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2013 Where in the World are you?!? (Currently Reading)
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Kimberly
(last edited Feb 04, 2013 11:25PM)
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Feb 04, 2013 11:24PM
I'm starting Random Violence where I'll be traveling to South Africa (my favourite country to visit in books).
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Japan. Ve..."
Thanks Sue and Chrissie. I fell asleep on the first page - nothing to do with the book - was just bushed! Looking forward to getting into it.
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Me neither! I believe it got thrown in the recycling after I was done.
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12 pages in the guy uses too may commas (HAH! Pot. Kettle. Black.), refers to every character by their full name (not just Joe Blogs, but Joe Alfred Blogs) every time they are mentioned, and seems to think he's the modern reincarnation of Homer (chooses a bad epithet and repeats it ad nauseam).
I was ticked off at 5 pages. I'm very grumpy at 12. There may be fire at 20 if it doesn't pick up.
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Those info dumps drove me crazy. Broke up the flow of the story incredibly.
I'm not a fan of the Sex in the City/Gossip Girl vibe normally, but I couldn't believe that if there was a Saudi woman prepared to "ëxpose" the life of women in Saudi and possibly get caught and punished for doing so, why focus on such horrible people and such boring, insignificant stories.
Bah.
Gaeta1 wrote: "In Saudi Arabia with Girls of Riyadh, which I am not enjoying. It is a silly Sex in the City knock-off with weird info dumps put into the English edition."I picked this up at the store because it was one dollar! I figure light reads are welcome from time to time, but I never was compelled to read it last year. We"ll see if it happens this year!
Gaeta1 wrote: "I am searching for a book for Egypt as I finally jump into Africa. I wanted to read لا أحد ينام في الإسكندرية, but neither of the two huge library systems that I belong to carry it. I don't want t..."Have you read anything by Mahfouz? I have read several and liked them.
Gaeta1 wrote: "I wanted to avoid him--not because I wouldn't like his work--as a matter of fact I heard a dramatization of one of his novels--but because I wanted to read someone new."I can understand that. It's sort of the like my dilemma at restaurants: go with what I know and love or venture out and try the rest of the potential yumminess on the menu...
Gaeta1 wrote: "I am searching for a book for Egypt as I finally jump into Africa. I wanted to read لا أحد ينام في الإسكندرية, but neither of the two huge library systems that I belong to carry it. I don't want t..."I read Woman at Point Zero last year and thought it was pretty good. It's short,too.
I hear that The Yacoubian Building is very good.
Gaeta, I mentioned before some Egyptian books I loved, but I guess they aren't what you are looking for! Silly to mention them again.
Finished Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigerialate last night. Then I headed to Greece where I am reading Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life. It looks like a fast read and with the blizzard, I think I'll finish that today!
Gaeta1 wrote: "I am searching for a book for Egypt as I finally jump into Africa. I wanted to read لا أحد ينام في الإسكندرية, but neither of the two huge library systems that I belong to carry it. I don't want t..."I'm planning on reading In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of a Traveler's Tale by Amitav Ghosh. I've really enjoyed three other books I've read by him and expect good things from this one set in Egypt.
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Started with The Flame Alphabet which I am loving (set in USA) and am also in North Korea with The Orphan Master's Son, which isn't going as well. I'm about 70 pages in and am having a hard time getting into it even though the majority of the reviews are rave and I was really looking forward to it. Has anyone else read it? Does it get better or worse?
Michelle wrote: " am also in North Korea with The Orphan Master's Son, which isn't going as well. I'm about 70 pages in and am having a hard time getting into it even though the majority of the reviews are rave and I was really looking forward to it. Has anyone else read it? ."Michelle, well not me I really disliked "The Orphan Master's Son", although I tried to say this very politely in my review! I very rarely give up on a book, but this I dumped. I explain thoroughly in my review: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...
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Had the same reaction as you Michelle, but since it was my first book in North Korea, I stuck with it and was glad. It took me a while to figure out the different narrators as well but when I did, I got into it. It's a fascinating look into how life is led in a monitored society with glimpses into the human spirit and survival. My review - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
My magic time travel wand has taken me to ancient Persia (Iran) to The Blood of Flowers. And I am following the life of a young girl who loves to make beautful carpets and has been forced into a secret marriage. Very good read so far.
