Anita (FAMeulstee) is able to read again; sixth and last thread of 2016

museum Voorlinden, Swimming Pool by Leandro Erlich

Currently reading:
     

Sprookjes en verhalen by Hans Christian Andersen, started 18 september, 17 of 156

Liefde (My struggle 2) by Karl Ove Knausgård, started 23 december
Oorlog en vrede 1/2 by Leo Tolstoj, started 30 december

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total books read: 252
own 88 / 164 library

total pages read: 72.452

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December 2016 (26 books, 8.067 pages)
book 252: Allemaal willen we de hemel by Els Beerten, 498 pages,
book 251: De vergiftigde bruid translated by Robert van Gulik, 219 pages,
book 250: Kruistocht in spijkerbroek by Thea Beckman, 307 pages,
book 249: Spion verspeeld by John Le Carré, TIOLI #7, 283 pages,
book 248: Spion aan de muur by John Le Carré, TIOLI #7, 204 pages,
book 247: Vrijgevochten by Thea Beckman, 234 pages,
book 246: De man die glimlachte by Henning Mankell, TIOLI #18, 445 pages,
book 245: Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn? by Frans de Waal, 335 pages,
book 244: De witte leeuwin by Henning Mankell, TIOLI #18, 543 pages,
book 243: Laatste nacht in Jeque by Henk Barnard, TIOLI #9, 161 pages,
book 242: De avonden by Gererd Reve, 223 pages,
book 241: Het wonder van Frieswijck by Thea Beckman, 96 pages,
book 240: De zevensprong by Tonke Dragt, TIOLI #11, 286 pages,
book 239: De Cock en danse macabre (De Cock 35) by A.C. Baantjer, 133 pages,
book 238: Carry's kleine oorlog by Nina Bawden, 126 pages,
book 237: Hoogteverschillen by Julian Barnes, TIOLI #11, 127 pages,
book 236: Het verhaal van Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, started 23 februari, TIOLI #17, 1517 pages,
book 235: Een Duits requiem by Philip Kerr, 3 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 327 pages,
book 234: Het handwerk van de beul by Philip Kerr, 2 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 316 pages,
book 233: Het diner by Herman Koch, TIOLI #17, 301 pages,
book 232: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, 335 pages,
book 231: Oorlog zonder vrienden by Evert Hartman, TIOLI #5, 252 pages,
book 230: Zwerftocht met Korilu by Thea Beckman, 138 pages,
book 229: Het geheim van Rotterdam by Thea Beckman, TIOLI #4, 212 pages,
book 228: Hier ben ik dan by Henk Barnard, TIOLI #6, 167 pages,
book 227: Een Berlijnse kwestie by Philip Kerr, 1 of 3 for TIOLI #3, 282 pages,

Books acquired in December 2016

December 2016
49 - Spoo Pee Doo by Dimitri Verhulst
48 - De vertrapte pioenroos by Bertus Aafjes

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total books aquired in 2016: 49

21 2nd hand
13 new
13 e-books
2 gifts

book 245: Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn? by Frans de Waal
from the library, non-fiction, sociobiology, translation of Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?, 335 pages

What is consiousness and cognition and which animals have it?
Coming from a time where Skinners thoughts (all behavior is a result of stimulus and response) dominated research, finally the tide is turning and animals are no longer researched in this way.
Frans de Waal writes about the evolution of behaviour, consiousness and cognition and shows us again that these are not exclusivly human traits. Whith many anecdotes and recent findings in scientific research he argues we are back where Darwin started: that the difference between animals and humans is one of degree, not of kind.
To understand the intelligence and abilities of other species we have to look through their eyes, understand the world as they experience it. For years was thought elephants did not recognise themselves in mirrors, until someone saw that the mirrors used were sized for human use. When an elephant sized mirror was used the results were very different, elephants do recognise themselves in a mirror and were added to the list of species with this ability.
More research reveals that some animals use tools, can plan ahead and many other things that were thought only humans could do. So the question is now: are we smart (and emphatic and creative) enough to find out how smart each species is.

