Connie ROOTs for another year in 2023

Happy New Year!

Hello all my co-ROOTers. It's good to start a new year (little late in the month)

I'm known to most of you but here is a small introduction.

I'm Connie, 70 years old and I live in a small town in The Netherlands.

I'm a retired secretary at a college and was looking forward to a nice retirement with my husband, Peter. Sadly enough he now lives in a care-centrum since he fell with his bike and damaged a nerve in his neck which was operated on. The surgery failed and his walking is rather bad and unstable. Taking care of him in our home was impossible and he moved to a place nearby. So for the first time in my live I life alone.
I have a son, Jeroen (40) who lives with his partner Rianne (36) and their daughter Lonne (5)
And a daughter, Eveline who (37) lives with her partner, Cyrille (40) and their daughters Fiene (7) and Marie (3).

I'm a very proud grandmother and have lots of children's books. Fiene is learning to read her self and loves that, the other 2 girls are loving books too. So it is probably genetically ;-))

I have read books for as long as I can remember and bought a lot of books too. My current TBR is 322 tree-books (excluding all ebooks)

For my RL Book-club I will read books for the challenges we set for 2023
I will keep a list of them here.

36.

ABC Writer
01. De escaperoom - Megan Goldin

ABC Title
01. Donkergroen bijna zwart - Mareike Fallwickl
02. De jasmijnzussen - Corina Bomann
03. Reisverslag van een kat - Hiro Arikawa

Arabic nights
01. Het Gouden Rijk - S.A. Chakraborty
01. Idil, een meisje - Yasmine Allas

Begin- and end-letter
01. De Innamorati - Midori Snyder
02. Mortuarium - Patricia Cornwell
03. De Griekse ontsnapping - Karen Swan

Belgium Author

Elements

Fantastic Beasts
01. The House That Fought - Jenny Schwartz
02. Sterrenzicht - Brandon Sanderson

Secret Companies
01. De laatste leerling - Naomi Novik

Geography
01. Dochter van het moeras - Karen Dionne
02. Ga als een rivier - Shelly Read
03. Het eiland van de verdwenen bomen - Elif Shafak
04. Lake Silence - Anne Bishop

Smaller than
01. Inktzwart hart - Robert Galbraith
02. De valkentroon - Karen Miller

Long title (at least 8 syllabes)
01. Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat - Benny Lindelauf
02. De magie van de verboden toren - Ben Guterson
03. Hotel op de hoek van bitter en zoet - Jamie Ford

LGBTQ+
01. Boy Queen - George Lester

Metal
01. The Gilded Cage - Lynette Noni
02. Silver in the Wood - Emily Tesh
03. De Koperen Koning - S.A. Chakraborty
04. Ironside - Holly Black

Murderer
01. Vergeef me - J.D. Barker
02. 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy - Leslie Langtry

Nordic Mythology
01. De lessen van Loki - Joanne Harris

Treasure Hunting

Seasons
01. Een Noorse winternacht - Karen Swan
02. Zomer vol geheimen - Nikola Scott

Time -designation
01. Levenslang - Harlan Coben
02. Augustus - J.D. Barker

Comparatieve

Wings
01. Stikdonker - Kim Faber & Janni Pedersen
02. Vigil - Angela Slatter
03. Tithe - Holly Black

Me with Marie and Fiene

Lonne

ROOTs are all tree-books and e-books I own that have been in my house for more then 4 months.
I decided to include e-books too because if I don't, they will accumulate rapidly and I did not get them just because I could, but because I want to read them.

01. Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat - Benny Lindelauf -
02. Donkergroen bijna zwart - Mareike Fallwickl -
03. Kruispunt - Jonathan Franzen -
04. The Ghost of Ivy Barn -Mark Stay -
05. De Innamorati - Midori Snyder -
06. Dochter van het moeras - Karen Dionne -
07. Hotel op de hoek van bitter en zoet - Jamie Ford -
08. Stikdonker - Kim Faber & Janni Pedersen -
09. De jasmijnzussen - Corina Bomann -
10. De laatste leerling - Naomi Novik -
11. De escaperoom - Megan Goldin -
12. Een Noorse winternacht - Karen Swan -
13. Silver in the Wood - Emily Tesh -
14. De gouden enclaves - Naomi Novik -
15. Mortuarium - Patricia Cornwell -
16. De valkentroon - Karen Miller -
17. De jongen, de mol, de vos en het paard - Charlie Mackesy -
18. De lessen van Loki - Joanne Harris -
19. Nooit meer - Colleen Hoover -
20. Mijn belofte aan jou - Colleen Hoover -
21. Toen de wereld brak - John Boyne -
22. Augustus - J.D. Barker -
23. Horen zien zwijgen - J.D. Barker -
24. Het vijfde meisje - J.D. Barker -
25. Vergeef me - J.D. Barker -
26. De waarheid - Colleen Hoover -
27. De logé - Heather Gudenkauf -
28. Zomer vol geheimen - Nikola Scott -
29. De Griekse ontsnapping - Karen Swan -
30. Boy Queen - George Lester -
31. The End of Magic - Mark Stay -
32. De boekenfluisteraar - Carsten Henn -
33. Het Juvenalis Dilemma - Dan Brown -
34. De Bronzen Stad - S.A. Chakraborty -
35. De Koperen Koning - S.A. Chakraborty -
36. Wacht op mij - Santa Montefiore -
37. Sterrenvlucht - Brandon Sanderson -
38. Cytonic - Brandon Sanderson -
39. Reisverslag van een kat - Hiro Arikawa -
40. Lake Silence - Anne Bishop -
41. Wild Country - Anne Bishop -
42. Crowbones - Anne Bishop -
43. Bloedlijn - Angela Marsons -
44. Dolende zielen - Angela Marsons -
45. Idil, een meisje - Yasmine Allas -
46. De wrede prins - Holly Black -
47. De gevallen koning - Holly Black -
48. De verbannen koningin - Holly Black -
49. Heeft iemand Charlotte Salter gezien? - Nicci French -
50. De Lincoln highway - Amor Towles -
51. Duivelsbocht - Robert Bryndza -

Read books in January, February and March

01. Inktzwart hart - Robert Galbraith - Forumchallenge # 1, BFB # 1 -
02. Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat - Benny Lindelauf ROOT # 1, Forumchallenge # 2 -
03. De magie van de verboden toren - Ben Guterson Forumchallenge # 3 -
04. Donkergroen bijna zwart - Mareike Fallwickl - ROOT # 2, Forumchallenge # 4 -
05. Kruispunt - Jonathan Franzen - ROOT # 3, BFB # 2 -
06. The Ghost of Ivy Barn - Mark Stay - ROOT # 4 -
07. De Innamorati - Midori Snyder - ROOT # 5, Forumchallenge # 5 -
08. The Gilded Cage - Lynette Noni - Forumchallenge # 6 -
09. De verrader van Evalon - Lynette Noni -
10. Dochter van het moeras - Karen Dionne - ROOT # 6, Forumchallenge # 7 -
11. Juniper Wiles - Charles de Lint - SLS # 1 -
12. Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls - Charles de Lint - SLS # 2 -
13. Hotel op de hoek van bitter en zoet - Jamie Ford - ROOT # 7, Forumchallenge # 8 -
14. Stikdonker - Kim Faber & Janni Pedersen - ROOT # 8, Forumchallenge # 9 -
15. De jasmijnzussen - Corina Bomann - ROOT # 9, Forumchallenge # 10 -

Read books in April, May and June

16. De laatste leerling - Naomi Novik - ROOT # 10, Forumchallenge # 11 -
17. De escaperoom - Megan Goldin - ROOT # 11, Forumchallenge # 12 -
18. The House That Walked Between Worlds - Jenny Schwartz -
19. House in Hiding - Jenny Schwartz -
20. The House That Fought - Jenny Schwartz - Forumchallenge # 13 -
21. Een Noorse winternacht - Karen Swan - ROOT # 12, Forumchallenge # 14 -
22. Silver in the Wood - Emily Tesh - ROOT # 13, Forumchallenge # 15 -
23. De gouden enclaves - Naomi Novik - ROOT # 14 -
24. Mortuarium - Patricia Cornwell - ROOT # 15, Forumchallenge # 16 -
25. De valkentroon - Karen Miller - ROOT # 16, Forumchallenge # 17, BFB # 3 -
26. De jongen, de mol, de vos en het paard - Charlie Mackesy - ROOT # 17 -
27. De lelievallei - Tracy Rees -
28. De lessen van Loki - Joanne Harris - ROOT # 18 - Forumchallenge # 18 -
29. Atlas, het verhaal van Pa Salt - Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker - BFB # 4 -
30. Nooit meer - Colleen Hoover - ROOT # 19 -
31. Mijn belofte aan jou - Colleen Hoover - ROOT # 20 -
32. Levenslang - Harlan Coben - Forumchallenge # 19 -
33. Toen de wereld brak - John Boyne - ROOT # 21 -
34. Augustus - J.D. Barker - ROOT # 22 - Forumchallenge # 20 - BFB # 5 -
35. Horen zien zwijgen - J.D. Barker - ROOT # 23 -
36. Ga als een rivier - Shelley Read - Forumchallenge # 21 -
37. Het vijfde meisje - J.D. Barker - ROOT # 24 - BFB #6 -
38. Vergeef me - J.D. Barker - ROOT # 25 - Forumchallenge # 22 - BFB # 7 -
39. De beller op lijn vier - J.D. Barker -
40. De waarheid - Colleen Hoover - ROOT # 26 -
41. De logé - Heather Gudenkauf - ROOT # 27 -
42. Het eiland van de verdwenen bomen - Elif Shafak - Forumchallenge # 23 -
43. Zomer vol geheimen - Nikola Scott - ROOT # 28 - Forumchallenge # 24 -
44. De Griekse ontsnapping - Karen Swan - ROOT # 29 - Forumchallenge # 25 -
45. All the Murmuring Bones - Angela Slatter -
46. Besje in het bos - Margaret Atwood -
47. Boy Queen - George Lester - ROOT # 30 - Forumchallenge # 26 -
48. The End of Magic - Mark Stay - ROOT # 31 -
49. Films die nergens draaien - Yorick Goldewijk -
50. De boekenfluisteraar - Carsten Henn - ROOT # 32 -
51. Het Juvenalis Dilemma - Dan Brown - ROOT # 33 -
52. De Bronzen Stad - S.A. Chakraborty - ROOT # 34 - BFB # 8 -
53. De Koperen Koning - S.A. Chakraborty - ROOT # 35 - Forumchallenge # 27 - BFB # 9 -

Read books in July, August and September

54. Het Gouden Rijk - S.A. Chakraborty - Forumchallenge # 28 - BFB # 10 -
55. Wacht op mij - Santa Montefiore - ROOT # 36 -
56. Sterrenvlucht - Brandon Sanderson - ROOT # 37 -
57. Sterrenzicht - Brandon Sanderson - Forumchallenge # 29 -
58. Cytonic - Brandon Sanderson - ROOT # 38 -
59. Het geheim van het familiehuis - Kate Morton - BFB # 11 -
60. Reisverslag van een kat - Hiro Arikawa - ROOT # 39 - Forumchallenge # 30 -
61. Lake Silence - Anne Bishop - ROOT # 40 - Forumchallenge # 31 -
62. 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy - Leslie Langtry - Forumchallenge # 32 -
63. Wild Country - Anne Bishop - ROOT # 41 -
64. Crowbones - Anne Bishop - ROOT # 42 -
65. Bloedlijn - Angela Marsons - ROOT # 43 -
66. Dolende zielen - Angela Marsons - ROOT # 44 -
67. Het wilde eiland - Karen Swan -
68. Idil, een meisje - Yasmine Allas - ROOT # 45, Forumchallenge # 33 -
69. Oog om oog - M.J. Arlidge - BFB # 12 -
70. De wrede prins - Holly Black - ROOT # 46 -
71. De gevallen koning - Holly Black - ROOT # 47 -
72. De verbannen koningin - Holly Black - ROOT # 48 -
73. Verstoten - Jane Harper -
74. Heeft iemand Charlotte Salter gezien? - Nicci French - ROOT # 49 -
75. Stad vol geesten - V.E. Schwab -
76. De Lincoln highway - Amor Towles - ROOT # 50 - BFB # 13 -
77. Duivelsbocht - Robert Bryndza - ROOT # 51 -
78. Na die nacht - Karin Slaughter -
79. De oogstmeisjes - Nikola Scott -
80. Vigil - Angela Slatter - Forumchallenge # 34 -
81. Tithe - Holly Black - Forumchallenge # 35 -
82. Of Sorrow and Such - Angela Slatter -
83. De stem van de zee - Mara Li -
84. Valiant - Holly Black -
85. Ironside - Holly Black - Forumchallenge # 36 -

BFB read in 2023

01. Inktzwart hart - Robert Galbraith - 1185 pages -
02. Kruispunt - Jonathan Franzen - 572 pages -
03. De valkentroon - Karen Miller - 778 pages -
04. Atlas, het verhaal van Pa Salt - Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker - 698 pages -
05. Augustus - J.D. Barker - 668 pages -
06. Het vijfde meisje - J.D. Barker - 523 pages -
07. Vergeef me - J.D. Barker - 534 pages -
08. De Bronzen Stad - S.A. Chakraborty - 600 pages -
09. De Koperen Koning - S.A. Chakraborty - 579 pages -
10. Het Gouden Rijk - S.A. Chakraborty - 720 pages -
11. Het geheim van het familiehuis - Kate Morton - 555 pages -
12. Oog om oog - M.J. Arlidge - 587 pages -
13. De Lincoln highway - Amor Towles - 574 pages -

Books into the house, bought, gifts or won.

01. De jongen, de mol, de vos en het paard - Charlie Mackesy
02. Toen de wereld brak - John Boyne - Won in a Lottery
03. De gevangene - B.A. Paris - Bought with a Book gift card from Hans
04. De waarheid - Colleen Hoover - Bought with a Book gift card from Hans
05. Noah en het speurengeltje - Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker - Bought with a Book gift card from Hans
06. De logé - Heather Gudenkauf
07. Al die schitterende hemels - Trent Dalton
08. Wacht op mij - Santa Montefiore - Bought with a Book gift card from Eveline
09. Sterrenvlucht - Brandon Sanderson - Gift from Peet for my birthday
10. Cytonic - Brandon Sanderson - Gift from Peet for my birthday
11. De wrede prins - Holly Black
12. De verbannen koningin - Holly Black
13. Sterrenzicht - Brandon Sanderson - Gift from Peet for my birthday
14. Bloedlijn - Angela Marsons - Boekenweek 2023
15. Dolende zielen - Angela Marsons - Boekenweek 2023
16. De gevallen koning - Holly Black - Boekenweek 2023
17. De eerlijke vinder - Lize Spit - Boekenweekgeschenk 2023
18. De Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles
19. Besjes in het bos - Margaret Atwood
20. Het gouden rijk - S.A. Chakraborty
21. Ze hadden hun schaapjes geteld - Benny Lindelauf
22. Levenslang - Harlan Coben
23. De lelievallei - Tracy Rees
24. Heeft iemand Charlotte Salter gezien? - Nicci French
25. Duivelsbocht - Robert Bryndza
26. Films die nergens draaien - Yorick Goldewijk
27. Atlas, het verhaal van Pa Salt - Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker - For Mothers-day from Peet
28. Getuige - Lars Kepler - Gekregen van Eveline
29. De terugkeer van Mia - Samuel Bjørk
30. Het eiland van de verdwenen bomen - Elif Shafak
31. De leesclub - Laura de Koning
32. Na die nacht - Karin Slaughter
33. De oogstmeisjes - Nikola Scott
34. Wat mama niet vertellen kon - Marcel Maassen - Gift from my bookshop-owner
35. Dat beloof ik - Roxanne van Iperen
36. Het geheim van het familiehuis - Kate Morton
37. Schip der zielen - Kate Mosse
38. Oog om oog - M.J. Arlidge
39. Het wilde eiland - Karen Swan
40. Verstoten - Jane Harper
41. Vermoorde onschuld - Angela Marsons
42. De gestolen erfgenaam - Holly Black
43. Dief van de nacht - Holly Black
44. Stad vol geesten - V.E. Schwab
45. Het verraad van Montverre - Bridget Collins

Cursief is read

This one is for BookBullets that hit me here

01. Sneeuwblind - Ragnar Jónasson BB by Nickelini

Welcome to all visitors!
I'm glad you stopped by to follow my reading adventures.

Hi Connie, I wish you a healthy and fabulous new year. Dropped a star and looking forward to your reading. 😀

Thanks Barbara! Same to you.

Eagerly awaiting your set up! Have a wonderful year of reading.

Thanks, Jean.

I'm ready!

Happy New Year, Connie! As always your granddaughters are just little bundles of sunshine in your thread. Happy reading to you.

Happy new year Connie! Your lovely girls are looking so grown-up, aren't they?

Wishing you a great year of reading and family. I hope that Peet is doing well.

Thanks Jackie and Julia! I know. I can't believe how quickly they grow.

Happy to see you and your beautiful family here again. Wishing you happy reading this year!

Happy New Year, Connie! Cheers to another year of ROOTing!

Thanks, CL. I will have to read a sentence first. I did not read anything yet.

Thanks, Lynda! Cheers to you too.

Currently reading a tree-book



Kruispunt by Jonathan Franzen

The blurb NOT my review

It's December 23, 1971, and heavy weather is forecast for Chicago. Russ Hildebrandt, the associate pastor of a liberal suburban church, is on the brink of breaking free of a marriage he finds joyless - unless his wife, Marion, who has her own secret life, beats him to it. Their eldest child, Clem, is coming home from college on fire with moral absolutism, having taken an action that will shatter his father. Clem's sister, Becky, long the social queen of her high-school class, has sharply veered into the counterculture, while their brilliant younger brother Perry, who's been selling drugs to seventh-graders, has resolved to be a better person. Each of the Hildebrandts seeks a freedom that each of the others threatens to complicate. Jonathan Franzen's novels are celebrated for their unforgettably vivid characters and their keen-eyed take on the complexities of contemporary America.

