UK Book Club discussion
Around the World in 80 Books
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Andrew's around the world challenge
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Andrew
(last edited Mar 16, 2014 12:54PM)
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Mar 16, 2014 12:53PM
48 LEBANON
A fascinating view of Beirut in 1980 at the height of the civil war. The plot is disjointed as it is a series of interviews with people who have some connection however vague with an old man found dead and mutilated in a rubbish dump. Not flowing prose and a hard read at times but interesting and gave me an insight into an important part of 20th century history I know little about. Well worth a read and I believe his other books are highly regarded.
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49 IRAQ
An astonishing book which charts the life of a very ordinary Iraqi man from the 1980's, as his older brother a doctor is recruited in to the military for the Iran Iraq war, until 2006 when he is coping with the sectarian violence in a Baghdad torn by the invasion. The narrator is Rawad whose father is a corpse washer who wants him to follow his career rather than his love of art. The Corpse washer is a beautiful and evocative role (of which I had never heard) similar to undertaker but with a religious significance as the body of the deceased has to be washed in a very ritualistic way to allow entry to heaven. The scenes where bodies are washed by his father and later Rawad are brutal in their depiction of the violence in the streets but wonderful in their beauty and respect of the body of the deceased, which contrasts the wonder of a religion in one respect with the inhumanity of the Shiite/Sunni battle and the horrors inflicted on fellow followers. It is a heartbreaking picture of a people and culture ravaged by a dictatorship and a subsequent needless invasion and the brilliance of the prose is that you see beyond the headlines to a people steeped in history, poetry, literature and art which makes the reader aware of the individual Iraqi rather than the picture you see cartoon like in the media. However it is more than that as it also tells of love, sacrifice, parental relationships, and the pain of loss in all forms. Definitely one of my books of the year and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
50; ISRAEL
A really riveting psychological thriller/mystery about two Arabs living and working in Hebrew Jerusalem. One is a successful criminal lawyer with a beautiful wife and family , the other a shy nervous Social worker who gets a part time night job looking after a Hebrew boy of his own age who is in a paraplegic state. The lawyer finds a note in a second hand book which he believes is written by his wife and the two men's life interconnect with jealousy, identity and the lives of Arabs in Israel playing a major part in the plot. A very good exciting read which didn't let me down at the end which has to be a good sign.
Map time at 50 countries
Mod
Yes, well done - you've really painted a large portion of that map!
Mod
Just had to Wiki that Ian, thought it was a Stan but it looks like Mongolia? Hopefully by 60 I will get to India. I am still worried that I will get to 80 just as Putin marches into the rest of Ukraine and I lose a country!!
Mod
51;BOSNIA
I really enjoyed this story of a few days in the life of three different people in Sarajevo during the siege which killed thousands by shelling and sniper fire. The true story of a cellist who plays Albinoni's Adagio every day for 22 days serves as an introduction to the lives rather than the theme of the book and it has you on the edge of your seat purely through the process of individuals acts to survive.
52;KENYA
Again one of the reasons I enjoy this challenge is its ability to stretch my reading and knowledge. Definitely a challenging read this book starts with four Kenyans being arrested for the death by arson of three local high ranking individuals. We then go back 12 years and see the stories of the four, a middle class intellectual who comes a school teacher to an impoverished village, a crippled bar owner who we learn was a fighter in the Mau Mau uprising, a young idealist, and a prostitute/barmaid as the intervening years develop. The book is really a treatise on the state of Kenya post independence and the corruption in government, the effect of colonialism, the exploitation of culture for tourists, the greed of politicians, big business the church and the plight of the ordinary worker. Lots of speeches from the characters about their lot and as he dedicates the book to 'The Soviet Union for giving me the use of their house in Yalta in order to finish the writing of this novel' I guess it is clear where the book leans , however as he was imprisoned for his writing it is another book where you realise how important the voice of the writer is. Well worth the effort, definitely not a light read but certainly enlightening.
53;UGANDA
Split 50/50 between Ugand and mid western USA this is a very readable story which alternates narrators. In what appears to be 1970's Uganda as the reign of Idi Amin is coming to its violent end two young men befriend each other in university in Kampale, the reader is unsure as to their true names and that is never clear as both we know as Isaac, one is a fighter who courts trouble and revolt whether it is with the posh boys they call Alex , the authorities or ultimately the government forces as part a revolutionary force, and the other the first narrator is gentler but drawn into his friends magnetic personality and consequent risk. The second narrator is Helen a social worker in a mid western US town who helps and ultimately falls in love with one of the Isaacs who has escaped to America. The reader is drawn into the world of the two men and the book successfully plays with names and identity so you are pulled into the story and which is the Isaac in America. It's also a story about love and losses and the effect of violence on the individual. The only reason it is not a 5 star is that I felt at times the narrative in Africa went too quickly and as I watched events unfold chapter by chapter I felt a little as if I was missing something but I was definitely hooked and enjoyed the story. Well worth a read. (less
Mod
54; HOLLAND
I really enjoyed this very complicated family drama set around a larger than life mathematician, judo black belt, rector of a university in the 1990's and early 2000's. Whilst viewing some pornography in a hotel room he discovers something that creates havov within his life. Brilliantly intricate and constructed it flits around characters and time periods without fault and I never lost interest or felt as can happen in family dramas that I couldn't care less about the individuals.
