I hope to read more Murakami, including the one you recommend.

>117 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen, my reading year started well.
Happy new year to you as well.

>118 leperdbunny: Thank you, Tamara, the same to you.
I arrived late this year, and that felf a bit odd.

>119 msf59: Thank you, Mark, happy Friday!
So am I, is was hard to be barely around for nearly three weeks.
Indeed lots of Murakami to go, I enjoyed Kafka on the Shore and look forward to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles later this month.

>120 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary, wishing you the same.
All I have is my laptop, so I only know about the trouble of using a smart phone second hand. Luckey I still could read a bit in paper books, even when my eyes were very bad infected, only the laptop screen gave problems.
I have tried audiobooks, but then my mind goes of wondering and I miss half of the story. I would only try again if I run out of other options.

>121 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie, my reading year started well.
It is good to talk to you all here again, I really missed that when I had to limit my screentime.

Hi Anita. Yikes. I hadn’t starred your thread. A very belated Happy New Year and Happy New First Thread of 2023.

>1 FAMeulstee: I love the pics of you and Frank, and that beard is righteous.

>9 FAMeulstee: I hope you get to the 6th in the Cormoran Strike series soon. I am listening to it in the car and wish I had commute time or lots of long trips time. It’s a stunner so far.

>55 FAMeulstee: She finally gave in to reading glasses when her arms became to short ;-) LOL

>85 ffortsa: Yup, Judy. PCP now instead of GP instead of doctor. I’ve had my PCP since 1998. He’s a few years younger than my 69, and I realize I’ll be needing a new one in several years. He says he’s not ready to retire… Ugh. Gerontologist. But yes, to that one, too.

>103 FAMeulstee: Ah, constant readjustment. I know it’s always a slow process, and hope that you don’t have too many symptoms or discomfort until you’re back on track with your thyroid levels.

>124 FAMeulstee: It is good to talk to you all here again, I really missed that when I had to limit my screentime. I hope this means that your eyes are either fully recovered or nearly fully recovered. Losing vision is the scariest thing to serious readers like we all are, obviously.

>124 FAMeulstee: I started listening to audiobooks when I was still working and commuted in my car, but back then I mostly read actual paper books. That was pre-Kindle days. So my brain’s gotten used to listening to books. Now, it’s mostly scientific books that I have trouble concentrating on. That and books whose narrators have boring, droning voices.

>125 karenmarie: Good to see you, Karen, happy New Year!
You probably missed me because I was late with my thread this year. Usually I start in the first hour of the new year.

Frank's beard is a little shorter now. He keeps it by himself, and he took a bit more off than intended before christmas. It is growing back nicely now.

I am waiting until the last Cormoran Strike is available at the library. I don't like to be on the long waitinglist, not knowing when it is my turn. When I see more than one copy available I reseve, so I know it will come soon after. Glad you like it so far.

I am at my 10th PCP since we came here in 2005, the second stayed long from 2006 until 2013, after that each one only one year or a little longer :-(

Some have more luck with thyroid medication, they get at a certain level and are well for years. I will get there again, it needs time, and then it will be allright for a while. But with all those different PCP's I have to explain some each time again.

Yes, the eyes are recovered. No problems anymore looking at the screen :-)

>126 Storeetllr: Well that gives hope, Mary. So it could be possible to get used to audiobooks when needed.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#11: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert

Reading now:
Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune
Vlimmens tweede jeugd by Mr. A. Roothaert

>114 FAMeulstee: Ah, I see, Anita. A funny title, but a serious book. I don’t know half of what has gone on in Rotterdam. Followed from a distance what happened in the Tweeboschbuurt. Must be dificult to read, when it’s your own town.

Have a nice relaxing weekend!

Hi Anita! and a late Happy 2023! I am so late getting around to my friends' threads.

I am so glad that your eyes are well now. When I was in school for my microbiology degree, I used to dream that I had gone blind ... sort of a variation of the nightmare of having to take an exam for a class you never attended.

Lots of good reading going on - I really enjoy your reviews.

>130 streamsong: Janet, a degree in microbiology sounds very difficult. Good for you!!!!!

>129 EllaTim: The title refers to the way over the top efficiency, Ella. This could work for corporations, but not for public affairs. See 'kindertoeslag affaire' and all those.
I think Amsterdam has similair problems, and way to many tourists on top of that :-(

>130 streamsong: Thank you, Janet, happy 2023!
Yes, my eyes are clear now. No problems with looking at the computerscreen anymore, so I am happy again.
That is a bad kind of nightmare. Mine mostly involved family drama, just like in real life. I haven't had any nightmare for a long time, and never had them about exam or any other failure.

>132 FAMeulstee: I don’t think Amsterdam has efficiency problems, Anita. Problems created by wanting to be ‘smart’, yes. Yes, too many tourists. And a problem with not enough social housing. Caused by selling too much of said social housing. I think the book is going on m TBR list.

>133 EllaTim: There are not less civil servants in Amsterdam compared to say 30 or 40 years ago, although the city has more inhabitants? No outsoucing of civil tasks? That is good luck, Ella, you probably had better coalitions in the local goverment.

