The Content Reader

Today I went to Tongeren in the Limburg region of Belgium, bordering the Limburg region in the Netherlands.  This is the part which the Romans once conquered. In the Gallo-Roman museum is a temporary exhibition on Vikings! It was absolutely fantastic.  There is also a permanent exhibition of development of man from the beginning of times to the Roman times. Very interesting indeed. More will come on this outing. Just want to say that I actually managed to buy a book as well! What's new? It is The Celts  by Peter Berresford Ellis.  I am looking forward to read about these peoples who conquered Europe at a certain time. And...which culture we still enjoy today! A separate post about my visit to Tongeren will come.

Got dressed and ventured out in the rainy, dark evening to drive to this event. When I finally found the restaurang and a parking, the waiter told me that it was last week! WHAT! Last Wednesday of the month! Ok, when I started to think rationally, I remembered that it is the school holidays this week, so that is probably why. Had to head home with my bag with 24 books. So much for coming home with fewer books that I went out with! I hope I didn't fool anyone of my Brussels friend to go there. If so, I AM REALLY SORRY! Next time.

Every last Wednesday of the month there is a book swap evening in Brussels. You can bring your own books and hopefully find some new. I have sorted out quite a heap of books, mostly English, but some Swedish. I promised my husband that there would be less coming in as was going out. You have to give a little bit of breathing space to your book cases as well. Here is my pile: I see that there are some elephants on the pillows behind. It does not mean I would need an elephant to carry the pile...a handy man would be all right! I fear though I have to carry them myself. Let's see tomorrow if I found some replacements. For those of you in Brussels: if you are interested, it is taking place at Le Chapelier Fou 190 Chausse de la Hulpe Watermael-Boitsfort between 17.30 - 20.30 Maybe see you there?

This is the fourth book in the Outlander series. I don't think I have to give more details on this series, since it seems to be one of the most popular for the time being. Even more so after the first 8 episodes of the TV-series from Starz. I am also a big fan of both the books and the TV-series. I am not really into time travelling, or at least I did not think so. Maybe I have to change my own mind now, especially after having read two other books/series about time travelling and loving it; A Rip in The Veil by Anna Belfrage and The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. In the Outlander  series the time travelling takes the story to another level. I still think the first book is the best. Maybe because there is where it all started, the idea and the story was totally new and it was exciting. Not to say that the other books are not...they are! Some spoilers here for you who have not read the book so stop here. From book three Claire and Jamie leave Europe for the ...

Ready to go? Recently, I have visited two exhibitions that has the same theme; emigration or immigration, depending on from which view you see it. The exhibitions tells about two ship lines that carried people who wanted to leave their own countries in search for a better life in America; The White Star Line and The Red Star Line The White Star Line This exhibition is about Titanic , the most famous ship of the line and the most tragic. The exhibition is now running on the last month here in Brussels and I visited it on Thursday. It was very interesting. Although you think you know most of the things about this disaster, it is another thing to see items from the boat, personal items from people lost and interiors of how it looked like on the ship. There was also a scientific part with information on how the accident happened and the story of how the wreck was found. The Red Star Line This is a permanent exhibition in Antwerpen and tells the story of this line which was fou...

If you are visiting Antwerp and are interested in culture, you just have to visit the beautiful house of Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens was born in 1577, in Antwerp. However, to study classical Roman and Italian Renaissance art, he spent eight years in Italy. He liked it so much there so he hardly wanted to come back to Antwerp. But alas he had to. In 1610 he and his wife Isabella Brant bought a house and a piece of land in Antwerp. He enlarged the house and gave it a flair of an Italian palazzo. If you can't go to Rome, take Rome with you! He had himself assembled an internationally admired collection of paintings and sculptures at the house. Here he also produced most of his work. Even on a slightly, clouded autumn day the garden was beautiful, and you can imagine it in the summer. The audio guide takes you around the house and all the paintings and other art work. The paintings are explained, here are also the wonderful, gilded wall papers, absolutely amazing (again!). I pass...

This is also a review for the Historical Fiction Challenge at the Historical Tapestry . This book started out good. Elspet Leviston is living with her father in London, helping him out with his lace business. We are talking London, 1609. One day her father comes home with a young man that he introduces as her half brother, Zachary Deane. The father always wanted a son who could take over the business, and is now eager to introduce it to Zach. However, he is not very interested. His main goal is to get some money and go to Spain to learn the craft of a swordsman. Elspet, who is the one really knowing the business from all angels, see that she is ousted. Mr Leviston sends Zach to a European tour to learn the business, meet their colleagues in other countries from where the lace is bought. Zach has his own agenda and deviates rather quickly and goes to Spain and starts his apprentice as a swordsman. Unexpectedly, the father dies. Unexpectedly, for all involved, the father leaves all ...