Claire ’s
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(group member since Jan 11, 2025)
Claire ’s
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from the Reading with Style group.
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15.3. FA 17 Reading Globally Overview
Read 10 books set (at least 51%) in 10 different countries, in which each country begins with a different letter
Het sanatorium
Sarah Pearse Setting: Switzerland
15 points
Total: 45 points
15.2. 15.1.
FA 17 Reading Globally Overview
Read 10 books set (at least 51%) in 10 different countries, in which each country begins with a different letter
2. Dood water
Toni Coppers Setting: Belgium
+ 15
Total: 30 points
15.1.FA 17 Reading Globally Overview
Read 10 books set (at least 51%) in 10 different countries, in which each country begins with a different letter
Paper Towns
(Lexile 850)
Setting USA
+ 15
Total: 15 points
20.3 
Lily's belofte: Hoe ik Auschwitz overleefde en na 75 jaar de familie vond van de soldaat die me bevrijddeLily Ebert 304 p. 6 mayNot a novel + 10 points
Review + 10 points
Lily Erbert lived in a loving family in Hungary as a young girl. When Hitler came to power, her parents, like so many other Jews, underestimated the tragic consequences even for their country. They only noticed how things were getting more difficult for Jewish people, but never thought of fleeing until it was too late. They were all locked in the ghetto and were finally put on the trains to the concentration camps. Part of her family was killed right away, but Lily survived together with her two sisters by sticking together and taking care of each other. After the death march, they were liberated by the Americans. But it wasn't easy to find their place in post-war Europe, even after the war, being orphans and still young. They went to Switzerland and later to Palestine to help build the promised land. Later, she went to live in Europe with her family. At an older age, she told her grandchildren what happened to her during World War II and started to raise awareness about the dangers of racism.
The book is interesting as it shows how those young girls survived the camps and how this affected the rest of their lives. It also tells about their first years in the land that would become Jerusalem.
However, I sometimes had problems with the moral high ground, but that is probably because of the ongoing war in Gaza.
40 points
Total: 770 points
20.9 I Bless the Rains Down in Africa...Tranen van de giraffe
Alexander McCall Smith 224 p. 5 mayOldies: + 5 points
Review + 10 points
Combo 20.1 + 5 points
40 points
Total 730 points
Mma Ramotse runs a detective bureau in Zimbabwe to help people who are looking for lost things, people, or anything else for which they might need a detective. Mr Matekoni, the garage owner, asked her to marry him, a proposal she gladly accepted.
An American woman comes to Mma Ramotse for help. She wants to know what happened to her son, who disappeared 10 years ago. She agrees and tries to find out where the American went. At the same time, another man comes for help. He thinks his wife has too much unexplained money and believes she has an affair. Mme Ramotse’s secretary is promoted to assistant detective and asked to investigate this case.
The detective cases get solved, in a somewhat sweet way sometimes. In every decision, you see the empathy of the main character. When her future husband adopted two orphans, she didn’t get angry; she also had enough love for them.
I like the second part of this mystery. It is by no means a thriller, more like a cozy mystery. But there is more to it than that. This detective series gives you an excellent view of life in Zimbabwe in a small village. The books have interesting cultural and political information on life in that part of Africa without disturbing the story, which is sometimes more amusing than suspenseful.
20.1 het geheimzinnige eiland
Jules Verne 743 p. 25 april
Combo 20.6 the is article +5 points
Oldies+15 points (1874)
Review +10 points
Jumbo + 10 points
70 points
Total points: 895 points
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In the third part of Vernes Captain Nemo series, we meet 5 men who escape from a besieged city during American civil war with an air balloon. When caught in a storm, they try to safe themselves but end up on a mysterious island. These five resourceful and smart guys start to live on this island, in a cave they found. They start to make all the necessary things as they have amazing survival skills. Yet some things are missing, tobacco seems a main concern. When strange things happen and a mysterious ‘force’ seems to help them, they start to realise they may not be the first or the only one to live at this island…
This was really an excellent novel. The characters in this book and their interaction are fascinating. I was in awe of how polyvalent they were. As in other novels of Verne, you learn a lot of technical, cultural, geographical and scientific related facts. The period Verne writes in was an era of scientific and technological progress which might explain his fascination with it. But most of all in this lesser known book, he proofs himself to be an excellent storyteller. I wasn’t bored for one minute.