I thought this had happened in all government branches from ministries, provincial governments to cities. This combined with general managers, who don't have the faintest idea about the actual work that has to be done, has lead us to most of the governmental disasters today.

Social housing is a problem all over the country, all leading back to the special taxes after the Vestia drama. Those taxes will finally be ended now.

>134 FAMeulstee: Ah now I get what you mean! I was joking about our city council, that has done some very frustrating things in the last couple of years. Yes, outsourcing of course. Don’t forget the EU rules of course. I’ve been following council politics because of the wind energy discussion. Hasn’t improved my opinion.

>135 EllaTim: Glad you got it now. Good you follow local politics, more people should do so.
In some cases it isn't the EU, when the EU is blamed. Then the cause lies in (local) politics. Our national government is very good at that :-(

I am following your conversation re governments and their responsibilities (or lack thereof) with great interest. Seems it's the same everywhere. I am so disappointed in Canada's federal govt. and our own provincial leaders are a disaster. Our premier seems to think about what could be the worst possible thing to do for: health care, the environment, affordable housing, whatever, and that is what he chooses to do. I am, of course, being a tad sarcastic but it's not off the mark. What I will never understand is how people who elect these morons don't see them for what they really are. And don't see how what the politicians do (because they can) will truly affect everyone. Does that mean that the majority who vote for them are that stupid? That's a scary thought!

>137 jessibud2: I have tried my best to avoid the dubious subject of politicians and politics, Shelley, but I cannot avoid pointing out that there is something they all seem to have in common today - they are universally terrible.

I don't think that it is necessarily that the electorate are stupid it is:

1) The choice is between poor and poorer; and
2) The media uniformly misleads, misinforms or withholds - it states points of view these days rather than giving the news.

Have a wonderful Sunday, Anita. x

>137 jessibud2: I think the problem is that a large part of the population is doing well, or doing very well. With problems like climate change, limited growth in the future etc. these fear their children may not have a better life, the so called 'fear of falling'. So they tend to build walls around to protect their wealth and do whatever it takes to make sure their children get the best chances in life. This way they push others out of the way, and make chances for the children of less fortunate smaller. This leads to growing unrest in poorer parts, and more criminal careers there, as there isn't much else to find. This leads to more fear in the first mentioned part of the populaition, and in this spiral the (extreme) right gets their chance.

>138 PaulCranswick: See above, Paul.
No, I don't think they are universal terrible. In the multi party system here the traditional middle and right wing parties are moving to the right, trying to keep the voters, and keep them from the extreme-right wing parties. This combined with decades of bad government, downgrading social security, growing distrust towards the population, downsizing cultural organisations, and downsizing the number of civil servants, created a society where people distrust eachother, don't care about others anymore, and wiped out most solidarity. The goverment itself has set examples of not obeying the law, groups of citizens had to go to court to make the governement do what they should do.
The top 70% has it well enough, want to protect their riches and don't care about what is happening with the rest. The other 30% is struggling to keep on going.

The traditional media have problems too. Less people subscribing to papers means less funds to pay journalists. Sadly a misleading headline can make the difference in profit, and the internet has changed how news is spread. The rabbit hole in social media that leads to extremes is also a danger. A large part of the above mentioned 70% isn't interested in objective journalism, they prefer to stay in their bubble, and only want reassurance of their prejudices.
Objective news still can be found, but the general distrust has affected both media and science. Bad apples can be found in both, but that doesn't mean all should be distrusted.

>139 PaulCranswick: The same to you, Paul!

>140 FAMeulstee: How true!
Have a wonderful Sunday, Anita - It is raining in here, a good opportunity to read...

>142 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.
It goes off and on here with the rain. We will need our rainsuits, as I don't think we can do our walk dry today.
Enjoy your Sunday!

Happy Sunday, Anita. I hope those books are treating you well. Stay dry.

Hi Anita & Frank, hoe gaat het? I hope your reading year has started smoothly! Love the pictures of you both. :)

>144 msf59: Thank you, Mark, happy Sunday.
Our rainsuits were very wet after our walk, all under it stayed dry ;-)
One more very wet day to go, looks like the weather will turn by Tuesday.

>145 PersephonesLibrary: Thank you, Käthe, we are fine. Almost back to normal after a nasty cold that lasted three weeks.
The books keeps treating me well. Thanks!

Read, not yet reviewed:
#11: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
#12: Vlimmens tweede jeugd by Mr. A. Roothaert

Reading now:
Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune
Leven & lot (Life and fate) by Vasili Grossman

Good to see that your eyes are better than they were and you can get back to reading again, Anita. I hope your reads are good ones.

Finally made it to your thread and happy that your eyes have improved. My optometrist has recommended taking fish oil Omega 3 supplement pills to help my dry eye problem which flares up from time to time. She also recommended using an eye wheat bag which is surprisingly effective.

