Alexander the Great

I'm reading Murder on the Orient Express. I've only just started, but I really like the atmosphere - and Poirot's honesty! It's part of a collection of Poirot stories. I took it from the library for this specific story, but might read the others too. I'm having a huge book lover's dilemma. A few years ago, I read the Night Watch series by Sergey Lukyanenko. I read the first three books in Dutch, because they only have the Dutch book in the library. I couldn't find the fourth, so I bought it in English. It was a complicated story, though, and it had been a while since I'd read the Dutch books, so I wanted to re-read before reading the fourth book. Now I want to buy the first three books in English so I can read them all in English. However, looking on The Book Depository and Amazon, the author has written two more books in the series. So I'd need to buy five books, and this month I really can't afford to spend 50 euros on books. Well, I can afford it technically - it's more a matter of I shouldn't. I was thinking of buying them one at a time, since The Book Depository has free shipping. But I know I'll want to read all the books in one go and The Book Depository can take quite a while to deliver, and the delivery times are different every time. I'm going to London in two weeks, and I always have a budget for books then, so I might buy them there. Aargh, what to do, what to do...

I've been reading Last Night in Twisted River Last Night in Twisted River review She bu de. I can't bear to let go. Even though no subsequent Irving novel has captured and engrossed me the way In One Person did, the phrase mentioned above definitely rings true for Last Night in Twisted River. Personally, I think this feeling can be mostly attributed to the characters. This novel is very clearly character-driven. There is no real plot, but the novel is so much more than 'slices of life'. We follow Daniel Baciagalupo throughout his life, but not in chronological order. We meet him at different ages, at different places, at different phases of his life. For an Irving protagonist, he's quite subdued and I liked the fact that he wasn't extravagant or extraordinary. He's interesting enough to not be boring, but his character left enough room for others to shine. Dominic (his father), Ketchum, Six-Pack Pam, Injun Jane, Joe, Carmella, Katie, Lupita, Lady Sky - and so many others are all very distinct personalities. Following the interactions of these characters as actions bring about unexpected consequences was simply riveting. I also loved how it became full-circle at the end, loved that hint of meta fiction. I did feel that some characters weren't developed enough - we only really touched the surface of Joe, and I felt there was more to Rosie than we learnt through the stories of Ketchum and Injun Jane. I always like to read Irving's family histories, but I would have liked him to have expanded on it more in this novel. His regular themes come back - there's wrestling and academie, but not overbearingly so. It was mostly in the background. Reading Irving, all his male protagonists seem to have a thing for large women or women who are really too old for them - and often both. I might have already felt this with other novels, but it's becoming a bit old and tired. This won't stop me from reading more Irving, though. The funny thing is, whenever I read the blurbs of his novels I don't think I'll be that interested, yet every time the novel sweeps me off my feet and leaves me wanting more. Even though this novel was far from perfect, I'm sad to have to let these people go. Next up is Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express.

I read The Lovely Bones years ago - I just checked my Goodreads account and it was in July 2011. I wasn't in the habit of writing reviews at the time and I have no particular memory of it other than reading it because I'd liked the film. But I gave it four stars, so I must have enjoyed it! I'm now curious to see what you think of it perhaps reread it.

Thanks, Athena As I'm sure many here will understand, I feel like reading has in part preserved my sanity these last two weeks. It probably helps that I'm reading an Irving novel - the author is familiar to me and he tends to always use similar themes, concepts, ways of story-telling. I do think I'll need to re-read when I feel better, because I have a feeling I'm not fully appreciating this work due to the stress I'm experiencing.

I like reading about your experiences with graphic novels. I only own one, Penny Dreadful, but haven't started it yet. I talked about this with my sister recently - how neither of us are drawn to them and how we both read 'regular' books much more easily than a graphic novel. Is there any strategy to reading graphic novels we might not have mastered?

Thank you, @Athena I went to the doctor's, and he did prescribe something to make it a little easier on me.

I very often don't feel in the mood to write a review. Some books also need to settle in my mind a bit. It does help me to keep a general structure in mind - I always try to say something about the writing style/fluency, the characters, the plot and whether or not I'd recommend it to others. I also try not to get more than one book behind on reviews, because if I leave it too long I don't remember enough to write about it decently. Some books are also easier to review than others.

I know I haven't been around much this week, but I'm going through a very difficult time right now. My life seems to be falling apart and there's nothing I can do to stop it. I don't know how I'm going to survive this. I feel like my head's going to explode. I haven't been able to read very much - or eat or drink or think or breathe well at all. I don't mean to worry anyone, just letting you know why I've not been here much.