20.1 Het leven, het heelal en de rest
Douglas Adams216 p. 24 april
Combo 10.5 + 5 points
Review + 10 points
35 points
Total points: 825 points
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Arthur Dent, our MC, who now lives on earth in prehistoric times seems to be pretty bored. Nothing ever happens except for the passage of some alien weirdo who comes to tell him ‘you’re a jerk, Arthur Dent’. Luckily enough a sofa comes his way. And if you have a sofa, a towel and ‘the guide’ you are completely ready to travel:-)
The universe is in a great danger caused by the inhabitants of the planet Krikkit. They plan to steal something essential for the existence of the universe. Arthur's help and that of his friends is urgently needed to safe it.
It is really hard to describe this novel. Just like the first two books of this series, it looks like a bunch of nonsensical stuff. But it is nonsensical stuff that makes you laugh , brings you in a good mood and makes you wonder on the strangeness of mortal and immortal beings, humans, aliens or robots alike . However, there is an extra layer in these books that is even more difficult to describe. They render in an excellent way a lot of important issues for the human race, they ridicule power and symbols, they confront us with the absurdity of life and time and help us to accept them.
Let me end with two quotes:
‘Deep in the fundamental heart of mind and Universe there is a reason.”
“We can't win against obsession. They care, we don't. They win.’:-( Let’s hope that last one is not correct.
20.1 20.000 mijlen onder zee
Jules Verne 348 25 april Review+ 10 points
Oldie + 15 points (1870)
45 points
Total points: 790 points
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In this remarkable novel an international shipping expedition is being attacked by a monster. Three people are thrown overboard during an attack: Arronax and his servant and Ned an American harpooner. They find themselves back in the belly of a futuristic submarine (the monster). Though they are not allowed to leave the submarine, they are treated nicely. The captain of the ship, captain Nemo, takes them to the most wonderful places to explore wonders under the sea. Their total voyage is a very long one and they even go to the south pole, unknown territory at that time. It is a very adventurous journey all in all.
This novel dates from 1870 and still is an enjoyable read. I recognised in the book a lot of the preoccupations of that time: the classification of things and animals, the technological progress, new inventions such as electricity,….
The Enumeration of scientific facts is at ti’es boring. This might have been completely different at the time it was written. Submarines like Verne describes didn’t exist, no one had visited the South Pole,…there was and is a lot to discover in in Vernes work. When I read this book as a 10 year old I was fascinated by the story and 55 years later I still am.
Rosemary wrote: "Sorry, Claire, that doesn't work for that task because we go by the most popular print edition which is Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."Okay, forgot that part. Thank you.
Does this book count for reducing emissions. The number is not a word, so I didn’t count it. Is that okay? 20.000 mijlen onder zee
20.8 Temple bar pubHet boek der deuren
Gareth Brown 431 p. 22 april Chapter coffee in Lyon:
’ “I don’t suppose you have any whisky?” Drummond tried.’
Review+10 points
30 points
Total points: 745 points
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cassie, the MC, is living in NY and working in a bookshop. When a nice old man dies quietly in the shop, she finds he has left her a book with a message. With this magic book she can open doors to everywhere. Her first visit is to Venice and she actually visits the city. But soon she finds out some people are after her, her book and other magic books. Luckily there are also people to help her.
As with many time travel books things got tangled up in my head. What if we go back in time and we meet ourselves there? And do we age when we go back in time, can we change the past ? (answers in the book)
The beginning of the novel didn’t convince me, but reading further I really started to enjoy. It is well written, has a very good pace and made me curious to see what would happen. Still I feel at times the book has too much of a YA book and is using too many tropes.
