Anita (FAMeulstee) keeps on rooting in 2021

I am Anita Meulstee from Lelystad, the Netherlands. This is going to be my 5th year ROOTing in a row.
The first time I joined was in 2013, my worst reading year ever. I came back in 2017.

My goal for 2021 is to read 24 ROOTs.

Personal ROOT rules: every book I own, no matter how recently purchased, is a ROOT.
The majority of the books I buy have been on my wishlist for a long time, or are awarded and I buy them to keep my collection complete, or are part of a series I am already reading and not available at the library.

I only list my ROOTs read here. To follow all my readings go to my thread in the 75 Books Challenge for 2021 group.

Total ROOTs read:


Total books read:


Total pages read:

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Total books read since joining LibraryThing in 2008

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Total pages read since joining LibraryThing in 2008

Hi Anita, Good to see you back. Happy ROOTing in 2021.

I love the way your tickers match. Very quieting.

Good to see you back - happy reading in 2021!

Anita, I hope you have a good year of reading.

Welcome back, Anita! Have a great reading year!

Thanks for the warm welcome Connie, Jackie, This-n-That and RP.

Happy reading and ROOTing in 2021 to all!

Happy ROOTing, Anita!

>7 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer, the same to you!

Hi Anita, Happy New Year! Good to see you again, good luck with your 2021 reading goals.

Thank you, Donna, and a happy New Year to you!

Happy you are back!

>11 cyderry: Glad to be back, Chèli!

Hello Anita! Good to see you here again!

>13 MissWatson: Hi Birgit, glad to see you too. Ready to read some ROOTs again :-)

Good luck pulling ROOTS this year, Anita!

>15 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, the same to you!

Hello Anita! I love all your tickers :-)

>17 susanj67: Thank you, Susan!
Last year I found the butterflies for the tickers and decided to continue them this year.

ROOTs read in January: Gewaagd leven by Astrid Roemer and Ideeën van Multatuli. Tweede bundel by Mutatuli. Short review will follow tomorrow (I hope).

ROOT 1: Gewaagd leven by Astrid Roemer
acquired in 2016, Dutch, no translations, 239 pages

Beautiful story of a boy growing up in Suriname. Set around the time Suriname got independent, and got into deep economical trouble.

ROOT 2: Ideeën van Multatuli. Tweede bundel by Mutatuli
acquired in 2019, e-book, Dutch, non-fiction, no translations, 469 pages

Second of seven books of Ideas by Multatuli. Essays, one-liners, and interwoven the story of Woutertje Pieterse. Written in the second half of the 19th century.
He critisises the government, parliament, the policy towards the Dutch-Indies, publishers, preachers, teachers, etc. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes boring.

ROOT 3: Lijken op liefde by Astrid Roemer
acquired in 2015, Dutch, P.C. Hooft-prijs winner, no English translation, 251 pages

Second book of the "Motherland" trilogy
In 1999 the killers of the "December murders", are finally brought to trial. Cora Sewa dives into an other murder, committed long ago. She travels from Suriname to Rotterdam, London, Florida and Curaçao, to find answers.
Intense read, some good insights in life in Suriname after independency.

ROOT 4: Het nut van de wereld by J.M.A. Biesheuvel
acquired before 2008, Dutch, no translations, 163 pages

Short absurd, and often funny stories. Maarten Biesheuvel grew up in Schiedam in a orthodox protestant family, he did spend some time at sea, at university and in mental institutions. Again in this book snippets of his experiences.

ROOT 5: Huis van volmaakte eenzaamheid by Edna O'Brien
acquired before 2008, translated, original title House of Splendid Isolation, 232 pages

Set in Ireland during the Troubles. A man tries to keep out of the hands of the police, he finds refuge in the house of an elderly woman. She doesn't like him being there, but there is no-one, but her, and she has been very ill recently. Slowly the two come to know eachother, and maybe even like eachother.
Meanwhile we also read what the police is doing, trying to find the man.
Interesting read, I think it had more impact at the time of publication, as it was published some years before the Good Friday Agreement.

Happy Thingaversary, Anita.

>25 connie53: Thank you, Connie.

Happy thingaversary!

>27 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit!

No ROOTs in March, to catch up I planned 5 ROOTs in April.

>29 FAMeulstee: I hope you read some good none-ROOTs in March, Anita.

Happy Easter!

>30 connie53: Yes, Connie, I did read some very good library books :-)
And I finished my fist April ROOT: Oeroeg.

Happy Easter!

>31 FAMeulstee: Oeroeg ahh, memories of the reading in my schoolyears return.

>32 connie53: I didn't read it back then, Connie.
Way back I collected all boekenweekgeschenken until 2000, and Oeroeg was the boekenweekgeschenk of 1948, so it was on the shelves. I was glad it didn't fall apart while reading, the paper quality of books in the first years after WWII was not very good.
On Hebban is a group read of Oeroeg this month.

Hi Anita! I'm rooting for you that you'll finish your planned ROOTS for April.

>33 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the tip, but I think I don't want a re-read. I have enough books going on.

>34 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda, I even added a few more.
If my planning works out, I will read 8 ROOTs in April. One down 7 to go.

>35 connie53: That was how I got to read Oeroeg, Connie. And I never read it for school.

ROOT 6: Oeroeg by Hella Haasse
acquired before 2008, Dutch, Boekenweekgeschenk 1948, English translation The Black Lake, 79 pages

Dutch classic.
A Dutch boy grows up on Java, together with an Indonesian boy, Oeroeg. The Dutch boy, who tells the story, has no notion of colonial problems and thinks Oeroeg is his friend, while Oeroeg grows into colonial anger and wants to free his country.

Root 7: Van oude mensen, de dingen die voorbij gaan by Louis Couperus
re-acquired in 2010, Dutch, Dutch Canon, English translation Old People and The Things That Pass, 256 pages

Set in early 20th century. Sixty years ago, in the Dutch Indies, something terrible happened. The three people involved, now in their 90s and living in The Hague, have been haunted by it all their lives. They think no one else knows, but nearly all family members of their large families do know, or have a slight, odd feeling something is wrong in their family.
Couperus could write, it is always a pleasure to read his books.

ROOT 8: Over liefde en over niets anders by Toon Tellegen
acquired before 2008, Dutch, poetry, no translations, 61 pages

Poetry with daily observations and some classical themes: other angles on stories from the bible and Greek mythology.

