Around the World discussion

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, I rally liked both "Cutting for Stone" and "Cry, the Beloved Country"!."

Oh, I know--I've seen lots of 5 star reviews for both. Oh well, the disagreements are what makes GR ..."

Definitely,what a bore life would be if we all agreed on everything! I gave them both four stars, but not five.

Friederike wrote: "I was in Mozambique, reading the fascinating The Tuner of Silences by Mia Couto.

my review is http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

The Tuner of Silences"

I didn't have a book for Mozambique. Adding it to my world lit tbr list. Thanks!

Friederike wrote: "I was in Mozambique, reading the fascinating The Tuner of Silences by Mia Couto.

my review is http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

The Tuner of Silences"

I read one of Mia Couto's books for Mozambique as well and was very impressed by it.

I finished The Old Capital. This is one of the three books for which he received a Nobel, not that that I see this as an adequate reason to pick up a book. This is my favorite so far by this author.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This is a great book to read for Japan if you haven't chosen one yet. It is SOOOOOO Japanese.

Now reading The Big Sky. I might be mistaken, but I think he got a Pulitzer for this. It takes place in the 1830s and is about the first pioneers that traveled West, the Oregon Trail and the settlement of Montana. It is like one of the very first Westerns. Other of his books continue where this ends in 1846. Published about 60 years ago it is early historical fiction! The introduction discusses the authors view on what historical fiction can achieve that non-fiction cannot.

The Way West is the second book, and Fair Land, Fair Land the third.

Ooooh, I just started Burial Rites on my Ipod and it is marvelous. This is set in Iceland.

Finished listening to Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story of Courage, Love and Survival. Atka Reid & Hana Schofield and it was creepy b/c it felt so close both in place and time, but the writing felt very ordinary.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Recently finished "The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini. My review is at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I've actually been reading it on my Kindle for a long time, dipping into Renaissance Florence for a few minutes whenever I got stuck somewhere without another book. Then I started reading other fiction and non-fiction books about Renaissance Florence which gave more context to this one and I started reading it as my "main book" to finish it.

I just went back to Turkey for The Oracle of Stamboul. My review is here. It's not so much a book from Turkey, so it isn't "authentic" in that way, but is a light read about a girl who has special abilities in late 19th century Turkey.

I was shuttling between the Boston area and Calcutta by reading Lahiri's The Namesake. Lots loved this book. I'm afraid I found it meh. Full review linked below:

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

My travels took me to Paris and Siberia with Paris Was the Place and Travels in Siberia. Here are my reviews:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/09...
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/09...

Chrissie wrote: "Ooooh, I just started Burial Rites on my Ipod and it is marvelous. This is set in Iceland.

Finished listening to Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story of Courage, Love and Survival. Atka Reid & Hana Scho..."

I've had my eye on Burial Rites - glad to hear you are enjoying it!

Suzanne, I am not enjoying Burial Rites. I am totally blown over by it. The writing!!!! Damn she can write. I just listened to chapter 6 and I am speechless. I am trying to recuperate.

OK, I recommend it to all...... except maybe not those who are looking for mainstream happy stories. Nordic historical fiction will not give you that. I cannot believe that an Australian has written this. Geraldine Brooks is her mentor, but in my view this surpasses Brooks' writing!

Chrissie wrote: "Suzanne, I am not enjoying Burial Rites. I am totally blown over by it. The writing!!!! Damn she can write. I just listened to chapter 6 and I am speechless. I am trying to recuperate.

OK, I reco..."

Wow! I can't wait to read it!

Jenny wrote: "I just went back to Turkey for The Oracle of Stamboul."

Thanks for the review! I just put this on reserve at my library.

This past week I read enjoyed "The Road to Burgundy: The Unlikely Story of an American Making Wine and a New Life in France" and a brief review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I've been to France several times and loved it. I keep reading books about people visiting France because it puts me right back there. I don't want to live there but I would love to have the opportunity to travel there again and spend a month (wishing). Now that I read a book about Burgundy, I want to include that in my itinerary.

Chrissie wrote: "I cannot believe that an Australian has written this. Geraldine Brooks is her mentor, but in my view this surpasses Brooks' writing!"

