Laureen’s Comments (group member since Dec 12, 2010)

Laureen’s comments from the Around the World in Books group.

No apologies needed! Looks like we have a great choice of books and that is the important part.

Hey, I posted some Finland pictures. I even found one of how the grass grows into the sea like they talk about in the chapter "The Cave". I had forgotten how strange that was until I read about it.

Wow! Our third anniversary, unbelievable. I wish I could sat I have read all our books, but I can't. I hope to someday, though. We have read from 22 countries and grown from what I think was 3 or 4 members that first month to 206!


Thanks, Mar, for putting this updated list and map together.

How about Papa Tembo, Desertion or Purity and Exile: Violence, Memory, and National Cosmology among Hutu Refugees in Tanzania

I am about halfway through and am reading the Thomas Teal translation. I have to say that even though the book doesn't really have any action, it gives a feel for the Finnish culture and people. The slow movement, love of nature, little true discussion/conversation and isolation are all key elements of Finnish life. As last year I spent many days working and living in Finland ( about 3 months total), I may have a very different viewpoint.

I would interested to hear if anyone else in our group has had very different viewpoints of any other books we have read based on living or even visiting the country it is set in.

I am on my way to Finland now! I really enjoy when I can read a book from that country in that country! Can't wait to see what the book is so I can go to Stockmanns (the Finnish equivalent of Herrods) and buy it. I'll try to remember to take some pictures and post here. So glad we have finally reached my "home away from home" .

Hi,

Great books mentioned! As I travel to Finland once a month, these were also the ones most mentioned by my team there. I have one to add, The Manila Rope.

I myself have been wanting to read The Unknown Soldier for a few months. I just spent Finnish Independence Day in Finland and part of their tradition is to watch the movie version of The Unknown Soldier. As there were no subtitles, I didn't watch. The history of Finland especially the part covered by this book is very interesting and lends a lot to understanding the culture and why they sided with Germany and not the Allies.

The other books sound great , too! Can't wait to see what our read will be.

The only one I know is The Hurricane by Nordhoff and Hall who wrote Mutiny on the Bounty. I think it would be difficult to get - it is out of print, so only some used and library copies would be available. It was written in the 1930's, but is supposed to be good.

Just starting - leaving again for business so lots of flight and hotel time to read! Yeh!!! One of the few benefits of my frequent travel.

I agree with both Jayme and Chris. How quickly do people lose their humanity when defending their right to live? How often do we hear or even say to ourselves that we could not kill another human being or that we couldn't just stand by and let another human being harmed, but do we really know until that time comes what we would do to survive? Or to ensure the survival of those we love? Or the town or country we love? What makes a hero and where is that line drawn - is it killing the enemy, the enemy's family, running and cowering so we can stay alive so we can keep scavenging food and water for our kids? Or is it as simple as playing music to help everyone forget how much they hate for a few minutes each day?

Please start your discussions of our June book here

I just finished. I agree great photos- makes me want to buy a plane ticket there right away. Unfortunately, that's not in my budget this year.

I found some stories repeating and some sounding a little bit like a sales pitch for Hacienda Baru, but there were others that were fascinating. I was especially fascinated hearing about the sloths and the ants. The ant "chapter" was really amazing to me. I will be interested to see what sections you find interesting, Elizabeth.

I agree, all great books! I woul like to add a couple more.

From Brazil,

The War of the End of the World and
from Bosnia and Herzegovina How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone and From Sarajevo, with Sorrow

Please give your suggestions for our June read here from either Bangladesh , Brazil or Bosnia/Herzegovina. I have added a new folder (Reference) with a posting with some links you may find useful. I will take suggestions until Friday night CST.

Here is a list of the countries we have left as taken from the World Fact Book. I left some of the really small ones out, but if anyone feels one should be added, please speak up.

Bangladesh
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma
Burundi
Cameroon
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Cote d'Ivoire (ivory Coast)
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Falkland Island
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Haiti
Guyana
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Mali
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
S. Africa
Sudan/S. Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands
Yeoman
Zimbabwe


I know it looks foreboding, but at least we will always have plenty to chose from!

Here are some websites for looking up books.

Words Without Borders: http://wordswithoutborders.org/books/
Great online magazine promoting world literature

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/places/
Setting link within goodreads site

Library Thing: www.librarything.com/groups/readinggl...
Global reading site and blog

Stop You're Killing Me: www.stopyourekillingme.com/LocationCa...
Murder mysteries sorted by world settings

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/category...
Books listed by country of setting

I have started, but stopped to read a pre-release book I had to review for a publisher. Hope to start back this weekend!

Our discussion of Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate: Exotic and Unseen Costa Rica starts here

Ok- too much time on my hands

I would like to nominate Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate: Exotic and Unseen Costa Rica by Jack Ewing. It is a collection of essays about Costa Rica's natural history. It sounds interesting and a little different from other things we have read.