And an e-book



The gilded cage by Lynette Noni

The blurb NOT my review

Kiva trades one cage for another when she leaves behind a deadly prison for a deceptive palace in this dark and dangerous sequel to The Prison Healer, which Sarah J. Maas called "a must-read." Kiva Meridan is a survivor. She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva's purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal was to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever. As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn't the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov--her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it's not just her enemies she's keeping secrets from, but her own family as well. Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva's allegiances are more important than ever, but she's beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she'll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything.

Hi Connie! -- loving those beautiful fresh faces! I have the Franzen book planned for soon-ish, hope you're enjoying it.

Happy reading and ROOTing, Connie. I am sorry about your husband and do hope he eventually improves. You are a brave soul and I can tell your grandkids bring you much joy.

Happy new year, Connie. I have you starred! Lovely pictures of the girls :)

Welcome back, Connie! Love those photos of the girls! They're getting so big :)

Thanks, ladies.

Happy New Year, Connie! The girls are growing up so quickly!

>32 connie53: I know, it's ridiculous.

I missed your new thread. Looking forward to seeing what you read in 2023.

>33 Robertgreaves: Well, you found it. Welcome Robert.

I bought my first book for the year.



De jongen, de mol, de vos en het paard by Charlie Mackesy

The blurb NOT my review

A journey, in search of home.
Charlie Mackesy's beloved The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse has been adapted into an animated short film. This beautifully made hardback celebrates the work of over 100 animators across two years of production - with Charlie's distinctive illustrations brought to life in full colour with hand-drawn traditional animation and accompanying hand-written script. "I made a film with some friends about a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse - their journey together and the boy's search for home. I hope this book gives you courage and makes you feel loved."

Happy New Year Connie, and happy reading in 2023.

Thanks, QA!

Found your thread! Here's hoping for a great reading year for one and all. Cheers!

Hi Connie, I'm glad to see you back again. I doubt very seriously those darling girls have a gene that causes them to read. I don't think anything is as much an incentive for children than parents and grandparents who read! I hope you and the girls have a great reading year.

Thanks, Jerry and Luanne!

>39 clue:. A good example will certainly work, Luanne. Thanks for the well wishes!

My plans for reading have changed somewhat. My RL book-club had its own challenge for the year.
20 categories with 20 spaces to fill.

The 'smaller then' categorie starts with a BFB with 1303 pages
And my planned book has 1185 pages and is next in the line down so I start that one today.



It's Inktzwart hart by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling,

The blurb NOT my review

When frantic, disheveled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective Robin Ellacott doesn't know quite what to make of the situation. The cocreator of a popular cartoon, The Ink Black Heart, Edie is being persecuted by a mysterious online figure who goes by the pseudonym of Anomie. Edie is desperate to uncover Anomie's true identity. Robin decides that the agency can't help with this--and thinks nothing more of it until a few days later, when she reads the shocking news that Edie has been tasered and then murdered in Highgate Cemetery, the location of The Ink Black Heart. Robin and her business partner, Cormoran Strike, become drawn into the quest to uncover Anomie's true identity. But with a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, Strike and Robin find themselves embroiled in a case that stretches their powers of deduction to the limits--and which threatens them in new and horrifying ways...

Happy New Year, Connie; here's to more ROOTing :). Your granddaughters are so adorable.

Happy New Year! Fiene was just a newborn when I last looked at a picture of her. Now she has a little sister! The girls are gorgeous. Must run in the family...

Thanks, Elizabeth and EAM.

They all are very pretty girls. I fear that's not entirely on me;-))

My ROOTing has not even started since I'm reading a very Big Book, 1185 pages >41 connie53:. I'm happy to say I'm now past the half way point and enjoying the story. It's rather complicated so I made a list of people mentioned in the story. It's quit long (168 names, aliases, email-addresses and nicknames) and I'm trying to combine those like Robin and Cormoran have to do in the book. I love making lists so I'm really enjoying the job.

>45 connie53: I read that one last year and wish I had kept a list linking all the aliases and things! It was definitely a bit tricky to keep everyone straight.

>46 Caramellunacy: I know. It is a nice to be able to combine some of them. When I've finished the book I will eliminate the names that don't matter to the story. I'm very nearly at the end of the book, still 320 pages to go. ;-)). (320 pages is a book on it's own). But I have very little to do this week so perhaps I will finish it soonish.

Finally finished my first book for 2023

Inktzwart hart by Robert Galbraith - Forumchallenge # 1, BFB # 1

My review

Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott belong to my favorite detective couples. The books about them are never boring and usually quite complicated. This sixth part is that too. Many, many characters (at one time I had a list of 189 names), conversations in the form of tweets, forum chats and emails, all in column shape and with their own layout. Really well done.

The subject is the murder and attempted murder of Edie Ledwell and Josh Blay. Shortly before, Edie came to ask Robin fro help. Robin had to reject this because of staff shortages and because they don't really have experience with online stalking.

Edie and Josh are the makers of a series of cartoons that have fairly lurid subjects but who are received with great enthusiasm by certain people. A cult arises around the cartoons, but they are attacked by someone who calls himself Anomie and Edie wants Cormoran and Robin to find out who that Anomie is. Later when later they hear about the murder of Edie, they get involved in the search and have to do everything they can to bring the whole case to a successful conclusion.

Very exciting and complicated and with a outcome that I didn't see coming at all.
Tribute to the author and definitely recommended.

>48 connie53: Nice review, Connie. I read the first two or three in this series and I liked the characters but I think the plots are too complicated for my little brain. I think I finished every one not exactly sure what had happened. :-)

>49 rosalita:. I can see what you mean. I did feel that too, sometimes. It's very complicated and I think that's why I did not see where it would go and who was the perpetrator. But in retrospect it was obvious. And in 1185 pages you get a lot of information to remember.

Now reading:



Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat by Benny Lindelauf

Original Dutch. Not translated. The title in English would be something like: 'Whole stories for half a soldier'

The Blurb NOT my review

Six brothers are called upon to serve in the army. On the way to the front, they must report to a border post. The brothers do not have suitable gifts or money to be able to cross the border. However, they know stories in abundance. Stories about a bewitched lake, about a puppeteer who is willing to kill to be successful and about a young man who is so beautiful that the men from his village prefer to kill him out of pure jealousy.
The brothers tell this stories as if their lives depends on them. And that is so true.

Hi Connie, I have the that Cormoran Strike book on my shelf just waiting for me. I skipped your review down to the last paragraph so that I could see what you thought of it and was glad to see you liked it. I don't think I'll have time to read it until March but I look forward to it!

>51 clue: Hi Luanne. I hope you like it just as much as I did. Just be prepared to read about a lot of persons. Don't get intimidated ;-)

Finished my first ROOT for the year

Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat by Benny Lindelauf - Forumchallenge # 2, ROOT # 1

My review

In fact, this book consists of several stories told by six brothers who are leaving one by one to a war that seems to last endlessly. And it's the book with the story of the guard. On their way to the war the brothers encounter a barrier-pole standing in the middle of nowhere and they have to donate a gift for peace, but they have nothing but stories to tell and the guard has time to listen. So the brothers each tell a story.
I thought the best one was the story of Zetta, a very little girl who is bought from her mother to act as a Marionet for an old puppeteer.
The story of the guard about the white wolf is also very good. Nice book to read.

Now reading De magie van de verboden toren by Ben Guterson



The blurb NOT my review

After the tragic loss of their sister, Zack and his siblings band together to investigate a Morse Code-inspired mystery in this stunning novel about grief and resilience. When Zack's younger sister dies in a tragic accident, his family moves to a small town in the Northwest to try and heal from all the pain. Eleven-year-old Zack blames himself for his sister's death, and he struggles to find any comfort in his new surroundings. Vista Point is home to many mysterious landmarks: The great domed Tower casts inscrutable shadows, and what is the cryptic message in its ceiling medallion? There are several hidden watering holes and even a secret cave in the woods with messages written on its walls. Zack, at first, feels lost in Vista Point. Until he meets Ann, a girl who lives in the area and shows Zack all the special places to be discovered. But there's something that seems a bit strange about Ann--and perhaps a secret she is keeping from him. With emotional depth, an unforgettable setting, and a winning cast of characters, this masterful novel thoughtfully explores the grieving process, and how a season of pain can evolve into a summer of healing.

I finished De magie van de verboden toren by Ben Guterson, Forumchallenge # 3 and the book

My review

Another wonderful book by Ben Guterson. With riddles to solve yourself and a fantasy touch.
Zack and his family moved from the big city to a quiet place in a small village after the death of their youngest daughter and sister Susan.
Zack blames herself for her death and withdraws into his room with his books. Zack's parents have bought a large old house where they want to start a bed and breakfast. Their 4 other children help to refurbish and clean the house, but they also explore the surroundings of their house and in particular the large tower that is there.
Then Zack sees a girl walking there who looks a lot like his deceased sister. When he sees the girl he goes after her. Ann and he become friends and are together as much as possible. Ann shows him that the tower is not closed and Zack is completely under the spell of a text that they find there. Over time, his older brother and sisters also get involved. Together they try to unravel the mystery of the tower.

Nice book for younger children between 10 and 12 years old. Certainly if they try to resolve the riddles themselves.

Now starting in Donkergroen bijna zwart by Mareike Fallwickl

Original German, not translated into English, Title: Darkgreen almost black.



The blurb NOT my review

Raffael, confident and charismatic, and Moritz, sensitive and loyal. Since their first meeting as young children, the boys have been inseparable.
Moritz and his mother Marie are new in the lonely mountain village and Marie should be happy with the friendship. But she does not trust Raffael, with his easy smile and ice -cold blue eyes. When a new girl, Johanna, strats at the school of the two friends, a fatal triangle is created, which puts pressure on friendship until it splashes apart with a bang. One evening sixteen years later, Raffael turns up suddenly at Moritz's house. Everything will be put at stake for on more time.

Finished Donkergroen bijna zwart by Mareike Fallwickl, Forumchallenge # 4, ROOT # 2,

My review

Intriguing book, with many layers, told by 3 of the 4 main characters; Moritz, Johanna and Marie.
Marie moves with her son Moritz and baby daughter Sophia van Vienna to a house in Dürnberg in Austria. Her husband Alexander stays in Vienna to finish his doctor's studies.
Moritz meets Raffael on a playground and it turns out that they both will go to the same kindergarten. They become inseparable friends. When they are in their teens Johanna enters their lives. Johanna provides a shaky balance between the two boys.
The story jumps from one period to another. And as a reader you get to know the story of this, rather toxic, triangle bit by bit.
Marie, the mother, sees a lot but keeps all these things to herself. She sees that Raffael has sadistic traits and that her son allows all the mean without doing a thing.
Occasionally it was quite painful to read, then you just want to skip those pieces because it is so unjustified what happens.
But you have to read on because you want to know how it ends.

I'm sure I won't finish my current read, Kruispunt by Jonathan Franzen. To many pages for one day left. It is my third ROOT for the year. So I'm a bit behind schedule.

I got your very nice letter yesterday. I was too tired to read it last night, but read it with my breakfast this morning. Lots of things happening in your life. I am getting ready to retire at the end of the month and finding that there is lots of paperwork to do. I was not prepared for that and since I am still teaching classes I am finding it hard to get things done on time. I have found time to read, but not so much knitting. Thank you for the letter. It was great fun to read it.

Hi Connie, just popping in to say hello, see what you’re reading and wish you successful ROOTing for 2023.

It’s lovely to see your beautiful grandchildren - and you’re looking very well yourself. Good genes all round obviously!

Good reading too - you’ve persuaded me to try the Cormorant Strike series which hadn’t really appealed to me till I read your review. I like a challenging mystery, so thanks for that!

>59 benitastrnad: Thanks Benita, glad you liked it.
Retirement is a big thing to happen, not only because of the paperwork. I don't know how things are organized in the US. Perhaps you can google for things you need and must do after. And make a list of them. So you can cross things off. And make sure you give your self time to relax.

>60 floremolla: Hi Donna, I hope you enjoy the books about Cormorant Strike when you get to them.

O my. I did not update my reading progress for a few days

I finished ROOT # 3, BFB # 2 Kruispunt by Jonathan Franzen on the 7th of February and gave it

My review

Extensive and intriguing story about a fairly dysfunctional family in a small American town at the beginning of the seventies of the last century. Father, mother, 3 sons and 1 daughter. And everyone is a bit shaky in their actions. Only the youngest son, Judson, can be called 'normal'. I noticed that I could easily put this book aside and that is not really a good sign. But when I was reading, it turned out to be interesting again. Religion plays a very big role in this book. That of course depends on the time and the place, but for me it was a bit over the top and difficult to empathize with those feelings.
I didn't really get a bond with one of the characters, although the oldest Clem, gets the closets
All in all a nice but not a great book for me.

Now reading The Ghost of Ivy Barn by Mark Stay



The blurb NOT my review

The Battle of Britain rages and Faye Bright encounters the ghost of a pilot who won't give up the fight. Before she can help him, Faye is whisked away to join a motley crew of witches to perform a top secret ritual on the White Cliffs of Dover that could repel the invaders. But there's a catch. The ritual must be executed in the nuddy. Mrs Teach threatens mutiny. Miss Charlotte is intrigued. And Faye wants to call the whole thing off when she suspects there's a spy in their midst. It's up to Faye Bright to uncover the traitor, all while dealing with the ghost haunting Ivy Barn who may hold the key to the truth. But first, Faye has to learn to fly . . .

A lot of books have entered the house

Toen de wereld brak by John Boyne. Won in a lottery.
De waarheid by Colleen Hoover. Bought with a gift card
Noah en het speurengeltje by Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker. Bought with a gift card for the girls
De gevangene by B.A. Paris. Bought with a gift card
De logé by Heather Gudenkauf
Al die schitterende hemels by Trent Dalton

>62 connie53: I just started The Ghost of Ivy Barn yesterday too! Enjoying it very much so far (the audiobook narrator is fantastic).

>64 Jackie_K: Looking forward to your review, Jackie. I might finish it today.

I decided to count read e-books too. They have to be on my TBR-list for more than 4 months

>65 connie53: I'm looking forward to your review too! You're a bit further ahead than me, I'm about half-way, so it won't be finished today (I listened for 4 hours while doing a lot of ironing yesterday, I don't have any more to do so will be reading the rest in smaller chunks!).

>67 Jackie_K: I did finish The Ghost of Ivy Barn by Mark Stay, ROOT # 4 yesterday but could not say anything about it because it was rather difficult to do a lot of typing while on the couch. But today my new dining-table and chairs arrived so here I go.

The book gets

My review

Another wonderful book by Mark Stay. We follow Faye Bright, her father Terrence and Bertie again in their fight against the Germans in WWII. It is an alternative world because magic is reasonably accepted, especially in the town of Woodville where Faye lives and where her father runs the local pub. The inhabitants of Woodville turn a blind eye to magic and pretend for most of the time nothing magical happens. Faye is confronted with 2 dead pilots, a German and one of the Allies, when they crash into the barn of Larry Dell during an air fight. With the help of Mrs. Teach and Miss Charlotte knows how to send one pilot to the hereafter, but the Polish Leo cannot be sent there so easily.
If a magical ritual has to take place elsewhere in Great Britain, all three ladies are called away to the White Cliffs of Dover.
Of course nothing goes without a struggle and Faye has her hands full on all the tasks she has to perform.
Cozy and friendly story that you know will never end badly. So not nail biting exciting, but nice reading. And Mr. Stay more or less promises another part.

Yesterday I started in De innamorati by Midori Snyder

A deep ROOT, because while I entered the book in 2012 when I joined LT, I must have bought before that.



The Blurb NOT my review

The frustrated in love know it, the barren women, the silent poets, the lustful priests - all those who suffer from cursed lives. By ones and twos, in carriages, on horseback, on foot, they flock to the Maze at the heart of the city Labirinto. Five pilgrims, with their enemies, their drinking buddies, and their chance-met companions, journey across a richly imagined Renaissance Italy alive with adventures and magic, to meet in the great Labyrinth. Their adventures grow ever more baroque, comical, and magical, until they reach the heart of the Maze, and perhaps, their hearts' desire.

>68 connie53: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And yes, there's another one due out I think later this year.

Popping in to say hi, Connie!

Hi Jackie and Natalie

Here are pictures of the new dining table and chairs.



You can see the old table against the bookcase in the livingroom

>72 connie53: It looks lovely, Connie! And the chairs look super comfy.

We want to replace our dining table, too -- our current one was never meant for the space it's in and is just a little IKEA table that only seats about 4 people. But we are thinking of moving this year or next year so we figure we should wait to buy a nice table until we know where it will go.

>72 connie53: That looks lovely, Connie! I love that it's such a light, airy space.

>72 connie53: Really nice! It looks very welcoming and comfortable.

>73 curioussquared: Waiting for the move to take place and buying a new table than is a very good idea, Natalie. You need space for a bigger table.

>74 Jackie_K: Lots of windows in the room make it very light indeed. I love the space you can see behind the couch (where the old table is now waiting for transportation to the secondhand store). The girls have room enough for playing with the Barbies. I don't like a room that's packed with stuff.

>45 connie53: Thanks, Julia. The chairs are really comfy and I love the big table.

>72 connie53: The room looks gorgeous, Connie. Enjoy!

Thanks, Birgit.

Yesterday was the second day The Dutch celebrate Carnaval and Lonne stayed overnight so her mum and dad could go downtown. She brought some facial paint and Grandma painted her face and she did mine

Me



and Lonne



Rianne and Jeroen looked like this



Jeroen is on the left



Rianne is on the left

Rianne and her friend were mermaids, Jeroen and his friend were fishermen who wanted to catch the mermaids.

>79 connie53: Laissez le bons temps rouler!

>80 rocketjk:, In my best French: Ils le feront certainement

Great costumes! Hope everyone has/had a great time!

Great costumes and face painting

Love the face paint, especially Lonne's work on you :) great costumes!!

Yes, I look really comfortable with that paint. ;-)

Looks like everyone had lots of fun!

