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15.18: SP12 Around the WorldRead 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.
The Preacher by Camilla Läckberg
Sweden / Europe
Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 2
Asia, 1
Europe, 1
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 365
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.7; 15.8;
15.21; 15.22;
Road No Good is the story of early childhood educator Bridget Isichei's two years working as a volunteer in Vanuatu, helping to develop pre school programs and training the teachers who work at the pre schools. In Vanuatu, the hierachy is men, pigs, women then children, and when it comes to women, the pre school teachers are well down on the list because they are not doing their duty by looking after the pigs, the garden and the family.
Mostly, these teachers are also illiterate themselves, and they speak Bismala, a pidgin English, rather than English. And yet they are stronger , more determined and loyal than any people Bridget has met before, and what at first seems to have been a bad idea becomes a life changing experience.
It is an incredibly uplifting story, as Bridget helps these women study for an Early Childhood certification, raising their self esteem and their position in society, and the ramifications could see big societal changes in Vanuatu long term.
15.17: SP12 Around the WorldRead 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.
Road No Good by Bridget Isichei
qualifies for New Zealand / Oceania as Isichei was born in New Zealand and it is her nationality BUT is set 95% + in VANUATU
Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 2
Asia, 1
+15 task
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 350
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.7
15.21; 15.22;
Joanne wrote: "This appealed to me and !JOY! I was able to find a copy (the only copy in the Michigan Inter-Library System!). I ordered it, and will let you know how I do with it"Nice!
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Why would someone want a placenta and who cares who takes what gets thrown away anyway?"Cultural superstitions! It wasn't thrown away, it had to be protected for 7 nights, but, obviously, things happen!
Ratih Kumala's Cigarette Girl is a multigenerational story, spanning pre independence until somewhat current day of two cigarette making families in Indonesia, their crossed paths, loves and rivalries.The story is interwoven between that of the past of Idroes Moeria and his rival, in work, love and then business, Soedjagad. Both fall in love with the scribe's daughter, Roemaisia, but obviously only one man can win the beauty's hand, and to do so he must learn to read and write.
A constant battle exists between the two men, and it comes to pass that the placenta of Idroes and Roemaisia's daughter is stolen, and his downfall will come through her, at the hand of the enemy that that stole it.
Jeng Yah follows in her father's footsteps and is talented in the ways of the cigarette, and comes to have her own brand. And it is this Jeng Mah who's name is repeatedly exclaimed by the current day Pak Raja who is dying, which sets his three sons, Tegar, Karim and Lebas on a bonding trip across the country to try and find her, and the story behind their father's relationship with her.
This is actually a really enjoyable tale, and the women presented are generally strong minded, intelligent and independent, which was a real pleasure to read.
15.22: WI 13/14 Travel the Pacific RimRead 10 books, from 10 different countries according to the list in post 2.
Cigarette Girl by Ratih Kumala
Indonesia
+15 task
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 335
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16;
15.21; 15.22;
15.16: SP12 Around the WorldRead 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.
The Simple Art of Killing a Woman by Patrícia Melo
Brazil / South America
Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 1
Asia, 1
+15 task
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 320
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16;
15.21;
15.15: SP12 Around the WorldRead 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.
Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin
Taiwan / Asia
Nth America, 1
Sth America, 1
Africa, 1
Oceania, 1
Asia, 1
+15 task
+5 oldies (1994
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 305
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.5;
15.21;
Notes of a Crocodile by Taiwanese author Qiu Miaojin is a coming of age story, following the story of Lazi through their years at college, the friendships and loves, and their coming to understanding theirselves.It's a complex web of love and friendship, most characters are at least bisexual, or experimenting, many queer but trying to find their place in the world.
Lazi is somewhat self destructive in their relationships and lifepath, and must come to terms with who they are, and their desires, to fully accept themselves and survive.
This is not a happy novel, although their are moments of tenderness that are quite lovely, but I feel that being queer at this time in Taiwan would not have been easy (less so than in other places), and this is reflected in the instability of the characters. And yet, at the same time, there are a lot of queer characters, and they don't seem to be closeted, so maybe it is merely the disjointed experience of self and societal expectation.
