Around the World discussion

Daisy wrote: "Vizara wrote: "Daisy wrote: "The Book of My Lives
You should read everything Aleksandar Hemon has written. I will try.
This one has mostly to do with Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia, and then h..."

Thanks for pointing this out.
I have also purchased The Question of Bruno as this was the short story in Granta.

I have just been in the Middle East with The Aleppo Codex: The True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the International Pursuit of an Ancient Bible which is about the Crown of Aleppo, the crown being the top of a torah scroll. This scroll was written in Tiberias around 950 A.D. and found its way to Egypt some centuries later, where it was consulted by Maimonides when he wrote hisThe Guide for the Perplexed. Then it came to the old synagogue in Aleppo (Syria) and it was smuggled out of the country to Israel in 1957.
I liked it a lot but this is probably not a book for everyone.

I've been to Iceland, and I think I will stay away from there for a while now. Like Iceland's Bell last year, Bergsveinn Birgisson's Reply to a Letter from Helga tells you a lot about Iceland, especially about farming, but it is just too demoralizing for me to want to read anything else. (2*-review on GR or on my blog)

After that, I have followed a U.S. soldier to Iraq and back, in The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers. It is very haunting, and the soldier's conflicted thoughts make this so much more moving than constant descriptions of violence could have done. (5*-review on GR or my blog)

I just finished Some Sing, Some Cry by Ntozake Shange.It is a book of historical fiction about Black-American history and music, following seven generations of one family. I enjoyed it, and gave it three stars, but it tries to do too much. It is worth listening to, and I recommend the audiobook format over the written book since you get to hear the dialects and numerous songs incorporated into the story. The narrator is Robin Miles, and most of it she does excellently.

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I will now move on to
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
I have heard that this is the best book about the Shackleton story. The setting is Antarctica.

I finished The Grass is Singing set in Zimbabwe.

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now, since I so loved learning about the Mongols in Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, I have picked up Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu.

Chrissie wrote: "I finished The Grass is Singing set in Zimbabwe.

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Having lived in Rhodesia in the end 50's - early 60's and having read the book twice, but many years ago, I do believe that this novel gives a vivid description of the situation at the time.

Vizara, thank you for pointing out your own personal experience of the time and place. I can imagine how this affects your own perception of the book!

Vizara, I really appreciate hearing your thoughts since you have lived there!

Israel was my last destination with A Pigeon and a Boy. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/05...

I was in 1930s Moscow (with a trip to Ancient Jerusalem on the side) in the very good hands of Mikhail Bulgakov in his The Master and Margarita Review linked below--but in short I loved it.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Lisa, it is good isn't it, Bugakov's?! I don't read fantasy but this is so fantastic b/c it is more than just fantasy! A mixture f many genre. I hope you had a copy with extensive notes.

Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, it is good isn't it, Bugakov's?! I don't read fantasy but this is so fantastic b/c it is more than just fantasy! A mixture f many genre. I hope you had a copy with extensive notes."

I did--and an Afterward with commentary--both helped. And it was nice that it was placed afterwords. I find too many introductions of classics give way too much away.

I am a fan of fantasy actually--some of them are my favorite escapist comfort reads. But I agree this is something different, and something more...

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, it is good isn't it, Bugakov's?! I don't read fantasy but this is so fantastic b/c it is more than just fantasy! A mixture f many genre. I hope you had a copy with extensive ..."

I loved how it was a mix of fact and fiction. you can learn quite a bit about the situation in Russia at the time as well as get a fun fantasy story. For me, it has been the only fantasy book I really love.

I just posted my review of The Woman Who Wouldn't Die which is a mystery that takes place in Laos. I loved the history of Laos aspect, but the mystery aspect was disappointing.

My review is at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have completed "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" by Alfred Lansing. (The button doesn't work!)

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Talk about exciting!

Will soon start Zeitoun because I want to try a book by the author Dave Eggers. Hope I learn about Syrian culture too.

Both are non-fiction.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage... yes, there is a problem with the search function this weekend. There is a work around it though. I found that if I searched the author's name first, then clicked on the book tab, I had better luck finding the title.

I started Zeitoun, having been told it was non-fiction. Is it?

Look at this: http://www.edrants.com/dave-eggers-na...

Janice, thanks!

Judy, so now when I listen to the book, I question everything...... I try to hang on to the thought that one is not guilty until proven guilty. I don't know what to think.

Judy, I read Roots years and years ago! Haley won a Pulitzer! It is depressing - both plagiarism and fabrication.

I have been considering Marra's book, but I always am worried that new books are over-hyped. So you gave it four stars. Also I am a bit skeptical to listen to it since it flips around in time. Now that more and more books are turned into audiobooks I wonder when authors will realize that simple time progression is easier to follow.

Shomeret, I like the idea of reading a mystery taking place in a Southeastasian country. It seems you liked the other books in the series more. Which one would you recommend?


I've accidentally visited Alaska, England (Epping Forest) and Washington State. I just thought I'd leave my book choices here in case anyone else needs books for these places.
Alaska: Eowyn Ivey - The Snow Child. (4*-review here or here)
England: Adam Foulds - The Quickening Maze. (3*-review here or here)
Washington: Kristin Hannah - Magic Hour. (5*-review here or here)

After reading Zeitoun I need something lighter.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I will start English Creek by one of my favorite good old tried-and-true authors - Ivan Doig. This comes before "Dancing at the Rascal Fair", which I loved. They do not really have to be read in order.