I finished De Innamorati by Midori Snyder and give the book , ROOT # 5, Forumchallenge # 5

My Review

You have the commedia dell'arte and you have the Innamorati.
This book is about the last group of people. They are all darkened souls who in most cases have not had much luck in life. There is a siren - banned by Orpheus from her home island and sworn to 10 years of silence, a professional dueler with lots of duel won and lots of victims, a poet who always wants to speak the truth and therefore can no longer write poetry and more people like that.
In the first part, all main characters are highlighted and we get to know them a little. They actually all feel cursed.
In the middle part they are all attracted by the story about a labyrinth where everyone could be freed from that curse. In order to reach that goal they have to overcome all kinds of obstacles, fight with saters and that kind of fantasy creatures.
The book reads easily and I really found it a nice experience to do so. I doubted between a 7 and an 8, but in the end it became an 8.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

Now I will continu in a book that has been neglected for weeks.



The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

The Blurb NOT my review

Kiva Meridan is a survivor. She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva's purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal has been to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever. As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn't the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov-her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it's not just her enemies she's keeping secrets from, but her own family as well. Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva's allegiances are more important than ever, but she's beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she'll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything.

Finished The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni Forumchallenge # 6 and the book gets

My review

What is this a wonderful continuation of the Prison Healer. I enjoyed it every minute that I read it. Kiva is staying in the Royal Palace and has still been able to keep her true identity hidden from everyone, but her own family knows better. If she visits them it is a nice reunion, but not everything is what it seems and Kiva has to fight to keep her secret for Jaren and the rest of his family. Then everything changes when the rebels strike. I will not tell anymore because of spoilers. Recommended.

On in part 3 of this series.



De verrader van Evalon by Lynette Noni e-book

The blurb NOT my review

She'd failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price. Kiva thought she knew what she wanted--revenge. But feelings change, people change . . . everything has changed. After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her. But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they've ever been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own broken heart. A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set, Kiva can no longer just survive--she must fight for what she believes in. For who she believes in. But with danger coming from every side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it takes to stand, or will she fall?

And as a Tree-book



Stikdonker by Kim Faber & Janni Pedersen. Original Danish

The blurb NOT my review

After his temporary exile in Sandsted, inspector Martin Juncker returns to Copenhagen. Immediately a new murder case is assigned to him: a young woman is strangled and left half naked in a bush. Her clothes are neatly folded next to the body. Although there are no clear indications to follow, the murder reminds Juncker immediately of an unsolved case from ten years earlier. Would this be the same murderer?

Detective Signe Kristansen is happy that her partner is back. She is investigating the murder of a young neo -Nazi during a political action. If it turns out that the two things have a link, Juncker and Kristansen must join forces. But finding out the truth can have life -threatening consequences ...

The pictures of the face painting are amazing, Connie. I like your new dining room set. It looks so sleek!

Thanks, Meg.

What fun Carnaval pictures and Lonne, oh my heart, beautiful!

Thanks, MJ. She is such a lovely girl.

Here are the other two in their outfits

Hi Connie, just doing a little catching up on Roots today. What great pics of Carnaval costumes!! So imaginative!! Looks like a fun time.

Lovely dining room table.

>92 connie53: so cute!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thanks Lynda.

Finished De verrader van Evalon by Lynette Noni and this book gets

My review

I really enjoyed this 3th and final part in the series just I did part 1 and part 2. Of course I can't tell much about the story because of spoilers, but all the great main characters participate again and there is a quest in it, which is always good. Occasionally I had a little trouble when Kiva started to doubt herself again and that was extensively described and was too frequently the case. Is was an excellent ending of the series.

Mrs. Noni has written even more and I want to go look for those books.

>92 connie53: Oh my goodness, Marie's ladybird costume! Gorgeous!!

>92 connie53: Such cuties!

>92 connie53: Fabulous costumes! Funnily enough, I made a similar choice when I was nine, I dressed up as a cat. No photos, alas.

>97 MissWatson: That's a pity, Birgit.

>95 Jackie_K:,>96 curioussquared: Thanks ladies, I think they are pretty cute too.

I got my birthday presents from Peet, at least the first two entered the house by mail. Thursday the last one will arrive.



Sterrenvlucht by Brandon Sanderson, Skyward part 1

The blurb NOT my review

Spensa's world has been under attack for decades. Now pilots are the heroes of what's left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with her father's - a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa's chances of attending flight school at slim to none.

No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.



Cytonic - Brandon Sanderson, Skyward part 3

The blurb NOT my review

Spensa’s life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell—the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What’s more, she traveled light-years from home as an undercover spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home.

Now, the Superiority—the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life—has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa’s seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.

Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy.

The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.

To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying.

Hi Connie, I just came by to see how you are doing, and to see how fast your grandkids are growing :-)

I decided to skip ROOTing this year, and instead go for reducing my long wishist at the library. Some older titles are disappearing, getting them from a library outside our province costs 4,50 euro for each book. I might come back here next year.

>100 FAMeulstee: I know I'm not Connie, but how nice to see you Anita! I hope you're keeping well!

>100 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, so nice to see you here. I do hope you com back next year! Please!!!??!!

I finished Dochter van het moeras by Karen Dionne, ROOT # 6, Forumchallenge # 7,

My review

This is a book that I had to think about for a long time. Because it is not pleasant what happens to Helena. Although she does not realize that in the beginning, because she is too young to realize what is going on when it all starts.
Helena lives with her mother and father in a swamp in Michigan, Us. Her father is a hunter and a real outdoor person who has a lot of knowledge about nature and the survival with shortage and dangers. Moreover, he has hardly any contact with the outside world and is very manipulative and narcissistic. If he wants to pass on his knowledge, he kidnaps a 14 year old girl who stays without a name. With her he has a daughter, Helena, whom he takes with him from a very early age and he learns everything he knows. When Helena realizes around the age of twelve that her father is not a nice man, she decides to escape with her heavily abused mother. Eventually she manages to get her father in prison.
Years later, when Helena herself has 2 young daughters, he escapes from prison and tries to approach her again, but this time he wants to take more than just Helena. Helena has to fight for her freedom and for her family. Well written, but not a pleasant book to read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



And started in Juniper Wiles by Charles de Lint.

The blurb NOT my review

Juniper Wiles once starred as a plucky teen detective in the popular TV show, Nora Constantine. When the series ended seven years ago, Juniper made a decision to leave L.A. and return home to Newford where she joined friends at the artists' collective, Bramleyhaugh, the center of which is her pal, beloved faerie artist Jilly Coppercorn. Now, out of the blue, the fictional world of Nora Constantine is bleeding into Newford, starting with the inexplicable murder of a young man. Juniper may have wanted to leave her role as a detective behind, but when she's accosted by the ghost of that young man everything changes. To solve this crime will require all the skills she learned training for Nora Constantine. And the effervescent Jilly, always up for a new adventure, is ready to come along for the ride.

>101 Jackie_K: Thanks Jackie, I left a message on your thread. All is well here.

>102 connie53: I intend to come back next year, Connie.
This year I was even late at the 75ers. My eyes got badly infected around Christmas, and it took some weeks before I could look at the computerscreen for longer than five minutes. By that time I had decided to go mainly for the library books this year. I guess my own books will feel neglected by the end of this year ;-)

>104 FAMeulstee:. I guess they will, Anita. I will go and find your thread at the 75ers.

I finished Juniper Wiles by Charles de Lint and give this book

"

The blurb NOT my review

Juniper Wiles once starred as a plucky teen detective in the popular TV show, Nora Constantine. When the series ended seven years ago, Juniper made a decision to leave L.A. and return home to Newford where she joined friends at the artists' collective, Bramleyhaugh, the center of which is her pal, beloved faerie artist Jilly Coppercorn. Now, out of the blue, the fictional world of Nora Constantine is bleeding into Newford, starting with the inexplicable murder of a young man. Juniper may have wanted to leave her role as a detective behind, but when she's accosted by the ghost of that young man everything changes. To solve this crime will require all the skills she learned training for Nora Constantine. And the effervescent Jilly, always up for a new adventure, is ready to come along for the ride.

My review

I read this book in memory of M, a friend of my FF reading club who recently died. She was a huge fan of Charles de Lint's books and as a reading club we decided to read the two Juniper Wiles books she still wanted to read in her honor.

I have never read anything by Charles de Lint before, but I don't think it will be limited to these books. I really like them. Alternative worlds, a variety of characters who all have a special magical talent. shapeshifters, people who have the internet in their heads, werewolves, spirits from other worlds seeking their salvation in the world of Juniper.
If she is approached by Ethan and she does not want to speak to him and brushes him of, she is surprised to read in the paper that Ethan has been dead for a week. That makes her think again and she and her friend Jilly decide to investigate Ethan's death. Very nice and pleasantly readable written.



Starting Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls by Charles de Lint

The blurb NOT my review

Juniper should have known better after her last foray into the otherworld. But when she’s asked to look into a mysterious box full of poltergeists she ends up making a promise to seven teenage ghosts that puts here directly in the crosshairs of a blood witch’s deadly ire.

>106 connie53: That's a lovely way to honour a friend who has passed.

Finished Juniper Wiles and The Ghost Girls by Charles de Lint and this book gets

My review

Just like book 1, I enjoyed this book very much. Delightful and also very nice to hear that Charles de Lint has already written a few new Juniper books that only have to be edited.

This time Juniper and Lilly are looking for the person who has killed seven girls. Juniper has found these girls when she is called for help by the police. The girls are kept as ghosts in a box and Juniper is the only one can see them. The whole team they start investigating and that occasionally brings them into dangerous situations. Juniper receives help from Joe, when it comes to action. And Jilly keeps investigating the internet and papers, together with a number of residents of the house on Stanton Street. There are also some other things. There is Duncan who is looking for his sister Daisy. (LGBTQ+), and there is Nida Dill, one of the most powerful wizards of Kingsmoor College (a kind of Hogwarts) to be stopped. Those things all have something to do with each other and that makes it all read well.

I can't wait for more Juniper.

I've read a few Charles de Lint books but not the Juniper series, Connie. Glad to see you're enjoying them!

Yesterday I had a nice day out with some of the members of my RL Bookclub.

And of course we visited a big bookstore and I bought two books



De Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

The Blurb NOT my review

1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett's future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction--to the City of New York. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view



Besjes in het bos by Margaret Atwood

The Blurb NOT my review

A dazzling collection of fifteen stories from Margaret Atwood, the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments Margaret Atwood is celebrated as one of the most gifted storytellers in the world. These stories explore the full warp and weft of experience, from two best friends disagreeing about their shared past, to the right way to stop someone from choking; from a daughter determining if her mother really is a witch, to what to do with inherited relics such as World War II parade swords. They feature beloved cats, a confused snail, Martha Gellhorn, George Orwell, philosopher-astronomer-mathematician Hypatia of Alexandria, a cabal of elderly female academics, and an alien tasked with retelling human fairy tales. At the heart of the collection is a stunning sequence that follows a married couple as they travel the road together, the moments big and small that make up a long life of love -- and what comes after. The glorious range of Atwood's creativity and humanity is on full beam in these tales, which by turns delight, illuminate and quietly devastate.

I finished Hotel op de hoek van bitter en zoet by Jamie Ford - Root # 7, Forumchallenge # 8 -

My review

This book is really beautiful in all its simplicity. It is the story of Henry and Keiko who get to know each other in primary school in 1942. They are both the only non -American children in that school. Henry is a Chinese boy and Keiko a Japanese girl.
Henry's father wants his son to grow up as an American but also that he complies with some Chinese values.
Keiko has modern parents who do everything to offer their daughter a good future. Keiko does not speak Japanese, because she was not raised that way.
Henry's father is absolutely against their friendship and refuses to talk to his son and forbid his wife to speak to Henry too. The tension in the house is often very difficult to live with.

This book also taught me things that I didn't know. One is that Japanese people in America were interned in all kinds of camps spread over America and as far as possible from the oceans. The government was afraid that the Japanese people would spy for Japan who was 'the enemy' in WO II.
At a certain moment, Keiko and her family are also transported to such a camp, Minidoka.

Henry and Keiko are now more than just friends. Henry tries to visit Keiko in the camp as often as possible. They write letters, but through time they lose sight of each other due too Henry's father.
Henry marries and becomes a widower and in 1986 he finds some objects that belong to Keiko's family in the cellars of Hotel Panama. The hotel has been nailed shut for years and the property that some Japanese families have placed there is left undisturbed through the years.
With the help his son, Marty, Henry goes in search of his lost love, Keiko.

I really enjoyed this book. Its a nice easy moving story and is beautifully written. Indeed bitter and sweet.

>111 connie53:
I read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and liked it too. I listened to the recorded version and it was a good story to listen to in the car.

Hi Benita, I'm glad you liked it too.

I'm now reading De jasmijnzussen by Corina Bomann, Forumchallenge # 9, ROOT # 8

Original German writer.



The Blurb NOT my review

Fashion photographer Melanie Sommer has just returned from a work trip to Vietnam, the land of her ancestors, when she is told that her fiancé Robert had a car accident on the way home and was seriously injured ans is in a coma. She is really very desperate and confused with all that is happening around her. When she is on the brink of a burn-out she is invited by her great-grandmother Hanna and grandmother Marie to stay with them for some rest and a change of scenery.

Hanna notices how much her great-granddaughter is struggling with her fate and starts telling something about her own life for the first time. About her dramatic youth in the Exotic Saigon, about the beautiful Berlin of the 1920s and the great love she found there, about the difficult circumstances during the war and the new start she then made as a hat designer in Paris. Hanna has lost a lot, but also won a lot. If Melanie realizes that, she also has the courage to see the light in the darkest times.

Finished another ROOT

Stikdonker by Kim Faber & Janni Pedersen ROOT # 8, Forumchallenge # 9 -

My review

I found this third part in the series about Martin Juncker and Signe Kristiansen very exciting and well written. The story takes place in 14 days and follows the police investigation by the two detectives closely, with the occasional step aside to the private lives of Martin and Signe.
Signe is struggling with what has happened to her in the past and what does not get better if she has to work together with inspector Mikkelsen who is the cause of her current problems and Martin, who has been operated for prostate cancer and has to wait for the results of the Histological research. But as expected it all ends well. I want to read more by these writers.

Now starting in De laatste leerling by Naomi Novik



The blurb NOT my review

In Wisdom, Shelter.
That's the official motto of the Scholomance. I suppose you could even argue that it's true--only the wisdom is hard to come by, so the shelter's rather scant.
Our beloved school does its best to devour all its students--but now that I've reached my senior year and have actually won myself a handful of allies, it's suddenly developed a very particular craving for me. And even if I somehow make it through the endless waves of maleficaria that it keeps throwing at me in between grueling homework assignments, I haven't any idea how my allies and I are going to make it through the graduation hall alive. Unless, of course, I finally accept my foretold destiny of dark sorcery and destruction. That would certainly let me sail straight out of here. The course of wisdom, surely. But I'm not giving in--not to the mals, not to fate, and especially not to the Scholomance. I'm going to get myself and my friends out of this hideous place for good--even if it's the last thing I do.

A new book into the house



Het gouden rijk by S.A. Chakraborty

The blurb NOT my review

Daevabad has fallen. After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people. But the death of his people and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara's dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies. Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad's deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. Though Nahri is finding peace in the rhythms of her old home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior, are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved and take a stand for those they once hurt.

Hi Connie, I’ve finally made it to your thread. Looks like you’re doing some good reading!

It’s lovely to see your family photos, and your new dining furniture! We recently got new dining chairs and it’s made a surprising difference (and improvement) to how the room looks. We also bought a small table that’s the perfect size for board games and jigsaws - I know you’re a jigsaw fan, so I’m sure you’ll appreciate how life-enhancing this is ;)

>116 connie53: Oh, I really need to get started with that series!

>117 Rebeki: Thanks, Rebecca. I know and I do appreciate the jigsaw space I now have.

>118 MissWatson: I need to start the series too. I just waited until the third part was translated before starting. So now I can.

Another book came into the house



Ze hadden hun schaapjes geteld by Benny Lindelauf

Original Dutch. The title meaning: They had counted their sheep.

It's a Christmas story for kids and I think It wil not be long before Fiene can read it by herself.

The blurb NOT my review

Gili wants to become a shepherd just like her brothers, but they have their doubts. Are girls not too weak to herd sheep? To make matters worse, Gili lets her favorite sheep escape from the herd on a cold December night.

Will the brothers be right?

In the vast hills of Bethlehem, and in the pitch dark, Gili goes in search of her sheep. It is better he does not get lost or fall into a canyon. And she would rather not think of dangerous wolves at all. But the point with getting lost is that you only realize it when it has already happened.

And wolven eyes see a lot, if not everything.

>119 connie53: That will be a great step, reading by herself. I'm sure Fiene will enjoy it.

>120 MissWatson: She can already read by herself, but just the simple books. This might be a bit to complicated right now, but she enjoys other books and doesn't want me to read to her at bedtime. Instead she reads to me.

Finished De jasmijnzussen by Corina Bomann, ROOT # 9, Forumchallenge # 10,

My review

I read this story about Melanie with pleasure.
Melanie, who after an accident were her fiancé Robert gets into a coma, stays with her great -grandmother Hanna, her grandmother Marie and her mother Elena on their house outside the city.
Melanie is not going to stay there for a long time, because her place is with Robert, but she needs the care of her family for a while. Her great -grandmother is originally a Vietnamese woman and during the days that Melanie stays on the estate, Hanna tells her life story.
Actually it is not such an exciting book, but it was just an uncomplicated read. It is actually about the power that women often have to deal with setbacks.

Two new books into the house. I'm going too fast with my buying. It looks like all my favourite writers publish new books in the beginning of the year.



Levenslang by Harlan Coben

The blurb NOT my review

David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son. Then Cheryl's sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark ... and even though David and Rachel realize it can't be, they both just know. It's David's son, Matthew, and he's still alive. David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible-save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.



De lelievallei by Tracy Rees

The blurb NOT my review

1897. Rowena Blythe is wealthy, entitled and beautiful. As her twenty-fourth birthday approaches, she's expected to marry - and to marry well.An unsuitable match . . .Her parents commission a portrait of Rowena to help cement her reputation as a great society beauty. However, Bartek, the artist's young assistant, is unlike any man Rowena has met before - wild, romantic and Bohemian. While society at large awaits the announcement of Rowena's engagement, it is Bartek who captures Rowena's heart along with her likeness.A scandal in society . . .Rowena knows her parents would never approve of Bartek, who in their eyes is nothing but a penniless foreigner. As her feelings grow, she has no-one to turn to. Dare she risk everything for love?

