Time for tales and tea

Yesterday was the last day of my summer holiday. I didn’t really travel this summer, but I did go on a children’s summer camp as supervisor, visited six museums, did some creative projects and read a lot of books. In the last month I read mostly children’s literature, so I would be able to give the children and my colleagues at work some new book recommendations. I also read some interesting bookish non-fiction and a Dutch novel a colleague gave to me.

Books I Read

Krekel by Annet Schaap – 3 stars
In four words: atmospheric, grim, fairy-tale retelling
After reading Lampie and the children of the Sea I wanted to read more books from Annet Schaap. Krekel is set in the same world, but with new characters. It’s again a well-written, atmospheric story. This book is clearly based on one fairy-tale: the six swans by the brothers Grimm. When reading fairy-tales I often miss depth, and that was also the case with this book at some points. There were a couple of stereotypes from the original fairy-tale like the evil stepmother and the foolish king. For children this probably wouldn’t be an issue. I also still enjoyed reading this book, especially because Eliza and her little brother Krekel are amazing characters. These tough and endearing children are looking for their five missing brothers. Although the first part of their search is a bit slow-paced, the second half of the book is an exciting adventure.
This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet)

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun (Onyeka, #1) by Tọlá Okogwu – 4 stars
In four words: engaging, empowering, heartwarming, superpowers
This book has many things I love: a black girl with her Afro hair as superpower, an alternative Nigeria that reminds me of Black Panther and a secret school for children with superpowers. Although these elements aren’t entirely original, the combination creates quite a unique story. Some characters also appeared to be cliche, but they turn out more complex and interesting than I expected. This is a fun and engaging story with some great depictions of friendship. I enjoyed reading how Onyeka gets more self-esteem, and learns to be proud on her hair.

De eerste Alix by Anna Woltz – 3,5 stars
In four words: time travel, murder mystery
Despite the improbable beginning, this story works. On the second page Alix is transported from 2026 to 1926. It’s a pity that the mechanics behind time travelling are never explained, but it actually isn’t relevant for the story. When Alix is recruited as an undercover detective to solve a murder, the story gets very exciting. Just as interesting as the mystery is Alix as character. In the current time her mother is arrested for murder and this is her fault. Her life is quite a mess, so the journey back in time feels like an escape for Alix. In the past she discovers who she wants to be. At the end of the book past and the present come beautifully together.
This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet), but some other books written by Anna Woltz can be read in English.

Albatros by Yorick Goldewijk – 5 stars
In four words: apocalyptic, bitter-sweet, intriguing, thought-provoking
One morning all humans are turned into animals, except for Abel. A strange and intriguing start of the story. But there turns out to be another human, in the South. For years there has been a war between North and South. Abel grew up with the message that the people in the South are bad. It also doesn’t help that Kat is unfriendly and hateful. On their journey, it’s difficult to let go of their prejudices, even when Abel and Kat are the only people left. It’s beautiful how they slowly discover that they are more alike than they thought. Of course the characters as well as the reader want to know what happened with all the other humans. Without spoiling the end, I can tell that it impressed me. This book is thought-provoking for readers of all ages. The bittersweet story shows how human beings are both awful and amazing.
This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet), but some other books by Yorick Goldewijk can be read in English like Movies Showing Nowhere

Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack by Richard Ovenden – 4 stars
In four words: bookish, well-researched, thought-provoking, history
I love reading books about books, that is why this one caught my eye at the library. It turned out to be an interesting history about libraries and some of the scholars, librarians and archivists who helped preserve knowledge through the ages. At many points I felt sorry for all the books that were lost, burned or otherwise destroyed. Most famous are the Nazi book-burnings in 1933. But there were many other moments in history when books were deliberately destroyed, for example in monasteries during the English Reformation. Luckily there were also people who managed to save books from destruction, like the heroic Jewish book smugglers from the Paper Brigade in Vilnius during the Second World War. The author didn’t only look at the past, but also reflects on the present. This book made me realize that the preservation of knowledge is a crucial and timeless issue, because the loss of certain knowledge can have huge consequences.

Read Yourself Happy: How to use books to ease your anxiety by Daisy Buchanan – 4 stars
In four words: bookish, reassuring, feel-good guide
In this book Daisy Buchanan tells how books helped her in life and how reading can make you feel better. In a reassuring voice she explains that the things we feel are completely normal, but sometimes overwhelming. Books can help us to ease negative feelings and show us that we’re not the only one feeling this way. Describing this as a self-help book wouldn’t do it justice, but it kind of is. Reading may not be the ultimate cure, but it can help in many different ways. Books are a safe place to explore all kinds of things. I have experienced this myself. Books have always been a way for me to both escape life and better understand it. I love that the writer gives many book recommendations, but also emphasises that any book that makes you feel good is alright. She encourages the reader to read challenging books, but writes that you can always turn back to your comfort zone when you need to.

