Around the World discussion

Do you have any around the world reading goals for 2017? Do share!

I am hoping to read 26 books, around the world alphabet style!

Allison wrote: "I am hoping to read 26 books, around the world alphabet style!"

Fun! (Is there a country that starts with X?)

I hope to be less busy and read more in general and since I'm drawn to books set in other countries I know quite a few of them will be around the world. Some of the ones people listed in best of 2016 went on my list.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Allison wrote: "I am hoping to read 26 books, around the world alphabet style!"

Fun! (Is there a country that starts with X?)"

It could be a wild card.

I don't have any specific goals, but I will have a look at the Man Booker International list again this year. It will be announced in March.

I'll be interested too, to see what's on the Man Booker International List, I'll be continuing to read authors from the Caribbean region and will be reading Women in Translation in August.

I feel like I've been neglecting my first love - China - in recent times, so I hope to read at least a few pieces of Chinese literature. I'm also expecting to travel to Sth America for the first time this year, and apart from some travel writing I realise I haven't read much from that continent, so I'll do something about that (any recs?). And I can't go cold turkey on India+, as there are a few books that I simply didn't have time to get to in 2016.

Claire wrote: "I'll be interested too, to see what's on the Man Booker International List, I'll be continuing to read authors from the Caribbean region and will be reading Women in Translation in August."

Last year's list was so good! Is that an annual thing?

Andrea wrote: "I feel like I've been neglecting my first love - China - in recent times, so I hope to read at least a few pieces of Chinese literature. I'm also expecting to travel to Sth America for the first ti..."

Where in South America will you be traveling?

This year I plan to read Jamaican writers, those born and educated in Jamaica and later going in the direction of North America and the UK. Poetry is prevalent as well as generational biographies of kinfolk and historical ones of national heroes. Not in the least, mischievous spirits, aka duppies, might put in an appearance.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Where in South America will you be traveling?..."

I'm going to the Galapagos Islands later in the year for a special birthday, but it's such a long way from home I expect to explore bit further. Certainly Ecuador, maybe Colombia now that it's safer, perhaps Peru.

Andrea wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Where in South America will you be traveling?..."

I'm going to the Galapagos Islands later in the year for a special birthday, but it's such a long way from home I exp..."

There is a new novel set in the Galápagos Islands - Enchanted Islands. And I read a good book from Ecuador but mot people in my book club found it too challenging. One guy and I thought it was hilarious - The Potbellied Virgin.

Val wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Allison wrote: "I am hoping to read 26 books, around the world alphabet style!"

Fun! (Is there a country that starts with X?)"

It could be a wild card."

Thats my plan! :)

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "There is a new novel set in the Galápagos Islands - Enchanted Islands. And I read a good book from Ecuador but mot people in my book club found it too challenging. One guy and I thought it was hilarious - The Potbellied Virgin...."

They both sound good - I will try to track them down. Thanks Jenny

I'm aiming for another 52 books in 2017 and hopefully to wittle down my TBR list. Shantaram is the oldest book on my list so I'd like to knock it off. Also getting to more Central and South American countries would be nice.

And, Happy New Year everyone - may there be lots of enjoyable books in your 2017 future!

Happy New Year, everyone! I am aiming for my typical 80. I want to include many books from the 1001 book list and I also want to complete my quest to read an author from each country (I only have a handful of those left).

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Claire wrote: "I'll be interested too, to see what's on the Man Booker International List, I'll be continuing to read authors from the Caribbean region and will be reading Women in Translation in A..."

Yes, it changed format in 2016 and combined with the IFFP (International Foreign Fiction Prize) taking their annual format of one recent work translated into English, previously the Man Booker Intl had been every 2 years and was for a body of work, which was also a great resource and kind of sad to have lost, but translated fiction is gaining in popularity, and the significant prize is split 50/50 between the author and the translator, which is a great boost for translating/publishing more titles.

I'm just hoping for a better reading year than 2016. I read 20 around the world books last year (ish), so aiming for at least that.

I also need to make a dent in my owned shelves. So I think a visit to at least China, India and Japan are in order.

I have participated in this challenge the last two years, very haphazardly. I've found during that time that I've read multiple books from some of the easier countries (Korea, China, England, Australia, India as some examples) while completely ignoring parts of the globe. This year I'm going to make a concentrated effort to read 30 international books from countries I've not yet read from.