Finished another ROOT # 10, ROOT # 10, Forumchallenge # 11

De laatste leerling by Naomi Novik

My review

In the beginning I had to get into the story and also get used to the style in which it is written: the I-form. It is a very long monologue by El (Galadriel) al through the book.
She is now in the fourth and final grade of the Scolomance and has collected a small group of femal friends around her. Orion is of course also there. He is a master in killing the malifications, the Mals, who try to kill as many students as possible. El believes that there could be a way to save all students and not just the students of her own year. That is the what the book is mostly about. More and more students are joining the planning of this action. The end is exciting enough to continue directly in the last part.



Continuing in part 3 De Gouden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

The blurb NOT my review

The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out - not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But that impossible dream has somehow come true for El and her classmates. And what's more, she didn't even have to become the monstrous dark witch she's prophesised to become to make it happen. Instead of killing enclavers, she saved them, and now the world is safe for all wizards. Peace and harmony have enveloped all the enclaves of the world. Just kidding. Instead, someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in El's stead, and everyone she saved is at risk again with a full-scale enclave war on the horizon. And so, the first thing El needs to do after miraculously escaping the Scholomance, is to turn straight around and find a way back in.

Finished another ROOT De escaperoom by Megan Goldin ROOT # 11, Forumchallenge # 12,

My review

Very exciting story. Also well worked out.
Sara Hall has finally found a job and at a very successful investment agency on Wall Street too. She searched for a long time for a jon like this after completing her studies.
She is added to the team, lead by Vincent de Vries. That team consists of Sam, Jules and Sylvie and Lucy, a timid but brilliant IT specialist.
Sara feels, just like Lucy does, a kind of outsider in the team. When Lucy discovers a large-scale fraud done by the 4 members, she shares this knowledge with Sara, with whom she has become friends in secret. When Lucy dies under suspicious circumstances, Sara seeks revenge for her friends death and sets up a trap for the rest of the team that she suspects to have had a hand in Lucy's death.

Starting in two books. One Tree-book and one e-book



De Gouden Enclaves by Naomi Novik book

The blurb NOT my review

The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about: the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls. And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me and Orion and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: We saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves everywhere. Ha, only joking! Actually, it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously gotten out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.

And



The House That Walked Between Worlds by Jenny Schwartz

The blurb NOT my review

A tornado of chaos is tearing through Reality and in its path is the newest House, a bleak and forbidding fortress built of magic and grief by the most unlikely of sorcerers, a human.

A reckless act of compassion costs Dr. Kira Aist her family and her future on Earth. To escape her enemies, she calls on her heritage as a descendant of Baba Yaga and walks between worlds.

As Kira roams the paths of Reality, strangers are drawn to her House. Some seek refuge, some seek power, and one just wants kitty treats.

With the fate of multiple worlds hanging in the balance, Kira must discover what it means to be a sorcerer and the keeper of a House.

Ooh, I loved the Scholomance series! I read it in English though. At first I thought it was just a cute magical school story, but it really punched above its weight. Glad you're enjoying it!

>127 pnppl: Hi Pnppl. Thank you for visiting my thread.

I do enjoy these books very much.

I just finished The House That Walked Between Worlds by Jenny Schwartz,

My review

I enjoyed this first part of the 'Uncertain Sanctuary' series very much. It is not a particularly exciting story, but it is easy to read with some humor (which I like in my books) and many different life forms in it. Cyborgs, elves, wizards, goblins and more of that kind of creatures.
Kira Airts uses the magic talents of one of her ancestors, Baba Yaga, when she suddenly has to flee from her enemies who recently killed her parents. Kira turns out to be a formidable sorcerer and she creates a House (with a capital H, its more a gigantic castle) for herself that can walk or fly if need be across the worlds and through space. On her escape she finds a few others that need to flee from the place they are staying, including Evander Zami, who becomes her head of safety.
Kira wants to take revenge for the death of her parents and so she has to investigate. Parts 2 and 3 are next on the reading list. Very nice, uncomplicated read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now starting in House In Hiding by Jenny Schwartz

The blurb NOT my review

Just when Kira thinks she is getting a handle on what it means to be a sorcerer, the Emperor calls and drops a bundle of trouble in her lap. And he's not the only one. For a woman intent on protecting her privacy, a whole lot of people seem to know how to contact Kira to draw her into their problems.

But when one of those problems involves saving children's lives, how can Kira refuse to help?

Magic is misbehaving across Reality and Kira sets out to discover why. Her allies stand ready to help—and hinder—as she traverses the paths of Reality in a House which is developing its own quirky personality.

I finished House in Hiding by Jenny Schwartz and the book gets

My Review

Second part in the 'Uncertain Sanctuary' series and it was almost as good and entertaining as part 1. There is some more information about the operation of the house and the planets and worlds where it can travel to. Technical information that I usually can't do much with, certainly not because I have read the book in English. That makes it harder for me to understand. But the story of Kira and Evander, Madra and all other residents of the House was just as delicious as in part 1. On part 3.



The House That Fought by Jenny Schwartz

The blurb NOT my review

Still reeling from betrayal, Reality's newest sorcerer finds herself at the heart of a centuries-old conspiracy that could destabilize worlds. Billions of lives are at risk.
Hidden motivations are everywhere.

Evander has family trouble.
Lennu has a theory.
Gale has gossip—doesn't she always?

And Kira has a plan. Maybe. If her magic would just behave.

Finished The House That Fought by Jenny Schwartz, Forumchallenge # 13,

My review

Third part in the series about 'The House'. Kira and Evander decide to fight the different nations who ensure a shaky balance in space. Together with Gale, Sylvestery and Lennu, they make a plan and implement it. I thought this was the least part. But hope for more books in the series, a little more story and fewer technical things. That is less interesting and more incomprehensible to me.

Now reading Een Noorse winternacht by Karen Swan

The blurb NOT my review

Bo lives a life most people can only dream of. She and her boyfriend Zac are paid to travel the globe, sharing their adventures with their online followers. And when Zac proposes, Bo's happiness is complete. With Christmas coming up, Bo can't wait to head to the snow-fringed fjords of Norway. Arriving at the picturesque and remote hillside farmhouse that will be their home for the next few weeks, Bo's determined to enjoy a romantic Christmas under the Northern Lights. Everything should be perfect. But the mountains hold secrets from the past and as temperatures plunge and tensions rise, Bo must face up to the fact that a life which looks perfect to the outside world may not be the life she should be living . . .

Finished Een Noorse winternacht by Karen Swan, ROOT # 12, Forumchallenge # 14,

My review

At times this book was quite exciting. But also very predictable.
Bo and Zac are vloggers who have made their work of it. Together they visit all kinds of unique places in the world and then post videos and photos on their blog. They have a photographer, Lenny, who takes all the photos and also arranges all things, such as airline tickets and overnight stays. They often also advertise a certain clothing line. Around Christmas they travel to an inhospitable part of Norway. They will live there for a month in a mountain farm, a primitive building with only the most necessary facilities. Their neighbor is the very old Signy, who has been living on that same spot all her life. Signy lives there on her own. Her grandson Anders takes care of her and he lives in a village in the area.
Bo gets a great scare when an old 'anonymous familiar' writes some posts on vlog. This man has been following her for very long, but she thought she had escaped his attention and was safe from him. When Bo is taken sick and has to live in a more comfortable house she stays in Anders house for a few days and she trusts him enough to share her fear when her stalker contacts here again.

Started yesterday and finished today.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh, ROOT # 13, Forumchallenge # 15,

The blurb

There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads. When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past--both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.

My Review

Short and charming book about Tobias Finch who has been living in the forest around Greenhallow Hall for 400 hundred years. It is an enchanted forest with dryads, nymphs and paths that change their places to keep people away from his house. On a rainy evening a soaked Henry Silver arrives at his house and he invites the new young owner of Greenhallow Hall to stay with him until the rain stops. However, Tobias is not the only one in the forest, there is also the dreaded Lord of Summer.

>134 connie53:
I read Silver in the Wood and enjoyed it. I hope that the author writes a sequel.

You have been doing lots of reading lately. Now that I am retired, I hope to get more reading done. Mostly, I have been listening to books while I drive back and forth to Kansas to set up home health care for my mother.

>134 connie53: I have this one on my e-reader! I'll have to read it soon.

>135 benitastrnad:, >136 rabbitprincess:.

I will read the sequel soon. I have it on my reader and it is called Drowned Country
At least I think this is the sequel. It is situated around Greenhallow Hall too.

I did finish De gouden enclaves by Naomi Novik and the book gets

My review

Exciting last part in the Scholomance series. Although I found the idea behind the enclaves in the beginning rather unclear, it slowly became clearer at the end of the book and I was able to let myself be flow with the story. Galadriel (EL) Higgins tells it the whole story and I thought that was a bit strange in the book 1, but I got used to that too. I am not going to tell much about the story and its outcome, because then I would spoil too much. I want to tell one thing, at the end I also dropped a tear or two.

>126 connie53:

>138 connie53: I just finished this one earlier this month, Connie. I thought it was a great end to the series!

>139 curioussquared: Thought so too.

Dropping in to wish you a lovely weekend, Connie!

Thanks Birgit. Getting ready to celebrate my sons 40th birthday this afternoon. So it will be great. The weather is sunny and warm, compared to last week.

>142 connie53: Oh enjoy your day - and I hope he enjoys his birthday! I'm glad the weather is being kind to you (it isn't in Scotland right now!).

Congrats to your son, and all the best wishes that the weather holds for a nice party!

Thanks Jackie and Birgit!

I finished Mortuarium by Patricia Cornwell and this book gets

My review

It has been a while since I read a book by Patricia Cornwell. This fitted well in one of the categories of the Forum Challenge of my reading club and that is why I read it. I can't remember earlier books that I have read about Kay Scarpetta that they were so messy. It sometimes looked like parts were left out or put in the wrong place in the story. The story difficult to follow too because it was about a technical subject, namely Nano Robotics. Not at all my thing. So I thought it was a moderate book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now starting in De valkentroon by Karen Miller

De blurb NOT my review

When kingdoms clash, every crown will be tarnished by the bloody price of ambition. The bastard lord Roric, rising up against his tyrant cousin, sheds more blood than he bargained for. A child prince, believed dead, sets his eyes on regaining his father's stolen throne. A duke's widow, defending her daughter, defies the ambitious lord who would control them both. And two royal brothers, Grefin and Balfre, divided by ambition, will learn the true meaning of treachery. Houses will fall, empires will be reborn, and those who seek the Falcon Throne will pay for it in blood.

Finished De valkentroon by Karen Miller,

My review

Nice and a BFB in an old-fashioned fantasy setting. Family feuds, battles around territories, jealousy and murder, love and unreachable love.
Roric is one of the main characters, he is a bastard son and can therefore not make a claim a on anything, let alone his kingdom. Due to an armed coup, Harold the reigning duke, is killed and Roric becomes the Duke of Clemen.
Clemen is a part of an island that is separated by a swampy area from Harcia where his cousin Balfre is in charge. Balfre is a manipulator and a man of intrigues and manslaughter.
In the swamp, the cheerful pig is a sanctuary where Harcian and Clemen people meet and where Marie and Edo provide food and drink in their tavern. Benedikt is Marie's son and they also take care of Willem, (who is actually Liam, son of Harold), but who has been saved by Ellie, his nanny, from the massacre around the killing of Harold. These are all parts of a very easy -to -read book. That tastes like more, but I have not been able to find the second part so far.

And De jongen, de mol, de vos en het paard by Charlie Mackesy

The blurb

A journey, in search of home Charlie Mackesy's beloved The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse has been adapted into an animated short film, coming to BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas. This beautifully made hardback celebrates the work of over 100 animators across two years of production - with Charlie's distinctive illustrations brought to life in full colour with hand-drawn traditional animation and accompanying hand-written script. "I made a film with some friends about a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse - their journey together and the boy's search for home. I hope this book gives you courage and makes you feel loved.

My review

It is and remains a beautiful, beautiful book. This is a publication made from the film and is just as cute with some more story and beautiful drawings.

Now reading



De lelievallei by Tracy Rees

The blurb NOT my review

1897: Rowena Blythe is wealthy, entitled and beautiful. As her twenty-fourth birthday approaches, she's expected to marry and to marry well. Her parents commission a portrait of Rowena to help cement her reputation as a great society beauty. However, Bartek, the artist's young assistant, is unlike any man Rowena has met before -- wild, romantic and Bohemian. While society at large awaits the announcement of Rowena's engagement, it is Bartek who captures Rowena's heart along with her likeness. Rowena knows her parents would never approve of Bartek, who in their eyes is nothing but a penniless foreigner. As her feelings grow, she has no-one to turn to. Dare she risk everything for love?

Finished De lelievallei by Tracy Rees and this book gets

My review

Another cozy book by Tracy Rees, which turns out to be a sequel on De rozentuin. That was unexpected but very welcome. The story takes place in 1897 and then society was clearly divided into ranks and positions.
This time the three main characters are Rowena Blythe, a daughter of a rich family who grew up with every convenience and enough personnel to answer to all her wishes. She does not think about the many servants who keep their house in running and is destined to enter into a marriage to a wealthy man.
One of this servant is Pansy Tilney, a girl who is forced to this work due to circumstances, but is not happy with that.
And Olive Westfallen, a consciously unmarried young woman from a harmonious family with enough money to give the lesser happier and privileged people a new chance. Olive has adopted a daughter, because she wants to be a mother. Which places her in an unconventional position. But she couldn't care less.
These three women, who would never have come into contact with each other, form the pivot of the story.
That all starts when Rowena runs away with the assistant of the painter who comes to paint her portrait. That ensures the necessary commotion.
A nice book to read, without having to think too much. Read with pleasure.

Another book read BFB # 4

-

Atlas, het verhaal van Pa Salt by Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker - 698 pages

The blurb

1928, Paris : A boy is found, moments from death, and taken in by a kindly family. Gentle, precocious, talented, he flourishes in his new home, and the family show him a life he hadn't dreamed possible. But he refuses to speak a word about who he really is. As he grows into a young man, falling in love and taking classes at the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris, he can almost forget the terrors of his past, or the promise he has vowed to keep. But across Europe an evil is rising, and no-one's safety is certain. In his heart, he knows the time will come where he must flee once more. 2008, the Aegean. The seven sisters are gathered together for the first time, on board the Titan to say a final goodbye to the enigmatic father they loved so dearly. To the surprise of everyone, it is the missing sister who Pa Salt has chosen to entrust with the clue to their pasts. But for every truth revealed, another question emerges. The sisters must confront the idea that their adored father was someone they barely knew. And even more shockingly: that these long-buried secrets may still have consequences for them today.

My review

What a great end to this series. I hope for many more books to come as spin-offs, but due to the death of Lucinda Riley I'm afraid that will not happen.
Many characters come together in this book. All sisters and their families and the team around Pa Salt are gathered on his yacht and there they all read his diary that tells about his flight from Russia, how the feud between him and Kreeg Eszu was created and how that feud led to the adoption of the sisters. And about his great love for Elle and the dramatic end thereof.
I have been jotting down 6 sheets of paper to try to understand all the connections, but that is extremely complicated. And a summary is therefore also difficult to give. Of course I can't spoiler here, so I won't tell much about the story itself.
I tried to read the last pages through my tears and with a sigh ended the book with the strong tendency to read all the books again. A well -deserved 5 stars.

A bit difficult to find a new book after Atlas, het verhaal van Pa Salt but I found one



Nooit meer by Colleen Hoover

The blurb NOT my review

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most. Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up--she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn't hurt. Lily can't get him out of her head. But Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his "no dating" rule, she can't help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan--her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

Finished the book in >150 connie53: and this book gets

My review

I thought I would read a chick-lit book, comfortably outside in the garden in the spring sun. Of those thoughts, only the sun and the garden were true. This was a beautiful and at the same time a harsh book, about the relationship between Ryle and Lily and how it went terribly wrong, but still had a happy ending. I won't say much about the story anymore because I would like new readers to get the same surprise as I did. I will only tell that (again) tears have been shed.

Based on the writer's own story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



On with another book by Colleen Hoover - Mijn belofte aan jou

The blurb NOT my review

Quinn and Graham's perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair. All Your Perfects is a novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

Finished Mijn belofte aan jou by Colleen Hoover an this book gets

My review

My second book by Colleen Hoover also deals with a subject that can disrupt a marriage.
Graham and Quinn meet in the corridor of a hotel in front of the room where his girlfriend and her fiancé are making love together. They decide to confront them together and that is the start of their own relationship. They immediately feel enormously connected and at ease with each other. A few years later they get married and everything is perfect until they decide it is time for a baby and then it all goes wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Started in Levenslang by Harlan Coben

The blurb NOT my review

David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son. Then Cheryl's sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark, and even though David and Rachel realize it can't be, they both just know. It's David's son, Matthew, and he's still alive. David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible, save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.>

Hi, Connie! I looked over your book list and you have some that look mighty interesting! I may have to add a few to my monstrous queue. I am not reading as much as I would like to but I hope to catch up a bit. The girls are gorgeous and the carnival pics were magical! Lovely makeup and costumes!

>153 enemyanniemae: Hi EAM. thank you for visiting. Now I'm curious as to which books you have selected from my list.
Thanks for the compliments. I just had a quiet hour recuperating from 48 hours with Fiene and Marie. I was exhausted when they left.

I finished Levenslang by Harlan Coben last Friday evening and gave the book

My review

Harlan Coben is one of my favorite writers. This book was not disappointing, but is not one of the best books I have read by him. A little too messy and with too many characters, yet entertaining and exciting enough to keep intriguing. I just wanted to know how it ended.
A nice book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Started reading Toen de wereld brak by John Boyne yesterday

The blurb NOT my review

An elderly London resident befriends the little boy who moves in downstairs, but his parents' fighting brings her back to her harrowing escape from Nazi Germany at age twelve and grim post-war years in France with her mother. Ninety-one-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same well-to-do mansion block in London for decades. She lives a quiet, comfortable life, despite her deeply disturbing, dark past. She doesn't talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesn't talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn't talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reich's most notorious extermination camps. Then, a new family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel can't help but begin a friendship with the little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back memories she would rather forget. One night, she witnesses a disturbing, violent argument between Henry's beautiful mother and his arrogant father, one that threatens Gretel's hard-won, self-contained existence. All The Broken Places moves back and forth in time between Gretel's girlhood in Germany to present-day London as a woman whose life has been haunted by the past. Now, Gretel faces a similar crossroads to one she encountered long ago. Back then, she denied her own complicity, but now, faced with a chance to interrogate her guilt, grief and remorse, she can choose to save a young boy. If she does, she will be forced to reveal the secrets she has spent a lifetime protecting. This time, she can make a different choice than before--whatever the cost to herself....

