Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Hi everybody I started yesterday Stalingrad by Antony Beevor I´ll see where this book takes to me in the ancient Volgograd and inside of Russia

Excellent book Juan. I'm currently reading by the same author.

Thanks a lot Ian I am pretty sure I´ll enjoy it. About your current book?

I am again in India with Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra.

It's the February book but I've put myself forward and I'm in France with Les Miserables!

Just started by Orhan Pamuk.

Around the world I have:
The Adventures of Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan: An Arab Folk Epic -- a romance, of a type popular in the Mamluk age 13th-16thC. With the ingredients of a fantasy novel nowadays, only you learn about Mamluk society/attitudes too. It's wow.

In non-fic I recently finished Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes. Popular history, very worthwhile.

I like old epic/romance, and before the Mamluk one tried a Byzantine one: Digenes Akrites (Oxford University Press Academic Monograph Reprints). I have to say I did not take to that one. My review's there if you're curious.

I also have on a Chinese novel written in the 18thC, histfic about the 12thC: General Yue Fei. It's not bad to read, but I escape to the Mamluks for more of a romp.

Juan wrote: "Thanks a lot Ian I am pretty sure I´ll enjoy it. About your current book?"

Also good but Stalingrad prob the better one.

Les Miserables on my Kindle - France
Also gotta finish my other three books I have started :
Snow Falling on Cedars - Pueget Sound
Peony in Love - China
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - Scotland. I may count this for my April read instead of Ireland.

I think in March I will read A Fault in Our Stars but also The Stone Diaries since I have the book - Indiana the state of my birth

I am currently in Iceland reading Frozen Assets and in the US state of Washington reading Mrs. Miracle.

I am currently in Florida. Reading Ring Around The Rosy by Jackie Fullerton. Mystery.

I am reading a coming of age story from the countryside in Costa Rica, the former ambassador of Costa Rica in Oslo and professor in literature in the Univ. of Aarhus writes the story of his father and his family and how they all came to be what they are.. Beautiful and precise language, typical central american spanish. Only exists in spanish and serbian though:)

I am currently reading The Hummingbird's Daughter, Luis Alberto Urrea, have been told this is based on his family history.

I am currently still chugging away at Les Miserable. And I bought some books today for the upcoming months. I also may backtrack to some previous states or books already done since I just joined this month. Doing a mix of stuff but my real goal is to read books I want to. So for this month was Cold Mountain but one not chosen was CeeCeeHoneycutt. Which I have and will read next. Also bought The Fault in Our Stars today. Yeah. But I am going to double up on Indiana and also read The Stone Diaries, also on my book shelf. I also bought A Monster Calls today for my Ireland read in April. It may not be the chosen one but I am not about to tackle Ulysees at this point. I need a little break from these great classics I have been focusing on. So excited for my upcoming reads. Also bought The Book Thief and Divergent and another book by the auther of A Monster Calls.
How I can babble on about books, but I almost forgot. I also bought The Marriage Plot today which will count for Rhoad Island and my ATW in 1001 books

Mike wrote: "I just finished Eden and it was brilliant. It's a real genre bender and a page turner. If you like adventure, sci-fi, paranormal, mystery or even horror you are sure to lov..."

This book has been on my list. I need to get my hands on it.

Just checked out byRhys Bowen and by Spencer Quinn. Getting finished with , , and

I started reading The Castle by Franz Kafka but in the original language, German.

i'm getting ready to start Born of the Sun: A Namibian Novel for Namibia (as the sub-title says)

Diane wrote: "Just started by Orhan Pamuk."

Recently bought this book at Goodwill. Let me know what u think

I'm in the thralls of reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. The characters are haunting my dreams (in a good way).

I have too many books on the go to count. Currently finishing up Les Mis (for the umpteenth time), there are three heritage houses and a few other classics.

Empress Orchid



What a marvelous book!

K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America's Most Unlikely Tourist read a few pages of this last night. It actually covers 3 trips that happened very close together. VP Nixon went to Russia to meet Nikita first, then he came on the tour of America(including meeting Marilyn Monroe), and a follow-up visit after that to New York and the United Nations. It is crazy that this happened when so many people had been killed all over russia and europe by this man's orders

i am reading now Taking It with You

I am reading A Game of Thrones and when I'm driving I'm listening to The Eyre Affair

World History in Indian Myth

http://sharavega.com/lounge/40-the-se...

Still getting through Les Miss and finishing up Snow Falling on Cedars. Enjoying both. Just bought State of Wonder by Anne Patchet, The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence, The Best Known World by Edward P. Jones, interpreter of maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Those Who Save Us by Jenna A Blum, and The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver. Payed 25 bucks for all 8 books in great condition at Goodwill.