This was my favorite:

I put a line
to here
and no further

When I went further
I put a new line
and again

The sun was shining
and I saw people everywhere
hastily and serious
and everyone put a line
everyone went further

ROOT 9: Jheronimus Bosch: Visioenen van een genie by Matthijs Ilsink
acquired in 2016, Dutch, English translation Hieronymus Bosch: Visions of Genius, 192 pages

We visited the Bosch exhibition in April 2016. Reading through the catalog brought back this wonderful experience of the many Bosch paintings we saw that day. The amazing details in the paintings, background and foreground alike.
I miss going out to see some art, reading through this catalogue helped a bit.

ROOT 10: De waarheid over honden by Stephen Budiansky
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The truth about dogs, 248 pages

Based on recent scientific findings, the writer tells a lot about dogs. How dog and man came together, dog behavior, breeding, the trouble dog breeds are facing because of a closed studbook, etc.
Written 20 years ago, most is well known now. Although the trouble with pedigree dogs are still worsening.

>38 FAMeulstee: Thanks for bringing this to my attention. It has been translated to German, and I'm looking forward to reading this.

>42 MissWatson: You are welcome. Birgit, enjoy!

>38 FAMeulstee: I've read this but don't remember a thing about it. It's on the list for my Exams in High School.

>44 connie53: I didn't read it back then, Connie, I had Psyche ; Fidessa on my Dutch reading list.

>45 FAMeulstee: I have not heard of that book before, ever!

>46 connie53: Psyche is a Greek myth retold and Fidessa a fairy taly by Couperus. I don't remember the stories, but do remember I liked them.
They are on the list to be read again sometime, as I have enjoyed Couperus lately

ROOT 11: Leon & Juliette by Annejet van der Zijl
acquired March 2020, Dutch, Boekenweekgeschenk 2020, no translations, 95 pages

The story of a Dutch man who went to Charleston, early 19th century. He made his fortune there, and fell in love with a slave, married her and managed to smuggle her (and their children) from Charleston to the Netherlands, despite laws prohibiting slaves to leave South-Carolina.
An interesting family history, larded with the history of Charleston in the years towards the civil war, when laws against slaves and free black people were worsening.

ROOT 12: Alles tegen by Dick Francis
acquired March 2021, translated, original title Odds Against, 282 pages

Sid Halley was a jockey, until an accident crippled his left hand. Now he is working at a detective agency, although he doesn't do much actual work. Helping out a collegue, he gets shot. After leaving the hospital he is determined to find out who was behind this.
As always a good, wel written story, with a bit more violence then I usually like.

ROOT 13: Winnetou by Karl May
acquired April 2021, translated from German, English translation Winnetou, 452 pages

In my youth I loved the books by Karl May. Some of the 50 translated paperbacks fell apart, because I had read them again and again. After joining LT I did read them all again.
This month a shiny new translation was published, first time an unabridged translation. I had get and read this book. As always I was taken by the story of Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, with a few parts that were new to me. I am glad I finaly have read the whole story.

>48 FAMeulstee: I have that somewhere too. Maybe I give it a go soonish!

ROOT 14: De drieëntwintig dagen van de stad Alba by Beppe Fenoglio
acquired before 2008, translated from Italian, English translation The Twenty-three Days of the City of Alba, 182 pages

This book contains seven stories about resistance in the Northwest region of Italy in WWII and 6 stories from the time just after the war.
The title refers to the days between October 10th, when 2000 partizans got hold on the city of Alba and November 2nd in 1944, when the remaining 200 partizans were defeated. The stories are mainly about the daily life of the partizans. The next stories are about the problems the former partizans, most rather young, have with adapting to "normal" life after the war. One of these stories is a first draft of De laatste dag, that I read last January.

ROOT 15: Tussen Orinoco en Amazone by Redmond O'Hanlon
acquired before 2008, non-fiction, translated, original title In Trouble Again, 333 pages

After his expedition to Borneo (Into the Heart of Borneo), Redmond O'Hanlon travels to Venezuela to visit the Yanomami tribe. There are no roads in the Amazonian jungle, so he travels by boat. He writes about the hardships (many biting and stinging insects, snakes, etc.) of his travel with a lot of (dry English) humor. His descriptions of nature make you feel there yourself.
I love to read travelers books, even more than traveling myself.

>51 connie53: It was an unexpected good read, Connie.

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Two more ROOTs finished: #16 De heilige Rita and #17 De jaren, reviews will follow later.
April was a very good ROOTing month, after my ROOTless March.

ROOT 16: De heilige Rita by Tommy Wieringa
acquired April 2019, Dutch, Bookspot Literatuurprijs 2018, English translation The Blessed Rita, 286 pages

Paul Krüzen is 50 years old, and still lives with his dad in a remote village near the German border. His mother left when he was young. His friend Hedwig is the third generation owner of a small grocery in the village. Together the visit the brothel just across the german border, and together they go on holiday. They are not really best friends, but as they are both single, lonely and same age, there are no others left. When Hedwig accidently brags about his riches in the local cafetaria, things take a bad turn.
Tommy Wieringa sure can write, but somehow this story never really touched me. The sad and lonely life of two single 50+ men from a remote village was not the right read at the right time for me.

ROOT 17: De jaren by Annie Ernaux
acquired November 2020, translated from French, English translation The Years, 229 pages

Memoirs of Annie Ernaux mixed with the major changes of life in France from 1941 to 2006.
She writes about her own experiences in third person, that makes the reading more distant. Somehow that worked well for me. She starts each decade with the description of a personal photo, and some personal memories. Then she goes on to the big picture of France during that time: songs, movies, books, politics, womens rights, changing sexual morality etc., sometimes going back to her own experiences during that time.
I am in awe how Ernaux packed 7 decades in 229 pages. Accurate descriptions of changing times, changes in society. From togetherness just after WWII to hyper individual life in 2006.
Great read.

>54 FAMeulstee: Perhaps I will sneak it in somewhere. It's such a tiny book.

ROOT 18: De hengelaars van Castelnau by Pierre Michon
acquired before 2008, translated from French, English translation The origin of the world, 56 pages

A teacher starts to work in a primary school of a small village in the Dordogne, near the Lascaux caves. He feels very attracted to a lady in the tabacco shop. He dreams about her, but she doesn't return his avances, so he will have to do with his actual girlfriend. It takes some time before he finds out who is the lover of the lady of tabacco shop.
Not sure what to make of this (short) story.