Finished Toen de wereld brak by John Boyne, ROOT # 21 -

My review

The main character In this book is the 91 year old Gretel. Gretel has been living in a luxury apartment in Mayfair in London for decades. All the while she has had the last name Fernsby, but that is just one of the many last names she has ever used.
Her past is a big secret for everyone around her. She only told two people the whole story. To David, the man she wanted to get married and to Edgar, whom she married. The book contains different timelines. London 2022, Paris 1946, London 1970, Sydney 1953, Poland 1943, London 1953.
In the timeline of 2022, Gretel has to deal with new downstairs neighbors. And she is a bit worried about what that will change in her daily life. That turns out to be quite a bit. Madelyn, Alex and their son Henry Darcy-Witt apparently have a luxurious life, but nothing could be further from the truth. Alex is a dominant and manipulating husband and father and he does not hesitate to mistreat his wife and son and Gretel hears the arguments and the fights upstairs in her apartment. When she gets to know Henry, her thoughts are taken back to the death of her brother Bruno. Through the stories in the timelines we find out what actually happened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading Augustus by J.D. Barker - ROOT # 22, Forumchallenge # 20, BFB # 5

The blurb NOT my review

After the loss of his parents, young Jack Thatch first met Stella as a child--this cryptic little girl of eight with dark hair and darker eyes, sitting alone on a bench in the cemetery clutching her favorite book. Gone moments later, the brief encounter would spark an obsession. She'd creep into his thoughts, his every waking moment, until he finally finds her again exactly one year later, sitting upon the same bench, only to disappear again soon after.

The body of a man found in an alley, every inch of his flesh horribly burned, yet his clothing completely untouched. For Detective Faustino Brier, this wasn't the first, and he knew it wouldn't be the last. It was no different from the others. He'd find another just like it one year from today. August 9, to be exact. Isolated and locked away from the world in a shadowy lab, a little boy known only as Subject "D" waits, grows, learns. He's permitted to speak to no one. He has never known the touch of another. Harboring a power so horrific, those in control will never allow him beyond their walls. All of them linked in ways unimaginable. A heart-pounding ride that creeps under your skin and will have you turning pages long into the night.

Augustus by J.D. Barker is finished and gets

My review

This is really a very exciting and intriguing book. There are many people involved, but the main characters are Jack, Stella and David. They are all three children of three couples who have been at Penn State University with some other young people. Jack meets Stella when he is 8 years old on August 8 and he is instantly in love with her. In most of the following years, he always meets her on the same bench on the 8th August near his parents' tombstones.
In the meantime, victims are found every year on 8 August who look burned but are not. The bodies look emptied from the inside, but they still wear their normal clothes. Investigators Faustino Brier and Joy Fogel are researching these cases. There is a macabre search for the cause of all these dead people and Jack and Stella form the center.
Really very exciting and you want to keep on reading until the book is finished

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now reading



Besjes in het bos - Margaret Atwood

The blurb NOT my review

The two intrepid sisters of the title story grapple with loss and memory on a perfect summer evening; "Impatient Griselda" explores alienation and miscommunication with a fresh twist on a folkloric classic; and "My Evil Mother" touches on the fantastical, examining a mother-daughter relationship in which the mother purports to be a witch. At the heart of the collection are seven extraordinary stories that follow a married couple across the decades, the moments big and small that make up a long life of uncommon love and what comes after.

And as an e-book



Horen, zien, zwijgen by J.D. Barker. ROOT # 23

The blurb NOT my review

Two days to save her... They've found the killer. The killer that Detective Sam Porter has been hunting for five years. But it's too late to put him behind bars. He's already dead. One day to save her... But even death can't stop this murderer. His last victim is still alive, struggling to escape and the police have no idea who or where she is. Zero. Now Sam Porter must race against time, as her chances of survival slip away, to stop this serial killer from claiming his final victim...

Finished Horen zien zwijgen by J.D. Barker,

My review

First part of the Sam Porter series. Sam Porter is a detective at the Chicago Metro Police and, together with his partner Brian Nash, is researching the kidnapping of different girls who have all been found dead. They all miss an ear, both their eyes and their tongue. There is less and less time between the abductions. It feels like the murderer is increasingly getting the urge to commit his deed. If another girl is abducted and her parents receive her ear in the now known white box with black ribbon, Sam Porter is planning to find the girl this time before the murderer can finish his ritual. A exciting hunt follows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Started and finished Ga als een rivier by Shelley Read, Forumchallenge # 21

The blurb

Victoria Nash is just a teenager in the 1940s, but she runs the household on her family's peach farm in the ranch town of Iola, Colorado--the sole surviving female in a family of troubled men. Wilson Moon is a young drifter with a mysterious past, displaced from his tribal land in the Four Corners region, who wants to believe one place is just like another. When Victoria encounters Wil on a street corner, their unexpected connection ignites as much passion as danger and as many revelations as secrets. Victoria flees into the beautiful but harsh wilderness of the nearby mountains when tragedy strikes. Living in a small shack, she struggles to survive with no clear notion of what her future will be. What happens afterward is her quest to regain all that she has lost, even as the Gunnison River rises to submerge her homeland and the only life she has ever known. Go as a River is a story of love and loss but also of finding home, family, resilience--and love--where least expected"--

My review

What a beautiful book this is. At the end I really cried long and hard, especially for Victoria. She grows from a modest farmer's daughter into a really great strong woman. Falling in love with Wilson Moon at the age of seventeen, a young kid of Indian descent, is the start of a special and extraordinary journey. The story is beautifully written catchy and I was very happy that she finally found a friend in Zelda who unconditionally believed in Victoria and did not judge her story.
I can't tell much about the story. Just read yourself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading het vijfde meisje by J.D. Barker - ROOT # 24

When the body of a young girl is found beneath the frozen waters of Jackson Park Lagoon, she is quickly identified as Ella Reynolds, missing three weeks. But how did she get there? The lagoon froze months earlier. More baffling? She's found wearing the clothes of another girl, missing less than two days. While the detectives of Chicago Metro try to make sense of the quickly developing case, Porter secretly continues his pursuit of 4MK, knowing the best way to find Bishop is to track down his mother. When the captain finds out about Porter's activities, he's suspended, leaving his partners Clair and Nash to continue the search for the new killer alone. Obsessed with catching Bishop, Porter follows a single grainy photograph from Chicago to the streets of New Orleans and stumbles into a world darker than he could have possibly imagined, where he quickly realizes that the only place more frightening than the mind of a serial killer is the mind of the mother from which he came."--

Catching up and happy to see so many high ratings on your recent books.

>111 connie53: I also liked that book.
>Japanese people in America were interned in all kinds of camps spread over America
Actor George Takei recently released They Called Us Enemy, a graphic-format memoir of his time in such a camp. It's very good and has many terrible parallels to current times.

>157 connie53: Go as a River sounds beautiful. I may have to pick it up. I think you got me with that one.

Thanks Ladies!

>159 atozgrl: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I had a conversation with a lady of my favorite bookstore about that book this morning. She liked it too and we cried about the same things as I did.

Read a few books in the last days. It's really hot here and there's not much else one can do. Temps are up to 32 degrees C.

My review for Het vijfde meisje, - ROOT #24 - BFB # 6

Second part in the Sam Porter series and just as strong as part 1. Because it is a sequel, I don't tell much about the story itself, but it is exciting and written with speed. The story is told by many characters, among others, Sam, Clair, Poole and Nash. Girls disappear again, there are a lot of deaths and at the end you can only do one thing, right through in part 3.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Vergeef me by J.D. Barker, - ROOT # 25 -Forumchallenge # 22 - BFB # 7

The blurb

For Detective Sam Porter, the words "Father, forgive me" conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades. Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer--discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina--clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles. Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos--a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.

My review

Super exciting last part of the Sam Porter series. And that does not even cover the load. The story flies back and forth between the different characters. Nobody seems to be who he is. As a reader, you are constantly misled. Anson Bishop plays a major role, just like Sam Porter and Clair Norton and Brian Nash. Breathless read.
I'm not going to tell too much about this part because of spoilers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



De beller op lijn vier by J.D. Barker,

The blurb

Controversial satellite radio talk show host, Jordan Briggs, has clawed her way to the top of the broadcast world. She doesn't hold back, doesn't spare feelings, and has no trouble sharing what's on her mind. Her rigorous pursuit of success has come at a price, though. Her marriage is in ruins, she hasn't spoken to her mother in years, and she's distanced herself from all those close to her. If not for her young daughter, Charlotte, her personal life would be in complete shambles. When a subdued man calls into the show and asks to play a game, she sees it as nothing more than a way to kick-start the morning, breathe life into the beginnings of drive-time for her listeners. Against her producer's advice, she agrees, and unwittingly opens a door to the past. Live on the air with an audience of millions, what starts out as a game quickly turns deadly--events long thought buried resurface and Jordan Briggs is forced to reconcile with one simple fact--All decisions have consequences.

My review

Jordan Briggs is a successful femal radio presenter who interviews famous people in her morning shows and in the meantime lets callers from outside participate in the conversation. One morning she gets Bernie on the phone who presents her with a choice, Ubers or taxis. She opts for taxis. Shortly thereafter, various taxis explode and a nightmare starts. Her daughter Charlotte is abducted. Her husband is seriously injured. The office building where she works is held hostage by Bernie.
Jordan has to keep her head cool and try to change Bernie's murderous plans. Luckely, she gets help from Cole Hundley, a policeman.
Written with a lot of speed and tension, as we know from J.D. Barker.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



De waarheid by Colleen Hoover, - ROOT 26

The blurb

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get started. Lowen uncovers an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended anyone to read, with pages of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night their family was forever altered. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate him. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit, if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

My review

What a nasty book. Occasionally I skipped some pieces. It is so different from the other books I have read from Colleen Hoover and so I did not see this coming at all. There is a twist at the end so that I still don't know what the truth is. For me there was also too much explicitly described sex in it. I am quite against that but this was just too much. Normally I can handle that just fine, but this was just too much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



De logé by Heather Gudenkauf, - ROOT # 27

The blurb

True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn't mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she's retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace. As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls - haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. Bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn't as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.

My review

Exciting and a puzzle in itself. Wylie Lark has rented a remote farm to concentrate on her new book. She writes True-Crime books and wants to have peace to work on her next book. When she gets snowed in and there is a huge storm, she is closed off from the rest of the world. Then she finds a boy of about 5 years old in the snow in her frontgarden. She carries him with great difficulty into her housen, but the boy says nothing and she has no idea how she can change that. When she goes looking for whether he is somehow involved in an accident, she discovers a car with a woman next to it who is stuck in the barbed wire of a fence. She goes back to her shed to get material to be able to remove the barbed wire, but she returns the woman has disappeared. That is the start of a very exciting story. Read in one day. Super book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



Now reading Het eiland van de verdwenen bomen by Elif Shafak, Forumchallenge # 23

The blurb NOT my review

Two teenagers, a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, meet at a taverna on the island they both call home. In the taverna, hidden beneath garlands of garlic, chili peppers and creeping honeysuckle, Kostas and Defne grow in their forbidden love for each other. A fig tree stretches through a cavity in the roof, and this tree bears witness to their hushed, happy meetings and eventually, to their silent, surreptitious departures. The tree is there when war breaks out, when the capital is reduced to ashes and rubble, and when the teenagers vanish. Decades later, Kostas returns. He is a botanist looking for native species, but really, he's searching for lost love. Years later a Ficus carica grows in the back garden of a house in London where Ada Kazantzakis lives. This tree is her only connection to an island she has never visited -- her only connection to her family's troubled history and her complex identity as she seeks to untangle years of secrets to find her place in the world.

32°C already! That's really awful. Looks like we're in for a long hot summer.

Sorry the Colleen Hoover book was a dud - I've heard so much about her, she certainly has an army of fans!

Sounds like staying cool and reading is the best thing in those temperatures! Here we've had lots of sun, I'd say temperatures got up to the early-mid 20s max in Scotland. It finally rained this morning though.

>161 connie53: I'll have to look for that Gudenkauf book at my library, Connie. I've read a few of her books — The Weight of Silence was my favorite of the ones I've read — because she is from Iowa, where I live now, and her books are all set here in places that I can recognize even through the fictionalization.

>163 Jackie_K: This was the first book by her I did not like. The other books were vey good. So don't hesitate to try her work, only not this one.

>164 rosalita: I read In stilte gehuld too, and love this one even better.

>165 connie53: That's good to know, Connie. I've placed a reserve on the book at my local library so eventually I'll have a chance to read it.

>166 rosalita: Enjoy, Julia!

Finished Het eiland van de verdwenen bomen by Elif Shafak and this book gets - Forumchallenge # 23

My review

Beautiful story about two Cypriots trying to let their love flourish despite the fact that Kostas is a Greek boy and Defne is a Turkish girl. Storylines are in 1974 and in the beginning of the 21st century. In that last storyline, Ada, their daughter, is the main character and the story is set in London. I didn't know much about the war that took place in Cyprus in 1974 but I was quite shocked about how all that has been all.
Ada doesn't know much about the history of her parents and if she has to make a paper during the Christmas holidays about an older family member, she knows that she can't really go to her father for that. He never wants to talk to her about it. That is forbidden to do so by the now deceased Defne.
Fortunately for Ada, Meryem arrives unexpectedly. She is Defne's sister. She was not allowed to have contact with Defne for a long time by her parents but now that they both died, Meryem has traveled to England to finally get acquainted with her niece.

Another and very special storyline is the one wich is told by the fig tree. In my opinion, it is really the most important story. Her (because it is the female version of a fig tree) stories are about how people and nature depend on each other and that people are hardly aware of that and that climate change is a real threat is for the ecological balance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading The End of Magic by Mark Stay - ROOT # 30

The blurb NOT my review

Rosheen Katell is a wandering mage and, with Anzu her griffin, she's worked hard to build a reputation as a trustworthy truth seer. She never lies, never kills. Sander Bree is a royal mage. He lives an easy life advising the king on matters of court and politics, but dreams of an apocalypse are giving him massive anxiety attacks.

Very soon, their magic will be gone. A cataclysmic event will change their lives and world forever.

Sander must keep a promise to save the life of a young girl that would have been difficult enough with magic, but is a suicide mission without it. Rosheen is forced to side with a murderous warlord, and her once-solid principles are tested and found wanting. Both will be set against one another in a war unlike anything the world has seen before, in this sweeping fantasy of magic's ending.

Hi Connie, thanks for stopping by my thread a week or two ago. I always seem to be behind! Our weather has been cooler than usual for June but the TV weather says that will change in the next few days and we'll be having heat a few degrees higher than you have now which will be normal for us. Unfortunately it won't stay there and will continue to rise. Last week the technician for the Air Conditioning service came for the bi-annual check and found that there was a big problem. My unit is 18 years old so that's not surprising though not welcome! The whole unit (both heat and air) will be replaced Thursday. I was lucky if it had to happen that it happened before the weather got really hot!

I hope you have a fun summer with the girls. It seems like the seasons change faster now than they once did! Before we know it fall will be here so we'd best enjoy summer days while we can!

>169 clue: Hi Luanne, you're so right, time is moving much faster then when I was younger. Summers seemed to be endless back then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

I've finished 3 more books since my last post



Zomer vol geheimen by Nikola Scott - - ROOT # 28 - Forumchallenge # 24

The blurb

August 1939...At peaceful Summerhill, orphaned Maddy hides from the world and the rumours of war. Then her adored sister Georgina returns from a long trip with a new friend, the handsome Victor. Maddy fears that Victor is not all he seems, but she has no idea just what kind of danger has come into their lives...Today...Chloe is newly pregnant. This should be a joyful time, but she is fearful for the future, despite her husband's devotion. When chance takes her to Summerhill, she's drawn into the mystery of what happened there decades before. And the past reaches out to touch her in ways that could change everything...

My review

This is a really nice summer book. Chloe is trapped in a marriage to a man, Aidan, who is slowly coming to dominate her. Slowly she begins to realize that. In the beginning she thinks he is just loving and protecting her. He does not think it is necessary for her to continue her work as a photographer. He likes her to take care of him and their house. That she is always at home and tells him what she is going to do and where she goes and with whom. She hardly has any friends. When she eventually turns out to be pregnant, things get even worse. Aiden decides what the name of the baby will be. In no time and without her having a say in it, he has prepared the baby's room.
Then she is asked if she would like to take a portrait of a children's book author, Maddy. Those children's books were Chloe's favorite books when she was little.
Maddy lives on an old estate and is now an elderly lady. Without Aidan knowing, she goes to Summerhill and gets to know Maddy better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



De Griekse ontsnapping - Karen Swan - - ROOT # 29, Forumchallenge # 25

The Blurb

Running from heartbreak, Chloe Marston leaves her old life in London for a fresh start in New York. Working at a luxury concierge company, she makes other people's lives run perfectly, even if her own has ground to a halt. But a terrible accident forces her to step into a new role, up close and personal with the company's most esteemed and powerful clients. Charismatic Joe Lincoln is one of them and his every wish is her command, so when he asks her to find him a secluded holiday home in the Greek Islands, she sets about sourcing the perfect retreat. But when Tom, her ex, unexpectedly shows up in Manhattan and the stability of her new life is thrown off-balance again, she jumps at the chance to help Joe inspect the holiday house; escaping to Greece will give her the time and space to decide where her future truly lies. Tom is the man she has loved for so long but he has hurt her before - can she give him another chance? And as she draws closer to Joe, does she even want to? As magnetic as he is mysterious, there's an undeniable chemistry between them that she can't resist.