When it comes to books - especially novels - about mental illness or with a character who struggles with their mental healthy, I'm so used to the author getting it all wrong, all the clichés being used and the extremes being presented. This was such a nice surprise. I went to the Book Fair in Antwerp yesterday. It had been a few years since I last went. It tends to be quite crowded and at some stands also quite cramped. The fair is organised by publisher - each publisher has a stand, as well as two or three bookstores, of which two are chains. Everything, both the books and the food, is very expensive and you have to pay entrance. There aren't many English books there. Authors do go there for a Q& A and signing sessions, but the fair lasts about two weeks so it's quite spread out. As a kid, I loved to go. Of course, I was completely dependent on my parents for my book supply. We'd also go with school and I just loved being surrounded by books. I got older, started buying my own books and discovering better alternatives. I've gone a few times, but each year they seem to get more expensive and less my taste. It had been four years since I last went. But my sister hadn't gone in years and years, and since having her baby we haven't done anything just the two of us, and she'd asked me if I wanted to go together. I thought it would be a nice sibling moment - and it was. I bought these two books, which I read last year and absolutely adored. They're not that easy to find. The third book was also there, but only as a hardcover. Much more expensive and since I got these two as paperback, I want the third one as a paperback as well. In other news, Epica announced this week that they're doing a special show in April. It'll be their 1000th concert and 15-year-anniversary (they started as Sahara Dust in 2002, but changed their name to Epica in early 2003 and released their debut in 2003). I'm seeing them in Dublin on April 10th, then I'm flying to Manchester from there to see them on April 12th. In Manchester, I'm staying with friends I met in the queue in Leuven and Antwerp. Then I'm flying home on Friday and on the 14th, the next day, I'm seeing them in Tilburg. I got my early bird ticket this morning, and opted for the bundle so I'll have a cool shirt as well. The early bird tickets went on sale this morning at 11am. I had set my alarm, which I never do on a Saturday, so I would be sure I'd be back in time from my run to get the tickets at 11. I ended up waking up at 4.15am, at 6am and again at 7.15am - so nervous apparently. Got my ticket at 11am sharp

That sounds like you had a great reading month, Athena What made you abandon The Other Side of You so quickly?

Thank you I think it was also a confusing day because I had all these different kids of grief all at once - for uncles who died before I was even born, and who died at their own hand. For grandparents I don't remember, but have heard so much about, both positive and negative things. For a grandparent I do remember a little. For a great-uncle and great-aunt who were like my grandparents. For a friend who was only a year older and died only three years ago. Also, all the emotions attached to all those people, how their deaths have affected my parents and my life. I was a bit of a mess. So thanks for the hugs, I can use them Thank you for the hugs as well, @Athena The Shock of the Fall review Perhaps an odd remark, but this was much better than I expected. The main character suffers from mental illness, but the portrayal of his mental health is very genuine and honest. The effect it has on his life, the way it controls his life, is shown very clearly - but it's not his single defining feature. We get to know what Matt is like as a kid and then as a young adult. He's complicated - he's not the goody-two-shoes, but he's not bad either. He felt very real. His story also felt very real. I also liked how the author had one very dramatic event, and didn't feel the need to add more unnecessary drama. The focus is really on Matthew, his grief, his coping process. His struggle, too. I feel that Filer really got it right when it comes to describing a life with mental health issues - how it's not always terribly bad, but still so bad that it can never be exhilaratingly good. Also interesting was how realistic Matt's memories are. I think many authors would be inclined to write him as having these exact memories of his brother. Matt was 9 years old when his brother died, and near the end of the book he says it outright - he has flashes of memories, an image or a colour, and words that someone might have said, or maybe said some other time and he mixed it up. He doesn't have complete memories of his brother with a beginning, a middle and an end. This is something that often bugs me in books - how people have such clear memories of their childhood. Ultimately, there is so much hope and reality in this. Will definitely recommend it.

Yeah, big Epica fan here I liked Delain's first album, but never properly got into their work after that. When they played in Belgium last year, I was very undecided about whether I'd go or not, but ended up not going because it was on a Sunday and I didn't feel like taking half a day off on Monday to get enough sleep. Which goes to show how dedicated I am 😂 I don't dislike them - maybe if I really put in the effort I'd like them more. I did try, in light of the possible concert, but i don't know. They just don't stand out that much? Kind of weird, friends of mine are such massive fans that I've never felt able to admit they're not that special to me I have to say that I really liked Merel (their guitarist) when she was playing with MaYan. I would love to see Cellar Darling, actually. I'm really bummed that I have to miss them and Lacuna Coil in December. The day they come to Belgium, I'm in London and the other dates are all just too far away. I'd booked the Eurostar and a week later they announced the show, I'd have tried to rebook if they hadn't Let us know how Cellar Darling was

That sounds great! I really admire you for swimming, and it's awesome that you're getting better without pushing yourself too hard.

