Around the World discussion
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2012-2024 Discussions
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2014 Where in the world have you been? (Book finished and review linked!)
Lilisa wrote: "Daisy wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Was in Hungary with The Invisible Bridge - loved it. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Oh I remember loving that."
Daisy..."
Nicely said. Dignity. Yes.
Was in Australia, although I never would have known it, with The Rosie Project. Enjoyed it - endearing and entertaining. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I got about halfway through this book and got distracted by other books. I will try it again one day. It's a worthwhile look at Georgia and an area of the former Soviet Union I know very little about. I recommend Stories I Stole.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Judy wrote: "Daisy, Stories I Stole looks like a great hodge podge of Georgian culture."Even better is Wild East: Stories from the Last Frontier which is where I discovered Wendell Steavenson
Visited Jamaica with From Rum to Roots. It gave me a good flavor of Jamaica - enjoyed it. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Was in Germany and France with All the Light We Cannot See. Unfortunately, it didn't do much for me. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Was in Yemen with Henna House. A good read. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I was in Ireland, probably, with Eimear McBride and her debut novel "A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing". The review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Friederike wrote: "I was in Ireland, probably, with Eimear McBride and her debut novel "A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing". The review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Good review Friederike.
Your impressions of the book are similar to mine, but you have expressed it much better than I could.
I have been to Albania (and US) with Elvira Dones' book Sworn Virgin. My review is here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Have also visited Ireland (I presume) with Eimear McBride's novel A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hello everyone. Am new to this group so here are a bunch of reviews that I am counting towards this challenge. I'll be posting them one at a time from now on though!India: Behind the Beautiful Forevers - 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ivory Coast: Aya - 3 stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Niger: Harmattan - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rwanda: Baking Cakes in Kigali - 2 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sudan: Season of Migration to the North - 5 stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Uganda: All Our Names - 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I still need to review The Painted Veil (China - will be 5 stars). Looking forward to being part of this group.
Nabse B
Welcome to the group Nabse! Nice reviews - I've added many of the books set in the African countries to my to read list.
Friederike wrote: "I have been to Albania (and US) with Elvira Dones' book Sworn Virgin. My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Have also visited Ireland (I presume) with Eimear McBride's..."
Sworn Virgin sounds interesting - thanks Friederike.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Have also visited Ireland (I presume) with Eimear McBride's..."
Sworn Virgin sounds interesting - thanks Friederike.
I finished The Book of Ebenezer Le Page set on Guernsey and reviewed it:https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...
I think there may be a few books which I have read, but not linked the reviews, so I will check.
I've just finished my visit to Eritrea with My Fathers' Daughter. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (it's good!)
I danced on my tiptoes through Slovenia with Ballerina, Ballerina by Marko Sosič. I got an ARC from NetGalley, which I was happy about since there aren't many books set in that country, but I'm not sure it's the best book I've ever read.It was a prize winner in Slovenia around 10 years ago, and the book is set to come out in the USA next week.
Hattie wrote: "I know nothing about Slovenia. Is the ballerina an adult or YA?"My review explains all that but basically Ballerina is a 15 year old when the novel starts, but doesn't have regular adult cognitive development. The novel follows her until death.
I don't know if you can really count the country you're living in but I'm a bit behind on my challenge, so I am going to include the UK.... I've just finished Anfield of Dreams but Neil Dunkin. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... 4 stars. Even if you're a football fan, still worth a read just for the social history.
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I danced on my tiptoes through Slovenia with Ballerina, Ballerina by Marko Sosič. I got an ARC from NetGalley, which I was happy about since there aren't many book..."Ballerina seems interesting.
As for my readings, I am now between Japan and Canada with A Tale for the Time Being
Also, in audio, I am checking Ireland with History of the Rain
Nabse wrote: "I don't know if you can really count the country you're living in but I'm a bit behind on my challenge, so I am going to include the UK....
I've just finished Anfield of Dreams but Neil Dunkin. M..."
Count away Nabse - it's pretty flexible here with no judging :-) it's whatever country you want to choose.
I've just finished Anfield of Dreams but Neil Dunkin. M..."
Count away Nabse - it's pretty flexible here with no judging :-) it's whatever country you want to choose.
Got to travel to South Korea with Another Man's City by Choi In-Ho, part of the Library of Korean Literature, works from modern Korean writers being gradually translated into English. I hate the word Kafkaesque but that describes it. My review is here.