De laatste eilanders by Stefan Popa – 3 stars
In four words: poetic, historical, magical realism
This book is set on Ada Kaleh, a real island on the Danube that no longer exists. It was submerged during the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. The three main characters of the story are the last generation growing up on the island. Their home is about to disappear. The theme loss is explored in an interesting manner. The way the Dutch-Romanian author writes about these themes is uncommon. Multiple points of view are used; ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘I’ and even ‘we’ alternately narrate the story. The island feels like a character as well. I really had to get used to his poetic and meandering writing style. It creates a kind of dreamy atmosphere, but it also encumbers the story at some points. Initially I didn’t know if I wanted to continue this book, but while reading, the story became more intriguing.
This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet)

More Good Stuff

• I’ve been keeping an art journal for years. I used to keep my drawings mostly private, but now I feel like sharing them. You can find them on my Instagram
• I started crocheting!
• I made a delicious orange brownie

Halfway through July my summer holiday started. I spend a lot of free time reading. Of course I read books, but I also discovered Substack, and this became a temporary addiction. I will recommend some of my favourite essays below. Bookwise, I continued reading Victorian literature, and I now have read a book by each of the Brontë sisters. I also borrowed a non-fiction book from my mother about 19th century Japan and paired this with a novel with the same themes. I ended the month with some children’s literature.

Books I Read

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë – 4 stars
In four words: gothic, dark, fascinating, complex
I began this book expecting something like Jane Eyre. Although some themes are the same, Wuthering Heights is a very different experience: darker and wilder. I can imagine people giving up due to the cast of unlikable characters and the complicated character dynamics. However, the complex characters shown at their worst also make the book fascinating. The central character that drives this story is interestingly enough the villain, Heathcliff. But he isn’t the one telling the story, that is the housekeeper. From her we hear the compelling background story of Heathcliff. We read about his abusive childhood, his destructive love affair, his revenge and slowly find out how he became the monstrous man he is. I’m in awe of Emily Brontë for writing a character that is both extremely screwed-up and incredibly fascinating.

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë – 4 stars
In four words: quiet, realistic, partly autobiographical
This novel realistically shows what it was like to be a governess in the 19th century. Due to the way Anne Brontë writes about children, it’s clear that she writes from personal experience. Since I work at an elementary school, I know that getting children to listen to you isn’t always easy. It’s especially hard if you’re a young, inexperienced governess like Agnes at the beginning of the book. She’s expected to teach spoiled children who never learned to control their temper. Their parents treat Agnes disrespectful and the children just follow their example. But Agnes is determined not to give up, and I admired her for her perseverance and patience. It’s a pity that this is such a short book; I would have loved to read more about her.

De Zwevende Wereld by Annejet van der Zijl – 3,5 stars
In four words: well-researched, interesting, detailed, history
This is a biography of both Franz von Siebold (1796 – 1866) and his Japanese daughter Kusomoto Ine (1827-1903). I knew about Siebold from the Japan Museum in Leiden. It was interesting to learn more about his tumultuous life as explorer, doctor and writer. I especially admired his daughter Ine, who became the first female doctor of Japan. Next to a biography, this book can also be seen as a history of Japan, from the arrival of Franz von Siebold in 1823 to the Second World War. It’s a lot of information for just 300 pages, maybe too much. Especially the last chapters, about all the children and the grandchildren, were a bit overwhelming. Overall this well-researched history is a great read, especially for people who like Japan.
This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet)

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell – 3 stars
In four words: slow-paced, engaging, complex, ambitious
With little introduction the reader is dropped in Dejima, a small Japanese island that served as trading post for the Dutch from 1641 to 1853. There are a lot of names, but these names slowly start to feel like persons. Although none of them are particulay likable, each character has an interesting background story that gives him more substance. Our main character is Jacob de Zoet, a young bookkeeper who tries to restrain the illicit trade among the men. But after 200 pages, a new part starts with leading roles for some of the side characters. I usually like multiple different perspectives, but it’s a strange choice to abandon a main character halfway through the book. The second part almost seems like a different book, and actually doesn’t fit the first part. While the book starts as a realistic historical novel, the second part has dystopian vibes. The two parts maybe would have worked as separate stories, but together they are too much for one book. I hoped the stories would come together at the end. Although they sort of do, it wasn’t entirely satisfying for me.
Trigger warnings for death of loved ones, rape and suicide

