Around the World discussion

It is so sad when you see people being nasty about books. Really I do not get it; who could possibly assume that everyone thinks the same. And authors must know that their book will not fit everyone! Sometimes I wonder why disputes arise so easily via internet. I think it is that we do not see each other; so many signs go missing. Over and over I have seen people misinterpret the written words! My number one rule is to ASSUME somebody meant no ill with their words! Don't jump to conclusions. Gaeta and Judy, what bummers!

I am talking about the deleting of reviews and shelves of course, not people snipping over my reviews. Just to make that clear. I wasn't a troll magnet, and it was just tiresome. I did notice that the barging onto a thread came mostly from brand-new members.

wonderful as an audio--poetic but not self-consciously so.

I just finsihedBomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It gave me very good background information. It is clear and concise. Adults can easily read this, as a starting point. I would not classify it as YA literature. With this under my belt I have already begun American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer is a truly fascinating person. For me the more little details I know about a person the easier it is for the standard facts to stick. At Harvard, for lunch he liked eating "black and tan", ie a piece of toast slathered with peanut butter and chocolate syrup. I will stick with my peanut butter on wholewheat bread covered with a very thick layer of iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach. Yum. But we both like peanut butter. Oh, his first love affair will make you laugh. I like knowing about famous people's idiosyncrasies, things that make them like other normal people.

Just came from Spain and The Infatuations. My first time reading Javier Marias and had hoped to enjoy it more. My review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished a YA title with psychic teenagers in the 1960s KGB (so, Russia!). Fun read, and a good combo of guilty pleasures (psychics and spies!). The book is Sekret by Lindsay Smith, which I got from NetGalley so it isn't out yet. My brief review is here.

I'm been in an alternate reality Britain in Never Let Me Go (with Japanese-born Kazuo Ishiguro, so I'm counting it as my Japan read.) It's an odd little book, and for me didn't quite cohere for all that it's very well written and characterized. Fuller review linked below:

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

I've taken another enjoyable trip to England with Longbourn, a backstairs view of the Bennett household in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/10...

Was in Germany with The Book Thief. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting a bit late in the year, so I shall list in alphabetical order where I have been thus far.

1. Austria - The Piano Teacher - Review

2. Brazil - Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas - Review

3. Canada - The Robber Bride - Review

4. Chile - The House of the Spirits - Review

5. China - Red Azalea - Review

6. Denmark - Hamlet - Review

7. England - Rebecca - Review

8. Estonia - Puhdistus - Review

9. France - Swann's Way - Review

10. Iceland - Independent People - Review

11. India - The God of Small Things - Review

12. Indonesia - The Ten Thousand Things - Review

13. Ireland - The Third Policeman - Review

14. Israel - Barabbas - Review

15. Italy - If on a Winter's Night a Traveler - Review

16. Japan - Beauty and Sadness - Review

17. Mexico - Under the Volcano - Review

18. New Zealand - Faces in the Water - Review

19. Russia - Fathers and Sons - Review

20. Scotland - To the Lighthouse - Review

21. United States - The Sound and the Fury- Review

Completed my stay in Canada in the village of Three Pines where I experienced How the Light Gets In- I'd highly recommend Louise Penny. She writes beautiful mysteries - love her characters and writing style. My review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have finished two audiobooks.

One I loved: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The other was just OK, although is is supposedly a classic: The Case of Comrade Tulayev
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I am listening to Ride With Me, Mariah Montana. It is kind of cute, but really I am getting a bit bored...... Series rarely work for me.

I finally finished Ride With Me, Mariah Montana:0)
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

On to something more interesting, which I am thoroughly enjoying, Franklin and Lucy. Good narration too! You really get to understand the people, who they are inside, what makes them tick.

I just finished a culinary trip to France by listening to Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris by Ann Mah. My review talks about how I wish she'd left her personal life out of it, but some people like that sort of thing.