My review

Heartbroken Chloe Marston moves to New York to work for a branch of the same agency she did work for in London. This agency ensures that the rich of the earth can do and buy everything their heart desires. A picnic for 20 people on an iceberg in Greenland, arranged within a few hours, 30 penguins as waiters at a party, of course. I found that all rather lavish and implausible, but I soon got into the story, especially when Joe Lincoln appeared. It's just a nice readable romantic story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



All the Murmuring Bones by Angela Slatter - - Forumchallenge # 23

The Blurb

Orphaned as a young child, Mirin O'Malley has been brought up by her grandparents on their isolated, rambling estate Hob's Hallow. Long ago her family prospered due to a deal struck with the mer, the terrifying creatures who live in the depths of the sea: safety for their merchant ships in return for a child of each generation. But for many years the family have been unable to keep their side of the bargain and their fortunes have suffered as a result. When Mirin's grandfather dies, her grandmother puts in train a plans to restore their glory - but at the price of Mirin's freedom. Finding amongst her grandfather's papers evidence that her parents may still be alive, Mirin is determined to escape and discover the truth about her origins. This takes her on a treacherous journey to Blackwater, the estate her parents built when they fled Hob's Hallow, but on arrival Mirin finds the estate in decline and her 'Uncle Edward' in charge: where are her parents, and who is this Edward Elliott really?

My review

Beautiful dreamy book.
Miren O'Malley is the last of the O'Malleys. A family that once made a pact with the Mer, a mermaid-like family. In exchange for the third child of each generation, they gain access to wealth. Miren is the first and only child of Isolde O'Malley and Liam Elliott. Her parents left her as a small child with her grandparents. Her grandmother told Miren that her parents are dead. When her grandparents also die, she finds a few letters from her mother to her grandfather with a possible place of residence. Miren decides to go find her parents. She also because wants to escape a arranged marriage to Aidan Fitzpatrick, a brutal man who is keen to become an O'Malley in name and getting Hob's Head, the tower where Miren is living in.
Very beautiful, slowly written with many fairy tales, which are also beautiful in themselves.

Started another book



Boy Queen by George Lester - ROOT # 30 - Forumchallenge # 26

The blurb NOT my review

Robin Cooper's life is falling apart. While his friends prepare to head off to University, Robin is looking at a pile of rejection letters from drama schools up and down the country, and facing a future without the people he loves the most. Everything seems like it's ending, and Robin is scrabbling to find his feet.Unsure about what to do next and whether he has the talent to follow his dreams, he and his best friends go and drown their sorrows at a local drag show, where Robin realizes there might be a different, more sequinned path for him . . .With a mother who won't stop talking, a boyfriend who won't acknowledge him and a best friend who is dying to cover him in glitter make up, there's only one thing for Robin to do: bring it to the runway.

Finished Besje in het bos by Margaret Atwood -

My review

I'm not much into short stories, but of course I have to read a book by Margaret Atwood. I liked the stories about Nell and Tig, an elderly couple. Their stories are like bookends for the rest of the stories. At the beginning of the book 3 stories, at the end 4. Those stories give the book 3 stars, but otherwise I didn't find it really impressive.

Finished Boy Queen by George Lester - - ROOT # 30 - Forumchallenge # 26

My review

A bit over the top book. I don't know if it was intended by the author, but I thought it was a bit too hysterical. Robin is a young gay man, with a difficult relationship with a schoolmate, Connor, Robin really wants to go to drama school, but when he is rejected his world collapses. When he meets a number of drag queens, he sees a new future ahead of him. Meanwhile, his mother unconsciously does all kinds of things that make it impossible for him.

Finally finished >168 connie53:

The End of Magic by Mark Stay and the book gets

My review

What a wonderful book this is. Mr. Stay can write damn well. This book tells the story of the magicians Kosheen Katell and Sander Bree. Sander works for the king and Kosheen works for those who want her as a truth seer. But that all changes when the Lapis Moon is destroyed by a large chunk of granite falling from space. Suddenly they have nothing left of their magical powers. Rosheen's little brother Oskar spent the first years of his life as a mentally handicapped child, who is bullied by everyone, they call him the Moon child. But the destruction of the Lapis Moon actually brings his powers to life.
Meanwhile, a war begins between Haldor Frang's rebel army and Bhaltair's king of Ultan.
Well written and intriguing from start to finish. In hindsight I regret that I put the book aside for a few days to let other books take precedence. Because this is definitely worth reading in one go.

Started and finished Films die nergens draaien by Yorick Goldewijk -

The blurb

On the same day Cato was born, her mother left her. Cato's father has been absent ever since, even though he just sits across the table from his daughter. Cato has now resigned herself to it. At lest she thinks so.

When she finds a mysterious card at home from an abandoned movie theater and discovers that it's open again, Cato decides to check it out. She soon discovers that something strange is going on with the cinema, and that they are not ordinary films that are shown. The cinema seems to be connected to the past.

Seeking adventure and the truth about her mother, Cato is dragged on a perilous journey through time and memories, straight to a place deep in her heart. A place she had always managed to hide from herself. Until she is faced with a choice that will change her and her father's lives forever.

My review

Although this is actually a children's book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is so well put together and all the lines are connected in the end.
It is the story of Cato, a twelve-year-old girl who grows up motherless, with a mentally absent father and a neighbor who is not really nice to her and who helps them with the housework. When Cato receives a letter from Mrs. Kano asking her to come to an old dilapidated cinema, she finds that actually strange but also exciting. That is the beginning of a very inspiring story and I myself also started to think about the things you think you know about the people around you. I think children don't think that deeply, but for the adults who read it and see the deeper layer it's really an eye-opener.

>174 connie53: I'm so glad you enjoyed The End of Magic, Connie! Mark is actually writing the sequel at present (in between Witches of Woodville books!).

That's good to hear Jackie. Looking forward to it.

Started and finished De Bronzen Stad by S.A. Chakraborty -

The blurb

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of eighteenth-century Cairo, she's a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trades she uses to get by, palm readings, zars, and a mysterious gift for healing, are all tricks, both the means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles and a reliable way to survive. But when Nahri accidentally summons Dara, an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior, to her side during one of her cons, shes forced to reconsider her beliefs. For Dara tells Nahri an extraordinary tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire and rivers where the mythical Marid sleep, past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises and mountains where the circling birds of prey are more than what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound

My review

What a wonderfully rich book this first volume is. 600 pages of pure enjoyment and read in 2 days.
Thera are all kinds of exotic beasts, Djinns and princes and princesses.
Nahri is the last of her lineage, the e-Nahib. She grows up parentless in Cairo and is a con artist of the nobles. During a ceremonial she accidentally summons a Djinn with all its consequences. She and Dara, the Djinn (Darayalvaloush e-Afshin) have to flee from other beings who also appear at that ceremonial. Their flight eventually takes them to Daêvabad, a fairytale city where they are accepted into the royal palace when it turns out that Nahri is the scion of a line of healers, which everyone thought was extinct. Very very well written and absolutely breathtaking.

>178 connie53: You liked this one a lot better than me, Connie. I gave it 3.5 stars. Just goes to show we can't all like the same books!

So true, Natalie. Maybe it's not for all people.

Reading book # two now.

De Koperen Koning by S.A. Chakraborty, ROOT # 35 - Forumchallenge # 27 - BFB # -

Started a few days ago and finished today.

The blurb

Nahri's life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad-and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there. Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali's hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she's been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family-and one misstep will doom her tribe. Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid-the unpredictable water spirits-have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried. And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It's a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city's gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

My review

Second part of the Daêvabad series and just as good as the first part. It's a very different world than we know. Lots of people with all kinds of magic and lots of magical beasts. Although it is just one city, it is divided into different parts per tribe with clear boundaries that are dangerous to pass since there is a lot of rivalry and anger between most tribes.
The hardest part for me was remembering the names. That is a lot easier in Dutch or English. I am therefore diligently writing down every name to be able to tell everyone apart. Fortunately, I'm getting better and better at separating them.
The main characters are Nahri, Alizayd and Darayavahoush (Dara). This is also a real intermediate book. Lots of things happen and it all points to a climax in book three. So fast forward to part three

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Het Gouden Rijk - S.A. Chakraborty

And started in part three

The blurb NOT my review

Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.

But the bloodletting and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara's dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies.

Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad's deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. While Nahri finds peace in the old rhythms and familiar comforts of her human home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. Seeking support in his mother's homeland, he discovers that his connection to the marid goes far deeper than expected and threatens not only his relationship with Nahri, but his very faith.

As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved . . . and take a stand for those they once hurt

And finished! Wow!

My review

Third and final part of the Daêvabad series. I can therefore only say that it is a worthy conclusion of a great series. There are enough intrigues again, many magical creatures of which the Marids (Water) were my favorites. Nahri learns more about her parents and the ending is also very satisfying. Definitely recommended for fantasy lovers. And in a great writing style that is compelling with a lot of momentum in the story.

Started yesterday and finished today

Wacht op mij by Santa Montefiore - ROOT # 36 -

The blurb

Rupert promised he was going to come back. All Florence had to do was wait.

Cornwall, 1944
When Rupert Dash is declared missing, presumed dead during the Battle of Arnhem, his wife, Florence, is devastated. She can’t accept that he has gone from her life forever, and so when she finds a poem called ‘Wait for Me’ hidden in an old book, she believes it’s a sign from her husband. A promise that he will return to her.

London, 1988
Since childhood Max has suffered from a recurring nightmare. Surrounded by the horrific chaos of World War Two, he has an urgent mission he knows he must complete. But time after time, the dream ends with him awaking in terror, his heart pounding from the horror of the battlefield. Desperate to understand why he is haunted by such terrible visions, Max embarks on a journey that leads him to Cornwall and a man named Rupert Dash.

Australia, 1995
Florence receives a letter from someone she has never met, who lives on the other side of the world. This stranger says he remembers a life that belonged to another before him. Could this be the one person Florence has waited over fifty years to meet again?

My review

I really enjoyed this book and even cried a little at the end. The idea is beautiful and also excellently told in different timelines.
Cornwall from 1937 to just after the end of WWII -
London 1985 to 1988 -
South Australia 1995

1985: Max has had a recurring nightmare in his youth, but when that nightmare returns later in life, he goes to investigate. In his dream, he is on a WWII battlefield trying to bring a fallen comrade and paratrooper to safety. It's all so lifelike that he thinks he's talking about someone else's experience. He wants to talk to people who understand these kinds of dreams and undergoes regression therapy.
His investigation leads him to Rupert Dash and his wife Florence Lightfoot.
In an earlier timeline, we follow the romance between Rupert and Florence.

A beautiful book, definitely worth reading.

Started and finished Sterrenvlucht by Brandon Sanderson - ROOT # 37 -

The blurb

Spensa's world has bene under attack for decades. Now pilots are the heroes of what's left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with her father's - a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa the daughter of a coward, her chances of attending Flight School slim to none. No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.

My review

Great first part of the Skyward series. Very technical story including g-forces and space combat techniques. But it is also the story of Spensa, a young woman who has to survive as the daughter of a coward. According to the story, her father, who was also a pilot, abandoned his team and died in an accident.
Spensa also wants to become a pilot and has to put in a lot of effort to be accepted by the head of Ironsides training. Spensa spent her early years in the underground caves and found a fighter plane buried under the rubble. This turns out to be M-Bot, a ship with AI. Spensa and M-Bot become friends.
Starting part two.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Sterrenzicht by Brandon Sanderson

The blurb NOT my review

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumours of his cowardice are true - he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them. Spensa is sure there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars - and it was terrifying. What she learned turned her world upside down. Everything Spensa's been taught is a lie. But Spensa also learned a few things about herself - and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

Finished Sterrenzicht by Brandon Sanderson yesterday and the book gets

My review

Great sequel to Sterrenvlucht. Spensa is on another planet where The Superiority reigns. She went there to see where the Krells come from. The Krells are the attackers of the planet where Spensa lives. She has taken the place of a pilot Alanik who crashed on Detritus. Races of all kinds live on Superiority, and Spensa soon befriends other visitors who, like Alanik, have been sent to participate in tests. This is clearly an intermediate part. And because the element of surprise of part 1 is gone, this was just a little less than part 1.



Continued in Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson

The blurb NOT my review

Spensa's life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell, the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What's more, she travelled light-years from home as a spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home. Now, the Superiority, the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life, has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa has seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator. Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it.

Finished Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson and this book gets

My review

Third part of the fantastic series about Spensa and her friends. This part is also full of space battles and strange creatures. This time Spensa is in the area called No Man's Land. There she meets Chet Starfinder. This man has been walking around this area for centuries. She and Chet go to the place where they think they can find an exit to get out. Only they discover that they are slowly losing their memory. When they join a pirate group, they have to conscious make sure not to lose sight of their goal. I eagerly await the sequel. But it still has to be translated into Dutch.
I must also admit that I frequently think I'm still reading this book. That seems like a good sign.

Here are some drawings in the book





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Yesterday I started in a paper book Het geheim van het familiehuis by Kate Morton

The blurb NOT my review

Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959: At the end of a scorching hot day, beside a creek on the grounds of a grand country house, a local man makes a terrible discovery. Police are called, and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most baffling murder investigations in the history of South Australia. Many years later and thousands of miles away, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for two decades, she now finds herself unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and is seriously ill in the hospital. At Nora's house, Jess discovers a true crime book chronicling a long-buried police case: the Turner Family Tragedy of 1959. It is only when Jess skims through its pages that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this notorious event--a mystery that has never been satisfactorily resolved

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Also reading on my kobo The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

The blurb Not my review

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God's bride, in the hopes that one day the "true bride" will be chosen and end the suffering. Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village and the beloved of Mina's older brother Joon may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong's stead. Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin as well as a motley crew of demons, gods, and spirits Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all. But she doesn't have much time: a human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking...

Finished Het geheim van het familiehuis - BFB # 11 -

My review

I was happy to see that Kate Morton had written another new book and couldn't wait to get started in it.
This is mainly the story of three women. Mother Nora, daughter Polly and her daughter Jess Turner-Bridges.
It all starts in December 1959 when Percy Summers finds the bodies of Isabel and her three oldest children Mathilda, John and Evie. Their youngest daughter Thea, 2 months old, has disappeared without a trace.

2018: Jess flies back to Australia from London when she learns that her Grandma Nora has suddenly been hospitalized after falling down the attic stairs. Jess was never allowed to go there. She has always had a good relationship with her grandmother and was even largely raised by her after her mother Polly moved away.
Confused, Nora whispers some muddled things that Jess can't understand. When she moves into her grandmother's house, she finds a book about the 1959 murders in the bedroom. Jess is an investigative journalist and is intrigued by the story. She tries to find out the truth and it is completely different than she could have imagined. All her certainties are shaken and under pressure. Who lied and why and for whom. And what does that do to you and the ones you love?
The book contains a lot of characters, almost too many to tell apart and guess who is important or who will be so. You have to read very concentrated and keep an eye on all the storylines, as a writer as well as a reader. Fortunately, Kate Morton can be trusted with that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now starting in another book Roodkapje by Unni Lindell

The blurb NOT my review

Maybe I could have become an ordinary woman, but it didn't turn out that way. I was fourteen years old when I killed the first man, after that I couldn't stop.”

Judith, Lisbeth and Carol Marner are raised by their grandmother because their mother is unable to care for them. Lisbet becomes a midwife, Judith a photographer and Carol a disillusioned alcoholic.

But which of the three makes a habit of killing men?

I abandoned the book in >187 connie53: by Unni Lindell. I did not like it at all and took al my books by her from the shelves to donate to a second hand store. I don't want to waste any more time on books I don't like. I'm to old for that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Instead I read Reisverslag van een kat by Hiro Arikawa ROOT # 39, Forumchallenge # 30 and gave that book

The blurb

Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van. Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn't know why and Satoru won't say. Set against the backdrop of Japan's changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and striking humour, Nana's story explores the wonder and thrill of life's unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take.

My review

Lovely story seen and told by Nana, the alley cat, due to an accident he breaks a leg and is taken in and cared for by Saturo, a mid-thirties Japanese man. Saturo is eager to keep Nana for himself and the two form a special bond. But because of circumstances that are still unclear at the beginning, Saturo is looking for someone who wants to take over his cat. He takes a trip through Japan with Nana and visits his friends from the past, but there is nowhere for Nana to stay.
It's mostly about friendships and how they were formed and stay strong over the years.

>188 connie53: It's only been since I've been older that I've felt better about abandoning books. I agree with you - life's too short for books you're not enjoying!

>188 connie53: Brava for moving on!

Thanks, Jackie and MJ.



Zijn we slim genoeg om te weten hoe slim dieren zijn? by Frans de Waal

The blurb NOT my review

From world-renowned biologist and primatologist Frans de Waal comes this groundbreaking work on animal intelligence destined to become a classic.What separates your mind from an animal's? Maybe you think it's your ability to design tools, your sense of self, or your grasp of past and future--all traits that have helped us define ourselves as the planet's preeminent species. But in recent decades, these claims have been eroded--or even disproved outright--by a revolution in the study of animal cognition.Take the way octopuses use coconut shells as tools; elephants that classify humans by age, gender, and language; or Ayumu, the young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame. Based on research involving crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, whales, and of course chimpanzees and bonobos, Frans de Waal explores both the scope and the depth of animal intelligence. He offers a firsthand account of how science has stood traditional behaviorism on its head by revealing how smart animals really are--and how we've underestimated their abilities for too long.People often assume a cognitive ladder, from lower to higher forms, with our own intelligence at the top. But what if it is more like a bush, with cognition taking different, often incomparable, forms? Would you presume yourself dumber than a squirrel because you're less adept at recalling the locations of hundreds of buried acorns? Or would you judge your perception of your surroundings as more sophisticated than that of a echolocating bat?De Waal reviews the rise and fall of the mechanistic view of animals and opens our minds to the idea that animal minds are far more intricate and complex than we have assumed. De Waal's landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal--and human--intelligence.

This book is not my own but lend from my brother-in-law, Hay. He told some things about this book and it sounded intriguing. It is a book that can be read in small stages. So it will probably take me a while

>191 connie53: That sounds fascinating, Connie. Making a note of it.

