Chicks On Lit discussion

Come join us Dolly on our trip around the world.

I may be able to do that, probably not War and Peace right now, but after I finish Gargoyle and Wednesday Sisters, I have A Thousand Splendid Suns...would that count? :)

The cover of this book is giving me deja vú - I wonder if I've read this before?!

Of course A Thousand Splendid Suns would count. And, it is a fabulous book. I know you will enjoy it.

Meg,I have not read any Haruki Murakami so I had Kafka on the shore on my list and I have to say I was drawn in on the first few pages. Haruki was born in Kyoto and lives in Tokyo. This book seems to be two stories and one is 1986 investigating 1946 incident near Tokyo. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Have you read this author before? He has a few on the 1001 books to read before you die list that I loosely follow.

I have not read anything by Murakami, but Kafka on the Shore looks really good. I am anxious to hear about it. I read the review on Amazon and it looks like something I woul really like.

Can I suggest that we create separate discussions/folders for each place? I forsee a lot of confusion as we all travel around the world! Plus, if I'm in the mood for a story from Japan I can go straight to that folder and peruse. Or is the goal to be 1 giant international community? What do you ladies think?

Great idea Jennifer. I said I would read Anna Karenina, but I've actually picked (back) up Three Cups of Tea which would be in Pakistan. So for now, that's my location! Sorry Meg! :) As soon as I find a book I can get into again on Russia; I'll join Russia!

Well my vision is that we can collect a list of books from each country so it can serve as a list when you want to "revisit" the country. We can act as tour guides as we separate and go to different countries. I really like the idea of separate folders. Don't be sorry Cindy for going to Pakistan without us, just bring back souvenirs!

Well I couldn't resist but I am in two countries now, Kabul (Afghanistan) and Russia. It is a very hard commute, but I can do it!

And don't forget postcards! I like the idea of seperate folders too.

Meg who are you in Kabul with???
I love postcards!! :)

I am traveling solo to Kabul if you would like to join me. The book started off very interesting, and I am fascinated by all the traditions and the culture.

Meg, what are you reading from Kabul?

I am reading the Bookseller of Kabul.

Well, I've decided to change my book from The Idiot (since I haven't started it yet anyway.) I found an interesting book today intitled "The Red Scarf" by Kate Furnivall about a woman in a Siberian Labor camp, set in 1933. It sounds really good.

That does sound really good. How did you find it? I would love to hear about it when you are finished with it.

I was working at the library today, and someone's expired reserve caught my eye. I looked at it, and that's what it was. It looks exciting.

It was meant to be.

Not sure if this has been asked yet, but does this challenge refer to the setting of the book, or the origin of the author?
Do we just say what we are readin/have read, etc. or do we agree to read along in a group? Are we ttempting to read aroud the world as a group, or individually?
I've read books with settings in Wales, Ireland, California, and New York(and host of imaginary lands).

It can either be an author or a setting, or both. We are going to see how far we travel in a year. It is a great discussion, a great way to develop a book list in case you want to read books that other people have read.

I am also thinking that we could do an exchange if someone wants to.

OK< is it too late to jump in? I have been in a book reading slumpa nd have started wya too many that havne't caught me yet. I DO have War and PEace on the table here, but it is overwhelming me!

Of course it is not too late to join.

What I have done with War and Peace is to limit myself to 20 pages a sitting. This way it doesn't get too overwhelming and believe it or not you make a lot of progress.

For those who like non-fiction here are a few books on Russia or Russian Royalty...

1. Michael and Natasha: The Life and Love of Michael II, the Last of the Romanov Tsars by Crawford, Rosemary

2. Great Catherine: The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia by Erickson, Carolly

3. Born to Rule:Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria by Gelardi,Julia

4. King, Kaiser, Tsar: Three Royal Cousins Who Led the World to War by Catrine Clay

The first 3 are on my tbr pile but the 4th I read and it was actually very good as it described the three cousins who led England, Germany & Russia and it tells the stories leading into WWI and beyond. Very nice read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves history.

Thanks Leslie!
I've been putting together a "Russia" list also. Want to read more about Peter the Great. Unfortunately, our library is getting a new computer system and we haven't been able to put anything on hold for a couple months! Yea, I'm really missing it. According to my friend at the library, we may be able to resume 'holds' by next week. Then I can put some of the "Russia" books I want to check out on hold.

Once we have a list I will post a separate thread for it. This is great, thanx everyone!

I am back from Afghanistan! If anyone wants this book I would be happy to mail it to them. Just PM your address. The first request gets it.

Has anyone else returned from their visit?

The Bookseller of Kabul - Asne Seierstad
This book is a cultural experience about life in an Afghan household and life in Afghanistan in general. You will get great insight into the culture and the effect of war/communism on the country. It takes place in the 1980-1990's. There are many memorable quotes. For example "When the Berlin wall fell, Jihad will take cred for ending communism" and "Terrorists are false Muslims". In addition to the politics the way women are treated and their lot in life is just not to be believed. The way crime is handled and the poverty of the people makes this book a remarkable one.