Dropping in to say, Anita! I hope you're having a good week.

>59 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer.
Yes it is a good week, yesterday my husband got his first Pfizer vaccination.

ROOT 19: Brekebeen by Dick Francis
acquired April 2021, translated, original title Bonecrack, 229 pages

Neil Griffon has temporarely taken over the management of his fathers stables, because his father is in hospital with a bad broken leg. He is kidnapped by a criminal who has the most unusual demand: Neil has to take on his son as first jockey, or else the stables will be destroyed. Seeing no other way out, Neil takes Allessando as a jockey.
Good read, interesting take on fathers and sons, as both Neil and Allessandro have to take a lot from their fathers.

ROOT 20: Wit konijn, rode wolf by Tom Pollock
acquired December 2019, e-book, translated, awarded, Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuur prijs 2019, original title White Rabbit, Red Wolf, 350 pages

Thrilling YA thriller.
Peter Blankman is great with maths, he also suffers from severe panic attacks. He needs his world to be orderly, and finds comfort with his twin-sister and his scientist mother. At school Ingrid is his only friend. When his mother is stabbed just before she will get an award for her work, Peter finds himself in a violent world of spionage and family sectrets. He needs all his skills to survive.
I didn't expect to be so absorbed by this story, with many twist and turns, up until the last sentence.

ROOT 21: Asterix en het gouden snoeimes by René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo
acquired before 2008, translated from French, English translation Asterix and the Golden Sickle, 46 pages

Asterix and Obelix have to find a new golden sickle for the druid, as the old one is broken.
Decent Asterix and Obelix story, always fun to have a close look at the pictures and find out some more.

>38 FAMeulstee: Just dropping in to let you know that I have read this now and enjoyed it very much, it is wonderful. Thanks again.

>64 MissWatson: Glad Couperus still finds his way to readers, Birgit.

ROOT 22: Vlucht van de havik by Margo Maguire
acquired before 2008, translated, original title Celtic bride, 254 pages

Harlequin Historical Romance, the best "trash" I could find on the shelves for a TIOLI challenge to 'Read some "trash" '.
Fake 15th century romance between an Irish princess and an English knight.

How low I go to complete my TIOLI challenges ;-)
On the other hand there have been times I wasn't able to read anything else than these kind of books, and back then I bought every book from this series when it came out. So it will remain on the sheves to be at hand if ever needed again.

You're doing an excellent job in getting to your really old ROOTs!

>67 mstrust: My ROOTs go faster than expected, Jennifer, even digging some oldies. Way more are patiently waiting on the shelves.

ROOT 23: Portnoy's klacht by Philip Roth
acquired long before 2008, 1001 books, translated, original title Portnoy's Complaint, 280 pages

A long monologue by Alex Portnoy, 33 year old Jewish American, telling his psychiatrist about his frustrations growing up with a neurotic, dominant mother, and his obsession with sex.
A nice peak into Jewish American life, must have been more shocking when it was first published in 1969.
Three stars, and a half star extra because it made me laugh a few times.

ROOT 24: De passievrucht by Karel Glastra van Loon
acquired before 2008, Dutch, AKO Literatuurprijs 1999, English translation Jude the Obscure, 238 pages

Armin and Monika got a son called Bo. Ten years ago Monika died, and now Armin and his new partner Ellen want a child. Then Armin finds out he is infertile, so Bo can not be his son. He gets obsessed to find out who is Bo's real father.

ROOT 25: De vergaderzaal by A. Alberts
acquired before 2008, Dutch, no translations, 78 pages

Mr. Dalem goes to a board meeting, but he has a hard time to concentrate. Before the meeting is over he leaves to his own office. Slowly he looses grip on reality, and slowly the reader finds out how complicated family relations drove him mad.

ROOT 26: Rituelen by Cees Nooteboom
acquired February 2009, 1001 books, Dutch, English translation Rituals, 192 pages

Three parts from the life of Inni (Inigo) Wintrop, taking place in 1963, 1953 and 1973. At 30 he tries to commit suicide after his wife leaves him, but fails. At 20 he meets Arnold Taads, a man with a stricktly regulated life, dictated by the time of day. At 40 he meets Philip Taads, the abandoned son of Arnold Taads, who tries to lead a timeless life through zen-buddhism.
As the tile indicates the book is about rituals. Inni was raised with Catholic rituals, Arnold Taads has ritualised all his daily actions, and Philip Taads finds comfort and his ultimate destiny in a Japanese tea ritual.

ROOT 27: Getemde schoonheid by Ruth Langan
acquired before 2008, translated, original title Briana, 254 pages

And I got through one more Harlequin Historical Romance... to complete a double TIOLI sweep in May.
Fake 17th century romance in Ireland.

ROOT 28: Ik wou by Toon Tellegen with illustrations by Ingrid Godon
acquired February 2021, YA, Dutch, English translation I Wish, 94 pages

Found on Richards tread last year. I am a fan of Toon Tellegen, but completely missed this book. It was published in Belgium, and didn't get much publicity over here.
Lovely portraits from Ingrid Godon are accompanied by text/poems from Toon Tellegen.
Richard wrote a great review with some pictures last year.

Congrats on reaching and surpassing your target!

>75 MissWatson: Thank you, Birgit!

ROOT 29: Het geluid van de berg by Yasunari Kawabata
acquired before 2008, Nobel Prize winner, translated from Japanese, English translation The Sound of the Mountain, 236 pages

Shingo is getting older, and his memory is failing him. His children don't do as well as expected, and they don't respect the traditions anymore. Shingo has a hard time with these changes, but isn't able to interfere. There are still deep wounds from WWII, his son came back from the war, but many others didn't.
A quiet and lyrical story, with nature ever around to reflect feelings and moods.