That would be really nice. I was a bit worried, but I don't want to go and tell other people to let me know they'll be away or something like that, I don't want anyone to feel like they have to justify themselves to me. As you've probably gathered, I just need a kind of structure and I was worried maybe something terrible had happened. So I'm really very glad you're back, and also sorry for being this way!

That sounds very stressful, Frankie I'm glad everything worked out for you. I'm also happy that you're back! It was odd for a while here, when both you and Athena were "gone" for a bit

I own both Het Diner (The Dinner) and Zomerhuis met zwembad (Summer House With Swimming Pool), but have yet to read them both! I'm not sure why I'm putting it off - I guess I'm kind of scared that he's such a hype that I will be disappointed.

Thank you, @frankie Now I'm wondering if maybe I'll have the same experience with The Woman Upstairs! Guys, I'm horrible. My friend likes to send me important letters/e-mails/documents before sending them off so I can check for spelling, grammar, writing etc. because she knows I notice the details. She just sent me her résumé, which she's just renewed. At the very end, when talking about her hobbies and personal interests, she mentions books and says her collections holds about 150 copies. It's quite clear this is supposed to be a lot. My first thought was: "Aww, how cute. 150."

Never worry about what people thinking of your ever-growing TBR. I think most of us have that problem. Personally, I love to see what new books other people are getting! It's so great that everybody gives you books! My family usually reckons I have enough books as it is, or they give me a gift card, which I don't like very much I also like that your sister asks if you want them first, before buying them

Yesterday, I'd nearly finished my book when it suddenly hit me that I really, really, really wanted to read Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving. Irving is my favourite male author, but the second-to-last book I read by him was a bit of a let-down (not enormously, though) and the last one I read by him was a major let-down. I'm hoping to redeem him. So I went to the library, to get one book. One book and I knew which one I wanted. I thought I'd just go to the shelves, get it, and leave. Of course, I ended up coming home with three books. Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving, a collection of Poirot stories including Murder on the Orient Express and The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer. I've heard of Murder on the Orient Express many times, but I don't know who did it, or how. I'm very curious!

Yeah, it was really amazing. Every time I think they can't possibly perform a better show, then I see them again, and they do. There is so much going on at any given time, they play so well and they just have so much fun together. The vibe is something very special. They're not putting up an act as some bands do, they don't have a grand story to tell which limits them - they're just there to have fun with you and have a party. I can't wait to see them again in Lille in December. How I'm doing's a bit complicated. But I've been worse. My therapist is a great support, though - I know I can always reach her, she gets back to me outside of our appointments when I mail her, etc. I'm honestly not sure how I'd cope without her. Now is obviously also a rough time, with Nov 1st coming up. My dad and I went to the cemetery yesterday and it had been a while. As a kid, we had to go so much for my grandparents that when I was a teenager, my mom said it was up to me if I wanted to keep going every year, because she felt it was unfair on me to make me go, that I'd had to go so much as a kid that she understood if I rather didn't. So for years, I never went. I'd gone to cemeteries all my life and I couldn't take it anymore. Thinking back, I think my mom said I didn't have to go anymore around the time I had to go hospital every day when I was 15. Then when a very good friend committed suicide and was buried in the same cemetery three years ago, I've gone maybe once a year to visit his grave and then I also go to my family. But yesterday, mom asked me to go with dad to put flowers on the graves for Nov 1st, and it was a strange experience. I've been to their graves on my own, but it had been ages since I'd gone with my dad, or my parents. I felt like for years I'd blocked off my sadness and anger, and now it was all coming out. I also put flowers on my friend's grave and it was so heart-wrenching because he's buried with his dad, and then his mom died earlier this year and I hadn't seen the grave since then and didn't know she was buried with her husband and son. And it also made me angry, for complicated reasons. Seeing my dad so vulnerable was also strange, because usually he really keeps strong for my mom, but my mom wasn't there - and I've always been so focused on her I'd never before noticed how it affects my dad. It was overall weird, and I left quite confused. But on to what this topic is actually about: books. Freakonomics Years ago, I was visiting London with my sister and saw posters for this book everywhere. I'm not usually a non fiction reader, nor am I at all into mathematics or economics. This is my second non fiction book this year, but usually I don't even ready any at all. The contents were very interesting. This book truly benefits from the collaboration between Levitt, the economist, and Dubner, the writer. It reads very fluently, numbers are explained in a way even an idiot (in maths, science, economics, etc.) like myself understands. The questions that are asked are very unusual and the answers are unexpected, which is of course the entire point. It really shows how economics can be used to explain the world. I would definitely recommend this to others. I didn't expect a unifying theme, but my only 'complaint' is how much of a scrapbook this seems to be at times. The structure was off and sometimes it wasn't very clear where something was going. The bonus matter should also have been edited - nobody reads the bonus matter without reading the book, and there was simply too much overlap/repetition. Next book: The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer. It's about a guy who grieves his brother, who died in an accident, and how he deals with that. I took it from the library on a whim and I'm not sure I entirely have the mindset to deal with this very well, but I will try.

