2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [school]
08. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game [re-read, it's been years :)]
09. Robert J. Sawyer - Hominids
10. Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere
11. Justin Richards - Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man [Dutch]
12. Star Trek: DS9 - Prophecy & Change (short story collection)

13. Keith R.A. DeCandido - Supernatural: Bone Key
14. Paul Ruditis - Charmed: As Puck Would Have It [Dutch]
15. Laura J. Burns - Charmed: Sweet Talkin' Demon [Dutch]
16. Atte Jongstra - De Avonturen van Henry II Fix [Dutch] [school]
17. Martin Caidin - Indiana Jones and the White Witch) [Dutch] [re-read]
18. Bobbi J.G. Weiss & Jacklyn Wilson - Charmed: Between Worlds [Dutch]
19. Martha Wells - Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary
20. Cameron Dokey - Charmed: Truth & Consequences [Dutch]
21. Sabine C. Bauer - Stargate Atlantis: Mirror, Mirror

22. Scott Ciencin - Charmed: Luck be a Lady [Dutch]
23. Laura J. Burns - Charmed: Inherit the Witch [Dutch]
24. Doeschka Meijsing - Over de Liefde {About Love}  [Dutch] [school]
25. Emma Harrison - Charmed: A Tale of Two Pipers [Dutch]
26. Debbie Viguié - Charmed: Pied Piper [Dutch]

27. L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of Oz
28. Eliza Willard - Charmed: The Power of Three [Dutch]
29. Cameron Dokey & F. Goldsborough - Charmed: The Crimson Spell [Dutch]

30. Suzanne Wood - Stargate SG-1: The Barque of Heaven
31. David Brin - Kiln People
32. A.A. Milne & E.H. Shepard - The World of Pooh (The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner)
33. Christopher Golden - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Lost Slayer (4-in-1)
34. Terry Pratchett - The Bromeliad (Truckers, Diggers, Wings)

35. P.C. Dohery - Murder Imperial
36. Thomas Greanias - Atlantis herrezen (Raising Atlantis)
37. Karen Miller - The Innocent Mage
38. Karen Miller - The Awakened Mage

39. K.E Mills - Accidental Sorcerer
40. K.E. Mills - Wiches Incorporated
41. Terry Pratchett - The Dark Side of the Sun

42. P.C. & Kristin Cast - Marked
43. Amber Benson - Death's Daughter
44. Jeff Lindsay - Darkly Dreaming Dexter

45. The Medieval Murderers - House of Shadows
46. Bernard Knight - The Grim Reaper


Currently reading You Suck by Christopher Moore, Emma by Jane Austen and Marker by Robin Cook. Regardless of that, I'm behind schedule if I want to get to the 60 books that I set as goal at the beginning of this year. I think I can catch up but even if I don't, at least I got roughly the same number as previous years, which is good.

It's been a while since I updated the reading list so here goes.

I'm used to varying quality when reading tie-in fiction, since it needs to compete with the image of the tv-show (since I tend to read tv-show tie-ins) I have in my head. And since I tend to read books of shows I really like, the judging is harsh. That being said, until recently I mostly read Star Trek books and I think they have been blessed over the years not just with great writers, but also great editors. I have been spoiled with a plethora of good tie-in fiction. I've branched out now and added not just Charmed to my list but also Stargate and read a Supernatural book earlier this year and have a Buffy book waiting.

So far, I also love the Stargate books and the Supernatural one was very good too. The Charmed books, however, we're not so good. Caveat beforehand, since I read these in translation I can't really judge if it's the books themselves or the translation that bugs me. I usually buy tie-in in English but got these at a discount store for about 50 cents a piece so had to take them :D

I kept hearing the characters say the Dutch phrases in English in my head but it still wasn't really right. I found, with most of them, the initial plot idea fun and entertaining but the executution either out of character, long-winded, obvious or just plain boring. I might re-read the ones I liked best in English to see if that makes a difference.

I'm curently not reading anything, I'm in the middle of finals. So, yeah I guess I'm reading the school books, but no fiction :D I have planned, for after the finals, to hit the Buffy tie-in book (The Lost Slayer, which is really a 4-in-1) as well as The Color Purple, which I got from the Library's pile of books-for-sale.

2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [school]
08. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game [re-read, it's been years :)]
09. Robert J. Sawyer - Hominids
10. Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere
11. Justin Richards - Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man [Dutch]
12. Star Trek: DS9 - Prophecy & Change (short story collection)

13. Keith R.A. DeCandido - Supernatural: Bone Key
14. Paul Ruditis - Charmed: As Puck Would Have It [Dutch]
15. Laura J. Burns - Charmed: Sweet Talkin' Demon [Dutch]
16. Atte Jongstra - De Avonturen van Henry II Fix [Dutch] [school]
17. Martin Caidin - Indiana Jones and the White Witch) [Dutch] [re-read]
18. Bobbi J.G. Weiss & Jacklyn Wilson - Charmed: Between Worlds [Dutch]
19. Martha Wells - Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary
20. Cameron Dokey - Charmed: Truth & Consequences [Dutch]
21. Sabine C. Bauer - Stargate Atlantis: Mirror, Mirror

22. Scott Ciencin - Charmed: Luck be a Lady [Dutch]
23. Laura J. Burns - Charmed: Inherit the Witch [Dutch]
24. Doeschka Meijsing - Over de Liefde {About Love}  [Dutch] [school]
25. Emma Harrison - Charmed: A Tale of Two Pipers [Dutch]
26. Debbie Viguié - Charmed: Pied Piper [Dutch]

27. L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of Oz
28. Eliza Willard - Charmed: The Power of Three [Dutch]
29. Cameron Dokey & F. Goldsborough - Charmed: The Crimson Spell [Dutch]

30. Suzanne Wood - Stargate SG-1: The Barque of Heaven
31. David Brin - Kiln People
32. A.A. Milne & E.H. Shepard - The World of Pooh (The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner)

Am a bit woozy today, onset of a cold, grrrr.