I was surprised by the origin of the books and did like that scene. And I absolutely loved the library in the shadows.
10.1. Read a book which features a trip on foot or horseback (or other beast of burden that does not fly).
Vrije vogels Ilja Gort 240 p. 14 They go through the mountains to a eagle’s nest where they cannot get by car. Sometimes they use the dokey. The landscape is so rough and difficult and they can only get there when they stay overnight.
Review +10
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ( not included, dutch )
20 points
Total points: 715 points
20.8 Temple bar pub Winter in de B&B
Kaat De Kock 232 p. 15 april‘Rémi houdt van zijn plekje aan de bar zijn biertje omhoog in onze richting’ p. 223 ‘Remi holds his beer in our direction’
Review + 10 points
Not included as dutch https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
30 points
Total points 695 points
Task 20.1. Adaptation and resilienceOdyssee
Stephen Fry 368p. 18;aprilCombo 20.3 Trojan war +5 points
Review + 10 points
35 points
Total: 665 points
Review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Greek and Roman heroes, gods and goddesses have been part of my world for over fifty years. I even taught them to my students in high school. I was really curious to read how Stephen Fry would organise the retelling of this story. This novel is not only the retelling of the original Odyssee, it also enlightens us on the sea adventures of several other heroes from the Trojan war. The sad homecoming of Agamemnon and the wandering of his children are taken largely from the Greek tragedy writers; the long journey on sea Aeneas embarks on was told by the Roman writer Vergilius. But the centre of the book of course is Odysseus who travels all seas, encounters many setbacks and is a toy in the hands of rivalrous gods. Odysseus who longs so much for his home on Ithaca, but sometimes does not do everything he can to get there. And 20 years away is a long time.
I found the retelling very gracious, lighthearted and excellently written. I like the humour, the variation and the puns. What disturbed me is using Greek and Roman names for gods in the same book. It is hard enough to follow these different Greek names and I think the sudden use of the Roman names was at least unnecessary.
Also I found the story a bit too black/white. Agamemnon was not an innocent bystander, Penelope’s character has much more depth, Odysseus is not flawless.
But as an introduction or first reading of the Odyssee it is an excellent book.
Repost for 240, sorry about that. 20.8 temple Bar pub
Nachtangst
Ronald Giphart 182 p. 10 april‘Een halfuur later zaten we gedrieën aan een klein tafeltje in het oudste café van de industriestad, achter een schaakbord en pullen ‘bier 82. ‘Half an hour later we were sitting at a small table in the oldest pub oof the industrial town with a chess board and big glasses of beer’ p.82
Review +10 points (Dutch, so not included https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Total : 30 points
total points : 630 points
20.8 Temple Bar PubZonder liefde
Stefan Brijs 224 p. 10 april.Ik liet het bier in mijn glas walsen en nam een flinke slok’
P.199 ‘i let the beer go around in my glass and took a big
Sip’
Review+ 10 points
Total : 30 points
total points : 600 points
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When Paul and Ada meet each other, they both just broke up a relationship. Being both in a mourning mood, they get closer and become very good friends. They live together for a long time and the friendship stays, especially as there is no sexual attraction between them which might have spoiled things. The question if there really is no physical attraction remains open till the end of the book. Both start looking for a new relation and that doesn’t always go smoothly. We read the story of this friendship through the eyes of Paul. He obviously cares deeply about Ava and does whatever needed to help her. These feelings same to be mutual, though Ava seems to be more detached or at a distance. After a time both get engaged in a new relationship, which is not always easy. One of the new partners doesn’t like their friendship and makes a lot of fuss. I think the novel never makes clear if the issues are real or just the musings of a jealous lover. But so is life: often feelings stay a bit diffuse, not always crystal clear. I thought the book was well written, with lot of consideration on how to describe fragile feelings. I disliked profoundly the male MC and the sexist remarks he made. He proofed himself to be a very superficial human being, mainly preoccupied with the size of women’s breasts.