I'd love to read more books set in Asia. And I have lots of translated lit from Eastern European women writers waiting for me. Hopefully, this will be the year I get to them all.

One thing I have found in these years of reading books from other countries is that so many people have to live where they grew up, either to immigrate for jobs or as refugees from war, violence, or environmental disasters. I looked at the list of countries I haven't read yet and decided it could wait a year- this year I will be reading books from the borders, from people who are displaced or forced out, and maybe indigenous groups. Many of these can't be represented by a checkbox on a list of countries but I'm very interested in it and think it will be a vibrant year of reading!

I'm thinking Kurdistan, Palestine, Eritrea, Syria, Armenia, the Roma people, plus Indigenous groups. What am I missing?

You can hear me talk more about this, as well as summing up my Africa2016 project, on the Reading Envy Podcast.

wow, really like that idea ^^ good luck! Maybe West Sahara could be added?

Last year I "traveled" from Sweden to Saudi Arabia and this year I plan on continuing my trip by going from Saudi Arabia to South Corea through Irak, Iran, Turmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazachstan, Russia, Mongolia, China, North- and South Corea.

Hanna wrote: "wow, really like that idea ^^ good luck! Maybe West Sahara could be added?..."

Yes, definitely. I could use some recommendations for local authors as everything I read tends to be external. I read several from Mali and several that touch on various nomadic people but would like to know more!

Hello! I'm just joining this group today. I tried a few years back, but didn't meet my goals. This time, I'm aiming for one book a month toward my Around the World 2017 reading list.

This goal is important to me in a symbolic way. I feel that the we humans really need to pull together, and learn how to appreciate and understand one another better. To that end, I'm going to try choosing books that impart a message about hope, faith in one another, compassion and love.

I just completed my first book: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierly. I was moved to read this book after having seen the movie. He survived being lost and alone on the streets of Calcutta at the age of five, largely because of street smarts taught to him by his older brothers, but also because his early childhood was filled with love and support, AND because he met caring people who ultimately pulled him out of what could only have become a horrible tragedy.

It's an amazing story, and one that prompted me to make this goal.

Here's to 2017!

Sharon wrote: "Hello! I'm just joining this group today. I tried a few years back, but didn't meet my goals. This time, I'm aiming for one book a month toward my Around the World 2017 reading list.

This goal is ..."

Hi Sharon, welcome and welcome back! I often set my goal at 12 so if I read more than that I feel great! But one a month always seems manageable.

Thanks for the encouragement! I want to leave myself open to read books that might not fit with this goal. ;-)

Sharon wrote: "Hello! I'm just joining this group today. I tried a few years back, but didn't meet my goals. This time, I'm aiming for one book a month toward my Around the World 2017 reading list.

This goal is ..."

Welcome back Sharon - nice to have you with us! Love your approach to reading books from around the world this year - good luck! A Long Way Home is on my list - I've heard it's really good. One of our other members here planned to see the movie, which was being screened by her -- Andrea - did you see it?

I saw the movie two days ago, and was so moved I got home and bought the eBook, and just devoured it. It's an amazing story ...

Lilisa wrote: "Andrea - did you see it?...."

I'm hoping to go on Monday. It only officially opened yesterday, so will be too busy for my liking over this coming weekend. But that's as long as I'm prepared to wait!

Sharon wrote: "I saw the movie two days ago, and was so moved I got home and bought the eBook, and just devoured it. It's an amazing story ..."

I am going to have to see the movie. If anyone's interested, the movie title is "Lion" starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman. Here's a link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feat...

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Andrea - did you see it?...."

I'm hoping to go on Monday. It only officially opened yesterday, so will be too busy for my liking over this coming weekend. But that's as long as I'm ..."

It's playing by me - I'm going to try and see it this weekend. The article posted in the message above reminded me that Saroo Brierley grew up in Hobart, which you had mentioned previously - I'm guessing there are "scenes' from Hobart!

I saw the movie (Lion) yesterday based on A Long Way Home. Sharon - you are right, it's an amazing story on many fronts -- "traveling" around the world is amazing -- read the book and/or see the movie!

Lilisa wrote: "I saw the movie (Lion) yesterday based on A Long Way Home. Sharon - you are right, it's an amazing story on many fronts -- "traveling" around the world is amazing -- read the book a..."