Sarah wrote: "Still getting through Les Miss and finishing up Snow Falling on Cedars. Enjoying both. Just bought State of Wonder by Anne Patchet, The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, La..."

congrats on your finds.

Jenifer wrote: "I am reading A Game of Thrones and when I'm driving I'm listening to The Eyre Affair"

OMG Jenifer. The Song Of Ice and Fire series is the best. U r in for a wild ride and G R R Martin is a master of character development. The third book is my favorite. I suggest reading them back to back but I stopped after the fourth book because I am going to wait until he releases the sixth book and in the mean time keep following the HBO series.

Thérèse Raquin



Highly recommended so we will see.

Sarah wrote: "Diane wrote: "Just started by Orhan Pamuk."

Recently bought this book at Goodwill. Let me know what u think"

I did like it, but I thought it started dragging a bit between 1/2 way and 3/4 of the way through. It picked up again toward the end. Interesting story, though.

Shirley wrote: "Empress Orchid



What a marvelous book!"

I really enjoyed it,too.

Argall on the Pocahontas story and a Kyrgyz epic The Manas Of Wilhelm Radloff.

I am reading an excellent book ,Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky, a Jewish writer who lived in Paris in 1940 and died in Auschwitz. It is a contemperory look at the first panicked flight at the beginning of the Occupation and life under the Nazis, which she didn't live to see end. The book was put together after her death from her notes and beginning manuscript. A brillant writer who died too soon.

Just started today. Got 1/3 of the way done. The story has taken me to Bloomington, IN. I was born in Indiana and lived in Bloomington when I was a very little girl. Will wrap this book up quick before I read , which is this months book choice for discussion and also for Indiana. Also still trying to get through Les Miss, about 70% done.

I've recently finished reading by Ernest Hemingway and by Janet Evanovich. Now I'm halfway through by Jane Casey.

Started last night and read first 100 pages lickety split, but had to put it down and get to sleep for my 12 hour shift today. If I didn't have to work today I am possitive I would have polished the book off in one sitting. I absolutely love it so far. Reminds me of The Help and The Secret Life of Bees. I want to visit Savanna Georgia.

mar wrote: "I'm currently reading: "

I would love to hear what u think of this book. I have in my library waiting to be read, which is one of my girfriends favorite books ever.

Still working on my adored Les Miss, gotta get back to Outlander which I have put aside for awhile, and halfway through Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt which will finish in no time. BUT BEST OF ALL BOUGHT ANOTHER 9 BOOKS AT GOODWILL TODAY:

A Death In Vienna, Paradise, Beloved, The Language of Threads: A Novel, The Idiot, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Anil's Ghost,Unaccustomed Earth, and The Human Stain. All for a grand total of $28.00

Just started . It won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize and is a compilation of short stories. I am trying to decide what to start next. I want to read old group discussion books I missed so I have , , or ]

Just got done with I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman's Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage and
The Awakening am now reading, The Unbearable Lightness of Being .

The plan is to read "Caliph's House" with the group this month.

Cheryl wrote: "Just got done with I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman's Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage and
The Awakening am now reading, The Unbearable Lightness of Being .

The plan is..."

I just bought Unbearabl Lightness. I have wanted this book for a very long time but have too much else to read right now.

Just started for the USA group read this month. I think I am going to like the story but so far the writing is very easy and quick to read. Which is a nice change from the heavier reading I have been doing, but it definitely has a teenage book feel to me and I don't feel the writing itself is all that beautiful or poetic. I have also been really impressed by the first two short stories of . Jhumpa Lahiri is impressive. I love her story telling and ability to capture the experience of immigrants, expatriates, and first -
generation Americans from India to America. She has such settle but poignant writing.

Hello, I just joined the group. :)
I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee, and tomorrow I'll start to read The Hobbit or Life Of Pi, I'm undecided.

Working on six books simultaneously! I want to finish them ASAP to read the books you guys are reading!

Just starting The Language of Flowers.

The Emperor of Lies

Cutting for Stone

I'm halfway through The Emperor of Lies and I've only just recently started Cutting for Stone.

I'm in Turkey with . Have only just begun but am really liking it so far.

Finished 4 stars
A Royal Pain



Started

Since this movie is on the DVR guess I better get busy and read/listen to
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: A Novel

Melissa wrote: "Hello, I just joined the group. :)
I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee, and tomorrow I'll start to read The Hobbit or Life Of Pi, I'm undecided."

I hear people either love or hate Life of Pi. It is one of my favorites. But part of what makes it so good is reading the whole thing. This book is my best ending. And such a unique story.