Meg wrote: "Of course A Thousand Splendid Suns would count. And, it is a fabulous book. I know you will enjoy it."

I am reading this book now Meg and I am really enjoying it so far :)

I am so glad you are enjoying it but I have to warn you you will probably cry a few times.

Meg wrote: "I am so glad you are enjoying it but I have to warn you you will probably cry a few times."

It definitely has some sad parts and you really feel for the characters, his writing style is very good.

I have abandoned Russia :( Just not feeling it at the moment. I have not gone too far though, as I am in Bosnia (and/or surrounding areas, it's not too clear which country I'm actually in) with The Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon. I'm about halfway through. Overall I'm enjoying it, but I definitely like the historical narrative better than the present day.

I am not familiar with the book so I am really anxious to hear about it. Don't think I have read anything about Bosnia.

Well I am now commuting between Havana and Russia. I am still reading War and Peace and really enjoying it. Yesterday I started Waiting for Snow in Havana which is a memoir of a boy that was one of the 40,000 children airlifted out of Cuba when Castro took over. Very interesting!

Sounds like a good book Meg! I have put on hold Natasha's Dance about the history of Russia and anxious to get it.

That sounds very interesting, let me know when you read it and what you think.

I finished my Japan read.
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
The book takes place in parts of Japan and the author is also from and lives there now. I liked this odd sort of story. I am sure it has more layers than I could even shake a stick at but what I took from it was about a young boy of 15 who did not understand why his mother took his sister and left him with is father when he was just 4 years old. When Kafka turns 15 he takes some money from his father and heads out on a journey to discover himself and what he was all about. In an earlier time in another part of Japan during the end of WWII, Nakata was a young boy on a field trip in the country when something happened causing the children to all faint and lose their memories. Nakata never recovered his memories like the others. He spends most of his life being safe until he starts on a journey that is to link himself with Kafka.
I think there is much to this novel and I gave it 4/5 stars.

KrisT wrote: "I finished my Japan read.
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
The book takes place in parts of Japan and the author is also from and lives there now. I liked this odd sort of story. I am sure it..."
KrisT

That book sounds really good, I'm going to put it on my TBR listing so I remember it.

Boy Krista I want to read it too. sounds really good

I think this author (Murakami)has major talent. It is one of those books where you are not sure if you are getting what is going on totally or just enough to make you think about things differently. It is not riveting and I could put it down but it sort of draws you to it because you want to find out the links.

I also finished a book by an American Marine and it mostly takes place in Iraq. It is called Soft spots by Clint Van Winkle. He went on his tour of duty starting Valentines day of 2003 and he tells about his close buddies and how he is trying to cope with life back in the US afterwords. Realizing he has Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and that unless he gets or finds help all those days in Iraq will haunt him. It was an okay memoir. It does make you think. 3/5 stars.

I finished The Lazarus Project last night. I'm still not too sure what I thought of it. It was half set in Eastern Europe, half in Chicago. I have to think the author would have been better off just telling the historical tale of Lazarus (not the biblical Lazarus), but he included a tale about a floundering author traveling to the areas he and Lazarus had grown up in in Eastern Europe. I would recommend it, but it's probably not for everyone.

I am not sure that would be something I would like to read. I will have to read somemore reviews about it.

I am really interested in Kafka on the shore though.

I just got back from my trip to Afghanistan in the 1940's!

Caravans by James Michener


4 stars
This is a story about a young man, Mark Miller, working at the American Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan 1946. He is sent out to find an American woman named Ellen Jaspar who married an Afghan man she met while he completed his engineering degree in America. Michener used the descriptions of the land, the people, the culture of the country from his own experience of traveling around the country at that time. I thought it got hot and windy where I live but he describes the heat and wind so intense that it makes the hairs in your nostrils dry out and turn to razor sharp needles and the wind torturous enough to mummify a person in two days after killing you.
At times I wasn't sure I was interested in the mission of Mark Miller but I was struck by the beauty of the country and the diverse cultures that survive amongst those impoverished conditions.
Overall it was a good read. I would read this author again.

It's funny, without even thinking about it, I started reading a book called "The Book Thief." So, I am currently in Germany...making my way possibly to Russia.

Okay I am heading off to Russia but I tend to be a jet setter;) so I am sure I will visit a few other places while I'm here. It looks like I may be here a month or more!
Meg I would LOVE to read the Kabul Bookseller if you still have it. I have found I am in love with books set in that region. Have you tried Kabul Beauty School An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil It was really interesting.

Do you have Kabul Beauty School?
I will be happy to mail you Bookseller, I had no takers!

No but I can steal it from my library for you ;)

you are so funny!

Do books I've already read count? And then start from there?

Let us say books read in 2009 OK?

I have been thinking about this all night. You have me so excited Meg.
Do you guys have an itinerary of places you want to visit or just going by whims?
I think I'd like to take a jaunt through China or Japan soon and a stop in India and Africa sounds fun.