Rejoice!

You know that little meme thingy going around on Facebook where someone asks you to add a word of encouragement starting with the first letter of your name? My IRL name starts with an R and I always give them "Rejoice" as a word. Such a  hugely positive word.

I have had a word of the year for the last few years. Some years have turned into quite the opposite and others have been very successful . My year of "Hope" turned out exactly that and in my year of "Brave" it was exactly what is needed. Somehow this year "Rejoice" came to me almost the moment I started thinking about a word. In fact, no other word came to me.

Most of you know that 2017 was my "Anus Horibilis" - it was hectic. This year has all the potential to be a difficult one too. But I choose to "Rejoice" and I will. As I was milling over this I found the confirmation that indeed it was the right word for the year.  I saw this blog post (Written in Afrikaans) about the drought in Cape Town. Please read it if you are able to understand Afrikaans . It is all about trusting God and rejoicing at the same time.

So I will live this year and rejoice:

Habakkuk 3:17-19 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights

My year in books 2017

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in forever and I will chat about that soon enough. But you all know that my enthusiasm for books and reading is endless and brings me much joy. I always do a review of the books I read every year and it's always a popular post. So herewith- my year in books 2017.

Book of the year (English):

 

1."The Satanic Mechanic- Tannie Maria Mystery #2" by Sally Andrew
Absolutely delightful like the first tannie Maria book it is a mix of a murder mystery and pure South African Karoo magic with a great touch of humour and compassion. It is the most charming book! For my review read here.

2. "My grandmother sends her regards and apologies" by Fredrik Backman
Backman's magic continues with this book written with a bit of magic realism added to his usual odd and charming characters. I enjoyed it even more than "A man called Ove"


3. "Big little lies" by Liane Moriarty. A very clever and well written book that investigates so many of our daily issues. I enjoyed the play between moms and how we see this unfold every day in our own lives.

Boek van die jaar (Afrikaans):

1. "Mentje Kind van Pas-opkamp" by Irma Joubert
Ek sukkel steeds om oor Mentje te praat - so diep het hierdie wonderlike historiese verhaal my geraak. Volg Mentje, alleen gelaat in die midde van die Tweede wêreld oorlog deur haar ontberinge. Wat veral opval is Mentje se besondere gees en wil vir oorlewing  ten spyte van die hartseer omstandighede wat haar omring. Die geskiedenis het my so gefasineer dat ek gaan oplees het oor dele daarvan. Die tweede in 'n trilogie (na "Immer Wes") is dit 'n sensitiewe verhaal wat boei tot die einde.

2. "Moordhuis" vanMadelein Rust
Moordhuis is 'n uiters slim , uiters spannende boek wat my vasgenael gehou het elke oomblik van die eerste tot die laaste bladsy. Ek lees baie krimies 'n jaar en as een van hulle my beste boeke lys maak moet jy weet dit is die beste van die beste.

3. "Ver in die wêreld Kittie" van Santie van der Merwe.
Dit was die eerste van Santie se boeke wat ek gelees het en tot dusver die een wat my die diepste raak. Hoe meer ek dink oor die boek , hoe meer wil ek hom weer lees. Lees my oorspronklike indrukke hier 

Young adult book of the year/ Jeugboek van die jaar.

"Vlerke vir almal" van Marion Erskine
I am going to write this in English because although this is an Afrikaans book I truly believe this book will be translated. It is an important book for any young adult and their parents to read - to realize the world of bullying - the kind we are all unfortunately used to , but also the newer form cyber bullying our kids are living in. If you are at all able to read in Afrikaans please do so. It is a wonderful sympathetic read that brings so much insight into the world of teens.

Non fiction book of the year/ nie fiksie boek van die jaar

 

"Elders" van Ernst Grundling
Ek het die reisverhaal en stap deur die Camino geweldig geniet miskien omdat dit vir my ook 'n bucket list item is. Dit was heerlik om saam met Ernst te reis nie net die fisiese nie maar ook geestelike moderne wêreld de -toks.

Book of the year translated from another language than English or Afrikaans:

"Fever at dawn" by Peter Gardos
The beautiful story of rebuilding your life as told through the eyes of 25 year old holocaust survivor Miklos. A love story of hope and survival it is a beautiful read that I strongly recommend.

I hope you enjoyed this - please let me know what your best reads were for 2017. May we all have a great reading year ahead.