Andrew's around the world challenge

[Andrew]

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

Made it to 70 and am still enjoying the trip.

[Liz, Moderator]

Looking good and only ten more to go! (Your coverage of South America puts me to shame, I'd better get practising my Spanish... )

[Ian, Moderator]

Don't be bigging him up too much Liz. Africa and particularly Madagascar still looking a bit lightweight. Specialist category indeed lol.

[Andrew]

Liz wrote: "Looking good and only ten more to go! (Your coverage of South America puts me to shame, I'd better get practising my Spanish... )"

Thanks Liz

[Andrew]

Ian wrote: "Don't be bigging him up too much Liz. Africa and particularly Madagascar still looking a bit lightweight. Specialist category indeed lol."

Following the lightweight track Ian I will try and persuade you to accept for taht hard to get island lol!

[Andrew]

71:SIERRA LEONE A Disappointing thriller set mainly in modern day Freetown but also flitting to Uganda and Congo before back to Freetown.

[Ian, Moderator]

You may try but you will fail my good man......another idea for anyone looking for a Sierra Leone novel could be by Ishmael Beah. Not read it but sounds good.

[Andrew]

72; ALBANIA A stunning book which I couldn't put down telling the story of a ritual of inter family killings in Albania which still continues today. Horrific yet hypnotising the writing draws you into an almost gothic feeling story. Five stars from me.

[Andrew]

73; ALGERIA This is an excellent novel about a woman who is at odds with what is expected of her in a muslim society. She is lonely living with the metaphorical ghosts of her family and her homes inhabitants when a young teenage girl heavily pregnant lands on her doorrstep. This novel says so much about Algeria, its society, religion , and history in a waork of ficyion by a writer banned in his own country for his criticisms. Makes you realise how important fiction can be.

[Mercia]

I was unhappy with my option for Algeria because it is a European story located in Algeria, this sounds more like my cup of tea. So I've changed my option to this although when I find the time to read it is another matter altogether.

[Ian, Moderator]

It does sound really good.

[Andrew]

74 CUBA Not a bad crime novel set in late 80's Havanna, the backdrop of communist society and corruption makes it interesting for the challenge but not enough to read the rest of the series.

[Ellie]

I took Harraga out of the library recently. Been renewed twice. Must get round to reading it. Presume you thought it a decent read?

[Andrew]

Ellie wrote: "I took Harraga out of the library recently. Been renewed twice. Must get round to reading it. Presume you thought it a decent read?"

Yes i found it really interesting Ellie, i would recommend it.

[Ellie]

Andrew wrote: "Ellie wrote: "I took Harraga out of the library recently. Been renewed twice. Must get round to reading it. Presume you thought it a decent read?"

Yes i found it really interesting Ellie, i would ..."

Excellent!

[Andrew]

75 LIBERIA This is a story of a child soldier in Liberian civil war in 1990's. The 10 year old boy leaves his village in sierra Leone with a bizarre character (a sorceror come wide boy)and heads to Liberia where fuelled by cannabis and armed with AK47 he recounts the atrocities comitted in the country at the same time as informing about the political causes of the unrest in Liberia ans sierra Leone. Appalling and interesting but I felt divorced from it emotionally, perhaps that was the purpose as I read of these horrific events commited by children it lacked an emotional impact which seems to be how the children exist.

[Andrew]

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

Just five more to go. Nearly there!!

[Kate, Moderator]

Wow! You're doing so well!
Do you have the other 5 planned?

[Andrew]

Kate (Trojanhorse) wrote: "Wow! You're doing so well!
Do you have the other 5 planned?"

Thanks Kate, I've got two at least but I'd like to fill in the middle bit of Africa a bit more and Mongolia is standing out as well!

[Liz, Moderator]

Oooh! The end is in sight!
Is that Burma (and Indonesia) still to go?

[Andrew]

Liz wrote: "Oooh! The end is in sight!
Is that Burma (and Indonesia) still to go?"

Think so Liz, perhaps that is an area I should have a look at? Any recommendations?

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm still deciding myself. I may read 'The Year of Living Dangerously' for Indonesia. (Set during the 1960's post colonial turmoil.) For Burma, nothing has truely caught me eye.... yet.

[Liz, Moderator]

I enjoyed the film too. I use the script with my students, so have an extra incentive to read the original!

[Andrew]

Nicola wrote: "Liz wrote: "I'm still deciding myself. I may read 'The Year of Living Dangerously' for Indonesia. (Set during the 1960's post colonial turmoil.) For Burma, nothing has truely caught me eye.... yet...."