55;MOZAMBIQUE
Post Colonial war of independence an interesting story of family with a hint of magic which is part of their traditions. Mariano is the grandson who returns to an island off the River Mazimbi after his grandfather Dita Mariano has died, through letters apparently written to him by his grandfather he unites the divided family at time of change in the country, with potential development, corruption weighing against the feelings of tradition and those who fought for independence. Interesting read although magical realism is not always my cup of tea.
56;IRAN
A very readable book which by its readability draws you into the horrors of life as a woman in Iran post revolution and the cruelty of the men who inflict the indignaties upon their women. It is part of a trilogy so I will be interested to see what the author does next with the characters.
57;INDIA
Finally that big bit of the map done and a wonderful book. Rohinton Mistry's first novel and as with his others he has the ability to combine the political with the personal stories of individual struggling day to day with emotional issues such as being a father, a husband and a friend. A brilliant writer.
Mod
]Ian wrote: "Amazed you hadn't got to India sooner." Not sure why I skirted around it Ian although could have included
but it was split 50/50 with US, anyway suspect its going to get harder now.
58;PANAMA;
Another brilliantly prescient tale by Le Carre of modern day espionage where a lie is leapt upon by fading powers to assert influence leaving a trail of betrayals and losses in its wake. All set around the battle for control of the Panama canal and the growing influence of Japan in the area as against American power as Britain tries to maintain its relevance.
59; BANGLADESH
I really enjoyed this story of Bangladesh around the time of independence from Pakistan. It is told as a novel form from the memories of the authors husband. Narrated by a young child it has a gentle feel but with many depictions of the horror of civil war. I learnt much about the time and culture and left me wanting to learn more.
60;
An interesting picture of the impact of an incident at the end of the civil war when a leading falangist escapes a mass execution and is saved by a republican soldier not giving him away and then by deserters harbouring him. In three parts the author looks at courage, cowardice and modern day Spain's view of the civil war 70 years on. An interesting literary construction which takes a bit of getting over but worth a read as a picture of how the war affected Spain.
Mod
Thanks Liz, curious about the odd white bits, time to get an atlas out.
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Ian wrote: "I'm vaguely curious about your odd white bits as well??? Well done on the 75% mark......and nice country for no 58 in Panama."Thanks Ian, will have to get the atlas out. tempted to stick a map on my wall at work with pins on so if any clever clogs asks me about it I can either fess up and sound intellectual or lie and sound very exotic lol!
61; PAPUA NEW GUINEA
I picked this off the library shelf on a random country hunting impulse. The book starts of in Papua New Guinea in 1936 as an explorer and his two assistants enter a remote village seeking to buy artefacts from the villagers including shrunken heads and masks who still practise their traditional beliefs. Fast forward 70 years and a murder in Marseille prompts Inspector De Palma's investigation interspersed with references to trips over the years that the victim and his colleagues made back to Papua New Guinea to rob the culture for gain. Whilst most of the book is set in Marseilles the culture of PNG underlies the investigation and the final few chapters take place in the country. Not a bad read and an enjoyable detective albeit this ids book no5 of series it wasn't a problem and it didn't require any back knowledge.
Andrew wrote: "1.WALES;The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior FuneralsRead this last week so this is first, gentle read but enjoyable, sad in parts, love story set in 1924 Welsh villageI really fancy this one - I've put it on my wish list as it's £5.22 at the moment - so hoping for a price drop!!
T4bsF (Call me Flo) wrote: "Andrew wrote: "1.WALES;The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior FuneralsRead this last week so this is first, gentle read but enjoyable, sad in parts, love story set in 192..."Hope you manage to get to it on your journey Flo, from memory it is an apparently gentle book but with a bit of an emotional kick. Worth finding.
Diolch yn fawr iawn Andrew!
Mod
Ian wrote: "PNG a good country Andrew. I've got Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones for there but can never seem to get around to reading it."Am same I picked up Mr Pip in a charity shop and it remains unread at mo. The last twenty would be easier if I could stick to crime genre but that defeats the idea of diversifying my reading.
Read it now!! Don't delay. It's such a beautiful book. You'll read it and regret not reading it sooner so you could be rereading it now!