I've read all Bernice Rubens' books and don't have a favourite as I enjoyed almost all of them equally. Many of her books have a black comedy element which is highly enjoyable. I think the most difficult one to read was Kingdom Come which was about the false messiah, Shabbatai Zevi.
There's a play that I'd love to read by her but it's almost impossible to find.

I read The Ink Black Heart last month and can't wait for Rowling to write the next instalment.

>138 PaulCranswick:, >140 FAMeulstee: - So true, what you both have said. Thanks for the feedback. I wish there was an easier answer to all this.

>148 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg, the eyes took a while, and I am glad it is over now.
I am rereading my favorite book Life and Fate, so it is a good, even great read :-)

>149 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry. I do take Omega 3, didn't know it could also help with dry eyes. I will keep the wheat bag in mind, if I ever get problems again. For now I added an extra cleaning of my eyes to the daily chores.
Brothers was the first Bernice Rubens book I have read. I have reserved The Elected Member at the library. This copy has to come from elsewhere in the country, so it might take a while before I get it. The first time I read about Shabbatai Zevi was when I read Olga Tocarczuk's The Books of Jacob last year.
Good to know you liked The Ink Black Heart too. I will wait until the waitinglist at the library is a bit shorter, over 40 others waiting right now.

>150 jessibud2: You are very welcome, Shelley.
I am not sure the situation in Canada is the same, but the sentiments are comparable to the situation here I think.

Happy new-week's reads, Anita!

>152 richardderus: Thank you, Richard, glad to see you!
I hope you feel a bit better each day.

>140 FAMeulstee: We are seeing the same pattern here in the U.S., with fewer and less objective reporting, people sorting themselves into their own bubbles, and rampant distrust of government. Sigh. It will be a difficult few years. Sometimes I wonder if there's any place to move to.

>151 FAMeulstee: Oh, Life and Fate is wonderful.

>154 ffortsa: These are not a happy times, Judy.
And I am afraid there is nowhere to go. Some places might be slightly better, but not without other problems.

Life and Fate is my all time favourite book, well worth a re-read.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#11: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
#12: Vlimmens tweede jeugd by Mr. A. Roothaert
#13: Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune

Reading now:
Leven & lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman
Job: roman over een eenvoudige man (Job: The Story of a Simple Man) by Joseph Roth
Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa - Philip J.K. Burton

Looks like you are off to a great start on your reading!

I’m stopping by to say hi, Anita, and how pleased I am that your vision is restored. Happy reading!

>157 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori.
All good books, so I am happy with my reads so far :-)

>158 Oregonreader: Thank you, Jan.
It was annoying, so I am glad my eyes are back to normal.

I will follow you soon with Life and Fate, Anita.

Dropping in to say hello. I am glad your eyes have returned to normal.

Looks like you are off to a great start in 2023!

>156 FAMeulstee: I hope you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea! I adore TJ Klune

>160 PaulCranswick: Looking forward to you thoughts, Paul.

>161 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, so am I :-)

>162 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle, glad to see you!
Yes, I did, it was a good story.

Hi Anita! Happy Thursday to you.

>127 FAMeulstee: Tenth PCP? My goodness. That lack of continuity has to irritating AND stressful. I’m spoiled, since I’ve had the same one since 1998. I’m glad your eyes are recovered.

>140 FAMeulstee: I read Paul and Shelley’s talking points and appreciated them, AND absolutely love what you’ve written here. It’s incisive and perceptive. fear their children may not have a better life, the so called 'fear of falling'. So they tend to build walls around to protect their wealth and do whatever it takes to make sure their children get the best chances in life. Jenna, Bill, and I all realize that Jenna’s generation does not have the automatic key to a better life as did the boomers here in the US. Jenna’s a millennial. Our goal is not to make Jenna a millionaire when we’re gone, but we hope that we’ll have some wealth to leave her because it’s so much tougher out there than it was when we were in our early working years.

I have a friend who’s a full-time reporter for a small paper near Bozeman, Montana, USA. The paper is understaffed, edited by someone 2000 miles away via shared computer files, and they recently tried to fire the sports reporter until the locals raised such a stink that they rethought it. My friend makes $5/hour less than she’d make if she worked for any of the local fast food outlets, yet her passion is journalism.

>154 ffortsa: Sometimes I wonder if there's any place to move to. I’ve had those thoughts, too, Judy, but with discussions here about Canada and the Netherlands, my two theoretical safe havens, realize that there might not really be a good place to run to.

>164 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, happy Thursday.

- Indeed it is stressful. My mental health needs to stay away from new doctors as much as possible, but sometimes my physical health has other needs. My last visit in December went well, the first with this new doctor, so now I hope this one stays a bit longer.
I am glad you have better luck with your PCP.

- Thanks, I just read some books about this all, so that made it easier to write down my thoughts.
Of course that is what you do for Jenna. Our parents did the same.
Yes, that is what I ment, journalism isn't appriciated like it should be.

