UK Book Club discussion

Ta Liz

71. Malawi - by Paul Theroux. Really engrossing tale of a 62 year old man who goes back, 40 years on, to an isolated Malawi village where he spent 4 happy years in the 1960's, teaching as a Peace Corps volunteer. He finds Malawi, the village and the people who live there much changed. Don't read if you might have vivid dreams about snakes...there's lots of them as he's an enthusiast who has no fear at all of them.

72. Croatia - by Josip Novakovich. Disappointing satire of politics and war set in Yugoslavia beginning in the 2nd world war, going through the reign of Tito, taking in the fall of Communism and the civil war. Trouble is with this satirical subject matter, bound to get compared to Catch 22 and just not in the same league.

Very impressive Ian.

I'm looking forward to completing the 80 Bill.....mind you not really planning to stop, just go a bit slower. Currently in Egypt.

Ian wrote: "I'm looking forward to completing the 80 Bill.....mind you not really planning to stop, just go a bit slower. Currently in Egypt."

If you need Taiwan I can help you out :)

Have added your novel to my ideas list as not been to Taiwan. Sounds interesting James.

Ian wrote: "Have added your novel to my ideas list as not been to Taiwan. Sounds interesting James."

Cheers, thanks.

73. Egypt - by Alaa Al Aswany. One of my favourite reads of this year. Although set several years ago, it really does inform you about the conditions that led to the Arab Spring, whilst also being entertaining, an easy to read page turner and controversial to both muslim and western readers.

74. Algeria - . Pretentious, existentialist nonsense. First half quite good, but 2nd half pants. Reminded me of being at uni....glad it was short.

75. Thailand - by Colin Cotterill. Enjoyable and easy read crime caper. First in a series with a crime reporter Jimm Juree as the central charcter but not as good as the first one of the author's Coroner series set in Laos, which I read earlier this year.

76. Kazakhstan - by Christopher Robbins. Really good travelogue/recent political history of this huge and culturally diverse country. Totally debunks the crass stereotypical image portrayed in Borat.

77. Sri Lanka - by Shehan Karunatilaka. A cricket mystery....don't get many of them lol. Enjoyable for cricket geeks, but a bit too rambly on occasion to be more than 3 stars

78. The Philipines - by Tess Uriza Holthe. Brutal and yet uplifting novel set during the final liberation of Manila during World War Two. It follows a group of people who are desperately trying to avoid the systematic rape and murder being perpetrated by the retreating Japanese army, interspered with the recounting of old Filipino folk tales.

79. Libya - by Hisham Matar. Excellent story set in 1979 Tripoli as a 9 year old boy tries to understand what is happening to his family and friends during one of Colonel Gadaffi's crackdowns on dissidents.

One more to go.....in the Ivory Coast.....should be back at The Reform Club in a few days.

Wow - well done!!!! I keep getting sidetracked in USA and now it looks like Wales :) Have got one for Portugal on the tbr pile for Christmas.

Thanks Sue.....I've got the US in my sights for 2012.

Ian wrote: "79. Libya - by Hisham Matar. Excellent story set in 1979 Tripoli as a 9 year old boy tries to understand what is happening to his family and friends during o..."

That is indeed an excellent story. I enjoyed it very much. Glad to hear you did too.. Good luck on your continuing travels through the world. :0)

Ta Bill

Ian wrote: "One more to go.....in the Ivory Coast.....should be back at The Reform Club in a few days."

Did you just say 'one more to go'? I am so impressed. I just keep returning to the same countries. It's like going to the same place on holiday, again and again! I'm currently in India for the third time this year...

I only wish I had as many actual holidays; but then again that's the beauty of reading a book, it can take you away from it all in an instant and at a fraction of the price of an actual trip!

Time to spray the mosquito repellant, top up my water bottle, pick up my rucksack and carry on the journey.....

I started the A-Z and the Around the World challenges in 2012 and have just completed the former. I'm 23 books into the World challenge and have decided I will try to finish it during 2013. Like Liz, I keep returning to the same countries so I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into travelling properly next year. Best of all, I've already found some lovely books that I'd never have picked up if it wasn't for these challenges and am excited to carry on doing this.

Ian wrote: "One more to go.....in the Ivory Coast.....should be back at The Reform Club in a few days."

wow...now maybe you'll have time to be my co-pilot again! it didn't escape notice that you jumped out of the aircraft! you abandoned ship! left me on my own to travel the world! :( lol

Hope you've recovered from hosp Ian and I'm looking forward to the grand arrival, it made interesting reading browsing your travels the other day! I also heard Jeremy Bowen on Radio 4 book prog recomend In the country of men so I have it in my sights, happy reading for 2013!

Thanks Andrew. Recovering well, though still a bit battered and bruised. Don't recommend falling out of your balloon and using head as a brake. Well I'm back at the Reform Club and after several swift snifters with Phileas can happily announce I've done the 80.

