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

[Vizara]

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."

This was the first book I read by her and it lead me to her other books. It was this book that made me travel to Chile some years ago.

[Vizara]

Thanks to Chrissie I have now arrived in Anatolia with Birds Without Wings and after reading 1/5 I can say that I love it. Most of the Middle East is still ruled by the Ottomans and most countries like Turkey, Syria, Israel, Jordan and Egypt
don't exist.

[Chrissie]

Vizara, isn't it absolutely fantastic? What writing! i am so glad you are enjoying it. I get so happy when I know another person enjoys it as much as I did.

(((Vizara))) Yay for lovers of Birds Without Wings

[Vizara]

Chrissie wrote: "Vizara, isn't it absolutely fantastic? What writing! i am so glad you are enjoying it. I get so happy when I know another person enjoys it as much as I did.

(((Vizara))) Yay for lovers of Birds W..."

Without you I would never have started as I gave up on his South American trilogy after some pages. It was like it was written by a different author.
If I like a (first) book by an author I tend buy the rest of his books without reading any reviews. I am rarely disappointed. What about you?

[Chrissie]

Vizara wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Vizara, isn't it absolutely fantastic? What writing! i am so glad you are enjoying it. I get so happy when I know another person enjoys it as much as I did.

(((Vizara))) Yay for ..."

Well, it all depends on the author. There are few authors that blow me over as much as Louis de Bernières did with this book. I do not think Corelli's Mandolin comes near to the quality of Birds. I would be hesitant to buy all. I would buy one at a time and continue as long as I am enjoying myself. I have purchased many books over the past two years and I have found that my interests have changed. I am NOT looking forward to a couple of those remaining. in fact I have decided I am NOT going to force myself to read them. I have discovered the huge enjoyment of wanting to read a book, buying it and reading it immediately.

Right now I am in love with Colum McCann and John Steinbeck. Still, I buy one at a time. I can get them immediately downloaded into my computer with just a few pushes of the keys. For me this is like Xmas year round. I have fallen in love with wanting to read a book and then reading it immediately when I am all excited about it.

[Sue]

I'm about 2/3 through Cairo: My City, Our Revolution which is a very interesting "you are there" view of the Egyptian revolution of 2011. It's fascinating to put names and more information to the images that still linger from world-wide TV coverage at the time.

[MiA]

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

I couldn't agree more.

[Lilisa]

So I am abandoning Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion. I had a hard time getting into it when I first started it, took a break and picked it up again today to see if an interval would make a difference. No such luck, so on to Typhoon which I also took a break from being occupied with other life activities. Hopefully it will be a good read.

[Lilisa]

Also started Mao's Last Dancer.

[Chrissie]

Lilisa, I am crossing my fingers for you and your reading of "Mao's Last Dancer". THAT is one of the good paper books sitting on my wooden shelf waiting to be read. Tell me it is good. How far have you come? I am now reading River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, also for China, but I often read several for one country. RT is not only interesting but also well written. Many Peace Corp volunteers write about their experiences, but this is different in that not only is he very observant but also writes extremely well. The latter is quite unusual.

[Lilisa]

Chrissie wrote: "Lilisa, I am crossing my fingers for you and your reading of "Mao's Last Dancer". THAT is one of the good paper books sitting on my wooden shelf waiting to be read. Tell me it is good. How far have..."

Chrissie - Just a couple of chapters but liking it so far! It was rated pretty high so hoping it's a good one. Glad you're enjoying River Town - you needed it! :-)

[Chrissie]

Lilisa, I am listening to The Grapes of Wrath and reading River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. Both are good. I adore Steinbeck and RT is interesting and well written. When this happens I am in 7th heaven. Bad books really make me terribly grumpy! They affect my humor!

[Chrissie]

I agree with Judy, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China is an absolutely super book! Funny, I didn't find it "heavy" except it was thick, a big book, many pages and I don't think you mean that.....

[Chrissie]

Gaeta, in my view "Birds Without Wings" is much, much better writing. I read "Corelli's Mandolin" very long ago, but it has a more cinematic tone. Less to think about, more the relaying of a plot. Maybe I shouldn't compare two books that were read with so many years in between. My guess is that "Corelli's Mandolin" would be given even less stars were I to read it today.

[Chrissie]

Judy, I was completely pulled in by the story of "Wild Swans". Again, this is another book I read ages ago. Would I react differently?

[Lilisa]

Chrissie and Judy - thanks for the recommendation and subsequent musings on Wild Swans. I recall reading the first couple of chapters of Wild Swans many moons ago. A friend had loaned it to me but I was pretty swamped at the time for some reason and had to return it since I'd had it for a very long time. Then I never got around to picking it up again. A good incentive to do so now with both your recommends. I recall it was an "involved" read not one you could breeze through - so that probably explains Chrissie's "thick big" and Judy's "heavy" definitions I think!

[Lilisa]

And sorry - Chrissie - no update on Mao's Last Dancer yet as i haven't had a chance to read today. Probably tonight before I hit the sack.

[Chrissie]

Lilisa, life does in fact keep us busy with other things than reading! There is NO rush!

[Chrissie]

Judy, I have been thinking how you said some people feel Grapes of Wrath speaks negatively of the "Okies". Well, that is crazy. The Joad family definitely have a very hard time, but they are kind, generous and warm people. It is the Californians perception of them that is negative and a central theme of the book is that the large land landowners are the ones at fault and of course the government that does too little to create jobs and put an end to the injustices that are occurring. The book is not a criticism of the Okies. I cannot see how anyone could draw that conclusion. I have read about half and it is a tremendous book. An emotional ride. What happens pulls at your heart-strings! I will definitely be reading more Steinbeck. Yeah, I liked the Pearl when I read it years ago, but this is great writing. Here follow my thoughts so far: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have been adding thoughts as I read. If you are curious!

