Apple’s Comments (group member since Aug 28, 2021)

Apple’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

Last of my finished books for now is a collection of short stories smuggled out of North Korea, written by an author known as Bandi.

The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea has multiple stories about the hardships of life in North Korea, mostly under the regime of Kim Il-sung. There are no happy stories here, there is hunger, their is the paranoia of knowing everyone is watching everyone else, and any act of dissent could see you imprisoned, exiled or killed. Not only that, but the taint of one generation carries on to the next and the next, and this is often part of the tales presented here also.

Whilst this is not filled with the violence of the South American books above, it is still a hard read, because you know how much of it is a reality that the peoples of North Korea cannot escape. Even those who believed in the Party have seen their dreams squashed, and their souls are suffering.

Worth it if you can find it.

15.23: WI 13/14 Travel the Pacific Rim
Read 10 books, from 10 different countries according to the list in post 2.

The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea by Bandi
North Korea

Post Total:15
Season Total: 515

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.17; 15.18; 15.19; 15.20
15.21; 15.22; 15.23

As I was reading This Mournable Body, I kept thinking it reminded me of something else I had read, then realised it was probably the first book in this series by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions, which I read a very long time ago now.

Somehow I have missed the middle book of the trilogy, and now Tambu is a grown woman, unemployed after quitting her job at the advertising agency, and to be honest, she is not very likeablle. She is superior, scheming and dishonest. Some of this is due to race and the inequality that she feels because of it, some of it is undoubtedly due to being a woman as the lot of a woman is no better in Africa than it is in South America, and some of it will be due to the weight of expectation from her village and the education that has been allowed.

Their are many cracks in Tambu as a person, and her mental health, and this journey sees those cracks widen until they break, and then the need for Tambu rebuild herself again, but not in the image she has for herself.

Not a pleasurable read, but an honest one.

15.20: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga
Zimbabwe

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 2
Oceania, 2
Asia, 1
Europe, 2

+15 task
+100, 2nd Finisher Bonus

Post Total:115
Season Total: 500

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.17; 15.18; 15.19; 15.20
15.21; 15.22;

Yes, I know it is hard to believe that I had not read The Diary of a Young Girl, and when I opened it I really thought I might be wrong and had simply forgotten, but no, I really had not read this. (Trust me, the list of films that I have not seen upsets my husband far more than the list of books I haven't read will upset anyone here!)

What I was surprised at was Anne's humour and mischief, as well as her openness about all sorts of subjects - her relationships with others, her discussions of sex - it was all so unexpected.

Yes, their situation was bleak, and it is completely understandable that everyone would get on everyone else's nerves, but there was still generosity and celebration, and the fact that they managed to survive, with as much quality of life as was possible, was amazing. They didn't give up, but kept striving with things like learning, regardless of how bad things appeared to getting outside of their annexe. I don't know that many under such circumstances could have said the same.

15.19: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
qualifies for Germany/ Europe as Frank was born in Germany and it is her nationality

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 2
Asia, 1
Europe, 2

+15 task
+5 oldies

Post Total: 20
Season Total: 385

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.17; 15.18; 15.19;
15.21; 15.22;

message 153: by Apple

Road No Good byBridget Isichei
is set 95% + in VANUATU

Vanuatu now green!

15.18: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

The Preacher by Camilla Läckberg
Sweden / Europe

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 2
Asia, 1
Europe, 1

Task Total: 15
Season Total: 365

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.7; 15.8;
15.21; 15.22;

Road No Good is the story of early childhood educator Bridget Isichei's two years working as a volunteer in Vanuatu, helping to develop pre school programs and training the teachers who work at the pre schools.

In Vanuatu, the hierachy is men, pigs, women then children, and when it comes to women, the pre school teachers are well down on the list because they are not doing their duty by looking after the pigs, the garden and the family.

Mostly, these teachers are also illiterate themselves, and they speak Bismala, a pidgin English, rather than English. And yet they are stronger , more determined and loyal than any people Bridget has met before, and what at first seems to have been a bad idea becomes a life changing experience.

It is an incredibly uplifting story, as Bridget helps these women study for an Early Childhood certification, raising their self esteem and their position in society, and the ramifications could see big societal changes in Vanuatu long term.