ROOT 30: Wat wij zagen by Hanna Bervoets
acquired May 2021, Book Week Gift 2021, Dutch, no translations, 94 pages

Kayleigh works as content moderator of a social platform (not to be named). Looking at terrible videos all day, and deciding if they must be removed or not, deforms Kayleigh and her collegues psychicly. At first they seem to be friends, Kayleigh even gets a relationship with Sigrid, but slowly they all move away from eachother. Some get so brainwashed some become supporters of QAnon, Holocaust deniers, and Flat Earth.
At times a bit creepy, this story told by an unreliable narrator. Still not sure I liked the ending

ROOT 31: Geachte Muizenpoot en achttien andere gedichten by F. ten Harmsen van der Beek
acquired before 2008, poetry, Dutch, no translations, 94 pages

Poetry, first published work (1965) by Fritzi ten Harmsen van der Beek.
Can't make much of most of these poems, instead of forced rhyme it is forced in form: nearly each poem has 13 pairs of sentences and a last word on two pages.
I probably missed a lot of references, I did like some nice word creations

ROOT 32: Cliënt E. Busken by Jeroen Brouwers
acquired May 2021, Dutch, Libris Literatuur Prijs 2021, no translations, 257 pages

Intern monologue of a man suffering from dementia. Physical locked in a wheelchair in an institution, his mind locked in a failing body, he comments on his surroundings. His memories of a past life get more and more absurd.
The winner of this years Libris Literature Prize is a very good read. Brouwers makes you feel how locked up and misunderstood the main character feels. Just enough humor to make reading bearable.

ROOT 33: Wraak en andere novellen by Jim Harrison
acquired before 2008, translated, original title Legends of the Fall, 273 pages

This book contains three novella's: Revenge, The Man Who Gave Up His Name, and Legends of the Fall.
The first story was an disturbing read about aldutry and revenge. The second about a succesful man who gives up this life for more peace of mind. The third about 3 brothers going to WWI, with only two returning.
A bit much violence, and female characters stay flat, some are used, and abused in very disturbing ways. Not my kind of book.

book 34: Een roos van vlees by Jan Wolkers
acquired June 2008, Dutch, English translation A Rose of Flesh, 194 pages

Ten years ago Daniel and Sonja lost their 2 year old daughter. Daniel still can't cope, his wife left him. We follow Daniel one day in winter, waking up with his cat, going to his daughters grave, having his son midday from school for lunch, his parents visit him, and having a date in the evening. Always afraid he will also loose his son, misunderstood by his very protestant father, missing his ex-wife.
Sad, very good written story. Some beautiful nature descriptions, and two very disturbing scenes.

>78 FAMeulstee: I don't think I will put this book on the top of the TBR-pile!

Hi Anita, just visiting threads to try to keep up with the other ROOTers. So 'HI'.

>83 connie53: Completely understand that, Connie. Only advantage is that it is a short read, like all book-week-gifts.

  

ROOT 35: Het veelkleurig land by Julian May
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The Many-Colored Land, 393 pages


ROOT 36: De gouden halsring by Julian May
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The Golden Torc, 399 pages


ROOT 38: De troonveroveraar by Julian May
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The Nonborn King, 411 pages


First three Saga of the Exiles books (of four, I am reading the last one now).
Earth, 22nd century, people who don't feel at home at Earth and colonised planets have a way out: a one-way time portal to six milion years back. We follow the eight characters of Group Green, who leave together. But they don't arrive in an idyllic ancient world, aliens are in control of the Pilocene Earth, fighting eachother and using the humans fot their own advantage.

Julian May sets up a great story, incorporating Celtc myths, in a mix of sience-fiction and fantasy. There is a huge cast of characters, that can be a bit overwhelming at first.
I gave all books 5 stars when I read them in 2010. I still love these books, but after reading many other books since, the ratings are a bit lower now.

ROOT 37: Johannes Viator by Frederik van Eeden
acquired before 2008, Dutch, no translations, 412 pages

Johannes is tormented by his love for Marion, his love isn't as pure as he wishes it to be. He goes through his own battle of Good and Evil, fighting his demons, hoping to find enlightment.
A difficult read. The book is written in bombastic language, including a few beautiful sentences and descriptions of nature. Neither Johannes or Marion comes alive, they stay the puppets of the writer. If you want to read Frederik van Eeden choose an other book.

>85 FAMeulstee: Now I'm wondering if I did read those books too. I must have a long time ago before my LT membership because the titles sound so familiar. Maybe in my library-books-reading-time. Those are over since I bought my books because I really like to own my books after reading.

>87 connie53: They were published in Dutch translation in the late 1980s, Connie.
I would love to own all the books I read, sadly there is not enough place for so many books in our house. I do buy books after I read them from the library if I really loved them. But that means other books have to go to make place :-(

>88 FAMeulstee: I will have the same problem if we ever have to move to a smaller place. Then I will have to choose which books have to go. I dread that moment.

>89 connie53: Yes, that is hard, choosing books to let go. We have done so twice :-(

First time it was not so bad, mainly books from high school, university and other education.
Second time was harder.

Now we are at the point that adding a book to the shelves means an other book has to go. Although I have a small pile of books that should go, I can't part from yet.

I feel for you!

>91 connie53: Thank you, Connie!
I hope you will never need to move to a smaller place.

I hope so too.

ROOT 39: De tegenstrever by Julian May
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The Adversary, 478 pages

Fourth and last book of the Saga of the Exiles.
An exiled human conquers the throne, leading the Tanu in the last battle against the Firvulag.
Meanwhile Marc Remillard, once the leader of the human rebellion against the Galactic aliens in the 21st century, tries to stop his children. They want to get away from Marc's plans with them, as he still believes in his rebellion.
The story of Marc, and his family was published later in the Galactic Milieu series.

ROOT 40: Een jaar uit het leven van Gesine Cresspahl by Uwe Johnson
acquired November 2020, 1001 books, translated from German, English translation Anniversaries: From a Year in the Life of Gesine Cresspahl, 1596 pages

In 366 chapters, with the date as header, we follow Gesine Cresspahl, and her ten year old daughter Marie, from August 21st 1967 until August 20th 1968. They live in New York, where Gesine works as a translator at a bank.
Most days start with an article from The New York Times, following the news in those years: the war in Vietnam, the assasination of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the Prague Spring.
The daily life of Gesine: on her way in the metro to her work at the bank, walking through the neigborhood, her friendship with a fellow East-German, who teaches at university.
Gesine tells the tales of her youth in a small village in Mecklenburg to Marie: first the rise of Nazi-Germany, then the war, the liberation, the English occupation, the Russian occupation, East-Germany, leaving her country, living in exile.
An absolutely fabulous and great read, a true classic. Both timelines, in New York and Mecklenburg, took me right into these worlds. Nearing the end I felt sorry I had to leave the characters.