It really was! My friend told me she met Merel last night, got to talk to her and Merel even hugged her. Merel told my friend she'd given the guitar pic in her hand because I'd told her how sad she'd been after it had been taken from her. So my new friend was really happy, and so was I! I'm seeing Epica in Dublin on April 10th. Some of these new friends are from Manchester and they said I can stay with them if I want to go see them there. Epica's playing there on April 12th, and now it's been arranged that I'll be going from Dublin to Manchester and see them for the 13th time then! The Woman Upstairs review As I said before, this book was giving me some issues as I read it. The author knows how to write, that's for sure. I just couldn't bring myself to care about the story she was trying to tell, and having finished it, I'm still not sure what exactly that story was. I feel Messud spent ages building up to something, but never delivered. The build-up became dreadfully boring at some point, the entire story was stalling. The main character's ranting got worse and worse. I found myself thinking "Oh, get over yourself and do something about it then" way too often. It became nearly unbearable and I truly couldn't feel sorry for her. Then that grand betrayal the blurb promised - it fell so flat. It was very rushed and expected, in a way. The author spent so much time exploring the main character's feelings, and then her feelings about her feelings - and then this thing happens where it might actually be worth exploring her feelings and how she handles it - and then she doesn't. Entirely forgettable. The only good thing is that it was only 300 pages, and it was still much too long. I read someone saying this would have worked better as a short story, and while I'm no fan of short stories, I wholeheartedly agree.

I saw Epica in Leuven and Antwerpen this week. They were great and also played a new song they've never played live before. I was able to capture it entirely, so I'm happy about that. They were simply superb. Simone liked my tweets about the Antwerpen show and my expanded merch collection, then retweeted a video I'd put on Twitter as "Isaac, Mark & Simone of Epica presenting the new Olympic discipline: synchronised headbanging". She also put a picture of mine on her Instagram stories. I also met some members of MaYan, which is Mark's (founder of Epica) side project. They were the second support on both shows. I met Mark two days in a row and the second day he remembered me. He's a super nice guy and I also got a picture with him. On Tuesday, I also met Marcela Bovio, who is a very chatty person and so extremely nice. Also have a picture with her. Then I also talked to Laura Macri, Mark's girlfriend, who also sings in MaYan. She was very nice as well, got a picture, and later on Facebook responded when I'd sent her a panorama picture I'd taken of MaYan. In Antwerpen, I also met Merel of MaYan. Also got a picture with her. I even had a great time with the merch lady - she also remembered me from the day before and she was just great to talk to really. Next shows I'm seeing are Eluveitie in November. Then Epica in December in Lille - the friends I made this week are attending that show as well so that'll be great. I'm seeing London Grammar later in December. In January, I'm seeing Arch Enemy. Then in April, I'm seeing Epica in Dublin. Those new friends I made are from Manchester and they said I was welcome to stay with them if I ever wanted to attend a Manchester show. It so happens that Epica plays there two days after the Dublin show, so I'll be flying from Dublin to Manchester to see them again! I've seen Epica ten times now, I'll have seen them seven times in 2017 and after the Manchester show I'll have seen them thirteen times. Still, I never get bored of it. They get better and better with each and every show. The English friends I've made are seeing them three times this weekend in The Netherlands as well. Because it's too far away for me to go there and then back the same night but I can't really afford to book a hotel and do the travel between the cities, I had to miss them. My friends are sending me pictures and videos, though, so that's awesome. Can't wait to meet the band again in person later this year!