>191 connie53: That was the first book by Frans de Waal that I read, Connie. I hope you like it as much as I did.

Hi Birgit and Anita, thank you for visiting my thread. I'm not getting much reading done these days. I have to divide my days between the grandkids and visiting Peet in the care-centre. And I have a bunch of English books to sort (13.000 -
that's not a slip of the pen!) my brother found. I like that sort of thing, but it takes most my days.

Started and finished Lake Silence by Anne Bishop - Root # 40 - Forumchallenge # 31 -

The blurb

After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence. Towns like Vicki's have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what's out there watching you. When her lodger, Aggie Crowe-- one of the shapeshifting Others-- discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble. The detectives want to pin the man's death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim.

My review

Great to be back in the world of The Others. I would even like to take a look there.
Victoria DeVine (Vicki) got the Dane family resort with the buildings an amount of money to do the first renovations in the divorce settlement from her ex-husband Yorick Dane.
She has renovated and furnished a number of the cabines. One cabine is inhabited by Aggie, a shape-shifter who is a Crow in her natural form. When Aggie finds a murdered man on the property, Vicki calls the police.
Wayne Grimshaw of the Highway Patrol is ordered to go and investigate the murder. He knows that a number of other police officers have not returned from Lake Silence before. That makes him more attentive and on his gard for things unusual. This is the beginning of a great story about all life forms that live around Lake Silence, including the Sanguinati, the Elementals and the Elders.

>194 connie53: Good gracious! How many rooms full of books is that?

>196 MissWatson:, Luckily they are all digital. ;-))

>197 connie53: Wow. You could get lost in there and not resurface for years.

>198 MissWatson: LOL, I did surface again to buy another book for the TBR.



Schip der zielen by Kate Mosse

The blurb

The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months it has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved by corsairs, manned by a courageous crew of mariners from Italy and France, Holland and the Canary Islands. But the bravest among them are not who they seem. The stakes could not be higher. If arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

>199 connie53: Oooh, pirates! I'm waiting eagerly for your comments!

>199 connie53: LOL, I did surface again to buy another book for the TBR.
For sure :) it's our oxygen!

>200 MissWatson: It will be a while before I will read it. But I will get there.

>201 detailmuse: Sure it is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



Finished a book today that I read for my RL Forumchallenge Categorie: Assassins

'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy by Leslie Langtry - Forumchallenge # 32
- -

The blurb

Death by Chocolate is her favorite dessert. And those knitting needles aren't just for craft projects. To most people, Gin Bombay is an ordinary single mom. Then again, they don't know she's from a family of top secret assassins. Somewhere between leading a Girl Scout troop for her kindergartner--would nooses count for a knot badge?--and keeping their puppy from destroying the furniture, Gin now has to take out a new target. Except this target has an incredibly hot Australian bodyguard who knows just how to make her weak in the knees. But with a traitor threatening to expose everything, Gin doesn't have much time indulge her hormones. She's got to find the leak and clear her assignment...or she'll end up next on the Bombay family hit list.

My review

Delightful book. Quick and easy to read and very funny at times. Romance and some sex. With teary eyes at the end.
Gin is a widow of just 40 who tries to have a normal life together with her 5 year old daughter Romi. But that is actually not possible if you are a member of the Bombay family. All 36 living members are hired killers or will soon be. Romi will be told at the next familie reunion weekend that that is what her mother, uncles, aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers do.
When Gin meets Diego, a bodyguard, it's almost love at first sight, but the romance takes a turn for the worse when she's assigned to kill the man who's bodyguard Diego is. To make things even more complicated, she is ordered by the family elders to find out who the traitor in the family is.

Wild Country by Anne Bishop - ROOT # 41 -

The blurb

There are ghost towns in the world--places where the humans were annihilated in retaliation for the slaughter of the shape-shifting Others. One of those places is Bennett, a town at the northern end of the Elder Hills--a town surrounded by the wild country. Now efforts are being made to resettle Bennett as a community where humans and Others live and work together. A young female police officer has been hired as the deputy to a Wolfgard sheriff. A deadly type of Other wants to run a human-style saloon. And a couple with four foster children--one of whom is a blood prophet--hope to find acceptance. But as they reopen the stores and the professional offices and start to make lives for themselves, the town of Bennett attracts the attention of other humans looking for profit. And the arrival of the outlaw Blackstone Clan will either unite Others and humans...or bury them all

My review

Anne Bishop's books are exciting to read. It's a bloodthirsty world, with vampires and shape-shifters, but I really enjoy it. Unfortunately, there is only one book in the series about The Others, so I will go straight into that.
This part is about the small town of Bennett, left uninhabited after the humans' attack on the Others. The Elders have decided that it can be inhabited again, but under the authority of the Sanguinati family (vampires) and the Gards (shape-shifters). People are allowed to live there again, under their authority, and one of them is Jana, a young policewoman who is hired as such. The sheriff, Virgil Wolfgard, takes her under his wing, but in his own way. The different species have quite a few problems recognizing, understanding and acknowledging each other's habits and norms. As more and more people come to build their lives in Bennett, there are also a few with bad intentions.
Very readable and exciting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



Crowbones by Anne Bishop

The blurb

Crowbones will gitcha if you don't watch out! Deep in the territory controlled by the Others-shape-shifters, vampires, and even deadlier paranormal beings-Vicki DeVine has made a new life for herself running The Jumble, a rustic resort. When she decides to host a gathering of friends and guests for Trickster Night, at first everything is going well between the humans and the Others. But then someone arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. When the impostor is killed along with a shape-shifting Crow, and the deaths are clearly connected, everyone fears that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble-and that could mean serious trouble. To "encourage" humans to help them find some answers, the Elders and Elementals close all the roads, locking in suspects and victims alike. Now Vicki, human police chief Grimshaw, vampire lawyer Ilya Sanguinati, and the rest of their friends have to figure out who is manipulating events designed to pit humans against Others-and who may have put Vicki DeVine in the crosshairs of a powerful hunter

And finished last week Crowbones by Anne Bishop - ROOT # 42 -

My review

Wonderful end to the series about the Others. with plenty of potential for spin-offs or sequels.
When the trick-or-treating night ends dramatically and there are several fatalities, both the humans and the Sanguinati must work together to prevent more casualties. I can't say too much because it's very easy to spoiler.
Most of it takes place in The Jumble centered on Vicky DeVine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Also started and finished Bloedlijn by Angela Marsons - ROOT # 43 -

The blurb

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first to be a robbery gone wrong. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn't add up. When a drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims, this could be her most difficult case yet. Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim's focus is shaken by the reappearance of Dr. Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim's twin brother--her own mother. As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them...

My review

Kim Stone must explore all possibilities for a match between a number of victims who were killed with determined purpose. What could it be that connects these people?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading Dolende zielen by Angela Marsons - ROOT # 44

The blurb

The truth was dead and buried ... until now. When a collection of human bones is unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for Detective Kim Stone. As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the grave contains more than one victim. The bodies hint at unimaginable horror, bearing the markings of bullet holes and animal traps. Forced to work alongside Detective Travis, with whom she shares a troubled past, Kim begins to uncover a dark secretive relationship between the families who own the land in which the bodies were found. But while Kim is immersed in one of the most complicated investigations she's ever led, her team are caught up in a spate of sickening hate crimes. Kim is close to revealing the truth behind the murders, yet soon finds one of her own is in jeopardy - and the clock is ticking. Can she solve the case and save them from grave danger - before it's too late?

And

Het wilde eiland by Karen Swan

The blurb

Summer on St Kilda – a wild, remote Scottish island. Two strangers from drastically different worlds meet . . . Wild-spirited Effie Gillies has lived all her life on the small island of St Kilda but when Lord Sholto, heir to the Earl of Dumfries, visits, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young visitor around the isle, falling in love for the first time – until a storm hits and her world falls apart. Three months later, St Kilda falls silent as the islanders are evacuated for a better life on the mainland. With her friends and family scattered, Effie is surprised to be offered a position working on the Earl’s estate. Sholto is back in her life but their differences now seem insurmountable, even as the simmering tension between them grows. And when a shocking discovery is made back on St Kilda, all her dreams for this bright new life are threatened by the dark secrets Effie and her friends thought they had left behind. Opposites attract in this epic and spellbinding novel, which transports us from the untamed beauty of St Kilda to the glamour and intrigues of high society in the 1930s.

Finished Dolende zielen by Angela Marsons - ROOT # 44 -

My review

In Dead Souls, human bones are found on the Cowley family's land during an archaeological dig. This farming family has been leasing the land from the wealthy Preece family for decades. When forensic investigations show that horrible things must have happened to these found human remains, Kim Stone is called in. Because the site of the find is on the border of two police districts, Kim is forced to work with Tom Travis, an old colleague she is reluctant to work with due to an incident a few years earlier. However, the forced cooperation does lead to the final solution of the case. Especially when her colleague Stacey Wood is kidnapped and history seems to repeat itself. The underlying motive appears to revolve around hate crimes and discrimination.

Read Idil, een meisje by Yasmine Allas. ROOT # 45, Forumchallenge # 33 -

The blurb

Idil feels trapped in the Islamic community in which she grows up, which systematically denies a woman's self-worth. She undergoes the ritual circumcision as a humiliation. She experiences sexual subordination when her teacher Harun and then her assigned husband, Zade, use her disrespectfully. Fleeing from this life seems impossible, until Idil meets a white man with whom she falls in love. Is this her escape to freedom?

My review

I'm not really impressed with this book. Very bad things happen to Idil, that's certainly the case. But I have no trouble reading about those things. It's more the writing style that I didn't like. And somehow I didn't like Idil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



Oog om oog by M.J. Arlidge, BFB # 12

The blurb

Only nine criminals in the UK have been granted lifelong anonymity. Their crimes so heinous that their identities are permanently changed for their own safety. Upon release, they're given a second chance: new identities and new homes with new neighbours who have no idea. Because, by law, they cannot be named as who they are - or were. But what if someone started systematically exposing their true identities? Not to the press, or the public, but to the families of their victims. Who deserves justice? And who gets to decide?

Finished Oog om oog by M.J. Arlidge BFB # 12 -

My review

Another excellent book by M.J. Arlidge. Exciting and occasionally confusing due to the many characters. I decided to make a list of them to keep track of everyone. The story is about 6 people who get a new name, a new background and a new place of residence after serving their sentence for murder. Then one of them is killed, which turns out to have been done by a victim's family.
Chandra Dubral, a police inspector, is assigned to investigate the murder and find out who informed the family of the new identity of their mother's killer.
Meanwhile, Olivia Campbell must help young Jack Walker to adjust to his newly created life. Then more people are killed by the families of their previous victims and even the highest echelons of government are involved.
The ending was stunning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finished Het wilde eiland by Karen Swan -

My review

I am pleasantly surprised by this book. It's recommended "For Lucinda Riley Readers," and that's not entirely true. It's completely different in one way, but it does when you consider the effort the writer must have made to learn more about the Island of St. Kilda and write a series that focuses on the existence of the people of St. Kilda, all 36 of them. The evacuation of St. Kilda in 1930 also really happened. At the request of the inhabitants who lead a hard life on the island. The main characters are Effie Gillies and her friends Flora MacQueen and Mhairi McKinnan.
The writer, Mrs. Swan says in her afterword that in each of the parts of the series one of the girlfriends will play the leading role. In part 1 that is Effie, who lives with her father in one of the 'cottages'. There are 11 cottages and the all inhabitants live in one of them.
Effie is an expert in naming all the birds and plants on the island. She taught herself that by reading the books that Frank Mathieson, the island's steward, always takes with him when he comes to the island twice a year. That Mathieson has his own reasons for doing so emerges later in the story.
In the beginning of the book, The Earl of Dumfries and his son Lord Sholto come to visit the island and will spend a week on the island with Mathieson in his larger cottage near the village. The Earl is an amateur collector of bird eggs and when he discovers that Effie knows a lot about it, he asks her as a guide. Lord Sholto also joins them on their wanderings. He and Effie are very fond of each other. He because of her artless honesty and the fact that she doesn't mince words and she because of his handsome appearance and his dazzling smile.
When the two men leave again, Effie is left with the idea that Sholto will come up with a plan to be together. But she never hears from him again.
When, six months later, the entire population of St. Kilda is transferred to Scotland, where they get a house and jobs, their paths cross again. Effie is asked by The Earl of Dumfries to catalog his collection and invites her and her father to live on his estate.

Well written and a wonderful story. Looking forward to the sequel, another 7 weeks to wait.

Now reading De wrede prins by Holly Black - ROOT # 46

The blurb

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Stopping in, Connie, and hope all is well with you. >208 connie53: I bought this one earlier this year but haven't read it yet. I'll look forward to your thoughts!

>209 curioussquared: And here they are

Finished De wrede prins by Holly Black - ROOT # 46 -

My review

This first part of the Elfhame series is surprisingly fun and entertaining. Jude Duarte and her twin sister Taryn and older sister Vivienne are brutally taken from their parents by Madoc, a general of the elven people, and taken to the elven world. There they continue to grow up in Madoc's family. Madoc is Vivienne's biological father, but Jude and Taryn are the daughters of two ordinary human people. When she is older, Jude must try to survive as best she can in King Eldred's court.
During that time, Jude is severely bullied by Prince Cardan and his friends. When Prince Dain offers to train Jude as one of his spies, she reluctantly accepts. Knowledge is power.
When King Eldred indicates that he wants to give up his kingship in favor of Prince Dain, her future seems certain. But during the coronation, a massacre takes place and only 2 of the 6 king's children are left alive. By thinking smartly, Jude knows how to execute her own plan and rise to a high position.
I really liked this book and went straight to the second part.

hi, Connie! You are doing much better than I this year. I am doing a weekly children's program (storytime and craft) and a monthly book club for adults. Both are at the library and I have no time to read. I spend my days looking for books and crafts, cutting out things for crafts, putting crafts together to see if the kids will be able to follow what I have done (doesn't really matter because they are 2-4 years old and all they want to do is pour glue all over the tables). If I'm not doing that, I am checking quantity of books I am considering for the book group. And sometimes I actually sit for a minute to catch my breath. None of the above involves my being able to read for pleasure. (or to have something to do when the library is dead)

But I am going to try to pick up the pace for the last 4 months of the year. I hope to catch up to you soon.

>211 enemyanniemae:. 2-4 years old and all they want to do is pour glue all over the tables

That made me laugh out loud. So recognizable. Luckily my granddaughters have past that stage, although water colouring is a challenge, sometimes.

Thanks for visiting EAM. I hope you get some time in the last months of the year to spend some Me-time.

Finished De gevallen koning by Holly Black - ROOT # 47 -

My review

This second part of the Elfhame series was again a very entertaining book to read. I did so almost in a day.
A second part in a series is usually a bit of an in-between book, in which not too much happens, but you can hardly say that about this book. Jude has been able to bind Cardan to her and for one year and a day he is compelled by an oath to do anything Jude tells or asks him to do. Jude is actually the real ruler of the land. But the court remains anything but calm, one intrigue follows another in quick succession and conspiracies are everywhere. Jude especially benefits from the spies of the murdered King Dain. She has joined them before and the three members, The Schim, The Cockroach and The Bomb, help wherever they can. Meanwhile, her foster father Madoc is also trying to get closer to the crown and she has to look after her twin sister, Taryn, who is now married to Locke. And Jude starts to feel more and more for Cardan.

To Continue in part 3.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



De verbannen koningin by Holly Black - ROOT # 48

The blurb

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.
Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan's betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her twin sister, Taryn, whose life is in peril.
Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict's bloody politics.
And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity . . .

Finished De verbannen koningin by Holly Black - ROOT # 48 -

My review

What an exciting book to end with, or so I thought. Until I found out that there are 2 more books about the same world. So I'll have to look for those.

Banished to the human world, Jude now lives with Vivienne and Oak. She is still shaken by Cardan's betrayal. Then Taryn also comes home, because she has to flee after the violent death of her husband, Locke. Taryn is accused of murder and must appear before the high council. Jude sees an opportunity to return to Cardan's court as Taryn. Upon returning, she discovers that Elfhame is close to war and preparing for a major invasion and battle. Jude will do anything to prevent this. Then Cardan is cursed and can no longer do anything himself and Jude is once again dependent on her own clever plans.

You raced through that series, Connie! I'll have to pick it up soon.

>215 curioussquared: I thought it was really fun to read and due to the nice weather I could spend lots of time out in the garden.

Now reading Vigil by Angela Slatter, ebook

The blurb

Verity Fassbinder has her feet in two worlds. The daughter of one human and one Weyrd parent, she has very little power herself, but does claim unusual strength - and the ability to walk between us and the other - as a couple of her talents. As such a rarity, she is charged with keeping the peace between both races, and ensuring the Weyrd remain hidden from us. But now Sirens are dying, illegal wine made from the tears of human children is for sale - and in the hands of those Weyrd who hold with the old ways - and someone has released an unknown and terrifyingly destructive force on the streets of Brisbane. And Verity must investigate - or risk ancient forces carving our world apart.



Verstoten by Jane Harper, book

The blurb

A mother disappears from a busy festival on a warm spring night. Her baby lies alone in the pram, her mother’s possessions surrounding her, waiting for a return which never comes. A year later, Kim Gillespie’s absence still casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather to welcome a new addition to the family. Joining the celebrations on a rare break from work is federal investigator Aaron Falk, who begins to suspect that all is not as it seems. As he looks into Kim’s case, long-held secrets and resentments begin to come to the fore, secrets that show that her community is not as close as it appears. Falk will have to tread carefully if he is to expose the dark fractures at its heart, but sometimes it takes an outsider to get to the truth . . .

You're racing through the books, Connie! I'm much slower at reading this year, for some reason. But still enjoying it, so that's the main thing.

Wow, so many books here! I hope the good reading continues, Connie.

Thanks Birgit and Jackie. I'm really reading a lot these days, enjoying the last days of Summer.
This weekend I had Fiene and Marie over for a weekend stay. Fiene stayed two nights and Marie just one, She spend the first night at Lonne's place.

