2013 Where in the World are you?!? (Currently Reading)

[Chrissie]

Jenny, have you finished Birds Without Wings? And your thoughts? Did you love it as much as I did?

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Chrissie wrote: "Jenny, have you finished Birds Without Wings? And your thoughts? Did you love it as much as I did?"
I haven't finished it yet but I'm still enjoying it... I've been sidetracked into fluffier reading, rough week, but will continue to work through it. I've marked a bunch of things, so writing the review will be a treat.

[Chrissie]

Jenny wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jenny, have you finished Birds Without Wings? And your thoughts? Did you love it as much as I did?"
I haven't finished it yet but I'm still enjoying it... I've been sidetracked int..."

If you ever want to read it again, listen to the audiobook narrated by John Lee. I mean it is stupendous!

[Chrissie]

Gaeta1 wrote: "I am still stuck in Egypt with The Map of Love, which I may abandon. "

Everybody loves this.....except you and me!

[Rusalka]

It's all the Vegemite.

[Rusalka]

Did you buy some to see what Helen is on about? I'm sure you eat Marmite like Vegemite even though they taste a bit different, so i could coach you through it.

Eg. do NOT spread it on like peanut butter. If you do this, you may possibly die.

[Lilisa]

Marmite at Whole Foods Judy? My husband is gong to be thrilled! He loves it - I absolutely can't stand it. I'm guessing Vegemite is similar?

[Rusalka]

It's quite similar, but I find Marmite has a harsher, almost more chemically taste that Vegemite doesn't have. There is usually a division down British/Aussie lines on whether you like Marmite or Vegemite more.

In the interest of disclosure, my grandfather was one of the lead R&D scientists who refined the recipe of Vegemite to how it tastes today. So there was no chance we would ever have any of the other brand any where near our house. So I am a little biased, but objectively I still think it's better. As do most Aussies ;)

[Janice]

I haven't tried either. What am I missing? Or not. LOL!

[Rusalka]

Also, as I say it's in how you eat it. So, here is how to make Vegemite on toast if anyone is brave enough to pick up the gauntlet:

1. Make a piece of toast.
2. As soon as the toast pops, smother it in butter. Wait for a couple of seconds so it melts.
3. Put a very small amount of Vegemite on your knife and spread it incredibly thinly on the toast. You want to see the butter through the Vegemite. Think Cheetah spots. Do NOT spread it on the toast like peanut butter. If you do this, you may possibly die.
Example of the most amount of Vegemite you want on your toast:
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4. Eat quickly while the toast is still hot. Enjoy the salty flavour.

[Lilisa]

Ok - got to go on a quest for Vegimite for sure then Rusalka - although no offense to your grandfather, I'm personally not going to try it :-)

[Lilisa]

Rusalka - Given your very specific directions I promise to definitely try the Vegimite when i find it, although I hate Marmite:-)!

[Rusalka]

Heh none taken ;)

[Lilisa]

Love the photo Rusalka - and please say that's tea and not coffee?!

[Terri R]

I am in Malawi with The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope and time traveling to Wolf Hall England during the reign of Henry VIII. Quite a combo ...

[Lilisa]

I'm now in England with The Secret Keeper - wasn't on the list but needed a lighter read.

[Rusalka]

I think it's a cuppa, looks too weak to be coffee. But if it was my breakfast it would be coffee. Tea is an afternoon drink for me.

[Lesley]

I also gave up on The Orphan Master's Son. I can't remember at what point. I'm currently reading The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet for Japan, and I'm struggling with it as well.

[Diane]

Rusalka wrote: "Do NOT spread it on the toast like peanut butter. If you do this, you may possibly die."

Your directions really cracked me up. What exactly IS the stuff made of, anyway? I have seen it in the stores but haven't been curious enough to buy it yet.

[Diane]

Reading The Woman Who Fell from the Sky for Yemen, Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur for Sudan, and A Painful Season & a Stubborn Hope: The Odyssey of an Eritrean Mother for Eritrea. I have become quite the memoir junky.

[Chrissie]

Diane, memoirs are my favorite genre. They show how history affects the life of the people living through the events. I have read that one about Darfur and will check out the others.

[Lilisa]

Lesley wrote: "I also gave up on The Orphan Master's Son. I can't remember at what point. I'm currently reading The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet for Japan, and I'm struggling with it as well."

Lesley - I hear what you're saying! I stuck with the first and got into it about a quarter into it. The second I did not like but finished it because I was reading it for a book club or else I would have abandoned it.

[Chrissie]

Lesley and Lilisa, that makes three of us who gave up on "The Orphan Master's Son". I think I read abut half and just couldn't take it any more.

[Lilisa]

Chrissie - I did stick with The Orphan...and ended up liking it :-), but didn't like Thousand Autumns!

[Chrissie]

Oh, I goofed that up! Sorry. I have avoided Thousand Autumns, after advice from a friend who knows me well.

[Sue]

I'm one of those who loved The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I read it with a GR group, Constant Reader, and we had a great discussion. I'm now a David Mitchell fan. I loved the picture of the culture of the time (17th century Japan) and the interaction with the Dutch and other traders.

Of course Mitchell has his own style, but I just accepted that and read along with it and found the story was great.

[Marcie]

I am traveling the world with The Night Circus

[Terri R]

Marcie wrote: "I am traveling the world with The Night Circus"

I love The Night Circus, hope you enjoy it too! Magical descriptions ...

[Sue]

I'm in Egypt with Cairo: My City, Our Revolution. so different to have the view from inside the revolution, on the streets.