The first series was so superb, it would probably be hard to follow up on that. I'll still watch the second series because I want to know how the story continues - but thank you for the warning, now I won't be so disappointed if I don't like it I don't know if any of you have ever experienced this, but the book I'm reading now is giving me some issues. The author is clearly talented. She knows how to tell a story and I like how the vocabulary is quite rich, but she never goes over the top with it. The problem is the characters. I just can't get into them. I don't necessarily dislike them, and they're not flat either. But I keep thinking I should probably feel for them, and I just can't. Saw Epica twice this week. It was SO much fun. I left very early for Leuven because I've never been there. I spent about an hour drinking a coffee, charging my phone a bit. I'd seen some people waiting at the venue, wearing Epica shirts, so I joined them. There were about eight of us for a while there and I started talking to them. Then the next day, for Antwerp I left very early because I know traffic is horrible. As expected, it took me twice the supposed travel time to get there, but I was still pretty early and the same people were there. I was on the second row in Leuven, managed to take some great pictures and videos. Had a great time with my new friends, after the show as well. I also met and talked to Mark, Laura and Marcela from the support band (Mark is also the founder, guitarist and main composer of Epica). They were all so nice and talkative. I even had a great chat with the merch lady! Also got some pictures with Mark, Laura and Marcela. Then in Antwerp, I was on the first row. It was splendid, I had the time of my life. They played Fight Your Demons off their new EP for the first time ever live - got to capture it on video entirely. At some point during Unchain Utopia, Simone looked straight at me (I was first row and there was no mistaking it), then held her mike out to me (luckily from the stage so nobody could actually hear me!). I felt a bit unwell after the show, but my new friends took great care of me. Then I went inside again and Mark and Merel from MaYan were there. Mark was super nice - he remembered me from the day before. I was looking at the cd's on the MaYan merch stand and he saw me debating which to get, so when I said I couldn't choose, he remembered that the day before that, I'd told him I already bought the MaYan cd's. "So you obviously need this one," he said while holding out Laura's cd. Laura's his girlfriend, so he wasn't being all that subtle, but I wanted the cd anyway. I also talked to Merel, the guitarist for MaYan. Got a great picture with her too. She was very nice and quite chatty as well. I told her that the girl next to me, one of my new friends, had come all the way from Korea. She kind of knows this girl from Delain (her main band) and MaYan shows - she knows her face and that she came from Korea for these shows. After the MaYan concert, Merel had tried to give her the setlist, but the guy next to her grabbed it out of her hands. She couldn't help but cry, because last year, Merel tried to give her her guitar pick and the same thing happened to her - the guy next to her went out of his way to snatch it away from her. Our other friends got a setlist from someone else and gave it to her, but she's a massive Merel fan, so obviously she wanted that one. I then politely explained to that guy that this girl's a big fan and would he mind swapping the setlists. He didn't mind at all - he basically just wanted one, didn't much matter which band member's it was. I told Merel about this, and that's when it became clear she knows the girl came from that far away. This girl had to catch a tram back to the hotel, so she didn't get to meet her, and Merel seemed a bit bummed I think. But I told her this girl will be going to the next three shows and also the Delain show next week. I was quite sure Merel would try to do something for her. Then today, one of my new friends said that Merel managed to give this girl her guitar pick in her hand. She was super happy, of course! Also talked to the merch lady again and that was great fun. Simone liked my tweet about the merch I got - a beanie and wristbands. She's been liking every tweet regarding my EpiCollection ever since I first tweeted about it, so I love that. Then she also liked my tweet about the show, which had four pictures. She saved one of these pictures to her phone, zoomed it a bit and put a filter on it, then posted it on her Instagram Stories. I loved that. Last night, I also tweeted a short clip which shows first Mark and Isaac headbanging simultaneously, next to each other, in the same headbanging style. Then Mark walks away, Simone walks over to Isaac. He's playing the guitar, she plays the air guitar. Then, without even looking at each other, they start headbanging at exactly the same time, in exactly the same headbanging style (different from the one Mark and Isaac used earlier), and stop at the exact same moment. So I tweeted that and added the text: "Isaac, Mark & Simone of Epica introduce the new Olympic disciple: synchronised headbanging". At lunch today, I had loads of Twitter notifications. Weird. I look at the tweet - 68 likes. Hm, that's a lot, don't usually get that much. I go to Simone's account - she retweeted it! This is the second time she retweets a tweet of mine about a show when she normally almost never does that! This is the picture I took and also a screenshot of her Instagram stories. I searched for ages to see if maybe someone near me had the same picture, but I couldn't find one posted anywhere, and I've compared the pictures endlessly. They look the same to me, just zoomed and a filter. Also judging from the quality, it has to be the same device. So I am SO excited right now. You guys have no idea. Can't wait to see them again in Lille, meet the band in person again, and see my new friends again.

I have to say I simply adore your reviews. They are concise, yet crystal clear. The vocabulary is rich, but not overly so. Most importantly: from your short reviews, it's very clear what sort of book to expect!

Reading your recent reads really is a throwback to my childhood days at the library! I think you can say Carry Slee was/is the Dutch equivalent for Dirk Bracke. I loved the R.L. Stine books as well.