Hah! Us Aussies can be surprising at times :P

In all seriousness though, great recommendation. I hadn't heard of this before and am definitely adding it to my TBR list. Thanks Chrissie.

Rusalka, it is not that Australians aren't talented, but that it feels like it has to be written by a person of Nordic descent. Like this has to be in their bones to get the atmosphere so right.

Listening to Burial Rites was a fantastic experience. You are transported to another time and place. Fantastic writing and fantastic narration of the audiobook narrated by Morven Christie.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
From Iceland to......

Sri Lanka! Now I have begun:
Anil's Ghost. I so like Michael Ondaatje's writing.

Both are books of fiction based on real events.

I was in Germany (East) for a stint with Eugen Ruge's
In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts

My review is in English here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It has been translated as In Times of Fading Light

I just hopped off the train, phew, 4.5 months of train travel might make anyone depressed, especially if they missed Christmas with their family. My review is available for The Great Railway Bazaar, which goes from England to France to Turkey to Iran to Afghanistan to Pakistan to Thailand to Japan and more. Long long journey. Not sure many lessons learned.

Chrissie wrote: "Rusalka, it is not that Australians aren't talented, but that it feels like it has to be written by a person of Nordic descent. Like this has to be in their bones to get the atmosphere so right."

Heh I wasn't saying you were implying that at all. I completely understand. I'm just displaying our cultural inferiority complex, that we latch on to anything or anyone good that's Aussie and parade it around. And if it's someone or something Kiwi and good, we'll tell everyone that they spent 3 months of their time in Sydney at some point, so they are obviously Aussie too :P

Chrissie wrote: "Sri Lanka! Now I have begun:
Anil's Ghost. I so like Michael Ondaatje's writing."

Read this in January and really enjoyed it. Hope you do too.

Rusalka wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Rusalka, it is not that Australians aren't talented, but that it feels like it has to be written by a person of Nordic descent. Like this has to be in their bones to get the atmosp..."

It is better to be careful. People so easily misunderstand each other communicating on-line!

Rusalka wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Sri Lanka! Now I have begun:
Anil's Ghost. I so like Michael Ondaatje's writing."

Read this in January and really enjoyed it. Hope you do too."

So far I like it.

I've been in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) circa World War II via Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing. It was quite a read. Full review linked below:

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

Now I am listening to The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime that Scandalized a City and Sparked the Tabloid Wars. It is non-fiction and very exciting. For me true crime is better than fictional!

I just finished Anil's Ghost and by the end I liked it a lot, but not in the beginning. Ondaatje isn't the easiest author to follow. His books always hop all over the place, but he can write beautifully, and he gets you thinking.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I just left Iran with Children of the Jacaranda Tree. This is an excellent Iran pick for the Around the World Challenge! My review is here:
Children of the Jacaranda Tree

Finished Maya's Notebookby Isabel Allende. My review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I just traveled through decades of Soviet Russia in Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzen. It comes out September 17, I was lucky to get a review copy because I've been wanting to read it ever since I saw it in Publishers Weekly. It's a great memoir of Communism and the conflict between Russian decadence and scarcity, with recipes! My review is here.

Jenny wrote: "I just traveled through decades of Soviet Russia in Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzen. It comes out September 17, I was lucky to get a review co..."

Jenny - Sounds like a book I'd enjoy - on my list now. Thanks!

Jenny wrote: "I just traveled through decades of Soviet Russia in Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzen. It comes out September 17, I was lucky to get a review co..."

Great review, Jenny! I'll have to make a note to read this one!

I have left the pirates and treasure behind in Jamaica, with Pirate Latitudes.

My Review.

Finished listening to The Walking People.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Many of you will recognize this author from her newer book Fever. Actually I think many will enjoy this novel, particularly in its audio format.

Will start The Sound of Things Falling since I have heard good things about this Colombian author.

I've departed China with Waiting and also Iceland with Burial Rites. I especially enjoyed the latter. Here are my reviews:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/09...
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/09...

Suzanne, YAY, you really enjoyed Burial Rites too. Gooood writing! So atmospheric.

Chrissie wrote: "Suzanne, YAY, you really enjoyed Burial Rites too. Gooood writing! So atmospheric."