- In some ways it might be better here, but the problems I described are all over in the western world. And with a future where the sea levels rise, our country might be washed away, as large parts are located below sealevel right now.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#11: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
#12: Vlimmens tweede jeugd by Mr. A. Roothaert
#13: Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee (The House in the Cerulean Sea) by T.J. Klune
#14: Job: roman over een eenvoudige man (Job: The Story of a Simple Man) by Joseph Roth
#15: Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa by Philip J.K. Burton
#16: De raaf by Louis Beyens

Reading now:
Leven & lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman
Zwartboek (The Black Book; John Rebus 5) by Ian Rankin

book 11: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen by Mr. A. Roothaert
own, Dutch, no English translation, 445 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read the first, second, and/or third book of a trilogy

The life of a veterinarian in the late 1930s in the Dutch province Noord-Brabant. This part of the country was very roman-catholic at the time. Many small farms with large, poor families. Vlimmen is nearly always on his way to sick cows and pigs.
Vlimmen has met a nice widow, and finally decides only a civil divorce will do. His nephew Dolf, who went to South-Africa with his mother and stephfather, returns to live with him.

Second of a trilogy I found in a Little Free Library.

Title translated: Vlimmen contra Vlimmen

book 12: Vlimmens tweede jeugd by Mr. A. Roothaert
own, Dutch, no English translation, 414 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: Read the first, second, and/or third book of a trilogy

The life of a veterinarian in the 1940s and 1950s in the Dutch province Noord-Brabant. This part of the country was very roman-catholic at the time, but the church is loosing ground. The smallest farms slowly disappear, in favor of larger farms.
Just before the start of WW2 Vlimmen marries Tilly, but their honeymoon is disrupted by the start of the war. Dolf ends up in the resistance. After the war the veterinarian practices changes fast, antibiotics saves many animals that could not get better before. Vlimmen is one of the first veterinarians who perform caesarian sections on site.

Third of a trilogy I found in a Little Free Library.

Title translated: Vlimmen's second youth

book 13: Het weeshuis in de azuurblauwe zee by T.J. Klune
library, e-book, translated, original title The House in the Cerulean Sea, 414 pages
TIOLI Challenge #7: Read a book where the author uses initials instead of a first and second name

In a world were children with magical powers are cared for in special orphanages, Linus is a punctual caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. One day he is called to the Extremely Upper Management and he is very nervous about it. He gets a special assignment to inspect an orphanage on an island.
Linus doesn't know anything beforehand about the children who live there, and is very shocked to find a son of Satan among them. He is supposed only to observe, not interact. But gradually these very special children, and their caretaker, win his (and the reader's) heart.

Dutch title translated: The orphanage in the azure blue sea

book 14: Job: roman over een eenvoudige man by Joseph Roth
library, e-book, translated from German, English translation Job: The Story of a Simple Man, 206 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book by an author in 2023 who you read a book written by in 2022

Mendel Singer is a poor Jew living in Russia near the Polish border at the start of the 20th century. After two sons and a daughter, a seriously handicapped son is born. His wife consults a famous rabbi about Menuchim, and he tells her to stay with his, as he will be alright one day.
The eldest son goes into the Russian army, the second son escapes the draft by going to the USA. When the daughter starts to hang around with cossacks from the nearby army base, and good news comes from the USA, Mendel decides to emigrate to there too. Sadly Menuchim can't go with them, so he is left behind. They find their place in New York with Schemarjah, now called Sam, but worry about the two sons left behind in Russia.

Mendel feels his life is like Job from the bible, after the birth of his last son, his life seems to fall apart. He is a devout Jew in practices, but in New York his attitude towards God changes into anger because of all that goes wrong. In the end it is his youngest son who leads him back to some happiness

Joseph Roth was a great writer, I read his Radetzky March four years ago, and have read some more since. This book was the best I have read so far by him.

English and Dutch title are the same

>169 FAMeulstee: I really enjoyed this book and I am glad that you liked it too.
Have a wonderful weekend!

>171 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.
I always hesitate a bit, when there is so much praise for a book, afraid I won't like it so much as others did. In this case I join all others who loved it :-)

Happy weekend!

Happy Friday, Anita. I also had a really good time with The House in the Cerulean Sea. It isn't exactly in my comfort zone but I would like to read more of his work.

I am not even trying to catch up, Anita, just wanted to wish you a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend!

>173 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark. I read a broad range of books, and I think some may find The House in the Cerulean Sea controversial, but I liked it.

>174 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia, happy Sunday!

Read, not yet reviewed:
#15: Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa by Philip J.K. Burton
#16: De raaf by Louis Beyens
#17: Zwartboek (The Black Book; John Rebus 5) by Ian Rankin

Reading now:
Leven & lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman
Met lichte tred by Ton Lemaire

>169 FAMeulstee: >170 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! I liked both of these reviews, though they are very different books.

I think the world has now become so connected we all share similar problems in the end. Though some places are a lot worse off than we are at the moment.

>170 FAMeulstee: Fan of Joseph Roth here Anita. It's a while since I read this.

I love a little novella The Legend of the Holy Drinker which an Italian director made into a film with Rutger Hauer as the Drinker. One of his top 3 films in my opinion.