Finished Verstoten by Jane Harper,

My review

I am a huge fan of Jane Harper's books. So when this book was finally translated, I immediately bought it and read it. At first I had to get used to the structure of the book. Things are only revealed little by little and sometimes you only notice what is important afterwards. But once I figured that out, things went a lot smoother.
The story is set in a small village in Australia's wine region during a food and wine festival. Aaron Falk, a Federal Agent mainly concerned with financial fraud, is the main character in several of Jane Harper's books and also is this one.
This time he has been invited by his friend Gregg Raco to come to the festival, just like the year before. In that year, Kim Gillespie disappeared without a trace and her daughter Zara wants to take the opportunity to ask the visitors again if they were there the year before and if they could tell something about what they had seen that is not known yet. Zara is seventeen and determined to find out why her mother disappeared, leaving behind her 6 week old baby Zoë.
When the puzzle pieces slowly fall into place, another disappearance also plays a role. Namely that of Dean Tozer, Joel's father, Zara's friend.
Together with his best friend Gregg, also a police officer, Aaron sets to work.
Very exciting, with a bit of romance and with a totally unexpected ending. And those are of course the best stories.

>221 connie53: I loved that one, too, Connie. Jane Harper is a must-read author for me.

For me too, Julia.



Now reading Heeft iemand Charlotte Salter gezien? by Nicci French

The blurb

1990

When beautiful and vivacious Charlotte Salter fails to turn up to her husband Alec’s 50th birthday party, her kids are worried, but Alec is not. As the days pass and there’s still no word from Charlie, her daughter, Etty, and her sons, Niall, Paul and Ollie, all struggle to come to terms with her disappearance.
How can anyone just vanish without a trace?
Left with no answers and in limbo, the Salter children try and go on with their lives, all the while thinking that their mother’s killer is potentially very close to home.

Now

After years away, Etty returns home to the small East Anglian village where she grew up to help move her father into a care home. Now in his eighties, Alec has dementia and often mistakes his daughter for her mother.
Etty is a changed woman from the trouble-free girl she was when Charlie was still around - all the Salter children have spent decades running and hiding from their mother’s disappearance.
But when their childhood friends, Greg and Morgan Ackerley, decide to do a podcast about Charlotte’s disappearance, it seems like the town’s buried secrets – and the Salters’ – might finally come to light.

Finished Heeft iemand Charlotte Salter gezien? by Nicci French, ROOT # 49 -

My review

A wonderful exciting and complicated story about the Salter and Ackerley families. When Charlotte Salter, mother of four children, suddenly disappears, the lives of those four children are forever dominated by that disappearance. It is shortly before Christmas and a big party has been organized for the people of the small village where they live. Alec Salter, Charlotte's husband turns 50. But his wife is not there and no one can find her. Etty, the 15-year-old only daughter of Charlotte and Alec hopes that her mother will return soon. But that doesn't happen. The police starts an investigation, but they do it rather clumsily. One mistake after another is made. When another villager is found dead shortly after the disappearance, the police are convinced that it is a murder-suicide case.
30 years later, the Ackerley brothers make a podcast about the two cases. They interview many fellow villagers and find out that an agenda of Charlotte has been found, with crucial information. Shortly, the woman who found the diary is killed in a fire. Maud O'Connor is brought in from London by the chief of police to investigate all 3 cases, because they think the cases are linked together
A very well written book, which I enjoyed reading and I also had to shed a few tears.

Started and finished De Lincoln highway by Amor Towles - ROOT # 50 - BFB # 13 -

The blurb

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett's future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction--to the city of New York.

My review

What a great book this is. I read this almost in a day and it's quite a chunky one. It is the story of brothers Emmett and Billy Watson. Emmett spent over a year in juvenile detention in Salina house. His father has passed away in the meantime and when he returns home to his 8-year-old brother, the farm appears to have been confiscated by the bank. They have to leave and decide to drive the Lincoln highway in Emmett's old car and look for their mother. Billy has found some postcards that his mother sent to her children. The postcards are of 8 different cities that lie along the Lincoln highway. Then Emmett's friends from Salina house Woolly and Duchess are at the door. All plans fall through because Woolly and Duchess take off in Emmetts car on their own quest in the other direction, New York. That is the pattern around which this book is built. Traveling by train, meeting all kinds of interesting characters, Ulysses, Pastor John, Townhouse, Abacus Abernathe, Sister Agnes, Sally and Sarah.
There is a special role for Billy's favorite book: "Professor Abacus Abernathes Compendium of Heroes, Adventurers and Other Intrepid Travelers". Billy has already read the book twenty-four times and carries it everywhere with him.
The Lincoln highway is occasionally philosophical, comical, dramatic. With profound and nonsensical reflections. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to read other books by Amor Towles as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now Reading



Stad vol geesten by V.E. Schwab

The blurb

Ever since her near-fatal drowning, Cassidy has been able to pull back the "Veil" that separates the living from the dead and see ghosts, not that she wants to, and she was really looking forward to a ghost-free summer at the beach; however her parents are going to start filming a TV series about the world's most haunted places, starting with Edinburgh with its graveyards, castles, and restless phantoms--and Cass and her personal ghost companion, Jacob, are about to find out that a city of old ghosts can be a very dangerous place indeed.

>225 connie53: I really enjoyed seeing Edinburgh through Cass's eyes - hope you enjoy!

My review of Stad vol geesten by V.E. Schwab -

This book is really a Young Adult book. I briefly considered giving it to my 7-year-old granddaughter, but it's still a bit too exciting and weird for her.
It is the story of Cassidy Blake who, with her best friend and ghost Jacob, goes on a trip to Edinburgh with her parents. Her parents are people who write books about ghosts, but can't actually see them. Unlike Cassidy, who can. When they arrive in Edinburgh, Cassidy immediately feels a lot off ghosts. When they meet Lara, Cassidy realizes she can do the same thing as she. Only Lara is already a step further. She helps the spirits she meets to 'travel' to the world where they really belong. Then Cassidy realizes that she has to do this too. But she wants to keep Jacob around and Jacob doesn't want to lose her either. Nicely written, easy to read, but not that special.
A nice hardcover edition with a beautiful drawing on the side where you can see the pages.

Started and finished Duivelsbocht by Robert Bryndza - ROOT # 52 -

The blurb

When Private Investigator Kate Marshall is rushed to hospital after being pulled into a riptide current in the sea, the near-death experience leaves her shaken. During her recovery, she befriends Jean, an elderly lady on the same ward who tells the harrowing story of how grandson, Charlie, went missing eleven years ago during a camping trip on Dartmoor. By the time Kate is well enough to go home, she's agreed to take on the case, but when Kate and her sidekick Tristan start to look at the events of that fateful night, they discover that Jean has a dark past. Was Charlie abducted? Or did he fall into a rushing river that vanishes into a gorge close to where they were camping. When Kate and Tristan discover that Charlie's social worker was found brutally murdered shortly after his disappearance, it makes them question everything they thought they knew about the family...

My review

When 3-year-old Charlie disappears during a camping trip with his parents and grandmother, the panic is great. But charlie is nowhere to be found. The police starts an investigation but can't solve the case.
Years later, private detective Kate Marshall goes for her daily swim in the sea near her house and gets caught in a dangerous undertow. Later she wakes up in the hospital and learns that she narrowly escaped death. Her neighbor in the hospital is Jean Jullings, Charlie's grandmother. She tells the story of her grandson's disappearance. Kate is fascinated and when she is later asked by Jean to start an investigation, she accepts the assignment. Together with her partner Tristan Harper, she starts her own inquest and finds many contradictory things in the research that was done years before. Well written, exciting. As I'm used of Robert Bryndza who writes excellent books

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Na die nacht by Karen Slaughter

The blurb

Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton's life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her. Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who's been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper's assault is uncannily linked to Sara's. And it seems the past isn't going to stay buried forever ...

Hi Connie, It was frustrating having LT down so long, wasn't it?

>229 sallylou61: It really was. I hope it will not happen again.

Finished Na die nacht by Karin Slaughter -

My review

I'm a little unsure between two feelings. It is a very sensitive subject that is described in a gruesome way. Karen Slaughter is of course an excellent writer, but at times I couldn't read any further and had to focus my thoughts on something else.
Sara, Will and Faith work without being ordered to do so to solve a number of rape cases. When Sara works a night shift at the emergency room, a girl, Dani, is brought in who has suffered injuries that look suspiciously like the injuries Sara had 15 years ago. Sara does her utmost to save the girl, but unfortunately she cannot.
After three years, a trial starts because the investigation into Dani's attack has brought forward a suspect, Tommy McAllister. Tommy's lawyer is a tough, ruthless man and Sara expects her past to come up at this trial. Faith and Will do their own research and soon encounter a group of prominent medical professionals secretly discussing terrible things in a chatroom.
Well written, intriguing but gruesome

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading De oogstmeisjes by Nicola Scott

The blurb NOT my review

London, 2004.
Frankie didn't always have it easy. Growing up motherless, she was raised by her grandmother, who loved her - and betrayed her. For years, the rift between them seemed irreparable. But when their paths suddenly cross again, Frankie is shocked to realise that her grandmother is slowly losing control of her memory. There is a darkness in her past that won't stay buried - secrets going back to wartime that may have a devastating effect on Frankie's own life.

Somerset, 1940.
When seventeen-year-old Violet's life is ripped apart by the London Blitz, she runs away to join the Women's Land Army. She wants nothing more than to leave her grief behind. But as well as the terror of enemy air raids, the land girls at Winterbourne Orchards face a powerful enemy closer to home. One terrible night, their courage will be put to the test - and the truth of what happened must be kept hidden, for ever...

Finished De oogstmeisjes by Nikola Scott -

My review

This story has 2 storylines. One at the beginning of the Second World War and one in 2004.
Violet O'Brien is 17 years old and a member of a prominent London family when war breaks out and London is bombed by the Germans. During one of those bombings, her niece Romy is killed and Violet is inconsolable. Her mother decides to leave London with the family and stay with a relative in the countryside. However, Violet wants to make herself useful and with the help of Dudley (Duffy) she goes to work under an assumed name at Winterbourne Orchard in Somerset. She leaves a note for her mother and secretly travels to her destination. It's hard work in the orchard but Violet, now Lily Burns, soon makes friends with some of the girls. Then something dramatic happens and Violet is forced to return to her mother.

In 2004, Violet is an old lady who feels responsible for her granddaughter Frankie, who has just been hired as a journalist at the London Post. But things aren't going well for Violet and Frankie decides to move in with her grandmother. Meanwhile, her boss tries to convince Frankie to interview her famous grandmother. Something Violet refuses because there is a chance that her past will be disclosed and her big secret will come to light.
Well written. I enjoyed it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



Al die schitterende hemels by Trent Dalton - ROOT #52

The blurb NOT my review

Darwin, 1942. As Japanese bombs rain down on her hometown, newly orphaned Molly Hook looks to the skies and runs for her life. Inside a duffel bag, she carries a stone heart and a map that will lead her to Longcoat Bob, the deep-country sorcerer whom she believes cursed her family. Accompanying her are the most unlikely traveling companions: Greta, a razor-tongued actress, and Yukio, a Japanese fighter pilot who's abandoned his post. With messages from the skies above to guide them towards treasure, but foes close on their trail, the trio will encounter the beauty and vastness of the Northern Territory and survive in ways they never thought possible

>217 connie53: Finished Vigil by Angela Slatter - Forumchallenge # 34 -

My review

I am pleasantly surprised by this book and will definitely look for parts 2 and 3.
Verity Fassbinder is the daughter of a human woman and a fantastic being for a father. These worlds coexist and Verity can live and work in both. Together with her driver Ziggy (with an eye in the back of his head), she solves disappearances and other cases assigned to her by Bela, her ex-boyfriend. The whole story is teeming with strange creatures. Verity is assigned to investigate the death of a siren, but of the flying kind. However, this siren recently gave birth to a baby and that baby is missing. Not only does Verity have to investigate the sudden death, but she also has to find the baby. When more sirens are found dead, Verity has her hands full.
Well written and exciting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading Tithe by Holly Black - Forumchallenge # 35

The blurb

After returning home from a tour with her mother's rock band, sixteen-year-old Kaye, who has been visited by faeries since childhood, discovers that she herself is a magical faerie creature with a special destiny.Fierce and independent, Kaye drifts from place to place with her mother's rock band. When an ominous attack forces them back to Kaye's childhood home, she stumbles upon an injured faerie knight in the woods. Kaye has always been able to see faeries where others could not, and she chooses to save the strange young man instead of leaving him to die. This fateful choice will have more dire consequences than she could ever predict. Now Kaye finds herself the unwilling pawn in an ancient and violent power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms-- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

finished Tithe by Holly Black - Forumchallenge # 35 -

My review

This is a story in the Elfhame series by Holly Black.

Kaye is an ordinary girl who travels with her mother's band. At some point they go back to live with her grandmother. What Kaye doesn't know is that she was switched with an elf baby at birth.
Kaye, on her way home from a night out, finds a handsome man injured in the bushes. She cannot get the man, Roiben, out of her mind. When she later sees Roiben again, she ends up in the Faerie world.
Nice story, written with humor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Now reading Of Sorrow and such - Angela Slatter

The blurb NOT my review

Mistress Gideon is a witch. The locals of Edda's Meadow, if they suspect it of her, they don't tell. Mrs. Gideon has been good to them, and it's always better to keep on her good side. Just in case. When a foolish young shapeshifter goes against the wishes of her pack, and gets herself very publicly caught, the authorities find it impossible to deny the existence of the supernatural in their midst any longer. Gideon and her like are captured, bound for torture and a fiery end. Should Gideon give up her sisters in return for a quick death? Or can she turn the situation to her advantage?

Finished Of Sorrow and Such by Angela Slatter -

My review

Mrs. Patience Gideon is a witch, but that cannot be known to the greater public because witches were persecuted at that time. Patience has a guest, Selke, who hides with her for a few days. This is very fortunate because when Flora Brautigan comes to her door with a chopped off hand, Selke has a way to help her. Selke can form a new hand from a type of clay interwoven with the blood of the wounded woman that attaches to her wounded arm and functions and looks like a real hand.
Flora is the spoiled wife of Karol, one of the rich men of the village where Patience lives with her adopted daughter Gilly. It turns out that Flora and her sister-in-law Ina are shapeshifters. Later, Flora is caught when she changes form and a witch hunt ensues, during which Patience is also arrested. However, thanks to a sophisticated game and the help of Selke, she manages to escape and take revenge on the men who held her captive.

Nice story within the Sourdough and Bitterwood series. A tasty snack book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Started and finished De stem van de zee by Mara Li, a Dutch writer -

The blurb

Nimue only knows her mother from stories. After a devastating storm, she leaves her fishing village to search for her with her brother Arthur. In a continent where the Black Flu is killing more and more people, Nimue traces her family history in the hope that it will lead to their mother. During her journey, a figure shrouded in fragments of mist repeatedly appears to her. Why is she being chased by him? And what connection do Nimue and Arthur have with the Otherworld, the realm of the spirits?

My review

Beautiful story about the strength of family and standing up for yourself in difficult times.

After a meteorite impact, the world has changed. Entire continents have become uninhabitable or simply disappeared due to tidal waves. The weather has changed, the fish and animals are sometimes affected by the acid rain that falls, which also gives people rashes. Nimue and Arthur, her younger brother, grow up with their grandmother, when their father died and their mother had left home, never to return. Then disaster strikes and a violent storm with high water completely destroys their house and their grandmother drowns. Nimue found her mother's diary in the attic before this happened. And when she and Arthur have read parts of that, they decide to look for their mother based on things they read in the diary. But the world is cruel, young people traveling alone are not safe. When they free a girl, Mirna, from the hands of these people, Mirna takes them to an Ark, a kind of underground bunker where people can hide for a while. There she meets all kinds of young people and children who try to stay out of the hands of the enemy.

Now reading Valiant by Holly Black

The blurb NOT my review

When seventeen-year-old Valerie Russell runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system. But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. Impulsive Lolli talks of monsters in the subway tunnels they call home and shoots up a shimmery amber-colored powder that makes the shadows around her dance. Severe Luis claims he can make deals with creatures that no one else can see. And then there's Luis's brother, timid and sensitive Dave, who makes the mistake of letting Val tag along as he makes a delivery to a woman who turns out to have goat hooves instead of feet. When a bewildered Val allows Lolli to talk her into tracking down the hidden lair of the creature for whom Luis and Dave have been dealing, Val finds herself bound into service by a troll named Ravus. He is as hideous as he is honorable. And as Val grows to know him, she finds herself torn between her affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

Finished Valiant by Holly Black -

My review

Valerie runs away from home. Everything went wrong with her boyfriend and her mother. She goes to New York City and meets some young homeless people, the brothers Luis and Dave and the girl Lollipop (Lolli). They live on an abandoned underground platform. She hears stories from the trio about monsters that also roam there. Dave occasionally delivers orders for some mysterious man. When he takes along Val for the deliveries she sees a woman, who turns out to have hooves instead of feet under her long dress.
Then Lolli takes her to the man Dave takes orders for, who turns out to be a troll named Ravus. Val is fascinated by this man/troll. The book is connected to the Elfhame series

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Ironside by Holly Black - Forumchallenge # 36

The blurb NOT my review

In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie. Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?

Finished Ironside by Holly Black - Forumchallenge # 36 -

My review

Roiben is about to be crowned king of Unseelie Court. Kaye, who now knows that she is a Faerie, also goes to the coronation. Because she has lived between humans all her life, she has no idea of the things she can and can't do and when she hears that all kinds of elves make a kind of vow to Roiben, she declares herself to Roiben too and is afraid he might choose another faerie woman. Roiben sends her on a quest that is impossible to do. She has to find an eleven girl that can lie. And they do not exist because an eleven can twist the truth but not lie straight out.
Full of disappointment, Kaye goes back to her mother Ellen and tells her the truth. And she brings the human girl Kate back with whom she was swapped shortly after her birth. Her mother reacts shocked and Kaye flees to Faerie-Land again. She discovers that it is not going great for her friend Corny. He accidentally killed an faerie and is now cursed. Everything he touches shrivels. Luis has come with Corny.
We meet all people and elves from the first two parts of the series again, something I really enjoyed. A book read with much pleasure. There is still a fourth part with short stories, but I will first finis some books that I am also reading.

You have been reading a lot, Connie! I hope the weekend has been nice and sunny.