A very enjoyable read, I learned some and do recommend!

book 246: De man die glimlachte by Henning Mankell
from the library, e-book, police mystery, 4rd of Kurt Wallander, TIOLI #18, English translation The man who smiled, 445 pages

Wallander hasn't returned to work for over a year. He wants to resign from the police force. But that changes when a befriended lawyer asks him for help with his father's death. The police thinks it is a car accident, but the friend is convinced that it was not. Wallander doesn't want to help, as he is leaving the force. But a few days later his friend is also killed. This gives Wallander the motivation to return to the job to find out who killed father and son.
His department has changed a bit since he left and in his new collegue Ann-Britt he finds a good partner in solving the crimes.

I love Wallander :-)

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread!

Thanks Amber and Jim!

book 247: Vrijgevochten by Thea Beckman
own, Dutch, YA, historic fiction, no translations, 234 pages

Jasper is 16 years and lives in Zierikzee, early 18th century. Like many of his age he dreams to go to the sea and see something of the world. One day he gets his chance and signs on for a trip to Lisbon and Cadiz. But the ship is taken by pirates from Tunis and he ends up in slavery. After over two years of adventures (and owners) he is able to return to his hometown.

Happy new thread, Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

Happy New Thread, Anita!!!
Love that post - and say AMEN to every proposition, Paul!

Thanks Harry, Paul and Peggy.

>12 PaulCranswick: That would be more than nice, Paul, that would be awesome to live in a world without all that!

>14 FAMeulstee: It would be a good start if those religious symbols could coexist side by side without any conflict or controversy for a start. xx

book 248: Spion aan de muur by John Le Carré
own, translated from English, George Smiley, TIOLI #7, original title The spy who came in from the cold, 204 pages

My first John Le Carré, espionage and counter-espionage in the cold war. It is part of the George Smiley series, but he does only sporadicly appear in this book. The main character is Alex Leamas a spy who is used to get foot at the other side (DDR). A rather thrilling story, I don't know if I could have handled this story if the cold war wasn't finished ;-)

Merry Christmas!!

>15 PaulCranswick: Anything towards that would be great, Paul.

>17 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle.

For the first time in years Frank doesn't have to work with Chrismas & New Year. So I got myself into diner tomorrow at my parents, haven't been there with Chrismas for years. But an aunt (youngest sister of my dad) and uncle will be there too, so it might be not that stressfull....
Tuesday after Christmas we will leave for a week, we stay in the east of our country on a holliday park far away from the fireworks of New Year. Ari doesn't cope very well with all the noise, so it is better to go somewhere quiet.

I should have internet there, but not sure I will be able to visit threads after the 26th.

Happy Hollidays to all of you!

Happy New Thread, Anita.

This is the Christmas tree at the end of the Pacific Beach Pier here in San Diego, a Christmas tradition.

To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!

>20 ronincats: Thanks Roni, that is a beautiful picture!

book 249: Spion verspeeld by John Le Carré
own, translated from English, George Smiley, TIOLI #7, original title The Looking-Glass War, 204 pages

A small militairy intelligence department gets a tip about militairy actions in East-Germany. Since the war they haven't run any active agents, but they want to get back into that. Mainly because they feel pushed aside by the Circus. With 20-year outdated knowledge and technics they start their secret mission.

Merry Christmas, Anita.

Happy New Thread, Anita! And Merry Christmas! Hope you are enjoying the holiday with your family!

>23 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, the same to you!

>24 msf59: Thank you Mark, I survived the family Christmas dinner with my parents and aunt & uncle :-)
Christmas stress is over, tomorrow packing our bags and day after tomorrow we go away for a week.

I hope you are enjoying your days off.

Merry belated Christmas and a very happy New Year!
I hope you enjoy the trip, wherever you go :-)

book 250: Kruistocht in spijkerbroek by Thea Beckman
own, Dutch, YA, historic fiction, awarded, Gouden Griffel in 1974, English translation Crusade in jeans, 307 pages

A childhood favorite, I read this book many times before and love it.