>177 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, I like variety in my readings :-)
Indeed, in the Western world the problems are similair, there are many places where it is much worse.

>178 Caroline_McElwee: The more I read by Joseph Roth, the more I admire his writing, Caroline.
I did read The Legend of the Holy Drinker, but still failed to see the movie.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#15: Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa by Philip J.K. Burton
#16: De raaf by Louis Beyens
#17: Zwartboek (The Black Book; John Rebus 5) by Ian Rankin
#18: Met lichte tred by Ton Lemaire

Reading now:
Leven & lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman
Onheilstijding (A Dying Fall; Ruth Galloway 5) by Elly Griffiths
De opwindvogelkronieken (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) by Haruki Murakami

book 15: Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa by Philip J.K. Burton
own, non-fiction, adaptation of Nature Lover's Library: Field Guide to the Birds of Britain, 320 pages
TIOLI Challenge #5: Read or Skim a reference book

Part of the Dutch Reader's Digest series Veldgids voor de natuurliefhebber, adaptations of the English Reader's Digest Nature Lover's Library.
I often look in the book, whenI am not sure about a bird I saw. So far I looked up this month the barnacle goose and the brent goose, the common merganser, and the tree sparrow.

Title translated: Birds of West- and Middle-Europe

book 16: De raaf by Louis Beyens
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 250 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

Louis Beyens first met ravens when he was in the arctic to study how arctic plants adapted to warmer circumstances. In this book a lot of information about these birds. From behavior, interactions with other species, to cultural view in different parts of the world.
Part of a Dutch publisher series with bird monographs.

Title translated: The raven

book 17: Zwartboek by Ian Rankin
library, e-book, translated, original title The Black Book, 349 pages
TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book by an author in 2023 who you read a book written by in 2022

John Rebus book 5.
A collegue is attacked at a small parking lot next to a bar, and ends up in coma. John Rebus wants to know what happened, and finds out his collegue was investigating an old case in his free time. Meanwhile his team has to assist an other team with observing a possible suspect.

Dutch title translated: Blackbook

book 18: Met lichte tred : de wereld van de wandelaar by Ton Lemaire
library, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 249 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

History of walking, wandering, hiking; from Goethe and Thoreau to modern times. Including the benefits of observing the lanscape while walking, the impact of motorised travel and dense cities, the need because of climate change to reduce our carbon emission, and long distance hiking.

Title translated: With light treds : the world of the walker

book 19: Onheilstijding by Elly Griffiths
library, translated, original title A Dying Fall, 318 pages

Ruth Galloway book 5.
The first 4 books of this series were published shortly after the originals. Then the published stopped. So I was gld to see an other publisher picked up the series, and republished the first four and the fifth.
A friend from the days at university, Dan Golding, dies in a fire. He just found what could be the archeological discovery of his life time, the grave of King Arthur. Ruth is asked to come to Blackpool to do further research. She, and her daughter Kate, end up in danger, as some don't want the findings to go public.

Dutch title translated: Bad news (literary: Disasterreport)

>182 FAMeulstee: I'm not sure if I have ever seen a raven in the wild (although they are not that uncommon, so I probably have). We are right on the eastern edge of the area in which they are found in the U.K. and some were seen locally just last week, but not by me unfortunately. Apparently they are expanding their range eastwards, so maybe they will become more common here one day.

>186 SandDune: I hope you get to see a raven in the wild, Rhian. I think they are beautiful birds.

I remember the first time I saw ravens. We visited the big aviaries with ravens, must have been somewhere around 1969-1970, those were breeding pairs for the re-introduction.
More recently I have seen one twice. First time next to the road through the Oostvaardersplassen, many sightings there lately. The second time I saw it in a small park in my neighborhood, I first thought: 'What a big crow', before I realised it was a raven.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#20: Leven & lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman

Reading now:
De opwindvogelkronieken (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) by Haruki Murakami
Vallende stenen (Konráð 4) by Arnaldur Indriðason

Hi Anita, and happy Thursday to you!

>182 FAMeulstee: Ravens are fascinating, but we are not in their range here in the US, unfortunately. I have seen Ravens when visiting friend Karen in Montana, though. I consider them good luck.

>185 FAMeulstee: I’m glad the Ruth Galloway series is slowly but hopefully surely being translated to Dutch.

>188 FAMeulstee: I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in December of 2017 and will be interested in what you think of it.

Sweet Thursday, Anita. Nature Lover's Library: Field Guide to the Birds of Britain sounds wonderful and of course, I like that cover. I hope you are having a good week. We have snow here.

I associate ravens with the Tower of London, but apparently they're common in my part of the world. I need to learn the difference between them and a crow I think.

>188 FAMeulstee: I will be curious to see your thoughts on Life and Fate. I thought I had already read it, but looking at my library, I found I have not.

>189 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, happy Friday!

Ravens are rare here, after their re-introduction the population slowly grows. In the last few years they are sometimes seen near our home. I have seen one twice now, and felt very lucky.