Now (re-)reading a convoluted Indiana Jones novel, plus, for school, a Dutch historical novel called De Avonturen van Henry II Fix  (The Adventures of Henry II Fix) so I can do the assignment tomorrow evening. And then, after that, I will be reading 2/3 of a book about Dutch history for the exam coming Monday.

2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [School]
08. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game [re-read, it's been years :)]
09. Robert J. Sawyer - Hominids
10. Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere
11. Justin Richards - Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man [Dutch]
12. Star Trek: DS9 - Prophecy & Change (short story collection)

13. Keith R.A. DeCandido - Supernatural: Bone Key
14. Paul Ruditis - Charmed: As Puck Would Have It [Dutch]
15. Laura J. Burns - Charmed: Sweet Talkin' Demon [Dutch]

Finished Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman today, and, as many books I read recently, it was awesome. It's the tale of Richard Mayhew who gets stuck in London Below, a basically twisted through time and space copy of London situated below the Old City divided up in baronies and fiefdoms tied to old underground stations.

One evening, as Richard and his fiancé Jessica are on their way to a restaurant, they come across a young woman lying on the street, bleeding. It is Door, fled from London Below, the only survivor of the murder of her family. Richard decides to help her, against Jessica's wishes who breaks off the engagement. Richard takes Door home to help her. Once there, Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar ring the bell, they're looking for Door. Richard denies her being there and when C&V barge in and look through the apartment, she is indeed not there.

After Croup and Vandemar leave, Door comes back and the next day, with help from Marquis de Carabas, they return to London Below. Richard goes with them for a bit before he returns above ground. He then finds that people don't really see him anymore. At his work they don't recognise him, his apartment is being shown to another couple and Jessica also doesn't recognise him.

He manages to get back Below and finds Door and the Marquis again. They then set of on a quest of sorts together after they hire Hunter as their bodyguard. Richard goes along because there's nothing else he can do and this may be the only way for him to go back. Door comes to find out who killed her family, the Marquis helps to settle a debt to Door's family while Hunter goes with them to so she can eventually slay the Beast of London.

The book is a very entertaining and grips you from just a few pages in. The world building of London Below is excellent, a perfect mix of (semi-)standard fantasy city and weird, twisted modern day London. Richard makes a good main character who doesn't know what he's getting himself into but stumbles on nonetheless because it's the only thing he can do. Door is wonderfully charming and the Marquis... He's intriguing from the beginning and he sets you on the wrong foot on multiple occasions. I found Hunter less fleshed out but she doesn't speak a lot either, she more or less just is, at least  until near the end of the book. The final plot twist then, was not unexpected but felt a bit off.


2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [School]
08. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game [re-read, it's been years :)]
09. Robert J. Sawyer - Hominids
10. Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere

Currently reading Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and need to finish the last story in the Deep Space 9 anthology Prophecy and Change.
Just read Ender's game again and  Robert Sawyer's Hominids, which is so seriously made of WIN!

Next book in the planning after finishing Neverwhere (which I think will happen tomorrow) is Michael White's Equinox. It's one of those adventure books with murder and history and artifacts and stuff so I figured I pick that one to increase variation instead of returning to either sci-fi or fantasy immediately. Plus, I've had Equinox for two years or so and still need to read it...

I'm also planning to enter a contest where you make your own book. This is not just a writing contest, the point here is to create the entire book, whatever way you want, it can be text, pictures, photos, art, or a mix of any or more of this. The best one that is also publishable (or, printable rather) wins and gets published, second and third get money. Those two don't even have to be publishable/printable. And while it would be awesome^10 to get published, my current financial state is such that I would rather win second prize. I know just what I could do with €1000...
Anyway, so far, my book seems to be some kind of Alice in Wonderland thing where the main character is sucked into this really weird world. But I'm not sure yet what's happening exactly, the book just takes me along. I do know it's a massive mix of graphics and text and playing with colours, shapes and textures. I've three pages finished so far. At least, in terms of graphics, text might get edited more as the story continues. Mostly since I have no idea where Furry (as I've named my main character for now) is going to go or end up and what the purpose of this whole journey of his (hers?) is.

Also, something awesome was confirmed earlier today which I can't say anything about just yet 'cause it would spoil the surprise for my friend :D


2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [School]
08. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game [re-read, it's been years :)]
09. Robert J. Sawyer - Hominids

One of my literature classes deals with current literature and examines various trends in Dutch literature. One of those trends is that well-written thrillers are more often seen as literature and also get marketed as 'literary thriller'. So for a class on that particular subject in two weeks we had to read one of these literary thrillers. It was Esther Verhoef's Alles te Verliezen (Everything to Loose). Since this is not a genre I generally enjoy, I bought the book second hand. It arrived yesterday and I started reading it around 1 pm today. It's now 4pm and I finished the book about half an hour ago. I've already put the book back up for sale.

I think that says enough about what I think about it. It's not a bad book in itself, it's just very much not my genre and not my style of book. I also found the pace to be on the slow side and the way the descriptions were done to be of the 'look how nicely I can describe the surroundings' variety. It felt as if she really wanted to rub it in how well-to-do her main characters were and how lovely the house and grounds and the stable and so on. I know it was part of the story, to emphasize all that Claire stands to loose, but it felt stilted.

