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So I’m back online! And I’ve so much to tell you about…
So yes, I was offline because I was away visiting family in the Netherlands. This is where we were for most of the time:
This is the haul of books I brought back:
My favourite book of all those I brought back is Overzee (literally “Oversea”) by Annemarie van Haeringen, Tonke Dragt, and Sjoerd Kuyper. It’s a collection of three very short, modern myths, each linked by the sea. The first is about a pelican who rescues a boy lost in a storm, the second is about Noah’s ark, unicorns and narwhals, and the third is about the source of the sea – where indeed does it begin? Each story is magical and word perfect. You won’t be able to finish this book without your heart contracting a little at its verbal and visual beauty. I do hope that one day it will be translated into English. The stories are timeless.
On holiday M fell deeply in love with the Belgian comic series Suske and Wiske (variously translated in to English as Bob and Bobette, Wanda and Willy and, most recently Spike and Suzy). This strip was created by Willy Vandersteen and first published in 1945 (there are now over 300 books!). It features two children who get up to all sorts of adventures, some fantasy, some historical, some science fiction, and has a look not dissimilar to the most famous comic from Belgium – Tintin.
Whilst away I read a brilliant Dutch children’s book Crusade in Jea
and welcome back! Feeling rather sad about my inability to read Dutch but will definitely seek out the Toby books. Have you read your ‘Hunger Games’ purchase yet? I’m just speeding through them and feeling full of ambivalence (whilst being unable to stop turning the pages). Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Polly recently posted..Holiday diversions part 1
I spy a Barbapapa
I enjoyed reading the Toby books, nearly picked them up at a charity shop today, but decided I’d wait a few years till I can actually read them to son, may have enough space on our book shelves by then. Am sure your girls will have great fun discovering the little folk in the trees
Damyanti recently posted..Seven Stories Museum
Hi Polly, no, Hunger games should be next on my list (I just finished a book last night, but it too had lots of violence in it, so am wondering whether to allow myself something a little sweeter in between!) I’ll keep you posted…
Zoe recently posted..The Past
Hi Damyanti,Yes, we didn’t come home barbapapa-less…. Reading between the lines it seems like the Toby books didn’t impress you as much as they did me…(?) – if I saw copies in a 2nd hand book shop I’d snap them up to give to friends. If I’m right, do let me know more about what you though of the Toby books.
Zoe recently posted..The Past