Joanne wrote: "That second book you mentioned sounds interesting. I do not mind heavy violence, as long as there is a reason for it. It sounds like it is a necessary part of the story (I read the GR's blurb on it..."It was a good book, definitely worth reading, but you have to be prepared for the descriptions of the torture and murder.
Gosh, South American texts are hard, particularly those by women, it would seem.The first was The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Argentine Mariana Enríquez, a collection of short stories. This was the second collection of hers that I have read, and they are all bleak, with aspects of horror. The longest story, Kids Who Come Back seemed familiar, at least, the premise of the story did, but this was harder and grittier. It tells the story of homeless kids, runaways, streetworkers, trafficked. All of a sudden, the kids start to return, including the dead ones.
And that is the tone that tells you all you need to know about her work.
The other was The Simple Art of Killing a Woman by Brazilian writer Patrícia Melo, where our protagonist is a lawyer investigating the deaths of countless women, including her own mother. Women are raped, abused, tortured and killed and such an incredible rate, and it is a hard read because you know that it many South American countries this isn't a fiction. A harrowing but important read.
15.14: SP12 Around the WorldRead 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez
Argentina / South America
Nth America, 1
Sth America, 1
Africa, 1
Oceania, 1
+15 task
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 285
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14;
15.21;
Whilst Held by Anne Michaels is written by a Canadian author, it is not set at any point in that country.It starts with a wounded British soldier on the French battlefields of World War I, remembering his love who is waiting for him back home.
We follow him home, and from there we follow his wife, and then his daughter, and then his granddaughter, and then for some reason we move to a couple in war torn Sarajevo, then back in time to Marie Curie.
I thought I understood when we were following just the one lineage, that this was a story about love, and what we will do for love, and how we embrace it, and whilst this is true for the other stories, I am still not certain why we made that departure and followed those characters.
I was very much looking forward to this as I had loved Fugitive Pieces, but I really didn't enjoy this as much.
15.21: WI 13/14 Travel the Pacific RimRead 10 books, from 10 different countries according to the list in post 2.
Held by Anne Michaels
Canada
+15 task
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 270
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13;
15.21;
I think I have read too many of the cozy magic realism books from Asia that are going to solve all the problems of the characters within. Marigold Mind Laundry by Yun Jung-eun is much the same as all the others, so if you liked We'll Prescribe You a Cat or The Lantern of Lost Memories you will like this, otherwise, give this one a miss.
15.10: FA23 Celebration of StylesRead 10 books by 10 different authors where each would qualify for one of the below RwS styles. ... Your books will fit at least four of the styles, with no more than 5 of any one style.
Marigold Mind Laundry by Yun Jung-eun
Non Western ,South Korea
Young, 2
LiT, 3
Nan, 2
Aged, 1
Non Western, 2
+15 task
+50 finisher bonus
Task Total: 65
Season Total: 255
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13
15.9: FA23 Celebration of StylesRead 10 books by 10 different authors where each would qualify for one of the below RwS styles. ... Your books will fit at least four of the styles, with no more than 5 of any one style.
Simpatía by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón
Non Western ,Venzuela
Young, 2
LiT, 3
Nan, 2
Aged, 1
Non Western, 1
+15 task
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 190
15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9;
15.11; 15.12; 15.13
June is now officially the most travelled month so far, and it isn't finished yet! Simpatía by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón is a story of orphans, abandonded and found dogs, actual and found families, and people who are not all that they seem. It is also a love song to movies, particularly The Godfather, to a Venezuela that could be.
I do not know much about the history or political climate of Venezuela, but I imagine, and can surmise, that it is similar to many South American countries, dictatorships, military coups, poverty and an unstable economy.
This is the background to Ulises divorce, complicated by the fact that his father-in-law has died and made him, and two strangers who rescue dogs, the beneficiaries of his will, but on the condition that the turn his former home into a dog rescue within a certain time frame.
A scheming wife, an unreliable and perhaps not so honest lawyer, a lover who may not be what she seems, and a couple of very old brothers who have worked in service, and know all the secrets, make for an interesting and somewhat, ultimately , uplifting tale.
