Tuesday 19 January 2016

Tuesday Books day

Gosh I see we have not talked books in a long long time. I do love to talk about one of my favorite hobbies and my book posts are always rather popular. 2015 has not been the best reading year for me - in fact it's been the worst in the amount of books I read for the year (25) in 8 years! But I did read some great books. Quality sometimes is more important than quantity - but I am planning to read more this year.

So let me run you through the last few books of 2015 and the first two of 2016 (shown in order from right to left) I see they are 50% Afrikaans - a huge % for me - I prefer to read in English.
Die Vierkant van die Wraak - Pieter Aspe 
This book is also available in English as "The square of the revenge" - thus my short review in English:
Inspector Pieter van In is called to investigate the very odd robbery of a jewellery store. Oddly enough nothing was stolen but all the jewellery was destroyed. The investigation takes a turn for the worse when a young boy from the same family is kidnapped. A great story line with the usual characters fro this type of mystery I did find the translation into Afrikaans a bit irritating at times and have no idea what the English translation is like.
I gave it 4 /5 for a story but the Afrikaans translation was so irritating that it will drop to a 3 .

After You - Jojo Moyes
This book is the much anticipated sequel to "Me before you" a book I adored as much as many others did. I really enjoyed reading the story of Louisa after Will's passing. Beautifully written with a great few twists and turns it is well worth the read. It may not be " Me before you" but no other book will ever be that - it is a worthy and great read never the less. I gave it 4 and a half /5

Amper Einstein - 
'n Heerlike jeugboek wat goed genoeg is vir volwassenes om ook te geniet. Leonard is die skool se Wiskunde brein en boonop deel van die brugbou span. Maar sy lewe by die huis is alles behalwe gewoon, of normaal- wat ookal dit mag wees. Met sy Pa in 'n rolstoel, sy boetie wat 'n groot uitdaging is en niemand verstaan nie en sy ma wat probeer om te red waar sy kan.

'n Besonderse goeie en sensitiewe blik in die wêreld van outisme voel ek dit is 'n belangrike boek om te lees vir almal wat iewers in hul lewe met 'n outis te doen het. Vir my wat die ma is van 'n baie hoog funtionerende outis was dit sulke " ja ek weet" oomblikke gereeld. En eintlik ook vir enige kind waar dit kan help om hul idee oor die wêreld en wat "anders" of dan "in" of "uit" is aan te spreek.

4 en n half uit 5.

The unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra - Vaseem Khan
I have long ago stopped reading books that take place in India. Funny enough I think I just had too much of the poverty, the hopelessness. As result Shantaram is still on my to read list. This book however seemed different from the couver to the summary on the back page. So I grabbed it at the bookclub for a holiday read.

What a lovely unexpected treat. Explore Mumbai from the eyes of a freshly retired police inspector. A great mystery to solve and a lovely human ( and elephant) angle. The style of writing reminds me of Alexander Macall Smiths Mma Ramotswe novels. A little jewel you will enjoy. A solid 4 out of 5.

Let it snow - 






Caz Colijn kry 'n oproep uit België wat haar lewe omver ruk. Skielik is sy nie wie sy gedink het sy is nie - haar hele lewe is 'n raaisel. Terug in die sestigs in Kongo word 'n man wreed vermoor en sy beminde vir dood agter gelaat. Wat is die verband? 

Wat 'n heerlike leeservaring. Uitstekende karakters, baie kinkels in die kabel. Interessante plekke en gemaklike taal maak dit een van die lekkerste boeke wat ek in 'n lang tyd gelees het. Ek sal hom sterk aanbeveel. 5 uit 5 vir lekker lees en vasgenael hou. Ek kan nie wag vir die opvolg wat na skatting in Oktober gaan verskyn nie.

17 comments:

  1. I love your book posts. You are the inspiration behind starting a book club with a few friends. Hopefully 2016 will be a year filled with books.

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  2. Oh I love this! I hope you enjoy the bookclub as much as I enjoy mine. I take it you have read my post on how to start a bookclub?http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.co.za/2011/07/so-about-bookclub.html

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  3. Books ftw! After you was 3 sentences short of being perfect for me. Also are you on goodreads?

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  4. May this be a year of good reading (and lots of it!) for you :)

    I'm so impressed with all the Afrikaans :)

    I can't do the youth fiction - it irritates me too much. I think it's a sign of getting old!!!! :o

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    1. Honestly I love some of the youth ones. And thanks - that is a great wish

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  5. Ah gosh, thanks for this, adding these books to my wishlist right now! Especially Offerlam, I don't read Afrikaans very often, but would really like to, and this one sounds just up my alley! Thanks!
    xx

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    1. Oh it is a great read - you will not be sorry

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  6. I love your book posts. I come here to look for something new to read. I an currently in my science fiction/ fantasy phase and those series can go on for many books. I have to read everyday. A few minutes in the morning, a few at lunch time and every evening.

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    1. I also have to read every day. And I think my favorite fantasy series of all time is the Dune series

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  7. I really really didn't like Shantaram - I still mourn all the time lost reading it. And I agree with you about books from India - some of the scenes in A Fine Balance still haunt me and I read that about 12 ago.

    It seems although I'll have to just close my eyes and buy Offerlam. Wading through All the light we can not see - really struggling - I can't really understand the hype around it.

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    1. Funny enough - a Fine balance was also the last I read - harrowing scenes but a great book. I still have "All the light" on my to read list -now I am wondering if I should keep it there

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  8. Ek het After You gelees...en dit baie geniet...Offerlam klink na iets wat ek sal geniet. Wens ek het meer tyd gehad vir lees.

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  9. Thanks Cat! You inspire me. I don't know where you get the time?

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  10. Ek sal Offerlam wil lees.

    I'm on John Green high and just ordered everything he ever wrote. 😁

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  11. PS. I don't like reading about India. The place always sounds hopeless and dirty. Perception is everything right?

    For some reason I also don't enjoy reading about the boer war, but I love history. Weird!

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So what's on your mind?