Saw it, loved it, moving back to Hobart to marry Dev Patel LOL.

Yes there were some genuine Hobart scenes. One of my friends ran into the crew on top of Mt Wellington back in 2015, when they were filming the scene where Lucy and Saroo 'go for a run' (yes, crazy people do run up the mountain!). In the film, that's where we got to see the beautiful panorama of Hobart, bisected by the Derwent River.

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I saw the movie (Lion) yesterday based on A Long Way Home. Sharon - you are right, it's an amazing story on many fronts -- "traveling" around the world is amazing -- ..."

Great you enjoyed it too, Andrea! Lol about Dev Patel - although what's with the hair - it began to irritate me! Glad about the Hobart scenes - I was hoping they were really Hobart's. One never knows whether settings are actually where they say are with films. Those shots were gorgeous. I can see why you'd want to move back - oh, I forgot -- that was because of Patel! :-)

I do love Hobart.

Rusalka wrote: "I do love Hobart."

Actually, I felt bad for poor old Canberra. The Canberra scenes from the book were relocated to Melbourne in the film.

*sniff* It's hard not to take it personally :P

Have you seen Secret City or The Code? They are both filmed almost exclusively in Canberra, and I think show how beautiful it is here. More and more people are actually coming to film here now which is great, but sounds like Hollywood needs more convincing.

Rusalka wrote: "Have you seen Secret City or The Code? ..."

I love The Code, but haven't heard of Secret City before. After each episode of The Code one of my Canberra friends draws my attention to notable locations or architecture that he spotted in the show. I've spent a lot of time there over the years for work, but really only know the CBD and the route to the airport!! I would love to visit for Floriade at some point.

My sister in law plants the bulbs for Floriade. I read the first book the Secret City is based on, The Marmalade Files. I hope the second is better. I know why the two journos who wrote it are political journos.

Let me know next time you are in town if you would like a coffee/drink! I work at the ANU next to the CBD and my partner works next to the airport. You totally visit my world!

The Man Booker International Prize 2017 longlist is as follows:

Author (nationality), Translator, Title (imprint)

Mathias Enard (France), Charlotte Mandell, Compass (Fitzcarraldo Editions) Compass
Wioletta Greg (Poland), Eliza Marciniak, Swallowing Mercury (Portobello Books) Swallowing Mercury
David Grossman (Israel), Jessica Cohen, A Horse Walks Into a Bar (Jonathan Cape) A Horse Walks Into a Bar
Stefan Hertmans (Belgium), David McKay, War and Turpentine (Harvill Secker) War and Turpentine
Roy Jacobsen (Norway), Don Bartlett, Don Shaw, The Unseen (Maclehose) The Unseen
Ismail Kadare (Albania), John Hodgson, The Traitor's Niche (Harvill Secker) The Traitor's Niche
Jon Kalman Stefansson (Iceland), Phil Roughton, Fish Have No Feet (Maclehose) Fish Have No Feet
Yan Lianke (China), Carlos Rojas, The Explosion Chronicles (Chatto & Windus) The Explosion Chronicles: A Novel
Alain Mabanckou (France), Helen Stevenson, Black Moses (Serpent's Tail) (No link as not published yet)
Clemens Meyer (Germany), Katy Derbyshire, Bricks and Mortar (Fitzcarraldo Editions) Bricks and Mortar
Dorthe Nors (Denmark), Misha Hoekstra, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal (Pushkin Press) Mirror, Shoulder, Signal
Amos Oz (Israel), Nicholas de Lange, Judas (Chatto & Windus) Judas
Samanta Schweblin (Argentina), Megan McDowell, Fever Dream (Oneworld) Fever Dream

So exciting! I've read the Schweblin but most of these are not even known to me. This is becoming one of my favorite prizes for reading discovery.

Thanks for posting the 2017 Booker Longlist, Val. Interestingly, I'm reading the 2016 Man Booker Prize winner The Sellout.

Thanks for posting, Val! Was just reading the Guardian article about the announcement.

I have read a few of the authors before, but not any of those books. That will change.
The Guardian and the Irish Times seem to be the only news media who covered the announcement in any detail.

I am hoping to get at least 30 books read, which should check off a few of my countries!