Rudolph has the chance to look at the labratory of two scientists who are working on a time-travel machine. He convinces them he would be a better witness of other times, then the monkeys they use. So Rudolph takes a little trip to France in the Middle Ages. Except he ends up near Spiers (Germany) and an other boy is transported back in time. Rudolph is stuck in the Middle Ages and goes on his way with the Childrens Crusade: through Germany, over the Alpes to Italy.

Historical fiction with an unusual point of view, a 20th century teenager, stuck in the 13th century.

>26 Trifolia: Thank you Monica, the same to you!
We leave tomorrow to Rheezerveen (near Hardenberg) in Overijssel.

Hi Anita, congratulations on reaching book number 250, not bad...
Wishing you happy, quiet, holidays:))

>27 FAMeulstee: This one I have read and I just wish that more of Beckman's work was translated.
Enjoy your holiday away from all the noise and carry on of the New Year celebrations.

Anita--Merry, Merry and Happy, Happy!! Have fun on your travels. : )

>29 EllaTim: Thanks Ella, it is an unexpected milestone :-)

>30 avatiakh: As far as I know this is indeed the only one translated into English, Kerry, I wish the same as she deserves a larger audience.

>31 Berly: Thanks Kim :-)

Off to pack my bags, I hope the internet connection at the holiday park is good enough to visit LT.
If not, I will be back in the New Year.

Enjoy your trip, Anita. The weather should be fine.

Hi Anita! I hope you enjoy your week away.

A Belated Merry Christmas to you. I'm venturing out into the LT world again today, baby steps at first, and am going to draw another line in the sand and go forward on all the threads and friends I haven't had the heart to engage in and with lately. Appropriate oohs and aahs, and congratulations and so sorrys,..... but here's an Early Happy New Year to you and best wishes for all good things in 2017.

Belated happy new thread and merry Christmas - hope you and Frank enjoy your quiet time away! The Frans de Waal book sounds good - I will look out for that.

>33 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, we have arrived safely, nice place and dry weather :-)

>34 karenmarie: Thank you Karen, I am happy to see you feel good enough to leave a message here.

>35 souloftherose: Thanks Heather, it was my second book by Frans de waal and liked them both.

The internet connection here is a bit wobbly, so I'll try to check in once a day to see what is going on. And I finished a book:


book 251: De vergiftigde bruid by Robert van Gulik
from the library, mystery, 1st of Judge Dee, English translation Celebrated cases of Judge Dee, 219 pages

Robert van Gulik translated this story from the original 18th century Chinese book.
Judge Dee is based on a hisorical character who lived in 7th century China. In this book he solves 3 mysteries.

After translating this book Robert van Gulik wrote more books about Judge Dee.

>37 FAMeulstee: I hope you and Frank are enjoying your trip, Anita!

I quite like Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee mysteries. I began with Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee but then moved on to the original mysteries that he wrote. I've begun reading them again, this time in chronological order, starting with The Chinese Gold Murders, but I haven't gotten to what's next (stories from Judge Dee at Work, unless I decide to read those as a group later, or The Lacquer Screen).

>38 harrygbutler: Yes we are enjoying our trip, Harry, thank you.

This was my first Judge Dee, next one depends on what is available at the library.

I missed my Christmas round this year, but am back in time to wish you and Frank and Ari all the best for the New Year and a quiet and "Safe Slide" (Guter Rutsch) into

Happy Holidays, Anita! Hope you have a wonderful new year.

>40 Deern: Thank you Nathalie, we wish you ein guter Rutsch too!!

>41 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, the same to you and your family!

book 252: Allemaal willen we de hemel by Els Beerten
own, Dutch, YA, historic fiction, awarded, Nienke van Hichtum prijs 2009, Gouden Uil 2009 and GoudenLijst 2010, no English translation (is translated in German, Norwegian and Spanish), 498 pages

World War II in Flandres, two friends dream to be heroes. Encouraged by the local priest, who is convinced that the Red danger is more dangerous than the Nazi's, they want to sign up for the army to fight the Russians. Jef stays home, as his father forbids him to go, Ward has no father and goes to the war and ends up in the SS.
After the war Jef is celebrated as a hero, for saving lives of 4 men of the resistance.
After the war the war criminals are punished hard. Ward returns after he has been hiding in Germany for two years.
And slowly we find out what really happened...