[Lesley]

I'm currently reading The Secret Scripture for Ireland. Beautiful writing.

[Sue]

Lesley wrote: "I'm currently reading The Secret Scripture for Ireland. Beautiful writing."

Loved that book.

[Julie]

I'm reading Carnival of Hope, which puts me in a Brazil slum, wow, I had no idea how poverty stricken these people are. Very good character development. I've George Hamilton before and his Secrets From The Dust and I was very impressed with how he captures the unique parts of the world( "Dust" was set in the outback)

[MiA]

Right now, I'm in Salinas Valley, California. Yeah! You guessed it right. I'm starting Of Mice and Men.
In addition, I'm in the middle of a true story of a life long friendship between a Jew and an Arab in the middle of the world bitterest conflict in The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. I'm enjoying every bit of it. It's a non-fiction that reads as a novel.

[Chrissie]

Marwa, I am so happy when people choose to read The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. It is much, much better than Mornings in Jenin.

I have decided to read another by Steinbeck. I read both The Pearl ages ago and yeah I guess I liked it. I read Of Mice and Men, but don't remember much. Still would rather read a new one. Which should I pick? I don't like short stories so I am hesitant to choose Cannery Row.

Which is Steinbeck's best? Eden or Grapes or another?

[WanderShopper]

I've moved to South America and Chile with The House of the Spirits which I am really liking so far. It's my first Isabel Allende book.

[Chrissie]

WanderShopper wrote: "I've moved to South America and Chile with The House of the Spirits which I am really liking so far. It's my first Isabel Allende book."

That is her best book! I don't at all like her new ones. Portrait in Sepia, Daughter of Fortune and Paula are all very good.

[WanderShopper]

Chrissie wrote: "WanderShopper wrote: "I've moved to South America and Chile with The House of the Spirits which I am really liking so far. It's my first Isabel Allende book."

That is her best book! I don't at all..."

Thanks for the scoop, Chrissie. My need to keep moving to other countries right now, usually keeps me changing authors too!

[Chrissie]

WanderShopper wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "WanderShopper wrote: "I've moved to South America and Chile with The House of the Spirits which I am really liking so far. It's my first Isabel Allende book."

That is her best boo..."

Glad I could help. Variation is good; that is another reason to move around.

[MiA]

Chrissie wrote: "Marwa, I am so happy when people choose to read The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. It is much, much better than Mornings in Jenin.

I have decided to read another by..."

Chrissie, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East is indeed a very good read. I haven't read Mornings in Jenin yet although it's on my to-read list.

About Steinbeck, it's a tough call since both are his golden works. If I were you and both the books were available to me I'd read them in chronological order. It kind of helps to follow how the writer's style evolve, or so I think.

[Chrissie]

Marwa, if you are like me, you will find Mornings in Jenin a huge disappointment after Lemon Tree. Here is my review of Jenin: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Good advice concerning Steinbeck. Thanks.

[MiA]

Chrissie wrote: "Marwa, if you are like me, you will find Mornings in Jenin a huge disappointment after Lemon Tree. Here is my review of Jenin: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Good advice concerning ..."

Chrissie, I'll be sure to check that out. Thank you soo much :).

[Chrissie]

Marwa wrote: "Thank you soo much :)"
You are welcome.

[Chrissie]

Judy wrote: "I've read 4 Steinbecks but haven't made it to GoW yet. But I can say being born an OKie, he isn't much loved in that State because they feel he misrepresents Okies. I've wanted to read it for that ..."

Which is you favorite so far? i think I might read GoW just because I like the sound of it. The story and the history intermixed.

[Chrissie]

Judy, I didn't know you were born in Oklahoma! I cannot get my hands on "East of Eden". That is the one i wanted to read, it being biographical, but I think I will choose Grapes next. Everybody says Charley is very good and actually Cannery Row too. I am hesitant about that due it being sort of related stories.

Judy, have you read Colum McCann? He is SO dam good. I cannot stop reading him.

[Chrissie]

Good you added McCann. I have decided to read everything by this guy.

I can definitely understand that you must have an an emotional tie to GoW. Having such a tie usually improves a book or makes your furious.... in any case they usually prove to be good reads. You care. You feel you have the fight to make a personal judgment.

[MiA]

Chrissie wrote: "Marwa, if you are like me, you will find Mornings in Jenin a huge disappointment after Lemon Tree. Here is my review of Jenin: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Chrissie, I liked your review and I understand totally where it's coming from. Still I have to make a personal judgment on my own since I haven't read Mornings in Jenin yet, but at least I have an idea on what to expect.

[Chrissie]

Marwa, I never meant you should not read Jenin just b/c I dislike it. Each one of us has to determine for themselves where they stand. That is JUST my view and I am only one of many! Others like the book.

[MiA]

Chrissie wrote: "Marwa, I never meant you should not read Jenin just b/c I dislike it. Each one of us has to determine for themselves where they stand. That is JUST my view and I am only one of many! Others like th..."

Of course, Chrissie. I fully understand. I was just talking about ME not reading the book yet, so that I either confirm your opinion or defer. I'll be taking your point of view in consideration when I read the book. Hopefully, some time soon :)

[Chrissie]

Marwa wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Marwa, I never meant you should not read Jenin just b/c I dislike it. Each one of us has to determine for themselves where they stand. That is JUST my view and I am only one of man..."

Glad we understand each other; talking via computers is more difficult than in person. One has to be careful.

[Vizara]

Chrissie wrote: "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 tha..."

I have never tried audiobooks Chrissie, first of all because I always have my kindle or iPad with me for any spare moment I might have, secondly because my visual memory is better than my audio.