So was I, and it looks like the next Ruth Galloway will come out next month.

The start of Wind-Up Bird Chronicles is promising.

>190 msf59: I still rely on this paper book for identifying birds, Mark, although I also use the internet sometimes :-)
No snow here, but at least no rain. We have had a lot of rain this month.

After my first miss of taking a picture of the osprey, I took my camera again yesterday, but he wasn't there. I will keep on trying.

>191 charl08: I hadn't thought of it in years, Charlotte, long ago I saw the ravens of the Tower of London. In 1980, when we went to London with school for a week.
When you see a large crow with an even larger beak, it is probably a raven :-)

>192 alcottacre: After re-reading Life and Fate still is my all time favorite book, Stasia.

>194 FAMeulstee: I was going to mention the Tower of London too, Anita.

I think I will get to Life and Fate in March. Have you also read Stalingrad which as I was made to know sort of overlaps the story and events of Life and Fate?

>195 PaulCranswick: Those are probably the best known ravens in England, Paul.

I don't think that one was ever translated into Dutch. His other book about Stalingrad, the non-fiction report of the battle, was published right after the war in 1945. I haven't found an affordable copy yet.
Only one more book left to read, I hope to get to The Road later this year.

>195 PaulCranswick: Well, if that is the case, Anita, I definitely need to find my copy!

Have a fantastic Friday!

>197 alcottacre: I first read it 6 years ago, Stasia, and was very impressed. It still stands after a re-read.
I just posted my review from 2017 on the book page.

Happy Friday!

book 20: Leven en lot by Vasili Grossman
own, translated from Russian, English translation Life and Fate, 959 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

Vasili Grossman was a renowed writer and journalist in the USSR. In World War II he covered major events, including the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Berlin. He was one of the first who wrote about the German extermination camps, as he was there when Treblinka was liberated.
When Khrushchev spoke openly about the Stalin terror in 1961, Grossman thought the time for his magnum opus "Life and Fate" had come. He was devastated when the manuscript (and all copies) was taken by the KGB. Fortunately for us, he did hide two copies at friends, one was smuggled out of the USSR and first published in Switserland in 1980, 16 years after Grossman died.

The story takes place around the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943), following the Shaposhnikova family and some their friends. Grossman paints a wide and very vivid portrait of Sovjet (and some German) citizens in World War II.
Most gripping were the last letter of a Jewish mother to her son, she writes from the German occupied Ukrain, and her voyage by freight train to the gaz chamber in Auschwitz; and the downfall of a loyal communist, victim of Stalins brutal reign.
All characters are very human, with human flaws, making mistakes, that sometimes are held harsh against them. Everyone tries to survive in his own tiny way, some do survive, others are crushed in the war, in the camps, in Stalinism.

I was blown away by this epic story. It is no easy read, both the content and the many characters can be overwhelming at times. I learned a lot, not only about Stalingrad and its significance in WW II, but also about Stalin, the great purge of 1937 and the early days of the USSR.

With a lot of footnotes and over 200 characters, I found it handy to keep two extra bookmarks at the footnotes and the list of characters at the end of the book.

English and Dutch title are the same

>184 FAMeulstee: Love the cover Anita.

>199 FAMeulstee: It is in the pile. I saw a review somewhere on LT and they were way less enthused by this one.

>200 Caroline_McElwee: So did I, Caroline, wish I could be there.
It is not an easy read, so not for everyone. But I loved it again.

Yesterday morning my father fell, probably when he tried to leave his bed. He probably was unconsious for a while, woke up on the floor confused and disoriented, didn't know where he was.
Turns out he has a wound on his head and a concussion. Because his heart had a little trouble while in hospital, they kept him for the night.
I was glad my brother was able to be with him.

book 21: Vallende stenen by Arnaldur Indriðason
library, translated from Icelandic, no English translation yet, 300 pages
TIOLI Challenge #16: Read a book with the three letters of "one" in the title and/or the author's name

Konráð book 4
Retired policeman Konráð is still investigating the murder of his father in 1963 near the slaughterhouse. He keeps asking around, and finds out that not all ovens in the smokery were working that night, so someone could have been hiding there.
Meanwhile elsewhere in Reykjavik a body is found behind a false wall. This might also have a link to the case of Konráð's father.

Not as good as the previous two books in the series. Still a good read, and I look forward to the next.

Title translated: Falling stones

>202 FAMeulstee: I'm sorry to read about your father's issues. I hope he feels better soon.

>203 FAMeulstee: It's called The Shadow District Sorry, I mixed it up :(

>204 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, I hope so too.

No, that is the prologue to the Flóvent and Thorson series. This is the German Wand des Schweigens (Kommissar Konrad 4).
I am a fan of Arnaldur Indriðason, and have read each and every book available in Dutch translation :-)

ah, sorry for getting it mixed up.

>202 FAMeulstee: - Falls are so scary. Hopefully, he will recover quickly. At least no broken bones, that's important too!

>207 Ameise1: That is okay, Barbara. I appriciated your try to help.