15.17: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

Road No Good by Bridget Isichei
qualifies for New Zealand / Oceania as Isichei was born in New Zealand and it is her nationality BUT is set 95% + in VANUATU

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 2
Asia, 1

+15 task

Task Total: 15
Season Total: 350

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16; 15.7
15.21; 15.22;

Joanne wrote: "This appealed to me and !JOY! I was able to find a copy (the only copy in the Michigan Inter-Library System!). I ordered it, and will let you know how I do with it"

Nice!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Why would someone want a placenta and who cares who takes what gets thrown away anyway?"

Cultural superstitions! It wasn't thrown away, it had to be protected for 7 nights, but, obviously, things happen!

Ratih Kumala's Cigarette Girl is a multigenerational story, spanning pre independence until somewhat current day of two cigarette making families in Indonesia, their crossed paths, loves and rivalries.

The story is interwoven between that of the past of Idroes Moeria and his rival, in work, love and then business, Soedjagad. Both fall in love with the scribe's daughter, Roemaisia, but obviously only one man can win the beauty's hand, and to do so he must learn to read and write.

A constant battle exists between the two men, and it comes to pass that the placenta of Idroes and Roemaisia's daughter is stolen, and his downfall will come through her, at the hand of the enemy that that stole it.

Jeng Yah follows in her father's footsteps and is talented in the ways of the cigarette, and comes to have her own brand. And it is this Jeng Mah who's name is repeatedly exclaimed by the current day Pak Raja who is dying, which sets his three sons, Tegar, Karim and Lebas on a bonding trip across the country to try and find her, and the story behind their father's relationship with her.

This is actually a really enjoyable tale, and the women presented are generally strong minded, intelligent and independent, which was a real pleasure to read.

15.22: WI 13/14 Travel the Pacific Rim
Read 10 books, from 10 different countries according to the list in post 2.

Cigarette Girl by Ratih Kumala
Indonesia

+15 task

Task Total: 15
Season Total: 335

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16;
15.21; 15.22;

15.16: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

The Simple Art of Killing a Woman by Patrícia Melo
Brazil / South America

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 2
Africa, 1
Oceania, 1
Asia, 1

+15 task

Task Total: 15
Season Total: 320

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.15; 15.16;
15.21;

15.15: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin
Taiwan / Asia

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 1
Africa, 1
Oceania, 1
Asia, 1

+15 task
+5 oldies (1994

Task Total: 20
Season Total: 305

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14; 15.5;
15.21;

Notes of a Crocodile by Taiwanese author Qiu Miaojin is a coming of age story, following the story of Lazi through their years at college, the friendships and loves, and their coming to understanding theirselves.

It's a complex web of love and friendship, most characters are at least bisexual, or experimenting, many queer but trying to find their place in the world.

Lazi is somewhat self destructive in their relationships and lifepath, and must come to terms with who they are, and their desires, to fully accept themselves and survive.

This is not a happy novel, although their are moments of tenderness that are quite lovely, but I feel that being queer at this time in Taiwan would not have been easy (less so than in other places), and this is reflected in the instability of the characters. And yet, at the same time, there are a lot of queer characters, and they don't seem to be closeted, so maybe it is merely the disjointed experience of self and societal expectation.

Joanne wrote: "That second book you mentioned sounds interesting. I do not mind heavy violence, as long as there is a reason for it. It sounds like it is a necessary part of the story (I read the GR's blurb on it..."

It was a good book, definitely worth reading, but you have to be prepared for the descriptions of the torture and murder.

Gosh, South American texts are hard, particularly those by women, it would seem.

The first was The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Argentine Mariana Enríquez, a collection of short stories. This was the second collection of hers that I have read, and they are all bleak, with aspects of horror. The longest story, Kids Who Come Back seemed familiar, at least, the premise of the story did, but this was harder and grittier. It tells the story of homeless kids, runaways, streetworkers, trafficked. All of a sudden, the kids start to return, including the dead ones.

And that is the tone that tells you all you need to know about her work.

The other was The Simple Art of Killing a Woman by Brazilian writer Patrícia Melo, where our protagonist is a lawyer investigating the deaths of countless women, including her own mother. Women are raped, abused, tortured and killed and such an incredible rate, and it is a hard read because you know that it many South American countries this isn't a fiction. A harrowing but important read.

15.14: SP12 Around the World
Read 10 books, set in 10 different countries, with no continent being visited more than twice.

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez
Argentina / South America

Nth America, 1
Sth America, 1
Africa, 1
Oceania, 1

+15 task

Task Total: 15
Season Total: 285

15.1; 15.2; 15.3; 15.4; 15.5; 15.6; 15.7; 15.8; 15.9; 15.10
15.11; 15.12; 15.13; 15.14;
15.21;