Just completed a stop in Lisbon with The Night in Lisbon by Erich Maria Remarque. My review here; https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I recently finished A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra, set from 1994-2004 in Chechnya. Difficult to read because of the violence, but worth it.

Was in the U.K. with The Cuckoo's Calling. Nothing to write home about after all that hype. Wasn't worth much of a review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Ghana, visiting with Nii Ayikwei Parkes and his
Tail of the Blue Bird.

My review is here: www.goodreads.com/review/show/746788718

I was in Vietnam with Soli in her Lotus Eaters--a terrific read. I don't have the background to know if Soli got it right--only that she has the ability to make you think she did--to feel transported to a different time and place. Full review linked below:

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

Was in the Middle East with Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East. An amazing and engrossing read - highly recommended. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was with Czech writer Franz Kafka reading his absurdest masterpiece, The Metamorphosis. A short, fast read--and actually I found it hilarious. Full review linked below:

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

I was in World War II Denmark with Lowry's Number the Stars. It's a children's book--and told very simply and sparingly and it's short--but it does ultimately have an impact--although I think I would have appreciated it more had I first read it as a child. Full review linked below:

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

Was in Pakistan with I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban- amazing life story to date. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished a tour of Lithuania and the Soviet Gulags in Siberia through Sepetys Between Shades of Gray. A rather quick read, if also harrowing--but ultimately I didn't find it depressing. Full review linked below:

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

Judy wrote: "Lisa, I have heard so much good about that book. My daughter, Amanda, loved it!."

There was a lot to love--even if it did have one stylistic quirk that annoyed me--but I thought well worth overlooking.

Just spent time with Canadian author Alan Bradley with his The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, a fun cozy mystery set in 1950s England. Full review linked below:

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

I changed my mind about which book to include for Ireland. There is a review of Dubliners somewhere in this thread. Both books are very good, but this one is more up to date.
The Spinning Heart
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I found there were a few books I had not added to the bookshelves, so probably did not post a review for either.

I could only find a reference copy of this book, so just read part of it and was not going to include it in the tour. I am unlikely to read another book for South Sudan however, so have decided to include it anyway.
From Bush to Bush. Journey to Liberty in South Sudan
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This one is about the ancient African kingdom of Benin rather than the modern country, but I am unlikely to read another book for Benin either.
The Art of Benin
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My choice for Kyrgyzstan was not on Goodreads.
When The Edelweiss Flowers Flourish
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My choice for Central African Republic
Les randonnées de Daba : De Ouadda à Bangui
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
is also available in English.
Daba's Travels from Ouadda to Bangui

Judy wrote: "Lisa, I have heard so much good about that book. My daughter, Amanda, loved it!


ANNOUNCEMENT: For those who are going to continue/begin reading around the world into 2014, there is a new folder e..."

Thanks Judy, but now I'm in a conundrum - I don't know where to start with my list - I have so many!!! :-) will have to figure out my 2014 list or maybe I'll make it up as I go along!

Judy wrote: "Some good stuff there, Val. Looks like you had a nice long visit to the African continent."

Thanks Judy. The best one in that group is from Ireland, but I am enjoying reading about African countries and ways of living very different from mine.
I am finding it quite difficult to find books for some African countries, unless I want to read about people leaving them, which would not be my first choice. I ordered a Peace Corps memoir for Togo, The Village of Waiting, but it never arrived, so I might be looking for more French children's books next time I go to France.

Just left Venezuela and the Amazonian Rainforest as viewed in Hudson's Green Mansions. I felt very mixed on it. Full review linked below:

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

Here are some recent ones:
New Zealand
The Uncle's Story
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Republic of Congo
Little Boys Come from the Stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

Croatia
Baba Yaga Laid an Egg
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Panama
The Secret History of Costaguana
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(I originally read this for Columbia and have moved it to Panama.)