>208 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley.
He called me a few minutes ago, sounded a bit frail.
If he stays as it is, he will be released from hospital at 6pm. My brother will bring him home.

>202 FAMeulstee: So sorry to hear about your father's fall, Anita. That sounds pretty serious for someone of advanced years. Hope he recovers quickly.

Hate to hear about your father's fall, Anita. I live alone in a fairly big house. A setting for trouble, I sometimes think.

Sorry to hear about your father's fall Anita. I hope he will be soon on the mend.

>210 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba. Yes it is, he is 92, so it is worrysome.
He his home now, needs a rollator to move around.

>211 weird_O: Thank you, Bill. My parents moved into a retirement home ten years ago, so help is there if needed.
I hope you can stay in your house as long as it feels comfortable to you.

>212 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, I hope so too.

--
My brother and his daughter brought my father back home, and stayed a while.
Tomorrow my brother will go again. We already had plans to go next Saturday, maybe we will add Monday, if that suits him.

So sorry to read about your dad's fall. Hope he is feeling on the mend now, and that you have a lovely visit.

>199 FAMeulstee: Great review Anita! I see that the book needs serious attention, I’ll wait a bit to start reading.

Sorry to hear about your father falling! The same happened to my mother. It does need attention. My mother really benefitted from a round of physical therapy, at the nursing home. She could stand and catch and throw a ball in her last therapy hour, before going home. Wishing you a good visit with him.

Sorry to hear about your dad. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

Chiming in too with best wishes to your dad, Anita. I remember from reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande that loss of balance and falling are inevitable signs of human decline and I remember how much it saddened me being already so clumsy!

I'm sorry about your father's fall and relieved that he is returned to his home. I do hope he remains incident free for a good long time now.

Glad your father was able to go back home, hope he is doing well and that you have a good visit.

Hi Anita. Just a message to say I am thinking of you and your family. Like others, I hope he remains on his feet and does not fall again.

All good wishes are sent your way.

>214 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte. We are going for a short visit tomorrow.

>215 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, a great book deserves a good review.
He is back at his appartment. I think the concussion must heal first, as he is still dizzy.

>216 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, I hope so too.

>217 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Yes, I know, all deaths of our parents (and Frank's aunt) were preceded by falls.
I don't think being clumsy is in any way related ;-)

>218 quondame: Thank you, Susan. I hope so too, but at his advanced age (92) you never know.

>219 WhiteRaven.17: Thank you, Kro. He sounded still a bit frail on the phone today. I will see him tomorrow.

>220 Whisper1: Thank you, dear Linda. He really needs the rollator to stay on his feet.

I am sorry to hear about your father, Anita.
It's good that the family is taking care of him.
All the best to you all!

Ooof, falls can be scary at that age - I'm glad you all are taking it in turns to look in on your dad. He's lucky to have you!

Hi Anita my dear, so sorry to hear about your Father's fall and hope he is OK back at home. Sending love and hugs to you and Frank from both of us dear friend.

Sorry to read about your dad! Hope he's doing ok!

>185 FAMeulstee: I really enjoy Elly Griffith's novels. A friend at work had bought the box set of the first 10 books and didn't want to keep them (She is not a book hoarder like me!) and gave them to me. I've read them all but took them anyway as I think my dad and father-in-law would enjoy them.

Prayers for your Father!!

>225 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.
We visited him this afternoon, and he was not as bad as i feared.

>226 scaifea: Thank you, Amber.
Indeed, my brother an I do our best. We will go again next Saturday.

>227 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.
Mt father is glad to be back in his appartment.
Love back to you and Karen.

>228 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle. He is allright for now.
I have to wait for the next Elly Griffiths, after the first four it took years before the fifth was translated. It looks like this publisher plans to publish one book a year. So it will take time befor I get to them all, if ever ;-)

>229 hredwards: Thank you, Harold!

I'm glad to hear that your father has rallied after his fall. Many of us are of an age where we worry about parents, their siblings, our own siblings. Were we told about that part of aging, the worrying part?

>232 ffortsa: Thank you, Judy.
I didn't learn much about the worrying part before the decline started. My father is the last one remaining, as Franks parents are gone, and so is my mother.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#22: De opwindvogelkronieken (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) by Haruki Murakami

Reading now:
De uitverkorene (The Elected Member) by Bernice Rubens
De bijzondere woorden van Gioia by Enrico Galiano

book 22: De opwindvogelkronieken by Haruki Murakami
1001 books, library, translated from Japanese, English translation The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, 890 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book (F or NF) set in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, or Numazu

Toru Okada is married with Kumiko. He was working at a lawyers firm, but quitted. Now he keeps the house, while Kumiko is making long days at her job. Their cat is missing, and Kumiko has consulted a medium to find out where the cat is. The medium isn't much help with the cat at first, but when Kumiko disappears, Toru needs her help (and others) in his search.

I don't remember who said I should just go with the flow with Murakami. Thank you, that worked well!