[Friederike]

I am just leaving Congo (Kinshasa) with Alain Mabanckou's Blue White Red . Review to follow

[Lilisa]

A quarter of the way through Mao's Last Dancer. I'm at the point where he is selected for the dance academy. An easy read, which is a good thing as I haven't had much time lately to focus on a "thick big" or "heavy" read!

[Diane]

In Algeria with The Stranger.

[WanderShopper]

I just wrapped up Round Ireland with a Fridge. This was a super fun book and a fast read for St. Patrick's Day as it follows a man trying to win a bet that he couldn't hitchhike around Ireland in a month along with his fridge. Now I am headed to Argentina tonight when I start reading The Seamstress and the Wind.

[Shomeret]

Today on Kindle I was in 16th century Russia, I think, with The Golden Lynxby C.P. Lesley which is being discussed by Historical Fictionistas this month. It's definitely my kind of book, but in order to read it I had to leave New Zealand where I am loving the Maori milieu in The Matriarch. It's also a library book, so I'm rushing back to New Zealand tonight.

[Lilisa]

I am on my way to The Dinner - excited to see what's on the menu :-)

Chrissie and Judy - really enjoyed Mao's Last Dancer - amazing guy!

[Chrissie]

Lilisa, I have added "the Dinner" too. I wonder what you will think...... I will read MLD soon. good review!

[Lilisa]

Chrissie wrote: "Lilisa, I have added "the Dinner" too. I wonder what you will think...... I will read MLD soon. good review!"

Thanks. It will be interesting to see what you think about MLD. I stayed away from book details after he goes to the dance academy so wouldn't spoil it for others. The pace picked up. The overall style of the book is simple buts fits well with the setting and the author.

[Lilisa]

Judy wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I am on my way to The Dinner - excited to see what's on the menu :-)

Chrissie and Judy - really enjoyed Mao's Last Dancer - amazing guy!"

Glad you enjoyed it, Lilisa!"

:-)

[Chrissie]

Lilisa, it is one of the few books left on my wooden shelves that I really want to read.

[WanderShopper]

Judy wrote: "Wander, its nice to have those books that lighten things up and let you laugh, isn't it?"

Absolutely, Judy. I like to mix my reading up to keep things interesting and to give my brain a break sometimes! ;-)

[Shomeret]

In case anyone was wondering I got bored with The Matriarchand abandoned it. So I am no longer in New Zealand.

I am now in England observing Percy Bysshe Shelley's science experiments at Oxford. This is a side of one of my favorite poets that was unknown to me. I am discovering this through The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Attempts to Reanimate Dead Tissue, and the Writing of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

[Lilisa]

Just started to travel back to the U.K. with Sweet Tooth.

[Lesley]

Currently reading Lettah's Gift, set in Zimbabwe.

[Lesley]

Those reading/have read Mao's Last Dancer may be interested to know Li Cunxin is now Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet in Brisbane.

[Lilisa]

Lesley wrote: "Those reading/have read Mao's Last Dancer may be interested to know Li Cunxin is now Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet in Brisbane."

Thanks Lesley - yes, I saw that. Glad he's doing well - amazing and well-deserved life story!

[Janice]

I finally got the old jalopy back on the road and I'm in Korea with The Calligrapher's Daughter.

[Lilisa]

I'm in the netherworld between where I am and where I've been. Life's too short - I'm abandoning Sweet Tooth - I cant get into it at all - definitely not my cup of tea, so sayonara Ian McEwan!

[Lilisa]

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats is calling me...in Burma.

[Chrissie]

Lilisa, may careful attention when you read Heartbeats or you will end up lost!

[Lilisa]

Chrissie wrote: "Lilisa, may careful attention when you read Heartbeats or you will end up lost!"

I will do that for sure Chrissie! Just into a couple of chapters but liking it so far. I'm hoping it continues to grab me as I don't want to abandon another book so soon!:-)

[Lilisa]

Lesley wrote: "Those reading/have read Mao's Last Dancer may be interested to know Li Cunxin is now Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet in Brisbane."

Thanks Lesley.

[Friederike]

Switching between Cameroon reading Mongo Beti's Cruel City and somewhere in West Africa (likely Senegal) with Marie NDiaye's Three Strong Women, reading it though in French.

[Lesley]

I'm almost finished Aphrodite's War for Cyprus.

[Rusalka]

Important to get a Cyprus read in while they are still standing ;)

[Andrewossama]

i reading at a dresser from Ireland to england

[Thing Two]

Rusalka wrote: "Important to get a Cyprus read in while they are still standing ;)"

Gee, no kidding.

I'm finishing up Canada today with Cool Water. My next stop will be Pakistan with In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, but I anticipate it might take me a few books to get there. D-E-F-G and H to be exact.

[MiA]

I've just started Anna Karenina for my read about Russia, The Druze of Belgrade/دروز بلغراد: حكاية حنا يعقوب for my read about Lebanon and The Phantom of the Opera for fun :).

[Shomeret]

I've been in the U.S. but I'm returning to 16th century Russia with The Golden Lynxwhich I'll be reading on the way to New York for Passover. There's court intrigue right now which normally doesn't interest me very much, but I'm hoping to return to the perspective of the more interesting Tatar main character.

[Lesley]

Rusalka wrote: "Important to get a Cyprus read in while they are still standing ;)"

Absolutely. And one of the main characters makes a bank deposit about halfway through the book.

[Barbara]

Can anyone help me with a good read set in Morocco? I am trying to do mostly mysteries but a good character driven novel is fine too. I want something that shows me a realistic slice of the country with vivid characters and scenery.
Anyone???