The ending was kinda expected but the actual climax evoked an 'oh, come on!' reaction.

Edit: I just realised, maybe I should say a few words more about the actual plot? Well, here goes. Main character is Claire, married to rich realtor Harald and mother of their two young children. They're rich, they live in a big house with lots of space around, stable, horse, you know, the works. Claire's basically perfect: a stay at home mom, volunteer at the kids' school, and excellent at entertaining her husband's business associates when he throws a party. Claire however, has a shady past which came to an end when her lover in that period was sent to jail. Now, ten years later, he's out and has come back to make trouble.


2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [School]

Twist of Faith is an omnibus collecting four Star Trek tie-in novels and a novella that continue the story of Deep Space 9 and its crew. In short: I loved this book. I'd wanted to read the beginnings of the DS9 relaunch for ages now and this omnibus edition was the perfect solution (as opposed to buying all the books separately).
The stories were all very well put together, giving attention (and a very good voice) to those regulars that were left behind on the station (or from elsewhere in the ST verse) at the end of the series while skillfully introducing new characters to round out the crew.
The books take place over the course of about a month, three months after the end of the tv series. This was also my only complaint about the books, since so much happens in all of them, it kinda feels like overload to have it take place all in one month. Although this could have been caused by reading all the books in a row without pause.

The first book starts with the station being attacked by Jem'Hadar after three months of relative peace and quiet. The station is still undergoing repairs and not at all equipped to deal with attack. Fortunately, they manage to survive, although not without casualties. Thus begins the search for how and why the Jem'Hadar attacked. Intertwined with this is Jake's story as he tries to deal with his father's disappearance and a mysterious prophecy he is given. The third strand is the murder investigation of a Bajoran Vedek who gave Jake the prophecy. The Jem'Hadar and murder strands are brought to a close by the second book. Jake's story isn't done yet, however, and he sets out to find his dad.

The third book is a Bashir-centered one where he, together with a few friends from DS9, goes off on a mission for section 31 to stop another genetically enhanced human. I found this one the weakest of the books, the solution seemed to be too easy. It felt a bit sudden.

The fourth book is a Gateways book, telling a story about the Iconian gateways that suddenly open throughout the galaxy. Here it just so happens that one of those gateways connects the Delta Quadrant with the orbit of a Beta Quadrant planet. A Malon waste freighter stumbles upon the gateway and decides to dump it's toxic waste into it. The waste threatens the planet on the Beta Quadrant side and a massive evacuation needs to be undertaken to save the people. Against the backdrop of this evacuation a way is being sought to close the gateways while Quark gets in over his head trying to negotiate the buying of the gateways for the Orions.

The fifth story tells the tale of Kira who gets lost in a gateway at the end of the fourth book. It is a lovely story about Bajor's past and offers insights into Kira's mind.

All in all, it was a ride I enjoyed immensely and I can't wait to continue the relauch series with the Mission Gamma books and Rising Son where we will finally learn (among other things) what happened to Jake.


2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)

I got tagged with two memes on Facebook so did them there but figured I might as well re-post them here too.

Also, a quick book update. I'm now one chapter from finishing the first book in Twist of Faith (Avatar book 1) and, as expected, I love it :D
Will continue reading tonight, after I finish re-arranging my bookshelves. I have that re-arrange itch again and I hope to satisfy it with some (for me minor) bookshelf re-arranging instead of going all out and trying to re-arrange all the furniture again. Which I know won't work any other way than it is now unless I really start taking apart pieces of furniture and I'm not that far gone :D So far so good.

Now, on to the memes.

1. The Howling of the Jin

Paul, who tagged me, says he cheated: "OK, here's the meme that everyone seems to be doing tonight. But I'll admit cheating right up front - the first time I did it, only 3 answers were funny. So I did it three more times and took the best answers from each. But the results make it worthwhile, I think...."

so I promptly followed suit and did it three times to pick out the best answers. Cuz, come on, this sorta thing needs to at least give a chuckle here or there, no? I ended up picking mostly the first choices though :D

Instructions:
- Put your iTunes (or whatever) on shuffle.
- For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
- Write that song name down. No cheating.
- Tag some friends – including me!

1. If someone asks: "are you okay?" You answer:
Excuses

2. How would you describe yourself?
Time to Burn

3. What do you like in a guy/girl?
Bleed it Out

4. How do you feel today?
Why

5. What is your life's purpose?
Ripples

6. What's your motto?
Something More

7. What do your friends think of you?
Stap voor Stap (Step by Step)

8. What do you parents think of you?
Move Your Body

9. What do you think about very often?
End of the World

10. What is 2+2?
Savin' Me

11. What do you think of your best friend?
De Speeltuin (The Playground)

12. What is your life story?
Blue Burns Orange

13. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues

14. What do you think when you see the person you like?
Never Trust a Klingon

15. What will you dance to at your wedding?
Rollercoaster

16. What will they play at your funeral?
Born to Run

17. What is your hobby/interest?
Stan

18. What is your biggest fear?
Hands Clean

19. What is your biggest secret?
Get Over It

20. What do you want right now?
Hollerin' for Haggis

21. What do you think of your friends?
If You had My Love

22. What will you post this as?
The Howling of the Jinn


2.  25 Things

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things (facts, habits, goals, whatevers) about you.