English and Dutch title are the same, in Dutch it is'Wind-Up Bird Chronicles', and lumped up as one word

book 23: De uitverkorene by Bernice Rubens
library, translated, Booker Prize 1970, original title The Elected Member, 214 pages

Norman Zweck, once a gifted lawyer, is addicted. Due to hallucinations he sees silverfish crawling around in his room, they terrify him. His father, Rabbi Zweck, and his sister Bella decide he needs to go to a mental hospital for treatment. Slowly we find out how Norman (and his sisters Bella and Esther) got where they are now.

Dutch title translated: The chosen (or The favorite)

January 2023 in numbers

23 books read, 8.293 pages, 267,5 pages a day

--
books:

• own books: 5
• from the library: 18

• male author: 18
• female author: 5

• originally written in Dutch: 10
• translated into Dutch: 13
• original language of translated books:
    English: 6
    Finnish 1
    German: 2
    Icelandic: 1
    Japanese 2
    Russian: 1

• fiction: 14
• non-fiction: 9

• paper books: 14
• e-books: 9

• mystery/police procedural: 4
• childrens/YA: 2
• 1001 books: 1
    Total 1001 books since 2008: 256
• Dutch Canon: 0
    Total Dutch Canon since 2008: 42 of 125

--
pages:

0 - 100 pages: 1
101 - 200 pages: 2
201 - 300 pages: 7
301 - 400 pages: 5
401 - 500 pages: 4
501 - 999 pages: 4
1000+ pages: 0

• longest book 959 pages
• shortest book 73 pages
• average book 361 pages

--
date first published:

20th century
1930s: 2
1950s: 2
1960s: 1
1970s: 1
1980s: 3
1990s: 2

21st century
2010s: 3
2020s: 9

--
ratings:

  1
  2
10
  9
  1

--
best books in January


Leven en lot (Life and Fate) by Vasili Grossman


Job: roman over een eenvoudige man (Job: The Story of a Simple Man) by Joseph Roth
Bestaat er een raarder leven dan het mijne? Jef Last (1898-1972) by Rudi Wester

>235 FAMeulstee: I'm enchanted by the look of the Dutch version of the title Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I speak not a word of Dutch or any Germanic language (not even Yiddish), but it looks just right.

>237 FAMeulstee: Those are impressive numbers, Anita - despite your reading impairment.
I like your presentation.
All the best for February.

>237 FAMeulstee: See you are also quick to get your stats in place, Anita.

Just beat me on books read but more comfortably on pages turned!

>238 ffortsa: Thanks, Judy. In Dutch words can be lumped together into one long word. It would be 'upwindbirdchronicles' if exactly translated.

>239 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. I am happy I got this far in January.
We will see what February brings :-)

>240 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul.
I had finished my last book, and immediately wrote my last reviews. So all was ready for the stats.

>241 FAMeulstee: I was surprised that I could figure out that long word. It's interesting that Dutch and German use what English speakers call 'portmanteau' words, such as 'athleisure' or 'biopic'. They've become more common in standard English usage - in fact, some of them defined thus are quite old - for instance 'fortnight' for fourteen nights. We seem to be creating them quite quickly these days. Metaverse??

>235 FAMeulstee: Glad you enjoyed that one. I quite enjoyed it as well.

>237 FAMeulstee: Excellent stats. As always, quite impressive!

>242 ffortsa: It is not the same as 'portmanteau' words, as nothing is abbreviated, the whole words are put together into one word. Like in English 'book' and 'case' are words, and if you put them together you get 'bookcase'.

>243 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, I hope to read more Murakami.
Thanks, January was a fairly good reading month.

Hi Anita! >185 FAMeulstee: I've had the first book in this series sitting on my shelf for ages and just haven't managed to get to it yet. It seems like a series I ought to like.

>245 cbl_tn: I hope you like it when you get to it, Carrie.

Hi Anita, and happy Thursday to you.

>202 FAMeulstee: and >230 FAMeulstee: I’m sorry to hear your father fell and got a head wound and concussion, glad you got to visit and that he’s not as bad as you feared. You and your brother are doing a good job taking care of him.

>235 FAMeulstee: I’m glad you liked The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I think you liked it better than I did, but I did like it, especially the bits about cats.

>237 FAMeulstee: Excellent stats for January, especially 4 in the 501-999 range.

Sweet Thursday, Anita. Hooray for The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. He was on an amazing stretch during that period.

Best wishes for your special day, Anita.
I wish you and Frank a wonderful time!

>247 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, happy Friday!
We try our best, even my sister is nice to him when she calls
Like you, I liked Kafka on the Shore even better.
I was pleased with my readings in January.

>248 msf59: Thank you, Mark, happy Friday!
I will read more Murakami, not sure yet wich one I will read next.

>249 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!
Frank worked the night, he will be home soon. We will celebrate tomorrow, have diner with my father at his place.

>250 FAMeulstee: 1Q84 is another favorite of mine. Joe is a big fan too.

>252 msf59: Thanks Mark, I might pick up 1Q84 next.
It is a BIG one, over 1200 pages in Dutch translation!