Briefjes voor Pelle by Marlies Slegers – 4,5 stars
In four words: sad, comforting, heart-breaking, heart-warming
A year ago the father of Pelle died. Now he has a box of notes with messages from his deceased father. Some notes allow Pelle to feel the sadness he tries to hide behind facts. Other notes help Pelle and his mother to pick up their life together. This is a sad story that makes the reader feel what it is to lose a loved one. At the same time the book feels like a warm hug that shows how Pelle learns to cope with the loss.
This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet), but it can be read in German and Spanish

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd – 4 stars
In four words: thrilling, mysterious, middle-grade, page-turner
Monday, 24 May, 11.32 a.m. Salim, cousin of Ted and Kat, gets in the London Eye. Half an hour later he does not get out. The disappearance of Salim causes all kinds of emotions Ted doesn’t understand, but the mystery intrigues him. Ted comes up with different theories, and with his older sister tries to find back their cousin. The book does a great job in showing that it isn’t easy for Ted that his brain functions different than that of other people. I loved how his autism plays a positive role in solving the mystery.

More Good Stuff

• On his blog Allen Martin showed me a new way to organize quotes in a commonplace book. I especially like the idea to thread quotes and relate them to others.
• The main reason I got Substack were the many interesting posts about self studying. I especially love the guide How I Self-Study New Subjects: The Modern Autodidact System by Sam Rinko. Here he explains in detail how he teaches himself new academic disciplines outside of school.
• Another interesting article about self-studying is Build Your Own Education (without the loans, late nights, or grades) by Kel Rakowski. I love her “3‑step way to build your own mini‑uni”.
• An experiment in creating as much luck as possible by Erifili Gounari is an inspiring article about aiming higher and not limiting yourself beforehand.
• I enjoyed reading the series about collecting by anthropologist Lara Sabe. My favourite post from her is the insightful essay Collections III: Maps. I like how she observes that maps may seem objective, but actually are representations of places.

This month I dedicated to classics. My main focus was the Victorian era and I also read a classic Dutch children’s book. I don’t think classics are necessarily better than modern books, but there has to be a reason that some books are still well-loved more than 100 years after they were written. Next to the novels, I read a fascinating non-fiction book about the daily life of Victorian people.

Books I Read

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – 4 stars
Four words: beautiful, romance, gothic mystery
I actually didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. There are many reasons to like Jane Eyre: it has a beautiful writing style, a well-developed romance, a mystery and some dark secrets. But what made me really love the book is the unexpected connection I felt with Jane. My life is very different from hers. I am not an orphan and didn’t grow up with an aunt who doesn’t like me. Mr Rochester is not someone I would ever have fallen in love with. I still could easily relate to Jane’s feelings and her perceptive insights. I liked seeing in Jane a character who is both kind-hearted and fierce, modest as well as out-spoken.

The King of the Copper Mountains by Paul Biegel – 3,5 stars
In four words: imaginative, whimsical, melancholic, fairytale-like
This book is framed like 1001 Nights. The heart of the thousand-year-old king Mansolain is slowing down. But it will take days for the Wonder Doctor to find the cure. To keep the heart of the king beating, every night a different animal tells him a story. Some stories are fun and whimsical, while others are a bit melancholic. I enjoyed reading these short stories, but I didn’t think they were especially memorable. At the end of every chapter we get an update from the Wonder Doctor. This keeps the book exciting, because he really needs to return before it’s too late. I like how everything comes together at the end, and the separate stories become one whole.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell – 3,5 stars
In four words: slow-paced, social commentary, romance
The book starts slow; the story only really begins after a few chapters when Margaret and her family move from the South to the North of England. Margaret has an unusual position as an outsider who is not as poor as the workmen but also not as rich as the masters. Through her we learn how North differed from South and see the society from different perspectives. This book reminded me of Pride and Prejudice, because we also see a lot of prejudices among the characters. What made this book actually more interesting to me was the perspective of the male love interest, Mr Thornton, and that he is shown vulnerable. I think it’s quite rare to see so much emotion in a male character, especially for a book from the 1850s. I also think that the writer did a good job in showing what it was like to live during the Industrial Revolution.
Trigger warnings for death of loved ones

How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman – 4 stars
In four words: fascinating, detailed, vivid, history
This book describes in detail the daily life of a common person in the Victorian Period. It starts in the morning and moves through the day; from the moment people wake up to the moment they go to sleep again. The book is well-researched and full of fascinating facts. I learned for example that to wake up on time, people could use the service of a ‘knock-upper’; someone with a long cane and lantern who tapped on the windows of his clients. I especially liked that the writer isn’t only a historian, but also a historical recreator. She goes beyond the facts by also telling how it actually felt to live as a Victorian.