20.1Book: Moord op de golflinks
Agatha Christie 228 p. 9 aprilReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Oldies: 76 to 150 years old: 10 points ( 1923) +10 points
Review +10 points
Total points: 40 points
total points : 570 points
Agatha Christie almost always gives an excellent relaxed reading experience. In the second of the Hercule Poirot series, we get to know Poirot and Hastings better. Although the two main characters are kind of stereotypes, it never feels as if they are not real: Poirot, the smart and strict gentleman, Hastings always jumping to conclusions or falling in love.
In this novel Poirot gets a letter with a cry for help from a very rich man in France and leaves England in a hurry cause he feels something is wrong. When he arrives at his destination, he is too late. The billionaire who asked for his assistance was found dead. And he is not the last one to die.
I found the plot a bit unreal and too complicated , almost as if at the end a ‘dea ex machina’ was produced. It didn’t bother me too much as reading a Poirot book is more about the ‘grey cells’ and the way a case is solved.
Still, I consider this one of the lesser novels in this series, maybe due to the complicated plot?
On the whole it still is an excellent fast read and I never get bored with them.
20.1Noem me bij jouw naam
André Aciman 257 p. 4 aprilCombo 20. 2. Literary awards + 5 points
Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction (2007), The Publishing Triangle Award for The Ferro-Grumley Awards (2008)
Review +10 points
Total points: 35 points
total points : 530 points
This book is not my genre and I have put off reading it for a long time. I don't care for romance and love stories as often they are too predictable and too sweet. So many people were enthusiastic about it and recommended it, so I finally took it up. 'Call Me by Your Name' is set in a beautiful region of Italy and has the vibe of holidays. Ello, a seventeen year old falls madly in love with a 25-year-old guest of his parents, Oliver. He starts kind of stalking him and following him. When they find out love is mutual, they have a wonderful love story with at the end a memorable short holiday in Rome. Does it end well? Depends on your viewpoint.
This novel is beautifully written and describes in detail how attraction works and how strong it can be. There is a melancholy in the book that can bring tears to your eyes. It is also a story about growing up, becoming an adult and having the first sexual experiences.
But there is a caveat: some of the scenes are rather explicit and this might upset people. Ello is still minor and some may take offence at this. Legally there is nothing wrong.
What disturbed me was the character of Ello felt wrong: while seventeen-year-old boys have indeed traits of an adult and a teenager at the same time, the combination here felt wrong. His character lacked cohesion. All in all the novel is certainly worth the read especially if it is your genre.
Task 20.2
MathildeLeïla Slimani 3 april 356 p.Literary awards
Premio de los Libreros de Madrid for Ficcion (2021), Premi Llibreter de narrativa for Altres literatures (2021)
Combo 20.9 + 5 points
Review+ 10 points
Total points: 35 points
total points : 495 points
Review: Mathilde, the main character of this book falls in love with Amine, a Moroccan soldier at the end of WW 2. She follows him to Morocco and starts there a new life, a rather difficult life. At first, they live in the house of Amine's mother, brother and sister. This proves to be a difficult time for Mathilde as she is now the stranger in this country. At the same time Amine completely changes cause they do things different now. Before when he was a guest in Mathildes country he was much less stern and difficult. After some time they move to their own place where they start a farm, a hard life. All these things happen with in the background the fight for independence in Morocco.
In this book, a lot of attention goes to the question of belonging: how do people feel and act when they are in a country of others when they don't feel at home anywhere? Being in a mixed marriage as Mathilde and Amine makes them outsiders in both cultures and the same goes for the children, esp. the daughter. Another big theme is: how do I get free, as a woman, as a moroccon, as a family member and what precisely is this freedom?
I liked the book, but there was almost no action in it. The writing is good, rather poetic sometimes, but it doesn't outweigh the slowness of the novel