I've just finished The Tall Man (link to my review below) which I found quite confronting as a southern Australian. Our interaction with indigenous Australians just isn't on the same planet as the (northern) context shown in this book. By page 12 I wanted to apologise.It's an amazing and eye-opening book that details appalling Australian history and equally appalling aspects that exist in some of Australia. The death in police custody of Cameron Doomadgee (arrested for swearing!) is a tragedy and this deals with the ramifications, implications and following legal action in quite a bit of detail. It's an important book for Australians and an insight for others into our less-than-respectable history.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Got to travel to South Korea with Another Man's City by Choi In-Ho, part of the Library of Korean Literature, works from modern Korean writers being gradually translated into Englis..."I didn't know that there was a project to translate works into English, that is really interesting. Thanks for sharing your read and the info!
Kate wrote: "I've just finished The Tall Man (link to my review below) which I found quite confronting as a southern Australian. Our interaction with indigenous Australians just isn't on the same planet as the ..."
Thanks for mentioning Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee Kate. I hadn't come across it at all. I remember that case all through the news. I will have to case it down.
Thanks for mentioning Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee Kate. I hadn't come across it at all. I remember that case all through the news. I will have to case it down.
Finished Married to Bhutan - well worth learning about life in Bhutan. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kate wrote: "I've just finished The Tall Man (link to my review below) which I found quite confronting as a southern Australian. Our interaction with indigenous Australians just isn't on the same planet as the ..."
Great review Kate - thanks. I googled to find out more about the incident - sad...
Great review Kate - thanks. I googled to find out more about the incident - sad...
Yes, appalling. But it has bought about some changes to the treatment of people in custody and things like full video surveillance of stations. Which has to be a step forward.
I finally got my review written of Damon Galgut's In a Strange Room. The review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Little Lake for Armenia. It didn't grab me, but it's a replacement for an earlier Armenia book. It's short and available on Kindle.
Val wrote: "Excellent review Friedericke."Thank you, Val. It is one of those books that will stay with me.
Friederike wrote: "I finally got my review written of Damon Galgut's In a Strange Room. The review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."I too enjoyed your review very much.
For my part, I was back in Ireland with History of the Rain. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And to England with Maurice. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Meanwhile I was in Norway, reading The Blue Room by Hanne Orstavik. My review should be here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Was in ancient Syria and in New York City with The Golem and the Jinni. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've just finished Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter (Zimbabwe) - review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Mãn by Kim Thúy for Vietnan. I loved it. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks Nabse and Rosana - nice reviews - both books are right up my alley. Added them my bulging TBR list.
I've just recently finished A Constellation of Vital Phenomena in Chechnya. I haven't written a full review yet, only put a placeholder but I have to share with this group that it was possibly one of the best books I've read this year. I admit I knew next to nothing about Chechnya's history and its conflicts, but now I plan to learn more.
Barbarac wrote: "I've just recently finished A Constellation of Vital Phenomena in Chechnya. I haven't written a full review yet, only put a placeholder but I have to share with this group that it ..."My in person book club is reading that this month!
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Barbarac wrote: "I've just recently finished A Constellation of Vital Phenomena in Chechnya. I haven't written a full review yet, only put a placeholder but I have to share with th..."I've bought this and am really looking forward to reading it. The first line is amazing. Just got a couple of others to finish first....
Judy wrote: "Glad you liked it so much, Barbara. I read it last year and thoroughly enjoyed it."Nabse wrote: "I've bought this and am really looking forward to reading it. The first line is amazing. Just got a couple of others to finish first.... "
I just wanted to say that I read it last year and was blown away by it however I had to take a considerable break in the middle and read other things because it was pretty heavy. Beautiful, sometimes funny, but difficult material. Fair warning!
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Judy wrote: "Glad you liked it so much, Barbara. I read it last year and thoroughly enjoyed I agree Jenny. It's a very tough subject. I was also amazed that this was the author's first novel. Can't wait to read more by him.
I am in the minority on A Constellation of Vital Phenomena - - I was looking forward to reading it but was quite disappointed when I read it last year. It lacked connectedness for me and the characters didn't come alive for me.
Lilisa wrote: "No haven't read anything by Patrick Modiano and I've read quite a few books set during that time."I hadn't heard of him, which always happens on the Nobel for me.
Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "No haven't read anything by Patrick Modiano and I've read quite a few books set during that time."
I hadn't heard of him, which always happens on the Nobel for me."
Me too and then if I have, I don't care for their books
I hadn't heard of him, which always happens on the Nobel for me."
Me too and then if I have, I don't care for their books
I think I would have prefered Ngugi Wa Thiong'o to get it, or Haruki Murakami, or Assia Djebar, أسيا جبار, or Ismail Kadare, or Philip Roth.
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Oh I remember loving that."
Daisy - It was great. I see you finished Burial Rites. I enjoyed it as well - 4 stars like you. It was a very interesting read. Didn't Agnes have a certain dignity?