1. I love cheese dipped in chocolate sauce.

2. I am a major Trekkie, to the core of my being :D

3. I kinda want to be Daniel Jackson (Stargate SG-1) I already have the archaeology BA...

4. In the age old question of whether you would rather go deaf or go blind, I'd go deaf. I cannot live with not being able to read. I know there's braille and audio books but it's not the same.

5. I play the bagpipe, recorder and tin whistle. I still want to learn how to play the piano but need a) a piano and b) the space to put it, first.

6. I'm a grammar geek. I can't help myself but correct people when I see a mistake in something they wrote. Grammar mistakes on the internet (on facebook most notably in those flair apps) annoy the hell out of me. Specifically: its vs. it's and the their/there/theyre thing. Also, then vs. than.

7. I would like to take the TOEFL sometime in the near future, maybe this year, maybe next.

8. I studied in Leicester (UK) for a semester while doing archaeology, it was awesome.

9. I've traveled outside my own country but not nearly enough to my taste. I still want to go to: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Russia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, USA, Canada and Mexico.

10. I love museums. When we had CKV (cultural education) in school and had to go to a number of cultural things, I chose to go to museums while most of the other kids chose to go those art films and music things. Not that I didn't also do that :D (a film from Tibet and the opera Carmen)

11. I like cooking a lot but sorely miss an oven :(
And just a few hours after I posted the shiny red tabletop oven I'd ordered was delivered :D

12. I talk to myself a lot. I think it's a side effect of having no siblings and a very active imagination.

13. In regards to that imagination, I had lots of invisible friends when I was a kid. Even a whole invisible family. We lived on a horse farm in Southern France, it was much fun :D

14. I have no siblings but a very large extended family seeing as how mom has 3 siblings and dad had 9 and many of these have children and grandchildren of their own.

15. I don't watch TV a lot, but when I do it's mostly Discovery Channel and National Geographic and such. I watch TV-series too (mostly sci-fi & fantasy stuff) but prefer to do that on DVD or my computer.

16. I love strawberries.

17. I have a cat, a large black-and-white cuddle monster. Monet was his name at the shelter and I kinda liked that so instead of renaming him Gibbs (after the NCIS character) as I planned, I just added to his name and it became Jethro Venantius Monet :D But I call him Monkey, which is a name that suits him just fine.

18. I once shaved my head nearly bald just because I'd never done it before :D It was fun.

19. I want to get a tattoo in the near future, just need to shape the idea of what I want a bit more.

20. My favourite colours are black, red and purple.

21. I love taking pictures, when I go someplace, nine out of ten times I'll have my camera with me.

22. My favourite books are Dan Simmon's Hyperion and Endymion books as well as Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.

23. I have the most amazing brown thumbs, it's very hard for me to keep plants alive because I constantly forget to water them. The only real plants I have are a cactus and a bamboo stick... The rest are (good-looking) fakes.

24. I can't wear white clothes because I'll invariably spill something on it not five minutes into wearing it.

25.I like to play board games but no-one ever wants to play... So my pile of games goes largely unused :(

I'm almost done with the current exam period so it's time to direct my focus on to what I plan to read next. I have several books on my shelves that I still need to read and this year I plan to get that done. I've made a deal with myself that I don't get to buy new books unless I read old(er) ones I still haven't opened. The idea is that I need to read two books (at least) for every new one that I want to buy. Since I ordered a new one last week that just got delivered, I need to read two older unread ones to compensate :D Not that it is a punishment, I <3 books.

So, the new arrival is Twist of Faith. An omnibus edition that collects four Star Trek novels and a novella in one cover. These books are the first in the so-called DS9 Relaunch Series where they continue the story of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in book form. Now, I'm a Trekkie to the core of my being and Deep Space 9 is my favourite of the available series so when I learned of the relaunch (started some years ago) I wanted them. Various reasons, a lot of them to do with availability of the books over here, have resulted in a somewhat skip-jumped reading. I read about a handful of books taking place after the show ended but never really in order. Now, with Twist of Faith arriving in my home, I can remedy this and start from the beginning.

Other books that live on my shelves and are to be read this year, and preferably in February and March, are:
Elizabeth Bear - Blood & Iron
John Scalzi - The Android's Dream
Robert Sawyer - Hominids
Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere
Allen Steele - Coyote
Michael White - Equinox

There's a few more but those are planned for later in the year, including China Mieville's Perdido Street Station which I've had for a few years but never managed to get to more than the first two chapters or so. Then there's some "literary" stuff, I guess. Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and James Morrow's The Last Witchfinder. I also have a Kenzaburo Oe novel lying around that I would like to tackle this year.

Additionally, my best friend has a few fantasy/supernatural books that I haven't read and that interest me so I will probably plunder her shelves too.

Ooh, I'd almost forget. I've done major studying which included completely reading three books (instead of that chapter here, chapter there stuff) so they can be added to the list. And there's another bedtime reading Arendsoog book.

2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

And so we reach 2009. For the rest of the year, I plan to post a list every first few days of the month (starting February) listing the books read so far. I might, in between, post when I've read something I enjoyed very much or hated (which is unlikely) or I just feel like I have something to say about.

Not much now, I've only read one book so far (mostly to blame on the fact that it's exam period and I spend most of my time studying/reading school stuff). The book I've read is A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear. I bought this late last year as a result of starting to read Bear's blog halfway through 2008. Then, on my Birthday in September I got a book gift card. I took to the bookstore and went to look for books by Bear and found Dust and Blood & Iron. I read the back cover and was intrigued by both of them so brought them home. I've finished Dust and I absolutely LOVE it. It immediately made its way on to the list of favourite books (where it joined, among others, Dan Simmons'  Hyperion/Endymion series and Keith R.A. DeCandido's Articles of the Federation) and I can't wait for its sequel, Chill, to get published.
I've started Blood & Iron after that but so far it has failed to really pull me in. I don't quite know why, normally it's a type of book I like. I blame it on a somewhat busy schedule in the last few months which didn't give me the uninterrupted time to really dive into a novel. I'll take it up again after the exam period when I can give it at least an hour at a time so i can see if the schedule's to blame or the book.