This book is about good and evil and how close they can be, that good doesn't mean only good and evil doesn't mean without good sides. In Flanders the situation was very complicated, as in Belgium Flanders was dominated by the richer other half of the country: Wallonia, so some thought the Germans came to free them.

Finishing on a five-star read?! Awesome. Me too :)
Happy new year!

Hope you are having a great trip, Anita!

I trust that you're enjoying your holiday, Anita. You're certainly doing some great reading. Enjoy! Enjoy!!

>44 LovingLit: Yes Megan, but not I am not sure it is my last book in 2016 it was a great ending to an exceptional reading year :-)

>45 ronincats: Thanks Roni, we are having a good time here.

>46 LizzieD: Thank you Peggy, enjoying our stay, enjoying my reading & enjoying our short trips, will tell more when we are back as the internet is awfully slow here.

I started reading Oorlog en vrede 1/2 (= War and peace 1/2) today, so it is unlikely I finish an other book this year.
So here my best of list:

best of 2016

5* reads fiction:
De graaf van Monte Cristo (= The Count of Monte Cristo) by Alexandre Dumas
Het spel van Kat en Adelaar (= The Game of Cat and Eagle) by Craig Strete
Het tumult van de tijd (= The noise of time) by Julian Barnes
De naam van de wind (= The name of the wind) by Patrick Rothfuss
Vader (= My struggle 1 : A death in the family) by Karl Ove Knausgård
Het negerboek (= The book of negroes / Someone knows my name) by Lawrence Hill

5* series
The first 3 books of Mistborn

5* non-fiction
Langs Rijn en Donau (= A time of gifts : on foot to Constantinople) by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Het heelal (= A brief history of time) by Stephen Hawking
Over het ontstaan van soorten (= The origin of species) by Charles Darwin

5* Childrens
Het sleutelkruid (= The King of the Copper Mountains) by Paul Biegel

5* YA
Kruistocht in spijkerbroek (= Crusade in jeans) by Thea Beckman
Allemaal willen we de hemel by Els Beerten

2016 in numbers

total books read: 252
total pages read: 72.452

average pages per book: 287,5
average pages read a day: 198

own 88 / 164 library
book 163 / 89 e-book
female 65 / 187 male
Dutch 100 / 152 translated

non-fiction: 20
childrens/YA : 70
mysteries: 91

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The New Year Book Meme

Describe yourself: The fallen angel
Describe how you feel: Outlander
Describe where you currently live: The final empire
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Garden of the Purple Dragon
Your favourite form of transportation: A walk in the woods
Your best friend is: The count of Monte Cristo
You and your friends are: The lost stories
What’s the weather like: Great expectations
You fear: The broken road
What is the best advice you have to give: Preparation for the next life
Thought for the day: Levels of life
How you would like to die: Between sky and earth
Your soul’s present condition: A tale for the time being

Next thread 2017/1

Happy Friday, Anita! I hope you have a nice New Year weekend planned.

See you on the '17 thread. I plan on starting mine tonight.

Love the meme answers Anita. The Beerten sounds fascinating reading.

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Anita

>52 msf59: Thanks Mark, we are keeping it as quiet as possible, there is some firework in the distance but Ari is still coping well enough.

>53 charl08: I never had done this meme before, Charlotte, but it was fun to do!
The Beerten book was great, I hope there will be an English translation someday.

>54 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul, Happy New Year to you and yours!

Here's an on-time Happy New Year, Anita!



You had a wonderful reading year, for sure.

Happy New Year, Anita!

Thanks Karen and Joe, the same to you and yours.

I just finished my first 2017 book :-)

Happy New Year, Anita! Hooray for finishing your first book of '17! Yah!

Thanks Mark, the same to you and yours, see you in the 2017 threads! :-)