80. Ivory Coast - by Robert Wilson. Sadly it wasn't very good but you can't have everything lol.

Will keep going (although at a slower pace) and try to reach 100 sometime in 2013.

Happy Xmas one and all.....map to follow.....and as they used to say in Hill St.Blues....."Be careful out there."

Well done Ian! You have been on quite a journey.

Ta Lynne.

I'm impressed! Well done. I'm many air miles behind you...

Well done Ian - now we'll have to think of a new challenge for you!!

and how long did it take you!?!?!?

Are you going round again to visit the places you missed?

Took me 2 years Catherine - started Jan 2011. @ Dave & Sue - I'm having a rest from challenges in 2013 bar probably the genre challenge which is fun and makes me read outside my comfort zone. I'll still add relevant reads to the World/US/UK challenges but it will be by accident rather than design.....though I do have quite a lot of US based books on my kindle so that one may take my fancy.

that's fantastic i've just been looking at your list to get some recommendations for countries where i've not been yet - congratulations

81. Iran - by Dalia Sofer. Interesting tale of the persecution of a Jewish family in 1979-ish revolutionary Iran when the mullahs gained control. Took me a while to get into it but enjoyed in the end.

Are you revisiting Ian or going to new countries this time. As a British tourist don't forget your tartan thermos an knotted hankie!

New countries Andrew.....and sorry but more a chat to locals type of visitor so knotted hanky never in sight despite the gleaming pate......my tartan thermos of course always full of scouse in an effort to swap local culinary delicacies.

Oh Ian - it appears from your map that you didn't make it to good old Kiwiland first time through - you need to head there this time around... we'll be happy to swap some kai moana for a slurp of your scouse!

Sounds nice Sarah whatever it is.....and even if it's weird, deffo can't be as bad as the deathly smelling fermented herring I was offered in Finland.......Surströmming....avoid like plague.

kai moana = seafood - nothing fermented about it... generally... Will take your advice if ever in Finland. Impressive list of books, by the way... will be dipping into it if/when I get stuck for inspiration on my journey... which is going nowhere at the moment as I have been distracted by a series containing 4 books - oh well, at least there isn't a time limit... heh!

Never tried it Ian , we took the children to The Beatle story and a ride on ferry at half term and at least they didn't say (as they used to about anywhere within 20 mile radius) are we still in England, so maybe I'll have to bring them back to sample that culinary delight!

You'll get there Sarah......becomes a bit addictive after you really get going.

@ Andrew - and you never popped in lol. Took fellow group member Stephen and his Beatles mad friend from Argentina (not the new pappa - tho he may be a fan lol) to Beatles Story in the summer....never been b4....thought it a bit limited for the cost, tho Argentinian liked it.....needs to relocate and get much bigger imho. Hope you sang along to Gerry and the Pacemakers. I also did an extended Beatles car tour for them....I used to live next door to the church hall where Paul and John first met and the churchyard where Eleanor Rigby is buried....always happy to do. Both cathedrals also worth a visit.....cafe good in the big sandstone one, and if a footy fan, the 3rd cathedral ie the Anfield tour is also pretty good.

Ian wrote: "You'll get there Sarah......becomes a bit addictive after you really get going.

@ Andrew - and you never popped in lol. Took fellow group member Stephen and his Beatles mad friend from Argentina (..."

well both from Buenos aires lol will give you a shout ian when next in Liverpool

See you then Steve.

Sang along heartily in museum and on ferry Ian with sole aim of embarrassing teenage daughters, you've got to get your own back somehow. Even as an armchair red I would love to visit Anfield, I'm of an age when I loved watching Liverpool in Europe in 70's and80's , and an inclination that football, rugby , cricket, boxing etc were better then, I'm sure it's not true but maybe the lack of ready access to sport, e.g listening to boxing on radio, fa cup day a real event, and touring rugby teams a major event, makes it feel so. Sorry digressed, next time we visit I'll put an order in for that flask of scouse! Anyway back to work!!

Didn't know you were of the true faith Andrew.....off to worship at the shrine for the West Ham game in a few weeks.

Sorry ian when I said red I meant the other lot , run by your friend Fergie, I'm perhaps too much armchair to get over enthusiastic about football nowadays and tend not to be very tribal! More enthusiastic about the 5 nations tomorrow . Enjoy west ham that would be a good London double after the spurs triumph.

Fan of old red nose.....yuk, sour taste in mouth....tempted to unfriend thee lol....but I agree, come on England.

Oh dear Ian it's going from bad to worse lol, welsh dad and 3 years at Cardiff in 80's means I'll have a daffodil on my head this afternoon !

My daughter is the Welsh fan, her great grandma was welsh on her dad's side. Her dad on the other hand is routing for England. They have a double or quits bet on. If England wins she buys her dad two bottles of Jim Beam! I haven't looked at the scores, so have no idea who is winning or losing!

A rout......great result for Wales, but a worry for the Lions tour with so many English candidates playing so poorly.