Anyway, getting back on track, after I'd finished Dust, I knew I had to have more Bear. The description of A Companion to Wolves intrigued me, so I bought it and it ended up on the shelf until a few days ago. A post on Bear's blog about the sequel tot ACtW inspired me to grab it as my next book and once I started, I couldn't put it down, it was that AWESOME.

The story takes place in this Norse-based culture where Wolfcarls, men who bond together with a wolf, protect the villages from trolls. In return, when a she-wolf has a litter, they choose a number of boys from the villages to join them and eventually bond with the new pups.
This happens to the main character of the book, Njall. Njall is the oldest son of a jarl and destined to follow in his father's footsteps and lead the villages. Until the wolfcarls knock on their door. Njall is fascinated by the wolf accompanying the wolfcarl and decides to join them. This is only the start of his new life in which he does not only find new friends and bonds with a wolf of his own, but in which he also learns that life is not as black and white as he grew up believing. Things are not always what they seem.

I love the fact that it uses Norse mythology, history and culture as a base, I've always been a mythology/history nut so... :D I also love the fact that they obviously researched their stuff. The names, culture, behaviour (of men and wolves)... The attention given to the trolls and elves to make them both fit the mythology/culture and keep them different from those generic fantasy trolls and elves... It all created such an interwoven whole that sucked me right in and kept me there. Like Dust, ACtW made its way onto my favourites list and I can hardly wait for the sequel. Too bad that still needs to be written, although the fact that the first two lines have been done is hopeful :D


2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves

Almost there now :D Explanation of format and markers is here.

This year I started writing down the authors on tie-in novels in addition to the series they were from.

2008
01. Jeannette Walls - The Glass Castle

02. Mary Shelley - Frankenstein [School]

03. Charmed (Jeff Mariotte) - Mirror Image [Dutch]
04. Star Trek (Keith R.A. DeCandido) - Articles of the Federation [re-read]
05. Harriet Beecher Stowe - Uncle Tom's Cabin [School]
06. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child - Cabinet of Curiosities (Pendergast 3)

07. Julie Kenner - Carpe Demon (Demon Slayer Mom 1)
08. Susan Albert - Hangman's Root (China Bayles 3) [Dutch]
09. Susan Albert - Rosemary Remembered (China Bayles 4) [Dutch]
10. Susan Albert - Rueful Death (China Bayles 5) [Dutch]
11. Patricia Briggs: Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson 2)
12. William Shakespeare - Anthony & Cleopatra

Starting with this play, a friend and I began the massive job of reading all of Shakespeare's plas together. Out loud. We each take roughly half of the speaking parts and there we go :) We made a playlist, so to speak, by taking turns picking a play. We then also get first pick of characters in the plays we chose. It's SO much FUN!

13. Lindsay Sands: A Quick Bite
14. William Shakespeare - Macbeth

15. William Shakespeare - Hamlet
16. William Shakespeare - Romeo & juliet

17. Terry Pratchett - Making Money (Discworld 31)
18. William Shakespeare - King Lear
19. Terry Pratchett - Thud (Discworld 30) [re-read]

20. Carrie Vaugh - Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty 1) [re-read]
21. Carrie Vaugh - Kitty Goes to Washington (Kitty 2)
22. David & Leigh Eddings - The Elder Gods (The Dreamers 4) [Dutch]
23. David & Leigh Eddings - The Treasured One (The Dreamers 2) [Dutch]
24. David & Leigh Eddings - Crystal Gorge (The Dreamers 3) [Dutch]
25. David & Leigh Eddings - The Younger Gods (The Dreamers 4) [Dutch]

26. Carrie Vaugh - Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty 3)
27. Carrie Vaugh - Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty 4)
28. Karen Chance - Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer 1)

29. Terry Pratchett, Jack Cohen & Ian Stewart - The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch
30. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Could Read backwards (The Cat Who 1) [Dutch] [re-read]
31. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Played Post-Office (The Cat Who 6) [Dutch] [re-read]
32. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (The Cat Who 7) [Dutch] [re-read]
33. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (The Cat Who 8) [Dutch]
34. Elizabeth Bear - Dust

35. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Went Underground (The Cat Who 9) [Dutch] [re-read]
36. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Lived High (The Cat Who 11) [Dutch]
37. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Said Cheese (The Cat Who 18) [Dutch]
38. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Robbed the Bank (The Cat Who 22) [Dutch] [re-read]
39. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Brought Down the House (The Cat Who 25) [Dutch] [re-read]
40. P. Nowee - Arendsoog en de man zonder verleden {Eagle-Eye and the Man without a Past} [Dutch]

Arendsoog (Eagle-Eye) is a series of adventure books for boys, written a long time ago (I have about ten of these books that used to belong to my father when he was young). They are about a young rancher in 19th century America with his Native American friend White Feather. It's a bit like those Karl May books but then really geared towards kids. It's pretty obvious they were written a long time ago based on how the books portray White Feather, but if you ignore that it's a nice read to kill a little time. I recently bought this one (and three others) for a few euros. They are cheap mass-market reprints of the older works and suit their purpose (as a quick bedtime read) perfectly.