More Good Stuff

• Benjamin McEvoy provides a great introduction to Jane Eyre with his video How to Read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
• I also really liked his video about How to Journal on Great Literature where he talks about his marginalia and rereading process
• At The Orangutan Librarian there’s an interesting discussion about The Heroine Problem and I totally agree with her that I rather read about flawed women than perfect ones.

This post is a bit earlier than usual, because next week I’m going to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland! So this month I read some books about walking and a couple of novels set in Scotland. Especially the fantasy duology I read last week was unexpectedly good. As always, below the mini-reviews of the books I read.

Books I Read

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn – 3 stars
In four words: engaging, hopeful, repetitious, hike
This is a memoir, but the truthfulness of the book is a point of discussion. Either fact or fiction, it’s the story of two people who have lost everything: their money, their home and a future together. Out of desperation they decide to walk the South West Coast Path. I like how this book isn’t just about hiking. It’s about trying not to lose hope while feeling quite hopeless, about being homeless, about perseverance, and about the beauty of nature. The writing was a demerit for me. The story is a bit monotonous and repetitive. But it had enough interesting themes to keep me engaged.

Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit – 4 stars
In four words: thoughtful, philosophical, meandering, fascinating
This book is about walking in the broadest sense of the word. Its cultural history, the link to religion, literature about walking and many more aspects are discussed, alternated with personal reflections from the writer. I appreciated the thoroughness of the book, but I liked some parts more than others. I especially loved the reflections on the connection between thinking and walking, and the chapter about walking in the 18th century. The focus is mostly on the US, the UK and France. Although a bit limited, the walking culture in these countries is well-researched. Especially the writing style made this an enjoyable and mind-provoking read. It perfectly fits the topic: meandering with thoughtful insights, striking metaphors and beautiful quotes along the way.

The King’s Witches by Kate Foster – 4 stars
In four words: historical, shocking, compelling, well-researched
Of course I knew about witch hunts and witch trials. But while reading I still was shocked that this really happened. Innocent women accused of witchcraft did dubious confessions to stop being tortured. People did not only believe them, but actually feared these women. The Danish princess Anna is to wed King James VI, who strongly believes he is a victim of witchcraft. Anna’s lady’s maid Kirsten doesn’t believe in witches, but she does have a secret. Than there’s Jura practises healing charms, not realizing the danger of being seen as a witch. The characters didn’t immediately win me over. And yet in the end the three perspectives together tell a compelling story.
Trigger warnings for torture and sexual assault

Anatomy: A Love Story (The Anatomy Duology, #1) by Dana Schwartz – 3,5 stars
In four words: well-researched, fast-paced, gothic mystery
Hazel wants to become a surgeon, but this seems impossible for a lady in 1817. Through medical textbooks, cross-dressing and grave-robbing she still hopes to pass the medical exam. Hazel is a determined, bold and a bit of naive young woman who is easy to like. Despite what the title suggests, this is not a romance. The story is rather about Hazel’s passion for medicine. Although more of a subplot, there is some sweet romance. The romantical parts felt truly YA, and younger readers than me will probably really love it. A small demerit was the rushed ending. But overall I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated the many interesting historical details.
Trigger warnings for gore and dismemberment

Like a Charm (Like a Charm, #1) by Elle McNicoll – 4,5 stars
In four words: magical, exciting, refreshing, encouraging
I picked this up because I was looking for a middle grade book set in Scotland. The story exceeded all my expectations. Our main character Ramya hates school, because her parents and most of her teachers can’t see past the fact that she has dyspraxia. This is a developmental coordination disorder the writer has herself. It’s important to see more diverse book characters, especially because dyspraxia is quite unknown. I love how this story gives the message that people shouldn’t be defined by the “label” they were given. Ramya may struggle with her dyspraxia, but she can do so much more. After her grandfather dies, she learns that she has a special gift: she can see magical creatures. Ramya discovers that Edinburgh has all kinds of fascinating creatures that others can’t see. I liked how the writer re-imagined famous magical creatures like vampires and sirens. This is an easy read with great characters and an amazing setting.

Like a Curse (Like a Charm, #2) by Elle McNicoll – 4,5 stars
In four words: mysterious, exciting, satisfying conclusion
This sequel really is a great addition to the story. There are even more mysteries and secrets than in the first part. Ramya’s family seems to think that keeping her in the dark is the best way to protect her. To find answers, Ramya is far more reckless than is wisely. Although I didn’t always agree with her actions, I think Ramya is a very well-written and realistic character. She makes mistakes in this book, and actually learns from them. I loved to see her grow as character. We also learn more about Ramya’s family and some loose ends from the first book are tied up. This felt like a very satisfying conclusion of the story.

P.S. I will take part in Wyrd & Wonder, but may start a bit later.