Judy wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Judy, I read Roots years and years ago! Haley won a Pulitzer! It is depressing - both plagiarism and fabrication.

I have been considering Marra's book, but I always am worried tha..."

Maybe, I will give it a try anyhow. I always keep notes when I listen to audiobooks, so I will probably manage ok. How a book is written is terribly important to me; you and others say it is well written.

Yeah, me too.

SilverRaindrops wrote: "I've accidentally visited Alaska, England (Epping Forest) and Washington State. I just thought I'd leave my book choices here in case anyone else needs books for these places..."

Was your plane hijacked? :)

Finished hanging out in New York City with Rules of Civility. An easy read, which I enjoyed, given the past few hectic weeks. Loved the fun style and witticism. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/...

I liked it too, Lilisa!

Chrissie wrote: "I liked it too, Lilisa!"

Great! How did you rate it?

Lilisa, Rules of Civility got five stars from me. I put it off thinking I would not like it. What a surprise!

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Chrissie wrote: "Lilisa, Rules of Civility got five stars from me. I put it off thinking I would not like it. What a surprise!

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Chrissie - woke up this morning still thinking about the great reading experience and that doesn't happen too often. Added an addendum to my review and upped my rating - I am typically a tough rater!

Lilisa wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Lilisa, Rules of Civility got five stars from me. I put it off thinking I would not like it. What a surprise!

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Chrissie ..."

Loved your review Chrissie!

Thanks.

Lilisa, your link to your review still does not work.......

Okay - operator error - let's try this again. My review of Rules of Civility here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Chrissie wrote: "Lilisa, your link to your review still does not work......."

Thanks - see above, fingers crossed!

I was on a 1954 voyage from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to England in the hands of Michael Ondaatje in his The Cat's Table. (I'm counting it towards Sri Lanka, in which it's partly set.) I really liked it. Full review linked below:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Glad to hear you enjoyed The Cat's Table Lisa. I read Anil's Ghost by him earlier this year for my Sri Lankan read, and really liked it as well. So The Cat's Table got added to my list.

Where you off to next?

Rusalka wrote: "Glad to hear you enjoyed The Cat's Table Lisa. I read Anil's Ghost by him earlier this year for my Sri Lankan read, and really liked it as well. So The Cat's Table got added to my list.

Where you off to next? "

Cuba--Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana. I've heard great things about Greene but never got around to reading him before. I hope it's as good a trip as Ondaatje!

Judy wrote: "I found Our Man in Havana a fun book. Hope it will be that kind of read for you, too, Lisa."

Me too. At the very least, it should be worth knowing Graham Greene after all I've heard of him for years!

I found English Creek even better than Dancing at the Rascal Fair
Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Then I continued on with Ellis Peters's fabulous Cadfael series.
Monk's Hood
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
followed by
The Virgin in the Ice
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I tried to download from Downpour A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, but it failed, so I will read Fever first..... while they fix the problem.

Judy wrote: "This is your first Graham Greene? You've read so widely, that surprises me. Who am I to talk, I read him for the first time last year! lol."

What can I say? Too many books... too little time...

Judy, yeah it made me mad. If Downpour cannot fix it soon I will request that they return my credit and I will buy it from Audible. I have decided I must always have two audiobooks downloaded onto my Ipod.

BUT, I am loving Fever. Good stuff. You totally empathize with Mary Mallon, Typhoid Mary! You see what happens to her from her point of view. She is lonely, isolated on an island and tests and tests are being done to her and no one explains why! The narration by Candace Thaxton, with her Irish, is superb. The depiction of NYC at the turn of the century is great too. So often I am disappointed by historical fiction, but with books like this I am more willing to try them.

I have just been to the Norfolk coast with The House at Sea's End
I do enjoy Elly Griffiths' cosy type mysteries set in Norfolk.
Here is the link to my quickly written review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Not sure where I am going to go next...

I read my book for Finland last year, but just baked something that must be shared. Easy to make and you should because it is so delicious!

Pannukakku, a custardy Finnish oven pancake.

Here is a map of where I've been since March...it looks like I have a lot of area to cover in the future LOL


Hope the map pastes itself in here.....

I didn't want [book:Americanah|15796700,to end but alas all good things must come to an end eventually. Loved it - Adichi's descriptions and narrations are so true - she is brutally honest in a matter-of-fact way - on race, immigration, societal fronts and masks, etc. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I really liked Fever. Good from start to finish! Think if all historical fiction was this good. Excellent narration too.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I will start A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. By my definition this too is historical fiction, even though it describes events not yet fifty years in the past. Will it be as good? Set in Chechnya, but that is part of Russia. How should I classify it?

Judy wrote: "Hey, Barbara, at least you have traveled to some large countries. Those little islands should count double since they are so hard to see!

@Chrissie I counted it as Russia. Do you plan to read for..."

Judy - yes, amazing - I've read two great books in a row -Americanah and Rules of Civility - I'm getting spoiled...

Judy, makes sense! What books I read for Russia all depends on what books draw me.

Jenny wrote: "I read my book for Finland last year, but just baked something that must be shared. Easy to make and you should because it is so delicious!

Pannukakku, a custardy Finnish oven pancake."

Jenny. My mouth thanks you, but I do not think my thighs nor belly do. We have a huge Pannukakku taking up half the fridge. We ate it with sour cream with brown sugar, and lots of berries. I put in about 2/3s of the sugar due to dietary requirements and it was about right to taste (wouldn't have wanted much less) but still a bit too sugary for a dinner....

What? I'm a grown up and can have pudding and wine for dinner if I want...