41. Stephenie Meyer - Twilight (Twilight 1)
42. Stephenie Meyer - New Moon (Twilight 2)
43. P.Nowee - Arizona Arendsoog {Arizona Eagle-Eye} [Dutch]

44. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Mexicaans avontuur {Eagle-Eye. Mexican Adventure} [Dutch]

Explanation of format and markers is here.

I didn't read anything in January so there's only 11 bookclots. Also, can you tell I love Discworld? :D

2007
01. Arthur Conan Doyle - The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes
02. Arthur Conan Doyle - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

03. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter 6)
04. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter 1) [Dutch] [re-read]
05. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Secret Chamber (Harry Potter 2) [Dutch] [re-read]
06. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter 3) [Dutch] [re-read]
07. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter 4) [Dutch] [re-read]
08. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) [re-read]

09. Terry Pratchett - Interesting Times (Discworld 17) [re-read]
10. Terry Pratchett - Thief of Time (Discworld 26) [re-read]
11. Terry Pratchett - Maskerade (Discworld 18) [re-read]
12. Terry Pratchett - Going Postal (Discworld 29) [re-read]
13. David & Leigh Eddings - Polgara the Sorceress [re-read]

14. Terry Pratchett - Pyramids (Discworld ) [re-read]
15. Henny Thijssing-Boer - Jouw liefde is mijn geluk (Geluk is als de wind; Een huis met open deuren & Leven met jou) [Dutch] [re-read]

A book of my mothers' that I had read when I was about 14ish and decided to re-read. It's what the Dutch call a streekroman, which is kinda like a romance novel in that they center on the relationship and they always get each other in the end but these very specifically take place in rural countryside areas (and often on farms that regularly feature whole dynasties) or small(er) towns. It's still being written today but the period it takes place in is usually some years ago without all the comfort of nowadays, this can be all the way back to early 20th century or as late as the 60s, 70s or 80s, as long as we've not entered that whole computerised everything era.

16. Duistere Parels [Dutch] <anthology>
17. Terry Pratchett - The Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) [re-read]

18. Laurell K. Hamilton - Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake 1) [re-read]
19. Laurell K. Hamilton - The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake 2)
20. Robert Louis Stevenson - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
21. Terry Pratchett - The Wee Free Men (Discworld YA 1 ) [re-read]
22. Laurell K. Hamilton - Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake 3)
23. Tanith Lee - Biting the Sun <Contains Don't Bite the Sun & Drinking Sapphire Wine>

24. Laurell K. Hamilton - The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake 4)
25. Terry Pratchett - A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld YA 2)
26. Charlaine Harris - Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire 1)
27. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Could Read backwards (The Cat Who 1) [Dutch] [re-read]
28. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Played Post-Office (The Cat Who 6) [Dutch] [re-read]
29. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (The Cat Who 7) [Dutch] [re-read]
30. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Went Underground (The Cat Who 8) [Dutch] [re-read]
31. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Robbed the Bank (The Cat Who 22) [Dutch] [re-read]
32. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (The Cat Who Special) <short stories>
33. Carrie Vaughn - Kitty and The Midnight Hour (Kitty 1)
34. Patricia Briggs - Moon Called (Mercy Thompson 1)
35. Rachel Vincent - Stray (Faythe 1)

36. Kim Harrison - Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows 1) [re-read]
37. Neil Gaiman - Fragile Things
38. Kim Harrison - The Good, The Bad And The Undead (The Hollows 2) [re-read]

39. Dolf Verroen - De verschrikkelijke schoolmeester {The Horrible School Teacher} [Dutch] [re-read] <Children's book. I read it when I was a wee one and re-read it cause I was, at the time, studying to be an elementary school teacher. Same goes for the next two books.>
40. John Marsden - So Much To Tell You [Dutch] [re-read]

41. Ellen Tijsinger - Nikolaj [Dutch] [re-read]
42. Terry Pratchett - Wintersmith (Discworld YA 3)

43. Kim Harrison - Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows 3) [re-read]
44. Kim Harrison - A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows 4)

45. Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner [Dutch]

We're getting closer, slowly.... Again, for explanation of format and markers, see here.

I didn't read anything in January and June hence the number of bookclots being only 10.
Also, I know I read Terry Pratchett's Monstrous Regiment this year but can't find it on the list. Probably because I forgot to write it down at first and then couldn't remember where it should go.

2006
01. Terry Pratchett - The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents (Discworld YA 0)
02. Maarten Rijkens - I Always Get My Sin [Dutch] <funny little book about mistakes Dutch folk make when speaking English>

03. Colin White & Laurie Boucke - The UnDutchables
04. Judith Barad & Ed Robertson - The Ethics of Star Trek

05. Ursula LeGuin - The Earthsea Quartet
06. Fantastic Adventures January 1943 <really big magazine I got from a second hand shop>

07. Kim Harrison - Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows 1)
08. Steve Gallagher - Saturn 3
09. Bruna SF Jaarboek Ganymedes 1 [Dutch]
10. Dan Simmons - Hyperion (Hyperion 1)
11. Kim Harrison - The Good, The Bad And The Undead (The Hollows 2)
12. Kim Harrison - Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows 3)

13. Dan Simmons - Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion 2)

14. Terry Pratchett - Jingo (Discworld 21) [re-read]

15. Maria Oomkes - Bidden in de theedoek {Praying in a Tea Towel} [Dutch]
16. Ken Macleod - Learning the World
17. Maria Oomkes - Het huis dat lachtte {The House that Laughed} [Dutch]
18. Terry Pratchett - The Fifth Elephant (Discworld 24)

19. Terry Pratchett - Thud! (Discworld 30)
20. Star Trek - The Case of the Colonist's Corpse

21. Dan Simmons - Endymion (Endymion 1)
22. Dan Simmons - Rise of Endymion (Endymion 2)

23. Maria Oomkes - Mijn ei en ik {My Egg and I} [Dutch]
24. Star Trek:TNG - X Planet (X-Men Crossover)
25. Star Trek:TNG - 5 - Strike Zone
26. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - De avonturen van Sherlock Holmes [Dutch]
27. Star Trek:TNG - Immortal Coil
28. Star Trek:TNG - I, Q

See here for explanations of the format and markers.