Mod
62 ROMANIA;
The author won the Nobel prize I understand and I am sure that a better reader than I would be able to analyse the merits of the books structure and literary devices as it explains the oppression of living in Romanis a German minority in the Ceausescu regime, unfortunately I didnt enjoy the style as a series of random scenes in the narrators life with little narrative structure and was glad to get to the end. As part of my journey however interesting to get a picture of the country and perhaps to explore dstyles of writin that are considered high art in different countries. Wouldn't recommend as a relaxing read unless it is part of yoour tour and you are doing a thesis on Eastern European literary style!!
63 SAUDI ARABIA
I picked this up in oxfam and found out it was book 3 in a series but it didn't feel like it and as a stand alone thriller it was very good . The book centres around a serial killer in Jeddah and the police investigation. The two principal protaganists are a female forensic worker called Katya and a police investigator Ibrahim. The book really has a sense of place with emphasis on the role of women in society, the explotation of immigrants, religion, and the strict moral code. Add to that a good thriller by someone who lived in the country and was married to a Saudi. A big hit and perfect for this challenge, not a place however I plan to visit in a hurry.
Andrew wrote: "63 SAUDI ARABIAI picked this up in oxfam and found out it was book 3 in a series but it didn't feel like it and as a stand alone thriller it was very good ...."
Even though I've already got Saudi Arabia this sounds so good I've reserved it at the library :)
I picked this up in oxfam and found out it was book 3 in a series but it didn't feel like it and as a stand alone thriller it was very good ...."Even though I've already got Saudi Arabia this sounds so good I've reserved it at the library :)
64;ANGOLA
This is a book that begins in an Angola ravaged by civil war as a RRussian spy is held captive in an Angolan forest and finds an Angolan man near death on the floor of the hut he is in. The Russian the narrates Elias Almeida's story from the harsh streetts of Angola in the 60's as the child of a revolutionary, to a local church school, then the forests of The Congo, the revolutionary schools of Cuba, training in Moscow as a counterrevolutionary/ spy and the back to africa where he returns to Angola nad other countries as a player in state affairs. In Russia Elias meets racism, a love affiar, and the beayties of a Siberia ravaged by the cold and the history of the camps. The book at times horrific in its violence gives a brilliant picture of an Africa exploited by the superpowers, violence and corruption. There are some memorable scenes which serve as metaphors for that exploitation and well worth a read.
65; THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
This is a wonderful study of the Bambuti (pygmi) people of The Belgian Congo in the 1950's written by a fascinating man whose biography I heard on the radio last year. Turnbull lived with them for three years and his portrayal is humorous, constantly interesting and brilliantly written so it reads like a novel by someone who is happy to be in the background of the story.
66 THAILAND,
90's cult novel about the backpackers of Thailand. The hero is given a map of 'The Beach' on a Thai island and he and two colleagues set off to find it. Overall an easy read, short chapters and a page turner.
67 BOTSWANA
This was an interesting story of life in a Botsawnian village ruled by a chief based system. A young man MaKhaya escapes over barbed wire border of south Africa into Botswana. He ends up in a village where he meets various people including an English man Gilbert who is trying to set up a proper system of farming much to the annoyance of the local chief Matenge who as a corrupt individual is under the shadow of the paramount chief his amiable brother. A fascinating look at village life and its traditions at a time when South Africa was a place to flee from but refugees were looked on with suspicion. a real taste of Africa.
68 CAMEROON
The opening of this book finds the narrator attending a local village as a man who has been the victim of a brutal attack is dying, the man leaves a diary in the form of two exercise books which form the life of Toundi a Cameroon man who has been a houseboy in the home of a French colonist. The two diaries show us how Toundi escapes his brutal father (a porcupine trapper) , to work with a local priest before moving to the home of the French Commandant. All is going well until the commandants wife arrives. The book gives a vivid picture of colonialism, the casual brutality of the system which treats the natives of the country cruelly, but also is peppered with humour as the servants laugh at the goings on of the colonists. The ending is harsh and exemplifies the way Colonists were treated. A very good book.
69 NAMIBIA
I really enjoyed this crime novel with was a fictionalised story based upon the true life assassination in 1989 of a leading figure in the Namibian independence movement from South Africa. It was unsolved and the author presumes that four assassins ,members of a secret South african organistion, are in 2009 being murdered by an unknown lkiller. Is it revenge or something else. A black policewoman Clemencia is investigating amidst her own family issues and the inefficiency of Namibian police and services. An interesting read and great picture of Namibia.
Mod
70 GHANA
A very enjoyable crime/court room drama in post colonial Ghana in which we see the lives of a number of individuals from all social classes who have some involvement in the murder of prostitute and the eventual trial.
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