Michelle wrote: "Started with The Flame Alphabet which I am loving (set in USA) and am also in North Korea with The Orphan Master's Son, which isn't going as well. I'm about 70 pages in and am having a hard time ge..."I really liked it, but to me you have to read between the lines to find the story and the humor. Assume the narrator doesn't understand how terrible and crazy is life is, and you'll be halfway there.
Michelle wrote: "Started with The Flame Alphabet which I am loving (set in USA) and am also in North Korea with The Orphan Master's Son, which isn't going as well. I'm about 70 pages in and am having a hard time ge..."I also thought the first part of The Orphan Master's Son was very difficult to get through but I plodded on as I hardly ever give up on a book. In retrospect it would have been better to abandon it.
At the moment I'm in Tibet with Princess in Land of Snows: The Life of Jamyang Sakya in Tibet which has been on my shelf for 23 years.
In Fiji with Dodging Machetes: How I Survived Forbidden Love, Bad Behavior, and the Peace Corps in Fiji.
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Vizara - Putting on my To Read list. - thanks!
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Love the book leads - on my To Read list as well! Thanks Beth.
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Judy wrote: "I'm in Greece right now with Captain Corelli's Mandolin and loving the writing."Birds Without Wings, by the same author, is even better!
Chrissie wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm in Greece right now with Captain Corelli's Mandolin and loving the writing."Birds Without Wings, by the same author, is even better!"
I also loved Captain Corelli's Mandolin so then I bought a boxed set of 3 of his novels situated in a South American country. I gave up after the first 40 pages and they have since then remained in their box. Maybe this time I should continue with Birds Without Wings
Vizara, I absolutely LOVED "Birds Without Wings". I suggest you go to my review and then also read the reviews of Kim and Laura. They have all left comments below my review so you can find them that way. We all absolutely adore this book. Here is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Do you ever listen to audiobooks? I highly recommend this one narrated by John Lee!
Vizara wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm in Greece right now with Captain Corelli's Mandolin and loving the writing."Birds Without Wings, by the same author, is even better!"
I also loved Captain Corel..."
it took me a couple of years to get into bird without wings, but i picked it up last summer and couldn't put it down. sometimes, for me, that happens with books. i can't get into them and have to wait.
Lurk42 wrote: " took me a couple of years to get into bird without wings, but i picked it up last summer and couldn't put it down. sometimes, for me, that happens with books. i can't get into them and have to wait. "Absolutely, a book has to fit the state of one's head! Right book, right time and right place, all have to match up! I adored the blend of humor in difficult times.
Gaeta1 wrote: "In Egypt with The Map of Love..."And what are you thinking?
Gaeta1 wrote: "nothing yet! :) Too soon..."OK
For the Sword and Laser group, Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was is the pick for February. I'm doing a lot of double dipping this year, so I'm going to count it for China!
I'm back in Turkey (round 3 of 2013!) with Birds Without Wings, the second novel I've read this year that includes some of the story of Mustafa Kemal.
Jenny, I am sitting here smiling since I know you will love it! At least I think so.
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I shall go exercise my brain more with some reading *decisive nod*.
I'm in Vietnam and Canada with Ru, a fictionalized memoir of a Vietnamese refugee who emigrates to Canada with her family. So far I really love Thuy's writing style and the structure of the book, which is one page episodes describing moments and events from her life in Vietnam, refugee camps, escape boats, and Canada.
Sue wrote: "I'm in Vietnam and Canada with Ru, a fictionalized memoir of a Vietnamese refugee who emigrates to Canada with her family. So far I really love Thuy's writing style and the structure of the book, w..."I read Ru a couple of weeks ago. It is such an beautifully written book and one of the best books I have read recently.
Diane wrote: "Sue wrote: "I'm in Vietnam and Canada with Ru, a fictionalized memoir of a Vietnamese refugee who emigrates to Canada with her family. So far I really love Thuy's writing style and the structure of..."Diane, maybe it was your review that made me order it from the library! I didn't make note of where I heard of it. I think I'm going to feel just as you did.
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Really liking it and getting close to finishing....
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Judy - I'd be interested to get your impressions when you read it later this year.
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Around the World
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