I read this insane amount of books because I spent the first four months of the year studying abroad. I'm quite the introvert and not all that social so I spent a lot of time in my dorm with my laptop filled with e-books.

2005
01. Mary Gentle - Grunts
02. Terry Pratchett - Interesting Times (Discworld 17) [re-read]
03. Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman - Good Omens
04. Star Trek:DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek I: Cardassia & Andor
05. Star Trek:DS9 - 02 - The Siege
06. Star Trek:DS9 - 03 - Bloodletter
07. Star Trek:DS9 - 04 - The Big Game
08. Star Trek:DS9 - 05 - Fallen Heroes
09. Star Trek:DS9 - 06 - Betrayal
10. Star Trek:DS9 - 07 - Warchild
11. Star Trek:DS9 - 08 - Antimatter
12. Star Trek:DS9 - 09 - Proud Helios
13. Star Trek:DS9 - 10 - Valhalla
14. Star Trek:DS9 - 11 - Devil in the Sky
15. Star Trek:DS9 - 12 - The Laertian Gamble
16. Star Trek:DS9 - 13 - Station Rage

17. Star Trek:DS9 - 17 - The Heart of the Warrior
18. W.G. Hoskins - The Making of the English Landscape [school]
19. Star Trek:DS9 - 18 - Saratoga
20. Star Trek:DS9 - 19 - Tempest
21. Phil Farrand - The Nitpickers Guide for Next Generation Trekkers
22. Phil Farrand - The Nitpickers Guide for Deep Space Nine Trekkers
23. P. Cornell, M. Day & K. Topping - The New Trek Programme Guide
24. Terry Pratchett - The Colour Of Magic (Discworld 1) [re-read]
25. Terry Prattchett - The Light Fantastic (Discworld 2) [re-read]
26. Terry Pratchett - Equal Rites (Discworld 3) [re-read]
27. Star Trek:DS9 - 21 - Trial By Error
28. Star Trek:DS9 - 24 - The Rebels: Conquered
29. Star Trek:DS9 - 25 - The Rebels: Courageous
30. Star Trek:DS9 - 26 - The Rebels: Liberated
31. Charmed - Something Wicca This Way Comes
32. Star Trek:ENT - 01 - Broken Bow
33. Star Trek:ENT - 02 - By The Book
34. Star Trek:ENT - 04 - Shockwave
35. Star Trek:ENT - 05 - Surak's Soul
36. Star Trek:ENT - 06 - The Expanse
37. Star Trek:ENT - 07 - Daedalus 1
38. Star Trek:ENT - 08 - Daedalus 2
39. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) [re-read]
40. Star Trek:VGR - 02 - The Escape

41. Star Trek:VGR - 03 - Ragnarok
42. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Silmarillion
43. Star Trek:VGR - 04 - Violations
44. Star Trek:VGR - 05 - Incident at Arbuk
45. Star Trek:VGR - 06 - The Murdered Sun
46. Star Trek:VGR - 07 - Ghost of a Chance
47. Star Trek:VGR - 08 - Cybersong
48. Star Trek:VGR - 10 - Bless the Beasts
49. Star Trek:VGR - 11 - The Garden
50. Star Trek:VGR - 12 - Chrysalis
51. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring [re-read]
52. Star Trek:VGR - 13 - The Black Shore
53. Star Trek:VGR - 14 - Marooned
54. Star Trek:VGR - 15 - Echoes
55. Star Trek:VGR - 16 - Seven of Nine
56. Star Trek:VGR - 17 - Death of a Neutron Star
57. Star Trek:VGR - 18 - Battle Lines
58. Star Trek:VGR - 19 - Dark Matters: Cloak and Dagger

59. James Blish - Star Trek
60. Larry Nemecek - The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion
61. Star Trek:VGR - 20 - Dark Matters: Ghost Dance
62. Star Trek:VGR - 21 - Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven
63. Mike Ashley (ed.) - Comic Fantasy <anthology>
64. John de Lancie & Peter David - I, Q
65. Terry Pratchett - Wyrd Sisters (Discworld 6) [re-read]
66. Terry Pratchett - Mort (Discworld 4) [re-read]
67. Marc Okrand - Klingon for the Galactic Traveler

68. H. Feenstra - Duizend jaar Gronings taallandschap {A Thousand Years of Gronings Language Landscape}
69. Louisa May Alcott - Little Women [re-read]
70. Jana Riess - What Would Buffy Do?
71. Patrick Moore - Teach Yourself Astronomy

72. Dan Brown - Deception Point
73. Dan Brown - Digital Fortress
74. Beowulf [school]
75. Alan Dean Foster - Star Trek Log 10
76. Terry Pratchett - Men At Arms (Discworld 15) [re-read]
77. Terry Pratchett - The Last Hero (Discworld Special)
78. Star Trek:DS9 - Avatar 1
79. Star Trek:DS9 - Avatar 2
80. Star Trek:DS9 - Unity
81. Laurell K. Hamilton - Guilty Pleasures [Dutch]