ROOT 41: De ziener by Simon Vestdijk
acquired before 2008, Dutch, no translations, 227 pages

Pieter Le Roy is a very unlikable character. He is a voyeur, and an intriguer. He likes to follow young couples and watch nearby. He gets molestated sometimes, but feels that is worth it. He also writes anonymous letters to stirr things up. In the end he uses his skills to bring a couple together.

ROOT 42: Pluk de dag by Saul Bellow
acquired before 2008, 1001 books, translated, Nobelprize, original title Seize the Day, 144 pages

Wilhelm is in his fourties, he hasn't been able to live up to his fathers expectations. Failing in every career he tried, he has left his wife and children, and just lost his last job. He is in serious need of money, his father won't help him, so he falls for the tricks of a con man.
Not the great read I had hoped for, but a decent one. We have a lot of Saul Bellow on the shelves, as my husband was a fan in his younger days.

ROOT 43: Het behouden huis by Willem Frederik Hermans
acquired before 2008, Dutch, English translation An Untouched House, 79 pages

Near the end of WWII a Dutch man fights together with the Sovjets and other partizans. He looses his companions on the way, and ends up in an empty house. When German soldiers arrive, he acts like he is the owner of the house.
A lot is packed in this short novella. It describes the cruel and absurd sides of war, with touches of very black humor.

ROOT 44: Hele verhalen voor een halve soldaat by Benny Lindelauf
acquired April 2021, YA, Dutch, awarded, Woutertje Pieterse prijs 2021, no translations, 279 pages

Six brothers, the eldest has to go to the war. When he arrives at the border, he tells a story to the guard. The the next brother has to go, he also tells a story to the guard at the border, and so on. All older brothers hope the war will be over before the youngest has to go.
Frame tale, each brother tells a fairylike story, and in the end it all comes together.

ROOT 45: Het stille huis by Michèle Desbordes
acquired in 2008, translated from French, English translation The House in the Forest, 218 pages

A family moves to a big lonely house near the coast. The father was in the military, in the colonies, but now he is retired. The mother dies soon after the move, and the three daughters are raised by their father and the housekeeper. They always stay strangers to the locals, although the dauthers do attend the local school. Then WWII breaks out, and the family falls apart.
The story is told by a local woman, who worked some years for the family. She came when the housekeeper got old, and needed help.
It took a while before the story grabbed me. It started very slow, about halfway it picked up, and the characters started to grow on me.

ROOT 46: De trein naar Pavlovsk en Oostvoorne by Toon Tellegen
acquired before 2008, Dutch, no translations, 189 pages

Toon Tellegen's grandfather came from Russia, found refuge in the Netherlands after the Russian Revolution. In this book he wrote down tall tales told by his grandfather. About his family, an illusionist who could change a mouse into an elephant, the palace of the Czar, a family of tightrope walkers, and many more.

>99 FAMeulstee:. That's on my TBR-pile waiting to become a ROOT. Good to hear you liked it.

>102 connie53: It is a kind of prequel to Hoe Tortot zijn vissenhart verloor, and as good.
But my favorites by him are Negen open armen and De hemel van Heivisj.

Yes, I did love those two too. Especially since they are situated almost in my backyard.

ROOT 47: De klokkenluider van de Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
acquired in March 2017, 1001 books, translated from French, English translation The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 551 pages

Paris, 1482. In this tragic story archdeacon Claude Frollo of the Notre Dame and deformed bell ringer Quasimodo both fall in love with Esmeralda, a gypsy girl. Esmeralda has fallen in love with Captain Phoebus. When Esmeralda is accused and found guilty of witchery, Quasimodo saves her.
I liked most, but some parts were a bit of a slog. I loved Esmeralda's little goat!

ROOT 48: Bloedgeld by Dick Francis
acquired in April 2021, translated, original title Hot money, 366 pages

Malcolm Pembroke is a very wealthy man, who loves to spend a lot of money. He has been married 5 times, and his last wife was recently murdered. She wanted a divorce, so he was one of the suspects. Now it looks like a murderer is after him. He asks Ian, the only child of his second wife, for help.
His other children all await his death, as they would inherite the fortune. They feel robbed from their future inherentance every time the papers write about his last spending spree. So they all have a reason to kill him. Ian tries to find out who is behind the murder attempts.
Enjoyable read, the family dynamics and unexpected plot were very good.

ROOT 49: De goede oude man en het mooie jonge meisje by Italo Svevo
acquired before 2008, translated from Italian, original title The Nice Old Man and the Pretty Girl, 93 pages

An old man falls in love with a young woman. When he gets ill, he thinks his illness is related to his affair.
Not very interesting, some parts are very well written, a quick read.

Two more ROOTs in August:
Reis naar het einde van de nacht (Journey to the End of the Night) by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Vermoedens omtrent Jakob (Speculations about Jakob) by Uwe Johnson

reviews will follow (tomorrow I hope).

ROOT 50: Reis naar het einde van de nacht by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
acquired before 2008, 1001 books, translated from French, Franse bibliotheek, English translation Journey to the End of the Night, 560 pages

Ferdinand Bardamu leaves Paris to fight in World War I. He gets wounded, and desperately tries to avoid his return to the troups. He manages to escape the army, by going to an African colony. Life in Africa isn't much better than army life. His escape from the colony brings him to New York, and after that Detroit. He doesn't feel at home there either, so finally he returns to France. He finishes his study in medicine, and becomes a doctor in a poor part of Paris.
Very well written dark and depressing view on humanity, there is barely a nice character found. The black humor keeps it readable, but it was no easy read.

ROOT 51: Vermoedens omtrent Jakob by Uwe Johnson
acquired before 2008, translated from German, English translation Speculations about Jakob, 303 pages

Jakob Abs was a train dispatcher in East Germany. At the start of the book he gets killed by a train, just after his return from West Germany, where he visited Gesine Cresspahl. Was it an accident, a suicide, murder? In five chapters people who knew Jakob are talking about him. It isn't clear who is talking to who, although I got some clues in the afterword. Slowly is found out who Jakob was, why ​the Stasi was interested in him, and about his relation to Gesine and her father.
The same characters that later appear in Anniversaries show up in Uwe Johnson's first published book. An intriguing view into East Germany in the 1950s. I don't think I "got it" all, I will read it again someday. Reading Anniversaries before this one, helped a bit, as I already knew some from the stories from that book.

