On My Shelf

On My Shelf is an original feature inspired by the On My Shelf tag. Each time I will take 5 random books from my shelves and tell you about them (how I got them, what I think of them etc.), and if they are in Dutch I will write a small synopsis of them.

I will roll some dice to find out which books it will be.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)(Dutch Edition) by J.K. Rowling

This is my favorite HP book! It is all bend out of shape and everything, but is still in one piece and I am saving to by the English hardcover ones. This one is a Dutch paperback, so nothing much special about the edition. The memories behind it (with it) however are special. This book marks the first ever night-opening of our local bookstore, to be able have sales the book start precisely at 00:00h on the day of the release. The manager made the salesladies dress up in witch outfits (very sour looking) and the whole store looked spooky. It was amazing for a 12 year old. I went there with my dad because my mum disapproved of the whole thing, but my dad is cool that way. Our village is not that big, so having the first night sale ever does not attract a huge croud, there were like 20 people, mostly kids with their parents, all wanting to buy the book. From that evening on, the store had a night opening for each HP book release. I read the book the same night and I have been a fan ever since.

Dolfje Weerwolfje (Dolfje Weerwolfje #1) by Paul van Loon

Dolfje is a 7 year old boy, living with the Vriends family (father Willem, mother Jasmijn and their son Timmie). He was left at their doorstep when he was three, because his family got scared when they figured out he would become a werewolf (it is in the family, skipping every other generation). Dolfje’s granddad is a werewolf too, but his parents not. The Vriends family knows this secret, but accepts him anyway. Every month Dolfje changes for three night into a werewolf during the fullmoon.

When I was younger I loved horror stories. And I loved everything Paul van Loon wrote. I don’t have a lot of his books, but I have read everything of his until I turned 16. I got this book signed at some point in time and still read it every so often.

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #3)by Cassandra Clare

I love the first three books of the Mortal Instruments. The back of this book still has the price sticker on it from the bookstore in Athens. I had heard of this series before I went there, but they were not available here yet. When I got back, they were and translate. I was so amazed at that.

Hedonia by Kees van Kooten

Barbara, the authors wife, goes for a few days to New York, tryiing to get an interview with Woody Allen. She knows his movies well, because she wrote the subtitels for them. The author needs to take care of their children in the meantime. He is jealous of Allen and thinks his wife has started a romantic relationship with the director. Kees van Kootsen can affort everything he wants, but just doesn’t know what to do for fun without his wife. He thinks about his childhood and tries to remember the fun things. He only learns the fun things with Wim Kan’s ABC-cabaret, who he met several times. The highlights from these contacts are the performances with Wim de Bie and Wim Kan.

The story moves on with Frans F., an old friend of the author, who grew into a successful businessman in a few years. The children of Van Kooten don’t like him, they have to call him “uncle” Frans. Other adults they just call by their first name. Kees van Kooten is being more and more influenced by this Frans. Frans has a polaroid-picture of Woody Allen and Barbara for them, which makes Van Kooten even more jealous.

I got this book in a package deal with a publisher when I was in high school. Surprisingly I kinda liked it. It is simple and funny.

Magus of Stonewylde (Stonewylde #1) by Kit Berry.

I love the Stonewylde series. They are funny, emotional (the only book series ever to get me crying) but also very dark and true. I love reading about the estate and the people living in it. I wish there were more books like this.

Let me know, what are your weird experiences with books, like mine with the Mortal Instruments or other quirky things in the comments down below!

For now, let books enrich your life!