I was just talking up Burial Rites today to a friend at our lake place:)

Suzanne wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Suzanne, YAY, you really enjoyed Burial Rites too. Gooood writing! So atmospheric."

I was just talking up Burial Rites today to a friend at our lake place:)"

For me it was immersion back into Nordic life. Really glad you enjoyed it!

Finished The Sound of Things Falling.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Set in Colombia.

Ok, I am listening to The Savage Detectives...... this type of book is not my usual read. Maybe it is more for the younger crowd. To be more specific, there is explicit sex and at least now it seems rather juvenile, but I am sticking it out. It does capture quite well how young intellectuals philosophize, but much seems to be sophistry. I have tried to find out what exactly the Visceral Realist Movement is, and the question is if it is a movement at all!

I was in Timbuktu, in Today's Mali through reading The Race for Timbuktu: In Search of Africa's City of Gold, although this was more about the journey than the destination, so much more time is spent in Tripoli (Libya) and the Sahara than the legendary city. Full review linked below:

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

I have dumpedThe Savage Detectives, which so many praise. NOT ME! I listened to 7 of 27 hours and could take it no more.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Moving on toA House in the Sky. Non-fiction and exciting, or so I have been told. I really have to wash my brain after the last book.

Completed Forbidden Journey and it was good. Ella Maillart traveled in 1935 with Peter Fleming from Peking to Srinagar, Kashmir, by predominantly donkey, horse, camel and her own two feet. Some train and lorries too. Peter Fleming is the older brother of Ian Fleming. Peter has written his own book but I have not read that. For me it was a bit too much on the difficulties of the trip rather than the people and areas she traveled through. Still, definitely worth reading if travel literature is you thing. This is predominantly set in China.

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

I will try An Army of Angels: A Novel of Joan of Arc. I wonder how it will compare with Mark Twain's Joan of Arc which I did like. The author thought this was his best book.

Russia was one of the destinations in my latest read, The World to Come. Based on the story of a stolen Chagall painting, this book took by breath away. Simply stunning! Here's my review:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/09...

Suzanne wrote: "Russia was one of the destinations in my latest read, The World to Come. Based on the story of a stolen Chagall painting, this book took by breath away. Simply stunning! Here's my review:
http:/..."

Suzanne, I thought that was terribly special too! Horn has come out with another book recently: A Guide for the Perplexed. I don't know.... the topic seems so weird, but I am betting that in this author's ands it will be good!

I loved all the references to other Jewish writers!

Chrissie, the library has a copy of the audiobook of A Guide for the Perplexedon order so I'll be the guinea pig.

Lynne, thank you!!!!! Audible and Downpour have A Guide for the Perplexed IF you say it is worth buying. You are such a good friend!!!! Isn't the topic kind of weird?!

Chrissie wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Russia was one of the destinations in my latest read, The World to Come. Based on the story of a stolen Chagall painting, this book took by breath away. Simply stunning! Here's m..."

I would definitely read another book by Dara Horn. Thanks for the heads up on her latest novel. I'll have to add it to my "to read" list!

Although I can't recommend this book, it was at least full of 1890s Paris. Streets were named and areas. Maybe someone else will like it better than I did.

The Painted Girls

Suzanne, glad I could help.

I can highly recommend A House in the Sky. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. I appreciated hearing the voice of the woman who lived through the events. This is her story and it should be narrated by her. The narration is absolutely excellent. The setting is Somalia predominantly.

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

One book leads to another. My next will be Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic WomenNine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women.

I've been in Ancient Egypt with Finnish author Mika Waltari as a guide in The Egyptian. It turned out to be quite a ride. Full review linked below:

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

Finished Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women set in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Near East. Non-fiction about Islamic women's lives in the beginning of the 90s. Definitely interesting.

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

I definitely enjoyed The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed narrated by the talented Edoardo Ballerini. You have to at least look at the gorgeous Golden Spruce. Once you have seen it you want to know why it was chopped down!
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I have started Blood Makes Noise, because for a long time I have been interested in learning more about Eva Perón (1919-1952), Evita, and what happened to her body after her death. This is historical fiction but it begins by stating that it is based on true facts.