Hi Anita! Just popping in to say Hi!

>111 connie53: Hi Connie, good to see you here. How are you doing?

ROOT 52: Lotte in Weimar by Thomas Mann
acquired before 2008, translated from German, English translation The Beloved Returns, 383 pages

In 1816 Charlotte Kestner (the famous original Lotte, from Goethe's book The Sorrows of Young Werther) visits Weimar. She claims that is only a family visit to her sister, but she also wants to meet Goethe one last time after 44 years.
As soon as the word is out, that Lotte returned to Weimar, people want to see her. Through the eyes of Adele Schopenhauer and Goethe's son, who visit her, we get to know the old man Goethe. In the end Charlotte does meet Goethe at a diner at his place.
Written while Thomas Mann was in exile in Switzerland, a refugee from the Nazi-regime. Goethe does criticize the German nation and the national character, "predicting" the rise of Hitler.

ROOT 53: Alles op de fiets by Rutger Kopland
acquired before 2008, poetry, Dutch, no translations, 43 pages

Poetry, originally published in 1969, by well known Dutch poet, a psychatrist who wrote under pseudonym.
I always enjoy his poems. This book contains his most well known poem "Jonge sla" (=Young lettuce).

ROOT 54: Het boek van de lach en de vergetelheid by Milan Kundera
acquired before 2008, 1001 books, translated from Czech, English translation The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, 291 pages

Remembering laughs and forgetting some of the in between. In seven interconnected stories the memories of the lost home country where the communist party took over, the flight, and settling in a new country. Melancholia, black humor, hope, and despair. Sometimes touching, sometime boring, but always from a very male, borderline sexist, point of view.
Loved some of the book, disliked some more.

ROOT 55: Dit zijn de namen by Tommy Wieringa
acquired May 2019, Dutch, Libris Literatuur prijs 2013, English translation These Are The Names, 302 pages

In Michailopol, a fictional town somewhere in Eastern Europe, police chief Pontus Beg wonders about his identity. He might have Jewish roots, but isn't sure. He visits the rabbi, the last Jew in town, to find out more.
Meanwhile a group of refugees wanders through the desert. At first they do care about eachother, but when thirst and hunger take over it becomes each for his own, and even further when reality is fading in their minds.
The story of Bag and the refugees is told in alternating chapters.
Very good read. Wieringa connects the Jewish story of the Exodus with the journey of the refugees. Searching the roots of religion, and the edges of humanity.

ROOT 56: Dagboek van een oude dwaas by Junichirô Tanizaki
acquired before 2008, translated from Japanese, English translation Diary of a Mad Old Man, 185 pages

Fictional dairy of a 77 year old rich Japanese man. His health is declining after a stroke. Although the stroke left him impotent, he still has sexual desires, and his daughter in law plays along. In return she gets very expensive gifts. Some days he feels good, and writes lengthy entries in his diary, some days he has to give up after one or two sentences.
Enjoyable read.

ROOT 57: Kindernovelle en andere verhalen by Klaus Mann
acquired before 2008, translated from German, no English translation, 203 pages

Collection of eight stories, most were written in the 1920s. Contains Kindernovelle and stories from Abenteuer des Brautpaars, a story collection published in 1976.
The stories are a bit overly written, with sometimes very long descriptions of the looks of a character (and those are often repeated). Most characters (manly children) feel different, lonely, and alienated from their surroundings.
Maybe not the right book at this time, or just not my kind of book. Four days after finishing, and I remember very little of it.

ROOT 58: Illustere voorgangers by Jean Rouaud
acquired before 2008, translated from French, Franse Bibliotheek, English translation Of Illustrious Men, 160 pages

The life of the writers father, a salesman traveling through Bretagne. The family outings when he was home.
The second part of the book is about his time with the French resistance during WWII
Second book of five books the writer wrote about his family.

ROOT 59: Strijd en metamorfose van een vrouw by Édouard Louis
acquired August 2021, translated from French, no English translation, 107 pages

How Édouards mother freed herself, after years of repression and her husbands violence.
Because of the circumstances they lived in, Édouard Louis never had a good relationship with his mother. Now there is hope they have better times ahead.
Sadly this book isn't available in English translation yet. His earlier book about his father Who killed my father, is translated. Both books analise the social background of the North of France, where poverty has ruined many lives. Édouard Louis escaped through education, he tells his own story in The End of Eddy.

ROOT 60: De begrafenis by François Bon
acquired before 2008, translated from French, Franse Bibliotheek, no English translation, 106 pages

A young man returns to the village where he was born and raised, to attend the funeral of his friend. The descriptions of family members and villagers who attend the funeral, are altered with memories of the past, and the marriage of his friends sister a few months ago, where the same people came together.
A short but impressive read.

ROOT 61: Pieterpad deel I: Pieterburen - Vorden by Toos Goorhuis & Betje Jens
acquired April 2020, Dutch, non-fiction, no English translation, 192 pages

This is our second copy of this guidebook, that describes the northern half of the Pieterpad in words and with maps. This one was teared apart, so I could only take the few needed pages with me each day.
Each stage is divided in 3 or 4 parts, with the map on the left page and the description of the route on the right page. Special sight seeings are marked on the map, and described next to the route descripten, or in a few case on seperate pages.
Although the Pieterpad is almost everywhere well marked with the white/red markings, on a few occasions it wasn't, and there we had to rely on the guidebook. The book was published in 2016, and since a few parts have been changed, latest updates can be found at the Pieterpad website.
We walked the 13 stages in 19 days, started on March 17th, 2020, finished on October 13th, 2021. Sadly our first steps on the Pieterpad coincided with the first Covid-19 lockdown. With all restaurants closed, we could not get anything on our way, and had to take drinks and food in my backpack. This also limited encounters with other Pieterpad walkers, which is, according to others, part of the fun.
On our last 5 days (October 9-13, 2021), we met and talked to some fellow walkers. Two ladies from Eindhoven and Zwolle did the same stages from south to north, and we chatted some every day. Although the restaurants were open again, we were to much used to take our drinks & food ourselves, so we kept doing that.