82. Trudi Canavan - The Magician's Guild (The Black Magician 1)
83. Trudi Canavan - The Novice (The Black Magician 2)
84. Trudi Canavan - The High Lord (The Black Magician 3)

85. Raymond E. Feist - Prince of the Blood

86. Stephen Hawking - A Brief History of Time
87. Tina Caspari - Een paard leert stappen (Romana & Ragebol 1) {A Horse Learns its Way} [Dutch] <children's book I re-read in a moment of boredom, just like the next one :) >
88. Tina Caspari -  Een paard apart (Romana & Ragebol 2) {One of a Kind Horse} [Dutch]
89. Raymond E. Feist - The King's Buccaneer
90. Francoise Appels - Tussen Deventer en Epse. 10.000 jaar bewoningsgeschiedenis van het plangebied Epse-Noord.{Not a literal translation but this is a book about the 10.000 years of habitation of a particular Dutch region I was excavating in that summer}  [School]
91. James Clemens - Witch Fire (Banned and the Banished 1) [Dutch]

92. Terry Pratchett - Going Postal (Discworld 29)
93. David Langford - The Unseen University Challenge. Terry Pratchett's Discworld Quizbook
94. Terry Pratchett - The Truth (Discworld 25)
95. Lev Grossman - Codex
96. Star Trek:DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek II: Trill & Bajor
97. Star Trek:DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek III: Dominion & Ferenginar

98. Terry Pratchett - Men At Arms! (Discworld 15) [re-read]

99. Star Trek - Articles of the Federation
100. Star Trek - The Lost Era - Catalyst Of Sorrows
101. Jasper Fforde - Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next 2)

I've decided to post my lists of what I'm reading / have read here to get some content up and to maybe amuse and/or enlighten the 1.2 people and half a horse's head that are reading this. Also, it can serve as a sort of secondary backup to the one I already have. I started recording the books I had read in December 2003, and forgot about it during September of the following year only to pick it up again in January of 2005. So that's why this post is dated 2003/2004 and all the ones that follow will cover one year until we've reached 2009. I hope to maybe use this part of my online presence to not only record what I read but also comment on and/or review the books as I read them.

A few notes on format.
- I use a simple Author - Title (Series #) [marker] <any other relevant and short comments> format and will append any other information in various brackets after it.

- For Star Trek novels, of which I have read many, is different. I never recorded the author for those so instead will list them as Series - Number (if applicable) - Title cause I don't feel like looking up the authors for dozens of books I read years ago.
- For Discworld novels, of which I am a huge fan, the numbering differentiates between Discworld and Discworld YA and also doesn't take into account any special format books (like The Last Hero)

- All titles except those of original Dutch books will be listed in English. For the original Dutch books I will provide a translation of the title in { } after the original title.
- The whitelines in the year lists indicate a new month begins. I used to use sub headings for that but found it got too cluttered as the years pass on . In 2004 there are only 8 bookclots (as I call the little clusters). This because I have May and June as one (I couldn't remember exactly when I'd read these at the time I wrote it down for the first time) and I stopped listing after September.

[re-read] indicates that I have read the particular book before. Doesn't matter if it was before or after I started keeping track.
[school] indicates the book was read for study purposes, there won't be a lot of those on here since I only list the books I finished and many study books are only read partially.
[Dutch] indicates I read the book in Dutch (either original Dutch books or Dutch translations of foreign works). There won't be a lot of these in the lists starting with 2005*. I am Dutch but tend to read mostly English languaged books both because I prefer to read books in their original languge if I can and most of my favourite authors tend to be those that write in English as well as the simple fact that I prefer English over Dutch.
*halfway through 2004 really but...

Any other markings may appear later on but should be self-explanatory. If I add a lot more markers I might update this post but I'm all for simplicity in this case so mostl likely it will stop at these three.


Now, without further ado, here's the first list for 2003/2004

2003 (December)
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings [Dutch] <3-in-1 volume>

2004
1. Patricia Cornwell - Cruel and Unusual (Kay Scarpetta 4 ) [Dutch]

2. Robert Silverberg (ed.) - Far Horizons <anthology>
3. Toon Kortooms - Help, de Dokter Verzuipt {Help, the Doctor is Drowning} [Dutch]
4. Terry Pratchett - Nightwatch (Discworld 27)

5. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) [Dutch]
6. Star Trek:DS9 - The Search

7. Dan Brown - The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon 2)

8. Max Barry - Jennifer Government
9. Elizabeth Hess - Lost and Found [Dutch]

10. Juliet E. McKenna - The Thief's Gamble (The Tales of Einarinn 1) [Dutch]
11. Juliet E. McKenna - Swordman's Oath (The Tales of Einarinn 2) [Dutch]
12. Juliet E. McKenna - The Gambler's Fortune (The Tales of Einarinn 3) [Dutch]
13. James Mallory - Merlin: The Old Magic (Merlin 1) [Dutch]
14. James Mallory - Merlin: The King's Wizard (Merlin 2) [Dutch]
15. James Mallory - Merlin: The End of Magic (Merlin 3) [Dutch]

16. Harlan Ellison (ed.) - Dangerous Visions <anthology>
17. Diana Wynne Jones - The Year of The Griffin
18. Diana Wynne Jones - The Dark Lord of Derkholm
19. Terry Pratchett - The Wee Free Men (Discworld YA 1)
20. Terry Pratchett - Jingo (Discworld 21) [re-read]

21. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit