
It’s becoming a yearly tradition to post some kind of bookish meme at the end of the year on my blog. It’s always a fun and relatively quick post to make, and this year I was inspired by the wonderful Lisa Hill from ANZ LitLovers LibBlog. It goes like this: you have to answer the questions using only books that you have read in 2021.
For me 2021 was a year in which I discovered some new authors thanks to a modern Russian literature book club that I joined, in which I let myself be inspired by Book Twitter, but also re-read some old favourites. Here we go:
In high school I was – Subtly Worded by Teffi
People might be surprised by – Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov
I will never be – The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson
My life in lockdown was like – Just the Plague by Ludmila Ulitskaya
My fantasy job is – Creating Anna Karenina by Bob Blaisdell
I hate being – Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker
At the end of a long day I need – Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov
Wish I had (been) – A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov
My family reunions are – In Memory of Memory by Maria Stepanova
At a party you’d find me with – The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
I’ve never been to – Sakhalin Island by Anton Chekhov
A happy day includes – Happy Half Hours by A.A. Milne
Motto I live by – Rock, Paper, Scissors by Maxim Osipov
On my bucket list is (a journey to) – Other Worlds by Teffi
In my next life I want to have – The New Adventures of Helen by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
*****
Text and photo © Elisabeth van der Meer 2021
What a great meme and I like your responses. I looked through the books I have read in 2021 and I couldn’t fit them to any of these prompts!
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This is brilliant and such fun! I really must get back to In Memory of Memory – I started it in the summer and got distracted…..
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Cleverly done, Elisabeth! 🙂 You had a very interesting reading year in 2021, and I’m sure it will be equally interesting in 2022. 🙂
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Wonderful! I like your fantasy job!!
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Oh Liz – that is the story of my life when it comes to books. They are my shiny things that at first whisper from my book shelf – read me and then a little louder and louder until I hear a lovely choir of books singing – READ ME! I’m so glad that books can sing!!
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I already have one for 2022, Mandy: I will travel to Russia and live with Leo Tolstoy when I read – War and Peace.
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Well said, Dave! So many adventures are awaiting us in 2022 – all we need to do is open a book! As Don says, if we stand still, the world will come to us.
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Lisa – what a great idea. Looking forward to following your blog!
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Rebecca, you and Don are very wise. 🙂
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Nice to meet you:)
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Elisabeth — So you read Chekhov’s “Sakhalin Island”? Great! The edition I have and read is titled “The Island: A Journey to Sakhalin” (Washington Square Press, 1967), translated by Luba and Michael Terpak. A treasured book of mine.
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Thank you Dave – you are a wonderful support and encouragement.
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Wonderful! This is a favourite meme and those answers definitely seem to reflect you! 😀
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Thank you, Karen! It’s a fun meme indeed 😊
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Yes, I read parts of it a few years ago, but this year I read all of it. I can imagine why you treasure your copy, it’s a book to be treasured! Your edition sounds good!
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It was a bit of a puzzle, and I should keep better track of the book I read;-)
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Which question will War and Peace fit?;-)
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That is a great book, but I can see why you didn’t finish it;-)
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Thank you, Dave! I’m always looking forward to another year of books, as do you, I’m sure! ☺️
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Wouldn’t that be something? 😉
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I made up my own sentence! After all, its a new year! I found an excellent quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky about Leo Tolstoy. “An artist must know the reality he is depicting in its minutest detail. In my opinion we have only one shining example of that – Count Leo Tolstoy.” I continue to learn and learn and learn!
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That is very true!
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as with so many others sadly….!
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Happy New Year! May it bring joy and happiness in your life! 💝💝💝
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Thank you, Luisa! May 2022 be filled with happiness for you 🥳💝🌹
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Terrific reading list – well done, Elisabeth! Happy New Year!!
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Thanks, Christy, you too! 😊
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