Finland
The Year of the Hare
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Norway
Hunger
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

UAE
The Diesel
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Libya
The Bleeding of the Stone
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and one I should have read last year, but actually read this year.
Taiwan
The Butcher's Wife
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Zipped through Turkey again with In Turkey I Am Beautiful by Brendan Shanahan. My review is here. In all my Turkish reading this year, this was kind of a hybrid between travel writing and insider view. He has a true love for the country.

Judy wrote: "Jenny, did it have some humor in it? The review sounded like it might..."

Yes, I found myself laughing quite a bit, I think more because of the nature of absurdity he found when confronted with a different way of thinking.

Judy wrote: "Val, you've done some good reading. If you have a question about what to read for a particular country, let us know what coun..."

Thanks Judy. I will certainly be looking for some suggestions next year. As I said before, smaller African countries (by population) seem to be the most difficult to find books for and there are a few on the 2014 list. Guinea-Bissau anyone?
I have read some really good books this year, although I'm afraid I was a bit slow to get around to writing the reviews and linking them.

From our original master list from January 2012, for Guinea-Bissau:
The Radiance of the King
Revolution in Guinea: Selected Texts

I read The Radiance of the King for Guinea rather than Guinea-Bissau. I liked it.

I will see if I can find a copy of the Amilcar Cabral one.

edit: That one is not available in any of the library catalogues I can access online and is quite expensive to buy (over £20.00 with postage). I have found a second-hand copy of Return To The Source: Selected Speeches Of Amilcar Cabral, which is more reasonable.

Just spent time in Trujillo's Dominican Republic through Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies--and loved it. Full review linked below:

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

Finally finished my review of Distant Star by Roberto Bolano. Took me forever, but here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was in India with the massive A Suitable Boy. My review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... (Not counted for Around the World challenge.) Thanks Judy for the Buddy Read!

Was in Nigeria (again!) with Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

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

Just completed a trip to the hell that was Jonestown, in Guyana. A sad story, but definitely with fresh insights into the mass-murder-suicide that gave us the phrase "drink the kool aid." Full review linked below:

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

In China with "The women of the Silk", and also reading "Defending Jacob" in courtrooms of MA in US.

I've finished The Orphan Master's Son and while my review is simple, it contains some quotes that stood out for me for language or content. It's a difficult read because it's pretty horrifying subject matter. But I recommend it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I was in Jamaica--and on the high seas with pirates! Just finished Hughes A High Wind in Jamaica, a classic tale about children--in the Lord of the Flies tradition. Full review linked below:

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

Judy wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Was in India with the massive A Suitable Boy. My review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... (Not counted for Around the World challenge.) Thanks Judy ..."

Would be interested in your observations when you finish the marathon! -- you can do it, only a couple of hundred pages to go! :-)

I was in Puerto Rico--which technically should count as the United States--and could, since I didn't have a read for that. Loved this one, but then given my Puerto Rican background I really resonated it, but I think it's pretty universal in its appeal. Full review linked below:

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

Just came from Zimbabwe and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa. A sobering but powerful and compelling memoir -- highly recommended read. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I have to take a deep breath and attack a less intense book!

Just completed my 52 books for the year with a book set in New Zealand by Maori Witi Ihimaera. I liked it, but I have to admit I loved the film based on it a lot more. Full review linked below:

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

I'm sorry I haven't been able to make more time to be more active in the community itself--but just the challenge of it alone has been invaluable in pushing me to read books I otherwise wouldn't have and giving me a more rounded view of the world--so thank you all for that!

If you want to read some of his writing that hasn't been made into a film, I read Pounamu Pounamu this time last year and loved it. It's all short stories which I'm not a huge fan of, but they are fun. I believe one of them is in the world, or at least the vein of the Whale Rider.

Rusalka wrote: "If you want to read some of his writing that hasn't been made into a film, I read Pounamu Pounamu this time last year and loved it. It's all short stories which I'm not a huge fan of,..."

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks! Maybe for next year's challenge? Up to now I've only chosen author's I'd never read yet, but that's been an increasingly hard self-imposed rule to keep to!