ROOT 62: Het land der zieners by Julian May
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The Surveillance, 407 pages

The early history of the Remillard family (they play a role in the last two books of Saga of the Exiles), starting in 1945 with the birth of the twins Donatien "Don" and Rogatien "Rogi" Remillard.
How Dennis Remillard (Don's son, guided by his uncle Rogi) develops his mental powers and becomes an important researcher in this field. Meanwhile in other parts of the world (Scotland, USSR) others with mental powers work together, and their numers are growing.
Written by Rogatien in 2113.
Some of the history is dated. Who could predict in 1987 (when Julian May wrote this book) that two years later the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall would fall? But it can be read as a kind of alternate history and I personally remember those days when Russia was larger and called the USSR ;-)
This book and the next Metaconcert are the link between the Saga of the Exiles and the next three books Galactic Milieu.

ROOT 63: Dit alles zal ik je geven by Dolores Redondo
acquired April 2020, translated from Spanish, original title All This I Will Give to You, 592 pages

Writer Manuel Ortigosa is at home working on his book, when the police comes to tell him that Álvaro, his husband, has been killed in a car accident in Galicia. Manuel can't believe it is true, as all he knows is that Álvaro is at his work in Barcelona. He travels to Galicia and finds out that his husband was a nobleman with a whole hiddden life at his family grounds in Galicia. Manuel is his only heir. Álvaro's family isn't happy about that. With help from some locals Manual diggs into Álvaro's death, and soon suspects it wasn't an accident.
Not only a very good mystery, also an exceptional well written story.
I read this book last year from the library. After reading it, I immediately bought my own copy, and an October TIOLI challenge made me read it again.

ROOT 64: Het eind van de kaart by Albert Helman
acquired October 2019, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 252 pages

In 1955 Lou Lichtveld (penname Albert Helman) went as a passenger on an expedition to unknown territory in Suriname. They go by boat on the river Maroni (the border between Suriname and French Guiana) and explore the waters for a future dam, to provide electricity. This project was later realised in the Suriname river where now is the Brokopondo reservoir.
The writer kept a diary of his journey from April 11, 1955 until his return on May 22, 1955. Besides descriprions of the river and surrounding jungle, the Marroon villages and a few encounters with natives, the writer describes how this all changes himself, and the way he looks to the world.
The diary was published 25 years later, in 1980.

>124 FAMeulstee: I have this on my to-read list. I’m glad to hear you liked it!

>126 Charon07: I hope you will like it as much as I did.

ROOT 65: Stad in de storm by Thea Beckman
acquired before 2008, Dutch, YA, Zilveren Griffen 1980, no English translation, 293 pages

Hans Ortelius is the son of a printer in the city of Utrecht. It is the "disaster year" (1672) and Utrecht is taken by the French. Times are hard under French regime, the Dutch Republic is attacked on all sides. When all turns, and the Dutch Republic regains power, the city is hit in August 1674 by a heavy storm that wipes away the middle part of the largest church in town, the Dom Church.
A nice historical novel by one of my favourite Dutch YA authors.

ROOT 66: De wereld volgens Garp by John Irving
acquired before 2008, 1001 books, translated, original title The World According to Garp, 533 pages

The title describes the book perfectly, the life of T.S. Garp, son of Jenny Fields. His mother wanted a child, but no husband. Rather rare in the early 1940s, she manages to conceive Garp with help of a dying soldier. With this strange start into life, Garp is going to live a strange life. A wrestler in his schooldays, living in Vienna for some time, a writer, a husband, a father.
Written with humor, even the darkest parts.
I am sure I have read this before I kept track of my readings, and saw the movie. I didn't remember much, although some images of the movie came back to me.

book 67: Het meer by Yasunari Kawabata
acquired before 2008, , translated from Japanese, Nobelprize, English translation The Lake, 135 pages

A story about obsession, teacher Gimpei looses everything because his love for one of his pupils.
Not sure what to think about this story, it is both beautiful and ugly. The girl is beautiful and the protagonist feels ugly. I didn't really enjoy the read, but yet I still think about it. Maybe a reread someday will make me understand (and like) it more.

>129 FAMeulstee: The World According to Garp is one of those classics I feel I ought to have read, but I'm pretty sure I haven't.

>131 Jackie_K: Well, you could correct that ;-)

Some books I do remember more clearly, having read before LT. I am not sure about an other Irving: Hotel New Hampshire. I have certainly seen the movie, and might have read the book.

ROOT 68: De brief voor de koning by Tonke Dragt
acquired before 2008, Dutch, childrens, English translation The Letter for the King, 340 pages

The last task before becoming a knight is to wake all night in a chapel, with the other knights to be. But Tiuri hears a voice outside asking for help, so he leaves the chapel to see what he can do. He finds a dying knight and is send to deliver an important letter to the king of the neighboring country. There are enemies around who will do anything to prevent the deliverance of this letter.
An October Challenge gave me the opportunity to reread this childhood favorite.
Next month I will reread of the sequel The Secrets of the Wild Wood.

ROOT 69: Was Getekend by Astrid H. Roemer
acquired in December 2015, Dutch, no translations, 455 pages

The last book of Astrid Roemers trilogy Onmogelijk moederland (Impossible motherland), about Suriname, and the difficult relationship with The Netherlands.
Pedrick the Third is waiting in Suriname for his children, who are on their way from the Netherlands, to celebrate Pedricks 50th birthday. Meanwhile we hear the story of his life, he was a foundling, grew up with a Dutch mother and a father of mixed race. Did well in business, in colonial times, and after Suriname got independent in 1975. Tried to stay away from corruption, bit that becomes more difficult over time. The militairy coup in 1980 changes his world, and he moves away from public life, on his piece of jungle, that he cultured himself.
He married, got two children, who both loved their country, but eventually leave to the Netherlands, where so many others went.
Although Astrid Roemer got two important Dutch literary prizes, the P.C. Hooft-prijs in 2016, and the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren this year, there are very few who read her books. She really deserves a larger audience.