Thanks Nicola , i have loved the challenge and will carry on after 80 as inspired by ian and sue, however i may also restart another as there are loads of countries I'd like to revisit.It was really nice to get your comment as there is an odd fellowship of readers on the site which i enjoy

[Andrew]

Liz wrote: "I enjoyed the film too. I use the script with my students, so have an extra incentive to read the original!"

Not watched it liz so will look it out but was really tempted by kiss of spiderwoman after your ref, i recall watching the great film in the 80's so should now rewatch and read the book.

[Danielle]

Congrats on your progress Andrew. Just five more to go and you can enjoy some champagne in the Reform Club.

[Sue]

Well done. Andrew!!!!! I started an olympic challenge a while ago so I could return to places. I don't count the same book in both but do get to read what others have enjoyed.

[Andrew]

Sue wrote: "Well done. Andrew!!!!! I started an olympic challenge a while ago so I could return to places. I don't count the same book in both but do get to read what others have enjoyed."

Sounds interesting sue, what's an Olympic challenge? As im nearing the finish line there are so many countries i want to revisit and also find new ones so may have to open a new challenge.

[Andrew]

Danielle wrote: "Congrats on your progress Andrew. Just five more to go and you can enjoy some champagne in the Reform Club."

Thanks Danielle.

[Liz, Moderator]

Yes, Kiss of the Spiderwoman is worth a read. It's almost entirely written in dialogue which is surprisingly effective at drawing out the characters and situation. Despite being about two prisoners trying to while away their time in a miserable cell, there are moments of humour and light. By the end it is truely gripping.

[Monique]

Andrew/Liz i was looking at the posts about Burma, I found The Railway Man pretty good by Eric Lomax. Well done in this challenge, it's going to be a long time before I complete it!

[Andrew]

76 ESTONIA A thriller/ espionage story set in 1940's and 1960's Estonia as first the Germans rule and then Communist Russia. The story tells of two cousins and their contrasting moralities and stories. an enjoyable read.

[Monique]

Yep, nearly half way, still a long way though, it's good that we can magpie others ideas, Greenmantle was good. Yemen average, Antartica was good too

[Andrew]

77 TURKEY Istanbul in 1591 and the opening of this book is the voice of a corpse, a gilder of the pages of books. Thereafter the story is told chapter by chapter in a different voice as the murderer is tracked down amidst the world of miniaturist painters. a really good read which brilliantly evokes place, art and its effect on man, passion, cruelty and religion. well worth making an effort to adapt to its unusual structure.

[Andrew]

78 ZIMBABWE I really enjoyed this book which follows the narrator, a young girl in bullawayo in 1980 as Zimbabwe gains independence, through 20 years , as her relationship with the young white rhodesian next door develops against the backdrop of the changes in Zimbabwe.It combines the personal and the larger picture very well so the reader is drawn into the lives of the characters as their world fundamentally changes. Very good read.

[Ian, Moderator]

So, so close mate.

[Liz, Moderator]

Only two to go!

[Andrew]

Ian wrote: "So, so close mate."

Thanks Ian, I've just started Jamaica but could be stuck there a while, big book , small print, trying to put off getting a magnifying glass!

[Andrew]

Liz wrote: "Only two to go!"

Thanks Liz, reading 79 at mo but not decided what to end the challenge with.

[Liz, Moderator]

Perhaps a shorter one? ;)

What countries are you missing? Anything obvious, or are they all obscure now?

[Ian, Moderator]

I was going to suggest Germany as there's a big gap on yer map.....but I was looking at the wrong map lol. Egypt perhaps? Can recommend which got the prized 5 stars from me.

[Andrew]

79; JAMAICA At 704 pages this is a challenging read exploring Gang war in Jamaica in the 1970's against the central event of the attempted murder of Bob Marley. I loved it but it is a tough read and I'd recommend it if you enjoy James Ellroy style crime novels.
I will now have to think long and hard as to my final stop before return to the Explorers club.

[Andrew]

http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?ch...
DRUM ROLE PLEASE:
80; CHILE an interesting story about a number of elderly ex Allende supporting rebels who regroup after a gap of decades to rob a bank, comical but with a back story of the subsequent Pinochet repression - an interesting read to reach 80.

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

[Tania]

Well done. Do you think you will be carring on on your travels or are you going to call it a day and go onto other things?

[Liz, Moderator]

Wow! Well done. That's another challenge complete. I still have a way to go...

[Mercia]

Allende is a perfect end to your challenge - unless you're going for the other 160 countries next.

[[deleted user]]

Congratulations Andrew :)

[Sue]

Well done!!!!

[Sue]

Well done!!

[Ian, Moderator]

Well done mate. The champers has been on ice for a little while awaiting your arrival at the Reform club. I'll pop in later to make sure you get home safely.