ROOT 70: Majoor Frans by A.L.G. Bosboom-Toussaint
acquired in November 2019, e-book, Dutch, English translation Major Frank, 314 pages

Leopold van Zonshoven is the unexpected inheritor of the fortune of his aunt. In her last will she asks him to do his best to marry Francis. It is not a condition, but he feels obliged to try.
Francis mother died young, and she grew up among soldiers, as her father was in the army. There she was nicknamed "Major Frans". Her mother was rich, but her father spilled the fortune. Francis has no intrest in marriage, she takes care of her aging father in a lapsed castle. Leopold stays there for a while, and tries to win Francis' heart.
This 19th century romance is written as letters Leopold writes to his best friend, who went to the Dutch Indies just after Leopold heard he got a fortune.

ROOT 71: Middaguur by Dörte Hansen
acquired in May 2020, translated from German, no English translation, 302 pages

Professor Ingwer Feddersen returns to Brinkebüll, the village in East-Frisia where he was born and raised. He has taken a sabbatical to take care of his aging grandparents.
In alternating chapters we look at the past and changes of the village, and the present day struggles of Ingwer with his grandparents.
A compelling read, the struggles in a troubled family through time, and the changes around them.

>136 FAMeulstee: You liked this better than I did, at the time I was annoyed by Ingwer's plodding ways. Maybe I should give it another try, as I absolutely loved her first book.

>137 MissWatson: I liked her first slightly better, and I can imagine Ingwer can be a bit annoying at times. Although I can understand being torn between two places/lifestyles.
I mainly loved the descriptions of life and village changing through the years. That part reminded me of the books by James Rebanks, who writes non-fiction about these changes in England from a farmers perspective.

ROOT 72: Geheimen van het Wilde Woud by Tonke Dragt
acquired before 2008, Dutch, childrens, English translation The Secrets of the Wild Wood, 358 pages

Sequel to The Letter for the King, the story starts a few months after the end of the previous book.
Tuiri and Piak leave Tuiri's home for their meeting with knight Ristridin and his friends in spring. Ristridin wet to the Wild Wood, but never returned. The tension between the countries Evielan and Unauwen is rising, and war seems inevitable. Tiui and Piak go into the Wild Wood, where secrets are found, and many adventures.
Each time I have read this, I loved the story even more. Since childhood these two books have been my favorite children's books.

ROOT 73: De dag dat de keizer hoffelijk mijn tranen droogt by Kenzaburo Oë
acquired before 2008, translated from Japanese, Nobelprize, English translation The Day He Himself Shall Wipe My Tears Away, 155 pages

A man lies in a hospital, dying of cancer. Next to him a woman who writes down what he is telling.
He is talking about his youth during WWII, and "The Man" (his father) who was worshipping the Emperor.
My first book by Kenzaburo Oë, who got the Nobel Prize in 1994. Difficult read, I think I gasped less than half of it.

ROOT 74: In krabbengang by Günter Grass
acquired in November 2016, translated from German, Nobelprize, English translation Crabwalk, 208 pages

Paul Prokriefe was born on 30 January 1945, while the Wilhelm Gustloff was sinking, or in the lifeboat that saved him and his mother, or on the ship that brought them to land. His mother told various tales of his birth.
In the present Paul is a journalist, divorced father of a teenager named Konrad. He is exploring the internet, and finds a website dedicated to Wilhelm Gustloff, the man after whom the ship was named. He was killed in Switserland in 1936, by a jew named David Frankfurter. Alexander Marinesko was the captain of the Russian submarine that attacked the Wilhelm Gustlof.
The story alternates between the lives of Gustloff, Frankfurter, Marinesko and the history of the ship, and the present day, where Paul finds out his son, now living with his grandmother in former East-Germany, is becoming a neo-nazi.
Very good read, three generations each viewing history in their own way.

ROOT 75: De interventie by Julian May
acquired before 2008, translated, original title The Metaconcert, 327 pages

Sequel to The Surveillance; people with mental powers are seen as a thread by others, after an incident in Scotland. Dennis Remillard marries to Lucille and their first children are born. Following the main characters from 1992 to 2013.
Written by Rogatien Remillard in 2113.
Some of the history is dated. Who could predict in 1987 (when Julian May wrote this book) that two years later the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall would fall? But it can be read as a kind of alternate history and I personally remember those days when Russia was larger and called the USSR ;-)
This book and the previous one are the link between the Saga of the Exiles and the next three books Galactic Milieu books.

ROOT 76: Tiril en de toverdrank by Bette Westera
acquired in October 2021, Dutch, Children's Book Week gift 2021, no translations, 96 pages

Set somewhere in Scandinavia, 9th century. King Harold Haardos has conquered almost all of Scandinavia, and the small village where Tiril lives is the only village not yet under his reign. The villagers want to fight, based on false rumors. Tiril wants her father to convince the villagers of the good intentions of the king. When her father fails, she goes on a quest, with her friend Thialfi, to find a magic potion that can make him more convincing.
Some of the Norse gods appear in between the chapters.

Hallo Anita!

Trying to catch up on thread again. I want to wish you

>144 connie53: Thank you, Connie, the same to you and yours!

ROOT 77: Ideeën : derde bundel by Multatuli
acquired in December 2019, e-book, Dutch, non-fiction, no translations, 782 pages

Third of seven books of Ideas by Multatuli. Essays, one-liners, and interwoven the story of Woutertje Pieterse. Written in the second half of the 19th century.
He critisises the government, parliament, publishers, preachers, teachers, etc. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes boring.

Last two ROOTs finished

ROOT 78: De moordclub (op donderdag) (The Thursday Murder Club) by Richard Osman
Enjoyable cosy mystery, a gift from a Dutch book website earlier this month

ROOT 79: Geduldig gereedschap by Rutger Kopland
Dutch poetry, on the shelves since before 2008. Thoughts about getting older, a parent suffering from dementia, and nature

Happy new year, Anita!

>148 Jackie_K: Thank you, Jackie, and happy new year to you!

I will set up my 2022 ROOT thread tomorrow.

Happy new year! 79 ROOTs is an excellent total.

>150 rabbitprincess: Thanks, RB, I was very pleased with that number. I would not have dared to predict it at the start of this year.

Happy 2022!

I finished with 79 too. I've got another book on the go and was hopeful for a nice round 80, but time has caught up with me!

>152 Jackie_K: I just said almost the same at your thread, Jackie :-D

>153 FAMeulstee: Great minds and all that! ;)

>154 Jackie_K: Indeed, now let us see how close we come in 2022 :-)